Battle Wolf

By Frank Carey

Satellite Technician Eli Coeus woke up one morning, kissed his wife goodbye, then headed into space to start his day fixing communications satellites. Little did he know he would return centuries later to find the world he knew changed beyond imagination, but before he can deal with that problem, he has to save his wife, then the Earth from a menace a quarter-million years in the making.

Battle Wolf is the third book in the Werewolf Saga of the Parthenon Universe where mankind must overcome seemingly impossible hurdles on its road to recovery from the ravages of the extinction level event known as Ellie.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Frank Carey
• Release date: Oct 17, 2020
• ISBN: 9781393343691

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

Several decades before the extinction level event called Ellie hit the Earth and wiped-out most of humanity...

The United States Space Command Center deep inside the Cheyenne Mountain Complex was at its highest alert level as it prepared for war, but not a war against terrorists or a rogue nation. It was a war against a giant alien space station which suddenly appeared in orbit around the planet.

General Martin stared at the displays while techs and subordinates went about performing their duties while the fate of the world literally hung above their heads. Report! he ordered.

Sir, an object has appeared in orbit. It's as big as Australia. Sir, it's big enough to have a measurable gravity field, a technician replied

Is it armed, Airman?

Switching cameras... The view shifted to a closeup of a section of the intruder's hull where dozens of familiar objects were attached. General, sir, we're detecting nuclear radiation signatures consistent with hydrogen bombs. Analysis Section has high confidence that we're looking at orbital-launched MIRVs.

How many?

A thousand, give or take a dozen, sir.

Are we talking about a nuclear winter capability, Airman?

No, sir. We are talking about an extinction level event capability. It's possible that the planet's biosphere will never recover...

Alarms sounded.

Incoming missiles. Launch points are inside Russia, another technician announced

Wonderful. Maxim just couldn't wait to light those candles. Get me the President and bring us to Cocked Pistol.

Alarms sounded as the DEFCON annunciator went to readiness condition 1.

Impact in ten seconds.

I guess those hypersonic missiles really do work.

Five...four...three...two...one...impact... Wait one...

Spit it out, Airman.

Sir, the missiles detonated a quarter-mile away from the target... Analysis suggests the bogey is using some kind of energy ray... Sir, the intruder is turning its main missile banks on the planet. It's emitting all kinds of EM radiation. Analysis thinks its painting population centers with targeting beams of some kind.

Confidence level?

They would suggest we leave orbit and head to Mars, sir.

Dammit. Lock all orbital launchers on target and prepare to fire. I want all ground-based assets aimed at the target...

Sir! We have a ship inbound to the intruder.

Repeat that, Airman. I thought I heard you say someone is going to visit the intruder?

Yes, sir! Exactly, sir. It's an orbital satellite tender designation OST 1137, call sign Albatross under command of Satellite Technician Elijah Coeus.

On screen.

On screen aye, General.

The image shifted to a tiny ship as it docked with the behemoth.

Sir, all targeting activity has ceased. The intruder is breaking orbit and heading out into space... Initial reading indicate a solar intercept trajectory.

The general looked at the monitor. LT, take us to Double Take, then get me the President. And slap a TSU on everything that has occurred from the point that thing arrived in orbit.

Yes, sir! Sir, What about Technician Coeus?

Get me his jacket. That man just saved the damned human race from extinction.

###

And that, young lady, is how Satellite Technician Elijah Coeus saved the Earth. Jay looked down and saw that his infant daughter was sound asleep. It wasn't that boring, he said quietly, Was it?

Our little Lucy had a long day, Dad. Here, let me take her, Cyndi said. She reached down and took the sleeping infant from him and carried her off to her crib. When she returned, she sat down next to him. Is that story true?

You mean about Elijah saving the world? Yeah, it's true.

So, who was this Elijah Coeus anyway?

Satellite Technician Elijah Coeus. He's a Homo lycanus with an extended lifespan, what many of us call an elder wolf. We just don't know how extended. Historians have traced him back to ancient times. We think he may have predated Matty and Cletus. During modern times, he was a mechanical genius who was known as the Computer Whisperer. He could fix anything electronic.

Could he talk to dragons like you and Dub?

