The Declanite Threat

By L.J. Capehart

The Angelfire is damaged, in serious need of repairs.
The crew has been forced to run from attacking Declanite ships, escaping through an unstable wormhole. They're stranded in a quadrant of space that is unknown, with no sign of a planet with capabilities to repair their ship.
Landing on the only inhabited planet within range is the only solution, but only complicates their lives, especially when they discover they've been followed by the Declanites, an alien race set on ridding creation of all humanity.
A disabled ship, a civilization incapable of space flight...a new human enemy to deal with...how will the crew of four defeat the murderous Declanites?

• Language: English
• Publisher: L.J. Capehart
• Release date: Nov 5, 2015
• ISBN: 9781370817238

L.J. Capehart

I love to write. I don't write to make money or become famous. I write because I take great pleasure in the creation of a world, bringing people to life, and finding my way to a happy ending! For me, it's all about the story, not about selling books. It's like magic, to have an entire world in my imagination, then putting it down on paper, to write my way to the conclusion of the story, to cheer when the good guy/s win the day!

Book preview

The Declanite Threat

By L. J. Capehart

Published by L.J, Capehart at Smashwords

Copyright 2015 L.J. Capehart

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This book participated in NaNoWriMo November 2015

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Thank you for downloading this ebook. This book remains the copyrighted property of the author and may not be redistributed to others for commercial or non-commercial purposes. If you enjoyed this book, please encourage your friends to download their own copy from their favorite authorized retailer. Thank you for your support.

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Names, characters, places, and incidences portrayed in this book are fictitious. Similarities to a real person, alive or deceased, locales, establishments, or events are coincidental and not intended by the author.

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This book, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any form without permission from the author.

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To my Daughters-Rachel, Beth, Melissa, and Emily, who have helped and supported me so much in my writing. I’m rich beyond words, with them in my life!

Other Books by L.J. Capehart

Guardian of Maradon

The Call of Starfire

Cube of Trevalia

Curse of Trevalia

Table of Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Other Books by L.J. Capehart

A Note from the Author,

with contact information

Chapter One

Peter sat on the rail fence watching the colt circling the paddock slowly. With the warm sun shining down on the fields, horses grazing, contented with their lot in life, he felt relaxed and at peace himself. He contemplated how he could spend his whole life here on his Grandpa’s farm.

He tried to ignore the insistent calling trying to insert itself into what he considered the idyllic day, in the perfect place…

Cap…Hey, Cap! Jeff tried to hold on to the warmth, to the feeling of safety it invoked in his soul, weary almost beyond endurance, but it was no good…

Cap, wake up. We’ve got trouble. The sharp voice roused Peter Conrad from his dream, and he stood to move from his miniscule cabin into the main control room just a step away. A quick glance assured him that whatever the trouble was, it was outside of the ‘Angelfire’, the small spaceship he was in command of.

Report! He called out crisply, moving toward his command console while he took in the view of the stars on the main viewer. He slid into his seat, still studying the viewer.

There’s a Declanite Cruiser following us, Cap. They’ve picked up speed and are headed straight for us. They’re almost in range, Peter. Jeff Gerrard added the last in a low voice. Peter glanced at his old friend and co-pilot.

Evasive maneuvers, Jeff. Shake them off before they can get a shot in.

I’ll do what I can. Jeff’s hands flew over the controls, adding what speed he could to the scout ship, changing directions quickly. He knew as well as Peter they didn’t have a chance of outrunning the other ship, with the damage the Angelfire had already sustained from the large asteroid field they had been forced to fly through several days ago when they were being chased by another Declanite ship.

Fortunately for them, their pursuers had also sustained damage, enough that it was ‘dead in the water’, so to speak. They had escaped further contact with that enemy ship, but the damage to the Angelfire was extensive. They were far from home, in a relatively unknown quadrant of space, with nowhere to land to effect needed repairs, not that they could easily reach any if they did find a planet that had what they required. They had been forced to limp along as best they could, working on repairs that they could manage while still in flight.

Long range scanners were damaged. The strange interference in this area of space they now found themselves in wreaked havoc with scanners and other ship functions. This new ship had managed to sneak up on them, with the short-range scanners giving very little notice of the approaching danger. With the propulsion systems still needing work, only functioning at seventy percent, they didn’t have the necessary power to outrun them. Peter knew they would have to turn and fight, like it or not.

Rand, are the weapon systems up?

Aye, Cap. Jared finished work on them several hours ago. We have full capabilities there.

