by Tony Healey
"Must be frustrating," Lisa said.
"Very. So anyway, you know, I completely lost track of time. I knew I had our meeting, and I was looking forward to seeing you again. Then I got sent a report of movements along the Sjan border, and . . . well . . ." Her voice trailed off.
"Have there been more incursions?" Chang asked.
"Unfortunately, yes," Jessica said. "They're testing us and I fear it's only a matter of time before top brass decide on a show of strength."
"You believe we're headed for another war?"
"If we're not careful," Jessica sipped her water. "All the talk at the moment concerns the Sjan and their movements."
"I heard about Ryglah VII," Chang said. They'd all heard the news – the Sjan had attacked an outlying colony, killing everyone there. In any other circumstance, it would have been the spark that ignited a whole new conflict, but the colony on Ryglah VII had left the Union and declared its own independence. The Terran Union was under no obligation to protect the planet or to retaliate when it was attacked. Even six months later, the President was still defending his decision to let the massacre on Ryglah slide in favour of what he called 'the bigger picture', namely intergalactic peace.
"Politically, they're trying to avoid a war at all costs," Jessica said, her voice grave. "But you've got to be a realist, especially when you're talking about an aggressive alien species. Peace will only last so long."
"You think we should have hit back following Ryglah?" Chang asked.
"I do. They may have stepped away from the Union, but they were once Union citizens. The majority were human. We should have shown some strength and conviction. Politically, I feel the President and his administration are only thinking about the voters who are weary of war."
"Sometimes it's inevitable."
"Precisely."
An old-fashioned clock on the wall – no doubt an antique from Earth's history – chimed in time with the swinging of its brass pendulum. "That's a quaint timepiece," Chang remarked.
"Yes. They're hard to come by, you know," Jessica said. "So, let's get on with business and I'll tell you why you're really here."
"Go ahead."
Jessica King activated a small holo-emitter on her desk, mounted on a small stand. Chang had mistaken it for a paperweight when she sat down. A translucent image rotated on it, but was difficult to make out.
"Lights!"
They dimmed around them and the projection was clearly defined. It showed a planet, a surging ball of endless water. "This is the planet Krise. As you can see, it is completely covered in water. In places, it is deeper than anything on Earth. In fact the planet itself is approximately a third bigger than the Earth."
"Life?"
"A thriving population below the surface in pressure domes. It's all quite fascinating. This is the first time they've allowed their home to be documented the way we will."
"Is that my assignment?" Chang asked.
"Not quite. It's a little more complicated," Jessica controlled the emitter to zoom out, revealing the disc of the star system in which it rolled. She pulled back further, to show where that system was situated. Automatically Chang identified the issue.
"They're not part of the Union."
"Not yet," Jessica said. "I'm hoping that they will be, soon, however. With your help."
"Me? What can I do?"
Jessica closed the holo-emitter and at the sound of her voice, the lights returned to a comfortable level. She got up, took her glass of water to the nearest plant pot and poured a little in. "Diplomacy. Your mission is to take the Intrepid to Krise and encourage them to join the Union," she said working her way around all of her plants, until the glass was empty.
"Has something changed to make them want to join?"
"Yes. They recently suffered an attack from an unknown race," Jessica explained. "There were many casualties and some of their underwater habitats were damaged. We got the intel from a trader who frequents Krise, who also happens to be a source of information for Shadow Force."
Of course. Shadow Force: the black ops unit that doesn't officially exist. So that's it, Chang thought. Will passed it on to you. One of the benefits of having a boyfriend assigned to the unit . . .
"Any lead on the attacker's identity?" Chang asked.
"No. Part of your mission will be to ascertain who is responsible. You may be able to use that as leverage for convincing them to become members."
Chang frowned. "Pardon me, Jessica, but why is it so important they join?"
It looked as though the Admiral were about to answer, as if the words were on the tip of her tongue waiting to leap out. But then Jessica King was all business again. "I'm sorry, I can't say. Perhaps when your mission is completed I will be in a position to reveal that to you. For now, understand top brass are extremely keen for Krise to join."
"Understood."
"Oh, and one other thing," Jessica said as Chang got to her feet. "If you should encounter the attackers at any point during your visit to Krise, you are not to engage. Not until the Kriseans have agreed to join, and have presented themselves before the Union congressional committee. In other words, not until the ink has dried. Am I clear?"
Chang nodded. "Clear as crystal."
