Welcome to weekend writing warriors. Many fine authors, and me, contribute short snippets for your delectation.
I was getting a bit stuck with Regency fiction, and decided to try hard SF. Swords and spaceships, no rayguns (yet), but plenty of action and as long as I’m logically consistent I don’t have to worry about historical accuracy
It seems to be working. The first draft, over 80k words, is finished and I’m part way into the sequel.
In any case, here’s the start – a new midshipman is having her first session of weapons training on her first ship. Her instructor is not exactly impressed. Last week’s snippet skips ahead a few paragraphs from the one before. It’s after she’s finished her training for the day. The discussion of Scotland from before is replaced by the ceremonies for the first jump of the mission. The initiation ceremony continued.
I’ve decided to skip ahead and move to the start of more action. Serapis is about to jump near a new (to us humans) star and explore it. Terry takes her station. Chief Ames reassures the other members of the landing ship’s crew that they’ll live in this installment.
They’re fine. Serapis isn’t.
“What do you mean ‘where’s the Serapis?’”
“I can’t see her, nothing on visuals, not even debris,” Terry shouted back.
“Don’t need to shout, Sir; the comm still works.”
“Sorry,” Terry caught her breath, “The count, it when smoothly, then the.”
“The what Sir?” Ames tried to keep his voice calm.
“The proximity alarm, the preimage detector, it went yellow, then red, as if space were bending; it’s not supposed to go off unless a jump is immanent; a collision; I hit the scram button, and … we’re here; the Serapis isn’t.”
“Bloody, bloody, bloody fuckin’ hell, sorry Sir,” Ames paused, “What now?”
What now? I’m supposed to know what to do; I’m in command.
Drifting, alone, somewhat scared. Definitely not the best place to be.
Whatever is left of Serapis, even if she’s unharmed, has been kicked at least several light-minutes away from them. Relativity is a harsh master (or mistress if you prefer). They have to wait even to see if there’s wreckage.
I’ve been trying out different titles in the last couple of installments. “Sword and spaceship” is too generic. “Have sword will travel,” Maybe? “Serapis” short, simple and obscure. It’s going to need work.
And then there’s covers.
I’ve put up a couple of things on instafreebie. The first is a short story, To Court a Dragon.
The second is the start of a science fiction story in the same universe as Cynthia the Invincible, but set in 1893 Dartmoor, The Curious Case of Miss James. It’s available on Amazon.
The Art of Deception, first in a series of late Georgian/early Regency spy novels is now up.. You can get the first part here.
I hope you (the author) know what to do next.
I hope I do too. Thank you.
What now indeed? I’m sure it’ll be exciting…a very good, tense snippet today!
Thank you. Relativity raises its ugly head – Serapis or what’s left of her could be light minutes to light hours away and they won’t know until they’ve waited.
Interesting predicament, and full of suspense. Where’s their ship? And what exactly just happened?
Thank you.
They’ll find out over the next few chapters.
Her confusion comes through loud and clear. I wonder what she will do?
So does Terry, Thank you
Lots of questions. Can’t wait to get to the answers!
Oh heck, I’d hate to be in her position, somehow she’s got to find the Serapis and get them all safely back to her – is that even possible? Great, tense snippet!
Thank you
Intense scene! Well done.
Thank you