The Fleet Read Free Page A

That was
in the fastest of ships and traveling at full-burn, or max
speed.
    This was a
different time, however, as their worlds had been overrun by
walking dead. Infected that continued to grow its army with every
human that fell in the fight against them.
    The remaining
humans had mounted a last stand, which failed miserably. Their only
option becoming one of jumping onto the remaining ships into orbit
to regroup, which they had done. As if the Skyla System were a
sinking ship with a handful of precious lifeboats to be had.
    Since hitting
orbit, the fleet had been in disagreement on a single issue. To
journey into the unknown black of uncharted space or stay close to
home and reclaim what was theirs.
    Commander
Dalton James had never seen himself in charge of so many lives.
He'd lived by the seat of his pants and made questionable choices
along the way. From rushing into larger groups of soldiers, guns a
blazing – to bedding down a few women he'd wish to forget. Blame
the whiskey.
    Dalton had,
however, made the safest choice possible this time around. Send a
craft into the unknown and look around. If resources that could
support an entire race were to be had, they'd quickly relocate. But
if the scouting mission showed no signs of hope, what choice did
they have? It would be a matter of reclaiming their homes or die
trying.
    “Kind of
strange looking onto all of these new planets.” Craig admitted.
    “Absolutely,”
Anna replied. “They look so beautiful. At the same time, who knows
what may be lurking on each one?”
    “Damn sure
isn't water,” Craig said with a chuckle. “I'm not showing any signs
of oxygen either. I guess we keep going.”
    Which they
did. The small phantom and its pitch black appearance gliding
through uncharted space and pinging each of the planets which
passed them by with a wave of technology that mapped everything.
Terrain, viable resources, temperatures and even heat sources.
Sources, which would indicate possible life.Adam sat quietly,
thinking of his past as the small shuttle filled with tactical
soldiers made its way. Coasting through the familiar stars of the
Skyla System.
    He thought of
much happier times. His crew of old and their clunker of a ship. It
brought happiness to him for a moment, as memories of barely
holding the ship together seemed like a calm time in his life.
    They had been
anything but. Thoughts of gunfights and escaping the clutches of
ruthless gangs, all in pursuit of a paycheck. Following service in
the military, Adam and Dalton had put together a crew of their most
trusted friends and began a life of crime. Though Adam never saw it
that way.
    For him it was
a chance to be a ship's captain. Something he'd always wanted to
be. A dream in which he saw come true, though the ship was
borderline salvage and its crew was, for better terms, a pack of
outcast misfits.
    They'd become
his family though, and you never forget the times spent with
family.
    Adam
remembered the very first time he laid eyes on Sarah Blaine. The
circumstances were terrible – her delivery to a group of organized
crime members simply a job which landed the entire crew much needed
money.
    At least it
should have.
    He knew right
away that he'd scoop Sarah up and run. Adam had always been a
sucker for the ladies, but, as if it were only yesterday, he
thought about how intoxicating their first moments together
were.
    Adam did just
that. Bolted from the deal and went on the run, Sarah Blaine at his
side and a wily crew at their backs. Eventually the two fell in
love on the eve of civil war, and Adam found himself engaged to the
daughter of a high-ranking Colonial officer. A man of true
integrity.
    Soon after,
their love began to sour. As thriving as their love had been, the
fallout was just as strong. When it came down to it, he'd chosen
his friends over the most explosive romance he'd ever known.
    Events began
to unfold and Sarah found herself in the clutches of evil. Turned
to the legion of undead and