Doomsday Planet by William Burke

The world’s richest man just made a killer deal with an alien species; he’s sold them the human race!

Astronaut Marcus Reno dies in a lunar accident, only to be resurrected by a race of benevolent time travelers to command a regiment of warriors plucked from Earth’s past. Their mission: save humanity from an invasion by the Zagan—tyrannical aliens working in cahoots with Earth’s richest man, who’s eager to leap from oligarch to god.

With doomsday imminent, Reno leaps into battle with only a band of Viking berserkers, and a tenacious WW2 Soviet aviatrix at his side. Together they must assault a Zagan base hidden on a prehistoric, dinosaur-infested planet.

Between the Zagans’ guns and the dinosaurs’ jaws, their chances are slim . . . but is it still a suicide mission when, technically, they’re already dead?

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Excerpt from Doomsday Planet © Copyright 2025 William Burke

SET UP: Hugo Visser, the world’s wealthiest man, has been taken aboard an alien spacecraft, only to find himself thrust into a celestial dogfight. The ship survives the battle, and Visser meets Azrael, a representative of the Zagan—the robotic alien benefactors who have engineered and guided his success.

Hugo Visser sank back in his seat, his heart pounding to an electronic dance music tempo. The battle had ended, and smooth passage had resumed. Now he wished a stewardess with a beverage cart would appear because he desperately needed a martini with a Xanex chaser.

But instead of a flight attendant, Azrael was striding down the aisle. Visser asked him, “Are we safe now?”

“Yes. Regrettably, we lost two of our vessels, but sensors indicate that the attacking spacecraft was destroyed. Do you have any questions?”

“Yeah. Why did you bring me to … wherever it is we’re going?”

“To protect our investment. We’ve devoted years to honing your image as a technical and entrepreneurial genius, constantly spoon-feeding you advanced technology.”

“I came up with a few ideas on my own.”

“Of course you did and they were very special. Our relationship is at a critical juncture and with so much invested in both you and Web 6.0 we couldn’t risk your safety.”

“Was I in danger? I mean other than being blown up in space?”

“Your business enterprises came into conflict with the goals of the Chinese government. The Chinese lunar base was preparing to deploy microsatellites to sabotage the launch of Web 6.0, forcing us to destroy the base.”

“You know, that could start World War Three.”

“Highly unlikely. Ultimately, the destruction will be blamed on faulty technology.” “That makes sense. Word around town was their base was a death trap.” “Unfortunately, one of your lunar cargo shuttles witnessed the attack. We blocked its

radio transmissions and destroyed the craft, but the pilot was killed.” “That’s terrible.”

“True, we hoped to avoid harming your employees.” “No, I mean those shuttles cost half a billion dollars.”

“Eventually, the disaster will be blamed on Chinese incompetence. But until then, the media will make groundless accusations that will lead to punitive actions. I calculated a twenty- eight percent chance Chinese agents would assassinate you.”

“I knew those oriental shitheads were out to get me!”

“And an equal chance of your being murdered by your country’s conspiracy believers.” “I knew those paranoid shitheads were out to get me!”

“Therefore, it was logical to move you to safety. But the timing was advantageous as our plans are near fruition.”

“May I ask another question?” “Of course.”

“Out of all the tech geniuses on Earth, why me?”

“We studied many candidates before declaring you ideal for our purposes. Despite being hampered by the limitations of human intelligence, you displayed business acumen and creative thought.”

“I’ll consider that a compliment.”

“Just as importantly, you display pathological narcissism combined with a complete inability to love your fellow humans in a non-transactional manner.”

“Wait, you’re calling those my positive traits?”

“Oh yes, those desirable traits far outweighed potential issues such as your patriarchal misogyny, cultural elitism, flagrant racism, anti-Semitism, and—”

“Okay, I get it! You know, for a robot, you get pretty personal.”

“Did I neglect to mention your vanity and fragile ego? No offense was intended.” “I accept your apology.”

“No apology was intended, and, to clarify, the Zagan are not robots. Two hundred years ago, we were an organic species, physically similar to humans.”

“What happened?”

“An extinction-level catastrophe forced us to upload our minds for digital storage. A select few of us were charged with finding a new home world. Our minds were digitally implanted into these robotic bodies to facilitate that.”

“Does that mean you’ll live forever?”

“Only if you consider an eternity in purgatory to be living. These robotic bodies deny us all the senses you take for granted. I haven’t tasted food or felt the touch of another in two centuries. But, with your help, we will be reborn in organic bodies.” “How?”

“I will explain it all later. Just know that the Zagan and humans are about to begin an incredible new chapter in their existence.”

“And what’s going to happen to me?”

“I have already made you a billionaire. Now I will turn you into a god.”