The Copernicus Deception (The Human Chronicles Saga Book 15) Read online

  The

  Copernicus

  Deception

  The Human Chronicles Saga

  #15

  an Adam Cain adventure

  by

  T.R. Harris

  Copyright 2016 by T.R. Harris

  All rights reserved, without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanically, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book. This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

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  Novels by T.R. Harris

  The Human Chronicles Saga

  The Fringe Worlds

  Alien Assassin

  The War of Pawns

  The Tactics of Revenge

  The Legend of Earth

  Cain’s Crusaders

  The Apex Predator

  A Galaxy to Conquer

  The Masters of War

  Prelude to War

  The Unreachable Stars

  When Earth Reigned Supreme

  A Clash of Aliens

  Battlelines

  The Copernicus Deception

  Scorched Earth (coming Sept. 15, 2016)

  Jason King – Agent to the Stars Series

  The Enclaves of Sylox

  The Drone Wars Series

  Day of the Drone

  In collaboration with George Wier…

  The Liberation Series

  Captains Malicious

  Coming attractions…

  Now Available For Pre-Order

  The Human Chronicles Saga

  BOOK #16

  Scorched Earth

  by T.R. Harris

  Adam Cain is an Alien with an Attitude…

  and this time he's really mad!

  This time it's personal.

  NOW AVAILABLE for PRE-ORDER

  only $3.99

  RELEASE DATE: September 15, 2016

  (A 90,000-word space opera novel of revenge and redemption.

  Nearly twice as long as the most recent editions.)

  From international bestselling science fiction author T.R. Harris, here is the latest installment in his epic tale of Human superiority within the galaxy.

  What happens when Adam Cain—the Alien with an Attitude—gets really pissed off?

  Hint: It ain’t pretty.

  The scorched earth in the title doesn’t refer to the Human’s homeworld. Rather it describes the path of death and destruction that Adam Cain and his team burn on their way from Earth to Juir, on a mission to avenge the killing of one of his closest friends and to rescue others held captive on the distant planet. The aliens may have thought Adam was dangerous before. Well they haven’t seen anything yet.

  This is a no-holes-barred action adventure, devoid of PC sensitivities, and giving full display to the animal side of Human nature. The bottom line: The aliens pissed off the wrong guy this time. Now in the face of overwhelming odds, Adam and his team fight through every obstacle and vanquish every foe on their way to victory. But this time victory won’t come without a price …and a price almost too high to pay.

  Take a deep breath. You’re going to need it. Because when Adam sets out on his scorched-earth campaign they’ll be no time to relax. This is military space opera at its best, incorporating all the thrilling space battles, hand-to-hand combat, tactical maneuvers and political intrigue you’ve come to expect from The Human Chronicles.

  This is the book where it all comes together.

  This 90,000-word novel is available for Pre-Order for only $3.99, with a release date of September 15, 2016.

  Place your order today by following this link, and be sure to receive the book on the day of release and for the discounted retail price.

  Contents

  Prologue

  1

  2

  3

  4

  5

  6

  7

  8

  9

  10

  11

  12

  13

  14

  15

  16

  17

  18

  19

  20

  21

  22

  23

  24

  25

  26

  27

  28

  29

  30

  Epilogue

  Prologue

  A ten-point magnitude quake struck the planet Marix in the region around the city of Jendis, sending panicked natives located outside the reinforced buildings scrambling for the safety of the nearest survival-chamber.

  Even though such violent rumblings were commonplace on Marix, this particular event was stronger than most. Overall, the death toll would climb to over nine-thousand, mainly victims of falling debris on the streets outside the buildings. Even with the life-saving composite shelters placed on every block, the population of the city had grown to such a level that even these were inadequate. As thousands of panicked residents dashed for the shelters, they encountered hordes of others with the same idea. When filled to capacity, the doors to the shelters closed automatically, leaving the slower-reacting to suffer the deadly shower of masonry, brick and metal raining from above.

  The building where Nurion Massi was located was the singularly best-built structure on the planet—the best money could buy—so he rode out the quake with little concern for his own safety. However, he was concerned about his nearby manufacturing plants. He quickly brought up the damage assessment on his computer. There were sixteen facilities within the quake zone, yet only two had shut down. He read the data stream. The two affected plants sat directly over the epicenter, and even as the emergency protocols called for a thirty minute recovery rate following a quake of this magnitude, it was estimated these facilities would take an hour to come back online.

