The Hundred Worlds Read online

  The Hundred Worlds

  Volume One

  by

  Cannon Publishing

  Dedicated to every human who has ever sought to venture beyond the bounds of Earth. We won’t forget your dream, and someday we WILL reach the stars.

  Forward

  When I was kid growing up on Long Island, I was raised on two things. Well, three, really, but I’ll talk about two, and leave Conan the Barbarian comics for a later anthology.

  First, my dad was an engineer for Grumman aerospace, and worked on the LEM program. He often told us stories of the heroic days, only a few years before, when the stars seemed to be opening up to us. It was just an assumed thing that in our lifetimes, there would be cites on the Moon (filled with Americans, of course), and starships that roamed the solar system.

  Second, and more importantly, I devoured the science fiction of Asimov, Heinlein, Niven, and countless others. All told, I must have read hundreds, if not thousands, of worn paperback books with pictures of robots, spaceships, heroic men and scantily clad women on the cover. (Hey, it sells!). These stories were my companions and helped set my course in life. They taught me values of steadfastness courage, fair play, wonder at the beauty of the universe, and a desire to explore.

  What I’ve tried to do in this book is bring you a selection of stories that harken back those old masters of the genre. Being a soldier, as many of my friends are and were, they have a pretty military slant at times, but I also think they tell a common story of humanity (and others) facing off against the overwhelming universe.

  Thank you for your time, and all we ask is that you spread the word and leave an honest review!

  ~ Sergeant First Class (Retired) J.F. Holmes, Head Honcho of Cannon Publishing.

  Table of Contents

  Gate KeeperJon Del Arroz

  LeverageDoug Dandridge

  The Only Planet We HaveJames Schardt

  UnrestLucas Marcum

  Sailing to IndependenceJames Peters

  Above My PaygradeJamie Ibson

  Debt RepaidSean McCune

  Finding SaraDaniel Humphreys

  Miracle MachineBart Kemper

  The JumpJ.K. Robinson

  The Big PictureJ.F. Holmes

  One Fish, Two FishScott Bascom

  The Witch’s SpellT. Allen Diaz

  Three StrikesJohn M. Olsen

  After PartySean McCune

  Timeline of The Hundred Worlds

  2034 Cyberwar breaks out between United States / China / Russia / Nonstate actors. Earth population reduced by 50%, civilization almost collapses.

  2051 United Nations assumes planetary governance.

  2057 Simultaneous discovery of both Faster Than Light and Wormhole interplanetary travel. Research shows dozens of habitable worlds with common amino acid based life.

  2063 First colony ship leaves Earth.

  2064 First successful colony established on Proxima Centuari

  2070 to 2167 Massive expansion of colonization slows by 2167, numbering close to 100 actual established colonies.

  2079 UN bans self-propagating seeds on colony worlds after imported colony grain with mutation wipes out Earth’s entire wheat crop, causing mass starvation. All crops seeds are sterile and shipped from Earth.

  2083 Discovery of alien life in a dual Earthlike planetary system Ross 154. Karans on Ross 154D are on a cultural level with Earth, humanoid, but have rejected technology.

  2084 Establishment of scientific research colony on Ross 154B. Only colony allowed to be self-sufficient in agriculture as it is research based.

  2089 Discovery of rare earth deposits on Karan homeworld leads to commercial exploitation.

  2137 Successful revolt of Ross 154B, renamed “Independence”.

  2138 Attempted breach of Independence Transit Point results in destruction of UN 5th Fleet. Destruction of Independence Gate. Massive suffering of Karan people due to orbital bombardment. Establishment of blockade of Independence system.

  2139 Destruction of Titan Jump Control and UN Fleet HQ in Sol System by kinetic strike.

  2139 Truce between UN / Independence and new Geneva Convention, banning use of nuclear weapons and planetary bombardment. Cold war / proxy war begins.

