Silicon Strike Releases Dec 25th! 99c Sale and More!

I am pleased to announce my latest book Silicon Strike releases tomorrow on Dec 25th! It is the third book in the Soulmates series. You can get it on Kindle, Kobo, Nook, iBooks, Google Play Books, Smashwords, and other retailers soon!  Also the print editions will be out in a few weeks as well.

Celloids.  The plant-based menace incidentally released on earth have been eradicated. 

Or have they?  Did they leave something behind even more destructive?

With the Lytherians in disarray, can the Defiant and the Phoenix stop this new threat?  And who is the controlling force behind it all?

Also The Return is now available in print at Amazon with other distribution channels coming online in a few weeks.

 

 And finally, all of the digital editions of my books are on sale for 99 cents at Kindle, Nook, Kobo, iBooks, Smashwords, and Google Play until January 9th!  I had thought about joining the Smashwords end-of-the-year sale, but they didn't offer the options I wanted.  Instead, I did my own and no coupon codes needed!  It is a great time to grab that missing series book or two.

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Silicon Strike excerpt:
"Possible.  Or an asteroid has gone off course."

Otis stood and went over to a console showing data on the rock.  "Can we contact the Lytherians to check it out?"

"Negative.  I lack the equipment to transmit on the frequencies they use.  Given time, I think I could make the necessary modifications."

"I can't believe they enhanced so many systems, yet didn't do anything with communications?"

"If you remember, the telepathic chair had that capability, so why would I need it as well?  Not to mention the undertaken enhancements were a rush job to begin with."

Otis nodded.  "True.  Looks like it is up to us then.  Can we reach it?"

 

Minerva nodded.  "Yes.  With our Lytherian modified engines, we could reach something much farther away."

 

"What about air?"

Minerva smiled.  "It doesn't matter to me, I don't need it."

Otis folded his arms.  "But I do!"

CB gave a strong beep.

Otis nodded.  "You tell her, CB."

Minerva gave a very feminine giggle.  "Sorry, I couldn't help it.  The look on your face was worth it though.  We should have plenty to reach the object and return considering there is only one person using oxygen."

Otis' brow furrowed.  "Should?"

Minerva laughed again.  "I am positive."

CB gave a low beep.

"I agree.  It doesn't give me a warm feeling either."

Minerva rolled her eyes.  "Will you two stop?  I would never place your life in danger.  You should know that by now."

Otis cracked a grin as he regarded the Mechand next to him.  "That was fun CB, think we got her?"

The Mechand gave a strong beep.

"I think so too."

"You were playing me?"

"Tit for tat, my great-grandparents used to say.  How long will it take us to get to this rock?"

"Only a couple of hours.  We should be able to check it out and return before the Defiant arrives."

Otis smiled.  "Let's do it then."

"Should we tell the Defiant?"

"Nah, we'll be back before they know we left.  We're just going to check a big rock, blast it if needed, and pop back."

Minerva nodded.  The engines of the Phoenix began to glow.  "Full power to extended overdrive in five seconds.  Better have a seat.  My inertia damping systems are quite a bit smaller than the Defiant's."

Otis sat down in the nearest chair.  The lack of padding made his back complain.  CB rolled over next to him.  "Hang on, CB."  The Mechand gave an affirmative beep and locked his wheels.

Minerva smiled.  "Course set.  Engaging overdrive."  A bubble of energy formed around the Phoenix as it grew brighter and brighter.  The engines increased their glow as the whole ship leapt into overdrive, leaving streaks of fading light.

Otis hit several keys at the console he was sitting at.  For over an hour he stared at the data from this rock.  His eyes flashed, and he cocked his head as he turned around.  "One thing bugs me.  Why didn't you pick this up before?"

"I do not know.  I should have.  An asteroid of this size heading for Earth should have been seen long ago," Minerva said.

"And it appeared out of nowhere?"

"Affirmative.  One minute nothing, the next it was on my scanners."

Otis sat back in his chair.  "Could it be a ship?"

Minerva blinked.  "A ship?"  She shook her head.  "Not possible.  All my scans indicate a lifeless mass of rock.  Most of it silicon with a few other elements mixed in."

"Can you get an image?"

"No.  We need to be closer for a visual."

Otis stood up and peered out one of the large windows on the bridge.  The armor shields had been retracted giving a wonderful view of space as they cruised through overdrive.  "How much longer?"

"Fifteen minutes, perhaps less."

Otis spun around.  "Less?  I thought you dealt in precision?"

"I do, but the distance between us is varying.  I suspect a sensor is malfunctioning.  I have sent one of my Mechands to check it."

"I don't like it.  I may not have Deven's or Aleshia's gifts, but my gut says this is bad.  Turn us around.  Head back to Earth."

"What?  Now?  We are almost there."

"And I'm telling you, this is bad.  We need to get away from this rock as soon as possible."  He turned back towards the windows.

Minerva blinked.  "Why?"

Otis' eyes narrowed as he spun around.  "Look, I found out references to these Ixeons sending rocks at us.  We know they created the Celloids, who knows what else they can do.  Turn us around now."

"Very well.  I will have to bring us out of overdrive and chart a new course back, or we might get lost.  The Lytherians didn't give us all their space technology."

"I know, just do it."

"I am.  Hang on."  Otis ran for the nearest chair and sat in it.  The Phoenix shuddered as it dropped out of enhanced overdrive so fast slamming to a dead stop.  Even braced Otis was thrown from his seat and landed on the deck plate.  A fresh cut over his left eye dripped blood, but he didn't find anything broken.

CB rolled over to Otis and helped him up.  He pointed at Otis' eye and beeped.

"I'm all right.  It's a minor cut.  A little med sealant and I will be fine."

"Ohhh nooo," Minerva said before Otis was again thrown to the deck.

This time he hit his arm on one of the chairs as he went down.  "Ouch!  Hey watch it!"  He felt his arm.  It hurt, but nothing broken.  "I thought we were stopped?"

"That wasn't me.  Look!  We are under attack."

Otis turned to see a bright red beam lashing out from the top closest corner of the rock and hitting the Phoenix's shields.  The rock didn't look like anything natural.  It was smooth and with angular lines making a perfect square.  "That thing's a ship!  That is how it appeared to move on your scans.  It must have seen us drop out of overdrive and jumped closer.  Get us out of here!"

"I'm trying.  Whatever that beam is has got us pinned.  I can't move.  Not only that, it is draining energy from the power core.  Shields will shut down in three minutes and after that, me."

"You've got carbine cannons, use them!"

"From what I can tell, that thing is solid stone.  My cannons aren't going to do much damage unless I pound on it for months."

"Aim for where that beam is coming from.  It must have a hole, it couldn't be shooting that beam through the stone itself."

"Logical.  Locking cannons."  Several cannons lashed out with pulsed energy blasts that had little effect.  The red beam continued to hold the Phoenix like a fish on a hook.

Otis watched the blasts and felt his hope fade like the energy streak.  Then his eyes went wide.  "Try all your cannons at once.  Full power.  Give it everything you got."

"I can increase the power to the cannons, but they are not built for it.  It will burn out their delicate focusing systems."

"And in a few minutes we're dead if you don't."

"Good point.  Locking all cannons.  Charge building.  They will reach maximum in ten seconds.  I hope this works."