Red Onyx

The Raid and Trade universe:

In the distant future, Earth is forgotten but human culture exists on hundreds of planets in the sweep of stars known as The Curve. A thousand years before, during the Kogon era, a vast empire tore itself apart in wars. Abandoned Kogon weapons are sometimes still found orbiting ruined planets.

Trade across interstellar distances is accomplished by wormholes with gates at either end. The major trading companies arm their ships for defense against the pirates and raiders that sometimes haunt those gates.

The peace formerly enforced by the Ramath Defense Force is fading as Ramath's economy declines. There has been a revolution on the most industrialized world, Taisho, and the dictator Devir now rules through his sinister prime minister Naru. But the royalist government in exile under the leadership of Lord Kaleege aims to resurrect the monarchy.

Devir has nationalized the Cinar shipyards on Taisho and there are rumors that a dreadnaught capable of incredible speeds has been designed by continuum physics genius Kapil Sheer. To counter that threat Lord Kaleege is issuing letters of marque to privateers in an effort to embargo Taisho.

As always, there are fortunes to be made in times of conflict - for those willing to take the risks.

When a Talus Company ship with Basil Ajami aboard encounters a competing company ship disabled and drifting - it is an opportunity to take their cargo as prize. As the cargo is being transferred, something moving through lightspace at incredible speed passes them-almost destroying the ship. Only Basil's fast action saves them.

Back on Sigma Station, with his bonus money, Basil is able to realize his dream of leasing a ship and becoming an independent trader. And best of all he persuades the beautiful Demaris to be his partner on a trading trip to Taisho.

But Basil's plan to become a successful independent trader does not work out, he and Demaris separate with rancor, and Basil goes back to being an employee. Soon, while on a mission for the Talus Company to the agricultural planet Karaghia, Basil learns that Yonna Ble, a dissolute plantation owner has a cache of illegal red onyx gemstones hidden away. Abruptly Basil's ship is ordered to go to Taisho, where Basil allows himself to be persuaded into helping a woman named Ria free an important political prisoner from a Taisho prison. The plan goes awry and Basil barely escapes with his life.

Soon Basil finds himself back on Karaghia, caught between royalist privateers and a Taishoan dreadnaught on a suicide mission. In the chaos on Karaghia, Ria reappears and Basil accepts her offer to help find the red onyx.

But can he trust Ria, the woman who almost got him killed on Taisho?