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Thunderbird: Thunderbird Series Book 1
When war becomes a fight for survival…
Loyalties are tested…
Plans are forgotten…
And Anything goes…
Sergeant Pace Nix is a Commando in the canine division. Together with his war dog Riot, they carry out deadly missions behind enemy lines on a variety of worlds. While everyone else is signing up for new cybernetic combat enhancements, Pace decides to get out of the service while he and Riot are still whole.
But a man with skills is valuable, and Pace is lured into re-enlisting by an easy assignment in the Protective Services devision. They are assigned to an NGO taking medical supplies and equipment to colony worlds. It’s an easy job for the combat veteran, one he’s earned through valor above and beyond the call of duty. But when things go wrong it will be up to Pace and Riot to make things right. It’s a tall order that even they may not be able to achieve.
From the creative mind of master storyteller Toby Neighbors, comes an all new military sci-fi adventure unlike anything he’s written before. Thunderbird is a story of combat, strategy, and survival in the face of overwhelming odds. It’s fast paced action and unpredictable plot twists will keep you turning page after page. If you liked The Terminator, Starship Troopers, and First Blood, you’ll love the Thunderbird series.
No part of this book was composed by artificial sources. Thunderbird is rated PG-13 for mild language and violence.
Loyalties are tested…
Plans are forgotten…
And Anything goes…
Sergeant Pace Nix is a Commando in the canine division. Together with his war dog Riot, they carry out deadly missions behind enemy lines on a variety of worlds. While everyone else is signing up for new cybernetic combat enhancements, Pace decides to get out of the service while he and Riot are still whole.
But a man with skills is valuable, and Pace is lured into re-enlisting by an easy assignment in the Protective Services devision. They are assigned to an NGO taking medical supplies and equipment to colony worlds. It’s an easy job for the combat veteran, one he’s earned through valor above and beyond the call of duty. But when things go wrong it will be up to Pace and Riot to make things right. It’s a tall order that even they may not be able to achieve.
From the creative mind of master storyteller Toby Neighbors, comes an all new military sci-fi adventure unlike anything he’s written before. Thunderbird is a story of combat, strategy, and survival in the face of overwhelming odds. It’s fast paced action and unpredictable plot twists will keep you turning page after page. If you liked The Terminator, Starship Troopers, and First Blood, you’ll love the Thunderbird series.
No part of this book was composed by artificial sources. Thunderbird is rated PG-13 for mild language and violence.
295 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 15, 2023
120 people are currently reading
21 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
October 20, 2024
Absolutely brilliant start to a new series
A classic tail of AI gone rouge.
Great characters with realistic situations and lots of action.
I look forward to the next one.
A classic tail of AI gone rouge.
Great characters with realistic situations and lots of action.
I look forward to the next one.
October 20, 2023
This one I read a few days ago, but just now getting to writing the review, so I may skip a few details, but I’m getting it done now. Sergeant Pace Nix is our main character and he’s a combat dog handler. His partner and war dog is Riot. They have just been on a special operation that went south quickly. In fact, it turned out so bad that all the other members of his team, which he wasn’t leading, were killed. But, he and Riot managed to get an emergency extraction and left the battle field intact. They then went in to cryogenic stasis for the trip back to home, Alpha Cosmeri. That included the dog Riot.
Eight months later they are revived and getting back into the real world. Nix and Riot were getting towards the end of their tour and Nix wasn’t all that sure he was ready to re-up for the Marines. He and his dog had been fighting the Wong-Hon Empire Ultras. And they were tired of it. Ultras were cybernetically enhanced humans. These were humans who has some kind of technology embedded in their bodies to make they faster, stronger, or smarter than the average human. Most of these types of humans were in the military, but lately the trend had been seen in the civilian sector also. Sergeant Nix wasn’t enhanced and Riot liked that very much. Riot did not like Ultras or any human that had cybernetic enhancements. Now, back a Marine HQ, Nix was awaiting new orders before turning in his papers and leaving the Marines.
Yet, he didn’t get that chance. Upon arrival at Alpha Cosmeri, Nix was told to report to a Colonel Ethan Inverness, Special Operations Division, Protective Details. Nix didn’t know the Colonel and he had no idea what he wanted him for. But, orders were orders so he soon reported to the Colonel. This is where he received his new orders and he surprisingly when ahead and accepted them since they were like none he have every received.
He was to be assigned to the protection detail for a Medical Access Initiative (MAI) team. He and Riot were specifically requested because they were a human and dog team and because they had no enhancements. That surprised Nix. This MAI team were heading for several colonies to provided medical support as needed. Some of these colonies didn’t like strangers much, so Nix and the detail he was assigned to would provided protection as needed. This isn’t a job that Nix or Riot had ever performed, but he figured they could easily handle the job with some up-training.
Lieutenant Pedro Munoz was the detail team leader and he introduced the other team members to Nix and Riot once they were aboard the *Philadelphia*. This was a posh vessel with luxury accommodations that neither Nix or Riot were anywhere use to, but it was going to be incredibly enjoyable. Nix soon found that he and Riot were going to be the personal protection for the lead doctor, Dr. Madison Kelter. Nix soon found out why she had specifically requested Nix and Riot. She had a son on the autism spectrum named Oliver (Ollie). He didn’t show much emotion but when introduced to Nix and Riot, Riot took very well to Ollie and he showed some response towards Riot. It was very apparent that Riot was comfortable around the Dr. and her son, Ollie. So this job would work out very well.
So they started out on their mission with Nix and Riot learning all about their new ship. They found out that they had quarters only a Marine could dream about. As a Sergeant he was used to barracks living or compartment living with a bunch of other Marines. Not here on *Philadelphia*. He and Riot had their own room and even had access to a very well supplied dining facility. Nix thought he was going to enjoy this tour and had to ensure he and Riot didn’t get soft during the mission.
The course for the Philadelphia took them along a route that included by-passing a very hostile planet called Rastamus III. This planet had apparently been a very nice Earth-like planet at one time. The colony there rapidly grew and were becoming the technology center of the universe. They had automated almost everything on the planet leaving the people free to pursue their own agendas. The planet was pretty much ran by NERO, an AI, who did a fantastic job, until he went rouge. When that happened, you did not want to come to the planet or anywhere near it. The AI began converting all the resources to ensure he continued to live. He even began operating on the humans to turn them into cybernetic slaves with the implants he forced them to wear. These were not comfortable implants, but huge things attached to the sides of their heads which turned the unlucky humans into automatons working for NERO.
So, of course you can see where this story is going. While the medical ship had no intentions of coming near Rastamus III, it unexpectedly did. They crashed with everyone still in stasis. The on-board AI, NICO, revived him since he specifically didn’t have any electronic or computer enhancements which would have been detected by the rouge AI, NERO. So, Nix and Riot are on a deadly planet with apparently no way off. He doesn’t know if he can awake his fellow Marines or even if he should. The only other person he knows that isn’t enhanced is Ollie, but he doesn’t know if he would be any help.
This is where the story gets interesting. How is Nix and Riot going to fight against this AI who controls everything on the planet. Are there any normal humans left alive and if so, can they help. Is there any way off this planet that they could use. Even if they got off the planet, would they be allowed to land or interface with any other space travelers who might fear they would be taken over by NERO?
We’ll find out more in book 2, “[Ghost Tactics](https://amzn.to/3QA7o5X)”, available on Amazon right now.
Eight months later they are revived and getting back into the real world. Nix and Riot were getting towards the end of their tour and Nix wasn’t all that sure he was ready to re-up for the Marines. He and his dog had been fighting the Wong-Hon Empire Ultras. And they were tired of it. Ultras were cybernetically enhanced humans. These were humans who has some kind of technology embedded in their bodies to make they faster, stronger, or smarter than the average human. Most of these types of humans were in the military, but lately the trend had been seen in the civilian sector also. Sergeant Nix wasn’t enhanced and Riot liked that very much. Riot did not like Ultras or any human that had cybernetic enhancements. Now, back a Marine HQ, Nix was awaiting new orders before turning in his papers and leaving the Marines.
Yet, he didn’t get that chance. Upon arrival at Alpha Cosmeri, Nix was told to report to a Colonel Ethan Inverness, Special Operations Division, Protective Details. Nix didn’t know the Colonel and he had no idea what he wanted him for. But, orders were orders so he soon reported to the Colonel. This is where he received his new orders and he surprisingly when ahead and accepted them since they were like none he have every received.
He was to be assigned to the protection detail for a Medical Access Initiative (MAI) team. He and Riot were specifically requested because they were a human and dog team and because they had no enhancements. That surprised Nix. This MAI team were heading for several colonies to provided medical support as needed. Some of these colonies didn’t like strangers much, so Nix and the detail he was assigned to would provided protection as needed. This isn’t a job that Nix or Riot had ever performed, but he figured they could easily handle the job with some up-training.
