Black Fury

By G. Ernest Smith

Each time Sheena ascends the Amber Throne and takes on the mantle of the Madilim Shee'a she connects with an ancient entity she calls old one. She can feel him getting stronger inside her with each session and she begins having disturbing dreams. Brother Vincenti and the other monks are sure she is connecting to the divine lord and master, but Sheena and Kag are not so sure.

At the same time, in her capacity as supreme commander of the new military guard, she and the Blacks are trying to create a new nation on Sandow — The Citizens Republic — and with the help of the Al Yo'osh and the Billé Sanmo monks, she establishes the City of Promise. But General Teeg makes a bold attempt to abduct Sheena and puts the Blacks on their guard. They realize almost too late the lengths Teeg will go to when they are drawn into a trap at Monbeer. On top of that, the Coalition has developed an effective new fighting tactic which could spell the end for the Blacks.

Sheena and Kag finally put together an assault team and go after Teeg in his stronghold on the planet Evergreen while a battle between the Coalition fleet and the Blacks rages in the space around them.

• Language: English
• Publisher: G. Ernest Smith
• Release date: Apr 14, 2017
• ISBN: 9781370540310

G. Ernest Smith

G. Ernest Smith is a retired Space Shuttle launch team member who lives near Cape Canaveral, Florida with his wife, Mary Beth. He has a son, Brandon, and a daughter, Mona, a brother, Jeff, and a sister, Gwen, who all live in California.He enjoys sailing, Harley Davidsons, fishing, writing, Miatas and eating (not necessarily in that order). He has been a contributing writer for Cycle World and Florida Touch and Go magazines.He is a graduate of Rollins College and the Florida Institute of Technology and holds a Masters degree in Computer Science.

Book preview

Note to the Reader

This is the second book in the Black Sheena series and like I did in the first, I have created a detailed description of the world of Black Sheena and the Coalition, an explanation of weapons, ships, star systems and the cast of characters. It is in the Appendix at the back of this book. The reader may want to go there first or at least refer to it occasionally as the story progresses.

Preface

Like the unceasing tidal surge, a force pulls us to explore and colonize. We may as well try to resist the pull of a black hole than to deny it. It is something in our restless souls. Some dissatisfaction at not knowing what lies just beyond.

When the hyper tunnels were discovered running between class two gravitational singularities in the late 21st century, scientists and engineers set to finding a way to take advantage of these naturally occurring phenomena. They soon came up with the gravitudinal time-slip engine. It was able to condense galactic distances to something tolerable to most humans. Immediately humans discovered new star systems. Some of them had incredible planets and impossible eco-systems. There were hydrogen-based biospheres, methane-breathing reptilian creatures, small quadrepedal sentients that looked remarkably like otters.

A new race of humans was discovered that had apparently developed in parallel with earth. They were like us in almost every respect except they had faces that were slightly triangular and they had reedy voices. But how could two separate star systems evolve humans? Had Earth and the planet Krieg been seeded by the same god-like entity? There was much speculation on the subject in academia. The new humans called their star Kuladar. They had not yet developed interstellar travel, but being human, they quickly embraced it.

Like the flow of a massive river, humans flooded all the nearby star systems having inhabitable planets. First there were farmers, then there were mining companies looking for valuable raw resources such as titanium and purilium. Things that the Earth was out of. Interstellar trade quickly followed. Tastes for Xiübian spices jumped as did the demand for Okokes, adorable little creatures from the Lo Si'an System with furry red bodies and large eyes.

Then it finally happened! The world of humans was rocked when they encountered a new space-fairing non-human species. The Al Yo'osh. They were very advanced and they too had discovered the hyper tunnels and had established trade routes through two star systems.

Five Star Coalition

An alliance and common government was formed from the first five human star systems: Earth's Solar System, Xiüb System, Sholdién System, Kuladar System and the Lo Si'an System. By agreement a common military force was created and a contract was signed guaranteeing all would have equal protection and a say in any trade agreements and a share in profits.

