Darya: Queen of the Galaxy

By Daniel A. Roberts

Frustrations mount as Darya struggles to eradicate the xenomorph threat from her part of the galaxy. All of her allies within the newly formed galactic government works hard to avoid an all out war with the League of Free Worlds. Old enemies become new friends, familiar faces tend to blur with indecision, as the threat of a traitor in the ranks throws Darya off balance. 

Will the loyal Vanguards of Justice prevail against the worst scourge the galaxy has ever faced? The balance of power across the galaxy is ready to shift again, and it's up to Darya and the dedicated crew of the Gladiator to find a way for a true peace... or perish as countless worlds come to a screaming end at the hands of a deranged President of the League of Free Worlds!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Daniel A. Roberts
• Release date: Sep 12, 2015
• ISBN: 9781516383528

Book preview

Prologue

THE FULL SIZE PLASMA RIFLE was almost as long as Darya herself.  The deadly weapon looked like it might make her tip to one side.  A petite woman she was, but the strength that lived within her high-gravity conditioned muscles was growing into a thing of legend.  Even so, human Red Brigade soldiers surrounded her protectively, a good six to eight inches taller than Darya on average.  She was easily concealed by their protective press. 

Winds that blew in from the distant ruins smelled of rotting meat.  The ruins themselves were recently produced by the current calamity.  Once a high tech city, it used to be bustling with commerce and happy citizens.  Not anymore.  The entire planet turned into a seared wasteland within a few short months.  The deadly reason for such destruction kept the Red Brigade from allowing Darya more than a few yards of movement from their current position. 

Xenomorphs. 

Darya's recent education on the monsters was sure to give her nightmares for months, if not years to come.  When a xenomorphic creature infects a host, he or she dies rather quickly.  The body is still functioning, along with the heart, lungs, everything required to keep the host body alive.  The mind however, is rapidly consumed by bundles of tissue eating eggs, capturing the intelligence as much as the memories of the victim. 

Such victims can incubate a batch of brain-based eggs from weeks to months.  During this time, the host is doing their required duties, going through their motions of daily activity.  This would allow the brain-dead host enough time to seek an opportunity to infect others.  It would also be a quick death for the newer victims, within mere minutes from infection to a robotic-like state.  The new host would walk and talk with accuracy, as if nothing was wrong, controlled by the growing eggs inside the infected brain, seeking their own opportunity to continue increasing their numbers. 

Usually within two to three months of using this type of stealthy infestation, the majority of an entire population can be converted before anyone grows wise to the insidious process.  Once the creatures know they have an overwhelming advantage in numbers, heads all over the planet would literally... explode. 

Those incubating xenomorphs happily rupture out of their hosts, growing to a full human sized creature within a few short days.  The abandoned host-bodies become nothing more than a carrion meal.  Within a war-torn week between the gluttonous monsters and the surviving population, the planet would be overrun.  The growing waves of xenomorphs would quickly kill the remaining resistance in a feast of flesh. 

The final surviving hundred or so uninfected citizens would be kept in stables by the creatures.  When a ship would land, the xenomorphs would quickly infect a stabled person, to send them out, desperately calling for help.  Begging for rescue.  Using memories of the recently deceased new host to barter for sympathy, the attempts to find a way to another populated planet could wear down any compassionate being.  If the ruse was successful, the nightmare process would start all over again on a different world. 

Kevin was one of Darya's four permanent bodyguards.  He jostled her shoulder for a moment, breaking her out of the lesson's memory while gesturing towards the ruins.  It's too late here.  Even the stabled people would have become food by now.  Once Blake and Chet finish their scanning mission and gets back here with our transport shuttle, they should confirm our suspicions.  We really need to get off of this dead planet before the hungry ones detect us out here. 

Darya's frown felt like it would never leave her face again.  This is the fifth world in six years.  Out of all the missions I've read up on, there has never been an outbreak of this magnitude before.  It's bothering me quite a bit that these are only happening within our borders.  Have you guys ever found planet zero?  You know, the place these horrific things were first discovered on? 

Tony, her other permanent bodyguard, slowly shook his head.  Nope.  Why do you want to know?  What could you find there that you couldn't find on any of the planets they destroy? 

Darya shifted her stance, making sure the safety was off on her potent rifle.  If they got approached by anything, it would have to be vaporized before it could get within egg implanting range.  All species have a natural enemy.  Perhaps one of those predators would have some type of resistance to their microscopic egg-saturated spray.  If we could locate and research that creature's defense mechanism, we might have a chance at stopping their spread.  As in forever. 

Among the eighteen Red Brigade that rode down on the transport shuttle, sixteen stayed with Darya outside of the murdered city.  One of them was a full fledged doctor.  He nodded, adding, I'd love to be able to wipe these things out for good.  When I put in a request for data on the creatures, including their origin, I was always denied.  I pressed the issue once.  I was ordered not to ask anymore.  If I didn't know better, I would think there was some type of foul play involved. 

Tony spat on the ground, adjusting his combat helmet so he didn't mess up his face shield.  A cover up, no doubt.  But then, who are we but a bunch of grunts?  At least to the LFW, I mean.  He qualified that last sentence with a hint of apology.  He and the rest of the Red Brigade knew that Darya placed far more value on their lives than any other leader within the galaxy. 

Darya also found herself agreeing.  Sounds like I have my work cut out for me when we make it back to the Gladiator.  She lifted her plasma rifle to peer through the scope.  Hey, I think there's movement out there, south by southwest. 

She didn't have to say anything else.  Sixteen combat class plasma rifles snapped up in unison, every highly trained Red Brigade soldier fanning out to confront whatever Darya spotted.  Kevin and Tony were the only two to flank Darya while guarding her back, making sure nothing was sneaking up from their blind spots. 

I see them, one of the soldiers in the line announced.  You've got good eyes, girl.  That looks to be about eight xenomorphs, out hunting wild animals for meat.  About a half mile away.  If they smell us, they'll make a ruckus for the rest of them to come to the available buffet.  Us.  Anyone know how long before Chet and Blake get back here?  We need to scram, like ten minutes ago. 

Darya opened the channel on her wrist computer.  Hey you two, we're getting company soon, and they aren't the kind of guests you want over for a game of cards.  What's your ETA?  Blake and Chet were her other two permanent bodyguards, but today, they were also their most experienced scanner operators.  Being surrounded by the Red Brigade gave both of them the leeway to do their routine jobs while on a xenomorph compromised work site. 

Blake's voice was crisp, which meant they weren't that far away.  We'll be there in five minutes.  We ran a deep scan on the ruins, and on two urban neighborhoods just outside of the city limits.  This place doesn't have any survivors, stabled or otherwise. 

I read you loud and clear, Darya replied, glistening ebony eyes growing hard.  Angry.  Pop the hatch the moment you touch down.  Xenomorphs are closing in as I speak.  Darya out. 

Chet's voice came over the channel next, just before the signal went dark.  Give 'em hell, honey.  I'm pushing these engines as hard as I can. 

Two minutes into their wait, Tony began by cussing under his breath.  Another bunch is approaching our six.  More than a dozen.  He lifted his rifle up, peering through the scope.  Yes, these xenomorphs are fully hatched, grown up and completely inhuman. 

If man sized giant rats could grow back legs that allowed them to walk upright, plus add a couple of horizontal tusks from the mouth that was capable of jetting out a fifteen foot stream of acidic venom that was filled with microscopic eggs, you would have a pretty good idea as to what was stalking the landing party. 

An eerie high pitched sound surrounded them all. 

Kevin's disposition grew intense.  That's their call for a swarm attack, Darya.  To us, we can barely hear it.  To them, it's a roar that can be heard for dozens of miles.  As far as the scientists in the labs tell us, that is.  Form a circle with us, we need every available rifle.  Hold down the trigger and nail everything in your line of sight.  Tony, I got her left.  You get her right. 

Tony nodded, getting into position as the team formed a circle.  I really wish you weren't fond of heading up this mission yourself, he grumbled at Darya.  Sometimes we lose an investigative team to these things.  Sometimes we don't.  We can't afford to lose you. 

Sue me, Darya countered, squinting into her rifle's scope.  I'm a workaholic. 

Kevin's call for action was well practiced.  Too far away, the monsters tended to fan out to approach from possible blind spots.  Too close, and their deadly venom splashes onto the skin in any spot, that person becomes hopelessly infected, to be counted as one of the dead.  If you see the bastards, light em up, because here they come!  He held down the trigger.  Everyone in that circle fired with relentless intensity at the same time. 

Deadly plasma bolts streamed out at a rate of one thousand five hundred per minute for each rifle in use.  Each single plasma shot was capable of vaporizing up to four hundred pounds of dense unshielded steel.  Trees.  Large rocks.  Anything of significant size was cleared completely out, clean up to the incoming waves of growling, slobbering rampaging monsters. 

