Jasper T Scott [Scott - Dark Space- The Complete Series

DARK SPACE THE COMPLETE SERIES (BOOKS 1-6)

(1st Edition)

by Jasper T. Scott

http://www.JasperTscott.com

@JasperTscott

Copyright 2019 by Jasper T. Scott

THE AUTHOR RETAINS ALL RIGHTS
FOR THIS BOOK

Reproduction or transmission of this book, in whole or inpart, by electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or by any other meansis strictly prohibited, except with prior written permission from the author.You may direct your inquiries to

Cover design by Jasper T. Scott

This book is a work of fiction. All names, places, andincidents described are products of the writers imagination and anyresemblance to real people or life events is purely coincidental.

DARK SPACE I: Humanity is Defeated

(6th Edition)

by Jasper T. Scott

http://www.JasperTscott.com

@JasperTscott

Copyright 2013 by Jasper T. Scott

THE AUTHOR RETAINS ALL RIGHTS
FOR THIS BOOK

Reproduction or transmission of this book, in whole or inpart, by electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or by any other meansis strictly prohibited, except with prior written permission from the author.You may direct your inquiries to

Cover design by Jasper T. Scott

This book is a work of fiction. All names, places, andincidents described are products of the writers imagination and anyresemblance to real people or life events is purely coincidental.

Acknowledgments

Many thanks to my family, friends, and my beautiful wife,all of whom believed in me and encouraged me even when I would have ratherstuck my head in the sand. You all made the journey worth the effort. And aspecial thanks to my team of editors! You know who you are.

To those who dare,

And to those who dream.

To everyone whos stronger than they seem.

Believe in me /
I know youve waited for so long /
Believe in me /
Sometimes the weak become the strong
STAIND, Believe

Prologue

A vast backdrop ofstars sparkled all around Ethans head, just on the other side of the novainterceptors thin transpiranium cockpit canopy. The stars seemed so close hecould touch them, but Ethan couldnt allow himself to be distracted by theview. He targeted the nearest enemy fighter and brought the red brackets underhis crosshairs. His ears picked up the soft click of a laser lock even beforehis eyes registered the crosshair turning green. He pulled the trigger and heldit down, pouring a continuous stream of bright red pulse lasers into histarget. Then the laser charge gauges began flashing red on his HUD, and thatstream of fire diminished to a slow trickle. Ethan eased up on the trigger and switchedover to missiles just as his target began jinking out of line. Enemy ripperfire sizzled off his rear shields, and Ethan broke into an evasive pattern,forgetting about his target for the moment. The sound of ripper fire hittinghis shields stopped, only to start again from another angle when a secondjunker swooped down onto his six. Ethan craned his neck to get a visualreference on the enemy fighters. They were converging on him from completelyopposite directionsa pincer maneuver that was sure to get him killed.

Ah, a little help over here? Im caught in a vice!

Roger that, Five, Seven said.

Ethan tried to hold it together as enemy fire sizzled off his shields,turning them dark green, then yellow, and finally red. Now shells plinkedoff his hull as the shields were unable to completely dissipate the energy ofthose projectiles.

The streams of enemy fire on his port side ceased, followed by, That gothim! from Guardian Seven. Now, with only one fighter attacking him, Ethanstrengthened his shields on the starboard side and circled around to line up onthe enemy fighters tail. A few moments later he poured freshly charged pulselasers into the twin hulls of a blocky junk fighter whose starboard maneuveringjet was already flickering dimly. Unable to evade him, the junker took heavyfire. One of his shots punched through to the reactor, and the enemy fightersuddenly exploded, sending the twin hulls flaming off in opposite directions.

I need help! Gina screamed.

Guardian Three came on saying, Four enemy fighters just broke off from themain group! Theyre lining up for another pass on the Defiant! Get thembefore The comm died in static.

Lead? Ethan quickly checked his scopes.

A second later Ithicus came back saying, Im all right. Got winged by a bitof shrapnel. No major damage. Those four fired off a volley of torps atpoint-blank range. Dumb frekkers.

The command channel sounded in the next instant with, Guardians, we need abetter screen than that!

Doing the best we can, Control, Three shot back. Were down by five andthere are at least two enemy squadrons out here. Where are your gunnery crews?

Cannons are coming online any minute.

We dont have a minute, Ethan thought to himself. Six, where areyou? he asked, remembering that shed called for help. He spent a momentchecking his scopes for Gina without any luck. A cold fist seized his heart,but then he found her, cutting an evasive pattern toward the Valiant, apair of enemy interceptors pouring golden streams of ripper fire on her tail.Those two were fast for junkersshe was having trouble shaking them.

Im right where you left me, you dumb kakard! I dont suppose I still havea wingmate out there somewhere?

Ethan grimaced. He wasnt used to working in teams. Sorry, on my way now.He came about and boosted with the last of his afterburners to catch up to theenemy interceptors. Once in range, he switched to Hailfire missiles and quicklydropped one on the enemies tails. A second later he realized his mistake as henoted the proximity between the enemy interceptors and Ginas own nova. Gina,get out of there! I just fired a Hailfire on your pursuit.

Frek you! My afterburners are tapped out! What do you want me to do?

Ethan thought fast, even as the blue trail of the Hailfires primarythrusters winked out. The enemy fighters realized their peril and broke offfrom Gina to go evasive, but they were still too close.

Reverse thrust! Ethan said.

They might lock on to me if I do that!

Frek, Ethan thought. Hold on! He thumbed over to pulse lasers andtargeted the distant missile, hoping he could get it before it exploded intoits four smaller warheads. At this range his targeting computer refused to lockonto the missile. Desperate, Ethan raked blind laser fire over the targetbrackets. Nothing happened. An instant later, the Hailfire exploded in fourseparate directions, and Ethan felt a stab of fear. Sweat trickled into hisleft eye and he swiped at it with the back of one hand, blinking to clear hisvision. The smaller warheads flared to life and boosted after the enemyfighters.

Theyre too close!

Ethan could hear a tremor in Ginas voice. Give me a second! he said,switching fire to the warhead arcing closest to Gina. He hit it with a luckyshot, and the resultant explosion tore into the nearest enemy fighter, drawingflames and debris from its thruster pods. Ginas fighter rocked in theshockwave. Then the other three warheads found their marks, and the remainingtwo enemy fighters exploded in blinding fireballs. Ethan heard Gina scream, andthen her comm cut off in static. Gina!

The static hissed on and Ethan felt a horrible chill creeping down hisspine.

Frek! His heart pounding, Ethan checked his scopes, but theyd fuzzedout due to the proximity of the explosions. He flew through the expandingdebris clouds and ignored the sound of shattered duranium pelting his fighter.His forward shields quickly dropped into the red, and he feared what that meantfor Gina. Gina! he tried again.

Then he saw her, one of her three engines still glowing blue, the other twoflickering. Her starboard stabilizer fin had been knocked off, and he could seeher cockpit canopy was striated with fractures. Gina, for Immortals sake,answer me!