When the Al Yo'osh systems, Pateene and Omrobee'u, were discovered, an alliance was formed with them. Demand for their technology, exotic art and spicy foods quickly grew and trade with the Al Yo'osh flourished.

The Coalition grew with the addition of new star systems, Dovrack, Odijough and Yamagoochee Five, but for simplicity, they decided to keep the name Five Star Coalition although it included ten star systems now.

But just as some men are drawn to explore, others are driven to seek and hold power. This inevitably leads to excesses and resentment. Currently, there is a great deal of unrest in the Coalition. A contract between the Al Yo'osh was canceled and renegotiated when the Coalition leaders determined that the Al Yo'osh revenue had been greatly undervalued. This infuriated the Al Yo'osh parliament who thought contracts were promises and must always be kept. The Kuladar people felt that they had been marginalized because they were paying heavy Coalition taxes but getting very little in return for rebuilding their crumbling infrastructure. A group called the Unification Committee was interfering with any Coalition attempts to collect taxes or impose martial law and openly calling for a movement to throw out the Coalition. They were simply called the Unification Rebels by the media.

Billé Sanmo monks

Named for the original Philippine monastery on Earth. The Billé Sanmo order is very old and based on an ancient belief in one all-powerful god. Originally he was called Yahweh, but now simply called the Master. The Coalition has no officially sanctioned religion, but most citizens worship a polytheistic array of gods based loosely on the ancient Roman Catholic collection of saints. There is Mary, goddess of motherhood and the life giver, Francis, god of animals, Christopher, god of travelers, Peter, god of business and good fortune and many others.

There were three separate arms to the Billé Sanmo. The first, the Guro, is dedicated to bringing the Master to the people and are primarily scholars and teachers. The second is the Tagabantay. They are a spy network with eyes and ears everywhere. The third is the Kawal. They are the soldiers of the brotherhood. A secret order of fighters and assassins. The Billé Sanmo believe that there must be a balance in the universe and evil must be kept in check. If evil gains the upper hand or becomes dominant, they must act to balance the books as the monks say in their accounting jargon.

The Billé Sanmo believe they are currently in the dark age where evil rules, but their scriptures promise the Master will send them a leader, the Madilim Shee'a or Dark Queen, who will lead them out of the darkness. She will be born of strife and suffer at the hands of the evil. She will have the wisdom of a sage, the sensitivity of a poet and the heart of a warrior. She will be a uniter who brings all the oppressed together, vanquishes the evil ones and ushers in the golden age of prosperity.

Chapter 1

Xiüb System

Planet Zenjaidé

Golo Posanti Prison

Damian Hadid sat on a cot in a dark cell with three others. It had damp stone walls and four cots with filthy mattresses. There was a rust stained metal sink and toilet in one corner. The stench of vomit and urine had been overpowering at first, but as days grew into weeks, Damian had become used to it. To him it was simply the suffocating odor of despair. Someone in the next cell was coughing. It was a deep racking cough. The kind that rattles your ribs and squeezes your eyes shut. It was probably banjo fever. Victims complained their chests were tight and they sounded like a plucked instrument when they tried to speak. Thus the name banjo fever. Many had the fever in this awful place. Those afflicted either shook it off in a week or they died.

Are you nervous? asked Tova.

'Bout what? Damian didn't meet his gaze. He got up from his cot, walked to the bars, took hold of them and looked down the aisle at nothing.

"You know what."

What do you want me to say, Tov? I feel nervous? I feel scared? He turned around and faced him. I've learned not to feel anything in this place. To feel is to be human and we're not human in here. And we don't have lives anymore. We're just animals too dumb to know we're already dead.

Tova said nothing for a time staring at Damien. That was a nice speech, but I know you don't believe it.

Think so?

I know so. Tova glanced at the two slumbering cell mates. "You're a survivor and a fighter. As far as feelings, you're full of fire. That's why they've selected you three times. You put on a good show."

