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Venecia: Heroes of the League, #8
Venecia: Heroes of the League, #8
Venecia: Heroes of the League, #8
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Venecia: Heroes of the League, #8

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The Smuggler Elf and his daughter bond while making a delivery run to Venecia. Could a normal life be in his future?

Harman Aymar, the Smuggler Elf, discovers a plot to destroy the universe. Saving the planet becomes a family affair when he fights to save Venecia and the League from the grange.

Venecia is the eighth book in Frank Carey’s Heroes of the League series. 137 pages.

LanguageEnglish
PublisherFrank Carey
Release dateApr 27, 2018
ISBN9781386814788
Venecia: Heroes of the League, #8
Author

Frank Carey

Frank Carey has been formally writing and publishing works of science fiction since late 2013. Over the years prior, he had dabbled in various forms of writing including haiku poetry, but that all changed when he and his wife, Jo, decided to try their hand at writing and self-publishing. Since then, he has written and published a collection of flash fiction and short stories, two anthologies, a pentalogy, and a trilogy. All his work, to date, has been in the science fiction genre. Most of his stories take place about two centuries in the future when Earth joins the League of Planetary Systems. Many of his protagonists are strong females. He is an inveterate pantser who believes the story will go where the story wants to go. Frank’s background includes degrees in physics and extensive work as a scientific programmer and technologist.

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    Venecia - Frank Carey

    Chapter One

    Two years after Maranta Five.

    Capt. Torga slept deeply as his command—the Submarine Deltafish—slipped through the water one hundred feet beneath the waves. Around him, the night shift went about their business unconcerned by the hurricane raging above them.

    The captain was abruptly wakened from his rest by klaxons as a call to general quarters came over the PA system. Torga pressed the intercom button, connecting him instantly to the Bridge. Bridge, this is Torga. Report.

    Captain, the executive officer, Cmdr. Nachase replied. We have detected a temblor occurring in real time. It measures mag8 with an epicenter at 225 degrees true, distance 300-miles.

    What about a tsunami? he asked referring to the inevitable tidal wave generated by any quake of this size. Being in deep water Deltafish would barely feel the ripple. Unfortunately, any island in the wave's path would not be so lucky.

    None detected, sir

    That's odd. Does Geology have an opinion?

    They say it's impossible for a seaquake of that magnitude not to have a tidal wave, but we may have a partial answer.

    Please explain, Ms. Nachase.

    Sir, Sea Command reports something has appeared near the epicenter. They say it looks like one of our arcologies, but smaller. It's pyramidal with a base a half-mile on a side and fifteen hundred feet above sea level to the flat area where the peak should be. The satellite photos suggest the roof may have doors which can be used to access the interior.

    The captain went to his documents collection and pulled out a pre-flood map of the area. Just as I thought, Nachase. That structure is at the exact center of the Muertan Territories.

    I'm not familiar with the Muertan, sir, Nachase admitted.

    That's not surprising. Except for those of us who study the history of our planet, few have heard of the Muertan. They were a secretive society who shunned the other nations. What few records remain speak of the Muertan dabbling in the dark arts. It is said that as the water rose, the Muertan searched for a gateway to another dimension through which they could escape the flood, a dimension ruled by creatures with hearts as dark as their own.

    So what happened to them, Nachase asked, fascinated by the story.

    No one knows. Rescue craft were sent during the final days, but found only empty buildings. It was as if the Muertan just left. No member of the Muertanise Consortium has been seen since.

    The commander shuddered as if hit by a cold wind. Nachase never liked scary stories, especially the ones her father told his children before bedtime. Orders sir?

    Set course for this mysterious arcology and have Maj. Aymar join us on the Bridge. I'll be up in a few minutes. And, Nachase...

    Yes, sir,

    I suggest a sweater. I can hear your teeth chattering, he said with a chuckle.

    Yes, sir, she replied self-consciously as she quickly closed the connection.

    Personally. I love a good scary mystery, Torga said as he hit the shower.

    ###

    One more time! Royce yelled as he flipped off the lights.

    In front of him, two members of his team held out parts of a blaster while the Marine facing them grabbed the parts and assembled them into a working gun. The object of the exercise was to familiarize each team member with their weapon so they could field strip it, fix any problem, then reassemble it in pitch-dark conditions. This time around, Sgt. Zon held parts for Marta while Cpl. Stal held parts for the blindfolded LCpl. Eloen. Being an elf, the lance corporal could see perfectly in the dark.

    Time, Royce said. He turned on the lights and saw both weapons assembled, so he grabbed them one by one and fired them into a containment target. Outstanding! Now...

    Maj. Aymar, report to the Bridge, the ship-wide intercom announced.

    Marta with me, the rest of you square-away the squad bay, Royce said as he headed to the door. On the way out, he palmed the intercom. Bridge, this is Aymar. Copy last message. We're on our way. Aymar out.

