Read Online Rise of the Altered Moon: Altered Moon Series: Book One (The Altered Moon Series 1) by AZ Kelvin - Free Book Online

the man said. “Didn’t your arrival contact tell you to use the tunnels? I don’t know why anyone would want to go outside on this infernal planet!”
    “We didn’t have an arrival contact,” said Boss. “We came in our own ship.”
    “Oh…in that case then, how may I help you?” the man asked as he moved back into the office and tapped several booking screens to life.
    “Actually I need to report in,” said CJ. “My name is CJ Evermore, employee number 86482. I was an engineer’s third mate aboard the Istraulis .”
    “Did you lose your ship, Mr. Evermore?” the man asked from under raised eyebrows.
    “No…well…yes,” said CJ, a little unsure how to proceed. “I need to report its destruction. You don’t know yet?”
    “What? Destroyed?” the man said skeptically. “The Istraulis is the flagship of MT&T superliners. That would be galaxy-wide news. I don’t know what you’re trying to pull here, but if you think—”
    “I’m telling you I was ON it!” CJ said strongly. “The Istraulis is gone! The ship, the crew, the passengers, my friends are gone! These people rescued me from the life pod.”
    The man thought for a long moment, then moved over to key a comms panel.
    “MSL Istraulis , this is Merilee Remote Office Sindar, come in please.” There was a tense pause as they waited for a response to his hail. “MSL Istraulis , this is MRO Sindar, how do you read?”
    “MRO Sindar, MSL Istraulis , this is Commander Dodge. How may we help you?” An answer came from a ship that had just been completely destroyed.
    “What?” CJ stammered. “NO way! It can’t be! I was there!”
    “Oh shit, this is bad,” Gar said, as the group traded startled looks. We should GO , he mouthed silently to Boss and Hali.
    “ Istraulis , Sindar, this is Representative Jenz Benson. I have a CJ Evermore here claiming to be an engineer aboard your ship and that the Istraulis had been destroyed.”
    “Ah...negative on that, Sindar. I think that we would be aware of that,” came the reply. “Come again on the name of the engineer, please.”
    “Evermore, CJ, number 86482, Engineer’s Third Mate,” Jenz said into the comms.
    CJ tried to rub away the incessant tingling on the back of his neck. What the hell is going on? This isn’t happening. Please, Katy, wake me up.
    “Negative, Sindar,” came the disquieting response. “We have no one aboard by that name, crew or passenger. No record of Evermore, CJ, 86482, being signed on for duty.”
    “Copy that, Istraulis . Sorry for the trouble. I’ll take care of it on this end,” replied Jenz.
    “No trouble, Sindar, Istraulis out.”
    Representative Benson reached under the console and triggered the security alarm. Force fields shimmered on, separating the office from the lobby.
    “What are you doing!” yelled CJ.
    “Whatever your story is, you can tell it to security,” Jenz said into the comms. “Just stay where you are.”
    “Screw talking to security,” said Gar. “Boss, we need to go.”
    “Roger that!” said Boss. “Okay, gear up. We lose them outside. Make for the shuttle. We need to get back to the Moon before the shit hits the fan.”
    The group moved toward the door, but Gar turned around and shoved CJ backward hard.
    “Where do you think you’re going, shit scrubber?” said Gar. His hand went to the Rellia K-13 pistol that was under his jacket. “You stay here.”
    “Stand down, Gar,” Boss said, as he moved in between them. “He comes with us.”
    “Cap’n, this guy is trouble that we don’t need.”
    “He’s coming. Is that understood, Mr. Gribbons?” Boss said with direct eye contact.
    “Aye, Cap’n…understood,” Gar grumbled, but backed off.
    “Now, let’s go,” Boss said. “Gar, Hali, lead the way. Double-time back to the shuttle! Weapons hot and eyes up! Go!”
    *~*~*

Chapter Eight
    JP was unaware of the troubles that the others were having in the main terminal. He checked the status of the fuel plates in the