Voyage of the Hesperia (Legend of John Mason Book 1) Read online

  JOHN MASON

  The Voyage Of The Hesperia

  BARBARA J. ROBERTSON

  JOHN MASON

  Copyright © 2016 by Barbara J. Robertson

  All rights reserved by the author. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission from the author.

  DEDICATION

  The “Legend of John Mason” series is dedicated to the men and women of the United States Marines, Navy, Army, Air Force, and Coast Guard, whose hard work and sacrifice continues to provide us with the freedoms we enjoy, and hold so dear.

  Thank you for your service!

  CONTENTS

  Acknowledgments

  Prologue

  I

  II

  III

  IV

  V

  VI

  VII

  VIII

  IX

  X

  XI

  XII

  XIII

  XIV

  XV

  XVI

  XVII

  XVIII

  XIX

  XX

  XXI

  XXII

  XXIII

  XXIV

  XXV

  XXVI

  XXVII

  XXVIII

  XXIX

  XXX

  XXXI

  XXXII

  XXXIII

  XXXIV

  XXXV

  XXXVI

  XXXVII

  XXXVIII

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  Many thanks are owed to my close friends and sisters:

  To RMCM Marie Vellis, for her inspiration and support for this project. Her loyalty and dedication to duty during an exemplary 30-year career in the US Navy helped open the doors for women to achieve ranks and careers previously not available to them. She is a champion, and a great leader to all who know her. Thank you for your friendship.

  To Bonnie Copeland for reading my works, and providing commentary and gentle criticism during the creation process. Her encouragement spurred me to develop the series. Thank you, thank you!

  To Denise Robertson, RN, and Debbie Hilst, RN, my sisters, for patiently providing medical advice during the creation of this book, and for reading the finished work. Love You!

  To Mara Kalcheim, for her encouragement and support, and for holding my feet to the fire.Thank you!

  PROLOGUE

  In the 24th Century, all the population of Earth is united under the United Republics of Earth (URE) flag of red, white, blue, and gold. The one world government controls all food production, all fresh water supplies, and all natural resources of the planet.

  All banking is controlled by Regional Banks, answering to the Central Bank, with one currency: the freedom dollar. All of the working people are paid by freedom dollars directly deposited to their mandatory banking accounts, and withdrawals from those accounts are by bio-plastic encrypted crystals, fully programmable, commonly known as a “slice,” or charge crystal. No paper currency or coins are in use. Credit is no longer a function of banking, not available to private individuals.

  Before all countries became united under the URE banner, there were hundreds of separate countries, and over eight billion people on the Earth. Terrible atrocities were committed by governments’ armies upon their enemies, culminating in a series of three World Wars. Each war was more destructive and horrible than the previous one, until humankind finally realized they were close to the destruction of their own species, and perhaps Earth, itself.

  World War III was not begun by one country attacking another, as in the previous two world wars, but by acts of terrorism. Radical atheistic anarchists, called the Offenders, activated their long-held plans to overthrow all governments by using traditional weaponry and crudely-fashioned nuclear devices known as “dirty bombs,” to blow up government buildings, churches, mosques, synagogues, and population centers, killing millions of citizens, and blaming religious zealots for the carnage. These previously unknown terrorists, seeking to overthrow all governments and abolish all religion, were highly organized and well-funded, living in many countries all over the world. Their goal was to coerce the most developed nations to destroy one another, then step in and take control of their governments, while eradicating all religions.

  Many of the capitals of the New Millennium were destroyed or left uninhabitable for over a hundred years because of radiation: London, Washington D.C., Moscow, Mumbai, Tokyo, and Paris were bombed by these Offender terrorists. The Offenders proudly claimed their victories with obscene revelry, and live displays of the torture and murder of men, women and children, via the world’s public news systems and internet. They outraged the peoples of the Earth to action.

  The great powers of the Earth, Russia and United States of America, united together in military campaigns to eradicate the government leaders of countries who openly sponsored the Offenders anarchist terrorists. China was finally pulled into the chaos when Hong Kong was devastated by dirty bombs; and Shanghai damaged, as well. No mercy was shown to the Offenders fighters, and no quarter given governmental officials from their supporting countries. The fighting continued on every land, on every sea, and in the air, for more than twelve years.

  On every continent, armies, militias, and common people fought the Offenders terrorists and their sympathizers, until they were driven out or killed. The Offenders claimed responsibility for the destruction of Vatican City, Jerusalem, Mecca and Medina; all were completely destroyed by dirty nuclear bombs.

  The ultimate destruction of the Middle Eastern region was so complete, and the loss of life so great, there were few survivors. The fires from the burning oil fields sent smoke and soot into the atmosphere for two decades, until they finally burned out. It took more than twenty years for the air to clear around Earth from the burning oil’s smoke and pollution. More than three billion lives were lost in World War III, and the peoples of the Earth decided there would never again be a war amongst themselves.