"Thanks, Lisa," she said, walking her to the door. "I understand Olivia had a hard time finding a new posting?"
"Yes . . ." Chang answered, unsure of where Jessica was going.
"Well, I have a position opening up. The Lieutenant who acts as my assistant is being transferred to Station 11. I'm in need of someone I can trust. Do you know of anyone?" she asked with a wink.
The door to her office whisked open. "I might have someone in mind, Admiral," Chang said.
Jessica stood to attention. Chang followed suit and they both saluted one another.
"See to it she comes to see me," Admiral King told her. "Tell her I won't take no for an answer."
"I will. Thank you."
"Good luck, Captain. To you and your crew."
* * *
Chang caught the transport back to the Intrepid, wondering how Olivia would react to the news Jessica wanted her as her assistant. It was a choice position – one of those niche roles that didn't come along often, simply because officers clung to them once they got them.
Shortly after the battle to stop Cessqa within the Chimera Cluster, Chang had returned to Station 6 to find Olivia had been assigned to the Cotopaxi. To say her partner didn't get along with Captain Bloom was an understatement – Olivia had been looking to jump ship the moment she arrived.
Working with Jessica would be a dream come true, and it carried the added benefit of knowing where Olivia would be. It was hard enough having to leave her to command the Intrepid, but not knowing where Olivia was from one day to the next worried Chang. It worried her because she couldn't be sure Olivia was safe.
She must feel the same way about me, Chang thought. She must wonder whether the Intrepid will return to base in one piece or not.
Since stopping Cessqa, the Intrepid had been assigned no less than half a dozen separate postings. She'd barely seen her former Captain as she settled into her new role. The Admiral had simply dished out the assignments and tried her best to sort through the mess Kerrick had left in his wake. It was good to see the Admiral after so many months . . . and yet Chang yearned for a long mission. Something she could make her name with. She'd never wanted the promotion, but now that she had it, she saw a possibility to make a difference in the Terran Union. Knowing Olivia would be stable, working alongside the Admiral on Station 6, she would be at ease heading into a protracted assignment.
Exploration.
The transport slowed, took a turn, the tracks thudding slightly beneath it until it had accelerated again, powering her through the superstructure of Station 6 toward Chang's awaiting vessel.
The sciences were her expertise, her whole reason for joining in the first place. She wanted to take the Intrepid out and explore the uncharted regions of the g
alaxy, possibly for a year or two.
I'm sure Olivia would understand.
Still, it was a pipe dream. For now, she had her mission. Head to Krise and investigate, while convincing them to join the Union. Why the sudden interest in what was a featureless, water world?
What's going on under the surface that Admiral King couldn't tell me?
*
Black Nova Part One is available NOW
About Tony Healey
Tony Healey is a best-selling independent author based in the city of Brighton & Hove in the UK. His writing has been published alongside science-fiction legends Harlan Ellison and Alan Dean Foster. He has also had work appear with Piers Anthony, Scott Nicholson and J.R. Rain.
Most of his works are bestsellers, including his smash-hit science-fiction series Far From Home and his gritty fantasy series The Fallen Crown.
Tony is married and has three daughters. For the latest on his various projects, visit
www.tonyhealey.com
By Tony Healey
Far From Home Series 1
Far From Home Series 2
Far From Home Bundle: Series 1 + 2
Far From Home Series 3
Far From Home: The Complete Omnibus
The Stars My Redemption
Age of Destiny (The Broken Stars, Book 1)
The Bloody North (The Fallen Crown, Book 1)
The Rising Fire (The Fallen Crown, Book 2)
The Unclaimed Throne (The Fallen Crown, Book 3)
Dead Pretty
Against The Falling Stars (Short Fiction Collection)
Edge of Oblivion (Editor & Contributor)
Sun Hammer (with Bernard Schaffer)
Confederation Reborn: A Brightly Flickering Flame (with Bernard Schaffer)
Operation Chimera (with Matt Cox)
Hitler Must Die (with William Vitka)
Click Here For His Amazon Author Page
Far From Home Series 1
Follow the adventures of Captain Jessica King and the crew of the Defiant as they find themselves pulled into a black hole and thrown from everything they have ever known.
668 Pages
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Far From Home Series 2
Picking up where the First Series left off, the three novel length adventures Enigma, Nemesis and Vengeance take the best-selling series in a new direction as the mysteries of the past are explored, new enemies are revealed and events take a shocking turn that will leave readers breathlessly waiting for the next installment!
485 Pages
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The Bloody North
Left for dead, his wife and children slaughtered, Rowan Black vows revenge on the man responsible. But first he'll have to make it across the bloody north and that is easier said than done when there's a price on your head . . .
240 Pages
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Age of Destiny
The Terran Union is at war. As the conflict with the Sjan reaches breaking point, the fate of the stars themselves rests in the hands of Max and his ragtag band of friends; a group of misfits who might just prove to be the galaxy's last, best hope . . .
200 Pages
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Praise for the work of Tony Healey
". . . loads of fun, reads at a blistering pace. Abe's a galactic criminal who wanders from score to score leaving a bloody trail of human and alien carcasses, but there's a stubborn crumb of humanity left inside of him. This is the story of how he rediscovers that lost part of himself. The action sequences remind me of Robert E. Howard. Abe would fit in well with Conan the Barbarian and Solomon Kane."
"The story grabs you right from the outset. It is fast paced and enjoyable. It is written in the style of Star Trek/Star Wars that lets you feel for the characters without getting swamped with the technology . . . was well worth reading."
"Story telling that is compelling and ultra-readable. Don't expect to sleep till you have finished this book. Be ready to be addicted."
"There are so many characters and story lines to be pursued! I also LOVE that the author included so many strong female main roles and leaders. That is the future after all, equality! It's an excellent read and I strongly recommend the series in the 3 book volume forms because you will always want more! It's all good in the space neighborhood."
"Fun to read. Far from Home would make an excellent TV series or mini-series special. The stories by Tony Healey, I've so far read, have what I refer to as 'soul' in them, being more than just words on paper or in ebooks."
"An excellent book, Enjoyed it from start to finish. LOOKING FORWARD TO READING THE REST OF THIS SERIES. You go! TONY HEALEY!"
". . . very easy to get into and it pulls you in so you don't want to stop reading. If you enjoy Star Trek and other science fiction adventures you'll enjoy this great adventure with Jessica and her crew. You'll never want to put it down . . . trust me."
"As a former nuclear submarine officer in the US Navy, I was immediately transported back to my time on subs during the cold war years. Since retiring from both the Navy and Navy supporting civilian contractors, I have been reading numerous sci-fi novels. I rank Far From Home as an extremely entertaining story . . . the action makes sense and time travel is possibly believable. THANKS SO MUCH!!!"
"I really enjoyed this book, and am looking forward to the rest of the series. It's great to see a female commander and the action and characters really had a nice balance. Reminded me of some of my favorite sci-fi and that's a good thing! I definitely recommend for fans of Battlestar and Star Trek."
". . . easily digestible and enjoyable for readers who don't normally tread inside the genre. In fact, it's a quite touching story. It's a piece of well-written fiction that carefully weaves in actual reported events on record from the 1960s. I won't spoil any of that, but for you conspiracy theory chasing cryptozoologists, I'm sure I don't even need to."
". . . a suspenseful thriller written in a style that reminded me a bit of Poe. Healey is quickly assembling an impressive collection of horror stories that hearken back to the days gone by of classic storytelling. He writes with the panache of an author beyond his years. I can't wait to see what he comes up with next."
"Tony Healey has no fear. He's not content to colour inside the lines, and writes compelling stories no matter which genre he selects. Tony is a brilliant Sci-Fi writer, but he can tackle any setting and still command your attention. This novella is the debut of Colby Jones, an anti-hero with traces of a conscience. I like Colby because despite his dealings on the other side of the law, it's not hard to find him relatable. His motives are not unlike an average person. His means to an end are in a grey moral area, but his goals are so earnest that you can't help but cheer him on. All of Tony's work is well-written and enjoyable to read, but this is a good primer for readers that don't like science-fiction. Once you get a feel for Tony's endearing style, you'll want to see how he applies it to other genres."
"This is a damn good first attempt at hardboiled criminal fare. I really enjoyed it . . ."
"Anti-hero Colby Jones is a fella that maybe you should steer well clear of, but you actually find yourself overlooking his 'misdemeanours'. He's your average man, which is why I think you can relate to him, but he's pretty ruthless too. When he takes a job, he sees it through, right to the very end. This was a great read and I really liked the author's writing style. I was pulled in from the first page and proceeded to fly through the book. It's a novella with a good storyline and with lots going on . . ."
Where To Find Tony Healey
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