by C H Gideon
“Why are all of you standing around gawking?” he shouted. “We’ve got a mission to get to. Find your stations.”
Still laughing, Jiya straightened and saluted the AI. “Sir, yes, sir.”
“Set a course for Muultar. Let’s see if we can find these nut-swinging minions of Phraim-’Eh before they come back and catch us with our pants down around our ankles,” he ordered.
Reynolds grabbed the inventor by the arm and dragged him toward the bridge door.
“Come on, Takal,” he said excitedly. “What do you say we take this new body for a test drive?”
The pair left the bridge in a rush and Jiya grinned, then had Helm set the course Reynolds had ordered.
She wasn’t going to get that nap after all, but that was okay.
With enough coffee in her system, she was ready for the next adventure.
“Set course for Muultar, Ensign Ria. We’ll engage when Reynolds gives the command. XO, verify that repairs are complete and weapons systems have been restored to one hundred percent. And Ensign, next time don’t jump us into the middle of someone else’s war.”
“I’ll do my best, sir,” Ria replied, “but no promises.”
The End
Author Notes - Craig Martelle
Written December 11, 2018
Thank you for reading this book and you’re still reading! Oorah, hard chargers. I really hope you liked this story.
December 11th – yes, I’m writing these the morning of publication. I almost missed them, but Steve kept me on the straight and narrow. It’s 3:30 AM and of course it’s dark, but where I live, 150 miles from the Arctic Circle, it’ll be dark for about 20 hours today. The sun will rise in the south, cruise along the southern horizon for a few hours and then set in the south. It’s a completely different world up here.
It has gotten cold, but nothing like the norm, until later this week when we’ll be hitting minus twenty Fahrenheit. It’s about zero right now. And Phyllis the Arctic Dog just got up. I better take her for her walk and then I’ll be back. I doubt you’ll miss me, but a half mile in the chill should sharpen my brain. See you in about twenty minutes.
It’s clear right now, which usually means extreme cold, but the benefit is that ofttimes the aurora is out and dancing across the sky. It wasn’t out this morning, but it was blazing yesterday. The clouds are starting to roll in as it is supposed to snow. Then tomorrow, back to clear and really cold.
Superdreadnought 3 took us a while and was difficult to write. Tim and I both had a conference in between. We went to Vegas to spend quality time with 700 other self-published authors. But then Tim got sick. I couldn’t breathe. We jammed the words, but they were hard words. It took us a while in reviewing them and getting them right. The Just In Time readers, and especially my insider team of Micky, Kelly, Jim, and now John helped us over the finish line.
The end result is a pretty good product that I am proud to have attached to my name (well, my military science fiction pen name, that is).
Talking about mil sci-fi (okay, I will always talk mil sci-fi, even without a segue), Metal Legion 1 – Scorpion’s Fury launches in six days. That is one of the best books I’ve ever been a part of. The story rocks. We added a dozen military science fiction readers to ensure accuracy. The feedback was overwhelmingly positive. I am stoked to see that series hit the street. We already have the first three books done! I held them so I could launch the a new book in the series every two weeks, starting with the first one on December 17th. We’ll have at least four books and probably five delivered at that frequency and these are great stories. I am stoked for you to get them.
So many new books coming out. I don’t know where to start.
- Monster Case Files 1 (with Kathryn Hearst) is in good shape, too, and has gotten two thumbs up from my insider team. Monster Case Files 2 is getting its initial outline. Monster Case Files is a young adult cozy mystery series. Cozy mysteries are stories where the perp is one of the people you meet during the story. There are no surprise criminals. It is someone you know, but how and most importantly why are the things to be solved. The first story has been beta read and they were over the moon with the book. We’ll launch these in March and like Metal Legion, every two weeks, like clockwork, you’ll get a new story. They’ll be shorter at about 30k words, but they’ll be cheaper, too, with full price of only $2.99. They’ll have some internal artwork as well.
- End Days 1, Blue Apocalypse (with Brian King) is finished and ready to go to the editor. We'll publish this one probably in January. The cover is ordered and will be ready by New Year's. End Days 2 has the first few words written. This is a post-apocalyptic adventure. Can one man get to his son on the other side of the country? Strange happenings are causing chaos.
- Mystically Engineered 1 - Dragon Invasion (with Valerie Emerson) is done and in the can, waiting for ME2 to be finished so we can launch them fairly close together. ME2 has 10k words already. Dragons in space. I don’t think I need to say much more about this one, but it is an exciting adventure.
- Metamorphosis Alpha 3 (with James M. Ward) is over half way done. I took a month to get my latest chapter done. Sorry Jim. I think we can still have it done in time for GaryCon. I better order the cover:)
So much going on and so little time. That’s why I forgot these notes. I promise to do better, Steve! But here we are. I’m trying to wrap a few things before we hit the road. My son married into Australia so now we go down under each year to see him and his family. I thank you again, good readers, for staying on board and reading the stories that can take you away for a few hours. Escape with us to a different place.
Peace fellow humans.
Superdreadnought 4
Book 4
Chapter One
Muultar. Another planet in a system that had meant nothing a year ago.
