In recent months both
Laurie A. Green and Veronica Scott have discussed how Top Gun SFR (classic sci-fi action and adventure) runs counter
to the current trend of alien abductions by warriors who may or may not resemble
humans. Depending on the author, ‘Top
Gun’ SFR may or may not include steam with the romance. Mine do.
As described by Laurie A Green, “Top Gun Science Fiction Romance
centers on characters like Han Solo, Jim Kirk, Mal Reynolds, or Starbuck, and
not necessarily just pilots, but also ship’s captains, fleet admirals, rogue
privateers, crack navigators, or anyone who knows their way around a space
vessel and how to use their skills and their ship to the fullest potential.”
Within The Twelve Systems Chronicles, several characters fit this brief, all supporting characters who will (someday) have standalone stories. Fletcher Detrenti first appears in Bright Star (The Apprentice, Volume 2) but demonstrates his Top Gun skills in Transgressions (The Apprentice, Volume 3) where he competes in the Third System’s annual moon races.
“Developed from fighter training, the
race uses a serpentine course designed to test the reflexes, strategic
analysis, and raw courage of the eighteen contenders. The only distinction
between the current sport and the ancient training games is that the race
flyers are not equipped with fireburst cannons.”
His sidekick, Nickolas starts the
series as a bit of a jerk, but under Fletcher’s influence develops his own Top
Gun capabilities which are pulled to the forefront in the same battle as
Fletcher’s.
While Fletcher is the classic solo
pilot Top Gun, the Nightingale’s captain, Raleigh, is more of the
swashbuckler that inspired his name. A
free-trader with limited, if any, respect for authority and hierarchy, he has
fought pirates and bootstrapped an inter-stellar shipping empire into a formidable
enterprise. Through a twist of fortune, he is convinced to serve as captain of
the first stellar exploration vessel in over two centuries.
“Stellar transit among the Twelve
Systems is dependent on passage markers known as beacons; beyond these
boundaries, automated stellar discoverers routinely disappear without a trace.
It has been two centuries since the last stellar explorer and its crew ventured
from the Twelve Systems. To build a stellar exploration vessel is to accept
almost unimaginable financial and physical risk.”
After successfully guiding the Nightingale
to the Thirteenth System, Raleigh must turn and defend it from an invading fleet.
With a tenth of the invaders’ firepower, he holds out for most of a day until
the armada arrives.
Nightingale’s bridge is at capacity,
crowded with the command crew, alpha flyers, medical staff, and the militia
captain. The junior officers are standing where they can remain out of the way
of the duty stations.
The captain is a compelling figure,
his height apparent when seated. His close-cropped black hair is as no-nonsense
as the man. The black eyes above prominent cheekbones are filled with dagger-sharp
intelligence. Raleigh shifts his gaze to the main reviewer, where fourteen
glowing dots orbit Bright Star Prime. “Fletcher’s estimate was optimistic.
Those freighters could easily transport five thousand. And they are heavily
armored. If they land, the cannon fireburst needed to destroy them will scorch
hundreds of miles. It would be decades before those wastes could regenerate.”
Jonathan’s justice. Twenty
thousand, plus another seven hundred in the despoiler fleet. Three symbols
correct Nickolas’ earlier coded alerts.
“Distraction,” Bran says. The
navigator’s frown of concentration deepens the crow’s feet that bracket amber
eyes filled with purpose.
Raleigh’s eyebrows rise.
Bran gestures at the reviewer.
“They have slowed to orbiting velocity. We fly in at maximum velocity, target
the six Spears, and get out before they can react.”
Raleigh’s eyes gleam. “We pick off
the Spears, and the skirmishes will keep the freighters in orbit.”
The first officer scowls. “With the
fourth planet on the other side of the sun, we have no cover. That Starburst will
have us on monitors as soon as we clear the rings. It will hit us with all four
cannons as soon as we are in range.”
Bran’s eyes meet Nickolas’. “We
send the flyers at the Starburst to keep it occupied.”
The flyer cannons have but a fifth
of the charge of a Starburst cannon, but as a group they can do damage. As can
the six sting cannons, which none but Serengeti know exist. Having pored over Starburst
schematics for two sevendays, Nickolas is certain he knows where to direct the disabling
sting. With the Starburst’s redundant systems, the three Serengeti flyer pairs will
require at least a half period to disable the transport without catching each
other in a crossfire. With but moments to attack and the Matahorn flyers in
play, conventional cannons will better serve.
The first officer nods. “That
leaves the three Daggers, and the freighters may be slow, but their armor is
formidable. It will take sustained fire to bring one down.”
He need not voice that they will
not have the luxury of sustained fire.
Raleigh gathers the chamber with his
gaze. “We go in at maximum velocity. Rain fireburst and retreat. We will
destroy what we may, but our goal is distraction. Keep them in orbit until the
armada arrives.”
With all this said, the series revolves
around the ultimate ‘Top Gun,’ Lilian Thornraven. She can’t fly a spaceship. She’s not even all that good with a gun. Her
weapon of choice is a dagger—and she is deadly with it. In the first book, The
Cartel (The Apprentice, Volume 1) she is one of the most insignificant
members of society and the cartel that holds her contract. Yet, chapter after chapter, book after book,
she overcomes dangerous circumstances and even more dangerous enemies to initiate
change that will alter the course of her galaxy for the better.
“Lilian, I am
beginning to believe that your purpose in the universe is to make the unimaginable, imaginable.” ~ Fortuna (The
Apprentice, Volume 4)
***
The Twelve
Systems Chronicles have won numerous awards: three Paranormal Guild Reviewers’
Choice Awards, five RONE Finalists,
and Shield Bearer received the 2021 RONE for
Science Fiction. All ten volumes are available in both e-book and
paperback, with the e-book available on multiple platforms.
Purchase links: https://egmanetti.com/the-twelve-systems-chronicles/
EG
Manetti
Where duty and passion collide
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/egmanetti/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/egmanetti
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/egmanetti/
Having read the first book -- The Cartel -- I'm really looking forward to reading on in this series. Though the first is mainly planet-bound, your characters definitely seem to have some Top Gun characteristics and scenarios, based on your descriptions and snippets. Can't wait. :)
ReplyDeleteThank you!
Delete