Delvers llc hostile take.., p.1
Delvers LLC: Hostile Takeover, page 1
Contents
Title
Copyright
By Blaise Corvin
Dedication
Foreword
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
Book End
Author's Note
Delvers LLC: Hostile Takeover
Delvers LLC Book Five
By Blaise Corvin
Engineering Ludus
Copyright ©2022 by Blaise Corvin
All rights reserved.
No part of this work may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.
Also by Blaise Corvin
Artifice Universe
Delvers LLC
1. Welcome to Ludus
2. Obligations Incurred
3. Adventure Capital
4. Golden Handcuffs
5. Hostile Takeover
6. Gray Knight
7. Title tbd
Nora Hazard (Part of the Delvers LLC storyline)
1. Mitigating Risk
2. Competitive Advantage
3. Accounts Payable
Delvers Universe Anthologies
1. Surviving Ludus
Delvers Anthology Continuations
1. Engineering Ludus
Cole Blooded
1. Cole Blooded
Yggdrasil Universe
Secret of the Old Ones
1. Luck Stat Strategy
2. Airship Privateers (2021)
Anthem of Infinity
First Song (Post-Apoc YA written with Outspan Foster)
1. First Song One
2. First Song Two
VeilVerse
Asgard Awakening (HaremLit Genre)
1. Asgard Awakening 1
2. Asgard Awakening 2
3. Asgard Awakening 3 (release tbd)
Eternal Struggle
Apocalypse Cultivation
Dedication
This is on is for my friends, the handful of folks that I talk to about some of the agonizing decisions I have to make every year with publishing. You know who you are.
-BC
Foreword
Hey everyone! Welcome back to Delvers LLC!
I want to set the record straight about what to expect for the Delvers LLC series moving forward, at least structure-wise.
Delvers LLC is going to be at least another book or two long. After that, the series will continue but might have a very similar, but slightly different title. So for instance, in one or two more books in the future, there could be a new, continuing series titled, “Adventurers LLC.” (It’s definitely not going to be Adventurers LLC, don’t worry)
If you’re confused as to why I’m planning to do this stuff in the future, it’s mostly for marketing. Like, one reason is so new readers who want to come in mid-series will have a much more intuitive starting place vs. me trying to tell everyone on social media what book to start at.
On that note, I’ve always set out to craft every series I write to stand on its own, but provide Easter eggs for other, connected books. Those who have read the Nora Hazard series will find many fun Easter eggs in this book, Delvers LLC 5, Hostile Takeover.
I know I’m going to get questions about the title of the next book, too, so:
The title for Delvers LLC 6 will be, “Gray Knight.”
It’s probably a little premature to be talking about book six before you all even enjoy this book, book five, but it’s hard to get information out there sometimes. In fact, I have no doubt that a handful of readers are going to skip this foreword, read the book (thank you!) and then promptly email me to ask what the next book is going to be called.
So please forgive me here for using the forewords as a notice board. Getting the word out to readers seems to be a constant uphill battle for indie writers like me. On that note, subscribing to my mailing list is a great way to learn about all of my new releases and I highly suggest that serious fans of the series track down that link. My author page on Facebook will have the link to the mailing list every couple months or so from now on.
Now then…I’m not sure how to exactly lead into this, so I’m going to just say it. I want to thank everyone who has been along for the ride so far. Delvers LLC was my first series. It was the series that really started my writing career, and it was the series that helped me realize a lifelong dream. Delvers LLC will always be special to me. It’s a profound, humbling feeling to know that this series is special for so many of you, too. Sometimes it makes me feel a deep sense of responsibility.
Thank you all for being here, and I hope you have fun with Henry, Jason, and Nora again.
-BC
Blaise Corvin Patreon (where alpha chapters are posted)
Make Like a Tree
*One day before the events at the end of Delvers LLC 4, Golden Handcuffs*
Dolos grimaced. Allowing true-demons to exist on Ludus, his pleasure planet, for so long had been difficult to tolerate, but he was glad he’d done so. He was truly a visionary. The signs of something major happening soon between the Mutineers and Host had been there for anyone with the skill and intellect to read them.
He hadn’t expected the Enemy to return, but at least he hadn’t been caught completely unprepared. A true tactician prepares for the unexpected.
But the coming days would be some of the most important. He’d thought he’d have another five hundred to five thousand years at least, but now a repeat of the First War seemed to be on the horizon. Everything he’d worked towards, all of his research, would either bear fruit over the next two Terran years, or he’d likely wind up being officially excommunicated from the Griseus. The Host had already rejected him. If he ever was removed from the protection of the other Griseus, the Mutineers might find him, recruit him.
He didn’t like to think about what would happen then. The Work was a gamble, the greatest gamble of his existence.
