Destroyer of Worlds

By Trevor Marsh

Samuel Lawrence and Michelle Lui have led a peaceful life together ever since the defeat of the S’lorian Empire’s invasion of the United Earth Federation, but all that is about to change when an ancient nemesis to all life in the galaxy awakens and begins its quest to consume everything in its path. But this threats grows slowly and quickly, fading into the background noise of more pressing matters at home.

The UEF is in a state of crisis. At the Secretary of State, Sam is in a position to know just how fractured the colonies have become from Earth. Michelle, as the UEF Navy fleet admiral, must work to rally dissenting voices to her cause. If humanity were to fracture just as it faces its most dangerous opponent in its history all will be lost. Sam and Michelle must once again work together to restore unity in the face of great adversity before all is lost.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Trevor Marsh
• Release date: Feb 4, 2017
• ISBN: 9781370449262

Trevor Marsh

I have a lot of science fiction influences in my life that have driven me towards writing. Besides all the science fiction I’ve read, watched, and played over the years I have also tried to incorporate my own personal experiences in my writing. I was raised in a military family myself, but I ultimately took a different path in life. My father proudly served in the United States Navy for thirty years, retiring as a captain. Growing up as a navy brat, I was constantly fascinated by military technology, history, tactics, and strategies. I was also offered the opportunity to grow up in a variety of locations around the world. The one that influenced me the most was Singapore. Seeing so many different people and cultures mixed together in one place was a very eye opening experience for me. From that point on, I knew I wanted to work in a field where I would constantly be interacting with people from all over the world. My studies eventually led me to studying international relations and political science in college, followed quickly by a legal degree with a focus on international law. My interest in geopolitics and diplomacy heavily influenced the non-military aspects of my science fiction writing.

Book preview

Destroyer of Worlds

Book Three of the Worlds of Words and War series

Trevor Marsh

Copyright © 2017 Trevor Marsh

All rights reserved.

Distributed by Smashwords

This eBook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author. This is a work of fiction. Any similarities to real persons, events, or places are purely coincidental; any references to actual places, people, or brands are fictitious. All rights reserved.

Ebook formatting by www.ebooklaunch.com

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements

Prologue

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Epilogue

About Trevor Marsh

Connect with Trevor Marsh

Acknowledgements

To my wonderful wife Mary. Your constant support and encouragement keep me writing and your assistance in the editing process is always appreciated. This book is dedicated to you.

I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds.

- J. Robert Oppenheimer

Prologue

July 3, 2361, Merida colony, Unclaimed Galactic Rim star system

Looks like the power flow regulator is malfunctioning again, Marcus said as he finished inspecting the air conditioning unit for the colony of Merida’s only school classroom.

Calling Merida a colony was a bit of a stretch given its unsanctioned nature, but as chief engineer and handyman for its group of several hundred settlers it sometimes felt like he was charged with overseeing the maintenance and repair for a full-fledged United Earth Federation colony.

"Think we can coble together enough spare parts from the Nueva Libertad to fashion a replacement?" Marcus’ apprentice Evan asked, the fresh-faced youth sweating profusely in the high humidity of Merida’s afternoon sun.

I sure hope so, Marcus answered with a grin as he stood up and arched his back to relieve the soreness he felt from bending over the air conditioning unit for so long. It’s not like we can expect a shipment of new parts anytime soon.

That earned a chuckle from Evan as the two men gathered up their various tools and began to walk across the open field leading through the heart of the colony back to the landing zone for the Nueva Libertad, the colony ship which had brought them to Merida a little over two months ago.

Evan’s laughter at his mentor’s statement came from the unique situation the citizens of Merida found themselves in. Launched sixty-five years ago from UEF space, the Nueva Libertad carried cryogenically frozen colonists bound for an uncharted star system containing only a single star with several rocky, terrestrial worlds. With no second orbital body large enough to general the gravitational fluctuation zone needed for the natural formation of a wormhole, the system was disconnected from the network of wormholes that allowed for faster-than-light travel throughout the galaxy. The Nueva Libertad’s journey was always guaranteed to be a solitary one, with no secondary relief or colonization efforts planned. The colonists of Merida were truly on their own.

Why do you think our elders picked this particular system anyways? Evan asked as the two passed by other colonists happily farming their newly sowed fields in the midday sun.

They wanted us to have a place we could call our own, Marcus answered. Someplace free of government control and regulation where we are free to practice our faith as we see fit.

The Nueva Libertad was bought and paid for by a sub-sect of the Catholic Church known as the Followers of Purity. Described by some as a cult and others as religious fanatics, the elders of the group no longer answered to the Pope in Rome because of their belief that his holiness was under the control of the UEF Council, the governing body of Earth and her many officially recognized colonies. In particular, the Followers of Purity protested the ascent of the Catholic Church to the Geneva Protocols of 2250 which called for careful family planning for all of Earth’s citizens regardless of religious affiliation in order to stem the tide of overpopulation and over pollution of humanity’s home world.

