Space Brigade [Paperback]

Space Brigade is the tales of the ongoing exploits of Pierce Force, the elite arm of the Network – the Coalition’s military. The Coalition of Planets, formed shortly after the end of the terrible Drepan robotic wars now effectively controls the galaxy and the Network dispatches Pierce Force to any trouble spot where they may be needed: distant planets, star-ships, deep space or even planetary incursions into alien civilisations. Often their work is hampered not just by their enemies, but also by deception and political intrigue.

Coalition space is vast and takes in hundreds of systems, systems that have placed themselves under the protective banner of the Coalition of Planets. These systems are policed by one of the Coalition’s strongest asset - the Network - a vast military organization, composed of men and resources from every aligned species. The Network goes anywhere there is trouble, gives battle where necessary and imposes order when disruption arises.

A still more powerful asset of the Coalition is the Directorate of Covert Operations, the Coalition’s Secret Service; an organisation devoted to espionage, intrigue, deception and assassination. An organisation headed by an unseen director who has power over almost everything within the Coalition. The Directorate is feared by most, and despised by those within the Network, but challenged by none who wish to remain alive. The Directorate is a totally separate entity and goes about its underhanded deeds without the need of sanction from the Coalition or Network.

The Coalition Assembly, still in its infancy, tentatively oversees the day-to-day running of the galaxy, constantly angling to avoid provoking those that would see the strained alignment crumble.

Space Brigade is the first thrilling instalment of a four novel science fiction saga following the adventures of Special Forces team Pierce Force.

The Ambassador of Tanteee is abducted by the warring Quat-tar, an action that could bring the galaxy to the brink of war. Network Command calls upon Colonel Raga and his Special Forces team, Pierce Force to rescue the Tanteee statesman. Should Pierce Force fail, the Coalition will lose any chance of gaining the Tanteee’s technology and mineral wealth.

Network Command exploits this opportunity to send a strike force against the Ormacronis shipyards, the suppliers of warships to the Quat-tar, a move that nearly causes political collapse within the Coalition Assembly; while silently in the background the Directorate of Covert Operations manoeuvres things along to suit their own deceptive needs and ultimate design. They require the Quat-tar’s secondary planet for their own.

The pressure is on; Pierce Force must gain control of the volatile situation, battle against overwhelming odds and retrieve the Ambassador before Tanteee is invaded and galactic confrontation erupts.

The small cramped deciphering room was full of black smoke. The bodies of Network troops and Sentec lay strewn amongst the debris of twisted machinery and crumbling walls. The noisy cracks of laser fire had subsided; a solitary voice called out.

"All right, we have what we came for, now let’s get the hell off this damn planet!"

In unison, the remainder of the Network’s elite Pierce Force hurried after their commanding officer. They cautiously picked their way through the shattered plasti-steel that had been thrown across the floor, each time checking their fallen comrades as they came across them, and eventually breaking out into the bright daylight. Sentec’s sun was almost at its apex; the heat was becoming unbearable to the Network team.

Steadily, the well-trained men of Pierce Force moved cautiously back into the
undergrowth. Captain Pala Toms took a head count as the men passed; two wounded are carried on makeshift litters. Their commanding officer, Colonel Raga, hurried them along the trail towards their extraction zone. Fortunately, the heavy downpour the night before hadn’t washed away their markings. Hopefully they would reach the zone and board the transport before Sentec reinforcements could arrive.

As they reached the outskirts of the extraction zone, two Pierce Force troopers aim a heavy plasma cannon in their direction.

"Pierce Force, Raga one!" Colonel Raga called.

The air around the small extraction zone shimmered with tiny glowing particles as one of the troopers deactivated the perimeter force field. Colonel Raga led his men into the clearing, all the time the trail behind them being targeted by the plasma cannon.

"Colas call up the transport. I want us out’a here ASAP," croaked Raga.

He coughed trying to clear the taste of acrid smoke that lay on his lungs. He wiped a hand across his sweaty face, his fingers leaving smudged black streaks on his cheeks. His normally immaculately combed hair was ruffled and damp with sweat. He turned to his second captain, Captain Cap Beeta, a dark skinned man of about thirty from the planet Capstan Four; a member of the select Capstan warrior caste, and long time friend.

"Cap, get Cagrr to check the decoder, and make sure he doesn’t lose anything, that damn thing’s cost us too much already!"

" Sir, transport’s on its way, e, t, a, two minutes." Trooper Colas reported while hurriedly packing away his portable com-console.

Captain Toms jogged to Raga’ side and said. "Colonel, Troopers Glun and Loote haven’t turned up yet, shall I sent Qwerti to find them?"

"No they know the procedure, two minutes and we leave!"

"Here she comes!" Colas called with a sigh of relief.

The high pitched drone of the Network troop transport engines could be heard approaching from the south, the drone getting louder as it closed on the extraction zone.
Suddenly a thundering explosion far to the north drowned the noise of the engines out. A plume of smoke snaked its way into the sky. Looking at the smoke plume, Raga mumbled to himself. "I hope they make it back in time."

Raga turned his eyes to the transport, its immense form loomed overhead, her lower bay doors open. The personnel lift was slowly extending to the ground.

"Cap, get the wounded on first." Raga called over the engines noise.
Cap Beeta nodded an acknowledgment and headed for the lift.

"We’ll give them one more minute." Raga advised Toms while glancing along the trail for his missing troopers.

The wounded were on the lift along with the others when Cap Beeta shouted. "Come on Colonel, time to go!"

Raga motioned Toms to join them on the personnel lift, and carried on watching the trail. There was no sign of the missing men. Finally he turned and dashed for the lift. As he climbed abroad, Troopers Glun and Loote rushed into the clearing, running like hell.

"Hold it!" Toms called over the com-link to the pilot.

Glun and Loote jumped abroad the partially raised lift, their mates helping them on.

"Glad you two could finally make it. Next time I might not wait!" Raga exclaimed jokingly.

"You may not have that option Sir. There’s a large force of Sentec about a kilometre behind us, and they’re moving fast." Loote reported quickly.

The lift continued to rise while the pilot trained the ship’s lasers on the trail. As the lift locked into place, and the bay doors closed, they heard the crack of laser fire as it bounced off the ship’s hull.

The pilot opened up with her more powerful guns, scorching the narrow path where the Sentec troops fired. The bushed to either side burst into flame; the enemies fire subsided as the transport banked left and headed for open space and her mother ship, the Phoenix Pride.

By the time they reached space, Raga had reached the cockpit.

"Raga one to Phoenix?" he said.
A short moment passed, then the strong tones of Network Carrier Admiral Torre burst from the speakers.

"Phoenix here, have you got it Raga?"

"Affirmative Admiral. Can you have the doc and a medical team ready? I’ve got two seriously injured who’ll need urgent attention as soon as we dock!"

" They’ll be waiting. Are you being pursued? Do you need fighter escort?"

" No Sir, just the doc." Raga replied.

The speakers turned to silence as Raga switched off the communication, and sat down in the vacant seat next to the pilot.

"Costly?" she inquired casually.

Raga simply nodded, and thought of just how costly this mission had been. The official report would state; nineteen troops of Pierce Force killed in action during an assault on the planet Sentec, mission successful. There would be no glory, no accolades for the men who lose their lives. The Directorate of Covert Operations had sanctioned the raid, and therefore all knowledge of the mission would be classified.