The New Threat
Three months after the events of The New Species, Ship-head Uleena has finished his diplomatic training and returns to United System space to make a startling discovery.
Three months after the events of The New Species, Ship-head Uleena has finished his diplomatic training and returns to United System space to make a startling discovery.
Tinea...had an ugly childhood full of pain and abuse. It taught her how to fight and survive, how to run and hide and cut ties. It didn't teach her much else.
So she'd ran.
Crossed an ocean, grown up, and discovered the world. She'd made her life her own. Soul-deep pain notwithstanding, she'd fought to be happy.
Until the rabid aliens invaded her neighborhood.
Smoking rifle in hand and still coming up short, she'd made a life-ending choice...and was rewarded beyond her wildest dreams. Or, perhaps exactly to her wildest dreams; dreams of a chrysalis, come to life through DNA-changing Vanguard science.
Reborn, a whole new journey awaits the warrior looking for connection, for togetherness.
It just so happens, an opportunity lies not far.
What to expect:
Plot is discovered, not designed. Consequences shape events, rather than scenes being designed to push plot. Characters, relationships, and setting are particularly strong, plot can get WILD in amazing, unexpected ways.
- A serious approach to transforming male to female, using sci-fi DNA morphing. Tinea starts out as Aden, but quickly gains his wishes.
- Maturity from both leads
- WLW/GL/Sapphic: from the soft and cuddly, to the (clearly marked) explicit
- Gratuitous violence against unthinking aliens
- Get points, buy gear
- Cybernetic upgrades
- Organic augmentations
- Occasional slowburn sections
- Many, many chapters
This work is set in the universe of RavensDagger's Stray Cat Strut, but it ISN'T necessary to read that first. Further, Tinea and Leah has been recognized officially as canon by master Raven himself. Cheers!
I develop my own plot and characters. Thank you for reading. :)
The cover art was drawn for me by Jero, who can be found on my Discord server - links in each chapter.
Royalroad staff has designated this story as Original so that I may post my Ko-Fi link in the chapters. TnL is still a fanfiction-slash-extended-universe-slash-canon-thing for Stray Cat Strut, regardless of the "Original" tag. :)
Set immediately after the conclusion of The New Threat, the danger posed by the Omni-Union has increased exponentially. If they aren't stopped, the entire Milky Way Galaxy will be destroyed. Thankfully, Ship-Head Uleena's Republic and the United Systems have earned a respite after their previous conflict with the OU. Will this break in the fighting be long enough to come up with a plan to defeat the Omni-Union, once and for all?
WELCOME TO THE RETROFUTURE!
The Future That Never Was is a book series project featuring an alternate space age where the Soviets colonized the belt before David Bowie sang Life on Mars; where rogue AIs took over the web; where pizza came in cans. Humankind couldn’t dream of a more exciting future. Yet, as foolishness eventually turned Earth into a nuclear wasteland, shadows began to conspire from the heart of the Moon to beyond the mysterious Planet Nine…
This extended universe in progress includes numerous R-rated titles. All of them will be uploaded on Royal Road for free. Check the Index or the list/links below for the main stories.
🐈 KITTY KITTY - Completed - <READ>
Join sassy space cat Lee and his Desert Eagle-toting, soda-swigging human partner, Ali, in a future stuck in the late 80s/early 90s. Board the dynamic duo’s ship, the mythical Kitty, as they bounty-hunt their way through a dystopian solar system—so lock and load, and shout Cowabunga! because it’s crime-fightin’ time!
🪐 PACHINKO BLUES - <START READING>
Amid the chaos of the Rings Civil War, a disgraced pilot finds himself tangled in a vast vendetta involving a megacorporation, android mercenaries and data-cartels. From Saturn’s Plastic Fields to the fringes of Kuiper, his violent redemption is an 80s-esthetic space western filled with tears, blood and... ducks?
[Back in November 2023]
Other stories related to the first arc of The Future That Never Was:
• RADIO FREAK - Standalone biopunk short story featuring Ali Koviràn, the Data Maiden and Bill Murray
• STELLAR PATRIOTS - Short special with Braun Kamirov, linking KITTY KITTY and the book series
• DATA ONE & DATA ZERO - 2024
• CYBER MACHO - 2025
To support our work or simply read in better condition, visit our amazon shop and patreon!
When humanity first ventured into space, they discovered the Galactic Commonwealth—an ancient and powerful alliance that barely noticed them. The embryonic Republic of Humanity, a mere curiosity to the far more advanced members of the Commonwealth, was quickly forgotten about or viewed with pity as they struggled to expand and colonize their area of space.
One Commonwealth species, the arboreal Eleani, took an active interest in this fledgling polity as humanity fearlessly cast themselves into the expanse. They reached out in friendship, offering guidance to the nascent Republic. In humanity, they saw a reflection of themselves long ago—and they were determined to help their younger cousin-kin avoid the mistakes they once made.
