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    MAVERICK: Octant Chronicles #8
    MAVERICK: Octant Chronicles #8
    MAVERICK: Octant Chronicles #8
    Ebook224 pages3 hours

    MAVERICK: Octant Chronicles #8

    By Charles G. Dyer

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    About this ebook

    Meg is a magnet for trouble/ She wants to prove that her Merlin spacecraft is a worthy addition to the Octant Police Service. She has to deal with pirates, rebels, terrorists and rescues. Her unconventional methods produce amazing results. Will she find romance at last? Will she fulfill her dreams? Find out in this thrilling action filled space saga.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherCharles G. Dyer
    Release dateJun 17, 2019
    ISBN9780463325179
    MAVERICK: Octant Chronicles #8
    Author

    Charles G. Dyer

    Charles Dyer is a consulting engineer, former senior lecturer and former technical magazine editor. He creates 3D models to help with visualisation and realism in his writing.

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      Book preview

      MAVERICK - Charles G. Dyer

      MAVERICK

      Octant Chronicles #8

      CHARLES G. DYER

      Copyright © 2019 Charles G. Dyer

      All rights reserved.

      ISBN: 9780463325179

      License

      Thank you for purchasing this book. Names, characters and incidents are products of the author’s imagination. It remains the copyrighted property of the author, and may not be reproduced, copied and distributed for commercial or non-commercial purposes. If you enjoyed this book, please encourage your friends to purchase their own copy at Smashwords.com, where they can also discover other works by this author. Thank you for your support.

      It would be greatly appreciated if you could post a review on the site where you purchased this book. If you have any comments about this book, good or bad, you can write to me at [email protected].

      NOTE:

      Other books in the Octant Chronicles series are:

      Book 0 – Arrival (Prequel).

      Book 1 - Space Blues.

      Book 2 - Meg's Escape (previously published as Meg).

      Book 3 - Fox 101 Revival (previously published as Fox 101).

      Book 4 - Fresh Start (previously published as The Octant).

      Book 5 - Bounty Hunter.

      Book 6 - Scout’s Dilemma.

      Book 7 - Revenge.

      CONTENTS

      Glossary

      Prologue

      Chapter One

      Chapter Two

      Chapter Three

      Chapter Four

      Chapter Five

      Chapter Six

      Chapter Seven

      Chapter Eight

      Chapter Nine

      Chapter Ten

      Chapter Eleven

      Chapter Twelve

      Chapter Thirteen

      Chapter Fourteen

      Chapter Fifteen

      Chapter Sixteen

      Chapter Seventeen

      Chapter Eighteen

      Chapter Nineteen

      About The Author

      Octant Police Service Awards

      Glossary

      2IC - Second in command.

      AI - Artificial Intelligence.

      DOSAT - Distortion Of Space And Time. The name of the faster than light engine.

      EM – Electromagnetic engines that are common in most airborne vehicles and spacecraft.

      ETA - Expected time of arrival.

      EVA - Extravehicular activity in space.

      FI - From Inception; usually placed after the year and refers to the standard year when the Octant was first colonised, starting with year 1FI.

      GPO - Geostationary Planetary Orbit that is different for each planet, usually in the order of 40000km for habitable planets.

      HE - High explosive.

      HPO - High Planetary Orbit is any orbital path above the Geostationary Planetary Orbit.

      HUD - Heads up display, either in helmet or somewhere in the cockpit of a vehicle.

      IW - Inter Web or Interstellar Web that is a vast repository of all available knowledge that is accessible to everyone.

      LPO - Low Planetary Orbit from altitude of 200 to 2000km.

      MPO - Medium Planetary Orbit from altitude of 2000km to Geostationary Planetary Orbit.

      Newtonian - Native of the planet Newton in the Tetratos system where gravity is 7.92m/s².

      OC - Officer commanding.

      Octant - A region of space containing seven occupied solar systems.

      OPS - Octant Police Service.

      Oramese - Native of the planet Orama in the Pentos system where gravity is 12.13m/s².

      OST - Octant Standard Time.

      Prototian - Native of the planet Protos in the Protos system where gravity is 9.92m/s².

      RFID - Radio frequency identification tags in the form of microchips, cards, labels, etc.

      RPM - Revolutions per minute.

      Shivish - Native of the planet Shivan in the Deytos system where gravity is 12.82m/s².

      SI - Superior Intelligence; highly advanced AI.

      Skork - Native of the planet Skorky in the Septos system where gravity is 16.51m/s².

      SWAT - Special Weapons and Tactics team.

      Tritanese - Native of the planet Tritan in the Tritan system where gravity is 9.81m/s².

      Tulan - Native of the planet Tula in the Ektos system where gravity is 10.76m/s².

      VTOL - Vertical take off and landing type of aircraft or spacecraft.

      Wristpad - Multifunctional PC, communicator, wallet, ID, camera and more.

      XO - Executive officer.

      ~##~

      Prologue

      The prime directive of the pioneering androids had been to find a new habitable world and populate it with humans. The androids exceeded the expectations of their Earth-bound human creators by a long way. They found not one but seven habitable worlds in a region of space they called the Octant.

