The Tortuous Path (Fall of the Terran Empire Book 2) Read online

  The Tortuous Path

  Fall of the Terran Empire Book 2

  G.P. Hudson

  © 2018

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  Fall of the Terran Empire:

  War Without End – Fall of the Terran Empire Book 1

  The Tortuous Path – Fall of the Terran Empire Book 2

  The Pike Chronicles:

  Sol Shall Rise – Book 1 of The Pike Chronicles

  Prevail – Book 2 of The Pike Chronicles

  Ronin – Book 3 of The Pike Chronicles

  Ghost Fleet – Book 4 of The Pike Chronicles

  Interstellar War – Book 5 of The Pike Chronicles

  Vanquish – Book 6 of The Pike Chronicles

  Galactic Empire – Book 7 of The Pike Chronicles

  Armada – Book 8 of The Pike Chronicles

  This is a work of fiction. All characters and events portrayed in the book are fictional and any resemblance to real people or incidents is purely coincidental.

  All rights reserved, no part of this book may be reproduced in any form, other than for review purposes, without the permission of the publisher and copyright owner.

  Cover art by Tom Edwards

  Chapter 1

  Danny traced his hand along the stock of the reassuring plasma weapon hidden underneath his long slicker. His augmented eyes scanned for threats. His ears analyzed the tiniest of sounds, looking for danger.

  The last time he had been on the Tran homeworld was as a Zeta contractor. The Frontier Alliance planet had been a dangerous place back then, governed by corrupt leaders with deep ties to a powerful interplanetary crime syndicate. From the looks of things, not much had changed.

  “You’re sure we can trust these people?” Danny said to Isaac Stern, the gray-haired scientist walking next to him.

  “Yes, my boy,” Isaac replied. “I’ve done business with them numerous times over the years.”

  “Wasn’t that while you were still working at Zeta?” said Gerry, Danny’s longtime friend. The lithe female clone strode up the unlit muddy street with confidence. The angular bulges in her tan trench coat indicated several hidden weapons of her own.

  “It was,” Isaac said sheepishly. Isaac had co-founded Zeta Corp with Ed Masterson, the current President and CEO of the company. Like Danny and Gerry, Isaac was also a clone. A technological genius, rather than a super-soldier, Isaac freed Danny and the others from Zeta control. “I admit, there is a certain level of risk involved, but it is a risk we need to take.”

  The group advanced along the quiet muddy street, their collars tight against incessant rain. Three more military clones walked with them, focused on the low rise buildings, watching for any sign of snipers, drones, or other concealed dangers.

  “Risk or no risk, I’ll take this over metaspace any day,” Gerry said.

  “I don’t know, I kind of like it there,” Danny said.

  “Are you kidding?” Gerry said with a sour expression. “What’s there to like about all that chaos. You know it’s outside regular space-time, right? You spend too much time out there, and it will scramble your brains.”

  “There is no scientific evidence of any long-term adverse effects,” Isaac said.

  “Then how do you explain my headaches?” Gerry demanded.

  “It might have something to do with your brain implant. Remind me to have a look at it when this is over.”

  “It’s not my implant; it’s that damned metaspace. The place is only fit for pirates.”

  “Maybe we should take up pirating,” Danny said. “We could get the supplies we needed without exposing ourselves like this.”

  “You mean you don’t like taking leisurely strolls on this shithole they call a planet?” said Gerry.

  “I prefer something a little less… damp.”

  “I won’t argue with you on that one.”

  After their escape from the Pallian star system, the group had taken their purloined battleship into metaspace and had hid there ever since.

  Metaspace existed outside ordinary space-time and allowed for faster than light travel between star systems. Its discovery had been a boon for space travel and interplanetary colonization. It was also the linchpin that had held the Terran Empire together in the past. It wreaked havoc with most ship systems, however, which made it an excellent hiding place.

  The battleship came well stocked with ample food and supplies, but those wouldn’t last forever. Isaac wanted to make essential modifications to each clone’s brain implant but needed specific parts for the procedure. That need brought them to Tran.

  Danny’s group avoided discovery by taking a less conspicuous civilian ship to the Tran system. The vessel technically belonged to Annie, the ship’s AI. They had convinced her to help them when they fled Pallias, turning her into an incredibly valuable friend.

  “That’s it,” said Isaac, pointing to a large building at the end of the street. “That’s where we’re meeting them.”

  “It looks gloomy, like everything else down here,” said Gerry.

  The group crept closer. Danny heard movement inside but saw nothing. You all hear that? he said through the neural link connecting him and the other augmented clones in their group. The implants in their brains allowed them to communicate with each other telepathically, among other things.

  The other clones responded that they did.

  I can’t determine their numbers. Can anyone else? said Gerry.

  No, came the group response.

  Then we’re going in blind, said Danny.

  The group fanned out, flanking the entrance, and Danny nodded to Isaac. The scientist stepped up and tapped the wall mounted comm system next to the door.

