Ascendant Saga Collection: Sci-Fi Fantasy Techno Thriller by Brandon Ellis (best novels to read in english .txt) 📗

had been appropriate to say, “What the Hell?” Gentry would have and done so with gusto. But, being an admiral only allowed bluntness during combat, and even that he frowned upon. A gasp would have to suffice for right now. Gentry was trained and stoicism was his route to emotion.

“You’re sure the pictures are of structures on Callisto?”

“Yes, Sir,” replied Bogle.

“We haven’t explored Callisto?”

“No, Sir.”

Gentry crossed his arms at his chest, then scratched his chin again. “We’re changing course. Get us and the fleet inside J-quadrant. We don’t approach Callisto until we know who is there...or was there.”He rested his hands on his hips. “Special Agent Nick Cole?”

A man stepped from the shadows. He had a large frame and wore a thick titanium suit, helmet on. “Yes, Sir.”

“I may task you onto Slade. Be ready at any moment. Slade may have something up his sleeve we don’t know about.”

“Aye, Sir.” He stepped back into the shadows.

13

May 27thUnderfoot Black, Grenada

A few minutes past midnight and agitation filled Jaxx. Fox hadn’t been standing sentry, so he’d managed to sneak into the RIOUT room, unchecked. He went to his masked email account. Not even the most rigorous firewalls on the planet would be able to detect either his incoming or outgoing messages. He was glad to see that Drew replied. The message was short, but Drew was willing to help out. Jaxx sat back in his chair and let the relief wash over him for a brief moment. He had a powerful ally on the outside.

Jaxx searched the photo database. He pulled up as many images as he could—pyramids, domes, symbols, and other structures he hadn’t seen before. He eyed a Stonehenge-style rock formation and what appeared to be a large landing pad. He attached the polyatomic ion-propulsion symbols to an email, wishing he could explain each one, along with the images he’d be sending. Time, however, wasn’t on his side. Fox could be snooping around at any second. He didn’t have the luxury of the kind of details and interesting explanations he knew Drew loved.

Drew, listen to me. I’m seeing shit that is as science fiction as it comes. What I’m about to write may sound implausible, but believe me, the pictures I’m attaching are just as space age as it gets. I hope you can trust me and help. I feel like I’m in a time crunch here.

First off, please find out if these images are real and let me know. You know how to do all that Photoshop shit and detect the fakes. This might be the story of the century for you and for everyone. It may even prove that my research isn’t in vain and that pyramids were built by Atlanteans, even those on Callisto…

Jaxx flicked a look behind him and through the door’s window and out into the hall. Nothing. He went back to typing.

I’m under an island in a facility called Underfoot Black. I’m getting mixed signals here. The GSA headed by Colonel Slade Roberson plans on going to Callisto, a Jupiter moon, using a propulsion system I decoded from glyphs on a structure on Callisto. As you will see in the images, there are structures on that moon, which I believe were created by the Atlanteans of our past. I’ve decoded the symbol for “Atlantis” and have seen Atlantean writing on the walls of the Callisto structures.

Believe me when I say this, I believe with all my being that the Atlanteans are still there. I don’t think the Colonel has the best interests at heart for anyone currently residing on that moon. It’s more of a feeling than anything else. I need your kick-ass research to figure out who Slade is and if there truly is a threat, or if I’m just out of my mind with that thinking.

Also, can you look up a woman by the name of Rivkah Ravenwood? She is important for some reason. She might be a piece of the puzzle that I’m trying to figure out. She was in something called the SSP (I shit you not. There’s a “Secret Space Program”). I want to figure out if she is even real or a figment of my imagination, I’ll explain about that later.

What I

The door burst open and Jaxx pushed back from his chair and stood, arms up, heart pounding.

“Don’t move a muscle.” Fox stood in an archer’s position, rifle aimed at Jaxx. “This is my lucky day, Jaxx. Redemption time. Traitor.”

Jaxx took a deep breath. “I’m not trying to hurt you or anyone else.”

“Really? I think you know exactly what you’re doing.”

Jaxx bit his lip. How was he going to get out of this one? “Please put the gun down.”

“I don’t take orders from civilians.”

“Then, what are you going to do? Shoot me?” He regretted the question the moment it came out of his mouth.

Fox dipped his head. “You’re getting the idea. If not, the least I could do is take you to lockup or tie a rope around your neck and hang you from your bunk.” He shrugged. “I don’t know. So many ideas have crawled through my head for so many years.”

Jaxx felt like putting his hands up higher to let Fox know he wasn’t there to hurt anyone. He wanted to stall the psycho. He had to think of something outlandish to keep Fox talking or to get Fox’s mind on someone else. “Are you pissed because Slade plans to dunk me in the tank? Get the memory acquisition to speed up?”

Fox paused for a moment. He squinted harshly. “Nice try, Jaxx. I don’t give a hot shit what you pretend you’ve forgotten. I know who you are, what you are. Why are you in the RIOUT room and typing on a computer?”

“I need answers, Fox. I need to know what this mission is all about. I am half in the light, half in the dark. I’m doing what I love, but without any clue why. Help a guy out, would you? Tell