Excerpt from New Work about a Space Colony

Excerpt from New Work about a Colony Planet

Competition for a Ship

Outside the stadium, thick grey smog billowed between the towering skyscrapers, the residences of the elite in the overcrowded coastal megacity of Estusa. Inside, the audience waited, in avid silence, for the final round of the competition for the next colony ship.

Lily White prowled impatiently with feline grace while waiting for her team’s chance to exhibit their skills. A strikingly tall woman, she wore an orange striped leotard, which accentuated her lithe muscular body and reflected her nickname of Tiger Lily.

Her companion, the team leader, John Simmons grinned at her restless antics. “Our demo is next. You’ll be marvelous; you are the star of our act. The audience loves Tiger Lily!”

“I know,” she said, in complacent indifference to her dramatic impact. “But, will it be enough? I couldn’t bear to lose for a second time. We’ve been training for ten years. I hate living in the smelly underground rabbit warrens!” She shook her long hair and glared fiercely at him.

John was a sober counterpoint in their act, wearing black to highlight Lily’s exuberant gymnastics. He was accustomed to her impassioned outbreaks, and sympathized. They shared the same goal of exploring a new world. A natural leader, he exuded confidence.

“We’ll win this time,” he declared optimistically. “We’re all in peak physical condition, and you and Max have designed superb exhibitions showcasing our talents that will wow the spectators.”

Their number was called. Lily and John entered from opposite sides of the arena, ran to the center and clashed the shiny tips of their swords together. They had decided to demonstrate their low tech combat skills in the last stages of the competition, under the assumption that any surviving descendants of the first colonists had lost the ability to make advanced weapons. The spectators yelled their enthusiastic approval, reveling in the rare opportunity to shout aloud without violating rigid convention.

John and Lily were closely matched in height and skill. Their swords flashed against each other as they leaped through their energetic dance-like routine, protected by invisible individual force fields. The repeated clashes of their darting blades reverberated through the arena. Lily whirled around with feline agility, even vaulting right over the head of her opponent, in blatant disregard of the precautions needed for a real combat. She was an anachronism in the modern age, a throwback to a less polluted era with lower population and greater freedom. The audience loved her outrageous exhibitionism. They roared approval, waving orange and black striped flags in wild celebration of Tiger Lily’s flawless performance.

Sci-Fi Romance Brigade Presents - Intro for a new work

Here is the Introduction of a New SFR Novel

On a remote planet, a tall man stood alone on a rock staring out across the ocean. He jumped lightly off the rock and strode into the sea.

Suddenly, a long attenuated tentacle stretched out and wound around his ankle, tugging him off balance. He staggered and quickly recovered, putting his weight on his free leg and shaking the tethered foot. In the next instant, he slipped his sword from the sheath and slashed off the end of the tentacle, freeing his leg.

He leaped back, out of the frothing waves. Two more tentacles snaked from the sea toward him, and were rapidly sliced apart. More tentacles shot toward him, and a bulbous orange body emerged from the sea. A hard beak snapped open, as it moved closer.

Abruptly, it screeched frightfully, as an even larger monster broke the surface and grabbed the tentacles in its scimitar-like fangs. The great grey beast clamped its jaws and drew the tentacled creature deeper into the ocean.  

The man stepped back onto dry land. There was no escape here, no passage through the ocean, teeming with such monsters. He shouldered his heavy pack, and strode north along the coast toward the distant hills. 

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Work in Progress - Introduction

Excerpt from Work in Progress

I aim to publish this space opera in September. 

A slight brown figure slipped soundlessly down the ladder from the cargo hold at the rear of the Emperor’s Revenge, looked around warily and, seeing nobody watching, slipped into the shadows. Kat, in her covert persona of ghost thief and spy extraordinaire, crept cautiously out of the Revenge’s docking bay, and ran through the connecting passage toward the sector barrier. The secret codes were tucked into a pocket of her dingy brown coveralls. It was imperative to deliver the codes safely to the Solarian Intelligence Service, or SIS as it was colloquially named, before she switched out of her disguise. 

Kat halted before the exit, hearing excited voices from the space cruiser. She rotated swiftly on her toes. No one was visible behind, so she strode boldly around the corner and out of the Emperor’s sector. She ran lightly along the passageway to the adjacent sector, and darted into the crowds milling through the central hub of Hassam port. She sighed in hopeful relief. There were no sounds of hunters at her heels, and she was eager to return to her official persona of the wealthy Mistress Trina Sligo, daughter of the famous diplomat, Master Fingal Sligo, the Solarian ambassador.

