Empire Reborn (Taran Empire Saga Book 1): A Cadicle Space Opera A.K. DuBoff (guided reading books TXT) 📖

tried to keep the ominous feeling at bay while he doled out instructions to his students. Worrying them wouldn’t help matters, and it didn’t improve his own state of mind. They were living in a new reality now and he’d need to get used to it.

Still, there was anger and resentment simmering in the back of his mind. The Erebus had killed thousands of people—and a person he loved—for nothing. Why had they opened with an attack rather than offering the ‘gift’? He would work with them, but he couldn’t forgive them. They’d taken something too precious to get off the hook that easily.

He forced the emotion back, keeping it on reserve. Now was not the time for vengeance. But, at such a time when the Erebus revealed their true intentions, and he had no doubt they would, he would unlock that fury and use it against them.

Jason looked out at the stars, imagining seeing through the dimensional veil to wherever it was the Erebus called their home. Wrong us again, and you will pay.

The resolution eased some of the tension he’d been carrying around since the incident. His time to face them would come. Until then, he needed to focus on helping those around him become the best TSS officers they could be.

—

After the flight lesson, he went to his father’s office for a check-in. He’d alerted him about hearing from Kira and needed to give his report.

Wil took in the news without giving an outward expression of his feelings on the matter. Only once Jason had finished did he speak. “I’m glad you have a good rapport with her. She’s the kind of eyes we need on this.”

“The Alliance is just one part, though. What do we do about the Coalition as a whole?” Jason asked.

“As much as I trust your faith in Kira, I’d really like to have one of our own people monitoring the situation from another angle.”

“You said before that an Agent—”

“Yes, an Agent would stand out too much. But I’ve talked with Michael, and we have a candidate. A null in Militia, willing to go deep undercover; as a null, no one will be able to read his mind, so it’s the safest option to keep his mission under wraps in the event he comes across a telepath. We’d like him to get close with one of the other organizations we believe is pushing the Coalition behind the scenes.”

“Should I let Kira know?”

His father shook his head. “Nothing can get out about our inside man. We’ve made it clear that he’ll be on his own until he’s ready for extraction. He knows the risks.”

“All right.” Jason leaned back into the chair. Have the odds ever been more against us?

“It’s only going to get more difficult from here, Jason.”

He wasn’t sure if his father had gleaned the thoughts from the surface of his mind or if his expression was enough. “I know that you’ve been telling me from the first day I joined the TSS that we train to be ready for anything, but this…”

“Even I didn’t see this coming. Well, not exactly this.”

“A civil war is brewing, too, isn’t it?”

“It’s looking inevitable, unless this business with the Erebus can somehow bring us together.”

“There isn’t a choice. I hope people see that.”

“At least the TSS and the Guard are united for the first time ever. We’re as well-positioned as we can hope to be.”

“I’m sure not everyone in the Guard is happy about that.”

“They don’t need to be. Admiral Mathaen and I are in alignment, and that’s the most important thing. We’ll be announcing the Taran United Force soon.”

“The TUF?” Jason considered it. “A little cheesy, but it works.”

“We thought so, too.”

“This was Raena’s doing, wasn’t it?”

“The name, absolutely. The idea was Admiral Mathaen’s.”

Jason’s eye’s widened. “Oh, really?”

“I’m glad he’s driving the partnership forward and it’s not all on me. It remains to be seen how committed he is, but we’re moving in the right direction.”

“What’s the plan for approaching the Erebus now that the Guard is on board?”

“Nothing. We focus on quelling the civil unrest and keeping our people safe.”

“We’re not fighting back? So that’s it, we’re giving up?”

Wil shook his head. “No, we didn’t achieve freedom from our past would-be oppressors only to have our fate controlled by new overlords.”

“Then what’s the plan?”

“We wait and observe. It’s possible they do have benevolent intentions.”

“Hah! Right. From what I’ve seen, we’re just pawns to be manipulated. Lesser beings.”

“Yes, it’s overly optimistic to think all our indiscretions are forgiven. But, as much as I’d like to stop this invasion now, we have no way to stand up to them at present. So, we must gather information. There’s an answer, somewhere, about how we can regain our independence, whether it be through might or wit. Their power is immense, but like us, they have limitations and weaknesses; I’m certain of it.”

Jason took a deep breath. “I hope you’re right.”

“For now, our people aren’t in immediate danger. Whatever the Erebus are up to, it’s a long game.”

“I don’t look forward to finding out what it is.”

“All part of the process.”

“I hope I can eventually be as calm about this as you are.”

“It’s all age and experience, Jason. Just a matter of perspective.”

“I’ll watch and learn.”

Wil smiled. “You’re well on your way.”

“Thanks.” He did feel he was on the right path. And, more importantly, he knew he was with the right people to help him grow. The Erebus are going to test us all.

His father was quiet for a while. “I know it does seem rather bleak right now, but there’s something critical you need to believe and remind yourself, especially in the moments when the task at hand seems insurmountable.”

“What’s