RED PLANET LANCERS

 

 

RED PLANET LANCERS

by Brian H. Roberts

GENRE:  Science Fiction Thriller

How far will you go to save a friend?

After sweeping Dallas Gordon and the American base from Earth’s moon, Emperor Zhang Aiguo launches an armada to conquer Ep City and control Mars.

Ruthless Colonel Song Dajing leads his Emperor’s flotilla to defeat EPSILON’s isolated Mars colony. He brings the same armaments he used to defeat Dallas Gordon on the moon, plus a high yield missile to annihilate Ep City and its occupants. The US Space Force, occupied with plans to take back the moon, refuses to intervene.

In a race against time, Dallas Gordon must organize a mercenary squadron and pursue Song before he can deploy his weapons on the defenseless colony. Ep City commander Genady Antonov must prepare his civilian workforce for the coming invasion and plan for the unthinkable should Gordon fail to reach Mars before Song does.

Taught and fast-paced, Red Planet Lancers builds tension until the exciting climax. Once you start this Earth-to-Mars rocket ride, you won’t want to stop. Order your copy today!

Enjoy an Excerpt:

As the squadron squeezed in on the rovers, a dense cloud of dust erupted, obscuring the wheeled transports from view.

Dallas said, “The rovers are using rotating brushes. Pang Xianjing used them to erase his tracks. Song is using them to generate a dust screen.

“Fire into the cloud,” barked the exasperated commander.

As they did, rovers nosed out of the dense screen. An orange glow announced missile launches. The transports backed into the cloud. Brilliant green beams lanced across the distance, but to no effect.

“Missiles away!” shouted Dallas. Streaks of orange leapt in all directions. The ASSETs’ AI briefly disengaged from their primary targets and attacked any missiles within their thirty-degree field of fire. Missiles that escaped, suddenly veered toward the nearest Water Bug.

The hair on Dallas’s neck stood on end. “Evasive, evasive!” he screamed. He jerked his Bug up and away from two missiles, barely maintaining control. 

Six klicks away, Sake’ rolled her Bug just as a missile streaked by. The rocket’s scream was deafening as it passed. She turned and the projectile disappeared in a green flash.

Her echelon was not so lucky. Both Dusty and Big Seal took direct hits before they could react. “Big Seal!” shouted the wing leader. “He’s hit!”

“NO, NO, NO!” Dallas tracked the smoking ruin of the Navajo’s water Bug as it tumbled to the ground, raising a rusty cloud of dust on impact.

About the Author:

In his first life, BRIAN H. ROBERTS worked as a contractor and civil engineer in bustling Seattle. In his spare time he read novels by the greatest names in science fiction: Andy Weir, Frank Herbert, Arthur C. Clarke, Ray Bradbury, Isaac Asimov, and so many others. As he read these authors’ works, he was inspired to write Sci-Fi Thrillers to engage and entertain readers like him.

As with so many of us, life intervened. Raising a family, work, remarriage and finally retirement all placed demands on his time. Desiring a change – and time to write – he and his wife traded big city life for the outdoor adventures of Central Oregon. His writing draws deeply on his lifelong loves of science/technology and adventure sports. The EPSILON Sci-Fi Thrillers is Brian’s first series.

Q&A With the Author:

What was your inspiration for writing this book?

Most science fiction speculates about events centuries or even millennia into the future. I’m more interested in where we’ll be in the near future, potentially within my lifetime or my children’s or grandchildren’s lifetimes. I’ve been fascinated in Mars, when we’ll arrive there, and what we’ll do. Red Planet Lancers, and the entire EPSILON SciFi Thrillers series explores those very things.

What did you enjoy most about writing this book?

I’m a science geek. I’ve absolutely loved researching everything to make these books as realistic as possible. From the actual conditions astronauts must contend with on Mars, to the tech they’ll need to get there and survive once they do. I’ve learned some surprising things along the way, and I just love being able to share what I’ve learned with my readers—in an engaging and entertaining way. My goal is to take you along for the ride.

Do you have any other books you are working on that you can tell us about?

Red Planet Lancers is the final book of the series. Right now, I’m working on the series prequel. It’s the origin story about EPSILON’s enigmatic owner. How he came about the billions needed to buy the company, and what compelled him to pursue establishing a mining colony on Mars. Much of the story is set in the Caribbean and South America. Lots of intrigue, and an amazing character arc. I’m very energized as I write it.

Can you tell us about what you have planned for the future?

My wife and I are planning a trip to Italy later this year. We’ll hike in the Apennine Mountains, bicycle to quaint coastal villages, appreciate the art and architecture of cities thousands of years old, and enjoy the cuisine and wine. I’m looking forward to waking up every morning and writing. I can’t think of a more inspiring setting!

Anything more you would like to say to your readers and fans?

Becoming an author has been the most rewarding experience. It’s taken me to fascinating and exotic destinations like Hellas Planitia on Mars, and I get to take along anyone who cares to come with me. I’m looking forward to seeing many of your followers within the world I’ve created in the pages of Red Planet Lancers.

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Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/RED-PLANET-LANCERS-EPSILON-Thriller-ebook/dp/B0CQTJ848W/ref=sr_1_1

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