[A Fury of Aces 01] • Burnt Ice

Move over Star Wars! This is a superb space opera ... humans and hybrids and strange new creatures fighting for survival on Earth and across the galaxies.

The ruling body of the five star systems inhabited by Man are very concerned by breakaway groups that are exploring and inhabiting other star systems and gathering resources and strength with the intent to break away from the repressive regime.

The official story for the buildup of military forces is that they need to combat piracy and terrorism. The actual reason is driven by intelligence that some of the breakaway groups have developed new very powerful technologies and weapons, and the Government wants to control them.

Two brothers -- starship pilots -- see what appears to be a stonehenge-like structures on the sea floor of a particular planet and are attacked by colossus squid. They manage to escape, but as soon as they get ashore they are met by a battle raging between alien tech and the Gjomvik company-Administration combined force.

The fight is won, but it is only the beginning of an ongoing battle with the squid-type aliens.

A group of renegades -- each with their own agenda -- battle to stay alive, and if the battles don't kill them, the government will have a damn good try.