Major Liam O'Connor is a hero in his own right. He is descended from a family of heroes. Now he will be tested. Now he will become legend. The Rebel faction led by Marshal Kergan has seized Treespo, the fifth moon around the fourth planet of Beta Proximus.
Treespo is a major source for valuable rare metal elements. With all other Alliance forces out of position, Liam's Special Operations Company has been attached to the New Terran Marine Corps Third Division. Their job is to provide the spearhead to retake Treespo.
There is an old Marine saying: "No plan ever survives its first encounter with the enemy." Treachery kills all senior officers in Third Division, leaving Liam in command. With humans of Terran, Neo-Etruscan, and Finnian descent looking to him to keep them alive, Liam must reach deep inside himself. Failure leaves the bulk of the galaxy's rare metal elements in Kergan's hands. If Liam succeeds, he will find himself an heir to his family's legacy of cunning, their legacy of courage, their Legacy of Valor.
Major Liam O'Connor is a hero in his own right. He is descended from a family of heroes. Now he will be tested. Now he will become legend. The Rebel faction led by Marshal Kergan has seized Treespo, the fifth moon around the fourth planet of Beta Proximus.
Treespo is a major source for valuable rare metal elements. With all other Alliance forces out of position, Liam's Special Operations Company has been attached to the New Terran Marine Corps Third Division. Their job is to provide the spearhead to retake Treespo.
There is an old Marine saying: "No plan ever survives its first encounter with the enemy." Treachery kills all senior officers in Third Division, leaving Liam in command. With humans of Terran, Neo-Etruscan, and Finnian descent looking to him to keep them alive, Liam must reach deep inside himself. Failure leaves the bulk of the galaxy's rare metal elements in Kergan's hands. If Liam succeeds, he will find himself an heir to his family's legacy of cunning, their legacy of courage, their Legacy of Valor.
PROLOGUe
Captain Liam OâConnor stood by the viewing port in the shipâs lounge as they approached the planet Etrusci. He watched as the lights of the spaceport grew larger and brighter. Those lights were only the second most beautiful thing he had ever seen, for they were leading him to his wife, Celinia. His emotions were a jumble. He could not wait to have her in his arms, despite his unshakeable guilt.
She didnât want me to go. I had to. After three years of training my company, they had a right to expect me to go with them.
âOkay, sir?â
Liam turned to find Sergeant Ephram and Corporal Dillon had joined him. The fires of battle had forged his friendship with the two. The deployment had left them exhausted. Nevertheless, the Neo-Etruscan Expeditionary Regiment had made an excellent account of itself, especially Liamâs Special Operations Company (SPEC CO).
âHowâs Private Rasce?â Liam asked.
âThe doctor says heâll pull through.â Ephram stepped close. âMedical staff packed the plasma wound, and priestesses are waiting to take charge of him and the rest of the wounded.â
Liam breathed a sigh of relief. âIâm glad to have no more letters to write.â
Writing âthe letterâ was done electronically now but was still something no unit commander looked forward to doing. Almost a
third of the regiment had already gone home via mortuary ships. They would hold a special memorial service for them at The Temple in New Olympia.
Liam turned back to the window.
We were already on Sigma Vega Three when she told me she was pregnant. Liam could not shake the notion she had kept something from him.
He and Celinia had become very good at using the dreamscape to slip into each otherâs minds over long distances for intimate conversations. They realized the hazards of this kind of intimacy when she tried to contact him in the dreamscape while he led his Special Operations Company into a Rebel-held position. The ebb and flow of battle had cut him off from his command and left him fighting for his life. She had had a ringside seat when he rammed his dagger into a Sevranâs skull.
He had heard her cry out in shock before breaking the connection. Only the discipline of his long training had prevented him from going after her. The battle lasted another five hours, leaving him too exhausted to contact her again.
After fretting for days, he talked to her via subspace. He did not like the terrified look in her eyes. The shock of her experience had alerted the Great Shaman Storm Cloud to her distress. What Celinia had experienced through him left her traumatized. She was also horrified that she could have gotten him killed.
