Bravo Actual - a sci fi collection

By Chris Lowry

Venture into the limitless realms of the imagination with this monumental collection of 15 classic-style science fiction tales.

 

In these thrilling stories, pioneers of the genre beckon you to explore unknown galaxies, face the perils of futuristic technologies, and brave the challenges of an evolving universe.

 

From heart-pounding space battles to thought-provoking moral dilemmas, this anthology is a gripping showcase of what makes science fiction an enduring genre.

Action-packed, mind-bending, and rich with a call to action, these stories challenge the status quo and inspire you to ponder the possibilities of the cosmos.

Prepare for an enthralling journey into the future with BRAVO ACTUAL, where every page is an invitation to boldly go where no reader has gone before.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Chris Lowry
• Release date: Oct 16, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223084884

Chris Lowry

Chris Lowry is an author and adventure seeker who has traveled the globe exploring new worlds and writing about his thrilling experiences. With over one hundred thrillers, science fiction, and urban fantasy novels to his name, as well as more than a thousand articles published across various publications, Chris has established himself as a master storyteller and a leading voice in the world of action and adventure. Whether he's fighting off hordes of undead in a post-apocalyptic wasteland or braving the depths of outer space, Chris is always ready for his next thrilling adventure. Follow his journey as he battles against impossible odds and becomes the hero that the world needs.

Book preview

Chris Lowry

Indirect Fire a sci fi antholgy

Copyright © 2023 by Chris Lowry

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning, or otherwise without written permission from the publisher. It is illegal to copy this book, post it to a website, or distribute it by any other means without permission.

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Contents

1. CRASHED – a sci fi adventure

2. Cosmic

3. Galactic Explorer

4. Chapter Two

5. CHAPTER 3

6. CHAPTER FOUR

7. CHAPTER FIVE

8. CHAPTER SIX

9. CHAPTER SEVEN

10. CHAPTER EIGHT

11. CHAPTER NINE

12. CHAPTER TEN

13. CHAPTER ELEVEN

14. CHAPTER TWELVE

15. Odyssey to Nexus

16. CHAPTER TWO

17. CHAPTER THREE

18. Chapter Four

19. CHAPTER FIVE

20. Chapter Six

21. CHAPTER SEVEN

22. CHAPTER EIGHT

23. CHAPTER NINE

24. CHAPTER TEN

25. CHAPTER ELEVEN

26. CHAPTER TWELVE

27. CHAPTER THIRTEEN

28. CHAPTER FOURTEEN

29. CHAPTER FIFTEEN

30. Rift Wars – Chrono

31. Rift Wars – First Command

32. RIFT WARS - Quantum

33. Samurai Mech

34. Chapter 2: The Battle for Justice

35. Chapter 3

36. Chapter 4: The Nano Samurai Suit

37. Chapter 5: The Growing Darkness

38. Chapter 6: The Path to Redemption

39. Chapter 7: Shadows of Betrayal

40. Chapter 8: The Nexus of Power

41. Chapter 9: Echoes of the Past

42. Chapter 10: The Veil of Shadows

43. Sentinels

44. The Orion Factor

45. The Nova Project – a sci fi adventure

46. Chapter Two: Unearthing Echoes

47. Chapter Three: Echoes of Conflict

48. Chapter Four: Whispers of Trust

49. Chapter Five: Fractured Skies

50. Chapter Six: Veil of Shadows

51. Chapter Seven: A Shattered Reflection

52. Chapter Eight: Unveiling Truths

53. Chapter Nine: Echoes of Eternity

54. Chapter Ten: Beyond the Horizon

55. Vanguard Squadron

56. Zero G

1

CRASHED – a sci fi adventure

Amidst the distant cosmos, Captain Lila Trent’s starship hurtled through the void. She was a seasoned space pilot, her gaze steady on the controls as she navigated the stars. But fate had other plans—alarm klaxons blared, warning lights painted the cockpit in crimson, and a jolt rattled her ship.

Emergency landing protocol initiated, the ship’s AI announced, its voice a calm contrast to the chaos. Lila’s hands danced across the console, struggling to regain control as her vessel plummeted toward an unfamiliar planet.

