Sanctioned Read online

  CONTENTS

  Dedication

  Legal

  Prologue

  Sphinx

  Estarians

  Oggs

  Sark System

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Epilogue

  Author Notes - Ell

  Author Notes - Michael

  Social Links Ell

  Social Links - Michael

  Series List

  DEDICATION

  To everyone who ever dreamed of making a dent in the universe.

  — Ellie

  To Family, Friends and

  Those Who Love

  To Read.

  May We All Enjoy Grace

  To Live The Life We Are

  Called.

  — Michael

  SANCTIONED

  The Ascension Myth 04

  JIT Beta Readers

  James Caplan

  Keith Verret

  Alex Wilson

  Micky Cocker

  Paul Westman

  Erika Daly

  Joshua Ahles

  John Findlay

  Kimberly Boyer

  Erika Daly

  Thomas Ogden

  If I missed anyone, please let me know!

  Editor

  Jen McDonnell

  SANCTIONED (this book) is a work of fiction.

  All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Sometimes both.

  This book Copyright © 2017 Ell Leigh Clarke, Michael T. Anderle

  Cover Design by Andrew Dobell http://www.creativeedgestudios.co.uk/

  Cover copyright © LMBPN Publishing

  LMBPN Publishing supports the right to free expression and the value of copyright. The purpose of copyright is to encourage writers and artists to produce the creative works that enrich our culture.

  The distribution of this book without permission is a theft of the author’s intellectual property. If you would like permission to use material from the book (other than for review purposes), please contact [email protected]. Thank you for your support of the author’s rights.

  LMBPN Publishing

  PMB 196, 2540 South Maryland Pkwy

  Las Vegas, NV 89109

  First US edition, July 2017

  The Kurtherian Gambit (and what happens within / characters / situations / worlds) are copyright © 2017 by Michael T. Anderle.

  Prologue

  Dear Bethany Anne,

  I can’t quite believe that the General has given me the opportunity to be in touch with you.

  This may not come as a surprise, but you’ve been an inspiration to me my whole life. Growing up as a geek I was isolated and alone. I would spend my hours researching the dark recesses of the XtraNET to access information about you, your missions and what you’ve done to bring together the Etheric Empire.

  I’ve realised in recent weeks though that the information available in the Sark System was incredibly limited. And probably inaccurate. Your name is whispered as a warning to kids who won’t eat their vegetables, and amongst criminals who tempt vengeance.

  I found it hard to believe that someone who was so driven by justice would be quite so ruthless.

  Since meeting your father my suspicions have been justified. I’m starting to understand the sheer scale of the Etheric Empire and what you’ve had to do to create it. You inspire people to follow you, without even being in the same galaxy, for time scales longer than a single life time. You’ve inspired people to lay down their lives in service to the cause.

  No monster can do that.

  Just catching the glimpses that I have about what the Etheric Empire is, I’ve been inspired. Inspired to do more. To make more of a difference in the world. To take on bigger challenges.

  And still, when I look at all you’ve achieved, and all the lives you have touched and transformed, I can’t believe that I could do anything like this. I have a small team: a handful of good people right now, and honestly I’m struggling.

  I don’t know how to be the leader they need right now, never mind the leader I will need to be for what may be to come.

  And besides, who am I to lead them as broken as I am?

  I don’t know if there is an answer to this question, but given the opportunity to write you ,I thought that if anyone had any wisdom to share on this topic, it would be you.

  Forever in your service.

  Ad Aeternitatem.

  Molly Bates

  Gaitune-67, Sark System

  CHAPTER ONE

  Gaitune-67, base conference room

  Captain Jack Nolan sat awkwardly on the other side of the conference room table. All her years in the field had made her adept at combat, strategy, and commanding troops. She was a decorated officer, and knew how to rain hell on her enemy. She had the strength to rival even the bigger Estarians on her teams, and had kicked the ass of many a superior rank in her military training, literally - and figuratively -in, well, everything.

  She also had a reputation for taking no bullshit.

  Or prisoners.

  Nothing had prepared her for this, though.

