Alabaster Noon Read online

  Tsan leveled a strange-looking gun at her and fired.

  * * *

  Tsan leaned over Peepo and breathed in her scent. Musk and the soil smell of a burrower predominated, with a spicy overtone that made her want to cough it back up. Veetanho. She would remember it for the rest of her life…and annihilate it wherever she found it.

  “Welcome back,” Tsan said with a slow-blink as Peepo woke to find herself chained to a table. “I’m sure you have so many questions, but I’m in a bit of a hurry. My friend Cahli swore you would bleed for every tear Sansar Enkh cried. Unfortunately, I don’t know how many that was, so I had to come up with something else. I decided you should bleed for every Depik who chose death over your machinations. Unfortunately, I don’t know how many that was, either, so I decided we would go with the number of people who died in Monrovia when you had that city destroyed.

  “Now, I’m not sure you’ll last more than three or four thousand cuts, much less the millions you earned for that attack; however, we do have seven days to find out, and I’m willing to be creative in how we go about this. I also have four medkits-worth of nanobots to help heal any major cuts and keep you from bleeding out before it’s time.” She slow-blinked. “We wouldn’t want that now, would we?”

  “You can’t kill me!” Peepo said, gasping.

  “Oh, but see, that’s where you’re wrong. Not only can I kill you, I absolutely will. Not fast…but with great certainty. The Peacemakers may have ended the war, but nothing short of your death will end this for the Hunters.”

  “No, you don’t understand. I have information vital to the safety of the galaxy!”

  “I’m sure you do,” Tsan said. She slow-blinked. “And I’m sure you’ll tell me all about it in time. I look forward to having you do so. I also look forward to that last cut that kills you, in spite of it.”

  “You stupid bitch! The Kahraman are coming, and I’m the only one who can save the galaxy!”

  “Really? How interesting. I’m not sure how you’re going to save the galaxy, though. Look at the state of you. You aren’t even able to save yourself.”

  “You don’t understand! I’m the only one who knows how to deal with the Kahraman!”

  “Just like you knew how to deal with the Four Horsemen? How well did that turn out for you? Sansar and the rest of the Horsemen send their regards.”

  “You don’t understand!”

  “Oh, but I do understand. You, unfortunately, are the one who doesn’t understand; however, I have plenty of time to bring you into the light. We only have 169 more hours until we reach Karma, and that time will pass far too quickly for me. I don’t want to miss a single second.”

  Tsan tenderly laid her knife on the last joint of the little finger on Peepo’s left hand.

  “Let’s begin, shall we?”

  * * * * *

  Dragon Award

  Did you like this series? Please nominate:

  A Pale Dawn

  for the Dragon Award for Best Military Science Fiction Novel here:

  http://application.dragoncon.org/dc_fan_awards_nominations.php.

  Thanks for your support!

  * * * * *

  About Chris Kennedy

  A bestselling Science Fiction/Fantasy author, speaker, and publisher, Chris Kennedy is a former naval aviator and elementary school principal. Chris’ stories include the Theogony and Codex Regius science fiction trilogies, and stories in the Four Horsemen military sci-fi series. Get his free book, Shattered Crucible, at his website, http://chriskennedypublishing.com.

  Chris is the author of the award-winning #1 bestseller, Self-Publishing for Profit: How to Get Your Book Out of Your Head and Into the Stores. Called “fantastic” and “a great speaker,” he has coached hundreds of beginning authors and budding novelists on how to self-publish their stories at a variety of conferences, conventions, and writing guild presentations, and he is publishing fifteen authors under various imprints of his Chris Kennedy Publishing small press.

  Chris lives in Virginia Beach, Virginia, and is the holder of a doctorate in educational leadership. Follow Chris on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/chriskennedypublishing.biz.

  * * * * *

  About Mark Wandrey

  Living life as a full-time RV traveler with his wife Joy, Mark Wandrey is a bestselling author who has been creating new worlds since he was old enough to write. A three-time Dragon Award finalist, Mark has written dozens of books and short stories, and is working on more all the time. A prolific world builder, he created the wildly popular Four Horsemen Universe as well as the Earth Song series, and Turning Point, a zombie apocalypse series. His favorite medium is military sci-fi, but he is always up to a new challenge.

