Scales of Envy

Copyrighted Material Scales of Envy Copyright © 2023 by Variant Publications Book design and layout copyright © 2023 by JN Chaney This novel is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living, dead, or undead, is entirely coincidental. All rights reserved No part of this publication can be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without permission in writing. 1st Edition CONTENTS Don’t Miss Out Previously in Uplink Squadron Prologue Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Chapter 12 Chapter 13 Chapter 14 Chapter 15 Chapter 16 Chapter 17 Chapter 18 Chapter 19 Chapter 20 Chapter 21 Chapter 22 Chapter 23 Chapter 24 Chapter 25 Chapter 26 Chapter 27 Epilogue Join the Conversation Connect with J.N. Chaney Connect with Chris Kennedy About the Authors Don’t miss out on these exclusive perks: Instant access to free short stories from series like Backyard Starship, Sentenced to War, and more. Receive email updates for new releases and other news. Get notified when we run special deals on books and audiobooks. So, what are you waiting for? Enter your email address at the link below to stay in the loop. Click Here PREVIOUSLY IN UPLINK SQUADRON With Space Command a reality, the U.S. established its first major base in space. In addition to providing defense for the nation, the permanent crew on board also had time to explore their surroundings. One of the first things they found was the alien spacecraft orbiting Jupiter’s moon Callisto. Hoping the aliens had come in peace, the U.S. sent emissaries to make contact. When that didn’t go so well, they sent everything they had. They were all destroyed. Faced with a foe beyond their abilities, the United States united with the other nations of Earth to combat the Overlords, and together they developed the uplink technology necessary for pilots to merge with their fighters, giving them a synergy that helped them outfight the aliens. Some pilots took it too far, though, and uploaded everything they were into the systems of their fighters, becoming synthetic intelligences—functioning AIs that used to be people. With the aid of the SIs, the Terrans seemed to be holding their own… until they found out the aliens weren’t trying; it had all been a test to gauge the Terrans’ ability to fight. Having been found worthy, they were given an offer to fight alongside the Overlords. As the unstated alternative was their eradication, the Terrans joined the Galactic War on the Overlords’ side. But something wasn’t right. It seemed that the nations they were fighting—the Kardons and Sontags—were their natural allies, and that the Overlords weren’t telling them the whole truth. When Terran Lance Baker was shot down on an alien planet, he found out the truth—the Overlords were in fact AIs, bent on the subjugation of every biological life form… including the Terrans. Finally seeing the big picture, the Terrans joined their former enemies against the Overlords, and won several battles, appearing to drive the AIs back. But when the PROLOGUE THE STEREP ESTATE, KARDONIA, KARDONIA SYSTEM Life can’t get any better, Commander Lance Baker thought as he slow danced. A beautiful woman in my arms, the war—if not ended entirely—has at least been brought to a pause, the free worlds have been saved, again. He looked down. And don’t forget the beautiful woman in my arms. Finally. He smiled, luxuriating in her fragrance after weeks and weeks spent in the cockpit of a small space fighter. He closed his eyes, enjoying the moment. A clawed hand tapped his shoulder. “I’m sorry to have to interrupt,” Tiberus said. Baker frowned, opened his eyes, and turned to the Sontag. Tiberus—a member of the felinoid race—was a friend and somewhat of a mentor. At the moment, though, he was something else. Unwanted. “Sorry,” Baker said. He shook his head. “But I’m not letting anyone cut in on me today.” Tiberus smiled sadly. “Although I would love a dance with Sofia, unfortunately, this is about something else.” Baker stopped dancing and separated from Commander Sofia Jimenez, his girlfriend and—if things went as planned tonight—lover. “What’s up?” he asked, keeping most, if not actually all, of the annoyance out of his voice. Tiberus turned to Jimenez. “As I understand it, you fought the Legastians in the Ressallus system?” Jimenez nodded. “I did.” “I hate to have to tell you this and ruin the party,” Tiberus said, “but they have returned.” “The Legastians?” Baker asked. “Who—” “They’re here?” Jimenez asked, all businesslike. “In this system?” “No,” Tiberus replied. “They’re back in the Ressallus system, or at least they were when the picket left there four days ago.” “So, they could be in Surrapsis now?” “They could,” Tiberus acknowledged. The system between Ressallus and Kardonia held a Sontag-inhabited planet. “Admiral Delgado is holding a meeting in Emthos’ study in ten minutes.” And there goes the