Alutia Rising, Anniversary Edition (Alutia Rising Series, Book 1) Read online

  Alutia Rising

  By Craig Gerttula

  Anniversary Edition

  Book One of the Alutia Rising Series

  This is a work of fiction.

  Copyright © 2013 Craig Gerttula. All rights reserved.

  Cover Image - Asteroid Belt and Earth Images courtesy of NASA/JPL, who in no way support this work, and used under the Creative Common Attribution 3.0 License.

  Published by Sky Hoshi Publishing

  Smashwords Edition December 2013

  ISBN-10: 0988465574

  ISBN-13: 978-0-988465572

  Publisher Contact Information:

  www.skyhoshipublishing.com

  [email protected]

  To my mother,

  Thank you.

  Preface

  First, I’d like to thank each and every one of you for taking the time to read this work. I hope you find as much enjoyment as I in the world, characters, and story of Alutia Rising...and if you do not, I thank you for giving it a chance.

  It’s been a long year since Alutia Rising was first released, and during the months since, I’ve felt myself drawn back countless times, feeling an attachment to the first work that I quite literally put years of blood, sweat, and tears into as I developed the story and universe. On rare occasions, I would find myself reading through chapters I know by heart, wishing I could take my experience, my growth, since the work was first completed over two years ago, and somehow improve on the way I tell this story that I love so very much, so that you, the reader, could wholly experience that same enjoyment.

  So when I sent book three of the series off to my editor, with my dog Hoshi’s stamp of approval of course, I asked if she would mind me taking a few months to revisit book one, to give it a once over, even if only a year has passed since its initial release. She was reluctant at first, though understood my yearning to improve on my work, even after its official release. So in the end, I was provided permission, but reminded the time spent on it would be my own and should not interfere with the agreed upon future release schedule (...jokingly of course...).

  What I present to you within these pages is the anniversary edition of Alutia Rising, which was initially planned as just a revision, but snowballed into a significant rewrite. Though you will not find a radically changed story, additional chapters, or differing characters, but instead, what I hope you will find is a story whose flow has much improved, characters who feel more alive and developed, with an overall consistency of writing that should match the sequels in grammar, substance, and style.

  So to those of you new to the world of Alutia Rising, I welcome you with open arms, and to those who may be giving the work a second chance, I honestly hope you do enjoy the changes made...and if not, I again thank you for giving it a chance.

  Humbly and Respectively,

  Craig Gerttula

  Prologue

  A bitter breeze swirled from the fading darkness high above, biting at Emperor Yuloo Origin’s flesh with its glacial fangs. But little did the 298th hereditary ruler of the New Universal Empirical Human Alliance pay it heed, knowing its origin intangible, manifested from the burden of rule swelling ceaselessly upon his aging shoulders.

  Yuloo let slip a sigh, hunching ever deeper within his throne, its power built upon the bones of the many who’d come before him. Though little did it assuage the ache of his own bones; the chill that crept, unrelenting, through the fur laden cape he wrapped ever tighter about his chest.

  A calming melody, telling the story of the first Sons of Yu, reverberated across the cavernous, dimly lit chamber known as the Great Hall of Humanity, a place of awe for all those who may set foot therein. But for Yuloo, it felt a prison. He being forced by tradition to sit atop a raised pedestal in its core, encircled by 203 exquisitely crafted steps, each representing one of the galaxies currently under his dominion.

  “A foolish notion of a tired, tired man,” he muttered, knowing well the great hall his central seat of power, providing a majestic example of his authority for those over which he ruled, and may consider questioning that standing.

  He raised his weary eyes to gaze upon the 203 statues of kings and queens lining the four Great Paths of the Emperor, each standing over a kilometer tall, like eternal guardians waiting to judge all who dared enter his presence. They were works of wonder, reaching half the distant ceiling, with swirling galaxies cradled in outstretched hands and specks of pure lights dancing over their flowing surfaces.

  At the base of each statue, lining the gem infused pathways, stood ever his Emperor's Elite Guard, adorning full reactive combat armor of the unique livery of the galaxy king or queen whose likeness towered above them, ready to fall upon any who may threaten the sovereign of this great hall.

  In years past, these posts were held by actual members of the Royal Guards of each galaxy, a sign of loyalty to the emperor, and in turn, a sign of trust in the kings and queens. But as years past, and more and more galaxies fell under the NHA’s sway, the ambitions of its many rulers deemed such a practice a significant risk that the Blood of Yu, those emperors ruling from Planet Origin, could no longer allow.

  Unless, of course, I remove these troublesome kings and queens, Yuloo considered for a moment, knowing the idea one that many a past emperor had also measured. Except, like most, he knew it wasn’t a viable option, the risk of full-blown rebellion and total collapse just too great.

  With an alliance the size of the NHA, the common moniker used when referring to the New Universal Empirical Human Alliance, it was all but impossible for him to rule his holdings directly. So it was decided, during the founding, that galactic hereditary kings and queens would be appointed to rule each galaxy in his stead. He still held control, of course, his proclamations, known as Emperor’s Proclamations, alongside the NHA Founding Charter, the unbreakable laws of the universe. But beyond these laws, the kings and queens could rule their galaxies as they pleased; each galaxy being, for all intents and purposes, sovereign states.

