In the near future, Earth becomes caught in the middle of an extraterrestrial turf war when the human species finds itself hopelessly entangled in a race between two alien species-the Octans and the Jubans-to colonize the galaxy. At a time when Earth's resources are stretched beyond their limits, the Octans, a seemingly benevolent species, offer Earth advanced technology to help resolve its food and energy crises if they will help in the colonization of distant planets. The Octans also promise to provide the colonists with their basic needs in order to thrive on their new home worlds-food, clothing and shelter. Planning expert Mike Silver shocks his family and friends by joining a colony destined for the supposedly uninhabited planet Kepler 14b. He steps up and is quickly elected city planner-only to find himself appointed mayor right before the colonists leave Earth. Unknown to either the Octans or the humans, a clandestine team of the competing alien species-the Jubans-is sent to Earth to disrupt the formation of the human colonies. The new colonists quickly learn that their uninhabited home is anything but. Kepler is full of countless new and strange animals and several cave-dwelling tribes. The colonists struggle to adapt, but just as the colony appears successful, Mike's abilities are further tested. He must assume multiple roles as an Octan ambassador, justice, and even sheriff to help resolve problems that are threatening the very survival of the far-flung human colonies. When both the Octans and the Jubans lay claim to the same colony, Mike must step up his game like never before as he now represents Earth in negotiations to prevent a resumption of hostilities between the two alien species.

THE 25TH COLONY

By LARRY RHODES

iUniverse, Inc.

Copyright © 2011 Larry Rhodes
All right reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4620-4451-1

Chapter One

Marisela Gomez wiped the sweat from her eyes as she watched her boyfriend Jason Steele effortlessly wield a machete to clear the brush ahead of them. She was regretting the day she asked to join his latest expedition in the Amazon jungle—to find the elusive and massive Green Anaconda. Although it was still early in the morning, wisps of steam rose from the dense underbrush. She felt the eyes of the expedition members behind her as she pulled a water bottle from her backpack.

"Jason, would you like some water?"

He paused and glanced back. "There's a clearing ahead. We'll stop there for a moment." Marisela took a quick drink and returned the bottle to her backpack as Jason resumed his fierce hacking of the vines and bushes ahead. She wasn't swinging a machete, but her arm was sore from constantly swatting the horde of buzzing and stinging insects Jason was stirring. She swatted yet another pesky gigantic mosquito on her neck and glanced behind at the team's cameraman. He was straining under the weight of a TV camera on one shoulder and another large bag of equipment dangling from his other shoulder. He was sweating profusely while he fanned himself with his hat, but managed to smile weakly at her. The team porters were used to the heat and humidity of a typical January summer morning and waiting patiently to move on. One porter grinned a toothless grin at her as she shifted her backpack to a more comfortable position.

Once in the clearing, Marisela found a fallen tree trunk without any obvious crawling insects and flopped on it with a sigh of relief. She pulled a handkerchief from her backpack and wiped her face and neck. After another drink of water, she applied more mosquito repellent and breathed a huge sigh. What was I thinking? When Jason and the lead porter left to scout ahead, she had time to reflect on her relationship with Jason Steele. As a features reporter for the most successful TV station in Sao Paolo, Brazil, she had often interviewed Jason when he returned from his famous expeditions. Over time, they had become close friends and eventually a couple. She was still amazed at his determination and resourcefulness in finding sponsors for his various adventures.

Jason was somewhat of a legend even among adventurers and survivalists. At thirty, he had taken every risk possible to satisfy an insatiable desire to experience danger first-hand. In college, he had compiled a list of 25 "high risk adventures" to master, and his degree in mechanical engineering provided the knowledge he needed to devise the special gear he would need for his expeditions. Since then he had hunted crocodiles in Africa with only a knife, swum with sharks in Australia, helped scientists document penguin migration in Antarctica, re-traced the Stanley Livingstone Expedition across Africa, skydived into a volcano in Hawaii, and explored volcanic caves in Mexico that most cavers were afraid to set foot in.