It was Damian's turn to say nothing. It was hard to see Tova in the dim light. His skin was the color of coffee with just a touch of cream and all he could see was an outline caused by the reflected sheen from his face. He was easier to see when he smiled, and Damian could see his white teeth now. Tova enjoyed teasing him. He liked teasing everyone.

If you're so smart, said Damian. What am I thinking right now?

You're thinking I'm one big pain in the ass, laughed Tova.

Damian didn't want to smile, but he did. Dammit!

See, Axe? I know you.

If you really know me, you'd know I don't like that name. Damian had a rangy frame with broad shoulders and big hands. He'd gotten the nickname Axe when he grabbed a damage control axe and with one mighty swing freed a man who was about to be dragged into space by a departing shuttle craft. He was snarled in a coil of metal-armored hose. Many tried to duplicate the feat of parting a metal-armored hose with one swing of an axe, but they could not, and began to treat Damian Hadid with great respect.

Be proud of that name. You earned it. You're a hero.

There are no heroes in this shit hole! He came back and sat on his cot, leaning abjectly against the wall.

What do you think of the rumor Sheena's still alive?

Who says that? demanded Damian, Axe.

Some new guys they brought into B block last week, said Tova. They said she made a speech on the news feeds a couple weeks ago. Said she was comin' after Teeg.

"That's vaca shit! There were only two lifeboats got away from Nemesis when it went down, and she wasn't on either one of them. I know! She's dead! That guy was probably chewin' godroot! Axe picked up his empty mug and looked into it thoughtfully, then said, Aren't you just a little pissed at Sheena?"

Why? What good would that do?

Aren't you pissed she charged in recklessly to save a bunch of monks we never heard of and got herself killed? She pretty much screwed us over with her thoughtless actions.

Well, I'm sure she would have preferred a different ending, but what did you expect her to do?

I expected her to be smart. Wait until she had a good sized force to take on the Coalition fleet.

Well, I'm sure she considered that, but she didn't have the time. She had to act fast. You've got to give her credit though. She went down, but she took twenty four Coalitions ships with her. Tova stood up and stretched. Anyway, what good does it do to rehash that now? It's not going to change anything at this point. We knew what we were gettin' into when we threw in with her.

Damian thought about it. "You're right. And I'm right. It's better to be dead inside. Don't feel. And don't think too much. When you think, you go through all the choices you've made and torture yourself over all your mistakes and how things might have turned out differently. Regret is not your friend here."

The coughing next door started up again, getting louder and then becoming a wet combination of snorting and phlegmy hacking.

He sounds bad, said Tova. Think he's gonna make it?

No, said Axe, pulling on his dark beard. He's lucky. His torture'll be over soon.

<><><>

Having power simply means having the ability to get things done.

The consequences of any action in the past will get sorted out.

- General Walter Teeg

Planet Si'an

Kharu City

Coalition Guard Headquarters

Supreme Commander General Walter Teeg was in a briefing with his high command and senior staff. They were gathered around a polished wooden table in his office.

We haven't heard anything from her in over two weeks now, said General Todd Tondaka. And we've got her under surveillance at Sandow. More ships are arriving every day, Before Sheena was just an irritation, striking at convoys here and there and interfering with our operations, but now...

What's the latest count? asked Teeg, turning to an aide.

We don't have an exact count, but it's over a thousand ships, sir, replied the aide. A good sized strike force.

General Ann Struthers studied Teeg with her ice blue eyes. When's the last time you slept, sir?

Don't worry about me, said Teeg. It's true. He hadn't slept much in the last two weeks and it was beginning to show in his broad face. He had large discolored patches around his eyes and heavy eyelids.

I say attack, sir. Let's throw everything we have at her. It was Colonel Chang, the new head of Fleet Security.

We'd lose half our fleet, replied Struthers. And we have no idea what the Al Yo'osh are capable of.

We don't want to meet her on her own territory, said Teeg. She'd have the high ground.

So, are we just going to wait until she attacks us? asked Chang.

She's said on a live broadcast that she's coming for you, sir, said Tondaka.

