Ahead Full – Snippet 03 of …
UNEDITED
QBBS Meredith Reynolds
The children huddled together—human, Yollin, Torcellen. Their frightened eyes darted around the massive space. The bump, ba-bump, ba-bump of their hearts seemed loud in their ears.
Their friends and the other young ones around them could definitely hear how scared they were, right?
Red lights illuminated the giant cave. In this area the asteroid’s rock walls hadn’t been smoothed. They still were rough.
Just as they had been when the ship was created so many decades before.
They had come in here, laughing together after their last fright, becoming closer as they weathered the challenges of this night.
However, this was the final room, and SHE was here.
The kids could feel it, and the fear was starting to get to them. Many grabbed the hands or appendages of the kid next to them. Those who had weathered the experience so far and kept up a strong front in the other rooms couldn’t keep the fear from their eyes now.
“My name,” the darkness hissed, its voice guttural, like stones rubbing against each other.
“Is Baba…Yaga…”
The lights were extinguished and the children screamed.
Seconds later—a time which seemed like an eternity—the massive lights came back on, the cave blazing white as the kids looked around, trying to find the lady with the voice.
“There she is!” a young male Yollin yelled, his mandibles open as he pointed toward the ceiling high above them.
And there she was indeed.
Her red eyes flashed at them, and her white hair hung loose over her shoulders as her black skin gleamed in the light. Every child there saw how long her claws were.
“Happy Hallloooweeeeennnn!” She grinned, and they could see that her teeth had all been sharpened to points.
“AHHH!” Many girls (and more than a few guys) yelled when she disappeared from the walkway above.
The kids were glancing around, worrying she was coming down, when the exit doors opened. They recognized Empress’ Bitches John and Scott. “Don’t run!” John commanded, and the kids stopped.
“You know the drill!” Scott called. “You are all in the Etheric Academy. You will be orderly as you leave the Empress’ Haunted House!”
How did I do? Bethany Anne’s voice echoed in both her friends’ heads.
I’d say a few will probably need a change of underwear, Scott sent back.
Some are wondering if that was really you or just a good hologram. John added as he listened to the kids’ conversations. Their voices were excited as they chatted while waiting to exit the final room in the Haunted House.
No crying, though, Scott added. I think maybe ten is the minimum age of those we should allow to come into this room of the Haunted House.
I didn’t ramp the fear up nearly as much as I did for that first batch, she replied. I think I was trying to go for too much effect the first time.
John watched as the kids raced to meet their parents at the end of the hall. Their excitement at seeing the avatar of the Empress’ displeasure, even if many were saying she was just a hologram, was evident in their expressions and loud chatter.
I think you might have started a tradition, John told her. I hope you won’t regret this.
I’ll get a hologram project going, she replied. I can use that same technology to display Bethany Anne from a distance. It will be good for us to have a backup plan to prove I’m around.
And do it where? Scott asked. He walked over to two arguing human boys. The larger one pulled his hand back, only to have it enveloped in another hand. When the boy pulled it didn’t budge, and he looked up to see that the problem was Scott.
The boy swallowed as Scott glared down at him. “Do you want,” Scott asked, “to have a personal discussion with Baba Yaga?” Scott looked around the large cave. “This is part of where she lurks.”
“Uhh…” The boy, his eyes flitting around the hallway, looked uncertain. “I thought she was a fake.”
From above, a cackle could be heard. Those kids still in the room looked up to see a black-skinned woman, white hair floating in the wind and eyes red, looking down at them. “Do I look like a fake to you?” she hissed.
Scott had to catch the boy before he hit the ground when he fainted.
YES! Bethany Anne cackled in their minds. I’ve still got it! Bullies ain’t got nothing on the Baba Yaga.
Scott shook his head as he lifted the young boy into his arms and turned toward the door. “And how am I supposed to know which set of parents he belongs to?”
“Oh, I know,” the other boy told Scott.
“Yeah?” Scott asked as they walked toward the door.
“Sure,” the young boy replied. “He’s my older brother.”
FROM MICHAEL >>>
This is a CRAZY week, and a lot of us are converging on Las Vegas (not me, I’m already here) this week for the first 20booksto50k authors party… Oh, sorry, Author’s Conference at Sam’s Town.
