Shadow Force 1: the Garden Planet Read Online Free PDF Page A

never. An event like this can destroy the human brain.”
    “Not his brain, not ever.” was Ed’s reply.
    “I just don’t have the same confidence, but I do hope you’re right.” The doctor answered.
    “I am.” Ed replied as he left sick bay and headed for the bridge of the flagship. Her name was Constitution and was the newest of the Federation's Battleships, the first of eight planned. They would eventually replace the quasar class ships. They were both incredibly fast as well as extremely maneuverable. At 2700 meters she was the largest ship in space but also one of the most heavily armed, and for sure the most sophisticated ship ever built. She was at Macdill for a brief shore leave.
    He headed straight for Admiral Worthington’s cabin where after a brief knock he was admitted. Without any preamble he got straight to the point. After finishing the story of how he had found me, he laid out his plan to avenge the dead... when the Admiral cut him off.
    “I know where this is going Ed, and SFI cannot get involved.”
    “I don’t understand, our best mission commander and his family were attacked in cold blood, and we can’t get involved!”
    “The claim is, they were in New Dubai airspace having just left the resorts there. We have no extradition policy with new Dubai. So let it go and help tend to Captain Ryder. “
    “Since when have we worried about extradition when it comes to pirates?”
    “Since, we just received a formal complaint from New Dubai. In it they state that a ship of their line was sabotaged by a vessel with the same markings as your dear captain’s ship. So the orders from our “brave” President are to do nothing, and nothing is what we will do.”
    “But Sir...”
    “Dismissed.”
    “Yes Sir.”
    And so was born my secret job and the mother of all ships, Shadow. Of course no-one knew who would fill the job as I was still a comatose zombie.
    Eventually I was transferred to a psychiatric wing in the Reid Medical Center on board Macdill and there I stayed. I just let people do whatever. I still fed myself and bathed, I still hadn't said a word to anyone since the disaster, and I guess I figured I would never talk again. My life was a shambles until one day good old Ed dragged me out of the unit and onto a luxury yacht. Even I had to admit she was unbelievable; he showed me to the master cabin, onto the phenomenal bridge. This was a bridge that belonged on a military ship, not a luxury yacht
    “Well, it sure is nice.” was all I said. But at least I had spoken my first words in what I later found out was over five months.
    “You haven’t seen anything yet, her power system is straight off the drawing board. She can outmaneuver just about anything in space, but the biggest advantage is she can be operated by a single person, including someone bent on revenge.” I still didn’t get what this had to do with me. It actually didn’t take me long to figure out that I was being offered Shadow, and a perfect cover, as well as permission to terrorize the pirates as they were terrorizing us. The more I found out about Shadow's capabilities, the more excited I became.”
    “Oh my God Jon, how have you found the strength to continue to live?” Sara asked as I finished my story.
    “I do believe you already know the answer to that question. I carry on just like you, alone in a galaxy that is mean, corrupt, and cruel, but carry on we do, for what alternative is there for us?”
    I led her back to her cabin, and with a small kiss on her cheek and a slight hug I bid her goodnight.
    “What about our roles?”
    “Goodnight Sara, I’ll see you on the bridge a half hour before we land on New Libya, and we will practice.”
    “Ok Captain, your orders are my command.” She said with a playful giggle just as her door slid shut.
    Once alone in her room she later told me, she sat at the end of the bed wondering what she had just done, and with Jon Ryder bounty hunter extraordinaire, of all people.