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  Hallowed Nebula

  Edge of the Splintered Galaxy Book 3

  Eddie R. Hicks

  Hallowed Nebula

  Edge of the Splintered Galaxy Book 3

  By Eddie R. Hicks

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  Copyright © 2019 Eddie R. Hicks

  All rights reserved.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

  No aliens were harmed in the writing of this novel.

  Cover Art by: Jeff Brown Graphics

  Contents

  Dramatis personæ

  Timeline

  Previously on Splintered Galaxy . . .

  Prologue

  1. Karklosea

  2. Foster

  3. Saressea

  4. Rivera

  5. Foster

  6. Saressea

  7. Foster

  8. Rivera

  9. Foster

  10. Rivera

  11. Saressea

  12. Karklosea

  13. Foster

  14. Rivera

  15. Foster

  16. Karklosea

  17. Foster

  18. Rivera

  19. Karklosea

  20. Rivera

  21. Foster

  22. Rivera

  23. Karklosea

  24. Rivera

  25. Foster

  26. Rivera

  27. Foster

  28. Rivera

  29. Foster

  30. Saressea

  31. Foster

  32. Karklosea

  33. Foster

  34. Karklosea

  35. Foster

  36. Rivera

  37. Foster

  38. Rivera

  39. Foster

  40. Rivera

  41. Foster

  42. Rivera

  43. Foster

  44. Saressea

  45. Foster

  46. Saressea

  47. Foster

  48. Rivera

  49. Karklosea

  50. Rivera

  51. Foster

  52. Karklosea

  53. Foster

  54. Saressea

  55. Foster

  56. Saressea

  57. Rivera

  58. Karklosea

  59. Foster

  60. Karklosea

  61. Foster

  62. Rivera

  63. Foster

  64. Saressea

  65. Foster

  66. Rivera

  67. Foster

  68. Karklosea

  69. Saressea

  70. Rivera

  71. Foster

  72. Saressea

  73. Karklosea

  74. Foster

  75. Rivera

  76. Foster

  Epilogue

  Next time on Splintered Galaxy . . .

  About the Author

  Dramatis personæ

  A note on Radiance names

  Members of the Radiance Union have to adhere to Aryile naming conventions. Names that end with ‘ea’ are female names, while names that end with ‘ei’ are male. The three-letter word prefix is a label that matches their race. The label also translates to numbers in the Aryile language.

  Ary = one = Aryile

  Mil = two = Javnis

  Za = three = Rabuabin

  Gab = four = Vorcambreum

  Ure = five = Linl

  Dramatis personæ

  XSV Johannes Kepler Crew

  Rebecca Foster – IESA explorer, Captain

  Species: Human

  Dominic Williams – IESA explorer, Commander and first officer

  Species: Human

  Travis Pierce – IESA explorer, Science officer

  Species: Human

  Jasmine Rivera – IESA explorer, Chief engineer

  Species: Human

  Irena Kostelecky – IESA explorer, Chief medical

  Species: Human

  Dennis Chang – UNE Navy, Flight Lieutenant, and helmsman

  Species: Human

  Za Saressea – Radiance liaison officer

  Species: Rabuabin

  Ary Odelea – Scholar, Souyila researcher and Communications officer

  Species: Aryile

  Mil Tolukei – Radiance Psionic, Lead shipboard psionic

  Species: Javnis

  Nereid – Shipboard psionic

  Species: Undine (humanoid mutant)

  EVE – Electronic Versatile Entity, ship AI

  Species: Android

  Demarion Bailey – Chef

  Species: Human

  Mathilda Chevallier – EDF-1 member

  Species: Human

  Krystal LeBoeuf – Warlock class psionic, EDF-1 team member

  Species: Human Psionic

  Otis Maxwell – Ravager class psionic, EDF-1 team member

  Species: Human Psionic

  Jacob Miles – UNE Marine

  Species: Human

  United Nations of Earth

  Derek Irons – EDF General

  Species: Human

  Avearan Slaver – Xenobiologist student

  Species: Hashmedai Psionic

  Lisette Bennett – Psionic student

  Species: Human Psionic

  Brice Blackmar – CO of Amicitia Station 14

  Species: Human

  Penelope Diamondrose – Maraschino Hacker

  Species: Hashmedai

  Emmanuel Campbell – IESA HNI surgeon

  Species: Human

  Alisha Levesque – CO ESRS Gerard Kuiper

  Species: Human

  Hashmedai Empire

  Kroshka – Empress of the Empire

  Species: Hashmedai Psionic

  Phylarlie Starchaser – Imperial Lord of the Uelcovis system

  Species: Hashmedai Psionic

  Peiun Starblazer – Rezeki’s Rage Captain

  Species: Hashmedai

  Radiance Union

  Ary Ienthei – Radiance Union council, Aryile representative

  Species: Aryile

  Za Iey’liwea – Radiance Union council, Rabuabin representative and Souyila cofounder

