Jack Mercury and the Zombies of Remus: Jack Mercury Chronicles

By George W. Gardner and Siddartha 13 Vineet

Jack is on his first mission with the Solar Navy when his ship is over run by a Zombie hoard. He leads a band of fellow crewman to find the source of the infection and bring the perpetrators to justice. Jack has an intense hatred for the Bretheren, a group of space settlers that he believes killed his parents in a pirate raid. When the evidence

• Language: English
• Publisher: Premier Destinations
• Release date: Nov 30, 2016
• ISBN: 9781635877762

Book preview

Prologue:

Somec Headquarters

Hein stood behind his desk and stared down at the holo. It was a communique from one of his corporate presidents. Atwood was a competent if not overly cautious leader and he trusted him. He just didn’t like what he was hearing.

It was a Solfleet frigate. They pulled in to the station and blocked the ships’ exit path. We were outgunned and they took the cargo. There was nothing I could have done. Atwood said.

How much Hein asked with a cold stare.

On the regular market, 100 million. Maybe a little less by other means. Atwood answered.

Hein took a deep breath and shook his head.

Very well Mr. Atwood. Please send me the full report. Were there any casualties? Hein asked.

Of course there wouldn’t be. Atwood wouldn’t let his company be caught fighting Solfeet, the navy would retaliate and shut down the entire operation.

Uh, just one sir.

Hein turned back to look at Atwood in the holo.

Nothing really that important. A mid-shipman was caught in a compromising position with another crew member. He tried to get rough with the landing party, well you know the drill sir, the Navy didn’t treat him kindly. They don’t see it as a problem for us though. The ship was piloted by Brethren of course.

Of course. The woman was alright though? Hein asked.

Uh, it was a man sir Atwood answered.

Hein shook his head and waved at the holo.

Send the report Atwood. Try not to let Solfeet screw up any more business.

Yes sir. Atwood answered

End com. Hein said and the holo disappeared. His second in command was sitting nearby in a chair. Staka Detrova was a heavily built man from the Slav settlements and had risen through the corporate ranks by being both loyal and ruthless. He spoke up after a pause.

That’s the third shipment this month, we must have a leak. He said.

Hein didn’t answer. He was pacing in the area behind his desk and thinking. Finally he faced Staka.

Damn those bastards! This is too much. We need to throttle back this damn navy and get some of these shipments to the Trade houses.

He started pacing again.

Where would the leak be? Hein said as walked back and forth.

Probably somewhere higher up. We’re getting hit in different sectors. Who would know where the shipments are coming in? It has to be someone with access to the computer feeds. Staka answered.

Dammit, we spent a fortune on security, how could we be hacked? We need to get these meat heads in here and fix this.

Hein stopped pacing and turned to Staka again.

I need you to take a team and track down this leak. When you find him, you know what to do.

Staka stood and gathered his coat.

Of course Mr. Hein. Consider it done.

As Staka left the room Hein approached his desk.

Cara, link me to Victor Drake please. Hein spoke to his desk.

The Holo opened up and a computer generated face of a lovely blonde appeared.

Of course Mr. Hein, I’ll just be a moment.

The Holo remained lit with a smile while Hein continued to pace. Finally the image of Victor Drake appeared. Drake is the head of the Drake mining consortium and is one of Heins’ suppliers. Like Hein he is incredibly rich and hates Solfleet.

Yes Hein, what is it? I’m rather busy here you know. Drake answers.

Yes well this is important I assure you Victor. I’m having more problems with the fleet and I need your help. Hein answered.

What kind of help? Drake answered pointedly.

I need to know where we are on the military hardware. The ongoing shipments seem to be slowing and I’d like an update. How high up does your connection go? Hein asked.

Drake didn’t answer right away. He just stared at Hein.

What are you getting at Hein? You can’t fight the Navy. Why the questions?

Well if we’re going to stay in business we need to supply ourselves with better protection. So can we obtain more sophisticated hardware or not? Hein said.

