Foray: A Zane Taylor Novel (Alien Agenda Book 1) by Toby Neighbors

Author:Toby Neighbors [Neighbors, Toby]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Mythic Adventure Publishing, LLC
Published: 2025-09-25T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 16

“Anything?” Zane asked.

He was with Tara, Fiona, Eve and Otto in the Security Pod. Echo was at the controls of the communications console. It was connected to a large transmitter and receiving dish on the roof of the security module. It also had a signal booster to make sure their signal would easily reach anything in orbit and beyond.

“Still nothing,” Echo said.

Night had fallen. Zane had forced the group to prepare their evening meal before checking the comms again. They were well past any of the satellites that might have been defective from the morning.

“It’s been twelve hours since you last spoke to the Magellan,” Echo said. “And something is still blocking our signal.”

“Well, at least we know what to do now,” Zane said. “Otto, escort Eve out to the shuttle. Stay with her while she does preflight checks.”

“What are you going to do?” Fiona asked.

“Suit up and make sure I’m ready,” Zane said. “Otto will stay outside to check the perimeter. If we get into trouble, Eve will fire a flare. I think it’s best if the rest of you stay inside, but I’ll leave that up to you.”

“What if you don’t come back?” Fiona asked.

“Then you stay put unless you have to leave,” Zane said. “Echo will know what to do, and Tara. Otto knows where the heavy guns are stored. Be smart, stay safe and wait for rescue.”

“That may never come,” Fiona said.

“What choice do we have?” Tara said.

Fiona held up her hand with her thumb and finger just barely separated. “I was that close. That close to having a fortune. The load of Claxon on that ship would have been worth trillions and trillions of credits.”

“Honestly, Fiona, you don’t even know if your company would sell it,” Echo said. “They might hoard the Claxon for themselves and cut you out completely.”

The leader of the expedition blanched at the thought. It had never occurred to her that their work wouldn’t make her wealthy.

“Worse still, by the time we get back, ships might not even be using combustibles,” Tara added.

Zane saw the wink that passed between the former spy and his tech guru. He had to turn away to hide his smile.

“Let’s do this,” he said.

Twenty minutes later, the shuttle was ready, and Zane was in full battle rattle. The body armor added thirty pounds. He had the M92 strapped muzzle down across his body, and he carried the tactical shotgun in one hand. His battle helmet’s face shield was tinted. He risked a glance at Echo as he left the pod. She gave him a reassuring nod.

Outside, Otto was waiting. Zane gave him the special binoculars.

“If we fire the flare, you won’t need these to see it,” he said. “But the night vision on these binocs is better than what’s built into your helmet.”

“What if we’re attacked while you’re gone?” Otto asked.

“Stay inside. Arm everyone, and do what you have to do to survive,” Zane said. “And listen to Echo, she’s got combat experience.”

“Got it,” he said.

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