SF Books by B. V. Larson:

  Star Runner Trilogy:

  Star Runner

  Fire Fight

  Androids and Aliens

  Rebel Fleet Series:

  Rebel Fleet

  Orion Fleet

  Alpha Fleet

  Earth Fleet

  Star Force Series:

  Swarm

  Extinction

  Rebellion

  Conquest

  Army of One (Novella)

  Battle Station

  Empire

  Annihilation

  Storm Assault

  The Dead Sun

  Outcast

  Exile

  Demon Star

  Starship Pandora (Audio Drama)

  Visit BVLarson.com for more information.

  RED COMPANY:

  DISCOVERY

  by

  B. V. Larson

  (Book #2 of the Red Company Series)

  The RED COMPANY Series:

  First Strike!

  Discovery

  Contact

  Copyright © 2023 by Iron Tower Press, Inc.

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. All rights reserved. No part of this publication can be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without permission in writing from the author.

  Chapter 1: The Big Strike

  Space was big, and it was cold. All that nothingness spread around our mining rig, Borag, as we landed her on a fresh rock. The big asteroid she squatted on was a rugged, uneven mass of metal and stone. To me, she looked like a gigantic parasite, latching on and beginning to feed.

  After the landing, Red Company scrambled out of the sally ports and deployed on the rocky surface. It was just another day as a marine—but at least I was a corporal now.

  I’d signed on for a second year of service aboard good old Borag. So far, this tour of duty had been relatively uneventful. I’d stood guard for hours in places like the asteroid we were mining right now.

  When the big rig was fully deployed, we began to patrol a perimeter around the ship to ensure safety during the mining operations—like I said, dullsville.

  My eyes were constantly drawn upward toward the distant stars. Countless twinkly lights formed an awe-inspiring backdrop up there. When you were this far out in space, everything was illuminated with either harsh artificial lighting or a soft glow from the distant sun. Either way, the light cast eerie shadows that danced on the ice beneath your boots.

  Again and again, I kept looking upward. I could make out other asteroids up there, drifting through the vast expanse of space. Their shapes and sizes varied greatly. Some were small, just jagged shards like broken glass, but others were massive, misshapen boulders.

  Now and then, a huge rock appeared, something as big as an island back on Earth. Or maybe as big as a whole nation—or even a continent. They appeared to be moving at a slow, almost imperceptible pace, but they were actually traveling at incredible speeds, pulled along by the complex dance of gravity.

  Occasionally, there was a glow from a nearby planet or moon that could be seen on the horizon. Those were reminders of larger bodies, the planets that made up the parts of the Solar System people usually cared about. Those objects were massive in comparison to any asteroid, but to my eyes, they were just a bunch of stars, some larger than others.

  Inside my spacesuit, I could feel the gentle pressure of the straps holding my armored vest in place. My trusty laser carbine was slung at hip level, ready for action at a moment’s notice. I was a Red Company marine, and I was always ready for trouble—even though it rarely came.

  Sometimes, secretly, men like me wished for something to happen. But then when it did, when the laser bolts started to fly and my balls started to crawl, I usually yearned for boredom again.

  Private Ledbetter was at my side. He had been my friend for quite a while. And unlike me, he liked to chatter. He talked incessantly about the latest gossip he had picked up from the crew, ignoring the fact that we were currently on duty. I couldn’t help but smile at his generally upbeat attitude. It was one of those things that I found likable about the guy.

  “Hey, Starn. Did you hear about the underground markets that are going on among the rock-rats?” Ledbetter asked me, his voice tinny through the suit’s communication systems. “They’re all betting on how much titanium we’re going to pull out of this asteroid. Some of them are even wagering their rations on it. I think I’m going to make some serious bank this time. I’ve been picking up all the lowest priced sales.”

  I shook my head and grimaced. “I hadn’t heard about that. Sounds like a scam,” I told him.

