Echoes In The Grey: A Science Fiction First Contact Thriller

Kate Braddock, a sexually ambiguous ex-Spacer, isolates herself on Luna. After detecting a faster-than-light ship en route to Earth several years ago, she now conducts geophysical surveys for a mineral resources consortium. One day, she and a young intern, Mary Atteberry, discover an anomaly in the dust near the Mare Marginis that is clearly unnatural, and clearly alien. The purpose of the spaceship on Luna is unclear, but its origin is not. This is the same ship she detected in 2085... the same one that led to the destruction of the Mount Sutro comms tower in San Francisco... the same one that nearly got her killed: the Ross 128 star system.

Kate knows that if word of this alien vessel reached others, the Moon would be inundated with rival governments and space exploration companies all seeking its advanced technology. But how can she put her and Mary's life in danger by keeping this discovery secret?

As they investigate the alien ship site, their habitat is destroyed by a rogue compression wave that emanated from the ship itself. Now, the prime directive is survive. They must scramble to find a way off Luna before their oxygen runs out. After searching the abandoned mine site near the Aristoteles crater, Kate and Mary realize their only hope is finding a way into the alien vessel.

Meanwhile, Titanius CEO Clayton Carter, Mary's dad, and the crew of the Echo are en route to Luna to save the women and, in Carter's case, take the alien technology to further his own ideas of taking humankind to the next giant leap in space exploration.

But he is not alone. Other curious rivals are hot on their trail, and Carter must call in one of his security cruisers from the Saturn mineral run to protect him. The followers cannot help themselves. Although they've been told this is a rescue mission pure and simple, they suspect there's more going on than that.

Time is running out on Kate and Mary, and on the Echo.

Will humanity survive this first contact alien encounter?

Echoes In The Grey is the second book in the Ross 128 Series. The first book, The Crying of Ross 128, is available on Amazon in paper back and kindle formats.Readers of Dayton Ward, Robert J. Sawyer, and Michael Crichton will enjoy this book.