The Last Starship from 51 Pegasi D
Book Details
Author(s)Ronald D. Ferguson
PublisherAyoKite Publishing
ISBN / ASINB008P53TNW
ISBN-13978B008P53TN0
Sales Rank262,531
MarketplaceUnited States 🇺🇸
Description
The Last Starship from 51 Pegasi D—Going home is not an option.
When planetary revolt and the collapsing interstellar Empire threaten to isolate three million colonists on Chrysaor of the 51Pegasi system, thin resources can provide only a few vessels for loyalist to return to the safety of the Emperor's Law on Earth. As a result, not all who want to escape will be able to go home. The SS Atvadis will be the last starship to leave Chrysaor.
Against this backdrop, the soon-to-be-ex governor fights to quell the ambition of a rebellious local general, who happens to be his ex-wife. The twenty-five year old exiled cousin of the Emperor unwillingly inherits the command of the local navy base when higher ranking personnel evacuate. And someone seeks to influence the outcome by activating a seventy-eight year-old sleeper assassin. The paths of these competitors intersect while awaiting the imminent departure of The Last Starship from 51 Pegasi D.
Excerpt:
Ray's vision cleared, and the light caught the man's face when he straightened. He was tall, thin . . . and incredibly old. Quickly, Ray rolled to his side and gathered his feet beneath him.
"I'd stay down if I were you, son. I'm years out of practice. I might make a mistake and kill you."
Ray sprang up and charged. Instead of drawing the side arm, the man calmly waited, deftly stepped to one side when Ray lunged with a wild round-house punch, and then drove his knuckles into Ray's kidney when he staggered past. Ray gasped and dropped to his knees.
The man drew the side arm and checked the charge. He stepped close behind Ray, and rested his free hand on Ray's shoulder. Somehow, his thumb kept enough pressure against shoulder and neck so that Ray couldn't rise.
Ray couldn't look back, but he felt the man's breath against his hair. He took little satisfaction that the old man was breathing harder than he was.
"Please," Ray fought against the pain to speak. "You don't understand. Thousands of lives are at stake."
He felt, rather than heard, the old man sigh. "I'm sorry, son. Lives are always at stake, and I have priorities."
Pain exploded against the back of Ray's head, and he tumbled forward. He never felt his face strike the floor.
BONUS: Three previously published short stories:
Philosophy—You need more than luck to survive an interplanetary war. You need philosophy.
His Brother was an Only Child—Nothing like the comfort of close family in difficult times.
Hire Education—Behind on your student loan? Don't let them repossess your education.
Genre: Science Fiction.
Electronic-Length: about 32 thousand words.
Cover by Patty Jansen
When planetary revolt and the collapsing interstellar Empire threaten to isolate three million colonists on Chrysaor of the 51Pegasi system, thin resources can provide only a few vessels for loyalist to return to the safety of the Emperor's Law on Earth. As a result, not all who want to escape will be able to go home. The SS Atvadis will be the last starship to leave Chrysaor.
Against this backdrop, the soon-to-be-ex governor fights to quell the ambition of a rebellious local general, who happens to be his ex-wife. The twenty-five year old exiled cousin of the Emperor unwillingly inherits the command of the local navy base when higher ranking personnel evacuate. And someone seeks to influence the outcome by activating a seventy-eight year-old sleeper assassin. The paths of these competitors intersect while awaiting the imminent departure of The Last Starship from 51 Pegasi D.
Excerpt:
Ray's vision cleared, and the light caught the man's face when he straightened. He was tall, thin . . . and incredibly old. Quickly, Ray rolled to his side and gathered his feet beneath him.
"I'd stay down if I were you, son. I'm years out of practice. I might make a mistake and kill you."
Ray sprang up and charged. Instead of drawing the side arm, the man calmly waited, deftly stepped to one side when Ray lunged with a wild round-house punch, and then drove his knuckles into Ray's kidney when he staggered past. Ray gasped and dropped to his knees.
The man drew the side arm and checked the charge. He stepped close behind Ray, and rested his free hand on Ray's shoulder. Somehow, his thumb kept enough pressure against shoulder and neck so that Ray couldn't rise.
Ray couldn't look back, but he felt the man's breath against his hair. He took little satisfaction that the old man was breathing harder than he was.
"Please," Ray fought against the pain to speak. "You don't understand. Thousands of lives are at stake."
He felt, rather than heard, the old man sigh. "I'm sorry, son. Lives are always at stake, and I have priorities."
Pain exploded against the back of Ray's head, and he tumbled forward. He never felt his face strike the floor.
BONUS: Three previously published short stories:
Philosophy—You need more than luck to survive an interplanetary war. You need philosophy.
His Brother was an Only Child—Nothing like the comfort of close family in difficult times.
Hire Education—Behind on your student loan? Don't let them repossess your education.
Genre: Science Fiction.
Electronic-Length: about 32 thousand words.
Cover by Patty Jansen