His latest venture in the Amazon was no less risky. There was a $50,000 reward for anyone capturing a Green Anaconda more than thirty feet long, and Jason was determined to win it. The capture would be adventure number eighteen on his list.

Unfortunately, adventurous expeditions are costly and sponsors are required. After some searching, Jason found a zoo willing to fund three weeks in the Amazon, with the stipulation that a camera crew accompany his usual support team. The team of four porters and camera crew had grown when his girlfriend asked to come along and Jason reluctantly agreed.

Many of the local Amerinds claimed to have seen gigantic Green Anacondas, but none could furnish sufficient proof to claim the reward. A large snake made a heavy burden to transport, and the skin was both illegal to sell and inadequate as proof, as it could be stretched. The zoo was offering a financial incentive if he could bring one back alive. He was determined to claim the record, the prize, and the zoo's incentive.

The oppressive heat and humidity of the Amazon would have sapped the energy of a less experienced hunter, but Jason had recently spent months looking for rare and exotic birds for the Brazilian zoo and he was up to the task. After searching along rapidly flowing streams and river estuaries for a week, Jason was encouraged by sighting of a more common yellow version and even a small Green Anaconda. He often trekked for hours at a time, taxing the hiking ability of Marisela as well as the cameraman and reporter following at a discreet distance. Fortunately, for them, Jason never ventured more than an hour or so from one of the Amazon's tributaries and the expedition's flat-bottom support boat that followed the team, and provided a safe harbor from the many nocturnal animals that prowled at night.

On the evening of the eighth day, while the rest of the team was recovering from the day's trek, Jason finally spotted a large Green, sunning itself near the river's bank only a hundred meters from the boat. It was partially hidden in some brush and he wondered if it was big enough.

Jason signaled the boat's captain, and as the boat pulled to shore, he readied his tranquilizer gun and slipped quietly through the jungle. An impatient wave kept Marisela, the cameraman and the reporter on the boat with his porters. As he deftly stepped over a fallen tree, a massive coil of another Green tripped him, knocking him to the ground. Any human or animal would have panicked as the huge snake quickly wrapped itself around him and started to squeeze. Jason, however, didn't panic and managed to fire the tranquilizer dart. It quickly became a race to see if the tranquilizer would work before the air in Jason's lungs was gone. He concentrated on keeping his lungs inflated, breathing shallowly. He dared not use air to yell to the team for help. His field of vision was narrowing, black closing in from the sides, when he felt the massive coils start to relax. He was finally able to take a deep breath and push the coils off.

As he stood up, his vision cleared and he remembered the other Green that was sunning itself. Maybe it was a mate of this monster! He crouched over and ran to the nearest tree. He was leaning against it, still breathing hard, when the other snake slithered into view. Jason reloaded the tranquilizer gun and waited. The Green slithered around the tranquilized Green until it saw him. The huge snake moved so fast he barely had time to raise the tranquilizer gun and fire it into its neck. At the last moment, it turned, and one of its coils rammed his feet, knocking him forward over it and against another coil. But Jason was ready this time. He didn't need two snakes alive and he jabbed his knife into this one as it slithered over him. The gash grew as the snake tried to encircle him. After a few moments it became still. Jason pushed away the single coil wrapped around him and stood up. This one was dead, but the other one was starting to move weakly and trying to slither away! Jason yelled to the team and camera crew. They came running and found him standing over the still groggy snake with both feet on its tail. Jason smiled when he saw his revolver in Marisela's hand. She swallowed hard and ran forward to hug him.

Michael Allred, the reluctant reporter on the crew stared in disbelief. "Are you all right?"

"Yes. Help me measure this one." Jason and Marisela were already pulling on it to stretch it out. The cameraman filmed them trying to measure the massive Green. The drug was starting to wear off and the snake slipped out of Michael's hand and was starting to coil around Marisela's legs. She screamed and Jason pulled out his revolver from his waistband and hit it on the head. "Son of a bitch! This is one tough reptile."

