Read The Ninth: Invasion for Free Online Page A

land.”
    “Land?” Cain asked in surprise.  “You mean this rust bucket is a lander?”
    “Those were scorch marks on the hull,” Owen answered.  “The ship isn’t old, it’s just had a hard life.”
    “Okay, who thought that was fun?” Angela asked sharply.
    “ What ?”  Sanderson started surveying the shaken up troopers.
    “Even though Cain did a good job, I could still sense some emotions.  When the Wall passed through our section, someone was actually enjoying themselves.”
    “I thought I heard a faint laugh.”  Marie looked behind her.
    “Don’t look at us,” Kindra said in response to Marie’s questioning gaze.  “Sanderson was white-knuckled the whole time.”
    Abruptly, the ship started shaking slightly.  Dante, Hiroko, Owen and Erin frantically worked to make sure they were properly secured in their seats.
    “Relax, the ship is just entering the atmosphere,” Ronald said as he, too, secured himself.  “This isn’t an exam.”
    “Once bitten, twice shy,” Owen said as he fastened the last strap.
    The shaking intensified only slightly.  Compared to what they had been through when they first arrived on the academy, it was no worse than a shiver.  However, the four troopers from recruit group C still anticipated the worst.  The horrible crash landings of their exams were not easily forgotten.  They sat perfectly still, bracing for any sign of trouble.  When the shaking finally subsided, they let out a collective sigh.  The rear doorway slid open, and Tyra marched to the front of the room.
    “We’ve certainly had worse trips.”  Tyra was clearly troubled as she addressed her squad.  “I’ve been informed we landed without a problem.  The Governor has requested that we all meet with him right away.”
    The troopers released their restrains and followed Tyra through the ship.  She easily navigated through the narrow corridors to the disembarkation room.  When they arrived, Tyra hesitated.  Ronald put a hand on Tyra’s shoulder.
     
     
     
     
     

Chapter 2: Deriso
    “I’m sure everything will be fine,” Ronald said reassuringly.
    “I promised myself I’d never return here.”  Tyra kicked the floor plating.
    “Orders are orders.”
    “I barely managed to escape the last time . . .”
    “This time you’ve got help.”
    Brent could hear Hiroko sighing contentedly.  She sounded like someone reading a romance novel.  Owen was trying not to laugh.  The hatch of the ship opened to a pale sky.  The landing pad was nestled in the center of a large complex of short, dirty-looking buildings.  It was the complete opposite of the academy.  Instead of gleaming white surfaces, the streets were caked in filth.  The walls of the buildings looked dilapidated, as if they were going to collapse at any moment.
    The citizens were shorter than Brent had expected; they stared at the troopers with contempt.  Four long rows of women and men in blue uniforms with the familiar red “V”s waited for them.  The uniforms were dirty and wrinkled.  They were all holding rifles, but not one of them was doing it properly.  It looked like they’d do more harm to themselves than an enemy force.  Even the washout grade of the academy had looked professional compared to the sad rows.
    “A Protectorate honor guard,” Cain said with a warm smile.  “They are really pulling out all the stops for us.”
    Tyra walked forward uneasily.  The Protectorate split into two columns, clearing a path for the troopers.  As they passed the rows, Brent noticed one of the youngest Protectorates was about to drop his rifle.  Quickly rushing to the boy, he managed to catch the rifle before it hit the ground.  The boy grew pale.  Brent noticed the citizens going about their business had stopped and were staring at him, a look of great concern on their faces.
    He straightened out the boy’s uniform and corrected his posture so he was facing forward properly.  When his stance was corrected,