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    Ghost Planet: Gunship, #8
    Ghost Planet: Gunship, #8
    Ghost Planet: Gunship, #8
    Ebook165 pages2 hours

    Ghost Planet: Gunship, #8

    By John Macallen Davis

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    About this ebook

    Moons are being terraformed with slave labor. Val finds himself on a prison train headed for the worst of the worst, a slave camp that is known for its icy conditions and abundance of ice wolves. He'll need to make friends and formulate an escape plan if he's to survive.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherJohn Macallen Davis
    Release dateAug 31, 2017
    ISBN9781386987888
    Ghost Planet: Gunship, #8

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      Book preview

      Ghost Planet - John Macallen Davis

      Ghost Planet

      GUNSHIP: BOOK 8

      This book is a work of fiction. Any references to historical people, events or places are used fictitiously. Any other names, places, events or characters are products of the author's imagination. Any resemblance to actual places, events or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

      Copyright © 2017 John Michael Davis

      Editing by: Daniél Lecoq

      All rights reserved, including the right to copy this book or portions of this book in any form. For more information, please email johnmdavisbooks@gmail.com.

      First edition December 2017

      If you are an author in search of quality professional editing, please email galaxycurse@gmail.com and should you encounter any errors during this reading experience, feel free to email us so that we may correct them and improve this work.

      Manufactured in the United States of America

      Also by John Macallen Davis:

      Gunship Series

      Gunship - Kindle - Nook

      Glimmeria - Kindle - Nook

      Reflections - Kindle - Nook

      Gears and Spears - Kindle - Nook

      Legendary - Kindle - Nook

      Space Rebels - Kindle - Nook

      Bone Harvest - Kindle - Nook

      Ghost Planet - Kindle - Nook

      Skyfall - Kindle - Nook

      Lagoon – Kindle - Nook

      Wicked Series

      Wicked on Kindle – Nook – Paperback

      The Journal of Emma Wilson - Kindle

      Fleet Series

      The Fleet - Kindle - Nook

      The Blood War - Kindle - Nook

      Chaotic Worlds - Kindle - Nook

      The Afterworlds - Kindle - Nook

      The Run - Kindle - Nook

      The Great War - Kindle - Nook

      Vampire Hunters - Kindle - Nook

      Return of the Fear - Kindle - Nook

      The Colony - Kindle - Nook

      Graveyard - Kindle - Nook

      Singles

      Hammer of War

      Atlantis

      The Colony

      Brookhaven

      American Superhero

      Catch me online:

      johndavisbooks.wordpress.com

      It's dangerous to go alone! Take this.

      Old Man

      Table of Contents

      Prologue

      Part 1

      Part 2

      Part 3

      About the Author

      Prologue

      THIS story began as a collaborative work between myself and bestselling author Jason Halstead. We planned an entire series (called Terminus), but the concept never hit with the hard science fiction crowd, and I eventually decide that, rather than let this great tale sit on a shelf, I'd completely rewrite it and place it under the Gunship umbrella. It's one of the coolest GS stories, in my opinion, and I hope you agree. Enjoy!

      Part 1

      THE COLD ALIEN PLANET made him regret the thought of living.

      It was typical of a planet undergoing the terraforming procedure. Technically, he was a relocated worker. But, in his mind and the mind of every cursed soul aboard the train that screeched on its magnetized track, he was a slave that had been handed a death sentence of forced labor.

      Outside of the transport train, fierce winds blew and ice trickled down from the sky in thick blankets, shattering all around them as the pellets tumbled about and resembled the sound of fatty meat frying in a buttery pan.

      Frying meat – there was a thought that sparked his interest. With a grumbling belly, all he could do was imagine its smell filling his nostrils as the brutal winds and ice showers whipped across the harsh landscape outside.

      What'd they get you for? a man asked.

      His words sounded off from beneath a crude breathing device that clicked every few seconds, as did everyone else's.

      Turning, Val looked him over.

      Name's Brian, the man said. He was the typical look for a man who'd been in the work system for a few years. His face was speckled with dirt and his hair was caked with grease. Moreover, his issued clothes were filthy. Brian Turner. They said I killed a man, you know? he asked.

      Val's stare continued.

      I didn't though, Brian defended. Nobody on this train is guilty of anything would be my guess; just in the wrong place at the wrong time. What about you?

      Name's Val, he replied as he turned to stare out of the small window aboard the train of damned souls. Val Lucas.

      What'd they throw on you?

      I don't know, he admitted. No one has charged me with anything. They just picked me up one day for questioning and-

      Well, I'll be damned.

      What? Val asked.

      It's just that I was sitting here feeling sorry for myself and here you are. Mr. No Charges. I think I finally found something worse than being falsely accused of murder.

      What does it matter? We're all pretty much dead anyway, right?

      Val had a point.

      A wolven race known as the krall were bearing down on the Skyla System and humanity, along with the races that shared the star system with humanity, would be wiped out. It was only a matter of time. The survival draft was fast approaching and those who were selected would earn a spot aboard the exodus fleet. And while the exodus fleet would begin its search for a brand new home, those who weren't selected would be left to die.

      The hunters (otherwise known as vampires) didn't plan on taking facing extinction without a fight. They'd chosen instead to begin terraforming several planets, all of which were on the far edges of charted space. That spelled disaster for any poor bastard who'd been forced into dragging his knuckles in order to make it happen.

      There were lots of planets undergoing the beginning stages of terraforming, but Opdyke was rumored to be the worst. The ghost planet, they called it.

      Simply put, if a person was sent to Opdyke to assist the hunters in building their military fallout complex, they were as good as dead. Some workers lasted only weeks and the strongest, well, they lasted a little bit longer. Val understood his lot in life.

      Yes, sir, Brian said with a nod. I can't argue with that. It's about the quality of life, now. Hell, I've worked three different moons and I've got two years under my belt. I suppose I've only got a little time left.

      Val heard the conversation. Most of it, at least. There was something about the rocks outside of their train. Something he couldn't place. The planet itself was rocky and frigid, as proven by the thin coating of ice that glazed the hard surface of his window. Still, on occasion, he would see a well-stacked pile that resembled a small hill. They looked to be meticulously placed and, in his opinion, they were markers of some type. Seven. That's how many the slave train had passed before he saw movement just beyond the ridge. Quickly, Val's head jerked with curiosity as his eyes began to follow the movement.

      Ferren, Brian said. Damn ice wolves. That's my explanation, anyway. I've seen a few in my day but they say the ghost planet is full of 'em. I once saw a man shredded into bits of meaty strings by a small pack of 'em. They're ravenous and you'd do well to stay clear of 'em when you're out here working.

      Val nodded. He'd never seen a ferren, or even heard of one for that matter, but he suspected that they made any escape attempt impossible.

      I've seen that look before, Brian said. Forget about it. Every man who's new to the life of a work detail has dreamed of escaping. They'll shoot you if you try and you'd be wise to take the bullet. Dealing with the extreme cold and those ferren – no thank you. I'll take a quick death anytime.

      Val was already beaten. Surely, if a stranger on the train had seen his plan of escape on his face, the guards would see it, too.

      Just some advice, Brian said as their train came to a complete stop. Sparks flew from beneath its frame as everyone aboard lunged forward just a bit. Keep your head low and your belly as full as you can. We may be forced to die on this planet, but what you make of your last few weeks is up to you. Keep to yourself in there and understand that most of us may have come here with innocence on our hands, but there's blood on 'em, too. Most of these folks will kill you for your jacket if given the opportunity.

      Why are you helping me? Val asked.

      Just a bit of advice, that's all, Brian replied. I've got a soft spot for the new meat being thrown into the grinder. It reminds me of a time when I was new to all of this.

      Standing to his feet, Brian nodded.

      You forgot your- Val began.

      His new friend had forgotten his small bag of belongings. Val had meant to see that Brian got 'em back. It was the least he could do. Soon enough, though, he understood Brian's own plans for escaping the hell of the ghost planet.

      Rushing forward quickly, Brian prepared to overtake the guard who was positioned at the train's exit.

      Halt, prisoner! the vampire guard shouted.

      There was no halt in Brian's sprint of escape. Moments later, the guard's rifle fired. A single shot hit the hopeless man and sliced a softball-sized hole through his chest, leaving no doubt that he was gone.

      Brian had chosen a quick death and Val knew it. As the rest of the prisoners sat there, horrified, Val understood what had happened. He'd be damned if he did the same

      IT HAD ONLY TAKEN A couple of minutes to remove the man's dead body and what large, fleshy pieces that could have been swept off. The speckled blood and fragments that had cooled too quickly would remain. Those in charge weren't concerned with minor details when it came to their work crew's train. As for Val, his thoughts quickly shifted.

      Eight.

      As he and the other prisoners, a few dozen of them in total, were shuffled from the train, they formed in lines outside in the frigid air. It was Arctic by every definition and Val immediately began shivering. He also found it hard to breathe – very hard to breathe. It made him wonder which should come first; snugging his light jacket as tight as he could to help shield him from the elements around him or gasp as best he could for precious oxygen. Throwing Brian's sack to his feet, now his sack of supplies, Val began to breathe deep and pull his jacket around with desperation.

      My name...is Warden Jestin Farris. Or, as you'll affectionately come to know me – Captain. a well-built man said. He was human, which wasn't odd for a vampire work camp. Especially now that humanity, the vampire race, and husk tribes would need to work together in order to survive against the coming krall. A specially designed mask rested on his mouth and a portion of his face, as did all of the prisoners. It clicked intravenously and followed with a hiss. Without the coat, you see across my back, your body will be frozen stiff in just under five minutes. You are now in hell and I am your master, the man boasted. I own you and I own every aspect of your pathetic and miserable lives. Learn to accept it.

      One of the prisoners fell out of formation and tumbled to the ground. Perhaps it was a lack of oxygen or too damn cold for his body to function properly.

      Nodding, the captain instructed his soldiers.

      You see this? he asked. This is weakness, pausing for a moment, his soldiers fired their rifles onto the struggling man and ended him right where he was. "Weakness will not be tolerated here. Nor will assaults on my officers. As far

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