Genre: Science Fiction
Publisher: Azure Spider Publications
Publication Date: October 31, 2018

As refugees in a vast sprawling empire, mankind must find and fight for a new homeland after Earth's destruction. Plains of Exodus chronicles this epic struggle.

Mankindís first contact with an extraterrestrial species didnít exactly go well. The inadvertent destruction of the Earth saw a call go out to the vast and ancient empire for help. Despite the quick response to this plea for aid, the remnants of humanity find themselves refugees in an overcrowded galaxy and at the mercy of an empire whose existence predates mankindís own existence.

Unwanted and unwelcome, humanity languishes in a dozen massive colony ships around an energy poor star.

As a young smuggler Jonah Mctier is one of those fortunate few who has access to this millennia old realm, and it is he who after fleeing a triad of imperial cruisers discovers the answer to mankindís dilemma.

In desperation Jonah finds refuge in a parsecs deep dust cloud where he discovers not only a habitable and empty planetary system but one of the most sought after resources in the Milky Way: a spatial conduit. Except this is no ordinary conduit.

Exploitation of this unique and unknown type of spatial gateway offers an alternative to the slow but inevitable descent into extinction for the children of Adam. Key to this bright future is the need to keep their phenomenal find a secret from the resource hungry empire who would take this discovery for themselves and themselves alone.

To complicate matters Jonah discovers that there is more than one of these gateways, and for humanity to be successful in their quest mankind must hold and eventually destroy all of these rare portals.

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“They are aware of us,” Munna said and looked up with a hopelessness in those wide eyes that had Jonah’s heart sink.

“Continue to the conduit.” He said in harsh tones. “Jamie, open a hailing frequency.”

They moved toward the wormhole as the cruiser continued its implacable advance. Jamie struggled with the unfamiliar technology before calling, “They’re responding.”

“Halt your acceleration at once and identify yourself,” came the high-pitched almost squeaking voice of the commander who appeared on the viewscreen.

For a fraction of a second Jonah didn’t understand the words. Something had caught his eye just before the image of the Taarkylan officer had taken over the screen. Another cruiser? Then the voice repeated its demand, and Jonah turned cold angry eyes to the disheveled alien.

“I am Commander Jonah Mactier. You are in violation of our sovereign territory. Disengage and resume a course out of this area.”

The commander laughed, but the purple eyes shifted uneasily from Jonah to Munna. “You are under arrest, commander. If you do not cease acceleration I will fire upon your ship. You have some serious charges to face. Another ship is already approaching. Do as I command.”

Jonah felt any hope dissipate. The Taarkylan commander saw this and grinned. From what he could see of the cruiser’s interior, the ship had sustained some damage, but Jonah didn’t doubt it was still more than capable of carrying out the officer’s threat. That damned grin.

“Sever the connection.” He told Jamie before saying to Munna, “Keep going.”

Black space replaced the Taarkylan face, and he got a clear view of the second cruiser as it limped toward them. This one had suffered heavy damage as well but what did it matter? Either could see them as drifting debris among other blackened hulks.

The first cruiser was turning to fire; and Jonah uttered a small prayer. My love to you, my wife and baby. We almost made it. Remember us.

“Conduit acquisition,” Munna announced, but Jonah wasn’t listening.

He was about to say how sorry he was for the children when the second cruiser opened fire. Instinctively he closed his eyes but opened them almost at once when no blast struck the ship.

Open-mouthed, he saw the first cruiser spout gas and materials into space—the great ship suddenly listing and drifting away.

It wasn’t dead though, and a long lance of purple light erupted from its damaged hull to strike the attacking cruiser.

“Go,” Jonah screamed to Munna, and the alien acted—starting the program and heading the vessel toward the conduit while the two cruisers exchanged fire once more.

November 19 - December 1, 2018

Visit each tour stop daily and discover more features, excerpts, reviews, interviews, fun facts and more! For more information, visit the Plains of Exodus Book Page at Book Unleashed.

After crisscrossing the country on more than one occasion, Robert J. Burnett and his wife Louise are currently living in northern British Colombia where they hope each day that they wonít be burnt up in the massive fires ravaging the province. Coming a close second to these fears are the worries about being eaten by bears. Mosquitoes scare him too.

Robís favourite religion is Christianity, but heís never met a druid or a pagan he didnít like. That said, he doesnít like them if theyíre smelly. Same with bears.

His fondest wish is to be abducted by aliens and taken to their home-world where he will miraculously return to his mid-twenties and be given super powers.

His music likes could be said to be a bit eclectic, ranging from classical to Celtic, especially those composed by non-smelly druids or pagans.

Voted in high school as most likely to lose all his teeth before sixty, he can proudly state that this has not happened as he still retains twelve. It is this ferocious smile, he believes, that scare off most bears.

Today he lives a productive life of non-work, listening to Ancient Astronaut and Hangar 51 shows, a hobby he has cultivated in his expectation of being abducted and taken off-planet. At least he wonít lose his job for failing to show up for work.

As a father to four sons, Rob fervently hopes that all his children will breed and produce offspring who in their turn will support him in his dotage.

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