I’ll be having dinner with Craig Martelle tomorrow night, then a trip to the museum with Craig, MD (Michael) Cooper and Richard Fox (Nellis Air Force Base). What could possibly go wrong with four (4) authors who write sci-fi and military fiction on an Air Force base?
I’m sure nothing, but what happens in Vegas… #amiright?
Thursday are meetings and a party, then Friday starts the conference with a meeting in the morning, then Conference and evening stuff etc etc.
Oh, and Friday (11.03.2017) we release AHEAD FULL – 2 Years to the DAY that Bethany Anne was first introduced to fans…
How little I knew back then how she would change my life.
Love you all!
Michael
Formation – Snippet 1
Formation: The Ghost Squadron Book 1
By Sarah Noffke, JN Chaney, & Michael Anderle
Snippet 1
Unedited
Five Trees Bar. Trill Mining Colony, Lorialis System.
T’turk played with his drink. His four shipmates were rowdy and occasionally bumped him, so he had to be careful not to spill his alcohol. He looked around Five Trees, the only damned bar worth visiting, in his opinion, for five systems.
That wasn’t saying much, of course, since the only people living out this far from the Etheric Empire’s territory were pirates, miners, and smugglers. Bastards, all of them.
“My kind of people,” he muttered to himself, smiling as his shipmate Fr’ling caught the eye of one of the girls.
Fr’ling wouldn’t be leaving this space station with much money. Hell, neither would the other three. By the time the night ended, they’d each spent most of their earnings.
Nursing his drink, he looked around the establishment, blinking with his yellow eyes. There were a lot of Kezzin in the bar tonight, including himself. Their red skin gave off a familiar glow in the artificial light. T’turk’s homeworld wasn’t far from here, so it was common to see his people on many of the stations in the neighboring systems. He liked it that way. The rest of the galaxy was far too crowded with non-Kezzin species, like humans and the other Etheric Empire scum. He couldn’t stand any of them.
It was unfortunate, then, that he saw a man sitting on a stool with his face planted on the table. A human male who didn’t belong here.
T’turk smirked. Perhaps he’d have a little fun today, after all.
“Hey, you,” grunted T’turk as he got up from his table and walking to where the man was sitting. “Human.”
The man had his face on the table—probably passed out from too much alcohol. “Look at this guy,” said T’turk. “Typical human. Can’t even handle his drink.”
The man moaned, shifting a little.
T’turk leaned over him and examined his equipment, hoping to find some money or possibly a key to a ship. The bastard wasn’t holding much except for a gray bag on the seat next to him. T’turk reached for it.
“Don’t,” said the human, slowly looking at him.
T’turk could never tell one human from the next. They all looked like a bunch of slugs to him, ugly and spongy. This one was no different.
“What are you trying to hide, human? Got yourself a secret stash?”
The man said nothing.
T’turk laughed. “That’s what I thought. Too bad you were stupid enough to come in here.” He reached for the bag.
A hand grabbed his wrist, surprising him. “I said don’t.”
T’turk paused, glancing at the man again. “Do you have a death wish, meat sack? Back off before I kick your ass.”
“No can do,” replied the stranger. “That’s my stuff. I need it more than you do.”
“It’s mine now, unless you want a bullet in your empty head.” T’turk shook his wrist free, then took the bag and began emptying it. A pad fell out, hitting the counter, along with a handful of unopened soda cans, one of which rolled and hit the floor, breaking and hissing.
T’turk stared at the contents of the bag, confused. “What’s all this trash?”
The stranger looked at the soda on the floor as it sprayed chaotically. “Mother fucker,” he muttered.
T’turk threw the empty bag down by his feet. “You better have something on you, human! I’ll rip you a new one right now. You know how many of your kind I’ve killed just this week? You’re all a bunch of mushy pieces of—”
“You killed humans?” interrupted the stranger, raising his brow.
“Over a dozen in four days!” bragged T’turk. “Ain’t that right, boys?”
His crew cheered. “We raided a ship on its way to Nexus Colony,” announced Fr’ling. “Killed half and saved the rest for later.”
