Prelude to War

By T S Paul

With the destruction of the Earth ship Colossus the 3rd interstellar war is about to begin. The Cabal plan to reveal their political intentions to the Galaxy, but before they can, they have to eliminate their enemies first. Athena and her whole family are in their sights along with anyone that stands in the way of progress and control. Who will survive the onslaught and who will die? Only time will tell.
Join Athena, Wilson and the CATTs as they set out to prove that might does not equal right!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Great God Pan Publishing, Inc
• Release date: Mar 13, 2019

T S Paul

I'm now into my second year as a published author. With over 25 works under my belt already my pace is relentless. Writing was never a goal of mine growing up. I really did fall into this accidentally. My wife and family knew of my love of books and urged me to try writing. It wasn't until an author i befriended gave me a short push off a long pier that i really gave it a go. And what a go that was! Athena Lee and Agatha Blackmore have given way to over 50 short stories. I write a lot. The future is in books and I'm in it for the long haul. Keep your eyes peeled for New and exciting things coming from me this year. I'm Excited, are you? This year i have expanded into the wonderful world of Cookbooks. I changed careers in the early 2000s switching from Retail management at Waldenbooks and going to Culinary School at L'Ecole Culinaire-Saint Louis in Missouri. Graduating near the very top of my class i moved on to work at the Renaissance Grand Hotel for my internship and later Masterpiece BBQ in Chesterfield, Mo as kitchen Manager. My co-writer and partner in crime for the current Tie-in cookbooks is Taki Drake. She is both an fiction writer and recipe hoarder like myself. Expect to see much more from her in the near future as she will be writing inside my Federal Witch Universe. Recently I allied myself with Phoenix Prime. Late in 2016 a group of authors entered into the Phoenix Prime writers course sponsored initially by the 20books to 50k Facebook group, of which i am a original member. I was involved with the group from it's inception and its sole admin moderator for half a year. Writer, Psychologist, and Computer security specialist extraordinaire Kat Lind chose to teach the class. Several other Authors were asked to mentor and teach special classes. I was honored to be asked to do some of that. The Group is made up of over 30 authors across all Genres. Many are just starting their publishing careers and i expect greatness from them. Keep your eyes peeled for New and exciting things coming from me this year. I'm Excited, are you? Check in at my Website for more information and Free stuff https://tspaul.blogspot.com/ For Coffee Mugs, T-Shirts, Tote Bags, and a whole lot More http://phoenixprimerising.com Born a Witch Drafted by the FBI! Conjuring Quantico Magical Probi Special Agent in Charge Witness Enchantment Night of the Unicorn Invisible Elder - TBD Blood on the Moon - TBD Child of Darkness -TBD A Draft of Dragons -TBD Cat’s Night Out, Tails from the Federal Witch Audio Coming Soon Darkness Revealed Standard of Honor Series Shade of Honor Coven Codex -TBD A confluence of Covens -TBD Conflict of Commitments -TBD Standard of Honor -TBD Cookbooks From the Federal Witch Universe Marcella’s Garden Cookbook Fergus Favorites Cookbook Marcella's Summer Bounty Cookbook - Coming Soon Marcella's Autumn Harvest Cookbook Athena Lee Chronicles The Forgotten Engineer Engineering Murder Ghost ships of Terra Revolutionary Insurrection Imperial Subversion The Martian Inheritance Infiltration Prelude to War War to the Knife Ghosts of Noodlemass Past Athena Lee Universe Shades of Learning Space Cadets - Coming Soon Short Story Collections Wilson’s War A Colony of CATTs Box Sets Chronicles of Athena Lee - Books 1-3 Chronicles of Athena Lee - Books 4-6 Chronicles of Athena Lee - Books 7-9 plus the prequel The Federal Witch: The Collected Works, Book 1 The Federal Witch: The Collected Works, Book 2 Standalone or tie-ins The Tide: The Multiverse Wave The Lost Pilot Uncommon Life Kutherian Gambit Alpha Class. The Etheric Academy book 1 Alpha Class The Etheric Academy Book 2 Anthology's Phoenix Galactic The Expanding Universe Book 2 Cupid’s Bow Mysterious Hearts Haunted Hearts Non-Fiction Get that Sh@t off your Cover!

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Legal Stuff

Copyright © 2016 T.S. Paul, All Rights Reserved.

Reproduction of any kind is strictly prohibited unless written permission granted by the editor of the anthology and the individual author.

Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

Cover designed by Heather Hamilton-Senter

Re-Editing by Diane Velasquez, Dorene Johnson, and Kat Lind

Dedications

Special thanks to my wife Heather who keeps me grounded and to Merlin the Cat, we are his minions.

Chapter 1

Many of the galaxy’s governments were in a state of shock. Earth’s United Nations still existed as a political entity, and its goal was galactic domination! For many planets, Old Earth was a near-forgotten fantasy world that didn’t matter anymore. The fact that they had sent out a massive dreadnought and space fleet changed all that. The Cabal was now acting in the open and the Empire was tearing itself to pieces as civil war broke out. The biggest news was that independent Mars had a bigger fleet than anyone had known and had successfully defeated the best that Earth sent at them. But the war with Old Earth was far from over. In fact, it was just starting to heat up.

Over Mars, burning wreckage was still falling from the skies. Martian space tugs and salvage crews barely managed to prevent the larger chunks from entering the atmosphere. The planetary city protection shields flared repeatably as they caught some of the debris. I was standing on the roof of our Embassy watching the shields. The technology required to build something like that boggled my mind. Maybe with Mars joining the Alliance they would be willing to share some of the tech? If not, Amalie might be persuaded to share.

So much has changed in my life over the past couple of years since my rescue. I found myself remembering the shouting match between father and me the day I left for the Academy. He kept yelling about my ‘duty to the family’ and the plans he had made for me. I threw it into his face that I was of age, and on our planet, an independent functioning adult. He couldn’t stop me legally even if he tried. I remembered first boarding the shuttle and starting my big adventure. The second Interstellar War was still raging and officers were in demand. My training and interests were what directed me toward the Engineering program at the Academy. Unknown to Father while I was finishing my general education degree at the University I had simultaneously completed a Mechanical Engineering degree. He didn’t think that women should be educated and payed very little attention to me at the time. I had lived on campus so he remained largely unaware of my interests. There was a bodyguard assigned to me, but he was easily distracted by some of the athletics on campus. I had eventually graduated at the top of my class for both degrees. I had had little time to participate in the ‘college experience’ that many talk about. I was too driven to build a career doing something I enjoyed. I could not remember my real mother, but I knew she had been someone in the diplomatic service to Mars. I too wanted a real career, not just a minor post in the Militia.

The Navy recruiter must have thought he hit the jackpot when I walked into his office. I barely made the height requirement needed to enlist. But when the Sergeant looked at my education and basic training he started paying attention to me.

So Ms. Lee why do you want to enlist in the PPL Navy? I see from your Militia record that you have all the qualifications to excel as a foot soldier and logistics officer if these records are to be believed.

Sergeant, I want to do more with my life than be just a logistics officer, I want to go into space and excel. My college degree is almost in my hand.

He was flipping through the hard copy reports looking for the college information. He found it just as I spoke.

I am in the top percentile of my general studies degree and I will have a minor in Mechanical Engineering. I really want to complete the Engineering degree and maybe one day build beautiful things. I hope that the Navy can help me with that.

The Sergeant raised his eyes up from the papers he clutched and just stared at me. Ms. Lee you are extremely qualified to join the Naval Engineering program! Where would you like to serve?

I laughed to myself when I thought about my response to the recruiter’s question. They give every potential recruit that question, but everyone gets assigned to ship duty. Everyone.

Ambassador Lee? There you are! Please come inside. I’ve been searching all over for you... You are needed in the conference room.

So much for peace and quiet. Mr. Choy. I believe that I asked for an hour of peace this time. What is so urgent that you disturb my rest?

Ambassador, you are needed for a meeting with both the Martian representative and the ambassador from New Texas. They have urgently requested to see you.

Fine, fine. I’m coming, keep your pants on. That’s another thing. This job. It wasn’t all dinners and shaking hands as I’d half expected. Every overindulgent freighter captain that gets into trouble gives me a call. At all hours of the night. Not to mention all the diplomatic things this job comes with. I could kill my father for sticking me with this.

The official conference room was located on the second floor. It was newly rebuilt and very comfortable. The old one was shot up and partially destroyed in my rescue from the old Ambassador. My girlfriend Dar and her team hadn’t cared about the niceties of fine furnishings and fancy wallpaper. Standing next to the table staring at the vid screen was Ambassador Martinez, the New Texas representative.

Ambassador Martinez? I’m sorry, were you waiting long? The big man turned and smiled at me.

No, Ambassador Lee. I only arrived a short while ago. I was watching the coverage of the debris clean up.

