Starship Marines: Science Fiction Adventure Thriller

By Matt Kingsley and book was created with the help of AI

Jonny Ricochet hadn’t even had the decency of a decent night's sleep before the sergeant had them all up and standing to attention. The barracks lights snapped on like a sudden ambush, followed by the bellow of the man who seemed more myth than flesh.

“Feet on the deck! You’re burning daylight, and there's no time to waste in my Corps!”

Ricochet's body jolted to consciousness, muscle memory from the last four days hauling him out of his bunk. He stood at attention, eyes fixed forward, heart racing the morning run already.

Around him, the rest of the fresh meat were a symphony of groans and clattering boots, but they all knew the drill; the sergeant’s voice didn’t carry suggestions.

“Eyes front, Ricochet,” the sergeant growled, his gaze a piercing drill. “You signed up to fight, not to sleep.”

“Yes, Sergeant!” The words shot out of Ricochet’s mouth, crisp and automatic.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Publishdrive
• Release date: Jan 18, 2024

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STARSHIP MARINES

SCIENCE FICTION ADVENTURE THRILLER

Matt Kingsley

Copyright © 2023 – All rights reserved

All rights reserved. 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 permission in writing from the author.

This book is designed to provide information about the subject matter covered. It is sold with the understanding that the author and publisher are not engaged in rendering legal, accounting, or other professional services. If legal advice or other expert assistance is required, the services of a competent professional should be sought.

The information contained in this book is provided as is without warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, including but not limited to the implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose. The author and publisher shall have no liability or responsibility to any person or entity with respect to any loss or damage caused or alleged to be caused directly or indirectly by the information contained in this book.

Cover design by Matt Kingsley Printed in the UK

CONTENTS

1.Boot Camp Blues

2.First Jump

3.Orbital Tactics

4.Red Planet Siege

5.The Sergeant's Secret

6.Behind Enemy Lines

7.The Venus Gambit

8.Spaceborne Brotherhood

9.Gravity's Fist

10.A.I. Mutiny

11.The Moons of Jupiter

12.Politics of War

13.The Veteran's Lament

14. The Tides of Titan

15.Black Hole Ambush

16.The Neptune Objective

17.The Court-Martial

18.The Last Stand

19.Wounded Spirits

20.Homeward Bound

Chapter 1

Boot Camp Blues

Jonny Ricochet hadn’t even had the decency of a decent night's sleep before the sergeant had them all up and standing to attention. The barracks lights snapped on like a sudden ambush, followed by the bellow of the man who seemed more myth than flesh.

Feet on the deck! You’re burning daylight, and there's no time to waste in my Corps!

Ricochet's body jolted to consciousness, muscle memory from the last four days hauling him out of his bunk. He stood at attention, eyes fixed forward, heart racing the morning run already.

Around him, the rest of the fresh meat were a symphony of groans and clattering boots, but they all knew the drill; the sergeant’s voice didn’t carry suggestions.

Eyes front, Ricochet, the sergeant growled, his gaze a piercing drill. You signed up to fight, not to sleep.

Yes, Sergeant! The words shot out of Ricochet’s mouth, crisp and automatic.

The barrack room was a sea of green and black, uniforms not yet worn in, boots not yet scuffed from battle, faces not yet scarred from war. But the sergeant’s job was to change all that, to turn these raw recruits into warriors fit for the cold expanse of space.

By 0500 hours, the platoon was on the parade ground, the grey light of dawn casting long shadows on the concrete. The sergeant, a slab of a man named Halden, paced before them like a caged predator.

You lot are going to learn how to fight, how to survive. Out there, in the vast emptiness, it's not about who's got the best tech, it's about who's got the guts to do what's necessary. You follow my orders, you might just become marines.

Ricochet felt the weight of his rifle in his hands, heavier today, or maybe it was just his arms already aching from the constant drills.

Pair up! Halden’s command sliced through the morning chill. Hand-to-hand combat drills. I want to see sweat, and I want to see blood.

Ricochet paired with a lanky fellow named Skinner, whose eyes were quick and whose movements had the slippery grace of a street fighter.

Take it easy on me, mate, Ricochet said with a half-smile, dropping into a defensive stance.

Dream on, Rico, Skinner replied, a crooked grin splitting his face before he lunged.

The two danced a brutal ballet, fists and feet learning the language of combat. Skinner was fast, but Ricochet learned to anticipate, to move with the punch, to counter. It was a rhythm punctuated by the sergeant’s roars of approval or disgust.

After the sweat and the bruises came the march, miles upon miles with full packs, until the base was just a smudge on the horizon and their bodies screamed for mercy. But mercy was a stranger here.

When they finally halted, Ricochet’s legs were trembling pillars ready to crumble. The sergeant walked the line, his boots crunching on the gravel.

This is nothing, Halden snarled. Space will chew you up and spit you out. I'm here to make sure there’s something left to spit.

The march back was a blur, each step a small victory against the pull of gravity and fatigue. Ricochet kept his eyes on the back of Skinner’s pack, the movement a mantra to keep putting one foot in front of the other.

Back at base, as they stowed their gear, Skinner clapped Ricochet on the back, a silent nod to the shared ordeal.

Good hustle, Rico. You’re keeping pace.

Just trying not to let you show me up too badly, Ricochet replied, his voice a rough scrape.

You boys think this is hard? The voice cut through their banter like a knife. It was Halden, eyeing them with that unnerving stillness. Wait until you’re on a starship, nothing but a tin can between you and the void. Mistakes out there don't end with a bruise. They end with you becoming a frozen memory.

The barracks seemed to hold its breath, the truth of Halden’s words hanging heavy.

"Get some