Chapter One
Brighter than a star it blazed, spewing out deadly radiation in all
directions throughout the turbulent Styx Nebula. But the Pharon
spaceship Destroyer for the Faith drove straight for its burning
core, oblivious to the possible damage to its equipment and crew.
"Prepare to grapple," ordered the Death Priest in command of the vessel.
Most of the control-room slaves hurried to obey, but one, more decrepit
than the rest, did not move quickly enough for the priest's liking.
Without warning, a wickedly sharp, meter-long devotional blade sliced
through the air — and the slave's neck. A dust cloud rose where the
curved diamond blade severed mummified head from torso, only to be
quickly vacuumed away by the relentless flow of air through the control
room — designed to prevent contamination rather than to hold down the
ever-present, throat-tightening stench of death. The slave's carcass
thudded noisily to the deck. Fluids dribbled from sundered life-support
hoses until three other slaves stripped the corpse of its back tank and
dragged the pathetic remains out of the way. Another hurriedly took its
place at the control console.
The Dea ... read full excerpt from Vor: Hell Heart ebook
