They dive so humanity survives! Plus The Lost Years - a novella
For 250 years the Hell Divers had secured the nuclear fuel cells and supplies that kept the great airships afloat, and the airships were home to the last surviving members of the human race. Kept afloat by huge helium-filled bladders and guided by powerful turbofans, the last two remaining airships flew above the lightning storms that covered much of the devastated landscape. All that was left by the bombs which destroyed the structures and covered the ground with deadly radiation was incapable of supporting human life. Only deadly deformed creatures survived on the inhospitable surface blasted by the powerful lightning storms also produced by the bombs dropped from the very airships currently used as the homes of humanity.
Truly a terrific backdrop for this amazing story. Unexpected plot twists keep the tale lively and the powerful characters burst into life and draw you into their lives sharing their pain and pleasure, pride and shame.
Xavier Rodriguez, 'X' to his friends and fellow Hell Divers, leads Team Raptor, one of the Hell Diver teams that jump from the "Hive", their home airship, to the surface of the blasted Earth where they hope to find the supplies that kept humanity's home afloat. X has survived 95 jumps. The average life expectancy of a Hell Diver was 15 jumps. His best friend and fellow HD, Aaron, and his son Michael, nicknamed 'Tin' for the tinfoil hat Aaron had sculpted for him, were his only friends. They might be the only thing keeping him from hitting the bottom of the bottle of shine he drank, or maybe it's too late, but he's functional.
Anyone who likes dystopian science fiction, pure action described brilliantly by one of my favorite storytellers, will love this deep dive into a new series.
The Lost Years: a HD novella.
Xavier Rodriguez, Hell Diver supreme, has been left behind on the battered, radioactive, deadly Earth. Populated by mutated plants and animals, every one inimical to human life. Every plant, every creature is bred to kill humans. Whether intentional, or just natural breeding, people just can't live down here! But X is going to have to find a way. It doesn't look like anyone is coming to save him. He's going to have to save himself!
This novella stars Xavier Rodriguez. The only character is X, until he finds Miles, but that's later in the tale. You'll see. X is injured, battery depleted, leaving his hud and suit unpowered, little protection from the deadly radiation, cold or plant and animal that wants him dead or eaten! This tells of his attempt to stay alive and somehow let his people know he's still alive, still on the surface and wants to get back!
The tale of X's lonely years, trying to survive, trying to get back to his friends and family, this sets perfectly between Hell Divers 1 and Hell Divers 2. A tale long missing, is now complete and is amazing! Hell Divers 1 and The Lost Years are great reads!