The following is a preview of the forthcoming third book in my mecha thriller series Combat Frame XSeed:
An
executive aide wearing a stylish white blouse and black skirt ushered
James into a meeting room the size of a business-class hotel suite.
No windows broke up the gold diamond wallpaper pattern. A middle-aged
man with a gold cross on his gray lapel sat behind a wide walnut
table between a pair of sullen men in dark suits.
executive aide wearing a stylish white blouse and black skirt ushered
James into a meeting room the size of a business-class hotel suite.
No windows broke up the gold diamond wallpaper pattern. A middle-aged
man with a gold cross on his gray lapel sat behind a wide walnut
table between a pair of sullen men in dark suits.
That’s
Chang in the middle, thought James. Those two suits must be
security. I doubt they’re here to protect him from me.
Chang in the middle, thought James. Those two suits must be
security. I doubt they’re here to protect him from me.
The
governor’s aide gestured to a chair across the table from the three
officials. “Please have a seat,” she told James.
governor’s aide gestured to a chair across the table from the three
officials. “Please have a seat,” she told James.
“Can
a guy get some coffee around here?” he asked. The aide turned and
strode back across the soft green carpet.
a guy get some coffee around here?” he asked. The aide turned and
strode back across the soft green carpet.
“Thank
you for meeting with us, Mr. Trent,” said Chang. “I apologize for
interrupting your Sunday morning.”
you for meeting with us, Mr. Trent,” said Chang. “I apologize for
interrupting your Sunday morning.”
James’
shrug rumpled his white jacket. “Makes no difference to me. I’m
between jobs right now.”
shrug rumpled his white jacket. “Makes no difference to me. I’m
between jobs right now.”
The
aide returned with a piping cup of aromatic coffee. James accepted
the paper-thin ceramic mug.
aide returned with a piping cup of aromatic coffee. James accepted
the paper-thin ceramic mug.
“Thanks,
Kid,” he said with a wink.
Kid,” he said with a wink.
Kid—as
James would thenceforth always think of her—slightly raised the
corner of her mouth.
James would thenceforth always think of her—slightly raised the
corner of her mouth.
James
took a long swig of the smooth, bold contents. The warm beverage
energized him.
took a long swig of the smooth, bold contents. The warm beverage
energized him.
“We
are aware of your misfortune,” said Chang. “You have our
condolences.”
are aware of your misfortune,” said Chang. “You have our
condolences.”
James
took another swig of coffee before answering. “That’s kind of
you, but it was just a mining job. I’ll land on my feet.”
took another swig of coffee before answering. “That’s kind of
you, but it was just a mining job. I’ll land on my feet.”
A
nervous look passed between Chang and his security goons. The guy on
the left, who looked like he only had a few years on James, fiddled
with his silver pen. The older, pudgy one on the right breathed a
heavy sigh.
nervous look passed between Chang and his security goons. The guy on
the left, who looked like he only had a few years on James, fiddled
with his silver pen. The older, pudgy one on the right breathed a
heavy sigh.
“You’ve
not heard of the attack on Yarkand Mining Commune?” Chang said at
length.
not heard of the attack on Yarkand Mining Commune?” Chang said at
length.
James
frowned at the Governor. “Heard about it? I lived it. Didn’t
Simon and Faust tell you they went in to extract me?”
frowned at the Governor. “Heard about it? I lived it. Didn’t
Simon and Faust tell you they went in to extract me?”
Chang
pursed his lips. “I was referring to last night’s attack.”
pursed his lips. “I was referring to last night’s attack.”
The
cup slipped in James’ suddenly slack hand. His fumbling fingers set
the mug down, but not before he sloshed coffee on the polished
tabletop. “Last night?”
cup slipped in James’ suddenly slack hand. His fumbling fingers set
the mug down, but not before he sloshed coffee on the polished
tabletop. “Last night?”
Kid
leaned in to clean up the spill with a white handkerchief.
leaned in to clean up the spill with a white handkerchief.
“Correct,”
Chang said slowly. “Just after midnight, a surprise kinetic strike
destroyed the main ore receiving facility. Current estimates place
the death toll at one hundred and thirty-two. Since you worked at the
mine until recently, we hoped you might have some useful insights.”
Chang said slowly. “Just after midnight, a surprise kinetic strike
destroyed the main ore receiving facility. Current estimates place
the death toll at one hundred and thirty-two. Since you worked at the
mine until recently, we hoped you might have some useful insights.”
James
pounded the table, inadvertently spilling more coffee. Kid waited,
probably expecting more messes to come.
pounded the table, inadvertently spilling more coffee. Kid waited,
probably expecting more messes to come.
“Damned
Socs,” cursed James. “I knew they were passive-aggressive
bastards, but launching an orbital strike on their own mine?”
Socs,” cursed James. “I knew they were passive-aggressive
bastards, but launching an orbital strike on their own mine?”
“Actually,
the attack was launched from the ground,” Chang corrected him. “The
Coalition is blaming HALO.”
the attack was launched from the ground,” Chang corrected him. “The
Coalition is blaming HALO.”
“That
doesn’t make sense,” said James. “Only grounders and Soc
screwups work the graveyard shift. There were no worthwhile targets.”
doesn’t make sense,” said James. “Only grounders and Soc
screwups work the graveyard shift. There were no worthwhile targets.”
“Yarkand
is vital to Western China Region copper production,” said Chang.
“The SOC claims that Arthur Wake ordered the strike as an act of
sabotage with no care for the human cost.”
is vital to Western China Region copper production,” said Chang.
“The SOC claims that Arthur Wake ordered the strike as an act of
sabotage with no care for the human cost.”
James
snorted. “Arthur’s a jerk, but he’s no idiot. That receiving
facility’s been in operation less than a year. They can rebuild it
in a month and use the old one in the meantime.”
snorted. “Arthur’s a jerk, but he’s no idiot. That receiving
facility’s been in operation less than a year. They can rebuild it
in a month and use the old one in the meantime.”
Chang
and his men conferred quietly. James had grown up speaking
Coalition-standard Mandarin, but the Fels’ weird dialect combined
with their hushed voices foiled his eavesdropping.
and his men conferred quietly. James had grown up speaking
Coalition-standard Mandarin, but the Fels’ weird dialect combined
with their hushed voices foiled his eavesdropping.
The
Governor turned back to James. “I must ask a difficult question,
Mr. Trent. Think carefully before you answer. Are you accusing the
Coalition of staging a false flag attack on their own facility?”
Governor turned back to James. “I must ask a difficult question,
Mr. Trent. Think carefully before you answer. Are you accusing the
Coalition of staging a false flag attack on their own facility?”
“If
I was gonna pull a false flag,” James said, “that facility is
exactly the place I’d hit. I bet most of the hundred and thirty
dead were grounders, right?”
I was gonna pull a false flag,” James said, “that facility is
exactly the place I’d hit. I bet most of the hundred and thirty
dead were grounders, right?”
“Yes,”
said Chang, “as most of the casualties from this morning’s
missile strike on Hong Kong were likely to be.”
said Chang, “as most of the casualties from this morning’s
missile strike on Hong Kong were likely to be.”
James
felt as if his leather desk chair were sinking into the floor.
Lightning in a clear sky … “Did the missile attack happen
around six?”
felt as if his leather desk chair were sinking into the floor.
Lightning in a clear sky … “Did the missile attack happen
around six?”
Chang
nodded. “0600 precisely. Details are still emerging, but multiple
Coalition satellites recorded three conventional warhead detonations
in Victoria Harbour. An unmanned cargo vessel took heavy damage, but
a nearby dockworkers’ barracks was completely destroyed.”
nodded. “0600 precisely. Details are still emerging, but multiple
Coalition satellites recorded three conventional warhead detonations
in Victoria Harbour. An unmanned cargo vessel took heavy damage, but
a nearby dockworkers’ barracks was completely destroyed.”
“I
saw three lightning flashes directly overhead right before your guys
picked me up,” said James.
saw three lightning flashes directly overhead right before your guys
picked me up,” said James.
“So
did countless other witnesses,” said Chang, “including the
Coalition. They’ve accused my government of launching the attack in
solidarity with HALO and Wehrbund Bavaria.”
did countless other witnesses,” said Chang, “including the
Coalition. They’ve accused my government of launching the attack in
solidarity with HALO and Wehrbund Bavaria.”
James
folded his arms. “It definitely wasn’t you guys—unless you have
invisible missile launchers that can fire from midair.”
folded his arms. “It definitely wasn’t you guys—unless you have
invisible missile launchers that can fire from midair.”
“The
SOC claims to have photographic proof that the missiles originated
from our space launch site.”
SOC claims to have photographic proof that the missiles originated
from our space launch site.”
“It’s
just a bullshit excuse for the Socs to invade Hainan.”
just a bullshit excuse for the Socs to invade Hainan.”
“We
know,” said Chang. “That’s why we’d like you to provide an
official statement on the Yarkand mine’s internal security, layout,
and procedures. We need to make a case countering the SOC’s claims
and bring it to the public at once.”
know,” said Chang. “That’s why we’d like you to provide an
official statement on the Yarkand mine’s internal security, layout,
and procedures. We need to make a case countering the SOC’s claims
and bring it to the public at once.”
James
bowed his head and gave a sharp exhale. “I’d love to help you
out, but the Socs have my mom. She’ll be in danger if it gets back
to them I shared confidential information.”
bowed his head and gave a sharp exhale. “I’d love to help you
out, but the Socs have my mom. She’ll be in danger if it gets back
to them I shared confidential information.”
Another
anxious look passed from Chang to his security advisors and even Kid,
who stood beside James.
anxious look passed from Chang to his security advisors and even Kid,
who stood beside James.
At
last, Chang spoke. “The ore receiving facility wasn’t the only
target at Yarkand. The attackers also destroyed the main detention
center. All of the prisoners were killed, including your mother.”
last, Chang spoke. “The ore receiving facility wasn’t the only
target at Yarkand. The attackers also destroyed the main detention
center. All of the prisoners were killed, including your mother.”
James’
mind raced. His mouth fell open, but no words emerged. A sudden shock
left him numb, as if he’d touched a live wire.
mind raced. His mouth fell open, but no words emerged. A sudden shock
left him numb, as if he’d touched a live wire.
“Why?”
he finally croaked.
he finally croaked.
“The
Coalition interprets the detention center’s destruction as a
symbolic blow. They attribute the nearly exclusive grounder
casualties to Arthur’s ruthlessness and HALO’s stupidity.”
Coalition interprets the detention center’s destruction as a
symbolic blow. They attribute the nearly exclusive grounder
casualties to Arthur’s ruthlessness and HALO’s stupidity.”
James
stared into Chang’s dark eyes. He struggled to keep from trembling
form rage. “Tell me what you’re gonna do about this.”
stared into Chang’s dark eyes. He struggled to keep from trembling
form rage. “Tell me what you’re gonna do about this.”
Chang
opened his mouth to speak. His security goons each laid a hand on the
Governor’s back, but he waved them off.
opened his mouth to speak. His security goons each laid a hand on the
Governor’s back, but he waved them off.
“This
information is top secret,” Chang confided in James, “but you
deserve to know. My administration has been advancing plans in
cooperation with Wehrbund Bavaria to build our own Combat Frame
force. Lieutenant Frazer destroyed our carbyne plant, making XSeed
construction unfeasible, but production has begun on an original CF
line co-designed by Chaz Ritter and Ivan Eckhart.”
information is top secret,” Chang confided in James, “but you
deserve to know. My administration has been advancing plans in
cooperation with Wehrbund Bavaria to build our own Combat Frame
force. Lieutenant Frazer destroyed our carbyne plant, making XSeed
construction unfeasible, but production has begun on an original CF
line co-designed by Chaz Ritter and Ivan Eckhart.”
“I
volunteer,” said James.
volunteer,” said James.
Chang
raised a cautioning hand. “Thank you, but we already have a
professional pilot corps. There’s not enough time to train you
before our new Stapfen combat frames enter service.”
raised a cautioning hand. “Thank you, but we already have a
professional pilot corps. There’s not enough time to train you
before our new Stapfen combat frames enter service.”
“I’ve
been operating bipedal ore haulers for years,” argued James. “They
use the same basic controls as CFs. Hell, I’ve got more time behind
the stick than Faust!”
been operating bipedal ore haulers for years,” argued James. “They
use the same basic controls as CFs. Hell, I’ve got more time behind
the stick than Faust!”
“Mr.
Hayden has combat experience,” said Chang.
Hayden has combat experience,” said Chang.
James
stabbed a finger at the Governor and each of his men in turn. “I
helped my brother take down a custom Soc CF. He had an XSeed. I had a
truck.”
stabbed a finger at the Governor and each of his men in turn. “I
helped my brother take down a custom Soc CF. He had an XSeed. I had a
truck.”
Chang
and his cronies conferred again.
and his cronies conferred again.
“We
will consider your application,” said the Governor.
will consider your application,” said the Governor.
James
sprang to his feet. “You can consider my—”
sprang to his feet. “You can consider my—”
The
door swung open behind James. A young woman with raven-black hair and
pale skin stormed into the room. The hem of her cream-colored skirt
churned as she approached. Kid rushed to clean up the coffee spill
and turned to greet the newcomer.
door swung open behind James. A young woman with raven-black hair and
pale skin stormed into the room. The hem of her cream-colored skirt
churned as she approached. Kid rushed to clean up the coffee spill
and turned to greet the newcomer.
Chang
rose and bowed. “Your Majesty, what a pleasant surprise.”
rose and bowed. “Your Majesty, what a pleasant surprise.”
Lenora
von Bodensee gave the Governor a curt nod and met James’ stare with
ice-blue eyes. “Why do you want to fight?”
von Bodensee gave the Governor a curt nod and met James’ stare with
ice-blue eyes. “Why do you want to fight?”
James
drew himself up. “The Socs killed my mother. They’re slandering
my brother. I want justice!”
drew himself up. “The Socs killed my mother. They’re slandering
my brother. I want justice!”
“Follow
me,” Lenora said with a grim smile.
me,” Lenora said with a grim smile.
The new book arrives soon. Read this stunning series’ first two installments now!
Good. We have the False-Flag recognition.
Ritter and Eckhart…Would Chaz be a descendant of Tod? I recall he got married, even if he didn't have much time with his wife.
Stapfen…are we getting stompy-mecha?
Looking forward to the book.
For the rest, I hold that the Systems Overterrestrial Coalition must be destroyed.
Lenora and Charles are the grandchildren of Kaiser Wilhelm von Bodensee of Neue Deutschland. Charles uses Tod's nom de guerre in place of his noble surname so as not to detract from his sister's claim to the throne.
The Grenzmarks already are stompy mechs 🙂
Stapfens are mass-produced XSeeds minus the 1-D carbyne armor. They do excel at terrestrial combat, though.
Thank you!
Brian
Awesome hook! I'm so looking forward to the next installment
xavier
Thank you for your readership.
Brian
You're welcome. You put in the effort to entertain us and it shows.
I'm very pleased to sponsor your series. And will continue to do so as long as you write it.
xavier
I wonder what the governor was about to offer James, before Leonora intervened. And how was she listening in? He's now a man with little to restrain him, and righteous rage fanned to a firestorm. This was nicely written, ratcheting up the tension in stages. I opened a spot on my reading list. Maybe I'll enjoy reading as much as you enjoyed creating this.
One thing broke my train of thought: 'He struggled to keep from trembling form rage.' Perhaps trembling with or trembling in rage would work better? He's just shy of seeing red. Not that I'd be familiar with the state. Er, harrumph.
Thank you. And nice catch. Repeated words like that grate on me, as well. I'll change the line for the final version.