Shortcut: A Jason Maxx thriller (Jason Maxx Thrillers Book 1) by Lowry Hunt & Schmidt Bryan Thomas

Author:Lowry, Hunt & Schmidt, Bryan Thomas
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Villainous Press
Published: 2023-09-15T00:00:00+00:00

HALF AN HOUR LATER, he opened his laptop and logged into Caltech’s secure network with his credentials, throwing himself into his work refining the Shortcut formula. Knowing it was possible to take Shortcuts using nonspherical objects, Jason had been removing spherical assumptions and replacing them with arbitrary geometries with the goal that retrofitting any spacecraft with laser cells might make Shortcutting possible. Knowing that the rescue mission would require a bigger craft, his team modeled the latest Maxx design after SpaceX’s Dragon 2, adding space for an increased crew complement and room for defensive and offensive weapons capabilities, if deemed necessary. Since the meeting with Jack, Li, and Purva, he’d also been making inquiries with Elon Musk, Richard Branson and others about projects in development that might be borrowed and employed in a rescue mission. Preliminary talks had not revealed anything deemed viable but he had feelers out to the Chinese and Russians as well and was awaiting a response.

In the meantime, he’d also been working on improving the craft’s solar collection efficiency, laser power, and lens control to increase shortcut distances as well as improving the calculations themselves for better accuracy that would make the longer distances safe. The side benefit of this was improved location predictions. Some of his staff, inspired by the alien craft, had suggested perhaps returning to the idea of using salt optics, but, at present, the extent of design modifications required and cost made it impossible.

That night, he made a breakthrough on polariton efficiency of the lasers that he hoped would make longer distance shortcuts more efficient. Finishing his calculations, he wrote up a report and sent it to the lab personnel responsible for engine development, then went upstairs and immediately fell asleep.

The next morning, he delayed going into the office so he could take Heather to school personally. Cal drove with Reggie sitting in the front passenger side while Jason rode with Heather in the back. When they got to the school, the sun shone bright overhead as he walked her to her classroom.

“I love you, Daddy,” she said as they stopped outside the door and kissed and hugged.

“I love you, too, honey,” Jason said, releasing her. “You have a great day, okay?”

That’s when it happened. He had just put his hand on the DMG he wore attached to his belt when it started vibrating and a bright light flashed somewhere nearby. He stumbled, feeling as if the floor had been yanked from under him like a carpet, as if something was trying to lift him right off his feet but failing.

The aliens were trying to abduct him right now!

He caught himself against the wall and steadied himself, then saw Heather’s terrified face as she watched him from the classroom doorway. He had to protect her. Had to get away from her so she didn’t get taken instead.

“Daddy?!” she cried out.

“Baby, go inside. Now. Hurry!” he urged, almost yelling. She ran toward him, but he pushed her away. “Go! Please!”

She hesitated a moment but he motioned intensely again, and she finally turned and disappeared into the classroom.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.