Celinia told me about her conversation with Storm Cloud. He explained to her that what she did was dangerous for someone in my position. So, we agreed to limit communication to subspace unless I initiated dreamscape contact. Seems obvious now.
âThe Eisolepans told us they had left Sigma Vega Three pacified.â Dillon drew Liam back into the conversation. âI think they forgot to tell the Rebels.â
âWell,â Liam said, âyou both did a terrific job. Iâm proud of you.â
âThank you, sir,â Ephram replied.
A message came over the shipâs address system. âNew Terran Spaceship Shiloh on final approach to South Corinth Spaceport.â
Dillion looked around to make sure they had privacy. âYou seem nervous, sir.â
âIâm a new daddy.â Liam went back to watching the lights.
âI thought the birth wouldnât be for another month.â Ephramâs brow knitted in concern.
âI got a message from my cousin, GraĚinne. It happened last week.â Both men recognized Liamâs tone as self-recrimination. âI couldnât even be with her in the dreamscape when our daughter was born.â
âIt wasnât your fault the Rebels launched a major offensive,â Dillon replied.
Liam only sighed. âI know, but I still canât reach Celinia in the dreamscape.â
Once the battle ended, he had tried several times. He just could not get in touch with her.
There are many reasons for my not being able to contact her, and none of them are good.
âIâm sure sheâs all right,â Dillon reassured him. âBirth can be a rough process. She still needs rest, most likely. Your imagination is just filling in the blanks with problems. Youâll see. Youâll both be laughing about it in a few days.â
Liam remained silent. The situation on the Shiloh had made using the shipâs subspace for personal communications problematic.
âNTSS Shiloh, touching down in three, two, oneâtouchdown.â The ship trembled as the landing gear contacted the tarmac. âNTSS Shiloh, to all crew, we have landed and are securing
from spaceflight. Prepare to disembark.â
Dillon placed a hand on Liamâs shoulder. âShe must be all
right.â
âWhat about the baby?â Liam whispered. âThe message was
terse.â
Dillon shrugged and exchanged looks with Ephram. âI remember how chaotic it was when my kids were born. My Mom practically sat on me until I gave her details. Would you believe I forgot to tell her it was a boy the first time?â
Ephram shook his head and laughed.
âNTSS Shiloh, set to begin disembarkation.â
Liamâs gear sat at his feetâhis long-suffering rucksack, duffle
bag, and rifle bag. He hefted them over his shoulders as Colonel Simon, son of Laris and Hercna, came up beside them.
âFinally, home.â
Liam could hear the relief in Colonel Simonâs voice.
âYou brought the regiment through, sir.â Liam forced a smile
to his superior and friend.
Colonel Simon smiled back at him. âYou and your company
performed a remarkable bit of tactical wizardry, Captain. Iâm glad I picked you as SPEC COâs commander.â
âThank you, sir,â Liam replied.
The colonel placed his hand on Liamâs shoulder. âIâm sure Celinia and the baby are fine.â
Colonel Simon smiled. Another survivor from the Azurian Invasion.
The hatch opened, and the regiment disembarked. Liam had overloaded himself with his gear many times before now. Today, it all felt like lead, along with the rest of him.
Liam, Ephram, and Dillon rejoined their company and marched down the ramp. Out of a company of one hundred men, only sixty- seven were coming home. Once the four battalions of the Neo- Etruscan Expeditionary Regiment formed up on the tarmac, they came to attention.
âGentlemen,â Colonel Simon told his commanders. âYou may dismiss your men.â
Lt. Colonel Janus did an about-face. âBattalion!â Liam looked over his shoulder. âCompany!â âDismissed!â
The units broke up. Liam watched as soldiers reunited with their loved ones. People who lost a loved one waited as well. His heart ached when he recognized a family member of someone under his command who would not be coming home.
Liam did not see Celinia in the crowd. A group of women wearing the robes of priestesses came forward. They would collect the injured from the shipâs sick bay. Liam continued to scan the crowd for any of his family and friends.
He did a double take when two priestesses came toward him as the others entered the ship. He recognized High Priestess Sindee, one of Celiniaâs friends.
