Seas of the Red Star Read online

  Seas of the Red Star

  The following novel is a work of fiction. All characters and events portrayed in this story have been invented by the author’s imagination and are not intended to represent anything in the real world.

  First copy published for America by Kindle Direct Publishing in 2019.

  First edition.

  Seas of the Red Star

  Copyright © 2019 by Andrew Gates

  Written by Andrew Gates

  Cover Art by Justin Davis

  All rights reserved

  Seas of the Red Star

  By Andrew Gates

  Table of Contents

  Chapters

  A Rough Start

  Gamma Pavonis

  Gamechanger

  An Interrupted Retirement

  Interlude

  Back in the Swing

  Vexa Prime

  Lost at Sea

  The Red God’s Gleam

  Strangers of the Pearl

  A Shortened Meeting

  The Captain and the Quartermaster

  Storm on the High Seas

  A Pirate’s Life

  Escape from Steel Victory

  Land Ho!

  The Governor’s Island

  Interlude

  Scabbard’s Inn

  Reflection

  The JSR Assignment

  Reflection’s End

  Captain Bergh of the Scorger’s Fist

  Boarding Party

  The Flag of the Fist

  To Be Anywhere Else

  An Unexpected Arrival

  The Battle of Coral Cove

  Last Stand of the Sea Scorgers

  Parlay

  Return to Brown Sanctum

  Where the Sun Never Shines

  The Dark Island

  Home, Sweet Home

  Preview

  The Daltus Conspiracy Chapter Preview

  Other

  Glossary of Terms

  Note from the Author

  About the Author

  I would like to thank my fellow science-fiction author, MD Cooper, for the inspiration for this expansive and technologically-advanced universe. I would also like to thank the late Robert Louis Stevenson for defining what we consider the swashbuckling pirate genre today.

  Seas of the Red Star

  A Rough Start

  Earth Date (Revised Julian Calendar): 08.10.4135

  Location: Surrounding space of VCS Nautilus, Outer edge of Sol System

  A dogfight. How did Ellen get into yet another dogfight? This was why she switched careers, to get away from this kind of stuff. She knew working flight security for a private corporation would come with its share of surprises, but she didn’t expect to get caught in an ambush anytime soon.

  Ray fire lit up the holographic display before her and more salvos were incoming fast.

  All fighters, engage evasive maneuvers! the squadron commander ordered, as if Ellen even needed to be told. His voice filled her head through her access to the Artificial Telepathic Grid, or ATG.

  Though called a telepathic grid, talking through the ATG wasn’t telepathy, not really. Telepathy was just fiction, of course, but the ATG was the closest technological equivalent to it. The grid was one of the greatest technological achievements in human history. It allowed Ellen to not just communicate with other grid users at instantaneous speeds, but also to access interconnected computer systems.

  “Brace yourself. This is going to hurt!” she said to her copilot. She tilted the ship on its axis in a sudden motion. Both pilots felt the intense g forces press into them. It was as if their bodies had taken on tremendous weight. Even in space, a quick turn like that really hurt.

  “Goddamn, Milsen!” Cutter cried out. He was a younger man with a strong build, tall physique and light hair. This was his first flying mission. So far he had not seemed confident behind the helm. Worse yet, his inexperience and lackadaisical attitude were not easy to deal with. He pressed his hands against his head, as if holding back the worst headache of his life.

  The copilot had only ever studied these maneuvers in safe classrooms and lecture halls. Now that he was finally experiencing it in the real world, he looked like he was about to fall out of his seat.

  He’s new to the game, that’s for sure, noted Yuri, Ellen’s internal AI. Yuri lived inside Ellen’s mind. His neural network was closely interlaced with hers, though they were separate entities entirely.

  He’ll learn. He must, Ellen said back through artificial telepathy.

  Let’s hope so.

  Ellen evaluated the enemy flight patterns and quickly determined that their plan was unclear, if they even had a plan at all. The Nautilus's attackers appeared to be nothing more than a ragtag group desperately throwing whatever they had at the massive vessel. Each ship seemed to be on its own path, some engaging the fighters, some barraging the Nautilus, others simply flying around in what seemed to be aimless patterns. Each ship looked different. Many of them were repurposed. The only commonality between them was a red symbol on the outer hull, a trident inside of a circle.

  They must’ve been thieves, but Ellen wondered just how they thought they could steal from the colony ship before the it left the system, especially with such poor organization.

  “What do these guys call themselves? The pitchforks?” Cutter joked as he examined the insignias painted on the outside of the vessels. He seemed to be feeling better.

  “Stow the jokes, Cutter. They’re nothing but pirates, vagabonds, scoundrels. They’re not supposed to make sense.”

  “What are they even trying to do? Steal from us?”

  “I… I don’t know. Who cares? Let’s just take them out and get it over with,” she said with a sigh.

  You sound tired, Yuri noted.

  I thought I was done with this life.

  The ship's sensors alerted her to an enemy ship on her six. It was nearly on them. It had come out of nowhere.

  “Shit. It’s on our tail!” Cutter cried out.

  “Damn.”