The captain’s new body looked real. Felt real. Responded the way the AI known as Reynolds thought a human body would respond. He ran on the treadmill, accelerating to fantastic speed before leaping forward, executing a double flip, and landing on his feet.
“Looks like systems are nominal,” Takal, the professor who designed and built the body stated without having watched the android. He checked boxes and made digital marks on his datapad. “What is the new Reynolds going to do?”
“Management by walking around,” Reynolds replied, straightening his custom uniform and flicking a speck of lint off his sleeve. “Things are coming together. I need to show the meatbags that I’m here for them.”
“I suggest you don’t call the living beings ‘meatbags,’” Geroux offered from her position behind a wall of computer screens.
“I’ve been told that before, but you are. I mean no offense. When people yell, ‘Hey, android’ at me, I don’t think less of them for stating the obvious. I think I shall work on my ability to growl and swear as I’ve seen human leaders do in the movies from Earth. I’m torn between executive me and dashing, devil-may-care me. I shall embrace my hard side until further notice.”
“Of course. I shall follow your new personality as it’s interesting how you can turn things on and off. We aren’t as evolved as you,” Takal told him graciously. “If you’ll allow us our foibles, you’ll realize an improvement in how people see you, dashing or not.”
“Thank you,” Reynolds replied. He watched Takal’s face, but the old Larian gave nothing away. He was already embroiled in a different project. “Prepare to go ashore. I think we’ll need you on Muultar.”
“Hmmm?” Takal mumbled. “What’s there?”
Reynolds was already on his way out the door, and he didn’t bother to answer. He had no idea, but thought it best if his key staff was prepared to deploy at all times. He chuckled as he walked away, thinking about the cult lackey from Muultar. He was finally on a trail that could lead him to the last surviving Kurtherians. The puzzle pieces that made up his mission were falling into place.
He ran into three crewmen from three different races working on a ba
nk of conduits running along a corridor. A maintenance bot was directing their actions. One of the crew shot to attention, and the other two followed. Something fell, then one of the lines arced. “Bastard!” the shortest exclaimed as she jumped out from under the shower of sparks. The bot sprayed fire retardant on the conduit and started guiding the crew through repairing their repairs.
The AI hadn’t said a word, but he’d had an impact on the crew. Not the one he was going for, however. Since Reynolds was the ship, he knew the line’s systems were bypassed, and there was no impact to the superdreadnought’s functionality. He left the crew to their task and headed for the elevator.
Maybe I’ll just go to the bridge.
Ensign Ria Alcott brought the SD Reynolds through the Gate into the Quadrain system, shields up, weapons armed, and at a safe distance from nearby planets to avoid stumbling into anything.
“Lesson learned, sir!” she called, grinning. “We’re here safe and sound.”
“Don’t dislocate your shoulder patting yourself on the back just yet,” Tactical told her.
“He’s right, although it bothers me to admit it,” XO said. “That Loranian ship could be anywhere.”
“That’s not our biggest problem right now,” Asya announced.
“We step into another firefight?” General Maddox asked, even though the tactical display showed no hostile targets.
“No!” Ria shot back.
“No,” Asya assured him. “More like an asteroid field.” She brought up the view outside the ship, showing chunks of debris flying everywhere. “This system looks as if it’s pissed off. Those three suns are beating up the place. Can’t say it’s tourist-friendly.”
“Radiation levels are off the charts, too,” XO called. “The gravitic shields are keeping us safe for now, plus our standard rad-shields, but if we’re sticking around for a while, we’re going to want to look into reinforcing our defenses.”
“I’m not interested in looking like that burnt-toast cultist and his Muultu buddies,” Tactical complained.
“Not much chance of that,” Jiya told him, her gaze inadvertently going to Reynolds as he strolled onto the bridge.
With his new faux-flesh, his android body might not be so lucky.
She found it strange to look at him now after having seen his evolution from the Jonny-Taxi body she’d help steal for him to the older construct Takal had pieced together to maintain the AI’s essence without degrading.
The new body looked so human that it caught Jiya off-guard every time she saw it. If it weren’t for the AI’s mannerisms and the crass, cutting sarcasm that was so much a part of Reynolds, Jiya would have had a hard time reconciling the new body with the Federation AI.
Had she passed him on the street, she would never have known he was an Android.
Even knowing, it still caused a hitch in her brain.
He walked so casually now, and so gracefully. There was none of the stutter of parts breaking down or the creak of damaged metal joints. For all intents and purposes, he was as human as any of them.
Well, more so, she thought, chuckling to herself, seeing as how none of us are human.
Alive would be a better word, she corrected herself.
“Get Takal up here to examine these radiation readings,” Reynolds ordered. “Let’s see if he can come up with something since I have no idea how long we’ll be here. Better safe than sorry.”
If the Phraim-‘Eh cultists are here, we’ll stay as long as it takes to root them out, Jiya thought.
A rumbling vibration pulled her out of her internal discourse, and she glanced at the viewscreen.
“I’m moving us to the edge of the asteroid field,” Ensign Alcott reported, but the scrunched expression on her face suggested it wasn’t as easy a task as she had hoped it would be.
