Price of Freedom: Age of Expansion - A Kurtherian Gambit Series (The Bad Company Book 3) Read online

  CONTENTS

  LMBPN Publishing

  Dedication

  Legal

  Characters and Timeline

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Author Notes - Craig Martelle

  Author Notes - Michael Anderle

  Craig Series List

  Michael Series List

  Social Links

  PRICE OF FREEDOM

  The Bad Company Book Three

  By Craig Martelle and Michael Anderle

  A part of

  The Kurtherian Gambit Universe

  Written and Created

  by Michael Anderle

  They say behind every great man, is a great woman,

  but what if the woman is a Werewolf?

  DEDICATION

  We can’t write without those who support us

  On the home front, we thank you for being there for us

  We wouldn’t be able to do this for a living if it weren’t for our readers

  We thank you for reading our books

  Price of Freedom

  Team Includes

  James Caplan

  Kimberly Boyer

  Timothy Bischoff

  Peter Manis

  Micky Cocker

  Paul Westman

  Kelly O’Donnell

  John Ashmore

  Veronica Torres

  JIT and Beta Readers - From each of us, our deepest gratitude!

  If we missed anyone, please let us know!

  PRICE OF FREEDOM (this book) is a work of fiction.

  All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Sometimes both.

  Copyright © 2018 Craig Martelle and Michael Anderle

  Cover by Andrew Dobell, www.creativeedgestudios.co.uk

  Cover copyright © LMBPN Publishing

  LMBPN Publishing supports the right to free expression and the value of copyright. The purpose of copyright is to encourage writers and artists to produce the creative works that enrich our culture.

  The distribution of this book without permission is a theft of the author’s intellectual property. If you would like permission to use material from the book (other than for review purposes), please contact [email protected]. Thank you for your support of the author’s rights.

  LMBPN Publishing

  PMB 196, 2540 South Maryland Pkwy

  Las Vegas, NV 89109

  First US edition, February 2018

  Editing by Mia Darien, www.miadarien.com

  The Kurtherian Gambit (and what happens within / characters / situations / worlds) are copyright © 2015-2018 by Michael T. Anderle.

  CHARACTERS & TIMELINE

  World’s Worst Day Ever (WWDE)

  WWDE + 20 years, Terry Henry returns from self-imposed exile. The Terry Henry Walton Chronicles detail his adventures from that time to WWDE+150

  WWDE + 150 years – Michael returns to Earth. BA returns to Earth. TH & Char go to space

  Key Players

  Terry Henry Walton (was forty-five on the WWDE)—called TH by his friends. Enhanced with nanocytes by Bethany Anne herself, wears the rank of Colonel, leads the Force de Guerre (FDG), a military unit that he established on WWDE+20

  Charumati (was sixty-five on the WWDE)—A Werewolf, married to Terry, carries the rank of Major in the FDG

  Kimber (born WWDE+15, adopted approximately WWDE+25 by TH & Char, enhanced on WWDE+65)—Major in the FDG

  Her husband Auburn Weathers (enhanced on WWDE+82)—provides logistics support to the FDG

  Kaeden (born WWDE+16, adopted approximately WWDE+24 by TH & Char, enhanced on WWDE+65)—Major in the FDG

  His wife Marcie Spires (born on WWDE+22, naturally enhanced)—Colonel in the FDG

  Cory (born WWDE+25, naturally enhanced, gifted with the power to heal)

  Her husband Ramses—Major in the FDG

  Vampires

  Joseph (born three hundred years before the WWDE)

  Petricia (born WWDE+30)

  Pricolici (Werewolves that walk upright)

  Nathan Lowell (President of the Bad Company and Bethany Anne’s Chief of Intelligence)

  Ecaterina (Nathan’s spouse)

  Christina (Nathan & Ecaterina’s daughter)

  Werewolves

  Sue & Timmons (long-term members of Char’s pack)

  Shonna & Merrit (long-term members of Char’s pack)

  Ted (with Felicity, an enhanced human)

  Weretigers born before the WWDE:

  Aaron & Yanmei

  Humans (enhanced)

  Micky San Marino, Captain of the War Axe

  Commander Suresha, War Axe Department Head – Engines

  Commander MacEachthighearna (Mac), War Axe Department Head—Environmental

  Commander Blagun Lagunov, War Axe Department—Structure

  Commander Oscar Wirth, War Axe Department Head—Stores

  Lieutenant Clodagh Shortall, War Axe engine technician

  Sergeant Fitzroy, a martial arts expert and platoon sergeant

  Kelly, Capples, Fleeter, Praeter, & Duncan—mech drivers

  Other Key Characters

  Dokken (a sentient German Shepherd)

  The Good King Wenceslaus (an orange tabby who thinks he’s a weretiger, all fifteen pounds of him)

  K'thrall—a Yollin who works on the bridge of the War Axe

  Clifton—human pilot of the War Axe

  Bundin—a four-legged shell-backed stalk-headed blue alien from Poddern

  Ankh’Po’Turn—a small bald humanoid from Crenellia

  General Smedley Butler – EI/AI on the War Axe, who they call the general

  Plato – Ted’s AI from R&D

  Dionysus – the AI tasked to assist with running Keeg Station

  CHAPTER ONE

  Keeg Station

  “We need more intel, Nathan,” Terry Henry Walton told the image on the monitor.