  2139 Unsuccessful revolt of ethnic Chinese colony world of Han. UN blockade causes mass starvation, colony fails.

  2164 United Nations Exploration Service (UNES) scout ship is destroyed upon entering a system 152 light years from earth.. UN does not release news to public.

  2167 The present.

  Gate Keeper

  Jon Del Arroz

  _____________________

  Present day

  “Jacob, come over here so I can introduce you to someone important,” Monalisa Gold said. Most of the donors had already filed out of the Center for Detroivian Progress’s latest fundraiser. The keynote speech by a local star pilot celebrity had ended a few minutes prior. Some donors still lingered to schmooze or chat.

  At functions like these, Jacob Bowman made his best effort to be one of the first to arrive and the last to leave. It ensured he was always seen, and it also made him appear more dedicated. He made his way over but took pains not to appear too excited. Since falling into Monalisa’s good graces a few weeks prior, this marked the first real development in his assignment. Deep cover took a lot of time and effort to pay off. And now it finally looked like it was going to happen.

  “Michael, I want to introduce you to Jacob Bowman. He’s a local businessman who’s been extremely helpful with fundraising. He has lot of off-world connections who are advocates for Detroivia’s development. It’s been very helpful to bring in those kinds of UN credits,” Monalisa said.

  Krugman extended his hand. “I’ve heard your name circulated all over the place recently. I wanted to thank you personally for your contributions,” he said.

  Jacob shook his hand. “No problem. You’re doing great work, and I benefit from Detroivia’s development as much as anyone else. I want to help the people here.”

  “Mm,” Krugman said, drawing his hand back. “Detroivia has limited resources, and at this rate, always will.” He laughed. “But you already know this. That’s why you’re here.”

  “That’s right,” Jacob said. Other than the volunteers assisting the bots in cleaning the place, everyone else had cleared out of the banquet hall while they spoke.

  “I wanted you to meet Michael,” Monalisa said, “not just because of your contributions, but because of the level of commitment you’ve demonstrated, I think we should let you in on our technological project, one designed to bring about equality between the Hundred Worlds.”

  Jacob produced a warm smile. This wasn’t his first rodeo. He understood how to act the part of a zealot. “Equality sounds incredible.”

  Krugman didn’t say anything, but gave Monalisa a familiar look, one that asked the question, can he be trusted?

  Monalisa gave a tight nod in reply.

  “Very well,” Krugman said. “If you’ll follow me, Jacob.” He sauntered toward one of the banquet room’s exits, shaking a few hands of the volunteers along the way, and praising them for their good work. They wound their way to the back of the banquet hall, and outside into a paved area of the compound. The area behind the building had several buildings and alleyways, dimly lit.

  While the CPD was a charitable organization, they did provide a lot of relief efforts, and they needed warehouse space for goods to distribute to less fortunate colonists. Real estate wasn’t expensive on Detroivia, enabling them to construct a campus fairly easily. It still required a lot of time and manpower. The funds they raised and reported were astronomical compared to a lot of organizations on the planet, which was what had flagged the UN to bring in an undercover oper
ative. Initial investigators found radical communications involving some of the organization’s members, and it had been deemed a terrorist threat.

  Jacob hopped into the back of a hovercart, along with Monalisa and Krugman. A driver sat in the front, acknowledging them with a nod when they seated themselves. “Where are we headed?” Jacob asked.

  “Our research and development warehouse. This is a confidential matter; I hope you understand. Not something we discuss with our public visitors,” Monalisa said.

  The hovercart sped through a line of office and warehouse buildings. They traveled to a secured gate, which opened for the cart and allowed them inside a compound. Guards stood at the gate, which was electrified according to the warning signs. One of the guards walked over to them when the cart slowed, manually opening the building’s roll-up door. The driver pulled the cart inside before the guard closed it again.

  Inside was a big open area with state-of-the-art computers, lab equipment, and a dozen scientists hovering around a large, metallic cylinder in the center of the space, which was tied to more than a dozen monitors, simulators and conduits.

