Andromeda Gate Quests

By Genie Driscoll

Many Universal alliances have been made over generations on Earth. The aliens inhabiting the galaxy having drawn in earth as an ally against a warring species called the Rhesus. They have shared technology and weapons and Earth has many of those alien species on their planet working alongside them. The aliens introduced a portal to Earth so that they may travel to many worlds in their systems. During one of those forays a Viaden working alongside the American military made a slight mistake in calculations and ended up outside the known galaxy and on an ancient Starbase orbiting 2 worlds. Unfortunately because of this mistake she left the portal open and it would not close unless she returned. Everybody in the Universal alliance agreed that she had to go back, but as the opportunity was too good to miss, they wanted to explore this unknown part of space to discover why it had portals. Where did they come from? Was this where the original ancient builders came from? Were they still there or what happened to them. Could they make new allies in this system? It was decided this Viaden female would go on the exploratory mission but would take many scientists, researchers and military along with her on this journey. They chose the best they could find. Because the system was so far from the Milky Way Galaxy, the journey back to Earth might take a decade or more. These are the adventures of the Andromeda team.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Genie Driscoll
• Release date: Aug 26, 2015
• ISBN: 9781310751509

Genie Driscoll

I have been writing fiction and Poetry for the past 18 years, as a hobby.I am a genre writer, and I write Romance, science Fiction, fantasy, thrillers, humor, crime, drama and poetry. I love writing original Science fiction and Thrillers the most. I hope you enjoy reading my books as much as I enjoyed writing them. I have a few novel series and 2 Anthologies. The Romance Anthologies include all my Romances except Rebel Princess and my Spy Anthology Tavonovich will include all current and coming individual novels. All Royalties go to my charities, The Central California Food Bank. Every penny counts to feeding the hungry. And St Jude's Children Research Hospital.

Book preview

ANDROMEDA

GATE QUESTS

Genie Driscoll

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Copyright © 2017 Genie Driscoll. All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book, or portions thereof, in any form. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical without the express written permission of the author. The scanning, uploading, and distribution of this book via the internet or via any other means without the permission of the publisher is illegal and punishable by law. Please purchase only authorized electronic editions, and do not participate in or encourage electronic piracy of copyrighted materials.

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#1 ANDROMEDA: Gate Quests

#2 ANDROMEDA: Solaris

#3 ANDROMEDA: Enemies or Allies

#4 ANDROMEDA: Calm before the Storm

#5 ANDROMEDA: Enemy Within

Other Books by Genie Driscoll

Romance Anthology #1

Romance Anthology #2

Tavonovich Anthology

Tavonovich #1 : International Intrigue

Tavonovich #2 : Cocaine

Tavonovich #3 : Dirty Wars

Tavonovich #4 : Agent M.I.A

Tavonovich #5 : Trouble in Paradise

Tavonovich #6 : Into Africa

Tavonovich #7 : Family Ties

Trubachev : Conflict of Interest

Kissing Bandit

Earthdome Space Fleet

Neverland Romance

A Twist in the Tale

Sheriff of Coco Point

Cleo & The Lawman

Laird of Glencarriagh

Eternal Love

Time Leap

Time Guardians series

Rebel Princess

Andromeda Gate Quests #1

US Air Force Colonel Andrea Roberts watched one of the team from Gate Command leaving for the place everyone thought to be the myth of Heliopolis. She hoped with all the rest that the team would find it. What she didn’t envy them was the idea that they might never come back to their own world of Earth. They had with them many off-worlders from her own planet who had volunteered to help search, and research. She turned away, and came face to face with General Jackson, commander of the Gates Command Program. His eyes smiled into hers. She blushed, and he said quietly, Wish you were going Colonel?

She replied, No Sir, I was just silently wishing them luck on their journey.

He nodded and said, I do too. So where are you off to next?

She smiled feeling now on safer ground and replied, Our next mission is to Centauri Prime sector.

He nodded and said, Stay safe Colonel.

—oOo—

The mission to Centauri Prime was both a series of diplomatic and domestic disasters, with little success. By the time the team extracted themselves off that world, Roberts had lost one man due to his stupidity, and she nearly died along with the rest of the unit. Only quick thinking by her executive officer and herself saved the rest of the team from the hostile natives of Belanor. They made it back home 3 days overdue. All of them looking a little worse for wear and all of them injured in various places. It was decided NOT to negotiate any peace treaties to these people.

