The League jet had cameras all around the body, allowing me to check out almost the entire hull without leaving the cockpit. I’d always thought that was cool, but as of that moment I could guess at the practical reason why Grandpa had installed them.
A long, black shell clung three quarters of the way down the hull. The fact that it had attached itself said a lot about it.
A depressingly large amount. Continue reading Space Date: Part 5
And then it struck me–the voice sounded familiar. I couldn’t figure out why at first, but his next line brought it back.
“And dammit,” he continued, “please tell me that Alex isn’t on your ship.”
I clicked the comm on speak. “Sorry, no. He’s not.” Continue reading Space Date: Part 4
Deciding not to think about the Xiniti’s stranglehold on space, I concentrated on getting us to the gate. And anyway, according to Grandpa, it wasn’t their fault.
Arguably, we owed them.
The blackness of space stretched out ahead of us. Amid the stars, one of the spots of light had to be the gate and the Xiniti warship guarding it. Even at the speeds the League jet could reach outside the atmosphere, L4 wasn’t close. It was the same distance as the distance from the Earth to the sun. Continue reading Space Date: Part 3
Half an hour later I’d gone through the League jet’s flight checklist, moved through the passageway into Grand Lake, floated to the surface, and took flight.
I flew it over Lake Michigan, and then started to ascend. After we hit 30,000 feet, I started pouring on the speed, knowing that we’d have to be moving extremely quickly to get into space.
I learned later that the ship could be seen on both sides of the lake (Wisconsin and Michigan) because of the trail of flame behind it. Continue reading Space Date: Part 2
When immortal soldiers, and sociopathic assassins are out to kill you, your friends, and your family, you lose track of the important things in life.
For example, I’d lost track of the fact that I had a spaceship in my basement. Continue reading Space Date: Part 1
I’m going to be writing a few stories set during the characters’ summer break, and before Nick’s entry into college. Actually, in the long run, I’m hoping to write a story from each current League member’s perspective. I’ll probably include one of them in the summer break.
I could choose one completely on my own, but I thought I’d get people’s input on what characters interest them most.
Feel free to suggest other options in the comments, or even explain your preference.
I’m interested in hearing why people would choose one character over another.
Arik gave a grunt, and his body fell forward as Gunther stepped to the side, and out of his way.
A great gout of flame erupted from his back where Gunther’s blade slipped through.
The flames around Arik’s body grew higher, and pine needles on the ground around the castle caught fire. Continue reading 1943: Part 6
The armor-piercing bullets didn’t do much more than the normal ones.
They knocked Arik backward, some of them ricocheting off him, ripping his suit jacket around his left shoulder. A little blood dripped into the fabric. A wisp of smoke rose from the wound.
“Gunther,” Joe said. “Fire in the hole.” Continue reading 1943: Part 5
Even with the room’s high ceiling, the man’s head stayed less than an inch away. Slouching, he stepped inside, putting him within arm’s reach.
Joe stepped back. He swung his arm to the left, hoping it would cross the circle. It hit an invisible barrier.
Magic, he thought. Continue reading 1943: Part 4
They’d sent him in because intelligence said the Nazis were building a superweapon. This wasn’t technology. The Nazis were summoning demons. Joe knew he didn’t know anything about magic, and he’d never heard of a Sunday School that went into the specifics of demon summoning.
His hadn’t for sure. Continue reading 1943: Part 3