“That would be great,” I managed to say.

  The rest of the evening wasn’t the best—but it was better than I’d hoped to experience back when I’d been marooned on Eris.

  That night as I lay with Freya, I gazed out through a hotel window with a glorious view. The night sky above us presented a truly mesmerizing spectacle. The great Mars City dome, made of transparent materials, offered a clear and unobstructed view of the Martian heavens. As I stared upward, I noticed the sky appeared darker than it did on Earth. There was also a reddish-brown hue due to the iron-rich dust particles suspended in the planet’s thin atmosphere.

  The familiar constellations from Earth were still visible, but with subtle differences in their orientations and positions. Mars’ closer proximity to the asteroid belt also offered a chance to observe more frequent meteor showers. Every now and then small rocks burned up while entering the atmosphere, streaking across the sky like shooting stars.

  Phobos and Deimos, Mars’ two small moons, made their appearance an hour after dusk. Phobos, being closer and larger, appeared as a prominent crescent that moved quickly across the sky, completing its orbit in just eight hours. Deimos, on the other hand, looked more like a bright star that took around thirty hours to orbit Mars.

  The most striking feature, however, had to be our fine view of Earth and the Moon. Earth appeared as a bright bluish star, shining with a steady glow, while the Moon could be seen nearby as a much dimmer point of light. Observing my home planet from a distance always felt surreal.

  I wondered if I’d ever set foot on Earth again.

  THE END

  Thanks Reader! I hope you enjoyed RED COMPANY: FIRST STRIKE! the first book in the Red Company Series. If you liked the book and want to read more, please click to put up some stars to support the series—then read the next one!

  -BVL

  BONUS Reading!

  What follows is the beginning of: RED COMPANY: DISCOVERY

  To purchase the entirety of the book, find RED COMPANY #2

  on your Ebook Seller’s website, or go to BVLarson.com

  RED COMPANY:

  DISCOVERY

  (Red Company #2)

  Chapter 1: The Big Strike

  The cold vastness of space stretched out around us as the mining rig Borag landed like a gigantic parasite onto a big, fresh rock and latched onto it. It was just another day for us, the marines of Red Company, as we patrolled a perimeter around the rig to ensure its safety during the mining operations. I, Corporal Devin Starn, had signed on for my second year of service aboard Borag. So far, it had been relatively uneventful.

  The asteroid we were mining was a chunk of rock and ice tumbling through space, one of the thousands floating in this region. Our sensors had detected a rich vein of titanium ore within its depths, which was a valuable find for Interplanetary Excavations, Inc., the company that owned Borag. Captain Hansen had decided to fill our holds with the ore, and so here we were.

  Most of the time, standing guard for hours was kind of boring. My eyes and mind were distracted by the heavens above. The blackness of the void above was speckled with countless distant stars, their twinkling lights forming an awe-inspiring backdrop against the darkness. The asteroid itself, a rugged, uneven mass of rock and metal, was illuminated by the harsh artificial lighting from the mining equipment, casting eerie shadows that danced upon its surface.

  In the distance, I could make out other asteroids that drifted through the vast expanse of space. Their shapes and sizes varied greatly—some were small and jagged, like shards of broken glass, while others were massive and more rounded, reminiscent of misshapen boulders. These huge rocks often appeared to be moving at a slow, almost imperceptible pace, but in reality, they traveled at incredible speeds, pulled along by the complex dance of gravity.

  The asteroid field itself seemed to stretch out into infinity, with the rocky bodies occupying every corner of my vision. This created a surreal landscape, where the line between up and down became blurred, and the concept of orientation was lost amid the vast, silent emptiness of space. It didn’t help that from my point of view, the sky was slowly spinning as well, making it appear as if the stars, planets and neighboring rocks were sliding from one side of the sky to the other.

  Occasionally, the glow of a nearby planet or moon could be seen on the horizon, a reminder of the larger celestial bodies that made up the solar system. These heavenly objects provided a sense of scale and context, emphasizing the smallness of the asteroid field in comparison to the grandness of the cosmos.

  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. As a marine, I was always prepared for trouble, even though the likelihood of encountering any out here was minimal.

  Private Ledbetter, my good friend and fellow marine, floated alongside me as we maneuvered through working men and robots. He chattered excitedly about the latest gossip he’d picked up from the crew, seemingly oblivious to the fact that we were currently on duty. I couldn’t help but grin at his enthusiasm. It was one of the many things that made him a likable guy.

