The Ktarran Saga – Jettisoned, Sentinel Star, and Earth Besieged. Three stories by Sam Barone describing Earth’s first contact with a hostile alien empire
Jettisoned – the Lady Drake, an ore freighter inbound from Jupiter’s moon, Io, is carrying the most valuable cargo ever discovered – an alien spaceship found underneath the volcanic surface of Jupiter’s moon. The ship’s captain is determined to kill off most of the crew, so that the discovery remains his alone. But the ship’s navigator, despite being trapped outside the ship, is determined to stay alive.
PLEASE NOTE: Jettisoned is a novella, approximately 70 pages, or about 40 minutes of reading time. Kindle version is $0.99 cents.
Sentinel Star
The full length sequel to Jettisoned is Sentinel Star, by Sam Barone. The story of Earth’s first contact with an alien civilization. And this time they don’t come in peace.
A sci-fi novel set in the year 2052, 131,600 words. Hard science fiction. Potential Audience: readers of science-fiction, action/adventure, thrillers, military readers.
CLICK HERE FOR FULL KIRKUS REVIEW!
Sentinel Star is a psychological and realistic SF thriller, with non-stop action that takes place over the course of eight days. Synopsis: The year is 2052. The three most powerful nations, China, Russia, and the United States, have formed a loose military Alliance that allows them to maintain economic control over the planet, the lunar bases, and Jupiter’s mineral-rich moon, Io. Then instruments aboard the International Space Station detect anomalous energy readings emanating from Jupiter. The Station’s specialists realize that six alien space ships have appeared, and that a space battle is underway.
Suddenly our solar system has become a battleground between two powerful alien forces. The Station’s team is stunned by what they see. The alien ships apparently have enormously powerful energy weapons. Worse, the two surviving ships, moving at speeds far beyond current technology, are heading for planet Earth. Arrival is estimated in sixty hours. When the alien ships do reach Earth’s environs, their first stop is likely to be the Space Station.
The governments of China, Russia and the United States are notified, and an immediate news blackout is ordered to prevent global panic. In the US, General Klegg, USAF, is given emergency powers to plan for the alien appearance. Petty cross-factions within the Alliance will have to be set aside if humanity hopes to survive.
Working with China and Russia, Klegg prepares to establish communications with the aliens. A nine person team, including two professional soldiers and explosive experts, is assembled from Alliance members, the largest number the Station will support. At the same time, he begins the planning for planetary defense, if necessary.
Leading the contact team is Marine Captain Delano, a gifted linguist. Pulled out of a warm bed in Paris, he is flown to the Pentagon, briefed by General Klegg, then rushed to Spaceport, New Mexico. A spaceplane is waiting, and within hours Delano and his team of hastily-assembled space rookies are on their way to the Space Station.
The governments of China, Russia and the United States are notified, and an immediate news blackout is ordered to prevent global panic. In the US, General Klegg, USAF, is given emergency powers to plan for the alien appearance. Petty cross-factions within the Alliance will have to be set aside if humanity hopes to survive.
Delano’s orders are simple. Make first contact with the aliens, learn their language, and determine why they’ve come to Earth. And by the way, don’t let the Station or its specialists fall into alien hands. Blow up the Station, and yourself, if necessary.
As communication progresses, Delano realizes that these aliens are fleeing another species bent on conquering other worlds, and Earth is next on their list. The Alliance militaries have nothing that can defend against this advanced species capable of destroying entire cities in minutes. Now it’s up to Delano to find a way to save himself, his team, and Earth from destruction.
Earth Besieged
Earth Besieged is a sci-fi novel set in the year 2052, 416 pages, 148,000 words. Hard science fiction. Potential Audience: readers of science-fiction, action/adventure, thrillers, military readers.
The heroes of Sentinel Star, Colonel Delano and Dr. Duan Lian, find themselves thrust into the unlikely role of planetary defense leaders. To save the planet from invasion, the two lovers are given unimaginable powers. Now all they have to do is unite the governments and create a force to save the planet. Worldwide chaos and confusion spread, as the planet reacts to a new, life and death crisis. Weapons and ships must be built, men and women trained to fly and fight, and incredible logistics will be needed to support the planetary effort.
They have a mere 17 months to prepare Earth for the coming alien invasion, expected to be an irresistible force by the Ktarran Empire. Old ideologies must be set aside.How will the governments of Earth react to the new Planetary Defense Force headed by Delano and Lian? Will the people of Earth accept planetary martial law, even to save the planet and themselves?
Immense difficulties must be overcome, if Earth is to survive. But Delano and Lian are determined to save the planet. Will they be able to save themselves and their love for each other?