Drake stared again at Hein and then spoke.

This is a touchy situation as you know. Yes we’re getting some upgraded munitions and we will continue to seek out the best avenues for transport. We must be cautious however. I think you know the consequences as well as I. Drake answered.

We’re both in this together Victor. When I get hit, it trickles downhill. Someone’s tipping off the fleet about my shipments and I’m losing a lot of money. Not that it’s going to break me mind you, I just don’t like it. Hein said.

That’s unfortunate. You have any ideas as to who might be selling the info? Drake asked.

I’ve put Staka on it. I’m sure he’ll come up with somebody. Hein said.

Some of the other families are having problems as well. I think we might need to have a meeting and discuss some of our options. The Fleet is impacting shipping lines across the system, particularly the lanes coming out of the Trojans. Drake said.

Of course, that’s the richest prize. Precisely why I’d like to get some better firepower, only for protection of course. Hein answered.

Drake looked over at his desk.

Just a moment, I have an incoming call.

Drake is off screen for a moment and then back to Hein.

Actually this is an important call. It seems you’re not the only one having problems with the Fleet today. I’ll put it up for you.

In a few seconds a Holo image of a Chinese official appeared.

Tony Huang is on the screen. He is the head of the Chinese consortium in the belt. The Chinese have a huge operation with many ships that bring ore to planetoids and their earth base.

As I was saying mister Hein, Solfleet just confiscated one of my freighters and all of the cargo. We need to find a way to ensure the passage of our goods. Tony said.

Agreed Mr. Huang. I was just commenting to Victor about that same issue. I’m sure it’s becoming a common problem. Perhaps we should consider a way to find a solution for all of us. Hein said.

We will have to tread carefully with this kind of talk Mr. Hein. The Republican Counsel will react unfavorably if we get too pushy. We all know that these kinds of issues cause the Earth side parties to start pounding pundits and demand so called justice. Huang said.

This is part of the problem. The Senate believes that the needs of the planet outweigh profit for business. They’re happy to take the lion’s share of the minerals and materials coming in from space operations. Drake said.

It’s the sky cities and the city islands. They need every scrap and they’re taking as much as they can. It’s all the politicos, moving away from the masses but still relying on their vote to stay in office. Hein put in.

They should all just stay in their holo-decks and quit interfering with commerce. Huang said. The question is, what can we do about it? We can fight off pirates but we can’t go to war with the navy.

Hein, I believe my son is working on type of solution. You’ve been in contact with him. Any word? Drake asked.

He comes and goes around here like he owns the place. He’s far too entitled for my taste. However he is your son. He’s mentioned a project recently but hasn’t come forth with details. Should I expect to hear from him? Hein answered.

I’ll send him a note. Meanwhile I’ll look into the goods you’ve been requesting. Also Tony, you’ve asked about some needs in the munitions department. I’ll be checking into that as well. However, you remember these things are hard to get and they’ll cost you. I’ll see what I can do. Drake said. I’ll talk to you later gentlemen.

Drake cut the connection and left Hein to pace his office.

It always does. He said to himself.

Inception

1-23-2095

Asteroid 2913-0517

Boris had been a miner all his life. His father was a miner and married his mother when she got pregnant. They never saw each other after Boris was born but when he came of age Boris went to work with his father. They holed out asteroids for the minerals that the many settlements and shipyards needed for building. His father had died last year when his heart failed and now Boris just dug ore. Most of the time he ran a huge laser borer that melted the rock and turned it into hot running metal. He was huge, a hulking giant and was good at handling the massive robot machine that was burning rock piles into slag. He always kept a high powered laser drill nearby for the intricate jobs and his backup team cleared away the slag and debris and sprayed polymer on the walls as he dug. He’d seen a lot of strange things pop out of the rocks at times but when he opened the old shaft, he had to step back. Someone or something had been here before. Weird looking machinery and broken parts lay around covered in eons of dirt and dust. Something stood out though. Some glowing green crystals pulsed in a broken enclosure.