I know, replied Teeg tiredly. I think we need to push her a little. Try to keep her off balance. Force her into a move before she's ready.

How can we do that, sir? asked Chang. He scrutinized Teeg with his almond shaped brown eyes.

Everyone has a weakness, and I know hers. Teeg turned to another aide. How many of her people do we have locked up? Crew and monks.

An aide looked down at a reader. Uh... 511, sir. 304 men and 207 women.

Alright, we're going to make an announcement. All the Blacks and all the Billé Sanmo will be put to death the day after tomorrow, standard time. Is that enough time to make out all the death orders?

Yes, sir, replied an aide, swiping at a screen on his reader.

"Sheena's biggest weakness is her people," Teeg smirked.

<><><>

Sala Posanti Prison

Xerta Stayla was awakened by the clang of the cell door next to her. She looked at her cell mate, who was sleeping, then rolled over and tried to go back to sleep, but sleep was not her friend. She rolled onto her back and stared at the ceiling for a while.

Hey! said a voice. It was hushed, but urgent.

Xerta looked at her cell mate again, but she was still asleep. She glanced around and saw no one.

What the...? she mumbled. She scanned the cell again. It was ten by twenty feet with three gray cement walls, no windows and row of steel bars with a door in it.

She yawned, stretched her long frame then slowly lay back down. She scrunched her features then relaxed them.

Hey! Wake up!

This time Xerta jumped up. She still saw no one. Who's here? she asked.

Me, said a voice like sandpaper. Raht in front o' you.

There's no one in... Then she saw a flicker. On the wall. It was a holoscreen being projected there. The opacity was set to almost full transparency. She squinted, barely able to make out the image before her. It was a woman, about fifty. Maybe sixty. She had a wide face and one of those haircuts. What were they called? A Mohawk. Her scalp had been shaved except for a row of purple bristles marching down the center. She was wearing the same forest green jumpsuit all prisoners wore.

Turn up the contrast a little. I can barely see you.

Cain't. We bein' recorded. But da prison uses cheap stuff. Cain't detect nutin' below a two level.

As she talked, Xerta could hear an odd echo. She gradually realized the person on the screen before her was in the cell next door. She was hearing the voice on screen and the same voice next door.

How did you sneak a hologen in here?

Don' give no nevah mind. Jus' don' look directly at me an' run some watah.

Xerta went to the stained steel sink and turned on the tap. You bribe somebody?

Sumpin' like dat. Ah got bad news fer ya. And some good news.

Really? Xerta splashed water in her face, wiped the excess off with her hands then wiped her hands on her jumpsuit. What's the bad news?

Yer gonna die. Deat' order's been signed.

When?

Tommora. All Blacks been ordered essecuted.

Shit! said Xerta. Then she studied the woman facing her. How do you know this? And who are you anyway?

"Don' give no nevah mind. Ah know! Then she smiled. She was missing four teeth. Two above and two below. Her remaining yellowed teeth looked like they might fit together like puzzle pieces. Call me Candy."

Why do they call you Candy?

"Cause ah'm so sweet!" She started a cackle which devolved into a hacking, then a throat clearing explosive cough. She spat and smacked her lips, making a distasteful face.

You sound like you're from Dooma.

Mah accent gi' me away?

"So what's the good news, Candy?"

Oh! Well, dat's why ah'm here. You gonna be outa here in 'bout five hours.

Xerta blinked. Really!

Yep. Ya gotta git ready.

Xerta walked over and kicked her cellmate's cot. Wake up, Bo!

Her cell mate snorted and sputtered. Hmmf. Wh-What?

Wake up. We have a visitor.

Bo opened one eye cautiously, peered around and said, Don't see nobody.

Yeh, wake up, Bo, said Candy. You gittin' outa heah. Ya gotta git ready.

Bo came awake now and looked around. Who's talkin'?

Xerta pointed at the screen.

She's in the cell next door, said Xerta. Says she's gonna break us outa here.

"What? How?"

First, you gotta git word to ever'body. Tell dem to...

