Four Horsemen Tales

A Tortantula and a Flatar. The most enigmatic teaming in the mercenary guild, it's also a perfect pairing, where one's strengths cover the other's weakness. Raised together from birth, their lives are a brutal series of tests. From the moment they're thrust together, they are forced to kill their own kind just to survive. No excuses, no mercy, no room for failure. Succeed…or die. Azah isn't like most other female Tortantula; she's much smaller and made fun of constantly. No one expects her to survive, much less succeed, but she's still given a chance and assigned a Flatar: Sadek. The two quickly bond and find they complement each other. Against all odds, they survive the breeding dome and join the ranks of their races' mercenaries.But Azah begins to exhibit some extremely odd abilities, and everything changes. When Sadek uncovers a plan to manipulate the Tortantula breeding program, he's unable to determine what their goals are…only that they have plans for Azah. Powerless to stop their shadowy machinations, the two know one thing: they want to stay together 'Zha Oort'-until the ending.But Fate is calling, and Fate doesn't care what anyone wants.

The mission Jonah White Eagle and his Fierce Eagle Company had taken was nearly impossible. Land on the middle of a 7.5-mile-high plateau, walk six miles to the edge of the cliff, and scale down the 39,000-foot-high cliffs to the foothills of the canyon below. Nothing to it, right? But then there was the swamp they had to cross, full of large indigenous life forms that thought Humans made good snacks. And the rivers, full of other killers, they would have to negotiate. And then there were the Xlatan, a race of six-legged killers guarding the target. A relatively new mercenary race, although one more established than the Humans, the Xlatan were supposed to be tough. Maybe not-quite-as tough as the Besquith, but close enough to give a number of other merc races the chills when they went up against them. The Fierce Eagle Company only needed to traverse the planet, stay alive, and then surveil the operation the Xlatan were guarding to gather intelligence for the CASPer-equipped merc company that was enroute to destroy the operation. The mission would have been nearly impossible, all on its own. There's just one more thing, though, that they don't know. They've been set up, and the heavy forces aren't coming. Still, great things can be accomplished…When Eagles Dare.

"A noted explorer once asked, 'Who knows if there are secrets lurking in the unseen corners of hyperspace?' The answer is simple. There are!" - Colonel Terrance Van Zant, Commanding Officer, Swamp Eagle Security Taylor Van Zant has a lot on his mind. Like everyone in Jacksonville, North Florida, the early-twenties bartender from Riverside saw his world upended when his brother, Terry, an interstellar mercenary and local hero, died suddenly in a freak starship accident. Five years later, having been stonewalled for answers, Taylor faced a choice: Honor his mother's wish that he never go merc or defy it to save her life by resurrecting Terry's company. That was thirteen months ago. Now the newly reformed Eagles stand on the verge of a major milestone: owning their own flagship. There's just one problem. Terry left behind a ship that no one knew about, a rare breed of cruiser with a most peculiar secret. "Free Bird Rising" is the story of a young man's quest for justice and to escape his brother's shadow. The shocking revelations he finds, though, will likely rock the Galactic Union to its core and get him killed.