Prepare to fire on the other ship the instant it’s within range. Peter took a deep breath. I know our orders were not to engage the enemy unless we have no choice. This mission has gone wrong almost from the beginning. We now have no choice, once again.

Aye, Captain. Weapons systems are online and standing by. Rand Owens punched in the final sequence and waited, ready to fire on the approaching ship.

Jared, get up here. We’re being pursued by another Declanite ship. Peter used the com to call the fourth and final crew member from the engine compartment below. Moments later Jared Phillips, their engineer, burst into the control room, out of breath from his rapid climb up the stairs.

How in blazes did they find us in this blasted system? Their scanners have got to be as scrambled as ours, despite their lack of damage. That interference is messing with everything on the ship. The short, thin engineer hurried to the station he manned when he wasn’t with his beloved engines.

It must have been just bad luck that they were passing through this quadrant at the same time as us. It can’t be helped, however they found us. They’re on our tail, and I guarantee they aren’t here to extend a warm, friendly ‘hello’! Rand gave one of his typically sarcastic responses, even as he watched the readings on his controls, waiting for the right moment.

I’ll be glad enough to give them a good old-fashioned ‘hello’ with a photon torpedo. Jeff muttered under his breath, just loud enough for Peter to hear. Peter grinned for a moment, but his face slipped back into the serious expression he’d been wearing all too often lately.

Seconds later there was a muffled explosion and the ship shook violently, as the Angelfire was hit by an energy beam.

Where did that come from? Peter questioned Rand tersely. They aren’t close enough to fire on us yet!

Blast! There’s another one of them, Cap. They’re positioned near that system ahead. What little chance we might have had just went up in smoke with the appearance of that second ship. Rand frowned. What now?

Peter ran through all the options he could think of, even as he ordered Jeff to turn hard to port, away from the new ship. They couldn’t outrun either ship, and their chances in a firefight were slim to none. They needed an alternative, and they needed it fast.

Another beam hit the Angelfire. An alarm filled the control room with a shrill warning on top of the muttered complaints of the crew.

Propulsion power down to forty-five percent. A computer-generated voice added to the noise.

Mute that alarm, Jared. Peter raised his voice to be heard.

Cap, I’ve got some peculiar readings on my short-range scanner. Jared called back after following Peter’s order. They just appeared, off the starboard bow.

Is this somehow important right now considering our current situation, Lieutenant? Peter asked with a sharp tone in his voice.

I think it just may be. Peter turned at the odd tone in the man’s voice. It reads to be a wormhole, Cap. Whether or not it’s stable, it still might be a way of escape.

Jared had Peter’s complete attention now. Despite the shaking as they were hit by another beam of energy, he moved from his chair to stand next to the engineer, holding onto the back of Jared’s chair and the edge of the console in front of him, as he checked the readings himself.

Propulsion is down to thirty-five percent; shields at fifty-five percent. The computer informed them calmly.

Gentlemen, we may have that miracle I suspect we were all praying for just now. Jeff, head for that wormhole. The readings are holding steady for now. We’ll take our chances with it, rather than stick around and duke it out with these Declanites. We have no chance with them, but just maybe this wormhole offers better odds. Peter moved back to his command chair and activated his safety harness. The other three followed his example as they changed headings.

The Declanite ships are slowing down, Cap. Rand reported. I don’t think they like the looks of that wormhole. I’m not sure I do, either.

The readings are changing, Cap! Jared yelled, even as they neared the edge. I think it might be getting ready to close.

Don’t turn away, Jeff. Peter could see the nervous look on his friend’s face but knew his order would be followed. He sent up a swift prayer that, wherever this wormhole led, they’d be able to get through before it decided to disappear. If they were vaporized trying to enter, at least they’d go quickly. The Declanites weren’t always in a hurry to finish their enemies.

The Angelfire entered the boundaries of the wormhole even as the readings fluctuated. The stars just seemed to disappear from around them, to be replaced by a strange swirling, glittering tunnel that the ship now slid through. Peter glanced down at his console and then blinked at what he read there. It was impossible! The ship was incapable of this speed. The view on the main screen argued in favor of the readings, though. They seemed to be traveling at a velocity faster than any ship had ever gone before.

He felt disoriented, his thoughts slowing, unable to function properly as the ship hurtled through the anomaly. He lost all ability to understand what the readings in front of him meant, and time lost all meaning.

After an indeterminate amount of time, Peter opened his eyes, realizing that he had lost consciousness. He moved in slow motion as he turned his head to see if the others were alright. They looked as confused as he was. Peter checked the view screen, to see stars again.

Jeff... Peter cleared his throat and started again. Figure out where we are. Jared, check the ships systems. Rand, scan for signs of pursuit. I need to know whether either Declanite ship followed us.

