Free The Earth Conundrum: Book 1 of the Alliance Conflict by Jeff Sims Page B

planet has several moons and there are abundant asteroids. Two of the moons are large enough to be planets in their own right, but they orbit the gas giants and not the sun. The Conron system, like the Opron system, has no planets, moons, or large rocks suitable for habitation.
    Unlike Opron though, there are approximately 4 million Advranki living in the Conron system. Several of the moons are very rich in trace minerals, especially iron ore and copper. As a result, there is a thriving mining operation located here. There is also a commercial ship repair facility and a large space port.
    The Alliance Navy maintains a small fleet in the system – usually one battleship, two destroyers and four cruisers. In addition, there is an Alliance Navy space station. The station is heavily armed and armored and helps protect the mining operation and the space port. The station only has two bays for ship repair, but it contains a massive fleet depot.
    The Vista passed close enough to one of the mining operations that Carank and the others could watch from the monitor. The giant mining sphere rotated about the moon in a controlled, slow pattern. A giant laser was gently zapping the surface, throwing up debris that was collected by a large air scoop. The particles were then sorted, with useful items converted in raw materials and useless dust sprayed back toward the planet. The light viewed through the laser and the dust was remarkable. It looked like a cosmic rainbow.
    Carank and Lorano used the time to finish the lab and were anxious to get started. Carank asked Victor for probably the fifth time, “Are you sure you don’t have any human electronics?”
    At one point Lorano had a devious idea. He asked Victor, Carank, and Crista to help him move a large table a meter to the left. This was the first time Crista had entered the lab or shown any interest in the two scientists. After they left, Carank asked, “Lorano, did you get the scan?”
    Lorano checked the results from the Model 345.22.14 diagnostic computer and smiled. He said, “Yes, now let’s see how her control collar works.” After studying it for an hour, they had worked out its essential functions.
    Carank said, “So, it really isn’t intelligent, it is merely responding to input. Victor must have a monitor attached to his heart and nervous system. Any pain that Victor feels is amplified by the collar and sent to Crista’s corresponding nerve. It also has a failsafe that if it can’t detect Victor’s heartbeat it will kill Crista.’
    Lorano nodded in agreement and said, “I wonder what the range is?” They couldn’t tell, even with the diagnostic computer.
    After 4 boring days, they had finally reached the Earth hyperspace corridor. As they made the final approach to the lane, two large asteroids came into view. The asteroids were positioned on each side of the hyperspace lane.
    The asteroids had been converted into a weapons platform and boasted an impressive array of missiles and ion cannons. One cannon was strong enough to vaporize a fully shielded battleship and the two asteroids combined had 16 of them. The asteroid also had 80 missile launchers and could automatically reload 10 times.
    They were hailed by traffic control. Technically, they were hailed by the automated defense system that was guarding the entry to the hyperspace lane to Earth. After the unfortunate incident, the Alliance Senate had declared that travel to Earth was off-limits to nearly everyone.
    …Ship registered as Vista , you are not cleared to pass. Please reverse course. If you approach any further, you will be vaporized for your safety…
    Victor responded, “This ship was recently renamed. This ship was formerly the Victoria , and is on the list of ships allowed entry to Earth.”
    …Ship registered as Vista is now allowed to pass. However, ship scans show unauthorized persons aboard. If you approach any further, you will be vaporized for your safety…
    Victor responded, “We