Loud yells from the Emperor’s sector alerted her to pursuit. The cruiser’s guards had found traces of her forced entry. The crowds were moving toward the Neiman’s sector for the tradeshow and circus. She weaved in and out of the lively groups of people, aiming for the Solarian sector. Shouting from behind and the stamping of heavy footsteps from the pursuing guards impelled her into a narrow side street. She raced to the end, flipped round the corner, and ran past the sleazy inns and brothels of the old portside town. Another turn took her into a broad thoroughfare lined with gaudy tourist shops, and cafes with tables spilling out into the street.

She slowed her frantic pace to the casual stride of a tourist visiting the old town. She strolled down the crowded street, scanning the passersby for a potential ally. At length she spotted two junior officers of the Solarian fleet. The grey uniformed men lounged at a small table in a cafe, drinks in front of them. Kat sidled over to their table and leaned nervously toward the younger of the two officers.

She proffered the codes, whispering in a conspiratorial manner, “Take this to your intelligence office. It’s a gift from the Grey Kat.” The man stared at her ragged clothes in disbelief. “Take it,” she insisted. “I’m in great danger!” He stretched out his hand and clasped the com, almost unwillingly, glanced at his companion and nodded. As she sped away, they lifted their drinks and sipped casually as if nothing had happened. Good, she mused, they would deliver the urgently needed codes to SIS. Now, she had to escape and switch her identity.

She paused in dismay. A line of blue uniformed troops advanced toward her from the far end of the street. Swinging round, she saw the Emperor’s guards emerging from a side street. Where could she hide? Quickly, Kat dashed inside a small art gallery and ran to the back, forcing her way past the confused owner into his living quarters. She leapt into the back street, and fled down a narrow alley. A six foot wall blocked the end. She scrambled over the wall, clinging to the top briefly while she examined the other side. The area between the walls was littered with ancient rusty vehicles. She dodged around the miscellaneous clutter, vaulted the wall on the other side and crouched beside a smelly dumpster at the rear door to a small shop.

Kat waited patiently. There was a distant crashing from her pursuers, which faded gradually into an uneasy silence. She had evaded the guards. She stood up quietly and brushed the dirt from her coveralls. Then, she marched defiantly in the direction of the docks as if she owned the place. Parts of the spaceport were indeed likely to be the property of her alter ego, Mistress Sligo, she mused wryly. Finances were not her forte. She would be safe if she could only reach the Solarian sector, where her companions waited with their fast scout ship.

Her fastest route led through the Independent sector. She paused suspiciously before entering the sector. Would her enemies be waiting for her there? Surely, they would avoid the lawless Independents. She peeped rapidly around the wall and saw nobody.

She slipped into the narrow passage, with a nagging premonition of disaster. Leaning against the smooth wall, she scanned with all her senses for irregular motions or sounds. Still nothing! She must reach the Solarian sector, where her companions waited with their fast scout ship. A few steps ahead was the walkway extending along the whole length of the sector with individual docking bays branching off at regular intervals. Kat stepped into the open and walked through the Independent sector towards her sector. She let out her breath in a long sigh. She was nearly home free.

Suddenly, she heard soft voices approaching and the tread of booted feet. She dived into the nearest bay, hiding behind a large container ready for loading into the hold. Two men strode past the container where she crouched silently. They spoke in low, cheerful voices as if their business had prospered in the port. She did not recognize their nondescript dark clothes, but they bore stunners in their belts. She watched them walk down the bay toward the ship, which was blocked from her sight by a stack of boxes. When they had vanished, she turned quietly, intending to creep away. She squeaked involuntarily, as her arm was grabbed roughly.

A man said in a gruff voice, “It’s the thief!” Kat wriggled vigorously, trying to escape his grip, to no avail. Footsteps sounded, and a second man came up behind her. “The Captain wants to question the thief,” he said. “Something of value was stolen from the Emperor’s Revenge.”

Teaser from The Lady is Blue for SFR Brigade Presents

Snippet from The Lady is Blue

Sa Kamizan, the Atrapako hero is massive, with hard blue scales and vicious claws, deadly, despite his urbane public manner. Lucy is never scared of him. He claims his people are logical and unemotional, but she is skeptical and her scientific logic can match his. His idea of humans as puny, emotional and dull witted changes as he learns more about Lucy.  Note, Azarak means Autumn in the Atrapako language. Obviously, it has another meaning, as she guesses. 
In this excerpt, Lucy is showing him the mountains of Eden. They are lying naked in the sun after enjoying a dip in the stream. He threatens, teasingly, to scratch her back with his claws. She calls his bluff, and is surprised by the result. (He does not use the claws.)