  Nurion nodded. That was acceptable. He wasn’t an unreasonable creature, knowing that not all things were under his control, particularly the forces of nature on Marix.

  He switched the view on his computer screen back the conversation he had been engaged in at the time of the quake, failing to even glance at the casualty estimates within the manufacturing plants. That was not a concern, since most of the facilities were seventy-percent automated. Flesh and blood creatures could be more easily replaced than expensive and sophisticated equipment. What he was concerned about was the estimated .012-percent drop in delivery rate the plant closures would produce. Quotas would have to be adjusted and the decline compensated for through increased production at the other facilities….

  Nurion’s computer now showed the frowning face of a grey-skinned creature with a round head and wide, almond-shaped eyes. “Another shaking?”

  “It is common here, the result of the three orbiting moons.”

  “And yet you stay, even as there are innumerable worlds to which you may move your headquarters.”

  “Marix is but one of fourteen hundred worlds where we have facilities, yet it was the first. Because of that fact it
is a matter of tradition that I must maintain continuity; however, personally, I would move to another location if it were within my power to do so.”

  The grey creature smiled, a thin stretching of the lips while partially concealing yellowing teeth. “And now my friend acts as if he is not the leader of the largest business operation in the galaxy. Nurion, if you wish to move your headquarters, you have the power to do so.”

  Nurion returned the thin smile. “Power? You believe I have power from the position I hold?” He shook his head. “I am a puppet to forces greater than myself. Just consider, here I am speaking with you, Onix, a lowly political representative to whom I must not only listen, but also receive advice and direction. So who really has the power here?”

  Onix chuckled. “We have been friends and associates for many standards, so there is no need to play such games. There is a symbiotic relationship at work here. An organization as large and wide-spread as MK Weapons Systems could not survive without government assistance and protection, while my employers could not exist without the weapons you produce. And the truth is—as we both know—a word from you and I would be replaced without a moment’s concern or hesitation.”

  Only the slightest nod came from Nurion, acknowledging the validity of the statement. There were thousands of creatures who could take Onix’s place; yet only three were in a position to supplant Nurion. These were his immediate ranking counselors. In approximately twenty standard years, one would step into his position, but not now. For the time being, Nurion Massi was the Point-Operator of Marix-Kliss Weapons Systems, makers of the ubiquitous line of hand-held MK bolt launchers, the largest weapons manufacturer in the galaxy.

  At least it was for the time being….

  As an aftershock rumbled through the building, Nurion’s expression turned more serious. “I understand you have secured the artifact. At what point will it be forwarded to me?”

  “We had once secured it,” Onix corrected. “But now the vessel transporting the device has been confiscated by local authorities of the Visidor Affiliation.”

  “And you are having difficulty retrieving the vessel?”

  “There are complications, as is common within the Kidis Frontier these days, ever since the Juireans began the process of annexation. Is there nothing you can do to influence them?”

  “That process is underway,” said Nurion, “yet this new Elder is irascible. He is a throwback to a time before the Humans. He still believes the Expansion rules the galaxy.”

  “His actions in the Frontier have made all the local alliances very nervous and subject to political influence—”

  “I would imagine that would be your preferred method of operation,” Nurion interrupted.

  “Normally, yet now the Humans are making overtures in the region as well.”

  “Yes, I have heard. With the success of Adam Cain and the others in the Sol-Kor universe, the Humans are becoming more belligerent. There is movement along the Frontier. A new war is in the making.”

  “Which should be very good for your business, I would imagine.”

  Veins pulsed in the neck of the Point-Operator. “It should,” he said, undisguised frustration in his voice. “Yet the Humans are pursuing their own course, and as we have seen, their weapons are much more effective than ours.”

  Onix shook his huge head. “I still cannot see how that is possible. Centuries ago, MK abandoned projectile weapons for energy devices. Now it seems as though the Humans wish to throw away all that progress, all that advancement, and place us back in a more barbaric time.”

  “The truth is the Expansion—and regions beyond—have adapted to our energy weapons, developing strategies and defenses around them,” Nurion explained. “The Humans have upset that balance. For the time being, their weapons have no adequate defense, since none have been needed for a very long time. Unless they abandon their use of such devices, the rest of the galaxy will have to change, at least temporarily. In time, the Humans will realize the long-term inefficiency of their weapons, just as we did so long ago.”

  “Yet they appear to be stepping up their activities, both in development and in distribution,” Onix countered.

