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Veterans Code #1
Veterans Code
Edgar Bryce finds himself lost on a journey he never planned. Years after the end of a massive war with an alien race called the xinthal, he’s struggled to find some inner peace. Odd jobs have taken him across the galaxy, a loner in the darkness constantly staying ahead of his own thoughts, doubts, and guilt. With no real future, no sense of purpose, he seems destined to wander for the rest of his days.Until a strange signal interrupts a simple prospecting job. A message comes in from a group of POWs lost behind enemy lines. The treaty ensured all prisoners on both sides would be returned. This is proof the xinthal failed to live up to their end of the bargain, holding nearly two hundred men and women unlawfully.The obvious solution carries complications. Rescuing them may well fire up hostilities between the human Federation and the Xinthal Empire. Edgar wrestles with his conscience, not to mention a sacred duty that outlasted his service to the military. The authorities may not be able to offer aid, which means a private citizen with nothing to lose will have to do the unthinkable.Form a team, cross the border, and save the people himself.
- GenresScience Fiction
468 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 15, 2023
384 people are currently reading
44 people want to read
About the author
John Walker
1,212 books163 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name. This profile may contain books from multiple authors of this name.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
August 20, 2023
Tease
Overall its a good story. In areas the author loses control of the direction of the story. The last chapter was good and it was a tease. It ends, and to find out what happen you will need to buy the next book.
Overall its a good story. In areas the author loses control of the direction of the story. The last chapter was good and it was a tease. It ends, and to find out what happen you will need to buy the next book.
September 14, 2023
WHAT A GREAT BOOK!
Being the first book in this new series, it's really started great and set it up for the next book in this series. Hopefully, there will be many more to come. Hope you enjoy this book as well as I have. Great read...Thanks John Walker!
Being the first book in this new series, it's really started great and set it up for the next book in this series. Hopefully, there will be many more to come. Hope you enjoy this book as well as I have. Great read...Thanks John Walker!
October 20, 2023
This is a story I think all Veterans would enjoy to some extent. It is kind of stretching the imagination that a bunch of former military could do something like this, but maybe they could. I think there have been some efforts along this line way back after the Vietnam War, not sure, but I think something similar was attempted. Anyway, back to the future.
Edgar Bryce has left the military and is an independent asteroid miner although he’s just kind of going through the motions. His heart was really back with his former military self. He had left the service after a successful, but disastrous mission that actually was responsible for ending the war with the Xinthal. He and his team had attacked a base that was the HQ for the Xinthal containing a number of their top military leaders and strategic thinkers. Bryce’s team utterly destroyed the base and everyone on it only to find out that below the surface of the base were some 200 hundred human prisoners. They too perished and Bryce was having a hard time accepting his role in that killing.
So, he’s out near the Xinthal/Human border doing what he normally does when he picks up a faint long-range signal. It was a distress priority one, one-way communication. What it said was going to shake up everything Bryce was doing and potentially effect several other people. The peace treaty between the Humans and Xinthal had specifically stated that all prisoners held by either side were to be repatriated without question. The Xinthal said they had complied. But now, Bryce was hearing a plea for help from some 200 human military personnel that were still being held as prisoners by the Xinthal! The Xinthal normally employed humans in mines digging for the resources they needed to build their starships and other weapons. The work was hard, very hard and the Xinthal were not easy on prisoners. They seemed to have no emotions about killing or harming humans if they didn’t do as told.
This message asked of course for a rescue and gave coordinates plus the names and identities of everyone that was being held. Bryce thought he would contact his former boss who by now had been promoted to Admiral. He thought Admiral Keenan would be quick to find out if this signal was actually valid and not some kind of Xinthal trick.
While Admiral Keenan did validate the signal as coming from a source behind the Xinthal border. It did identify several confirmed military personnel that were unaccounted for after the war. Yet, he was reluctant to do anything about this information since they were getting ready to begin new negotiations with the Xinthal. He told Bryce that he was going to turn this matter over to the diplomats since he felt that it would become a diplomatic issue for return of prisoners which the Xinthal should have already done.
The Diplomatic Corps was actually the front runners in the new negotiations with the Xinthal. They didn’t feel that bringing up the fact that more human prisoners were being held by the Xinthal was something that should be done immediately. Both of these responses confused Edgar Bryce. Why wasn’t the military getting ready to go in and get these people? Additionally, why was the Diplomatic Corps acting as if they didn’t want to bring up the issue to the Xinthal at all? Someone had to do something.
So now you know what’s going to happen in the rest of this book. Former Commander Edgar Bryce knows a lot of his former military members who just might join with him in a new mission. It would be a civilian mission, but one that had a specific objective. He didn’t know what would happen if or when they returned, but he also didn’t really care as long as these military prisoners were set free.
The story does kind of reach an end, but just when you think you know all that’s going to happen, it changes. We’ll have to find out what changes in the next book, “[Veterans Gamble](https://amzn.to/3tCXAyR)”.
Edgar Bryce has left the military and is an independent asteroid miner although he’s just kind of going through the motions. His heart was really back with his former military self. He had left the service after a successful, but disastrous mission that actually was responsible for ending the war with the Xinthal. He and his team had attacked a base that was the HQ for the Xinthal containing a number of their top military leaders and strategic thinkers. Bryce’s team utterly destroyed the base and everyone on it only to find out that below the surface of the base were some 200 hundred human prisoners. They too perished and Bryce was having a hard time accepting his role in that killing.
So, he’s out near the Xinthal/Human border doing what he normally does when he picks up a faint long-range signal. It was a distress priority one, one-way communication. What it said was going to shake up everything Bryce was doing and potentially effect several other people. The peace treaty between the Humans and Xinthal had specifically stated that all prisoners held by either side were to be repatriated without question. The Xinthal said they had complied. But now, Bryce was hearing a plea for help from some 200 human military personnel that were still being held as prisoners by the Xinthal! The Xinthal normally employed humans in mines digging for the resources they needed to build their starships and other weapons. The work was hard, very hard and the Xinthal were not easy on prisoners. They seemed to have no emotions about killing or harming humans if they didn’t do as told.
This message asked of course for a rescue and gave coordinates plus the names and identities of everyone that was being held. Bryce thought he would contact his former boss who by now had been promoted to Admiral. He thought Admiral Keenan would be quick to find out if this signal was actually valid and not some kind of Xinthal trick.
While Admiral Keenan did validate the signal as coming from a source behind the Xinthal border. It did identify several confirmed military personnel that were unaccounted for after the war. Yet, he was reluctant to do anything about this information since they were getting ready to begin new negotiations with the Xinthal. He told Bryce that he was going to turn this matter over to the diplomats since he felt that it would become a diplomatic issue for return of prisoners which the Xinthal should have already done.
The Diplomatic Corps was actually the front runners in the new negotiations with the Xinthal. They didn’t feel that bringing up the fact that more human prisoners were being held by the Xinthal was something that should be done immediately. Both of these responses confused Edgar Bryce. Why wasn’t the military getting ready to go in and get these people? Additionally, why was the Diplomatic Corps acting as if they didn’t want to bring up the issue to the Xinthal at all? Someone had to do something.
So now you know what’s going to happen in the rest of this book. Former Commander Edgar Bryce knows a lot of his former military members who just might join with him in a new mission. It would be a civilian mission, but one that had a specific objective. He didn’t know what would happen if or when they returned, but he also didn’t really care as long as these military prisoners were set free.
The story does kind of reach an end, but just when you think you know all that’s going to happen, it changes. We’ll have to find out what changes in the next book, “[Veterans Gamble](https://amzn.to/3tCXAyR)”.