“What edge?” Tactical asked. “This whole system is one big clusterduck of floating debris.”
“Scanners show there were seven planets here not long ago,” Comm reported. “There are only four now, which explains the mess.”
“The planets in the Goldilocks Zone have avoided being torn apart, and one other,” XO stated.
“I’m thinking this porridge is still too fucking hot,” Tactical muttered.
“I agree,” Reynolds said. “Muultar is skirting the edge of the habitable zone. Another hundred thousand years or so and it will be floating rocks like the rest of its neighbors.”
“If that long,” XO said. “The debris is pelting the planets, on top of the increased radiation. A big enough chunk hits it, and—”
“Say goodbye to the dinosaurs.” Tactical laughed.
“Dino-what?” Jiya asked, wondering what Tactical was talking about.
Reynolds waved off the question. “Just get us as far away from the wreckage as possible, Ensign,” he ordered. “We can better examine the system if we’re not being peppered by debris.”
The superdreadnought eased out of the asteroid field as gracefully as possible, but it was slow going. The shields flashed as they deflected a number of impacts before Ria managed to get them mostly clear.
The majority of the field hurtled beneath them, its passage playing across the viewscreen.
“Best I can do, sir,” Ria called.
“It’ll have to do,” Reynolds answered. “Bring up the long-range scanners and give me a detailed report on the system. Get me as much information as you can about Muultar. I want to know what we’re walking into.”
Jiya bit back a sigh at Reynolds’ subtle dig at their recent performance.
Their last mission had started off on the wrong foot. As capable as the crew were, and however naturally talented at stepping into their roles and doing a good job, they weren’t as well-trained as they should be.
Too few of the crew had real military training or experience, and those who did—specifically General Maddox and Captain Asya—were handicapped by the rest of the crew’s ignorance.
Jiya could only imagine how difficult it was for Asya and Maddox to keep up with everything, factoring in all the outcomes and likely consequences for every order given.
It was impossible.
Despite what they’d done together and all they’d accomplished, the crew was new, and they were learning on the job. Mistakes were bound to happen, but Jiya was determined to limit those as best she could—especially her own.
As first officer, she had recently instituted mandatory training sessions for all hands. With the help of Reynolds’ other personalities, they had arranged for crash courses on everyone’s role on the ship, including primary and secondary tasks.
She’d mandated a minimum of two hours a day for training, and had strongly suggested that the crew take advantage of every additional moment to interface with the ship in order to better understand their place aboard it.
They were tired and perhaps a little stressed, but Jiya could spot the advances they’d made. The crew seemed surer of themselves and more confident.
That was how she felt.
“I’m picking up motion in the asteroid field,” Maddox announced.
“Hence the reason they’re called asteroids,” Tactical shot back.
Maddox scoffed. “I’m not talking about rocks, Tactical. We’ve got company.”
“Want me to hail?” Comm asked.
“Not yet. What have you got, Maddox?” Reynolds asked.
“Two…no, three signals incoming,” the general answered. “They appear to be small craft, slightly larger than our Pods. There’s no evidence of weaponry. They’re not fighters.”
“And they’re headed our way?” Reynolds questioned.
“Not directly,” Maddox replied. “They seem to be skimming the surface of the asteroids as they flit around inside the field. It’s like they’re looking for something.”
“But not us, right?” Jiya asked.
Maddox shook his head. “No, doesn’t look that way.”
As Maddox zeroed in on the ships so they showed on the viewscreen, one of
the small craft landed on the flat surface of an asteroid and latched on.
“What the hell are they doing?” XO wondered.
There was a quick spark at the base of the oddly-shaped craft, then a cloud of dust rose up around the ship. It floated into space and obscured their view.
“Get me a closeup of that ship,” Reynolds ordered as the other two landed on different asteroids and began the same process.
Maddox zoomed in, but if he understood what was being done, he didn’t say anything.
Takal walked onto the bridge then, the door hissing shut behind him. He strolled over to where Reynolds stood and humphed.
“I wonder what they’re mining?” he said casually.
The whole crew turned to look at him.
He shrank under their sudden glares. “What?” He brushed his chin. “Do I have crumbs in my beard?”
“You think they’re mining?” Reynolds questioned.
“Oh.” Takal chuckled, leaving his beard be. “Yes, I’m certain of it, although I have no idea what they’re attempting to extract.”
He gestured to the alien ship, which had a small front section where Jiya presumed the pilot sat, and a large, boxy back section that could accommodate bulk storage.
“I’ve seen ships similar to these,” Takal went on. “There are excavation devices arrayed across the bottom of the craft. Numerous mechanical arms dig into the surface while several others sort the useful minerals from the debris and load them into the ship for conveyance.”
“To Muultar, I presume,” Reynolds said.
Takal shrugged. “Most likely, given the choice of habitable planets in the system.” He gestured to the screen.
“Any indication the ships know we’re here?” Reynolds asked.
“No,” Maddox answered. “We’re far enough out that they’d need long-range scanners to pick us out of the surrounding chaos.”