      The androids were equipped with superior intelligence that was so impressive that it was right off the human intelligence quotient scale. They had comprehensive general knowledge, complete cross-section of databases and high level programming. Superior androids could do anything, but they tended to specialise in specific fields. In addition to which, they were capable of learning, self-improvement self and self-repair.

      They decided that the original humans could benefit from a lot of improvements. Genetic engineering enabled them to affect many changes to the human genome. The most remarkable results of their experiments were longevity and greatly improved intelligence.

      The problem with high intelligence is that does not necessarily go hand in glove with productivity. In fact, geniuses are often introverted and oversensitive people with high IQs. Supposedly, they do not get bored easily because their brains are engrossed in thought. However, an active brain does not always translate into physical activity, so lots of clever people are lazy.

      To their dismay, the androids discovered this fact once the human populations grew. Loafing about was not restricted to humans either. Having fulfilled their prime directive, many androids no longer had a purpose in life.

      The superior intelligence androids were perfectly capable of using their own initiative and many did so to find new occupations. Sadly, not all did. Consequently there was a growing population of both androids and humans that was unemployed.

      Idle androids were seldom a problem because their programming made them inherently honest and protective of humans. Idle people were another story. Idleness alone was not a serious issue. However, when intelligent people were unemployed and strapped for cash they became a danger to society.

      Greed, ambition, jealousy and other undesirable human traits were aspects of the human genome that genetics simply could not erase. Therefore crime was on the increase in the Octant.

      Having extremely intelligent criminals to deal with meant that the Octant Police Service had to be constantly alert in order to keep the ne'er-do-wells in check. In the third century of its existence, the Octant was rapidly polarising into a hierarchical society.

      The androids' hopes for a classless society in which everyone was equal were shattered the minute they introduced money to the people. The dominating factor was money that divided the people into distinct classes. The wealthy became the powerful influential elite class. The not so ambitious middle-income people were the working class. The denizens of the impoverished low class were not always the products of slothfulness.

      Criminals were as likely to be from the elite class as from the less fortunate classes. There was a whole gamut of illegal activities to contend with, ranging from theft through to murder, and from fraud to slavery, to name but a few.

      It was the sort of challenge that had attracted Meg to the Service. Despite her elite upbringing, she had experienced low class life when an undesirable arranged marriage forced her to run away from home with a pittance. She used her brilliant mind to work her way back into the elite class.

      Unlike her overambitious father, Megumi 'Meg' Sumika believed in fair play and an unshakeable sense of justice. She despised bullies and the exploitation of the less fortunate. She never regarded herself as a paragon of virtue. Although she was not above bending the law or even breaking it, she only did so when necessary to assist her in achieving her honourable ends.

      Meg had always believed her father to be an honourable man albeit it a ruthless power-hungry one without any signs of emotions other than anger. It had come as quite a shock to learn that he was the mastermind of a corrupt den of thieves and pirates that he used to cripple his competition.

      In arresting Masahiko Sumika, Meg satisfied her lust for revenge on the man who had disrupted her life. In the process, she also boosted her reputation as an efficient police officer.

      ~##~

      Chapter One

      Year 264FI

      It was an unusually gusty day with cirrus clouds that had been torn into streaks that looked like dozens of vapour trails. The windsock on the OPS squadron roof snapped into a horizontal sausage.

      Meg held her forage cap in place, but the wind ripped her neat bun apart. Her long gleaming black tresses whipped about to mimic the windsock.

      She usually had an exceptionally erect posture. To stay on her feet she had to hunch and lean into the wind.

      Her Tulan copilot, Sublieutenant Masa Nakato yelled something that was snatched from his mouth as he opened the door of their Norton Aerospace Falcon. The little spacecraft had a tailless cropped delta wing configuration with the tips upturned to serve as fins. Despite its streamlined shape the buffeting wind made it shudder.

      Meg climbed into the Falcon. Masa had to yank hard to close the door.

      Phew! She tried to straighten her hair. Tritan is not normally this windy. It's known for earthquakes and volcanic eruptions are more common than gales on this planet.

      Masa fingered her hair. I like you hair loose. You should wear it like this more often.

      Ha! She began coiling it. I wear it in a bun for a darned good reason. It gets in my way otherwise. In any case, OPS regulations…

      He laughed. Since when were you so fussed about regulations?

      She sniffed affectedly and rolled her hazel eyes. He nudged her arm and grinned.

      Well Aimi, Meg said to her Falcon's computer as she fastened her seatbelt, that's it done and dusted.

      Aimi said, Meg, I am quite perceptive, but I cannot read your mind.

      He laughed again. You and me both, Aimi.

      Meg thumped his arm.

      Ow! He rubbed his arm. Captain, you do know that assaulting a junior officer is not permitted in the OPS, right?

      That was just a love tap. Meg put her helmet on and began a systems check.

      He smiled. Ah, at last you have admitted that you love me, Meg. Well, my dear captain, the feeling is mutual.

