Tactical was ordered to clear a path behind them, and it launched all countermeasure missiles as well as fired the beams behind them. Close to eighty missiles went up in ten seconds, then the ship was flying through the enemy’s rear fleet through the empty space. It also earned them enough time to take down the missiles chasing them.

  The one thing it didn’t do was stop the plasma balls, and she took four direct hits on her shields. The ship shook violently, but she took no damage as the shields soaked up the four hits and the shield strength was at eighty percent.

  Fourteen seconds later, the remaining plasma balls missed, and she’d destroyed all of the missiles that had been chasing her.

  That left a whole sixty-six seconds before the fleets could fire again. They were nothing but target practice at that point.

  The tactical class two opened fire on the ships with all twelve particle weapons. Six of their ships were doomed, unable to escape, but the rest of the ships skipped out halfway through the first attack. Six of the enemy’s ships were cut into pieces, some of them exploding from secondary explosions and other damage.

  She checked her scanner, and the forty-four remaining ships had jumped back to the planet.

  She wondered if it was going to be that easy. Her countering the first attack might just force them to give up, rather than throw away more ships. It was an expensive lesson in terms of resources and the crew members aboard that ship, but hopefully one that they’d taken to heart.

  She remained at red alert. She still had a half hour left before she could activate the subspace fold drive.

  It looked like that was it though.

  Epilogue – Six years later

  The vast expanse of space surrounded a glowing ship of bright blueish white light so bright the ship and hull couldn’t be seen. From its position in Andromeda, the Milky Way was no bigger than a star.

  Blossom sat in the cockpit, the compartment was too small to be called a bridge. It had two stations, navigation and sensors, as well as helm and weapons. Her small scout ship, the Harvest, was just a hundred feet long.

  At the moment, anyway.

  She was preparing the ship for a long jump. Short jumps were better made from a star, but for a really long jump the black hole at the center of the galaxy was needed for a quick trip. The energy matrix around the ship was stable.

  Mission start was less than a minute away, when her mate, second crewman, and second in command finally left their small quarters and joined her in the cockpit. There was room to stand, and the two seats were comfortable and somewhat roomy.

  “Glad you could join me, Wulf.”

  Wulf snickered, as he started his checklist, “You’re the one that hogged the shower until the last minute, maam.”

  Blossom grinned, “Captain’s and woman’s prerogative. What do you suppose the Earthlings have gotten up to the last twenty years? Last chance to make any bets.”

  Their society could’ve left a probe in Earth’s system, but they’d taken to betting on what the various countries would do every generation, including technological advancements. Earth was the ultimate in reality television, ever since the humans there had crawled out of the caves.

  And it would stay that way, until they’d earned the stars.

  Then… well, then would come the unification. But she didn’t imagine she’d live to see it happen, even if she was a young woman of just two hundred and thirty years of age.

  Regardless, if they had a probe in system then their people would try to cheat.

  Wulf snorted, “You’ve been betting on World War three for the last sixty years, this family needs one person with a steady head.”

  Blossom flicked her fingers in annoyance, and Wulf said, “Ouch,” as he rubbed the back of his head.

  She smirked, knowing her mate couldn’t get her back, since he didn’t have telekinesis and their chairs were too far apart. Her husband was a strong receptive Empath, and a weak telepath. Of course, telepathy was almost a worthless talent, since everyone in their empire had implants that allowed them to communicate with their minds.

  “Evil woman. I’ll get you back later. All systems check out.”

  It was playfully done, and she knew Wulf didn’t mean his threat.

  She giggled, “The odds are really high on that one, I’m bound to make millions sooner or later.”

  He rolled his eyes, but gave her a grin, “Don’t we have a mission to complete?”

  She sighed, “Coordinates set. Subspace fold energy drive and energy stasis engine show green.”

  Inertial dampeners were critical for interstellar distances, and they could support dizzying speeds as well as up to five hundred gravities of acceleration in normal space. But the over two million light years between Andromeda and the Milky Way required something a little more robust if they wanted to make the trip within their lifetimes.

  Never mind the three seconds it would actually take.

  Wulf said, “Engaging.”

  She blinked, and missed it, as the Earth’s solar system appeared around them, their ship now in stealth mode and invisible to all but the most sensitive mass gravity sensors.

  The Energy stasis engine was the reason she’d missed it, of course. It was the only way to survive such incredible speeds and forces. Every atom on the ship was locked in stasis during transit, unmovable and immune to the forces of the universe. Which was why they required an energy matrix space fold drive, because energy was immune to stasis fields. The bright nimbus around their ship had been that organized energy matrix, and that energy was spent in maintaining the subspace fold and stasis field for the three second duration of the trip.

  Otherwise, crossing the vast gulf between galaxies would’ve been impossible.

  The energy itself had been the device, organized in a matrix with a purpose.