  Species: Rabuabin

  Marchei – Radiance Union council, Vorcambreum representative

  Species: Vorcambreum

  Mil Zealoei – Radiance Union council, Javnis representative

  Species: Javnis

  Ure Hanei – Radiance Union council, Linl representative

  Species: Linl

  Ary Queenea – Souyila cofounder, Ienthei’s twin sister

  Species: Aryile

  Karklosea – Radiance Templar

  Species: Linl Psionic

  Gab Eicelea – Radiance archaeologist

  Species: Vorcambreum

  Za Vynei – Eicelea’s bodyguard

  Species: Rabuabin

  Jainuzei – Weapons Master

  Species: Aryile

  Byikanea – Soldiers of Marduk leader

  Species: Linl Psionic

  Armuzei – Soldiers of Marduk leader

  Species: Javnis

  Dienei – Soldiers of Marduk leader

  Species: Aryile

  Marrea – Soldiers of Marduk leader

  Species: Aryile Psionic

  Michei – Whisper Operative

  Species: Rabuabin Psionic

  Wenadei – Cybernetic specialist

  Species: Linl

  Teuei – Whisper Operative

  Species: Vorcambreum Psionic

  Draconian Horde

  Lahmu – Dragon Knight

  Species: Unknown Draconian />
  Lahamu – Dragon Maiden

  Species: Unknown Draconian

  Other

  Sarpanit – ESRS Carl Sagan rogue EVE AI

  Species: Corrupted AI

  Timeline

  1944 . . . Radiance Union discovers Earth and the human race.

  1945 . . . Radiance witness the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Radiance council votes to not make contact with humans. Scientific study is allowed to continue, however.

  2003 . . . Noylarlie starts psionic training.

  2008 . . . Noylarlie becomes Archmage.

  2009 . . . Noylarlie given command of the Crimson Arrow, travels to Morutrin Prime.

  2010 . . . Onatiasha and her team travels with Kroshka and Akeia to Earth via a Hashmedai command ship, they materialize eight years later.

  2010/2011 . . . Noylarlie arrives at Proxima Centauri, and then embarks on journey to Epsilon Eridani.

  2018 . . . Hashmedai Empire invasion of Earth.

  2027 . . . Human refugees arrive at Alpha Centauri; Radiance fleet arrives at Earth to remove surviving Hashmedai forces. Radiance uplifts the human race, providing humans with advanced technology and medical advancements.

  2027 . . . Extrasolar Defense Force (EDF) is formed to protect humans living in Alpha Centauri and future deep space worlds. Abyssal Explorer embarks on a thirteen-year journey to Barnard’s Star.

  2028 . . . The United Nations of Earth (UNE) is formed; humanity enters new golden age of space travel and exploration.

  2030 . . . Hashmedai Liberation front (HLF) slowly starts to come together worldwide after reports of mistreatment of Hashmedai left behind on Earth.

  2032 . . . Chloe and EDF-1 are recalled back to Earth to assist in cross training.

  2032 . . . EDF-2 and the Abyssal Sword goes missing after battling Celestial Order forces at Proxima Centauri.

  2033 . . . The Carl Sagan along with a UNE fleet of science and exploration ships leave Earth to explore the galaxy.

  2039 . . . Jazz, Kroshka, Phylarlie, Onatiasha, and Zhinbryo awake from cryostasis upon arriving at Epsilon Eridani. They take the space bridge back to the Empire.

  2040 . . . Chloe along with the EDF-1 arrive at Earth and awake from cryostasis. Noylarlie and Parcisei awake from cryostasis and make plans to travel to Earth upon learning what took place.

  2040/2041 . . . The Celestial Order wars.

  2041 . . . Radiance abandons Barnard’s Star in the aftermath of the wraith outbreak and the battle of Barnard’s Star. UNE occupies the system via the newly discovered Lyonria Kuiper belt wormhole. Peace is formed between the UNE and the Empire.

  2041 . . . Destiny, Tetsuya, and Vaish escape from UNE custody. Their whereabouts remain a mystery for years to come.

  2041 . . . UNE discovers Radiance and Celestial Order research data regarding the ancient Lyonria in Barnard’s Star. Human scientists set up shop in the system to study the new findings.

  2042 . . . The Radiance mega corporation, Souyila, begins research on ethereal energy. A new and renewable power source is made available to the Union netting the company massive profits. XE crystals are sold to the UNE as they are no longer needed.

  2042 . . . UNE uncovers new Lyonria ruins in Barnard’s Star and begins to reverse engineer the Kuiper belt wormhole.

  2045 . . . Mass production of human-built wormholes begin and the plans for an interstellar wormhole network is drawn out.

  2046 . . . Odelea joins the Souyila corporation and uses their funding to advance her findings on gene therapy.

  2048 . . . Anti-aging gene therapy tests are a success. Souyila sells the technology to the UNE, who in turn trades their version of it to the Empire. The act upsets the Radiance council. A new law within the union is passed forbidding any corporation from selling technology to outside galactic nations. UNE counters by withholding all knowledge they discover regarding Lyonria artifacts and ruins.

