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Redline Corps #2
Redline Corps 2: Besieged
Keep calm and fly on.
Earth's three unlikeliest heroes—Liv, Sam, and Jason—are stuck on an alien ship, light years from home. They freed humanity from the Raptors, only to have Earth's enemy hunt them at every jump. Relentlessly pursued across galaxies, they seek shelter in a mysterious, seemingly abandoned Dyson sphere… and quickly discover it's anything but deserted.
Navigating the sphere’s lethal defenses is only the beginning. As if surviving in a hostile system—and chased by even more hostile aliens—isn’t challenging enough, they must also contend with being infected with nanites. To make matters worse, they learn of an enemy that makes the Raptors look like parakeets… and it's headed straight for them.
Their only hope lies in a superweapon hidden deep within the sphere, capable of stopping the unstoppable ancient force. But there’s a the weapon is broken, and repairing it will cost them their very humanity.
Can a pilot, an engineer, and a war journalist adapt and overcome? If they fail, billions will die. In a race for survival, evolving is not a choice—it’s a necessity.
Continue the fight for humanity in book 2 of this new alien invasion military sci-fi series by Rachel Aukes, bestselling author of Flight of the Javelin and Space Troopers. The enemy is vicious. Hope seems lost. But a few brave heroes can turn the tide. Humanity will prevail!
Earth's three unlikeliest heroes—Liv, Sam, and Jason—are stuck on an alien ship, light years from home. They freed humanity from the Raptors, only to have Earth's enemy hunt them at every jump. Relentlessly pursued across galaxies, they seek shelter in a mysterious, seemingly abandoned Dyson sphere… and quickly discover it's anything but deserted.
Navigating the sphere’s lethal defenses is only the beginning. As if surviving in a hostile system—and chased by even more hostile aliens—isn’t challenging enough, they must also contend with being infected with nanites. To make matters worse, they learn of an enemy that makes the Raptors look like parakeets… and it's headed straight for them.
Their only hope lies in a superweapon hidden deep within the sphere, capable of stopping the unstoppable ancient force. But there’s a the weapon is broken, and repairing it will cost them their very humanity.
Can a pilot, an engineer, and a war journalist adapt and overcome? If they fail, billions will die. In a race for survival, evolving is not a choice—it’s a necessity.
Continue the fight for humanity in book 2 of this new alien invasion military sci-fi series by Rachel Aukes, bestselling author of Flight of the Javelin and Space Troopers. The enemy is vicious. Hope seems lost. But a few brave heroes can turn the tide. Humanity will prevail!
309 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 12, 2024
112 people are currently reading
11 people want to read
About the author
Rachel Aukes
66 books407 followersRachel Aukes is the bestselling author of over forty books, including 100 Days in Deadland, which made Suspense Magazine’s Best of the Year list. She writes in a number of genres, including science fiction, fantasy, horror, thriller, and more. Her series includes Waymaker Wars, Space Troopers, Flight of the Javelin, Fringe, Deadland Saga, Colliding Worlds, and Guardians of the Seven Seals. Her novels have repeatedly been Amazon Top 100 bestsellers and #1 bestsellers in Horror, Post-Apocalyptic, Space Fleet, Space Marine, Galactic Empire, Colonization, Alien Invasion, and Cyberpunk. When not writing, Rachel can be found flying old airplanes with an incredibly spoiled dog over the Iowa countryside.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
November 15, 2024
Besieged is very much a world of "either/or." Either Liv, Sam and Jason comply with Grey or the world may cease to exist.
And if that world is an incredibly huge Dyson sphere with seed banks that can seed the universe, then only sheer wonder awaits.
But the Rampage with the destroying Raptors is the exact opposite in creation. They destroy.
And Liv, Sam and Jason holds the key to stop that from happening.
Too bad they don't know it yet.
And these Raptors have discovered this humongous Dyson sphere!
This Redline Corps series by Rachel Aukes is a seriously addictive space adventure that will have you on the edge of your seat right up to the last page.
Enjoy
And if that world is an incredibly huge Dyson sphere with seed banks that can seed the universe, then only sheer wonder awaits.