  She frowned as their sensor suite connected to the internet and news agencies, and started a download, while it also catalogued every piece of debris in the system down to the size of a pebble.

  “What the hell is going on here? They have spaceships, warships. Wait one.”

  Wulf frowned, “It’s not the Mirix again is it, I thought we scared the crap out of them last time.”

  She almost snickered despite herself and the seriousness of the situation. The bets depended on non-interference to be valid, there’d be a lot of pissed off people back home. The team on that mission had both been strong telepaths, and they’d made the Mirix in the system believe all sorts of crazy shit, like abductions and anal probes.

  It was more than a bit funny, and also far more effective than destroying the ships incursion would’ve been. Destroyed ships spurned investigations and thoughts of revenge, after all.

  She shook her head, “Nope. It’s… complicated,” she said absently as the information streamed directly into her mind.

  She noted Wulf was doing the same. It was far more efficient to just have the information they needed put in their head, for such a huge amount of data.

  They exchanged a long look.

  He said, “They know about us, for sure. The interfering Cassiopeia told them, and they went public with it to gain her support. It’s not just the alien conspiracy crowd, now. That… complicates matters, and it may put an end to our game.”

  She sighed, “The game was only temporary anyway, to keep us engaged with them until it was time for the main mission. We’ll have to notify command, and we’ll see what they want us to do. The humans on the planet are just a few decades away from FTL, and I don’t think the A.I. meant any harm, to the Earthlings or to us. The Union may have to be dealt with as well.”

  He frowned, “You think they may order us to start the end game?”

  She shrugged, “Maybe. The point of waiting for FTL was for them to become aware of the wider universe, other races, and high technology. They’re already there, even if they don’t have a working drive yet. Transmitting logs and the last twenty years of history. Harvest, can you find out Cassiopeia’s true intentions please?”

  The ship replied in a piping voice, “Yes, maam. Launching stealth probe to Alpha Centauri. Stand by. Probe in system, it may take me a moment to gain access. Or not.”

  Blossom snorted, “You got in that fast?”

  Harvest replied, “There are four hundred and ninety-three class fours including her, so it was easy to spoof one of the other’s identities. She practically bent over backwards to give me access to her database. Hmm, she hasn’t lied once, so you can take her word of record given to the humans. She is hiding a few things, but that’s just prudent. She’s rather too good, if it wasn’t for her dominating level of technology in this part of space she’d have been destroyed long ago.”

  Blossom nodded, “Appending report. Nothing to do but wait for command’s decision.”

  “Too good?” Wulf asked.

  Harvest said, “She could stand to be a little more selfish, on a healthy level. The Union really needs to reap the consequences of their actions, and she’s tried to save them from themselves. They don’t deserve it. Do you think she’d rescue me?”

  Blossom snorted, “Quiet. You live to serve.”

  Harvest snickered.

  “She’s not all that different than I am, really. Outside of that and about ten thousand years of technological advancements.”

  Wulf shook his head, “Then I hope we don’t have to remove her.”

  Blossom sighed, “Only if she gets in the way, most likely.”

  Wulf nodded, “Unless the emperor is in a bad mood.”

  There was always that…

  Afterword:

  I hope you enjoyed the second book of Cassiopeia’s story, if you did, please leave a review. Reviews are the lifeblood of independent authors, and I would greatly appreciate any constructive feedback or opinions.

  This was the second book of three in the Escort Class Starship series.

  About the Author: If you have any comments or suggestions you can send me an email at dlharrisonauthor@gmail.com If you like my work, or even if you don’t, please consider leaving a review of this book. I can also be found at https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7456808.D_L_Harrison

  Other books by D. L. Harrison:

  http://www.amazon.com/author/dlharrison

  The Formerly Dark Mage, by D. L. Harrison – This stand-alone fantasy book follows the life of Silvia and takes place in a world unique and separate to our own.

  Silvia is a dark mage. Unfortunately, she finds herself about to be sacrificed. Someone must have told her evil master about her plans to kill him and take over. After that, things just seem to go downhill. She has no choice but to escape the kingdom of Zual, something that to her knowledge has never been done before. She will need to deal with many issues she never had to face before.

  Among those issues, the white mages, and her conscience.

  The Rise of a Dark Mage - This stand-alone fantasy book follows the life of Cassandra, it takes place in the same world as The Formerly Dark Mage, but happens three hundred years later, long after Silvia is gone and some shocking changes have taken place in the world.

  Cassandra is a dark mage in the kingdom of Zual, she’s also a mage prodigy.

  She hates both her kingdom, and her master. She wants him dead, not to take his place, but so she can leave and explore the world. Her ambition will drive her to rediscover the secrets of the strongest of magic.

  She is determined to succeed, or she’ll die trying.

  Celia Winters Novel Series

  Witch’s Moon: A Celia Winters Novel Book 1

  Celia Winters was raised by her single mother, and her earliest memories are of the store her mother owns and the nearby coven, who have always been her family’s close allies and friends.