  2049 . . . UNE wormhole network goes online, reducing travel times between star systems and speeding up colonization for their swelling population.

  2050 . . . Captain Foster and Carl Sagan arrives in Sirius, discovers Lyonria ruins, life in the system, establishing the first human colony, and conflicts with the Architect.

  2050 . . . The Carl Sagan receives a signal from a ship entering the system. They set a course to investigate as Radiance and EISS intelligence believes it’s related to the disappearance of the Abyssal Sword and EDF-2. Contact with the Carl Sagan is lost hours later.

  2050 . . . Promising data received from the first generation of UNE extrasolar colonies fuel the need for the UNE to aggressively expand as death from old age is now a thing of the past. Population numbers within the UNE, Union, and Empire are projected to explode in the coming years. The colonization race begins.

  2051 . . . UNE sends additional ships to support the Sirius colonists in the wake of the disappearance of the Carl Sagan. During which, technology from the Lyonria ruins, Tiamat’s tomb, and the Architect are collected and studied by the colonists already present in the system.

  2052 . . . UNE sets out to expand their claim on worlds within uncharted regions of space, placing heavy emphasis on planets that may have Lyonria ruins.

  2065 . . . The Hashmedai attempt to build their own MRF but are unsuccessful due to EISS sabotage.

  2068 . . . UNE ships arrive at Sirius to retake control of the system and search for the Carl Sagan. No signs of the ship and crew are found. A wormhole is constructed linking Sirius to the rest of UNE-controlled space.

  2068 . . . Formal contact is made with the Qirak trade fleet. Lucrative deals from the other side of the galaxy are made between them and the UNE, Union, and Empire.

  2069 . . . UNE Lyonria experts assist Sirius scientists in reverse engineering FTL technology left over from the Architect and Tiamat drones. Radiance teams are brought in to help speed up the development.

  2069 . . . The first Alcubierre drive ship is tested in Sirius. UNE and Radiance begins to upgrade all ships with FTL.

  2072 . . . To counter UNE and Union FTL ships, the Empire aggressively pushes to create a working MRF. They have a 60 percent failure rate in production, however, only command ships and lead capital ships are equipped with the technology as a result.

  2074 . . . To prevent Radiance from forcing the Undine and Poniga to join the union, the UNE labels several planets within Sirius as protected worlds, forbidding anyone from interfering with their culture or colonizing them unless specifically requested by the local population. Terra Nova and several other inhabited worlds in Sirius are excluded as they have been claimed by the UNE.

  2086 . . . The colonization race becomes heated, and territorial disputes between UNE, Radiance, and the Empire begin.

  2090 . . . With the growth of the UNE, Radiance requests all humans living in Alpha Centauri and Proxima to leave. UNE agrees and forces those colonists to inhabit Barnard’s Star to help the population growth and claim new Lyonria ruins discovered almost monthly.

  2095 . . . Fearing another war due to colonial expansion, Amicitia station 14 is constructed as a means for the UNE to negotiate disputes between all alien races. A ceasefire between the Union and Empire is agreed upon months later.

  2099 . . . Kroshka bonds with Eensino. The Empire for the first time in years is ruled by an emperor and empress.

  2118 . . . Present day.

  Previously on Splintered Galaxy . . .

  The mission was simple. Find the Draconian’s homeworld, make contact with their leaders, and convince them to end the war. Or prepare the galaxy for a prolonged conflict. A rogue faction within Earth’s government made that a lot more complex. The Terran Legion devised a plan to see the human race rise up and rule over all alien races while pushing for a more aggressive war against the dragons. And their tool to make it happen? Breeding their own army of dragons.

  The Terran Legion’s plot to remove the leaders of the Empire and the line of succession to the throne was averted by the bravery of Captain Foster
and the crew of the XSV Johannes Kepler, but it came at a cost. Chevallier was critically wounded and was not expected to survive unless cybernetic augmentation was performed on her body. Because Chevallier lacked HNI and would need to remain that way to complete the mission, it left the crew with little choice. They had to seek out the aid of the one specialist in the galaxy that could tend to her special needs.

  And he can only be found in the Radiance Union.

  Prologue

  Hashmedai Prison Barge

  En route to Paryo, Uemaesce system

  October 23, 2118, 03:47 SST (Sol Standard Time)

  Lisette Bennett was experiencing the worst vacation ever.

  It started great, visiting the Empire’s most treasured colony, Taxah, with her Hashmedai girlfriend Avearan. She got to experience the sensation of walking on the surface of a planet for the first time in her life and to breathe its air too. That’s a big deal when you’ve spent your entire life living on Saturn’s largest moon.

  Now, Lisette found herself lying hopelessly in a dark prison cell, where the air was cold enough to prevent milk from going stale. The Hashmedai may as well have just tossed her in their fridge, assuming they used them.