Havok Bringer

It had been six months since the battle on Lucida. In that time, I had taken the crew back to Earth, where we had helped establish a quasi-planetary government. Surprisingly, there were still remnants of global militaries operating in force throughout the planet, though they were segmented and had taken to operating independently.

After returning from Lucida, we helped ensure that my family and the residents of Dawes Hill were safe, then we set out to see what we could do to help the rest of the planet. Unsurprisingly, Natasha's bug had worked perfectly. The Lacertine bio-generators were rendered useless until someone with a human genetic code was able to get them back online, meaning that every day, humanity was gaining an advantage over the Lacertine occupation force.

Upon returning, Michael linked up with his old contingent of wasps and started spreading the word to other local settlements. Within a month, humans were managing to attack Lacertine outposts, or supply lines and raid their generators. Soon, settlements that had power managed to rebuild radios, creating a rudimentary communications system.

Once some form of communication was back online, humanity took several leaps forward in its defense and organization. The United States was the first to declare victory over the Lacertine forces; China, the United Kingdom, and Russia followed soon after. It took several trips in the Pup to plant the seeds of victory in other countries, but it was a seed we happily planted. People were wary after the last few years, and a spaceship carrying a man in futuristic armor, along with several aliens, only added fuel to the fire. Trust, however, was established once we began distributing functioning bio generators and launching strikes in the Pup to eliminate the local Lacertine bases.

Even though our conditions were improving, we recognized that Earth had to change if we were going to thrive in our new reality. The independent governments and power mongering were a thing of the past. One thing we learned early on is that the Lacertines took efforts to eliminate nearly every head of state from every impactful country on the planet. This meant it would take time to reestablish a sustainable government. On the plus side, it meant that Earth could start fresh with one centralized planetary government. Gone were the days of fighting amongst ourselves. Now, most of the remaining population understood that we were one people, and if we were to survive the dangers of the galaxy, we would have to be united.

I was asked early on to be a part of building this government, and I made it clear how I felt about that. I was no politician, and I didn't plan to change that now. No, Earth was better served with me as a protector, even if I knew full well that I wasn't strong enough to protect it from some of the monsters that were out there in the wider galaxy.

About three months after our return, Natasha informed me that she received a priority communication from the Lacertine Empire via a courier ship that had entered our solar system.

They requested the release of the remaining troops on the planet. In return, I asked for the return of the humans that had been shipped off-world. This request was denied due to the fact that the Lacertines weren't holding the humans; they stated that they had merely facilitated the transport of the livestock.

Livestock…that word again. It reignited the rage I felt in the arena back on Lucida.

So, after I boarded the courier ship, killed the entire crew, and sent a reply showing the ship being jettisoned into the sun, I received a more diplomatic response.

Captain Andrew Dawes.

We regret the part the Lacertine Empire played in the occupation and subsequent genocide or enslavement of an untold number of humans. Unfortunately, the Lacertine Empire aligned itself with the will of the now fallen Galactic Empire.

In this time of unprecedented change in the galaxy, we believe that it is time for self-reflection and, if nothing else, course correction.

In that vein, we understand that creating new allies will be paramount for the human race if it is to continue to grow and become a contributing member species in the galaxy. While we cannot undo what has already been done, unfortunately, we can offer apologies and try to make amends. If you can commit to the safe return of our remaining troops to their home system, we can offer recompense in some form, though we understand that no recompense can truly be offered for the atrocities committed on your people.

The Lacertine Empire hereby offers the following in return for the safe return of its peoples:

5 Lacertine Destroyers

10 Lacertine Frigates

20 Lacertine battle cruisers

50 Lacertine drop ships

1 refurbished Lacertine space dock

12 months of training on all military class vessels.

In time, we hope to build a more strategic partnership. Please respond with your reply. We will be waiting.

I took the offer to the budding Earth Governmental Organization. I was asked a multitude of questions about why I took unauthorized action against an alien envoy and why I hadn't brought this to their attention first—blah blah blah, bureaucratic nonsense. Unfortunately, my dad had been roped in to serving in the Senate, so he gave me a whole earful as well.

