Link

By D.A. Karr

The Earth has been hit by a meteorite and Europe has split into several small islands. In the year 2799, Captain John Garrick is overseeing the construction of a new base when it is attacked by Menser, an unknown enemy who is after their latest spaceship, Phoenix. The spaceship escapes and a small crew led by John fend off the attackers, although the base is still ruined.

Time traveling to pursue the outlaws to recover the stolen technology, the tide turns when the crew becomes the pursued. Mistakes are made and technology becomes the next human race, a race to save what is left at all costs.

• Language: English
• Publisher: D.A. Karr
• Release date: Feb 15, 2015
• ISBN: 9781311206787

D.A. Karr

D.A. Karr has been writing books and screenplays for the last ten years. Her experience and employment includes firefighting in the U.S. Forest Service, law enforcement, IT engineering, and several years with the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center San Diego (SSC San Diego). She has a Master’s in software engineering.D.A. Karr enjoys writing in a variety of genres including sci-fi, thriller-mystery, historical fiction, and screenplays. She is the author of several books including Link, The Legend of Pendyne, and The Racehorse with Magic Shoes.

Book preview

CHAPTER 1

FERRIS-1

Earth time 2799. Artic-Alaskan transport station, Ferris-1

Ferris-1 wasn’t a metropolis by any means. The city resembled plastic mechanical animals on articulated legs, moving with the ice. Hundreds of these plastic barracks housed thousands of people and scientists ready to transport off this timeline to another. The city blended with the bleak landscape with only an occasional palm tree displayed in a lighted window to break up the monotony.

Since the meteor collision in Europe ten years ago when the Earth shifted on its axis, all the continents either divided into small islands or converged into what was left—either desert or ice. Ferris-1 was the latter—frozen wilderness, desolate and lonely even before time existed.

The human population divided itself into two factions: one was made up of the wealthy while the other was all the leftovers who wouldn’t die. Such were colonies like Ferris-1, mainly for the rich or those with means to afford the luxury of transporting off this ravaged timeline.

The other side of the world was desert and sand. The notorious criminal Menser, funded by his second-in-command Charles Ramsey, the ousted ex-president of the United Sectors, were much like the ice. Ice is dangerous, gouging and pushing with its own power—about like Menser. However, combined with Ramsey, it’s a force to be reckoned with.

On this particular frozen day, just as any other day, Captain John Garrick stood by the barrack’s window in his office looking out onto the tarmac where several Class-2 Merlin warships were moored along Battleship Row. His youthful face and black hair gave him the appearance of a Grecian god as his sapphire blue eyes gleamed. He was a Time Enforcer, reassigned to Ferris-1 to take over the fleet.

He tapped his fingers on the frozen frosted glass while he watched two workers install the new National Space Time Enforcement Agency’s sign, a Phoenix embedded in a wreath with the message, United and One.

As excited as a little boy, he waited in anticipation for his precious ship, the N.S.T.E.A Phoenix. I get a fleet and there’s nothing to do here but design ships. Wait until Phoenix gets back. Maybe find some cyborgs to use for target practice.

Dressed in white snow gear with their faces covered by breathing masks, the men raised the new sign for the station. Brushing the ice off, they examined it, dropping the posts into place. Then the red, white, and blue metal sign wobbled from side to side making the ferocious Phoenix resemble a swooping bird of prey. Collecting their tools, they slapped each other on the back, obviously satisfied with their work.

Garrick paced up and down waiting for the Phoenix to arrive. He was itching for a fight. He hadn’t seen action in a long time and it was in his blood to kill. He stared out the window at the Juneau, the Salcha, and the Angoon. They were smaller attack vessels that could maneuver faster than the Phoenix, but the old girl was massive and deadly. He should know. He designed her. He knew every inch of the Phoenix.

Glancing at the ice-covered tarmac, he designed a blast hanger in his head. Nothing else to do to keep him from going stir crazy. Nevertheless, he knew he would have to build a wall to protect the smaller ships from attack since being out in the open they were sitting ducks, and the primary targets of a full-scale assault.

His breath formed smoke rings on the frosted glass. This base needs a lot of work. Needless to say, what I really need right now is a good fight. His thoughts were interrupted by a fireball that suddenly appeared in the sky.

Suddenly, the N.S.T.E.A Phoenix dropped out of jump-bridge. Phoenix was the most powerful weapon in the universe, an assault weapon by nature. It seemed invincible, but its size was its downfall. The Phoenix was much like him; flying and fighting was its strength.

