Assignment to Earth

By Scott Ashby

A Routine Mission Never Is...
When Captain Skylar is assigned to locate a missing scout on the planet Earth, he doesn't realize how complicated the mission is.
His own ship destroyed, finding Rantek is his only way home. Lt. Jenna, a battle-stranded Cavalier, points Skylar to a Klodfon base buried in the Nevada desert.
Now he has to rescue Rantek and Jenna, escape the base, and warn the Fellowship of the Klodfon presence on Earth, all without letting the locals know about the existence of the Fellowship...and time is running out!

• Language: English
• Publisher: The Electric Scroll
• Release date: Sep 3, 2021
• ISBN: 9781946888105

Scott Ashby

Scott Ashby is a somewhat self-taught web designer who prefers to write fantasy and science fiction. He lives and works in Gilbert, Arizona in a tiny bedroom office that is only saved from being called a garret by virtue of being on the ground floor. Like most computer geeks, he doesn’t really notice the passing of hours, or days, so long as food arrives on a regular schedule. When not at the computer, Scott enjoys board games, hiking, and letterboxing.

Book preview

The Cavaliers: Book 1

Scott Ashby

Second edition copyright 2021, The Electric Scroll

Minor changes have been made to correct for series continuity.

All rights reserved. Published in the United States of America by The Electric Scroll. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system without written permission from the publisher. For information contact The Electric Scroll, 745 N. Gilbert Rd. Ste 124 PMB 197, Gilbert, Arizona, 85234.

The characters in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental and entirely in the imagination of the reader.

Front cover images of Earth and Luna credit: NASA

Table of Contents

Title Page

Copyright

Thanks and Dedication

Chapter One

About the Author

Books by Scott Ashby

Cavaliers' Timeline

Connect with me online

Thanks and Dedication

Thanks go to Lt. Jenna, who provided my friend A M Jenner with part of her pen name. Also, many thanks to the various readers who have had faith in this book, and kept telling me it was good enough to publish.

Assignment to Earth is dedicated to my sister, who was willing to act out certain scenes and rehearse them over and over until they were right. Her leg was black and blue from falling down when the imaginary cougar knocked her over, but her persistence made the scene so right that it remains virtually unchanged through the many edits over the past 25+ years. Thanks, Sis!

~ 1 ~

Jenna needed to get her hands on that weapon. She had to.

Skylar’s attention was bent solely upon the breakfast dishes he was washing.

Jenna stood at the kitchen door, her eyes fastened on the pistol in his holster. It couldn’t be; not here. What would a…she squashed the thought. She needed a closer look at that weapon, just to make sure.

Reaching a decision, she moved silently across the room. With remarkable speed she lifted the gun from its resting place. He spun around and reached for it, dishwater flicking from his hands, but she was already backing in retreat to the far end of the kitchen.

He picked up a dishtowel and dried his hands properly, his eyes never leaving her, his face unreadable.

Half crouching over her prize to protect it while keeping a wary eye on its owner, she laid the barrel across her left palm. She looked down, her eyes widening as she gazed at the laser pistol in her hands. There was no chance of mistaking the design. He was a Cavalier. No wonder he’d caught her attention; he was one of her people. But what was he doing here?

He could be a Klodfon spy. The voice of caution echoed in the back of her mind; she ignored it for the moment. She straightened and extended her right hand, holding the barrel at an angle that posed no threat to him yet allowed her to sight the pistol.

May I have my weapon back? He advanced a step in her direction; his voice was polite, yet firm.

Ignoring his query, she looked up at him and grinned, The balance is wrong. But you’re left-handed, aren’t you? Shifting the gun to her left hand and sighting again, she said, That’s much better.

May I have my weapon back? His voice sounded tight with control, although she’d seen his surprise when she knew how the pistol should be balanced.

Jenna’s grin widened. Say please.

His irritation was beginning to show. Please. His answer was terse, his blue eyes all but pinned her to the wall. Jenna shivered slightly as she stepped toward him.

I only wanted to look at it. It’s not exactly your basic .22. She handed it back, butt end first.

He slipped the firearm back into its holster without looking at it, but this time snapped the restraining strap over the hand grip. Where did you learn so much about weapons?

I’ve been around weapons almost all my life. My uncle insisted I learn about them so I wouldn’t kill myself or someone else. This was true enough. After the death of her parents, she’d been raised by her uncle, around Cavaliers and their weapons.

She looked at his pistol again. She hadn’t seen one since the Klodfons had taken hers away five years ago. There were times she missed the weight of it on her leg, times when she missed her home so much it hurt.

She looked up to find Skylar’s eyes had remained on her. She returned his gaze, arranging her face in what she hoped was an innocent look; her conscience warned her again to be careful. This was neither the time nor the place for an extended discussion of laser pistols. I haven’t seen one like that for a long time.

His brows skyrocketed and his eyes bored into hers, his reaction rapid and to the point. You’ve seen another weapon like mine? Where? When?

He was definitely a Cavalier and, to judge by the commanding tone, probably an officer. But who was he? Which side was he on, the Fellowship or the Dominion? The Klodfons had humans working for them, even a few renegade Cavaliers. What would a Cavalier be doing here on this backwater planet? The voice of caution came back in force. Be careful now, Jenna. Be casual.

Oh, it was a long time ago, about five years or so. Listen, I need to go help Aunt Hannah and they’re waiting for you in the living room. Have a good time hunting.

She turned quickly and left the room in silence, but not before she saw him take one step toward her, then stop, a puzzled look on his face.

~ 2 ~

Jenna dropped the last item into her backpack, fastened it closed and set the pack on a chair. She paced her small room as she mentally checked off the items she’d packed for tomorrow’s trip. The review complete, her thoughts returned to Skylar and his laser pistol.

She’d been distracted all morning. Even Hannah had noticed and sent her off to take a nap. Her mind buzzing a hundred maxims a minute had prevented sleep, so she’d gotten up and packed for tomorrow, preferring to be busy. It hadn’t helped stem or even slow her racing thoughts, but at least she’d accomplished something.

Questions cascaded through her mind. He had to be a Cavalier; was he looking for her? Why had it taken five years for her to be found? No, the timing wasn’t right. He probably wasn’t looking for her; what was his mission, then? How had it brought him to be a last-minute substitution to one of Glen’s hunting parties? This week’s group hunted together yearly. Mike had invited a new friend of his, but Randy had cancelled at the last minute; Skylar had taken his place.

If Skylar was a Klodfon spy, Randy was probably dead. That would be typical. Jenna shivered at the possibility. But if he was a spy, why hadn’t he just barged across the kitchen and taken the laser from her? Klodfons and their agents weren’t known for tact or secrecy. They went after what they wanted and simply took it. Skylar had turned to diplomacy to get the pistol back.

Jenna paused in her pacing; maybe he could help her get home. The thought brought a sudden thrill of anticipation. The dangerous possibility of his being a spy deflated her momentary bubble of joy. She needed answers before she dared hope for rescue.

How did he get here? Who was he? Jenna knew most of the officers in the fleet but she’d never met Skylar; she’d have remembered him.

She glanced at her watch; it was time to help with dinner. She couldn’t afford to arouse Glen's suspicions about him. He and Hanna would be hard to fool; they knew her better than anyone else on the planet and were protective.

She needed to get him alone before the party ended in five days, which should be enough time to get her answers. Jenna flipped the ends of her hair behind her shoulders and hurried downstairs.

~ 3 ~

Brilliant blue eyes closely watched the girl serving dessert. Abruptly, Skylar realized he didn’t remember her name.

He hadn’t had a pleasant day of hunting. Every time his hand brushed against his weapon, she’d filled his thoughts. Where had she seen another laser pistol? The design was unique. They all belonged to Cavaliers, or to Klodfons who’d taken them from Cavaliers.

If Klodfons were here, it might explain why Rantek frantically radioed for help and promptly vanished. Finding Rantek was his primary mission. Maybe she knew where Rantek was. No, that didn’t work; she’d said it was five years since she’d seen it; Rantek hadn’t been on Earth that long.

Scowling, Skylar brought his thoughts back to the present. The girl finished serving dessert and resumed her place at the table, laughing with the other hunters while she ate the creamy pudding.

Skylar appraised her, as he did most things around him. He noted she barely came to his shoulder in height, but was well proportioned, pleasing to look at and seemed to be in reasonably good physical shape.

Her face reminded him of a friend from school; oval, with a small, straight nose centered above a pert mouth. Her light brown hair fell straight to her shoulders before gently curving under. Her dark eyes were expressive; her skin smooth and pale. Overall, she had a fragile air about her that made one want to protect her; entirely at odds with her knowledge of weapons. Particularly laser weapons.

I’ll have to get her aside before I leave Saturday. I need answers.

A soft voice interrupted his reverie. If you’re finished, I’ll take your plate.

Startled, he looked up, straight into her eyes. Yes, let me help you. He rose, grabbed the empty plate from the table in front of him and followed her into the kitchen. Just inside the kitchen door she took the plate from his grasp.

You know, we really shouldn’t keep meeting in here; your wife won’t like it.

I’m not married.

Jenna shrugged. Well then, your girlfriend won’t like it, Skylar.

I don’t have a girlfriend either, and I have to confess I’ve forgotten your name. He made to take a step nearer, but she turned and walked across the room.

She twisted the handles and started water running into the sink.

My name’s Jenna, she tossed over her shoulder. It’s both short and unusual. Most people remember it just fine. So tell me how your hunting went today. She squirted a liquid into the water and watched the bubbles spread over the surface.

Guess. She wasn’t the only one who could play irritating games.

Jenna giggled and turned, then put the back of her hand to her forehead and struck a pose, as if straining to read Skylar’s mind.

Let’s see; John shot a scrawny deer and will have pressing business back at his office and will leave in the morning. He hates camping, and always tries to get his deer on the first day. I think his wife makes him come because she likes venison. Uncle Glen brought home a couple of rabbits for stew, and nobody else saw anything worth shooting at. I’ll have to go out with you tomorrow and show you big, tough men how it’s done. She put her hand down again to signal the end of her prediction.

Skylar smiled. You seem to know John pretty well, and Mike did tease him about the animal’s size. Much as I’d like to see you hunt, you shouldn’t come tomorrow.

Why not? Her question was blunt, her voice flat, and her face devoid of emotion. He couldn’t tell anything from her expression.

No chaperone, unless your Aunt would care to come along? We’re going to be gone several days to the top of the mountain, where Glen tells us the best game is.

You need to learn something right now, she said firmly but without heat. I do what I want and no one stops me. Her manner and statement brought him up short and he stiffened slightly. Her mercurial changes were disconcerting.

She smiled and her voice softened somewhat, her eyes warming. I usually go on the overnighters as cook. If it makes your over-protectiveness feel better, I carry and use my own tent. By myself. Besides, she