Vicky Peterwald_Dominator Read online

  Vicky Peterwald: Dominator

  Mike Shepherd

  Contents

  Praise for the Kris Longknife Novels

  Copyright Information

  Also by Mike Shepherd

  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

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Chapter 33

  Chapter 34

  Chapter 35

  Chapter 36

  Chapter 37

  Chapter 38

  Chapter 39

  Chapter 40

  Chapter 41

  Chapter 42

  Chapter 43

  Chapter 44

  Chapter 45

  Chapter 46

  Chapter 47

  Chapter 48

  Chapter 49

  Chapter 50

  Chapter 51

  Chapter 52

  About the Author

  2018 Releases

  More Books by Mike Shepherd

  Praise for the Kris Longknife Novels

  “A whopping good read . . . Fast-paced, exciting, nicely detailed, with some innovative touches.” - Elisabeth Moon, Nebula Award-winning author of Crown Renewal

  “Shepherd delivers no shortage of military action, in space and on the ground. It’s cinematic, dramatic, and dynamic . . . [He also] demonstrates a knack for characterization, balancing serious moments with dry humor . . . A thoroughly enjoyable adventure featuring one of science fiction’s most interesting recurring heroines.” - TOR.com

  “A tightly written, action-packed adventure from start to finish . . . Heart-thumping action will keep the reader engrossed and emotionally involved. It will be hard waiting for the next in the series.” - Fresh Fiction

  “[Daring] will elate fans of the series . . . The story line is faster than the speed of light.” - Alternative Worlds

  “[Kris Longknife] will remind readers of David Weber’s Honor Harrington with her strength and intelligence. Mike Shepherd provides an exciting military science fiction thriller.” -Genre Go Round Reviews

  “‘I’m a woman of very few words, but lots of action’: so said Mae West, but it might just as well have been Lieutenant Kris Longknife, princess of the one hundred worlds of Wardhaven. Kris can kick, shoot, and punch her way out of any dangerous situation, and she can do it while wearing stilettos and a tight cocktail dress. She’s all business, with a Hell’s Angel handshake and a ‘get out of my face’ attitude. But her hair always looks good . . . Kris Longknife is funny and she entertains us.” - SciFi Weekly

  “[A] fast-paced, exciting military SF series . . . Mike Shepherd has a great ear for dialogue and talent for injecting dry humor into things at just the right moment . . . The characters are engaging, and the plot is full of twists and peppered liberally with sharply described action. I always look forward to installments in the Kris Longknife series because I know I’m guaranteed a good time with plenty of adventure.” -SF Site

  In the New York Times bestselling Kris Longknife novels, “Fans of the Honor Harrington escapades will welcome the adventures of another strong female in outer space starring in a thrill-a-page military space opera.” - Alternative Worlds

  “Military SF fans are bound to get a kick out of the series as a whole.” - SF Site

  Copyright Information

  Published by KL & MM Books

  August 2018

  Copyright © 2018 by Mike Moscoe

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including photocopying, recording or any other information storage and retrieval system, without the written permission of the publisher.

  This book is a work of fiction set 400 years in humanity’s future. Any similarity between present people, places or events would be spectacularly unlikely and is purely coincidental.

  This book is written and published by the author. Please don’t pirate it. I’m self-employed. The money I earn from the sales of these books allows me to produce more stories to entertain you. I’d hate to have to get a day job again. If this book comes into your hands free, please consider going to your favorite e-book provider and investing in a copy so I can continue to earn a living at this wonderful art.

  I would like to thank my wonderful cover artist, Scott Grimando, who did all my Ace covers and will continue doing my own book covers. I also am grateful for the editing skill of Lisa Müller, Edee Lemonier, and as ever, Ellen Moscoe.

