Empire Reborn (Taran Empire Saga Book 1): A Cadicle Space Opera by A.K. DuBoff (brene brown rising strong .txt) 📗

are widespread, and a war now would come at great cost to us. We look toward an alternative future.”

Raena smiled sweetly, but Jason could tell it wasn’t genuine. “That’s very kind.”

“To a truce, then?” the representative asked.

Wil and Raena exchanged glances.

“Yes. On behalf of the Taran Empire, we accept your offer of peace,” Wil stated.

“Please, enjoy your gift. We look forward to continued positive relations.” The avatar vanished.

Jason blinked several times, staring at the place on the deck where the alien representative had stood. “What just happened?”

“We didn’t die,” his father replied flippantly. “I’m confused.”

“That makes all of us.” Saera walked over to the alleged power core and took a closer look. “Is it a bomb?”

“CACI would have picked up on a potential threat,” Wil said. “I don’t get it. They were ready to kill us all a few minutes ago.”

Jason crossed his arms. “It doesn’t track.”

His father shook his head. “No, it doesn’t. No one turns around opinion that quickly. They’re playing us… I just don’t know how yet.”

“This is everything we need, though,” Raena said. “Think about the kind of planetary defense upgrades we could make with a power generator this robust.”

Saera nodded. “That’s true. And it’s not like we’re in a position to reject this ‘gift’—though I don’t actually see it as one.”

“I don’t trust them one bit. But we don’t have a better option at present,” Wil stated.

Raena scowled. “I feel like we just sold our souls to alien overlords.”

Wil picked up the device. “Not our souls. But maybe our freedom. That remains to be seen.”

“Temporary peace is better than getting wiped out on the spot,” Saera said. “This at least buys us time.”

“I’ll smooth over things with the High Council and public relationships.” Ryan sighed. “They’re going to be angry.”

Wil scoffed. “They should be thankful—and scared. It always amazes me how you can save people’s lives and they’re upset you didn’t do it ‘their way’.”

Jason crossed his arms. “I’m curious to find out what the Aesir think of all this.”

“Yes, I’m sure Dahl will have something unhelpfully abstract but wise-sounding to say about the ‘gift’. In any case, it’s time we reevaluate the technology in the Archive.” His father looked very tired.

Raena looked between her parents. “All right, so what do we do now?”

“We graciously accept the Erebus’ offer of peace and move forward with our lives.”

“They’re probably setting us up!” Jason protested. There’s no way this ‘gift’ doesn’t have strings attached.

His father shrugged. “Right now, that doesn’t matter. They can obliterate us with a flick of their wrist we can’t even see. This is the smartest decision for our current circumstances.”

Raena crossed her arms. “If we acquiesce now, that puts us at a disadvantage.”

“It keeps us alive. We don’t have much chance if our entire race is wiped out.”

Jason shook his head. “They don’t have that power. If they did, they would have done it already.”

“Perhaps,” Wil yielded. “Regardless, this is how we find out what they can do and what we can do to coexist—or resist them. Right now, fighting back is beyond even my power.”

“You’re not alone,” Saera said.

“No, but we, the Taran race, are so insignificant.” His father shook his head. “This entire universe is part of something so much bigger than any of us can comprehend. The actions we take are simply pulling threads that barely register on the greater cosmic web. Even so, that doesn’t mean we should give up. The individual lives are no less important to the people living them just because they’re a tiny speck in existence. If we can make even one person’s life better through our work, then it’s our duty to carry on, no matter the odds against us.”

“This isn’t over. Not even close,” Raena said.

Jason let out a long breath. “What is it they say… we live to fight another day?”

Saera smiled. “And then the next.”

CHAPTER 22

Having new alien overlords would take time to get used to. Upon returning to TSS Headquarters, Jason was met by expressions of shock and relief. He tried to assure his students that everything would be okay. Truthfully, he had no idea what the future would bring. Like Dad said, we’re alive. That’s what matters.

Classes were put on hold for two days while the TSS figured out how to monitor the situation with the Erebus in conjunction with the Guard. The landscape of the Taran Empire was changing. Time would tell if it was for the better.

After another long strategy session, Jason was taking a break in his office to catch up on some administrative tasks. His desk lit up with an incoming communication, marked as being from an unidentified caller on Duronis. I only know one person out that way.

Sure enough, when he answered, Kira greeted him with a smile.

He smiled back. “Hey! I wasn’t expecting to hear from you so soon.”

“Well, I saw the news and wanted to check in. Congrats on preventing our horrible demise.”

“Yeah, it’s been a little crazy around here.”

“I can imagine. Aliens, man! Why do they always get up in our business?”

He laughed. “I know, right? Stars, I’m still in a surreal haze about the whole thing!”

“One day at a time.”

“So it goes. How are things on your end?”

Her expression turned solemn. “I’ll jump to it: you were right to be worried about what’s happening out here.”

Jason’s stomach knotted. “What have you learned?”

“Well, Lexi has offered some interesting insights when I’ve been able to get her alone to chat. The ‘Alliance’ she mentioned in her message to the TSS is part of a larger network known as ‘the Coalition’. Very cryptic and unhelpful names, I know.”

“How widespread is this network?”

“I don’t know yet. But the Coalition