Copyrighted Material

  Galactic Law Copyright © 2020 by Variant Publications

  Book design and layout copyright © 2020 by JN Chaney

  This novel is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living, dead, or undead, is entirely coincidental.

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this publication can be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without permission in writing from JN Chaney.

  www.jnchaney.com

  https://www.jamesaaron.net

  1st Edition

  Books in the Renegade Star Universe

  Renegade Star Series:

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  Renegade Fleet

  Renegade Earth

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  Renegade Empire

  Renegade Descent

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  The Renegade

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  Nameless

  The Constable

  The Constable Returns

  The Warrior Queen

  The Orion Colony Series with Jonathan Yanez:

  Orion Colony

  Orion Uncharted

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  Orion Protected

  The Last Reaper Series with Scott Moon:

  The Last Reaper

  Fear the Reaper

  Blade of the Reaper

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  Flight of the Reaper

  Wrath of the Reaper

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  The Fifth Column

  The Solaras Initiative

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  Final Battlefield (Coming soon!)

  Resonant Son Series with Christopher Hopper:

  Resonant Son

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  The Galactic Law Series with James S. Aaron:

  Galactic Law

  Galactic Judge

  Galactic Jury

  Galactic Executioner

  Contents

  Join the Conversation

  Connect with J.N. Chaney

  Connect with James S. Aaron

  Galactic Law

  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

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Chapter 33

  Chapter 34

  Chapter 35

  Epilogue

  Galactic Judge

  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

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Chapter 33

  Chapter 34

  Chapter 35

  Chapter 36

  Chapter 37

  Chapter 38

  Chapter 39

  Chapter 40

  Chapter 41

  Chapter 42

  Chapter 43

  Chapter 44

  Chapter 45

  Chapter 46

  Chapter 47

  Epilogue

  Galactic Jury

  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

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Chapter 33

  Chapter 34

  Chapter 35

  Chapter 36

  Chapter 37

  Chapter 38

  Chapter 39

  Chapter 40

  Chapter 41

  Chapter 42

  Chapter 43

  Chapter 44

  Chapter 45

  Chapter 46

  Chapter 47

  Chapter 48

  Chapter 49

  Epilogue

  Galactic Executioner

  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

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Chapter 33

  Chapter 34

  Chapter 35

  Chapter 36

  Chapter 37

  Chapter 38

  Chapter 39

  Chapter 40

  Chapter 41

  Chapter 42

  Chapter 43

  Chapter 44

  Chapter 45

  Chapter 46

  Chapter 47

  Chapter 48

  Chapter 49

  Chapter 50

  Chapter 51

  Epilogue

  Renegade Star Universe

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  About The Authors

  Join the conversation and get updates on new and upcoming releases in the Facebook group called “JN Chaney’s Renegade Readers.” This is a hotspot where readers come together and share their lives and interests, discuss the series, and speak directly to J.N. Chaney and his co-authors.

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  1

  “Chance of success, forty percent,” LE-DB said.

  I stared at the gap between buildings as my perp hit the ground on the other side, stumbled, and then began to sprint. If I didn’t go now, I was going to lose him.

  “Success rates don’t matter if you don’t even try,” I told her. “Continui
ng pursuit.”

  My current objective was running down a criminal escaping through the many back alleyways of Taurus station.

  “Are you sure? You’re heavier in duty armor.”

  “I know, Ellie. Don’t distract me.”

  Ellie, or LE-DB, for Law Enforcement Database, was my onboard dispatcher, a mix of partner, legal assistant, and heads-up display. Each patrol deputy had a version of the AI. Most just called her Dispatch or some other nickname, but I’d settled on Ellie. She wasn’t my trainer—that was Sergeant Jack Keldon, whom I’d left on the street below. I could talk to Ellie even when I’d lost comms with other units or headquarters. That wasn’t always a good thing.

  “Trainee Walker, be aware that if you miss this jump, there is a high probability that you will fail training for the day, damage department equipment, or sustain mortal injury. Perhaps all three.”

  “Thanks for keeping our priorities straight.”

  Of course she had to mention my trainee status, reminding me I’m not an actual Sheriff’s Deputy.

