Sheep Among Wolves: The Gathering

Sheep Among Wolves:

The Gathering

By Tony Harmon and Wayne Yeager

Published by Paladin Publishing at Smashwords. All rights reserved.

Copyright 2015 Paladin Publishing

Dedication

To Jayson, Jaina, Elizabeth and Anakin. It is a pleasure to watch you grow. You inspire us daily.

Special Thanks

We want to extend a very special thanks to Matt Todd, who once again designed the cover of the book. Also, we want to thank Dylan Cornelius and Deidra Harmon for assisting in our final edit of the book.

Table of Contents

Dramatis Personae

Prologue

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Epilogue

Connect with Sheep Among Wolves

Dramatis Personae

Acaeda; Admiral of the Unity fleet (Human male)

Baruch; Mysterious Swordsman and Agent of Prince Galen (Human Male)

Celes-Kaylar; Citizen of Edioss (Human Female)

Darius Spotcher; Captain of the Unity starship Lion’s Den (Human female)

Harnge Smythe; Journalist for the Galactic News Network (Felerian male)

Jonathan Varmonte; Former colonel of the Unity starship Lion’s Den (Human male)

Jordan Vale; Commander of the Freelander Paladin Guard (Human male)

Josiah; Monk of the Fifth Protectorate Order (Symmentarian male)

Miles Vanderhaste; Captain of the former Unity starship Storm (Human male)

Mitch Baxter; Citizen of Genesis (Human male)

Peval; First Officer of the Freelander Paladin Guard (Human male)

Prince Galen; Ruler of the House of Nova Prime of the Freelander Confederation (Novaran male)

Rachel Octavia; Doctor of the Freelander Paladin Guard (Human female)

Saban; Unity diplomatic protector (Human male)

Talandra; Unity diplomat (Human female)

Prologue

Student. Teacher. Comrade. Lover.

They came to us in many forms hiding their true nature and enticing us with their masterful deception. I do not know when it began. Perhaps, they had been there for centuries, and we never realized it. Perhaps they saw us as easy prey and blitzed us suddenly. In the end, it did not really matter.

Like wolves among sheep, they infiltrated us slowly, sowing the seeds that matured into the crop of our destruction. They could look like us. Act like us. Sound like us. Smell like us. They were the perfect chameleons.

We did not comprehend that they were turning us against each other. They spurned on social unrest breaking down our families and nourishing the selfishness in our nature.

They orchestrated everything with the intention of spreading their poison. And slowly it seeped into our society, taking what was once paradise and turning it into hell. We willingly became their accomplices. Civil wars erupted, ravaging our planet’s eco system. With each new battle, we weakened ourselves.

And our enemy waited, savoring the day when the full scope of their ambition would come to fruition. When they finally came for us, it was like an unstoppable wave of destruction pouring over every fabric of our being. My people united to fight them, but we were too late and too weak to stop them. They had done their job exceedingly well.

The Drok La Noir slaughtered us one by one until only a remnant of us remained. We fled our world, finding salvation in the arms of the Unity. Little did we know we had simply traded one demon for another.

Vanderhaste closed the leather-bound journal, pausing to savor his friend Abe’s ominous warning. Shutting his eyes to rest them, the words echoed through his heart. Little did we know we had simply traded one demon for another. How true they were. He too seemed to battle one demon after another.

Like many officers before him, he had fallen into the trap of just following orders. For years he just conceded to the direction of his superiors and with each compromise, he watched his humanity slip further away. Then came the battle with his crew. Vexius Prime, his former gunnery commander, staged a mutiny to capture him and bring him to Unity High Command on charges of treason. He would have succeeded too, if his former first officer, Abe, hadn’t risen to the occasion and outwitted the plotters.

Vanderhaste still struggled with the concept of a God, but with such an amazing outpouring of support from his people, one had to admit that something or someone was helping him. That’s what Abe felt. In the first day of reading, his journal revealed how a missionary from a sect of human monks had convinced him of what the man called The Way. His friend’s religious secret was now exposed to the captain. He had a feeling, that was the plan all along.

The Way had replaced what the Drok La Noir had stolen from him by giving him hope. Hope that there was a God in the universe who loved him and had a plan for his life. Hope that death wasn’t the end and an afterlife awaited all who put their faith in Him.

Vanderhaste had been taught that religion was the opium of the masses and that the Unified Way was the answer. All beings needed to unify together as one people to find true peace. The variety of faiths brought nothing but war and strife and needed to be rejected. The words made sense. His own planet, Earth, was nothing but one disaster after another. Most of them teemed with religious elements.

The Unity did bring peace and prosperity. And death. And sorrow. And the loss of personal freedom. Many would argue that they were small sacrifices for what the people gained. For a time, he agreed.

But the search for a little boy named Adam changed everything. He’d burned multiple worlds all in pursuit of an innocent child. What secret did he hold that could bring down an empire? He still didn’t know for sure, but what he did know was just being in his presence had awoken something in his soul. Suddenly, he found himself asking more questions and wondering if many of his long held beliefs were ill-informed.

Captain, officer Targas chimed in, breaking through his reflections.

Report.

We’ve established a protocol for dealing with loyalists, he said.

While they fled in flux space, Vanderhaste and his commanders met to decide the fate of the crew. Each had to decide for themselves. Now, as they skirted Unity space, decisions had to be made before they proceeded to Brama.

There he hoped to meet old friends and forge new alliances. Together they’d come up with a plan to save the boy and repair some of the damage he’d wrought across the galaxy.

Very good, Vanderhaste said. Commence the procedures immediately.

Together they’d battle the next demon and bring back just a little bit of the hope they all sorely needed. He still wasn’t convinced there was a God out there, but he was sure of one thing. A brighter future awaited at…

The gathering.

Chapter 1

The Redemption was quiet. Except for the hums of the flux drives, only the sound of the officers' footsteps permeated the bridge of the mighty Devastator class warship. No longer a servant of the Unity, Captain Miles Vanderhaste now commanded a ship of mutineers. Having betrayed their master for the sake of a child, the crew of the Redemption flew through neutral space in hopes of finding a safe spot to resupply before continuing on to their new destination – the dead planet Brahma.

For the moment, however, choices had to be made. Vanderhaste was no fool. While many of his crew, including most of the senior officers, agreed with his decision to turn on their Unity leaders, not everyone would approve. Unity loyalists remained. Being branded a traitor was hard to live with. He didn’t blame them for their loyalty. In truth, he rather admired their courage to stand up to their captain and hold to their ideals, even if they were misplaced and misguided.

Still, admiration wasn’t enough. He needed trust and dependence, and he couldn’t count on Unity loyalists. So, once the Redemption entered flux and departed from danger, he began rounding up the crew. He laid out the truth, at least what he knew of it, and gave them a choice. They could remain on the ship, serving under his command, but renounce their allegiance to the Unity, or they could be confined to quarters until the ship reached a neutral stopping point. Once there, they would disembark and be given adequate provisions to get back to Unity space.

After reading preliminary reports on Unity ship movements before his quest for the boy named Adam, he knew that Unity forces were closing in on a key access point to Freelander space. That meant neutral territory was shrinking and the crew didn’t have much time to make their decision. He hated to force the issue, but time, and space, limited his options.

Once again, he lamented the absence of his friend, confidant, and first officer Abe. The wise Nograwnas would know just what to say. His advice usually steered the captain in the right direction. The past day, and its new challenges, seemed harder to tackle now that Abe was dead. He hoped the journal would provide further insights into the man he learned to trust implicitly. For now, he had to rely upon his own instincts. He had never felt more alone.

With no confidants left to turn to, he stood in silent reflection on the bridge of the ship, waiting for the results of his crew. The deadline neared. So, too, did their destination.