The hungry tides of charging beasts vaporized into pockets of moist air.  While the xenomorphic monsters displayed a higher than average intelligence, they didn't want to communicate.  Though they could talk and participate in a society before they were given a signal to start hatching out of their comfortable hosts, no recourse or intervention was negotiable to the hatched beasts.  Once out in the open, all they wanted to do was to eat the flesh of their victims.  Nothing else mattered.  Even if it meant charging into a deadly stream of plasma bolts, food was just another few feet closer for their kin that was behind the dying waves. 

As the approaching shuttle hovered above the protective circle, the soldiers expanded their formation, giving the transport craft a safe place to land.  The large side hatch popped open at last, with Blake mounting the heavy assault cannon.  He fired an even thicker barrage in the direction the previous line of fire left open, as the team adjusted to board the shuttle, allowing the troops to start filing into the large craft. 

Blake yelled over the sound of his cannon that was currently spraying plasma death into the oncoming monsters.  Darya first, or I'll have your asses in the hurt locker! 

Before Darya could protest by stating that she could wait until her turn in their formation, Tony and Kevin grabbed her from both sides, lifting the cussing petite woman up into the shuttle.  The moment Chet pulled her inside, they turned their rifles back into the area she was currently covering, vaporizing the tidal wave of creatures that got a touch closer than the rest. 

As the dwindling levels of firepower allowed the near endless waves of organic death to rush forward, some were starting to spit their venom.  The attacks were premature, made too far away to hit any of the boarding soldiers.  Just as everyone got inside, allowing the thick doors to slide shut at last, the first splashes landed all over the shuttle's steel plating.  None of that was a threat.  Nothing organic could survive the deadly deep cold of outer space. 

Tony took over as pilot for the shuttle, lifting the ship off for high orbit.  He glanced over his shoulder, trying hard not to grin.  This was Queen Darya's first mission of this type.  As far as he was concerned, hopefully the only xenomorph investigation she would ever demand on personally attending.

Chet stood Darya up, stripping off her armor as fast as possible.  While they were a couple, and the men recognized the fact that they have been happy with each other for the last six years, his current focus wasn't for anything related to intimacy.  Doc, he growled.  We need to get this over with.  Towards his beloved Darya, his tone was brutally professional.  Once you're cleared as uninfected, put your plasma rifle on single shot.  If any of us register as implanted, vaporize.  No hesitation.  Even if it's me.  Finally stripped down to her light padding that allowed the heavy armor pieces to feel comfortable, the doctor used his medical scanner.  Chet's expression was haunted, picking up his own plasma rifle.  If she registered as a fresh host, he would do the deed himself. 

After thirty heart pounding seconds, the doctor announced, She's venom free.  None of it got on her skin.  He started stripping down, handing Chet the medical scanner.  I'm next. 

The routine was performed for everyone, even Chet and Blake, who never got off of the shuttle.  In order to keep the nightmare menace that plagued the galaxy from getting worse, everyone on the mission was deep scanned for infection.  No exceptions.  No excuses.  Lucky for everyone aboard, not a single soul registered as positive for xenomorph venom. 

By the time they docked with the battleship Gladiator, everyone was in their red battle armor once again.  Darya exited the shuttle, eyebrows pinching close together.  She demanded to go on at least one of these missions for a damned good reason.  Reading reports was easy.  Simple.  Without knowing what the soldiers were going through, many people in leadership positions ended up taking such things for granted.  She refused to be that type of leader. 

Accessing her wrist computer, without saying anything to the men around her as they got off of the shuttle, Darya quietly quadrupled the pay rate for the entire Red Brigade.  Right after that, her ebony eyes found the completely destroyed lines of harshly frozen egg-venom on the shuttle's hull. 

Space was always at the extreme temperature called 'absolute zero' which can freeze some gases into a solid.  Every cell in that hardened ooze was shattered by the ice crystals that formed during the freezing process.  Not even the DNA would remain intact. 

Darya removed her combat helmet, running slender fingers through thick blue-streaked auburn hair.  Calm, entirely under control, she flung the helmet against the strands of frozen venom, shattering the rivulets into shards of harmless discolored ice.  The soldiers around her flinched from the unexpected sound, but didn't say anything.  They knew.  They understood. 

Darya didn't scream in frustration or give any shout of effort.  Those damn monsters are killing people that are counting upon Vanguards of Justice for protection.  That murdered planet depended upon her very leadership as their queen.  No matter how much she was told that it wasn't her fault, she still felt responsible.  It was time to step up the investigation!