Boris shut off his heavy smelter and stooped inside the chamber. There was a lot of dust, funny looking colors. He reached inside the clear box and pulled out the glowing crystal. It was transparent, except for a moving vapor inside. Something was odd about it and Boris moved to put it back. He’d report it to the supervisor and let them deal with it. He hit it against the side of the box by accident and it cracked. Some of the vapor came out but Boris didn’t care, he just put the crystal back inside and went back to his smelter. As he was strapping it on he started feeling funny. Suddenly he felt hungry and had a feeling like he had a hangover or a flu. He wiped his forehead and stood still for just a moment.

Rico didn’t like working the mines. He’d been forced to take the work after a stint in prison. He soon found out that no one would hire him and he was forced to work like a slave to provide for him and his new girlfriend. His plan was to save enough to move to Ceres and work as pod builder.

You ok, bud? Rico said as he turned to Boris’ direction. I’ve never heard you breathe that heavy. Hell, you don’t even break that kind of sweat with that skirt with the big jugs! Rico said and turned back to his task of racking the cooling slag. Maybe he’s just lifting more than he should, Rico thought, but that didn’t make sense. Boris was a tank, always pulling ahead so the other team members could get their work done, always looking out for the little guy. Rico faced the rack he was working on and went back to the task at hand. He never thought that Boris would come at him. When Boris turned the smelter towards him and fired the laser, he never saw it coming.

The laser cut Rico from top left shoulder through to just under his right arm. His throat gurgled as his life’s energy left him. The moment he hit the ground Boris tore the flesh from the side of his neck. Blood and gore ran down Boris’ chin as he glanced up at the other team members coming in to see what the problem was. One by one, in the dark chasm, Boris took out the rest of his comrades. He charred some with the smelter, then tore limbs off of others. Large chunks of skin were severed from the bodies of the men he killed as he bit into them. He was a raging death machine. The air was rank with the smell of fried flesh and hot blood.

As he left the work area, Boris raged through the connecting shafts blasting people as he saw them. When he out walked the feed lines of the smelter, Boris dropped the tool and started hammering men with his giant fists. He bit or scratched, tore at them. He threw the limp bodies aside like empty barrels moving quickly to the next victim of his fury. He disemboweled, crippled, and strangled as he stepped through the halls. Those he didn’t kill soon became like him. They would twitch on the floor for a few moments then lift their heads in a curious manner. Their body would pull itself up as if on invisible strings. They went on to attack others. Together they moved through the station until they got to the lift. They milled around, confused at their inability to get out. The power had been cut.

At the central command post senior mining operators had monitored the savage outbreak. After they had sent in security it was obvious that they were losing control of the station. They sent out SOS signals and made ready to evacuate. One of them pointed at the monitor. The security cameras show the freaks climbing over each other to get up the ladders.

8-15-2095

In another sector of the belt mining station Caliente went offline at 18:45 while the station was undergoing scheduled maintenance. Captain Stanton was awakened by his number two and told of the situation. The station had lost main power and was losing oxygen at an accelerated rate. Multiple security alarms were clanging, forcing the Captain to organize a task force to visit those locations to determine the cause of the breakdown. As soon as the task force entered the hanger bay, they were attacked by miner zombies. The team was brutally beaten, bitten and scratched. Some died while others are changed into zombies. Plasma lasers seem to have little effect on the freaky ghouls. Soon they outnumbered the soldiers and the horde moved toward the control room where the captain was observing the events. He locked himself in and started a distress beacon. Zombies were tearing at the door trying to break in.

09-31-2095: 1400 hours

S.S. Talion

Captain we have a distress signal coming in. Lieutenant Reiken called out.

From where? Carter barked back.

Nearby, Tesoro corporation settlement. Reiken answered.

What are they saying?

SOS, need help immediately. Systems offline. Intruder alert. Reiken answered.

