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Drop Trooper: Pirate Wars #3
Isolation
The hunter becomes the hunted…
To do the right thing isn’t always to do the easy thing, and for Commonwealth Ranger, Antonin Murdock, that’s a lesson he’s learning the hard way. After the cataclysmic battle with Sanyo Baretto’s forces, the true architect of the Pirate Wars emerges from the shadows.
Now, Murdock’s on the run. Baretto’s pirates are as cunning as they are resourceful, the Commonwealth Fleet is a titanic juggernaut, and both are closing in fast. With few friends left, it’s a good thing the ones he does have are the best.
From the bustling arcologies of Earth, through the brutal close-quarters street fighting of an unforgiving frontier world, to the heart of Baretto’s stronghold, Murdock charges toward the end game.
The final showdown will test his resolve to the limit. Duty, honor, service, and sacrifice will force him to unleash a dark and ruthless side, born in the fires of the desperate war against the Tahni. A side he’d long thought suppressed.
Book 3 of a new Military SciFi Epic from the bestselling duo of Rick Partlow and Ralph Kern. Two legends in the genre bring you a new story filled with pulse-pounding action, realistic battles, and a soldier you can’t help but root for.
To do the right thing isn’t always to do the easy thing, and for Commonwealth Ranger, Antonin Murdock, that’s a lesson he’s learning the hard way. After the cataclysmic battle with Sanyo Baretto’s forces, the true architect of the Pirate Wars emerges from the shadows.
Now, Murdock’s on the run. Baretto’s pirates are as cunning as they are resourceful, the Commonwealth Fleet is a titanic juggernaut, and both are closing in fast. With few friends left, it’s a good thing the ones he does have are the best.
From the bustling arcologies of Earth, through the brutal close-quarters street fighting of an unforgiving frontier world, to the heart of Baretto’s stronghold, Murdock charges toward the end game.
The final showdown will test his resolve to the limit. Duty, honor, service, and sacrifice will force him to unleash a dark and ruthless side, born in the fires of the desperate war against the Tahni. A side he’d long thought suppressed.
Book 3 of a new Military SciFi Epic from the bestselling duo of Rick Partlow and Ralph Kern. Two legends in the genre bring you a new story filled with pulse-pounding action, realistic battles, and a soldier you can’t help but root for.
- GenresMilitary Science Fiction
296 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 19, 2023
44 people are currently reading
15 people want to read
About the author
Rick Partlow
207 books372 followersRick Partlow is that rarest of species, a native Floridian. Born in Tampa, he attended Florida Southern College and graduated with a degree in History and a commission in the US Army as an Infantry officer.
His lifelong love of science fiction began with Have Space Suit---Will Travel and the other Heinlein juveniles and traveled through Clifford Simak, Asimov, Clarke and on to William Gibson, Walter Jon Williams and Peter F Hamilton. And somewhere, submerged in the worlds of others, Rick began to create his own worlds.
He has written over 70 books in over a dozen different series, and his short stories have been included in many different anthologies.
He currently lives in norther Wyoming with his wife and their dog. Besides writing and reading science fiction and fantasy, he enjoys outdoor photography, hiking and camping.
His lifelong love of science fiction began with Have Space Suit---Will Travel and the other Heinlein juveniles and traveled through Clifford Simak, Asimov, Clarke and on to William Gibson, Walter Jon Williams and Peter F Hamilton. And somewhere, submerged in the worlds of others, Rick began to create his own worlds.
He has written over 70 books in over a dozen different series, and his short stories have been included in many different anthologies.
He currently lives in norther Wyoming with his wife and their dog. Besides writing and reading science fiction and fantasy, he enjoys outdoor photography, hiking and camping.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
December 25, 2023
IF YOU LIKE ANY OF DROP TROOPER SERIES, YOU'LL LOVE PIRATE WARS SERIES!
Rick Partlow and Ralph Kern have written another GREAT book in their PIRATE WARS series in "Isolation," the third book. This series brings the background to one of the main characters in Rick's DROP TROOPER series, one of the men behind those in charge, Antonin Murdock. It also gives some background information on Patrice Damiani and Admiral Sato. This book and series is full of action on every page. It will hold your interest throughout, routing for Murdock, Carmalita (Carm), and Sargent Phil Covington as they battle evil within the Commonwealth, Corporate Council, a band of pirates under the leadership of
Sanya Baretto and Lazlo Markus, and even within the Murdock family itself. As always with Rick and Ralph's works, I really enjoyed this book and series and hope you will too. If you like military science fiction, you're going to really love the "Pirate Wars" series.
