Dark Space - 01 - Dark Space

✍ Scribed by Jasper T. Scott

• Publisher: Anthem Press
• Year: 2014
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 187 KB
• Category: Fiction

✦ Synopsis

From the USA Today Bestselling Author of Stars and Empire

HUMANITY IS DEFEATED

Ten years ago the Sythians invaded the galaxy with one goal: to wipe out the human race.

THEY ARE HIDING

Now the survivors are hiding in the last human sector of the galaxy: Dark Space--once a place of exile for criminals, now the last refuge of mankind.

THEY ARE ISOLATED

The once galaxy-spanning Imperium of Star Systems is left guarding the gate which is the only way in or out of Dark Space--but not everyone is satisfied with their governance.

AND THEY ARE KILLING EACH OTHER

Freelancer and ex-convict Ethan Ortane is on the run. He owes crime lord Alec Brondi 10,000 sols, and his ship is badly damaged. When Brondi catches up with him, he makes an offer Ethan can't refuse. Ethan must infiltrate and sabotage the Valiant, the Imperial Star Systems Fleet carrier which stands guarding the entrance of Dark Space, and then his debt will be cleared. While Ethan is still undecided about what he will do, he realizes that the Imperium has been lying and putting all of Dark Space at risk. Now Brondi's plan is starting to look like a necessary evil, but before Ethan can act on it, he discovers that the real plan was much more sinister than what he was told, and he will be lucky to escape the Valiant alive. . . .

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Review

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?????"Wonderfully well written! Dark Space is a thrilling action-adventure set in the far future. It reminded me a little of an exciting episode of BattleStar Galatica. . . .I have to admit I really liked the characters in this story. And the dialogue was engaging, and real, especially the playful banter between Ethan and Alara, the love interest.I enjoyed the twist at the end. . . .Dark Space 2 comes out July 23rd. I'm on board!"

-Isaac Hooke, Best-Selling Author of the Forever Gate Series

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????? "Flawless--I like the plot. It has a quick yet steady progression so that it feels neither thin nor thick. It's like pizza crust and just as tasty. . . .this is the second full length novel that I have awarded the following score to--Trickster Eric Novels gives "Dark Space" an A+

-Brian Wilkerson, Trickster Eric Novels

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???? "All things considered, Dark Space is an excellent addition to your Sci-Fi library; I personally really enjoyed and can therefore recommend it."

-BookReviewsGuru.com, TheReaderSentry

???? "The plot moves along quickly but there are moments to savor, especially when Ethan discovers the view commonly held in Dark Space about the ISS doesn't quite match up with reality. I am definitely looking forward to finding out what happens next."

-Scott Whitmore, Book Reviewer

From the Inside Flap

Ethan heard Gina scream, and then her comm cut off in static. "Gina!"

The static hissed on with no reply.

*Frek!*His heart pounding, Ethan checked his scopes, but they'd fuzzed out due to the proximity of the explosions. He flew through the expanding debris clouds and ignored the sound of shattered duranium pelting his fighter. His forward shields quickly dropped into the red, and he feared what that meant for Gina. "Gina!" he tried again.

Then he saw her, one of her three engines still glowing blue, the other two flickering. Her starboard stabilizer fin had been knocked off, and he could see that her cockpit canopy was striated with fractures. "Gina, for Immortals' sake, answer me!"

A moment later her voice came back to him, but she sounded weak. "I'm alive. Took a hit through my canopy. My suit's pissing air."

"Krak, how badly are you injured?"

"Not much blood, but breathing hurts like a motherfrekker. Maybe a few broken ribs."

"Fly back to theDefiant. I'll cover you."

"I'll never make it that far, not on half thrust. . . . Too many enemy fighters."

Ethan gritted his teeth. "Well, frek it, you're just gonna give up and die?"

No answer.

Ethan watched the hull of theValiantgrowing large before them. In his periphery he spotted theDefiant'sbeam cannons opening up as the cruiser made her first pass on theValiant'sport hangar. Eight blue dymium beams shot out, drawing rippling waves from the hangar's shields.

A few seconds after that, Ethan saw nova fighters tearing out of the massive carrier's launch tubes.

"Are those our novas coming from theValiant?" Gina asked.

Ethan shook his head. "We don't have anyone left on board. We took everyone except for the sentinels with us."

"So those areenemynovas. Frek!"

Ethan had no reply for that. By now Brondi had overwhelmed the six sentinels in the concourse between the carrier's ventral hangars and he was taking control of the ship--including its considerable compliment of nova fighters and interceptors.Gina's right. We won't make it back to theDefiant.

No one will.