VS: From HOSTAGE TO THE STARS. I was fascinated by the way Special Forces does and doesn’t rescue hostages here on Earth and wrote a novel set in the stars based on that premise. The Main Male Character is a reader favorite from an earlier book who they insisted had to have his own story.
“Excuse me,” Sara said, “Was the earlier announcement about pirates on the level?”
The crew member didn’t stop walking but she gave Sarah an odd look, “It’s not a rare occurrence in this quadrant. Unfortunately for us, we were stopped to make minor repairs on the engines in this old bucket and the pirates were out hunting.” She stepped into the gravlift and Sara followed. “I’ve been through this before.”
Sara digested the information as she ascended next to the stewardess. “So what happens next?”
“The pirates are mostly interested in our cargo – probably offloading it now in fact,” Her companion shrugged, “Everything’s insured.”
This incident would make an exciting tidbit to tell people about when she got home. “So the raiders don’t bother the passengers and crew?”
Bad assumption on Sara’s part….more next week!
The story:
He rescued her from space pirates … but can he keep them both safe from the far greater evil stalking a deserted planet?
Space travel without Kidnap & Ransom insurance? Not a good idea. University instructor and researcher Sara Bridges can’t afford it, so when pirates board her cruise liner, she’s taken captive along with the mistress of a wealthy man, and brought to a deserted planet. When a military extraction team sent to rescue the mistress refuses to take Sara too, she’s left to the mercies of a retired Special Forces soldier, along as consultant.
Reluctantly reactivated and coerced into signing up for the rescue operation to the planet Farduccir where he once was deployed, Sgt. Johnny Danver just wants to get the job done. But when the team leader leaves one captured woman behind, he breaks away to rescue her himself.
As Johnny and Sara traverse the barren landscape, heading for an abandoned base where they hope to call Sectors Command for help, they find villages destroyed by battle and stripped of all inhabitants. A lone survivor tells a horrific tale of the Sectors’ alien enemy, the Mawreg, returning after being pushed out …
Searching for evidence to give the military, Johnny is captured. He regains consciousness in a Mawreg cage–with Sara next to him. Death is preferable to what the aliens will do to them… And even if they do escape their captors, can they alert the military in time to prevent another invasion of the Sectors?
Standalone sequel to Mission To Mahjundar (mild spoilers for Mahjundar in this story.)
Buy Links: Amazon Kobo Apple Books Barnes & Noble
Great excerpt, Veronica. Loved this book. Sara is in so much trouble!
Thanks, Diane!
Bad assumption indeed! A very intriguing snippet! 🙂
“So the raiders don’t bother the passengers and crew?” Famous last words?
I really enjoyed this book. It was one of my favorites of yours.
I’m so glad you enjoyed it, Cara! I had fun writing this one…
Wonderful! And boy does she have it wrong. Hugs, dear GF.
Uhuh! One really shouldn’t assume things!
So one need to read Mission to Mahjundar first?
I made the book as much of a standalone story as I could, and I think in general readers have been ok with it, and then going to read the earlier book after ‘meeting’ Johnny in this one. Of course, it’s not a bad thing to read Mission to Mahjundar first 🙂
Cool! 🙂 …oh! Saw that it was possible to get it with an audible addon so I bought it. 🙂 It’s great being able to “read” while driving to and from work. 🙂
TYVM, I hope you’ll enjoy the audiobook. I love my narrator 🙂 We haven’t gotten to the audio for Hostage yet, hopefully next year…
In trucking, we’d call this a “no-touch” load, even if we were pirates. I have a feeling they’re not going to get away quite so easy, though!
According to the blurb, she has a lot to learn!
Yes, poor Sara finds out in just a few more sentences that she’s in trouble. Insurance is tricky stuff, full of loopholes, even in the far future LOL.
She’s calm in crisis which is an admirable characteristic and handy since it looks like disaster is near.
I guess it’s good that she’s so relaxed, because space pirates are the worst! Great snippet. 😀
Space pirates! Love it already.
Hmmm. I suspect nothing is ever that simple. Can’t wait for it to fall apart, Veronica
Yeah, probably not good to expect pirates to ever be satisfied with just stealing!
Oh my, I sense trouble brewing here. Looking forward to the next snippet!
I’m thinking Sara has this wrong. lol Great snippet.
I love how she didn’t even believe there were pirates, and how calm and matter of fact the other woman is — nice set up for the shock that’s about to come.
Oy! The lamb heading to the slaughter. 🙂 Great scene, Veronica. 🙂
Nice snippet–like the dialogue.
The moral is, don’t travel without insurance. Sounds like she is in trouble. Great snippet.
Uh oh. Sounds like a opportunity for human trafficking and tension mounts. Great snippet!
Yep, you had me at ‘space pirates’. Something tells me it’s not going to be as cut-and-dried as the stewardess thinks it is.
Wonderful! I haven’t read this one.
Well, she did say ‘mostly.’ Mostly interested in cargo leaves plenty of room for shenanigans.
I like your little “bad assumption” comment. loved the snippet.
I wonder if that last line is wishful thinking? Good snippet.
I think she has every right to be concerned about those pirates!
Great snippet, this story is getting better as the snippets go one, I want to know more.
I don’t think I’d be as nonchalant about the pirates as this stewardess is. Pirates got their reputation for a REASON. Stormy seas ahead! (No pun intended, maybe. LOL)