  Ver 1.0

  eBook ISBN-13: 978-1-64211-0272

  Print ISBN-13: 978-1-64211-0265

  Also by Mike Shepherd

  Published by KL & MM Books

  Kris Longknife: Emissary

  Kris Longknife: Admiral

  Kris Longknife: Commanding

  Kris Longknife’s Relief

  Kris Longknife’s Replacement

  Kris Longknife’s Successor

  Rita Longknife: Enemy Unknown

  Rita Longknife: Enemy in Sight

  Vicky Peterwald: Dominator

  Short Stories from KL & MM Books

  Kris Longknife’s Maid Goes on Strike & Other Short Stories

  Kris Longknife’s Maid Goes On Strike

  Kris Longknife’s Bad Day

  Ruth Longknife’s First Christmas

  Kris Longknife: Among the Kicking Birds

  Ace Books by Mike Shepherd

  Kris Longknife: Mutineer

  Kris Longknife: Deserter

  Kris Longknife: Defiant

  Kris Longknife: Resolute

  Kris Longknife: Audacious

  Kris Longknife: Intrepid

  Kris Longknife: Undaunted

  Kris Longknife: Redoubtable

  Kris Longknife: Daring

  Kris Longknife: Furious

  Kris Longknife: Defender

  Kris Longknife: Tenacious

  Kris Longknife: Unrelenting

  Kris Longknife: Bold

  Vicky Peterwald: Target

  Vicky Peterwald: Survivor

  Vicky Peterwald: Rebel

  Mike Shepherd writing as Mike Moscoe in the Jump Point Universe

  First Casualty

  The Price of Peace

  They Also Serve

  Rita Longknife: To Do or Die

  Short Specials

  Kris Longknife: Training Daze

  Kris Longknife: Welcome Home, Go Away

  Kris Longknife’s Bloodhound

  Kris Longknife’s Assassin

  The Lost Millennium Trilogy published by KL & MM Books

  Lost Dawns: Prequel

  First Dawn

  Second Fire

  Lost Days

  Award-Nominated Short Story Collections by Mike Shepherd

  A Day’s Work on the Moon

  The Job Interview

  The Strange Redemption of Sister MaryAnn

  1

  It was a lovely spring day. The sky was a clear azure blue you could almost swim in. The cooling breeze brought the scent of the
first buds of the year. On every block stood cheering, smiling people.

  Vice Admiral, Her Imperial Grace, Grand Duchess Victoria Smythe-Peterwald, Heir Apparent to the throne of the Greenfeld Empire, waved at the throng lining the street, even though her arm felt ready to fall off. She smiled though her face was in agony.

  Still, if she had her way, the eight white horses pulling this golden open carriage of state would be whipped to a gallop to get her to the church faster.

  "Thanks be to whatever god or goddess who finally managed to pull this off. I really am getting married," she said, through smiling teeth.

  Her Royal Highness, Admiral Princess Kristine Longknife, kept waving and smiling, but through her teeth she said, "Finally getting married? You're not so old that spinsterhood was threatening."

  "Spinsterhood, sminsterhood, do you know it's taken a solid year to get this zoo organized and ready for me to walk down the aisle?"

  Kris kept waving, but she did raise an eyebrow. "What, did you go all bridezilla on everyone's ass?"

  Vicky dutifully kept waving as well, but she was dearly grateful to have Kris seated across from her rather than the Emperor, her father. Of course, they'd had to reinstall the seat Kris sat on, dropping it 15 centimeters. If the Emperor had managed to come, his seat would have been exactly seven and a half centimeters above hers.

  Yuck. Vicky did miss her dad, kind of. Still the man was such an attention hog. He wanted to be the bride at every wedding and the cadaver at every funeral. Today was her day, and she was glad not to share it with him.

  She was very glad to be sharing it with Kris Longknife. She was also glad that one of them hadn't killed the other. If Vicky was honest, most likely she'd be the one dead.

  Vicky almost let an inexplicable laugh replace her smile, but she smothered it. "It wasn't me going bridezilla for a year. No. It was damn near every woman of any social standing in my half of the Empire going mother-in-law ‘zilla on me."

  Kris kept waving. "Oh, Lord, you weren't hit with a couple of thousand women as excited as my mom was to plan my wedding, were you?"

  "Exactly. I came home from Cuzco hoping to send out invites to folks to set aside a day the next week to attend Mannie's and my wedding, and I got told no one could put on a wedding that quickly. Then everyone got in on the act."

  "Well, I admit, this is a lot bigger show than when I and Jack got married."

  "Didn't you two elope?"

  "Ha. We had most of the Colonials on Alwa at our wedding, though we did knock it together in three or four hours."

  "Three or four hours!" Vicky yelped, but carefully, so as not to mar her perfect smile.

  "Yeah," Kris said through her smile while constantly waving. "There were a couple of hours when I wasn't Jack's boss. Granny Rita offered to help us grab the bull by the horns, and next thing I know, I'm walking down the aisle in a borrowed wedding dress that's too short and I'm sewn into the bust to tighten it. Jack had to use a bayonet to cut me out."

  Kris paused, and Vicky could see her eyes go far away and her smile get soft.

  "It was wild, but I loved every minute of it."

  With a shake, Kris seemed to refocus on where she was. "That's a lovely wedding dress you're wearing. Be glad my mom wasn't involved in picking it. She was looking at a dress with absolutely no sides for Penny. No sides! You could see her underwear, except the bride wasn't supposed to wear any. I had to talk Mother out of that by letting her choose the bridesmaids’ dresses."

  "How'd that work out?"

  "I ended up wearing this tiny band around my rump and front, kind of like a daisy with petals that were covering my boobs. Strippers wore more than what I did."

  "Oh, God. And I thought my dress was going to be a disaster."

  "Your dress looks really classy."

  They were passing a stretch with almost no one lining the sidewalk. Vicky allowed her face to relax and her arm to hang at her side. Both hurt.

  "There was serious talk that I ought to wear black or ashes and sack cloth. It appears that my misspent youth preceded me."

  "You're kidding me."

  "Well, those weren't proposed to my face, but my two assassins had hooks into the biddy grapevine and swore it was bounced around. Maybe it was a joke, but . . ."

  "Yeah," Kris agreed, herself rotating her shoulders and shaking out the pain in her arm.

  "You notice this is not a white dress," Vicky said, patting at the many layers of the skirt piled high in her lap and on the seat beside her. While the low-cut strapless bodice clung to her body like a second skin, from the waist down, the dress exploded in wave upon wave of lace and roses and tulle.

  "Lots of brides wear ivory," Kris said.

  "Is this ivory or off-white?" Vicky shot back. "Christ, Kris, even the pearls on the bodice aren't white."

  "Vicky, I think you're taking this a bit too personally," Kris said, softly. "Could you be having slightly cold feet?"

  "We need to start waving," Vicky said, and raised her hand even if the crowd on the sidewalk wasn't that thick.

  "It's a lovely carriage we're riding in. Where'd you get all this gold inlaid with jewels?"

  "There's no way I would have let them make something like this for me," Vicky spat. "But Metzburg got paid a visit by my grandfather or great-grandfather, and they knocked it together back then to flatter him. I think they hauled it out of a museum or a bank vault and insisted we use it."

  "And those eight lovely white horses?"

  "That are whiter than my dress?"

  "I was trying to avoid that topic."

  "Okay. They are lovely, aren't they? Some thirty planets that raise horses had a contest to see who could present us with the whitest horses. These are the six whitest. The rest are drawing the coaches with the rest of my ladies-in-waiting and others in the wedding party."

  "You're really going to remember this day."

  "Assuming I don't knock the driver off her seat and take off, lashing the horses myself."

  Kris couldn't avoid a chuckle at that.

  Vicky's mind's eye filled with the image of her, a wild woman in full outrage, standing on Kris's seat and whipping her horses to a gallop, while her dress streamed out behind her.

  It didn't look all that bad.

  Except then Vicky started hearing a line from a Christmas carol, "On Donner! On Blitzen!" Fortunately, it ended because she couldn't remember the rest of the line.

  "Considering that your two tiny assassins are your coachmen, I don't see that happening," Kris said.

  Yes, Kit and Kat were up in the boot. One held the reins, the other the whip. No doubt, both had their hands on an automatic weapon. From the way their heads slowly swiveled, Vicky knew they weren't spending a lot of time watching the horses.

  Those beasts were not only pure white, but someone had drugged them to be damn near somnolent.

  "Yeah," Vicky finally said. "You're right as always. I'm going to that church come hell or high water.

  From Kris's throat, a jewel spoke. "Longknife 1, this is Longknife 2. We may have a bomb along the route."

  2

  "Talk to me, Megan," Kris shot back.

  "There is a rumor that's just arrived here at the command center that someone hid a bomb along the bride's line of march."

  "Rumor?" Kris snapped.

  "It's being evaluated. At first blush, it's a case of he heard, she heard, someone else heard. You know, that sort of thing."

  Vicky had sat bolt upright at the word ‘bomb’. What she heard from Kris Longknife's cousin and dog robber didn't relax her back into her seat.

  Apparently, it didn't do the same for the Magnificent Nelly, either.

  Suddenly, the large, lovely, and bejeweled tiara surrounding Kris's upswept hair began to dissolve into small drones. The four fancy starbursts and crosses of various orders Kris had earned the hard way that bejeweled her bodice also proved to be Smart MetalTM. They collapsed in on themselves and disappeared from the lovely blue sash that draped from
Kris's shoulder to hip. Quickly, the drones flew off, only to disappear into vapor as they themselves dissolved into miniscule nano scouts.

  For the moment, however, most of them stayed drones as they raced for the head of the procession and beyond.

  "Are you searching all up and down the cavalcade?" Vicky asked.

  "They're all your subjects," Kris noted, pointedly.

  "I know. I know. While I've been twiddling my thumbs waiting to marry Mannie, he's been busy seducing me to the democratic side. We've got a major infestation of popular sovereignty and democratic rule."

  "It couldn't happen to a better empire," Kris said with a grin.

  The coach rumbled forward on its iron tires at a sedate horse walk, then took on a decided wobble.

  "You're Imperial Grace," one of the assassins in the coach's boot said, "we are told that one of our wheels is in danger of rolling off. See how people are pointing at it?"