Other Worlds Than These

By Gabe Sluis

In 2217, an unknown race of aliens attack Tellus, an alternate/parallel version of Earth. After a brief invasion attempt, the aliens, nicknamed Scalies, are pushed back. A Rift in space is left by the aliens leading to another system. Twentyish years later, a united humanity has built their first large warship, the Prime Meridian. After being augmented by two newly built gunships, they leave to investigate the other side of the Rift. A mysterious chain of events occurs causing the Prime to limp home, missing one of her gunships. An inquisition is launched by the Grand Marshal of the Space Service to determine the role that Lt. Aros Drogen played in the chaos.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Gabe Sluis
• Release date: Jan 9, 2013
• ISBN: 9781301206223

Gabe Sluis

Gabe Sluis is a hobby writer, primarily exploring Sci-Fi and Fantasy. The books are not series based, yet many common characters and places are seen throughout novels and short stories alike. He has published five novels, six short story collections, and a children's book. Check out his latest short story collection, PROVISIONS or the new novel ANCILLARY.Please leave a review on wherever it is you download your books! I love coming on to see new downloads each day, and I would love to hear what you think after you've given it a shot!

Book preview

OTHER WORLDS THAN THESE

A Novel

By

GABE SLUIS

Other Worlds Than These

Copyright © 2013 by Gabe Sluis

Published at Smashwords

Fourth Edition (2023)

Cover Art by Gabe Sluis

All Rights Reserved

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locations or persons, living or dead or undead, is entirely coincidental.

Thank you for downloading this free ebook. Although this is a free book, it remains the copyrighted property of the author, and may not be reproduced, copied and distributed for commercial or non-commercial purposes. If you enjoyed this book, please encourage your friends to download their own copy at Smashwords.com, where they can also discover other works by this author. They swiftly made their way.

Table of Contents

Part I

Part II

Part III

Part IV

Part V

Legend of the Dark Star

Part VI

Part VII

Part I

It was a dream that awoke Aros on his final day on Tellus. He sat up in the early morning darkness of his nearly empty unit. For the past year, Aros had been assigned to a Headquarters position. Instead of living in the provided officer’s quarters near the United Tellus Space Service Command Headquarters, he had a small flat a short rail ride away. It was clean and simple; a staged apartment with no fingerprints of its owner.

His alarm buzzed softly as he finished dressing in a new uniform. With an assault pack on his back and a tough case in his arms, Aros stepped out of the unit. He paused briefly to look at the name on the outside of his door. It read, LT. Aros Drogen.

The rain continued to fall when he reached the street. Aros took a moment to look around and breath in the sweet air. The clean sidewalks had been washed cleaner, and the excess water drained away without obstruction. The morning progressed, but the thick clouds and moist humidity kept out the bright light.

At the rail station, the other passengers immediately noticed the tall, dark-haired man in the dark blue of a Space Service uniform. He was out of place among the everyday man, who caught the early trains into central Camlon. His age also made him stand out. He was young, while most other travelers were older. A few of the hard-faced commuters nodded imperceptibly at the presence of a uniform, having served themselves in the generation prior.

The train arrived a minute later.

Aros sat at an inward facing seat. His pack rested between his legs and tough box on his lap. He closed his eyes and reviewed his new orders in his mind. The message had been delivered to his scroll the Friday before:

Report to UTSS Headquarters Monday morning for reassignment Off-World.

In his experience, orders of this nature meant assignment to a picket ship or station defense. But, Aros knew what he would really be doing. After all, working as staff at the Headquarters of UTSS had its advantages. He had made sure to be noticed by the right people and expressed the right viewpoints. Networking and establishing the right kind of reputation didn’t take long.

He would be taking temporary command of a new ship.

This particular ship was smaller than the standard destroyers or picket ships. It was small and fast, but most of all, brand new. Two identical gunships had recently been completed, built with the specific design to augment the Prime Meridian- the Services only great ship. Custom designed to provide a seamless fit, the two gunships were finally ready to enter service. Their primary purpose was to offer a detachability option for combat missions. Secondly, they were to lend the strength of their powerful engines, augmenting the maximum speed that the Prime Meridian could achieve. With the delivery of Aurora and Ushas, the final phase of Tellus’s first- and only- great warship was to be complete. Aros would be commanding Aurora on its way to reach its mothership.

The final stop on the line brought Aros to Space Service Headquarters. He walked across the platform to the security entrance, handing off his tough box. He followed an escort to an internal tram, which would take Service Personnel to the spaceport. Taking a seat in the nearly empty tram, Aros pulled out his scroll, a military issue individual data device, and opened up the Space Service news. Ignoring articles on promotions, a speech by the Grand Marshal, and a fluffy piece on life aboard a picket ship, Aros stopped to scan the news of the Prime Meridian’s return from her first extended mission. She was due to resupply at Palus Somni, the instillation located on Sulva, in the near future.

The only other person on the car interrupted Aros’s reading.

So, you’re taking the other one up, huh?

Aros turned around to see a man wearing a uniform of similar rank and color. The other officer was tall and fit looking, as most military men were. He had a shaved head and a light complexion.

I am.

Ever been off-world?

Yes, I spent some time on the North Station. You?

Third time. But I’ve never been to Sulva. I used to look up at it as a kid and imagine what it would be like watching Tellus rise, rather than the other way around. A pause, and he extended his hand.

I’m Lieutenant Max Veldt.

Aros Drogen.

Aros? Veldt said, taking his hand. What kind of name is that?

An old one.

***

The tram slowed and came to a stop. The doors slid open, announcing the arrival to the hanger entrance. Veldt gave Aros a head nod as he exited to start his work. The tram moved again and this time Aros reached his stop. The hanger’s shape was a large circle with four domes, one over each quarter. The Aurora was sitting in a different quarter of the hanger than the Ushas, which required different stops for the two officers.

After walking through another security checkpoint, Aros got his first view of the new gunship. His eyes were drawn to the smooth curves and flawless light gray color. The Aurora was without viewports and the only breaks in the exterior were for thruster and sensor. As Aros began to circle the ship, another uniform met him at the stern.

Good morning, Sir. I see you have started your walk around already.

I have, Chief. Aros said. But, if this a gunship, where are all the weapons?

That’s a good question, Sir. I’ll let your specialist explain. The Chief then spoke into a hand-held, Cress, come out back to the main engines.

A few moments later a blond man, a few years younger than Aros, came back and walked up to the Chief and Aros.

L.T., I’d like you to meet Tech Specialist Crescent.

Nice to meet you, Sir.

Same. So, you know everything about this ship? Aros asked.

Yes, Sir. I’ve been assigned to her since she was just a frame. They figured if there was one guy who knew everything, from the very beginning, about this ship, it would, uh, be a good thing. And that guy is me. Crescent stood with his hands behind his back, shoulders naturally in a half shrug position, never looking relaxed.

Aros smiled. Lucky you. So, I was asking the Chief here about weapons.

The Chief excused himself and Aros got an informal introduction to his ship.

Both of the S-28’s have twenty-six launch tubes. Ten on each main stabilizer, four on the nose area and two are rear facing. Twenty-two of these are the standard eighty-millimeter, type one, and the other four are the big type two missiles. When armed and ready for use, the armored skin of the hull retracts, exposing the tubes.

Crescent pointed to the outline of one of the retractable areas, and continued. But when not needed, the skin covers them, making it look like there is nothing there. This serves two purposes, keeps the ship looking sweet and innocent until it’s needed. The other is that when it’s attached to the Prime, it will be smooth so that nothing gets caught up when docking.

And the engines?

"We have the most modern Ion engines available on the Aurora. These two are air-rebreathing engines for atmospheric propulsion. Cress moved around the ship and pointed up to the low-profile cones of the engines. Two smaller electrostatic Ion engines are here. Our main is the size of one of the Prime Meridians’ four. So… with the addition of Ushas and Aurora, the Prime will have six big Ions."

Very nice. Aros continued to walk around the ship. You’re pretty young to be a Tech, he observed.

I was actually just promoted. I guess after two years with one of the most advanced ships on Tellus, they figured they aught to make me more than just a standard Specialist.

I agree, Aros said, and switched gears. We have a briefing in twenty minutes with everyone going up?

We do, Sir.

Good. I’m ready to get out of here.

***

Ladies and gentlemen, I am Major Connors. We will now begin your mission briefing.

A group of people moved over to where the major stood at the nose of the ship. There was fifteen in all: a majority from the Space Service, two Ground Service, and a man and woman dressed in civilian uniforms. The air hummed with the general feeling of nervousness and excitement.

If your name is on my manifest, you will be taking the ride up to Sulva this afternoon, the major said, brandishing his scroll. "Lieutenant Drogen, you will be commanding this raft. Your pilot is Warrant Officer Lete. Any problems with this bucket, blame Tech. Crescent.

Master Spec. Lee, you have seven others you’re babysitting, correct? Acknowledging his nod, the Major continued. Good, keep an eye on them. Don’t let anyone float away.

Pointing to the two youngsters in olive uniforms, the Major continued. Sergeant Brack and Corporal Korinay, I hope you groundies don't get take-off sick. Mr. White and Ms. Cross, please don’t judge the Services based on this group.

Finishing his riff, the major held out his scroll and assertively read his official brief.

"Mission Overview: Aurora is second in the order of march up to Sulva. Directly after this brief, you will suit up and buckle in. We will be using the electromagnetic catapult to launch you into the air. At that time, you will graduate into a parking orbit and slingshot into a burn towards Sulva. Not until you reach the Karman line are you permitted to engage the main Ion engine. You will then take the eight-hour journey to the Palus Somni installation. Personnel with orders for reassignment will directly report to the replacement office for in processing. As for the rest of you, the Prime Meridian will be reaching station in 65 hours. That means a brief layover. So, have a nice little break, check out an arena fight, don’t drink too much and enjoy that little bit of gravity while you got it. That’s it for me. Unless you have anything for them L.T., get suited up."

Aros agreed, You heard the Major, lets get suited up.

***

A shutter went through the ship as the catapult clicked into place. Radio chatter sounded throughout the flight deck and blue lights illuminated the soon to be unnecessary walkways. Lights from monitors and displays cast illumination throughout the sterile white interior of the ship as Aros began the final pre-launch check.

Lower deck passenger compartment?

We are all secure down here, a technical specialist confirmed over the internal comms.

Navigation?

My status is green, confirmed the specialist to Aros’s right.

Ships’ status?

Ship is overall green, Tech. Specialist Crescent said.

Pilot?

Lieutenant Drogen, the pilot is ready for launch. Alpha engines are warmed and standing by to fire, The Warrant Officer