Treacherous Fires of Civil Unrest: Galaxy on Fire, #1

By Clayton L McNally

The Galactic Kingdom was located in the Scutum-Centaurus Arm of the Milky Way. Roughly ten thousand to fifteen thousand Light Years from SOL. It was a Kingdom of over one thousand star systems. For generations, the King and Queen would send their only child (male) to some far-off star system to grow, theoretically safe from assassins in the Kingdom.

Typically, the Prince would go to one-star system, and his betrothed would be sent to another to be raised - for safety. This practice has been done for generations. There was always someone who would want the new heir and future queen dead. Usually, the King and Queen would have one male child to ensure no rivals to the throne.

By sheer accident, King Randolph and Queen Suzanne had four boys in one birth. Randolph came out first, then Francis, Rothchild, and finally Reginald. Eventually, the three brothers decide they want the throne and are willing to usurp the King and Queen and kill the rightful heir and future bride.

Lady Michelle is in Caspra (what we on Earth call the Ursae-Majoris star system), about forty-nine light years from SOL. Prince Lee was on Earth but lost to his protectors.

The three brothers overthrow the King and kill him. They send fleets to wipe out all life in SOL to ensure they get the Prince. A star destroyer is sent to Caspra to kill Lady Michelle or wipe the planet out.

Lady Michelle and her protection force head to SOL to find the Prince. A small for flees the Kingdom in search of Lady Michelle and Prince Lee - still loyal to the crown. Queen Suzanne and a respectable force escape and head to SOL. Note: The Queen didn't flee by choice. The King intervened and had her whisked to a force to go to Prince Lee's aid.

The three brothers send fleets at staggered times to wipe out SOL. Ingenuity on the defender's part saves SOL and Prince Lee. The defeat of the three fleets puts the Galaxy on Fire.

SOL must find allies and level the playing field with the Galactic Kingdom, which has now been broken into three Kingdoms - book two takes off from here.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Clayton L McNally
• Release date: Jan 29, 2024
• ISBN: 9781646696017

Clayton L McNally

Clayton McNally writes in a story-telling manner that is fast-paced and exciting. His stories grab your interest from beginning to end. 'To the Stars' will engage the imagination of Science Fiction enthusiasts. This action-packed novel includes hand-to-hand combat using Kenpo Karate and major space battles utilizing unconventional ingenuity.    Clayton is a software engineer and a 4th Dan Master Instructor of American Kenpo Karate, Reiki, and Acupressure Practitioner. Clayton has been a guest at numerous Science Fiction Conventions, including Albacon, Arisia, Balticon, Boskone, Marscon, Ubbercon, DexCon, NonCon, PortConMaine, UMassCon, and others. He provides excellent insight as a panelist. Email for appearances:     Email:       [e-mail] Email:       [e-mail] Website:    www.claytonlmcnally.com                  (Blog on website)

Book preview

Dedications

I will forgo my customary dedications at this time.

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My wife and best friend of 36 (married) years (close to 40 including dating) passed away on March 12, 2018, from Cancer. I will miss her very much and look forward to being with her again one day. Betsy was always the strength behind me to strive for more. She was/is and will always be my best friend and wife.

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With her loss, I have also lost my editor. I have leased software that edits a book; if anything is discovered to be incorrect, please email me. There are no words I can say to acknowledge how much Betsy meant to me or means to me.

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NOTE: My wife (Betsy) was diagnosed with cancer in 2011. At that time, I continued writing, just not publishing. My editor (Betsy) was unable to edit. Fighting Cancer was much more important to us than publishing. We had planned to release it digitally beginning in September 2018, but at her loss, I decided to wait until February 2024.

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Fan Appreciation

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For the many readers who have patiently waited for the Galaxy on Fire, thank you all very much. Thank you very much for the interest that allowed a move to digital to take place. I hope you enjoy the first copies of Galaxy on Fire; I look forward to any comments.

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email:   [e-mail]

email:  [e-mail]

web site:    www.claytonlmcnally.com

Blog on website

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God Bless you all!

Consider

People often tell you that when opportunity knocks, there are two doors. I believe there are three: Avoid it, Ignore it, and Go for it. Which door would you choose?

Acknowledgment of Cover Art

When not designing or writing, Tatiana Vila can be found watching Documentaries, playing with her Mini Aussie, singing in the shower, and eating way too many chocolates. She speaks Spanish, French, and Portuguese and loves to travel and meet new cultures. Her motto in life: let the mind run wild.

But what is so important about her ‘motto,’ you might wonder? Well, in the last five years, her motto has been her golden ticket to success. It has driven her to do what she loves.  Her biggest passion is creating book covers. She's always been drawn to imagery, colors, and contrasts. A gripping book cover is what pushes her to pick up a book from a shelf and dive into its depths. And as you might know, she's not the only one. This is, in fact, human nature. We are visual human beings. That is why a professional book cover is so important. It's an author's card of presentation, and Tatiana Vila surely knows it!

