“Commander Radko, do you have something to add?” said the Prime Minister.
“Yes, I do. I absolutely do. First off, stop talking down to the doctor like she’s a ten year old. You have no idea what she faced on Von Daniken’s Landing any more than you have any idea what I’ve faced with the Vimy Ridge out on the front lines, because you are not on the front lines. You have never left this station, Admiral. Not once since the Vimy Ridge – in an alliance with the Soviets and the icarans, I might add – broke the ril-galas blockade have you ever left Thor’s Hammer,” said Radko, amazing even himself with his even, matter-of-fact tone.
“Commander Radko, I would remind you that you are only part of this meeting as a courtesy, given your past service to the Commonwealth,” said Mahoney.
“And this will be my last time attending, Admiral, because I’m tired of listening to all of you talk in circles, accomplish nothing and plan nothing but more meetings, then pat yourselves on the back for it and act like you’re saving mankind.”
“Commander-.”
“I’m not done yet, Admiral,” he said sharply, looking at Mahoney, Upshaw and deFreitas in turn. “You want to save mankind? Pull your collective heads out of your asses and realize that we can’t do it alone. We cannot do this alone. Even the Soviets know this. They’re willing to talk, but apparently I’m the only one listening.”
Earth has fallen.
Mired in politics and frustrated by inaction, Commander Finn Radko and the crew of the HMCS Vimy Ridge begin a bold plan, unsanctioned by the Commonwealth they serve, to assemble a task force capable of striking a major blow against the ril-galas occupation force.
Meanwhile on Earth, the mysterious woman known only as Hunter sets in motion a plan of her own, to bring hope to the ever-dwindling number of survivors sheltering within the sturdy walls of Edinburgh Castle.
And lightyears away, in a star system steeped in myth and fear, an ancient prophecy is fulfilled — a prophecy that will forever change the course of history…
From out of the black,
a great Matriarch shall arise.
Following in the footsteps of Ur she shall come,
the blood of her enemies falling from her like rain.
Picking up eighteen months after the events of Radko’s War, Out of the Black continues Finn Radko’s increasingly personal war against the ril-galas invasion force occupying Earth. Nearly twice as long as it’s predecessor at 434 pages, I’ve brought back some familiar faces as well as introduced new allies, new enemies… and some that could be either.
On the science fiction spectrum, Out of the Black is military scifi, closer in spirit to Battlestar Galactica than to a fantasy scifi like Star Wars. As military scifi, it does contain a fair amount of violence and death, and as such I’m not sure I would recommend it to anyone under the age of sixteen. Of course, you’re free to make your own judgement on that.
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