  “Who’s there?” came the response. The male voice was low and assertive, but the video screen remained blank.

  “Isaac Stern. I have an appointment.”

  “So you do. How many of you are there?”

  “Six.”

  “Why so many?”

  “This is a dangerous planet. One can’t be too careful.”

  Silence followed. The clones all exchanged worried glances, and Danny reached for his concealed weapon. A succession of loud bangs rang out from the entrance and the male voice spoke again. “You may enter.”

  Isaac moved toward the door, but Danny put a hand on his shoulder stopping him. Danny moved ahead of the scientist and pushed open the door, revealing a long hallway. He stepped inside and continued down the length of the corridor.

  Gerry and the other clones followed in a staggered formation, careful to keep Isaac in a shielded position between them.

  At the end of the hallway, a doorway opened to a large room. Danny retook point, entering first and quickly moving to the right, taking a position of domination.

  Gerry followed and hastily advanced leftward along the length of the wall. The remaining clones entered and took tactical positions of their own.

  The clones kept their weapons concealed but could wield them with blinding speed if necessary. Their locations gave them an all-encompassing field of fire if the meeting turned violent.

  The clones faced odds of almost three to one. Their opponents openly brandished their firearms. Danny wondered if their superior numbers made them feel overly confident. An error like that would have tragic consequences.

  Isaac finally entered and walked toward the armed men without hesitation. “Luka,” he said with a smile an
d an outstretched hand. “It’s been too long.”

  The dark-haired man did not return the smile but shook Isaac’s hand, all the while eying the clones spread out along the wall behind Isaac. “So, the rumors are true. You have your own clone army.”

  “Come now, Luka. You shouldn’t believe everything you hear. These are my friends.”

  “Uh huh. I could use some friends like that too. You know, Zeta Corp is quite interested in your whereabouts.”

  Danny’s body coiled at the comment, ready to burst into action if the banter became too threatening.

  “What else is new, Luka? Masterson has been interested in my whereabouts for decades.”

  “This is different. Some very unfriendly types have been coming around, questioning all your old contacts.”

  “I see. And what did you tell these unfriendly types.”

  “The truth. That I had no idea where you were.” A wide toothy grin spread across Luka’s face, reminding Danny of a hungry hyena. “Do not worry, my old friend. These types do not frighten me.”

  Danny knew better. If Luka was visited by who he thought, then the shifty criminal should be worried.

  “I believe you, Luka,” Isaac said. “Shall we get down to business?”

  “Of course. I have your order right here.”

  Luka led Isaac to a small box, while his men kept their eyes fixed on the clones. Luckily for them, that was all they did.

  Isaac inspected the contents. “Everything looks to be in order. Where do you want me to transfer the funds?”

  Luka produced a translucent card displaying some information.

  Isaac nodded and pulled a handheld device out of his pocket. He tapped it a few times. “Done.”

  Luka turned to one of his men with a questioning expression.

  The man tapped some commands into his device. “It’s all there,” he confirmed.

  The same wolfish grin appeared, and Luka extended a hand. “Always a pleasure doing business with you, Isaac.”

  Isaac shook Luka’s hand. “Until next-” Isaac looked up with a perplexed expression.

  Danny heard it, as did the other clones. They all drew their weapons in response.

  One of Luka’s henchmen foolishly raised his weapon and pointed it at the clones. Before he could think of pulling the trigger, a plasma bolt burned through his right eye and out the back of his skull. The man crumpled to the floor. Insanity followed.

  The other henchmen retaliated, perhaps feeling confident in their higher numbers. The room lit up with streaks of crimson as the two sides traded fire.

  The clones moved as one. They sprayed the room with plasma bolts, killing several of the enemies.

  Their opponents fired incessantly but hit nothing. The clones were a blur. They moved with inhuman speed and targeted their enemies with lethal precision.

  Danny raced through the room like a demon on a killing spree. One of the henchmen fired at him. Danny pivoted, and the bolt narrowly missed. Shooting back, he burned a quarter sized hole in the center of the man’s chest.

  Another man turned his weapon toward Danny. Again, Danny outdrew his opponent. Red energy mingled with squirting blood, and the man frantically brought a hand up to his throat to stop the gush. A second bolt to the temple finished him off.

  The enemy numbers dropped exponentially. They acted foolishly, and now Danny cut them down without mercy. The whole time he remained aware of the aggressive sound outside.

  A Zeta dropship. It had furtively swooped in and now hovered just above the building. Something heavy hit the roof, amplifying his anxiety. They had entered a death trap.

  With the last henchman dead, Danny turned to Isaac. Luka’s weapon pointed at the scientist’s forehead.

  “Drop your weapon,” said Danny, cognizant at the same time of the movement on the roof.

  “No way,” said Luka. “You all drop your weapons or Isaac dies.”

  “Okay, I’m lowering my weapon.” Isaac, said Danny through their neural link. I want you to duck when I tell you.

  “Not just you. Everyone,” said Luka.

  “Who’s on the roof, Luka?” said Isaac.

