Diamond Disaster

Mission Cerex #2

by David Colello

Pia can't decide what's scarier. Enemy corporations out to kill her? The giant asteroid Ceres she has to colonize? Or the nanotech implant in her skull? Book 2 of Mission Cerex picks up where Trillion Dollar Sky ends, so download a copy today!

Diamond Disaster is cyberpunk space opera at its finest, a quick read full of action, nanotech, romance, a strong female lead…and SPACE BEES!

As Earth and Luna fight over scraps, Pia and the crew of Cerex look for treasure halfway across the solar system. They find what they're after, but the dangers are growing by the minute. If they're going to survive, the crew has to decide between their mission and their lives.

Be Aware! This book is a SHORT READ at about 12,000 words, and is only Part 2 of 5 in a larger story. Enjoy them all with Kindle Unlimited, or look for the box set coming soon!

Here's a few passages to spark your interest:

Passage #1

"Back when Earth had reached its tipping point and environmental systems cascaded into failure, smaller nations fought in the devastating Water Wars. Veteran warriors like Vineland were in high demand for their skills.

But as the world burned, traditional superpowers tried to stay out of conflicts, hesitant to use nuclear force in an already decimated planet. Piece by piece, country by country, corporations with vast amounts of capital and no physical location quietly swept up the rubble into their portfolios. In the end, world peace had been purchased with a pen stroke at the Beijing Accords of 2042."

Passage #2

"Pia’s face went pale as the sheer cliffs of the mountain first filled the holo. They had traveled over the Cererian nightside and were now the first humans to witness sunrise from the surface. The desolate landscape made the mountain loom like an alien monument, with massive craters to the north and south causing Ahuna Mons to appear even taller in contrast. Quickly rising over top was the same familiar Sun that had warmed Pia’s face on countless mornings, only here it was as diminutive as Ceres itself. The ultrathin atmosphere was faintly visible as a halo making the Sun appear to spit flecks of ash like a campfire."

Passage #3

"Pia concentrated on the systems connecting them all, sifting through ship computers, wires, terminal displays, and finally the minds of the crew themselves. As her uniform rubbed across his shoulder, she could feel the presence of Zee's mind.

His electrical signature glowed much brighter than any of the crew surrounding her, flashing outwards into numerous other networks at once. She reached out with her own mind, directing its energy where she wished, and gently scanned his outgoing signals. His mind was organized, and powerful, but also heavily shielded. 'You're nervous,' Pia realized.

'And you're more surprising by the minute,' Pia heard Zee's voice in her head."

58 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 14, 2019

About the author

I'm an author, which means I'm a dreamer, an artist, a carnival barker, and always a reader.

I'm also a parent, which makes me a part-time psychologist, sociologist, explorer, janitor, and above all a survivalist.

I write sci-fi and parenting books and do my best to raise readers in a world stranger than fiction.

Reviews

[Dawn O Watson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really interesting read by a writer who thinks out of the box!