  “Life or death struggle, the security of the universe, the Queen needs it? How many different ways do I have to say that this one is non-negotiable?”

  “We’re two for two in shitstorms, and I’d like to break that streak. We want on-the-ground intelligence so we can get inside their heads before they get into ours.” Terry ran a hand through his hair—which was getting long—and shook his head, imagining a lion’s mane. He turned his attention back to the screen. “Once we’re in orbit, we’ll collect intel and plan our attack before we get thrown into the middle of someone else’s mess.”

  “It’s no one’s mess, TH.” Nathan waved at the colonel to calm him.

  “The Benitons didn’t cause this by messing around with a miniaturized Etheric power source?” Terry looked down his nose at Nathan.

  “That hasn’t been confirmed.” Nathan leaned forward, his fac
e filling Terry’s screen.

  “Nice passive voice, Nathan. Like I said, we’ll go in before the month’s out and clean up someone else’s mess, but we’re not going to race to our own demise. I am amazed we didn’t get anyone killed out here. I know how to fight a battle—hell, a whole war—but I feel like I don’t know jack shit now that we’re in space. Micro-sized explosives, tanks that cover a city block, unmanned wars. Son of a bitch, Nathan!” Terry’s gaze swept the room, as if someone might have snuck into his and Char’s quarters when he wasn’t looking, then with his hand over his mouth, he said, “I might be in over my head.”

  “Nonsense! No one else would have had a chance on those last two missions. You made chicken salad, my friend, and you’ll do the same thing in this next engagement. These creatures need to go back to where they came from. We don’t want them in our universe. We need to keep them from establishing a foothold on Benitus Seven.”

  “They already have a foothold, so now we have to drive a determined enemy from a battlefield of their choosing.” Terry gritted his teeth. “MORE INTEL!”

  “I expect you’ll choose the battlefield. Even if you don’t think you are, you are. They won’t know what hit them. If there’s nothing else, Nathan Lowell, signing off.” The screen went dark before Terry could reply.

  He sat down on the bed with little intention of leaving his quarters on Keeg Station. After their arrival, Ted had made a beeline for Felicity and Terry had run for his life. He had not left his quarters since.

  That had been two days ago.

  He thought about taking another shower, but decided against it. He hadn’t worked out since they’d been here. He hung his head between his knees. TH did not want to leave his quarters, but he had to. Everything he wanted to do was out there, beyond the door.

  “This is crazy! It’s only Felicity.” He stood up and marched to the door, but stopped short. “Only. Felicity.”

  He looked at the door, chuckling at his conundrum. Neither he nor the door moved. “Ted might have a point. Damn. She’s going to tear me a new asshole. Come on, one foot in front of the other. Go take your medicine.”

  But I don’t have to take it alone, Terry thought. He accessed his comm chip. My lover, are you there?

  Are you? Charumati replied.

  Ouch!

  Come out to the promenade. Felicity is waiting, and she’s got Ted by the ear. I’ll make it worth your while, Char crooned.

  Terry wasn’t sure, but thought he heard purring. Is Dokken with you?

  Of course. We’re all here, waiting on you. Come on, TH. We have stuff to do. It’s only Felicity.

  I tried that argument already, and it didn’t work. But all right. I’m coming.

  Terry took a deep breath and tapped the access panel, and the door opened. He stuck his head out and looked both ways down the residential corridor as if expecting an ambush, but no one was there so he stepped out, then strode briskly toward the lift to take him to the deck with the shops. He wondered what treasures his family had acquired this trip…and he wondered how angry Felicity was.

  Maybe she could channel her angst against the red devils on Benitus Seven. He was still chuckling when the lift’s door opened.

  Felicity’s sour expression instantly turned hostile. “What’s so funny?” she demanded. Terry’s family and the pack were arrayed around her as if watching a prizefight. He gave them all the stink-eye before turning to Felicity and delivering his most winning smile.

  “You look magnificent!” TH told her, but he couldn’t help himself. “You don’t look a day over a hundred.”

  “WHAT?” she howled.

  “I don’t understand,” Ted said softly. “You are well over a hundred years old.”

  She turned on him. “You shut up.” She stabbed a finger repeatedly in his direction. He looked at it clinically, but didn’t say anything further. She swiveled her head casually and locked her eyes on the colonel.

  He pursed his lips and looked anywhere but at Felicity. Someone behind her snorted. Felicity held two fingers over her shoulder, pointer pressed against thumb. Zip it.

