Brad Lansky and the Alien at Planet X

Summary

Zara, a life form scientist on Earth, is collaborating on a research project with Sandy Larkin in a distant part of the Milky Way. Sandy has discovered a new intelligent life form, but his transmissions suddenly stop without warning.

Weeks later, Zara is contacted by the cybernetic proxy of a wealthy trading family. It claims to have the coordinates of Brad’s drone Celius, but will not part with any information until she arranges a physical meeting with Brad Lansky on Earth.

Distraught, Zara calls on Brad for help, knowing that Celius is on loan to the Larkin expedition. Brad and Sandy have fallen out since their good old days in flight school and Alex is no fan either, but this no longer matters when Celius is accused of a serious crime against the trading family.

Brad must accept legal liability for the actions of his drone. Their only defense is to mount a rescue mission to a distant, treacherous system and prove what really happened.

But how should they best prepare for it? Zara’s brief is cold comfort. Are they dealing with a hostile new life form? And how should they prepare for an encounter with a powerful alien entity they know almost nothing about?

• Track 1 – Incoming – Sandy Larkin and Dieter Rothman are on the hunt for a new alien life form. They finally make contact, but their well-laid plans quickly spiral out of control.


• Track 2—Shanghai Spaceport—The Full Advantage is docked above Earth in geostationary orbit. Brad and Alex take the Lander down to Shanghai Spaceport where Zara is waiting impatiently.


• Track 3—Ming Mall—Brad, Alex and Zara meet with the cybernetic representative of a wealthy trading family. Rogue Adbots make life difficult for Alex while Brad is dealt some shocking news.


• Track 4—Project Moby Dick—Brad and Zara discuss her possible role in the rescue attempt.


• Track 5—Preparations—The group holds a pre-mission discussion in a hangar at Shanghai Spaceport. There are many unknowns and much to consider.


• Track 6—The Subway – Zara experiences her first journey on the universal subway network.


• Track 7—Celius—Brad and Alex take the lander down to the inhospitable surface of Planet X to recover the wreck of Celius. They desperately need a clue as to Sandy’s whereabouts.


• Track 8—The Pointer – It’s all hands on deck as they scrutinize the wreckage and try to recover the scant information left by Celius in his final moments before crashing onto Planet X.


• Track 9—In the Teeth—They only have a few minutes’ warning before they are discovered by the alien lurking on the moon of Planet X.


• Track 10 – Moon Fall—Their situation is dire. Brad decides that offense is their best defence. They sneak down to the surface and search for Commander Larkin‘s ship.


• Track 11—Echolocator – Brad and Alex look for Sandy in his rotting ship. Can they really expect him to be alive?


• Track 12—The Full Advantage—Brad, Alex and Sandy have hatched a plan to get off the moon. To do so, they have no choice but to do battle with ‘Moby Dick’s worst nightmare’.


• Track 13—Heading Home—Questions, questions…