Vengeance Lost: Ardent Redux Saga: Episode 1 (A Space Opera Adventure): Ardent Redux Saga, #1

By J. L. Stowers

When a star blows up, someone's going to pay.

Humanity has been fighting the alien threat for decades, and the war just ratcheted up a notch. Sent to aid a dreadnaught under siege, Dani Devereaux and the crew of Alaska's Vengeance find themselves caught in a trap.

A trap that brings a new ultimate weapon to the battlefield, destroying an entire star system.

Narrowly escaping, she returns home to find victory parades turned into lines of questioning reporters all wanting to learn the details of her failure.

But endings can create new beginnings, and when Dani hits rock bottom, she finds a way to regain her pride—and though not her honor, at least she'll have her vengeance.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Sixth Moon Publishing
• Release date: Jul 12, 2018
• ISBN: 9781393389712

Book preview

Vengeance Lost

Ardent Redux Saga:

Episode 1

Vengeance Lost

Ardent Redux Saga:

Episode 1

––––––––

By

J. L. Stowers

Copyright © 2018 by J. L. Stowers

All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

First Edition, 2018

Editor: Keri Karandrakis

Cover Art: Tiffany at Dark Matter Book Covers

Visit the author’s website at https://jlstowers.com

Dedication

This series is dedicated to Jason, Jayden, Jensen, and Juliana. You’re my forever crew and I’d do anything for you.

Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 1

Alaska’s Vengeance dropped out of hyperdrive and straight into hell.  

Shields up, full power. Captain Dani Devereaux unclipped her harness and leapt out of her seat in one graceful motion. Her eyes studied the battlefield displayed on the large screen before the crew as she gave her next command. Begin evasive maneuvers. 

You got it, Captain, First Officer Jag Reinhart called from his station. He projected the ship’s status and expertly manipulated the holograph. Shields are up and here we go!  

The scene before them jolted sideways as the battleship veered to the side to avoid a barrage of fire. Dani stood in the middle of the bridge, watching the action unfold before her on the floor-to-ceiling display. The ship’s artificial gravity field worked relative to the ship, so despite the banks and rolls, she was able to maintain her balance effortlessly.

Incoming communication, Communications Officer Cassia Simpkins announced from her station seat.  

Let's see it. Half screen. 

Bernard Winston, Captain of the Louisiana, appeared on the left half of the screen. It’s about time you got here.  

My deepest apologies for the delay, Captain Winston. We were held up in PS709 cleaning up another Vaerian attack. It seems they’re targeting all planetary systems containing glowshard. The GC’s resources have been spread thin, but we’re here now. Dani bowed her head respectfully to the captain.  

Captain Winston nodded. I understand. Our situation is dire. We’ve lost most of our fighters. An unfortunate accident sent one of our own into our main engine, so we’re currently unable to make a hop, much less warp to safety. 

Dani nodded as she watched the Vaerian fighters whiz around the massive Louisiana, hitting it with a bombardment of white energy blasts. The fighters swarmed like insects against the massive Class-A warship, but with enough time they would be able to break through the Louisiana’s defenses.  

Where’s the Vaerian destroyer? she asked, noting the absence of the fighter’s mothership. 

Captain Winston smirked. We got off a pretty good shot and damaged the ship. It limped out to the outer planets, but we’ve been unable to pursue. 

Cruz, scan for the destroyer, please. A hand popped up in the air from the navigation area and gave a quick wave.  

Shields at thirty percent, a voice on the Louisiana called from off screen.  

Don’t worry, Captain Winston. Dani read the concern on his face. We’re on it. 

She returned to her seat and said into the ship’s PA system, Alright, team, get out there and give them the fight they’re looking for. 

Dani brought up a small holographic screen displaying the fighters docked on the back of her ship and watched them take off two by two. Though she carried a considerably smaller crew, they were the best of the best. Every fighter pilot in the Galactic Conglomerate longed to be aboard Alaska’s Vengeance for both the prestige and the rescue missions. 

Dani turned back to Captain Winston. Help is on the way, Captain. Stay safe.  

With a nod, Captain Winston blipped off of the screen, the battlefield screen enlarging once more.  

Dani scowled at the Vaerian fighters as they tore around a nearby moon before zipping back toward the Louisiana. Part of her missed being directly in the action as she listened to the GC pilots strategize through her earpiece. They were a well-oiled team, having worked innumerable similar missions together. Often, Dani and her crew were tied up with the battleship while her fighter pilots eliminated the small threats. However, with the Vaerian battleship’s absence, Dani felt the tug of battle.