Carter didn’t respond. His gaze was fixed on the screen monitoring an incoming shuttle.

The shuttle from some corporate fleet had the right signature, but hadn’t responded to com-link. Ensign Talbert had repeatedly tried to hail them but the message was garbled and broken.

Can you get anything on a scan? He quietly asked the ensign. This was not good.

Captain! The shuttle is accelerating… it looks like it’s going to crash! Talbert answered.

Close the bay doors! Send a security team down there now! Carter growled.

It’s too late, I can try but they’re too close. Reiken said.

Get me the bay officer right now! Carter demanded

Talion

Jack looked up from his manifest and checked the cargo container. It was mind numbing work but it was his assignment. He could see his crew working around him on various tasks that they were all trained for and nodded to himself. There was Monk and Falco, big men who he relied upon for the heavy work. Weston and Forsyth were good solid helpers in his crew. Jack was a big, light haired, fair skinned, muscular denizen of the Solfleet Navy and had worked his way into the fleet the hard way. He had no family connections except his uncle Solman who pretended he wasn’t important. Jack knew however that Solman had pulled some strings to get him into the Academy and he worked hard to make the best of the opportunity. He was just a Starman but at least it was something. He’d finally got his first run on the Talion after spending all his time studying and training to be the best in his class. He managed to make the top grade and was elated when he saw his name on the roster for the Talion. He knew his job and he was glad to be a part of the crew. As long as things were being done right, the cargo loaded and catalogued, he’d get out of here soon for some rec time. His best friend Colin had just left for a run to the med-lab to store some containers. Colin had a thing for a nurse tech there named Stacy and he probably stopped by to spend some time with her. Nearby was Turk Mackey, the meathead who was a legend in his own mind and often was a thorn in his side. Turk had been working cargo crews for years and he had been passed over for promotion many times. He just rubbed the officers the wrong way and had a bad attitude. He had been a merchant Yeoman as a youth before joining the fleet and had little regard for military regiment. Jack commanded team Delta which was unloading parts and supplies for delivery to Partan station, which would be another boring stop in the belt where deprived miners longed for freedom and female companionship. Jack secretly hoped for something that would break the monotony.

Well now, looks like your team is finally awake

Turk had come up behind him when he wasn’t looking.

Jack just shrugged his shoulders and walked away.

They’ve got it together. We’ll be finished before your goons. He said.

You think so? Care to wager on it? Turk replied. He didn’t like the young Starman and didn’t think he deserved his rank. As far as he was concerned, Jack was an over-confident rookie with no experience. Too handsome and cocky for his own good. He’d love to take him down a notch.

I’ll stake my wage on my team any time. Jack fired back. He tossed his manifest on a stack of crates and squared his shoulders at Turk. Turk was bigger than he but he’d faced harder men. His time at the academy had taught him about bullies and Turk was no different. You couldn’t back down to their taunts or they’d never stop picking at you. He was ready.

Turk leered at him and laughed towards his team.

This newbie thinks he’s something. You men hear what he’s saying? He thinks his teams better than you. What say you?

Turks team is made up of men much like himself, large, imposing and dull. They begin to gather round as if there would be a fight soon.

I say we show these boys what a hangar crew is made of. Then when it’s done, we show them how real men finish the bet. Turk snarls.

Some of Jack’s team move up behind him and begin to brandish tools. Jack doesn’t flinch, he looks Turk up and down and laughs.

You’ve been here long enough to know about hangar work. Probably be here a lot longer since you’re so good at it. What do you think boys, should we let Turk and his goons show us how it’s done?

Monk is a big mine worker that recently joined the fleet. He’s not afraid of Turk or his goons. Falco moves up next to him with a grin.

I think the Turk talks too much. We don’t need him or his girls to show us anything. I say we show them how to finish this." Falco says.

The men squared off against each other and Jack knew that soon there would be a small riot in the bay.

The shuttle smashed through the field and crashed into some carts and lifts in the bay. There was a deafening noise as metal grinded and splintered from the impact and suddenly alarm bells start going off, the ship was sounding red-alert.

Jack watched the scene in disbelief as the shuttle made a giant tangled mess and parts of the craft flew in all directions. Some of the men working in the bay were too close and became part of the mayhem. There was blood and body parts where men used to stand. When it all stopped, everybody just stood staring, not quite understanding what had just happened. That’s when security came busting through the port.

You men start clearing the debris out of the way. Yelled security chief Davis at Turk. He looked at Jack.

You and your men get that cargo out of here and find some weapons. He looked at his own team.

Fan out and cover the craft. Search for signs of life. Be careful. He said.

Jack sent some of his men to the armory and began to move crates with his loader. He kept an eye on the security team as they approached the smashed up shuttle. He didn’t see how anyone could be alive in there. Monk came up next to him shaking his head.

Shut off that damned alarm. Davis yelled while the bay was swarming with men scrambling to move debris and cargo. His men cautiously moved in on the shuttle and looked for signs of life. Nothing was moving. Finally the alarm died and everyone went quiet.

Jack parked his loader with the stack of crates and grabbed a laser rifle as his men came back from the armory. Falco handed him a laser. He checked the power array on the rifle. That’s when it happened.

Suddenly men started pouring out of the shuttle. At least they looked like men at first, but they weren’t. They ran straight at the security team, straight at Davis and then the next guy. Davis hit the first one with his laser rifle but the hole didn’t slow him down. He came right on and grabbed Davis and started biting and tearing at him. Davis bashed him back with his rifle bit another thing jumped on his back and started ripping the skin out of his neck. The others were doing the same, running straight for the team and anyone else near them. It was total chaos and Jack was stunned into immobility. Then he started firing, blasting every one he could get in his sights, but it didn’t seem to faze them. Even when he took an arm or a leg they horde just kept coming. His men around him were firing, Monk, Falco and the rest. Davis was down, the security team was going down and then more of the crew. Monk growled and pushed into the fray, Falco followed him. Then some of the freaks jumped his men. He saw Monk mobbed by the horde biting into his meaty arms. He flung them back but a big one grabbed his head and bit into his face. Monk shrieked and feel backwards. Falco turned and looked at him as the decayed looking mob jumped on his back. Turk backed up to where Jack a few men were holding ground and grabbed a rifle from one of the men.

You, go and get some more weapons. He yelled at the man.

He looked at Jack and then back at the mayhem.

What’s happening? He yelled.

It’s a shit storm. Jack yelled back.

Then they watched as Davis got back up, only he wasn’t Davis anymore. He was one of them. He looked around and started screaming, frothing at the mouth. His eyes were dead, his body jerky. He saw Jack and Turk and lunged for them. The two looked at each other and then started firing, but Davis kept coming. Just as he was about to reach Turk, Jack grabbed a giant drill bore and swung it into the midsection of what used to be Davis. He went down but not for long. Jack stepped in and fired the laser directly into his mouth. Suddenly he laid still. Then it was Monk, the hulking long armed Mongolian. Jack looked up to see his best man coming at him, only it wasn’t Monk anymore. The freaky thing that lunged at Jack wasn’t human, or alive. Jack poured laser pulses into the huge frame but the holes didn’t stop him. Turk stepped in and fired into the man’s head, then kicked him down. Jack stepped in and fired multiple blasts into his body. Finally he lay still.

Other men in the bay weren’t doing as well. Most were dead or being overcome by the horde. Others were getting back up to become one of them. Jack and Turk began backing towards the exit as they got nearer. Finally Turk turned and ran to the bay door.

Come on Jack, we can’t stop them by ourselves. Let’s get out of here.

Jack ran back through the door with him and they closed the portal. Jack blasted the entry panel with his laser. Turk was shaken and sweating heavily. The things were at the door, pounding and scraping.