Contact can be made through Clayton’s email.

Acknowledgment of Starship Art

I had the pleasure of working with an artist, Rick Edmond, on the Starship designs for Justice and Integrity. Both ships are featured in the Galaxy on Fire series, the first book in the series Treacherous Fires of Civil Unrest.

Rick Emond is a Connecticut native and entrepreneur specializing in Writing, Illustration, and Concept Design for Comics/Graphic Novels, TV, and Film. Rick began his career as an apprentice to comic illustrator Sal Trapani. During that time, Rick got his professional start tasked with inking and illustrating assignments on various Marvel and DC titles, among others.

Over the years, he became involved in the creation and illustration/design for many top Role-playing and Collectible Card Game companies, including Wizards of the Coast’s Magic The Gathering.

Rick was chosen to be part of a team of talented illustrators that developed an online comic series for LNL Partners to create motion comic art for William Shatner’s: Man O War as well as, POW/ Stan Lee's published project titled: God Woke. He has served as an illustrator and visual concept developer for VR Press on their live-action Web and Comics series Venus Rises" and created several issues of Big Stick Comics.

Contact can be made through Clayton’s email.

Contacting the Author

Clayton L. McNally enjoys contact from readers of his first series, Galactic Star Force, and hopes to receive more from the new series Galaxy on Fire, as well as a future series, Vampiric Wars. You can contact him through his email:

email:   [e-mail]

email:   [e-mail]

web site:    www.claytonlmcnally.com

Blog on website

Send emails and images. Pictures help establish a connection to make it easier to have a conversation with people. If you have a starship aliens (evil or good) drawings to offer for no fees, they might get included in future books and include acknowledgment of the artist within each edition of the series.

Should you wish to make contact with either the Cover Artist or the Starship Artist, please get in touch with Clayton L. McNally, and he will pass along any inquiries.

Please allow time for a response.

Galaxy on Fire Ship Categories

Note: There are two different fleets of Galaxy on Fire. The first fleet is used by the Galactic Kingdom - the center of the Milky Way. The second fleet is built in SOL by a Galactic Kingdom scientist sent with the Prince/King in the new ‘League of Star Systems ‘the League’"’ a combination of a Monarchy and a Republic.

Galaxy on Fire Ship Duties

General - Each type of ship, from the smaller frigate to the largest Super Dreadnaught, mounts massive energy weapons: FhracTLs (long-distance frequency, harmonic, resonating, accentuated, continuous modulating sonic beam), PulseFhracTLs (short distance, machine gun-like with a heavy concentration of modulating sonic pulses), and a Laser Point-defense system (rapid-fire system to track and destroy incoming missiles or torpedoes). Each ship carries multiple Orb launchers and powerful laser banks. The actual numbers on each are classified and increase by the size of the vessel. 

Dreadnaught, Battleships, and Battle Cruiser: Their primary mission is waging war. Super heavy hulls are designed to take a lot of weapons fire. Generally, it is not used for diplomatic purposes unless an impression is needed to be made.

Heavy Cruiser, Cruiser, and Light Cruiser: Their primary mission is to support exploration and the Diplomatic Corps, but they would also have to keep waging war. Large hulls designed to take a lot of weapons fire, but not as much as the ‘Battle’ ready ships. Generally, they are not sent into areas of known aggression unless as a support ship or part of a small fleet.

Galaxy on Fire Ship Duties

Destroyers and Frigates: Their primary mission is to support scouting and escort duties and support the Diplomatic Corps. They would also have to support waging war. They each had lighter hulls designed to take a limited amount of weapons fire, not as much as the Cruiser class of ships, but could dish out a lot of weapons fire. 

Carriers, Light Carriers, and Fast Attack Carriers: Their primary mission is to support battles but from a safe distance with a constant guard of escort ships - destroyers, frigates, and cruisers. They would also have to support waging war. Light to moderate hulls are designed to take a limited amount of weapon fire but are not intended to be in the middle of a battle. Due to the nature of their fighters and bombers and the damage they could inflict on the enemy, carriers would often be the target of choice by enemy warships.

Justice

Justice is a prototype super dreadnaught. The unique nature of this ship is in the Artificial Intelligence that becomes complete when Prince/King Lee is augmented and bio-neurally linked to the vessel.

