The Lost Destroyer (Lost Starship Series Book 3)

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Book: Read The Lost Destroyer (Lost Starship Series Book 3) for Free Online
Authors: Vaughn Heppner
had led the science team in the Oort cloud studying Victory . After the professor, Dana knew more about the ancient starship than anyone else.
    “You look troubled,” Dana said.
    Maddox gave her a quick rundown of the situation, including the stun shots against the professor.
    The doctor listened, her features hardening into an increasingly serious mien. She was a solemn person by nature, driven to excellence and hard work. Maddox believed it bothered her that others considered Ludendorff the cleverest person in existence. Dana wanted the title for herself.
    “You stunned him?” Dana asked, as if wanting clarification of a delicious fact.
    Maddox nodded.
    “I would have liked to see that,” she said, with the ghost of a smile.
    Those were rare. Dana appeared to believe she had to save smiles for special occasions, as if she only had a limited supply and had to stretch them for the entirety of her existence.
    “I doubt he admitted to any wrongdoing, though,” Dana said.
    “What makes you say that?”
    “The professor is always right. Haven’t we heard him say that enough times so it’s become a divine fiat?”
    Maddox had never heard the professor claim perfection, although, to be fair, Ludendorff had never admitted to being wrong, either.
    “I’m curious,” Maddox said. “How were you able to mutiny against Ludendorff in the Adok System?”
    “Why ask me that now? It happened a long time ago.”
    “Indulge me, Doctor.”
    Dana’s features tightened as she became thoughtful.
    Many years ago, Ludendorff had led an expedition into the Beyond, searching for a legend. That legend had been Starship Victory , although no one had known the vessel’s name then. All anyone knew—or said they did—was that a lonely alien warship guarded a destroyed star system. It turned out the ancient Swarm had attacked the Adoks over six thousand years ago. The Swarm had advanced at sub-light speed, knowing nothing about Laumer-Points or star drives. The battle had left every planet in the system as shattered rubble, with thousands of drifting, useless space hulks. Ludendorff’s team had found the “lost” star system and witnessed Victory making its rounds through the debris. The professor had wanted to board the ancient warship. Dana had led others in a mutiny, escaping the star system before the ancient vessel could kill them.
    “We’re in the middle of an emergency,” Dana said. “If you’ve seen a ghostly vessel—and Per Lomax sought to reach it—we must concentrate on that, not on my past.”
    “I’m talking to you about your past precisely because of the ghostly ship,” Maddox said.
    “I fail to see the connection.”
    “Ludendorff found the ancient Adok System,” Maddox said. “He succeeded where everyone else had failed.”
    “We don’t know that’s true. Others likely succeeded in reaching the star system and died to Victory .”
    “You’re missing the key element,” Maddox said. “Ludendorff hunted for an ancient alien starship. The ghostly vessel in the ion storm would indicate there’s more than one such ancient craft in existence. The reality of Kane’s silver pyramid—the Nexus—proves other artifacts are sprinkled throughout the galaxy. If anyone should know about ancient vessels, it would be Ludendorff.”
    “So why ask about my mutiny?”
    “To learn more about Ludendorff,” Maddox said. “I know he fixates on ancient aliens. He was on Wolf Prime studying Swarm relics. What motivates him to do that?”
    “Curiosity,” Dana said.
    “Why such fixated curiosity over ancient aliens? There are many other things in existence to be curious about.”
    Dana tilted her head as if thinking deeply. “You’ve jumped to a conclusion I’m not sure is correct. Why do you believe the ghostly vessel is ancient?”
    Maddox had been waiting for the question. “Have you ever heard of such a ship before?”
    “No.”
    “If the New Men had the ghostly vessel, wouldn’t they have already

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