âCaptain Liam, foster son of Marcus and Lidia, son of SeaĚmus and Deirdre,â High Priestess Sindee began in an official tone. âHigh Priestess Celinia requests your presence at once.â
âSindee,â Protocol be damned. âWhat happened? I canât reach Celinia. Is she...?â
Sindee raised a hand to stop him. âIt was a difficult pregnancy. Sheâs going to be fine, but she doesnât have the strength for dreamscape communication.â
âAnd the baby?â Liam asked.
âFine,â Sindee assured him. âCelinia sent us to escort you home.â
He stepped forward, but the junior priestess stopped him. With a flick of her eyes, she reminded him of his gear. Feeling like an idiot, Liam collected his stuff and followed them.
What arenât they telling me? Liam tied himself in knots with worry.
.....
The two priestesses spoke no words to him. They remained silent through the portal to New Santorini, where his wife was the high priestess at the local temple or on the trip to the village of Aran.
Some people of the village stood along the road. He took the looks they gave him as looks of sympathy.
Creator, I failed her. Liam felt sick to his stomach. How can I make things right?
The door to their house opened, and they ushered him inside. His brotherâs wife, High Priestess Teresina, stood beside Celinia, who stood facing him. Her green eyes seemed to burn into him.
âCelinia...â
âCaptain Liam, foster son of Marcus, foster son of Lidia, son of SeaĚmus, son of Deirdre. We have requested your presence,â she continued, then paused, âto introduce you to our daughters.â
âCelinia.â Liamâs voice shook. âI... daughters?â
Plural?
Liam became even more confused when Celinia smiled at him.
Sindee and the other priestess laughed as they pushed him into a rocking chair. Liamâs paternal grandparents, Margaret and Patrick McGregor, and his motherâs sister, MaĚire, came out of the den. Other friends, including Ambassador Jarek of Gothow and the Great Shaman of the bear-lizards, Storm Cloud exited the kitchen.
Where did they find room? Liam felt bewildered.
More came in from the yard. His grandparents and aunt placed three identical little bundles into his arms.
âI think you shouldâve just told him,â his cousin GraĚinne half- heartedly scolded Celinia. âThe poor ladâs nearly sick with worry.â
âYou went along with it,â Celinia replied.
âThe two of ye,â MaĚire admonished. âShh.â
Liam looked down at the triplets. Seeming to sense a
connection, they looked up at him and snuggled closer, so they could be with their daddy. One looked up at him. Another reached out and tried to grab his nose. The third closed her eyes for a moment as if savoring their closeness. Then the infant looked out over the room. Liam felt overwhelmed with emotion.
Celinia came and stood by the chair, watching her beloved bonding with their daughters.
âIâm sorry, my love.â Celinia smiled at him, though her tone was contrite. âYour cousinâs right. I should have told you we have triplets. I wanted to surprise you. After all youâve been through, it now seems cruel. Will you forgive me?â
Wonder had stolen away Liamâs voice. He looked up at her and allowed himself to become lost in those fierce green eyes, so like his daughtersâ eyes.
âSee the one whoâs looking over everything and plotting her takeover?â Aunt MaĚire approached the other side of the chair. âWe named her Deirdre, after your mother. The one whoâs examining your nose is Bayvin, after my grandmother. The third is Aisling, after our illustrious ancestor.â
âDeirdre,â Liam managed, âBayvin, Aisling.â
He looked up at his wife, who leaned down to allow her lips to
brush his. Afterwards, the babies would fuss anytime someone tried to take them from their daddy. As the celebration continued, Liam, exhausted, fell asleep in the chair with the triplets nestled against him.
Eleven years later
CHAPTeR 1
Kergan smiled as his battlecruiser, R.S.S. Sesqwettor, orbited around the gas giant, Beta Proximus Four. Their destination came into viewâTreespo, the fifth moon of the planet.
General Maranz had delivered a total victory. His forces had outclassed and overwhelmed the local militia.
âWeâre entering orbit around Treespo, Marshal,â the helmsmen reported.
âStandard parking orbit, Lieutenant,â Kergan ordered.