  Ellen could really use a shipboard AI right now, but this small two-person fighter was not deemed worthy enough for its own AI unit. Yuri was certainly capable of helping, but with a thousand other distractions to deal with, Ellen did not want to overburden him. As far as she was concerned, she was running the show.

  The corporal cut the engines and raised the aft shields to full power as the pirate ship fired off a wave of missiles. Momentum still carried their own ship forward, but not fast enough. Ellen grimaced as the projectiles accelerated through space, growing nearer and nearer with each passing second.

  Auto defense lasers can't target that many projectiles and shields won’t hold if they hit us, Yuri explained. The shields might be able to deflect the blast from one or two missiles tops.

  “They won’t hit us!” Ellen replied, confidently.

  “What are you doing?” Cutter asked through heavy breaths.

  “I just had a new idea. Give me full control. Hold on.”

  She reestablished power to the engines and directed the fighter towards what looked like an enemy cargo ship repurposed as some sort of bomber. It was closing in on the Nautilus like a predator to prey.

  Fortunately, Ellen was faster.

  Missiles closing in. Impact imminent.

  “Hold on,” Ellen said again. “Hold on!”

  Their current vector put them on a collision course with the pirate bomber.

  “Uh… Milsen, do you see that big fucking ship dead ahead?” Cutter nervously asked. His hands shook. Sweat dripped down his face.

  “Hold on,” she repeated.

  She brought the ship as close as she could to the bomber and altered course at the last possible second, knocking a comm an
tenna clean off the enemy vessel. G forces assaulted her like she had not felt since training. She was practically paralyzed. She could have sworn she heard her sternum pop. Ellen tried as hard as she could to keep her eyes open and lungs breathing.

  The missiles on her tail smashed into the bomber, tearing the pirate ship apart in a violent explosion. Ellen cut the engines and let momentum carry her forward as she reestablished power to the shields. If it weren’t for the aft shields and auto defense lasers taking out shrapnel, the fighter would have been lost in the explosion as well.

  As soon as they were freed of the intense forces, Cutter let out a gasping shout.

  Ellen let out a deep sigh and held her head. Sure enough, Cutter undid his safety belt and fell out of the chair, onto the cold metal floor. He curled up like a newborn baby.

  “Are you okay?” she asked, looking down at him.

  Cutter did not move or respond, but he sent her the image of an exclamation point over the ATG.

  He’s fine, just a bit shocked, Yuri concluded privately.

  How are you?

  You’ve dragged me through worse.

  Good. I need you to stay sharp. There’s still a bogey on our six.

  Ellen had to admit, she was surprised that their sudden change of course had not managed to shake the pirates off her tail. Whoever these pilots were, they were not as inexperienced as the others in this battle.

  Commander Ignacio, this is Corporal Milsen, requesting assistance. We’ve got a bogey we can’t shake!

  I see that, Corporal. That was quite an impressive maneuver you pulled back there, the squadron commander replied through the ATG. The enemy bomber took a nasty hit.

  Thank you, Commander Ignacio. Any chance you can lend a hand?

  There was a brief pause. Ellen wondered for a moment if the answer would be no. She eyed the holo. The enemy was lining up again for another missile launch.

  Let me see what I can do, he eventually replied, putting her worries slightly at ease.

  Ellen wondered what he had in mind.

  The enemy ship has fallen in line with us, Yuri warned.

  Missiles?

  Not yet… no… wait… yes, there they are! Missiles launched. Incoming!

  Ellen studied the holo. She diverted power to the engines, therefore shutting down the aft shields. Their rear was wide open.

  “Whatever you’re going to do, Commander, do it now,” she said aloud to nobody in particular.

  Missiles closing in. Auto defense lasers were damaged from the explosion. We're out of countermeasures.

  “Shit!” Cutter cried out, still lying helplessly on the floor.

  Impact in five… four… three…

  Before the missiles could reach the target, a barrage of laser fire intercepted them. The missiles exploded early. The hull shook hard, but did not breach. Ellen gripped the arm of her seat, steadying herself. They were hurt, but still in the fight.

  Another Vexa Corp fighter flew perpendicular to them, unleashing a storm of laser fire onto the pursuing pirate vessel. Overwhelmed, the enemy ship was not able to adjust course in time and traveled straight into the laser rays. The bombardment lasted all of four seconds before the hull was breached.

  From there, it was all over.

  The corporation ship flew by. Ellen waved to it in thanks, though she knew the pilots would not be able to see it, even with their ocular enhancements.

  Is that you, Wilson? Ellen asked over the ATG.

  The one and only, Wilson replied. There was a tone of pride in his voice.

  Thanks for the assist. You saved our asses.

  Commander Ignacio told me you needed some help. That was some maneuver you pulled there on that bomber!

  Thanks. Stay sharp out there, she replied.

  You too.

  Ellen assessed the battle. The attackers were all but defeated now. Only three ships remained out of the two dozen that they’d started with. By comparison, the corporation seemed to have suffered no casualties at all.

  Cutter got up from the floor and found his way back to the copilot’s chair. He held onto his head all the while.

  “Glad to have you back with us.”

  “Sorry. I can’t believe I did that. I’ve never been in a high g maneuver like that before,” he explained. Ellen could tell he felt genuine embarrassment.

