The Dark Defiance

In the decade following Earth's narrow victory over the Dactari invasion attempt, Humans have reverse engineered much of their enemy's technology. From captured data, they learn that the Dactari Republic is merely the successor to a much larger empire; one that died out long before Humans mastered the secrets of iron. Many worlds of the old empire have been left untouched by the republic, and a race begins as the factions of Earth struggle for trade dominance with the independent planets. The crew members of the Völund have each left Earth for their own reasons. They quickly find themselves embroiled in intrigue, conflict and outright war as their path, paved with good intentions, leads them straight to a hell of their own making. They must follow their path to the very end to learn the ultimate fate of mankind. (Approx. 90,000 words)