  “Yeah, well, maybe. But if I make some money, it’s good enough for me.”

  “Okay,” I said. “Just sounds like everybody’s getting really greedy.”

  “Greed makes the world go round, Starn,” he told me, then laughed. “And it’s entertainment, anyway. My life aboard Borag is pretty damned dull when there are no problems.”

  “Yeah, but for the rock-rats,” I said, “every credit counts. You can’t blame them for trying to get ahead. And I sort of blame you for trying to rip them off.”

  Ledbetter was well aware that I had once been one of the rock-rats, one of the lowly indentured miners working to pay off their massive debts. Therefore, I was always more sympathetic toward them than most people. As a result, he dropped his talk about stealing from them, of exploiting their fears and greed.

  Our conversation was abruptly interrupted by the sound of a proximity alarm blaring through our helmets. That indicated that something or someone, such as an unidentified spacecraft, was nearby.

  I became alert, scanning the surroundings, wondering if there was something out in the darkness surrounding Borag and all the miners and drill-bots. As the alarm continued to sound, I looked over at Ledbetter, whose playful demeanor had been replaced by surprise. We both knew it was time to rely on our training and address whatever threat had triggered the alarm. Suddenly, I wasn’t just a buddy but a corporal in charge.

  “Come on, Ledbetter,” I said, “let’s report in and find out what the hell’s going on.” We began to jog, the low gravity of the asteroid causing us to bounce as we headed for the designated meeting point for Red Company. We rounded to the sunlit side of Borag, where the radiation was more intense.

  As we approached the gathering marines at the rally point, I spotted Sergeant Cox. He had been a grizzled old veteran who commanded respect from every member of Red Company. His eyes met mine, and he nodded in acknowledgment.

  “Corporal Starn, Private Ledbetter, glad you two could join us,” he said, his voice rough. “We’ve got a situation on our hands.”

  “What’s going on, Sergeant?” I asked.

  “Looks like we’ve got an unauthorized vessel somewhere on the far side of this rock,” Sergeant Cox said. “It isn’t responding to our hails, and we aren’t sure about its intentions. Red Company will respond by investigating the threat and securing the mining rig.”

  At that moment, Lieutenant Quinn finally emerged from Borag, hopping down the ramp to join us at the rally point. He was the only marine officer aboard the ship, which meant he usually spent his time in the security headquarters.

  “This could be nothing, guys,” Quinn said. “Just a simple misunderstanding, or it could be something much more sinister. We don’t want to overreact, but we need to be prepared in case the shit starts to fly.”

  “What are our orders, sir?” Sergeant Cox asked.

  “All right, you, Corporal Starn, Ledbetter,” Lt. Quinn replied. “I’m sending you on a deep patrol on the far side of those hills.”

  He pointed toward a jagged line of spikes. That’s the kind of thing that passed for a hill when you’re on an asteroid.

  “The rest of Red Company will be stationed out here and inside every airlock. We’ll keep an eye on things, ready to repel any boarding attempts,” Lt. Quinn instructed.

  We quickly acknowledged our orders and moved to search the region we’d been assigned. I was happy and sad at the same time. Sure, I’d been bored, but I was also kind of freaked out by this deep patrol business. I mean… what if there were fifty pirates out there lying in wait?

  With our laser carbines in our gauntlets, we bounced over the spikey rocks and searched in dark gullies.

  It didn’t take long for us to spot the unknown vessel. We took cover, found good firing positions and watched the unknown vessel approach.

  It was a small pirate raider ship slinking along close to the surface. The design was unique in shape, but like most such vessels it was dark and sleek. It had a low profile that allowed it to move swiftly and unnoticeably through space. Despite its small size, it was heavily armed and capable of inflicting some serious damage.

  The ship seemed to be scanning the surface of the asteroid, searching for something of value. Its movements were calculated and precise, as if the pilot had done this many times before. I couldn’t help but feel a sense of unease as I watched the ship’s progress, knowing that it could pose a serious threat to our mining operation.

