The chronicles of Pern: first fall by Anne McCaffrey

Author:Anne McCaffrey [Fall, First]
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Science fiction, Fantasy, Epic, General, Fiction, Fantasy - General, American, Fantasy fiction, Space colonies, Life on other planets, Dragons, Life on other planets - Fiction, Space colonies - Fiction, Pern (Imaginary place), Dragons - Fiction, Pern (Imaginary place) - Fiction, Mccaffrey, Anne - Prose & Criticism
ISBN: 9780345368980
Publisher: Ballantine Books
Published: 2010-01-21T15:53:18+00:00

. . . WHICH CONSUMES ALL ORGANIC MATTER. MUST HAVE TECHNICAL AND NAVAL SUPPORT OR COLONY FACES TOTAL ANNIHILATION. THERE IS WEALTH HERE. SAVE OUR SOULS. THEODORE TUBBERMAN, COLONY BOTANIST.

There was an almost embarrassed silence. “Hardly the Nasties then,” the captain said dryly. “Probably some old weapon system has been triggered. Perhaps one of the Fifty units we ran into in the Red Sector. I thought only survivor types were chosen to be colonists. Mister Benden, what does Library say about this Pern expedition?” Ross didn’t need to search for the official documentation on the Expedition--he knew most of the tale by heart. But he keyed up the file anyway. “Captain, a low-tech, agrarian colony was chartered for the third planet of the Rukbat system, under the joint leadership of Admiral Paul Benden and--” “Your uncle, I believe.” “Yes, Captain,” Ross replied, keeping his tone level. Proud though his entire family was of Paul Benden’s most honorable service record, Ross had taken a lot of gibing during his first cadet year, when his uncle’s victory at Cygnus was telecast as a documentary, and in his third year, when Admiral Benden’s strategy was discussed in Tactics. “A most able strategist and a fine commander.” Fargoe’s voice registered approval, but her sideways glance warned Benden not to presume on his uncle’s sterling record. “Continue, mister.” “Governor Emily Boll of Altair was the other leader. Six thousand-plus colonists, chartered and contracted, were transported in three ships, Yokohama, Buenos Aires, and Bahrain. The only other communication was the regulation report of a successful landing. No further contact was expected.” “Humph. Idealists, were they? Isolating themselves and then screaming for help at the slightest sign of trouble.” Ross Benden gritted his teeth, searching for some polite way to assert that Admiral Benden would not have “screamed for help” and bloody well hadn’t sent that craven message. Fortunately, after a moment’s thought, the captain went on. “Not Admiral Benden’s style to send a distress message of any kind. So, who’s this Theodore Tubberman, Botanist, who affixed his name to the plea? A Mayday should have been authorized by the colony leaders.” “It wasn’t a standard capsule,” Benden replied, having noted that emendation. “But expertly contrapted. It was also sent to Federation headquarters.” “Federation headquarters?” Fargoe sat forward, frowning. “Why HQ? Why not the Colonial Authority? Or the Fleet? No, if it wasn’t signed by Admiral Benden, the Fleet would have shifted it to the CA.” Then she sat, chin on one hand, studying the report, scrolling it forward from her armrest keypad. “A nonstandard homing device sent to Federation HQ indicating that the colony was under attack. . . hmm. And nine years after a successful landing, forty-nine years ago. “How far are we from the Rukbat system, Mister Benden?” “Point-oh-four-five from the heliopause, ma’am. Science Officer Ni Morgana wanted a closer look at that Oort cloud. She’s interested in cometary reservoirs. That’s when I noticed the orange flag on the system.” “They wanted squadrons then?” The captain gave a short bark of laughter.

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