The Gatherers E-Book

Nathan Skaggs

• Herausgeber: BookRix
• Kategorie: Fantasy und Science-Fiction
• Sprache: Englisch

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2013

Beschreibung

Early one fall morning, Jason Maze's nightmare about a flying monstrosity is interrupted by a sudden thunderstorm. Hours later, Jason and his wife, Xenia, are caught between winged beasts and amphibious creatures. Jason quickly realizes these menacing beings were sent to observe them. Xenia fears she and Jason will be prey to these horrible monsters or trophies in a zoo. To avoid capture, Jason and Xenia must quickly decide who is friend, and who is foe.

Leseprobe

Nathan Skaggs

The Gatherers

The Dream Seers

BookRix GmbH & Co. KG81371 Munich

Book I of The Dream Seers

The Gatherers

By Nathan Skaggs

BookRix GmbH & Co. KG

Munich, Germany

© 2013 by Nathan Skaggs.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means without the prior written permission of the publishers, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages in a review to be printed in a newspaper, magazine, or journal.

Second edition

All characters in this book are fictitious, and any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental.

BookRix GmbH & Co. KG has allowed this work to remain exactly as the author intended, verbatim, without, editorial input.

PUBLISHED BY BookRix GmbH & Co. KG

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Munich, Germany

The Evasion

Deep in intergalactic space, two alien vessels were engaged in a battle. The first ship to appear was the Interceptor, an enormous and stealthy ebony wing. The Interceptor was pursued by the Menagerie, a colossal silver colored disk. The Interceptor’s crew appeared. They were Chiropterans-human sized bats with white skin. The Chiropterans were on course to the Clouds of Magellan. As the Chiropterans fled towards the Large Magellanic Cloud, they fired upon the Menagerie’s weapons. The Chiropterans soon disabled all of the Menagerie’s weapons and tracking systems. Unfortunately for the Chiropterans, the Interceptor’s propulsion system was damaged in the battle.

“Helmsman, the battle’s a stalemate. Keep us away from the Menagerie for a few more seconds! Navigator, we can’t escape the disk, but we can find a hiding place!” Brigadier General Pirro of the Interceptor ordered.

“Sir, we can seek refuge in that nearby spiral galaxy!” The helmsman reported.

“General, scanners have located a tiny blue planet in the far edge of one of the galaxy’s spiral arms. It’s in a solar system of nine planets!” The navigator interjected.

“Helmsman, you heard the navigator! Take us to that planet! Fastest possible speed! Navigator, scan the planet’s atmosphere, life forms, and technology.” Pirro ordered. “This planet’s technology is primitive to ours.” The navigator responded.

“Perfect. We’ll seek refuge in this planet’s orbit while we make vital repairs to our ship.” Pirro stated.

Damage to weapons and tracking systems forced the Menagerie to withdraw from battle. As repairs were under way, the elusive Interceptor escaped. Inside the disk was a crew of giant, bipedal, white, tailless, salamander like amphibians- the Caudatans. Even their eyes and blood were white.

“I need immediate status reports from all areas of the ship! Navigator, estimate the Chiropterans’ last known heading.” Rear Admiral Mandra ordered.

“Admiral, the damage is extensive, so the repair time will be substantial.” 1st Officer, Captain Sophia stated.

“Once our repairs are complete, we’ll resume pursuit of the Chiropterans. We can only hope the Chiropterans will not complete their repairs before ours.”

“Fortunately, our precious cargo is unharmed.” 2nd Officer, Commander Charlon stated.

Engineering crews rapidly began repairing the Interceptor’s damaged thrusters. Pirro knew Mandra was equally cunning and tenacious so he summoned the 1st and 2nd Officers to his briefing room.

“I just sent a distress call to Chiroptera since the Menagerie is still out of tracking range. Before the Interceptor is at full capacity, I wish to survey the planet.” Pirro stated.

“I’ve already selected a 10 member survey party to scout the planet. The survey commander, Major Tirrus, has selected a sparsely populated agricultural area to be surveyed under the cover of darkness. With stealth technology engaged, neither the Menagerie nor native sensors will be able to detect the Interceptor.” 1st Officer, Colonel Murci responded.

“Ma’am, Major Tirrus is reporting.” 2nd Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Marea stated

“The survey party is ready for lightning transport to the surface. Our force fields are at full strength.” Tirrus said.

“As a safety measure, I’m generating an electrical storm to mask your arrival. The transport will appear as normal meteorological phenomena, thus thwarting the Menagerie’s search attempts.” Marea stated.

“I want a secure communication link at all times. Good Luck.” Murci said.

The Arrival

Moments later, the survey party was transported to an altitude two miles above the planet’s surface.

“There are two nearby settlements. We will focus our survey on the creek and the woods halfway between the settlements. Since I’m an exobiologist, I will observe the native fauna. My wife and alien planet expert, Major Elaga, will perform geological research.” Tirrus said.