T’turk grinned, revealing a set of razor sharp teeth. “That’s why we’re here celebrating.
The human let out a sigh. “All I wanted was a drink and some food, but you just had to go and bring that up like a fucking jackass.”
“What’s he saying, T’turk?” asked Fr’ling. “Tell him to speak up! It’s hard to hear humans. They’re too tiny.”
T’turk laughed. “He’s scared. He knows he’s about to die.”
The door to the Five Trees opened, and in walked another human. A woman, perhaps, but T’turk couldn’t be certain. They all looked the same to him, ugly and pathetic.
She took a seat at the bar beside the male, motioning to the barkeep. “Whiskey,” she requested, turning away from T’turk.
“You,” he said, puffing his chest at the female. “You’re interrupting us.”
She didn’t answer.
T’turk was about to raise his fist to the woman, when the male got to his feet. “Let’s leave the lady out of it. This is between you and me.”
“Between us?” grinned T’turk. “Finally.”
The man turned to the female. “Hey, wanna do me a favor?”
She shrugged. “Depends.”
“Just watch my drink while I take care of this idiot, would ya?” He slid his glass over to her. “I’m Eddie, by the way.”
“Whatever,” the female answered, still not bothering to look.
The human male turned back to face T’turk. “All right, then, big fella,” grinned the little man. “Let’s see what you can do.”
The Bad Company – Snippet 2
The Bad Company: Age of Expansion Book 1
By Craig Martelle & Michael Anderle
Snippet 2
Unedited
Terry made mental notes of the battlefield as he ran from one position to another. He’d brought all six of the shuttle pods carrying the tactical teams, which still put his Direct Action Branch of the Bad Company in an inferior position.
“Run and gun. We need to run and gun!” Terry shouted at the angry red sky. He adjusted his helmet as it slipped backward. He worked his shoulders to loosen his ballistic vest, too, as he subconsciously considered a running battle, with rapid action and constant movement.
But they couldn’t. They came under fire the second they ran off the drop ships. The shuttles had buttoned up and taken off immediately afterwards to hold a position out of range of the big guns. Or rockets. Or mortars.
Terry wasn’t sure about the weaponry, only caring about what he had to do to take them out. His tactical teams were made up of Werewolves, Weretigers, Vampires, and enhanced humans. They had centuries of experience, and were best making surgical strikes, small teams inserting behind enemy lines.
They weren’t immortal, only enhanced by nanocytes, technology taken from Kurtherian scientists. They were still human, but different.
Terry would never say their enhancements made them better. He would say that their minds and their teamwork made them better. They believed that they trained hard to make war anticlimactic.
“Where’s Kaeden with my mechs?” Terry shouted over the explosions.
Charumati, his purple-eyed Werewolf wife put a finger to her ear as she used her internal comm chip to communicate with her son. Terry had a chip, too, but he didn’t want to lose focus on the battle as it raged on all sides of their position.
“This is the most fucked up thing I’ve ever been a part of,” he growled. He clenched his jaw and gritted his teeth. The muscles stood out of his face and a vein throbbed in his forehead. He carried a Jean Dukes Special pistol in one hand and his Mameluke sword in the other. The pistol was dialed to five out of a maximum of eleven.
“He’s over the hill to the right. The fireworks you see are from his section,” Char relayed.
“Can he get through their lines?”
Char’s eyes unfocused for a moment, then she shook her head.
Terry slid his sword over his shoulder and into its scabbard strapped under his backpack. He took his pistol in both hands and dialed it to eleven. “Order a tactical retrograde to our position. We’re breaking through right over there.” Terry pointed to a heavily-wooded area covering the top of a hill.
“Joseph, where the hell are you?” Terry asked out loud, before switching to his comm chip. Powered by human energy, with a little extra boost from the Etheric dimension, the comm chips allowed the group to talk with each other. It also translated a vast number of human and alien languages into English.
The Bad Company’s Direct Action Branch had only had the comm chips for a few weeks and weren’t yet accustomed to them or how best to optimally employ them.
We’re where you saw us last, but we’re dug in better. My people are burning through their ammunition. It’s like an endless tide. I’m not sure we have enough bullets to kill them all, Joseph reported.