  It was, however, still impossible to rule effectively in this manner. The interpretation of the NHA Founding Charter and Emperor’s Proclamations something not to be left to the kings and queens pleasures, who could easily misinterpret these laws to provide themselves greater power. So a system had been developed that allowed the emperor to, in a sense, oversee all the ruling nobility.

  He glanced to the floating, fluidic sphere that hovered a few centimeters above the gem laden bracelet he adorned, rippling and constantly shifting its coloring. The sphere represented a Proxian Reliability Oversight God Reaction and Analytical Mind Module, or Program as his subjects more commonly referred. Artificially created, these super intelligent beings were responsible for overseeing the ruling nobility and reporting their actions to the emperor.

  “Approval of new trade regulations between galaxies 29 and 136...” A monotone voice, bereft of all emotion, emanated from the sphere, stating that an approval had been provided in his name and informing him of the details.

  The Programs were, in fact, the shadow rulers of the NHA galaxies, having final say over all galactic impacting decisions the ruling nobility may face. So they acted, or were suppose to act, as if they were an extension of the emperor's mind, laying down judgment in line with the Emperor’s Proclamations, NHA Founding Charter, and, most importantly of all, the emperor’s thoughts.

  He found this was generally true, but occasionally the Programs would make decisions based on tradition; ancient, archaic tradition. It happened so rarely he normally let them pass without direct intervention, though even at times whe
n he wanted to overturn a decision, the Programs would find a restricted or sealed clause of the NHA Founding Charter to justify their verdict.

  The Programs themselves were enigmas. The science behind their creation and existence, sealed for eternity. But Yuloo, having been in the intimate presence of Programs since his youth, had learned a few “restricted” details over the past 79 years.

  Each Program was unique, even though they sounded alike, responding differently to the same questions. When needed, a new Program would appear without any human intervention, being created through a means unknown. Though there appeared to be restrictions on their existence. They were only able to subsist within starships, structures, or other objects that included gorian alloy, an ultra rare precious metal. Though once within, they were capable of “possessing” all matter attached to, or within a set distance of, their housing. Meaning, a Program that was integrated into a central planetary matrix system, with a gorian core, could oversee everything happening on said planet. Or so he assumed. The actual details restricted. He was more optimistic about their methods of communication, which he believed to be instantaneous, appearing on the surface to go against all known standard universal and black hole physics. But Yuloo, through skilled questioning that could only be honed through years of dealing with men and women of great power, had learned it had to do with manipulation of the “second” universe, or recondiverse.

  “Counter incursions reported on all fronts of Walodiss Aggression Limiting Line in NHA Galaxy 189. Emperor's Wall Fleet reinforcements are being recalled from Fleet Bases AZ-111FV, YP-820NM...” he listened intently as the Program listed off the response that the high-admirals in charge of the Emperor’s Wall Fleet had decided, noting that these forays of AH-Zec, the cranillium ruler of the Anti-Sapien Unification, or ASU as most referred to them, were becoming much more frequent.

  The ASU, whose mandate was to annihilate the NHA, since the NHA had attempted, and failed, at annihilating the cranillium, the lead race of the ASU, were of little threat. They controlled only a tiny sector of galaxy 189, 378 light years at its widest point, about half the size of a standard NHA Duchy. So even with the industries race of schnac’lasis on their side, who themselves originated from a distant dwarf galaxy and were the reason the NHA’s cranillium conquest had failed 413 years before, were no match for the NHA’s enormous fleets. The Emperor’s Wall Fleet alone, the force responsible for patrolling the Walodiss Aggression Limiting Line, or Wall for short, which surrounded ASU controlled space, stood 150 million starships strong. Meaning that the NHA currently held an immense advantage, and he found little reason to pursue the war as it now stood.

  But the ruling nobility had become restless. Many wondered, few openly, why he was allowing the ASU to continue to survive, not pursuing their extermination as was required by the NHA Founding Charter.

  “For I am a human first,” he wanted tell those of who had long forgotten that fact; looking to the ranks of the Emperor’s Elite Guard standing at attention far below, knowing with one word he could order an invasion, sending them, and billions of other humans, to their deaths in an attempt to destroy the ASU. It would be such a waste of precious life, and since the Programs had yet to question why he was allowing the stalemate to stand, he saw little reason to pursue the issue further.

  He frowned, noticing Zing's fluidic sphere undulating wildly, knowing there were other, more pressing matters that required his immediate attention.

  “Planet Zuulica was destroyed by Duke Telimen Evilonia in galaxy 45 due to possible insurrection.” Emperor Yuloo tensed as the monotone words sunk in, his anger seething towards the surface.