  “My priority protocols are clear.”

  “You sure about that? That guy bombed a party barge. I’m catching him or you can scrape me off the street.”

  “Suit yourself, Trainee Walker. I will provide a record of your decision when you are promoted to civilian in a body bag.”

  Was that a joke? Ellie wasn’t capable of jokes, which meant she had probably copied the line from my trainer, Sergeant Keldon. It sounded like him.

  My perp was looking over his shoulder, probably waiting to see if I was going to try the jump or not. I backed up a couple meters, checked that my pistol was secure as I eyed the edge of the roof, then sprinted for the gap.

  An hour earlier…

  Foot patrol in Taurus Station’s retail district always had me yawning after thirty minutes. The station’s party sections might have been going strong, but this area was closed for the night. Cleaning drones trundled along the wide corridors, collecting discarded drink containers, party fliers, beaded necklaces, and abandoned bits of clothing.

  “You’re falling asleep, Trainee Walker,” Ellie warned. “You’ll get a low rating. Another low rating and you’ll fail out of training.”

  The AI seemed to enjoy hounding me in an ever-haughty tone from her speaker in my helmet. There was no getting away from her, and she was right. I picked up my step.

  “Checking windows and rattling locks,” my trainer, Sergeant Jack Keldon, said with a satisfied smile beneath his brush-like brown moustache. “Security ain’t sexy, but it’s important. You understand me?” He tapped the door to a clothing shop and updated the log on its security panel.

  “I understand,” I said. “And I sure do enjoy it.”

  “Sarcasm detected,” Ellie warned.

  Keldon lifted his helmet’s face shield then hocked and spit in the street. He slammed the shield back down and adjusted his pants. “When we drop these stats on the Sheriff’s desk tomorrow, you’ll like it. He’s up for reelection. Community policing. And it’s good for your review.”

  “Beats writing reports, anyway,” I said.

  “The only thing better would be out talking to a citizen. That time’s never wasted.”

  I rolled my eyes, which Keldon couldn’t see through my face shield. That didn’t stop Ellie from chiding me with an electric prick at the back of my neck.

  I wanted to kick down doors and slam drug dealers on the pavement, not do my best as a glorified security guard off the party strip.

  Deputy Keldon had been on the force at Taurus for fifteen years. He was halfway to his pension and had long since given up any desire to run toward hot calls. Having settled into training duty for the regular hours, he seemed to genuinely enjoy his long speeches about ethics, working hard, community policing, and weapons maintenance. I certainly valued all those things, but walking down empty streets wasn’t keeping me bright-eyed and bushy-tailed.

  I joined the Taurus Station Sheriff’s Deputies because I wanted to make a difference in the ongoing ravager wars that wracked every station on the edge of the Deadlands, from the mining rigs to the residential orbitals and industrial sites, most connected by only a single slip tunnel. I’d grown up on a mining rig and understood firsthand what it was like to tremble in fear as a ravager gang blasted their way into a neighboring ship because someone hadn’t paid protection fees.

  “Speaking of time talking to citizens,” Keldon said. “Come on.” He led the way across the promenade to one of the few shops that appeared to still be open, although it was hard to tell if any lights were on inside from all the items jammed in the display windows.

  The sign above the window read “Trinidad’s Trinkets.”

  Keldon pulled the door open and motioned for me to step inside. I found myself in a small shop lined with shelves full of souvenirs. The various flowers, spaceships, and replicas of Taurus Station looked pretty good until you got up close.

  “Are these made from trash?” I asked Keldon. “This dancer has a candy wrapper for a skirt.”

  “Trash or treasure,” came a gruff voice from the other side of the shop. “You decide for yourself, Deputy.”

  “He’s my trainee,” Keldon corrected. “Thought I would bring him by to meet you, Ollie. How are you doing?”

  I pushed up my face shield as Keldon walked over to give the short man a hearty handshake.

  “Well, enough,” the shopkeeper said. “My endeavors keep me busy. You still serving justice to the depraved and ill-mannered?”

  “I’m wearing the uniform, aren’t I?” Keldon said.