  This horrible war ended, not with celebrations and parades, but with starvation, radiation sickness, and myriad viruses and plagues affecting millions of the survivors. Nearly another billion people died in the twenty years after the war ended. The leaders of the greatest nations of Earth joined together and formed the United Republics of Earth. One nation, one government, one people, united in peace and equality for all citizens. No one leader ruled the Earth, but a High Council of eleven members. All civilian medical professions and medical services came under URE governmental control, for treatment of the survivors, and the best allocation of resources. The URE utilized remaining military forces for protection and control of land still usable for agriculture, and all fresh water supplies.

  Every able-bodied man and woman was called to work, according to their ability, training and education. Those with business experience were placed into jobs within either the vast government, or in the six large corporations that survived the war, and were given URE approval to continue to operate: Sony General Electric; ALB (Aventis Lilly Bayer) Pharmaceutical; Coca Cola; Nestles; Toyota; and InBev. Ten unions were formed under the URE charter for the trade workers. The armies of all former countries were combined together to form the URE Army; all navies were now URE Naval Forces; and all air forces became the URE Air Force, and the elite Space Forces. The United States Marines and the Royal Marines of the United Kingdom became the Space Marines.

  Under URE law, every man and woman were equal, deserving of work, justice, protection, and fair treatment. Worship of God was encouraged, and local churches, mosques, synagogues and temples soon sprang up
to meet the survivors’ spiritual needs. Everyone had a basic education provided, and individual testing provided the means to select those with above-average abilities for higher education. All health care was free, all transportation necessary for work was free, and all workers had free basic housing, according to their job. Private individuals could own property and homes, but the taxes were very high, and no mortgage was ever offered.

  Many of the natural resources of Earth were either partially or completely destroyed in World War III. The ravaged fields of the Middle East would not produce a crop for over one hundred years. Fortunately, the great plains of the States Region, the Russian Region, and the Argentine Region, continued to produce the finest grains for food. The Asian Region continued to produce rice and soybeans. The oceans produced fish, and seaweed. The people could eat. However, the oil from the Middle East was gone, and the energy catastrophe many prophesized for decades had arrived. Transportation by automobiles and long-haul trucks was impossible, and those vehicles fell prey to the crusher. The railroads and electric-powered transportation were packed with people, trying to get to work and to food distribution centers, twenty-four hours a day. People were forced to walk or bicycle every day to survive. Suburban communities grew into small towns, ringing the larger cities. The first fifty or more years after World War III were a struggle to survive.

  The mining of metals and minerals was, like all natural resource-related industry, taken over by the URE. Human power had to take over for years in the mines, until the machinery could be replaced by equipment that did not require fossil fuel to function. The power grids of the URE were eventually converted to hydrogen fuel cells, in addition to solar and wind power, over the subsequent decades.

  The URE established the Metals, Mining, and Exploration Division approximately sixty years after the end of World War III. New sources for raw ore to produce refined metals were required, since most of Earth’s mines were closed from over-production. It was decided to harvest asteroids from space to obtain the necessary iron and other metals for building materials, and ships were built at the enlarged space stations in orbit around Earth to make the long journey.

  For the first few mining missions, asteroids from the asteroid belt in our own solar system were used, but scientific research came to prove that the delicate balance in our solar system of orbiting planets and their moons might become adversely affected by further disturbance of the asteroid belt. The mining journeys eventually went further out, into deep space.

  Space stations for shipbuilding were constructed between the moon and Mars, and colonies on Mars were established under a plex-dome to house their engineers, workers, and support communities. Mars Colony III grew into a highly desirable place to live, and the largest colony off-Earth for the URE. After over 250 years of mining missions in space, the mining freighter ships grew into massive ships, combining the bridge and engineering sections of military cargo freighters with humongous refineries and harvester bays. Hundreds of trained miners and technicians were required to operate the harvester and crushers at the end of the ships, while the refineries in the center of the vessels smelted the crushed asteroids all the way back to Earth.

  There have always been special elite units of highly trained personnel within the ranks of the military who exhibit superior talent and ability, and perform dangerous or seemingly impossible tasks with excellence. The Praetorian Guard of Rome; Assassins of the Ottoman Empire; United States’ Delta Force, Green Berets, and Navy SEALS, to name a few. The elite fighting men and women of the URE military forces were the Space Marines, tasked with being the first line of defense and the first responders, and were stationed on every military base and space station. Only the best within the Space Marines could qualify as a Prime Marine, the most highly trained military personnel in the entire URE, a coveted achievement.

  After successfully completing the harsh, extreme, and rigid training qualifying for the Prime Marines required, the graduated Prime Marines were bio-enhanced for superior strength and endurance, and their natural eyes replaced with bionic eyes that could see in both light and dark conditions. Their other senses were enhanced, as well, with spinal and brain implants. They became masters of every form of martial arts and weapons usage, and their way was the way of the warrior. They were the most respected members of the military forces. This series introduces the reader to Staff Sergeant John Mason, Prime Marine, of the Space Marines.