Kergan stood and turned toward the bridge entrance. âHave my shuttle prepped.â
âBy your order, Marshal,â the communications officer acknowledged.
The communications officer turned to the comm as the door closed.
âBridge to flight deck control. Ready the Marshalâs shuttle.â .....
Donning an atmospheric suit, Kergan headed to the flight deck. On entering the shuttle, he found Colonel Teramiah, his second in command, in his own atmospheric suit, waiting for him. Teramiah had been his friend since before they had joined the Rebellion. Kergan relied on Teramiahâs good sense and keen insights. He never used rank when addressing his friend in private.
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âReport from Sorel Maranz,â reported Teramiah. âHeâs crushed the last of the resistance. Sorel delivered a total victory.â
âExcellent. Everything is on schedule. We caught the Alliance Unified Command flat-footed.â
Teramiah smiled. âThanks to our contact in the Ministry of Public Safety.â
Kergan smiled to himself. Those false signals lured the Unified Fleet so out of position that it will take months to put some kind of force together.
Kergan sat in silence as the shuttle entered the nitrogen- methane atmosphere of the moon the Movorians called Treespo. Descending past the yellow haze, a rocky, mountainous landscape came into view. Liquids on the surface had carved multiple valleys and gullies into the terrain. Approaching the ruins of Escedron, Treespoâs primary city, the ship slowed. The fleet had blasted a massive hole into the cityâs dome during General Sorel Maranzâs initial bombardment. A jet of flame had shot out as the moonâs atmosphere mixed with the oxygen in the dome and ignited, blackening the edges.
âThere werenât as many casualties as we had expected,â Teramiah informed him. âGeneral Maranz reported most of the fleeing populace made it to shelters or at least into protective clothing. He estimates civilian fatalities to be less than ten percent.â
Kergan shrugged.
âNearing landing platform, Marshal,â the pilot reported. âFlight Control has informed us the command center now has breathable air. You still need to suit up for the journey to the airlock.â
âUnderstood.â Teramiah called.
The moment the craft touched down on the tarmac, Kergan and Teramiah donned their helmets. After checking their air and communications, they proceeded to the airlock. The airlock cycled,
venting air, and equalizing the pressure. The hatch opened on the barren world. Two figures in atmospheric suits waited for them.
âMarshal.â The two soldiers saluted. âWe are to guide you to General Maranz.â
âVery good.â Kergan nodded, feeling curious. Protocol dictates a junior officer greet a superior in person.
They hastened along the damaged walkway.
âOur engineers estimate it will take a few more days to restore the atmospheric bridge,â one soldier informed him.
âGeneral Maranz?â Kergan asked.
âHeâs waiting in the ready room, Marshal,â the soldier replied, as they entered the airlock into the building.
After the light on the airlock turned green, Kergan and Teramiah removed their helmets and followed their guides to the ready room. One glance told them why General Maranz had not greeted them himself. The Torian had his splinted leg propped on a stool.
âSorry I couldnât come to meet you myself.â The general spoke in a sour voice. âA IED nearly had my name on it. It dislodged a boulder, and I didnât get my leg out of the way in time.â
âMore than understandable, Sorel,â Kergan replied, taking a seat. He smiled at the general, another childhood friend. âBad?â
âSnapped like a twig,â the general grumbled in disgust. âMy chief medical officer wants me in the medical unit to get the leg set. I just havenât had the time.â
The general nodded toward a Gothowan doctor, who glared with his arms folded.
Kergan stifled a laugh. It must irk Sorel to have the doctor hovering over him.
âStatus report?â Kergan commanded, changing the subject.
âI would say we pacified all resistance.â The general sighed in exasperation. âHowever, every time I do, I jinx myself. Therefore, Iâll only say, so far so good.â
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Kergan smirked at General Maranzâs frustration. Their eyes met, and the general allowed a hint of a smile to play across his lips. âWelcome to Treespo, old friend.â
The smile vanished somewhat as Sorel allowed his professionalism to return. âWe have uprooted the last detectable pockets of resistance,â the general went on. âWeâre making progress getting things running again. The Movorians partisans havenât harassed us since yesterday. Iâm giving the cities low priority while we concentrate on getting the mining operations back up and running. Weâve transported all Movorians to nearby neutral worlds. They can make their way back to Alliance space as they wish.â
âA pity no Movorians joined the Rebellion,â Kergan mused. âTheyâre some of the galaxyâs best pilots.â
âThe advantage of having six manipulating appendages,â Teramiah commented.
