Herc Tom, Champion of the Empire Series

A deadly virus, a dying cub, a world in the balance, and all that's needed to save them is PURR MISSION. Major Tom’s dander is up. His cub is dying of the Morient Virus, and this cat knows that the Ramses Empire's sworn enemies are responsible (the deceitful feline Baastards!), but bureaucats have ordered him not to go to their planet to recover the antidote. Well, it’s easier to beg forgiveness than to ask purrmission. Ready for heroism, adventure, space, spies, and lives in the balance? Read “Purr Mission.” Purr Mission is a FREE eBook, the first story in the “Herc Tom, Champion of the Empire” series, and is also available in the collection “Cats of War I.”

What are the Baastards up to this time? More intrigue as a familiar hallucinogen finds its way into Ramses society. Are their long-time adversaries behind it? Time for Major Tom to save the Empire again... Ready for more comic adventures with your favorite feline? Read “Nipped in the Butt.” “Nipped in the Butt” is the 2nd story in William Mangieri’s “Herc Tom, Champion of the Empire” series, and is available in the collection “Cats of War I.”

Champion of the Empire Hercules Tom is on the outs with Emperor Maxamillian and, Imperial Purrogative being what it is, has to deal with Rotter plots, traitors, assassins and other Imperial intrigues. “Imperial Purrogative" is a speculative fiction novelette, and is the fifth of the “Herc Tom, Champion of the Empire" stories, following “Purr Mission”, “Nipped in the Butt”, “Cat and Mouse”, and “Baastards’ Revenge.”

Empress Isabella continues to increase her hold on power with the help of her Slobberer allies. It’s up to our Champion of the Empire and his friends to do something about it. “Reining Cats and Dogs" is a speculative fiction novelette, and is the seventh of the “Herc Tom, Champion of the Empire" stories, following “Purr Mission”, “Nipped in the Butt”, “Cat and Mouse”, “Baastards’ Revenge”, “Imperial Purrogative”, and “Cats Out of the Bag.”

Major Tom has plans for his leave time: this cat is finally going to get some much needed R&R with his mates. But recent additions to the household (including his Admiral father-in-law and an uppity mouse chef), as well as an unexpected visit from yet another enemy puts his whiskers in a twist. Ready for a comical adventure with some unlikely characters? Read “Cat and Mouse.” "Cat and Mouse" is a speculative fiction short story, and is the third of his "Major Tom, Champion of the Empire" stories, following “Purr Mission” and “Nipped in the Butt.” All three stories are available in “Cats of War I.”

“Cats of War II” continues the adventures of Herc Tom, Champion of the Ramses Empire In “Baastard’s Revenge”, Champion of the Empire Tom thinks this is a mere diplomatic mission to Baast; little does he know what the Baastards have in store for him. But don't worry - this cat has proven time and again that he has more than the usual nine lives. Read to find out how Herc finds his way out of this one. Herc Tom is on the outs with Emperor Maxamillian and has to deal with Rotter plots, traitors, assassins and other Imperial intrigues in “Imperial Purrogative.” In “Cats Out of the Bag,” Herc Tom longs for more interesting times. His wish is fulfilled with the return of the Lost Baastards, a couple of prison breaks, the kidnapping of a Prince, the reappearance of an assassin, an alien invasion, and fifteen different kinds of treachery. Maybe life wasn’t all that boring after all. As the adventure continues in “Reining Cats and Dogs," Empress Isabella continues to increase her hold on power with the help of her Slobberer allies. It’s up to our Champion of the Empire and his friends to do something about it. These tales follow the first three "Major Tom, Champion of the Empire" stories “Purr Mission”, “Nipped in the Butt”, and “Cat and Mouse. (available separately, or in the “Cats of War I” collection.

Champion of the Empire Hercules Tom thinks this is a mere diplomatic mission to Baast; little does he know what the Baastards have in store for him. But don't worry - this cat has proven time and again that he has more than the usual nine lives. Read to find out how Herc finds his way out of this one. “Baastards’ Revenge" is a speculative fiction novelette, and is the fourth of the "Herc Tom, Champion of the Empire" stories, following “Purr Mission”, “Nipped in the Butt”, and “Cat and Mouse.”

Champion of the Empire Herc Tom longs for more interesting times. His wish is fulfilled with the return of the Lost Basstards, a couple of prison breaks, the kidnapping of a Prince, the reappearance of an assassin, an alien invasion, and fifteen different kinds of treachery. Maybe life wasn’t all that boring after all. “Cats Out of the Bag" is a speculative fiction novelette, and is the sixth of the “Herc Tom, Champion of the Empire" stories, following “Purr Mission”, “Nipped in the Butt”, “Cat and Mouse”, “Baastards’ Revenge”, and “Imperial Purrogative.”

