Quantum Zero
A prequel novelette to the ‘Jankin Decatur’ Series
(This short novel sets the scene and tempo for the first full novel, ‘Quantum Surge’. Fast moving and very exciting, it sets the tempo of action and describes the ‘Crucible Universe’ of the twenty-second century.)
2170 Kraken Colony of Tau Ceti
Click on the image to read an excerpt of the Novelette.
An unregistered prototype starship of the North American Union (NAU) colony of Kraken is confronted by a frigate and is told to come alongside and be boarded. Development of high technology industries are forbidden in the colonies so Captain Jeremy Alfred does not want to be inspected.
The NAU frigate has made a mistake by hiding in ambush within the rock-and-ice filled rings of Kraken and, when the frigate extends its gantry, Alfred commands his ship to run. The prototype sails through the rings with amazing agility and speed but the frigate sends out swarms of microbots to track and disable them but skill and the unique capabilities of their craft allow them to reach Kraken’s ocean and find cover within a deep-sea trench.
Eventually the NAU frigate gives up the search and the Kraken vessel flies to the mainland; a hidden facility called the ‘Skunkworks’. Here research, forbidden by the NAU, is focusing on developing new ships and a new supralight drive called a Slipdrive.
2171 L2 Starport – Astral Service Docks
A new merchant, CSS Stodard leaves port. It’s smooth lines and response draw attention as they head out for Jasper Colony to deliver goods and pickup freight then off to the lava-plains of Mars. All goes well and they push off once again to return home, but they never return.
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