Read The Cagliostro Chronicles for Free Online

else’s return. Then we all get the hell out of there. I’m, not allowing us to walk into an unknown city on an unknown planet without being armed. If we have to, we’ll figure this out another way. I have to warn you all though, I’m putting us out there as targets as much as we are there looking for info. I want whoever is gunning for us to know we are there.”
    “So we have big bulls-eyes on our backs.” Red observed.
    “Pretty much , Red. We have to make sense of all of this. This may be the only way to do that.”
    Robinski nodded in agreement and sa t back quietly.
    “Anyone else have any questions or concerns?”
    No one replied, as they looked at each other about the table.
    “I’m not going to candy coat this for any of you. This is going to be dangerous.”
    They all nodded in understanding.
    “All right. Gear up. Meet at the shuttle dock. The Stargrazer is being prepped right now , as we speak. We launch in fifty five minutes. See you all at the ‘Grazer.”
    They all stoo d and exited the room talking amongst themselves. Ariel sidled up to Mark as the room emptied. “You know we’re walking into a target range, right? This can’t get any more dangerous.”
    “I already said that didn’t I?” he answered with some annoyance.
    “Relax tiger; I’m on your side.”
    “I know Ari. I wish I didn’t need you at my side, but I do. Your telepathy will be a plus down there.”
    “Don’t worry about me; I can take care of myself,” she replied as she pulled her gun from its holster and checked its charge pack.
    “Of that I have no doubt. There’s goin to be a lot we’ll have to watch down there. Do your best to screen out random thoughts and of course only look for thoughts centering on us.”
    “You do know we don’t even know what the indigenous species looks like, right?”
    Mark sighed, “Of course I do, Ari. C’mon let’s get ready, maybe I’ll even help you get dressed, if you’re a bad girl that is.”
    “Oooo, I can be bad, I can be very bad.” She fluffed her long, wavy blonde hair and cooed in his ear as they exited the conference room. All the while Mark Johnson fought a feeling of overwhelming dread as they entered Ariel’s quarters.
     
    ***
    Less than an hour later the entire command crew was gathered in the shuttle bay as Johnson and Ariel joined them. There were several small shuttle ships within the docking bay, and one larger, sleeker craft. It had a rounded nose and wings that jutted out from its sides and swept back on rounded curves resolving in points at the back of the ship. The craft was a gleaming beauty; beneath it two of the magno-disc engines spun slowly as pre-flight testing was being completed. The ship was large enough to hold six crew and supplies for any extended spaceflight, including bunks and sleeping quarters.
    “Are we ready to go?” Mark asked as he walked up the entry ramp into the smaller ship.
    “Just about.” Dan Sledge replied from within the Stargrazer. “Performing final pre-flight checklist right now.”
    “Very good Dan. Let’s get aboard and settled in.”
    The others followed, carrying duffle bags over their shoulders, filled with a few days’ clothes and gear.
    Within minutes they were strapped into their chairs on the command deck of the small ship which was really only one level, with the storage space and sleeping quarters behind the command deck or flight bridge.
    Mark and Dan sat in the two forward chairs and worked virtual control interfaces powering up the ships engines. Instantly the ship rose up off the deck and slowly move d towards what appeared to be a garage door, which began to rise as they approached it.
    Mark thumbed the communicator control and instantly was in contact with the Cagliostro’s command deck. “Mr. Jefferson, we are about to leave the Cagliostro, are you firmly in command of my ship?”
    T he view screen on the console before Mark sprang to life, and Miles Jefferson, a young black man smiled as his