The Mailed Fist

By Grey Wolf

Set in an alternate reality where mankind has parcelled up the world into several empires and begun to venture into space, our hero works in a publishing firm, he frequents pubs that play live music, and the love of his life is a fast and loose girl called Sophie. Normal life begins to take a turn for the worse when an alien artifact approaches the Moon bases of the major Earth empires, and then begins to approach the Earth.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Purple Unicorn Media
• Release date: Sep 18, 2013
• ISBN: 9781301022397

Grey Wolf

Grey Wolf began writing as a teenager, and has remained consistent ever since in the genres he writes in - Alternate History, Science Fiction, and Fantasy. A poet since his later teens, he now has several published collections and his work has appeared in a number of magazines.  Living now in the South Wales valleys, Grey Wolf is a keen photographer and makes use of the wonderful scenery and explosion of nature that is the Welsh countryside. 

Book preview

The Mailed Fist

By Grey Wolf

Written 2011

Published 2013

This is a work of fiction set in an alternate reality and any resemblance to persons living or dead is entirely coincidental.

All rights reserved.

Published at Smashwords by Grey Wolf

Copyright Grey Wolf 2013

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Prologue

Moonbase Horizon

British Zone

October 4th 2020

Sir, Specialist Anna Knox banged on the door, Sorry to wake you

Hnh, Ralph Jenkinson blinked at the light invading his room, and rose onto one elbow, Do we have a problem, Specialist? he grunted.

Possibly sir

What is it?, he rolled off the ledge, pulling his boots on, and reaching for the hooded cloak he kept on a peg above it, Pressure?

No sir, Anna was hesitant. Like all ten of the Moonbase crew she well knew the dangers inherent in their environment, and how simply staying alive could be a struggle, but this was different. She took a deep breath,

Sir, Tracking have an anomaly and its coming in fast

Oh? he had risen to his feet, his arms struggling for the sleeves of his cloak, Not another lander?

Even if there is one not on the chart, its approaching from the wrong direction, sir

One that is possible, Specialist?

They were outside his room now, and he closed the door behind him, wondering if he had been woken for a mere chimera, or if one of the other powers was trying to pull a fast one - certainly a serious matter, but perhaps not one the duty officer ought to have woken the base commander for.

Lieutenant Mayfield is of the opinion that if it had swung round in a contrary direction, we would have detected it long ago at its azimuth point.

Yeah, Jenkinson mulled it over, nodding, so what is it?

At that moment the base alarms began to sound, strobing red lights illuminating the hallways and the digital klaxon blaring everyone awake. Whatever it was, it was obvious that Lieutenant Mayfield had decided that it was a threat.

Come on! yelled Jenkinson, grabbing her arm and rushing towards the command centre.

- - - - - - -

Moonbase France

French Zone

Incoming does not conform to any known lander type Captain Aloys Vienne was perplexed, Nor does it match any known orbiter configuration.

Could it be an Earth orbital vessel? Base Commander, the Duc de Gramont was clutching at straws.

Out here? his second, Helene Bedou looked at him with barely veiled contempt, though that was also her normal view of the aristocrat whom she thought had no place running a base of this importance, even if it were one less than half the size of the British establishment.

Sir! Vienne turned towards him, Computers are reading a mass to density ratio of 4.6!

Insane the duc came across, Recalibrate!

Belay that Helene stepped in, Sir, she said the word through gritted teeth, Recalibration of the equipment will take five minutes and we do not have five minutes, she pointed to the trajectory screen where a long and large green flash was marking the incoming...thing.

"Flash message from Horizon Communications Officer Raoul Dupreys was the youngest of the six crew, but perhaps at this moment the calmest in the room, Priority - anomaly is not of human construction..."

His voice tailed off, and everyone looked at him.

Get... the duc coughed, Get that confirmed! he barked.

A moment later, Raoul sat back and spread his arms wide,

"Horizon confirms, Sir"

There was another beep from his equipment and he listened carefully, then looked up,

The Russians are confirming also

Damn the Russians! the duc exploded. It was not altogether an unreasonable statement; the Russian Moonbase Xenia was smaller even than the French, and had only been manned all-year round for the past two years, despite having been constructed back in 2004.

Sir, Helene spoke quietly and carefully, We should relay a signal home...while we have the chance

The duc de Gramont stared at her with icy eyes, then nodded,

Take down and transmit the following, he instructed Raoul.

- - - - - - -

British space-station Serenity

in Earth orbit

What the Hell...? Sybil Cairns was the only officer on duty in