Dolos strode through the sparkling-clean halls of his command center. This place was totally inaccessible to the standard inhabitants of Ludus, built on one of the planet’s largest islands. A high-rank Artifice holder would have no problem getting here, but orb-Bonded just weren’t on that level yet...which was a problem. Most of them were still far too weak. The Work wasn’t done. He needed more time!
There was something missing. For the Work to ever be complete, he had to figure out how to take the orb-Bonded to the next level. He hated to admit it, but Hephesiel really was a genius, even among the Host. Damn him for refusing to teach Dolos any of his secrets!
A thick polysteel door irised open as Dolos approached, and he swept his gaze over the game room monitoring center. A single High Priestess, Amago, stood in the center of the room, overseeing the lower-level technicians. The techs were still Holders for longevity, but not trained as fighters. Different stations around the room corresponded to the various continents on Ludus. Screens in real time showed the second continent which included the Fideli nation of Berkash, already overrun and being rebuilt.
That situation had been annoying enough to tolerate as it was. But then after Asag had failed to take a foothold on the new arrival continent, he’d just begged his brother to open a portal to Brecken in Halil. Now there were two Mutineer princes invading Dolos’ wonderful Ludus.
Asag likely thought himself clever too, especially after how Dolos had outmaneuvered him in the past. Fool.
“The lengths I go to, all to save these pitiful creatures,” Dolos said out loud. All around the game center, the technicians were startled out of their skin and hurried to spin and prostrate themselves. Dolos ignored them and made his way to Amago. She naturally hadn’t been surprised at all.
“Lord Dolos,” she greeted neutrally.
“Status report. I want to know the status of our promising groups and all the abnormalities that have been observed. Any updates as well.” Dolos was a traditionalist in some ways. He loved efficiency, too. This way the techs would hear what Amago had to say.
“Yes, Lord Dolos.” She hit a button on her holo screen and began to read. “First group is Henry Sato, Jason Booth, and Nora Hazard, all Terrans. Jason overcame limits in a way he thinks of as a ‘limitbreak’ while fighting with Biivan. Due to unit cohesion, similar environments, and shared experiences, new abnormalities may still manifest in Henry Sato or Nora Hazard. The long-term effects of their exposure to Asag’s realm of Brecken are still unknown. Their companion Mareen seems to have stabilized and begun mastering her blood magic. The Deepwater Rose is still watching from within her, but we have your order on file to let that situation play out.
“Nora Hazard is betrothed to the new king of Berber, Aodh O’Breen. Henry Sato has just been bonded as our new High Priestess Philana’s totem. Jason Booth is married to Areva nobility, a woman who was transported to Ludus by mistake. So far, Jason Booth has developed the most and most beneficial anomalies, but b
“Yes,” said Dolos. “Such things are far too precious to be wasted on Terrans, but they have been helping generate excellent data. But Philana has bonded Henry Sato?” He dove into the vast amounts of data always being uploaded to his mind and reviewed the matter himself. He could have just used this method instead of asking for a situational report in person, but that would be far less stylish. “Never mind, continue.”
Amago kept reading, saying, “It is worth mentioning that other than Philana, there are two more High Priestesses attached to that group—both Keeja and Enheduanna. They have both been maintaining a perfect record of service for their core responsibilities while watching over their charges.”
“Of course they are,” Dolos said, waving a hand. “Those two may only be Areva Holders, but they are experienced.”
“And they are two of the most powerful High Priestesses on the planet,” said Amago.
“That too. Whatever. Tell me about the next group.”
The High Priestess paused. For all of her power, she was still just an enhanced mortal. Dolos rolled his eyes. She had a direct connection to a true supercomputer in her head. There was no reason for such a long pause other than she’d let her emotions get the better of her. Dolos thought about addressing it, but the silly thing would probably waste even more time.
Finally she said, “There are three more notable groups on the starter continent, Continent One. Of course, these are groups that show high promise for advancing The Work, not necessarily the most powerful.”
Dolos made a shooing motion with his fingers and she stammered, “Ah, yes. Uh, there is Thato Jacobs. Since he has come out of hiding and began moving again, I have added him to the list.”
That is a strange mortal, Dolos thought. Thato the Terran had received one of the least individually powerful orbs ever created, but had done well with it. Dolos held up a finger and said, “If he could learn the truth about what happened to his simple Terran wife, it might lead to good data. You should assign him a High Priestess.”
“We don’t have any field operatives left, Lord Dolos, at least none available for a task like that.”
“I am a flexible god. Send someone from the research facility. A non-essential worker. You may choose—you have my authority in this matter.”
“Lords Dolos, didn’t you let us know earlier that you are going to lift the restrictions from field operatives from fighting? Any of the research staff, even those with Artifices, would not stand a chance against someone like Enheduanna, Keeja, Sidonia, or Fallano.”