  “Starn, Ledbetter, keep your eyes on the prize,” Sergeant Cox’s voice crackled through our helmet’s communication system. “I’m watching you guys. Keep moving, but don’t engage that contact yet. Look for more of them.”

  “Yes, s
ir,” Ledbetter and I responded in unison.

  As the vessel drew nearer, we could see that it was a small, worn-looking ship, likely designed for short-range operations. It was at that moment that we received an urgent message from the mining team.

  “Red Company, we’ve got a problem with one of our drill-bots,” reported one of the rock-rats, “she’s reporting a violation. The Gamma-bot says she’s encountered a claim-jumper, and it looks like he’s trying to steal our ore!”

  “A claim-jumper? Out here?” Ledbetter said. “What the fuck is a jumper doing this far out? He can’t be alone, there’s no enemy base for a million miles.”

  “Not one that we know of,” I corrected him.

  “Starn, Ledbetter,” Quinn said, “you two are closest to Gamma. Get down there and secure the area. Apprehend the claim-jumper if possible, but make sure the mining team and our equipment are safe first.”

  “Roger that, Lieutenant,” I said.

  Ledbetter and I set off in a new direction. We propelled ourselves across the asteroid’s surface in a series of thirty-foot leaps. The low gravity made the journey faster than it would have been on a planet with Earth-like gravity, and we soon arrived at the scene.

  I moved cautiously when we got close. The surface of any asteroid could be treacherous. My magnetic boots helped out by clinging to the metallic rock.

  The low gravity made my movements floaty, and I had to adjust my gait to maintain my balance. I kept my laser carbine at the ready in case of unexpected threats.

  The asteroid’s surface was a jagged, desolate landscape of boulders, craters, and dust. As I prowled, I was barely aware of the endless void of space that surrounded us. It wasn’t time to take in the scenery. Even so, the inky blackness filled with countless stars overhead seemed impossibly close.

  It was the silence that really got to a man in these ball-sweating situations. You wanted to hear, your ears strained for every sound in case that sense could save your life—but of course, it couldn’t.

  Except for the gurgles, wheezes and crunching noises in and around my spacesuit, the silence was utter. It was almost oppressive.

  My eyes scanned the horizon constantly, searching for any signs of danger. My breathing was steady, but I could feel the sweat forming on my cheeks and the crack of my ass.

  There it was. Drill-bot Gamma. The machine was big, an impressive contraption designed to withstand the harsh conditions of asteroid mining. It was about fifteen feet tall and ten feet wide, with a heavily armored exterior. The whole damned thing was nigh-on indestructible, being constructed from a combination of durable alloys and reinforced materials. What the hell else could endure the task of scratching away at an abrasive asteroid surface, not to mention swallow up and refine the debris that resulted?

  The drill-bot’s primary feature was its powerful laser drill. That amounted to a multi-jointed arm that extended from the front of its chassis. The laser drill worked by emitting a highly concentrated beam of energy. The laser head bore through solid rock and extracted valuable ore deposits. The drill arm was kind of cool, actually. It was highly flexible, allowing the machine to access even the deepest veins of metal.

  Right now, Drill-Bot Gamma was trying to escape a situation. Equipped with six rugged, all-terrain legs, it had exceptional stability and mobility on the uneven asteroid surface. Each of those legs was tipped with specialized gripping mechanisms that allowed the bot to maintain its footing on both rock and ice. All six were churning and burning, but they were getting nowhere fast.

  As Ledbetter and I approached, we saw no sign of the operator, just the frantic bot. The rock-rat miner had apparently fled the scene. If one of the foremen had been out here with him, he’d disappeared, too.

  But what we could see was the fucking claim-jumper. He was a tall guy—weren’t they all? He was wearing a battered spacesuit, and he was clearly attempting to take control of the bot.