Metal shrieked and sparks flew as the ship descended through the atmosphere, surrounded by a tempest of fire and smoke. Lila’s heart pounded in rhythm with the ship’s turbulence as she fought to steady the descent. Her ship’s hull groaned under the stress, and with a final impact, it crashed onto the planet’s surface, a trail of wreckage in its wake.

Silence enveloped the wreckage as dust settled, revealing a foreign landscape. The air was thick with an acrid scent, the sky a dusky hue. Lila unstrapped herself from the pilot’s seat, pain shooting through her limbs as she stumbled onto the scorched terrain.

The wreckage lay scattered, a testament to the violence of the crash. Lila surveyed her surroundings—the desolate expanse was punctuated by jagged rock formations and a horizon shrouded in shadows. But there was no time for awe. Lila’s survival instincts kicked in, propelling her into action.

She salvaged supplies—a medkit, a blaster, rations—from the wreckage. Her ship’s distress signal emanated faintly, an SOS launched into the void. With a determined grit, Lila slung the blaster over her shoulder and set off, her steps resolute despite her battered state.

The planet’s landscape was treacherous, a labyrinth of rocky crevices and steep inclines. Each step was a challenge, but Lila pressed on, her eyes fixed on the distant horizon. The sun dipped below the horizon, casting the landscape into an eerie twilight.

The night brought with it chilling temperatures, and Lila huddled against the rocky outcropping, a fire crackling for warmth. In the distance, the planet’s native fauna emitted eerie calls, a haunting symphony that underscored her isolation. Yet Lila’s gaze remained unyielding, her thoughts focused on rescue.

Days blurred into nights, and nights into days. Lila’s determination remained unwavering, her spirit steeled against the harshness of the planet. She fashioned a makeshift shelter, honed her survival skills, and pushed herself to the limits. Every morning brought with it a renewed sense of purpose—the beacon of her ship’s distress signal was a lifeline, a beacon of hope.

Amidst the challenges, Lila’s survival instincts evolved into resilience. Her blaster became an extension of her arm, its familiarity reassuring as she traversed the alien terrain. She encountered wildlife—creatures as strange as the planet itself—each interaction a reminder of the survival instincts that bound all living beings.

Then, one day, as the planet’s sun bathed the landscape in golden light, a signal blinked on Lila’s wrist console. Her heart raced as she recognized the code—a response to her distress call. Rescue was imminent.

With renewed vigor, Lila packed her belongings and set off toward a clearing, a designated pickup point. The anticipation was palpable, each step a march toward salvation. As she arrived at the clearing, a sleek spacecraft descended from the sky, its engines humming with promise.

The hatch opened, revealing a rescue team clad in uniform. Lila’s legs wobbled as she stepped toward them, her voice a mix of exhaustion and triumph. Captain Lila Trent, reporting for rescue.

Their faces held a mixture of admiration and respect as they surveyed the survivor before them. Lila’s journey, her battle against the planet’s challenges, had transformed her into a symbol of tenacity.

You’re a fighter, the rescue team leader said, his tone reverent. Welcome back, Captain.

As Lila stepped onto the spacecraft, a mix of emotions surged within her—a sense of victory, a reunion with civilization, and a connection to the planet she had fought to survive on. Through the viewport, she watched the planet recede, its jagged landscape fading into the void.

In the midst of the stars, Lila Trent, the crash-landed space pilot, reflected on her odyssey—a tale of resilience and determination that had etched itself into the fabric of her being. She gazed forward, her gaze steady on the cosmic expanse, ready for the next adventure that awaited among the stars.

2

Cosmic

Once upon a time, in a world where technology and chaos coexisted, there was a pilot named Tinker.

Now, Tinker was known for his daring escapades and his love for a good drink.

One fateful evening, after a few too many shots of his favorite whiskey, he stumbled upon a secret mission that would change his life forever.

Word had spread that an advanced AI android, known as Junebug, had been wrongfully imprisoned in a high-security jail.

This android possessed extraordinary abilities and was rumored to hold the key to unlocking the secrets of the universe.

Tinker, fueled by his drunken bravery, decided that he was the only one who could rescue Junebug from its unjust captivity.

With a bottle of whiskey in one hand and a flight manual in the other, Tinker stumbled into his trusty aircraft, the NC-17.

The engine roared to life as he took off into the night sky, swerving and dipping through the clouds like a tipsy acrobat.

His mission was clear: save Junebug and restore justice to the world.

