Deputy Marshal Maxine Wabash: Adventures of the League Space Patrol, #9

By Frank Carey

Maxine is your typical young Alue working for Space Patrol at the edge of the League of Planetary Systems. Two-million years ago, her people almost wiped out the Logash, a species that seeded the Milky Way galaxy with their DNA. Now, she finds herself the only person standing between an evil robot bent on destruction and a ship filled with Logash colonists. Can she save the colonists and bring the Alue and the Logash together without getting herself killed in the process? Meet Max and find out.

If you like tech-heavy sci-fi, relatable characters, and stories of family and redemption, you'll love the ninth book in Frank Carey's Adventures of the League Space Patrol series. 45 pages.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Frank Carey
• Release date: Apr 23, 2018
• ISBN: 9781386217596

Frank Carey

Frank Carey has been formally writing and publishing works of science fiction since late 2013. Over the years prior, he had dabbled in various forms of writing including haiku poetry, but that all changed when he and his wife, Jo, decided to try their hand at writing and self-publishing. Since then, he has written and published a collection of flash fiction and short stories, two anthologies, a pentalogy, and a trilogy. All his work, to date, has been in the science fiction genre. Most of his stories take place about two centuries in the future when Earth joins the League of Planetary Systems. Many of his protagonists are strong females. He is an inveterate pantser who believes the story will go where the story wants to go. Frank’s background includes degrees in physics and extensive work as a scientific programmer and technologist.

Book preview

PROLOGUE

Max slammed the Loki's throttles to their stops as the Cube module released its grip on its mother in preparation for ejection. Beside her, Dr. Leesta Merser indulged in hysterics as the ship's acceleration pressed them against their seats. With the inertial dampener system not keeping up with the thrust, her fingers felt like they each weighed a ton. Fighting the weight, she flipped a switch on the control yoke, switching the cockpit viewer's feed to the rear cameras. She watched as the massive, laboratory-filled module ripped loose from the Cube and headed out into space, taking her friend, Captain Niall Thorvald, to his death. She turned her head and saw the structure pass by, heading toward the star the Cube orbited. Moments later, it disappeared as a malfunctioning micro-FTL drive tore it from this universe and threw it into other-space.

He's gone, isn't he? Leesta wailed.

Yes, Doctor, he is gone, Max said as she killed the engines and alleviated the pressure on their bodies. She flipped a second switch on the control yoke. This is Lieutenant Wabash aboard the Loki. I have Doctor Merser, and she is safe. The module is gone, and we're heading in. Loki out.

What now? Leesta asked as she composed herself.

We get back to living. The dead are not in our purview, so we leave them to their own devices.

He was your friend...

Is my friend and always will be. He died doing what he loved: protecting the people of the League.

They remained silent for the rest of the trip.

###

Max stared out the window at the star as she waited for Red and Ariel to join her. Soon, they would be boarding the shuttle to Maeve where they would start new lives as officers in the new Space Patrol Marshal Service. Not being one who normally embraced change, she was looking forward to this one.

Maxine? a familiar voice asked from the doorway. Max spun around and gasped. Two very familiar Alue stood there, a woman and a man, both smiling from ear to ear.

Mom! Dad! she yelled as she ran over to embrace them. What are you doing here?

We heard about what happened, her father said. Ambassador Irithyl told us everything. Are you OK?

Max nodded. Yeah, I'm OK. So, you know about Maeve?

Who names a planet Maeve? her father asked. Especially one at the edge of League space? Now 'Remote' would be a good name, or maybe 'Rimworld...'

Caleb! Her mother said. Maeve is a perfectly fine name. All that counts is our daughter’s happiness. She looked at Max. I love the new uniform. So, my little girl is a Deputy in the Space Patrol Marshal Service. Your father and I are very proud of you. Aren't we, Caleb?

Yes, Ruby, my love, we're both very proud of our little girl. He took a box from his pocket and handed it to her.

She turned it over in her hand. What's this? she asked.

Open it, Ruby said.

Max carefully removed the lid, then removed the contents. Inside the box was a state of the art multi-tool complete with all the usual tools like screwdrivers, pliers, and knives, but this one had a special extra, an electronics tool set complete with a universal case opener. If a case could be opened, this baby would open it. This is amazing. Thank you. She hugged them again. A knock at the door announced the arrival of Red and Ariel.

Are we interrupting something? Ariel asked.

Marshal Melinda McKee and Deputy Marshal Ariel, I would like you to meet my parents, Ruby and Caleb Wabash.

They all shook hands.

Ruby and Caleb. Not the Ruby and Caleb? Ariel asked.

Guilty as charged. Max was born in a Ziggurat located in the Yucatan peninsula of Mexico on Earth. Ah, those heady days... Umph, Caleb said as Ruby elbowed him in the stomach.

Quiet, you, or I'll tell them the real story.

Max, we have to go, Red said. "Mister