  The Programs had one glaring flaw. They were unable to directly intervene in decisions that had not been previously deemed within their programmed responsibility. This meant the Programs were unable to stop a ruling noble from throwing away human lives based on indiscretion or delusions, which happened more frequently then he thought possible. The emperor could, and would, act after the fact, removing the troublesome nobles, and possibly a king or queen if he found justification.

  “Zing, send for my knight high-admirals,” he ordered, knowing that it was unorthodox to provide a name for an individual Program, they themselves preferring to be referred to as just; Program. But it was his only companion for much of the day, besides his pet catillian and his daughter Yukie, allowing some semblance of civility in their constant communications.

  The issue of ruling nobles abusing their power had been common since the days of the Proxian Empirical Alliance that founded the NHA, unifying all of humanity 75,000 Origin years before. Constantly he considered abandoning the system altogether. But knew well the existence of hereditary nobility was required by the NHA Founding Charter. Though there was another reason he’d be reluctant to abolish the system, even if this wasn’t the case.

  When dealing with hereditary nobility, there was a high chance that a future ruler would be unfit to rule. But even with this possibility, hereditary nobility, in conjunction with the many overlapping layers of sovereignty, kept a certain stability within the NHA. This helped prevent the many bloody changes of power that were so prominent during the 25,000 years of war during the pre-NHA period, when diverse forms of human governments constantly fought for domination over Origin’s galaxy. The problems that made him almost forget this knowledge arose later on, when the ruling nobility decided that it would be easier to control their citizenry by dividing what was known as the common class of the time.

  Thankfully, the emperor rejected the formal proclamation submitted by almost three-fourths of the galaxy kings and queens, requesting he strip the long held rights of over 80% of the NHA population.

  Though that didn’t stop them, did it? Yuloo thought with a sigh.

  The kings and queens, deciding not to give up on their crusade, held an informal King’s Review, which was traditionally a right held only by the emperor, without his presence. At this review, they voted to accept the creation of a system that they claimed would allow for a limitless pool of cheap, and most importantly of all, expendable, human labor. This led to the formation of a four class system within the NHA; ruling nobles, unlanded nobles, commons, and the new class, the petties.

  Humans that were deemed acceptable for the new, much smaller common class, included non-noble businessmen, scholars, researchers, engineers, and the multitude of other professions that the kings and queens deemed worthy. These citizens were provided the majority of the same rights that commons traditionally held, almost identical to unlanded nobles, except they were restricted from living on paradise planets, in noble standard housing, and were not provided a lifelong living stipend.

  The petty class, or the general labor class, consisted of the bulk of the population of the NHA, just over 80%. These were those human’s who the kings and queens deemed unworthy of rights, those citizens who performed the “unskilled” labor that was required for the NHA to thrive. This included mining and factory work, artificial neutron star and singularity cultivation, general crew positions within the fleet...all the jobs that required little skill, or so the kings and queens thought required little skill, and were highly dangerous.

  “Jobs that could, and should, be performed by robotic proxies,” Yuloo sighed again. Though he knew certain incidents of unrestrained genocide during the pre-NHA period had kept the utilization of AI level robotics forbidden except in the hands of the Programs, another restricting article of the NHA Founding Charter.

  Officially, since the emperor of the time, and those since, had refused to formally recognize the petty system, the petty class was still required to be provided all the same rights and privileges as the common class. But the tradition had become so ingrained in NHA culture; the nobles had long forgotten this fact. Petty class citizenry were treated like slaves, forced to live on the worst planets while being provided a meager living stipend by the ruling nobility. If they chose not to work, they were killed...most of the time, alongside their families.
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  He wanted to change this long standing tradition. Force his nobles to eliminate the dreadful petty system. But it would require him to stand against the traditionalists, a politic sect that made up more than 75 percent of the ruling nobility. Even the realists, reformists, and royalists, who made up the majority of the rest, would likely not openly support him, fearing reprisals and loss of the all important trade income.

  “Request for creation of new duchy approved in galaxy 189.” Emperor Yuloo was pulled clear of his thoughts as Zing delivered another verdict in his name. NHA Galaxy 189 contained the Wall, the nickname for the Walodiss Aggression Limiting Line, the frontline of the war with the ASU, and he took extra interest in any changes that may factor into the conflict.

  “Provide additional details, Zing,” Emperor Yuloo commanded. A three-dimensional representation of the galaxy in question swirled into existence before his throne, projected by an irradiated particle display unit, or PDU, built seamlessly in the pedestal’s base.

  The 128 NHA duchies of galaxy 189 highlighted differing shades, allowing him to easily identify the area in question, while a tiny, red striped oval, only 378 light years at its widest point, flashed within, representing current ASU controlled space.

  “King Johan Vn'Oco has deemed it appropriate to award a new duchy to his third daughter, Princess Sasha Vn’Oco, for her coming of age ceremony on her 26th birthday. Officially, the gift is his response to lack of appropriate suitors. Unofficially, the gift is an attempt to stem an apparent increase in influence of one of his dukes, Duke Zehman Hulk'Zif.” Emperor Yuloo studied the slowly swirling map of galaxy 189, staring intently at the new duchy Zing had highlighted.