Empire Reborn (Taran Empire Saga Book 1): A Cadicle Space Opera by A.K. DuBoff (jenna bush book club TXT) 📕

cusp of discovering what happened to Melisa, and then she’d have another bizarre twist thrown her way that would set her back. Only sheer determination kept her pressing forward.

What are they planning, and is any of it related to Melisa? She had to stick around until she got answers, no matter her feelings about the Alliance. Earning their trust would be the only way to get the truth. And, at all cost, she must keep her abilities hidden. Fortunately, she was good at that.

“Thank you for including me,” Lexi said to the small group as they gathered at the center of the tunnel.

“Our mission is bigger than any one of us,” Oren replied. “We must grow our numbers with those who share our vision.”

“I am happy to pledge my support to a cause worth supporting.” The statement itself was true. Never said I thought the Alliance was worthy.

Oren and the others nodded with approval. “Now that the word is out and others are starting to wake up to the injustices, we must continue to open their eyes.”

A crate had been taken off one of the shelves to serve as a makeshift table for a holoprojector. Oren activated the device and brought up a rendering of Duronis. More than a dozen red dots appeared around the globe.

“Here’s where we’ve had the most activity to date,” Oren said. “We’ve been advised to set our aspirations higher.”

“Easy,” Josh said. “We need to disrupt the planet’s supply line. The connection to the outside worlds. That’s what will make people realize how important it is to be self-sufficient.”

“What do you mean by ‘disrupt’?” Lexi asked.

“You know, just make life a little difficult.”

Oren was staring with intense concentration at the three-dimensional rendering. “No, this is about showing them the High Dynasties are not our friends. It can’t come back on us as causing ‘disruption’.”

Shena crossed her arms. “They need to be responsible.”

“There are ways to arrange that appearance.” Oren nodded slowly in thought. “Perhaps an accident at one of the facilities?”

“One that the media would have to cover,” Josh said. “I can help nudge them in the right direction.”

Shena nodded. “That’s the key. We need the story to get out there, get people talking. And then we can guide the narrative.”

“What kind of ‘accident’ could do that?” Lexi asked, not sure she really wanted the answer.

“No need to worry about that. Our tactical team will take care of the details,” Oren dismissed. “Now, let’s work on the narrative. Once we have that, we’ll know exactly what we need to do.”

Lexi bit back the follow-up questions that flooded into her mind. We’re just crafting a story? We’re going to trick people into believing it? What happened to sharing the truth about life in the Outer Colonies?

She didn’t like it one bit. But at least she was part of the conversation. Maybe, in time, she’d find a way to really make a difference. And, if nothing else, she was one step closer to gaining their trust and finding her friend. Hang in there, Melisa. I’m going to figure out what they’re up to and find you.

—     —     —

The conversation with Celine Monsari left Wil confused and concerned. Everything from the woman’s rude assistant to her evasive non-answers suggested she and her corporation were up to something shady.

Do MPS’ dealings with Renfield have any connection with the other activity on Duronis? That potential funding web was too convoluted to unravel yet.

Before he could proceed with any line of investigation, Wil needed to know how the MPS energy cores actually worked.

Like most tech controlled by the High Dynasties, the proprietary secrets were closely guarded. Only a small handful of people understood the finer points of the SiNavTech beacon navigation network and nav consoles, just like the confidential operations of VComm’s telecommunications network. MPS was no different. If anything, the energy cores were the most secretive of all.

Wil knew how they functioned in a theoretical sense—essentially, drawing energy from a pocket universe. So long as the connection was maintained, there was near infinite energy potential. The Perpetual Energy Modules—or PEMs, as they were typically called for short—could be scaled to fit any number of applications. Most critically, they were the energy source for all starships and shuttlecraft. It was the only existing technology within the Taran technological scope capable of fulfilling the astronomical energy needs of propulsion and maintaining spatial disruptions to vent exhaust into subspace.

Without PEMs, there would be no interstellar commerce. No more Taran Empire. End of story.

The seriousness of the circumstances made it critical that Wil learn everything he could about the technology and anything that might hinder production capacity. The problem was getting accurate information. Without question, no one within MPS would share secrets about the PEMs’ operation. There was only one other place Wil could turn to potentially find out more about the technology: the Aesir.

Wil’s relationship with the Aesir was one of the most complex and challenging to navigate in his life. In terms of raw ability, the group was closer to being peers than other Tarans. Having left the rest of the Empire before the Priesthood’s widespread genetic interventions, they offered a window into the race’s past. Wil had been welcomed among them as the Cadicle, heralded with almost religious reverence for his advanced abilities being the next phase of Taran evolution. But with Saera and his other personal ties to the rest of the Empire, going to live among the Aesir wasn’t a viable option.

The temptation was there, though. Life would be a lot simpler amongst a population of people who were all Gifted and embraced their abilities. Plus, their advanced tech was designed with bioelectronic interfaces to enable telepathic link with machines. Everything felt right when he was with the Aesir. Yet, their magnificent cities hidden in spatial rifts near the galactic