But why this planet in particular? the dark-haired and tan skinned apprentice asked. Did they have to pick such a hot world?

Merida was indeed a warm planet. Its orbit put it closer to its star than Earth was to Sol, placing it in a similar position to Venus. When the colonists awoke from their slumber they found themselves approaching a planet was that was marginally habitable at best. Thankfully, genetically modified crops, plenty of air conditioning, and other refrigerating systems had been included in the colony’s cargo manifest to prepare for such an eventuality.

Our elders likely had little idea of what to expect here, Marcus answered with a shrug of his broad shoulders as he scratched at the mop of soaking wet blonde hair atop his head. This system was totally uncharted besides the little data that was available via telescopes. They knew at least one planet sat in this star’s habitability zone so they mostly launched us based on faith. Luckily for us their faith was rewarded. Merida may not be perfect, but in time she’ll be a fully developed independent colony home to those who wish to follow our teachings as we see fit.

Evan was barely a teenager when his parents decided to take the family away from their home and journey to the stars so his religious schooling remained incomplete, but for an adult follower like Marcus the Followers of Purity were a group with a righteous cause and divine mandate to spread out across the galaxy, even to systems deemed too difficult to reach by the rest of humanity.

What about the sickness? Evan asked as the pair approached the Nueva Libertad and entered the massive vessel in search of parts to repair the school’s air condition unit. That black stuff that is killing some of farmer Ernesto’s crops out on the west side of town? If the alien biosphere rejects our crops I doubt our faith will be rewarded for long.

Marcus gave his apprentice a deep scowl for daring to suggest the faith of the Followers of Purity might fail to be rewarded, but then he took a moment to give full faith and credit to his young companion’s concerns.

Settling an alien world is always bound to have its own risks and mishaps, Marcus answered as they rounded a corner in the colony ship’s central hallway to approach one of the cargo bays. Ernesto says whatever is plaguing his crops seems to be bacterial or viral in nature. We brought along some scientists to study things like this and adapt our crops accordingly. I think we have nothing to…

Marcus and Evan entered the starboard cargo bay of the Nueva Libertad at that moment to find it almost completely covered in a dark, ebony goo of some kind.

What the… Marcus muttered in confusion as his eyes traced over all the contaminated heavy machinery in the bay including the spare air conditioning units he was looking for.

Everything is covered in the same stuff that Ernesto was complaining about, Evan noted as he rushed forward to investigate the black substance coating all the equipment and much of the cargo bay’s floor.

Stop, Marcus commanded with an outstretched harm held against his apprentice’s chest before the boy could take a step onto the corrupted surface of the deck. If this really is the same plague that infected some of our crops it can have a negative response to biological organisms like us. You definitely don’t want to touch it.

How can something biological infect our equipment and even the deck itself? Evan asked, a hint of concern growing in his voice. This is like nothing I’ve ever seen. I think I can actually see it growing closer to us on the deck.

Marcus looked down at his feet to see that the black goo was indeed slowly expanding across the deck towards them, as if somehow aware of their presence.

We need to leave, Marcus said quickly. Samantha and her team were working on analyzing this stuff in the botanical and agricultural wing of the science division on the port side of the ship. She’ll need to some see this for herself to believe it.

I think she’s already seen it… Evan stammered as he looked behind Marcus’ shoulder at the only doorway leading back out of the cargo bay.

As Marcus turned to follow his apprentice’s frightened stare, he saw lead botanist Samantha Cruz standing in the doorway in her usual white lab coat. Upon further inspection, Samantha looked decidedly unwell. To begin with, her skin appeared bleached and covered in dark sores, almost as if drained of all color and life. The sores were festering black spots, appearing to move slightly. Marcus quickly realized he was looking at the same dark substance that had infected the machinery in the cargo bay. Finally, when the creature formerly known as Samantha Cruz lifted its head Marcus could see half of Samantha’s face was missing, having been crudely replaced with an optical sensor node and various wires likely taken from the hull of the Nueva Libertad.

Before Marcus or Evan could say another word or move, the creature lunged at them at a fantastic speed, spewing black goo from its frothing mouth as it attacked them with the strength of someone possessed with a crazy energy and bloodlust. The screams of Marcus and his apprentice were drowned out by the spreading substance as it muffled the noise coming from the cargo bay, leaving the unknowing human colony of Merida unaware of the horrors it was about to face.

Chapter One

July 11, 2383, Earth, Sol system

Call coming in for you mister secretary, Sam’s assistant said over the intercom. It’s your wife.

Patch her through to my desk, Sam replied from inside his office as he stared out the large window overlooking Lake Geneva.

