First Dawn

Title:	First Dawn
Cover Artist:	Don Semora
Genre:	Military, Sci-Fi
Series:	Earthfleet Extended Universe
Publication Date:	December 2011
Media Types:	Ebook
ISBN:	978-1937580896

First Dawn is one of several books in the Earthfleet Extended Universe and covers the early days of Earthfleet, as well as the events that led to its creation.

Back Cover Blurb

Thrown headlong into a vast, hostile universe, Captain Edmond and the crew of the Destiny must learn the ways of the galaxy and return home safely to Earth, or risk their extermination at the hands of the Juinah.

Book Summary

The story begins with a quick flashback to a Brayburn Society colony deep in the Rocky Mountains, where three scientists briefly discuss their efforts to create a starship and find a suitable captain for it. It then flashes forward to the present where it provides a brief update on our favorite characters before turning to Mike Clayton (now retired) and Sarah as they greet a reporter from Earth who is portaled up to the Society Joint Commerce Station for an interview with them. Mike then proceeds to tell her about how Earthfleet first got started. The story then flashes back to 1801, in the Boston shipping docks where schooner captain Edmond Clayton is met by two men from the Society who speak to him about joining their organization as a ship's captain. He is reluctant at first, but eventually agrees. They then take him out to their colony, via an advanced repulsion drive powered shuttlecraft. This sudden exposure to advanced technology is a bit much for Edmond, but he slowly adapts to it. Once there, he meets several scientists in charge of the Destiny starship project.

Shortly after he is fully immersed into Society life, technology and more, and made an inductee. He then begins to meet his future crew members, including Albert Lent, Maxwell Conner, Henrietta Taylor (who later becomes his wife), and several others. At first Edmond struggles to make the leap from 1801 living to what would easily be late 21st century standard of living. However, Henrietta steps up and helps him adapt, which begins the foundation for their long and colorful relationship. Even so, Edmond continues to struggle, causing other members of his future crew to step in and provide him assistance in learning and adapting to the highly technological life within the Society. As this is occurring, the Juinah pay a brief visit to Earth hoping to discover if they can exploit it or not. However, as they arrive, they witness some of the Society's technology first hand, surprising them in the process. This worries their leader, Za'gard, who chooses to wait and see where this will lead. However, before they can learn much, they're run off by the Gayik'Von.

Nearly two years then passes without incident before the Juinah return. However, in that time the Destiny has been completed and is ready for her maiden voyage, and her captain, Edmond, has fully integrated into Society life and become an outstanding member. With the ship now ready, he and his crew climb aboard, don their space suits, and head into orbit. After a brief systems check they set course for the moon. However, unknown to them, Za'gard and his flagship, the Vargah, are awaiting him on the dark side of the moon. As soon as the Destiny moves within visual range of the ship, Za'gard orders the crew transported aboard and the ship captured, which it is. However, in order to do so, they knock out Destiny's engines and power core, rendering the ship inert and destroying her engines. The Vargah then begins transporting the confused and surprised crew across the galaxy towards Asarath. However, while on their way, they meet a young Gayik'Von boy named Pelk who secretly hacks Za'gard's ship and takes control of it using a small PDA he carries everywhere with him.

Once the Vargah arrives at Azarath, Za'gard disembarks, along with most of his crew, leaving behind just a handful of men. Seeing the opportunity, Pelk transports the rest of them into deep space, turns the ship around, and then heads towards a Gayik'Von military base where his father, Commander Tay'Tan, commander of the destroyer Kal'eck, is stationed. Realizing his ship has been stolen, Za'gard gives chase to them in the Tenk. However, they realize it's too late to capture the ship, as the Gayik'Von have it. So they hide nearby until an opportunity can present itself. Meanwhile Tay'Tan sends Pelk and the crew of the Destiny back to their home planet of Jalc, along with the heavily damaged Destiny. Once there the crew are greeted by Six Paws the Chief Librarian of Jalc, who takes Edmond's crew, and his ship, as his guests. Meanwhile, Za'gard successfully recovers his ship, but not before the Gayik'Von rig it with a hidden tracking device. Back on Jalc, Pelk talks with his friends K'vin, Tari and Viceroy about Edmond's crew.

(please be patient, this is a work in progress)