  “I had a feeling the amount of funds you guys were trying to raise were for more than just necessities for colonists and disaster relief,” Jacob said.

  Krugman chuckled as he hooked an arm around the cart’s frame and pulled himself to his feet. He offered a hand to Monalisa to assist her. Jacob was the last to stand, surveying the contraption, which was about the size of twenty men in length, and two in height. None of the scientists looked up from their tasks.

  “This is indeed our real work. The Equality Engine, I call it, though really what it actually is, is a gate killer,” Krugman said. His eyes sparkled with pride as he moved to his machine.

  Jacob and Monalisa followed. “Gate killer?” Jacob asked. This was it. The problem he’d been sent to identify. He did his best to maintain a poker face and look like the confused donor he was supposed to be.

  Krugman turned. “Do you know the difference between a colony like Detroivia and a thriving core world with proper infrastructure, good pay for its laborers, and modern amenities?”

  “Worlds the UN cares about more?” Jacob shrugged.

  “It’s not a matter of care. It’s a simple factor. They have a wormhole gate. The worlds that were lucky enough to get a gate have instant access to communications, supplies, trade. Those that don’t are faced with a limited quantity of imports and exports.”

  “We have ships that make it out here.”

  “Small ships. Expensive ones to build, at that. The larger ones worlds need to sustain infrastructure can’t make it to us. As a consequence, worlds like Detroivia get less than a tenth of the traffic per annum as worlds with a gate.”

  Jacob made his eyes go wide. “So by gate killer, you mean–”

  “That’s right,” Monalisa said. “We can take out the gates for these privileged worlds, and ensure equality for every human settlement in the galaxy.”

  It would be too obvious if he agreed to it this easily. “I don’t know about that,” he said. “It sounds dangerous, hurting others.”

  Krugman placed a hand on Jacob’s shoulder. “Think of how it would help Detroivia. We’re actually closer geographically than a lot of the privileged worlds, but because of the gates, we’re ignored. It would change our status from a minor colony to a booming shipping hub. Think about it.”

  “I see,” Jacob said. “Why not just use a bomb?”

  “A bomb would be noticed. We wouldn’t be able to get close with the gates’ port authorities. They’d search a ship, see us trying to plant a weapon, and that would be the end of it,” Monalisa said.

  “This is much better,” Krugman said. He stepped to his device and patted it. “The Equality Engine emits a powerful subsonic frequency to disrupt the very capability for a wormhole to exist in the area. The gates will become functionless, and the best part is, we can broadcast its frequency from a distance. No one will ever be the wiser to who’s responsible. The result will be pure equality for all worlds, without bringing the wrath of the UN upon us or Detroivia.”

  This was their plan. Jacob finally had something to report. “It makes sense,” he said. “You can disrupt the other worlds’ economies without actually hurting anyone.”

  “Exactly,” Krugman said, grinning. “You understand. This is a good one, Monalisa. I’m glad you brought him to us. He’s a keeper.” He motioned to Jacob and moved toward the scientists. “Come on, let me introduce you to the team and show you how it works.”

  ***

  Jacob glanced over his shoulder before entering Athena’s Diner, an old-fashioned style restaurant with low lighting and a variety of food, and more importantly, private booths. It was the perfect place for Jacob to meet with his contact from the UN. He told the hostess he was here to meet with a friend who’d already been seated, and proceeded into the restaurant. He’d set the meeting for the restaurant’s off hours to ensure it wouldn’t be difficult to procure a private booth away from other diners.

  He arrived at the booth and slid into a seat. His contact, a middle-aged woman with dark hair who he only knew by the name of Shawna, was already present. “Ordering any off-world delicacies today?” she asked, a customary coded greeting.

  “Bacon straight from Earth,” Jacob said.

  “I’m still not sure why we use these greetings when I know full well who all the agents are on the colony,” Shawna said with the shake of her head.