“And? The data is everything. Sacrifices are acceptable.”
“Yes, Lord Dolos.” Amago licked her lips. “The third group is in Jallen. John Tonewt and his woman. They haven’t done much of note for a while, but they still have High Priestess Yulustume keeping tabs on them.”
“Ah, the merchant.” Dolos made a face. “So much potential wasted there. We got good data before they decided to become shopkeepers.” He practically spit the last word.
“The situation should correct itself soon, Lord Dolos,” said Amago. “As you know, you have allowed several...undesirable elements to take root and grow in Jallen. John and Kari won’t be able to keep their peace much longer, I am sure of it.”
“You are likely right,” Dolos said and nodded in approval.
“The fourth group is the only Areva-led, high-potential data source group on the planet. They are still resisting the Fideli occupation of Hanana, but that is a losing battle. It is unlikely that Kenshan will die, but some of his team might. The techs and I predict that this group will escape overall, though. At first we believed they would head to Jallen, but now it looks more likely that they will move to Berber.”
“Oh? But they ‘know’ that Berber has very little military to spare to repel invaders,” said Dolos. “It seems uncharacteristically sensible for them to travel to Berber.”
“Yes, Lord Dolos, but there has been enough time for rumors to spread of the technological revolution contributed by Henry Sato, and of the corruption in Jallen.”
“Ah, that is as it should be.”
“Lord Dolos, those are the only official groups on the starter continent, but there are also other individuals. Liangyu has just recently been killed. Surprisingly, Sesasi is still alive. There is also Riggs-tam, the Terran engineering student who was adopted as Mo'hali similar to how Henry Sato and Jason Booth were.”
“That Terran with the weak Enheduanna orb?” Dolos rolled his eyes.
“Lord Dolos, forgive me, but doesn’t Nora Hazard also have a Duanna orb?”
Dolos made a face. “Yes, yes, I will admit that Enheduanna’s research is not useless. But still, only four legitimate focus groups on Continent One.” Dolos shook his head. “We are almost out of time. How many groups are left on Continent Two?”
“Three, but one is overwhelmingly powerful and influential,” said Amago. “This is the group leading the attack on the first continent. They are on the same level as Henry Sato and Jason Booth’s Terran group for sheer potential and unpredictability. Of note is that they have a number of High Priestesses with them, too, including Sidonia.” Around the tech center, a few of the researchers couldn’t control a shiver as Sidonia’s name was mentioned.
Dolos noticed but didn’t care. Sidonia may be ruthless and powerful, one of the three most powerful High Priestesses on Ludus, but she was still just an Areva with an Artifice. Still mortal. “Yes, the demon allies. I gave them power, and they repaid me with loyalty to my enemies,” complained Dolos. “Typical.”
Amago looked at her notes. “Queen Frasmi, Andrew Raspeche, aka the Mad Tinker, and Cynthia Smith are the core of that group. As you know, if we had more time, it would be interesting to see how the two different approaches to magical technology would change the planet long-term. Matthew Andrew Raspeche’s innovations versus Henry Sato’s.”
“It would not be a fair comparison,” said Dolos. “Raspeche has adopted elements of the new, tainted Fideli tech that was smuggled onto Ludus. I find it all highly annoying and would prefer to raze their entire country to the ground, but this is actually exactly what we need for The Work.”
“I agree, Lord Dolos,” said Amago. She inclined her head. “The individuals residing on the monster continent are too far away from the upcoming war to participate, and might not care, so wouldn’t it be logical to say that the groups of interest on the starter continent are our last, best hope to complete The Work in time?”
Dolos ran a hand over his face. “Yes. It is not enough, though. We need more conflict, more fire! I think I will begin lifting all of the field High Priestess restrictions over time. First they will be able to fight each other. Then priests. Orb-Bonded after that, and eventually all the rest. I may change my mind, though. Being a thoughtful, wise god is a great deal of work.”
“I see you are still a self-absorbed fool,” said a sudden voice.
Dolos didn’t move his body. His senses had already detected the sudden intrusion, and he knew who it was. The technicians around the room were only Artifice holders, though. A few of them actually gasped as they spun.
After turning very slowly, Dolos inclined his head. “Sister. Apate. What do you want?”
“Why do I need a reason to visit, little brother? Perhaps I just wished to gift you with my presence.”
Dolos ground his teeth. He was a just, clever god, but he knew his limitations. Verbal sparring with Apate would likely just keep her around longer, and he wanted her out of his facility and off his planet as soon as possible.
She almost never wore the same form, nor looked the same. This time she’d chosen to appear as an attractive, heavyset dark-skinned Terran woman, with a layered orange dress, and a sequined mask. Her hair was up in an elaborate tower, with pins stuck seemingly haphazardly in it. Dolos knew better. Those pins were items of incredible power.
