Beyond Mars Crimson Fleet by RG Risch

Author:RG Risch
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: scifi, universe, mars, honor, military, science fiction, future, space, space station, star trek, star wars, war of the worlds, shock, marines, cosmos, space battles, foreigner, darth vader, battlestar galactica, babylon 5, skywalker, mariner, deep space 9, beyond mars, battles fighting, battlestar, harrington, battles and war, david weber, honor harrington

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Chapter 17: Clash at Magnus Sol

Tibula, a giant magnetic star, bathed the Magnus Sol system in a powerfully charged corona that fluctuated eerily with a blinding white glow and a background tinted in an oscillating purple plasma vapor. Its size dwarfed that of the Earth’s sun by more than twenty times while its magnetic field engulfed and penetrated planets and moons that were unimaginatively distant.

Here, dust particles and hot gases were kept in a highly energized and volatile state, as they floated freely in hot patches of various bright colors of neon through the inner system. Beyond the floating auras was a veiled universe, cloaked in the dangers of the unexplained and unseen. For all knew that the mysterious Indra dwelled in this quadrant and trespassing into their space was considered foolhardy at best.

The Indra were beings of an ancient and solitary race, whose appearance was—unknown. A highly technically evolved culture, they neither sought contact, nor tolerated any intrusion upon their privacy. Over the millennia, many alien species sent ships to probe and explore the Indra’s worlds, but all vanished strangely without a trace. Only occasionally was a vague call of distress received. However, when rescue craft were quick to respond, not even the smallest trace of debris was found. For such reasons, this area was more than avoided. Not even warships from the mighty Galactic Union dared to venture here, and all this crossed Captain Tara Nargis’ mind as the Ariana and the small convoy of unarmed colonists ships materialized out of hyperspace next to the giant star.

It was a hair-raising experience as gigantic solar flares and prominences twisted and curled furiously away from the massive star and dangerously close to the small fleet, regardless that they had materialize well away from the corona and chromosphere of the star. Tara now understood why Wakinyan had chosen this system. It at least provided temporarily concealment for the colonist’s fleeing ships from the pursuing Earth forces. Yet, the woman prayed that the Martians would arrive sooner rather than later.

First Mate Martin Pearl, however, did not share Tara’s optimism about the agreement with the Martians. He had his doubts from the very beginning about them. Other “normals” had shunned, lied to, and used the mutants too many times before in the past. Why should the Martians be any different, he thought.

Still, he did not want to upset any of the others with his suspicions, and secretly hoped he was wrong. So he went about duties, neither voicing his uncertainty or negative opinions.

“Sensors show very erratic and high radiation readings,” he confirmed to Tara. “Even normal inter-ship transmissions have broken up, forcing us to rely on our Aldis Signaling Lamps for communications.”

“Good,” she was pleased with the news. “It means we’ll be harder to follow.” Take us around the other side and then deeper into the system. We’ll hold in an orbit around the first planet we come to.”

Martin nodded in agreement and set a new course.

In a gentle arc, the ships swung about the star and began to disappear around the far side.

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