General Maranz continued. âWeâve set up a new comm array in the foothills of the Tersec Mountains to the west. In the south, weâre building a fortification for the local and subspace communication jammers. I am preparing my defenses for an Alliance counterattack.â
Kergan cocked an eyebrow. âThe Alliance Unified Fleet is well out of position. It will take them months to mount any sort of offensive. Our agents in the ministry saw to that.â
The general snorted. âAnd I thought Iâd pacified all resistance yesterday. This,â pointing at his broken leg, âconvinced me I should act as though one were imminent.â
âUnderstandable,â Kergan conceded. âThough you were always the brave one during those days on Omicron Tau.â
âOur misspent youths,â the general remembered.
âYou have the samples?â
The general nodded as he tried to stand. In an instant, his two
aides were at his side. âIâm not crippled,â the general snapped.
âOf course not, General,â a lieutenant replied in a soothing tone, âbut the gravimetric splints arenât perfect. You donât want those two pieces of bone slamming together again.â
Kergan and Teramiah maintained their serious demeanors until they had the general out of the door. Kergan allowed a chuckle. Teramiah tried not to double over with laughter.
Kergan looked at the doctor, who gave the two of them a reproving look.
âHe always was a lousy patient,â Kergan explained. The doctor cracked a smile. Teramiah laughed again.
.....
The general glowered at Kergan and Teramiah as they caught up to him in the science wing. The two aides waited by the door. General Maranz sat in a chair with his leg propped on a stool. His soldiers had even put a blanket around him.
âHave you two finished laughing at my misfortune?â
âI think we mostly have it out of our systems, General,â Teramiah replied, trying to keep a straight face.
Kergan made sure the door closed behind them.
The general pointed to a table on which there were trays of different ores. âWithout these minerals, this desolate hunk of rock would be worthless.â
âRare metal elements,â Teramiah breathed.
Kergan felt his pulse racing as he examined the trays. These minerals are critical for many modern technologies. This moon has some of the rarest in our galaxy.
âThe project is at a critical stage,â Teramiah informed the general, one of the few who knew about Kerganâs special project. âThe dozen crystals we are growing for the fusion coils are a little over a decade from completion.â
The general pointed to some containment units. âThose units hold enough minerals to finish your twelve. Iâll have them loaded
KURT D. SPRINGS 5
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onto your shuttle. In a few months, we could have enough material to start another hundred.â
âWith our access to Forerunner technology, our endgame for the Alliance could begin soon after we deploy those weapons. Think of it. The power to render a worldâs surface molten in a few minutes.â
âWeapons forbidden by treaty, Marshal,â Teramiah pointed out.
âThe Alliance has already ignored many treaties in this war, Teramiah.â Kergan studied the three samples.
âRemember,â Teramiah warned. âWe shouldnât get greedy. The twelve should be enough to finish the war.â
Kergan nodded. âIf we leave now, however, we could make the Alliance suspicious that this invasion is not what it seems. The longer we can hold Treespo, the more convinced theyâll be we captured the moon for general use and to deny them these minerals.â
âHowever,â General Maranz added, âour holding it isnât a bad thing.â
Teramiah nodded. âIt depends how hard the Alliance fights to get it back.â
.....
Gunnery Sergeant Anthony âMad Bullâ Russo accompanied Colonel Thomas Halsey along the streets of the village of Aran. It reminded the gunny of his brief time on Eire Nua, where they had stopped before a major deployment: a little taste of Finnian culture on Etrusci.
âInteresting place for him to live, sir,â the gunny commented.
âHe may have been born on Etrusci, adopted by a Neo-Etruscan family, and married a Neo-Etruscan woman, Gunny,â the colonel replied, glancing at his friend. âHe is a Finnian, however, and his
ties with his Finnian family have strengthened since the end of the Azurian Invasion.â
âYes, sir,â Gunnery Sergeant Russo replied.
