Horizon Storms - Kevin J. Anderson [1]
77 DOBRO DESIGNATE UDRU’H
78 OSIRA’H
79 NIRA
80 ANTON COLICOS
81 DAVLIN LOTZE
82 CESCA PERONI
83 SAREIN
84 KING PETER
85 TASIA TAMBLYN
86 ROBERTO CLARIN
87 NIKKO CHAN TYLAR
88 JESS TAMBLYN
89 MAGE-IMPERATOR JORA’H
90 HYRILLKA DESIGNATE RUSA’H
91 SAREIN
92 KOTTO OKIAH
93 DAVLIN LOTZE
94 ORLI COVITZ
95 PRIME DESIGNATE THOR’H
96 CESCA PERONI
97 KOTTO OKIAH
98 PATRICK FITZPATRICK III
99 TASIA TAMBLYN
100 BASIL WENCESLAS
101 KING PETER
102 DD
103 ORLI COVITZ
104 DESIGNATE-IN-WAITING PERY’H
105 MAGE-IMPERATOR JORA’H
106 ADAR ZAN’NH
107 ANTON COLICOS
108 CHIEF SCIENTIST HOWARD PALAWU
109 DD
110 ORLI COVITZ
111 RLINDA KETT
112 CELLI
113 TASIA TAMBLYN
114 ZHETT KELLUM
115 ADMIRAL LEV STROMO
116 CESCA PERONI
117 MAGE-IMPERATOR JORA’H
118 SULLIVAN GOLD
119 KOTTO OKIAH
120 KING PETER
121 CELLI
A NOTE ON ILDIRAN KITHS
THE HALF-BREED CHILDREN OF NIRA KHALI
A NOTE ON ILDIRAN UNITS OF TIME
GLOSSARY OF CHARACTERS AND TERMINOLOGY
THE STORY SO FAR
For the first test of the Klikiss Torch—a device discovered in the ruins of the ancient alien Klikiss civilization—the Terran Hanseatic League (the Hansa) ignited a gas-giant planet, creating a small sun. The Hansa’s suave CHAIRMAN BASIL WENCESLAS intended to terraform the gas giant’s frozen moons into new colonies. Humanity had spread across many available worlds under the benevolent but reticent watch of the alien Ildiran Empire and its godlike leader, the MAGE-IMPERATOR. The Ildirans, represented by their Solar Navy commander, ADAR KORI’NH, were skeptical about the Torch project, but came to observe.
When the gas planet was ignited, instant reports were transmitted around the galaxy by BENETO, a “green priest” from the forested planet Theroc who had a symbiosis with semisentient “worldtrees.” Like living telegraph stations, green priests provide the only form of instant communication across vast distances through the forest network. Back on Earth, OLD KING FREDERICK, a glamorous figurehead ruler, led a celebration of the successful test.
Unknown to anyone, though, this and many gas planets were inhabited by a powerful alien species, the hydrogues. The Hansa had just destroyed one of their populous worlds and unwittingly declared war on an entire hidden empire.
On Ildira, the Mage-Imperator’s firstborn son, PRIME DESIGNATE JORA’H, welcomed the human REYNALD, Beneto’s brother and heir to the throne of Theroc. As a token of friendship, Jora’h invited Reynald to send two green priests to study the grand Ildiran epic, the Saga of Seven Suns. On his way home, Reynald met in space with the Roamers, fiercely independent space gypsies led by old SPEAKER JHY OKIAH and her beautiful protégée CESCA PERONI. Since both the Roamers and Theroc were technically independent of the Terran Hanseatic League, Reynald discussed a possible alliance, even suggesting marriage with Cesca, but she was already betrothed to a skyminer, ROSS TAMBLYN (while secretly in love with his brother JESS).
The merchant woman RLINDA KETT came to Theroc in the Voracious Curiosity, hoping to open trade between Theroc and the Hansa. She was supported by ambitious SAREIN, sister to Reynald and Beneto, but MOTHER ALEXA and FATHER IDRISS were happy with their isolation on Theroc. Rlinda agreed to deliver two green priests—old OTEMA and bright-eyed young NIRA—to Ildira at the invitation of Prime Designate Jora’h.
On Earth, Chairman Wenceslas secretly began searching for a replacement for King Frederick. Basil’s henchmen kidnapped a scamp, RAYMOND AGUERRA, then staged a terrible fire in his dwelling, killing his mother and three brothers, leaving no evidence. The Hansa then altered the young man’s appearance, told him he was now “Prince Peter,” and began brainwashing him, using the Teacher “compy” (a companion robot) OX to instruct him in his new role.
After the success of the Klikiss Torch, the archaeologists who had discovered the technology, MARGARET and LOUIS COLICOS, began a new excavation on the desert planet of Rheindic Co, where ancient Klikiss cities remained untouched.