Join Major Herc Tom on his early escapades and see how he became Champion of the Empire. Cats of War I contains the first three Herc Tom, Champion of the Empire Stories: Purr-Mission Major Tom’s dander is up. His cub is dying of the Morient Virus, and he knows their sworn enemies are responsible (the Baastards!), but bureaucats order him not to go to their planet to recover the antidote. Well, it’s easier to beg forgiveness than to ask Purr-mission. Nipped in the Butt More intrigue as a familiar hallucinogen finds its way into Ramses society. Are their long-time adversaries behind it? Time for Major Tom to save the Empire again... Cat and Mouse Major Tom has plans for his leave time: this cat is finally going to get some much needed R&R with his mates. But recent additions to the household (including his Admiral father-in-law and an uppity mouse chef), as well as an unexpected visit from yet another enemy puts his whiskers in a twist. (stories also available individually)

Lord Phylo and his Canine Armada have been vanquished, but for how long? What damage does former Empress Isabella intend to inflict on the Ramses Empire? And will Champion of the Empire Herc Tom be able to prevent this “Imperial Imperilment”? “Imperial Imperilment" is a speculative fiction novelette, and is the eighth of the “Herc Tom, Champion of the Empire" stories, following “Purr Mission”, “Nipped in the Butt”, “Cat and Mouse”, “Baastards’ Revenge”, “Imperial Purrogative”, “Cats Out of the Bag”, and “Reining Cats and Dogs.”

Empress Isabella and her cohorts are back under wraps, but now evil forces are toying with the imperial succession. Feline or canine, a plot to undermine the peace and security of Ramses is afoot, and it’s up to Herc Tom, Champion of the Empire to discover what treachery is behind the cat’s paw. “The Cat’s Paw" is a speculative fiction novelette, and is the tenth of the “Herc Tom, Champion of the Empire" stories, following “Purr Mission”, “Nipped in the Butt”, “Cat and Mouse”, “Baastards’ Revenge”, “Imperial Purrogative”, “Cats Out of the Bag”, “Reining Cats and Dogs”, “Imperial Imperilment”, and “A Tail of Two Species.”

The Lynx hasn’t returned from his mission, so it’s up to disfavored Champion of the Empire Herc Tom to discover what’s happened to him, and what the deceitful feline Isabella and the diabolical canine Lord Phylo are up to in this tale of two species. “A Tail of Two Species" is a speculative fiction novelette, and is the ninth of the “Herc Tom, Champion of the Empire" stories, following “Purr Mission”, “Nipped in the Butt”, “Cat and Mouse”, “Baastards’ Revenge”, “Imperial Purrogative”, “Cats Out of the Bag”, “Reining Cats and Dogs,” and “Imperial Imperilment.”

The filthy Canines have taken the Quartz Sector and overthrown Ramses’ nemesis on Baast. The Emperor has vowed that the feline systems will NOT go to the dogs, so it’s up to Herc Tom to once again to save the Empire AND the Baastards. But unbeknownst to our hero, Inga Quin left a surprise the last time she was in Herc’s head, and he may not be quite himself, but someone else might be. “Copy Cat" is a speculative fiction novelette, and is the eleventh of the “Herc Tom, Champion of the Empire" stories, following “Purr Mission”, “Nipped in the Butt”, “Cat and Mouse”, “Baastards’ Revenge”, “Imperial Purrogative”, “Cats Out of the Bag”, “Reining Cats and Dogs”, “Imperial Imperilment”, “A Tail of Two Species”, and The Cat’s Paw.”

With the imminent threat of the Canine's return, the empire should be focused on preparations, but imperial politics, espionage, and intrigue continue. See how Herc Tom, Champion of the Empire faces some interesting challenges in Cats of War III. The collection contains stories 8-11: "Imperial Imperilment" Lord Phylo and his Canine Armada have been vanquished, but for how long? What damage does former Empress Isabella intend to inflict on the Ramses Empire? And will Champion of the Empire Herc Tom be able to prevent this “Imperial Imperilment”? “A Tail of Two Species” The Lynx hasn’t returned from his mission, so it’s up to disfavored Champion of the Empire Herc Tom to discover what’s happened to him, and what the deceitful feline Isabella and the diabolical canine Lord Phylo are up to in this tale of two species. “The Cat’s Paw” Empress Isabella and her cohorts are back under wraps, but now evil forces are toying with the imperial succession. Feline or canine, a plot to undermine the peace and security of Ramses is afoot, and it’s up to Herc Tom, Champion of the Empire to discover what treachery is behind the cat’s paw. “Copy Cat” The filthy Canines have taken the Quartz Sector and overthrown Ramses’ nemesis on Baast. The Emperor has vowed that the feline systems will NOT go to the dogs, so it’s up to Herc Tom to once again to save the Empire AND the Baastards. But unbeknownst to our hero, Inga Quin left a surprise the last time she was in Herc’s head, and he may not be quite himself, but someone else might be.

Herc Tom hasn’t been treated like much of a champion lately. Ever since returning from his latest escapades on Baast he’s been kept under house arrest. It doesn’t seem fair. He didn’t ask to be brainwashed by the evil Doctor Inga Quin, and besides – that’s all been cleaned out of his mind. And it’s not his fault that she made a homicidal clone of him. After all, he foiled the clone’s attempted assassination of both Ramses’ Emperor Octavio and Baast’s Supreme Leader Pang, didn’t he? Despite his heroics, he’s stuck at home, getting fat and unhappy, eager to get back to being the premier Champion of the Empire that he’s always been. He finally has his chance. Pang and the enigmatic Colonel Tulin are coming to Ramses for a state visit, and they want Herc to be their host. Pang he could care less about, but the thought of Tulin has him purring. Maybe that brainwashing isn’t quite out of his system. “Split Purrsonalities" is a speculative fiction novelette, the 12th of the “Herc Tom, Champion of the Empire" stories.