First Contact : Legacy Earth 2

Book 2: Legacy Earth

by Ross Buzzell

Genres: Space Exploration; Alien Contact

Synopsis

Everyone Interesting Has Something to Hide...

As part of the fabled S4, Lance Warder is stationed on Mars when first contact is made. The Galio have arrived.

Lance is selected to act as diplomatic security and all appears to be going well between the two species until a radical group known only as the Veles rear its ugly head and decide conflict must follow.

Join our hero in an adventure of familiar faces, new locations and a villain that poses a threat to the fragile peace being brokered between humanity and the technologically advanced Galio.

For fans of JN Chaney and Jonathan Brazee's Sentenced to War series, Jason Anspach and Nick Coles Forgotten Ruin novels and Rick Partlow's Drop Trooper books. Buckle up and click to start reading now!

 

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Release date: October 14, 2021

Publisher: Archimedes Books

Print pages: 408

Sample

Chapter 1: Pirates

“Do you think they even know we’re here or do you think they suspect it’s only a civilian
settlement down there?” Dexter asked as he inspected a weapon far to large for the delicate
mission at hand.
“We are a top secret facility so it’s doubtful,” Michael replied while running diagnostics
on his multi-tool and weapons.
He scanned his pistol and shot gun. A green outline of the weapon systems appeared on
the hologram of his bracer.
“I’m just surprised they’d be dumb enough to go after the research station on Phobos
knowing how close it is to Earth,” Lance replied as he looked through a series of blueprints
projected into his H.U.D. “Justin, how long until touch down?”
“Give me a minute!” Justin replied in a strained tone. “This isn’t like the dropships I’m
use to. This thing is a freaking boat!”
“Just fly easy,” Mattias said while sliding a knife in and out of its sheath on his thigh.
Having trained with the team leader for almost four months now Lance picked up on the
surprisingly quick man’s nervous ticks. Picking up his HRG the squad leader inspected his
weapon. It was flawless, fully loaded and ready for battle.
“Everyone take a deep breath,” Lance said as he looped the rifles strap over his shoulder.
“We’ve trained for this, it’s a simple breach and clear. Security sensors show ten hostiles and we
believe their target is this.”
Lance looked at his multi tool. He pressed a small folder icon which projected the image
of a massive engine. Its hexagonal shape was heavily re-enforced. The fan blades were wide
from end to end and it held at its heart a rare, and very expensive anti-matter engine.
“That seems a little big to get on their craft,” Dexter said with a grunt.
“It’s not the actual engine their going for,” Lance replied. “It’s the blueprints. As you
know thousands of these things were built by the Reeve’s before the war to get Mar’s mantle
circulating again. It is directly because of these things that we were able to terraform the planet.
Unfortunately they can also be used to destroy a planet by stopping mantle flow and eventually
the core’s rotation leading to the target world being fried by solar radiation in a matter of hours.”
“Can’t forget those anti-matter engines go for a fortune on the black market,” Michael
added. “If you’re dumb enough to try and use one in a ship, remember, that’s how Proteus got
cracked nearly in half.”
“Descending now,” Justin said over the coms. “Prepare for craft secondary exit.”

Lance unstrapped himself from his chair and stood up. The magnets on his boots held
him to the ground as the ship they flew wasn’t large enough for artificial gravity. He looked
around at the cargo freights tied down and approached the emergency exit hatch on the ground.
“Prepare to move out, we’re likely to be boarded the second we touch down,” Lance
said as he knelt and grabbed the emergency exit hatch.
His other team members unbuckled and lined up behind him with Michael in the front
and Dexter at the back.
“Touching down in three, two, one,” Justin said.
Just as the ship rocked from the touch down Lance pulled the exit hatch. With a hiss it
slid open while the main doors of the freight vessel opened as well. One by one the team left the
ship.
Clung, clung, clung!
The clank of low grade mag-boots rumbled through the craft as two red dots appeared
on Lance’s heads up display. Jumping through the emergency exit he pulled the hatch shut above
him and latched it.
“Justin you’ve got two bogies on board,” Lance whispered.
“Copy that, I’ll make sure you don’t have to deal with them, without blowing my
cover,” Justin replied.
Lance looked around. Four thick pieces of steel supported the ship near it’s four corners.
He looked around the landing platform for a hidden exit for the base. His H.U.D. highlighted a
rock right next to the slab they set down on.
“Michael, you’re up!” Lance whispered pointing to the small boulder.
They crouch walked out from under the boxy freighter. Lance lifted his rifle and swept
the horizon with his gun. Dexter watched behind them as Mattias covered their sides.
Approaching the rock they moved behind it. It was large enough that dropping to a knee kept
them invisible from the facility built into the moon’s surface.
“Interfacing now,” Michael whispered as his multi-tool synced with the hidden door.
Lance forwarded the door’s codes to his former classmate. A click followed by a tuft of
dust flew from the boulder’s edge. Lowering his rifle Lance reached under its edge and pulled.
With surprisingly little effort it leaned back revealing an airlock large enough for all four men to
fit.
Lance was the first to slide in. As he passed the chambers upper barrier he dropped to
the ground with a thud. His armor cushioned him from the facilities artificial gravity kicking in.
A glass pane ran the height of a curved door. Raising his rifle once again he pointed it into an
empty room.

Michael, followed by Mattias entered in behind him. Michael’s multi-tool glowing with
holographic interfaces as he continued to delve deeper into the facility systems. Dexter jumped
in, pulling the hatch down above him as he did causing the room to automatically equalize with
air.
“Disabling the alarms,” Michael muttered. “Opening door in three, two, one.”
The door slid open revealing a white room. On the wall to their right dozens, if not
hundreds of mice ran on wheels, ate or slept. On the other side a ventilation hood hovered over
various chemical compounds secured behind glass. The rest of the room was empty with creases
in the floors hinting at retracted tables.
“They’ve started unloading the cargo,” Justin said. “They’re pretending to be employees
and doing a bad job at it. They’re likely going to try and commandeer the vessel.”
“Negative Justin, they do not get that vessel,” Lance ordered as he lead the team across
the room.
“Copy that,” Justin replied.
Reaching the door Lance lined up on the left with Michael behind him. Mattias on the
right with Dexter behind him. Lance looked at his mini map. A layer of static prevented him
from being able to see any information.
“Signals are being jammed, expect to lose us the deeper we move into the compound,”
Lance said to Justin.
Waving his hand in front of the door it slid open. Both Lance and Mattias pied their
portion of the hallway before stepping out and sweeping it to ensure they were clear. A hand pat
the second lieutenant’s shoulder indicating Michael and Dexter were in position.
“I’ve got a blood trail,” Mattias whispered.
“Take Dexter, follow it and render aid where you can,” Lance replied as he recalled the
blueprint’s he’d studied forward and back. “The plans are this way, Michael and I will retrieve
them then rescue the scientists.”
“Roger that,” Mattias said.
Splitting up Lance pressed forward, He kept his shoulder as close to the wall as he could
while approaching a bend in the hallway with Michael a few inches behind him. Reaching the
corner the young man slowly rounded the corner, keeping his eyes and rifle up.
It was just like the training they’d done a thousand time. With the endless repetition his
body reacted almost before his mind told it to. His heart rate beat evenly in the low fifties. The
next corner was empty too.
“We’ve got two injured scientists, one’s pretty bad,” Dexter’s voice cut through the
silence. “Rendering aid and getting what information we can.”

“There’s a hidden elevator to our left, ten yards,” Michael whispered. “I’m picking up a
void in the wall.”
“Is there any other way to get to the lab?” Lance asked as he approached a metallic panel
on the wall.
He leaned back and counted the crease lines from the end of the hallway, twenty one.
Holding his hand up to the panel he gently pressed his palm against it. Just like the intel showed
it lit up with an arrow pointing down.
“I hate elevators,” Lance muttered as he stepped back and raised his rifle.
“So long as they don’t have grenades we should be fine,” Michael replied.
“Find some wood and knock on it... that’s an order,” Lance said as he shot the tec a
stern glance.
“We’re in space there isn’t an...” Michael paused.
Tink, tink tink.
The sound of a glove rapping on space suit metal echoed through the hallway. Lance
sighed and shook his head.
“I was just following orders sir,” Michael said while changing from his pistol to
shotgun.
DING!
The wall slid open to reveal a box barely big enough for both of them. A small spray of
blood stained the back wall with the grease from a forehead smeared just above it. Lance stepped
in, he looked in every corner. It was clear.
Stepping back he waved Michael on. With both inside Lance pressed the button for the
lower levels. Reaching onto his belt the team leader grabbed a stun grenade and pulled the pin.
Holding the detonator so the ordinance wouldn’t blow he pressed himself against the door’s wall.
Michael did the same. Having only one free hand Lance lowered his rifle and drew his
Oath-Keeper.
Ding!
The door opened.
THWOOM!
A bright ball of light flew through the door. It hit the polished elevator wall leaving
scorch marks but almost no damage. Without compromising his cover Lance threw the stun
grenade into the room.
FWOOSH!

