Women

By Barbara G.Tarn

Two Star Minds Snippets – a novella and a short story happening before the main series.
Galaxy Police
Mya Lylestar as assault team member with her best friend and sister-in-law.
Soldier
Life-changing events for Maela – losing virginity, maternity, maiming and becoming a cyborg

• Language: English
• Publisher: Unicorn Productions
• Release date: Oct 15, 2013

Barbara G.Tarn

Barbara G.Tarn had an intense life in the Middle Ages that stuck to her through the centuries. She prefers swords to guns, long gowns to mini-skirts, and even though she buried the warrior woman, she deplores the death of knights in shining chainmail. She likes to think her condo apartment is a medieval castle, unfortunately lacking a dungeon to throw noisy neighbors and naughty colleagues in. Also known as the Lady with the Unicorns, these days she prefers to add a touch of fantasy to all her stories, past and present – when she’s not wandering on her fantasy world of Silvery Earth or in her Star Minds futuristic universe. She’s a writer, sometimes artist, mostly a world-creator and story-teller. Two of her stories received an Honorable Mention at the Writers of the Future contest. She writes, draws, ignores her day job and blogs every other day.

Book preview

Star Minds Snippets

Women

by Barbara G. Tarn

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Smashwords Edition

Barbara G.Tarn copyright © 2013

cover art by Silvano Beltramo

electronic edition by Unicorn Productions

October 2013

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Smashwords Edition License Notes

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Galaxy Police

Soldier

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Mya Lylestar

Galaxy Police

1.

"Captain, the Skull won't surrender," communication officer Gaytry Gongli announced.

Their shields are damaged, why can't these space pirates give in without struggles? Captain Hayato Sendai muttered with a frown. How many onboard?

Small ship, small crew, Keith Reno answered. Five.

Well, suit up, then, the almond-eyed captain ordered.

Keith grinned and winked at navigator Camilla Mansun who was staring at him with envy.

Yessir. Keith left the deck.

His team waited for him in the teleportation room with dark-skinned D'oji'moon at the control panel. The six crew members of the assault team activated their battlesuit – electroactive polymers, carbon-fiber plates and nanotechnology that formed a mechatronic system designed to enhance and protect the body, boasting the strength and endurance.

Full armor on, Keith ordered as they picked up their heavy guns, and helmets closed on their heads. The battlesuit was mind-controlled through a microchip implanted at the base of their skull and vanished inside a flat backpack – the battlesuit unit – when not needed.

Ready?

Three men and three women in full body armor stepped on the teleportation platform. Mya Lylestar was proud to be in the assault team of the Space Bird, a Galaxy Police mini-cruiser with a crew of fourteen. The pirate ship they'd caught with their tractor beam was even smaller, so the teleport operator needed to be very careful.

"Destination Skull's deck," D'oji'moon said, activating the transport beam.

A flash of blue light, and Mya found herself on a small deck where five armed Humanoids opened fire on them. The battlesuits held and they returned the fire, their guns set on stun.

She aimed in front of her and shot down a tall skinny woman who collapsed with a scream. The silence after the shootout was deafening. Mya deactivated the helmet at looked around at the sprawled bodies.

That was easy, Hiram commented, crouching to check a bulky man who must be the captain.

Let's restrain them, so they won't try anything when they come back to their senses, Keith said, producing his handcuffs and kneeling by the closest body.

Mya quickly shackled the skinny woman while Katrina and Prya struggled with the obese form of the other woman. Johan, Hiram and Keith quickly restrained the men and put them all side by side on the floor.

We're done, Keith transmitted to the Space Bird as they gathered at the center of the pirates' deck. The teleport beam locked on their battlesuits, and a flash of light later, they were back on the Galaxy Police ship.

The captain was waiting for them in the teleportation room. "Well done, team. We're taking the Skull to the base." He smiled briefly at Keith who nodded, deactivating the battlesuit.

They all instantly went back to their black uniforms and relaxed. They dropped their weapons and patted each other's shoulders. Another pirate ship out of the way.

Mya went back to the cabin she shared with her childhood friend and sister-in-law Camilla, and soon the navigator joined her, since she'd finished her shift.

So, how was it? Camilla asked, excited.

The usual. They try to take us down and we blast them unconscious, Mya shrugged.

Still, you get all the fun, Camilla insisted. And the hunks! I mean Johan and Hiram and... Keith... She sighed.

Mya smiled. She knew Camilla had a crush on her team leader. If you hadn't failed the exams, you wouldn't be just a navigator, she teased.

Oh, Mya, we're not all multitasking like you! Camilla complained. Even at school, Camilla was the dumb blonde and Mya the geeky brunette.

So you regret that I joined the Galaxy Police with you? Mya asked, amused.

No, no – although you'll probably have a faster career than mine, Camilla assured with a giggle. You're gifted, Mya, you're a true space warrior woman! You deserved better than being a housewife – especially with that jerk of my brother.

Well, he's dead, killed by his own stupidity, isn't he? Mya averted her eyes, frowning. She hadn't loved him anyway, and had married him only because he was her best friend's brother.

Enzi Mansun had been a spoiled rich young man who loved fast vehicles and clandestine races – something neither Mya nor Camilla could ever understand. It came as no surprise to anyone when Enzi crashed with a motosonic a few months after the wedding.

Mya had found herself a widow at twenty-three, with a