  Find his books on Amazon at https://www.amazon.com/Mark-Wandrey/e/B00914T11A/

  Sign up on his mailing list and get free stuff and updates! http://www.worldmaker.us/news-flash-sign-up-page/

  * * * * *

  Titles by Chris Kennedy

  Red Tide: The Chinese Invasion of Seattle – Available Now

  Occupied Seattle – Available Now

  Janissaries: Book One of The Theogony – Available Now

  When the Gods Aren’t Gods: Book Two of The Theogony – Available Now

  Terra Stands Alone: Book Three of The Theogony – Available Now

  Can’t Look Back: Book One of the War for Dominance – Available Now

  The Search for Gram: Book One of the Codex Regius – Available Now

  Beyond the Shroud of the Universe: Book Two of the Codex Regius – Available Now

  The Dark Star War: Book Three of the Codex Regius – Available Now

  Self-Publishing for Profit – Available Now

  Leadership from the Darkside – Available Now

  Asbaran Solutions – Available Now

  The Golden Horde – Available Now

  Alpha Contracts – Available Now

  A Fistful of Credits – Available Now

  For a Few Credits More – Available Now

  The Good, The Bad, And The Merc – Available Now

  A Fiery Sunset – Available now

  * * * * *

  Titles by Mark Wandrey

  Cartwright’s Cavaliers

  Winged Hussars

  Dirty Deeds

  A Fistful of Credits

  For a Few Credits More

  The Good, the Bad, and the Merc

  Alpha Contracts

  A Fiery Sunset

  Earth Song: Overture

  Earth Song: Sonata in Orionis

  Earth Song: The Lost Aria

  A Time to Die

  A Time to Run

  * * * * *

  Connect with Chris Kennedy Online

  Website: http://chriskennedypublishing.com/

  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chriskennedypublishing.biz

  Twitter: @ChrisKennedy110

  Instagram: chris.kennedy12

  * * * * *

  Connect with Mark Wandrey Online

  Website: http://www.worldmaker.us/

  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mark.wandreyauthor.7

  * * * * *

  Do you have what it takes to be a Merc?

  Take your VOWs and join the Merc Guild on Facebook!

  Meet us at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/536506813392912/

  * * * * *

  Did you like this book?

  Please write a review!

  * * * * *

  The following is an

  Excerpt from Book One of the Salvage Title Trilogy:

  Salvage Title

  ___________________

  Kevin Steverson

  Now Available from Theogony Books

  eBook, Paperback, and Audio

  Excerpt from “Salvage Title:”

  A steady beeping brought Harmon back to the present. Clip’s program had succeeded in unlocking the container. “Right on!” Clip exclaimed. He was always using expressions hundreds or more years out of style. “Let’s see what we
have; I hope this one isn’t empty, too.” Last month they’d come across a smaller vault, but it had been empty.

  Harmon stepped up and wedged his hands into the small opening the door had made when it disengaged the locks. There wasn’t enough power in the small cells Clip used to open it any further. He put his weight into it, and the door opened enough for them to get inside. Before they went in, Harmon placed a piece of pipe in the doorway so it couldn’t close and lock on them, baking them alive before anyone realized they were missing.

  Daylight shone in through the doorway, and they both froze in place; the weapons vault was full. In it were two racks of rifles, stacked on top of each other. One held twenty magnetic kinetic rifles, and the other held some type of laser rifle. There was a rack of pistols of various types. There were three cases of flechette grenades and one of thermite. There were cases of ammunition and power clips for the rifles and pistols, and all the weapons looked to be in good shape, even if they were of a strange design and clearly not made in this system. Harmon couldn’t tell what system they had been made in, but he could tell what they were.

  There were three upright containers on one side and three more against the back wall that looked like lockers. Five of the containers were not locked, so Clip opened them. The first three each held two sets of light battle armor that looked like it was designed for a humanoid race with four arms. The helmets looked like the ones Harmon had worn at the academy, but they were a little long in the face. The next container held a heavy battle suit—one that could be sealed against vacuum. It was also designed for a being with four arms. All the armor showed signs of wear, with scuffed helmets. The fifth container held shelves with three sizes of power cells on them. The largest power cells—four of them—were big enough to run a mech.

  Harmon tried to force the handle open on the last container, thinking it may have gotten stuck over time, but it was locked and all he did was hurt his hand. The vault seemed like it had been closed for years.

  Clip laughed and said, “That won’t work. It’s not age or metal fatigue keeping the door closed. Look at this stuff. It may be old, but it has been sealed in for years. It’s all in great shape.”

  “Well, work some of your tech magic then, ‘Puter Boy,” Harmon said, shaking out his hand.

  Clip pulled out a small laser pen and went to work on the container. It took another ten minutes, but finally he was through to the locking mechanism. It didn’t take long after that to get it open.

  Inside, there were two items—an eight-inch cube on a shelf that looked like a hard drive or a computer and the large power cell it was connected to. Harmon reached for it, but Clip grabbed his arm.

  “Don’t! Let me check it before you move it. It’s hooked up to that power cell for a reason. I want to know why.”

  Harmon shrugged. “Okay, but I don’t see any lights; it has probably been dead for years.”

