Star Carrier (Lost Colonies Trilogy Book 3) Read Online Free PDF

expectantly.
    Up until this moment, our destination had been a carefully guarded secret. The officers aboard had a pool going, most of them betting on a return to the nearest colonies such as Tranquility Station at Gliese-32 or the three planets that circled in the Crown system. They were all wrong.
    “We’re leaving Mars and heading back to Earth,” I said. “Take it slow this time, don’t lose the battlewagons.”
    There were a few cheers and a few groans. Those with adventurous dispositions were disappointed.
    Rumbold was among those who groaned. He was my helmsman and possibly my best friend. He was also an oldster, boasting a hundred and sixty years of extended life. He’d managed to prove during our previous voyages that he was still capable of piloting a starship past any obstacle.
    Oddly, despite his age, he still craved exploration and adventure. He didn’t relish battle, but he seemed to be bored by Earth. Perhaps, after another century and a half of existence, I’d find myself feeling the same way.
    “Earth?” he asked in a rumbling voice. “Really? What was the point of coming all the way out here then?”
    “We came out here to escort Iron Duke back to Earth. She’s got enough fighters aboard to be effective now, and she’ll serve at the core of this task force from now on.”
    “Who’s been given command of her?” he asked. He deftly guided Defiant with relatively gentle thrusts into a proper stance before applying the heavy acceleration it would require to escape Mars’ gravity well.
    “Admiral Halsey has taken personal command of the carrier,” I told him.
    Rumbold blew out his cheeks and mumbled something.
    “What’s that, helmsman?” I asked.
    “Nothing, sir.”
    “Please, enlighten us. Do you find Halsey to be a sub-standard commander?”
    His red-rimmed eyes slewed around and met mine. His mouth hung open for a moment.
    “No, no, nothing like that. Halsey’s a good officer, when he wants to be. I’m just irritated that we’ve been put on parade duty.”
    I frowned, not quite catching his meaning. The others on the deck were listening as well with frank curiosity.
    “Parade duty?” I asked. “How so?”
    “Don’t you see, sir? Why fly out Earth’s entire fleet all the way to Mars to collect this new ship? Why have all of us, flying in formation, return to Earth like a flock of baby ducks in their mother’s wake?”
    “Perhaps he wants us all to become acquainted with a new battle formation.”
    “Maybe, maybe… But think of how it looks , sir. Think of how the net vids will carry this all over Earth. Admiral Halsey will be returning home with the greatest ship ever built under his fine posterior, surrounded by these big shiny battleships. There won’t be a dry eye on the planet.”
    “Hmmm…” I said, thinking it over. “I do believe you might have a point, Rumbold.”
    “Damn straight I do. If there’s anything the brass is really good for, it’s grandstanding. Now, back in my day—”
    “That’s sufficient commentary, pilot. Carry on.”
    Muttering a few more inaudible thoughts, he did as I’d ordered.

-5-
     
    Less than a month after we’d set off, we returned to Earth and slid into a low orbit. The task force was clustered around Araminta Station, dwarfing the orbital structure. The star carrier alone was nearly as bulky as the station.
    Waiting our turn to dock, we eventually disembarked and found the place thronged with naval personnel. Many of them seemed fresh from boot camp—which they were.
    Star Guard had undergone a transformation. Not only was the organization fully funded for the first time in a century, the service was now the beneficiary of a recruiting drive.
    Some of the new sailors were veterans from Star Guard’s police forces on Earth, summoned back to active duty due to their specialized skill set. A fair number of these people were experienced spacers. But most of them were raw recruits, fresh faces. They were young men and women