Let’s help them out, Jag.  

My pleasure, Captain. A maniacal grin crept across his face as he opened links with the automated gunners on all sides of the ship. 

As Jag readied the weapons, Dani redirected controls of Alaska’s Vengeance to her console. The battleship lacked the grace of the fighters, but now, without the added bulk of the fighters on her hull, Alaska’s Vengeance was a formidable opponent.  

A small hologram projected just above Dani’s console, displaying the ship’s real-time statistics. A familiar rush of excitement tore through her body as she grabbed onto the yoke. Flying was always her passion and flying to the rescue, even more so. She turned her battleship toward the fight.  

The elite team of twelve GC fighters helped even the odds, but Dani liked to be a hands-on participant in every battle when possible. She expertly guided Alaska’s Vengeance through the chaos as Jag whooped and hollered as he fired on the enemy fighters.

Dani swung around to face the Louisiana, falling into a small orbit around the massive warship as Jag worked quickly to pick off the Vaerian fighters attempting to blast their way through the shields. 

The ding of an old-fashioned bell caught Dani’s attention, and her eyes shot to the bottom right corner of the main display screen. There, on the outskirts of the system, was the Vaerian destroyer.  

Great work, Cruz.  

Navigator Daemon Cruz acknowledged her gratitude with a wave. 

We need to get that destroyer. Peterson, Dani called out to her lead fighter pilot, can you handle the fighters if we go get the destroyer?  

Absolutely. We’re picking them off left and right. Gotta love being the turner of tides, Peterson’s voice called out in her ear. He was one of the cockiest pilots she’d ever met, but his reputation supported his ego quite well. 

Dani couldn’t help but smile as she saw Peterson’s red-tailed fighter slingshot around the same small moon before opening fire on a cluster of Vaerian fighters that were regrouping for another pass on the Louisiana. His enthusiasm matched her own, and his love for piloting a fighter had caused him to turn down a position in her bridge. She didn’t blame him, though; sometimes she longed to be in the middle of the action, too.  

Alright, let’s go hunt down a destroyer. Dani turned Alaska’s Vengeance away from the battle and the red, glowing star at the center of the solar system.  

Preparing to hop, Jag called out.  

The ship began to hum as it built up energy before the densely populated planets and moons around them became a momentary blur. In just a few seconds, they had traveled halfway through the solar system toward their target.  

Cloaking on, Dani ordered as she peered into the quiet dark.  

The lights in the bridge and on her console dimmed. The status holograph flashed red momentarily, signifying that shield power had been reduced to fifty percent. Cloaking was a huge power draw, but an effective strategy when done correctly.  

Dani powered off the engines as they glided through space silently toward the coordinates. They crept past a planet laced with lights. In the silence, she wondered if the mining colonies below were even aware of their presence. She couldn’t help but smile at the idea of being the silent protector to millions of lifeforms, a guardian among the stars.  

Her eyes darted over the screen, seeking visual confirmation of the destroyer they were stalking.  

There she is. On the large screen, Dani zoomed in on the destroyer. The ship was clearly damaged, but the weapons systems appeared to be intact.  

Scans show droids are repairing the ship. Shields are down, Cassia advised. There are numerous lifeform readings aboard, too.  

Dani fired up the thrusters to position Alaska’s Vengeance behind a barren moon. They won’t be able to lock on to us right away from here. Cassia, prepare to record a message.  

All set. 

"This is Captain Dani Devereaux of the Alaska’s Vengeance, flagship of the Galactic Conglomerate. Withdraw your forces and retreat or face destruction."  

Got it. Ready to transmit. Cassia smiled, her hand poised over the controls on her console.  

Great. Send the transmission. Jag, drop cloaking and fully power shields and weapons.  

Done, the pair said in unison.  

The holograph indicated shields and weapons were fully powered, and Dani nudged the ship out from behind the moon far enough to make their presence known, but still difficult to target. 

They’re powering secondary weapons. Cassia pinged the locations on the screen. The small circles rippled outward around the areas showing an increase in power. 

Jag, hit them, ten percent.  

My pleasure.  

White energy bolts shot out from the primary blasters on either side of the bridge before making contact with the areas Cassia had pinged moments earlier. Small explosions erupted where the guns once stood. It wouldn’t be enough to puncture the hull, but that