I was doing the same thing, but from up there. I pointed at the roof of the building.

Is the view any better that the vid?

Not really. They have space shots and look down camera views. All I could see was the flashes of light when something hit the dome shields. It is pretty though! So, what can I do for you today? I smiled and looked up at the tall man.

He launched right in. Our two worlds, while Allies, have no real formal ties. My government wishes to fix that.

Wow! That’s wonderful Mr. Ambassador. One question though why do it here? New Texas is a lot closer to Hong Kong than Mars is.

He sighed. Our leaders wish to be included in anything that involves Mars. So since YOU are on Mars they wish it to happen here.

Me? Why do they want me? I’m just an Engineer that got dragooned into this position. It was no real secret that I really did not want the job.

Whether you believe it or not, you are a pivot point for much that has happened recently. He held up his hands when I tried to speak out.

Hear me out. Since your rescue you have been involved in one way or another with every major galactic incident or conflict in the past few years. People of power have noticed you, Madam Ambassador. They have noticed and many will capitalize on it.

I was stunned. I had nothing to say to that. When do you wish to get together to discuss closer ties to the PPL?

I will contact my government and send you the details.

After a few more pleasantries I pressed a button, and he was escorted out of the building.

A pivot point? Maybe I can ask Wilson to investigate that for me. I pressed another button in my console and the ‘Martian Ambassador’ was escorted in. It wasn’t the official ambassador but Gaston, my grandmother’s aide and official gopher. Gaston I see she has you doing her dirty work now.

Ms. Lee, ever the beauty still. Was that sarcasm? I hadn’t realized he had a sense of humor! Yes the Primus has put me to work once again. She is asking for both you and Commander Dar. We have captured a small group of the Earthies.

They didn’t suicide? That’s incredible! I’ll get Dar. How did you catch them? I hit another button on my console and typed in a short message to Dar. After the destruction of the Old Earth ship Colossus, Martian salvage teams had been recovering tons of wreckage. Within that pile of scrap metal were several escape pods and shuttles. Over a dozen survivors had been found so far. But every single one of them either committed suicide after being found or while in transit to Mars. Some sort of mental trigger killed them all.

It was a fluke, really. Salvage Team One, flying one of the Condor class ships, came across a shuttle parked next to one of the space defense platforms. There was an Earth team on board trying to dismantle the defense pods. The Condor class is armed, so they were able to capture the shuttle. Inside were five clones. According to them they are Gammas and Epsilons. They have said very little to us. I think they expect to be killed. It’s very interesting.

Have they said anything else?

Not really, no. They have called us all ‘Sapes’ a few times. We believe that is is short for Homo Sapiens and is most likely a derogatory remark.

Yeah, that Alpha that freaked out called us that a few times. Tell Amalie that we are on our way.

If it is OK with you, I shall wait and escort you myself. By the way, the Primus requests the presence of your electronic friend as well. He may have insight into these prisoners.

Wilson? He’s around somewhere I think. I told him to stay out of trouble, but I may as well have asked the sun to stop revolving. I’ll yell for him as we go. That usually works fairly well.

As we both walked out to the main lobby Dar, my girlfriend, came up behind me and gave me a big hug. Hello Gaston! Doing Amalie’s dirty work?

He rolled his eyes. Hello Commander Dar. Congratulations on the promotion! It was overdue. Somehow the both of you have the wrong impression of me. I don’t do dirty work. I have people for that. He smiled at her.

I stood on my tippy toes and kissed her. The UCMJ stated no personal displays of affection while in uniform, but I was the Ambassador and here on Mars I make some of the rules. A small bit. Dar they have prisoners that didn’t suicide!

Wow. On your way there now?

Yes, Grandmother is calling for us. You included.

OK, let me call my team and give them their orders. I’ll catch up.

My security team was waiting by the front door. Ever since the Cabal was exposed there have been terrorist attacks almost every day. Many were not effective and only strengthened the public’s hatred of them. Martian citizens were quick to turn in those suspected of being members. Local police officials were estimating that they had arrested at least seventy percent of the strange group. Many included in that number were government officials, public figures, and civil servants such as police officers. That being the case, I did not trust local law enforcement yet.

Chapter 2

Since the Earth ship Colossus exploded just ten days ago wreckage and debris was everywhere. The Martian mass driver weapon had proved more powerful than they’d expected it to be. But much of the Earth fleet and parasite crafts were not in a position to be caught in the explosion. They subsequently split up into three groups of attackers. Force One continued the attack on the Martian