The Cometeers
By Steven R. Southard and TBD
()
About this ebook
A huge comet speeds toward a devastating collision with the Earth, but no one will launch space shuttles filled with nuclear weapons. It’s 1897. Instead, they’ll fire projectiles from the Jules Verne cannon and try to deflect the comet with a gunpowder explosion. Commander Hanno Knighthead isn’t sure he can motivate his argumen
Steven R. Southard
Growing up in the Midwest, Steven R. Southard always found the distant oceans exotic and tantalizing. He served aboard submarines and now works as a civilian naval engineer. In his stories, he takes readers on journeys of discovery in many seas and various vessels. Steve has written in the historical, science fiction, fantasy, horror, and steampunk genres. Come aboard at http://sites.google.com/site/stevenrsouthard/ and voyage with his intriguing characters in tales of aquatic adventure.
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The Cometeers - Steven R. Southard
Contents
Copyright Page
Dedication
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
About the Author
The Cometeers
by
Steven R. Southard
All rights reserved
Copyright © August 7, 2014, Steven R. Southard
Cover Art Copyright © 2014, Charlotte Holley
Gypsy Shadow Publishing, LLC.
Lockhart, TX
www.gypsyshadow.com
Names, characters and incidents depicted in this book are products of the author’s imagination, or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental and beyond the intent of the author or the publisher.
No part of this book may be reproduced or shared by any electronic or mechanical means, including but not limited to printing, file sharing, and email, without prior written permission from Gypsy Shadow Publishing, LLC.
ISBN: 978-1-61950-536-0
Published in the United States of America
First eBook Edition: September 1, 2014
Dedication
To the supervisors I’ve had the honor of working for, especially Matt M., Tom L., Al F., and Mike B. Expert leadership is a rare skill and a difficult art, and those four are masters.
Chapter 1
This crew couldn’t figure out how to shoot a pop-gun, much less save the world, Commander Hanno Knighthead thought. As he chewed a stick of gum, Hanno wondered how he was supposed to lead such a mismatched and argumentative group, but knew if he didn’t, thousands of people would die when Comet Göker struck on September 9, 1897, just eight days hence. Just now, more bickering had broken out.
No,
Sutton Woolsthorpe said with a snarl, my preliminary calculations show we should fire cannon number three in five minutes, but I require time to refine the analysis.
He went back to turning gears on his portable Babbage Machine with pudgy fingers.
There’s no time for calculating.
Gotzon Voegler’s rich German accent emphasized each consonant. You must trust my judgment and fire the number three now.
Based on what?
Woolsthorpe asked, The ramblings of a witch from a Grimm’s fairy tale?
No. Based on rules of thumb formed from decades of explosives experience.
Voegler held up a thumb. Prosthetic fingers made up the remainder of his right hand.
A rule of thumb?
Woolsthorpe laughed. But all your other fingers were blown off in an explosion.
When Hanno saw Voegler cocking his other fist for a blow, he said, That’s enough, gentlemen. Voegler, I’m siding with Woolsthorpe’s recommendation this time. Prepare to fire number three on his mark.
Voegler grumbled, but then spoke aloud to Woolsthorpe. One day you won’t have time for your calculating machine. On that day, you’ll have to trust my thumb.
Hanno and his crew travelled within two identical, bullet-shaped vehicles, each quite cramped, being only twelve feet long and nine feet at the widest diameter. Once in space, they’d attached a short connecting tube to join the two projectiles together, allowing three men to sleep in each one. Hanno realized he’d soon have to rearrange the berthing arrangements to lessen the chance of brawling.
What’s this?
asked Konstantin Golubev, pointing at some wires leading from a switch. "Someone