  Terry looked for support, but the response from the peanut gallery was less than overwhelming. At least twenty of his family and friends were in view. “Come on,” Terry pleaded. “Not a single one of you?”

  Headshakes or blank looks.

  “That should tell you all you need to know, Terry Henry Walton.” Felicity continued to glare.

  “No one will take a bullet for me. Check.”

  Felicity’s lip twitched.

  “Not a day over a hundred,” TH whispered.

  “By all that’s holy and the nine levels of Hell…”

  “It’s nine circles of Hell,” Terry interjected.

  “All the levels of Hell!” Felicity continued, face as red as if it were on fire. “You almost got my husband killed!”

  Terry opened his mouth, but nothing came out. He couldn’t argue with her—not about that—because he thought she was right.

  Her lower lip started to tremble.

  “No… Don’t.”

  The tears started to flow, followed by sobbing. Ted looked as uncomfortable as Terry Henry felt. TH pulled her into a hug but she resisted, pounding on his chest with both hands.

  Ted started to move away, but Char grabbed his arm and held on. He pulled weakly, but she held him in place.

  Felicity gave in and let Terry embrace her. His eyes glistened, and he blinked rapidly.

  After Felicity pushed herself away, she shook one finger at TH in warning. “Don’t you ever do that again! You are responsible for him, so you keep him safe.” She wrapped her arm around Ted’s and ushered him away.

  Char hurried to Terry and put her arms around his neck. “You can handle getting shot at—even getting shot—but you break down into a blubbering mess whenever there’s a crying woman?”

  “And needles, but thank the fucking stars for the apocalypse! We don’t have any more of those.”

  A nearby mother covered her toddler’s ears and glared at Terry Henry. He wondered for only a moment.

  “Oh, shit! I’m sorry, ma’am.” The woman picked her son up and hurried off. “That’s it. This is a family station, so I’m going to swear off swearing!”

  Terry’s voice carried. Kim and Kae looked at each other and started to laugh, then pointed at their dad and laughed even harder. Dokken appeared, wagging his tail, and looked up at Terry.

  That was the funniest shit I’ve seen all day, the dog told him.

  “Is it that unbelievable that I could go without swearing?” Terry held his hands out to the assembled group. The werewolves shook their heads, and Cordelia approached and slapped her father on his shoulder.

  “The word you’re looking for is ‘inconceivable.’ Ramses is taking bets over there on how long you’ll last.”

  Terry looked over Cory’s shoulder at her husband, who was making annotations in a small notebook.

  “I’ll be damned,” TH said.

  “See? You can’t help yourself.” Cory called, “Time!” and Ramses threw his hands up in frustration.

  “Come on, TH! No one thought you’d lose it this soon. Do over,” he declared, and started writing again.

  “It is a tall mountain you’ve set out to climb, but I’m here for you,” Char said, her purple eyes twinkling under the artificial lights of the shopping level.

  “I could ask for no better support for my journey to clean living.”

  “For shame, Terry Henry,” Christina said as she walked by with the werewolves.

  “Bullshit,” Timmons murmured from the back of the pack.

  Terry resisted the urge to give him the finger.

  “Yes, that counts,” Char declared.

  Terry curled his lip. Sometimes his wife read his mind. He was convinced she was a telepath, but in all the time they’d been together she’d never admitted it. “How about dinner? Just us. I don’t want to look at any of these turncoats!”

  “They a
re not turncoats.” Char waved the others away with a smile and the group broke up, each couple heading in a different direction. Only Ankh’Po’Turn and Bundin remained. Terry hadn’t noticed them before.

  Ankh looked at Terry and Char for a few moments before heading toward the lift.

  “Going to the lab, buddy?” Terry asked. The Crenellian waved over his shoulder. “What about you, Bundin? Where are Joseph and Petricia?”

  “They were supposed to meet me here. They will be disappointed that they missed the show,” the Podder replied.

  Terry clamped his mouth shut and closed his eyes.

  Joseph, are you on your way to the promenade? Char asked over her comm chip.

  “Just arriving now. No! Don’t tell me we missed it?” Joseph replied, looking at Petricia for sympathy.

  “It was epic,” Char told them. “TH has sworn off swearing, too.”

  “No kidding? Good for you, Terry Henry Walton. I always thought you were far too educated for such language. Gentlemen simply do not speak that way,” Joseph said, his natural British accent adding emphasis.

  Terry’s hand quivered. It wanted once again to dial up a middle finger, but he held it down.

  “We’re going for dinner, and you can’t come,” he said, raising his head.

  “Don’t be Dickensian,” came Joseph’s retort. “We were on our way to the Seppukarian place. They say it twists one’s stomach so much it feels like you’re committing seppuku.”

  Terry looked closely into Joseph’s eyes. “I think he’s serious.”

  Char nodded in agreement.

  “Come on, Bundin, tell us all about this epic throw-down we missed…” Joseph, Petricia, and Bundin ambled away.

  Somewhere Deep in the Etheric Federation