Jouth # 3

By Eddie D. Moore, Erin Lale and Ellen Denton

Jouth continues to bring the hottest new sci-fi short stories from Blaster Books. In this issue it's all about survival and invasion! Erin Lale takes us into "The Anarchy Zone" to see what life is like in the irradiated zone of America, where laws are determined by who has the best friends. Ellen Denton weaves a tale of survival in "The Yanzo 500" as a hiker confronts the possibility of death on the lunar surface. Finally, Eddie D. Moore weaves a multi-tale epic of discovery, cover-ups, and intrigue! It begins in "Lunar Excavations," as alien technology signals home, then in "New Horizon" and "Don't Tell Mom" as those who discover evidence of aliens are silenced. Finally, in "Onslaught" the aliens arrive and one human family must do their best to survive the initial assault - and find a way to fight back! All this and more in Jouth #3!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Blaster books
• Release date: May 4, 2016
• ISBN: 9781533722164

Book preview

Lunar Excavations

By Eddie D. Moore

With a flick of his finger Jon switched off the interface and went to look out the window. The sun would soon set, leaving the Earth to rule the night sky and light the lunar surface. That beautiful blue and white ball hanging in the sky always left him a little emotional. He suppressed his homesickness and checked the lunar clock. He sighed as he remembered what he had logged on to do in the first place and went back to the interface. He tapped the screen and it instantly powered back to life.

Three of the automated excavators were still functioning, but one had malfunctioned as he suspected. He quickly checked the airlock logs, and as he feared, they indicated that Carol had already left to repair the excavator. Jon touched an icon on the screen and adjusted the volume.

Carol. Can you hear me?

Crystal clear, Jon.

Jon released a sigh of relief. I really wish you would tell me when you are going out.

What are we dating now or something? If anything went wrong the computers would notify you. Those flashing red lights in every room would surely get your attention if that screeching alarm didn’t.

Jon tried to keep frustration from his voice but failed. It is standard safety protocol and you know it. Safety is one of my primary responsibilities on this assignment, and I don’t want the first death on the moon to be recorded during my watch.

Okay. Okay, next time you can check my suit and even walk me through the airlock procedures. Does that make you happy?

Yes. Yes it does. Jon relaxed and released a long breath. Now how does that excavator look?

Carol released a long frustrated groan that was almost a growl. I’ve changed half the bearings again, but I’m just about to put it back online. How this stupid dust finds its way into sealed bearings is beyond me.

Hey! Don’t talk bad about the dust. That dust provides us with air, water and building supplies. Without it, where would we be?

Umm... How about home with our families?

Jon saw the red light on screen turned green and begin to move, so he went to the airlock and waited for Carol’s return. Once the airlock sealed behind her, he walked her methodically through decontamination procedures. Pressurized air was used to blow dust from Carol’s suit, and then magnets in the walls pulled the dust from the air. The dust followed the magnets down the walls and disappeared through a crack at the base of the wall. Only the occasional roll of Carol’s eyes gave any indication that she was annoyed by Jon’s insistence of verifying every step on a checklist. The moment the light above the airlock door turned green Carol pushed through the door and began removing her suit. After taking off her helmet, she sneezed loudly three times and rubbed her nose.

That dust gets me every time and I hate the smell of gunpowder.

Jon diligently inspected Carol’s suit while she continued her normal rant about having active allergies on the moon while in a controlled environment. Satisfied that the suit was undamaged, Jon nodded and glanced toward Carol. He noted her impatient posture as she began to walk away and spoke over her shoulder.

Well, come on; we’ve got work to do.

Annoyed by Carol’s impatience, Jon followed her back to the control room.

Carol sighed and shook her head as she looked over her daily assignment list. Practically everything about this assignment is automated. Why can’t they automate these daily reports as well? The information is in the computer. There are people on earth monitoring the same data, and yet, they still have us fill out form after form.

You know as well as I do that we see things the cameras and sensors don’t. We’re just filling in the gaps. Look at the bright side. According to the projections the digging will be complete in another month, and we can begin coating the tunnels with the molten regolith.

Ha. That is just another set of forms to fill out three times a day.

Jon smiled, Yes, but they are different forms.

Carol closed her eyes and slowly shook her head.

A screen on the wall flickered to life revealing a smiling face with thick glasses and a receding hairline. His British accent was still detectible even after living in the United States for decades. Good morning MB1, I have great news for you today.

Jon flashed Carol smile; Harrell’s attention to usually drove Carol to near convulsions. What would that be Harrell?

The engineers have revised and approved the new schedule. Another screen lit up to display the schedule. As you can see Phase 3 now over laps the rest of Phase 2.

Carol spun in her chair excited. Yes! Someone down there does read my suggestions.

Jon raised an eyebrow at her and deadpanned. You do realize that this means twice the forms to fill out, right?

Yes, but half them are new forms!

Jon quickly looked over the new schedule. "This will call for some long days, but it should put