  “Who do you think? You’re worth a lot of money, Isaac. Much more than this deal of ours.”

  Now, said Danny.

  Isaac was not a military clone, but he was augmented nonetheless. Before Luka could squeeze off a round, Isaac moved out of the way of the weapon, and Danny fired. Plasma bolts crashed into the Tran criminal sending him careening backward onto the floor.

  An explosion tore open the roof, strewing rubble around like shrapnel.

  “We have to go!” Gerry said, firing at the hole in the ceiling.

  “I need my equipment,” said Isaac, who bolted for the box.

  “There’s no time,” said Gerry, but Isaac had already scooped up the box and was turning back toward them.

  All the clones focused their fire on the opening, as an armored giant jumped through.

  “Run!” said Danny, and the group streaked through the long corridor as explosive rounds blasted through the walls behind them.

  Chapter 2

  The clones spilled out of the building and sped down the deserted street. Behind them, the colossal mech crashed through the front entrance and gave pursuit.

  It fired more explosive rounds after them. The shells punched craters into the ground and blew apart the sides of buildings.

  Searing heat stung at Danny’s back but failed to hamper his escape. Their augmented speed saved them all from certain death.

  I think we’re okay, said Danny over their neural link. The mech can’t catch us if we stay on the narrow streets. Annie, are you there?

  Of course, I am here, the AI responded. I am connected to your neural network, remember?

  I remember. I was worried we lost the connection.

  That is remarkably illogical, Danny.

  Fire up the ship’s engines, Annie. We’ll need to leave immediately.

  Understood, I’ll be waiting.

  The clones widened the distance between themselves and the pursuing mech. They ran in unpredictable patterns, changing direction, and following a circuitous route to their ship. Their tactics were successful, and they denied the mech a target.

  Someone is shadowing us, Gerry said as he turned onto another empty street. Through the neural link, the group saw the telltale signs of pursuit.

  There’s another, said Danny. On the rooftops.

  A third follows on the adjacent street, Gerry said. They are keeping up with us.

  Clones. A Zeta hit squad is my guess, Danny said. There’s likely more.

  Your friend Luka screwed us real good, Isaac, Gerry said.

  I told you, he wasn’t my friend. Just a business associate, Isaac said defensively.

  The screaming sound of engines added to the cacophony. Danny cringed and looked up, fully expecting to see an even more significant threat.

  I’m coming to you, said Annie, as her ship swooped down toward them. Be ready to board. I won’t be waiting around.

  The starship touched down at the top of the street. A hatch opened, and a ramp extended, while the engines continued to wail at deafening pitches.

  Annie, you are a life sa-

  Several missiles hit the spacecraft. Multiple detonations followed, and the entire ship blew apart in a hurricane of fire and hull fragments. The force of the blast blew all the clones onto their backs. They scrambled to get back on their feet. A sniper’s round punched through one of the clones, knocking the man down for good.

  The rest opened fire on the nearby rooftop, forcing the assassin to take cover.

  We’ve got to keep moving, said Danny. We’re too vulnerable here.

  The group broke into a run again, while the sniper’s bullets bit at their heels.

  This way, said Isaac. It leads to the urban center. The mech won’t follow us if we get close to the city.

  I want to know why the Tran haven’t responded yet, Danny said in frustrat
ion. A Zeta mech is blowing holes in Tran buildings, and Annie’s spaceship just made a highly visible fireball. There’s no way the authorities haven’t noticed.

  The sniper found another target. Danny cringed as a bullet blew off the top off a clone’s skull. The group increased speed and ran in zigzags to deny the sniper a clear shot.

  You’re as naive as ever, little brother, Gerry said. Zeta has paid them off. No one is coming until Zeta says so.

  That is why we need to reach the urban population, Isaac added. The Tran authorities will have to respond if the mech enters a more densely populated area.

  What about the hit squad? Danny said.

  They can keep following, Gerry said. Once they lose the protection of their mech, we’ll turn the tables on them.

  The group turned another corner and were greeted by more explosive rounds chewing up another clone.

  It’s another mech, Danny said in surprise. Take cover.

  Danny, Gerry, and Isaac scrambled for cover behind a building. Just the three of them remained alive, and they were running out of options.

  “It doesn’t have to end this way, Isaac,” came Ed Masterson’s voice over the mech’s speakers. “Surrender, and I’ll let your friends live.”

  “Why? So you can run experiments on us?”

  “I misjudged you, Isaac. I see that now. You’ve become much more than I ever expected. Come home, and you can have all of Zeta’s resources at your disposal. Frankly, I’m intrigued by what you’ve done. You can free as many clones as you like.”

  “Why would you let me do that?”

  “I think it will create better soldiers. Whether they’re free or not, they’re still military clones. They will still crave this life. If they chose it freely, they would be more effective.”

  “And if they don’t?”

  “Then they will be free to go.”

  It’s a trick, Isaac, said Danny. Don’t believe him.

  Isaac nodded.