Have you tried not shooting them?
The first bunch got close and you know Fitzroy isn’t afraid to break into pugilist form. These things rammed him and bit the holy hell out of him before we could blow their stalk heads off. He said punching them was like hitting a tree trunk. I wailed on one with my sword. I’ll second his observation. It took a lot to cut through that neck. I don’t recommend we devolve into hand to hand.
Ahead Full – Snippet 02 of …
Planet Leath
Hours later, the Leath Prime One Intelligence officer watched the interview in the comfort of his own living space. He had paid personally for the intelligence so it didn’t go through the Leath infrastructure, and at the moment he wasn’t sure if he had just damned himself or possibly liberated his people.
He re-watched the video one last time, trying to commit the information to memory. Then he shook his head. Getting up from his seat, he made his way to an old desk on the lowest level in his home. He opened a drawer and extracted an old tablet he had used in his youth before he could afford better tools.
He turned the unit on, surprised to see that it had been charged recently enough to still have power. He would have thought it had lost its charge over the many years since he had last powered it up.
He plugged in the password and was surprised to see a note appear.
“Hello, Jerrleck. This is you, from earlier in your life. If I am correct, you have had your memories modified by the Seven.”
Jerrleck stopped, realizing immediately that if he continued, whatever he learned could possibly be accessed by the Seven. He wasn’t sure how deeply they read minds, but he was positive they scanned his topmost thoughts.
He dared to read another line.
“If you read any farther, realize what I say below may possibly be discovered by the Seven.” Jerrleck smiled. At least the younger him and present him were both intelligent Leath.
“If you are still reading,” the note continued, “I have had plenty of time to realize what must have happened to our people, to me and consequently to you. Think about just how many Leath have been killed in our war against the Etheric Federation, and how many more will die if we continue this attempt to Ascend our people under the direction of the Seven.”
Jerrleck considered the truth of this statement. Only a few years ago he’d helped one of his best friends mourn their only daughter.
All because the Leath had been told to take over a world the Leath had no business or interest in ruling. He had done the numbers…
Jerrleck’s eyes opened and other information started pouring into his mind. He stood up and walked to the opposite wall in the windowless room. Feeling down a line, he found a small indention and pushed it.
The wall opened.
Jerrleck stopped a moment, knowing this was his point of no return. He wasn’t sure just how long ago he had been mind-wiped, but it was apparent that he had. He put the tablet down and walked back up the steps to the main level. It took him only a short amount of time to secure his residence against intrusion and return to the bottom level.
Now it was time to see what his younger self had been into, and what he could do with it now that he was older and hopefully wiser.
An hour later he was in a state of shock. His mind was confused, but in his heart the path was clear.
He needed to revive a rebellion that had been put on hold until he became aware of it. The last leader had been taken away in the middle of the night.
He should know—he had pulled her from her bed and taken her to the Seven himself.
He looked at the monitor in this hidden room and ran a finger across the image on the screen. “Dur’loch, my love,” he whispered. “This will be for you.”
FROM MICHAEL – I’m at about 46,000 words on this book, meaning I have about 24,000 or so words minimum to go. There is a LOT going on in this book, and I really hope the book is enjoyed as we wrap up the last 2 books before Bethany Anne goes back to Earth…
You know… To meet someone?
THANK YOU ALL for supporting these books, these authors and me personally as we build out this Universe. I’ve already written the last scene (nothing else) of book 20 and I have to say…
It made me tear up, but not in a bad way.
Ad Aeternitatem,
Michael
The Bad Company – Snippet 1
The Bad Company: The Age of Expansion Book 1
By Craig Martelle & Michael Anderle
Humanity’s greatest export – Justice. Space is a dangerous place, even for the wary, especially for the unprepared. The aliens have no idea. Here comes the Bad Company.
An explosion sounded and plasma fire flashed before his eyes.
Hidden in a remote corner of the Pan Galaxy, Nathan Lowell sat in his private office looking at the video communication screen. The President of the Bad Company frowned.
His direct action branch was engaged and not in a good way. Nathan shook his head slowly as he watched.