      She turned to look at him. The darkened visors of their helmets hid any expressions. The visors were photosensitive marvels of engineering. In an instant, they could switch from thermal imaging in the dark to a darkened shield that protected the eyes from any brilliant light. Filters against ultraviolet and infrared rays also protected the wearer's eyes.

      He had been her first partner in the Octant Police Service Air Corps before she transferred to the Space Corps. He had outranked her then, but he had immediately put her at ease. She had always felt comfortable in his presence and she had grown fond of him.

      In fact, she had, on more than one occasion thought of starting a relationship with him. She liked his rugged Eurasian looks and wavy black hair. His pale blue eyes and hawkish nose marked him as a native of the planet Tula in the Ektos solar system, and she rather admired those features too.

      What puzzled her about him was that he had never made a pass at her. Everything they had done together had been strictly business in a friendly sort of platonic way. The Tulans and Tritanese had a similar outlook on life, so that was another plus in his favour.

      She sighed as she brushed romantic thoughts aside and tapped the coms button. Seto Tower, Falcon Nine-Nine. Request takeoff from OPS squadron. Destination Merlin Zero-One in LPO.

      A sweet-sounding female air traffic controller replied. Falcon, Seto ATC. Clear for takeoff. Squawk five zero seven zero. Head east at two hundred. Traffic to north and south. Wind one-eight-zero at one hundred.

      Seto, Falcon. Squawking five zero seven zero. Meg typed the transponder code onto the keypad at the end of her armrest. Copy cleared for takeoff. Looking for traffic. Out.

      She flicked the coms button off. Warm her up, please Aimi.

      The EM drives hummed into life. Meg rotated the vectored ducts to the vertical.

      Masa studied the radar display on his screen. All clear to the east.

      Meg increased the power and the Falcon lifted off. The little spacecraft rose to two hundred metres spinning slowly on its vertical axis as Meg nudged the thrusters until it pointed in the desired direction.

      She set the ducts horizontally and cranked up the power. The Falcon shot forward, and they were thrust deep into their seats.

      For twenty-five kilometres, she had to keep the speed below Mach one to spare the city dwellers and surrounding farmers the nuisance of a sonic boom.

      Just past the city limits, Meg pushed the throttle to its maximum and yanked the joystick back. The Falcon went into a near vertical climb and subjected her crew to a force of four gees. Their flight suits kept them from blacking out.

      Within thirteen seconds they were travelling at Mach two-point-five. Three minutes later they broke through the Karman Line at an altitude of one hundred kilometres. Meg adjusted the attitude, but she had to keep on accelerating to overcome the escape velocity of the planet Tritan and attain a safe orbital speed.

      Masa said, Merlin Zero-One, Falcon Nine-Nine. Inbound. Send coordinates.

      The Merlin's computer, Akela answered. Falcon, Merlin. Coordinates sent. What is your ETA?

      He did a quick calculation. I get fifteen. Do you agree, Aimi.

      Close enough, Masa. Aimi laughed.

      He shook his head. "Merlin, Falcon. ETA in about fifteen. Out."

      Meg checked the positions of satellites to ensure that she missed them and made a few adjustments to the course and direction to rendezvous with the orbiting Merlin. The Falcon climbed to an altitude of two-hundred-and-forty kilometres before levelling off. The Merlin was at the same altitude, so all they had to do was catch up to dock with her.

      You have the controls, Aimi, she said.

      I have the controls, Meg.

      You OK? Masa asked.

      Sure. Why wouldn't I be?

      Stars Meg. It's not every day you get your father convicted.

      Masa, I never had a normal family life. There was never any filial connection between him or my mother and me. I regarded my android wet nurse cum mentor as more of a mother than anything else. For the first sixteen years of my life I just happened to live in the same house as my parents.

      Heck, that was one hell of a house. I don't ever recall seeing anything quite so grand.

      Hmm, that sort of flaunting one's wealth has always been a major turn off for me. It never felt like home. Gosh, I felt more at home in a Renard Fox, and I definitely feel at home on the Merlin.

      He nodded. So do I.

      Really?

      Yes. She's a great ship with a great captain and the crew's not too bad either.

      Meg smiled at the compliment. Haven't you got any folks or friends on any of the worlds?

      He made a vague gesture. Friends come and go. I had some at the Lister spaceport and we still stay in touch.

      And family? she prompted.

      My folks weren't half as bad as yours. Still, we haven't seen eye to eye for a long time. They didn't approve of anything I did, and especially not my joining the OPS. My spoilt sister generally took their side against me, so there's no love lost there either.

      ***

      The Merlin experiment was succeeding beyond Meg's wildest dreams. An unexpected bonus was that she had destroyed the piracy racket that her father had controlled.

      Meg had set up a company called Mikomi Aerospace to design and build the Merlin. It was an interstellar spacecraft that could function as a space station. It had accommodation for twenty-four couples and hangars that could hold several spacecraft. The habitat was an annular ring that rotated about the core to simulate gravity. She had offered the Merlin to the OPS on a trial basis for a year, during which time she bore all expenses.

      The Merlin had stayed in orbit around Tritan until her father's case was wrapped up. Thanks

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