Melissa Olthoff is a science fiction and fantasy author who delights in sneaking in romance wherever she can. She is a lifelong geek as well as a veteran of the United States Air Force, both of which are incredibly useful when writing. Her degrees in meteorology and accounting are slightly less applicable to writing but absolutely useful when it comes to supporting her family. In 2023, she took second place in the annual Baen Fantasy Adventure Award Contest with her story "Fall From Grace" and won the Imadjinn Award Best Short Story for "Angel Wings and Demon Bones." She is published by Chris Kennedy Publishing and is best known for her novels in the Four Horsemen Universe, the Salvage Title Universe, and Hit World Valkyries, as well as numerous short stories. She can be found at her website melissaolthoff.net, chriskennedypublishing.com, Facebook, Twitter, and on her Amazon Author Page.

Fallout on Darsaana by Melissa Olthoff

Kailey Jackson has a lot on her plate. Asur specialist, language geek, mercenary, and—most recently—bonded commander of the last Warbird in existence.

The Asur created some of the most elite ships the galaxy has ever known, though, and everyone wants to steal it. And when—after multiple attempts—it finally is stolen, the impact is immediate to both Kailey's mental wellbeing and the Knights' hard-won reputation.

With enemies without and within, recovering the Warbird will be no easy task. The Knights will need to lean on the Lancers and their new friends in the Salvage System to track the thieves across the galaxy. But finding the Warbird is only the first step—and not even the hardest. Something is very wrong with Kailey's bond with her ship, and Darsaana, the old homeworld of the vanished Asur, might just hold the key to her salvation.

Kailey would burn the galaxy down if that's what it took to save her friends, but she has no idea how far she'd go to save herself. Nor can she foresee the irrevocable consequences… for her and for the Knights.

 

REVIEWS

  • "I love this series so much! Kailey is a great, loveable narrator, and her supporting characters are likeable, fascinating, and sometimes surprising."

    – Dr. Susan, Internet Reviewer
  • "Drew me in like a whirlwind!! Lots of action!! It even got me in the feels!! I can't wait for the next one!!"

    – Jeff Paquet, Internet Reviewer
  • "Wonderful action and character development. Great plot twists and best of all- more books to come. Highly recommended!"

    – The Navy Guy 1943, Internet Reviewer
 

BOOK PREVIEW

Excerpt

Chapter One

An Asur Warbird hadn't been seen in centuries. That was probably why people kept trying to steal mine. In the weeks since we'd returned to Flint System, there'd been no less than a dozen attempts by thieves, scavengers, pirates, and one very misguided mercenary company that deeply regretted their impulsive decision to try to force us into selling it to them—at a steep discount, of course. Assholes.

If they only knew how incredibly annoying the limited AI that controlled the ship could be, maybe they'd be less eager to get their grubby hands on him. Because while the Warbird was the coolest thing ever, it'd be really nice if it didn't tug on my attention at all hours. Especially in the middle of a training session with Lily, who had no concept of mercy, even for friends.

"Come on, Kails, step it up!"

My Pikith roomie launched a blistering-fast strike at my ribcage, and I barely got a block up in time to deflect her tiny fist. With a low growl, I wrenched my mind away from the neural link and snapped out a front kick.

Lily sidestepped across the mat and sank her fist into my outer thigh. "Those Kitsoonay katas of yours might look pretty, but you've got to move faster, or they won't work for someone your size."

The breath sawed in and out of my lungs, and sweat dripped down my face, stinging my eyes. We'd been training in one of Daybreaker's smaller gyms for what felt like hours, and Lily wasn't even out of breath.

"I'm trying!" I snapped.

After we'd lost Sergeant Vasquez, and I'd nearly been killed by the Badar Syndicate bastards who'd kidnapped us, Winterbourne had refused to let anyone but my fellow Knights handle my combat training. Along with Lily, he'd taken over my hand-to-hand, while Barton worked with me on the range. I'd already been a decent shot, thanks to growing up hunting with Jinx on Shippo, but in just a few short weeks, I'd seen improvement in both targeting and response times.

My hand-to-hand still needed work.

"Try harder!" she snapped back.

As I fought to keep my mind in that weird mental state that worked equally well for katas and translating Asur, I twisted away from a vicious stomp-kick. Months of training made turning that twist into momentum a simple matter of reflex, and I spun into another kick.

Lily grinned and swayed back just far enough that my foot barely grazed her side. Her grin turned fierce when my wrapped fist caught her shoulder. "That's more like it."

