Rock Killer

                 Rock Killer

Author: Sheldon Townsend

Progress and advances in science there are some that embrace it and others who want things to remain the same. Advances in science can help prevent illnesses, create a greener planet or just make the world environmentally safer. So, why would some people work really hard to prevent that and keep things on what they feel should be unchanged?

The Space Resources Incorporated Facility was attacked and several crucial members of the team. Charlene or Charlie Jones does her best to engage the intruders in battle but to no avail as her fiancé is murdered and so is a man named Prince. For Charlie things might have gone sour when her pressure suit depressurizes but she guided through much of the disaster by assistant chief security officer Rodriguez. What she sees at the end of it all will stay with her forever.

Alexander Chun is on his way home to his wife Kristen when he learns of the attack and the deaths of his friends. But, this might be the 21^st century but space travel is different and many live on Earth and others on the moon. When a reporter on the moon relates the events of the explosion Alexander Chun is stunned but information is sketchy but someone does claim responsibility. Gaia Alliance does not want Space Resources to continue its changes and research and threatens more harm and attacks. Alex is the director of SRI and speaking to Mitchel he learns the nature of the attack on the lunar facility. Killing everyone they encountered including the chief of security they vandalized and stole one ship, the Rock Skipper.

Imagine an organization that mines asteroids in order to enrich our planet and not degrade it. Space Resources, Inc’s function is just that. But when the Gaia Alliance decides to kill and invade their ship and steal one, this group of eco-terrorists gives a new meaning to the word terrorism and much more. Stealing the Rock Skipper they decide to rename is Rock Killer quite appropriate considering we are dealing with asteroids? So how are they going to stop them and who will take over for those killed?

Alex Chun devoted his entire life to SRI and would not leave no matter what. Dinner guests speaking about the GA made them seem as if his organization was creating things to pollute the environment and you could tell they believed in their cause. Whereas Alex described the GA as “Punk Terrorists.” The GA just total control and feels everyone needs to follow their beliefs and doctrines. The business associate of his wife is pro GA and Alex listening to him go on about it storms out of the house in anger leaving Kirsten to deal with McConnell.

Linda Trent is a U. S. Congresswoman and is behind the attacks on the moon. Linda Trent needs to be stopped. Working with a Syrian government official named Faruq the GA supply it with weapons. Linda Trent is part of the GA. Along with Allan Griffin and Knecht, and two other survivors of the attack on the moon they hope to destroy SRI and will use their own ship now called the Rock Killer to do that. But, can they be stopped. Charlie Jones is still grieving Frank’s death when Security Head Mitchel calls her to Tokyo. Who better than to learn what the GA has next on its agenda than Charlie. Coming to Earth is not her favorite thing and his plan is for her to infiltrate the GA in order to get the valuable information for the FBI to prosecute. Her job is the Link the GA to these attacks.

But, Alex has a major decision to make as his wife is becoming upset with his absence from her life. Spending only six weeks a year with his wife is not enough and his decision to stay with the SRI might rock more than just the moon as he feels more of an alliance to them than to her. Alex’s job is to travel to the asteroid belt to meet up with the asteroid and bring it back to Earth.

At the core of much of this plot is an organization called the Baathists Party who control the world’s accessibility to oil. They also want to create more friction between Israel and Palestine hoping to leave Palestine without a home or land. United Baathists States needed space capabilities and the rule in Damascus funded it.

William Thorne would replace Frank as the new chief of security on the next mission under Chun. But, although the mission will soon begin the real plot centers around Charlie and her infiltration into the GA. Learning more about the members and hearing their reasons for joining allows the reader to learn another point of view and why they are so against SRI.

The plot thickens as we learn more about Linda Trent and Charlie is forced to remain in her home but for some reason the other roommate is against this. Added to that the Russians found ten missiles that match those on the Rock Skipper and hopefully they will be returned.

Caught in a diabolical web Charlie is thrust into the heart of the Gaia Alliance. Meeting all of the players involved was definitely unsettling. Learning the truths behind why some joined even more. While Charlie is being trained at the Gaia Headquarters Alex and his team is getting read to go to the asteroid belt but so are those on the Rock Killer. As Charlie does some menial tasks and is told the joy of living in unity with Gaia the environment is cult like. Even their references to Gaia or Mother involving the Earth are scary. Killing off large amounts of people to save Mother Earth seems acceptable to them but chopping down a tree called murder. Charlie learned that the Gaia Alliance’s value system or the superstitions of ancient peoples were what they followed and believed in rather than modern science and all of its technology. She learned much more about conspiracy, racist and the GA’s platform. They were even trying to make receiving microwave energy from space not legal.  What she learns is mindboggling and very frightening to say the least. Charlie even learned how to use weapons and shoot. Some she was familiar with and others new to her. But, when she wanders into the wrong area where these weapons are she is strong armed and told to be careful where she goes.

All sides are aiming for the asteroid belt and the attacks on imminent as Charlie’s true mission and identity are revealed unknown to her. With one of the officers in the GA making advances she had no choice but to give in thinking she would not blow her cover. Stealing information she hoped would help her side but would she be found out and just how much danger would she be in if caught?

Space to space missiles attack at any minute and the stakes are really high. Author Sheldon Townsend takes readers up to the moon and back to the Earth on an exploration any astronaut today would love to be on a quest that would definitely change outer space. Who will win out in the end and what will happen when all sides collide?

The battle lines drawn and many lives are lost on all sides. The end result you will have to learn when you read the book for yourself. Caught and injured Charlie needs the help of the SRI to survive? Will it come in time? Alex learns many lessons in life as the missiles attack all sides and things draw to a close? As Charlie manages to bring down the GA will all of its members be caught? What about Faruq will the President realize his true colors? Deceit, lies and betrayal and the fate of the Earth and Space at stake as Faruq goes for the top position and Israel’s fate is at stake.

Twists, curves and downward spiral and an ending that will send everyone spiraling into orbit, back and where they land you just won’t believe. Lives lost and many saved. What an explosive ending to an action packed book filled with missile attacks, fights, and hopefully saving the Earth. Sheldon Townsend: you knocked another FIVE MISSLE BOOK OUT!

Fran Lewis: reviewer