The Gatekeeper Chronicles, Book 1: Escape from Prison Base Luna

By Terrence McCauley

ONE CRISIS, ONE MARSHALL
A hijacked star freighter...
A lunar prison under siege...
A Space Marshall sent to face it all alone.
In his first foray into science fiction, Terrence McCauley (winner of three New Pulp Awards in 2014) crafts a fast-paced, exciting story for the debut of The Gate Keeper Chronicles, McCauley’s Pro Se Single Shot Signature Series of digital singles.
Space Marshall Kyle Mackey is a Gate Keeper - one of the members of the Space Marshall Service to watch for unauthorized entry through the portal that allows near-instantaneous travel between Earth and Mars. But when his ship is attacked by a hijacked star freighter, Mackey feels something's not right. And when he's sent to investigate a downed transmitter at the moon's Prison Base Luna, he's absolutely sure of it. The only question: can he find the answers he needs before he loses his life?

The Gate Keeper Chronicles: Escape from Prison Base Luna is the first entry in McCauley's thrilling Gatekeeper Trilogy and the newest Pro Se Single Shot Signature Series!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Pro Se Press
• Release date: Jan 21, 2015
• ISBN: 9781310270253

Book preview

THE GATE KEEPER CHRONICLES 1:

ESCAPE FROM PRISON BASE LUNA

by Terrence McCauley

Published by Pro Se Press

Part of the SINGLE SHOTS SIGNATURE line

This book is a work of fiction. All of the characters in this publication are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead is purely coincidental. No part or whole of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage or retrieval system, without the permission in writing of the publisher.

Copyright © 2015 Terrence McCauley

All rights reserved.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 1

Captain Kyle Mackey of the Gate Keeper Unit of the Space Marshall Service toggled his Prowler’s instrument screen as his star fighter drifted through space. Riding the vacuum of space and nothing more.

Normally, he would’ve killed time by listening to music or watching a video feed from Earth, but this wasn’t that kind of assignment. He’d been ordered to remain undetectable while watching space traffic into and out of Mars Gate. Protocol dictated that all systems except for life support and communications had to be dark so his Prowler scanned as just another hunk of dead metal floating through space.

Since Mackey considered himself something of a historian, he thought of his assignment as an old fashioned speed trap that cops used to set up on sides of roads and highways. He was supposed to make sure only ships with prior authorization used the Martian gateway. He was also supposed to deter smaller star fighters like his Prowler from joyriding through the Gate to the growing Martian colony.

It was a shitty assignment and one he probably deserved. The Marshall Service didn’t like to be defied and he’d defied them big time. He knew he’d get his chance to get out from under them. It was only a matter of time before he caught a break, but until then, he bided his time and did whatever they told him to do.

He’d checked in millions of tons of starships through the portal that day and he was only half way through his shift. Since the invention and construction of the gateway that could bend the fabric of space, the push to settle and develop Mars had grown at an enormous rate. But not every ship was built for the trip. Freighters and military vessels and some cruise liners had the bulk and internal systems needed to survive the rigors of traveling through the gate unharmed.

Small ships like star fighters and his Prowler could theoretically make the jump – in fact, many had - but were more likely to incur damage along the way and require rescue on the other side. The settlement of Mars was still in its early stages without all the rapid rescue capabilities of the Terran system. Joy riders through the gate were a pain in the ass.

Mackey felt himself begin to fall asleep, so he took a VitaTab from the MediPak in the pouch of his flight suit and swallowed it. The tiny pill had enough adrenalin to give him the boost he needed to get through his shift.

He was glad when his radio came to life. G-K Two-Niner-Three, this is Lunar Command. Do you copy?

At least someone remembered he was alive. Mackey hit the reply button. Lunar Command, this is G-K Two-Niner-Three. I copy, over.

A familiar, but less friendly voice came over the air. G-K Two-Niner-Three, switch to SecCom Alpha.

Mackey knew this couldn’t be good news. Space Marshall Luis Polanco was a careful man who never took conversations off the official bandwidth unless it was important. Or another shit assignment to punish him for his supposed insubordination.

Mackey switched to Security Communications Channel Alpha and braced for whatever chew-out session Polanco would throw at him. Mackey here.

Anything to report?

Since they were on a secure channel, proper radio protocol wasn’t required. Your screen reads the same as mine, boss. You tell me.

I guess you’re still pouting because I took your toy away from you.

Mackey knew Polanco was talking about the grounding of his Prowler and the system he’d installed in her. Not at all, sir, he lied. "I’m following my mission objective, just