The following is a preview of book 3 in my action-packed martial thriller series, Combat Frame XSeed: CY 40 Second Coming.
Somewhere
Beneath Brussels Air Base
Beneath Brussels Air Base
A
quartet of graying men sat behind a rectangular table as if imitating
the four oldest disciples at the Last Supper. But another, later
event from Christian myth still haunted the young man waiting in the
shadows before them.
quartet of graying men sat behind a rectangular table as if imitating
the four oldest disciples at the Last Supper. But another, later
event from Christian myth still haunted the young man waiting in the
shadows before them.
Three
of the elders wore dark blue uniforms bedecked with pins and ribbons.
The fourth man, who sat on the far left, sported a lily white
business suit. His balding head bowed to read a sheaf of papers under
one of the four desk lamps which alone lit the stuffy room. White
letters on the black plastic nameplate before him read GOV F. TOVE.
of the elders wore dark blue uniforms bedecked with pins and ribbons.
The fourth man, who sat on the far left, sported a lily white
business suit. His balding head bowed to read a sheaf of papers under
one of the four desk lamps which alone lit the stuffy room. White
letters on the black plastic nameplate before him read GOV F. TOVE.
“What
a disgrace!” Tove smacked the papers down on the desk. “That’s
the only word for our response to HALO. A band of teenagers
assassinated my deputy, terrorized multiple colonies, and got away
scot-free.”
a disgrace!” Tove smacked the papers down on the desk. “That’s
the only word for our response to HALO. A band of teenagers
assassinated my deputy, terrorized multiple colonies, and got away
scot-free.”
“It
wasn’t exactly scot-free, sir,” said an even balder, bull-necked
man seated at the table’s opposite end. His nameplate read GEN H.
DRYDEN. “Our mass driver at Fort Arzachel did shoot down the enemy
destroyer.”
wasn’t exactly scot-free, sir,” said an even balder, bull-necked
man seated at the table’s opposite end. His nameplate read GEN H.
DRYDEN. “Our mass driver at Fort Arzachel did shoot down the enemy
destroyer.”
“I
wouldn’t brag, General,” said Tove. “The Roter März
destroyed Bigelow City in its death throes. Not a single enemy
operative was captured in the bargain. We still don’t know HALO’s
full capabilities, and their next objective is a mystery.”
wouldn’t brag, General,” said Tove. “The Roter März
destroyed Bigelow City in its death throes. Not a single enemy
operative was captured in the bargain. We still don’t know HALO’s
full capabilities, and their next objective is a mystery.”
“Considering
their loss of manpower, material, and support,” said Dryden, “I’d
imagine their current objective is basic survival.”
their loss of manpower, material, and support,” said Dryden, “I’d
imagine their current objective is basic survival.”
Tove
jabbed a gnarled finger at the base commander. “You imagine. That’s
exactly my point. We’re left guessing in the absence of useful
intelligence. Can someone explain how the enemy vanished without a
trace?”
jabbed a gnarled finger at the base commander. “You imagine. That’s
exactly my point. We’re left guessing in the absence of useful
intelligence. Can someone explain how the enemy vanished without a
trace?”
Dryden’s
acerbic tone twisted the knife. “Maybe Malov Strauss.”
acerbic tone twisted the knife. “Maybe Malov Strauss.”
“Undersecretary
Strauss already gave a statement,” said the long-faced man to
Tove’s left labeled COL M. ALVAREZ. The Colonel flipped through his
own stack of papers. “He said he engaged and disabled XSeed 01, but
the crashing destroyer forced him to withdraw emptyhanded.”
Strauss already gave a statement,” said the long-faced man to
Tove’s left labeled COL M. ALVAREZ. The Colonel flipped through his
own stack of papers. “He said he engaged and disabled XSeed 01, but
the crashing destroyer forced him to withdraw emptyhanded.”
Tove
grunted. “Strauss is a Fel. What’s the CDF’s excuse? XSeeds 02,
03, and 04 were also sighted over Bigelow City. Why weren’t they
captured?”
grunted. “Strauss is a Fel. What’s the CDF’s excuse? XSeeds 02,
03, and 04 were also sighted over Bigelow City. Why weren’t they
captured?”
Colonel
Nikeda, the fidgety man with a pinched face seated between Alvarez
and Dryden, said, “We have conflicting reports that two or more
XSeeds were destroyed.”
Nikeda, the fidgety man with a pinched face seated between Alvarez
and Dryden, said, “We have conflicting reports that two or more
XSeeds were destroyed.”
Tove
pounded the table. Water sloshed out of the glass to his right. “If
that’s the case, where’s the wreckage?”
pounded the table. Water sloshed out of the glass to his right. “If
that’s the case, where’s the wreckage?”
The
three officers exchanged worried looks. “We’re still searching,”
Dryden said.
three officers exchanged worried looks. “We’re still searching,”
Dryden said.
“How
hard can it be to find four giant robots?” Tove asked on the edge
of exasperation.
hard can it be to find four giant robots?” Tove asked on the edge
of exasperation.
“There’s
a lot of lunar surface to cover,” said Dryden, “and even more
space. In the meantime, we’ve gone over every millimeter of the
Roter März wreckage.”
a lot of lunar surface to cover,” said Dryden, “and even more
space. In the meantime, we’ve gone over every millimeter of the
Roter März wreckage.”
“And?”
demanded Tove.
demanded Tove.
A
heavy breath puffed out Dryden’s fruit salad-laden chest, preceding
a sharp exhale. “We estimate only half the ship’s company was
aboard when it impacted the surface.”
heavy breath puffed out Dryden’s fruit salad-laden chest, preceding
a sharp exhale. “We estimate only half the ship’s company was
aboard when it impacted the surface.”
A
strained silence fell and finally broke when Nikeda offered, “A
Grand Dolph transmitted video of a shuttle leaving the Rote März
shortly before impact. The Dolph was destroyed, but we’re searching
along the shuttle’s last known course.”
strained silence fell and finally broke when Nikeda offered, “A
Grand Dolph transmitted video of a shuttle leaving the Rote März
shortly before impact. The Dolph was destroyed, but we’re searching
along the shuttle’s last known course.”
The
young man in the shadows had listened patiently to his superiors’
veiled bickering and finger-pointing. Now he sensed his moment.
“Excuse me, Sirs, but you’re wasting your time.”
young man in the shadows had listened patiently to his superiors’
veiled bickering and finger-pointing. Now he sensed his moment.
“Excuse me, Sirs, but you’re wasting your time.”
All
four old men peered into the darkness shrouding the front of the
room. “Do you think you can straighten out our priorities,
Lieutenant?” Alvarez said flatly.
four old men peered into the darkness shrouding the front of the
room. “Do you think you can straighten out our priorities,
Lieutenant?” Alvarez said flatly.
Whatever
the Colonel’s intent, his young subordinate took the invitation
literally. He hobbled forward on crutches gripped by hands bound in
wrist braces, making soft thumping sounds on the polymer tiles as he
advanced into the light. Brown hair spilled over a bandage encircling
his forehead. A gold bar adorned each shoulder of his blue coat.
the Colonel’s intent, his young subordinate took the invitation
literally. He hobbled forward on crutches gripped by hands bound in
wrist braces, making soft thumping sounds on the polymer tiles as he
advanced into the light. Brown hair spilled over a bandage encircling
his forehead. A gold bar adorned each shoulder of his blue coat.
“Hanging
on that cross must have given you brain damage, Bauer,” said
Dryden. “The Colonel was being sarcastic. You’re here as an
eyewitness to HALO’s attack on the Academy. When we want your
opinion, we’ll ask for it.”
on that cross must have given you brain damage, Bauer,” said
Dryden. “The Colonel was being sarcastic. You’re here as an
eyewitness to HALO’s attack on the Academy. When we want your
opinion, we’ll ask for it.”
Tove
hushed the General with a raised hand. “I want answers. If
Lieutenant Bauer has them, I’m willing to hear him out.”
hushed the General with a raised hand. “I want answers. If
Lieutenant Bauer has them, I’m willing to hear him out.”
“Need
I remind Your Excellency that Mr. Bauer only received his commission
last week and only out of sympathy for his ordeal.”
I remind Your Excellency that Mr. Bauer only received his commission
last week and only out of sympathy for his ordeal.”
“I
beg your pardon, Sir,” Bauer said, “but if that’s the reason
for my promotion, you can take it back. Sympathy has no meaning for
me.”
beg your pardon, Sir,” Bauer said, “but if that’s the reason
for my promotion, you can take it back. Sympathy has no meaning for
me.”
Bauer’s
cold, clinical voice made his superiors shift in their seats.
cold, clinical voice made his superiors shift in their seats.
“Say
your piece, Lieutenant,” said Tove. “Why should we abandon the
search for HALO?”
your piece, Lieutenant,” said Tove. “Why should we abandon the
search for HALO?”
“Pouring
all our resources into a manhunt is better than our original policy
of denying the problem,” Bauer said, “but we’re still reacting
to their moves. We should take the initiative.”
all our resources into a manhunt is better than our original policy
of denying the problem,” Bauer said, “but we’re still reacting
to their moves. We should take the initiative.”
A
bemused look passed over Dryden’s face. “How do you propose we do
that?”
bemused look passed over Dryden’s face. “How do you propose we do
that?”
“I’ve
had plenty of time to think,” Bauer said. “Malov embarrassed the
CDF, but continued involvement in outer space is a needless drain on
this administration. Let the Arzachel garrison handle the search. The
immediate threat is here on Earth.”
had plenty of time to think,” Bauer said. “Malov embarrassed the
CDF, but continued involvement in outer space is a needless drain on
this administration. Let the Arzachel garrison handle the search. The
immediate threat is here on Earth.”
Tove
leaned forward and laced his fingers. “I’m starting to agree with
my officers. You’re quite presumptive for a young buck fresh out of
school.”
leaned forward and laced his fingers. “I’m starting to agree with
my officers. You’re quite presumptive for a young buck fresh out of
school.”
“Is
it presumptive to point out the rogue governor who’s seceding from
the Coalition and taking a major spaceport with him?” asked Bauer.
it presumptive to point out the rogue governor who’s seceding from
the Coalition and taking a major spaceport with him?” asked Bauer.
“Chang,”
grumbled Tove. “I warned the Council about his superstitions. Those
feckless bureaucrats deserve a share of the blame for his betrayal.”
grumbled Tove. “I warned the Council about his superstitions. Those
feckless bureaucrats deserve a share of the blame for his betrayal.”
“That
traitor is harboring HALO soldiers and allies,” said Bauer. “He
appeals directly to the public, and the government’s inaction only
strengthens his case.”
traitor is harboring HALO soldiers and allies,” said Bauer. “He
appeals directly to the public, and the government’s inaction only
strengthens his case.”
Tove
seemed to deflate. “The Secretaries fear that direct intervention
would be a public relations fiasco.”
seemed to deflate. “The Secretaries fear that direct intervention
would be a public relations fiasco.”
“They’re
right to be afraid,” said Bauer. “Despite committing political
murders and attacking civilians, HALO holds the moral high ground.”
right to be afraid,” said Bauer. “Despite committing political
murders and attacking civilians, HALO holds the moral high ground.”
“How
do you suggest we take it back?” asked Dryden.
do you suggest we take it back?” asked Dryden.
“HALO
has energized the grounder population,” Bauer said. “A growing
number of colonists favor withdrawing from Earth, if only to stop the
violence. That trend would be slowed, or even reversed, in the wake
of sudden attacks with heavy grounder casualties.”
has energized the grounder population,” Bauer said. “A growing
number of colonists favor withdrawing from Earth, if only to stop the
violence. That trend would be slowed, or even reversed, in the wake
of sudden attacks with heavy grounder casualties.”
Dryden’s
brow furrowed. “Do you propose that the CDF launch preemptive
strikes on grounder populations?”
brow furrowed. “Do you propose that the CDF launch preemptive
strikes on grounder populations?”
A
grin tugged at Bauer’s mouth. “No, Sir. I propose that HALO will
be responsible.”
grin tugged at Bauer’s mouth. “No, Sir. I propose that HALO will
be responsible.”
False flags are classic.
And 01, 02, 03, and 04? Not 101, 102, 103, and 104? Or is both the the in-universe context and reader context sufficiently clear that they're talking about the 100-series?
The Coalition didn't initially know the one series XSeeds' Browning Corp model numbers, so the Socs assigned their own code names based upon the apparent design hierarchy.
Partly due to the observable technological progression, and partly to avoid confusion, SOC designations 01, 02, 03, and 04 correspond to XCD-101, XCD-102, XCD-103, and XCD-104 respectively.
NB: It's also an homage to Gundam Wing, in which OZ assigns a similar numbering scheme to the Gundams.
Makes sense. I had grasped (or at least assumed) that 01 = 101, etc., but it felt hollow and unsupported. Since there's a good in-universe reason for it, the support is now there and my sense of story is no longer objecting.
Thank you for the explanation.
My pleasure. I can't wait to hear your thoughts on CFXS: CY 40.
I've been struggling with all of CFXS with a sense that I'm vaguely adrift and missing things of import. I think others have felt this way about Soul Cycle, and I think in both cases it's due to not being familiar with the types of worlds and tropes the series are based on. So I have a higher tolerance for mystery and unresolved tensions in Soul Cycle. Also, Soul Cycle is far-removed from reality, while CFXS is not, and so the sense of wonder and exploration helped make the Soul Cycle a page-turner for me.
Maybe it's that I don't see a way that things end well for the non-SOCs, and that's putting a damper on things. In that case, I may well be able to get through once the series is done and I can see how things are ending.
So I haven't even gotten all the way through the first book yet, and so cannot really give any well-thought out reaction to it, let alone CY40. Perhaps I am simply not in the target audience.
I'll keep trying, of course.
I want readers to read books they enjoy. If you're deriving entertainment from a particular book, by all means carry on. If reading becomes a chore, I'd rather you find something more to your liking, even if it's not by me.
You can always come back to it later.