Any triumph I felt bled away when the tiny Pikith turned into a blur of speed and sharp, stinging strikes. More slipped past my guard than I caught. I gritted my teeth and stepped up my speed, trying—and mostly failing—to keep up with Lily.

She landed a solid blow to my face, and I snarled in pain before I snapped my hand out and caught her wrist. A smooth pivot and sharp downward snap, and I tossed the smaller Pikith over my shoulder.

She cackled as she rolled across the mat and sprang to her feet. "Now we're having fun."

I set my feet and grinned back at her. My ribs ached and my cheek throbbed, but I couldn't care less. She was right. This was fun. Not as much fun as my old fox and bunny game, but far more practical.

Heat spread across my face at the thought of the last time I'd played that game. With Barton. Who I was supposed to meet up with later that afternoon for whatever fun thing he'd planned for us to do together. Nerves tangled up my insides. Please don't let me mess that up.

Lily sank her fist into my gut, and I doubled over with a wheeze. "Pay attention, roomie. And quit thinking dirty thoughts about my brother!"

"I wasn't!" I let go of my poor belly to block an overhead strike with my forearm.

She blocked my return hit with ease and snorted a laugh. "Please, you're easier to read than a beginner's tech manual."

I darted out of reach of a roundhouse kick and stepped into a sidekick that forced her back a step. "It wasn't dirty—"

Orange flashed in my mind, and I lost awareness of my surroundings. I didn't even see the sweep kick that knocked me flat onto my back, but I sure as hell felt it when all the air whooshed out of my lungs.

"Damn it, Kailey, you're better than that," Lily complained as she gently kicked my foot.

I could imagine her standing over me with her hands on her hips, but I couldn't see her. I couldn't see the gray walls, or the cracked, faded blue mat, or the harsh overhead lights. All I could see was the gathering storm of code that swirled around me whenever I dropped into the neural link that connected me to the Warbird. Only I hadn't done it on purpose.

The Warbird had dragged me in all on its own.

"I'm going to tell my squat-for-brains brother he can't… Kails? You okay?"

I blinked, I know I did, but orange flashed again, a strand of code highlighting itself against the maelstrom. Unauthorized access detected.

Squat. The Warbird wasn't locked to Daybreaker right now. It was docked at the neighboring Flint Shipyard, who we'd contracted to modify the crew quarters and overhaul the systems. The Warbird had sat forgotten in that hangar for a long time, and it had been in desperate need of a tune-up.

Anger surged through me. After the last attempt, the shipyard had placed extra security around the Warbird. It wasn't just my ship on the line, it was their reputation. They couldn't afford for anybody to steal from them, or they'd lose business. So how had these latest jerks gotten past security?

"Kails? Start talking, or I'm getting Alberran."

At the snap of command in her voice, I managed to hold one hand up. "Someone's trying to steal my Warbird."

Her sigh of relief was nearly inaudible. "Earth Common, Kails."

Lily grabbed my outstretched hand. My head swam as she yanked me into a sitting position, but the swirling storm of code didn't slow. If anything, it spun faster, and that strand of code snapped insistently in the nonexistent gale. Orange flashed again, brighter this time.

I needed to solve this now.

Initiate unauthorized personnel protocol Alpha.

Non-lethal measures. I didn't want to kill anyone, even if they were trying to take what didn't belong to them. A slow grin crossed my face. That didn't mean I didn't want them to regret their life choices.

The strand of code flashed once, and the storm slowed. It didn't stop, though. It never stopped.

Pain stabbed behind my eyes as I dropped deeper into the link. I needed to see—just not with my own eyes. I linked with the onboard cameras in time to see the latest round of would-be thieves drop to the deck, limbs twitching spasmodically from the surge of electricity dancing along their nerve endings.

My lips peeled back from my teeth, and I growled in satisfaction before I dragged myself out of the storm.

I hesitated as the code faded from my mental sight. Thank you.

The Warbird flashed a soothing blue… or at least I interpreted it as soothing. I blinked open eyes I didn't remember closing to see Lily's light purple face screwed up in uncharacteristic concern.

"Sorry." My voice sounded hoarse, as if I'd been screaming, but at least I managed to speak in Earth Common rather than Kitsoonay this time. "A bunch of jerks tried to steal my ship."

"Again?" Lily raised her eyebrows and snorted. "Rude."

A smirk twisted my lips as she pulled me to my feet. "You'd think they'd know better by now."

Stealing the Warbird wouldn't work. Not unless they stole me, too. We were bonded through a neural link none of us understood yet, and the ship wouldn't function without me.