TKG08 WE WILL BUILD Rel 01 Read online

  CONTENTS

  Dedication

  Legal

  Social Links

  Series List

  Prologue

  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

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Author's Note

  Authors Helping Authors

  To the Beta Readers

  and

  Production Editor of

  We Will Build

  -

  This book would not

  be as good as it is

  and out for the fans

  without you.

  Period. F#cking. Dot.

  We Will Build - The Kurtherian Gambit 08

  Team

  David Down Under

  Bree Buras

  Arthur DeForest

  Tom Dickerson

  S. Forbes

  Jennifer Hendricks

  Mike Lucas

  Dorene Johnson

  Lisa Mitchell

  Pip Moon

  Faith Oakerson

  Scott Paul

  Diane Velasquez

  Editor

  Stephen Russell

  Thank you to the following Special Consultants

  for We Will Build

  Jeff Morris - Asst Professor Cyber-Warfare

  Shaun Murphy - Engineering Defense

  Richard Atwood - Container Discussions

  Heath Felps - Naval (I’ll get to you!)

  Paul Middleton - Swords and Ancient Weapons

  If I’ve missed you, just message me (FB) and I’ll do an update in the near future!

  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 (c) 2016 Michael T. Anderle

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the author.

  Cover art by Michael T. Anderle

  Version 1.00

  Want more?

  Join the email list here:

  http://kurtherianbooks.com/email-list/

  Join the Facebook Group Here:

  https://www.facebook.com/TheKurtherianGambitBooks/

  The email list will be sporadic with more ‘major’ updates, the Facebook group will be for updates and the ‘behind the curtains’ information on writing the next stories. Basically conversing!

  I hope you enjoy the book!

  Michael Anderle - April 22, 2016.

  Series Titles Include:

  Death Becomes Her

  The Kurtherian Gambit 01

  Queen Bitch

  The Kurtherian Gambit 02

  Love Lost

  The Kurtherian Gambit 03

  Bite This

  The Kurtherian Gambit 04

  Never Forsaken

  The Kurtherian Gambit 05

  Under My Heel

  The Kurtherian Gambit 06

  Kneel Or Die

  The Kurtherian Gambit 07

  We Will Build

  The Kurtherian Gambit 08

  It’s Hell To Choose

  Late May 2016

  Prologue

  The QBS Princess Alexandria - Traveling between the Stars (far future)

  The D’tereth vid-reporter laid her tablet on the table and touched the recording symbol. She made sure her blue hair was coifed well and that the gun-metal grey walls of her small room were a good back drop for her face.

  She didn’t want to leave anything to chance.

  Anything she put out related to this interview was going to be shown in all of the systems her news group could reach. Additionally, they would license the recording for display in areas where they didn’t have offices.

  She smiled for a few seconds to help the editing process. She started her introduction. “Hello, my name is Franath D’Tzaa. I’m on board the QBS Princess Alexandra, a Nicht Fleet Battleship and presently the flag ship Queen Bethany Anne is using to return with her team from Nodrizen’s World.

  Nodrizen’s World is where she and her teams decimated Clan K’gurth’s resources and people, after they shared video where a group of their warriors dishonored her Guardians.

  I understand she has issued an edict that all war with that clan is now considered ‘to the knife’. The Queen’s people have been ordered to proactively take the battle to those who are part of this clan or will personally answer to her.

  I had an opportunity to sit down and interview the Queen earlier this evening. While I am pulling together my notes, I would like to offer this one insight into the most enigmatic woman in our Universe, one who is rarely seen out in public.

  The belief, and she confirmed it for me earlier, is that she was born on the planet ‘Earth’ centuries ago. This was a time before her planet had true space-capable ships.

  Most humans are not known to live beyond 175 Standard Cycles. I asked the question. “What was going through your mind when you realized that you had the ability to live so many cycles beyond the normal lifespan of your people?”

  She answered me from her quarters on board Princess Alexandra. “In that time on my planet, there was a saying that ’the end is drawing nigh’, but what happens when the end is so far in the future, you can’t imagine what life will be like?” She nodded to herself, “That was my main thought back in the twenty-first century of my people.”

  I followed up her answer and asked, “What is your main thought now?”

  The ever so young looking woman tapped a finger against her lips. She was staring off into the distance, of either space or history, then turned to me and answered.

  “When will it end?”

  CHAPTER ONE

  TQB Base, Colorado - USA

  Bethany Anne?

  Yes TOM?

  I think ADAM and I should confess something.

  Bethany Anne stopped the short work-out she was doing and grabbed the small towel to wipe off some sweat. She and John had arrived back on the main base a few hours ago and she felt a need to work out the desire to go back to Dallas, find the three creeps that had attacked John’s cousin and toss them into the Etheric.

  Ok, shoot.

  Do you remember a few weeks ago when you were with Michael, batting your eyelashes at him?

  Bethany Anne thought back to when she had taken Gabrielle and Ashur to Argentina and had ended up on a date with Michael to kill David.

  She chose to ignore TOM’s comment about her flirting.

  Yes, why?

  Do you remember our conversation about interacting with the Chinese?

  Yeeesssss… ahhh ….Nope! No, I don’t.

  She sat on the floor. This whole room, about four-hundred square feet, had been built into the mountain some years back and was now a workout room for her and her team. Right now, John was probably helping his cousin Cheryl Lynn and her children, Toni and Todd find a place to stay on base
. The rest of her team was… she didn’t know, actually. She could find out just by asking ADAM, but it wasn’t like she needed them right now. Besides, Ashur was sitting on the floor with his tongue hanging out.

  It wasn’t like she didn’t have protection.

  It had taken some effort, but even Gabrielle had finally agreed that if someone was able to attack this far into the mountain, Bethany Anne would have time to travel the Etheric and escape. This meant she didn’t need to have a shadow while inside.

  Like she would do that, but if it made Gabrielle happy to believe it was possible, then so be it. Anything to keep the Captain of the Queen’s Own happy.

  She should call her ‘Captain of the Bitch’s’ and see what Gabrielle said. Nah, that was too easy. She needed something with more impact.

  Well, we mentioned that we were working on our communications with the Chinese and you said…

  Yeah! I remember now. I was thinking you were messing with my emotions and I told you not to start World War III. Wait, you guys haven’t started a war, have you?

  Uhhh… No?

  Why do I sense bit of hesitance in that last reply?

  Because I’m sure we haven’t started a war, I’m just not sure if we have potentially stopped one.

  ADAM!

  >>Yes?<<<br />
  Why is TOM speaking for the both of you?

  Oh, shit.

  TOM, keep quiet.

  >>Because he said it would be better that only one of the two of us speak, it would reduce the opportunity for confusion.<<<br />
  Confusion about what?

  May I speak?

  HELL NO!

  >>About the story.<<<br />
  What…Story?

  >>That we didn’t start World War III.<<<

  Is that answer positive?

  YES!

  TOM, Dammit, Shut…Up!

  >> It approaches unity.<<<br />
  How close to unity?

  >>98.7%<<<br />
  Bethany Anne laid back on the mat, wrapping her arms across her eyes and spoke out loud, “Am I to understand, that the alien and AI team of TOM and ADAM went off and incited enough of a concern with the Chinese that World War III might have occurred?” Her voice was calm, almost monotone.

  Oh shit…again.

  >>I fail to understand the issue. The chance was insignificant that war was going to break out.<<<br />
  Bethany Anne refrained from kicking any walls here, she would break her foot before she made any imprint on the hard rock.

  “ADAM, have you checked to see the downside of that 1.3% chance?”

  >>Do you mean, have I calculated the potential negative effects if the 1.3% event should happen?”

  “Yes.”

  >>No.<<<br />
  “Do that sometime. The more lives that could be affected negatively, the smaller the chance you should allow before you implement something. Get back with me when you have figured the results for those calculations.”

  >>I will.<<<br />
  Ok. I know you guys didn’t start out to potentially have the world go up in flames. The same world, I might mention, that I’m working my ass off to save.

  It would rather mess up my original mission.

  Bethany Anne snorted. Not to mention get your own alien ass burnt up at the same time.

  Yes, there is that.

  So, what were you doing, really?

  Well, ADAM discovered that China had been diligently attempting to hack the computers used by some of your companies. From there, he was able to backtrack and take over their intermediate ‘cut-out command’ computers. This has severely curtailed their efforts. Finally, he was able to get ‘into’ the origination systems and deliver a message. He told them that they should cease their preparations for cybernetic warfare.

  Bethany Anne thought about this for a minute. You mean, they are laying the groundwork to kick off a completely debilitating attack against American computers? And they were specifically targeting some of Michael’s companies?

  Well, they are yours now.

  I doubt that the person involved cares. They must still be after something in them. ADAM, do you have a list of companies targeted?

  >>Yes.<<<br />
  Please contact Lance and let him know these companies have been targeted and see if there is any correlation between them.

  >>There is.<<<br />
  Sorry, forgot who I was communicating with for a second. What is the correlation?

  >>Technology, R & D and finance.<<<br />
  Well, the technology and R & D makes sense for China, but finance? That seems personal or at least non-state focused.

  Perhaps this is a quasi-state operation? Or someone is using state resources to accomplish a goal?

  The way I understand China, you had better be high up in the political structure to pull off a stunt like that. If you’re using military resources to accomplish personal goals and you aren’t protected, it is a good way to lose your life.

  >>I can give provide those statistics if you would like?<<<br />
  No need at this time, but thank you for asking. We need to find out what those companies are researching and what kind of money these companies have available.

  What are you thinking?

  I’m thinking someone is considering doing the same thing I am right now. Using Michael’s accumulated wealth and corporate capabilities to strike out on their own. If they grab his money, that helps them use it to build what R & D is proposing. ADAM, please make sure that all of company computers are hardened against intrusions and see if you can ferret out any spy-ware or virus stuff going on. Let me know what you find.

  >>I will have to break through your security company’s protections in some cases.<<<br />
  Huh?

  He’s talking about the services provided by Nathan’s original company.

  Oh. Forgot about that for a second. Can you make it through without the security people discovering your presence?

  >>There is a greater than sixty-five percent chance of success but I am not aware of a way at the moment. Any higher calculation will require more research than I have done at this time. Any time I encountered a company with a Guardian installation, I did not make a prolonged effort to circumvent that protection.<<<br />
  Be gentle, but see if you can get through. Choose a company that has the Guardian install, but isn’t a target of the Chinese at the moment. Don’t do anything with military or R & D companies. God only knows what would happen if you leave a path through their security for someone else to find.

  >>There will be no ‘path’ for someone to find.<<<br />
  Really? What is the chance of you doing this perfectly, does it reach unity?

  There was a pause.

  >>No.<<<br />
  Then I rest my case.