The Lost Colony by Heppner Vaughn

Author:Heppner, Vaughn [Heppner, Vaughn]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Genetic Engineering, Science Fiction & Fantasy, Space Exploration, Space Opera, Galactic Empire, Alien Invasion, Colonization, Space Marine, Science Fiction, Space Fleet, Exploration, Adventure, Military
Published: 2015-11-29T11:00:00+00:00

-26-

Maddox settled gingerly into the command chair on the bridge. The journey from the infirmary had tired him out. It was awful being so weak. He despised it.

Seeing that Valerie and Keith watched their panels, the captain pulled out a rag and wiped sweat off his face.

He shifted on the chair so the wound didn’t rest against fabric. He had stopped taking pain inhibitors some time ago. It surprised him how well they had worked. Now, his joints ached and he had a flu-like sensation. Thinking about it caused him to wipe his face again.

He tucked away the rag. It wouldn’t do for the others to see him so incapacitated.

“We’re approaching the Jovian planet,” Keith said.

Maddox studied the main screen. A huge gas giant with seething storms raging across its surface showed the nearness of the final Laumer-Point.

Some time ago, Meta had written a journal about her period with Kane, an agent for the New Men who had kidnapped her from New York City. Kane had brought her here the first time, racing to Wolf Prime afterward.

“The gas giant is massive,” Keith said while studying his board. “Its tug on us is greater than I’d anticipated.”

“We’ll almost have to skim its surface to reach the Laumer-Point,” Valerie added.

Maddox might have nodded, but it felt as if that would have taken too much energy.

“Are you sure it’s wise for you to be on the bridge, sir?” Valerie asked.

Maddox didn’t bother answering such a question. He was better already. A few aches, some chills, it didn’t mean anything.

Valerie and Keith traded glances. Maddox noticed, but he refrained from commenting.

“I’m switching on the Laumer Drive,” Keith said, tapping his board.

What he meant was that the ship’s special Laumer sensors began hunting for the often-elusive wormhole entrance. According to Meta’s notes, this Laumer-Point was small. Was it too small for Victory to use? They would have to catalog its size before trying.

The Xerxes System had a bad reputation, much like that of the Bermuda Triangle on Earth before the Space Age. Like in the triangle, ships had disappeared under unusual circumstances. The worst story had occurred over thirty years ago. The Boron Company had set up a mining colony on a metal-heavy moon of the third planet. The colony had vanished, leaving no traces of the buildings or landing zones. Until Victory had passed through a year ago, no military or commercial routes had gone through the Xerxes System Laumer-Points.

Last voyage, Victory had fought silver drones in the strange system. The drones had used the same fusion beams New Men star cruisers employed. The conclusion had been obvious: the New Men had stolen or acquired the Builder weapons by plundering such a place with Strand’s help. The drones could well have been the reason for the system’s terrible reputation.

“There it is,” Valerie said. “I’ve found the Laumer-Point.”

Maddox straightened. On the main screen, the wormhole opening appeared near the gas giant’s stratosphere.

“This is going to be a tight fit, sir,” Valerie said.

“Is the message beacon ready?” Maddox asked.

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