Rick Partlow and Ralph Kern have written another GREAT book in their PIRATE WARS series in "Isolation," the third book. This series brings the background to one of the main characters in Rick's DROP TROOPER series, one of the men behind those in charge, Antonin Murdock. It also gives some background information on Patrice Damiani and Admiral Sato. This book and series is full of action on every page. It will hold your interest throughout, routing for Murdock, Carmalita (Carm), and Sargent Phil Covington as they battle evil within the Commonwealth, Corporate Council, a band of pirates under the leadership of
Sanya Baretto and Lazlo Markus, and even within the Murdock family itself. As always with Rick and Ralph's works, I really enjoyed this book and series and hope you will too. If you like military science fiction, you're going to really love the "Pirate Wars" series.
February 16, 2024
Well, Ranger Antonin Murdock and Sergeant Phil Covington were in deep kimchee. They were now considered traitors to the Commonwealth having gone against the Marnies they were supposed to be working with in arresting Sanya Baretto. But what they had found out was something entirely different than what was known throughout the Commonwealth prior to their mission. Now things have even become worse.
Upon arrival back at Earth, they find Eden Station has been attacked apparently by a suicide run from one of Sanya Baretto’s forces. This attack had destroyed a large section of the station and they were just now beginning massive rescue operations. Needless to say, Commonwealth forces were on high alert about any incoming starships and weren’t being nice about it. Murdock knew he needed to report in to his boss. Gina Bonner. Hopefully, she would give him the chance to tell his side of the story instead of just telling the space fighters to shoot the *Carmalita* out of space.
So, Murdock does make contact with Bonner and he starts talking fast. He knows his brother, Henry, is behind all this fighting. He knows Henry set up Baretto with the supplies and equipment to start waging her insurgency and she had done a skillful job up to a point. Henry thought he could stop Baretto whenever she had done enough damage to make it look like he, Henry, was a war hero for bringing her in. Except, Baretto wasn’t listening to Henry Murdock any more.
Now Ranger Murdock needed some help in getting back into the good graces of the Commonwealth so he could pursue both Baretto and more importantly, Henry Murdock. He was bound to bring both to justice one way or another. The best way was to capture both so a very thorough investigation could take place and a trial could determine the length and depth of guilt both parties. Only he didn’t know how he was ever going to get close to anyone in the Commonwealth if his boss, Bonner didn’t believe his story.
She did, eventually and took him to someone that could further help. That person was none other than the current Chairperson of the Commonwealth Council. This was the person Henry Murdock was attempting to replace. While he was on the Council, he wanted more. He also knew that without the Tahni war, his military hardware corporation, Murdock Industries, was slowing going to go bankrupt. So, he had put together a plan to give the Commonwealth a new enemy until the Tahni once again decided to attack. Or, Henry thought, there might be someone even worse than the Tahni waiting to attack humanity. He actually thought humanity wouldn’t be ready to stand and fight against another enemy if we let ourselves be dulled by the current peace.
Ranger Murdock finally got his help from Patrice Damiani, Chairperson, Commonwealth Council. She gave him some pretty powerful credentials that might help make his job easier, but he was going to have to fight his battles with just him, Sgt. Covington and *Carmalita*. Not a problem, but he was up against two different Armies, the Commonwealth Fleet lead by Admiral Sato and the insurgent army led by Sanya Baretto. Plus, Henry Murdock had turned a Marine platoon against everyone thinking they were doing the work of the Council. They were an army by themselves, a relentless one led by Captain LJ Webb; one that formerly had Sergeant Phil Covington as a member. Only Sgt. Covington didn’t go in for killing innocent women and children which is what Webb’s group had done for no good reason. This was the kind of people Ranger Murdock and Sgt. Covington were up against.
So, who’s going to win? Or is justice going to prevail and allow one single Ranger to arrest all the bad guys? Will it be that easy? No it won’t. There will be losses, significant losses, but that’s how the story goes. I believe this is the end of this series. It seems to be, but it was one find story with a mix of police action and of course, Marines doing what Marines do best. A very good series and I hate to see it end.
Upon arrival back at Earth, they find Eden Station has been attacked apparently by a suicide run from one of Sanya Baretto’s forces. This attack had destroyed a large section of the station and they were just now beginning massive rescue operations. Needless to say, Commonwealth forces were on high alert about any incoming starships and weren’t being nice about it. Murdock knew he needed to report in to his boss. Gina Bonner. Hopefully, she would give him the chance to tell his side of the story instead of just telling the space fighters to shoot the *Carmalita* out of space.
