QSFers Jenn Burke and Kelly Jensen have a new sci fi book out:
Zander and Felix’s relationship has been to the brink and back: the Human-Stin War, imprisonment and death/resurrection. Zander’s death, to be specific, and the experience has left him…changed. The mysterious race known as the Guardians chose to revive him and appointed him as their emissary. A high honor, but he could do without the group of would-be cultists following him around the galaxy.
When a recently discovered species destroys a stin probe, Zander’s new role soon commands all of his time and focus. The human ambassador—Felix’s ex-lover, much to Zander’s annoyance—pulls them into strategy talks aimed at preserving galactic peace. Soon everyone is relying on Zander’s Guardian tech to telepathically communicate with the strange aliens.
Only Felix seems concerned with the strain piling up on Zander, but he has his own resolve tested when the very stin that imprisoned him show up to a summit. Zander and Felix will both have to find a way to face their doubts and preserve their love—while preventing another galaxy-wide war.
Book Four of Chaos Station
Excerpt
“You sure we shouldn’t have hit up the AEF offices on Hemera?” Elias frowned at the image on the holo. “I mean, yeah, I’m not doubting that the field commanders are on that ship, but shouldn’t you be talking to someone higher up the chain?”
“And get caught up in bureaucratic bullshit? No, thank you. The field commander is who I want to speak to. He or she will be a level of brass I can tolerate. Anyone higher will be more worried about image and appearance rather than action.”
Qek clicked slowly. “Even with your cuff, Zander? Surely that symbol will have weight with those in charge.”
“Maybe.” Zed brushed the smooth surface of the cuff fastened around his right wrist. It was meant to symbolize his connection to the Guardians—his status as their emissary—and although the AEF had officially acknowledged what it meant six months before, Zed didn’t trust them to honor it. Okay, so, being tortured on the orders of a fucking AEF admiral was probably coloring his perception a bit. Thing was, he didn’t trust the brass anymore. Hadn’t for a long time, if he was going to be really honest with himself. Admiral Saito’s desire to eradicate all evidence of Project Dreamweaver from existence had been just the proverbial final nail in the coffin.
What he needed right now was someone close to the rank he’d held on retirement. A captain or a major—hell, even a light colonel—would have the knowledge of the larger picture but enough closeness to their troops that they hadn’t yet had the humanity burned out of them.
In theory.
“Set a course toward the Jitendra,” Zed said.
Qek looked at Elias for confirmation. He was still captain, after all. Elias shrugged. “I’m cool with that.”
They hadn’t gotten too far out of the crowd of ships before an AEF scout ship approached and hailed them all formal-like, using their registration number and everything. “Chaos, you are in violation of—”
Zed leaned over Qek and flicked on the comms. “I need to speak with the commander of the Jitendra.”
“Identify yourself.”
“This is Zander Anatolius.” He smiled. “C’mon, boys, you need to actually read the database output on the ships you challenge.”
Silence descended. From his seat next to Qek, Flick nudged Zed’s elbow. “Try not to enjoy yourself too much, man,” he murmured.
Zed shot him an embarrassed smile. Having the AEF actually pause and listen to him was something he probably shouldn’t like as much as he did. But who could blame him, after getting shafted by the organization? It felt good to have the power again.
“Major Anatolius.” Was it just him or had the AEF pilot’s voice wavered slightly? At least the use of his old rank seemed like nothing more than the poor guy being respectful. “On whose authority are you here, sir?”
“The Guardians’.”
“I…uh.” That was definitely a hard swallow that reverberated across the comms. “I will need to, uh, verify…”
“Sure. You do that.” Zed leaned against the wall, smirking.
Flick was right. He really shouldn’t be enjoying this so much.
Five hours later, he wasn’t.
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Author Bio
Jenn and Kelly met in 2009 through a mutual infatuation with a man who wasn’t real. After all but crashing the video game’s forums with daily dissection of their obsession, they started writing together, discovered they really liked writing together and began plotting stories in worlds of their own creation.
The CHAOS STATION series aren’t the first books they’ve written together, and they’re pretty sure they won’t be the last. As long as their so-called smartphones keep making autocorrects that trigger brainstorming sessions, they’ll have enough character ideas and plots to keep them writing for years to come.