  Clip took a sensor reader out of his kit, one of the many tools he had improved. He checked the cell and the device. There was a faint amount of power running to it that barely registered on his screen. There were several ports on the back along with the slot where the power cell was hooked in. He checked to make sure the connections were tight, he then carried the two devices to the hovercraft.

  Clip then called Rinto’s personal comm from the communicator in the hovercraft. When Rinto answered, Clip looked at Harmon and winked. “Hey boss, we found some stuff worth a hovercraft full of credit…probably two. Can we have it?” he asked.

  * * * * *

  Get “Salvage Title” now at: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07H8Q3HBV.

  Find out more about Kevin Steverson and “Salvage Title” at: https://chriskennedypublishing.com/imprints-authors/kevin-steverson/.

  * * * * *

  The following is an

  Excerpt from Book One of the Earth Song Cycle:

  Overture

  ___________________

  Mark Wandrey

  Available Now from Theogony Books

  eBook, Paperback, and Audio

  Excerpt from Overture:

  Prologue

  May 21st

  Dawn was still an hour away as Mindy Channely opened the roof access and stared in surprise at the crowd already assembled there. “Authorized Personnel Only” was printed in bold red letters on the door through which she and her husband, Jake, slipped onto the wide roof.

  A few people standing nearby took notice of their arrival. Most had no reaction, a few nodded, and a couple waved tentatively. Mindy looked over the skyline of Portland and instinctively oriented herself before glancing to the east. The sky had an unnatural glow that had been growing steadily for hours, and as they watched, scintillating streamers of blue, white, and green radiated over the mountains like a strange, concentrated aurora borealis.

  “You almost missed it,” one man said. She let the door close, but saw someone had left a brick to keep it from closing completely. Mindy turned and saw the man who had spoken wore a security guard uniform. The easy access to the building made more sense.

  “Ain’t no one missin’ this!” a drunk man slurred.

  “We figured most people fled to the hills over the past week,” Jake replied.

  “I guess we were wrong,” Mindy said.

  “Might as well enjoy the show,” the guard said and offered them a huge, hand-rolled cigarette that didn’t smell like tobacco. She waved it off, and the two men shrugged before taking a puff.

  “Here it comes!” someone yelled. Mindy looked to the east. There was a bright light coming over the Cascade Mountains, so intense it was like looking at a welder’s torch. Asteroid LM-245 hit the atmosphere at over 300 miles per second. It seemed to move faster and faster, from east to west, and the people lifted their hands to shield their eyes from the blinding light. It looked like a blazing comet or a science fiction laser blast.

  “Maybe it will just pass over,” someone said in a voice full of hope.

  Mindy shook her head. She’d studied the asteroid’s track many times.

  In a matter of a few seconds, it shot by and fell toward the western horizon, disappearing below the mountains between Portland and the ocean. Out of view of the city, it slammed into the ocean.

  The impact was unimaginable. The air around the hypersonic projectile turned to superheated plasma, creating a shockwave that generated 10 times the energy of the largest nuclear weapon ever detonated as it hit the ocean’s surface.

  The kinetic energy was more than 1,000 megatons; however, the object didn’t slow as it flashed through a half mile of ocean and into the sea bed, then into the mantel, and beyond.

  On the surface, the blast effect appeared as a thermal flash brighter than the sun. Everyone on the rooftop watched with wide-eyed terror as the Tualatin Mountains between Portland and the Pacific Ocean were outlined in blinding light. As the light began to dissipate, the outline of the mountains blurred as a dense bank of smoke climbed from the western range.

  The flash had incinerated everything on the other side.

  The physical blast, travelling much faster than any normal atmospheric shockwave, hit the mountains and tore them from the bedrock, adding them to the rolling wave of destruction traveling east at several thousand miles per hour. The people on the rooftops of Portland only had two seconds before the entire city was wiped away.

  Ten seconds later, the asteroid reached the core of the planet, and another dozen seconds after that, the Earth’s fate was sealed.

  * * * * *

  Get “Overture” now at: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B077YMLRHM.

  Find out more about Mark Wandrey and Earth Song: Overture at:

  https://chriskennedypublishing.com/imprints-authors/mark-wandrey/.

  * * * * *

  The following is an

  Excerpt from Book One of The Psyche of War:

  Minds of Men

  ___________________

  Kacey Ezell

  Now Available from Theogony Books

 
eBook, Paperback, and Audio

  Excerpt from “Minds of Men:”

  “Look sharp, everyone,” Carl said after a while. Evelyn couldn’t have said whether they’d been droning for minutes or hours in the cold, dense white of the cloud cover. “We should be overhead the French coast in about thirty seconds.”