Hello everyone this is Dave the Miracle Maker up here in the high desert of Southern California. It’s not as hot as it usually is this time of year and I am enjoying that. I have been busy working on my cooler and my pool along with my writing martial arts. Today I would like to talk about Inner Peace. So what is Inner Peace? Inner Peace is a state of being where your mind and spirit remain calm even though you may be surrounded by stress, anxiety, and chaos. Believe it or not, Inner Peace is obtainable. So how do you achieve Inner peace? The best way to start is to get rid of all the negative people and emotions in your life. Concentrate on the positive and let the negative go. If you have friends or acquaintances that are always negative when you are around them, then separate yourself from them. It may not be that easy if they are a family member or a spouse. When someone is being negative you can’t control their negativity, but you can control the way that you respond. If you are in a negative situation and someone is being negative you may feel like cussing them out or responding negatively but don’t do it. Concentrate on your breathing. Breathe in through your nose, hold it for four seconds, and breathe out. Concentrating on your breath has a calming effect on your body. When negative thoughts creep into your mind, handcuff that thought and send it on its way. Watch what you think. Your thoughts are not just in your head. They are being sent out to the universe. Think positive thoughts. There are ways to strengthen your Inner Peace such as meditation or taking some time with nature. Go out into the desert, the forest, or to the beach and enjoy this beautiful planet. Spend some time with your pets. Riding my motorcycle brings me peace. Above all don’t let anyone steal your Inner Peace. I have a technique that I use. I visualize an energy field around my body that keeps out all negative energy. The only thing that I allow in is peace, joy, and love.

Some people must be happy in their skin to obtain Inner Peace. They may think that they are too fat or unattractive. They may not like how their teeth look. This is not me. I am happy in my skin, but if this kind of thing stops you from gaining Inner Peace then change them. Loose weight or change your appearance. Go to the dentist. One of the products that I sponsor is Natural Teeth Whitener. Click the link below the picture to check it out.

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I practice martial arts and try to stay in shape. This helps me be happy in my skin and helps me maintain my Inner Peace. Maintaining your Inner Peace also helps when you are trying to manifest your best life. So don’t let anyone steal your Inner Peace and be the best you, that you can be. Peace out.

now for your reading pleasure, chapter 19 of my science fiction novel, the Battle for Europa. The Battle for Europa is book one of the Space Corps Chronicles.

Chapter 19

When Shawn received word of the arrival of the federal main battle fleet he hurried to his office. His security detail followed along behind him. He sat down at his VID screen, the machine flashed a text message announcing an incoming video message marked urgent. Shawn’s heart pounded inside his chest.

“Play message,” Shawn said. The image of a fleet admiral filled the screen. Shawn took in the man’s rugged features. He noticed the man’s high cheekbones and the crow’s feet at the corners of his eyes and he took in the distinct lines of his facial features.

The admiral gave Shawn a condescending smile. “Whom do I have the pleasure of speaking with?” When the admiral spoke, his voice was soft, yet somehow stern and it wasn’t what Shawn was expecting.

Shawn smiled back. “My name is Shawn Gallagher. I am the president of the New Republic.”

The admiral let out a huff. “I refuse to acknowledge that title, so I’ll call you Mr. Gallagher.”

Shawn shrugged. “As you wish. What can I do for you, Admiral?”

Admiral Delacroix’s voice grew a little deeper and sounded a bit sterner. “I demand that you vacate Jupiter Spacedock and all Consolidated Mining facilities. Prepare to surrender yourself to Federal Defense Forces.”

Shawn laughed, leaning back in his chair. “I don’t know what you’ve been smoking, but I want some.”

“Look at your scopes! You can see the forces arrayed against you!” Admiral Delacroix’s face turned red.

Shawn leaned forward and his hands gripped the arms of his chair. “And as you can see, we have a few ships of our own. If your forces step one foot on Europa, or Jupiter Spacedock, they will pay for it in blood.” Silence lingered for a few seconds.

Admiral Delacroix sighed. “Be reasonable. Your meager forces could not stand up to the might of the Federal Defense Forces.”

Shawn grinned and leaned back. “Have you studied your Earth history?”

Delacroix nodded. “It’s a required subject at the academy.”

“Do you remember during the Second World War, at the battle of Bastogne? They called it the Battle of the Bulge?”

“I remember. What of it?”