Capable of destroying a planet with its weapons arrays, it utilizes four flight modes:

Sub-Light  - Less than the speed of

light, primarily used in intra-solar system travel

FTL    - Faster-Than-Light (up to

2,725 times the speed of light)

QuantumSlipStream  - Faster-Than-Light (up to

8,400 times the speed of light)

Spatial Folding  - Manipulate Space and

Time to instantly move from one part of the Universe to another at over 44,000 times the speed of light

Justice

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Justice - Side view

Copyright 2019 - Clayton L. McNally

Artist - Richard Emond

Justice - Top view

Copyright 2019 - Clayton L. McNally

Artist - Richard Emond

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Integrity

Integrity is a prototyped, super-heavy carrier. The unusual nature of this ship (when built) will be in the Artificial Intelligence that becomes complete when Lady Michelle is augmented and bio-neurally linked to the vessel.

Capable of bringing hundreds of fighters and bombers and their weapons to a battle, it could equal the firepower of a battleship-class warship. It utilizes four flight modes:

Sub-Light  - Less than the speed of

light, primarily used in intra-solar system travel

FTL    - Faster-Than-Light (up to

2,725 times the speed of light)

QuantumSlipStream  - Faster-Than-Light (up to

8,400 times the speed of light)

Spatial Folding  - Manipulate Space and

Time to instantly move from one part of the Universe to another at over 44,000 times the speed of light

Integrity

Integrity - Side view

Copyright 2019 - Clayton L. McNally

Artist - Richard Emond

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Integrity - Top view

Copyright 2019 - Clayton L. McNally

Artist - Richard Emond

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Faster-Than-Light, TransFTLStream, and Fold Speeds

Estimates of Faster-Than-Light speeds are provided. Velocities are based on approximated numbers.

Faster-Than-Light, TransFTLStream, and Fold Speeds

Estimates of Faster-Than-Light speeds are listed. Velocities are approximated.

Table of Contents

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Ship Descriptions

Faster-Than-Light Speeds

Prologue   - Peace Doesn’t Always Last Forever

Chapter 1   - Discovered, Flight for Life

Chapter 2   - Earth, Home for a Prince

Chapter 3   - Border Incursions

Chapter 4   - Battle Wing, In Name Only

Chapter 5   - No Mercy

Chapter 6   - Drive to the Throne

Chapter 7   - Faith Can Light the Way

Chapter 8   - Earth, One Nation Not All Under God

Chapter 9   - Dinner and a Theater

Chapter 10   - A Mother’s Anger

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Prologue - Peace Doesn’t Always Last Forever

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The Galactic Kingdom had lasted for over one thousand years, but only the last two hundred and fifty years saw relative peace and substantial prosperity. Spanning over a thousand star systems, the Kingdom had tens of thousands of habited planets. Many beings of different species lived in harmony within the Kingdom. 

It had lasted partially from how it was ruled, much like a republic with a monarchy at the helm. The sovereignty could override any legislation but rarely did so. The ‘Lords System,’ which included a representative of the King and Queen, had an equal say in the legislative process. Since the royal family was part of the legal process, it became complicated - but not impossible - for the King or Queen by birth to override legislation.

For the last two hundred fifty years, the ruling family had permanently settled on having one child - a male. The early years of the Kingdom were blighted with insurgent uprisings from a brother, a sister, or even from multiple siblings who otherwise wouldn’t inherit the throne. Practicality finally won out, and they set the tradition of one male child only. With the technology available, it was always engineered for the Royals to have a male. In family planning of this nature, the goal was merely to carry on the royal family name.

For over two hundred years, the royal family ruled the Kingdom justly and in peace. The King and Queen were highly thought of throughout the known universe. King Randolph’s rule was characterized by justice for all citizens, no matter their position in the Kingdom. He had ruled the Kingdom for over thirty years, and with the Queen, they had one child.

Prince Lee was the only child in line for the throne; unfortunately, his uncles were waiting in the wings for their inherent right to be King. Michelle was the royal ward and betrothed to the future King. In all likelihood, she would one day become Queen or hold some other high and worthy position. Ascension didn’t always please all parties, and some would do anything to alter the rise to power.

King Randolph and Queen Suzanne had done their part in planning as previous monarchs had, but King Randolph’s parents - King Janson and Queen Regina - had an unforeseen set of events take place, and four boys were delivered. The reasonable balance for succession was not in jeopardy as the firstborn male - Randolph - was now the current King, but unfortunately, the other Princes saw the fate of their births as an injustice. Each felt they had a legitimate right to the throne, and if an opportunity presented itself, they might jump at it.

Each of King Randolph’s three brothers had been provided for, and each was a territorial lord. As such, they exerted influence in all matters for several star systems and countless billions of people in their regions - tens of billions of people when their regions of the Kingdom were looked at. Each was wealthy beyond most citizens of the realm, but they longed for the power of the King. In the ordinary events of life, each should have been content with his position and wealth.