Chapter Zero - Royal Reception

BETTY BOOM BOOM did a slow turn for Rinera.  The metallic material was strategically placed to help make the shapely cyborg body look like part of a formal dress.  Because the only visible flesh was from the neck up, Betty needed to improvise anything that might resemble usable fashion.  She couldn't help but brag.  The entire skirt section can be yanked off to act as a thermal blanket.  The sleeves are another matter.  One tug, a quick flip on both ends, and they can become thin and strong enough to be used as a garrote. 

Rinera slowly blinked.  What's a garrote? 

Betty's grin looked ghastly while explaining with professional relish.  A strangling device.  It's best used when sneaking up on an enemy, quickly looped around the throat and pulled tight enough to keep their death sounds silent.

Rinera did her best to look impressed.  She found it hard to get excited over fashion that can double as a deadly weapon.  That's very... nice.  She gestured to the crowd that was forming in front of the passenger liner.  Do you think the Hive Queen expected this large of a turnout? 

The crowd of people was politely organized in the massive hanger bay of the battleship Gladiator, boarding the passenger liner that would take them down to the Fabrini home world they were currently orbiting over. 

Betty giggled, slowly blinking her larger than average Lozonai eyes.  The Fabrini maybe infatuated with math, but they also love a good social occasion a touch more.  Before we even step off of the ship, they'll calculate the costs of hosting and feeding everyone of us, down the to the tenth of a credit. 

I heard that, Cricket playfully complained, approaching with a chest plate filled with recently added service medals.  My people like complex lives.  Anything done simply would be considered an insult.  Darya was wise to have all of us show up, expecting a grand treatment. 

Betty thumped one of Cricket's upper appendages.  She didn't mind having the Fabrini for a navigator, where most human females would feel uncomfortable.  It was a good thing for Cricket that Betty wasn't human.  She grinned at him.  You sly hooligan, I bet you graciously advised Darya to make sure the Fabrini queen was messaged about every expensive requirement, all the way down to what types of rich Fabrini foods that you like to consume. 

From a small distance away, Jitters caught Rinera's attention from the platform that led to the passenger liner.  Over here, dear!  We're about to be the last of the senior staff to board! 

Coming!  Rinera politely excused herself from her current company.  They understood, even if she was to go running off without saying anything.  The happy couple has been married for the last five and a half years.  With Rinera's role as the Ambassador for Vanguards of Justice, she lived a comfortable lifestyle, but was also supremely busy, as the job was incredibly demanding.  Her highly intelligent husband didn't pay any attention to finances.  His first love used to be Science and Technology, until she came along to take over that spot in his heart. 

Ralph the Rock's deep gravel-like voice chuckled.  How the stone-skin rocktoid being arrived so silently behind Cricket and Betty, neither one of them could figure out.  Still, Ralph's comment was well placed.  They're so cute together.  If they ever have children, I don't know what would come out.  Think about it a moment.  Her wisdom coupled with his genius.  It's almost scary. 

Betty stifled her own giggle.  Sorry Ralph, I didn't mean to show any humor at your expense.  For such a big, tough boulder like yourself, it's amusing that it takes so little to creep you out.  She noticed that Max and Gerald, the father and son team that joined up with Darya well before the formation of Vanguards of Justice, was also boarding the luxury passenger liner.  Come on, we better get our butts on the ship.  I'm not missing this function for anything. 

On board the large luxury liner, Darya stood near the front of the ship, peering out of the transparent steel window.  The Fabrini Hive Empire started on this very planet, a touch more than nineteen thousand years ago.  Her thoughts were so focused on the pending event, she almost didn't notice Betty standing next to her at last.  Hello Betty.  Nice dress.  Classy. 

You're looking spiffy yourself, Darya.  Betty regarded the royal blue dress with some interest.  The upper lattice was a mesh, covered with a pattern of blue roses.  The rest of the formal gown was elegant, silky.  Where's Chet?  It's rare to see you two apart. 

Darya grinned.  Triple checking security protocols.  He trusts Ralph's judgment.  It's the other fourteen billion Fabrini down there that he's worried about.  Besides, if the boys thought they could get away with wearing blaster armor under their tuxedos, they wouldn't look as good as they do.  When mentioning anything about the boys, Darya would be referring to her personal bodyguards. 

Tony, Blake and Kevin weren't too far away, as expected.  It was Kevin who peered over his shoulder, regarding Betty for a moment before adding, We may want our armor, but Darya is right.  Nice dress, Betty. 