But the Rampage with the destroying Raptors is the exact opposite in creation. They destroy.
And Liv, Sam and Jason holds the key to stop that from happening.
Too bad they don't know it yet.
And these Raptors have discovered this humongous Dyson sphere!
This Redline Corps series by Rachel Aukes is a seriously addictive space adventure that will have you on the edge of your seat right up to the last page.
Enjoy
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 10, 2024
So, this second novel picks up where we left off, with Sam, Jason, and Liv discovering a Dyson sphere after destroying a fleet of Raptors by sending it into a black hole. However, it’s three months later because their approach to the structure is quite slow. The three of them survive thanks to their ability to fabricate food and other necessities using a 3D printer. Their ship seems incredibly advanced and intelligent, to the point of having a consciousness—or something like it—and they call it Gray.
Inside the Dyson sphere, they discover that life on various worlds was the result of research conducted by a group known as the Coalition (who also built the Dyson sphere). Who or what is the Coalition? This quote sums it up quite well:
“The Coalition is a purely technoformic race that evolved from a singularity. That singular was designed to be self-learning and to design technoformic entities for all identified needs. Its first function was to create replications that formed symbiotic yet reliant relationships with their hosts. Once completed, it moved onto its secondary function: to replicate linked singulars to travel the universe and gather seeds and knowledge. It was through these travelers that the Coalition became self-aware and thus evolved into a race of diverse, yet linked technoforms.”
Essentially, they seeded life across much of the universe, including humans, Raptors, and Rampage. And yes, because apparently, there’s another enemy worse than the Raptors: the Rampage. Here’s another quote:
“The Rampage originated as bioforms called the Gar’ii. They believed that by leaving the universe untouched, there would remain a natural balance of life. However, as they evolved into the technoforms called the Beholders, their ideals became more extreme. And when they learned of the Coalition seeding life across the galaxies, they made it their goal to eliminate all seeded systems as well as to exterminate the Coalition in order to restore balance. They became the Rampage at the moment they declared war upon bioforms. That was sixty-one million years ago. The war continues still.”
Unlike the Raptors, who are essentially space pterodactyls, the Rampage are alien fish with advanced technology and the ability to wipe out life across the universe. They’ve already eradicated life in countless galaxies. Their main targets are the systems seeded by the Coalition, but many naturally evolved systems have also been destroyed. These space fish pose a massive threat to life, but since they lack the ability to directly threaten the Coalition itself, they’re largely left unchecked, allowing them to destroy various seeded worlds. Here’s another quote:
“As a seeded system, the Raptors’ home world was targeted by the Rampage. All Raptors in their home system were killed. Following that tragedy, they began to colonize multiple systems in desperation to ensure their race did not go extinct. They have become more territorial since taking to the stars. However, the Coalition will not endanger bioforms, especially bioforms from seeded systems.”
The rest of the story revolves around Liv, Jason, and Sam investigating the Dyson sphere and figuring out how to fend off a fleet of Raptors that arrives and boards the structure. They manage to repel the Raptors multiple times, but when a Rampage ship arrives due to all the commotion, the protagonists merge with their ship, Gray, in a way, and activate a weapon called Starfire. With it, they destroy the Rampage ship and the rest of the Raptor fleet.
Liv, Jason, and Sam are forced to abandon the Dyson sphere because the system’s star becomes unstable from firing the Starfire weapon, leading to an imminent supernova. They help evacuate the symbionts and their singulars on 27 Raptor ships and escape on one of the Raptor vessels themselves. They travel through a quantum tunnel, and Gray’s navigation coordinates take them to an unknown system.
Liv, Sam, and Jason consider taking a break after everything they’ve been through, but they witness a planet devastated by the Rampage and decide they must stop them.
Overall, I think this second novel is better than the first, primarily because of all the background information it provides about its universe. The concept of the Coalition seeding worlds with life and the rebel species like the Raptors or Rampage trying to destroy everything they’ve created, with humanity caught in the middle of a war between greater forces, was fascinating. It was an interesting read
Inside the Dyson sphere, they discover that life on various worlds was the result of research conducted by a group known as the Coalition (who also built the Dyson sphere). Who or what is the Coalition? This quote sums it up quite well:
“The Coalition is a purely technoformic race that evolved from a singularity. That singular was designed to be self-learning and to design technoformic entities for all identified needs. Its first function was to create replications that formed symbiotic yet reliant relationships with their hosts. Once completed, it moved onto its secondary function: to replicate linked singulars to travel the universe and gather seeds and knowledge. It was through these travelers that the Coalition became self-aware and thus evolved into a race of diverse, yet linked technoforms.”