Thirty seven star systems away, General Lance Reynolds saw the same images displayed on his monitor. He chewed vigorously on his cigar. The report wasn’t what he had expected.
Colonel Terry Henry Walton, the man in the image, looked back and forth between the screen and something to his left. Ominous sounds accompanied the image.
“This first mission wasn’t what we contracted for, Nathan,” Terry yelled at the portable console that sat with a sideways tilt. He stared at a point off screen, shook his head, and continued. “My first stop when I get off this rock is that dandy president’s office where I’ll wring his pencil-neck to get our thirty percent bonus and seventy percent kicker. And then I’m leveling his fucking palace!”
“Can you settle this with what you have?” Lance asked.
“Yes, sir,” Terry replied.
“I already told you once, call me, Lance.”
“No can do, General. Can’t have you thinking I’ve grown soft just because I’ve been a pseudo-civilian for over a hundred and fifty years. Hang on,” Terry’s smile evaporated as he looked off screen, his lip curling involuntarily. “SHOOT HIM!” he shouted.
The crack of hand-held railguns answered. Terry stabbed his finger at something neither Nathan nor Lance could see.
“Not that one, the other one,” Terry corrected. More cracks from the hypervelocity weapons. Terry nodded and flipped the bird. “Fuck you, buddy and your stupid looking stalk head!”
Terry turned back to the screen. “Where were we?”
“Something about you intending to level our client’s palace,” Nathan said coldly.
“After we’re paid, that is. Hang on,” Terry looked off screen, flinched with surprise, and started yelling, “Why won’t you die? WOULD SOMEONE KILL THAT THING!”
Terry continued to watch off screen.
A rapid barrage followed, then a brief silence, and finally a blast that nearly threw the colonel off his feet. Laughing, Terry brushed his uniform jacket with his free hand. “Come back from that one, you blue fuck!”
“Sorry, General, Nathan. There’s about a hundred times more of these crawly bastards than we were led to believe. Mano a mano ain’t working. For every one we pop, five more appear in its place. Gotta run. We need to lop the head off this dragon. Have your people call my people and we’ll do lunch.” Terry saluted and ran off screen. Plasma beams cut through the spot where the colonel had just been standing.
“I’ll call our least favorite client right now and tell him to stand the fuck by. I’m coming for a visit,” Nathan growled, eyes flashing yellow as his anger charged his Were form. He tamped down the urge to change into a Pricolici, an upright-walking Werewolf.
He didn’t have the luxury of tearing up the universe. He was in charge and had passed the mantle of Bad Company door-kicker in chief to Terry Henry Walton.
Lance Reynolds stroked his chin as he thought about the man who looked happy to be in the middle of a battle that seemed to be raging out of control.
We Have Contact Audiobook Release!
We Have Contact: The Kurtherian Gambit, Book 12
By Michael Anderle
When you least expect it, expect it.
Bethany Anne has been notified there is a spaceship inside the system…but they can’t find it. Is it Kurtherian, someone else?
The governments have to be told about aliens, which sparks a worldwide effort by Governments to find what TQB has….
Oh, and Eric wants to date Gabrielle but he wants her to know he can protect her if need be. But his idea on how? Well, let’s just say it might not be the best solution.
Etheric Researcher – Snippet 1
Etheric Researcher: A Kurtherian Gambit Series
Unlawful Passage Audiobook Release!
Unlawful Passage: Age of Magic: The Rise of Magic Book One
By CM Raymond, LE Barbant, & Michael Anderle
Even heroes need a vacation.
Unfortunately, Hannah and her friends chose the wrong beach.
The Oracle needs help. She’s dying, and only Ezekiel knows that the world will die along with her.
Hannah and her team take up the call without hesitation.
The only problem? It takes a freaking long time to cross the world.
While putting their quest on hold for a much needed rest stop and resupply, Karl, Hadley, and Laurel get captured by some angry locals, who accuse them of kidnapping their leader’s son.
Hannah and Parker head to the rescue, leaving Gregory alone to guard the airship on a remnant infested hilltop.
What could possibly go wrong?
Awakened Audiobook Release!
