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

Luna’s chances have dwindled in the final stretch. As it stands, we have a six-minute differential between Lotus and SeaTech.”

Yon nodded dramatically. “Let’s take a moment to discuss SeaTech, because if there was an underdog no one would have bet on making the final three, it was the newcomers. They’re led by Arlo ‘Hawk’ Lewis, a rookie pilot in a Racer, but a pro in a Pod, which he proved on Mars. Many of you will be interested to note his grandfather was the great Preston Lewis, captain of the most recent mission to Proxima. Unfortunately Obelisk was deemed lost two years after their departure. The remaining crew is green, comprised of Lotus’ CEO’s personal security officer Luther Payne, Jade Serrano, a techie from Luna, and of course, SeaTech’s heir apparent, Holland Kelley.

“The odds were against them, but they’ve proven resourceful and relentless in their pursuit for the prize. Controlling Proxima isn’t out of reach for any of these three teams, and I, for one, cannot wait to see how the space dust settles. Baru, what can you tell us about the finish line?”

Neptune’s cool blue shone beyond the giant gathering of vessels. The largest spacecraft I’d ever seen floated beyond the incoming ships. “What is that?” I asked myself quietly.

“As you can see, the Board has spared no expense for this event. This transport, aptly named the Boardroom, will hold all of the executives from the Primary Corps, as well as the Board, and we’ve been told as many as two thousand will be present for the riveting ending,” Baru said.

My stomach flopped, and I asked Holland to mute it. “This could be dangerous.”

Holland was at my side. “What do you mean?”

“The Board and Primaries are painting quite the target on themselves. Liberty’s going to have one hell of a focus with that Boardroom.”

“Eclipse must be close. I still can’t believe they’re moving unseen.” Jade was there too, and Luther joined us at the front of the bridge.

“Unless the Primary don’t think they’re a true threat.” Luther indicated the screen. “Arlo, pause that.”

And I saw what he meant. There were dozens of new ships gathered: bulky, gray, and from what it looked like in this picture, armed to the teeth. “This must be what Mars was working on.” It was a true military fleet, something never actualized since the creation of the corporations had ended the military in general.

“Kid, try your dad again. He said he’d be here. This is getting out of hand.” Holland darted off, and all I could do was stare at the image of the finish line. Earth was vulnerable without the defense of the lower corporations. All their spacecraft were accompanying Eclipse, in search of a revolution.

“Son, it’s great to see you.” Bryson’s voice was loud, and I peered over my shoulder to see his face on Holland’s screen.

“Dad! Where have you been?”

Before he could answer, I demanded Holland send the link to my dash display.

SeaTech’s CEO appeared a moment later, smiling at us, his teeth white, his skin as healthy as ever. Throughout the Race, Octavia Post was looking older, while Bryson looked the opposite. “Team, what a pleasure to connect. I’ve been trying endlessly, but there seems to be an issue on board.”

People shuffled around behind him, uniformed employees bustling about.

“Are you coming?” Holland asked him.

“I wouldn’t miss it for the world,” Bryson said. “You’ve all done splendidly. Have you determined what the communication said yet?”

“We have, but it was a pre-recorded transmission, just giving some coordinates. We don’t think it’s relevant to anything, especially the Race,” I told him before anyone spoke.

“Good. Send the details along.” Someone whispered into Bryson’s ear, and he squinted momentarily before nodding and sending the guy on. “You all understand how imperative it is that we win, don’t you?”

“Yes, sir, we understand,” I said. “Jade devised a plan that will add a nine-percent improvement for the home stretch, but we won’t have any communication during that duration. According to the numbers, this should give us the boost we need to cross the finish line in first.”

Bryson grinned at this. “I knew I had the right team from the start. Proxima will be ours.” He clapped his hands together and let out a bark of a laugh. “I’ll see you at the finish line.”

“Dad, be careful. We think Liberty is going to interfere,” Holland told his father.

Bryson dismissed his concern with a flick of his wrist. “I’m planning on stopping that.”

“How?” Luther pressed.

“By offering her a piece of Proxima. Not everything needs to end with warfare,” Bryson said. Another officer spoke in hushed tones to the SeaTech CEO, and he waited until she was gone to continue. “I have to run. Finish strong, Team SeaTech.”

Holland tried to say something when the visual dropped. His shoulders slumped. “At least he’s coming.”

“What do you think of his plan to prevent an all-out war?” Jade asked.

I considered it and thought he was onto something. “Why not? The people of the Wastelands would be happy to relocate, and why wouldn’t Eclipse and Liberty?”

“Fair point. The Board seems ready for the fight. Maybe that’s what the rumors about a merge were about. Sage’s Mars facility using resources from all of the Primaries,” Luther suggested.

“Everyone but SeaTech,” Holland added.

“Right.” I stared at the paused feed of Neptune, wondering how this was going to unravel. All that really mattered to us was finishing in first place.

“Who wants a coffee?” R11 asked.

We each raised our hands. When Jade started to send the coordinates we’d translated, I shook my head at her discreetly, and she stopped before shooting them to Bryson. She didn’t ask any questions.

“Before we cut the extraneous functions of the ship, can you do me a favor?” I asked her. The other two wandered off with R11 in this quick moment of down time before the big push.

“Sure.”

“Can you set a target for your communication device?”

“You got it. What do you have in mind? Want to check in on someone on Earth?” she