Star Force: Temple Wars by Aer-ki Jyr (books to read in a lifetime txt) 📕

Do we no longer exile those who disagree? Where is the respect a proper Neofan shows?

Gone when you disappeared, Plausious. I fear there is no going back now.

No, there is no going back. Only forward. You can join us, or you can choose exile. Do not force me to kill you in combat.

Us? Fero asked.

I did not kill them all.

Suddenly those kneeling stood in unison and turned to face Fero with their arms held defiantly across their chests, making their telepathic intentions quite clear. They were rejecting his command and that of the Diem and the false Reignor Truven. They were now loyal to the legitimate Reignor Plausious.

You will all be killed, Fero warned.

Only as many as needed, Plausious amended. I am here to save the Neofan, not destroy them. How many more die is up to the rest of you. I recommend you head for the Zotav now, and take as many of the others with you that will not swear allegiance to me. We do not have to be enemies. We can simply part ways.

It is not that simple.

It is, you just do not see it yet. Tell me, my old apprentice, would I come here without a plan for victory? Or do you think me truly insane?

Until a moment ago I did. You should be dead now.

I warned you I was more powerful.

Not enough to claim this Temple.

I intend to claim the Neofan race, Fero. Not just this one Temple.

And do what then?

I will end the war with Star Force and begin rebuilding us into a far greater power than you can conceive. We have been tricked into wearing the blinders of the darkside, so we cannot see what we lack. I will rip those blinders off and force us to see the universe as it is, and the doom that pursues us. Then and only then will we be able to face our destiny and find a pathway through it to our survival.

We will not be welcome in Yenoiv.

Then stay on the Zotav until you receive orders from House Mutavi, or travel to other Zotav. But leave this galaxy and do not return unless you wish to serve, or you wish to die.

Fero sighed. There is a warship coming.

I know.

It will destroy you in a single shot.

Then you had better get out of the blast radius.

Don’t throw your life away, Fero pleaded.

I’ve already been ordered killed. Are you rescinding that order?

I’m not the one who gave it.

Are you in command here or not?

I thought you said you were?

Stop evading, Plausious lectured. Does the Diem rule or does Truven?

Technically Truven.

Did he assign you here?

Yes.

Then command the warship to stand down, Plausious said as a small ball appeared over the horizon and was steadily growing larger.

They won’t obey the order.

Why not?

Because the Diem runs everything, and their spies are everywhere. Disloyalty will not be tolerated.

And Truven allows this?

He is so scared of being declared tainted he will do whatever the Diem wants and everyone knows it. He is a puppet, Fero said, feeling fear at saying it out loud, as well as relief in finally admitting it. Run back to the portal while you still can.

I am staying here. You go.

Plausious do not die here.

Why do you care?

I don’t…I don’t want it to end this way. We are too old to die like this.

Leave or pick a side. The Gjardan is nearly here.

I can’t call them off. I had to leverage them to meet you in person first. They wanted to fire on you before even hearing you out. The fear of the taint is that…strong, Fero said, realizing he would be marked for just being in proximity.

Insanity has no bounds, and it is the true taint.

In that moment Fero knew his position was now gone, and his chances of being allowed to live were slim. Plausious was right, his only chance now was to run, and with the Gjardan growing larger on the horizon the Neofan spun the barge around and accelerated at maximum speed away from the landing pad enroute to the closest portal he knew of.

“Goodbye, Fero,” Plausious whispered as the Ren’mak continued to flap in a hover above him. “Find the survivors and secure them. Do not let them bleed out.”

The Neofan around him broke apart and searched through the dead for the dying as the spherical warship rapidly approached, but Plausious did not run. He merely called the Ren’mak down to his shoulder and stared at it as it approached, eventually blotting out the sun directly overhead as it became a large white moon above them.

Eventually a landing craft descended from it and docked on the edge of the now cratered pad, with two Neofan walking out amongst a phalanx of guards…with one of them in shackles.

“Greetings, Reignor,” Commander Yuer said, shoving the bound male towards him. “What do you want done with this one?”

“Another Overseer?”

“The Diem has them planted on every ship to make sure we do not begin to show taint.”

“Clearly I have failed,” the bound one said, hesitant to look in Plausious’s direction. “How long have you planned this mutiny?”

“From the moment I heard the true Reignor was still alive,” Yuer admitted. “And I won’t be the only one.”

“We will all die for this,” he warned.

“Commander, see to the wounded, but do not trust them.”

“And the others?”

“They have made their choice and serve me once again.”

“What’s with the Hadarak?”

“He is my new traveling companion. In all the history of the Neofan/Hadarak war, have you ever heard of one changing sides?”

“Never.”

“Now you have seen one,” Plausious said proudly. “And I