  “We had problems with clones in the past,” Jacob said.

  Shawna nodded. “I get it. On a small colony like this, it’s easy enough to monitor the agents’ whereabouts, but I digress.”

  A waiter came by, and they ordered a meal, following the routine of any average customer in the joint. When they were alone, Jacob lowered his voice and told her the story of his experience at the charity gala the prior evening, introducing her to The Equality Engine.

  Shawna rolled her eyes at the term. “If I had a credit for every time one of these terrorists gave these innocuous names to whatever they’re doing, I’d be able to retire. It’s ridiculous how predictable they are. This is going to be a code-blue situation. I’ll inform the higher ups.”

  Code blue meant taking out the device. Jacob would have to break into their facility and plant an explosive at the very least. He let out a heavy breath. Violent missions weren’t his favorite. He enjoyed the information gathering and schmoozing of deep cover, but his job had many faces and there was little he could do about it. The worst part of having to destroy the device would be the collateral damage. No matter what, it would cause problems for the center. Detroivia needed some of the help they provided, but he couldn’t think of a better solution. “I was afraid you’d say that,” he said.

  “I wish it could be different, too,” Shawna said, “but we were prepared for this. You’ll be given tools at Drop Point C. Carry out the order tomorrow evening.”

  Their meal arrived, and they continued the charade of a typical couple at a restaurant, switching the conversation to the prior evening’s soccer match and housing development expansions along the western river front. Compartmentalizing life into the personal and the professional could make him appear like a sociopath to some, but it was what the UN trained their agents to do. Despite only meeting Shawna in situations like these, in some ways, she understood him better than anyone. It was a lonely life, but an easy one, compared to what several of the colonists and miners on Detroivia had to endure. The next evening, however, would bring about the hard part of his line of work.

  ***

  The Center for Detroivian Progress might have thought they had robust security, but Jacob was used to dealing with governments and actual armed terrorist organizations. At the end of the day, the center was just some non-profit organization that became a little crazy in their zealotry. They were no match for a trained agent like him. He’d made a mental map of their campus on the night of the gala, making it easy for him to sneak t
hrough the alleyways in the cover of night’s darkness. Though the center hired private security, those were low-wage individuals who took patrol jobs about as seriously as their community college courses. With a little dark clothing and careful timing of his escapade, they were easy to avoid.

  The main challenge was the electrified gate. He wouldn’t be able to get through the lone area with guards stationed. It took a little doing, but Jacob was able to trace the source of the electrical power and short the fence out. The fence sparked when he ran more current through the line, overloading the fence and burning out the breaker. He looked around, but no one appeared to have noticed. Just to be sure, Jacob tested the fence’s electrical loss by tossing a coin at it. The coin didn’t cause any discharge. It would be safe for him to proceed.

  Jacob hopped the fence and sneaked around the warehouse until he came to the entrance. When he was satisfied no one was looking, he slipped inside.

  The scientists weren’t working at this hour. The place was dead, unlike when he’d arrived the night before. It was a good thing, and it would make it easy to plant his explosive device and hightail it out of here. He moved to the machine and set his bag down beside him.

  The click of a pistol being cocked sounded from behind. Jacob froze.

  “What do we have here?” a familiar voice asked. “Hands up, then turn around. Slowly.”

  Jacob complied. When he turned, he saw Krugman himself standing there, with a security guard in tow. The guard had the pistol pointed at him.

  “I love Monalisa dearly,” Krugman said, shaking his head and moving toward Jacob. He stayed just out of range of a physical attack. It wasn’t as if Jacob could risk much with a gun pointed in his direction anyway. With a swift kick, Krugman pushed the bag away from Jacob and moved to look at the contents. “Sometimes, though, she doesn’t have the best judgment in people. It’s why I keep a hands-on approach with the center. What do we have here?” He dug through the bag. “Explosives. You really did mean to do us damage. Who are you anyway?”