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

“Good job, Hamlin. That was much tighter, but don’t baby your throttle. You’ve got the thrust; use it next time,” Jason said.

“Yes, sir.” His voice was lacking some of his usual enthusiasm.

“Delroe, you’re up.”

Alisha took her craft out from formation and dove into the course. To Jason’s relief, she seemed to have taken his feedback last session to heart, striking the ideal balance between aggressive lines and safety. In short order, she completed the course without a single misstep.

“Really well done,” Jason told her. “That’s exactly what I was talking about.”

“Yes, sir!” The pride came through in her voice.

He worked the group through several other courses and offered notes. On the whole, the group was coming along exceptionally well. If he could get them to fly that way in real fighters, they’d be in business.

They may need to put those skills to the test sooner than later if we find ourselves in another war. It was a grim thought, and he was quick to dismiss it. With the discovery of the original treaty, there was a renewed chance for a peaceful resolution.

Jason completed the lesson with practice flying in formation, turning as one. The students were much less adept at the synchronized movements than they were at running a course individually, but they’d come a long way since when he’d started working with them. It would be rewarding to polish their skills and see them come into their own.

With the practice complete, Jason ended the simulation and the pods popped open with a hiss. To maximize the simulation effect, they were kept pressurized just like a real cockpit.

Jason hopped out of the pod and waited for the students to line up. “You’re doing great,” he told them. “I’m feeling good about these improvements. I think we can resume the space flights next week, as I’d hoped.”

There were broad smiles from half the students, but the others ranged from mild enthusiasm to expressionless.

“What’s wrong?” Jason asked.

“Nothing,” Bret muttered at the same time Wes said, “What’s going on with the protests in the Outer Colonies?”

That’s not what I expected them to be thinking about right now. Jason tucked his helmet under his arm. “I couldn’t give you any specifics. I don’t know any more than what’s been in the news reports.”

“Does that mean the TSS isn’t responding?” Wes asked.

“It means I don’t know. Why does everyone think I’m privy to each decision the TSS makes?”

“Because the High Commander is your dad.”

“Like any officer, he briefs me when I’m needed, and the rest of the time our other very capable field Agents take care of the rest.”

“I have family on Duronis,” Bret said. “I can’t help being a little worried.”

“Naturally. And I sympathize with your position, but I don’t have any additional information to share. I will say that, typically, that kind of domestic disturbance is handled by the Guard.” Even if Jason did know more, he wouldn’t be able to share anything classified with the students. Withholding information like that was his least favorite part of being an Agent—aside from paperwork, perhaps. However, his father was about as open and honest as leaders came, so rarely was Jason placed in a position of needing to overly temper his statements.

The students still looked worried. Jason softened. “Nothing has come through official channels. Let’s not get ahead of ourselves and worry about nothing,” he tried to assure them.

As far as he knew, right now that was true. He could only hope it would stay that way.

—     —     —

Lexi descended the stairs into the underground storeroom tunnel. The place gave her the creeps. People always joke about plans being made in the shadows. I didn’t think it would be so literal!

Oren had summoned her to another cryptic meeting. There’d been no discussion of the odd mini-speech from that Magdalena woman afterward, and everyone had just gone back upstairs like they were having a perfectly normal afternoon. The only indication that the gathering had been real was that Shena’s awestruck expression had persisted for the rest of the day. Lexi had wanted to ask for more information about the mysterious leader but had thought better of it; questions might be taken as questioning, and it was better to fake reverence. The woman was clearly some sort of idol for the Alliance’s movement, so that was all Lexi really needed to know for now.

Oren and Shena were waiting in the tunnel when Lexi arrived, and Josh came down the stairway soon after. The staggered movements were, apparently, a tactic to keep the uninitiated from picking up on the secret meetings. Stars know it worked on me!

But for being one of the ‘initiates’, Lexi wished she had a better handle on what was going on. She’d been saying that for days now, and she didn’t expect it to get better. She was caught up in a surreal daydream that was quickly trending toward a nightmare.

Melisa wouldn’t have supported any of this. But that had never been in question when Lexi had caught wind of the Sovereign Peoples Alliance and how several women had gone missing in their wake—her dear friend included. Melisa was more than a friend, though. She was a sister. Even more so than her half-sister, who was her solitary living blood relative of any note.

So, when Melisa had disappeared on Duronis, Lexi had gone to investigate. There was no sign of Melisa at first blush, but Lexi’s telepathic gleanings told her that she had been a part of the Alliance before she went missing. In that same silent probing, she’d also learned that the Alliance was on the lookout for young, unattached women like her with Gifts. So, she’d kept her own abilities secret and started looking around. She kept thinking that she might be on the