Within a few hours, the Redemption would arrive at a remote frontier outpost. At one time, Alpha Base, the station’s nickname, housed and supplied Unity starships for the entire sector. However, as time went on and the Freelanders gained strength and star systems, Alpha Base’s importance waned. Soon, the Unity abandoned it altogether to concentrate on the more pressing war effort.

The old saying proved true. One man’s junk certainly was another’s treasure. Not long after the Unity deserted the base, budding entrepreneurs took it over. Instead of a military post at the edge of Unity territory, it quickly descended into a den of sin. Literally. Prostitution, gambling, and controlled substances were legal and readily available once the government no longer monitored what was going on.

Vanderhaste had no love for the inhabitants or businesses of Alpha Base, but it had two things he needed – supplies and a place to drop off the Unity loyalists. With no Unity entanglements, Vanderhaste would be free to dock the Redemption at the station to transfer men off his ship. They would be close enough to Unity territory to acquire transportation back to friendlier realms of space.

At the same time, Vanderhaste could use the resources provided by the Unity to resupply and repair the ship. He planned on going after the boy, and he knew the Redemption needed to be ready for a fight. Being a former Unity starbase meant they would have the parts he needed. At least, he hoped so. He had very few options remaining.

He stuffed his hands in his pocket and glanced at the chronometer at the front of the bridge. The deadline had expired. It was time for answers. Just as he was about to summon him, Ensign Targas entered the bridge. Dressed in his Unity uniform, he’d removed all the Unity insignias as his sign of solidarity with the captain. Vanderhaste didn’t deem it necessary, but he appreciated the gesture.

Targas marched half-step from the fusion lift to the center of the bridge where Vanderhaste stood. He saluted, then took a minute to catch his breath before offering his report.

Sir, I have the results of the votes, Targas said to his captain. The excitement in his voice gave the captain hope. Vanderhaste motioned for him to continue.

Ninety percent agreed to stay on board, Targas said. Ninety percent.

Vanderhaste let a smile form on his lips. He didn’t often show this kind of emotion in front of his bridge crew, but this was particularly good news. The Redemption could easily handle a 10 percent reduction of personnel. Shift changes wouldn’t even be necessary. Yes, this was very good news.

Thank you, Ensign Targas, He patted his fellow officer on the shoulder. The smile didn’t leave his face. Hope kindled a fire in his heart. Maybe he wasn’t so alone after all.

***

Cast in the depths of space, time moves slowly. This revelation had come early to Jordan over the course of a multitude of freighter journeys with his father. Every trip, he’d play several rounds of checkers, chess, and finally Baldurian Risk before discovering that they’d barely made it out of their pickup system and were quite a ways from completing their delivery. Thus, it came as no surprise that three days into the journey to Brama, time didn’t seem to move slowly, it stood still.

Meditating in Koran’s personal chamber, Jordan replayed his last days on Bahtu. Every detail and choice made resonated in his mind, taunting him about what happened and what might have been. If he’d only got there in time, if he’d just seen fit to have never left Koran, he would be alive.

The First Paladin Guard had lasted for generations. Based on the mythic King Arthur’s Knights of Camelot, the Paladins defended the ancient ideas of sharing love to one’s brothers, maintaining honor, and protecting the helpless. Yet, for all their noble principles, in a day, they had been thrust to the brink of annihilation. Just like Camelot faded from history as a result of the assault from the dark knight Mordred, the First Paladin Guard was spiraling toward a similar fate.

He desperately wanted to change that, and yet he didn’t have the power to do it. All he had was one final order from a friend and mentor. Find the boy. Koran’s voice echoed through his head.

Jordan, may I come in? A recognizable feminine voice broadcast over his door’s intercom.

It was the third time she’d attempted to talk to him, and he still wasn’t sure he was ready to see her. I guess I need to get this over with. He hit the intercom response button. Enter.