Awakened: Age of Expansion, The Ascension Myth Book 1
By Ell Leigh Clarke & Michael Anderle
In the future, even the broken can make a change…
When a nascent AI hacks her holo device, Molly Bates has to think fast and get out of the military before anyone discovers what has happened. The only problem?
The swiftest way out is also the most embarrassing. Mortifyingly embarrassing.
Ever the underdog, Molly refuses to stay down. What follows is a rough and tumble adventure that takes Molly and her team of change makers up against an enemy with power they had not considered.
Regrouping off world, they set up base on an asteroid that has its own mysteries to uncover.
AHEAD FULL – TKG19 – Snippet 01 of …
The QBS Princess Alexandria, In Transit
Franath D’Tzaa, a D’tereth vid-reporter, touched the recording symbol after reviewing her notes.
“Hello, my name is Franath D’Tzaa. I’m aboard the QBS Princess Alexandra, a Nacht Fleet battleship and presently the flagship of Empress Bethany Anne, who is returning with her team from Nodrizen’s World.
“What follows is a continuation of the interview we aired yesterday. In this section I ask the Empress about the Leath and how that relationship has worked for the Etheric Empire over the last few decades. And here she is…”
“Empress, the Etheric Empire has been involved in different arguments—some would say battles or wars—with the Leath for many decades now. Would you tell us why, in your opinion, these two powerful spacefaring races do not get along?”
The Empress leaned back in her chair, her initial smile fading. “Certainly. It has everything to do with the Kurtherians, who claim to be their gods.” She looked at the reporter. “You have seen our videos, correct?”
“Who hasn’t?” Franath replied. “Every few years there has been a battle on some world or another between the Empire and the Leath. Afterwards they spin their story, and your people provide video proof that they’re wrong. Unless someone was present for the altercation, it would be impossible to tell what is truth.”
“I believe quite a few of your audience know the history of the Kurtherians,” Bethany Anne replied. “There were twelve tribes, or clans, who believed they were ready to Ascend. They also believed they should help other alien species Ascend. Unfortunately, seven of the twelve went down a darker road, and their efforts to assist other races has somehow become twisted. Each of the seven clans support their races differently. Some, like the late Yollin king, used his advanced abilities to drive the native Yollins from power. From what we understand, the Kurtherians from the Phraim-‘Eh clan who rule Leath are working to move them up the Ascension path.”
Bethany Anne stopped a moment, pursing her lips in thought. “Well, their version of the Ascension path, anyway. There are many thoughts on that,” she clarified. “However, supposition is that for the Leath to gain the next level in their enlightenment, they must defeat the Etheric Empire.”
Franath looked down at her notes, then back up at the Empress, who was waiting patiently for her. The reporter finally spoke. “I’m sorry, but I can’t find where this has been mentioned before.”
“I understand,” Bethany Anne nodded. “This is supposition by a Kurtherian consultant…”
“’Consultant?’” Franath jumped on Bethany Anne’s statement. “I’ve never heard that term.”
“And I’m not going to explain it to you,” Bethany Anne countered, “so don’t even ask.”
Franath bit her tongue. If she screwed up this interview, she would never get another chance with the enigmatic leader of the Etheric Empire, and probably wouldn’t leave with her interview material intact either. She was completely aware of others who had left with video the Etheric Empire didn’t wish to air, only to find the video damaged by the time the person was in a position to attempt to make a copy.
“Is this a business?” Franath finally asked, trying to find a way to score the contact. “Do they have additional resources I can verify?”
Bethany Anne sent TOM, Do you have additional resources?
I don’t know how to answer your question, Bethany Anne. Are you suggesting I out myself?
Sure, TOM. It’s as easy as saying ‘TOM, come out of the closet’…or in this case, ‘Come out of the human, TOM.’ ‘TOM, come out of the human!’
Ha…ha. Believe it or not, being inside you hasn’t always been bitches and dreams.
What the hell, TOM? Bitches and dreams?
There was a momentary pause before TOM answered, Peaches and cream?
Ha! Bethany Anne barked a laugh in their mental discussion. That is the funniest shit you have said all week.
Ba-dum crash! I’ll be here all week. And next week and the month following and probably the next decade until we can go looking for a mysterious race of creatures who can pull me out of you.