All three men turned to their consoles. Rand was the first to look up again.

Long range scanners are still inoperable. Short range scanners show no sign of any ships. There’s no sign of the wormhole, either. Apparently, it closed after we went through. I think we’re in the clear.

Propulsion is down to twenty-eight percent. Jared followed with his report, a glum look on his face. Shields are down to fifty-one percent. Life support is at sixty-three percent but seems to be holding. Other minor systems are malfunctioning completely.

See what you can do to improve some of those readings, Jared. The engineer released his harness straps and started for the stairs leading down to the engine compartment, moving slower than usual.

Well, Jeff, any idea where we came out after that wild ride?

Jeff held up a hand to indicate he was still working on the problem. After several minutes, he finally raised his head again.

I had the computer scan three times to be sure. There are no matches with this system in any star charts in our records. As far as I can tell without use of the long-range scanners, we aren’t in any of the charted systems known to our race. So, the answer to your question would be that I have absolutely no idea where your ‘wild ride’ took us. Jeff shrugged. It beats being blown to atoms by those blasted Declanites though.

Ah, Jeff, ever the sunshiny optimist. Rand grinned at him. As my esteemed Grandfather used to say, ‘Where there exists life, there exists hope.’

You were saying? Jeff responded, his voice dripping with sarcasm, as a new alarm started sounding. Rand shrugged, reaching for the control to shut off the alarm before Peter could ask.

Blast it all! Jared stormed up the stairs. We have a few leaks in the hull of this bird, Cap. I can fix them, but I highly recommend suits, just in case. Finding a good planet to land on in the very near future, preferably one with a space port, would be highly recommended as well.

Okay, suit up first. Rand, help Jared with hull repairs. Find a space port in this neighborhood if one exists, Jeff. Do what you can with the short-range scanners while we hold our position here. I’ll work on the sensors. The four-man crew slipped into their space suits quickly, with an ease demonstrating much experience. Soon Jeff was the only crew member in the control room. He began his search for possible planets with repair capabilities, while Peter worked on the long-range scanners in the hope they could use them to locate a port where they could complete full repairs. Meanwhile, Jared and Rand made their way to the exterior of the craft to patch up leaks caused from the strain the ship had experienced while being pulled through the wormhole.

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After two days of hard work, the scanners were up and running again. Jeff hadn’t had any luck finding a planet with a possible spaceport where they could land and have their ship repaired. In fact, he’d had no luck even finding a planet with the right combination of readings where they could survive for any length of time.

Now that they could scan further out, Peter was optimistic that a planet would be found. Jeff grumbled that he felt the chances were slim to none of finding one where they could make the repairs they desperately needed. His attitude finally began to grate on Peter’s already frayed nerves so badly that he ordered him to his bunk for a little much needed sleep. He took over the scanning for a while.

They all needed sleep, truth be told. Unfortunately, getting some real sleep would have to wait. The condition of the ship was becoming critical, despite their attempts to repair damage. The priority was to locate a planet where they could survive without the protection of the ship. So, they continued with little sleep, doing everything they could to keep the ship functioning until they had a place to land.

Jeff returned several hours later to resume his post, in a better frame of mind. He took over from Peter, and they all threatened to mutiny unless he got some sleep himself. He finally gave in, more from the fact that he could barely keep his eyes open at this point than anything else. Falling asleep while doing a critical piece of repair work wouldn’t help.

When Jared came to wake him in three hours, he was wearing a smile on his face for a change. Peter hoped that meant good news, as he swallowed a caffeine pill along with the coffee he was handed. He KNEW it was good news when Jeff was smiling, too.

We found a planet. Jeff sounded positively cheerful. According to the scans there’s breathable air, water, and plenty of land. There are signs of life, as well.

Any chance of a spaceport?

Jeff’s smile faltered a little, but then he continued.

We don’t think so. There hasn’t been any sign that space travel even exists in this galaxy. But it’s a planet, and Jared is sure we can make it that far.

Well done. Peter looked at the star chart Jeff had on his console, showing their location, and that of the planet they needed to get to. Well, what are we waiting for? Let’s get Angelfire moving.

Aye, Cap. Jeff saluted, a grin on his face.

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The closer the Angelfire got to the planet, the less the crew smiled. Jared was constantly checking and re-checking different parts of their engines, alternately yelling out a loud, ‘Blasted Declanites!’, and moping around with a mournful look as if his favorite Grandmother were on her deathbed and expected to pass at any moment. But they made it into orbit around the planet and began