  “Did you hear about the bet going on among the rock-rats?” Ledbetter asked, his voice tinny through the suit’s communication system. “They’re betting on how much titanium we’re going to pull out of this asteroid. Some of them have even wagered their rations on it. I think we’re going to make serious bank this time. I’m picking up all the low sell-offers.”

  I shook my head, chuckling. “No, I hadn’t heard that. It sounds like everyone’s getting greedy.” Of course, when I said everyone, I meant him. But I think that was lost on old Ledbetter.

  He laughed. “Yeah, well, it’s more about entertainment for me. A marine’s life aboard Borag can be pretty dull when there are no problems.”

  “For the rock-rats,” I said, “every credit counts. You can’t blame people for trying to get ahead.”

  Ledbetter knew I used to be a rock-rat, one of the lowly indentured miners that worked to pay off their vast debts. I was always more sympathetic toward them than most people were, so he dropped all his talk about trying to rip them off.

  Our conversation was cut short by the sound of the proximity alarm blaring through our helmets. That meant someone or something else—like an unidentified spacecraft—was nearby. I felt a surge of adrenaline as I realized that we were no longer alone in the asteroid field.

  As the alarm continued to blare, I glanced at Ledbetter, whose playful demeanor had been replaced by a look of surprise. We both knew it was time to focus on our training and deal with whatever threat had triggered the alarm. As I was a corporal now, I was in charge.

  “Come on, Led,” I said, my voice steady. “Let’s report to Sergeant Cox and find out what’s going on.”

  Nodding, Ledbetter followed me as we made our way toward the designated meeting point for Red Company. The low gravity of the asteroid made maneuvering tricky, but we had spent countless hours training for this exact environment. I was grateful for my Earth-born strength, which gave me an edge in these conditions.

  We bounced around to the sunny side of Borag, where the radiation was more intense. As we approached the gathering marines, we spotted Sergeant Cox, a grizzled 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 could join us,” he said, his voice rough. “We’ve got a situation on our hands.”

  “What’s going on, Sergeant?” I asked, concern evident in my voice.

  “We’ve got an unauthorized vessel somewhere on the far side of this rock. It’s not responding to our hails, and we can’t be sure of its intentions. Red Company needs to be ready for anything.”

  Lt. Quinn, the only marine officer aboard the ship, chimed in. “This could be a simple misunderstanding, or it could be something more sinister. We don’t want to overreact, but we need to be prepared for the worst.”

  I nodded in understanding. “What are your orders, sir?”

  “You and Ledbetter will join 2nd Squad and do a deep patrol on the far side of those hills.”

  He pointed toward a jagged line of spikes. Things like that passed for “hills” when you were 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 spread out and search the region as we’d been ordered to. As we prepared for the potential confrontation, I couldn’t help but feel a mix of excitement and apprehension. This was the moment we spent so much time training for. It was time to prove ourselves as members of Red Company.

  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, finding good firing positions and watching 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, I knew it was heavily armed and capable of inflicting 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 my helmet’s communication system. “We don’t know what we’re dealing with yet, but we need to be ready for anything.”

  “Yes, sir,” 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 the drill-bots,” reported one of the rock-rats, his voice tense. “The driver for Gamma-bot says he’s encountered a claim-jumper, and it looks like he’s trying to steal our ore!”

  “A claim-jumper? Out here?” Ledbetter muttered, disbelief evident in his voice.

  “We need to handle this situation quickly and efficiently,” Lt. Quinn ordered. “Starn, Ledbetter, 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.”

  We nodded, exchanging a glance before propelling ourselves across the asteroid’s surface toward the drill-bots. 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 across the surface of the asteroid, my magnetic boots clinging to the rocky terrain with each careful step. The low gravity made my movements sluggish and floaty, and I had to adjust my gait to maintain my balance. My spacesuit, equipped with an armored vest, protected me from the harsh environment and potential dangers, while my laser carbine was 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 keenly aware of the deep void of space surrounding me, the inky blackness filled with countless stars that seemed both infinitely distant and eerily close. The silence was almost oppressive, broken only by the occasional crackle of communication from my helmet radio.

  My eyes scanned the horizon constantly, alert for any signs of movement or danger. My breathing was steady, but I could feel the sweat forming on my brow.

