Dawn: Shadows of the Void, #3

By J.J. Green

A dark secret. A deadly shadow. A false dawn.

Under orders from Earth's Global Government, Jas Harrington and the crew of the Galathea arrive at the colony world of Dawn, where the hostile aliens that infest their ship can be rooted out.

Jas soon learns that the aliens are called Shadows, and that there's been a conspiracy of silence surrounding the threat they pose to the galaxy. She also finds there's more to Dawn than meets the eye.

She discovers the horrible truth of what the Shadows do to their victims.

She discovers that Dawn's security has been penetrated.

She discovers what the planet's inhabitants are hiding.

As the Shadows draw near, Jas battles desperately to free the people of Dawn from their dark secrets. If she doesn't succeed, no one can survive.

Dawn is book three in the fast-paced, action-packed Shadows of the Void space opera serial.

• Language: English
• Publisher: J.J. Green
• Release date: Mar 1, 2018
• ISBN: 9781386062851

Book preview

DAWN

Shadows of the Void Book 3

J.J. Green

Sign up to my reader group for a free copy of Starbound, the Shadows of the Void prequel that tells the story of what happened to Jas Harrington in Antarctica, for discounts on new releases, review crew invitations and other interesting stuff:

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The Books of Shadows of the Void - Complete Series

Prequel: Starbound

Book 1: Generation

Book 2: Stranded

Book 3: Dawn

Book 4: Shadowrise

Book 5: Underworld

Book 6: Burned

Book 7: Trapped

Book 8: Mars Born

Book 9: Shadow Battle

Book 10: Shadow War

Books 1 - 3 The Galathea Chronicles

Books 4 - 7 The Earth Chronicles

Books 8 - 10 The Galactic Chronicles

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

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter One

ARRIVING FROM A STARJUMP was like swimming up from deep water, emerging into the air, and rising to the upper stratosphere. Carl had starjumped more times than he could remember, but he didn’t think he’d ever get used to it. Intense pressure on his body and, it seemed, his mind, gave way to a sense of infinite space and incredible lightness. Like the rest of the crew on the bridge of the Galathea, he grabbed the nearest fixed object as if to steady himself, even though he was well-secured in his pilot’s harness.

The first thing he did was check on Harrington, who was sitting bound to a seat at the comm console. She was looking a little green, but she seemed okay. That misborn Haggardy was taking his revenge too far. Harrington had done the right thing when she’d put him in the brig. What else was the chief security officer supposed to do if she suspected he’d been infected by a hostile alien? As far as Carl was concerned, Haggardy was still under suspicion.

Turning his gaze to the former First Mate Haggardy, now acting master of the Galathea, he had an urge to punch the older man in his smug, self-satisfied face. What had he done to protect the crew from the aliens on K. 67092d? Nothing. It had been up to Harrington, Navigator Sayen Lee, and himself to save the ship and their shipmates. Now, the Galathea had lost nearly twenty officers, and their prospecting mission for their employer, Polestar, was over. No one would receive any bonuses. The crew was on the verge of mutiny, and it was possible one of them could be possessed by an alien.

Not bad, Lingiari, said Haggardy, releasing his safety harness, standing, and stretching. Grantwise couldn’t have done better himself.

Carl grimaced. As far as he was concerned, if it weren’t for Haggardy’s spinelessness, Pilot Grantwise might still be alive. Carl had always longed to pilot a starship, but not like this.

The comm console bleeped. It hadn’t taken the governorship of Dawn—the planet they were now orbiting—long to get in touch. Haggardy went over to the panel and swiped and pressed the screen. After briefly scanning the message, he commanded the two defense units who stood guarding the door, and who accompanied him everywhere round the clock, to follow him as he left the bridge.

Carl unclipped his harness and went to Harrington. He unknotted the binding around her ankles and wrists.

Thanks, she said, but are you sure you should do this? He could be back any minute.

Krat him. What’s he going to do? Tie you up again?

He could put me in the brig, or worse.

If he puts you in the brig, at least you’ll get to lie down. And as for doing anything worse, that’d take guts. Does that sound like Haggardy to you?

You’ve got a point. Harrington rose to her feet and twisted her ankles and wrists in circles. She was half a head taller than Carl, but that had never bothered him. He’d always liked her statuesque frame.

Harrington returned to the comm seat and scanned the screen. He’s taking the call from Dawn in his cabin. I wonder what they’re talking about.

I’m wondering how he’s going to spin what happened on K. 67092d to make himself come out smelling sweet, said Carl. That’ll be a job and a half.

What’s he going to tell them about you and me, and Lee? Harrington shook her head. It’s going to be hard to explain ourselves to Polestar and maybe the Global Government when we don’t know the story he’s told them.

No point in worrying about it now. Carl perched on the comm console. So, what’s the plan?

I’m waiting to hear what the governor of Dawn has to say. Why did Polestar tell us to come here and not return to Earth for quarantine? We have to be sure none of the remaining crew are infected before we go planetside anywhere in the galaxy. We can’t risk those aliens spreading. She thumbed an icon on the comm screen, but it had no effect. I can’t access external comms. I bet we’re both locked out of all but the most basic systems. If we get the chance, we have to warn the governor about Haggardy. If only I could contact Dawn directly myself, or even Earth.

The door to the bridge opened, and Haggardy returned. I don’t recall telling you to untie our security officer, Lingiari.

I don’t remember you having any reason to tie her up.

Haggardy’s eyebrows rose. You must have a short memory, then. But never mind. Luckily for you, you’ve pre-empted my order. I was about to set you free myself, Harrington.

Came to your senses, finally? the security officer asked. Or maybe that alien you’re carrying around messed with your brain?

The acting master’s expression hardened. That’s a serious accusation to be throwing around. I’d be careful about repeating it to the governor when you arrive on Dawn. Or you might find yourself under suspicion.

You’re sending her to Dawn? asked Carl.

I’m sending both of you. Or rather, the governor has requested that you pay her a visit.

Carl and Harrington’s gazes met.

She would have liked to speak to Navigator Lee, too, but that would be difficult to arrange with the navigator in stasis. The governor’s an understanding woman, and she agreed to leave her out of investigations for the time being, until the ship is declared free of infection and safe for her to board.

But Lingiari and I could be infected, Harrington said. How does she know we won’t spread the infection to Dawn?

Dawn is a quarantine and vetting station for ships that might be harboring this infection, replied Haggardy. The governor explained that it isn’t the first time this hostile species has been encountered. Polestar recognized the pattern of events we experienced, and that’s why it sent us here. You’ll both be tested. If you pass, you’ll wait planetside until the whole ship’s crew has been examined and cleared. Then, we can return to Earth.

Carl couldn’t see how it would be possible to test for something so difficult to detect. He wondered how many false positives they’d found. And if we don’t pass?

I’ve sent a team of defense units to clear the shuttle wreckage from the shuttle bay, said Haggardy. A transport from Dawn will be arriving soon. You can go there to wait for it. Don’t even think about trying anything, Harrington. I can countermand the defense units in a moment, and even if you were to get back control of the ship, where do you think you would go?

Haggardy obviously wasn’t going to tell them what would happen if they weren’t cleared of carrying the alien infection. And what did he mean when he said the species had already been encountered? Was it already spreading across the galaxy?

The ship’s corridors were quiet as they went to the shuttle bay. The crew were always subdued after arriving from a