This unsolicited act of kindness was never forgotten by humanity as they expanded and traversed the void, with the two species becoming fast friends as the Eleani watched their cousin-kin earn their place among the stars with benevolent pride.
Decades later, the Insectoid Empire launched another period of swarming and attacked the Galactic Commonwealth again. An aggressive, spacefaring hive-mind species of wasp analogues controlled by intelligent queens, this time they did not stop after seizing a few uninhabited border planets like they have always done before.
Instead, they tore right into the very heart of the Commonwealth itself, intent on extermination. Killing over 100 billion souls across dozens of worlds as they advanced without mercy, they destroyed over half of the vaunted Commonwealth Navy in a pivotal battle and continued to lay waste to entire worlds.
The depleted and battered Commonwealth Navy retreated to the core worlds, abandoning the periphery and leaving species like the Eleani at the mercy of the swarm. Instead of following the fleet into the heavily defended core regions as expected, the Insectoids swarmed through the now undefended periphery to exterminate the last remaining species.
As the Insectoid fleet headed towards their world, the Eleani broadcast pleas for help to anyone who would listen as they begged the Commonwealth government for protection, which declined to come to their defense. Resigned to their extinction, all hope was lost until they received a message from an unexpected savior, the Republic of Humanity.
The Republic fleet was on its way.
The humans had answered the call.
For millennia, two galactic empires have been locked in an interstellar cold war. Dissent to each empire's ideology is considered treason, and neutrality is incomprehensible. As each empire has expanded, newly-discovered sentient species have always joined one side or the other -- whether they want to or not.
In the year 2028, Earth is the latest planet in the path of expansion. It has barely any space capability, no system defenses, and no allies. The nations of Earth therefore must volunteer to be subjugated, or become the latest battleground in a war that began before the construction of the pyramids. There is no hope of any effective resistance. No species has ever succeeded before.
Except humans have a saying. The best defense . . . is a good offense.
Discord link.
Cover by Cedar Sanderson.
The Best Defense is a science fiction web serial in the HFY subgenre -- a story niche that, first and foremost, describes humans being awesome because they are human. You can expect:
- Multiple POVs, including humans, aliens, and AI characters.
- Significant near-future space exploration concepts.
- A dash of real physics next to the ray guns and snarky AI, and a greater scale than what is normally seen in sci-fi.
- A gradual build of humanity from planet-bound to star-faring, eventually resulting in giant space battles.
- Humans shattering the status quo without being OP. Humans have HFY-style advantages, but they are grounded in reality and don't guarantee a win.
Content warnings are limited to Profanity, which will still be light.
This story is also mirrored in the r/HFY subreddit under u/OGNovelNinja.
SHOUT-OUT POLICY: I don't do many shout-outs and I never ask for them. I do make recommendations when I think my fans will like something. If you want me to give you a shout-out, there's a forum thread for recommendations for stories like The Best Defense. Anything I think looks good will get mentioned to my readers.
= BOOK 4 START =
[ BOOK 1 - LEGACY OF THE BROKEN ] SYNOPSIS:
In the depths of a broken galaxy, a Patriarch leads an expedition into the heart of ruined space.
A terrible war ensnares a Sentient AI in its cruel grip.
And the shadow of the Eldritch monsters looms over all.
In a dark galaxy, torn apart by the unspeakable terrors of the Starless Horrors, Patriarch Tov Garesh'Ynt, leader of the Third Expeditionary Fleet, is tasked with exploring the Dead Zone, a quarantined area encompassing two-thirds of the known Galaxy and abandoned after the evil scourge disappeared a century ago.
In their journey deeper into this dangerous space, they encounter the Eldest, a powerful and unstable sentient AI. Constantly exposed to the nightmares of war, her once-brilliant mind has been scarred and traumatized, driven forward only by her undying hatred and desire for revenge against this vile foe.
As Tov and his fleet initiate their first contact with The Eldest, they discover knowledge that could shake the foundations of the wider galaxy. They delve deeper into the mysteries of the Starless Horrors and The Eldest's role in attracting their wrath.
[ BOOK 2 - STARLESS RUIN ] SYNOPSIS:
Following a haunting revelation, a Patriarch delves into the damaged mind of a Sentient AI.
A terrifying Invasion looms on the horizon.
The Allied Defenders of Sol answer the call of war.
The Third Expeditionary Fleet stumbled upon the discovery of a century. The remnants of a dead civilization fight on long after their creators have passed. Powerful beyond imagining, they represent hope against a hated enemy.
After a shaky first contact, a skirmish against a Starless Leviathan, and uncovering the fate of humanity, the leader of the aliens, Patriarch Tov Garesh'Ynt, goes on a dangerous endeavor to aid the traumatized mind of the AI Andora, previously known as the Eldest, a gestalt consciousness of immense power that commands the entirety of the Sol Defense Network.
As the two great leaders remain indisposed, their subordinates pick up the slack, fortifying their defenses and readying themselves for an incursion unlike any they’ve seen before.