Wait! said Xerta holding up a hand. Why should we believe you?

I don't trust her, said Bo. Just look at her. She's a mess. She don't look like someone who could break out o' this place.

Dat's raght, said Candy. Ah'm jes a crazy ol' lady. No one pay no 'ttention to me.

What's she chewin'? asked Bo.

For the first time Xerta noticed Candy was working her jaws. She was chewing something.

Are you high on godroot? asked Xerta.

Godroot! sniffed Candy. Shit, no! Dat stuff'll ruin ya.

What're you chewin' then?

Candy reached up scratched the side of her face, hesitated then said, Farleaf.

Fireleaf? exclaimed Xerta. "That's even worse. I think you've fried your brain, old woman, and you've had a fevered dream or something. You can't get us out of here."

Aw, c'mon. pleaded Candy. Ah'm tryin' ta hep you.

This could be a trap for all we know, said Bo. We could follow you, then get shot in the back for tryin' to escape. The Coalition is pretty tricky.

Candy rolled her eyes. "Gimme a break! If de Coalition wanted ya dead, dey wouldn't go trough all dat. Dey'd jes kill you any time dey want. Jes shoot ya. But dey're not gonna do dat. Dey're gonna do it nice and legal wit signed deat' orders and ever'ting."

What death orders? said Bo.

All Blacks are to be essecuted tommora. Dat includes you and Xerta.

Xerta snapped a look at her. How do you know my name?

"I know all yer names. Ya were specifically recommendered to me. Yer Xerta Stayla, code name Nitro. Ya were a lieutenan' in da Blacks an' a Crossbow pilot. Cap'n Renfro said ta look ya up."

"Waterboy? He's alive?" Xerta held her breath.

Sure is. Talked ta him two days ago.

Sheena's alive too, isn't she? asked Xerta.

She is. An' she wants ya all back.

It must be true, said Xerta to Bo. "The rumors. About Sheena and the monks."

Anyways, said Candy. "We mountin' a coordinated attack an' escape wit de men. We was jes gonna bust out da Blacks. Den we said, oh crabbie! Let's jes bust 'em all out." Candy barked a laugh.

How are we gonna get away from here? said Xerta. In case you haven't noticed, we're in the mountains, the Pan Vanoche range. On top of a peak. Mount Okarra? The men's prison is just on the other side of this peak. There's only one narrow rocky road up and down the mountain, and there are over six thousand prisoners here.

Right. Everthin' moves in an' out by road or by air, said Candy.

The airspace over this place is locked down tight. So many patrols, they darken the sky, said Xerta. Not Waterboy himself could get through it.

I know. Dat's why we won' be usin' de road or jumpships. Candy leaned forward and said, Have ya noticed dey doubled da guards?

Yes, said Xerta. Yesterday. What does it mean?

Means dey spectin' Sheena to try sumpin'. Candy chuckled.

Is Sheena ready for them?

What de ya tink? There was a twinkle in her eye.

<><><>

Golo Posanti Prison

Damian Hadid's mouth hung open. He'd just seen a man walk through a solid stone wall.

Then another man walked through the wall. They were both dressed in green prison garb, but they didn't look like prisoners. At least Damian had never seen them before.

How did you do that?

The man ignored his question. Am I addressing Damian Hadid, Tova Stirling, Mantle Moore and Tomas Du Clair?

They all nodded dumbly. How did you know our names? asked Damian.

Again the man ignored his question. We are here to get you out. We will be leaving in two hours.

Wait! shouted Damian. Who are you?

My name is Hugo and this is Ivan. We were sent by the Shee'a...uh...Sheena to rescue you.

Oh you were, said Damian, not trying to hide his skepticism. Sheena, eh? Do you have any proof that you come from Sheena?

No, but I do know that your group is very fond of nicknames. Yours is Axe, his is Zip, his is Triple M, and... I don't believe Mr. Du Clair has a nickname. At least none of the Black's I talked to knew it.

Tova whipped around to Damian. "How could he know that? He must be from Sheena!"