  The woman they called “the boss” sat across the conference table, watching her. Every now and then she would make a facial expression like she was having a conversation that no one else could hear. She was geeky, that was for sure; but it seemed like she’d been transplanted into the body of… a cheerleader, and just forgotten.

  The commanding officer who had recruited her from Estaria and brought her up to this secret asteroid base sat beside the woman, asking the questions. That was strange in itself, since she was told she already had the job.

  If she wanted it.

  “What would you say is your biggest weakness?” the officer known as Joel Dunham asked her.

  The woman held up her hand to interrupt him. “Actually, I need to ask something.” The geeky-cheerleader hybrid glanced over at Dunham. “Sorry - do you mind?”

  Dunham waved his hand obligingly, granting her the stage.

  The boss looked at her, a small frown across her eyes and forehead. “I’m sorry. I have to ask,” she began. “But why do you call yourself by a man’s name?”

  Jack had been wondering how long it was going to take before someone asked her that. She took a deep breath.

  The boss looked a little uncomfortable asking her own question. “I mean,” she continued quickly, “it’s okay and all. We accept people exactly as they are, for who they are, here. But you, er… you seem female.”

  Jack smiled in acknowledgment. “I am. But my father wanted a boy, so he raised me as a Sarkian would raise a boy - with martial arts, gun training, and hand-to-hand combat. And he called me Jack. My mother had planned to call me Jacqueline.”

  The woman sat back, her face relaxing. “Ah. I see. That makes sense.” She looked at her colleague, and was about to let him continue. Then she did the face like she was talking to someone else.

  She seemed to change her mind, and glanced back at Jack, and stood up. “Okay, so the job’s yours, if you want it. We’d be glad to have you on the team.” The strange woman walked around the conference table to shak
e her hand.

  Jack stood up, bewildered, and took the handshake. She glanced at Joel, who still had holo screens out and was mid-interview or mid-conversation… or mid-whatever this was - and looked equally thrown by his colleague’s behavior.

  The boss woman turned towards the door and started heading out. “You can manage from here, right Joel?”

  Joel turned to watch her leave. “Er, yeah. Sure thing, Molly,” he agreed.

  The woman left.

  Jack, unsure as to whether she should speak her mind, decided to anyway. “Wow. Ghosted!” she exclaimed, a little humor in her voice, as she tentatively sat back down.

  Joel grinned. “Yeah. You’ll get used to that. She er… struggles with the social element sometimes.” He chuckled a little. “Don’t worry, she’s great when you get to know her. She was probably juggling a few things at once, just then.”

  Jack frowned a little. “Juggling? What do you mean?”

  Joel relaxed a little and leaned forward on the enormous conference table, as if letting Jack in on the joke. “Ah, she has an AI in her head. She may have been given intel, or something she needed to act on right away.”

  Jack looked like she understood. “Ohhhh” she mouthed softly, smiling in appreciation at being let into the fold.

  The door to the conference room whooshed open, and a huge muscular guy walked in, making even Dunham look weedy in comparison. “Molly said you guys were ready to start orientation?” he said to Joel.

  He glanced over and smiled at Jack.

  Joel swiveled around in his chair and sat forward, leaning his arms on his knees. He glanced back at Jack, then back at the muscle guy. “Yeah. We’re good, I guess. That is…” he turned back to Jack. “You want the job, right?” he asked.

  Jack shook her head, confusing Joel for a second. “Hell yeah,” she smiled. “I’m in.” She smiled to herself. “Heck, if you guys are even half as crazy as the rumors say you are, and with even a fraction of what I’ve seen in the last few hours getting here, and all…” she motioned to where Molly had been sitting. “I’m in for anything!”

  Joel stood up as the new guy walked around to the other side of the table to introduce himself. “Well, in that case, I’m Sean Royale. I’ll be your liaison between normality and crazy.”

  Sean held out his hand. It was huge. Jack, who had been known to put a large number of marines on their ass in various forms of arm wrestling, took his hand, and made the smart move to not try and prove anything. “I’m Jack,” she told him, shaking gently.

  Sean grinned. “Good to meet you, Jack.”

