Thor: Far Hope Series, #1

By Emma James

Captain Kira Winter has always been a risk-taker. Her natural tendency to never back down from a fight is what brought her up, quickly, through the ranks of the Terran Alliance Forces. A fighter pilot for one of the most sophisticated militaries in the Galaxy, Kira lives for the adrenaline-pumping encounters she so often finds herself in.

She has no way of knowing, however, that her fame for bending rules and always getting the job done, no matter the risk, is about to put her in the middle of a much more high-stakes situation than she has ever faced before.

What starts out as a simple, albeit off-the-books, mission, will soon turn into a race against time as Captain Winter and an unlikely team of criminals and outcasts work together to stop one man, driven to madness by his lust for power.

Running from pirates, bounty hunters, and cybernetically enhanced soldiers, Kira and her crew face one obstacle after the next. But, they not will let anything detour them from their ultimate goal—saving the Terran race and ultimately, Earth itself.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Siren Song Publications
• Release date: Oct 6, 2019
• ISBN: 9781393028109

Book preview

CHAPTER ONE

C aptain, I’m not sure the ship can take it, Kira’s co-pilot said from his seat to her right.

Kira didn’t take her eye off the monitor in front of her. She could see the Rengar ship coming straight towards them, but her hands didn’t flinch on the controls.

That’s your problem, Johan, she said calmly. You don’t trust the ship.

I wouldn’t call it as much a trust issue as a practical one. The rat’s vessel is much bigger than ours.

Referring to their targets as rats was not meant as a slight, rather a relatively accurate description of their appearance. Still, the description did capture the essence of the intelligent rodent race accurately. They truly were the rats of the galaxy—scheming and clever, dealing primarily with the black market, selling stolen goods and offering nefarious services in the Galactic Bazaar.

That’s what brought Kira to this moment. A group of Rengar pirates had stolen goods from a leading political officer of the Terran Alliance, and being one of the Alliance’s leading combat pilots, she was called in to track down the ship, and lead a mission to retrieve the cargo.

That’s something we will use to our advantage, Kira replied confidently. Reaching for the intercom, she dialed in the code linked to the bridge. Rix, she said, speaking directly to the ship’s engineer, make sure the shields are up. We’re expecting contact in ten, nine... as she counted down, she watched the image on the screen grow larger and larger.

Johan nervously clutched the throttle in his hands so tightly that his knuckles were beginning to turn white. Kira continued to count, waiting until she reached two before thrusting the vessel forward and sending the ship into a high-speed plummet.

The Rengar ship just nicked their right wing, but with the shields up, the pirates’ Junker did little damage to the top-of-the-line Terran Alliance fighter she was piloting. Johan held his breath as she turned the ship hard right and once again began to climb, heading directly towards the belly of the enemy ship.

Rix’s voice came over the intercom. They’re lowering their guns, Captain, he informed her.

Good, she replied, watching for the cannons to drop out below the pirate ship. Ready the missiles, she ordered Johan.

His hands shook slightly as he typed a command code into the console in front of him. The ship shuddered as the missiles moved to the ready position.

As they continued to get closer and closer to the pirate vessel, the air in the cockpit became electric with tension. Kira loved these moments. The adrenaline that pumped through her veins, the feeling of control that overwhelmed her, waiting for the perfect moment to give the order.

We’re getting too close, Johan warned, ready to reach for the controls in front of him and pull the ship back.

Don’t even think about it, Kira said firmly. We’re almost there.

They're targeting us, Rix's voice came over the intercom again.

They won’t have time, Kira said, moving her hand towards the missile launch switch. Switching to weapons only control, Johan, you have the controls – try not to panic.

Training the cross-hairs that appeared on her screen to the slits from which the guns were lowering on the underbelly of the enemy ship, she inhaled sharply. Just as the large, cannon-sized barrels swiveled in their direction she hit the launch.

Simultaneously, she shouted to Johan to dive. Take us down, now! she ordered, keeping her eyes glued to the screen.

There was a blast; large enough to disrupt their flight pattern slightly, but not so large that it destroyed the Rengar ship.

Perfect, she said analyzing the data on her console, shooting a cocky smile to Johan. You can radio the others and let them know the ship has been disabled. Have reinforcements sent in, and the clean-up crew sent out to retrieve what the rat’s stole this time.

Johan made the call while she relaxed back in her seat. Radioing down to the bridge, she confirmed that the remaining members of her small crew were safe. Rix, although slightly shaken, confirmed that they were.

No matter how many flights I take with you, Captain, I will never cease to be amazed by your tactics, Johan said once he had finished the call.

I think by tactics you must mean recklessness, Kira wryly replied.  Have I ever not gotten you home safely Johan?

She had worked with Johan on a number of occasions, although they were far from close. He was a stocky man, with the same tanned skin and dark brown eyes that were typical of almost all the Terran race. Although he was a year older than her, making him 34-years old, she was his superior, something she sensed he resented.

Not yet, he said with a slight scoff. But I tell my wife that if I ever don’t make it home for dinner, it’s probably because I’ve been out with you.

God, Kira replied, wrinkling her nose in disgust, that could send the wrong message.

Hey!  You’d be lucky to get a guy like me; you know that?

You may be right, she said, raising an eyebrow, at least I know you can follow orders. Men usually aren’t very good at that.

Kira had been in a handful of relationship throughout her adult life. But, none of them stuck. Her success often seemed to intimidate. It wasn’t just her professional identity that left them feeling inferior, but her overall demeanor. She didn’t ever back down from a fight, and she rarely admitted she was wrong—because she usually wasn’t.

On the surface, she didn’t seem to be the rough-and-tumble person that she was. With a petite frame and small figure, she was often underestimated. In addition, she found that she attracted a lot of attention, more attention than she would have liked, simply because of her physical appearance. While she did share the basic qualities as the other Terran's from her home planet Earth—dark hair and tanned skin—she had blue eyes. It was a recessive trait that had almost completely disappeared from the planet generations earlier. Today, individuals with light eyes or hair were looked at as some sort of commodity on throughout the empire.

Thankfully, a strong relationship with the Telani, a race native to the planet Maelor, had somewhat quelled the fascination with the fairer Terran's. Telani were known for their bright, blue eyes and platinum blond hair. Most Terran men would jump at the chance to be with a Telani woman.

Johan’s wife was Telani, a fact he constantly bragged about. That was one of the reasons why Kira never felt the need to take it easy on her co-pilot. It was good for him to have a lesson in humility from time to time.

Set the coordinates for the T.S.F Victory, she ordered Johan, not giving him time to respond to her previous comment, but relishing in the satisfaction that her command simply served to prove her point.

He let out a disgruntled huff as he did as she said. Just as they pulled away from the scene of the encounter, five larger Terran Alliance ships swarmed in to complete the task they had started.

Smiling to herself, Kira settled back into her chair. Flipping the auto-pilot switch, she let the ship do the rest of the work for her, taking them back to the Terran forces’ flagship, where they would dock and debrief—the official end of their mission.

Johan still seemed tense. Perhaps he was simply upset with her earlier comment. Relax, she said to him, kicking her feet up and closing her eyes. In no time at all, we'll be home, and getting ready to start our three-week leave. Hopefully, that's enough time for your hands to stop shaking.

CHAPTER TWO

W hat the hell were you thinking, Kira? her commanding officer asked her, his face slightly red.

They were seated in a debriefing room aboard the T.F.S Victory. It was a small room, with no windows. Kira always felt like she was being interrogated rather than debriefed, but then again, the military protocol did save lives. Still, she wished these conversations would normally start without the attack on her judgment. 

I was thinking about completing my rather straightforward mission in the safest way possible so I could get back to Earth and start my leave, Admiral, she said pointedly.

Admiral Artanis let out a long sigh as he slid into the chair across from her. You can’t keep taking risks like that.

It wasn’t a risk. I knew what I was doing.

Artanis crossed his arms over his chest and leaned back in his chair, giving her the same look he so often did—one of disbelief with a slight hint of pride. While he was always hard on her, he had a soft spot for her as well. Over the years, they had developed an odd relationship. The only way Kira could think to describe it was that of a father and his rebellious daughter. 

Admiral Artanis was usually not dealing with such trivial issues as mission debriefs, but Kira was one of a select few pilots assigned to the Admiral’s retinue that he was directly responsible for. 

Kira, you forced an encounter with a Rengar pirate ship, easily eight times the size of your own, with a significant weapons array.  We had a battle plan drawn up that did not include you breaking formation and moving in without the support of the battle group.

I needed them to lower their guns so I could get a clear shot at disabling their engine systems.

THAT'S ANOTHER THING, Geoff said, leaning forward, running his fingers through his slightly graying hair. What if you had been off target, just a little? You could have blown the entire ship, not just the engines.

I knew I wouldn’t miss, sir.

We could have lost all of that cargo Kira, and that would mean our conversation could have been very different.

We didn’t, plus, this would not have been necessary in the first place if Terran High Command took the necessary precautions to protect sensitive cargo.

Geoff sighed, It’s getting harder and harder to write these reports, skewing them in a way that keeps you out of trouble and in my employ, he said, reaching for the tablet sitting on the table between them.

If anyone can find a way to do it, it’s you, sir, she replied, shooting him a thankful smile as she pushed herself up. Is that all?

Yes, he said with another sigh. It’s easier to write this if you tell me less rather than more.

I couldn’t agree more.

You are officially on leave, Captain Winter, Artanis replied.  I hope three weeks is enough time for me to forget how difficult you are to keep around, he said wryly. 

I appreciate that sir Kira said shooting him one last smile over her shoulder. The heavy security door closed behind her as she exited the room. Kira proceeded to