Garrick walked out of his office onto the tarmac, only to meet the whiteness of the Arctic. He looked at the sky which had turned white, then shades of blue, pink and green. The wind stopped and it was dead-calm. No birds, no animals, no sounds. He felt uneasy when Phoenix sat down. He had a gut feeling he was about to get his wish.

Captain Orius Becker walked down the boarding ramp to meet him.

Hey Garrick, long time. He extended his hand, Brought the old girl back.

Becker was a stately man in his N.S.T.E.A black jumpsuit. His piercing black eyes could bore a hole in you from fifty feet away. With military running through his veins, Becker’s commanding personality gave him an edge that meant men would follow his orders with a snap of his fingers.

Garrick was edgy and irritated. I’m itching to get back in the air.

Becker’s eyes looked like a hawk’s as he glared at Garrick trying to read him. I know what you mean, Garrick. I’m not a desk jockey myself.

Becker was an old friend from many years back. Garrick accepted Becker. He was all military, and didn’t show any human qualities. But then again, that’s probably what kept him alive.

Garrick checked Phoenix then shrugged his shoulders. Is she ready for a fight?

Becker laughed, Ready as she’ll ever be. How about you?

Garrick checked the weapon strapped to his leg, I have a gut feeling. You know, my hair is standing up on my neck.

Becker squinted at the sky. I know you, Garrick! Maybe I should stick around.

Garrick searched the skyline. It was like the silent hall of death. "It’s here. We have company coming. Get Phoenix off the ground, now!"

Becker didn’t hesitate as he ran, swinging up the boarding ramp as it raised behind him. Phoenix lifted off, then veered hard to the port side. Its nose shot straight up, sending it skyward. Garrick turned and spurted for the other ships on the tarmac, waving his arms in the air, yelling. His voice echoed through the silence, All hands! All hands! Battle stations! Dragars! Battle stations!

Sirens blasted throughout Ferris-1. People ran from the buildings. Men scrambled around the ships. Flight crews were clambering across the tarmac. The Juneau, Salcha, and Angoon powered up.

Suddenly, daylight changed into night when Menser’s Dragar ships appeared from nowhere. Hundreds of pod ships attacked like swarms of locusts, turning the sky black. The cloud of death rammed the houses and barracks. People were abandoning their burning houses, only to meet their doom from flying debris and bullets.

Within minutes after the beginning of the attack, a missile crashed through the Juneau's two armored decks, exploding its core engines. The explosion ripped the ship's sides open like a tin can. The Juneau plowed into the barracks, taking five hundred lives with it. Then missile launchers rattled as batteries of rounds emptied into hundreds of pod ships. They kept coming.

Garrick ran to the Salcha, which hovered above the tarmac. A crewman met him at an open port door, pulling him inside. The Salcha abruptly swerved, narrowly missing incoming rounds as it lifted nose-first into the air.

Garrick ran for the bridge in the center of General Quarters sounding. He passed through the corridors, where he was met by a Second Lieutenant who trotted by his side, handing him an armored vest. Reaching the bridge just as the surface-to-air torpedoes fired, the ship lurched sideways. A torpedo struck the quarterdeck, sending shrapnel and fragments whistling past him. The Second Lieutenant flung onto his back, his body saturated in blood. Garrick bent over him and grabbed his shoulders, trying to reassure the kid. I’ll get some help.

The Lieutenant gasped his last breath, never getting the chance to reply. Garrick put his hand over the young man’s eyes, gently closing them. He paused for a split second before running for the bridge.

As Garrick arrived on the bridge, he heard the helmsman scream above the explosions, Captain on the bridge!

Garrick met the Captain of the Salcha while ducking falling debris as the Captain crossed the bridge himself.

Thank God you’re here! We’ve been hit. I’m going to Engineering to get our torpedoes back. You take the bridge.

Go. Your Second Lieutenant is dead. Nothing I could do. Garrick was without emotion.

The Captain of the Salcha left for the torpedo room as Garrick commanded the bridge, Come about, Lieutenant. Let’s give them something to remember.

The Angoon came starboard, paralleling the Salcha. A disembodied voice suddenly filled the bridge. Angoon to Salcha. Do you read?

Captain Garrick aboard the Salcha. What’s your status?

This is Lieutenant Wexler. Our Captain is dead. I’ve taken command. We’ve sustained damage to the bridge and the lower decks, but the ship is still operational.

Garrick composed himself before gearing up to give orders to the rookie on the other ship. Lieutenant Wexler. What’s your first name?

Frank sir, Frank. The Lieutenant in command sounded less than sure of it.

Frank. Put your ship off my starboard. You’re my wingman now. You’ll do okay. Understood?

Yes sir, answered the Lieutenant,