Worlds on Fire by Matthew Costello

Author:Matthew Costello
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Pocket Books
Published: 2008-07-15T00:00:00+00:00

The compact, powerful thrusters that got them to orbit flew away to the sides as the ship rode the orbit. Each thruster’s own autopilot returned it to a landing spot below. Then a low level hum, almost soothing, filled the cabin as the recorded voice said, “One. Ion engines engaged.”

Smitty’s face was plastered against the small port, so Kane could see nothing.

“What happened?” Kane tapped the other marine’s shoulder. “Let me see.”

The beautiful space night, the lush dark sky dotted with millions of stars, had vanished. What Kane now saw was something he had never seen before, or could even describe. He wondered why there had never been any vids or pictures ofthis? Maybe because all personal cameras had to be stowed for launch for security reasons, they were told.

The traditional space sky had been replaced with something that looked like a net of curling light trails, all different colors, slowly bending, twisting. It was like being inside some kind of complex molecule from chemistry class, as though they had been shrunk.

“Where are we?” Smitty asked.

Kane didn’t have a good answer to that one. And he knew now why pictures weren’t allowed. Whatever those curling, coiling light trails were, they had something to do with how the UAC’s Ion Engine worked. The view outside was the strangest and most beautiful thing John Kane had ever seen.

“We’re in space, kiddo. Just…let it go.”

The kid nodded. Kane leaned back in his seat and shut his eyes.

“Travel time to destination…fifty-one hours, twenty-three minutes, and eighteen seconds.” A trip that should take six months…now no more than two days. Two days, and then Mars would be outside the port.

The War Planet. A second Earth—if the UAC/USA propaganda was to be believed. A second homeland.We’ll see about that, Kane thought. And with that last thought, he fell deeply and blissfully asleep.

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.