—oOo—

Ten days later, excitement in the main Operations was felt throughout the base. It was entirely Andrea’s fault. She had decided to go back to her home world and recover from her mishap on Belanor.

On her way back through her planet’s portal, it malfunctioned and she discovered herself in a strange room. This one she discovered however was inside a Space Station orbiting between two planets. She had no idea where she was and it took her four days to figure out that she was in an ancient station orbiting the home worlds of the Andromedians. A very old race of humanoids with links to all parts of the known universes. However, this one seemed to be where they all originated from. She had heard of them, and always wished she could meet one. But they had disappeared a long time ago. Soon she found herself in a section of the Space station that housed some sort of giant data area, and what she could see as Holograms with what looked like histories. She entered the room, and a scanner of piercing pinkish white light appeared out of the one databank. She was routed to the spot whilst it bodily scanned her.

The huge ancient computer decided she was not a threat. As she stood still for it to probe her, she picked up various images of why the Phantoms were so detested. She understood that reason, and agreed with the sentiment. The probe read her thoughts, and input her DNA structure into its memory banks as one of the Andromedians. Even though she had a symbiote inside her, she was accepted as a friend. It gave her full access over every section on the Space station with no exception. She learned from the computerized data how to manipulate the controls, and then she discovered a small nodule near her left ear. The probe had placed it there for some reason she couldn’t fathom, until she accidentally used it. She was hungry and wondered where she could find an eatery. Before she could blink, a map appeared like a hologram in front of her and she could see where she had to go. Andrea was startled at the advanced technology, and more alarmed at the idea that with just a thought she could see where she needed to get to. Removing the nodule however was out of the question, so she left it. It helped her gain knowledge of the entire Space station over the next few days, and eventually she decided she needed to get the information back to Gates Command. She tapped in her home base code and dialed home from the consoles inside the base Operations room. Looking around she finally stepped through the portal, when it opened, and went back to her base on Earth, where she handed her findings to the General.

A couple of weeks later, a visitor arrived at Command base. It was one of the leaders of all the allied home worlds. He spoke at length with Jackson and his senior officers; and then he said, The one who is called Colonel Andrea Roberts, she must lead the Team.

Jackson was startled and asked Why?

Toma looked at him and replied, She is the one who activated the ancient Space station. It has configured itself around her DNA and absorbed her into its databanks. If she does not go with the new team, the computer will not function. She is the key to opening the door. The ancient Starbase will not accept anyone else. And there is another problem.

Jackson had Andrea summoned to the meeting room. As she entered, she was met by stares from the humans, the Ceti and also by Toma. Uncomfortable, she looked at them. Jackson insisted she sit down and quietly he explained the problem. Toma nodded in agreement.

Andrea looked at them in alarm and then asked, So, that’s it? If I don’t go, nobody goes?

Yup, ‘bout the size of it Colonel. replied Jackson. He cleared his throat and added, It’s up to you Colonel Roberts. We are not going to force you to go, if that is what you are thinking. The choice is yours. However, I need to make this clear to you, the statute of limitations as Toma has explained, is that the portal activation is still operational on that Starbase. Should anyone breach the Starbase security, they will find a direct gate link back to earth. The only person who can shut it down is you. The Starbase computer used your DNA, and apparently incorporated it as a catalyst into its data banks. However, should you go back, the portal will close for 10 years, as it was programmed to do millennia ago. In effect, the mission will be a decade research project. Unlike the Heliopolis team, who cannot get back, in 10 years you all can. The threat to Earth is the open portal on the station. The success however outweighs everything else. The opportunity to explore the first world of the Andromedians is too good a chance to miss. If you decide to go, you will be in command of the Team.

Toma nodded and replied, Unfortunately, we cannot shut the Starbase down. When the Andromedians left, they installed a back-up plan. Should a member of one of the ancient allied races returns, that one would have full control over everything on that base and the worlds in that system. You stumbled on the base by accident, and unfortunately you have to live with the consequences of your actions whilst you were aboard.

Andrea looked at Toma, then looked across at Jackson and sighed, Let me think about it Sir, it’s a big step into the unknown with no way back.

Jackson nodded and replied, I understand Colonel. Dismissed.

—oOo—

A couple of days later, and after she had contacted her home world, Andrea walked into Jackson’s office and told him she would go. It took a month to put together a team of Combat troops, Scientists, Engineers and Medical staff; and all the equipment and food they might need over the next 10 years or more. The assembled team consisted of 600 people from Earth and 30 people from other planets, and now with all their equipment, were packed inside the portal room. It was a tight squash, but they were finally ready to head out.

Andrea stood on the top of the ramp, and looked back to see everyone. It reminded her of the Heliopolis Team. She looked up and saw Jackson and the rest of the Gate Command watching her. She smiled and saluted with two fingers, then looked back at the people waiting for her. She said loudly, Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for accompanying me on this trek to the First World. We have all worked hard to achieve this reality, and as we step through the gate to this ancient Starbase, I hope we will make good discoveries along the way. Ten years is a long time, so if there is anyone here expressing doubts, I will not think less of you if you decide to stay.

No one moved, and Andrea smiled. ~ They were in it for the long haul. ~

She nodded to General Jackson, and turned round to face the portal. Taking a huge breath she said, Let’s go!

She stepped through the shimmering silvery round doorway, and a minute later stepped out of the portal into the space station.

Lights came on and lit up the entire control room. The Starbase computer said, Welcome home Colonel Andrea Roberts.

She smiled, and then noticed that everyone was staring at her. She colored. Instead of explaining, she put them all to work. A few hours later, and with sore muscles, Andrea finally got everyone organized. She asked the computer to access the DNA of all the team members, so that it had a permanent record of who they were and where they were at any given time. Over the next few weeks, the team members got acquainted with their new home, and began cataloguing all their finds and documenting the findings on various items. Roberts was busy organizing an away team to go planet side.

—oOo—

Sergeant Major Hugh Barnes walked up the path, kicking the mud from his boots. The past two months he’d spent on exercise with the squadron had been exhilarating. Opening the back door he placed his Burgin in the porch, calling out to his wife Debbie, Hi love I’m home. The silence that greeted him was deafening. Frowning, he walked into the lounge, thinking that his wife was late from work. Seeing the two envelopes on the small coffee table, Barnes stopped. He instantly recognized Debbie’s copperplate hand writing. Picking the letter up, he sat heavily on the sofa. Staring at the pale blue rectangle in his hand, he slowly opened the flap and pulled the single A5 sheet of paper out and read it. Closing his eyes, Barnes sighed deeply. Standing, he went to the small bureau and poured himself a large scotch.

Sitting back down, he reread the letter and shook his head; he’d seen the signs coming for months and had refused to do anything about them. Screwing the letter up, he threw it into the fireplace. Drinking his Scotch he stared into space, his eyes only then-catching the other letter. Reaching forwards he looked at the postmark, and then the frank mark. Opening the letter he slowly read the three pages.

Barnes sat back and sighed. He’d waited for months for this reply, now it had got there he was unsure. Standing, he walked towards the bedroom, his clothes hanging in an otherwise empty wardrobe. Looking round he sighed again. Taking his remaining items of uniform only, he went back down stairs and packed them into his Burgin.

Walking down the way he had originally come, he looked back and smiled, ~So much for home life and women! ~ The first thing he had done was phoned the duty officer about his post, and to put the house on the market. Walking back to his car he drove to the base airstrip for his connecting flight to the USA.

—o Two months later. o—

Barnes came out of the gym dripping in sweat; his morning workout had been more intense since his inclusion on the mission to the Andromeda galaxy had been announced. Showering, he dressed and headed for the range, drawing out all the weapons he could be using in his new home. Setting the target for 300 yards, he lay in the prone position and loaded a full magazine into the weapon. Closing his eyes, he reopened the right, and looked down the sights at the small black circle. Breathing normally he squeezed off two, three round bursts. Bringing the target in he checked his grouping. Looking at the target, he looked at his sights, adjusting 6 clicks to the right. Putting the target back, he re-aimed and fired again. Checking, he nodded. ‘A better grouping.’ he thought to himself. Changing weapons he spent the next three hours on the range, turning live ammo into empty casings. When he’d finished, he checked the weapon numbers. Making a note in his book, he knew he could then redraw them from the armory when he left.

Walking back to his room he looked at the faces of the rest of the team, seeing the fear of the unknown, the different, and worrying about coming home again or not as the case may be. He grinned to himself and thought they looked like Star Trek’s Red Shirt security. Entering the gate room, Barnes looked up at the large metal Gate that stood before him, remembering that he had stood there in awe when he had first arrived. Now, two weeks later, he stood in the same room again, and this time it was crowded with people. He watched as his new commanding officer walked up the ramp.

She said loudly, Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for accompanying me on this trek to the First World. We have all worked hard to achieve this reality, and as we step through the gate to the first world, I hope we will make good discoveries along the way. Ten years is a long time; so if there is anyone here expressing any doubts, I will not think less of you if you decide to stay.

Barnes looked around him, and saw that nobody wanted to stay; they were all committed. Feeling a little trepidation about the unknown he followed her through the portal. Barnes found himself on a distant station, millions of light years away from Earth.

—oOo—

Barnes spent the next three weeks making sure the station was in good working order. His years as a SNCO were put to good use as he ordered, cajoled, bellowed, bribed, and praised the many different crews to get the work done. Smiling, he walked towards the area of the station they had set up for training. Entering the armory he browsed along the rack, lovingly touching the weapons. He took a SA80A2 off the rack, and carrying out his NSP’s, he headed for the ammo bunker in the far corner. Signing out 200 rounds of 5.56mm ammo, Barnes headed for the range. As the door closed, the red flashing light at the end told him that the outer wall was about to open, and the force fields were in place. Barnes, like many of the trained military personal, found the idea of an open ended range strange, especially when the open end vented into deep space. The only thing that kept him from flying into deep space was a thin layer of electrons.

Leaving the range, he checked the weapon back into the rack. Walking back to his room, he saw the group of personnel standing around the bulletin board, along the wall used for staff notices and information. Standing at the back he used his height to read over the shoulders of the rest. Entering the operations room, he walked up the stairs to the CO’s door on the second landing and knocked. Hearing a yell to Enter he did and stood to attention and saluted. Sir, I understand you’re asking for members for a first contact team. I’d like to volunteer.

Roberts looked up at the strange sounding accent of the Englishman and replied, You may go on the mission. Get what you need and be back in 45 minutes inside Ops –the portal will be taking you to the first planet.

She watched him salute her and leave. Then went back to the laptop she was using.

—oOo—

Colonel Roberts eased onto her bed. Leaning down, she untied her boots, and then kicked them across the room before relaxing back. She suppressed a groan, feeling the ancient bed automatically adjusting to her aching muscles. Yes, it was hard getting the station back up and running again, but she wasn’t entirely sure what to call this situation. Searching blindly in an alien galaxy for what purpose? It seemed their coming might create more problems than it would solve. She once again asked herself the same thing she did every night since their arrival. Was coming here the right thing to do? Before she could ponder it further, she fell asleep.

The entrance slid open and Dr Cade took a step inside. The Colonel hadn’t stirred, but he could see her form breathing shallowly in the faint light. He hated to disturb her. Rest was rare anymore, and she’d been through so much already. They all had. Reaching out with some hesitation, Cade nudged her shoulder, Colonel Roberts?

Her breath immediately hitched, and green eyes looked up into his.

Are you awake? he asked, straightening, seeing the gaze while pressing his lips into a thin line.

I am now, she replied.

I’m sorry, but we have something very strange outside of the stations perimeter.

What is it? Roberts asked, immediately sitting up. Her dog tags from Earth clanked with the sudden movement.

Her hair, she knew, was in sleep disarray.

So what’s going on? She stood running a hand over her head in attempt to flatten the mess down slightly.

The technicians on the lower deck have had, he paused as if searching for the word, an interesting encounter. I think you should see. came the cryptic reply.

Roberts held out her arm, motioning Cade to the door. Lead the way.

Cade obliged and walked through, the door closing shut behind them. Roberts followed