Spring Mutiny: A LitRPG Sci-Fi Adventure (Space Seasons Book 2) Read online

  Spring Mutiny

  Space Seasons Book Two

  Dawn Chapman

  Copyright © 2020 by Dawn Chapman

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the publisher, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, businesses, companies, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  Contents

  Acknowledgments

  Newsletter

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Afterword

  About Dawn Chapman

  About Mountaindale Press

  Mountaindale Press Titles

  As 2019 progressed, heading to Kansas City for the Indie Audiobook Awards was just the best. Here’s to the amazing Narrators, Gamelit Authors, and friends I met and spent time with in those whirlwind 5 days!

  x X x

  Acknowledgments

  I’m sending special thanks and shout outs to my sprint buddy, Michael Chatfield. And also my other closest friends K.T. Hannah and Luke Chmilenko. Thank you for being you and being there for me as always, and of course just being plain awesome. Guys and gals, these three authors’ books are mint, check them out!

  Big thanks to my early readers, Tara, Zeb, and Adam, and to my editing team Nick and Evan. Without all of you amazing people this would not be as polished. You rock.

  To my wonderful discord group. Kajack, LFB, Chris, Chauf, Ever, V, Carl, Zeb, and Richard. With special mention to some of my dearest friends, Steve Campbell and M.H. Johnson. And those who support me with Patreons love you too!

  There’s also of course, an extra shout out to my publisher for working with me. MDP, you all have been a joy to work with.

  Finally, to all who chat to me daily, and whom I adore, and to the extra special people in the office you all know who you are, and working alongside such professional people, is the best. I couldn’t ask for more.

  x X x

  Newsletter

  Don’t miss out on future releases! Sign up for the Mountaindale Press newsletter to stay up to date. And as always, thank you for your support! You are the reason we’re able to bring these stories to life.

  Chapter One

  I sat there with my wounds patched up for ages. Watching Denn as she started to get better. I could only look around the room, staring at the people I was with. Those who had been a part of my life for the last few months and Tyto. It was tough to think about what I’d been through, where I was, and where I was going.

  I hadn’t had any time to digest things. Nor had anyone else. But I noticed the slight blank expressions as they looked to their character sheets. Seeing how much they’d grown, or what they’d lost.

  I did the same. Pulling it up before me, so that I could see everything.

  I laughed, finally my skills had reorganised. At least now it looked as if they were in specialised sets. I wished I could do it myself. But, it made things easier for me to see.

  I had been given 1 Quick Point for reaching level 26, the usual stat points to assign. I breathed in.

  In the time I’d been here so far, I’d paid attention to what the system had thrown at me. Now, I knew I needed to be smarter. I could assign this Quick Point only when I reached level 30 now. It took away the urge to just bump anything now in the hopes it would make a difference. It also made my choices where to put these five, much more important. Intelligence and Wisdom. I needed to be smarter. I assigned three to Intelligence and two to wisdom.

  Name - Kyle Ranz

  Human/Denti

  Year of Death - 2629

  Class = Fighter/Sorcerer

  Age ??

  Level = 26

  Respawns = 2

  Memories = 94%

  Health = 52%

  Mana = 38

  Kenosi Activated

  Nanites x 60,063

  Body Type = Unknown

  Structural Integrity = Tungsten and Alumi

  Internal AI Chip = X Class

  Skin Strength = 36

  Blood Capacity = 28

  Healing Speed = 35

  Strength = 23

  Dexterity = 18

  Constitution = 61

  Intelligence = 37

  Wisdom = 23

  Charisma = 9

  Luck = 8

  Quick Points = 1

  Skills =

  Battle Mage - Rank 17

  Mech Pilot - Rank 15

  Nanite Engineer - Rank 22

  Human/Machine Interface - Rank 24

  Mech Merge - Rank 10

  Vrolsh Coding Learned

  CAD Tech - Rank 12

  Shuttle Operator - Rank 12

  Freighter Operator - Rank 5

  Foot Soldier - Rank 21

  Merc - Rank 14

  Sniper - Rank 18

  Gun Smith - Rank 13

  Shadow Awareness - Rank 12

  Deception - Rank 14

  Reconstruction Expertise - Rank 14

  Muscle Healing - Rank 17

  Viral Fighting - Rank 13

  Poison Resistance - Rank 15

  Night Sight - Rank 1

  Sword Play - Rank 14

  Animal Handling - Rank 2

  Special Traits Awarded x 4 – Any extras here do not show on your Stat Sheet Totals.

  Healer = Internal AI Chip X Class – Crystalline and Silver metal chip with integrated healer nanites led by Xe Aria.

  Intelligence = Internal prototype AI Chip, inserted on 17th birthday, with consciousness of Hiroto.

  Knowledge = Direct from Xirob if he freely gives it. Extra skills and training available.

  Shade Brain – One in a million, you managed to not only keep your memories, but you can also hide them. Your character sheet is elusive to even the strongest of will. UPGRADED - No one can penetrate your Shade now!

  Space Sickness - Unknown Effects

  Spells - Active - Minor Healing = Requires BATTLE MAGE RANK of 2 and x 1 Mana per second.

  Spells - Active - Medium Healing = Requires BATTLE MAGE RANK of 7 and x 10 Mana per second.

  Spells - Active - Intensive Healing = Requires BATTLE MAGE RANK of 14 and x 100 Mana per second.

  Spell - Active - Lightning Fury – Cost: 10 mana per second – Damage increased by 30%

  “Ready to get out of here?” Tyto asked. His question brought me around from watching Denn.

  “Yes,” I said.

  He indicated the med bay door, and I followed him out into the hallway and then up to the bridge.

  I
hadn’t been with him that long, but it seemed there were some major changes. This freighter was amazing. Huge.

  “Care to take the helm?”

  I looked towards it, my mind whirring, and then the screens came up. I’d never expected to see as much as I did now, but this was much more than I had seen before. I loved it. Is this because I’m out of basic?

  Gain a few levels and the whole world opens up some more, huh? Hiroto said. This is pretty neat, huh?

  Name - Artemis

  Large Cargo Freighter - Model 71719 - Repurposed Cargo/Troop Transport

  Manufactured by - Arndale Corp

  Crew Min/Max = 7/142 - Troop Carry - Max 1000

  Ship Cost = New 1,328,179 - Reclaimed - 172,288

  Ship Quality - High

  Hull - Medium Armour - Reinforced at several exposed areas

  Bulkheads Reinforced

  Dual Hardened Cargo Unit

  Cargo Slots = 34 slots/repurposed space 10 = 24 slots remaining

  Specialised Mech Docking Bay x 6

  Fighter bay with dock x 17 medium

  Engines -

  Class Seven Hyperdrive

  Solar Sails with x 6 battery storage under the belly of the Freighter (2 batteries inoperable)

  Manoeuvring Jets for tight docking

  Extra Battery Storage for longer Space Missions

  Weapons – ALL inoperable

  x 4 - Missile Tubes - Seventeen missiles in stock - Cost x 1000 Gold

  x 2 - High Velocity - Rail Guns x 2 - 1000 packs in stock - Cost x 399 Silver per pack of 1000 rounds

  x 2 - Light Laser Beams - High Cost to ship Battery Packs, currently unavailable

  Computers -

  Navigational Computer - Level 17

  Predictive Trajectory - Level 21

  Auto Pilot - Upgrade Available

  Sensors -

  Deep Scanner Array - Level 10

  Defence Tracking - Upgrade Available

  Surveyor - Upgrade Available

  Communications -

  Weapons Jam - Upgrade Available

  Interspecies Communicators - Not Available

  Uses Arndale’s Relay Network - Level 17

  Uses Kiain Relay Network - Level 5

  The freighter was a nice model. Three main levels: the lower section split into the docking bay and training units; main hanger, for the mechs and fighters; and the med bay. The middle section of the freighter was for training, hydroponics, and eating. It made the most sense. The upper deck was the bridge, offices and crew quarters. It could clearly house a lot more than the few of us.

  I glanced to the main hangar bay, where Tyto’s fighter sat. Its stats popped up, also showing how much it had improved since I’d last seen it.

  FIGHTER

  Model X2717

  Quality - Medium

  Engines - Dual Engine - Level 10

  Computer -

  Auto Targeting - Level 8

  Space Jammer - Level 9

  Comms -

  Uses Arndale’s Relay Network - Level 11

  Uses Kiain Relay Network - Level 9

  Weapons -

  x 1 Rail Gun

  x 2 Heavy Lasers

  “You think you can take the helm?”

  I glanced at him and grinned. “Really?”

  “You feeling well enough?”

  I looked to my inner stats. My health and my main stats were low. I was still pretty out of it.

  “I don’t think I can,” I said, looking at the chair.

  Tyto pointed at it. “No, sit. I have a few more things I can do before we tackle the takeoff.”

  I moved to sit down and found I more than plonked into place, suddenly feeling much weaker than I had thought.

  Tyto moved to kneel before me and reached into nothing. He pulled out a vial, handing it to me. “You’ll feel better with more of these inside you.”

  I looked at the vial and identified it.

  CORE NANITES X 35,700

  “They’re clean?”

  “Yes, they’re clean, programmed for nothing but healing and maintenance.”

  I took it from him, feeling the weight; there was next to nothing in it. Only a tiny drop of liquid to house them. They didn’t need much, after all. “Thank you.”

  “Just answer me this one question.” He held my gaze with his. “Who is Hiroto?”

  I wasn’t sure I should answer. But something pulled me towards this one man more than others. Maybe it was the thought that he’d come back for me. I shrugged.

  “I don’t know if I can.”

  “Why? He’s the one who got me out here to you, but you’re not with him? So who is he? Where is he?”

  “I don’t know if I’m ready to admit certain things…just because.”

  “I want you to know that you can. You’ve not been a hundred percent truthful with anyone since you arrived.”

  “You know I arrived, though, rather than actually moving over here?”

  He pushed up and sat in the second mate’s chair. “Yes. I checked back over the pod you came in. That pod wasn’t active.”

  I nodded. “No, it wasn’t. It was empty, not working.”

  “So how did you end up in it, and here?”

  “There was a person inside it, someone who was hiding. How the transfer happened, I’m still not sure. But it did.”

  “You were transferred into a live denti?” he asked, and I saw him physically shiver.

  Xirob shuddered on the inside of me too. No matter what you think, Kyle. I am glad you came to Tolsa.

  “Yes, the denti I am inside is alive.”

  “I didn’t know it was possible.” Tyto shook his head. “Is he still—”

  “Yes. His name is Xirob, and he’s very much alive, for now. Because you know if I respawn now, I’ll lose him for good.”

  “Fuck, was that the time I killed you after we killed the M-Wolf Alpha?”

  I looked away from his piercing gaze, seeing the nanites inside me working hard now to program the others and get them set to work.

  “Yeah,” I admitted. “That was the time you killed me. I guess I should be grateful for it.”

  He laughed. “Never heard anyone say that before.”

  There was a slight ping in my ear.

  CORE NANITES - UPGRADED

  HEALING INITIATED

  I actually started to feel a lot better. Like things were finally moving in the right direction.

  “Thanks for telling me, Kyle. And, I’m going to trust you now too. You all know I’m a full plant, right?”

  “It now flags you as Eekan?”

  He nodded. “I am special forces for the denti queen. I work directly for her, and her alone.”

  Xirob shivered again. I wasn’t sure…. I didn’t want to presume.

  “What does that mean?”

  “It means I know who Xirob is, and his family. It means I’m glad I met you and glad I came back for you.”

  Looking to the screen before me, I smiled. I was glad too.

  “Ready to leave then?” Tyto asked.

  “Yes, I am.” I then noticed the screen I was looking at wasn’t actually a viewing window. “Solid plate hull?”

  “Correct, there’s no window,” Tyto said. “Cameras on the outside allow us to see what we’re looking for. Most of the time there’s really nothing to see except more darkness.”

  I wanted to see it all, though. “Where are we going?”

  “Well, I was heading to a port near the planet Roastol for a new crew when I got the call to come rescue your ass. Now I’m not so sure.”

  “You fly this on your own?” I looked around, shocked. “It’s huge?”

  “That’s complicated, Kyle. It has been a long time since I left you. But yes. Seems the system already had a crew in mind for me.” He grinned.

  “It may take a while for them to come around,” I said. “But they will.” I had to ask once more “How long?”

  “Kyle, when I left you floating in space, I didn’t
think I’d ever see you again, let alone get a comms message to come rescue you.”

  “I don’t understand. How long?” But no sooner had I asked the most pertinent question for me did I hear the door open behind us. I turned to see Jai, Rei, and Naylar step inside.

  Jai looked at me sitting in the captain’s chair. The bridge had enough for us all to sit on, but there were specialist stations, ones I had no real training for.

  I moved to stand, and Jai stood centre of the bridge. As he looked around, I could almost see his mind working. Then without another moment’s thought, he spoke clearly. “Tyto, take second in command. Rei, hydroponics. Kyle, tactical. Naylar.” He paused. “Medical and fighter pilot. Denn can take engineering when she wakes.”

  I watched as the others moved to their stations, a little shocked he’d actually put Tyto as his second-in-command. But giving it was his freighter and he knew it well, maybe it was the right decision.

  I wasn’t sure which seat I was supposed to take. There were still two left.