  I leveled my laser carbine at the claim-jumper and spoke up. “This is Red Company,” I shouted through my suit’s communication system. “You’re trespassing and violating that drill-bot. Stand back and stand down.”

  The intruder hesitated for a moment. It looked to me like he was weighing his options. But then, he made a choice to run for it.

  Ledbetter and I chased his ass, cursing every step. We couldn’t let him escape and keep screwing around out here. He was a clear and present danger to Borag and our mining operation.

  The claim-jumper darted across the asteroid’s surface. He was friggin’ fast! He used his suit’s thrusters to propel himself even faster, too.

  Ledbetter and I were hot on his tail—and sure, we could have shot him. But so far, he hadn’t fired at us, or even flashed a weapon. According to our rules of conduct, we weren’t supposed to use deadly force on a petty thief.

  Even so, our laser carbines were ready to fire if necessary.

  As we pursued the claim-jumper, I could hear the rest of Red Company waking up and realizing we had a situation. Sure, they were back at Borag leaning on things and chatting, but now it was time to secure the rest of the rig.

  The chase continued as the claim-jumper began weaving between the dark chunks of rock and ice that made up most of this miserable asteroid’s surface. He was agile and surprisingly fast—but we stayed on his tail. We cut every corner on him, getting a bit closer as seconds moved on into minutes. We were determined to catch him.

  Suddenly, the claim-jumper changed tactics. He must have realized we were catching up, or maybe he was getting tired, I didn’t know which it was, and I didn’t care.

  He spun around, drawing a compact laser pistol from his suit and taking aim at Ledbetter. We instinctively dove for cover, narrowly avoiding the burst of laser fire that followed.

  That move changed all the rules. We could kill him now—if we wanted to. To be honest, we could have just gunned him down on sight and no one would have bitched—but that wasn’t the way I liked to play these things out. I liked to give people a chance. Ledbetter would’ve said I was a dumb-ass—but I was in charge, not him.

  “We’ve made contact, and we’re under fire!” I shouted through my helmet’s communication system, hoping against hope my words would kick the rest of Red Company into gear. We hadn’t seen or heard anything about getting some backup out here.

  “Starn, Ledbetter,” Lt. Quinn said, his voice crackling in our helmets, “eliminate the threat—either arrest him or turn him into a popsicle. It’s up to you which.”

  I acknowledged the order with a grimace. It was looking bad for our thieving friend. I knew Ledbetter would take the shot if he got the chance. That was his style.

  Almost as if he’d heard Quinn, the pirate was on the run again. He’d shot at us to make us duck, and now he was racing away at top speed.

  “Do we gun him down?” Ledbetter asked me. “Tell me it’s a yes, Starn. I think I can stitch him up and down with bolts when he goes over that big rock.”

  I gritted my teeth. I didn’t want to kill this guy, but he had taken a few potshots at us… “Okay. If he shoots again, we’ll take him out.”

  “You’re too damned nice, Starn,” Ledbetter said, sounding annoyed.

  I knew he was right… but shooting a desperate man in the back was difficult for me. Not so long ago, I’d been a pathetic creature just trying to get enough air, water and food to survive in space. It was a hard life for anyone to endure.

  On the other hand, if we captured him, he knew he was going to have to indenture himself to Interplanetary Excavations, Inc. Our company was a harsh master—some would say they’re slavedrivers. This skinny bastard would live the life of a contract, and probably never escape servitude again.

  We chased the pirate, finally catching up with him as he slid between two boulders. There, it looked like he’d gotten hung up on something—his oxygen tanks had hooked on the rocks.

  Seeing an opportunity to end the chase, I used my suit’s thrusters to jet closer and knock the pistol weapon out of his hand.

  With his weapon gone, the claim-jumper raised his hands in surrender. Advancing cautiously with guns on him, Ledbetter and I moved in. We were going to kick his ass and drag him back to Borag.

  Chapter 2: Encounter with the Enemy