His breathing quickened and Lucy felt his hand slide down her body. An uncomfortable flush spread over her. She tensed and said, coldly, “You enjoy touching me!” He removed his hand quickly and she sat up, hugging her knees to her chest protectively.

He gazed at her face, half kneeling in front of her. “You are beautiful!” he said with an unexpected catch in his voice.

“Do you feel emotion?” she said with another deep flush, as she sensed his physical attraction. For the first time, she felt he was vulnerable; he had betrayed a feeling of desire.

He gave a choke of laughter, “I did not claim to have no emotion, only less powerful emotions.”

A sudden insight hit her. “Oh, you mean less powerful than in Azarak?”

Immediately, he reacted in alarm. His crest hairs stood erect and his eyes narrowed as he grabbed her arm. “Who told you?”

Without hesitation, she said, looking into his piercing eyes, “You did!”

“I did not mention Azarak,” he said, glaring at her.

She said smoothly, “I made a lucky guess at the name.”

He released her arm, saying, “You are a dangerous woman, Lucy Stannis.” 

What happens in Azarak? 
This insight is valuable to Lucy as she works for a peaceful conclusion when they are separated by the ensuing conflicts. 
  
Book 2, Dragons  of Vkani, is free for one promotion day on July 20th (GMT). 

Return to SFR Brigade and read other snippets, here, or at the button.  

Free eBooks

 Free eBooks

I will run a promotion of one free ebook of either The Lady is Blue or Dragons of Vkani for one day each weekend over the summer.

Excerpts from Work in Progress

  From Chapter 1

A slight brown figure slipped soundlessly down the ladder from the cargo hold at the rear of the Emperor’s Revenge, looked around warily and, seeing nobody, slipped into the shadows. Kat crept cautiously out of the docking bay, through the connecting passage and along the sector barrier towards the side exit. The secret codes for which she had risked her life were tucked into a pocket of her dingy brown coveralls. It was imperative to deliver the codes to the Solarian Intelligence Service.

Kat halted before the exit, hearing excited voices from the space cruiser. She rotated swiftly on her toes. No one was visible behind, so she strode boldly around the corner and out of the Emperor’s main sector. She ran lightly along the passageway to the adjacent sector, and darted into the crowds milling through the central hub of Hassam port.

Loud yells from the Emperor’s sector alerted her to pursuit. She weaved in and out of the lively groups of people, moving toward the Solarian sector. Shouting from behind and the stamping of heavy footsteps from the pursuing guards impelled her into a narrow side street. She raced to the end, flipped round the corner, and ran past the sleazy inns and brothels of the old portside town. Another turn took her into a broad thoroughfare lined with touristy shops, boutiques and cafes with tables flowing out onto the pavement.

She slowed her frantic pace to the casual stride of a tourist in the old town. She walked down the gaudy street, scanning the passersby for a potential ally. At length, she spotted two junior officers of the Solarian fleet, lounging in a small café. Kat sidled over to their table and leaned nervously toward the younger officer.

She proffered the codes, whispering in a conspiratorial manner, “Take this to your intelligence office. It’s a gift from the Grey Kat.” The man stared at her ragged clothes in disbelief. “Take it,” she insisted. “I’m in great danger!” He clasped the com, almost unwillingly, glanced at his companion and nodded. As she sped away, they lifted their drinks and sipped casually as if nothing had happened. Good, she mused, they would deliver the codes. Now, she had to escape and switch her identity. 

First meeting of main characters. The heroine in her guise as the thief, Grey Kat, has been dragged into a spaceship.

Two armed men escorted her to a large cabin. A tall man stood by a table displaying galactic charts. Strikingly, he was clothed entirely in black. He wore black leather boots, black gloves, and even his face was wrapped in folds of black cloth, exposing only his piercing green eyes under a black turban. She stared at him curiously. Sexy outfit, she mused. But, why did he cover his face?  Was it a cultural obligation, or was he hiding some hideous deformity?

He scrutinized her small figure with equal intensity. He saw a slim woman with alert tawny eyes and brown hair, wearing coveralls of a nondescript brown. He spoke in a cool, dispassionate tone, “My men say you are the cunning thief who stole secret codes from the Emperor’s Revenge. Where are the codes?”

She stared back in silence, tilting her chin in defiance.

“I am the Black Hawk. You are on my ship, the Rogue Star, and utterly in my power. I recommend you tell me what you know.” His deep cold voice sent a shiver down her spine.