  The pair looked over to Joel. Joel closed out his holos. “Okay, so if you guys are good, I’ll go catch up with the lady boss. Squad training in two hours, yeah?”

  Sean nodded. “We’ll be there.”

  Joel smiled and left the room, leaving Sean and Jack alone.

  “So,” Sean reflected, looking at Jack. “You don’t seem the normal commanding officer type. How did you end up getting selected for this crazy house?”

  Jack shrugged. “Long story. But yes, not your normal CO. I had a knack of winning in the military; they had no choice other than to promote me. That’s where I discovered I’m not the natural administrator.” She cocked her head contemplatively. “So I think this level of crazy mixed with field work is going to suit me just fine. As for how I got selected…” she gestured towards the door, “You’ll have to ask Captain Dunham.”

  Sean motioned for her to lead the way around the conference table. “Well, in that case, let’s introduce you to your team, and the base of magical adventures!”

  The two headed out of the conference room.

  Jack allowed herself to grin broadly only once his back was turned. She followed Sean out of the conference room.

  Gaitune-67, Safe house, Kitchen

  Joel found Molly in the safe house kitchen, doing battle with the mocha machine.

  Again.

  “Þöngulhaus Kaffivél,” Molly cussed. “I swear this machine can see me coming. Oz? Help.”

  Joel stood in the doorway, watching her press buttons and rattle at panels and levers that didn’t want to budge. “Stressful day, dear?” he asked.

  Molly looked up and glared. “It would be fine if I could get this fucking heap of trash to cooperate.”

  She turned back to the machine.

  Oz?

  You’re trying to process a fresh cup, but there is already an empty pod in there.

  Fuck my life.

  Molly grappled with another panel on the machine, and managed to pull it open. She peered into the little compartment that had popped out and dug out a crinkled piece of plastic. Dumping it in the trash, she turned back to Joel.

  “Well, that couldn’t have gone much worse,” she said.

  Joel watched her, amused. “You’re talking about making a first impression on your new team member?” he clarified.

  She scowled at him.

  Joel grinned. “I think you did perfectly. She now knows exactly what she’s getting herself into…” He couldn’t help but chuckle silently, his shoulders and chest bouncing in amusement.

  Molly slammed the panel shut and put the mug back under the machine. “I’m glad you’re amused,” she retorted, poking at the button on the machine again.

  Joel, still grinning, pulled out a chair at the kitchen table and plunked down. “Okay, let’s see what we can do about this leadership thing. I mean, you were doing so well! What, with finding a way to keep Crash from going crazy, and listening to the others about what they need to be motivated and engaged on this isolated rock.”

  Molly turned and leaned against the counter while the machine whirred and did its thing. “Yeah, really great… You know that Crash hasn’t been using the pods just to get his cabin fever ya-yas out?”

  Joel cocked his head. “Huh?”

  Molly folded her arms. “Yeah, he’s using his pod time to go and see some chick he’s been talking to on the other side of the asteroid.”

  Joel looked confused. “But Paige said he’s been more relaxed since he had pod time.”

  Molly raised her eyebrows knowingly. “Well…” she paused, waiting to see if the penny would drop. When Joel showed no signs of putting it together, she moved on. “The point is, this ‘motivating the troops,’ or, more precisely, training and managing them, bites.”

  The machine fell silent and she picked up her mug. “You want one?” she asked Joel, indicating at the machine.

  He shook his head. “No thanks. But this management thing is just something you need to work on. No one - well, very few people - are able to just do it naturally. Why do you think the military invests so much in leadership training, and personnel development?”

  Molly sat down on the other side of the corner where Joel had placed himself. She hugged her mug with two hands and shrugged. “Dunno. I can see it’s important. But I just don’t know where to start.”

  Joel leaned forward, resting his arms on the desk. “You’ve already started. Now we just have to keep refining,” he told her. “So, why don’t we talk about finding out what really motivates them?”

  Molly shrugged again. “Okay,” she said flatly.

  Joel took that as a sign to continue. ”Alright, so let’s take Pieter. He’s an odd one. He’s not a soldier. He doesn’t do this for the pride. Or for justice. But he does care about his team. What do you think he struggles with most, though?”