Together, the three managed to stretch it out long enough to measure it. Jason let out a triumphant yell. "Ten point seven meters!" He looked up at the camera. "That's more than thirty-five feet." Michael pulled his notepad out and mumbled the words a few times and began his report. He was so excited it took three tries before he was coherent and satisfied with the report. Marisela even filmed a report for her TV station. By that time, Jason had returned from the boat with the porters who were carrying a suitable cage. The whole team joined in to tug, cajole and stuff the huge Green into the cage. When they all sat down to rest, Jason pulled a long drink from his water bottle. But all too soon, the dead Green started to draw all sorts of flying, wriggling and crawling creatures eager for dinner, and it seemed time to leave.

The porters slid two poles through loops in the top of the cage and struggled to pick it up. Jason commented to Marisela the snake probably weighed 200 kilograms or over 400 pounds. Together, the entire team managed to heft the cage onto the boat. The trip down the river was uneventful until Jason heard a low rumbling noise, something like a sonic boom, and saw a bright flash of light a short distance ahead.

Marisela turned to him. "What the hell was that?"

"I don't know." Jason motioned to the captain and the boat swerved onto the shore. He maneuvered around the cage with the angry anaconda, pushed past Marisela, Michael and Markus, and jumped ashore. "I'll be right back. Stay with the boat." He stopped, looked back, and saw the anxious looks on their faces. "Here, take this." He tossed his revolver to Marisela who fumbled with it and gave it to Markus. Jason laughed.

He saw a dull red glow in the jungle, and pushed toward it. The sun was going down so he had to make this fast; no one with any sense traveled through the Amazon at night.

Chapter Two

Maru Gren

The Juban warship landed silently in the Brazilian Amazon. Maru Gren was applying a protective cream on her face and hands as the main door and ramp opened. Momus Bluf walked outside to determine if it were safe for Maru to leave. A moment later he motioned to Maru and she walked quickly outside and down the ramp carrying the equivalent of a large backpack. She stopped at the bottom of the ramp and stared at a forbidding swamp filled with strange odors and cries of unknown animals as this planet's sun was going down. She dropped her backpack and walked back up the ramp to the door where mission leader Grus Harm, Toma Hars and Momus Bluf were watching her.

"Where is this place?" She demanded of Grus. "You were supposed to leave me near a large human city—Sao Paulo."

"We seemed to have made a small navigational error." replied Grus. "You can still find your way to your target. Now go! We must leave before we are discovered."

"We are in the middle of a jungle! Who would discover us?"

Grus pointed. "That human."

Maru turned quickly and saw a human running away. She uttered a curse so vile, Grus and Toma laughed as they watched her sprint down the ramp after the human. Grus turned to re-enter the ship, and found his path blocked by an angry Momus Bluf. "If you make another small navigation error when you drop me off, I'll search this planet until I find you." Momas warned him.

"The navigator has been suitably disciplined. There will be no more mistakes."

Momus stared at the dense jungle into which Maru had disappeared, then walked to the bottom of the ramp.

* * *

Jason found the warship as Maru was walking back up the ramp. He had a moment to notice that the craft was huge and green, blending well with the jungle. He stared at four large, human-like shapes in the open doorway and noticed a pistol or sidearm at the waist of one. Oh, my God! At least they're not reptiles, or giant slugs. Jason felt his stomach churning. All his expeditions had not prepared him for this. One of the larger hulking shapes pointed at him, and the smallest one started to run toward him. He suddenly realized he didn't have his own revolver, and bolted into the jungle.

Maru chased him through the jungle, until she finally closed the gap and tackled him. But this was not one of the weak, worthless humans she had been instructed she would find; this human was strong. He fought her off, and they stood up and circled each other. To an untrained observer, what followed could have mistaken for a martial arts demonstration. Neither had a weapon, other than hands and years of training. It turned out to be nearly a draw until the human obtained a small advantage and flipped Maru on her back. He was quickly on top of her, their faces so close that a drop of blood from a cut over his eyebrow fell in her eye. As his DNA coursed through her body, she felt a sudden jolt of energy. She was fighting him off when suddenly he rolled off her, and she saw Momus standing over him with a large tree branch. Her eye started watering and she wiped it with her sleeve. "Why didn't you just shoot him?"

"There are other humans near here. They might be able to detect an energy blast, and we do not want to give our mission away." Momus tossed Maru her backpack. "You should know—I have removed all technology devices that could give us away."

"You can't leave me without a weapon!"

"You are a well-trained warrior. You will do well. Just remember why you are here."

"I know why I'm here." As she picked up her backpack, she had to wipe her eye again.

"Then here is your first test case. Until we meet again ..." He turned and walked away in the direction of the ship.

Maru stood over the unconscious human. Momus was right. Her goal was to find a technique for disabling humans that would not lead to her discovery, and then to apply that technique when the time came. She knelt on one knee and stared at her first human. She had never seen yellow hair before. This one was muscular and certainly was not weak. His shirt was torn and she stared in fascination at the hair on his chest. No Juban had that, and she found herself running her fingers through his chest hair, wondering what he was like. She rubbed her watering eye that was now starting to itch.

Jason's head was pounding as consciousness returned. He felt something moving lightly through his chest hair. This is all a dream. I'll wake up soon. He slowly opened his eyes and saw the Juban warrior woman staring at him. What the hell, this is a dream anyway. He put his hand on her arm softly and they stared at each other for a moment.

Her first instinct was to try and knock him out again, but his blue eyes distracted her and for some reason she couldn't explain, she was strangely drawn to him. She grabbed his hand and pulled him up.

Darkness was setting in as Jason had his first good look at her. She had human-like eyes and ears, a mouth and nose. She was a little taller than he, with the physique of a female bodybuilder, but with a very small waist. Her skin was light gray and her hair was a bright orange. Even stranger, her irises were also orange which gave her a somewhat ominous look. She was wearing a tight metallic looking outfit and carrying a large black backpack. He noticed a small white box on a metallic band around her neck.

Her voice reminded him of computer-generated recordings. "Tell no one about me, or I will find and kill you." She stared at him for a moment, then turned and walked quickly into the forest, wiping her watering eye.

Jason stared after her until she was gone. As he brushed off his shirt sleeves, a shiny metal object on the ground caught his attention. A clip of some kind. A hair clip? It must be hers. He stuffed it into his pocket and walked slowly back to the boat, rubbing his throbbing head.

"Well, what was it?" Markus asked as he handed Jason his revolver.

"I didn't find it. I thought it might be a meteorite, but I couldn't find anything—no fire or anything ..."

Marisela noticed his clothing. "What happened to you? Your clothes are torn."

"I tripped over some vines. It's getting dark, we need to go."

When Jason passed her, something caught her attention. What was that scent? Perfume?

"Are you sure, you didn't find anything?"

What was wrong with her? "I'm sure." He motioned them to get on the boat, then pushed it back into the water and pulled himself aboard with a rope. When he happened to glance at Marisela she was staring at him with a questioning look. He might tell her about his encounter someday, but not today. The rest of the trip back to Sao Paulo was uneventful, or as uneventful as a trip with a 35-foot Anaconda can be, but Jason couldn't take his mind off his encounter in the jungle. His head still hurt, and he wondered if he had somehow fallen, hit his head, and dreamed the whole thing. But if it was a dream, why did she speak to him in English instead of Portuguese? He rubbed his aching head again. If he spoke of it, no one would believe him. He had no physical evidence, other than a small, ordinary looking metal hair clip. He would just be another nut who talked about aliens encounters. He couldn't take that chance if he ever wanted to find sponsors for future adventures.

(Continues...)

Excerpted from THE 25TH COLONYby LARRY RHODES Copyright © 2011 by Larry Rhodes. Excerpted by permission of iUniverse, Inc.. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
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