Once in the room, she sat down in a plush chair positioned beside him.

Do you need something? Jordan asked harsher than she deserved.

I didn’t come for me, Rachel said, ignoring his gruff demeanor. I came because of you. You’ve been brooding in this room by yourself ever since we left Bahtu. Other than checking on Peval, we’ve hardly seen you and that worries me.

I just want to be alone. Is that so bad?

No, it’s not. But eventually you’re going to have to come out of here.

Maybe I don’t deserve to.

I don’t understand what you’re getting at.

Jordan held back his tears, but the anguish building up inside seeped through the cracks in his defenses. He’d been holding things in for too long. Don’t worry about it, He responded with the best he could muster.

How can I not, Rachel gently clutched his shoulder. Her touch reminded him of simpler days. Days when time held its progress for love. Despite everything that happened between us, I still care for you.

Rachel’s compassionate ear was just one of her many enduring qualities. She could help him, but he hated to tell her the truth.

She continued to push. How I can help?

I’m not sure you can, Jordan lowered his head and inhaled a deep breath at the same time. Unleashing the air, he said. It’s just that…I failed him. I promised Koran I’d protect him, and I failed him.

But you were doing what he told you to, Rachel said. He assigned you to protect the Unity delegation, and you did that.

I see what you’re saying, Jordan slumped in his chair. But it doesn’t make me feel any better.

I know it’s hard to see the good you did right now, but if you look at the whole picture, you’ll see that all of us on this ship are alive because of the decisions you made.

Jordan didn’t reply to Rachel’s case. Koran would be proud of all you did, she said.

He heard her words and wanted to believe them. Yet, Jordan found it difficult to relinquish his nagging doubts. For every person he saved, a legion was dead.

Thanks, was his only reply.

No problem. Now maybe you could come out and at least grace us with a little bit of your presence.

Her unexpected joke released some of his swelling pressure. Perhaps I’ll do that, he laughed regaining a bit of his swagger. If you’re lucky.

I look forward to your return. There’s a lot for us to discuss.

Like what? he asked.

For starters, the Neuro Virus, Rachel replied. I’ve been studying some samples I took from one of the infected.

And?

A few things seem weird.

Weird? Is that word part of the latest medical jargon?

No, Rachel flashed a perturbed glare in jest. I meant that many things just don’t seem to add up. At this point, it’s hard for me to be any more specific.

When you get things figured out, tell me, he said.

I’ll be sure to do that, Rachel smiled.

It was the same smile that had captivated Jordan years ago, and for a moment, he returned to his simpler days. Days when Koran was alive, and his future burned bright with possibility.

***

Her world changed in an instant. She’d been on the fast track in the Unity diplomatic corps, a rising star in the mold of her mother, with endless opportunities in front of her. Talandra wondered what her mom would say now.

She found herself on the run with a band of Freelander outlaws commanded by a particularly irritating but unquestionably handsome rogue. Mom always cautioned her about falling for a pretty face. Lust is a liability to a diplomat. So was love. She warned. It was a lesson she typically heeded.

I wonder if the medic has talked some sense into him? Saban, her bulky senior protector interjected.

We can only hope. Talandra replied, He’s a bit hard-headed. I’m not sure anyone will be successful there. She started to say more when she caught Peval’s ears perking up to glean a bit of gossip from his medical cot. She tossed him an 'I got you' glare, and the paladin’s head abruptly dropped, feigning indifference.

Commander Vale still hasn’t given us a straight answer about when or where he is going to drop us off, Saban complained.

Talandra shared her protector’s concerns, but she knew they were in for a long trip. I’ve looked at the star charts. We’re far from any neutral systems, and I don’t see them making a stop anytime soon in Unity territory.

I agree, Saban sighed. And you know what that makes us?

Prisoners of war?

Aye.

To a certain extent that’s true, but I don’t think the situation is as bad as it could be, Talandra declared. "I’m typically