The Fleet Read online

The Fleet

  John M. Davis

  Editing: Daniél Lecoq

  Copyright 2014 Serenity Valley Publishing

  Table of Contents

  Prologue: *Water*

  Chapter 1: *The Viscion*

  Chapter 2: *Back to Buisness*

  Chapter 4: *The Blood War*

  About the Author

  Prologue

  In 2011, John M. Davis released a brand new science fiction series. Out of nowhere, Gunship hit the number two spot for Amazon Kindle in its genre, and fans continued to demand more. Tying up the original Gunship series with five books, some of the characters refused to die. The Fleet is a standalone series, though it is also a continuation of the Gunship series. Fans of the original work should consider The Fleet as book six, while folks new to the Skyla System can jump right in with The Fleet. Several more books are scheduled in The Fleet series, as well as some prequel stories in the works. If you enjoy the following story, please check out other books in the series. Thousands of readers have demanded them, and, because of their dedicated time and effort in the Skyla System, there should be plenty available. Enjoy!

  Water. Turns out it's pretty damn important in the scheme of things. It's one of those things that people take for granted until it's gone – or at least in short supply.

  The minds behind this fleet were smart enough to see it coming. They constructed a ship to supply us with as much as we need; the River Rat. Problem is, the ship depends on planets thick with ice, processing frozen slabs into purified water.

  Rock after rock; after shitin rock – none of them with a speck of ice to be had. Plenty of Prelatin, the rock our fleet pulls fuel from, but we need ice. Water.

  We also continue the search from Adam's son. A mission that's not too popular with many ranking members of the fleet. Fuck 'em, I'm the boss now and it's my call. Adam would be doing the same thing for me.

  We remain in orbit and chained to our ships. Not literally, though I'd like to chain a few of these bastards to one and leave 'em here. It's just that the worlds below are overrun with the undead. At least until we find a way to take our home back.

  I've said it before and I'll say it again. I hate the undead.

  Colonial Commander Dalton James

  Chapter 1

  *The Viscion*

  Holding his fist up firmly, Lieutenant Gregory brought a halt to the entire group of eight strong. Colonial military, by the look of them. Combat blue patched with the silver seal of the colonies.

  Easing down, the lieutenant grabbed a bit of mud into his fingers, rubbing through it. Doing everything he could to scout the area ahead.

  Seconds later, a horde of undead sprang from the nearby tree line, approximately twenty of them.

  As the group began to fire silenced rifles into the pack of wild infected, the bodies of dead started dropping like panties on a poker night Friday. This time becoming eternally dead.

  All but one. Its teeth shaved to a sheen and sprinting wildly at the man in charge. No doubt the leader of their pack. The alpha male.

  A single pistol shot would end all of that. Snapping from a standard issue pistol, though doing its deed silenced. The pistol was fitted with a suppressor, as were the group’s rifles.

  Hitting the infected leader at point blank range, Lieutenant Gregory watched the bastard drop backwards like a stone. Just out of reach as it pummeled the rain-drenched ground. Finding its final resting place.

  “Scout up ahead. They seem to be thinning out. Could be a sign of Hunters in the area.” the lieutenant said.

  “Sir, I don't understand the need to continue tracking them. We could just let them die down here with the infected.” one of the soldiers remarked.

  “Understanding the purpose is not your job, executing my orders is.”

  “Understood sir.” the soldier replied, turning to order their scout ahead. All in hopes of tracking down the location of Hunters on what remained of Ronica.

  Lieutenant Gregory understood his soldier's reservation. He too wondered why they continued to track down a race that had caused them so much pain. It would be much easier to leave them be. But he was also the ideal soldier, executing his orders without question. Something he expected from the men as well.As Commander Dalton James sat quietly, with a small glass of brown whiskey in one hand, his other hand flipping a single revolver bullet through its fingers; Dalton looked across the stars. Watching the lights of dozens of smaller ships enter and depart from his own.

  The God of War. Not Dalton James, though he'd seen his fair share of war throughout the years, but the ship beneath his feet. It was massive. Designed for deep space travel and armed to the teeth, the ship was meant to house occupants for tens, maybe even hundreds of years.

  In fact, the entire fleet was. A ship designed to process fuel from rock. Another equipped to churn foreign ice into drinkable water, as well as filter the fleet's existing supply.

  Every ship within the fleet had its purpose, if only to provide large spaces for living quarters. These people had essentially become a race chained to the stars. Their former homes below, overrun with hordes of the living dead. An infection of some type, though the fleet's scientists had yet to explain its mystery. They understood it quickly took the body of its host, but how the infection originally spawned remained unexplainable.

  “You alright cowboy?” Cambria said, easing up behind the fleet's commander. Softly massaging his tense shoulders.

  Her hands were a comfort to him. The touch of a woman he loved so dearly. More than most could ever begin to comprehend based on their idea of love.

  “I sure don't feel like a cowboy. I feel like some stiff behind a desk.”

  “I'm sure you'll get used to things with time.” she replied.

  “Maybe,” he admitted. “Maybe not. I'm like a wild animal baby, you can cage me up but it doesn't mean I won't long for the days of running lose again.” he added with a grin.

  The life of an officer was as fitting as the photos on Dalton's wall. Crooked with time and a bit of bedroom shagging.

  “I think the fleet is waiting on your command. They trust your timing.” Cambria said.

  She was the epitome of beautiful and had always been so. Attracted to Dalton because of his heart, which overflowed with compassion. Though his rugged look didn't hurt things either.

  “Let's hope you're right, cause I have no intentions of leaving anytime soon,” Dalton replied, continuing his stare out into the stars. “We have no idea what's waiting out there for us. Maybe a fresh start on a string of planets ripe for the picking,” he added. “Or maybe something a lot worse than anything our history speaks of.”

  Walking to the front of Dalton for a moment, Cambria eased herself onto his lap. Straddling the smuggler turned commander and draping her arms around his neck.

  The mere touch of her skin to the back of his neck, nothing short of intoxicating.

  “Who are you trying to fool, 'ya big lug?” she asked. “You're stalling the fleet to give Adam enough time to find his son, and I don't blame you. I think that's admirable.”

  “Just hope he finds his boy.”

  “He will,” Cambria remarked, moving her hand to Dalton's chin and looking him straight in the eyes. “You just need to have faith.” she added.

  Dalton had faith. He knew deep down that the day was soon approaching that Adam would indeed find his son. He also hoped like hell they had the firepower to take him back from the grip of the small fleet of Vampires who ran off with him.

  “You understand the mission.” their lieutenant stated.

  Rhino and Glitter fully understood. They'd take a single phantom out into the black of space and do something other pilots had been doing all week long. Search for water.

  When Craig B
anks signed up for the military as a teen, he had no idea that within a few years' time, humanity would hang in the balance of a mission he was in charge of. Flying the newest ship in the fleet was added incentive, though he wasn't sure taking his eyes off of Anna was even possible. Codename Glitter.

  They'd flown together countless time, though it had been done within the confines of single occupant Swordfish fighter jets. Side by side. This was different.

  The phantom was just that. Invisible. At least by the standards of current radar equipment in the fleet. It was a chopper by most definitions, though it was capable of deep space flight and had been designed for extended trips. A single bunk in the rear of the oversized chopper, its cockpit spacious and comfortable.

  That spelled disaster for Craig when it came to his longtime crush, Anna. He'd never spoken to her of his feelings, and didn't plan on starting now. Not at the end of the world. That would have to wait, but it would be tough.

  The phantom was solid black. Designed to blend in with the stars. Even the windshield of the small craft was mirrored black on its exterior. Meant for seeing out as a pilot, but remaining undetected to anyone looking on.

  The phantom was also packed out with mapping equipment and anything else that would help the fleet locate needed supplies. It was essentially a probe taking off into uncharted space that would return under the direction of two solid pilots.

  “Commander James wishes to extend good luck to you both, and regrets not being able to send you off personally.” the lieutenant added.

  Yea, I bet he does. Probably one of those pencil pushers who has never even seen action. Anna thought.

  Several of the fleet's marines stood firm. A sendoff that almost made the two pilots feel as though it was a suicide mission. Two short range Swordfish fighter jets standing by as well. Their escort into the unknown of space.

  They would enter uncharted black at the upper-eastern portion of what was the Skyla System. Ronica still within sight, though barely.

  As Rhino and Glitter walked slowly up the ramp which led to the interior of their phantom craft, Craig looked back for a moment. Soaking up the familiar surroundings of the interior around them. Vacant ships being repaired. Mechanical Goliath units patrolling and several deckhands looking on.

  “Wonder what they'll say at our memorial service?” Anna asked with a grin.

  “Not even funny.” Craig replied, turning to enter the ship with hesitation. Pressing a large red button near the ramp which sealed their door airtight.

  “Hey, at least you are in good company. Right?” she asked.

  Anna had no idea how true her statement was. Craig would have turned down the mission if paired with anyone else, and still nearly declined it. He'd put in a lot of missions up to this point. War missions. But this was a brand new ballgame for him.

  A trip into nowhere and everywhere, all at once. Doing so beside the most beautiful woman he'd ever met. Just the sound of Anna's voice was enough to convince him that she was indeed his soul mate of fate.

  “Phantom One, you have the runway.” the fleet's traffic controller advised.

  Moments later, the runway that led directly to the large door which opened into space began to light up. First, the runway itself started glowing with a bit of light blue, followed by flashing red arrows lining both sides of their path. The typical layout for a ship this size.

  “Copy that tower. We have the runway.” Glitter replied.

  It was the first time Rhino could remember clinching his fists tightly. Usually barking metal from the runway as he pushed hard into space. This time, however, Craig had a legitimate fear. The unknown.

  He seemed comfortable in the face of combat. Ships spewing fire into his direction while thrusting at top speed. This was entirely different. It was entirely possible that the mission ahead would be filled with absolutely nothing. Returning them home with no results of water. They could also return with news of ice rich planets spread across uncharted space as far as the eyes could see. The again, they could not return home at all.

  The slightest ship malfunction would strand them in uncharted space. Making them next to impossible to rescue.

  First out where the two escort fighters, which would tag along until the end of charted space. Their presence there a precaution as nobody knew where the Hunters were among the stars. The phantom class ship had technology to map every bit of information the fleet would need, though it had no weaponry on board.

  Glitter pulled gently from the deck, their ship making almost no noise as it lifted higher and began to rock forward.

  “How are we looking?” she asked.

  “Great. Everything is looking great,” Rhino replied, checking the instrument panel which lay in front of him. Illuminated green specks alerting on a bright screen of rich blue. “Engines, hull integrity and oxygen levels all look good.”

  “Good luck Phantom One.” the tower said, wishing the brave crew of two well.

  With a nod of her head, Glitter looked around for a final look. The sights within the larger ship was her definition of home. Moments later, Phantom One was hauling ass without holding back. Trailing only the two escort fighters as the large ship they'd docked in only moments before zoomed away and become another speck of light in an otherwise magnificent backdrop of stars.“Nothing,” one of the soldiers replied, finally easing off of his battle rifle. “But they've been here.”

  Adam Michaels knelt down to sift through the wood of a campfire which had burned days before. Doing so in hopes that he wouldn't collapse.

  Indeed the Vampires had camped the spot recently.

  Adam had searched for his son nearly a year. Resting very little and hoping with each planet, he'd find hope. They had picked up the trail of Hunters weeks before, tracking them to the remote forests of Lylia. A small planet known for rainfall, dense forests and not much else.

  The population of Lylia before the infected dead broke humanity was nearly sixty-thousand. That meant a lot of infected lived on this rock, and Adam had no plans of sticking around and waiting for them. Every second spent here chasing a cold trail was a second away from his son Avery.

  “I'm sorry.” the soldier added. Speaking what was on the face of nearly a dozen of the best soldiers Commander James could spare at the moment.

  “Where would someone go from here if they meant to survive?” Adam asked. Nodding his head in acknowledgement of the soldier's statement.

  “Given our location, sir, I would believe either Radilia or Turmok.” the group's scout replied.

  “And you're sure?” Adam asked.

  “I'm sure it's one of the two, yes,” the scout replied, looking at his map of the Skyla System with deep concentration. “They are the only two locations that make sense. Radilia is a small planet used for farming prior to all of this and Turmok was industrialized. Plenty of resources on both, and probably plenty of infected as well. Hasn't seemed to bother the Hunters so far. And the rest of the planets nearby are out of their reach with a single flight or are simply floating rocks.”

  Adam began to think long and hard. Remembering a Sarah Blaine he once loved, not the Vampire she'd become. He essentially had a fifty-fifty chance of finding his son. Adam had no idea how tough it would be to get Avery back, but he had to try. Die trying even, if it came to that.

  He remembered a time when the original Gunship had crash landed. Falling luckily into a field near a simple farming community. Adam remembered how at peace Sarah felt at that time, and couldn't imagine her wanting to be anywhere else. Especially not a planet that was vastly industrialized.

  “Sarah is in Radilia.” Adam finally stated.

  “How can you be sure?” the scout asked as Adam stood back to his feet.

  “Because I know her well enough,” Adam replied. “She also knows I do. She's expecting us.”

  *

  “People of the fleet.” Dalton said with hesitation in his voice. Though his words be nothing short of the truth. Walking to a large podium which
stood inside of God of War's largest landing bay, he prepared to face a crowd of survivors who were hungry for change.

  Hundreds of them gathered and sitting, while the speech was also being streamed in video to ships around them. “I'm here to address our situation and what the future may hold.”

  Pausing at such anticipated words, Dalton's hand shook a bit. Nerves that were easily consoled with a mere glance to his lover, Cambria.

  “Moments ago, a small ship and its crew left to explore the clutches of uncharted space around us. Deep black frontier that, up until now, lay unexplored. I await their return and the information they bring back with them. At which time we will begin down one of two roads,” Dalton said firmly. “If word of resources is their findings, the fleet will indeed journey into the black as originally planned. However, if they return with news of no resources close by, I cannot go through with a plan that could send us to our graves.”

  His statement brought chaos to the crowd. Mixed emotions as many were ready to leave now, while others agreed with his reasoning.

  A bit of shouting ensued. Some of it directed towards Dalton, though much of it exchanged between members of the crowd. Each of them disagreeing with the future moves of the fleet and its survivors.

  “Please,” he said, hushing the crowd a bit as he spoke firmly into a microphone. “There was a time when I'd have left this system high in dry for no other reason than the damned adventure of it all,” Dalton admitted. “But that was before I found myself with the responsibility of so many lives. So many children counting on me to make the right decision. If we have hope out there in the black, we'll run to it. If not, we'll prepare to fight the nation of infected.”

  His plans drew several loud jeers and thunderous booing, though it seemed to affect him very little.

  “If it comes to that, any of you are welcome to tuck tail and run. I won't stop you, I'll even help you pack your shit,” Dalton said with an irritated demeanor.