Fifteen of the best Indie authors. Fifteen extraordinary stories. One bestselling universe. It's the Twenty-Second Century. The galaxy has opened up to humanity as a hyperactive beehive of stargates and new technologies, and we suddenly find ourselves in a vast playground of different races, environments, and cultures. There's just one catch: we are pretty much at the bottom of the food chain, and there's only one way for humanity to move up-by becoming mercenaries. In every mercenary's life, though, there comes a time when things go wrong and even the best laid plans go awry. When they do, though, the best mercs fall back and work out new plans, and you can bet on one thing-hope is not their strategy. Whether you're a kid looking to get off your planet, or an unarmed merc facing an overwhelming force, or even the sole survivor of a pirate attack, there's always an edge-and it's up to the merc to find and exploit it! Edited by bestselling authors and universe creators Chris Kennedy and Mark Wandrey, "Hope is Not a Strategy" includes all-new stories in the Four Horsemen universe by some of the bestselling Indie authors currently in the business. These authors take on various aspects of the universe, giving you additional insight into a galaxy that isn't at war…but definitely isn't at peace. There's only one thing for sure in the 4HU-anything's possible…for a fistful of credits! Inside, you'll find:Preface by Chris KennedyGolden Ticket by Jonathan P. BrazeeThe Tide Changes by Craig MartelleSomething You Are Not by Kevin SteversonHijacked! by Terry MixonThe Wagner Method by Josh HayesPaying the Price by Scott MoonWithout a Shot by Chris FoxRaid by Mark WandreySecond Chances by Kevin McLaughlinThe Problem of the Qualis by Brian NiemeierEye on the Prize by Nathan HystadEarworm by Robert E. HampsonA Guilded Affair by Chris KennedySunset by A.K. DuBoffSurvivor by Kacey Ezell A bestselling Science Fiction/Fantasy author and speaker, Chris Kennedy is a former naval aviator with over 3,000 hours flying attack and reconnaissance aircraft. Chris is currently working as an Instructional Systems Designer for the Navy and is an advisory board member of Hampton Roads Writers.Chris' full length novels on Amazon include the "Occupied Seattle" military fiction duology, the "Theogony" and "Codex Regius" science fiction trilogies and the "War for Dominance" fantasy trilogy. Chris is also the author of the self-help book, "Self-Publishing for Profit: How to Get Your Book Out of Your Head and Into the Stores." Catch up with Chris at http://chriskennedypublishing.com or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/chriskennedypublishing.biz. Follow him on Twitter at @ChrisKennedy110.

Within the Galactic Union, few entities are as powerful-or as feared-as the Mercenary Guild. They have absolute power; after all, they are the ones with the weapons. The only other armed agency, the Peacemaker Guild, is far smaller and unable to bend them to their will. But absolute power has the tendency to corrupt absolutely, and this is becoming increasingly apparent as the guild's members pursue their hidden agendas. Leeto, the Merc Guild's Speaker, and the Veetanho General Peepo are no different than the rank and file. They will use any means necessary-within the law or not-to accomplish their goal of destroying humanity. With the invasion of Earth already complete, a single compliant Hunter could be the Guild's perfect weapon to finally accomplish their goals. Except that Hunters aren't known for their compliance. Sparks are sure to fly as the unstoppable force of the Mercenary Guild comes up against the immovable object that is the will of the galaxy's deadliest assassins. Guns in the light battle knives in the dark as the Mercenary Guild takes on the Depik Hunters, and only one will emerge victorious. Who will survive to kill another day?

Staff Sergeant Markus 'Spartan' Nicolos is one of the Intelligence Department's best. A hacker who can beat any code, he's in charge of communications intercepts for the Golden Horde's Computer Operations section. When people can't break a code, they bring in Spartan. It wasn't always this way, though. Spartan used to be a frontline CASPer pilot-someone who could be counted on to get the job done and bring the squad home safely…until he lost his entire squad in an ambush. He also lost his edge in the attack, and he swore he would never pilot a CASPer in combat again. Everything changed, though, when he came up with an idea for a new type of scout CASPer-one that would prevent what happened to him from ever happening again. He's been given a mech to convert and a team to help him bring his idea to reality. And he's been given a chance to test it out on a Golden Horde deployment. But in the time immediately before the events of the Omega War, forces are already moving behind the scenes, and nothing is as it seems…and they're bringing along Spartan's combat mech-which he said he'd never pilot in combat again-just in case. A bestselling Science Fiction/Fantasy author and speaker, Chris Kennedy is a former naval aviator with over 3,000 hours flying attack and reconnaissance aircraft. Chris is currently working as an Instructional Systems Designer for the Navy and is an advisory board member of Hampton Roads Writers.Chris' full length novels on Amazon include the "Occupied Seattle" military fiction duology, the "Theogony" and "Codex Regius" science fiction trilogies and the "War for Dominance" fantasy trilogy. Chris is also the author of the self-help book, "Self-Publishing for Profit: How to Get Your Book Out of Your Head and Into the Stores." Catch up with Chris at http://chriskennedypublishing.com or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/chriskennedypublishing.biz. Follow him on Twitter at @ChrisKennedy110.

Staff Sergeant Markus 'Spartan' Nicolos is one of the Intelligence Department's best. A hacker who can beat any code, he's in charge of communications intercepts for the Golden Horde's Computer Operations section. When people can't break a code, they bring in Spartan. It wasn't always this way, though. Spartan used to be a frontline CASPer pilot-someone who could be counted on to get the job done and bring the squad home safely…until he lost his entire squad in an ambush. He also lost his edge in the attack, and he swore he would never pilot a CASPer in combat again. Everything changed, though, when he came up with an idea for a new type of scout CASPer-one that would prevent what happened to him from ever happening again. He's been given a mech to convert and a team to help him bring his idea to reality. And he's been given a chance to test it out on a Golden Horde deployment. But in the time immediately before the events of the Omega War, forces are already moving behind the scenes, and nothing is as it seems… and they're bringing along Spartan's combat mech-which he said he'd never pilot in combat again-just in case.

From the outside, The Lyon's Den doesn't look like much; there isn't even a sign. But Mercs of all species know that if you head to southwest Houston, near the Starport, there's a particular run-down strip mall that looks like it's been abandoned for years. The glass door second from the south end of the strip is plastered over on the inside with blue paper, and the faint golden outline of a rampant lion is the only clue. The door is locked, of course, and beyond the door is nothing but a darkened hallway with a downward slope and a slight curve to it. Once you follow this curve far enough, you are greeted by two very large, very well-armed Lumar. "Welcome to the Lyon's Den," the larger of the two says without a translator, and without a trace of an alien accent. "You know the rules?" Welcome back to the Four Horsemen universe, where only a willingness to fight and die for money separates Humans from the majority of the other races. Edited by bestselling authors and universe creators Mark Wandrey and Chris Kennedy, "Tales from the Lyon's Den" includes eighteen all-new stories in the Four Horsemen universe by a variety of bestselling authors-and some you may not have heard of…yet. Want to know what it's like to do search and rescue while a battle is going on or what to do with that new manufactory you just won in a card game? Better learn the rules to the Lyon's Den…and then step inside! Inside, you'll find:Preface by Chris Kennedy"The Devil in the Pit" by Mark Wandrey"A Job to Do" by Quincy J. Allen"For the Honor of the Flag" by Doug Dandridge"Lucky" by James P. Chandler"Shit Day" by Marisa Wolf"The Charge of the Heavy Brigade" by Chris Kennedy"The Bottom Line" by Michael J. Allen"Midnight Diplomacy" by Tim C. Taylor"Desperta Ferro" by Eric S. Brown & N.X. Sharps"The Deadly Dutchman" by Kevin McLaughlin"The Felix" by RJ Ladon"The Heart of a Lion" by Terry Mixon"What Really Matters" by Chris Winder"Headspace and Timing" by Robert E. Hampson"Return to Sender" by Benjamin Tyler Smith"Grunwald" by David Alan Jones"The Quiet Was Fine" by Jake Bible"A Mother's Favor" by Kacey Ezell A bestselling Science Fiction/Fantasy author and speaker, Chris Kennedy is a former naval aviator with over 3,000 hours flying attack and reconnaissance aircraft. Chris is currently working as an Instructional Systems Designer for the Navy and is an advisory board member of Hampton Roads Writers.Chris' full length novels on Amazon include the "Occupied Seattle" military fiction duology, the "Theogony" and "Codex Regius" science fiction trilogies and the "War for Dominance" fantasy trilogy. Chris is also the author of the self-help book, "Self-Publishing for Profit: How to Get Your Book Out of Your Head and Into the Stores." Catch up with Chris at http://chriskennedypublishing.com or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/chriskennedypublishing.biz. Follow him on Twitter at @ChrisKennedy110.