Starbound (Shadows of the Void Space Opera Serial Book 0) Read online

  Leaving the structure, Jas scanned the surroundings again. It had stopped snowing. Nothing moved except the spiny, spindly, leafless branches of the low shrubs, bending slightly, creaking in the steady wind.

  “Preliminary report, Harrington?” Akabe Loba’s voice came over her radio.

  Jas stiffened. As always, the master of the Galathea was pushing her, his eye focused solely on his schedule and bonuses. “Initial LIV not complete, sir.”

  “But no sign of intelligence?”

  “It’s hard to tell, sir. The structure’s—”

  “I can see it through your relay, Harrington. Looks geological to me. And there are no artifacts.”

  Jas’ lips drew into a thin line. She knew what was coming. “Sir, it’s a little early to conclude—”

  “I’m not asking you to conclude anything, C.S.O. Harrington. Is the area secure?”

  When she didn’t answer immediately, Loba repeated his question, louder.

  “No hostile life forms encountered, yet,” Jas replied through her teeth. Damn the misborn. But what could she say? Prickles down her spine didn’t count as a reason to delay resource assessment.

  GENERATION

  About the Author

  It isn’t easy to look back over a lifetime and pick out the bits that others might find interesting. I was born in a humble home in London’s East End—a caul birth—more than half a century ago, but I’m now both British and Australian. I picked up Aussie citizenship after living in Melbourne for many years and working as an Australian Volunteer Abroad. My AVA stint led to some time in Laos before returning to the UK and spending fifteen years or so teaching English to immigrants. Most important to me in all my experiences are my three gorgeous, amazing sons, who graced me with their appearances along the way.

  I now live in Taiwan, where the weather suits my clothes, and I spend my days writing about the voices in my head.

  Copyright © 2017 J.J. Green

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any written, electronic, recording, or photocopying without written permission of the publisher or author. The exception would be in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  First Edition.