The Lozonai cyborg preened. 

Vash finally arrived to launch his passenger liner.  As the head of his own Fabrini organized crime syndicate, he would normally have a problem with going to a formal royal function on his own home world.  Not today.  Amnesty was running amok in Darya's presence, because the Fabrini Hive Queen held Vanguards of Justice in high favor.  With his lower appendage using the navigational controls, he made his own mild warning.  If I get arrested for showing up, Darya, you will owe me for both the bail fee and the smuggler's fee for getting me away from here. 

Darya's chuckle seemed friendly enough, but her ebony eyes remained a touch colder than normal.  Don't worry, Vash.  I've already assured the Fabrini authorities that you wouldn't try stealing any of the silverware. 

That's not very reassuring, Vash poorly confessed.  There, we're on our way.  The passenger liner smoothly left the Gladiator's massive hanger bay. 

As they approached the Fabrini homeworld, Darya noticed that there wasn't much difference between Earth and their insectoid rivals.  Blue oceans, green continents, wide rivers and white billowy clouds.  At first, she expected the buildings to be wide and fat, like actual hives.  That wasn't the case. 

The architecture was a bold statement of scientific advancement.  If the building was square, the edges didn't remain sharp, but became beveled, with several small satellite dishes surrounded by digital antennas, all pointing in various directions. 

Several of the floating buildings used a flying saucer type of design.  Vehicles of various sizes flew between them, running their countless errands.  Even the advanced cars and buses used a surprisingly delicate set of flowing curves.  If Darya didn't know better, she wouldn't have thought the inhabitants to be an insectoid species.  She also didn't say so out loud.  There was no reason to offend Vash or her loyal navigator, Cricket. 

Chet finally arrived, looking sharp in his black tuxedo, holding out his hand towards Darya.  We're to disembark first, honey.  Sorry it took me so long to hash out the security details with Ralph. 

While this wasn't the first time Darya smiled after the recent xenomorph mission, she did feel good about delivering this one to her sweetheart.  She took his hand, walking with him towards the closed doorway.  No need to apologize, dear.  If I was paid a credit for every minor delay in my life, I could probably buy Earth for you. 

Chet's return smile was as heartfelt.  As they stood before the door, waiting for it to open, he gave her one final update.  In case you don't know, the Fabrini adore royalty of any kind.  Presidents, executive officers for corporations, none of that tickles them as much as a queen.  Don't expect your reception to be mild. 

Before Darya could react, the door of the luxury passenger liner started hissing open.  Chet couldn't have been more accurate.  A sea of waving, confetti tossing, cheering crowd of insectoid Fabrini began greeting her with a high amount of energy. 

There was a wide pathway down the middle, outlined with bright blue lights every ten yards.  In the far distance, another royal entourage was waiting for Darya.  The Fabrini Hive Queen herself, on a large hovering platform, was greeting the arriving royalty and was considered high praise by the insectoid culture.  The Hive Queen was surrounded by her own advisers and bodyguards, all expecting a good time with their new friends.

For the first time in a long while, Darya actually enjoyed making a slow procession through a crowd of beings that was enthusiastic by her visit.  Followed by her loyal Red Brigade bodyguards in tuxedos, then her bridge crew, and finally by the top department leaders who kept the Gladiator running smoothly, the crowds of Fabrini cheered them all.  Because the visitors were mostly humanoid, the cheering was done in the human range of vocals. 

The Hive Queen's large hovering platform lowered a set of steps the moment Darya arrived.  Chet by her side the entire time, he let her go up first, as those steps were only so wide.  The Fabrini Queen stood, officially acknowledging their arrival. 

Fabrini fans went even more crazy, increasing their confetti tossing and appendage waving.  By the time Darya's bodyguards and bridge crew got on the large platform, it launched upwards, flying towards their next destination.  The roar of the happy crowd grew distant, with other large platforms arriving at the landing site to pick up the rest of Darya's delegation. 

The Fabrini Queen didn't waste time.  It's good to see you here, Darya.  My palace has a wonderful reception floor.  We should be there in just a few minutes.  She still adopted a feminine alto range of speech when in the presence of humanoids.  Fabrini were capable of sounding both male

Reviews for Darya

[Harmonie Medlin-Bennett · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

im sorry I struggled my way through all 3 books hoping there might be some redemption for a story this long. there wasnt. possibly some of the worst dialogue and the science....shudder.