SALERA’S STORM
AT THE THRESHOLD OF DARKNESS
by
J.R. Marro
COPYRIGHT
Title: Salera’s Storm
Published by J.R. Marro
Copyright 2009 by J.R. Marro
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INCLUDING THE RIGHT OF REPRODUCTION IN WHOLE OR PART IN ANY FORM.
No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—whether virtual, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the written permission of the copyright owner, J.R. Marro.
Throughout this publication, trademark names are used. Each name is the property of its respective owner.
ISBN 978-0-615-34097-5
Cover image courtesy of iStock.com/forplayday/NASA
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Acknowledgements
Quote from Charlotte Bronte
Prologue
Chapter 1................Chapter 18
Chapter 2................Chapter 19
Chapter 3................Chapter 20
Chapter 4................Chapter 21
Chapter 5................Chapter 22
Chapter 6................Chapter 23
Chapter 7................Chapter 24
Chapter 8................Chapter 25
Chapter 9................Chapter 26
Chapter 10..............Chapter 27
Chapter 11..............Chapter 28
Chapter 12..............Chapter 29
Chapter 13..............Chapter 30
Chapter 14..............Chapter 31
Chapter 15..............Chapter 32
Chapter 16..............Chapter 33
Chapter 17..............Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Acknowledgements
I’d like to first thank my family for their encouragement and support to go on even when I wanted to stop. A special mention goes to my precious grandchildren who loved everything I wrote even when it stunk.
I would like to thank all those individuals at the United States Geological Survey: Gertrude, Brian, David, and Marie. They were patient, kind and answered all my questions without making me feel stupid.
An important thank you goes to the people who invented the internet. Words cannot express my gratitude. I humbly bow to them.
Last but definitely not least, a very huge thanks goes to my editor, Summer, who practically whipped the words out of me. Her continued support and toughness are what kept me going and I can’t thank her enough.
J.R. Marro
“Something of vengeance I had tasted for the first time;
as aromatic wine it seemed, on swallowing,
warm and racy: its after flavor, metallic and corroding,
gave me a sensation as if I had been
poisoned.”
Charlotte Bronte, 1847
PROLOGUE
“There are a total of six aboard. Shall I order the Envil to power down their weapons?” asked Lieutenant Ruce, his pure white skin and crown of protruding spiked bones made the Teven-human a fearful sight.
“Negative. It’s just Awler and his friends trying to let off steam again,” said Captain Haron. “Just make sure we’re out of his scanner range.”
Haron carefully studied the small vessel on the screen. Awler was in a Messer-craft, the kind put together with leftover junk. Every imaginable color spotted the hand-made ship. Life was hard on the poorer planets, especially on Wecton B, where these kids were from. However, the Ripton and its crew had been assigned by the Federation to monitor this quadrant of the galaxy and Awler was at it again. The kid never gave up.
Another beam vaporized an asteroid. The vessel had only enough power to blast small asteroids lingering outside the field, so no major damage could be done. However, teroid blasting was forbidden under Federation law and for good reason; over sixty million lives were at stake on Aven III, the only populated world within the five-planet star system. Aven’s blue-green waters and patches of green and brown land were beautiful but the Aven-humans were primitive when it came to technology. They had no idea their small planet and two moons were surrounded by an asteroid field so thick it took days to maneuver through it. Unfortunately, Awler had ignored the previous six warnings, so now a short stay in a Federation jail was in order. He sighed. There was no choice.
“Let them have their fun for a little while then we’ll bust them,” said Haron. “Just watch for drifting asteroids.”
“Aye, Sir,” said Ruce, adjusting the controls in front of him.
Haron sat back and rubbed his chin, feeling his long fangs. He wondered if his green skin and three eyes were just as intimidating as Ruce’s spikes.
Nah.
“Captain,” said Ruce, “I’m detecting an unknown ore within an asteroid, close to the Envil.”
“Is it volatile?” asked Haron.
“I don’t know, Sir,” replied Ruce. “I’ve never seen properties like this. There is approximately eight ounces of pebble size stones. It’s located in the center of a half-mile asteroid.”
“What’s the proximity to Awler’s ship?” asked Haron. “It’s coming within his firing range.”
“Inform base we’re taking the Envil,” said Haron.
“Aye, Sir.”
“Ahead slow,” said Haron. “Prepare to send out a probe. I want to know what that stuff is.”
“Aye, Captain.”
Haron felt the ship move forward. “What’s our ETA?”
“Fifteen min—Sir! They’ve fired on the asteroid.”
The asteroid exploded with an enormous flash of light. The screen turned white and Haron grunted, covering his eyes to the blinding pain. When he opened them, speeding their way was a giant yellow cloud of fire and gas.
“Shields!” he shouted.
The wave hit the ship with a loud boom, sending it tumbling. Haron and his crew were thrown to the floor. Sparks and mini-fires burst throughout the bridge as the vessel rumbled and shook. Breathing was arduous as the pressure on his chest was squeezing the air from his lungs. Haron glanced at the screen. The stars were rolling. They were in a spin and moving fast. Loud creaks and groans resonated throughout the ship. They had to get control or the Ripton would be torn apart.
“Steady her!” shouted Haron, gripping the leg of his seat to keep himself from rolling.
“Aye, Sir!” yelled Ruce, who was already on his knees working the controls.
The Ripton gradually leveled off, but they were still moving backwards at a tremendous rate. Streaks of light filled the screen.
“What’s our speed?” yelled Haron, struggling to breathe from the crushing force.
“There’s no way to tell, Captain,” shouted Ruce. “The instruments are faltering.”
Within moments, the ship slowed down, grumbling to a stop. Haron strained to pull himself into the seat.
“Damage report,” he said, coughing from the smoke.
“Levels ten through thirteen have minimal damage,” said Ruce. “Forty-six have been injured and no deaths have been reported. All weapons and engines are fully capable.”
“Take us to those kids,” he said.
“Aye, Sir,” said Ruce. “ETA is thirty minutes.”
“What? Why so long?”
“The explosion pushe
d us over a light year away, Captain.”
Haron sat up, shocked. “Are you sure? Nothing has that kind of power.”
“Yes, sir,” said Ruce. “There is no mistaking.”
If it pushed us that far away...Haron’s breath caught in his chest. “Find those kids. Warp three.”
As they approached the area, the center of the screen displayed a white gaseous ball.
“What is that?” asked Haron, staring.
“That is our destination,” said Ruce.
Instantly the screen switched to where the Envil lay. Nothing was there. The thick asteroid field was gone.
“What you see are the remains of the young ones, the asteroid field, and the five-planet star system,” said Ruce, his eyes studying the data before him. He turned to Haron. “Captain, they have all been vaporized and there are no survivors.”
Haron felt his muscles go limp as he stared at the screen.
“How?” he asked in disbelief. “It was only eight ounces.”