Scorched Earth: (The Human Chronicles Saga Book #16) Read Online Free PDF Page A

moving within the fiery cloud. The ship gained altitude quickly, while trailing even more fire and brimstone below. At five thousand feet, Adam tilted the nose to a radical angle toward the heavens and applied full chem power.
    The image on the screen now showed the hangar as a prominent beacon of light far below within the vastness of the blackened landing field. The dot of light grew smaller, even as the brilliant glow of the city of Phoenix to the north came into view. But it, too, soon turned to just a white smudge on the dark globe below.
    Once clear of the atmosphere, Adam activated the first gravity jump without knowing exactly to where. Instantly the view on the screens changed to that of an eerie greenish glow with faint streaks of white and blue forming the walls of a poorly-defined circle. The image only lasted a few seconds before normal space popped back into view. A low-pitched hum cycled down, then there was silence.
    Riyad tapped the keys on his console. “According to the star positions, we’re two-point-nine-four light-years from Earth. Not quite the three the salesman said she’d do, but close enough.”  
    “Anyone around?”
    “No one close, just a few faint signatures near the edge of the screen.”
    “Which way to Worak-nin?”
    Riyad checked his screen. “Back the other way. Distance, sixty-two hundred  light-years, give or take a light-year. You know, I’m no mathematical genius, but that’s still around two thousand seventy jumps. With two minutes between each jump we’re looking at around three days to get there.”
    “You figured that out in your head? Maybe you are a mathematical genius.”
    Riyad flashed a smile.
    “Still beats the old transit time of around a month,” Adam continued. “Plot-in the course.”
    “What about provisions…and weapons?”
    “Yeah, about that, we may have to make a stop along the way. We’ll see how things go.” He unbuckled his safety harness. “I’m going back to see what Pogo has learned about the ship.” He looked at the chronometer on the wall. “New jump coming up. Set it on auto. We’ve got quite a ways to go.”
    “Yessir, Captain Cain, sir.” Riyad saluted.
    Slipping from the pilot seat, Adam returned the salute, however, his was of the one-finger variety.

 
    Chapter 3
     
     
    Adam was surprised by what Pogo had already learned about the Mark VII. First, it did carry a decent-size compliment of armaments, as well as enough provisions to last a crew of three for a month. The reason—as it turned out—was the ship was being prepped for a full dynamic test, using the cluster of extra generators that had been strapped to the exterior. Researchers wanted to see how the ship would function with a full load.
    When Adam dumped the exterior generators, the ship’s weight was lessened considerably, allowing for an uneventful liftoff from Earth’s surface. Then with Pogo’s energy contribution to the batteries, the ship was able to make jump after jump—three light-years at a time—with minimal recharge time between, and without the need for the additional generators. It was a win-win all around.
    Seventeen hours into the trip, all that changed.
    Adam, we have a problem , Pogo’s ethereal voice echoed in his mind.
    He and Riyad were in the small galley, preparing a bland meal of spaghetti-like mush. The ship’s food processor wasn’t the best, just something with comparable weight and able to keep the test crew from starving.
    What is it? Adam asked mentally, his gut tensing. The ancient orb didn’t engage in idle conversation.
    My energy inputs are having a degrading effect on the battery components. The subtle difference in wavelengths is the cause.
    How bad is it?
    I’ve noticed it early enough to prevent the batteries from failing completely. But soon the ship will require a new battery bank along with a four-hour initial charging boost using conventional power. I can regulate future power inputs to prevent this from