  “That’s alright. I gave you no warning. I’ll prepare you better next time.”

  “Are we okay?”

  “Our bodies are reinforced to take this kind of pressure. The carbon-fiber latticework in our bones, our organs, even our brain, it was put there for a reason. We didn’t go through that procedure for nothing.”

  “I think one of my bones is broken,” he said, glancing down to his sternum.

  “Mine too. The latticework may not be perfect, but at least we aren’t dead.”

  It’s your second rib by the way, and to be more precise, it’s only a fracture, Yuri explained. Before you ask, I’m already working to heal it with nanotech.

  Thanks, Yuri.

  Ellen stared at the action before her eyes as two of the remaining enemy ships brought their delta-v to zero and powered down their weapons in surrender. Corporation ships surrounded them both, ready to take the crews as prisoners. Meanwhile the last enemy ship seemed to be making a run for it. Wilson was already in pursuit.

  Both pilots took a deep breath of relief that the battle was finally over. It was one hell of a start to their voyage.

  Good work, pilots. Area is clear, the commander explained over the ATG. We have nothing but open space ahead of us now. Bring your ships back in. We’re leaving.

  Cheers lit up the ATG. Ellen could not help but smile.

  We’re leaving. She let those words sink in. She could not wait to leave this system forever.

  The journey would last 145 years. It was easily the longest trip she had ever taken, though most of that time would be spent in stasis.

  Stasis, probably the universe’s greatest invention. All she had to do was enter the stasis pod and close her eyes. When it came time to open them again, they would be at the end of their trip. It would be as if no time passed at all.

  “I can’t wait to go back to the Nautilus,” Cutter said, breaking the silence. “This was a lot for one day.”

  “If you thought this was a lot, you’ve seen nothing. Those odds were stacked highly in our favor. I wish all fights were that easy.”

  “I take it you’ve seen a lot of battles?”

  “More than you care to know.”

  That answer seemed to scare the poor guy.

  He really knows nothing about you, Yuri noted privately.

  “Will we be in more?”

  “More battles? Not sure,” Ellen replied, shaking her head. “It’s hard to say. When the Nautilus reaches its destination, they’ll pull us back out again. We’ll have to escort it into the planet. But I wouldn’t expect any hostiles so far away from Sol.”

  “I hope so,” Cutter said, wiping some sweat from his face. “I signed up to get away from violence, not to go flying into it.”

  Ellen sighed.

  “You and me both.”

  Gamma Pavonis

  Earth Date (Revised Julian Calendar): 08.14.4280

  Location: VCS Nautilus, Outer edge of Thrace System, Vexa Corp Controlled Space

  Ellen opened her eyes. Light blinded her as the pod door opened. She moved her limbs around, making sure everything was still in working order. Her muscles were not stiff or tight at all. It was as if nothing had happened.

  “Wakey, wakey!” a male voice said. Ellen did not recognize the speaker right away.

  She stepped out of the pod and looked around the room. Other pilots were coming out of their pods, each taking a look around in their stasis suits. Cutter was one pod over. His blond hair was a mess.

  “Welcome, pilots,” the voice said again. Ellen turned to face the speaker, suddenly realizing that it was Commander Ignacio. His slick black hair gleamed in the
overhead lighting.

  As squadron commander to a private security force, Ignacio was the only one with a real rank here. Everyone else was simply referred to as “pilot”. That meant even an experienced soldier like Ellen was of the same rank as her copilot, Cutter, who had never flown a real fighter in his life. The other pilots referred to her as “corporal” every now and then, but it did not place her any higher or lower on the totem pole.

  Oh, how I miss the military sometimes.

  No you don’t, Yuri said back to her, privately.

  Fine, you’re right. I don’t, but it would be nice to have a real rank.

  Corporal Ellen Milsen was no ordinary soldier, she was an SDF Marine, the hardest of the hardened. She had seen it all. Incursions on land, space, rings, platforms, asteroids, it all blurred together after long enough. Funny that it now all seemed so long ago.

  “Incase you have not checked the ATG yet,” the commander continued, pulling Ellen back to the here and now, “the Nautilus has reached the end of its voyage. We’re in the Thrace system. It’s been 145 years.”

  Some of the pilots whistled in shock.

  “The Nautilus is in its final approach, which means we need you back out there running escort. We don’t expect another attack, but we didn’t expect it on our departure either.”

  “Understood, Commander Ignacio,” one of the pilots said.

  “Roger that,” said another.

  “Good. Prepare for deployment at 0900.” A few heads nodded in compliance. With those words, the commander turned and exited the room.

  Ellen smiled. 145 years on a colony ship. She could hardly believe it.

  “Hey, Milsen!”

  She turned to face an excited Cutter. He waved to her with an awkward smile on his face.

  He seems chipper, Yuri noted.

  “Hey, Cutter. How’d you sleep?”

  “Like a rock, or… what I guess a rock would sleep like if they were alive. I’m surprised I don’t feel any lethargy or stiffness. It’s as if nothing has happened.”

  “Stasis is a wonderful thing. There’s nothing quite like it.”