The Lost Fleet: Genesis: A Slaver Wars Novel by Raymond L. Weil Read Free Book Online Page B

this side of the opening. She waited until everyone was in
the corridor and then retrieved the key; she saw the opening seal back shut.
    “Let’s go,”
suggested Kelnor. “One of these corridors has to lead somewhere.”
    “I hope so,”
Corporal Metz muttered. “I could really use some chow.”
    “You’re always
hungry,” commented Private Sandra Carton.
    “We’ll take a
break shortly,” Brenda said. She was beginning to feel hunger pains as well.
They had plenty of dehydrated rations with them. So food for the time being
wasn’t going to be a problem though water at some point would be.
    It didn’t take
them long to reach the end of the corridor. With relief, Reesa saw there was another
indentation for her key. Placing it inside, she waited and then a large section
of the wall slid open. She stepped back as brilliant sunlight struck her.
    “We’re inside,”
spoke Private Anastasia Malone in wonder. “I can see the sun.”
    Slowly
everyone emerged. They seemed to be in a long valley covered in bright green
grass with a few trees and shrubs. There was even a small stream running down
its center.
    However, what
held everyone’s attention was what was at the far end of the valley. It was a
city. A city of soaring towers and slim buildings that reached thousands of meters
into the air.
    “It’s
beautiful,” spoke Private Sandra Carton, gazing at the city in amazement.
    “A city of the
Originators,” said Reesa, her eyes glowing with excitement and her heart
beating wildly.
    “A dead city,”
commented Maalon Delz, shaking his head. “I doubt if anyone lives there.”
    Brenda raised
her assault rifle and gazed through the scope. Slowly she put it back down and
looked at the others. Her voice quivered as she spoke. “It’s not a dead city, I
could see movement.”
    Everyone
became quiet as they looked toward the marvelous city at the end of the valley.
Brenda’s startling announcement had shaken them all. They were inside the Dyson
Sphere but they weren’t alone.

Chapter Three
     
    Kelsey and
Katie stood atop the large hill, which overlooked the Fleet Academy on Gaia. They gazed sadly at the names on the dark gray granite obelisk, feeling the
pain of their loss. At the top of the obelisk was an engraved picture of
Clarissa in her dress blue uniform without insignia, a slight smile on her
face. Below her name and image were that of Rear Admiral Kathryn Barnes and the
other officers of the Distant Horizon .
    “I miss her so
much,” Katie said with tears in her eyes. “I still can’t believe she’s gone.”
    “Admiral
Barnes and all the others too,” added Kelsey, feeling the same grief as Katie.
“They destroyed the Dyson Sphere and because of their sacrifice our home here
on Gaia is safe from the Simulins.”
    “There’s still
a lot of Simulins out there,” Katie carefully pointed out as she wiped the
tears from her eyes. “Remember all of those Simulin inhabited worlds we came
across when the Distant Horizon first came to the Triangulum Galaxy?”
    Kelsey nodded.
That was a voyage she would never forget. At the end, they had found Jeremy and
the lost fleets. “At least they can’t bring reinforcements through the Dyson
Sphere anymore. Andram said the explosion of the blue-giant star and what it’s
doing to the dark matter nebula makes the establishment of an intergalactic
vortex in this galaxy nearly impossible.”
    “Ariel claims
the nebula will eventually collapse in on itself and become a black hole.” Katie
let out a deep breath. She had spent a lot of time speaking to Ariel as the
surviving AI had taken Clarissa’s death very hard.
    Kelsey’s eyes
strayed back to the picture of Clarissa on the obelisk. Her blue eyes, blonde
hair, and gentle smile were so reminiscent of how popular she had been with the
crew of the Distant Horizon . Clarissa had become a good and close friend;
even now in death, she seemed more Human. Kelsey allowed a slight smile to
cross her face as she