Amazon
James Raven
Category:
Science Fiction
Publisher: CreateSpace
ISBN-10: 1523943971
Type: Fiction
Pages: 350
Copyright: November 21 2016
ISBN-13: 9781523943975
Price: $4.95 (eBook)
A two-pronged Treldarian attack promises to devastate not only Terra Major (Earth) but also the very Sentinels of Tzurac themselves.
The third book in the ‘Sentinels of Tzurac’ sci-fi trilogy is the action-packed finale where the forces of good and evil struggle for control of the Universe through possession of the powerful resource Xytrinium.
Some of the characters readers loved or loathed in the previous two books resurface, determined to succeed, and an unexpected hero emerges. Trying to redeem himself and clear his conscience of his past mistakes, a fugitive Sentinel attempts to help the Tzuracians thwart their age-old enemy, the Treldarians.
James Raven’s final book in the science fiction saga will keep you intrigued and involved in the lives and loves of its many characters. With its martial arts sequences and space battles ‘Retaliation’ is sure to bring thrills and excitement to fans who enjoy science-fiction action and adventure.
Excerpt
IN the silence and emptiness of space, a black scorpion-shaped battleship marked with a distinctive red scorpion insignia had just dropped from hyper-drive to cruising speed. A thick-set long-haired and unkempt figure was making himself more comfortable in the Captain’s Chair when suddenly, his battleship was struck by a powerful force that reverberated through the ship’s hull. He was jolted forward onto the console with his arms flailing, trying to buffer the impact. High pitched alarms screamed in the cabin and small coloured lights flashed wildly across the entire console. Dazed by the impact and with his eyes still trying to refocus, he struggled to regain composure.
Coming to his senses, the figure sprang into action. Reaching for the controls, he checked for signs of damage and scanned the monitors displaying the craft’s perimeter. There was nothing to indicate the cause of impact — no asteroids, no space junk and no enemy ships.
Not taking any chances, especially in this treacherous, uncharted solar system, he immediately shouted commands, “Computer, raise shields to one hundred percent and arm laser cannons! Assess damage and turn off those #$!?* alarms!”
Instantly the screeching noise ceased and the flashing lights dissipated.
Within minutes a monotone simulated voice came over the Comms, “Damage Report: All systems operational. Minor damage to hull. Cause of assault: Unidentified missile.”
The lone pilot realised he was under attack. But before he could take evasive action, the Comms unexpectedly crackled and came to life again, this time with an unfamiliar raucous voice speaking in the pilot’s native tongue, Treldarian. “Attention, space voyager! We’ve fired a warning shot. You’re about to enter a Treldarian zone. Identify yourself!”
The anxious intruder switched on his main screen and was shocked to see a massive, intimidating warship fast approaching and beginning to dwarf his vessel. “Where the #$!?* did that come from?” he blurted. “Computer, magnify tenfold!”
The screen flickered to reveal a close-up of a heavily-armed black warship, unlike any he had seen before. Yet, it was bearing the unmistakable Treldarian insignia of a deadly-looking red scorpion.
The intruder knew he was out-gunned and, most assuredly, out-powered. Alone, he was at the mercy of these unfamiliar Treldarians. However, he had no intention of running. This must be the remote Treldarian army for which he’d been searching. The challenge now was to befriend them before being decimated.
Before he had time to respond, another more threatening demand came over his Comms, “Space voyager! Respond immediately! If you continue on your path, you’ll be destroyed by the minefield you’re fast approaching. If you try to escape, you’ll be fired upon!”
Immediately, he brought his battleship to a standstill and the screen flickered to reveal a larger-than-life image of his attacker. Before him was a mean-looking, solidly-built Treldarian with a trimmed black beard, dark sunken eyes and the leathery face of a seasoned soldier. The slick Treldarian captain was dressed in a black uniform with blood-red epaulettes and matching sleeve cuffs. His jet-black shoulder-length hair was pulled back neatly into a ponytail over a high buttoned collar and embedded on the helix of his right ear were three small gold studs. His face was stony and he glared intently at the intruder.
The lone pilot was not intimidated. “Hold your fire!” he screamed defiantly. “I’m First Lieutenant Ramlok, emissary for General Dranz, leader of the Treldarian Fifth Legion from the Northern Quadrant. I come alone and in peace on urgent business. I need to speak with your General!”
On-board the threatening warship, the Treldarian Captain tensed and leaned forward in his chair. He was impressed by the stranger’s defiance and curious to see the image of this audacious intruder which now flickered onto his screen.
Facing him was a thick-set, dishevelled rebel whose face was marked with battle scars, his dark wild eyes staring with a haunting intensity. His straggly hair was greasy long and matted and his beard ungroomed. He was wearing a well-worn, brown-leather battle-jacket over a crumpled blood-red shirt with a wide dull-yellow sash pulled diagonally across his broad chest. The Blader insignia of crossed daggers was emblazoned prominently on his battle-jacket.
Recognising the guerrilla freedom fighter’s outfit from descriptions in the annals, the Captain addressed his captive with confident authority. “I’m Captain Tarken, commander of this warship. Our weapons are targeted on you. Give me proof of your identity!”
Ramlok’s stone face gave no hint of fear, though he well knew Treldarians were inclined to shoot first and ask questions later. He reached carefully for his dispatch papers, slowly unravelling a dark leather pouch before holding the enclosed parchment up to the screen so it was clearly visible to the Captain. Ramlok watched Tarken’s eye movements on the screen as he scrutinized the hand-written words and inspected General Dranz’s signature sealed with an imprinted red-wax crest.
After a tense moment, Captain Tarken raised his head and made direct eye contact with the rebel Blader as if searching for the truth. Finally, he spoke again with the same tone of control, “Very well Lieutenant Ramlok, the document appears authentic and our heat sensors indicate there are no other life forms aboard your ship. I’ll escort you to my General on Planet Orkharn.”
Ramlok breathed a discreet sigh of relief. “Thank you Captain. I’ll follow your lead,” he said with outward bravado.
“Be warned, stranger, we’ll be monitoring your every move!” threatened Tarken, glaring at Ramlok through his dark eyes. “You need to follow my route closely to avoid our space mines. Hold your course Lieutenant Ramlok or you’re dead!”
***
“Comms, fire up the craft and follow that warship!” Ramlok instructed, thinking so far, so good …
As he trailed his new-found escort vessel, Ramlok reflected on the events that had brought him to this dangerous solar system and to his encounter with the assertive Captain Tarken.
On the orders of General Dranz, he had come on an urgent mission to find the long-lost Treldarian legions in the outer regions of the Eastern and Southern Quadrants of the Universe. He was carrying a message for General Khuram Vark of the Second Legion, and General Jelzad Rokan of the Third Legion. And, hopefully, he was about to meet one of them.
However, his mind was in conflict. These legions had deserted the Treldarian forces some five hundred years ago during a protracted interplanetary war with the Tzuracians over precious Xytrinium resources. Realising they were losing the battle against the enemy Tzuracian Sentinels—who had superior qualities and an extended lifespan resulting from a secret process of infusing Xytrinium into their DNA—the Second and Third Legions had abandoned the fight and sought refuge in the far-flung outer regions of the Universe. The message from Dranz was requesting these deserters join forces with him once again in an all-out war to destroy their age-old arch-enemy the Tzuracians who had formed a Federation of Planets that now controlled most of the Xytrinium resources in the Universe.
|
