Through the Dark Mirror: A Novella of the Cross-Temporal Empire

By Andrew J. Harvey

After eighty years of total war the remnants of humanity on the Nayarit Line struggle to survive in their sealed domes, surrounded by radioactive wastelands. Now, in the last, desperate years of the war Commissar Traek arrives at Chiqu, a small research facility on the west coast of North America, to investigate a case of possible treason. But the treason is far worse than even he suspected, and as the domes begin to fail and the Empire falls, he finds himself transported from his dying world to a parallel Earth. An Earth that is totally unprepared for the technology of the invading Nayarit. An Earth that will demand from him one final sacrifice.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Hague Publishing
• Release date: Apr 7, 2020
• ISBN: 9780648571438

Book preview

Through the Dark Mirror

(A novelette of the Cross-Temporal Empire)

Andrew J Harvey

THROUGH THE DARK MIRROR

The moral rights of Andrew J Harvey to be identified as the author of this work have been asserted.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without written permission of the publisher.

1st Edition copyright 2019 Andrew J Harvey

2nd Edition copyright 2021 Andrew J Harvey

University of Constantinople Press

(an imprint of Hague Publishing)

PO Box 451

Bassendean Western Australia 6934

Web: www.HaguePublishing.com

ISBN: 978-0-6485714-3-8

All rights reserved.

Table of Contents

Through the Dark Mirror

Other Books by the Author

Aviator — Arrival

Aviator — Departure

Commissar — Contact

Aviator — Consequences

Commissar — Journey

Commissar — Beginning

Nightfall

A Concise History of the Nayarit Line

Summary

Pre-history

Timeline

A Concise History of the Mainline

(Romano - Balkan Renaisance)

Summary

Timeline

Nightfall — Chapter 1

About the Author

UOC Press

Other Books by the Author

The Cross-Temporal Empire series

The Clemhorn Trilogy

Nightfall - 2019 Zmok Books

Nadir - to be released 2022

Sunrise - to be released 2023

The Portal Adventures (young adult / middle grade reader SF)

Trouble on Teral - 2020 Peasantry Press

Crisis at Calista Station - 2020 Peasantry Press

Vortex on Vertu Prime - to be released 2022 Peasantry Press

Aviator — Arrival

AS THE shield slid backwards to expose the fans the vibration of the aircraft became a heavy shudder. Beside me the Commissar looked up worriedly from his tablet.

Just shifting to landing mode, I said, trying for confident. Unfortunately, given the state of the craft, and the fact this was going to be my first landing outside the simulator, I was finding that a bit difficult.

I risked a glance sideways to the Commissar, whose his looming presence during the five hour flight hadn’t helped my confidence. He’d barely said a word to me during the entire flight, leaving me to wonder why he’d requested me for this mission. Me, a twenty-four-year-old female pilot whose only prior flight experience had been in simulators. It might have been I was the only pilot available. But when dealing with a Commissar, one of those tasked with the safeguarding of both our loyalty and our mortal souls, one couldn’t assume anything.

I returned my eyes to the HUD, which was presently overlaying a 3D radar image onto the swirling sand of the storm outside, and offered up a quick prayer. This close to the mountains wind shear was a constant problem, and the aircraft’s automatic stability protocols were being severely tested. I tried to resist the urge to grip the yoke and forced myself to simply rest my hands on the controls, only exerting any pressure when the protocols came close to failing. I’d practiced this enough times in the simulator, but reality turned out to be a little bit more ‘real’ than I’d anticipated.

The sand shrieked as it flung itself against the craft’s canopy. Out of the corner of my eye I noticed the Commissar craning his head for the first sight of the research facility that was our destination. We were on the final descent path when the engines whined, and we were thrust back into our seats as the plane lurched sideways, almost clipping the mountain.

Demon’s breath, I swore as the HUD fluoresced red and an alarm screamed in my ear.

What?! the Commissar demanded as the plane yawed violently, then pitched forward again.

Missile lock. I pulled back on the yoke but the plane fought me, jinking wildly.

Where? The Commissar frantically tried to see the source of the lock.

The HUD helpfully identified the source, and I swore, anger temporarily overriding my panic.

It’s the fucking base. I thumbed the transmit. Chiqu Base, Chiqu Base, this is flight 485. You have missile lock on us.

Unidentified aircraft, please activate your FOF identifier, came the unemotional response.

According to my display our ‘Friend or Foe’ was working, and I wondered if I’d entered the wrong key when I’d loaded the flight plan. But no, I’d double, triple-checked everything. It had to be the plane. I slammed a fist against the panel. Pile of shit! I took a breath, trying to control my anger and panic, because if the bloody missile didn’t get us the evasion protocols would. Chiqu Base, I have Historian-Commissar Traek onboard. Deactivate your missile lock.

Unidentified aircraft, please activate your FOF identifier.

The Commissar leaned forward to press the transmit button and I looked across at him startled.

This is Historian-Commissarius Traek. Deactivate your missile lock. He glanced down at his tablet. I am sending my authority code — now. He pressed the signet ring he wore on his thumb against the indent in the base of the screen.

The craft continued to jink wildly as I struggled to prevent the automatic evasion protocols from plunging us straight into the ground, then the alarm abruptly cut off and the HUD stopped fluorescing. As it did the whine of the engines rose to a shriek as the craft finally answered to the yoke and the fans went into full reverse, slamming us back into our seats.

I thrust the yoke forward, at the same time angling the fans, causing the craft to yaw left. I heard the Commissar gasp as the flank of the mountain flashed past the canopy, less than a foot beyond the tip of our left wing. A moment later the craft started to vibrate madly.