About the Bookstore Browse Aisles Search Desk Shopping Basket Book Trade Terms Just Released! Return Policy Help Here is the full reference card for this book... If you'd rather place an order by talking to one of our cheerful order desk clerks, please call 1-888-232-4444 (USA and Canada only) or 250-383-6864. From Europe, ring our UK order desk clerk at local rate number 0845 230 9601 (UK only) or 44 (0)1865 722 113. X-Universe Volume One by Darren 438 pages; quality trade paperback (softcover); catalogue #03-2433; ISBN 1-4120-1955-9; US$32.50, C$36.69, EUR27.00, £19.00 Two novels in one volume bring the reader right into the heart of a turbulent Universe on the brink of disaster and an event that will re-shape it forever. Read more! about the book      about the authors      sample excerpts or Table of Contents      catalogue info About the Book Containing two novels, two authors, combined to make the first instalment following the lives of the inhabitants of the X-Universe. Intrigue, subterfuge, double-crossing and aliens all make their entry against a backdrop of traders and the ever-increasing need to make a buck. From shipping cargo in the inner systems to all out war on a galactic level, Dominion and Rogues Testament take you on a journey deep into the psyche of the X-Universe and beyond! About the Authors Darren Astles (aka Steel) The initial reason for writing "Dominion" was to attempt to fill a gap and provide the English speaking fans of the game series with stories to enhance the whole "X" experience. This then became, as most things do, a much bigger project then first imagined. I suppose the hardest part was to ensure consistency with the "historical" background. This sometimes resulted in rewrites of various chapters for exactly those reasons. Since those early days (2000 onwards), I have become more and more involved with the X series and assist in various aspects of its development. The fiction side is one of those aspects. This book is produced for the fans by the fans. We hope it brings you some enjoyment either on its own, or as a companion to the game series. "Good Profit" Darren Astles runs his own company that is mainly centred on IT related projects. Steve Miller This is a novel based on the X-Universe as featured in the three excellent computer games from Egosoft; X-Beyond the Frontier, X-tension and X2 and the author acknowledges all copyrights. It began life as a series of episodes published on the game forum and took on a life of its own thanks to the encouragement and praise it received. The concluding part of Rogue is currently available as an e-book from the author. Steve Miller is older than he looks and younger than he feels. He is now working on a high fantasy epic provisionally titled, 'The Dark Son Chronicles' and studying Creative Writing at a major UK University.

Sample Excerpts

"Excellent! I had gaps in my knowledge of the X-Universe and this filled those gaps."

"Wait! You mean I can actually play the game and act out the story? Wow!"

"I read the book and changed my strategy in the game. ŒNuff said."

"Enough detail to enthral me and enough left out for my own imagination to run riot. Perfect!"

Prologue

Workers become oppressed. It doesn't seem to matter whether this is today, yesterday or as here, in some far distant future. The area of space this book refers to, known as the "X-Universe", is full of all the normal problems.

A large area connected by jump gates from what appears to be an ancient civilisation and the interaction of different races. Alliances and trade agreements allow the would-be trader to carve out a living in the hustle and bustle of the spaceports.

A Paranid, drunk on ambition creates a new technology. An advanced chip that allows the mind to operate and communicate with computer systems. The uses are far reaching and the customers will flock to his factory. It's time to announce this new breakthrough to the cosmos.

Just when the announcement is made and the new products detail and price is transmitted into the dealing systems, a fleet of organised pirate ships raid and take away the first batch of chips. Obliterating all the production facilities, plans and employees in one swift action.

Revenge is planned, but the pirates, too long subjugated and bound by the pricing thresholds of the inter-race guilds have finally become a larger unit. Throwing aside their differences and under the direct leadership of a ruthless Argon female, they set the wheels in motion for a plan, so audacious, it might just work and bring all of the space lanes under their control.

Out there in the distant blackness of space another race, untouched by intruders, suddenly have their very existence threatened by the carefree attitude of the Pirates and their plans.

