Captain Ranell Glent: Adventures of the League Space Patrol, #4

By Frank Carey

Space Patrol Captain Ranell Glent, a seasoned patrol pilot with a spotless record, is breaking in his new lieutenant when he gets word of a distress signal from his mother's ship. He arrives on station only to find that a can of worms the size of a miles-long asteroid has been opened and his family is in the middle of it.

If you like tech-heavy sci-fi, relatable characters, and stories of family and redemption, you'll love the fourth book in Frank Carey's Adventures of the League Space Patrol series. 42 pages.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Frank Carey
• Release date: Apr 23, 2018
• ISBN: 9781386638841

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

CHAPTER ONE

Captain Ranell Thinker Glent, a beta male Katalan, stood off to the side and tugged at his dress uniform while his commanding officer, Major Maya Slipstream Canna, a female Katalan, talked with representatives of the Markesh government. Markesh was a colony on what was once the edge of League space, but that edge has passed them by in the last thirty years. Now, Markesh was an established member of the League of Planetary Systems with all the problems associated with the title. Today, the Markesh government was meeting with Major Canna to discuss establishment of a Space Patrol command center in orbit around the planet. She had brought her nephew with her to see diplomacy in action, a concept found strange by many male Katalans.

Ranell watched as the Major finished speaking with the representatives—an Alturan and a human—who walked off to talk to a group of traders. Ranell knew that though the formal negotiations weren't scheduled until the following day, this unofficial meeting had ironed out 99% of the agreement between Space Patrol and the planet. By this time next year, the planet would have a Space Patrol command station in orbit which meant more funds flowing into their coffers in the form of fees and supplies.

Now, was that so bad? Maya asked Ranell.

No, ma'am. In fact, your skill at negotiating is a wonder to see.

Why thank you, Ranell... Shit!

Ranell turned and saw a Katalan entourage enter the room and head in his direction. Led by a male and female Katalan and surrounded by several female Katalan guards was his mother, the Lady Sata Glent. He and Maya bowed at her approach—he because Sata was his mother and Maya because Sata is the Alpha female of her clan.

Sister, you look well, the larger female said. Maya was six-and-a-half feet tall and over 100-kilos of solid muscle, but Sata was a hair off seven feet, fitting for the leader of a large and prestigious Katalan clan.

Thank you, matriarch, Maya replied.

Sata fixed her gaze on Ranell. My son, you look well.

He bowed once more. Thank you, matriarch. You are as radiant as the day I first laid eyes on you.

She looked over at the male of her group. Fent, his is how one greets his mother. You need to learn from your brother.

Fent stared at Ranell, who stared back instead of averting his eyes as tradition dictated.

Fent reached down and grasped the hilt of his sword, but a large hand wrapped around his, preventing him from drawing it. Nephew, return to the ship. Now!

He looked up and saw his mother's sister glaring at him. Wordlessly, he broke free from her grip, then turned and stormed away.

Sala, you are looking well, Ranell commented as if nothing had happened.

Thank you, Ranell. You do realize someday I won't be here to stop him.

And on that day, the universe will weep. As for you stopping him; I didn't know you were standing there.

Why do you constantly bait him? Sata asked. Do you have a death wish?

He looked his mother straight in the eye. He knows the truth about father's death. If he challenges me and I accept, I will best him in battle, then demand he reveal the truth, the truth that my father had nothing to do with the bomb that destroyed that facility.

"Your brother