It's possible he could Doctor Doolittle any beast. There is no record of him ever meeting a dragon, but rumor has it he went by name of George of Lydda for a while.

Who's George of Lydda?

Saint George, the guy who slew a dragon.

What it must be like to have lived that long.

If it's true, then Eli had a very long and interesting life that ended when he saved the planet.

Do we have chocolate?

We always have chocolate, he replied.

She jumped off the chair, grabbed him, and dragged him into the kitchen.

###

Several days later...

Aubree found her new copilot performing an external preflight inspection of the Dingo. Bemused, she stopped at the bow of the speedy ship and waited for the Ranger to notice her. The young woman turned, saw Aubree and snapped to attention while almost banging her head into the Dingo's hull.

Ranger First Class Adara Drakos, ma'am! she said with a snappy salute.

Aubree returned the salute. Senior Ranger Aubree Norris. Welcome to the Dingo. I will say this once: Your ass is mine for the next six months. You follow my orders and you learn my ways, then you may get it back when I'm finished with it. Every Senior Ranger spent time training copilots. This training took a minimum of six months. At the six-month mark, the Senior Ranger decided to move the copilot on to an assignment where they would be paired with another pilot to form a team. Team members switched off so that both pilots would become proficient in all aspects of running the ship. Eventually, the pupil would become a Senior Ranger and the cycle would continue. Aubree was unique in the Ranger ranks in that she spent three years working with Senior Ranger Jayden Blix as his protege. When he retired, she was immediately promoted to Senior Ranger and took over his training schedule.

Senior Ranger Norris!

Aubree turned and smiled as she went to attention and saluted. She was pleased to see Adara do the same except for a look of awe instead of a smile. Senior Ranger Blix. What brings you to Blix Station?

Jay returned the salute, then hugged the Zetan woman. I had a meeting with Dad, Clevus, and Trystan. I see you have a new copilot. He walked over and held out his hand. You must be Adara Drakos. I'm Jayden Blix. I've read your jacket, Ranger. Very impressive.

Thank you, sir. It is a pleasure to meet you, she said as she shook his hand.

The pleasure is all mine. Being chosen by Aubree is an honor.

Yes, sir. Sir, may I ask a question?

Sure.

I was talking with the some of the other rangers and they told me you were a werewolf...

Homo lycanus. According to your jacket, you're Homo Sapiens. He went full wolf. Yes, Ranger, 'm a werewolf.

To her credit, she didn't scream. She just stared at him in wonder.

He returned to human form. Just look up Homo Lycanus in the data base. There is a whole chapter devoted to werewolves. And Ranger...

Sir?

Don't believe the bullshit you see in the movies.

Yes, sir.

He returned to Aubree and whispered in her ear while he hugged her, Good catch. This one has nerves of steel.

Either that, or you've lost your wolf mojo, Furball. She stepped back, then she and Adara went to attention and saluted.

He reared back in feigned fear, then smiled while he returned the salute. You two be careful out there in the dark between the stars.

We will, sir, Aubree said as he walked off and down the docking concourse. She looked at Adara. Breathe, Ranger. He puts his pants on one leg at a time.

Adara swallowed, then composed herself. Yes, ma'am. Sorry, ma'am.

Don't be, I had the same reaction when I was first introduced to him. Jay has that effect on people. How about we finish preflight and get this show on the road?

Yes, ma'am.

###

Aubree sat back in her seat and watched as Adara computed the next leg of their patrol while considering a star in their path suddenly going nova.

Nice work. Take five before we get back at it.

Ma'am, did you have to go through this when you were Ranger Blix's copilot?

Jay was the toughest instructor I ever had. An admiral once told me that the only person he was tougher on himself. We can blame his parents for that. The Colonel and the Chief were and are tough.

Warning... Warning... Ship running silent detected dead ahead.

Dingo, scan ship and identify, Aubree ordered.

"Scanning. No IFF. Energy signature and silhouette 95% match to Privateer Nosforatu under command of Captain Silas Squint. Outstanding warrant for robbery. Outstanding warrant for kidnapping. Outstanding warrant for piracy. Outstanding warrant for larceny...

Stop. Go to stealth mode.

Stealth mode, aye.