Damian still looked skeptical. They can see you, you know. They have two cameras watching us right now and recording everything.

Hugo shook his head. Those cameras have been taken down for maintenance.

They're coming to get me in about twenty minutes, said Damian. To go to the arena.

I know, said Hugo. But you are not going to go. Give me your hand.

Why? asked Damian.

Hugo said nothing. He simply held out his hand, waiting. Finally Damian sighed and offered his hand. Hugo squeezed a drop of something from a tube into his open palm. That is going to give you a fever. It will appear to the guards that you are coming down with banjo fever. But it will not last. I will take your place in the arena.

Damian withdrew his hand in shock. "Shit! What did you do to me?"

It is merely the first step in the escape plan. Hugo looked around and still saw doubt. I can not force you to go, but if you stay, you will all be executed. The death orders have already been signed. You will all be put to death tomorrow morning.

Tova looked from Damian to Tomas, then to Sanford. I'm in.

Me too, said Tomas.

Okay, said Sanford, nodding.

What do you know about fighting in that arena? asked Damian. He sized up Hugo. He was a few inches shorter than Damian but solidly built, with jet black kinky hair and beard, and his eyes were like two flecks of coal. But he had an intense serious look. The kind of look you see in humorless dedicated men, who were all business. He couldn't picture this man ever laughing. Or smiling even.

I know that your opponent is a prisoner named Reese Macumber. I saw a recording of him in a brawl. He is big and powerful, but a crude fighter without much style or speed. He will take a look at me and become overconfident.

The other man, Ivan, pulled out a bag and started handing out pills. Everyone gets one of these.

What are they? asked Tova.

These are nanobots that will help you hold your breath. They will produce oxygen in your blood stream, using the water around you.

Water? asked Tova.

It will become obvious, said Ivan.

Damian studied Ivan. He had that same no nonsense look Hugo had. The same intensity. He turned to Hugo and asked, Do you know how to fight?

Yes. I'm a student of the Santaré discipline. But I also know Tacho Mache and Rösta.

Damian snapped his fingers and pointed at Hugo. You're warrior monks, aren't you. Billé Sanmo special warriors. What are you called? Kowl... or something?

Kawal suborder, replied Hugo evenly. He walked to the bars and looked out. They are not very competent here. They've doubled the guards in preparation for an attack by Sheena, but they're almost all going to be at the arena to watch the prisoner fights.

Tell me something, said Damian. I was aboard Nemesis when it got hit, and Sheena didn't get off with us. How did she make it out?

Captain Renfro found her in the wreckage, said Hugo. She was almost dead. We owe a great deal to the captain.

Suddenly Damian shuddered. I think that stuff you gave me is starting to work. I have a chill.

That's the start of it. Next you will feel feverish. You should lay down and act listless. As if the sickness has come over you.

How are you going to get us out of here?

We will reveal that when it is time.

Alright. We're putting a lot of trust in you. You know?

I know, replied Hugo. Don't worry. You can count on us.

Damian got the feeling he could. He lay down on his cot and got ready.

Ivan turned to Tomas Du Clair and said, Come. You and I must leave. Brother Hugo is going to take your place.

Won't the guards know?

We are similar in appearance. Do you ever talk to them?

No.

Then, no. They probably don't know one prisoner from another.

Ivan took Tomas by the hand and lead him to the wall, then he did a manipulation with his hand and they passed through the wall to the other side.

How the Pete do you do that? asked Tova, eyes wide.

It's something new, said Hugo. We got it from the Al Yo'osh.

Chapter 2

When the guards arrived, they opened the door to the cell and said, C'mon, Hadid. Time to put on a show.

Damian did not move.

I said let's go, Hadid! shouted the guard. There were three. Big beefy men with scowling faces. They were all wearing the brown uniforms of the prison guards with shoulder patches and black caps with bills.

The meanest looking guard walked up to Damian's cot and kicked it. When Hadid still didn't move, he reached out and shook him. Hadid rolled over and groaned, I don't feel good.

The guard frowned and