    In the corridor, the two Marines dodged researchers and crew as they made their way to the brain of the ship, the Bridge. Even a vessel the size of the Deltafish had cramped corridors. With a length of over one thousand feet and a beam of over two hundred, the Deltafish was as large as an Earth super carrier. Unlike a carrier, the Deltafish's crew complement was a mere three hundred souls including crew, researchers, and a small compliment of security personnel. On this voyage, the security force was augmented by Elf Marine Expeditionary Force Team One lead by Royce and Marta.

    Not to be the nosy brother-in-law, but how are things going with you and Harmon? Royce asked while dodging delivery bots running down the center of the ceiling.

    Great, actually. We sat down and got drunk the moment we got back to Ventos Prime. We spent two days yelling, arguing, pointing fingers—venting mostly. Sad to say, I think it's the first time we ever really talked. We ended up on the couch watching some old tearjerker vid. I swear I've never seen a male of any species tear up like he did, she explained. Somewhere in all that, we fell in love again.

    Don't tell anyone, but you should have seen me when Losira and I got married. Damn, that was a beautiful ceremony, Royce said while wiping an eye. He stopped talking and tried to stifle a laugh when he saw the look on Marta's face. It was priceless.

    Ah, Major, Captain, good of you to join us. We seem to have somewhat of a mystery, Torga said while pointing to the main viewer. On it was an image of the mysterious arcology complete with sensor readings. We've sent in a small UAV to take a look. What you're seeing is real-time.

    What is it? Royce asked as he read the data streams while Marta examined the image.

    From the outside it looks like a typical arcology, but this one's appearance coincides to the second with a mag8 temblor, the captain explained. In fact, this structure is sitting over the quake’s epicenter.

    What about the tsunami?

    There wasn't one, which indicates there was no ground-shift associated with the quake.

    Isn't that impossible with a quake of that magnitude? Marta asked as she zoomed in on the structure. Don't arcologies normally have points of entry?

    Yes to both questions, Captain. Normally, a quake of this magnitude would produce massive tidal waves, yet none has been detected either by sats or buoys, Torga explained as he looked at the viewer. Typically, arcologies have hundreds of entrances from personnel hatches to massive loading docks. This structure is devoid of any of those amenities.

    What's your plan, Captain Torga? Royce asked as he looked at the viewer.

    We're heading to the arcology at flank speed and should arrive in under an hour. We have contacted Sea Command and apprised them of what little information we have been able to gather so far. When we arrive, I plan to launch several submersible and airborne drones to survey the structure before sending in a team, possibly through the roof hatch. Interested in taking your team for a small excursion, Major?

    We would be honored, Captain, Royce said while continuing to stare at the viewer. Turning to Marta, Royce said, We should go and prepare the team for a recon mission. Captain, with your permission?

    Permission granted. We'll call you when we've arrived, Torga replied as he turned to confer with his XO.

    ###

    Royce and his team were finishing their preparations when the captain called to confirm arrival at the arcology. Captain, can you pipe the feeds down here so my team can watch? Royce asked. The squad bay main viewer lit up with video from four submersibles and four aerial probes as they headed toward the arcology. A sudden flash and the feeds disappeared one by one. Immediately, the boat went to general quarters. Captain, what happened?

    A force field has englobed the arcology. We lost three aerial probes and one submersible probe before we could scram the mission. Major, I want you and Capt. McMurphy to join me in the main briefing room to discuss our next move.

    Aye, aye, Captain. We're on our way, Royce said as he killed the connection. Sargent, secure the gear but standby for further instructions. Marta, you're with me.

    ###

    When Royce and Marta reached the briefing room, they found several department heads and the boat's exec—Nachase—waiting for the captain to arrive.

    Cmdr. Nachase, any idea what just happened? Marta asked as she and Royce sat down at the large wooden conference table filling the center of the room.

    None. Without warning a force field formed around the structure, engulfing it, she said as the captain walked in. Everyone stood as he sat down. Stand easy. As you are all aware, the mystery arcology—codenamed Hephaestus—is now protected by a spherical force field one mile in diameter. All attempts at breaching the field or penetrating it with sensors have failed. I am at a loss as to how to proceed. Suggestions?

    Sir, if I may? Royce asked.

    Of course, Major. Please proceed.

    The League's Office of Security has been working on ways to quietly bypass shielded installations in hostage situations. They may be of help.

    I wasn't aware of this. Who can we contact to see about getting some help with this matter?

    My sister, Gloria, has been spearheading the research effort at the Cube. I can call her. If memory serves, she’s here on Venecia to give a talk at the League Biocybernetics Conference being held at Melgassa arcology. I can contact her immediately, Royce said.

    Excellent. Let us adjourn while the Major makes his inquiries. We shall reconvene in an hour. Dismissed, the captain said as he got up and walked out of the room.

    As they headed down the corridor, Marta said, "I didn't know Gloria was on-planet.

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