Ranger Drakos, take command and set course for the perp's location. What's the procedure, Ranger?

Go in, assess the situation, then react accordingly.

Always be prepared for the unknown. Your biggest asset is a well-developed sense of situational awareness.

Aye, ma’am.

Now, tell me about the part of space our perp is in?

Checking Astronomical Catalog... It's a white dwarf surrounded by a huge asteroid field. NAVComp has computed a solution... We should decant at zero relative speed about one light-second from target.

Good, standard approach. Arm weapons?

Yes. Our force fields should screen them from prying scanners. She stabbed a button on her console.

Excellent. Engage.

The mighty ship jumped into hyperspace, then emerged moments later surrounded by a flotilla of pirate ships.

Dammit! It's a trap, Aubree yelled as the Dingo was rocked by missiles and blasters interacting with its shields.

Main computer is down, an unfamiliar female voice yelled over the din. I'm taking over computer functions.

I have the con, Aubree yelled while ignoring the voice. Ranger, make us a hole!

Using her controls, Adara extended the dorsal and ventral gun emplacements and fired on the nearby ships. This is the Ranger Patrol Ship Dingo transmitting on all frequencies. Stand to or be destroyed.

The number of impacts on the shields increased.

I'm feeling ignored, Aubree said as she pushed the throttles to their stops. The mighty ship leapt forward through a hole formed by the explosion of one of the attacking ships."

Shields down to 20%. Damage to all major systems... Adara started to report when her control panel exploded, sending her into unconsciousness. Aubree aimed the Dingo at a large rock at full power.

Are you trying to kill us? the voice asked.

Who the hell are you?

I'm Nano, a friend of Shaku's. She said you were looking for an AI.

Can you get the stealth generator on-line?

Am I hired?

Do you want to die a fiery death?

On it!

At the last possible moment, Aubree banked and somehow threaded the ship between two colliding rocks microseconds before impact. Three of her pursuers weren't so lucky. They exploded spectacularly when they hit.

Stealth field activated, but I don't know for how long.

Scan Ranger Drakos. Is she alive?

Scanning... She's alive, just unconscious. I need to get her into a medical bed to make sure... Wait one... We're picking up a message on the secure line. It's a set of coordinates. Ma'am, it's coded as secure refuge, but the code is over two centuries old."

I don't care if it’s in ancient Spartan and signed by Leonidas himself. Set course. We need to get inside before our stealth field generator travels to the great beyond.

Aye, Ranger. Course plotted and laid-in.

Aubree dove the ship deeper into the field before setting course for what she hoped was a safe haven.

CHAPTER TWO

The Dingo wove through the asteroid field looking for a crevice or a cave to hide in while Nano monitored the passive sensor array. Using active sensors would have given their position away.

Anything, Nano?

Nothing, ma'am. Dammit! These babies are as smooth as...babies' bottoms... Wait a minute... We're being painted by a laser...

Arming weapons...

Weapons hold! There's a voice... Switching to speakers.

Dingo, Dingo, this is Zeus on priority channel. I have Sick Bay standing by. Sending coordinates. You are clear to proceed.

What the hell?

Ma'am, it's not just one laser. These rocks are peppered with emitters as if we're inside some kind of defensive perimeter.

Recommendations?

We leave we die. I recommend we check it out.

Aubree looked at the coordinates. Changing course.

They arrived at the coordinates a few minutes later and found a huge asteroid waiting for them. Roughly capsule shaped, the rock was iron nickel in composition, approximately 100 miles in length and 60 miles in diameter. Other than a lot of debris floating around it, the rock was nondescript and featureless.

OK, we're here. Now what? Aubree said. She was rewarded by a strip of light appearing in the side of the big rock. This is Zeus. You are clear to land manually or make use of our automated systems. Flash your marker lights if you wish to use the latter. If using the former, please follow the bot marked 'FOLLOW ME' to our repair station. Again, welcome to Zeus.

Aubree pushed the thruster throttles forward while aiming the ship at a flashing light in the center of the deck ahead.

Are you sure about this, Nano asked. That doorway looks kinda small.

The rock is a 100 miles long and 60 miles wide which makes that door big enough to swallow Blix Station with room to spare, she said as