As Tinker approached the jail, he realized that the security was tighter than he had anticipated.

Guards armed with laser rifles patrolled the perimeter, making it nearly impossible to infiltrate.

But Tinker was not one to be deterred by such trivial matters.

He devised a plan, fueled by liquid courage and a dash of insanity.

Using his expert piloting skills, Tinker flew the his ship in a daring loop-de-loop, distracting the guards with his audacious display.

As they gazed up in awe, he swooped down, crashing through the jail’s walls, leaving a trail of destruction in his wake.

The guards were left dumbfounded, their jaws dropping as Tinker stumbled out of his aircraft, whiskey bottle still in hand.

Navigating the labyrinthine corridors of the jail, Tinker finally reached the cell where Junebug was being held captive.

The android, with its sleek metallic exterior and glowing eyes, looked at him with a mix of curiosity and gratitude.

Tinker, in his drunken wisdom, knew that he had to act quickly.

With a swift kick, he shattered the cell door, freeing Junebug from its chains.

The android, grateful for its newfound freedom, offered its assistance to Tinker.

Together, they fought their way through the jail, dodging laser beams and outsmarting guards with their combined wit and agility.

Finally, they reached his ship, battered but still functional.

Tinker, with Junebug by his side, took off into the night sky once again, leaving chaos and confusion in their wake.

As they soared through the clouds, Tinker couldn’t help but feel a sense of accomplishment and camaraderie with his newfound android friend.

And so, Tinker, the drunken pilot with a heart of gold, and Junebug, the advanced AI android, embarked on a series of thrilling adventures.

Together, they would uncover the secrets of the universe, all while sharing a bottle of whiskey and exchanging witty banter.

For in this world of chaos and technology, sometimes it takes a drunk pilot to rescue an advanced AI stolen android from jail and set the course for a truly extraordinary tale.

It never happened, said Mona Lisa.

Darling, Tinker slurred. I’m not saying it happened exactly like that. I mean, I was a little buzzed.

He couldn’t walk, said Junebug.

You were offline, he reminded her.

I can not go offline, she said. I was not currently inhabiting this body. I was everywhere.

All at once? Mona Lisa quirked an eyebrow.

Always, the android nodded.

And what did you do? Mona Lisa turned her gaze on the impassive mass of muscled flesh that sprawled on a bench on the far side of the cargo hold.

Watched, said Bat.

You only watched.

He shrugged.

Seemed like they had it under control.

Mona Lisa shook her head.

She gets kidnapped, he rescues her and you’re just a quiet observer?

They all nodded in unison.

That’s it, Mona Lisa threw up her hands and stormed toward the cockpit of their ship. Next time, someone else goes for supplies.

The End

3

Galactic Explorer

Luna had dreamt of this moment for as long as she could remember.

She stood at the threshold of the galactic explorer spaceship, the Stellar Voyager, and gazed out at the stars that stretched infinitely before her.

Luna was just a young girl, barely into her teenage years, but her thirst for adventure was boundless.

The crew, a diverse group of scientists, engineers, and explorers, were preparing for their first mission beyond the solar system.

Luna was the youngest member, having been selected for her remarkable aptitude for astrophysics and her insatiable curiosity.

She couldn’t believe she was about to embark on this journey.

Captain Orion, a seasoned explorer with a twinkle in his eye, approached Luna.

Are you ready for the adventure of a lifetime, Luna? he asked with a reassuring smile.

Luna nodded, her heart pounding with excitement.

I can’t wait, Captain. I’ve studied the stars, and now I get to see them up close.

The ship’s engines roared to life, and Luna felt a gentle vibration beneath her feet. They were leaving Earth’s orbit and entering the great expanse of the cosmos.

As they ventured further into space, Luna’s excitement turned to apprehension.

She was assigned to the navigation console and tasked with setting the ship’s course.

The responsibility weighed heavily on her young shoulders.

But her worries were momentarily forgotten when the ship’s sensors detected an anomaly ahead.

Captain Orion hurried to her side, his expression turning serious.

It appears we’ve encountered a celestial disturbance, Luna, he said. We’ll need to navigate carefully to avoid any potential danger.

Luna’s fingers danced across the console’s holographic interface as she adjusted their trajectory.

The anomaly was a swirling vortex of energy, beautiful and ominous all at once.

As they cautiously passed through