“The Germans sent a runner to demand that the Americans surrender. The American general replied, ‘Nuts.’ I’m telling you the same thing. Nuts. As in you can lick my nuts.” Shawn ended the transmission. He chuckled to himself remembering his first conversation with Admiral Delacroix and gazed across the table at his assembled cabinet members. A cloud of tobacco smoke filled the room. Shawn breathed in the rich aroma. “It’s been three months now since the federal main battle fleet showed up, and still they’ve made no overt move toward us. They seem content to set back blockading our system. What are they waiting for?”

Wilson shrugged. “The Council of Economic Unions is afraid to attack. If the Navy had its way, this would be over by now.”

“What about our preparations?” Shawn leaned back in his chair.

“The troops are as ready as they are going to get. The defensive positions are in place. Our people are sitting on their hands waiting.”

Shawn nodded and looked at his chief intelligence officer. “Jerry. How is the, oh shit plan coming?”

Holliday paused, setting his cigar down in an ashtray. “Everything is in place.”

“What about that other matter?”

Holiday shrugged. “The team arrived on Mars. They made one attempt but failed. The brass transferred him to the bush. The Marines on Mars are establishing outlying bases away from the main colonies. He’s on some God-forsaken base out in the canyon country. I have an intelligence asset on the base. We’ll attempt another snatch and grab when they send him out on patrol.”

Shawn nodded. “Good. Make sure he doesn’t get hurt. What about Mr. Wolf and these anti-matter torpedoes?”

“He’s in the construction phase. They should have a batch to deliver to the fleet within a few weeks.”

Shawn nodded. “About the fleet. What is the word from Mr. Kesler?”

“Gustav says his ships are ready to mix it up with the federals, but you can expect them to land troops here on Europa.”

“I know. We won’t beat them in space. It’ll be here on the ground. What about spacedock?”

Holliday shrugged. “We have a Special Forces team garrisoned there. Their job is to slow the federals down long enough for everyone else to bug out. Spacedock should be the federal’s first target.”

The com-unit on Shawn Gallagher’s desk beeped. He put on a set of headphones and took the call. “Gallagher here,” he said into the throat mike. “Then get your people to the escape pods ASAP.” Shawn flipped off the com-unit, rose to his feet, and looked up at his assembled staff. His heart palpitated in his chest and sweat cropped up, on his brow. “Well, gentlemen, it looks like the federal boys are getting tired of waiting. That was Linda Van Horn at spacedock. She said several of the federal ships are moving toward her position. Others are turning to engage our fleet.” Shawn turned to Wilson. “John put the ground troops on alert.” The com-unit beeped again. “I’ll bet that’s Admiral Kesler now. Gentlemen, I’ll let you get to it. Things are about to get busy.” His assembled cabinet members filed out of the room while Shawn took the next call. “Admiral Kesler. What is your status?”

“My ships are moving into position to engage. I have six ships in position to defend spacedock. The others are going after the fleet.”

Shawn paced back and forth. “What are our chances?”

“We can hurt them, but we can’t stop them. I will stand and fight to the last ship if that is what you wish. It would be a better strategy to bloody their nose and flee to the asteroid belt. From there we can use hit and run tactics and drain their resources by attrition.”

“Do that then. Do as much damage as you can in the initial blow. Then be a thorn in Admiral Delacroix’s ass.”

“As you wish Mr. President.” Admiral Kesler ended the transmission. Shawn sat back down in his chair, leaned back and his thoughts drifted to his brother David. God, I hope the team I sent in can get him off, Mars. But what about when they get here? Will they make it through the federal blockade?

***

Cyrus Bonelli stormed out of the council chambers. Sharp pains shot across his chest. His hands balled into fists at his sides and he had trouble catching his breath. The nerve of those insolent bastards! They have the nerve to threaten me with sanctions. Cyrus sat down at his video net and logged on. The image of Admiral Delacroix appeared on the screen. Delacroix sat at a desk in his conference room. His uniform looked impeccable, but a worried frown crossed the admiral’s face.

“Good evening Mr. President,” Delacroix said.

“Admiral. I am transmitting orders for you to launch the attack. Start phase one of Operation Bold strike. I want your ships to attack at once.”

Delacroix’s frown deepened. “I thought the council was discussing the opening of negotiations?”

“The Council of Economic Unions couldn’t negotiate their way out of a shit house.”

“If you will send the confirmation code, I’ll launch the attack when I receive the orders.”

“I don’t have the damned confirmation code. We’re bypassing the council on this one. While they sit there wringing their hands, the fleet is running out of fuel. You now take your orders from me.”

“Mr. President. This puts me in a bad position.”

“I will take direct responsibility should there be any repercussions. You will follow my orders and launch Bold Strike, or I will relieve you of command! Do you understand me?” Cyrus slammed his hand down on the table.

Delacroix’s shoulders slumped. “Yes, sir Mr. President. I want to get this situation over with and get the fleet home, but there will be hell to pay from the council when the mission is over.”

Cyrus leaned back in his chair. “Let me deal with that. Are we on the same page here?”

Delacroix nodded. “Yes sir. I have never refused a lawful order in my entire career. Since you are the president of the council, in my interpretation, this order is lawful. I’ll launch Bold Strike at once.”

Cyrus smiled. “Good. One more thing.”

“What might that be Mr. President?”

“I want you to bring me Shawn Gallagher in chains. Deliver him to my suite in New York. I have my favorite, chrome-plated laser pistol sitting on my mantel. It’s charged and waiting. I intend to fire a bolt through the back of that treasonous bastard’s head.”

***

Linda Van Horn looked down at the computer screen on her console in horror. She watched several federal battle cruisers turn toward spacedock. She hesitated for a fraction of a second. Several ships from Admiral Gustav’s fleet turned to intercept. She sent the transmission to President Gallagher informing him of the federal action. Finished with that transmission, she flipped a toggle switch on her console. Alarms sounded throughout the station. A red strobe light flashed and Linda turned on her com-unit. Her hands shook; she wiped a bead of sweat from her forehead and tried to keep her voice calm.

“All personnel report to the escape pods at once! This is not a drill! I repeat! All personnel report to the escape pods at once!”

Jan Cunningham swiveled in her chair, a worried look on her face, and gave Linda a troubled smile. “We’d better go.”

“You go. I’m staying until everyone is away,” Linda said.

Jan jumped to her feet and left the control deck. She joined the hustle and bustle filling the orbiting space station. The station’s personnel headed for the escape pods. Linda’s com-unit beeped. She flipped a toggle. Commander Brian Finnegan’s voice reverberated through the speakers on her console.

“It’s time to leave, lass. Those flyboys will do their best, but they’ll be no match for those federal ships. We can expect those bloody bastards to breach the stations. My lads will buy you as much time as we can.”

“Thank you, Commander. I’ve started the evacuation. I’ll man my station until the last of our people are away.” Linda tried to keep her voice from cracking.

“Don’t try to be a hero, lass. Just get it done.”

Linda looked down at her scope. Tiny blips of light appeared as the federal vessels launched fighters. Space fighters poured out of the ships from Admiral Kesler’s fleet. They fought to protect spacedock. Her heart sank. Several bright flashes of light shoot out from the federal vessels and a tear tracked down her face. Linda wondered how many people were going to die before this was over. She tracked the torpedoes on her screen. The torpedoes slammed into one of the vessels near the spacedock. It exploded in a blinding flash of light, and a debris field formed in front of the space station.

The ships guarding spacedock fought hard. They managed to destroy more than twice their number. Five of the ships exploded turning into so much space junk. The sixth ship escaped into the lower atmosphere of Jupiter and then dashed into the asteroid belt. Linda watched the last space fighter explode. The federal ships trained their laser cannons on the launch bay doors of spacedock. Her com-unit beeped.

“Lass, you need to get your people off station now! We’ll be having company in a few minutes.” Finnegan said.

Linda checked her scope counting the number of space pods that had already launched. She flipped on the biomonitor. Three-quarters of the spacedock personnel had already escaped. “Commander, we still have twenty people on board. I’ve sealed the control deck. When the last of our people are away, I’ll bug out. Good luck, Commander, and may God go with you,” Linda said trying to hold back the tears.

“Roger that, lass. We’ll teach them, federal bastards, not to mess with the fighting Irish.” The Special Forces team took up defensive positions near the airlock. “All right, lads. Let’s teach these bastards not to mess with a bunch of Irish hooligans like us,” Finnegan said. His voice reverberated through the tiny speakers inside the helmets of his team’s EVA suits. A red spot appeared on the launch bay doors, then brightened and began to spread. The doors exploded showering the launch bay with burning debris. A shuttle flew through the gaping hole and landed on the launch bay with three more shuttles on its tail.

“Let’s give ‘em hell lads,” Finnegan opened up on the federal marines pouring out of their shuttles. The marines formed a defensive perimeter. The Special Forces team guarding spacedock took out several of the invaders. The superior numbers of the Federal Marines forced them to flee deeper into the facility. The marines followed. They lit up the narrow corridors with laser fire and engaged in a running gun battle. A laser bolt hit a control panel and the smell of burnt plastics and wiring wafted down the corridor. Finnegan took a round through the right leg. He hobbled along guarding the rear while his team retreated. His leg throbbed and felt as if it was on fire, but he managed to keep up with his team. Laser fire took out several of his team members. They finally made it to the doorway leading to the control center. Finnegan tapped the com-link on the lapel of his uniform.

“Linda, lass. It’s now or never. We’re about to make our last stand.”

“Thank you, Commander. The last of our people have left. I’m shutting down the control center now.”

Finnegan’s heart hammered inside his chest. “Head to the escape pod, lass.”

“I’m going now.” Linda’s voice cracked and a tear rolled down her cheek.

“It’s all right, lass. Us Irish boys we’re made for this stuff.” Finnegan took a cigar from his pocket. He fired it up and tobacco smoke filled the corridor.

Linda shut down her station. She crossed the control center to the last remaining escape pod. Entering the pod she secured herself in the upright seat and hit the eject button. The escape pod jettisoned away from the station and descended toward the surface of Europa.

The Federal Marines rounded the corner heading toward the control center. A laser bolt burned into the bulkhead next to Finnegan’s shoulder. He clinched the cigar between his teeth and returned fire. His heart pounded inside his chest and his breathing accelerated.

“Lads, let’s show these bastards what a few Irish thugs like us can do when our dander is up,” Finnegan said. He bit back the lump in his throat and opened up with his M-23 Blaster.

***

Admiral Kesler sat on the command platform on the bridge of his flagship. He gazed out the viewscreen at the federal vessels arrayed against him. When the federal forces made their move, Kesler ordered half of his fleet to attack the federal’s flank. He held the others back in reserve. The federals launched space fighters and Admiral Kesler launched their fighters as well. The ships from Kesler’s fleet were small. The smaller ships were more maneuverable than the federal main battle cruisers. They attacked at full speed. Admiral Gustav waited until the last few seconds. He ordered the fleet to launch torpedoes in a massive volley. They fired as they passed through the federal formations.

The first wave of ships passed through the federal lines and turned for another run. The rest of Kesler’s fleet began their attack run. Several blinding flashes filled the viewscreen. The shields on four federal ships failed. The ships exploded into massive fireballs. The space fighters mixed it up. A debris field filled space surrounding Jupiter and her moons. The federal forces launched torpedoes. They opened up with their laser cannons. Laser fire lit up the viewscreen. Once more, they sliced through the federal lines firing torpedoes while they sped by. Admiral Kesler’s flagship took a direct hit from a laser cannon. He felt a massive jolt and the lights flickered on the bridge.

“Captain, the shields are down to seventy percent strength,” the chief engineer said.

The young blond-headed German captain turned to Admiral Kesler. “What are your orders, sir?”

Gustav waved his hand as if in a dismissive gesture. “Give it another run.” The space battle lasted for over an hour. The federal fleet lost over one-third of its ships. Several more sustained severe damage. After Kesler lost over half of the ships in his fleet, he heaved a sigh. God if I only had some of Mr. Wolf’s anti-matter weapons. Admiral Kesler flipped on his com-unit and sent out a broadcast to all the remaining ships in his fleet. “Well done, Comrades. We will now make an orderly withdrawal. There will be another day.” After giving the order to withdraw, Kesler sent a video to the federal flagship. The image of Admiral Delacroix filled the screen. “Admiral. You won the day. Next time you won’t be so lucky.”

Delacroix sighed. “Next time I will destroy your whole fleet. Why don’t you give up now before more people die?”

Kesler shook his head. “And spend the rest of my life in a federal gulag? No thank you.” Kesler cut the signal. He typed in an encrypted code and the image of Shawn Gallagher filled the screen. In the background, Kesler saw people tearing down equipment and packing up documents. “Mr. President. We did our best. Rather than lose the entire fleet, I have ordered my people to flee to the asteroid belt. We will affect repairs and see how much damage we can inflict using the hit and run tactics that we spoke of.”

“You did an excellent job. You destroyed almost one-half of the federal fleet.”

Kesler shrugged. “More like one-third. It looks like you are busy, so I won’t keep you.”

“My security people are going ballistic. They are moving me to a safer location.”

“You can expect the federals to land ground troops on Europa.”

Shawn nodded. “They’ll find that Europa is a tough nut to crack.”

Kesler laughed. “Take care, Mr. President.” He fired off a salute and Gallagher returned it. “Until we meet again. I have a bottle of the finest German Vodka. We will have a victory toast.”

Shawn smiled. “I’ll look forward to it.” Kesler flipped off his com-unit and led his despoiled fleet toward the asteroid belt. The federal forces, all though still a viable force was in no shape to give chase.

***