  “As I am well aware,” Nurion snapped. “Never before since the Xan-Fi Accommodation have we experienced such an aggressive competitor. And this is coming from several sources on Earth, not just a single manufacturer. As such, there are numerous entities all competing to provide the most-effective weapons for the lowest cost. The galaxy is taking notice and our market share is dropping.”

  “That is the reason this cargo is so vital.”

  “I am also aware of that, Onix, which is why I am frustrated at your lack of progress in delivering the prototype to me.”

  “I say this only to reassure you that I, too, know the seriousness of the mission. All efforts are underway, even as the aforementioned complications present themselves.”

  “And what says Copernicus Smith?” Nurion asked.

  “The pressure I have place on him has had an effect. He assures us that efforts are currently underway to recover the transport vessel.”

  “What efforts?”

  “He did not elaborate, yet he did indicate it has something to do with Adam Cain.”

  Nurion’s eyes grew wide. “Adam Cain! He is involving Adam Cain?”

  “He says it is a necessity.”

  “Adam Cain is the most notorious Human in the galaxy. He cannot be trusted.”

  “Copernicus Smith is also a Human,” said Onix.

  “Of Human origin, but hardly of Human loyalties,” Nurion countered. “Let us just hope our useful tool knows what he is doing. In the past, anything Adam Cain has touched has turned into a crisis of galactic proportions.”

  “Be assured, I have safeguards in place against that happening again.” And then the thin smile returned to the gray face of Onix. “It is amazing what an unlimited supply of Juirean credits can buy.”

  Now Nurion frowned. “For your information, the supply is not unlimited. As Point-Operator I have a responsibility to see that I get what I pay for. If not, then the credits could be easily redirected to other, more punitive measures.”

  Nurion saw that his last statement—even as cryptic as it was—had been received and understood. The huge Silean, Onix Gru, swallowed hard, visible as a descending lump within his thick neck.

  Even though the two creatures on the CW link had known each other for a very long time, Onix knew that one did not fail Marix-Kliss Weapons Systems, not without serious consequences.

  For the Silean, the prospect of being replaced as the go-between with Nurion Massi suddenly took on a whole other meaning.

  Adam Cain is an alien with an attitude.

  His adventures continue….

  Chapter 1

  Adam Cain swore he’d never touch another drop of alcohol.

  Of course, he’d made that same pledge at least a hundred times before, maybe more. But this time he meant it.

  For the time being, though, both he and Riyad Tarazi were thankful they didn’t have to pilot the starship they were in, as they would be doing if Lila hadn’t stolen the Najmah Fayd. With hangovers of nuclear intensity, it was all they could do to keep from throwing up in the culled-together mess that was the vessel owned by Copernicus Smith. If they had, Adam was sure no one would have noticed.

  In addition to how shitty he felt, Adam had forgotten where they were going, except that it was somewhere to help spring his friends Kaylor and Jym from the clutches of a local police force. Now the pair of suffering Humans were in the common room of the starship, with the lights dimmed, and bunched up in near-fetal positions on a couch and chair respectively, and grimacing at every pop, whine and moan of the spacecraft’s metal hull.

  Adam had never noticed what a constant cacophony of irritating noises a transiting starship made. There wasn’t a moment’s peace, and the meds Smith had given the pair had failed to take even an edge off the debilitating pain they were experiencing.

>   So when Copernicus appeared at the doorway, Adam could barely make out the figure in the bright light streaming in from the hallway. “Dammit, man, shut the door!”

  Copernicus stood in the entryway, shaking his head. “Jesus Christ, are the two of you going to make it?”

  “That depends on what your definition of it is?” Adam groaned. “And either come in or leave, but don’t stand there with the door open.”

  Copernicus stepped into the room, and to Adam’s relief, the door slid shut. But then he stepped over to the lighting control and flicked the switch.

  “Holy shit!” Riyad Tarazi cried out as the room exploded in a flood of brilliance.

  But then the light dimmed considerably.

  “What the hell?” Copernicus tried the switch a second time.

  “Don’t bother,” Adam said. “It won’t work.”

  Copernicus glared at Adam. “Don’t mess with my ship, Cain! I’ve heard rumors about some of the things you can do.”

  “Your, eh, beautiful spaceship is fine, don’t worry. Just give us a little more time to recover.”

  “Hey, my ship is a lot better that yours…oh, yeah, you don’t have a starship of your own.” Copernicus shifted his gaze between the two balled-up lumps of misery. “What the hell were you guys drinking last night?”