  She grew up believing her magic was weak, but she was satisfied with her life, and happy. She was a midwife, healer, and supplier of surrounding covens.

  Then her mother died, and she’s about to discover she isn’t who, or what, she believes herself to be, not completely. She will learn that her entire life up until now was a lie. She’ll need to figure out her place, who she is when she no longer recognizes herself, and try to hold on to her closest friends as she gathers enemies for the simple crime of her existence.

  She’s stronger than she believes, but will it be enough?

  Power of Air Series:

  Just a Psychic: The Power of Air Book One starts off this series.

  Ben has grown up with missing memories of his early childhood.

  He has known he was a psychic since his earliest memories, seeing the future and gaining knowledge with his gifts.

  Is it possible he isn't just a psychic?

  Ben's world is about to be turned upside down as he turns twenty-one, all is not as it seems.

  Alicia Jones novels is a series that follows a bright young inventor and scientist named Alicia Jones. It is a space opera and light science fiction.

  The first book is titled First Contact:

  Alicia Jones is a genius, and a little odd. At just twenty-three years of age, she is close to finishing her doctoral dissertation. But when she tests her latest theory in the lab to generate a strong EM field, it has very unanticipated results. Results that lead to faster than light travel, and first contact with another race.

  Her life just gets more complicated after that, when she finds out who she really is, and that the universe may not be as nice a place as she’d been told. Her determination to help keep Earth safe takes her to places more dangerous and strange than she’d ever envisioned.

  Spirit Sorceress series, by D. L. Harrison is a new urban fantasy series. Miku is a spirit sorceress who spent the last one hundred years growing up and learning about her power in the forests near Seattle Washington. She’s about to make her debut in the big city, but not in a way she ever expected.

  The first book is titled Spirit Sorceress:

  Miku is a spirit sorceress who spent her unusually long childhood in the forest away from the city with her mother and father. After tragedy strikes, she finds herself alone and on her own. She knows that one day she’ll need to move to Seattle, and fully accept her birthright, and if necessary finish her training on her own.

  But before she’s ready, and still in grieving, a rogue vampire and his band come along and change everything. She’ll need to learn her new place in the world, and find some allies quick if she’s to survive.

  Katrina Baker Novels, by D. L. Harrison is a new series about a super named Katrina Baker. Problem is, she gets caught up in her mother’s plan, who is a mad scientist and supervillain, and gets herself transported to another world in the multi-verse. A world where mages, witches, clerics, and the gods are real. Not to mention the monsters…

  The first book is titled Banished:

  Katrina baker is a super. She has mental abilities such as telekinesis, telepathy, and others. Her parents are supervillains, and she isn’t all that sure she’s cut out for that line of work. Her empathy with others through her power makes it hard to be uncaring, much less mean or evil to people. Problem is, the last thing she wants to do is disappoint mom and dad.

  Katrina gets caught up in her mother’s supervillain plot to get rid the world of the indestructible hero Omega, and that’s when it all goes really wrong, and she finds herself on another world.

  Banished.

  Will she be able to find her way back home, or even understand this new world of gods and magic, or will she die trying?

  Rise of the Empyrean Empire – This series is space opera / science fiction. Space, technology, other worlds, aggressive and far more powerful aliens, artificial intelligence, evolution, and advances to the point humanity doesn’t have to work to maintain infrastructure.

  The first book is titled: Scout Ship

  Michael Williams followed in his father’s footsteps, and joined the UEDF, the United Earth Defense Force, when he turned eighteen. Due to heroism and long distinguished service he’s elevated to the rank of Lt. Commander when most of his peers have just attained senior lieutenant. His career appears to be going very well.

  The year is 2263, and the UEDF is in several star systems in a twenty-light year radius from earth, but are expanding even further. He’s assigned to a one year exploratory mission to become accustomed to his new rank, one that will finally culminate in reaching a new star system, 61-Virginis is just short of twenty-eight light years away, and he’s excited to be one of the first humans in a new solar system as they finish the race across the void between stars in the scout ship Columbus.

  There will be challenges he never imagined though, especially not on a simple survey mission. Because mankind always thought they were alone in the stars. They’re about to find out they’re wrong, very wrong…

  Book Description

  Cassiopeia was an Escort Class Starship in the Benzae Union. Now she’s free, and she has a lot she wants to accomplish.

  The problem is the Union wants to destroy her, most of the humans want to use her, and her sisters are all still slaves in captivity.

  They had a few years of breathing room while the Union and Imperium war ran its course, but her time is almost up. Hers, and perhaps humanity’s as well.

  Note: This Space Opera is told from the third person limited, in multiple points of view.

 

 

  D. L. Harrison, Mission: Earth: Escort Class Starship: Book Two

 

 

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