  The big machine, designated as Drill-Bot Gamma, was an impressive piece of machinery designed to withstand the harsh conditions of asteroid mining. Standing at approximately fifteen feet tall and ten feet wide, its heavily armored exterior was constructed from a combination of durable alloys and reinforced materials, ensuring that it could endure the abrasive asteroid surface and debris.

  The drill-bot’s primary feature was its powerful laser drill, mounted on a multi-jointed arm that extended from the front of its body. The laser drill was capable of emitting a highly concentrated beam of energy, which could easily bore through solid rock and extract valuable ore deposits. The drill arm was highly flexible, allowing the machine to access even the most awkwardly positioned veins of minerals.

  Drill-Bot Gamma was equipped with six rugged, all-terrain legs, providing it with exceptional stability and mobility on the uneven asteroid surface. Each leg was tipped with specialized gripping mechanisms that allowed the bot to maintain its footing on both rock and ice.

  Gamma also featured an array of sensors and cameras on its body, allowing it to navigate autonomously and identify valuable ore deposits. Its advanced AI systems enabled it to make real-time decisions about the most efficient mining techniques and the safest routes to traverse the asteroid.

  A small, compact fusion reactor powered the machine, ensuring it could operate for extended periods without needing to refuel. The fusion reactor was housed in a reinforced compartment at the back of the drill-bot, with multiple layers of shielding to protect both the machine and its operators from any radiation.

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

  We could see the claim-jumper, a burly figure in a battered spacesuit, attempting to wrest control of the bot.

  “This is Red Company,” I shouted through my suit’s communication system, leveling my laser carbine at the claim-jumper. “You are trespassing. Stand back and stand down.”

  The intruder hesitated for a moment, clearly weighing his options, before deciding to make a run for it. Ledbetter and I pursued him, our weapons at the ready. We couldn’t let him escape and endanger the Borag or our mining operation.

  The claim-jumper darted across the asteroid’s surface, using his suit’s thrusters to propel himself forward. Ledbetter and I were hot on his tail, our laser carbines aimed and ready to fire if necessary. We couldn’t allow him to escape and pose a threat to Borag or our mining operation.

  As we pursued the claim-jumper, I could hear the rest of Red Company springing into action. They were securing the drill site and the rest of the rig, ensuring that no other threats would catch us by surprise. It was reassuring to know that we were all working together to protect Borag and the crew.

  The chase continued, with the claim-jumper weaving between chunks of rock and ice that made up the asteroid’s surface. He was agile and surprisingly fast, but we were determined to catch him.

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

  “We’ve made contact, and we’re under fire!” I shouted through my helmet’s communication system, alerting the rest of Red Company to the escalating situation.

  “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, knowing that we needed to be cautious in our approach. Ledbetter and I exchanged a quick glance before continuing our pursuit, this time with added caution.

  He was on the run again. He’d shot at us to make us duck, but now he was racing away all over again.

  “Do we gun him down?” Ledbetter asked me. “I think I can stitch him up and down again when he goes over that rock.”

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

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

  I knew he was probably right, but it was hard to shoot a desperate man in the back. 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.

  If we captured him, he was probably going to have to indenture himself to Interplanetary Excavations, Inc. The company was a harsh master—some would say, too harsh. He’d live the life of a contract, and possibly never escape servitude again.

  We chased the pirate, and finally caught up with him when he was sliding between two boulders. There, he’d gotten hung up on something—his oxygen tanks, it looked like.

  Seeing an opportunity to end the chase, I used my suit’s thrusters to propel myself toward the claim-jumper, knocking his weapon from his grasp.

  With his weapon gone, the claim-jumper realized he was cornered. He raised his hands in surrender, and Ledbetter and I moved in to kick his ass and drag him back to Borag.

  END of RED COMPANY #2: DISCOVERY BONUS

  To purchase the entirety of the book search for RED COMPANY #2

  at your Ebook Seller’s website, or go to BVLarson.com

  The RED COMPANY Series:

  First Strike!

  Discovery

  Contact

  The Undying Mercenaries Series:

  Steel World

  Dust World

  Tech World

  Machine World

  Death World

  Home World

  Rogue World

  Blood World

  Dark World

  Storm World

  Armor World

  Clone World

  Glass World

  Edge World

  Green World

  Ice World

  City World

  Sky World