Before they can enter the realm of the X-Universe though, this story must first be told. The battle for the trade lanes is about to begin.

Rogues Testament

'This chapter has had me happy, sad, confused and disillusioned, you're messing my head up!'

'Fantastic read, great battle, superb tactical twist, nail biting suspense, the indomitable Max strikes yet again!'

'I was 'in' that bar * smoky atmosphere, dim lighting, bar noise, Jackson holding the bottle slouched in the chair, Hagman had just departed.... Amazing how these characters come to 'life'.'

'Story telling as it should be!'

Prologue

"I've got it," she choked through the acrid smoke filling the cockpit. Struggling back to the co-pilot station she screamed unnecessarily, "Get us the hell out of here!" The acceleration crushed her into the seat as he slammed the after burners to full.

"You think?"

Balls of superheated plasma, emerald and deadly, flashed past the hull as the pilot threw another evasive sequence putting the Orinoco on an escape vector back to the safety of the northern trans-system jump-gate. One snatched glance at his face set grim behind his visor, confirmed her fear.

They weren't going to make it.

The Orinoco was named after the largest river on the northern continent of Argon Prime, although the Goner Temple maintained it merely bore the name of a mighty waterway on humankind's legendary lost home world.

Inevitably, due to its shape, a short handle infantry entrenching tool with two drive nacelles trailing low on elegant swept back pylons, it soon became known as the Spade, It was a compromise design, suited to the particular needs of its owners. Armed and armoured like a medium fighter with a capacious sub space compression hold, it was the vessel of choice for clan smugglers and well suited for a variety of tasks. With the right load-out it performed excellently in a defensive role where its low speed was not a significant disadvantage.

With the drive system tuned to the maximum possible speed and the subspace hold enlarged to the full theoretical maximum of 350 storage units at a cost that could have bought another ship this Spade was, as they say on Boron, 'Loaded for Split'. Apart from a fig leaf load of 100 units of the oily but popular Chelt Meat the hold was filled with over 100 of the medium punch Dragonfly missiles, a mixed bag of 50 other smaller rockets, 50 automated defence drones, several spare weapon systems and a backup shield. It even sported 10 of the extremely powerful and largely illegal Teladi Squash Mines. Although usually to be found escorted by a mixed package of Mandalay light and Bayamon medium fighters this Orinoco, in the hands of this pilot could hold its own in almost any fight long enough to extend and escape.

None of that would help against the huge Xenon destroyer that arcing round for another pass; its forward turrets already spitting fire. With its huge drives it could outrun them easily even if the Spade was significantly more agile. The pilot milked this small edge with remarkable skill, pushing the performance envelope of his ship to the very edge, stealing another few seconds of life from the heart of the unnamed jump-gate sector controlled by the artificial scourges of all sentient life, the Xenon.

As he threw the craft about the sky, twisting and turning through fusillades of green and blue fire, the co-pilot watched the scanners, calling out crucial information through the forced calm of her training.

"Okay, you've lost him again. Coming about, coming about, port, aft low. 5 klicks, 6 klicks, 7 klicks."

A small note of resignation tinged her next call.

"Merde, they're launching fighters."

The pilot futilely gunned the afterburner but they were already at maximum speed. At under 100 mps even the Xenon L heavy fighter could match them and the light and medium N and M class could outdistance them with ease. The jump-gate was still 20 klicks distant.

" I count 6 N class, 3 M class and 2, no, 3 L's. Second wave launching."

Within seconds the Orinoco was the centre of a hornet's nest of attention as the small stubby N class fighters swarmed all over them. The tactical sensors filled the cockpit with the whine of their drives as their lasers peppered the shields.

Coolly the co-pilot targeted and launched defence drones in groups of 4. The short-lived machines were only unshielded flying lasers but in numbers their speed and agility made them a threat to small fighters and a nuisance to others. Tactically they were of most use to cover a retreat. Even one of the big, heavy fighters of the Xenon with their 50 MW of shields could be forced to temporarily disengage by a swarm of these devices.

The cockpit echoed to the rapid pipping of multiple laser fire, punctuated by the rumbling assorted explosions of drones and fighters alike. The respite lasted only a few seconds, as the pounding roar of Gamma Particle Accelerator Cannons presaged the arrival of the superior M class interceptors.

"3 M's, 2 o'clock starboard aft, closing fast overshoot."

Functioning as one the two pilots fought for their lives and with supreme skill the pilot corkscrewed through the lethal concentric plasma columns filling the vacuum around them to bring his ship up onto the tails of the 3 M class fighters. Strangely for an artificial race the Xenon craft displayed a strong sense of aesthetic with both the L and the M class sharing the wide body, forward trailing wing shape that called to mind a bird of prey.

Before they could accelerate away the Spade closed to within tens of metres, sweeping their rear exhausts with withering fire from its own Gamma PAC's. The cockpit shuddered with the recoil but it did not distract the co-pilot as she swiftly launched 4 dragonflies at each of the 3 fighters in turn. At such short range the Xenon had no chance to go evasive.

Two vanished instantly in a ball of flame and the third broke high, the missiles tracking relentlessly. Rolling inverted the Spade pulled a loop that bought it head on with the M. Pirouetting through the incoming fire the pilot drained his weapons into its forward shield face forcing the M to break right, taking two dragonflies in the face. As it spun helplessly a third reduced it to a million melted fragments.

The second wave on N's had joined the survivors of the first wave. Most were taken out by the remaining drones and waves of small missiles the co-pilot dispatched but by now the first wave of the heavy Xenon L's had arrived with the second wave of M's close behind.

The Spade fought like a demon, filling the sky with rockets whilst dodging a torrent of incoming fire. One by one the M's fell, even one of the L's but such were the odds that even a pilot as gifted as this one evidently was found it almost impossible to get a close enough position to ensure missile efficacy. The 10 MW of shielding sported by the Orinoco could not hold up long under the cross fire of 5 L class fighters. And even if they triumphed they'd only face further waves.

"I need options fast".

The pilot sounded as desperate as the situation.

The co-pilot rapidly targeted the destroyer and ordered him to go head to head, fast and low. It looked like suicide but he knew better than to argue and as the huge ship loomed before them 2 of the pursuing fighters broke off, circling to cut the line of retreat. Space was filled with incoming fire, fore and aft and despite inspired manoeuvring the Orinoco shuddered under their deadly impact. Emotionlessly the onboard computer intoned the falling shield status as it dropped below 30%.

As the Orinoco flashed along the hull of the giant destroyer the co-pilot deployed all 10 of the squash mines. The pilot looped and rolled to put the bulk of the capital ship between him and the mines as his companion triggered them. Despite the cover the shockwaves sent the Spade tumbling and careening. As the pilot fought to regain control a dozen cockpit alarms sounded and somewhere behind him he registered the insistent hiss of an onboard extinguisher cutting in.

The Xenon destroyer had fared less well. Burning plasma roiled from numerous gaping holes in the hull and its drive system was completely off line. The three pursuing L's had vanished in the initial blast and the co-pilot rapidly targeted the remaining 2 with the last of her missiles. One succumbed while missiles chased the remainder across the sky.

Instantly the Orinoco broke for the safety of the jump-gate. The crippled destroyer, powerless and burning, was unable to launch another flight and the remaining L's would be unable to intercept them in time.

The celebratory whoops of the pilot were cut cruelly short.

"Scanners show two more destroyers coming in hot and fast at relativistic speed. Slowing, slowing, slowing, here they come." Her voice was now devoid of hope.

The 2 warships roared by, disgorging fighters as they went.

The ensuing battle was short and even as the 2 pilots punched out their craft blossomed into a lethal fireball.

Catalogue Information