Gateway (Gateway Series Book 1) Read Online Free

for any of this to matter,” she shot back. “Just shut up and take your little notes…actually, I’ll give you a hand…”  Martin snatched the notebook out of the pilot’s hand and wrote a note:
    1. Drop off the Guard and get my pansy-ass back to the ship
    2. Watch some movies, jerk off, watch some more movies, sleep
    3. Pick up the Guard
    4. Repeat
    “There ya go, pumpkin,” smiled Martin as she handed the pad back to the embarrassed pilot. “That’s ALL you need to know about this mission.” 
    Stone cracked a little smile. Captain Martin was known throughout the Guard for her aggressiveness, skill, and her inability to control her mouth. In addition to her less than politically-correct attitude, Martin had several things working against her. First of all, she was a woman—and a beautiful one at that. As one of only three women, and the only officer, in the Elite Guard, she was always under a microscope. She had to be smarter and better than the men she was rated against—which she was. Second, she was from a family that had only risen to middling status in the last few generations. When she should have been trying to “marry up” to a higher family, she was crawling through the mud and muck on remote, desolate planets. Despite all of this, she had struggled to gain a reputation as a brave and dependable officer—a reputation she was not afraid to defend with her fists or sword if need be. “Those little fuzzy monkeys are tasty though,” he whispered.
    Martin smiled as they turned their attention back to the briefing.
    “…The Red Moss fields are visually stunning but pose several dangers. Bright red moss covers the ground for miles, broken by dark-blue pools of water from underground springs. The only trees are Orchid trees with black bark and bright white-pedaled leaves, which constantly fall and replenish themselves. The falling petals rapidly decay on the moss and provide nutrients to both the moss and Orchid trees…”
    “Shoot me now,” mouthed Martin to Stone.
    Stone made a motion toward the briefing screen in a halfhearted attempt to show concern for what the Intel Officer was saying.
    “…Several animals inhabit the fields as well. Albino primates about half a meter tall live in the orchid trees…”
    Martin laughed out loud, forcing the Intel Officer to pause and regain his composure.
    “…The red fields also provide excellent cover for Red Moss vipers. They blend in almost perfectly with the moss and their venom is potent enough to bring down a sable tiger, or a man…”
    “Ugh,” added an exasperated Martin as she lightly, repetitively banged the back of her head off the bulkhead.
    “Shhh!” directed a combat system officer in Martin’s direction.
    Martin stood straight from her position leaning against the bulkhead and smiled at the complaining officer.  Slowly, she raised her right fist and extended her middle finger to the officer.  Leisurely shifting her smile to a scowl, she returned to her reclined position against the bulkhead.
    Martin turned her head back toward Stone. “This is just a freakin’ show for higher-ups who are finally getting their chance at playing soldier. I guess now they are realizing they might actually have to do something for once in their privileged careers.”
    ***
    A light fog crept over the gently flowing river as an occasional flickering reflection of light bounced off the water, hinting that the first star was beginning to rise. The harmonic chirp of a bird could be heard over the light bubbling of the water as it passed over the rocks protruding from the stream. A tiger wasp lay resting on a large leaf, soaking up the first rays of light. In a flash, the wasp disappeared as it became breakfast for the striped dragon lizard on the log below. The lizard, having filled its belly, took its turn in the cyclic flashes of starlight.
    Beyond the lizard, a small disturbance formed in the water. A head slowly broke through the surface as the lizard