October 21, 2023
Sometimes A Hero🐺💪🗡🔫
Not So Covert Operation🐺💪🗡🔫💥
Military sci-fi space🚀💫🌏 opera
Paul, A diplomat, Discovers that some POW's Have been left inside of alien enemy👺💪🔫🗡 lines after the war is over. Any attempt to rescue them is thwarted by Higher ups In the government.
Sensing a cover up, and barely escaping attempts on his life, he goes around them and is able to Contact some retired Military That are Ready and willing To go in and rescue the 200 humans being held on a mining planet by the aliens and forced to work In the mines. Each of the mercenaries have their own reasons for agreeing to the rescue.
Something isn't right with the government. Higher ups are Basically telling the diplomat the POWs are expandable And not to get involved or he will be arrested or worse. Maybe there is a spy or a traitor in the upper echelons of the government?
This is the 1st book in this series Of 3 books
This novel is thoroughly enjoyable Mostly it is fast paced, On the ground military/ mercenary Action🔫🗡💥 taking place on the alien's mining planet🌏
I got this e-book from Amazon📚 with Kindle unlimited.
I suppose some reviewers will say The whole story is somewhat simplistic, But I still enjoyed it. After all , Science fiction is fantasy for the most part.
Not So Covert Operation🐺💪🗡🔫💥
Military sci-fi space🚀💫🌏 opera
Paul, A diplomat, Discovers that some POW's Have been left inside of alien enemy👺💪🔫🗡 lines after the war is over. Any attempt to rescue them is thwarted by Higher ups In the government.
Sensing a cover up, and barely escaping attempts on his life, he goes around them and is able to Contact some retired Military That are Ready and willing To go in and rescue the 200 humans being held on a mining planet by the aliens and forced to work In the mines. Each of the mercenaries have their own reasons for agreeing to the rescue.
Something isn't right with the government. Higher ups are Basically telling the diplomat the POWs are expandable And not to get involved or he will be arrested or worse. Maybe there is a spy or a traitor in the upper echelons of the government?
This is the 1st book in this series Of 3 books
This novel is thoroughly enjoyable Mostly it is fast paced, On the ground military/ mercenary Action🔫🗡💥 taking place on the alien's mining planet🌏
I got this e-book from Amazon📚 with Kindle unlimited.
I suppose some reviewers will say The whole story is somewhat simplistic, But I still enjoyed it. After all , Science fiction is fantasy for the most part.
September 1, 2023
Wow, what a book/story. This is deeper than any other military themed book out today. The storyline about going back to recover POW's is top notch. The Mission Impossible like put together of the team and the plan is great. The character's, yeah the character's. As a Vietnam vet there is some real, honest and true PTSD stuff in there. One man freezes up in combat, that's real, and happens. A true hero can freeze and it's not his/her fault. I really got shook-up reading some parts. But nothing takes away from the heroics of the people. This book will be read by teenagers and twenty somethings and those parts will be glossed over. A Vet will read this book and come out with their hands shaking, we've been there. Thanks to John Walker for showing us all a part of true military life that too many of us remember. As for the upper ranks Ambassadors & Admirals well they are shown as true cowards just like they really are today. Throw away the people they are expendable, and keep me out of it.
As said this was a hard book to review, but a true and honest read. John Walker you told the truth.
As said this was a hard book to review, but a true and honest read. John Walker you told the truth.
September 29, 2023
Interesting read
This was an interesting read; on the one hand, I felt as if I was picking up the story mid-stream...some of the info seemed like I should have already known it...
Character building, while not the best I've ever encountered, was good enough to have me intrigued. I want to read the next book to see what trouble comes their way...
Oh, I do like that battle scenes were not explained down to the last bullet...Walker made it clear that a fight was on and who was going to win....my new favorite good guy is Vin.
This was an interesting read; on the one hand, I felt as if I was picking up the story mid-stream...some of the info seemed like I should have already known it...
Character building, while not the best I've ever encountered, was good enough to have me intrigued. I want to read the next book to see what trouble comes their way...
Oh, I do like that battle scenes were not explained down to the last bullet...Walker made it clear that a fight was on and who was going to win....my new favorite good guy is Vin.