Lieutenant Pedro Munoz was the detail team leader and he introduced the other team members to Nix and Riot once they were aboard the *Philadelphia*. This was a posh vessel with luxury accommodations that neither Nix or Riot were anywhere use to, but it was going to be incredibly enjoyable. Nix soon found that he and Riot were going to be the personal protection for the lead doctor, Dr. Madison Kelter. Nix soon found out why she had specifically requested Nix and Riot. She had a son on the autism spectrum named Oliver (Ollie). He didn’t show much emotion but when introduced to Nix and Riot, Riot took very well to Ollie and he showed some response towards Riot. It was very apparent that Riot was comfortable around the Dr. and her son, Ollie. So this job would work out very well.
So they started out on their mission with Nix and Riot learning all about their new ship. They found out that they had quarters only a Marine could dream about. As a Sergeant he was used to barracks living or compartment living with a bunch of other Marines. Not here on *Philadelphia*. He and Riot had their own room and even had access to a very well supplied dining facility. Nix thought he was going to enjoy this tour and had to ensure he and Riot didn’t get soft during the mission.
The course for the Philadelphia took them along a route that included by-passing a very hostile planet called Rastamus III. This planet had apparently been a very nice Earth-like planet at one time. The colony there rapidly grew and were becoming the technology center of the universe. They had automated almost everything on the planet leaving the people free to pursue their own agendas. The planet was pretty much ran by NERO, an AI, who did a fantastic job, until he went rouge. When that happened, you did not want to come to the planet or anywhere near it. The AI began converting all the resources to ensure he continued to live. He even began operating on the humans to turn them into cybernetic slaves with the implants he forced them to wear. These were not comfortable implants, but huge things attached to the sides of their heads which turned the unlucky humans into automatons working for NERO.
So, of course you can see where this story is going. While the medical ship had no intentions of coming near Rastamus III, it unexpectedly did. They crashed with everyone still in stasis. The on-board AI, NICO, revived him since he specifically didn’t have any electronic or computer enhancements which would have been detected by the rouge AI, NERO. So, Nix and Riot are on a deadly planet with apparently no way off. He doesn’t know if he can awake his fellow Marines or even if he should. The only other person he knows that isn’t enhanced is Ollie, but he doesn’t know if he would be any help.
This is where the story gets interesting. How is Nix and Riot going to fight against this AI who controls everything on the planet. Are there any normal humans left alive and if so, can they help. Is there any way off this planet that they could use. Even if they got off the planet, would they be allowed to land or interface with any other space travelers who might fear they would be taken over by NERO?
We’ll find out more in book 2, “[Ghost Tactics](https://amzn.to/3QA7o5X)”, available on Amazon right now.
March 10, 2024
action, distrust, courage
A wonderfully written adventure with many angles and layers. Continual changes as the heroes navigate minefield after minefield of challenges and deceptive people.
The super AI adds another dark, sinister and deadly component to a superb mystery with excellent characters and risky relationships.
Loved reading this.
A wonderfully written adventure with many angles and layers. Continual changes as the heroes navigate minefield after minefield of challenges and deceptive people.
The super AI adds another dark, sinister and deadly component to a superb mystery with excellent characters and risky relationships.
Loved reading this.
February 10, 2025
The is great to enjoy reading it is a time in the future where space travel is normal , the ship has medical equipment and a doctor to help people. This was normal way they due things but this time things went strange and crashed on a strange plant , there lives were in danger .The keeps you wanting more , the next book should be just as good .
August 21, 2023
What a great story!
I really enjoyed this novel. The characters are fleshed out enough to seem a real as you and I. The science fiction world building makes it believable in a future time. Thank you for a great read.
I really enjoyed this novel. The characters are fleshed out enough to seem a real as you and I. The science fiction world building makes it believable in a future time. Thank you for a great read.
September 5, 2023
Interesting in a different way.
A take on a universe view with a minor but major twist. Can't do away with survival, or longing for a mate..but some characters in between are different.
A take on a universe view with a minor but major twist. Can't do away with survival, or longing for a mate..but some characters in between are different.
December 8, 2023
A pretty good read I enjoyed
A pretty good read I enjoyed and will look for the next book to carry on the story. It's a strange story which is a good thing? I will say try it you will never know you could enjoy it like I did it even more. ENJOY
A pretty good read I enjoyed and will look for the next book to carry on the story. It's a strange story which is a good thing? I will say try it you will never know you could enjoy it like I did it even more. ENJOY
August 28, 2023
Left hanging
An avid reader of so go my mind was kept busy reading this book.There was so much action it left me wanting more.Hoping for another book.
An avid reader of so go my mind was kept busy reading this book.There was so much action it left me wanting more.Hoping for another book.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews