Cooper's Ridge

By Ian Conner

Earth is overpopulated, and resources are quickly dwindling. Lines are drawn between those who want to efficiently use earth's remaining resources and those who want to colonize another planet. Cooper's Ridge, a lush and fertile planet some thirty light-years away, seems like the perfect place to establish a colony.

Our genius heroine, Cas

• Language: English
• Publisher: Black Raptor Books
• Release date: Sep 8, 2020
• ISBN: 9798986480053

Ian Conner

Ian Conner is retired military and spent most of his adult life as a Marine and Army Infantry Sergeant. Now living near San Diego, California, with his wife Bonnie, a cellist, and their two dogs, Cookie and Isabella. Conner spends his days fostering kittens, gardening, crafting beautiful stained glass, and creating worlds on the page. Conner has authored other novels The Price of Partisanship * Political Thriller The Long Game * Political thriller Griffins Perch *  Epic Fantasy Coopers Ridge  *  Science Fiction Skadegamutc   *   Horror After a lifetime of destruction, the thought of creating something tangible and lasting holds great appeal.  He found art cathartic and a way to redefine himself both in his eyes and the eyes of others. Conner can be reached at [e-mail].

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COOPER’S RIDGE

Ian Conner

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Black Raptor Books

© 2022 by Ian Conner

Originally Published September 21, 2020

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.

FOR MY WIFE

BONNIE

WHO IN SO MANY WAYS

INSPIRES THE FEMALE CHARACTERS

IN OUR NOVELS.

LOVING, LOYAL, KIND, FIERCE

AND SO VERY STRONG.

A better judge of character

is not the admirable deeds a person does

but

how compassionate a person is when

conditions around them are less than admirable.

Other books by Ian Conner

Solaris

Cardinals

Skadegemutc: Ghost Witch

Griffin’s Perch

The Price of Partisanship

The Long Game

A special thank you to

Kristy

Who types and proofreads so much better than I do.

COOPER’S RIDGE

Ian Conner

Chapter 1

—Cooper’s Ridge—

—Deception—

The feed to 5G showed the rock face sheer off. You could hear them screaming over the falling rocks. No comments were needed, and Sergeant. Mark Kestrel killed the feed to 5G with a touch of the info pad. It was a bitter moment for Kestrel. All this time in service and now this. He motioned and looked at Kat Reichert and Cassie Wells.

Congratulations, Doc and Cassie, you’re dead.

Both uncovered their ears and stood looking at Kestrel and the two other 5G specialists. The screams had been genuine enough. The teens were severely frightened by the explosion and the sound of the rock face sliding down. It blocked the trail that they had been using it. The dirt and dust plume had been enough to obscure what happened, but not for long.

Get the kids started down. Kestrel told Kat.

Cassie, I just kissed off one hell of a pension package. Don’t make me regret it! Kestrel told her.

Kat corralled the kids and get them down the trail and out of sight in the trees.

Thank you. You did the right thing. Cassie said, kissing his cheek.

Killing kids is not part of our job description. Those two didn’t sign up for that either.

Kestrel pointed to the two specialists helping the kids past the fallen rock.

How long have you been watching us? Cassie inquired with raised eyebrows.

She was honestly curious.

Do you remember when you went to see Natalie Willard? Kestrel asked.

That long? Cassie said, shocked.

"We started the day before when you did the word search for hive in cascade at the data center. That set off a general alert. When you called Natalie, it sent flares up all over the place. You’ve been under some surveillance since you discussed your dissertation."

Cassie looked astounded, angry, and afraid.

We had better get going. Kestrel said.

Kestrel knew what she would ask next. He did not want to be the one to break the perfect image of her father. Carlin Wells had known what problems Cassie was causing, and that 5G was watching her closely. Beyond that, Kestrel was unsure of Carlin Wells’ complicity in several things, including his daughter’s surveillance. It was above his paygrade, and he did not need to know to do his job. As they walked through the woods, Cassie eyed Mark Kestrel. She was not sure she wanted to ask the questions. She already knew the answer to it. Kestrel carefully avoided her gaze. Cassie did the same, sparing him the burden of answering. How could her father not have known? It also explained why he had capitulated so quickly that day he agreed to investigate the Cascade inconsistencies without a word of debate. Surveillance maybe, but she could not believe her father would have her killed. Whatever the secret was, still, it was very unsettling that he had lied to her so convincingly for over a year.

Kestrel motioned Kat and Cassie over to talk to them as they reached the bottom of the mountain.

Put someone in charge of getting the kids back to the school. It’s only half a mile away. You two are officially dead as of an hour ago. Kestrel instructed Kat.

Alden anonymously called into emergency services about the accident, reporting the massive rockslide.

Meet me here this evening, say, in three hours. Use nothing that is yours or call anyone you know. Dead people don’t use the phone, drive, or open their doors. He finished.

Why are you helping us? Kat asked.

Kestrel looked at Kat sadly.

"Sometimes, doing the right thing is difficult. Being able to sleep at night and look in a mirror in the morning is worth my pension. In for a penny, in for a pound. Now, get going. Kestrel whispered.

This time, Kat gave him a big kiss. He thought the kiss was for his cheek, but she gave him a lingering kiss on the lips. Kestrel was surprised but did not resist. Kat pulled away and touched his face, which was beet red and hot to the touch.

Why, Sergeant, you’re blushing. How cute is that? Kat said playfully.

Cassie looked at Kat, dumbfounded by her professor.

What? I think he’s hot! Kat said, leaving Cassie to catch up.

Okay. Kat, now what do we do? We have nowhere to go. Cassie had a tremor in her voice.

I have someplace in mind. Kat said. It’s about three miles from here. Safe. I think.

Chapter 2

—Earth—

—Hopeful Discovery—

The young blonde woman sat at a small bistro table opposite her boyfriend, with her back to the sidewalk.

It was a pretty dress, but it was the same one Sally had bought for the gala. I mean, how tacky to get the same dress… the pretty blonde prattled on as her boyfriend feigned interest.

His mind wandered almost as soon as she had sat down. The girl was pretty but shallow, like a puddle. She was prone to talking about things that did not matter to him. The woman continued to go on about Sally’s fashion faux pas. She failed to notice that not only had he stopped listening to her, but he had also intently started watching the woman over her left shoulder.

As the other woman had walked into view, his mouth dropped open. The sound of his girlfriend’s words faded from his hearing. He was mesmerized. Lorraine Cooper stopped and leaned against the lamppost. Her red hair shined, swaying in the breeze. Her hair contrasted with her alabaster skin. She had gleaming green eyes, bright with intelligence that was striking. So striking that they almost distracted him from her other physical charms. Almost.

The pretty blonde finally noticed her boyfriend was paying no attention to her at all. She looked over her shoulder and immediately saw the redhead that was garnering so much of his attention.

You son of a bitch! she yelled.

She threw the remains of her drink in his face and stomped off.

Lorraine Cooper was speaking into her comm link. She smiled broadly at the scene unfolding in front of her.

Barnaby Ridge, please, Cooper said in a quasi-southern drawl.

Ridge was the lead scientist at the Excalibur Observatory, home to the Galvan Four deep space telescope, one of the world’s best telescopes. Cooper’s interest was getting access to the telescope. She was a pragmatic woman and was not above using her sexuality and good looks to get what she wanted. Cooper had dated Ridge previously. Ridge was intelligent, to be sure, and very handsome. He was older but kept himself in great shape. The scientist was very masculine, put it delicately, and knew how to use that asset well, which made the idea of playing the sex card to get what she wanted acceptable. Getting access to the telescope and great sex sounded like a win-win to her. She waited patiently for Ridge to pick up the comm link.

Ridge’s assistant went out to the platform where Ridge was working. Ridge hated to be disturbed while he worked.

Dr. Ridge, your comm link is blinking, she said.

Ridge looked up from the display he had been studying. He cast an annoyed glance at his assistant. A workaholic, he hated being bothered at the observatory, which he rarely left.

Ridge’s assistant yelled up at the platform, It’s Lorraine Cooper.

Ridge’s scowl immediately turned into a broad smile. Lorraine Cooper was one of the few things that could tear him away from his work. He knew Cooper was an amateur astronomer and figured she was calling to bug him about accessing the telescope. They were not a couple, but they certainly enjoyed each other’s company. As he rushed off the platform, Ridge almost fell down the stairs leading down to his office. His assistant looked over the top of her glasses as he stumbled again, coming in through the office door. She had never seen the doctor frazzled before.

This is out of the blue, but it’s still good to hear from you, Ridge said to Lorraine Cooper, somewhat breathless.

Are you all right? Lorraine asked, You sound out of breath.

I was out with the scope. I rushed a bit not to miss your call, Ridge said and sucked in a breath after saying so.

Aw, Barnaby, you are always such a sweetie. I have a proposition for you if you are interested, Cooper said in her best southern drawl.

A big smile crossed Barnaby Ridge’s face as Lorraine Cooper explained.

I’d like to meet you for dinner at the observatory, and whatever else the evening progresses to…

She let the latter half of her sentence hang there for his imagination to fill in the meaning.

In exchange for what? Ridge asked.

He already knew the answer to what she wanted. Ridge laughed.

She did not answer but merely said, Please? in the sexiest Lauren Bacall imitation she could muster.

She was keen to get the time on the Galvan Four telescope at the observatory. There was nowhere else she could see as far out as she needed to. She had gotten a short amount of time on another telescope in Hawaii. During those observations, she had found indications that a new planetary body was present in an area she had taken to studying.

Ridge laughed. He intended to make time for her from when his assistant had told him who was on the comm link. Making her squirm and beg for it was the icing on the cake.

Please? Cooper said again.

Cooper had no formal training as an astronomer, just experience with Ridge and Allen Conrad at Mauna Kea. That said, she was quite accomplished. Ridge knew as much and felt confident her work and ideas had merit.

Okay, okay. I surrender, Ridge said, smiling to himself.

He recalled how beautiful Cooper was. She was quite attractive. Coupled with a keen wit and formidable intellect, she was splendid company.

Are you still getting husbands and boyfriends in trouble by simply walking by? Ridge asked.

It happened while I was waiting for you to pick up the comm link, she laughed.

At thirty-two, she stopped traffic, turned heads, and created general mayhem among the male population wherever she went. Women would catch their husbands and boyfriends following her down the street with their eyes. The men were promptly smacked in the head or slugged in the arm. Every time it happened; it brought a smile to her face. Barnaby Ridge had been one of them.

He told her to come by the observatory on Saturday.

I’ll make dinner. Manicotti, okay? Ridge asked.

She smiled, both at his acquiescence to her request and the fact he was making dinner. On top of being handsome, he could also cook.

Yum! You know I love your manicotti! she replied.

The thought of a romantic evening that included whatever else appealed to both of them. Ridge was a good lay, and she liked him immensely. Ridge had the same thought. The evening sounded like an excellent idea to him as well. Maybe they’d discover a new planet.

After dinner and a couple of hours of whatever else, they dressed and made their way to the telescope. Cooper was giddy and excitedly rushed Ridge along. They went into the office and entered the coordinates into the computer that controlled the scope and an automatic search pattern that would slowly scan the sky. The zone Lorraine wanted to search for was referred to as C112. Ridge didn’t even ask what her interest in that part of space was. Lorraine was incredibly obtuse when he had inquired about C112 when she initially phoned him. He knew her well enough not to bother pressing her any further because it would get him nowhere.

They had been searching for only ten minutes when Lorraine had screamed excitedly. It had scared the hell out of Ridge, who was in the office.

Look! Look! Look! she shouted.

Ridge looked then sucked in a breath, rubbed his eyes, and looked again. Five planetary bodies were visible through the telescope. Lorraine screamed again, startling Ridge.

Check the charts and listings! See if they’re new, she yelled.

We get to name them if they’re undiscovered, right? Right? Right?

Ridge had pulled a printout off the printer and handed it to her. Ecstatic, she held the printout in front of her. Lorraine was unsure what the printout meant, but assumed it was good news that the planetary bodies were undiscovered. She began jumping up and down, landing on Ridge’s foot in the process.

Oh my. Sorry! But we get to name them, right?

Ridge smiled at her the way a father whose child was naming a rabbit does.

Yes, yes. Once HQ confirms the planets are uncharted, we do, Ridge stressed the word we and nudged her.

He laughed. It had been so long since he’d seen anything new that he had forgotten the excitement of discovery. Lorraine had brought that feeling back, and seeing her excitement made him feel the same.

Ridge left Lorraine at the telescope, where she peered at what she hoped was a discovery. Thirty minutes later, Ridge returned from his office below the telescope. Lorraine looked up in anticipation.

Well? Well? she said anxiously.

I just got off the phone. Our rocks are officially a new planet with four moons. They are yours to name! Ridge said.

He spoke with a small bit of envy, all his years of work, and no discoveries.

Lorraine squealed.

In ten years, not so much as a hint of a planet or even a comet that was new. You hit pay dirt on your first day! he said in mock annoyance with a smile.

"So, it is ours to name! I get top billing," she said, beaming.

She tilted her nose up; her face becoming severe, challenging him to say differently.

Okey-dokey, he said, smiling wryly.

Name it after us, she said, shrugging.

She thought about it a few moments.

Cooper’s Ridge, she announced.

Catchy and I like the sound of it, even if I am second fiddle, Ridge said, smiling at her.

What about the four moons? he asked.

We get to name those too? she asked, looking back into the telescope.

Ridge thought about it a few moments.

You are a botanist. How about flowers? The moons are different colors, and you have plenty of choices.

She loved flowers so, and he was right. The possibilities were endless for blooms that matched the moons’ colors.

Hmmm, she said.

She made choices from her favorites. She chose strictly based on the color that each moon appeared to be through the telescope.

The white and deepening shades of pink to red fit perfectly with my four most favorite. Gardenia, Ginger, Hibiscus, and Heliconia, Lorraine told Ridge about her choices.

He nodded his approval, looking back into the telescope. Ridge adjusted the telescope further to bring their discovery into complete focus. Ridge thought of the twentieth-century photographs of Earth from space.

The oceans of Earth make it appear as a giant blue marble hanging in space. As beautiful as Earth is from space, Cooper’s Ridge is equally gorgeous. Instead of blue, the planet is green, Ridge said.

Cooper’s Ridge is covered in forests, not water. Almost in its entirety, the surface is lush foliage and plant life, Cooper said, taking her turn, viewing their discovery and making notes.

It must rain a lot to make it so green. I’m assuming that the jungles and forests make it so green, Cooper whispered.

She looked at the next closest body to the major planet. It was white.

That first moon sure contrasts the planet!

She had christened the first moon, Gardenia. It was a slightly yellowed white, but it certainly stood out starkly against Cooper’s Ridge. It was the first of four moons that were near the planet.

The moons get darker, the farther away from the planet you get.

She spoke in a hushed tone, still in awe of what she was seeing. She could not believe that they had discovered a new world.

Yeah, I noticed that! Ridge called from a chair he’d brought up to the platform to relax on while she viewed.

That last one is redder than Mars. Lorraine shifted her gaze to the last moon, then back to the second.

I love how different Gardenia’s white is from Cooper’s Ridge’s green. The pink of the secondary moon, Hibiscus, stands out like neon against Gardenia. The last moon, Heliconia, is dark red. Ginger sat between Hibiscus and Heliconia, third of four. Not as dark as Heliconia, but a truer red than Hibiscus’s pink. Each moon frames the one in front of it and contrasts boldly with Cooper’s Ridge’s green.

Cooper and Ridge spent the next three days observing. Neither of them got much sleep, but that would not have come easily.

We had better get some sleep to avoid mistakes, Ridge stressed.

They were both awake, though, to observe the first nightfall.

Oh my, it’s breathtaking. Look how the light reflects off the moons, making the lighter colors, especially Gardenia, almost glow, Lorraine told Ridge.

The night has revealed the rings that surround several of the moons. Hibiscus has a set of rings around it. The rings reflected the pink of the moon’s atmosphere. Ginger also has a set of three rings. Those are oddly blue, he replied.

Oh yeah! It’s stunning. But why blue? she asked.

It left both Cooper and Ridge scratching their heads. It would be centuries before the question of why they were blue would be answered.

On day five, Ridge made another discovery.

The moons and planet were aligned as a constant. They move as a group around the system’s star. The moons are visible during the day hours, but it’s a spectacular view in the nighttime hours. As the light reflects off the moons and their rings, the contrast between them is even more incredibly vivid at night, he explained.

Lorraine looked away from the telescope. She smiled at Barnaby Ridge.

It looks like we have an incredibly colorful discovery! she said.

It was 3 A.M. Lorraine sat at the telescope in one of Ridge’s shirts and nothing else.

That shirt has never looked as good as it does at this moment, he thought.

Chapter 3

—Earth—

—Bureaucracy—

The call that Barnaby Ridge made to confirm that their find was indeed a new planet had more implications than he could have possibly imagined. The scientists assigned to document the cosmos were a highly classified group. They did their work under the auspices of the National Security Agency. Ridge’s phone