The Pirate from the Stars Book 1- Renegade Read online

  The Pirate from the Stars

  Book 1- Renegade

  By Cheree L. Alsop

  Copyright © 2016 by Cheree L. Alsop

  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 author except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are a product of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  ISBN

  Cover Design by Dean Samed http://www.deansamed.com

  Editing by Sue Player

  www.ChereeAlsop.com

  To my loved ones-

  One can exist or one can truly live.

  Live, have adventures,

  Get dirt under your nails,

  Smell of sunshine and fresh air.

  And above all else,

  Laugh, smile, and

  Love with all of your heart.

  ALSO BY CHEREE ALSOP

  The Silver Series-

  Silver

  Black

  Crimson

  Violet

  Azure

  Hunter

  Silver Moon

  The Werewolf Academy Series-

  Book One: Strays

  Book Two: Hunted

  Book Three: Instinct

  Book Four: Taken

  Book Five: Lost

  Book Six: Vengeance

  Book Seven: Chosen

  Heart of the Wolf Part One

  Heart of the Wolf Part Two

  The Galdoni Series-

  Galdoni

  Galdoni 2: Into the Storm

  Galdoni 3: Out of Darkness

  The Small Town Superheroes Series- (Through Stonehouse Ink)

  Small Town Superhero

  Small Town Superhero II

  Small Town Superhero III

  Keeper of the Wolves

  Stolen

  The Million Dollar Gift

  Thief Prince

  When Death Loved an Angel

  The Shadows Series- (Through Stonehouse Ink)

  Shadows- Book One in the World of Shadows

  Mist- Book Two in the World of Shadows

  Dusk- Book Three in the World of Shadows

  The Monster Asylum Series

  Book One- The Fangs of Bloodhaven

  Book Two- The Scales of Drakenfall

  Girl from the Stars

  Book 1- Daybreak

  Book 2- Daylight

  Book 3- Day’s End

  Book 4- Day’s Journey

  Book 5- Day’s Hunt

  The Dr. Wolf Series

  Book 1- Shockwave

  Book 2- Demon Spiral

  Book 3- The Four Horsemen

  Book 4- Dragon’s Bayne

  The Pirate from the Stars

  Book 1- Renegade

  Book 2-

  Chapter One

  Explosions shook the Starship Kratos. Gage gripped the arms of the captain’s chair, his gaze locked on the monitors.

  “I don’t know if it’s worth it,” Hyra called out. “They’re tearing us to pieces.”

  Gage glanced at the blue-skinned Guarite. “If Hiel doesn’t get the power cells, their thermal radiators will shut down and the Hielians will freeze to death.”

  “That sounds worth it,” Manax replied. His light green scaled hands moved quickly on the controls in front of him. “But shields are down to ten percent. If we take another hit, we’re done for.”

  “Noted,” Gage replied. “Klellen, what do we have left?”

  “Two high-impact heat signature tracers, half a dozen signa detonators, three MRs, and one DD.” the Iridian replied. Blue and green ran across his color-changing scales, indicating the stress that didn’t show on his reptilian face. “Not nearly enough to face down two Copper Crows armed to the gills.”

  “All we have to do is land,” Gage reassured him. “Send out the detonators to protect us from the worst of the missiles.”

  “Yes, Cap’n,” Klellen replied.

  “Incoming transmission from Hiel, Cap,” Hyra said.

  “Patch it through.”

  A face within a hood made of puola fur appeared on the screen. “Gage, we can use the last of our power cells to cover your descent with a strafe of MRs,” the woman said.

  “Can you risk it?” Gage asked.

  A warning siren sounded.

  “A missile got past the signas; brace for impact,” Manax called out.

  “Tersha, warn the crew,” Gage instructed.

  A woman with two mouths pushed a button from her station near the door of the bridge. “Brace for impact,” she called over the ship’s loud speakers.

  The impact rocked the SS Kratos. Lights flashed around the bridge and a deeper tolling sounded.

  The jolt rocked Gage from his position in the middle of the bridge. He glanced quickly across the screens, his heart thundering in his throat. They had traveled to the far ends of the Macrocosm in the Kratos. He wasn’t about to lose her now.

  “Manax, report!” Gage ordered.

  “Shields are gone, Captain. We’re sitting tarlons.”

  The woman on the screen said, “At this point, we’ve both risked too much for you to turn back. Transmit when you’ve fired your last missile and we’ll cover you.”

  “Will do. Thank you, Countess Emereen. I don’t think we’d make it without you.”

  “I know we won’t make it without you,” the Countess replied. “May the gods be with you.” Her image disappeared.

  “Fire the last two tracers along with the DD,” Gage commanded. “Aim for the Crow on our port side. With a little luck, we can send that Coalition craft limping for Titus.”

  “Since when do you believe in luck?” Klellen asked as he sent out the missiles.