  I

  The day was dawning over the California coast; the sun’s light illuminating the water of the deep Pacific. The deep azure began to come into view, teasing the eyes and senses with all its beckoning glory. Nowhere in the quadrant was there any sight as beautiful as the Earth, with her blues and swirling clouds. As the ship flew farther and farther away from Earth and Moon Base, John Mason became lonesome for his birthplace, knowing that it would be seven years before he would see Earth again. But before he let that emotion fill him, and grab hold of his heart, he stiffened his back, and told himself to keep the memory, and ditch the feeling. No time for that here, no place for self-indulgence. He had to have his wits about him, and engage his senses in the tasks at hand.

  He had been assigned to the mining freighter “Hesperia,” as Special Security Chief. She had a mixed crew of 800: military officers and crew manning the bridge and engineering; medical officers, nurses and med tech staff; other assorted officers and crew assigned throughout the ship; totaling 200 Space Forces members. Also on board were the United Republics of Earth Mining Minerals and Exploration civilian research scientists for research projects to be carried out during the long haul; a few civilians, for the limited number of company stores on board; and miners, for the real dirty work. The miners were all union members working under contract for the seven-year flight duration, with little or no education or training in ships’ flight techniques or engineering. They knew mining operations, mining machine maintenance, and all that those duties entailed. They also knew that, once the ship was outside the solar system patrols, they outnumbered the rest of the crew three to one, and ruled the roost.

  Six months ago, the Excelon, the last mining freighter returning from a deep space mission suffered mutiny by the miners, who slaughtered the entire crew, except for those officers absolutely necessary for ship’s flight. They held out near Titan One, until their demands for a tripling of their contract payouts, and a get-away ship, were met. Although they were eventually caught and punished, their notoriety quickly circulated through the entire solar system. There had never been an uprising on a mining freighter before this event. The high cost of lives and lost materials demanded that no such occurrence take place ever again. The URE would not tolerate another disaster of that magnitude. This mission must be successful.

  Lessons learned from that ill-fated flight were applied on Mason’s ship. The miners were a necessary evil, not to be trusted. A full contingent of thirty-two Space Marines was assigned to the Hesperia, including Staff Sergeant John Mason, Prime Marine. He reported only to Captain Kouras, the ship’s captain, and Executive Officer (XO), Commander Baines. The Space Marines were stationed on the bridge, in engineering, in the hospital, mess halls, and even the lounges. Fully armed and resolute, the Marines were determined to have a safe flight, with no crew casualties.

  John Mason joined the Space Marines at seventeen, and had advanced his career at a quick pace. He qualified for the Prime Marines at 20. The Prime Marines were the best of the best, the top caliber Space Marines, trained to master every known martial art, proficient with every weapon, mentally and physically superior. They were specifically bio-modified for deep space missions, capable of enduring extreme periods of solitude, cold, and confinement that drove most men insane. They could survive on minimal rations three times longer than an average man. Few wanted to apply for their ranks, for the billets were usually long, top secret assignments, no frills. Yet, a Prime Marine, whatever his or her rank, was the most highly regarded of all service members. Their life was the “way of th
e warrior.” Every service specialty was minimum requirement for completing their training, whether it was sharp-shooting, piloting various spacecraft and aircraft, high altitude jumping and insertion behind enemy lines, diffusing bombs, deep sea diving, or deep space missions. Every ship’s captain asked for a Prime Marine for bridge duty; few requests were honored. Staff Sergeant John Mason was the bridge Special Security Chief for the Hesperia, and her bridge crew knew they were safer with him in their midst.

  Mason spent one very full month preparing for this journey, studying the technical diagrams of the Hesperia. She was a standard mining freighter class vessel, designed for deep space mining and refining, and specially modified for this mission. Only the garbage haulers were uglier, Mason thought, when he first saw her docked. The mining freighters were the largest ships in the URE fleet, built exclusively for work and service, with few human comforts provided.

  She was made of four main sections. The bow contained self-defense weapons, shields, cargo storage and shuttle bays; followed by the engineering decks; nine decks of crew quarters, hospital, science labs, gyms, kitchens and mess halls; the bridge and communications towers rose from the top. Her mid-section was for refined metals storage. The last two sections were three times the height and twice the width of the first two. The center section was the furnaces and refinery, “Hell,” the miners called it. The stern section was the largest, where the giant arms and claws of the monster gathered and stored raw materials, for crushing and preparation for the refinery. The Hesperia was truly a magnificent beast, and Mason studied her until he could traverse the entire ship, stem to stern, by lifts, ladders, or service tubes.

  She had something no other mining freighter could boast of before her recent outfitting; she had a full armory, defensive as well as offensive weapons, and Space Marines who knew how to use them. Mason was disappointed there were none of the big battle droids for defense, or any of the larger weapons he was used to using. Most of the weapons were laser rifles and side arms, along with an assortment of flasher sets, incendiaries and other smaller arms. At least they had hand shields, metal sticks eight centimeters long that would form a full body shield against laser blasts at the touch of a button.