The colonel spared him another glance. âStill worried?â
Russo did not answer.
âHeâs led the Neo-Etruscan Expeditionary Regimentâs SPEC CO
on three separate deployments since then,â Halsey added.
âThose incidents were minor skirmishes, sir,â Sergeant Russo replied. âBeta Proximus Four is going to be a big deal. Kergan will
fight to hold it. Also, why is he still a major?â
âThe needs of the Neo-Etruscan Defense Forces,â Colonel
Halsey replied. âThey needed him where he is: in command of their SPECOP Company. Theyâre still not a sizeable force.â
âI donât know, sir.â Sergeant Russo glanced at Colonel Halsey. âPlus, Major OâConnor wonât have his entire company, just part of it.â
âHence, the whole point of this trip, Gunny. Etrusci officially withdrew from the fight. So, only about half of a normal companyâs complement volunteered to go off-world again. We have our Bravo Company, which is at half strength, and we donât have a company commander. You only have two weeks to merge two forces intoââ
Turning down a village lane, they heard squeals of laughter. Two young girls, around ten or eleven, sped out of a gate, their curly red tresses streaming behind them. They came to a sudden stop when they saw the two marines.
âAisling, Bayvin,â came an angry, childish voice behind them. âAidanâs legs arenât that long. Iâve told you and told you...â
A third redheaded girl, identical to the first two, save for her cross look, stalked out of the gate holding a little boy by the hand. A small furry quadruped, which looked something like a bear, but with scales in places, ambled beside them. They also stopped, surprised to see the two men.
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âThe five of you,â came an older, exasperated voice. âYou arenât supposed to be out here when your parents arenât home.â A young woman wearing the robes of a novice priestess in The Temple exited the gate and stopped, her eyes going wide.
She recovered almost at once, straightened, placed her hands together, and with infinite grace, bowed over her hands. âWelcome to the home of Liam, son of Marcus, and Celinia, daughter of Thomasia.â She spoke in a formal tone. âI am Sylvia, daughter of Sharina.â
Sergeant Russo watched the colonel repeat the gesture, then remembered himself and did likewise.
âI am Colonel Thomas Halsey, Third Regiment of the New Terran Marine Corps, Third Division.â He turned to his companion. âGunnery Sergeant Anthony Russo. Is Major Liam OâConnor at home?â
Sylvia straightened. âI expect them back shortly. They went to the market. Iâm watching the children. You are more than welcome to come in and wait for them. You might enjoy the view of the sea from the patio.â
She cast a stern glance at the children.
The one holding her little brotherâs hand recovered first. âI am Deirdre, daughter of Liam and Celinia,â she replied, her tone formal.
Her sisters followed suit. âAisling,â one said. âBayvin,â replied the other. Deirdre nudged her little brother.
âAidan, son of Liam and Celinia.â Then, âIâm four-years-old.â
Sergeant Russo could not help but smile at the pride in his childish voice.
The furry creature reared up. I am Ted, he telepathically declared to their surprise. Son of Silent Shadow and Plains Flower.
âItâs a pleasure to meet you all.â Colonel Halsey smiled. .....
Sergeant Russo sat with the colonel on the patio. The childrenâs great-grandparents, Margaret and Patrick McGregor, had hurried over after receiving Sylviaâs signal. The older woman came onto the patio with some glasses. âWould ye care for some iced tea?â their great-grandmother asked.
âThank you.â The colonel took a glass.
Gunnery Sergeant Russo followed Colonel Halseyâs example while watching the children. Aidan and Ted were gazing at something on the groundâprobably observing local insects. The three girls were playing a game with rings. He had to admire their agility. Yet, they seemed subdued since he and the colonel had arrived.
Gunnery Sergeant Russo guessed why. Their daddy is going into harmâs way again. In all my years, regardless of species, it never gets easier. He glanced at the colonel, who admired the ocean view.
âItâs a lovely place for a house,â the colonel commented.
