Space Race (Space Race 1) Nathan Hystad (ebooks children's books free .TXT) 📖

in the circuit. But what they had in current experience, they lacked in real-world knowledge, and I was hoping to use that to my advantage.

Octavia walked to the center of the room, four video drones following her. They circled above, and one lowered as if on cue. She spoke, smiling widely for the audience. This moment would be shown around the world, in the mines, and on any currently occupied planet. Billions of humans were watching at this second, and the thought made me start to sweat. Until now, it had been a few people hanging out in a state-of-the-art Racer, but this made it real.

“Welcome esteemed colleagues, CEOs, and Race teams. The Board is thrilled to have you in attendance. With the recent news of Temeletron dropping to the eleventh rank, and sliding out of the Primary Corporations’ favor, we welcome SeaTech. An old and successful organization, led by the equally intuitive Bryson Kelley.” She motioned toward him, and Bryson confidently stepped forward, raising a hand as the drone hovered in front of him.

“Thank you, Lead Chair. On behalf of my people, my son, and my father, who isn’t alive to see his dreams come to fruition, I graciously thank the Board for bringing us into tenth rank, thus entering us into the Race.” Bryson returned to the line beside Holland, and the camera floated away.

“It was well-deserved, CEO Kelley.” Octavia pointed to a projection a few feet ahead of her, and it began to play a video. “This is the start of the Race.”

All ten of our ships were ready and waiting. It showed the Corporation below each ship’s 3D image, and it zoomed on the farthest Racer. It was stylish, maybe half the size of our own, but I knew with their money, it would be as fast as they came. “Sage Industries, rank number one. Captain Varn Wallish!” Her voice rose, and the others in the room clapped. I declined the gesture.

Next was Luna Corp’s turn, and the ship rotated in the center of the projection. “Luna Corp, rank number two. Captain… Lina Nebu!”

We clapped, and I glanced at Jade as she applauded aggressively. Her jaw was clenched. It seemed like we each had our own baggage when it came to our previous employers. Their CEO, Erik Trevors, stared at Jade momentarily before looking away.

“Lotus, rank number three. Captain Chen Wei!” The man lifted a finger while we clapped. He had eyes of steel, and I predicted he was one to watch out for. This wasn’t hauling ores between the Belt and Mars anymore, and it wasn’t racing against skinny teens in a Pod Sprinter either. I had to be prepared.

Octavia continued down the line, and the next spacecraft was an interesting concept. It was long and lean, black in color, with the number four painted on the nose in white. “Orion, rank number four. Captain Marc Reed!”

He received slightly less applause, and I saw what was happening. Like everything within the Corporations, only the top three were really in charge, leaving the rest of them in the dust.

I cringed at the sight of Oasis’ logo: a cactus. “Oasis, rank number five. Captain Travis Brenner!”

Holland let out a whoop, and I knew this was his favorite Pod sprinter, from the events he’d shown me. His shout was loud in the quieting room.

“Espace, rank number six. Captain Clara Durand.” Octavia’s voice lowered. Gone was the excited lift at the end of the announcement, but Clara still nodded her thanks. She had a shaved head, with a tattooed symbol on the top. Her expression was fierce.

Octavia went through the next three. Barret with Captain Tom Xander. Harding and Captain Luis Cooper, followed by HyperMines, led by Captain Q. Young. The applause was almost non-existent by this point. Bryson shifted on his feet as the attention turned to our Racer.

When it zoomed on Pilgrim, I noticed the number eleven painted on her wing. I hadn’t given it a second thought before, not until I saw the others with their ranks also marking their Racers. Why had Bryson used the number eleven on it? Shouldn’t it be ten?

Octavia appeared to note this as well, and her voice caught before she returned to herself. “SeaTech, rank…number ten. Captain Arlo Lewis.”

The room remained silent. Not a single clap or cheer arose from the gathered teams.

I remained still, unbothered by the slight. Instead, I used it. Their casual disregard for SeaTech would fuel my team to victory.

“And that concludes—” Octavia fell to the floor as the entire building shook violently. Everyone began to scatter, guards placed around the room checking out the windows.

Alarms rang out loudly as a robotic voice carried through the speakers. “Head to the safehouse. HQ is under attack. I repeat, head to the safehouse.”

“How could someone attack HQ?” Bryson asked. He gripped my arm tightly, and Luther was close, standing guard over our CEO.

The floor vibrated again, and I rushed to the window where Jade was. She was as rigid as a statue, and I saw why. A dozen incoming vessels penetrated where the domed shield should have been. Fire erupted from them, sending ion blasts toward the building we were located in. I peered down, seeing the pulses dissipate on another invisible cloak around HQ. At least they’d added a second layer of protection.

The voice kept announcing the orders as everyone rushed for an elevator. Octavia’s shrill voice carried over the noise. “We go by rank! Sage and Luna first!” She entered with them, and fury rose in my chest again.

“They’re going to leave us for dead,” I whispered. An ad played on the wall, the projection flickering and cutting off.

Holland seemed to hear me, and for the first time since I’d met the guy, he looked furious. “Dad, what’s happening?”

Bryson grimaced as he replied, “Son, the revolt has begun.”

“Why are they doing it now?” Luther asked. I noticed him peering toward the Lotus crew, who were moving for the elevator next. That was his old placement, and