Needless to say, Earth accepted the deal. The ships arrived within two weeks, and the remaining Lacertine troops who were being held in internment camps were informed they would be rescued soon.

As to the issue of food for the Lizards, each country had agreed to provide them with some kind of sustenance to keep them alive. After all, we weren't the same kind of monsters they were. Natasha took the existing plans and infrastructure that the Lacertines had built and, with some help from the major human settlements, she was able to create a nutrient-rich sludge that was compatible with the Lacertine gut biome. It wasn't exactly fine dining, but it kept them alive.

The next few weeks for me and the crew consisted of ensuring that each major internment camp had production facilities and access to the nutrient sludge for the prisoners. We responded to the Lacertine request for withdrawal of their remaining troops, and upon their arrival, most were extricated within two weeks of that. The agreed-upon payment would end up taking about 45 days to arrive, with the space dock arriving in pieces and being assembled in orbit.

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

Lacertine emissaries met with the Earth Governmental Organization upon their arrival, and senators from most major countries were in attendance. The Lacertine emmisaries and what I affectionately started referring to as "EGO" devised a timeline for training of the Earth Interstellar Defense force, and within weeks, humans were in orbit, learning the ins and outs of the Space Dock and how to operate the ships that the Lacertine Empire so graciously granted our species.

The truth was that the Lacertine Empire could give two shits about humanity; instead, they were deadset on aligning themselves with Captain Andrew Dawes, and they realized early on that I prioritized my planet and my people. I honestly couldn't blame them. They had been playing by the rules set by the Council and were doing what they could to put themselves in a position of power in the Galaxy. The Reaping of planets had been in practice for thousands of years; unfortunately for the Lacertine Empire, I was involved with the latest one.

After being formed, the Earth Governmental organization quickly appointed senators from countries that had the highest remaining population density. Word was spreading fast, and couriers were sent into rural areas to try to convince anyone who could to relocate to those more densely populated areas. Now that humanity was building back, there would be defense and enough resources to ensure basic needs were met. Anyone choosing to stay in the rural areas was pretty much on their own.

The Senate chose military vets from most countries to staff Earth's first official interstellar fleet, and for the last couple of months, there had been non-stop training and construction in Earth's orbit. Other than that, things had been surprisingly quiet on the home front, and with nothing else pressing, I thought it was time for the team to start working to get stronger.

Ses and Sherlock had been working together to uncover the mysteries of the Seed of Power and had honestly uncovered quite a lot. Firstly, the Seed had a multitude of functions. It was a key to the tower dimension, which meant we now had the ability to enter and exit the tower at will. This would be amazing, as it essentially allowed us to have our very own grind farm. After the E.G.O. and the Senate had things rolling in orbit, I informed my dad that the crew and I would be off-grid for a while.

"What do you mean, a tower dimension, Andrew?" Michael Sr. asked as we sat on his front porch having a cup of coffee.

"Look, Dad, everything is pretty quiet here for now. The Lizards aren't gonna make a move since they believe they have a chance at getting in my good graces. The Rerek have been silent since we returned. Shit, everyone has been silent. I don't like it."

Michael Sr. took a long drink of his steaming coffee and sat silently for a few seconds. "Son, we haven't had peace in a long time. Now, things are quiet; in fact, humanity has people in orbit building space stations and learning to pilot interstellar spaceships. We finally have a little light at the end of the tunnel, and you can't just let it be, can you?"

I looked out into the mass of tangled pine trees and red dirt roads that made up Dawes Hill. It was fall now, and a slight chill was in the air as we sat drinking our coffee, watching the sun rise. "I can't, Dad. You don't know what kind of monsters are out there. You didn't see what I saw." I set my coffee cup on the small side table beside my wooden rocking chair. "They will come, and they will be strong."

"Who, son? Who is coming? The Council is gone, the Lizards are working with us now, the Rerek are M.I.A., nobody cares about humans anymore."

"They care about me, Dad. They care about my ship, my crew, and the Seed of Power. I don't know who is coming, I don't know when either." I turned and looked at my Dad, the fear in my eyes told him how much I understood about what I was telling him. "I do know one thing, though. I know I am not strong enough to stop them. My crew is not strong enough, either. The best thing we can do for humanity right now is to strengthen ourselves. I have the means to do that, so that is what I am gonna do."