Don’t worry, my friend. Bethany Anne turned her attention back to the reporter. I haven’t forgotten that.
Bethany Anne spoke to Franath. “I imagine this consultant could answer questions. However, he is, as you might imagine, not fond of having others know much about him or his location.” Bethany Anne crossed her legs, then leaned forward in her chair and winked at Franath. “I’ll give you a contact routing through the galactic mail.”
Franath wondered what was wrong with the Empress’ eye.
Bethany Anne leaned back in her chair. “To return to the topic at hand, we have based our strategy on what the Kurtherian ‘gods’ behind the Leath are doing. This is why we have played a longer game.”
“It has been,” Franath agreed, “some time since your last altercation. However, at this point both sides are again enhancing their militaries. In fact,” Franath glanced down at some notes, “this has caused fourteen different spacefaring races to embark upon their own military buildup.” Franath looked Bethany Anne in the eyes. “Do you have any thoughts about this?”
“About which part?” Bethany Anne asked, a glimmer of humor in her eyes. “That we haven’t fought in a while, that others are willing to support their own ability not to be pushed around, or something completely different?”
Franath considered her options, then asked. “The fact that other groups are building up their militaries.”
“I think it is a good thing.”
Franath waited a moment before realizing Bethany Anne wasn’t going to add to her comment. “Why?”
“As I mentioned, if you can put up a good defense then other races pause before trying to take you over.”
Franath continued, “Are there any negatives to other races doing this?”
“Of course,” Bethany Anne responded. “Those with large militaries start looking either inside or outside to see what they can do with that military. A despotic regime could take power and use the military to subjugate their own people, or a particularly aggressive group could come to power and decide to push their luck by attacking others.”
“Is this the reason the Etheric Empire keeps fighting the Leath? Or, at least, this is what you are proposing is the reason?”
“Yes.” Bethany Anne kept her answer short, waiting for the likely follow-up.
“And why is that?” Franath continued.
Bingo, Bethany Anne thought. I love to answer this.
Bethany Anne looked into the camera, allowing the barest bit of red to infuse her eyes. “Because I really, really hate bullies.”
The video clip ended and the reporter finished her piece with, “This is Franath D’Tzaa signing off. I will provide another clip tomorrow from my interview with one of the most intriguing beings of our galaxy.”
FROM MICHAEL ANDERLE >>> WOOHOO! Here we go again…BA’s Back…Back again… And it is TIME the Leath have their final discussion with the Queen Bitch.
Well, at least the Kurtherian’s and those that support them.
We are down to three (3) books left for the first 21 books of The Kurtherian Gambit, Bethany Anne’s First story. I am aware that a lot of fans are concerned about whether there will be any more Bethany Anne books, and I have provided the hint(s) here: http://www.kurtherianbooks.com/timeline .
Right now, this book is above 22k … ish… in words, meaning it is just under 1/3 of the way complete. I’ve written more words this morning and I hope more words today before end of day.
I’m going to do the same thing I did a while back, which is start a ‘Michael has this many words done’ on Facebook, hoping that the interaction keeps me moving ahead through thick and thin. Especially tomorrow and Tuesday with three plane flights as we head from Rio to Miami, Miami to New York and New York to Las Vegas.
When we book these flights, we saved a lot of money routing through New York’s JFK airport vs. doing direct flights. Now, I look longingly at a flight home and think “What would I give to just fly straight to Las Vegas?” Then, I look at all those miles that will get me Platinum Pro status on American Airlines and think “Ok, I’m not willing to give up my chance to be Platinum Pro!”
I’m SUCH a pushover for this fucking American Airlines status. I mean, don’t get me wrong, I’ve benefitted HUGELY from the getting upgraded for FREE(!) from my seat in the back to first class over the last year. This was due to my wife’s Executive Platinum status (well, I was moved up to business class some times – but I really don’t know what the difference is between business and first class.)
I’m starting a set of scene’s with Stephen and Baba Yaga / Bethany Anne… But, Jennifer has been working on Stephen to not be such a stick in the mud… Then, it went too far and Jennifer is hoping Bethany Anne will pull Stephen back in line with his snappy comments.
Wonder how that will work out?