It was a picturesque day out on the Swiss lake, with blue skies and white puffy clouds visible on the horizon. Sam’s appointment as the United Earth Federation’s Secretary of State two years ago came with quite a few perks, including a massive office overlooking the beautiful lake outside, but the thing he enjoyed the most was the instant two-way communication his position offered with his family. After years of being stationed across the galaxy on far flung alien worlds acting as a diplomatic representative and ambassador, a return to Earth was exactly what he needed.

Hello honey, Sam said as the holographic face of his wife appeared projecting from his desk. How is work going for you today?

Nothing too crazy, Fleet Admiral Michelle Lui replied with a smile, just the usual wrangling with the UEF Council over military appropriations and budgets. The joke is on them if they think I’m too lazy to take a shuttle down to Geneva to pound some sense into their brains in person. That would give me the perfect excuse to see you and the kids.

Michelle was also enjoying the perks of her promotion as well. Attaining the office of fleet admiral, the highest rank possible for an officer in the UEF Navy, around the same time Sam took up his new job meant they were finally able to bring their family together in a single star system.

After marrying in 2374 following the end of the S’lorian Empire’s invasion of the UEF, Sam and Michelle spent the next decade slowly building their family together when their jobs allowed them the time. Their son Max was born on April 1, 2376 and their daughter Claire was born two years later, on June 21, 2378. Both times Michelle and Sam took leave to return to Earth where both their parents would help with the raising and care of their grandchildren. Sam began to request more assignments closer to home around that time, as did Michelle. They could usually arrange things so that at least one of them was on Earth itself or near Earth orbit at all times, but it had been tough to be the parent who was away on a month’s long deployment patrolling alien borders or assigned to a diplomatic mission hundreds of lightyears away. Now that they were finally together as a family Sam never missed a moment to appreciate everything he had in life.

What sort of pushback are you facing from the Council now? Sam asked his wife as his attention snapped back to their conversation.

The South African Union and the Andean Confederation want to cut our budget for the survey corps exploring new systems out on the galactic rim, Michelle answered with a grumble. They don’t see the need for state-sponsored exploration when there are plenty of companies and corporations willing to fund their own exploration efforts.

As the ruling civilian government of the United Earth Federation, the UEF Council consisted of a single representative from each of Earth’s super-states. Sam and Michelle both grew up in San Diego, making them citizens of the North American State, but as Michelle’s facial structure suggested her parents came from Greater China. The 2200’s were a time of great turmoil in Earth’s history, with many smaller nations rapidly integrated with larger neighboring ones in an effort to lay claim to the planet’s dwindling resources. Some super-states like the NAS were the product of peaceful integration when the United States, Canada, and Mexico agreed to dissolve their mutual borders and integrate their governing bodies. Others like the Eurasian Bloc came about more violently as Russia acted in invading several former Soviet republics. Regardless of their beginnings, each super-state now held voting power in the Council that had to be carefully accounted for.

How are the votes lining up? Sam asked with a raised eyebrow.

I think we’re safe for now, Michelle answered with a shrug. The South Africans and the Andeans have Oceania and the European Union on their side, but I have the backing of the NAS, the Eurasian Bloc, Greater China, the Islamic Caliphate, the Indian Confederation, Brasilia, and ASEAN.

ASEAN is supporting continued UEF survey missions on the rim? Sam questioned with mild surprise. I thought Singapore’s position was against colonization in favor of more ties with our neighbors towards the galactic core.

ASEAN, the Association of South East Asian Nations, was a conglomeration of nations including Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and several others. Headquartered in Singapore, the super-state often favored expanded trade and integration with the UEF’s alien allies over efforts to explore uncharted space.

I was surprised too, Michelle replied. But I think ASEAN is a little spooked by some of the recent rhetoric coming out of the League of Free Systems regarding raised trade tariffs against human goods. They might be hedging their bets on increased colonization in case some of our trading partners start to pull away from us.

The League of Free Systems was group of united alien civilizations formed ten years ago in response to the S’lorian Empire’s crusade against the younger species of the galaxy. Sam had actually been fundamental in the formation of the League, attending every meeting and driving the group of disparate alien representatives to a sensible compromise. Unfortunately, the UEF Council ultimately declined to join the League, leaving many of its alien members with an intense distrust of humanity for turning its back on them in their greatest moment of need. The LFS had gone on to defend itself quite well against the S’lorian aggression, but to this day it maintained a strained relationship with the UEF that would take many more decades to heal in Sam’s estimation.

I’ve heard the same rumblings from the League, Sam said with a nod of his head as he scratched his blonde hair in thought. "The Denkar Corporatocracy and the Echobians have been particularly vocal with my ambassadors lately. I think the Haldoran Association and its allies still have enough influence to prevent a full on

Reviews for Destroyer of Worlds

[ZombieAteBrain · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Great story and ending to this trilogy. Highly recommended reading.