Solia's Moon: Outer Settlement Agency

By Lyn Brittan

When her terraforming company takes their genetic experiments a step too far, Lunar Physician Solia Calian has to find a way to stop them. She'll have the help of her ex, Sheriff Giancarlo Sable, but they'd better hurry up. Someone's on their heels and one false step could ruin them all.

Giancarlo would rather be sent back to Earth than answer a damned summons from the woman who broke his heart. But if Solia's in trouble, he's the only man mean enough to get her out of it.  As long as he can keep his heart out of the way, they may have a shot of making it out of this.

Drop into the Outer Settlement Agency, a Sci-Fi and Futuristic Romance series. You can start with any book and any couple! Go on and take your pick. OSA hires hunky soldiers and dark pirates, serious doctors and ridiculous CEOs. Hey, the Milky Way is ours. Might as well make it awesome.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Gryy Brown Press
• Release date: Sep 10, 2013
• ISBN: 9781497768109

Lyn Brittan

Lyn grew up wanting to live like her heroes, James Bond and Indiana Jones. She wasn't totally successful and never had to shoot her way out of a hotel bedroom. She's still coming to terms with it. Awards and woot-woots include: USA Today Bestseller, 2013 and 2014 Galaxy Award Winner.

Book preview

Solia’s Moon

Outer Settlement Agency

By

Lyn Brittan

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Also by Lyn Brittan

Mercenaries of Fortune

The Knight of Ambra  (Brant and Michaela)

The Sergeant of Ambra  (Eric and Glori)

Duke of Ambra  (Kent and Elena)

The Soldier of Ambra  (Anderson and Kendall)

The Protector of Ambra (Pierce and Melody)

The Betrayer of Ambra (Remington and Lisa)

The SEAL of Ambra (Ethan and Ava)

––––––––

Dirty Djinn

The Genie’s Witch  (Tig and Dinah)

A Genie’s Love  (Faruq and Cassia)

The Cowboy Genie’s Wife  (Fazil and Rosa)

––––––––

Outer Settlement Agency

Solia’s Moon  (Giancarlo and Solia)

Anja’s Star  (Retzi and Anja)

Quinn’s Quasar  (Prio and Quinn)

Lana’s Comet  (Cyprus and Lana)

Vin’s Rules  (Vin and Allie)

Maricar’s Gamble (Dario and Maricar)

Waters of London

The Clocks of London  (Patrick and Moira)

The Doctor of London  (Kennerick and Lady Hala)

Balloc Manor

Of Magic and Engineering  (Roland and Prudence)

Of Machinery and Thievery  (Liam and Suzette)

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Picture

Chapter One

Clones? Gimme that. Lunar Sherriff Giancarlo Sable leaned over his desk to snatch the omnitablet from the boy’s shaking hands.

Yes, sir. At least, that’s what the message from Enceladus says. It came across a subwave network, the kind I used to play around with when I was a kid.  

Giancarlo slid the device across his thigh, the boy’s sweat having fogged it over. At thirty-six, he was more than a little sick and tired of the latest batch of recruits sent his way by the Outer Settlement Agency. Young Steven was no different. Scared of even the smallest shadow on the space station, everything about the kid hinted at the influence of powerful family connections. No way could he have made it this far on his own.

Giancarlo shook his head and went back to the damp omnitablet. All thoughts of knock-kneed teenagers drained away as the screen in front of him confirmed the boy’s words. So it was true—at least according to some anonymous source in the colony there. Giancarlo dragged his arm across his brow and slammed the thing down.

Suppose it was just a matter of time. But did it have to be on his watch? Another few years and he could have had a nice, cushy, undemanding retirement on a Venus colony. OSA paid its sheriffs well to check in on the settlements of Mars and Venus and the life-sustaining moons of the system, Jupiter’s Europa and Saturn’s Titan. With no one to spend the money on, he’d saved up more than enough to leave at any time, but he wouldn’t be able to collect the healthy pension for another twelve years. No sense in retiring rich, when you could retire richer. So close.

Sir?

Nothing. Who else has seen this?

The boy shrugged. It appears that it only came to you. But they’re crazy if they think they can get away with it.

It wasn’t that unbelievable. Even though Enceladus was Saturn’s sixth-largest moon, that didn’t make it big. In fact, at around three hundred thousand square miles, it was only a little larger than Earth’s Texas. For the first time, a Meash company didn’t have to share colonization space on a planet or moon with any other organization.

Do you suppose Meash Five could accomplish something like this? I didn’t think they had the technology for cloning figured out just yet. They don’t have the proper rights, do they?

And how do you know of their technology? Giancarlo asked, rolling his eyes.

Well, I... The boy shifted his weight and fingered the top of his blue tunic. Just some research for the position and I uh... Steven finally groaned and folded his arms before giving in. My father’s the chief financial advisor for Meash Two.

Ah.

I’m fit for this position, sir. I am. I passed all my quals with high marks and—

And jumped ahead of everyone else with equally high marks to spy for your father’s boss. Do I have that part right?

It’s not like I had a choice, Steven said under his breath. He got me out here and told me I had to do this if I wanted to get back home. Honestly, sir, I’d be more than happy, totally willing even, to go home in disgrace if it meant being left alone.

What’s her name? Giancarlo asked as he checked the boy’s file. To his relief, the fool hadn’t sent anything of importance back to Earth or to any of Meash Two’s holdings.

Steven’s face turned a brilliant red. Greta. I love her, but Father doesn’t think... anyway, once I get enough money—

Let me get this straight. You’re old enough to be in love, but not man enough to get out from under your father’s thumb?

The boy’s, and that’s what he was, lips started to pout and quiver, but he clenched his fists and soldiered on. When I get enough money saved, I’m going to go pick her up and start over. He bent his head and mumbled, I’ve already applied for a homesteading spot on Europa Colony. Can you just fire me already and ship me off somewhere?

He wished. Giancarlo held up a silencing hand. I’ll deal with you when I get back. In the meantime, I’m restricting your communication access. Everything you send or receive will come through me first. And no, you don’t get to complain about that. Get a shuttle ready for me ASAP. I’m heading to Enceladus.

Chapter Two

Dr. Solia Calian ducked behind a crate as a fellow Meash Five employee moved a gang of chained clones down the fluorescent-blue-lit hall with the assistance of electrical prods. Her stomach lurched, but Solia ignored the urge to shield her eyes and instead held out her omnitablet to snap as many photos as she could.

She dipped back into the shadows when the shuffling of another group of feet and the clanging of chains sounded from around the corner. Solia brought her hand to her mouth, willing the screams not to come out when she heard the sizzling of a fired-up prod and the sickening pop