by Scott Warren
The Yangtze drifted away on the main screen as Huian deftly maneuvered the Condor clear of her docking ring and eased back into the steady orbit above Pedres. The sensor team was idly tracking and cataloguing space junk for potential salvage. The Gavisari would take the choicest bits for their Reclamation, but there would be plenty of bones to pick through. The salvage freighters were only a day or two behind the battlegroup.
Victoria scratched at her nose idly. Chadha addressed her from his stateroom, as close to privacy as the admiral could get. "Haven’t any idea what you mean, Admiral. We prevented not one, but two genocides with that agreement. Union Earth should be thrilled."
Chadha allowed her a small smile. "Outwardly perhaps, and many will agree with your actions. Myself among them, Victoria. Sometimes I envy the Privateers their ability to act without constraint."
"But . . . ."
Chadha sighed. "But I am a creature of duties and loyalties, and this our union cannot survive without men like me to carry the orders. Even if I do not agree with them."
The bow of the Condor swung, putting the star front and center. The computer dimmed the light of the system’s core star while superimposing the rest of them in the daytime sky. Victoria swung the view around with a gesture, bringing one last time the planet of Pedres into view. From this angle it was split between day and night, and fires still ravaged the night side. The Gavisari stopped short of causing a total nuclear winter, and estimates of the Maeyar refugees already numbered in the tens of millions.
Not refugees, survivors.
"Victoria, it was good to see you. I am sorry it could not be under more pleasant circumstances. If I may ask, where are you headed now?"
Victoria considered. A few horizon jumps away, the Kossovoldt had lit a signal fire for the Malagath and the Dirregaunt, and too close for comfort to human territories. Things were promising to get more interesting around the Orion Spur than she preferred. What exactly the Kossovoldt were doing in Gavisar’s night sky Victoria couldn’t say. She had managed to get down in writing the parts of the conversation she could remember, and looking back at her notes jogged the memories enough to get a picture of the thing in her mind’s eye. She couldn’t hedge a guess as to the bits she’d let slip, but she knew it had already dictated her next destination. It wasn’t exactly home, but it had probably been, at some point.
"Earth," said Victoria.
Acknowledgments
When I realized that I was now under a book deal and expected to produce a novel-length book in just under four months, and not just any book, but the sequel to Vick’s Vultures, I’ll admit that I began to feel the heat.
Union Earth Privateers began with a simple premise, followed by a straightforward novel. Now as I look at the last round of edits on To Fall Among Vultures, I can see the release date on the horizon and I would not have made it here alone.
First and foremost are Colin Coyle and Eric Ryles, the masterminds behind Parvus Press. For all the trust I placed in them to handle my book with care and attention, that trust was a two-way street and they believed in my writing enough to offer at least two more books a spot on the shelf before I’d fully intended to write them.
I’d also like to say thank you to my tag-team of editors, John Adamus and Jennifer Melchert, who helped hammer my rough manuscript into a tight, well-punctuated interstellar adventure. In the same vein, Tom Edwards provided an eye-catching cover that perfectly encapsulates the tone of the book. It is especially difficult for me to surrender artistic control, having illustrated the cover of my first novel, Devilbone, myself. But I know I am in good hands.
And lastly, I would be remiss in not mentioning you, the reader. Thank you for spending some of your valuable time choosing to read this one book among untold thousands. I hope you have enjoyed the adventure as much as I have, and I hope to see you in the next installment.
Until then,
Scott Warren
July 27, 2017
About the Author
Scott Warren got his start in writing while living in Washington during the summer of 2014 when he entered the world of speculative fiction by writing Sorcerous Crimes Division, followed shortly by Vick’s Vultures.
Scott blends aspects of classic military fantasy and science fiction with a modern, streamlined writing style to twist tired tropes into fresh ideas. He believes in injecting a healthy dose of adventure into the true-to-life grit and grime that marks the past decade of science fiction, while still embracing the ideas that made science fiction appeal to so many readers.
As a UAV Pilot and former submariner, Scott draws on his military and aviation experiences to bring authenticity to his writing while keeping it accessible to all readers. Scott is also an artist, contributing his skills to board games, role playing games, and his own personal aerial photography galleries.
Scott currently lives in Huntsville, Alabama. Visit Scott on the web: http://scottwarrenscd.blogspot.com/ and follow him on Twitter: @ScottWarrenSCD
Books by Scott Warren
The Union Earth Privateers:
Vick's Vultures
To Fall Among Vultures
The Sorcerous Crimes Division:
Devilbone
Coming Soon
Peridot Shift Book One:
FLOTSAM
by R J THEODORE
A fantastical steampunk first contact novel that ties together high magic, high technology, and bold characters to craft a story you won’t soon forget.
Captain Talis just wants to keep her airship crew from starving, and maybe scrape up enough cash for some badly needed repairs. When an anonymous client offers a small fortune to root through a pile of atmospheric wreckage, it seems like an easy payday. The job yields an ancient ring, a forbidden secret, and a host of deadly enemies.
Now on the run from cultists with powerful allies, Talis needs to unload the ring as quickly as possible. Her desperate search for a buyer and the fallout from her discovery leads to a planetary battle between a secret society, alien forces, and even the gods themselves.
Talis and her crew have just one desperate chance to make things right before their potential big score destroys them all.
January 2018
www.ParvusPress.com/flotsam
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Glossary
CHARACTERS
Union Earth Privateers, crew of the Condor:
Avery, Daniel – Rank: Senior Sensor Supervisor. Nation of Origin: United States.
Cohen, Aesop – Rank: Sergeant - Privateer marine and xenotech engineer. Former Mossad (special forces). Nation of Origin: Israel.
Carillo, Cesar – Rank: First Mate – Executive Officer of the Condor. Leads the Tactical Division. Nation of Origin: Argentina.
Calhoun, Red – Rank: Major – Commanding officer of the Condor's marines. Nation of Origin: Scotland.
Marin, Victoria – Rank: Captain. Commanding Officer of the Condor. PhD in Xenotechnology, specializing in sensor analysis and avoidance. Nation of Origin: Northern Ireland.
Prescott, Davis – Rank: Chief– Chief Engineer of the Condor. Nation of Origin: United States.
Marines – Vega, Maggie/Mags, Singh – A squad of UEP Marines under the command of Sergea
nt Aesop Cohen.
Union Earth, other:
Bullock, Garth – Rank: Captain. Commanding Officer of the Hudson River.
Jones, Terrance – Rank: Captain. Commanding Officer of the Howard Phillips, a Privateer vessel. Nation of Origin: United States.
Sampson, Ethan – Rank: Civilian. Director of the Union Earth Technology Division. Nation of Origin: Canada.
Maeyar:
Allid – Wing Officer and senior pilot aboard the Starscream.
Arda – Wing Commander in command of the carrier Vitacuus and friend to Jalith.
Edrus and Kal Vaan – Assigned to Listening Post 121.
Jalith – Commander of the Twin Sister. Wife of Sothcide.
Sothcide – Senior Wing Officer and fighter/interceptor pilot. Husband of Jalith.
Yadus – Senior Wing Admiral in command of the flagship Banner and the Pedres defenders.
Others:
Grace Tora – Malagath noble investigating anomalous sensor readings from Gavisar.
Raksava – Gavisari Admiral. Leader of the Homeworld Defense Fleet and the Children of Gavisar.
Jessad – Gavisari chaplain and personal advisor to Raksava.
Tavram – First Prince of the Malagath.
SHIPS
Union Earth Navy:
Artemis – Privateer
Clarke - Destroyer
Colorado - Destroyer
Elbe - Light Cruiser
Hudson River - Light Destroyer. Captained by Bullock.
Iliad - Zumwalt-Class Artillery
Jackdaw – Privateer
Mississippi - Light Destroyer
Missouri - Missile Destroyer
Prometheus - Zumwalt -Class Artillery
Longinus - Zumwalt -Class Artillery
Thames - Heavy Destroyer
Trebuchet - Zumwalt -Class Artillery
Yangtze - Cruiser
Zumwalt - Artillery
Union Earth Privateers:
Condor - Specialized for stealth and salvage. Captained by Victoria Marin.
Howard Phillips – Specialized for enhanced stealth and communications. Captained by Terrence Jones.
Non-Human:
Apex – Lereigh light cruiser.
Blessing – Gavisar wreck above Pedres.
Bulwark – Gavisar Homeworld Defense flagship
Kreshna - Vautan vessel salvaged by the Condor.
Oracle – Gavisar Electronic Counter Warfare light frigate
Slingray - Maeyar missile boat.
Splendor - Malagath Imperial Yacht under the command of Grace Tora.
Starscream – Maeyar carrier.
Twin Sister - Maeyar carrier.
Vitacuus – Maeyar carrier
PLACES AND RACES
Dirregaunt Praetory – One of the "big three" races in the known galaxy, along with the Kossovoldt and the Malagath. The Dirregaunt Praetory is ruled by a Primarch. They are fearsome hunters who excel at ambush tactics. They are tall, clawed humanoids with four eyes.
Ersis – A trade, fueling, and refit hub located on a moon in orbit around a gas giant. Ersis is a neutral city and its dense, nitrogen-rich atmosphere makes it a welcome environment for many life forms.
Gavisar – A subterranean, tripod race inhabiting the world of Gavisar. Their religion has a complicated history with the Kossovoldt.
Gavisar - Homeworld of the Children of Gavisar.
Grah'lhin (Graylings) – A race of arthropod predatory hunters with an interest in humanity. Individual Grah'lhin consciousnesses are spread across multiple bodies.
Humans – Bipedal ape-like creatures that are relatively new on the galactic scene. Not a military or colonizing power of any note, they are considered insignificant by the rest of the galaxy if they are considered at all.
Jenursa – Amphibious, migratory race. Waist-high to a human and move via pseudopod. Allied with and share colony worlds with the Union Earth.
Kallico’rey – A world at the edge of Malagath territory beyond which is the vast emptiness of the Orion Spur.
Kossovoldt – The most enigmatic of the "big three" races in the known galaxy, along with the Dirregaunt and the Malagath. Theirs is the common language of the galaxy, enabling interspecies written and verbal communication. They reside in the Sagittarius arms of the galaxy and ferociously guard their borders.
Maeyar - Bipedal, tall and solidly built with skin ranging from gray to black. Trading partners with humanity.
Malagath – One of the "big three" races in the known galaxy, along with the Dirregaunt and the Kossovoldt. The Malagath Empire contains over 8,000 known planets. They are ruled by an imperial dynasty and have a large aristocracy. The Malagath are blue humanoids with three fingers on each hand.
Orion Spur - The bridge of stars connecting the Sagittarius and Perseus Arms of the Milky Way Galaxy
Pedres - A system that shares a name with the inhabited planet contained within.
Tallidox – Interstellar arms manufacturers and dealers
Thorivult – Allied with the Union Earth and have established shared colony worlds.
Union Earth – A unified spaceborne human government comprised of representatives from all spacefaring nations on Earth, as well as all established human colonies. Their priority is the continued survival of the human race in the Milky Way.
Vautan – A race in the midst of a war for mineral rights.