September 9, 2023
It’s OK
The storyline is one scrimmage or conflict after another, with significant collateral losses in every fight. The main thrust is to liberate a group of prisoners being held as slaves, and to do so in spite of the government’s lack of concern. And while our protagonists manage to survive, there are hundreds of others around them who do not. The book ends with several threads unresolved and the reader left wanting answers.
The storyline is one scrimmage or conflict after another, with significant collateral losses in every fight. The main thrust is to liberate a group of prisoners being held as slaves, and to do so in spite of the government’s lack of concern. And while our protagonists manage to survive, there are hundreds of others around them who do not. The book ends with several threads unresolved and the reader left wanting answers.
March 10, 2024
war hero to purposeful lawbreaker
Love this plot that has a few people putting what is right before politics thus causing chaos.
Is the welfare of the masses more important than the lives of a couple of hundred people?
Retired as a war hero and faced with a moral dilemma with lives at stake no matter the course taken.
Past demons to be faced, present injustices to be dealt with, future consequences look dire.
Thrilling and thought provoking. A great read.
Love this plot that has a few people putting what is right before politics thus causing chaos.
Is the welfare of the masses more important than the lives of a couple of hundred people?
Retired as a war hero and faced with a moral dilemma with lives at stake no matter the course taken.
Past demons to be faced, present injustices to be dealt with, future consequences look dire.
Thrilling and thought provoking. A great read.
October 10, 2023
Almost a good book
Author has the outline of a good story and the capability to write it but gets way too bogged down in trying to make all the characters flawed, damaged, and outcasts. Not everyone has to be a tragic hero nor every situation a conspiracy or coverup.
Author has the outline of a good story and the capability to write it but gets way too bogged down in trying to make all the characters flawed, damaged, and outcasts. Not everyone has to be a tragic hero nor every situation a conspiracy or coverup.
November 20, 2023
No man left behind,
no structure stronger than that. But, what do you do when the military leadership and the diplomats are turning a blind eye? Well, you do what must be done. Well written, veteran focused thrilling tale.
no structure stronger than that. But, what do you do when the military leadership and the diplomats are turning a blind eye? Well, you do what must be done. Well written, veteran focused thrilling tale.
December 29, 2023
Extremely choppy, needs an editing pass.
Interesting premise, but the writing is very choppy and disjointed. Would benefit from a thorough review by an editor (or several alpha readers at the very least.)
Interesting premise, but the writing is very choppy and disjointed. Would benefit from a thorough review by an editor (or several alpha readers at the very least.)
September 13, 2023
Enjoyable read. It reminded me of the old flick Uncommon valor with recruitment process from Armageddon.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 15, 2023
liked it. where book 2 of series’s
See above 1 2 w e r T u I o p a s d f g h h k l
See above 1 2 w e r T u I o p a s d f g h h k l
September 19, 2023
veterans code
Excellent read with strong character development and a complex and intriguing plot that kept me reading and on edge throughout
Excellent read with strong character development and a complex and intriguing plot that kept me reading and on edge throughout
September 30, 2023
good space marine action
Well written and with likable characters this book has good action and story. I read a lot of sci fi and really enjoyed this book
Well written and with likable characters this book has good action and story. I read a lot of sci fi and really enjoyed this book
October 1, 2023
good read
For a beginning episode, this was excellent. Characters were believable, and the plot intriguing. I’m looking forward to the next chapter.
For a beginning episode, this was excellent. Characters were believable, and the plot intriguing. I’m looking forward to the next chapter.
November 7, 2023
Started a bit slowly but the excitement built and the end was hectic. And fun.
February 7, 2024
A decent read
A decent read but it seems like every cliche from every war book or movie ever made is included within the over 450 pages! Give Veteran Code a try . hi
A decent read but it seems like every cliche from every war book or movie ever made is included within the over 450 pages! Give Veteran Code a try . hi
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews