MP-1: The Mineral Planet, a novel by CL Smothers

Carl Smothers

An ancient entity has been the custodian of an invaluable asset for 1000 years. Aliens invade her planet, intending to exploit its resources and unintentionally create cataclysmic damages to her world. An interplanetary war breaks out to control the most valuable piece of real estate in the galaxy—MP-1. The Entity is drawn into the conflict and has to fight for her life to protect the great asset entrusted to her—the only reason for her existence. After the war, Dr. Carmen Stevens is dispatched to the planet to investigate with one directive: to resolve the issue or destroy the entity.

Communications with the mining operations on MP-1 have ceased. The nations of Earth and the planets of Cloatia and Kandar, have depleted their resources and are desperate for Earth to resume the mineral shipments needed to fuel their power grid reactors. Government officials on Earth, concerned about their people and the loss of revenues, dispatch Dr. Sara Anne Stevens and a small special ops team, to investigate.

The miners are dead, their bodies, torn to pieces and scattered over the mining compound, with no clues as to whom or what did the killing. During the investigation, Sara and her team discover a strange cavern and find Rominium, an element needed as the basic fuel for dark energy reactors and not available anywhere else in the galaxy. While in that cavern, they make contact with Sorious. Sensing Sara is different from the other invaders, the Entity spares their lives and tries to communicate with Sara—her only hope to save her mission.

Sara’ project to develop dark energy reactors was at a stopping point. The Rominium she needed wasn’t available anywhere except MP-1. Sara convinces her boss to let her relocate the Star project to MP-1 — despite the extreme dangers of a planet overrun by vicious predators and a poor creature desperately needing help and killing as her only defense mechanism. Sara and the creature learn to communicate. Sorious agrees to let Sara take the minerals she needs but insists they never enter her cavern.

Convinced Earth is trying to sabotage their economy by delaying mineral shipments, the Cloatians dispatch a space force and soldiers to take possession of MP-1. An interplanetary war breaks out between Earth and Cloatia, leading to a massive space naval battle—the outcome of which will determine who controls the most valuable piece of real estate in the galaxy.

The Entity, drawn into the middle of the conflict, fights for her survival as the war rages on. After the bloody conflict is resolved, the massacres and mineral shipment delays caused by the Entity are of such concern, Earth and its allies opt to destroy the creature. Sara is convinced Sorious is not a mindless killer but an intelligent being protecting something of great importance. Despite the danger to herself, she convinces them she must return to MP-1 to understand the cause of the Entity’s seemingly irrational behavior, and to save its life.