A blinding flash of light tore through the room sending screams throughout the facility.
Lance emerged from the elevator to see a man holding a shot gun, covered head to toe in thick,
metal plating.
Noticing a tiny portion that was unarmored at the neck Lance fired his weapon. In a
spray of crimson the pirate crumbled into the ground like a tin can. Michael stepped out and fired
as well. A flash of red spattered in the young man’s peripheral.
“DROP YOUR WEAPONS!” a man roared.
Lance and Michael both turned toward the voice. A man in what looked like an armored
exoskeleton designed for mining held a scientist by the throat with a strange, bulbous pistol in
hand. The young man’s heart jumped into his throat as he froze in place. He looked at his
comrade who shook his head.
“Put your gun down,” Lance ordered before looking at the pirate again.
His armor was crude, heavy, but most importantly outdated. It still ran on hydraulics to
move the heavy suit and rocks. Hoses arched around the armor and toward the back. Slowly
Lance lowered to a knee and set his pistol down before holding his hand up and carefully
dropping both his rifle and shotgun.
Michael followed suit, putting his pistol and shotgun down. Made eye contact with the
scientist and gave her a nod as if to tell her everything would be ok. She swallowed hard and
shook her head.
“That’s an interesting weapon you’ve got there,” Lance said as he slowly stood up.
“I have allies who are powerful and wealthy,” the pirate replied. “They’ve got access to
things you’d never even dreamed of!”
“You know, I actually think I might have seen that before,” Lance lied. “Is that an
ASCALON?”
“Maybe it was one of the weapons in the lab?” Michael asked with a shrug.
“W-we haven’t been able to solve for the overheating variable to effectively make
plasma weapons,” the scientists informed.
“SHUT UP!” the pirate roared as he pointed his gun at lance.
Click, click, click, click.
Four rapid taps of the multi-tool undercut the pirate’s words. A whistle sliced through
the air as a silvery blur cut through the hydraulic line leading to the armor’s gun arm. As the
pirate’s arm lowered Lance flexed every muscle in his legs an dashed at his enemy.
In a blur the second lieutenant closed the gap between him and the hostage taker.
Slamming a shoulder into his chest he ripped the scientist free. Lance grabbed the armor’s breast
plate as tightly as he could and with a swift spin threw the pirate into a wall, back first. The

impact ruptured all of the hoses sending fluid spewing in all directions as it confined the criminal
into the suit with no way to move.
“In the lower labs, three pirates neutralized,” Lance called out over his radio.
“In the upper labs, three pirates neutralized,” Dexter said.
“By neutralized he means dead,” Mattias chimed in.
“I don’t think the two in my ship will be going anywhere any time soon,” Justin added.
“Are the plans secured?”
Lance looked at the scientist, she nodded as she pulled herself up.
“Affirmative,” Lance replied. “They’re secure. Let’s clean up our mess and take the
survivors of this would be raid back to base.”
“Copy that!” Dexter and Justin said in unison.
Lance leaned down and picked up the strange weapon that was fired at them. He turned
it this way and that. As far as raw basics go, it was a gun. Trigger, sights, magazine, all familiar
pieces. Only the ordinance and internal workings were vastly different from anything he’d seen
before.
“Round up their weapons,” Lance ordered as he picked up his own. “Command is going
to want to get a look at them.”
“May I keep one?” the scientist asked. “This facility is perfectly suited to reverse
engineer that technology.”
“I’m sorry ma’am, that won’t be possible,” Lance replied as he walked over to the
unconscious pirate leader and grabbed part of his suit. “You may be able to put in a request with
command.”
Pulling the leader into the elevator Michael went and yanked his blade out of one of the
concrete walls that it buried itself six inches into. Both men picked up the dead bodies as well as
their weapons and returned to the surface.
“Ascalon,” Michael mused after a few moments of silently dragging bodies and
equipment. “Nice reference, I didn’t think you’d read them.”
“I have to say, they weren’t half bad for being such old books,” Lance replied.
Both men met up with Mattias and Dexter. They carried three dead pirates and plasma
guns with them as well. Opening the air lock they made their way to the brutish rectangular ship
that sat on the landing pad as Michael scanned them for explosives. They were clean
“Does that look closer than before?” Mattias asked.
Reaching the ship the team climbed in. Laying the dead in a neat line Lance dragged the
still trapped leader to the chairs. Crates were strewn around the place, no longer piled in nice

little stacks. Their harnesses unclipped and floating throughout the craft. Grunts and curses rose
from under a pile. Strapping the leader into a seat Lance followed the noise to see the other two
pirates pinned under crates with their hydraulics busted.
“Justin did you...” Lance started.
“Loose the cargo and take them for a bit of you joy ride?” Justin interrupted. “You
betcha!” ...