Essentially, they seeded life across much of the universe, including humans, Raptors, and Rampage. And yes, because apparently, there’s another enemy worse than the Raptors: the Rampage. Here’s another quote:
“The Rampage originated as bioforms called the Gar’ii. They believed that by leaving the universe untouched, there would remain a natural balance of life. However, as they evolved into the technoforms called the Beholders, their ideals became more extreme. And when they learned of the Coalition seeding life across the galaxies, they made it their goal to eliminate all seeded systems as well as to exterminate the Coalition in order to restore balance. They became the Rampage at the moment they declared war upon bioforms. That was sixty-one million years ago. The war continues still.”
Unlike the Raptors, who are essentially space pterodactyls, the Rampage are alien fish with advanced technology and the ability to wipe out life across the universe. They’ve already eradicated life in countless galaxies. Their main targets are the systems seeded by the Coalition, but many naturally evolved systems have also been destroyed. These space fish pose a massive threat to life, but since they lack the ability to directly threaten the Coalition itself, they’re largely left unchecked, allowing them to destroy various seeded worlds. Here’s another quote:
“As a seeded system, the Raptors’ home world was targeted by the Rampage. All Raptors in their home system were killed. Following that tragedy, they began to colonize multiple systems in desperation to ensure their race did not go extinct. They have become more territorial since taking to the stars. However, the Coalition will not endanger bioforms, especially bioforms from seeded systems.”
The rest of the story revolves around Liv, Jason, and Sam investigating the Dyson sphere and figuring out how to fend off a fleet of Raptors that arrives and boards the structure. They manage to repel the Raptors multiple times, but when a Rampage ship arrives due to all the commotion, the protagonists merge with their ship, Gray, in a way, and activate a weapon called Starfire. With it, they destroy the Rampage ship and the rest of the Raptor fleet.
Liv, Jason, and Sam are forced to abandon the Dyson sphere because the system’s star becomes unstable from firing the Starfire weapon, leading to an imminent supernova. They help evacuate the symbionts and their singulars on 27 Raptor ships and escape on one of the Raptor vessels themselves. They travel through a quantum tunnel, and Gray’s navigation coordinates take them to an unknown system.
Liv, Sam, and Jason consider taking a break after everything they’ve been through, but they witness a planet devastated by the Rampage and decide they must stop them.
Overall, I think this second novel is better than the first, primarily because of all the background information it provides about its universe. The concept of the Coalition seeding worlds with life and the rebel species like the Raptors or Rampage trying to destroy everything they’ve created, with humanity caught in the middle of a war between greater forces, was fascinating. It was an interesting read
February 24, 2025
I think I missed something in the first book and I’m not sure how I did that. It seems our former crew of several people have now dwindled down to only three. Those three are Sam Carter (pilot), Jason Rodriguez (engineer), and Olivia Ann Reyes, a.k.a. “Liv” (computer nerd). They are on an alien ship that is operated by an AI or something like that they call Gray. They have been interfacing with the ship/Gray by standing on a platform and putting their hands inside some kind of interface device. The ship has completed the interface by putting some of itself inside of each of these people saying that it allows for better communications. Jason was the last one to interface since he didn’t want any of the gray goo inside his body.
But, they have a single 3D printer on the ship and that’s how they make stuff to live on the ship. They had to make beds, chairs, blankets and pillows and even a sink for water. Jason managed to even build a rudimentary toilet which the ship didn’t even have. Currently, they are sailing somewhere in space having just lost a bunch of pursuing Raptor aliens. Those aliens had attacked Earth, destroyed a lot of humanity, but once Sam, Jason, & Liv found this other alien ship, they took off with all the Raptor ships following. The ship, Gray, eventually managed to get the Raptor fleet to dive into a blackhole effectively cutting them off from the galaxy for ever. Now they were headed somewhere and Gray wasn’t forthcoming with information.