âSea.â The great-grandmother smiled and took a seat. âWe came to Etrusci to build it for our grandson and his wife, then decided to stay. Other Finnian thought it a lovely location, and our little village grew.â
âSha?â Russo asked.
ââYesâ in Finnian,â Margret informed him.
âProblem with ocean storms?â
âAlready built into the structures,â she replied, as her husband
sat with them.
Sergeant Russo looked up at the same time as the children
when the gate opened.
âDaddy, Mommy!â The three girls dashed to the gate and
surrounded their father, throwing their arms around him as if they wanted to keep him all to themselves. The major put down some grocery bags and gathered them into his arms as the boy went to his mother. The sergeant realized they had not come alone. Five bear-lizards came through the gate after them. Ted bounded up to greet them. One caught Sergeant Russoâs attention.
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He had gray fur, almost white with a hooded leather cape slung across his shoulders. His movements were deliberate, as if troubled by aching joints. He seemed enwrapped in an aura of power and quiet authority.
The major looked up and realized they had guests. He whispered a quick word to his daughters. The old bear-lizard gathered the youngsters, who stood before him with solemn expressions.
The major approached with his wife. The children returned to their games, and the bear-lizards came onto the patio.
âColonel Halsey, Gunnery Sergeant Russo.â Liam saluted, then offering his hand. âForgive me. I wasnât expecting you on planet for another three days.â
âWeâre ahead of schedule,â the colonel replied. âI shouldâve called.â
âWell,â the majorâs wife said. âYouâre both here. You will have dinner with us.â
Sergeant Russo saw where the girls had inherited their red hair and green eyes. Here was another who commanded respect. The dinner invitation had the authority of a direct order.
The major glanced at his wife. âGentlemen, my wife, High Priestess Celinia, daughter of Thomasia.â
The bear-lizards gathered nearby. âMy old friend, Swift Hunter, and his mate, Great Heart. Their son Silent Shadow and his mate Plains Flower.â
âWe met Ted,â the colonel offered as he took their hand-like paws.
âAnd the Great Shaman, Storm Cloud.â Liam introduced the elder bear-lizard.
Well met, Colonel Halsey, Sergeant Russo, Gunny heard in his head. Forgive me if I donât rear up to greet you, but I rarely do that these days. My grandparents spoke truly when they told me getting old isnât any fun.
âI remember my grandparents saying something similar,â the gunny replied.
You will find they were right. The creatureâs mental voice held power, but also a wry sense of humor.
.....
Major Liam OâConnor, a descendant from a lineage of heroes, finds himself at the heart of intense conflict in Kurt Springs' latest novel. Tasked with reclaiming Treespoâa critical source of rare metalsâfrom the Rebel faction led by Marshal Kergan, Liam's Special Operations Company is thrust into chaos when treachery claims the lives of all senior officers in the New Terran Marine Corps Third Division. With command unexpectedly falling to Liam, and other Alliance forces out of position, he faces overwhelming odds with no room for failure.
The narrative grips from the outset, with Springs expertly capturing the urgency of war. The tension is palpable and unrelenting. Springs excels in depicting intergalactic conflict, plunging readers into the gritty reality of Treespo alongside Liam as chaos unfolds rapidly. His portrayal of Liam's desperate struggle against superior forces, both outgunned and outnumbered, adds depth and intensity to the story.
Liam, a character I've always admired, reveals new dimensions in Legacy of Valor. His adept navigation of the dreamscape lends him an almost 'superhuman' quality, yet it's his spiritual growth and unwavering faith in the Creator that truly impressed me, particularly in his relationship with Celenia and his evolving role as a Shaman. This character development breathed unexpected life into this story.
While compelling, the story's rapid introduction of numerous characters posed a challenge for me. The sheer volume made it difficult to associate each with their respective factions, occasionally leading to confusion about their allegiances amidst the intense action. However, Springs' execution remains commendable. The strategic deployment of characters across various battlefrontsâfrom land to sky and deep spaceâwas well-managed, ensuring clarity on their locations if not always their affiliations.
This novel is undeniably worth reading. The characters face grave peril, their ingenious escapes compelling readers to eagerly turn each page. I need book three.