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Proxima: The Othaul Dynasty

by Chase Hildenbrand

Proxima - Chase Hildenbrand - Othaul Dynasty
Part of the Proxima Odyssey series:
Editions:Kindle: $ 0.99Paperback: $ 13.99
ISBN: 979-8541896770
Size: 6.00 x 9.00 in
Pages: 367
Hardcover: $ 18.99
ISBN: 979-8479126529
Size: 6.00 x 9.00 in
Pages: 367

After surviving the brutal war against the Proximians, survivors of the Save The Species mission are faced with a terrible new threat. The Othauls are a ruthless alien species determined to terrorize every intelligent race of beings until they are given what they want. Led by the vicious Chalnaii, the Othauls will stop at nothing to bring humanity into their Dynasty.

Liam Donovan, along with Ann Caldwell and the rest of the survivors, must escape the Othauls' grip while also embarking on a perilous task to find other alien races to form an alliance which could be their only hope against the malevolent Othauls.

Meanwhile, back on Earth, mysteries must be revealed, and uncomfortable truths come to light if humanity can ever hope to be able to defend itself from the Othauls' invading force.

This book is on:
  • 1 To Be Read list
Published:
Publisher: Independently Published
Genres:
Tags:
Tropes: Aliens Among Us, Galactic Civilization, Interstellar Travel, Killer Aliens, Space Battles
Word Count: 100000
Setting: Space
Languages Available: English
Series Type: Continuous / Same Characters
Tropes: Aliens Among Us, Galactic Civilization, Interstellar Travel, Killer Aliens, Space Battles
Word Count: 100000
Setting: Space
Languages Available: English
Series Type: Continuous / Same Characters
Excerpt:

They walked into a nightmare. An unidentifiable stench made them scowl, not to mention oppressive heat and humidity that made it difficult to breathe. Dim red bulbs lit the dark hallways. Light shined off the wall’s slick surfaces as they dripped with moisture. Moments ago, they were taken onto a hovering platform that lifted them from the Proximian surface to the ship’s access point fifty feet above. Once they entered, the platform rotated vertically and attached itself to the outer hull, locking them inside the menacing black ship that landed in the aftermath of the war with the Proximians who lived in the underground mountain city.  

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One Othaul led the way in front, a second held a weapon to them from the rear. The Othauls wore armored mechanical suits covering nearly their entire bodies, exposing only their heads. Midnight-black skin glistened with perspiration. The one in front stopped abruptly, turning around to face the group. Its yellow eyes glowed in the near darkness as they bored into their prisoners. Pure white hair flowed from its head to midway down its back. Each Othaul stood at six and a half feet tall. It was difficult for them to determine if the Othauls were especially muscular or if their mech-suits presented a false impression.  

With a grunt and a nod to the left, the lead Othaul instructed them to go into a small room. Liam Donovan went in first, followed by his fiancé Ann Caldwell. Zale Alday entered third, then a Proximian called Dyran of the Wrykes, and lastly two of their friends Jon Crouch and Stacy Rednour.  

Two hours had passed since the terrible battle ended. Almost a hundred thousand people suffered under merciless enslavement brought on by the Proximians that lived underneath a mountain. But not all members of the species were bad. Two thousand other Proximians belonging to various tribes spread out in the habitable zones of the tidally locked planet joined together to help free the subjugated people of the Save the Species mission.  

Under the leadership of Liam Donovan, the captain of the STS ship known as the Hawking, a group of just over three hundred fighters joined the battle late and gravely misunderstood the situation. They fired on the wrong side, mistaking the tribal warriors as villainous savages and therefore were responsible for scores of wrongful deaths. It was Ann who sent word out that they had the optics wrong. Once they corrected their error, the battle came to a rapid end. Z56 fighter crafts wiped out the enemy with an astounding display of firepower.  

Not long after, a lone Proximian warned them that others were on their way—a species known as the Othauls that had terrorized them for a thousand years. They came in a monstrous ship that hovered in the upper atmosphere. From it another craft came down, landing in the remnants of the battle and a dozen Othauls exited. They took Liam and those with him back to the craft and forced the remainder of the battle’s survivors, both human and Proximian, into the mountain city and locked them inside behind the steel door entrance.  

The Othauls in the ship could speak Proximian, so Dyran acted as translator using an electronic device hanging from his neck. After the last of the group made their way inside the room, the lead Othaul locked them inside. Empty shelves lined the room which was barely large enough for them to stand comfortably. But with the door shut, the intense heat rose sharply. Beads of sweat rolled down the back of Liam’s neck. Ann gripped his arm, her fingernails digging into his skin.  

“How in trouble are we?” Ann asked. 

 “Extremely,” Liam answered.  

“I can’t believe we weren’t warned. The tribal Past Keeper should’ve told us the truth,” Ann said.  

“I have a feeling more than one of us was kept in the dark,” Liam said.  

“I assure you I knew nothing about these Othauls,” Dyran said.  

“Not you I’m blaming, Dyran.”  

Before Dyran could reply, Stacy spoke up. “What’s the plan?” 

All eyes turned to Liam. He wished they wouldn’t. Never had he doubted his own leadership as much as he did at that moment. Culpable in the deaths of the planet’s native tribesmen and still they looked to him. But who else among them could step up?  

“They’re going to want to know where we came from. We can’t tell them the truth.”  

“What the hell are we supposed to say then?” Jon asked.  

“I have no idea,” Liam admitted. Much of his adulthood was spent in military service for the former United States of America. He fought in several conflicts, most notably the African Water War. Toward the end of the war, he spent two days captured by the enemy in Cameroon. However, when things were darkest, he knew he could count on his allies to come for him, so a thread of hope always remained. What allies would be coming for them now? Where was the hope? 

“I know what we can do. We’ll feed them a false trail,” Zale said.  

“How?” Liam asked. 

“Dyran’s vessel in orbit has access to star-charts. Right, Dyran?” Zale asked. 

“Yes. There is a map of coordinates of stars within a fifty light year radius of Earth that have potentially habitable planets.” 

“Why do you have that?” Ann asked.  

“The Proximian shipping guild installs the charts on all Proximian vessels equipped with the wormhole drive.” 

“The wormhole drive you were never supposed to use?” Liam asked. 

“Precisely.” 

“Dyran, I know we just met, but I don’t understand. Why have a drive and star-charts if you aren’t supposed to use them?” Ann asked.  

“The guild takes orders from the Proximian Council and to a lesser degree the PAG. Sorry, Ann, the Planetary Authoritative Government. I am on the council, but I’m a junior member. I’m sure the elders have their reasons.” 

“Dyran, are there other sentient species in the galaxy? Is that why you’re equipped with the drive and charts?” Liam asked. 

Dyran paused as if unsure how to respond. After a momentary hesitation he said, “I’m not sure. None that I’m aware of, but to think the galaxy is empty besides humans, us, and the Othauls is a foolish assumption.” 

Liam nodded, accepting the answer.  

“So,” Zale began, “we tell them we need to be on Dyran’s ship to show them where to go. We plug in the coordinates for a random star. Then, well, at least we’d get them away from everyone else.” 

“You’re assuming those left here on Proxima would be unharmed?” asked Stacy. 

“I don’t know. I’m sorry,” Zale said.  

“We sacrifice ourselves. That’s your plan?” Ann asked. 

“I’m open to ideas if you have any. Liam told me you were smart,” Zale said. 

Jon had been watching the exchange from his position in the back corner. Before Ann could reply, he announced, “I have an idea.” 

COLLAPSE

About the Author

I live outside of Charlotte, NC and work full time in the broadcasting industry. I love writing and enjoy it as a fun hobby.