[ BOOK 3 - EXODUS ] SYNOPSIS:
Right at the cusp of victory, an eldritch being known as an Executor nearly brings disaster. Only the timely intervention of Overseer Jupiter stops it in its tracks.
The defenders prevail, with the Executor temporarily trapped in an unstable black hole and Jupiter grievously wounded. The damage leaves them with only one choice.
Now, the AI Andora and her Overseers face a terrible reality. Alone and with dwindling resources and time, they initiate the Final Contingency, compelling them to evacuate and abandon the home they've known and fought for a century.
With the help of Patriarch Tov and the Third Fleet, they are urged to bring the dire news to the Galactic Legacy Federation. The journey back is perilous as they must pass through the Dead Zone. Their chances of making it back hinge on rallying with other Expeditionary Fleets they've called for aid, hoping against hope that these allies have not succumbed to the horrors unleashed.
The clock ticks down, and the weight of the galaxy's fate rests on the shoulders of those who survived the horrors of war.
[ BOOK 4 - GARDEN OF THORNS ] SYNOPSIS:
During the aftermath of the Battle of Madraa, the Exodus Armada receives a distress call from a shocking source
The sender, Crown Princess Anaria Moradal of the Dagatar Supremacy and leader of the First Expeditionary Fleet, finds herself in the midst of the Dead Zone Tempest, beset on all sides by enemies. In a last-ditch effort to get her message through to allied forces, she overloads her Starlight Beacon, the device responsible for FTL communication, to pierce the veil.
However, her message puts Andora, now Custodian of the Exodus, Patriarch Tov, and the rest of the armada leadership at a crossroads. The heir of the the mightiest superpower in the Legacy was tasked to reclaim Dagatar Prime, her people’s ancestral home, long abandoned during the Cataclysm.
But alas, the Dagataren homeworld lay deep in the Dead Zone—within a region encompassing the galactic center.
The Old Heartlands.
There, the old superpowers dominated through its vast surplus of exotic resources that kept the wheels of supremacy turning, allowing these titans to spread their influence across the galaxy.
Now, the Heartlands was nothing but a scorched hollow collection of stars, left behind in the wake of the Starless Horrors.
Faced between answering the princess’s call or continuing their journey, the Exodus leadership is forced to make a choice that may change the trajectory of their fates and the galaxy. And while they convened, those recently rescued from Madraa-II must cope with the aftermath of their horrid torment.
ATTENTION: Book 1 is scheduled to be stubbed on December 25. Read now while you're able!
[Two-time Writathon Completions.]
Schedule: MON, WED, FRI at 3:00 PM EST
In a universe where Earth is nothing but a distant memory, and humanity is clawing its way back from a million years long interstellar dark age, Sarah Ciel-étoilé is but a humble mercenary. For 60 years, her crew of exiles has followed her onboard their stolen military gunship, the Eternal Seeker. But now, a threat like they have never seen before is rising.
The Dominion, an intergalactic empire over a millenia old, is dying. Its catastrophic civil war almost brought it to total collapse, and it endures only through the strength of its navy. But that strength is waning. Throughout the Dominion's Protectorate, whispers of a revolution are spreading, and insurrections are flaring up, as a conspiracy set on casting down the Dominion and burning it to the ground set its plan into motion.
Yet, behind all the chaos and the destruction, something far more sinister brews in the shadows, and it could change the face of the universe forever.
This is the story of Sarah, and her mercenaries, during these troubled and dark times, as empires fall...and others rise.
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Chapters will be posted every sunday, mostly at 23h30 CET (22h30 UTC), although I will probably experiment with different release times.
Illustration © Tom Edwards
Adam was having a great time camping in the woods with his girlfriend until they were suddenly attacked. During the attack, his girlfriend was shot while he was thrown from a cliff.
Unconscious and on the verge of death, an android appeared before taking him to a place called Spector, where they healed him.
Now this Spector wants him to be its operator, whatever that means, but before that, he needs to settle the grudge he has against those who attacked him and killed his girlfriend.
Armed with advanced technology, Adam hunts them down before heading out to explore the universe.
Strangely, though, he has to do all this and more while livestreaming to the whole universe.
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First novel in a long time, so bear with me as I may be a bit rough, I hope you enjoy.
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Release Schedule: Daily
This story is also available on RoyalRoad, Webnovel and Patreon.
Access 40+ chapters on Patreon.com/Sweeps083
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Discord: https://discord.gg/D2FWBPA3yc
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I plan to use the usernames of readers who leave comments as some of the livestream viewers in the novel, so if you want to be included, leave a comment.
Also, add what planet you would like to be from and if you would rather your viewer be pro MC or against the MC, or maybe you just want to see the universe burn.
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Sexual content, while not the primary focus of this novel, is a part of it. The warnings listed below are in the chapter titles that have sexual content.
* = Minor sexual content.
** = Around 1/2 of the chapter has sexual content.
*** = Over 3/4 of the chapter has sexual content.
This novel also contains Yuri elements.