  “Since we ran out of everything else to believe in,” Gage replied. He held his breath as he watched the tracers leave the Kratos. Both tracers impacted the starboard side of the nearest Copper Crow, causing brief flames that vanished in the void of space to leave a gaping hole in the side of the ship. The direct detonation missile that followed struck the hole, splitting the ship’s holding bay wide open.

  “A direct hit!” Hyra said.

  Another siren sounded. The intercom buzzed.

  “It’s the engine room,” Manax said.

  “Put Rin through,” Gage directed. “And signal the Countess that we’re out of weapons. I have a feeling we’re going to need the MRs.”

  “Captain, the last impact caused a crack in the cooling tanks. If we don’t land and shut her down, this entire place is going up in flames,” Rin said over the intercom.

  “On our way to the surface,” Gage told him. “Any power left in the thrusters?”

  “I’ll give her all she’s got left,” Rin replied.

  “The Countess has sent up the micro rockets,” Hyra announced. “Now’s our chance!”

  “Another missile’s incoming,” Manax said.

  “Klellen, use the detonators to cloak us,” Gage commanded. “Manax, take us to the surface.”

  “Yes, Cap’n,” Manax and Klellen both replied.

  Gage watched the screen as the missile drew closer. The detonators exploded near the Kratos’ hull. The ship lurched when the missile impacted the detonators. Manax hit the thrusters. The ship shook as he guided it past the gaping Copper Crow.

  “The Coalition’s firing again,” Hyra said.

  “Answer with the remaining MRs,” Gage replied. “Get us out of here.”

  Tension filled the bridge as everyone watched the micro roc
kets leave the Kratos.

  “Come on,” Klellen whispered. The Iridian’s scales showed dark blue in his stress.

  The missile glanced off one of the micro rockets, but just barely.

  “It’s still coming,” Klellen called.

  “Brace for impact,” Gage told them.

  Tersha’s voice rang out over the intercom echoing his words.

  The missile slammed into the starboard side of the Kratos. Smoke filled the bridge. Transmissions from all over the ship flashed on the monitors. The screen above Hyra illuminated the hull of the Kratos in red and orange. Manax fought to steady the ship’s decent while Klellen used an extinguisher to put out flames along his control board.

  The Kratos hit the snow-covered surface of Hiel so hard the impact threw the crew out of their seats. Gage was the first up.

  “Is everyone alright?” he asked. The smoke stung his eyes as he peered through the flashing lights at his crew. They were covered in cuts and bruises from the crash, but as far as he could tell, the injuries were mild. His head stung. He lifted a hand to it and found a shallow gash on his brow. The mild stirrings of a headache answered his touch. He lowered his hand.

  “Y-yes, Cap’n,” Klellen said. He helped Tersha up, his scales showing orange with his relief.

  “There’s a transmission from the Countess,” Hyra said. At Gage’s nod, she pressed the button.

  “Are you alright?” Countess Emereen asked.

  Gage gave her a wry smile. “A little worse for the wear, but I think we’ve survived. The Kratos won’t be flying without repairs.”

  She nodded. “My troops are on their way with supplies. They’ll cloak the Kratos so the repairs can be completed under cover from the elements and the eyes of the Coalition. Did the power cells survive the landing?”

  Gage looked at Tersha. One of the Bocan’s mouths was busy talking into a microphone to the engine room. With the other, she said, “Indy says the power cells are in top condition. He’s preparing them to move.”

  Relief showed on the Countess’ face. “May the Gods bless you, Gage,” she said. “You’ve given us a chance to survive here.”

  Gage was about to reply when another warning signal sounded.

  “Captain, two more Coalition ships have appeared.” Hyra studied the screen worriedly. “I think they’re preparing to land.”

  “My troops can’t take an attack,” the Countess said. “We exhausted the remainder of our artillery defending your descent.”

  Gage thought quickly. A glance at the galaxy display showed the stars of the Tucana Dwarf Galaxy. His heart tightened, but he said, “I have an idea. Do you have an old ship I can borrow?”

  The Countess turned away for a moment. Gage heard a quick, muffled discussion follow. She came back on the screen. “We have an old TDV Ten. It’s a bit of a wreck. The transportation system is down, so you’ll have to use a transporter if you want to jump.”

  “That works,” Gage replied. “Ready it and I’ll take care of the Coalition.”

  The screen went dark.

  “What is your plan, Captain?” Manax asked. The black scales around his eyes were tight with concern.

  “If the Coalition lands, the Kratos and Countess Emereen’s troops will be decimated. I’ll lead them away, give you time to repair the ship, and we’ll meet at Rendezvous Seven.”

  “And how do you plan to lead them away?” Hyra asked, her tone wary as if she had already guessed the answer.

  Gage forced a confident smile. “I’ll tell them who I am.”

  Manax whistled. “That’ll send them on your tail for sure. How are you going to get away in a TDV Ten? Those things run by fuel cells instead of plasma thrusters, and there’s no AB drive. If the fuel’s bad, the engine might stutter.”

  “I’ll keep that in mind,” Gage replied. “Thanks for the warning.”

  He walked to the door. Tersha stopped him with a hand on his arm.

  “I don’t think this is a good idea,” she said, her other mouth a tight line of concern.

  Gage gave a rogue’s smile. “Sometimes the bad ideas end up being the best ones,” he said with a wink.

  A few minutes later found Gage alone in the TDV Ten. The name ‘Dooms Day’ had been hard to miss on the side of the old ship. Emotions he didn’t have time to face simmered beneath the calm that always filled him during life-threatening situations. He switched on the headset and checked the gauges. The fuel cells showed full; Gage hoped Manax’s prediction didn’t come true.

  “Gulls have left the Copper Crows,” Hyra told him over the headset. “They’ll be here any minute unless they have something else to chase.”

  “That’s my cue,” Gage replied.

  “Put your thumb to the reader,” Countess Emereen instructed over the intercom. “My engineers overrode the print reader. It’ll start with any scan.”

  Gage did as instructed and the engine rumbled to life without the moderate purr he was used to hearing from plasma thruster driven ships.

  “Be careful, Captain,” Hyra told him. “We’ll meet you at Rendezvous Seven as soon as the Kratos is repaired.”

  “See you then,” Gage told her. He switched the headset to an open channel and eased the thrusters forward. The ship shuddered and then lifted into the air. He let out a breath of relief and steered the ship toward the atmosphere.

  Gage switched to an open channel and said, “Calling the bumbling idiots of the Coalition.”

  “Who is this?” a voice demanded.

  “That depends,” Gage replied. “To whom do I have the abhorrence to speak with?”

  “Lieutenant Brisk,” the voice said in clipped words. “Now reveal yourself or I shall have your ship blown to pieces and leave your body to the void.”

  Gage smiled. “Gage Metis, at your service.”

  The Lieutenant’s sputter could be heard over the intercom. “The pirate Gage Metis?” he replied incredulously.

  “He’s the top of the wanted list, Lieutenant,” another voice said.

  “I know who he is!” the Lieutenant shouted. “All ships, after the deserter!”

  Gage shoved the controls forward and the thrusters fired. The TDV shot into space. He glanced once at the screen that showed Hiel behind him. Hope that he would see his crew and ship again soon drove him on toward the familiar star amid all the others on his screen. He pushed the thrusters forward to full power.

  “Fire!” the Lieutenant commanded. “If he escapes again, heads will roll.”

  Missiles struck the TDV from all sides. The two Copper Crows fired relentlessly while the third limped along behind. Gage took comfort in the thought that at least they had forgotten about the Kratos in their haste for vengeance.

  The TDV stuttered. Gage’s heart skipped a beat. He checked the monitor. For a moment, the fuel line showed empty, then the ship shuddered again and it read three-quarters full.

  “Come on,” Gage whispered. “Get me there.”

  Another missile struck the ship. Warning lights flashed and sirens sounded. The ship was falling apart around him.

  Gage pulled on an atmosphere suit the Countess had given him. The relief on her face at the sight of the power cells they had brought stayed with him as the ship was battered from side to side. A glance at the screen showed Corian looming close. The sight of ships moving in and out of the merchant planet’s docks in an orderly fashion he was about to break up made Gage hurry faster. He fastened the helmet and hit the pressurization button.

  A voice came over the intercom. “This is Control Commander Parragosh of the Day Merchant Fleet. You have not been given permission to access the planet. Pull up or be met with hostility.”

  Gage leaned forward and pressed the intercom button. “I’m being chased—” An explosion hit the ship with the piercing sound of the hull tearing. “I beg sanctuary,” he shouted.

  “Lieutenant Brisk, this ship is protected under Commandant Day’s Proclamation of Asylum,” Parragosh told the Lieutenant.

  �
��That man is wanted by the Coalition for desertion, robbery, and treason,” Lieutenant Brisk argued. “There’s a thousand platinum bars on his head.”

  “A thousand bars!” Parragosh exclaimed. “That’s ridiculous. I’ve never heard of such a reward for one person.”

  “You don’t know that person,” the Lieutenant replied dryly.

  The side of the Dooms Day tore open. Debris cut through the bridge. Shrapnel lanced into Gage’s side. He let out a yell of pain.

  The gaping hole showed the Skavian Ocean drawing closer at a far faster clip than was healthy.

  “If I’m out of luck, this would be an ironic place to die,” Gage muttered. He glanced up to see ships intercepting the Coalition crafts. He hoped the interference would give him cover. He held onto the side of the plummeting TDV. “This is going to hurt,” he said.

  The ship hit the water so hard the force nearly jolted him away before he was ready. Gritting his teeth against the pain in his side, Gage watched the water rise rapidly. The sight of boats rushing toward him for rescue was swept away by the cold ocean water. Gage’s breath caught in his throat at the chill the atmosphere suit couldn’t shield him from.

  Knowing that if he pushed away too early, the suction of the sinking ship would just pull him back, Gage held on and watched the dark water flow past. His ears popped painfully, and the brief seconds felt like an eternity until the water slowed the TDV’s descent.