Chapter 1

General Braxton Arcturian Primus walks steadily out of the latest high council meeting, all of his hopes of a mate and family dashed. Finally, after all this time, HelixI, the Arcturian’s lead Artificial Intelligence Counselor, through decaphases of exploration of many galaxies, found a female species compatible with Arcturian biology. HelixI developed an identification, integration, and transportation system that is finally ready. Brax announced the Arcturian Repopulation Mission to the Intergalactic Council of Universe Systems, ICUS, that a newly discovered planet with compatible females was found and that the mission to repopulate the Arcturian species was being initiated. Brax knew that most of the other worlds in the Council would support Arcturia in their mission. Still, part of his job was to monitor and identify those planets and species that would move against the Repopulation Mission.

Arcturia was a lush, beautiful planet until the Purix destroyed it and the entire Arcturian female population. A few thousand Arcturian males are all that are left of the Arcturian species. These warriors had been in space for the Arcturian military and returned home to a desolate planet. The only item they were able to retrieve from their home world was the Quaraxium central crystal at the core of the planet. They left their planet, despondent of the loss of family and the females of their species, to seek vengeance against Purix.

Arcturia is the primary founding member of ICUS and has seen ICUS grow to a Council of hundreds of planets to combat and defend against Purix.

The Intergalactic Council of Universe Systems, ICUS, met to plan the ongoing battle with Purix and the newly established battle zone that will allow containment of the Purix to that section of the universe. ICUS arranged for groups of planets and militaries to rotate their battle groups through the Gamut, the newly established, containable battle area.

Now, however, Brax feels despondent; he will not have a mate, and he will not have an opportunity to have a family. He cannot be mated as he carries the warrior gene. An obsolete genetic marker within his species’ DNA code. Obsolete except for him. The mark has faded on others, but not his. An age-old ICUS rule is that the mated and matched females must be kept from battle. There would be no matched female for him with this ruling. No mate. No family.

Brax stands silently in the corridor, trying to conclude that having cast a vote supporting the Repopulation Mission, he has sealed his fate of a barren future.

Brax is the largest of his species, standing seven feet tall with a massive, muscular warrior build. He has classic Arcturian features, blue skin that glistens against light, robust facial features with a squared-off jaw, large solid black eyes with purple and red inner rings, and handsome bipedal male features. The Arcturians have discovered that they are sought after for their battlefield prowess and their ability to please females. Many other species seek the company of Arcturians for pleasure, with the hope of mating and melding. While the Arcturians have fulfilled many species fantasies, they have not found a species with reproduction compatibility.

Due to their warrior nature, primitive instincts, and battle lust, many species underestimate the intellectual capability of the Arcturians. So while Brax is a highly positioned ICUS member, many believe his physical abilities are the reason for his position, not his intellectual capabilities. He uses this prejudice to his advantage to outmaneuver Arcturian enemies repeatedly.

At this moment, Brax can not consider his future. He has responsibilities as the general, coordinating tonight’s critical battle. This last piece of the Beltway will contain Purix to a secure battle area that will save countless worlds. He must not think about himself; his loneliness and crushing devastation must be locked deep. His levels of adrenaline and battle haze have reached a critical level. Maybe tonight should be his last battle, ensuring the safety of other worlds. He will lead his troops, be on the frontline, and hopefully, nature will take its’ course, and his existence will end.

Brax voted in the affirmative to keep females out of battle, knowing his opportunity to mate and have a family was gone. He has acted in the best interest of his people. He knows what is best for his people and the warriors he goes into battle with. His vote against females in battle has nothing to do with the females’ capabilities; his mother had been one of the fiercest warriors he knew and had taught him to fight. But after the loss of all their females, their protection, their safety take precedence, even a sacrifice on his part. Over time, this protection of females of any species is embedded within their primal instincts. It is difficult for Arcturians to coordinate with other species units, including females, as their protective instincts distract them from their primary missions. So, Arcturians fight with all-male species or species that do not have specific genders.

“General.” Brax nods to the warriors’ greeting in the corridor. Members of his unit are walking to the prep area for tonight’s mission update and preparation.

Brax tilts his head back, asking the Universe why the only male from his society was left with the warrior gene integrated into his biological code. For Arcturians to successfully mate, his particular female had to be a proven warrior with a compatible warrior marker. Without the compatible mark, he would be unable to meld properly, mate a female, and produce progeny. No female in all the galaxies he had traveled to and fought for had a warrior mark.

Finally, the Helixes discovered a galaxy with two suns that held a planet that was inhabited and compatible with Arcturian biology. And by pure chance, HelixI explored a nearby black hole that allowed direct travel