Three brothers were the crown Princes and heirs to the throne of the Galactic Kingdom, but only if both Lee and King Randolph were to die. Each had thought long of a more significant role for themselves. Petty pride had entered lives long ago, driving each brother to plot for more. There had been times when one of the three younger brothers had deliberately, although secretly, caused pain to the first heir, Randolph.

Francis - the first and next in line was devious - but carefully discreet in his attempts. He relished the thought that one day, the Kingdom would be his at all costs.

Rothchild, the middle of the three, was just crazy in his desire. He was merely insane, and none of the brothers trusted his motives regarding anything.

The youngest was Reginald, of the three, the most content with his position as long as he had his wealth and power. He was the timid one of the three and could be led down any path.

King Randolph and Queen Suzanne had watched the plotting of the three Princes for many years and early on decided to send their heir off-planet for safety reasons and instruction. Tradition had always done so for the heirs, at least for the last two hundred years, but circumstances now called for it more than ever. The King and Queen had foiled many plots in the years leading up to having children and uncovered more after their child was born.

Usually, an heir would be shipped off to a very distant planet. In this manner, they would be allowed to grow up with others in a safe environment. Heirs, if more than one, would be sent to different worlds under the highest security. Only the King, Queen, and each young ward’s security team knew of the children’s locations. For security reasons, Prince Lee and his betrothed Lady Michelle would be placed in homes on far distant planets that weren’t officially members of the Kingdom. They hid the heir and his betrothed on newly - discovered planets that contained human life genetically similar to the royal family’s species.

Chapter 1 - Discovered, Flight for Life

As the thief is ashamed when he is discovered, so shall all houses have their sin and shame seen.

Michelle sat in the middle of the bleachers in her assigned seat along with three hundred other graduating students. Many speeches by University dignitaries and a few public officials took a toll on the patience of students and guests. All of the rhetoric from the speakers gave Michelle time to gaze out at the audience.  

Nearly a thousand people had come to watch the formalities, and she wondered how many she might know. Of course, she had made many great friends at college, and she did know their families, but certainly not all. She swept her gaze slowly, moving back and forth, looking for familiar faces. 

On one of her visual glances over the guests, she caught a glimpse of a man she had seen many times during her life, although she didn’t know who he was. Whatever she did, he was usually present and often not alone. She had told her parents about this man on several occasions, but nothing ever came of it. They always brushed it off as her imagination. But there was still that feeling in her stomach that this man might be vital to her, but she didn’t know. She felt a link to him and a few others she had come to recognize that we're always with him.

Commencement speeches were droning on when a laser shot was fired from the audience into the graduating seniors. Laser guns weren’t supposed to exist; science didn’t have the technology to create them, at least not in Caspra. The shot rang nearly true to hitting Michelle in the chest, but her good fortune of learning her right to speak to her best friend had saved her life. Unfortunately, the young man behind her took the full force of the laser directly into the stomach. His commencement had formally ended with that shot. Life wasn’t supposed to be a risk at a small graduation ceremony.

The audience broke into uncontrolled hysteria and started running in every direction, any place leading away from the energy beam. Students were clamoring to get off of the bleachers and to seek safety with their families. The audience itself was mostly fleeing the scene, and parents were attempting to locate their graduating kids. Still, other people from the audience hadn’t moved; they were also armed and appeared to be searching for the moving mass of people for potential assailants.

Michelle and her friend ducked for cover on the flooring between their seat and the next seat. Once no further blast came, and the burning smell and intense heat dissipated, she began peeking over the top of the seat in front, looking over the people making their way down the bleachers. Her eyes surveyed the stampede of people moving violently away from the bleachers, and she watched, horrified, as others were trampling over some people. The shooter was no longer visible in the audience. Michelle wasn’t specifically looking for him, but not seeing further shots kept him hidden. She suspected he was on the move. Where to was the question? 

Fear was rampant today, and screams filled the air. Both Michelle and her friend Laura were terrified; their graduation ceremony was indeed not what they planned or envisioned.

What was that? Laura asked her friend Michelle. Carefully, she looked at the young man who had just died. The wounds he had received were too high for anyone to survive. Michelle, that shot would have hit you in the chest and killed you if you hadn’t leaned over to me.

I know. Why would anyone want to shoot me? Michelle asked out loud. Caution was her ally at this moment as she continued to peer over the running people, not even knowing what or who she was looking for. She hadn’t seen the person fire at her, not even from where he had fired the shot. I’m not wealthy or anybody of importance.

What kind of gunfire was that? Laura asked, still a quiver of fear resounding in her voice. She was excited, and she had begun talking rapidly out of fear. Michelle knew guns and rifles; they were on hand in her house because her father was a hunter. This was unlike any weapon she had ever seen.  

I don’t know, but we better get out of here, Michelle responded to her friend. It looked like someone was trying to kill her, but that didn’t make any sense to her. There was nothing in her life or her family’s life to warrant her being