Michael Sr. shook his head, slowly taking another sip of his coffee. "I'll run it by the senate, see how it lands with them."

I stood up and straightened my uniform jacket. "I'm not asking permission, Dad. Not from you, not from them. I told you as a courtesy and because I don't want you and Mom worrying about me. As far as the Senate goes, there is one thing you can pass on to me."

Michael Sr. stood slowly, grunting with effort as the effects of his age had begun showing over the past few months. "What is it? What message can I bring them from my stubborn son?"

"Let them know I don't answer to them. My crew and I are off limits. We will help Earth when and if it needs it. Other than that, they need to focus on what really matters. Getting Earth and its people ready for what's coming next."

Dad reached out and pulled me into a long hug before stepping back to take a look at me. "And if they don't like that message?"

"Remind them why they have a planet to begin with."

"C.J.! You have to dodge that attack!" I shouted through the comms.

"Easy for you to say! You can fly! I can't fly, Andy. All I can do is run, and I'm fat and I don't have my drop suit to carry me anymore!" C.J. wheezed between labored breaths.

"Hey, you were the one who wanted a class. Well, now that you got one, it's time to learn to use it!" I replied.

"You got to choose your class, asshole! I didn't even get a choice!" C.J. dove for cover as a ghostly orb of energy flashed over his head. He rolled to his back and fired two shots into the head of the Aether Wraith that had been chasing him. The thing's head exploded in a puff of blue and purple smoke before the rest of its body followed suit.

"Whoo, hell yeah!" C.J. shouted before quickly getting back to his feet.

"C.J.! You gonna use those abilities or not? We are getting a little overwhelmed over here!" Matty shouted.

"They are 400 yards northwest of your position, C.J., better start running," I said.

"More fucking running! Damn, man! When am I gonna get some cool flying ability, or at least some sort of vehicle I can use? This sucks!" C.J. groaned as he ran toward Matty's position.

I chuckled as I hovered above the battlefield. We were on level 1 of the Tower, and surprisingly, it was completely different from the first level I had experienced during my time in the Tower. It seemed that the tower layout was random, changing each time it was accessed. I wasn't participating in the current battle; instead, I chose to take position above the fray and provide instruction when needed.

C.J. had a class now. When he first got it, he was completely stoked. He had wanted a class since this whole thing started; unfortunately, until I got the Seed of Power, he was unable to do anything about it. When he finally got it,though, he was less than ecstatic. I didn't understand why until he finally let me identify him.

Name: Craig Jennings

Race: Human

Class: Big Poppa Pump

Level: 1

I looked at him, tilting my head slightly. "Umm, what the hell is that class?"

"Exactly! What the actual fuck is this?" C.J. threw his hands up in the air. "From what I gather, I am some sort of buffer class. The system apparently took its inspiration from human culture; therefore, my fucking class is called Big Poppa Pump."

I placed a calming hand on his shoulder. "Look, bro. That kind of class is rare, as far as I understand. I spent some time in Lucida fighting with a guy named Bokbok who had a similar class. He completely transformed the abilities of our squad during battles. I think this will be good for you, and better for our crew.

C.J. exhaled and shook his head. "Randi did this shit, you know that, right? He is not happy that you have the ability to initiate people now, so he gave me a shitty class with a stupid name."

"Maybe so, C.J., but instead of complaining, let's make you an asset to the crew."

After that, C.J. began training day and night to learn every aspect of his new class. As it turned out, I was right. C.J. had the ability not only to heal us, but he could buff our defenses, as well as amplify our abilities. It was really a fantastic class, just not as flashy as he would have liked. The only downside, as of now, was the lack of offensive abilities. It seemed to have none, so C.J. was still reliant on external weapons and armor, though he did have the ability to buff himself as well, meaning he wasn't completely reliant on his drop suit armor.

"Elvis would have had a field day with this, you know that, don't you?" C.J. said through the comms.

"Yeah, he would have called you something like Big Poppa Puss, I'm sure." I chuckled.

"Hey man, what the hell?! I don't need it from you!" C.J. replied again through ragged breaths as he pushed on to the rest of the crew.