Sam had been the one that had interfaced with Gray the most. He showed clear visible signs of having the gray goo going through his body. It didn’t seem to harm them but none of them like this way of existing in the ship. Then they found out where they were going. Gray was returning home. His home was in another galaxy and consisted of a huge Dyson sphere with two rotating rings. This is what this book is about. They learn that this sphere contains the “seeds” that have populated the entire universe. Gray is one seed ship out of billions or trillions sent out by the Coalition, the alien entities that made gray and this Dyson sphere.
Gray arrives back and docks in one of the rings. He then tells Sam, Jason and Liv that the Coalition needs their help. While Gray’s arrival has helped restart the Dyson sphere and the rings, it still isn’t complete until some other things are done. That’s when the group find out that the rings are completely empty. They are allowed to explore the rings only to find out that some of the defensive measures have been activated with their presence. Liv gets shot repeatedly with lasers and is dying unless they find some kind of medical room to treat her wounds. They do find something that sort of works, but it adds more goo to Liv which does restore her health. In the meantime, Gray is busy restoring what seem to be sentient AIs that were controlling the rings and Dyson sphere. This is taking a lot of his energy so the crew find a compartment on the rings so they can rest and breathe without their suits.
By talking to the AI that supports this portion of the ring, they find out that a huge fleet of Raptors are approaching the sphere and rings. The crew try to warn the AI that these are dangerous aliens that need to be dealt with before they access the rings and the sphere and steel advanced technology. But, the AI doesn’t believe the Raptors are a threat. It has defenses which it tries to activate but finds out they are ready yet. Then the AI tells the humans that the Raptors are of little concern since the Rampage is a much greater threat and could destroy this galaxy and the next one to it if it ever finds this Dyson sphere. It also says it has a weapon that can destroy the Rampage, but it is broken.
Sam, Jason and Liv find out that they have to repair this fantastic weapon even though they have no knowledge of how it works or where to find the parts.
So, this book is kind of strange. I don’t remember how the three people got aboard Gray, nor do I remember the part of the Raptors destroying much of Earth. I guess I should re-read the first book, but I won’t do that. I might read book 3, “Vanguard”, now available on Amazon.
But, they have a single 3D printer on the ship and that’s how they make stuff to live on the ship. They had to make beds, chairs, blankets and pillows and even a sink for water. Jason managed to even build a rudimentary toilet which the ship didn’t even have. Currently, they are sailing somewhere in space having just lost a bunch of pursuing Raptor aliens. Those aliens had attacked Earth, destroyed a lot of humanity, but once Sam, Jason, & Liv found this other alien ship, they took off with all the Raptor ships following. The ship, Gray, eventually managed to get the Raptor fleet to dive into a blackhole effectively cutting them off from the galaxy for ever. Now they were headed somewhere and Gray wasn’t forthcoming with information.
Sam had been the one that had interfaced with Gray the most. He showed clear visible signs of having the gray goo going through his body. It didn’t seem to harm them but none of them like this way of existing in the ship. Then they found out where they were going. Gray was returning home. His home was in another galaxy and consisted of a huge Dyson sphere with two rotating rings. This is what this book is about. They learn that this sphere contains the “seeds” that have populated the entire universe. Gray is one seed ship out of billions or trillions sent out by the Coalition, the alien entities that made gray and this Dyson sphere.
Gray arrives back and docks in one of the rings. He then tells Sam, Jason and Liv that the Coalition needs their help. While Gray’s arrival has helped restart the Dyson sphere and the rings, it still isn’t complete until some other things are done. That’s when the group find out that the rings are completely empty. They are allowed to explore the rings only to find out that some of the defensive measures have been activated with their presence. Liv gets shot repeatedly with lasers and is dying unless they find some kind of medical room to treat her wounds. They do find something that sort of works, but it adds more goo to Liv which does restore her health. In the meantime, Gray is busy restoring what seem to be sentient AIs that were controlling the rings and Dyson sphere. This is taking a lot of his energy so the crew find a compartment on the rings so they can rest and breathe without their suits.
By talking to the AI that supports this portion of the ring, they find out that a huge fleet of Raptors are approaching the sphere and rings. The crew try to warn the AI that these are dangerous aliens that need to be dealt with before they access the rings and the sphere and steel advanced technology. But, the AI doesn’t believe the Raptors are a threat. It has defenses which it tries to activate but finds out they are ready yet. Then the AI tells the humans that the Raptors are of little concern since the Rampage is a much greater threat and could destroy this galaxy and the next one to it if it ever finds this Dyson sphere. It also says it has a weapon that can destroy the Rampage, but it is broken.
Sam, Jason and Liv find out that they have to repair this fantastic weapon even though they have no knowledge of how it works or where to find the parts.
So, this book is kind of strange. I don’t remember how the three people got aboard Gray, nor do I remember the part of the Raptors destroying much of Earth. I guess I should re-read the first book, but I won’t do that. I might read book 3, “Vanguard”, now available on Amazon.
December 26, 2024
This is the second SciFi novel in the Redline Corps series. Caught in the struggle between two deadly alien forces, trapped within a massive Dyson Sphere surrounding a sun, Liv, Sam, and Jason, a journalist, pilot and engineer, are also waging a lonely 3-person battle with on-board strange forces that may or may not not be friendly. Aukes paints a fantastic, detailed, lively picture of a struggle that may have dire consequences for them and possibly many lifeforms within the universe. And what are the effects of the physical and mental stresses as they struggle to defend themselves? Meanwhile they receive stunning news about Coalition activities. Four and a half MENACING Stars! Kindle, 309 pages.
April 11, 2025
Olivia Reyes, independent podcaster forced to become a war correspondent, has become a member of the Tereshova crew by volunteering to help their engineer. Taking the fight to the Raptor nest which contains the entry point for Raptors into the Solar system they lose half their crew. Liv, Sam and Jason gain entry to the alien ship and lead Raptors out of the system and end up at a Dyson sphere to face more enemies and maybe save lives.
February 23, 2025
Good follow-up book to the first in the series. This storyline goes in directions unexpected. Good characterizations and interactions. Danger and action are plentiful. This is a satisfying space opera read that has an ending, so it is self-contained. However, it would be best to read the first book before this one. Now, what happens next? I have the next so I am going to find out. Enjoy!
November 20, 2024
an intriguing series
This is an intriguing story that starts in book 1 as our heroes learn to fight an unbeatable foe. While giving the ultimate sacrifice to beat that for they then learn there is more to do and an even bigger threat.
This is an intriguing story that starts in book 1 as our heroes learn to fight an unbeatable foe. While giving the ultimate sacrifice to beat that for they then learn there is more to do and an even bigger threat.
November 21, 2024
There was a lot of repetition in this book that should have been edited out: something/someone described, then described again in the same words, then again, and again. You get the idea. I don’t like reading books that become repetitively tiring.
April 11, 2025
It takes three
Olivia Reyes as part of the Tereshova crew takes part in the fleets attack on the Raptor nest to close the corridor used to attack earth. Sam, Jason and Liv get into the alien vessel and lead raptors away ending up at a Dyson sphere that needs protection.
Olivia Reyes as part of the Tereshova crew takes part in the fleets attack on the Raptor nest to close the corridor used to attack earth. Sam, Jason and Liv get into the alien vessel and lead raptors away ending up at a Dyson sphere that needs protection.
July 27, 2025
Slow, plodded along, could not hold my interest. Found myself thinking it would pick up and get better. It didn’t. Cannot recommend this book to anyone. Will not attempt to read any further into this series.
November 23, 2024
Beseiged
Another great read from AUKES. She keeps.the pace flowing and left this book with just enough information to want to immediately book up the third book in this series.
Another great read from AUKES. She keeps.the pace flowing and left this book with just enough information to want to immediately book up the third book in this series.
February 3, 2025
Totally enjoyed it! This is a well written and has well developed characters. The story is catching and with the strong characters makes for a very enjoyable read. Great Reading Everyone!
April 7, 2025
More trouble for intrepid three caught between two enemy forces.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews