Spaceport: Security (Spaceport 1)
Author: Shelby Morgen
Cover Art: Bryan Keller
BIN: 02376-00750
Genres: Action Adventure, Futuristic, Paranormal, Romance, Sci-Fi , Suspense
Themes: Alien Encounters, Cyber-Punk, Military, Veterans, and First Responders, Shapeshifters
Series: Spaceport (#1)
Book Length: Novella
Page Count: 40
Top 100 Bestseller at the Apple Bookstore
Haze. A seedy bar on the edge of nowhere. The perfect hideout for those with nothing to lose. Welcome to Spaceport Adana.
In a dark corner, a woman who’s seen too much. A man who moves through the shadows with the grace of a cat. She’s on his tail, and he’s determined to find out why. Once he might have been flattered to have her checking out his ass. Now he knows women are dangerous. And far, far too expensive.
But Commander Kala Decoltéir always gets her man, and she wants the space pirate they call Dancer -- no matter who -- or what -- he is. This time, Dancer has no escape.
Publisher's Note: Spaceport is a multi-author shared universe that does not need to be read in order.
"[A] fast paced, well written short story in the new multi author Spaceport series, Security more than delivers. Shelby Morgen has a sly sense of humor that is very subtle and catches the reader unaware... I can only hope that the other offerings in the Spaceport series are as good."
"Everything about this sizzling sci-fi tale, from the world's language to the frank sexual scenes, hits just the right note. The characterization and dialogue were strong. The plot was simple but effective... the sex is wild too, so be prepared."
-- Cameron Foster, The Romance Studio
"...an excellent first introduction to the Spaceport stories... I would definitely recommend this short story and this author."
-- Viscaria, Whipped Cream
"Kala and Dancer had great chemistry. I totally understood why things moved so quickly between them because of how intense their attraction was towards each other. I’d recommend Security (Spaceport 1) to anyone who is in the mood for something short and steamy."
"Security is a great introduction to the Spaceport series. The reader is introduced to the commander of security for the Spaceport, Kala, a battle-bot cyborg. No longer needed in a battle scenario she has settled into a security position. Along with Kala, you'll meet space pirate, Captain Jack. Their brief dalliance has consequences with all the feels. I'm looking forward to the next in the series."
-- 5 Stars from Jean Smith, Amazon Review
"This was a quick, hot read that I couldn't put down. I wanted it to be longer, to learn more about the main characters. I will look forward to reading more by this author."
-- 5 Stars from Candance72, Amazon Review
"We get a feel for some of the larger conflicts and powers, some of the species... and just enough about the rules of life out here on the frontier to want to revisit this wild west style space station and see what fun these characters get up to."
-- 4 Stars from Goddess of Chaos, Amazon Review
Spaceport: Security (Spaceport 1)
Shelby Morgen
All rights reserved.
Copyright ©2023 Shelby Morgen
"You look like something a drunken Kitali yarfed up."
Desk Sergeant December Ramie held out a cup of coffee, which, from both color and experience, Kala knew would be exactly the way she liked it. "Thank you for that observation, Sergeant." The coffee just might allow her to live through the coming interrogation.
"After an all night karaoke spree in Haze."
"Posol na khui."
"Boss, how long have we worked together?"
"Five years, fourteen days, twelve minutes."
December shook her head. "Gotta love that computer enhanced memory of yours. Five years, Commander. And in that time, how many days have you taken off?"
"Off?"
"R and R. Shore leave. Vacation. Personal and family leave. Anything."
"I don't have a family. Bio-genetically engineered soldier, remember?"
"You may be genetically enhanced, but you're still Human."
"I'm a cyborg. I require minimal maintenance from bio-engineering. I never miss my scheduled maintenance."
"Scheduled maintenance. What are you, a freighter? You may be cybernetically enhanced, but you are not an android. You're a woman. You're so busy trying to keep this place from falling apart, you're killing yourself. Look at you. You're not sleeping, you're living on caffeine and junk food, and you look like hell. You need some down time, Commander."
Kala's ocular implant went fuzzy, and she thumped the side of her head. "This place is falling apart. Been down to the Pits lately? Try a walk-about on Level 26. Make sure you go heavily armed. The best I can do is to try to keep the galactic refuse from overflowing into the public areas. Between Holly Barbaric stirring up trouble wherever she goes and the Dollavera brothers finding ways to exploit every disaster to their financial benefit, I'm expecting a riot any day now. I don't have time for R and R, Sergeant. I'm trying to keep our little world from ending."
"Thompson's perfectly capable of covering for you for a few days, Commander." Ramie held out a personal vid panel opened to a full color brochure. "You can afford one day off duty for a trip to a day spa. It won't even take a day. One shift, even."
Kala barely glanced at the brochure. "Thompson's a good man, but he's Human. There's a reason the Adana Council recruited me for this office. Allied Planet Security is making it hard for honest businessmen to trade within AP space, let alone the not-so-honest ones. All the fringe planets and ports are getting inundated with displaced riff-raff. We're getting hit harder than most, because we're the closest port of call to the major trade routes with Old Earth. Things are going to get far, far worse around here before they get any better. If they ever get any better."
"So you're just going to push yourself till you fall apart? What will that accomplish?"
Well, it'll get me out of here, Kala thought, but she didn't say so out loud. She cataloged Ramie's list of complaints, looking for an acceptable solution. "What about sex?"
Ramie nearly choked on her coffee. "What about sex?"
"If I promise to get myself laid, will that get you off my back?"
Ramie grinned, cat-like triumph stealing over her face. "I'm not sure sex qualifies as R and R, but it's a compromise I can live with."
Belatedly, Kala realized she'd been played. She sighed. She had four times normal Human strength, could calculate any math problem at the speed of a Human computer, and her bio-tech system implant allowed her body to repair itself from otherwise deadly wounds in battle, and yet she'd just been outmaneuvered by a single Human female. Again. "Fine. I'll set about capturing a suitable male."
She had the satisfaction of seeing Ramie's eyes open wide in alarm. "Capturing? Commander, maybe we need to talk about Human mating rituals…"
It was Kala's turn to grin. "Trust me. I know all I need to know about mating rituals. It's been a while, but my memory's good." She downed her coffee and headed out for rounds, wondering how long it would take Ramie to figure out she'd been kidding.
Mostly…
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