So, Murdock does make contact with Bonner and he starts talking fast. He knows his brother, Henry, is behind all this fighting. He knows Henry set up Baretto with the supplies and equipment to start waging her insurgency and she had done a skillful job up to a point. Henry thought he could stop Baretto whenever she had done enough damage to make it look like he, Henry, was a war hero for bringing her in. Except, Baretto wasn’t listening to Henry Murdock any more.
Now Ranger Murdock needed some help in getting back into the good graces of the Commonwealth so he could pursue both Baretto and more importantly, Henry Murdock. He was bound to bring both to justice one way or another. The best way was to capture both so a very thorough investigation could take place and a trial could determine the length and depth of guilt both parties. Only he didn’t know how he was ever going to get close to anyone in the Commonwealth if his boss, Bonner didn’t believe his story.
She did, eventually and took him to someone that could further help. That person was none other than the current Chairperson of the Commonwealth Council. This was the person Henry Murdock was attempting to replace. While he was on the Council, he wanted more. He also knew that without the Tahni war, his military hardware corporation, Murdock Industries, was slowing going to go bankrupt. So, he had put together a plan to give the Commonwealth a new enemy until the Tahni once again decided to attack. Or, Henry thought, there might be someone even worse than the Tahni waiting to attack humanity. He actually thought humanity wouldn’t be ready to stand and fight against another enemy if we let ourselves be dulled by the current peace.
Ranger Murdock finally got his help from Patrice Damiani, Chairperson, Commonwealth Council. She gave him some pretty powerful credentials that might help make his job easier, but he was going to have to fight his battles with just him, Sgt. Covington and *Carmalita*. Not a problem, but he was up against two different Armies, the Commonwealth Fleet lead by Admiral Sato and the insurgent army led by Sanya Baretto. Plus, Henry Murdock had turned a Marine platoon against everyone thinking they were doing the work of the Council. They were an army by themselves, a relentless one led by Captain LJ Webb; one that formerly had Sergeant Phil Covington as a member. Only Sgt. Covington didn’t go in for killing innocent women and children which is what Webb’s group had done for no good reason. This was the kind of people Ranger Murdock and Sgt. Covington were up against.
So, who’s going to win? Or is justice going to prevail and allow one single Ranger to arrest all the bad guys? Will it be that easy? No it won’t. There will be losses, significant losses, but that’s how the story goes. I believe this is the end of this series. It seems to be, but it was one find story with a mix of police action and of course, Marines doing what Marines do best. A very good series and I hate to see it end.
January 23, 2024
Awesome book. A character with moral standing and the conviction to carry it through.
A man has to stand by his convictions. It can cost him his honor, his wealth and even his family. All we have in life is our honor. We must stay true to that. Without it we are nothing. Semper Fi...
A man has to stand by his convictions. It can cost him his honor, his wealth and even his family. All we have in life is our honor. We must stay true to that. Without it we are nothing. Semper Fi...
December 23, 2023
best of a great series
Love grit, tech, and character. Outstanding!
I have read all the books in the author’s universe but this one is the best.
Love grit, tech, and character. Outstanding!
I have read all the books in the author’s universe but this one is the best.
December 31, 2023
What a great series
This is a great series of books highly recommended great military survival written great plot doesn't get much better than this.
This is a great series of books highly recommended great military survival written great plot doesn't get much better than this.
January 8, 2024
Superbly written
Fantastic characters, riveting plot. Surprise ending though. It saddened me to have an AI/ ship lost. Hard core Sci-fi series readers will love to read.
Fantastic characters, riveting plot. Surprise ending though. It saddened me to have an AI/ ship lost. Hard core Sci-fi series readers will love to read.
February 22, 2024
Very good series
Fast paced. Good story. I read all three in a week. I recommend this book series. I miss Carma. Enjoy.
Fast paced. Good story. I read all three in a week. I recommend this book series. I miss Carma. Enjoy.
February 22, 2025
Force Majeure
I guess we’re at a stopping point / jumping off point for Antonin Murdock in their grim efforts against the unsavory plans & goals of Murdock’s brother Henry who thinks that any ends justify the means that wind up with Henry landing on top. Worse than Henry are Webb along with his psychotic band who are willing to literally shoot down down civilians or brother & sister Marines.
I guess we’re at a stopping point / jumping off point for Antonin Murdock in their grim efforts against the unsavory plans & goals of Murdock’s brother Henry who thinks that any ends justify the means that wind up with Henry landing on top. Worse than Henry are Webb along with his psychotic band who are willing to literally shoot down down civilians or brother & sister Marines.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews