My loyal readers have been waiting patiently for news about my next Combat Frame XSeed book, and patience should be rewarded.
Without further ado, here is a sample chapter from Book 1 in a brand-new XSeed series–Combat Frame XSeed: S.
Cassone
Extrasolar Colony, Common Year 98
Extrasolar Colony, Common Year 98
Second
Lieutenant Dex Trapper kept his hazel eyes locked on the shiny vacuum
chamber inside the MCF-122’s open port plasma cannon. He held the
new part in place with his left hand, stretched his gray-sleeved
right arm beyond the forward-swept wing’s edge, and curled his
fingers in a beckoning gesture.
Lieutenant Dex Trapper kept his hazel eyes locked on the shiny vacuum
chamber inside the MCF-122’s open port plasma cannon. He held the
new part in place with his left hand, stretched his gray-sleeved
right arm beyond the forward-swept wing’s edge, and curled his
fingers in a beckoning gesture.
“Thatch!”
he said when his hand remained empty after several seconds.
he said when his hand remained empty after several seconds.
Dex
sucked his teeth in annoyance when his call received no response. He
pulled the reflective tube from the cannon and ducked under the
wing-mounted gun to confront his idle teammate.
sucked his teeth in annoyance when his call received no response. He
pulled the reflective tube from the cannon and ducked under the
wing-mounted gun to confront his idle teammate.
“Thatch,
get your head out of the clouds!”
get your head out of the clouds!”
Those
clouds hung sparsely over a world six hundred light-years from Dex’s
home in Western Australia. Senior Airman Thatcher Drummond stood
three meters away on the sunlit tarmac, staring at the purple-blue
sky. A humid, musky breeze stirred his wavy brown hair.
clouds hung sparsely over a world six hundred light-years from Dex’s
home in Western Australia. Senior Airman Thatcher Drummond stood
three meters away on the sunlit tarmac, staring at the purple-blue
sky. A humid, musky breeze stirred his wavy brown hair.
Dex
approached his younger subordinate and waved a hand in front of his
face. “Cassone Air Base to Drummond. Do you copy?”
approached his younger subordinate and waved a hand in front of his
face. “Cassone Air Base to Drummond. Do you copy?”
Thatch’s
green eyes blinked behind his octagon-frame glasses. A start shook
his skinny frame. “Dex! Sorry. I must’ve spaced out.”
green eyes blinked behind his octagon-frame glasses. A start shook
his skinny frame. “Dex! Sorry. I must’ve spaced out.”
“Come
back down and hand me the 8mm torque wrench.”
back down and hand me the 8mm torque wrench.”
Thatch
jerked toward the tech cart standing to his left and fumbled with the
tools on its graphene-padded top. The wrench Dex needed clanged to
the pavement, along with several others.
jerked toward the tech cart standing to his left and fumbled with the
tools on its graphene-padded top. The wrench Dex needed clanged to
the pavement, along with several others.
“Sorry,”
Thatch said again as he got down on all fours to look for the dropped
tools. Dex crouched down and helped him gather them up.
Thatch said again as he got down on all fours to look for the dropped
tools. Dex crouched down and helped him gather them up.
“You
seem distracted,” Dex said to his awkward but usually capable
friend. “Is something bugging you?”
seem distracted,” Dex said to his awkward but usually capable
friend. “Is something bugging you?”
Thatch
smiled. “We’re trillions of miles from Earth. Light duty. Good
weather. No Ynzu siege. What could bug me out here?”
smiled. “We’re trillions of miles from Earth. Light duty. Good
weather. No Ynzu siege. What could bug me out here?”
Dex
stood, set the tools on the cart, and threw his long platinum
ponytail back over his shoulder. “Let’s close her up and break
for lunch.” He swept his arm over the fifteen other gray and blue
fighters parked nearby. “Like you said, these Emancipators aren’t
flying regular combat missions.”
stood, set the tools on the cart, and threw his long platinum
ponytail back over his shoulder. “Let’s close her up and break
for lunch.” He swept his arm over the fifteen other gray and blue
fighters parked nearby. “Like you said, these Emancipators aren’t
flying regular combat missions.”
“Thanks,”
said Thatch. Kneeling on the tarmac, he looked like a Japanese kid
making a formal apology.
said Thatch. Kneeling on the tarmac, he looked like a Japanese kid
making a formal apology.
Dex
and Thatch took a long lunch at a civilian diner off base. Not that
they escaped the shadow of the bronze-domed colony ship embedded in
the alien ground. The same enormous vessels that brought human
settlers to the extrasolar colonies also served as massive worst-case
scenario bunkers. Dex had spent all of his eighteen years under the
threat of imminent annihilation.
and Thatch took a long lunch at a civilian diner off base. Not that
they escaped the shadow of the bronze-domed colony ship embedded in
the alien ground. The same enormous vessels that brought human
settlers to the extrasolar colonies also served as massive worst-case
scenario bunkers. Dex had spent all of his eighteen years under the
threat of imminent annihilation.
He
was almost used to it.
was almost used to it.
“You
gonna eat that?” Thatch asked, pointing at the remaining half of
Dex’s turkey club.
gonna eat that?” Thatch asked, pointing at the remaining half of
Dex’s turkey club.
Dex
slid his plastic plate across the mint green fiberboard table. “I’m
more interested in what’s eating you.”
slid his plastic plate across the mint green fiberboard table. “I’m
more interested in what’s eating you.”
Thatch
took a greedy bite of the sandwich Dex had found rather dry and
leaned close to be heard over the Barak Red tune pulsing from the
sound system. “You know those guys from Records who traded me a
vintage CCF-017K kit for helping them run inventory?”
took a greedy bite of the sandwich Dex had found rather dry and
leaned close to be heard over the Barak Red tune pulsing from the
sound system. “You know those guys from Records who traded me a
vintage CCF-017K kit for helping them run inventory?”
Dex
rolled his eyes. His friend’s obsession with old combat frames
would land him in trouble someday. “Let me guess. You found some
more scale CF models down in storage.”
rolled his eyes. His friend’s obsession with old combat frames
would land him in trouble someday. “Let me guess. You found some
more scale CF models down in storage.”
“Even
better.” Thatch glanced over the customers milling around them to
make sure no one was eavesdropping. “The UCAF’s Emancipators
aren’t the only XSeeds on Cassone.”
better.” Thatch glanced over the customers milling around them to
make sure no one was eavesdropping. “The UCAF’s Emancipators
aren’t the only XSeeds on Cassone.”
Unlike
most of Thatch’s CF geekery, the possibility of secret XSeeds
piqued Dex’s interest. “What kind are we talking?” A thrilling
prospect entered Dex’s head. “I heard ISBC’s field testing the
new Two Series. Did they send us a prototype?”
most of Thatch’s CF geekery, the possibility of secret XSeeds
piqued Dex’s interest. “What kind are we talking?” A thrilling
prospect entered Dex’s head. “I heard ISBC’s field testing the
new Two Series. Did they send us a prototype?”
Thatch
shook his head. “Think older. Way older.”
shook his head. “Think older. Way older.”
Dex’s
brow furrowed. “The Army dumped some decommissioned MCF-RE100’s?”
brow furrowed. “The Army dumped some decommissioned MCF-RE100’s?”
“Older,”
Thatch said around another mouthful of sandwich. He swallowed. “We’re
talking pre-One Series.”
Thatch said around another mouthful of sandwich. He swallowed. “We’re
talking pre-One Series.”
“Weren’t
all of those custom units or prototypes?” Dex took a sip of
cranberry juice. It tasted like sugar water compared to the
deliciously tart product of his family’s farm. I’ve gotta do
something about the beverage selection.
all of those custom units or prototypes?” Dex took a sip of
cranberry juice. It tasted like sugar water compared to the
deliciously tart product of his family’s farm. I’ve gotta do
something about the beverage selection.
“According
to the colony ship’s manifest,” said Thatch, “it’s an
XCD-001.”
to the colony ship’s manifest,” said Thatch, “it’s an
XCD-001.”
Dex
coughed on juice gone down the wrong pipe. “Weren’t all three
lost a century ago?”
coughed on juice gone down the wrong pipe. “Weren’t all three
lost a century ago?”
“The
first three were destroyed in the war,” said Thatch, “but ISBC
made two more back in 56 to test XSeed mass production feasibility.”
first three were destroyed in the war,” said Thatch, “but ISBC
made two more back in 56 to test XSeed mass production feasibility.”
“Why
would they ship one all the way out here?”
would they ship one all the way out here?”
Thatch
shrugged. “It came over with the first colonists. I couldn’t find
a reason why. But it’s been gathering dust for twenty-eight years.”
shrugged. “It came over with the first colonists. I couldn’t find
a reason why. But it’s been gathering dust for twenty-eight years.”
“It
might as well,” said Dex. “An antique like that isn’t much
use.”
might as well,” said Dex. “An antique like that isn’t much
use.”
The
rest of the day passed like most others on Cassone. Dex and Thatch
reassembled the plasma cannon and called it a day. Dex had a go at
some combat sims—probably the most action he’d see during his
tour, hit the showers, and retired to his spartan quarters. Thatch’s
XSeed mystery briefly kept him from sleep, but he squelched his wild
speculation and drifted off.
rest of the day passed like most others on Cassone. Dex and Thatch
reassembled the plasma cannon and called it a day. Dex had a go at
some combat sims—probably the most action he’d see during his
tour, hit the showers, and retired to his spartan quarters. Thatch’s
XSeed mystery briefly kept him from sleep, but he squelched his wild
speculation and drifted off.
Shrill
sirens jolted Dex awake. At first he thought them remnants of a
fading dream in which he fled from prison down a wet grassy hill. The
alarms’ continued wailing alerted him that something really was
wrong. A green flash preceding an orange blast that rattled his
windows put a name to his dread.
sirens jolted Dex awake. At first he thought them remnants of a
fading dream in which he fled from prison down a wet grassy hill. The
alarms’ continued wailing alerted him that something really was
wrong. A green flash preceding an orange blast that rattled his
windows put a name to his dread.
The
Ynzu! They’re here!
Ynzu! They’re here!
Dex
sprang out of bed. He threw on his flight suit, grabbed his sidearm
and helmet, and rushed into the tiled hallway. Other junior officers
dashed about in various states of dress, shouting conflicting
instructions or simply running for the exits. Dex ran, too—toward
the airfield.
sprang out of bed. He threw on his flight suit, grabbed his sidearm
and helmet, and rushed into the tiled hallway. Other junior officers
dashed about in various states of dress, shouting conflicting
instructions or simply running for the exits. Dex ran, too—toward
the airfield.
Chaos
gripped the base. A blunt green transport driving in the opposite
direction passed Dex on his way. Several men crowded into the
vehicle’s open back urged him to hop on. He ignored them and
doubled his pace.
gripped the base. A blunt green transport driving in the opposite
direction passed Dex on his way. Several men crowded into the
vehicle’s open back urged him to hop on. He ignored them and
doubled his pace.
Green
lightning and orange-white fireballs lit up the airfield. A headless
giant with flared pauldrons, a bulbous torso, and spindly arms ending
in wicked pincers stood silhouetted against the inferno. The Ynzu
Claviceps strode uncontested down the runway, fragging Emancipators
with emerald bolts from the guns between its curved claws.
lightning and orange-white fireballs lit up the airfield. A headless
giant with flared pauldrons, a bulbous torso, and spindly arms ending
in wicked pincers stood silhouetted against the inferno. The Ynzu
Claviceps strode uncontested down the runway, fragging Emancipators
with emerald bolts from the guns between its curved claws.
Dex
veered left and ran for one of the few intact XSeeds. He ran alone.
Everybody else is heading for the bunker. Riding out the
attack underground was probably the smart play, but Dex wasn’t the
deepest thinker. He didn’t know exactly what he could do against
the Ynzu on his own. He just knew he couldn’t do nothing.
veered left and ran for one of the few intact XSeeds. He ran alone.
Everybody else is heading for the bunker. Riding out the
attack underground was probably the smart play, but Dex wasn’t the
deepest thinker. He didn’t know exactly what he could do against
the Ynzu on his own. He just knew he couldn’t do nothing.
The
gray, blue-edged fighter waited a fifty-meter sprint away under a
curtain of smoke. The Claviceps rampaged into the distance behind
him. I’m gonna make it!
gray, blue-edged fighter waited a fifty-meter sprint away under a
curtain of smoke. The Claviceps rampaged into the distance behind
him. I’m gonna make it!
A
crane-sized pincer parted the choking black veil. A blood-red point
glowed from the headless chest of a second Claviceps. The ground
shook under its taloned feet as it advanced.
crane-sized pincer parted the choking black veil. A blood-red point
glowed from the headless chest of a second Claviceps. The ground
shook under its taloned feet as it advanced.
Or
not.
not.
The
Ynzu CF glistened like a jade idol overseeing a sacrificial fire. Its
left claw pointed down at the Emancipator. At that range, the
graviton-shaped plasma bolt would burn through the XSeed and immolate
Dex. The UCAF pilot forced himself to look down the barrel that would
unleash his death.
Ynzu CF glistened like a jade idol overseeing a sacrificial fire. Its
left claw pointed down at the Emancipator. At that range, the
graviton-shaped plasma bolt would burn through the XSeed and immolate
Dex. The UCAF pilot forced himself to look down the barrel that would
unleash his death.
“No!”
cried a familiar trebly voice.
cried a familiar trebly voice.
Awful
wonder compelled Dex to turn his back on the enemy. Thatch stood five
meters behind him, his open hands stretched toward the Ynzu.
Firelight flickered in his lenses, hiding his eyes.
wonder compelled Dex to turn his back on the enemy. Thatch stood five
meters behind him, his open hands stretched toward the Ynzu.
Firelight flickered in his lenses, hiding his eyes.
“What
the hell are you doing!?” Dex lunged for Thatch, grabbed the
scrawny tech’s olive jacket-clad arm, and ran for the bunker.
Seconds later, a burst of green light, a deafening thunderclap, and a
hot wind against his back told Dex that the Clav had fired. Thatch
screamed. He was lucky he’d survived to scream.
the hell are you doing!?” Dex lunged for Thatch, grabbed the
scrawny tech’s olive jacket-clad arm, and ran for the bunker.
Seconds later, a burst of green light, a deafening thunderclap, and a
hot wind against his back told Dex that the Clav had fired. Thatch
screamed. He was lucky he’d survived to scream.
Luck
favored them again when another personnel transport turned into their
path. Dex helped the mostly civilian passengers pull Thatch aboard
before jumping on himself. Only then did he feel the burning in his
lungs and the throbbing in his arms. He still clutched his helmet.
favored them again when another personnel transport turned into their
path. Dex helped the mostly civilian passengers pull Thatch aboard
before jumping on himself. Only then did he feel the burning in his
lungs and the throbbing in his arms. He still clutched his helmet.
The
two airmen sat facing each other across the truck’s crowded cabin.
The reek of burning oil and fear soured the air. Dex suppressed the
insane questions that besieged his mind as the world came apart.
two airmen sat facing each other across the truck’s crowded cabin.
The reek of burning oil and fear soured the air. Dex suppressed the
insane questions that besieged his mind as the world came apart.
Their
ride through purgatory ended at a towering bronze-tinged gate. The
colony ship’s entrance resembled a set of aircraft hangar doors,
but as thick as the truck was long. Hundreds of colonists teemed
around dozens of military and civilian vehicles within the
cavern-like loading zone. Most processed deeper inside. Others called
out for missing loved ones. Some ambled about, dazed. Recorded
messages urged everyone to stay calm and follow the white lines.
ride through purgatory ended at a towering bronze-tinged gate. The
colony ship’s entrance resembled a set of aircraft hangar doors,
but as thick as the truck was long. Hundreds of colonists teemed
around dozens of military and civilian vehicles within the
cavern-like loading zone. Most processed deeper inside. Others called
out for missing loved ones. Some ambled about, dazed. Recorded
messages urged everyone to stay calm and follow the white lines.
The
transport stopped when the crush of humanity grew too thick. Dex
hopped down from the tailgate and moved to join the slow stampede,
but a skinny hand grabbed his arm.
transport stopped when the crush of humanity grew too thick. Dex
hopped down from the tailgate and moved to join the slow stampede,
but a skinny hand grabbed his arm.
“Not
that way,” Thatch said. “Those people are walking into a mass
grave.”
that way,” Thatch said. “Those people are walking into a mass
grave.”
Dex
motioned for his friend to lower his voice. “The bunker’s built
to UCP specs. We’ll dig in and wait out the attack.”
motioned for his friend to lower his voice. “The bunker’s built
to UCP specs. We’ll dig in and wait out the attack.”
“Name
one ExSol that survived an Ynzu attack,” Thatch said in a harsh
whisper.
one ExSol that survived an Ynzu attack,” Thatch said in a harsh
whisper.
“You
got a better plan?” asked Dex, his mouth suddenly dry.
got a better plan?” asked Dex, his mouth suddenly dry.
“Not
so much a plan as possibility. But it beats waiting to die. Come on.”
so much a plan as possibility. But it beats waiting to die. Come on.”
Dex
followed Thatch out of the crowd and through a curving maze of
corridors lit by intermittent emergency strips. The winding path
ended at the carbyne-steel cage of an old cargo lift. Thatch pressed
the lower of two black rubber buttons protruding from a yellow box
mounted beside the door. The grilled gate rose with a clatter, and
both men entered the cage.
followed Thatch out of the crowd and through a curving maze of
corridors lit by intermittent emergency strips. The winding path
ended at the carbyne-steel cage of an old cargo lift. Thatch pressed
the lower of two black rubber buttons protruding from a yellow box
mounted beside the door. The grilled gate rose with a clatter, and
both men entered the cage.
“I
thought you didn’t want to hide underground,” Dex said as the
lift descended into the ship’s gloomy depths.
thought you didn’t want to hide underground,” Dex said as the
lift descended into the ship’s gloomy depths.
“We’re
not hiding,” said Thatch. “The XCD-001 is down here—if the
manifest is right.”
not hiding,” said Thatch. “The XCD-001 is down here—if the
manifest is right.”
Dex
raised a white eyebrow. “You don’t know for sure?”
raised a white eyebrow. “You don’t know for sure?”
“I
had to catalogue a thousand other pieces of junk before I could go
and see for myself,” said Thatch.
had to catalogue a thousand other pieces of junk before I could go
and see for myself,” said Thatch.
“Better
late than never,” said Dex.
late than never,” said Dex.
The
car shuddered to a halt. Thatch rocked on his feet as the grilled
gate rose. A single room big enough to hold a pre-Collapse aircraft
carrier spread out from the lift shaft. Row upon row of shipping
containers, crates, and shelves stacked high as office buildings
radiated to the domed storehouse’s distant wall. The air smelled
like a warehouse store.
car shuddered to a halt. Thatch rocked on his feet as the grilled
gate rose. A single room big enough to hold a pre-Collapse aircraft
carrier spread out from the lift shaft. Row upon row of shipping
containers, crates, and shelves stacked high as office buildings
radiated to the domed storehouse’s distant wall. The air smelled
like a warehouse store.
Thatch
exited the lift at a half-run. Dex strode briskly after him.
exited the lift at a half-run. Dex strode briskly after him.
“We
might starve before we find this thing,” the pilot said.
might starve before we find this thing,” the pilot said.
They
walked straight for a hundred meters, took a left, and turned right.
A blue and white humanoid form stood over them. Its armor still held
a glossy sheen. Dex found his gaze drawn to its oddly humanlike amber
eyes.
walked straight for a hundred meters, took a left, and turned right.
A blue and white humanoid form stood over them. Its armor still held
a glossy sheen. Dex found his gaze drawn to its oddly humanlike amber
eyes.
“It’s
an XSeed.” Dex spoke in a near-whisper. Despite working with
Prometheus’ mass-produced descendants every day, he felt unexpected
awe in the prototype’s presence.
an XSeed.” Dex spoke in a near-whisper. Despite working with
Prometheus’ mass-produced descendants every day, he felt unexpected
awe in the prototype’s presence.
“It’s
our way out,” Thatch said with similar reverence.
our way out,” Thatch said with similar reverence.
Tactical
reality snapped Dex out of his veneration. “Can a museum piece like
this really take on the Ynzu alone?”
reality snapped Dex out of his veneration. “Can a museum piece like
this really take on the Ynzu alone?”
“It
doesn’t have to,” said Thatch. “According to the manifest, this
unit has TC/D.”
doesn’t have to,” said Thatch. “According to the manifest, this
unit has TC/D.”
Mention
of the forbidden FTL drive aroused equal hope and fear in Dex. “Using
TC/D without authorization from the General Staff is against the law.
We’d end up in a penal colony.”
of the forbidden FTL drive aroused equal hope and fear in Dex. “Using
TC/D without authorization from the General Staff is against the law.
We’d end up in a penal colony.”
“Got
a QuaSt comm on you?”
a QuaSt comm on you?”
“Uh,
no.”
no.”
“It’s
a moot point, anyway,” said Thatch. “The Ynzu always jam our
QuaSt signals.”
a moot point, anyway,” said Thatch. “The Ynzu always jam our
QuaSt signals.”
Dex
surprised himself by playing the voice of reason. “We should tell
the brass about your antique find.”
surprised himself by playing the voice of reason. “We should tell
the brass about your antique find.”
“They
already know,” said Thatch. “I wouldn’t have gotten my CCF-017K
if I hadn’t submitted my report.”
already know,” said Thatch. “I wouldn’t have gotten my CCF-017K
if I hadn’t submitted my report.”
“This
is all about you getting to ride in a life-sized model kit.”
is all about you getting to ride in a life-sized model kit.”
A
tremor coursed up Dex’s feet. Boxes tumbled from high shelves and
thudded to the steel deck.
tremor coursed up Dex’s feet. Boxes tumbled from high shelves and
thudded to the steel deck.
“Guilty,”
said Thatch. “But look, if base command was gonna use this XSeed,
they’d have done it as soon as the Ynzu took out our Emancipators.
Colonel Hutchinson will follow UCP doctrine like always—which means
we’re the only hope this colony has.”
said Thatch. “But look, if base command was gonna use this XSeed,
they’d have done it as soon as the Ynzu took out our Emancipators.
Colonel Hutchinson will follow UCP doctrine like always—which means
we’re the only hope this colony has.”
Dex
looked into the ancient XSeed’s eyes once more. This time they
inspired not awe, but resolution. “OK. We take this relic. We fight
past the Ynzu, get into space, and use the TC/D to bring back help.”
looked into the ancient XSeed’s eyes once more. This time they
inspired not awe, but resolution. “OK. We take this relic. We fight
past the Ynzu, get into space, and use the TC/D to bring back help.”
“Sounds
easy,” Thatch said with a note of sarcasm.
easy,” Thatch said with a note of sarcasm.
“Nothing
easy is worth doing.” Dex put on his helmet and strode toward the
XSeed.
easy is worth doing.” Dex put on his helmet and strode toward the
XSeed.
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