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Several colonies have been attacked, their populations eradicated and their buildings razed. The culprits belong to an extremist organization, terrorists known only as Orion’s Light. These criminals operate in the same circles as pirates but represent a far more dangerous threat, one of religious zeal and terrifying, military style discipline.

Alliance High Command sends the Behemoth to investigate the attacks, charging them to dispense justice on Orion’s Light and to stop whatever scheme they’re involved in. Armed with the brilliant scientist Durant Vi’Puren, they head out to confront one of the most dangerous adversaries they’ve confronted. For the leader of Orion’s Light may have been one of their own once upon a time and his ambitions could be the domination of all life in the galaxy.

247 pages, ebook

Published April 10, 2017

215 people are currently reading
85 people want to read

About the author

John Walker

1,214 books163 followers
Librarian 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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5 stars
325 (46%)
4 stars
269 (38%)
3 stars
95 (13%)
2 stars
11 (1%)
1 star
5 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
Profile Image for Bob.
1,984 reviews21 followers
October 28, 2019
Some how I read this without realizing I had left 5. Anyhow the tale continues but I am finding more instances of poor editing. Heading off to #7 and hope it inproves.
Profile Image for Jim.
1,230 reviews50 followers
June 2, 2017
These books are getting better. There is no long one single solitary starship protecting the entire Solar System. The Behemoth had been tasked with that job and did it well until Human Central Command started sending it off on mission outside the Solar System. Why they did this is unknown, but due to some wise assistance from their allies, the Kielans have provided temporary protection for the Sol System by leaving a few of their ships in orbit around Earth.

So now the Behemoth is off on a special mission for the Alliance High Command. Having just joined the Alliance, Earth must provide it’s share of the protection for the entire Alliance and right now the Behemoth is the only ship and probably the best ship available to conduct this mission. Some one has been attacking new colonies and utterly destroying them. These are not large planetary colonies, but newly formed without much in the way of defenses. Yet, this new enemy, which seem to operate as pirates, but much, much better organized, completely obliterate eveything of value on or near these colony planets. They kill all the civilians, men, women and children while conscripting the young males into their outfit. Of course these young men would have probably been better off killed, because they will soon be brain-washed to becoming a devote of Lord Krilan.

Lord Krilan is an ex-Anthar formerly of the Kielans military. He has a great tendency to be ruthlessly brutal to those under his command and does anything he wants to carry out his mission. Unfortunately, he was previously assigned to quell a rebellion on one of the Kielan colonies which he did by killing every single person on the colony planet! He was subsequently court-marshalled and sent to prison for life. Having broken out of prison, he now has his own army and has the idea that he needs to become emperor of the entire galaxy so it will be peaceful the way he wants it. Right now though, he’s looking for a star map which might lead him to a significant weapon used by the ancients. With that weapon, he should be able to conquer the galaxy much easier. Some how he and his Orion’s Light outfit has obtained some advanced weapons already. They seem to be better matched against the usual Alliance combat starships.

On-board the Behemoth, the Alliance has gained the cooperation of one proven genius Durant Vi’Puren, an engineer of unparalleled capabilities. He has already improved a number of the Behemoth’s on-board systems stating that their original programming came front him and he’s now developed much better code to replce the old stuff with. Captain Gray Atwell seems to trust Durant and has turned him lose on the Behemoth to work with his own engineering crew to make these improvements. Having encountered these Orion Light enemies once before and heard various reports from other Alliance ships, Captain Atwell knows he’s in for a fight if he plans on taking down their command ship.

So, that’s about the gist of the story. The Behemoth is off to capture or kill the Orion’s Light pirates and to ensure they stop killing off colonies. They find some very brutal action on the part of the Orion’s Light which eliminates the idea of capturing them. They much die and the Behemoth is the ship to get this done, or is it?

Again, these books are getting better and with Earth building more just like or even better than the Behemoth, the story should get even more plausible. Not sure what or when the next book will be released, but I plan on reading it.
Profile Image for Damaged142.
206 reviews3 followers
January 26, 2022
At this point I don't even know what to say about this book or the series. It's painfully average. The 'Enemy' who are propped up to be the 'big bad' at the beginning of the series have been pushed aside, and we hardly deal with them. Once again the focus of this book is on a group called 'Orions Light'. They are your cookie cutter "take over the galaxy" bad guys with a side of insane homicidal mania.

It's just not interesting, I hate the fact we are not focusing on the war with the actual enemy.

And like the majority of the books in this series the editing is bad, with spelling and grammatical errors throughout.

World building and character development remain basically nonexistent. Everyone is still stuck in their respective molds.
1,186 reviews17 followers
May 31, 2017
I wish I could have rated this book higher than three stars.

I like the characters in the book, they all seem well rounded and developed. There was plenty of action from the beginning to the end. What I did not like was the silly response the captain and the Marines head towards homicidal maniacs. They learned that the enemy fought to the death, so why would you keep asking them "do you want to surrender now"these are enemies who killed men women and children, they gave no quarter. Why would you think diplomacy would work. That reaction made the protagonist seem a little slow on the up take. I could say more but I really did enjoy the book except for that glaring problem.
Profile Image for Matt Rizzo.
277 reviews3 followers
July 3, 2017
My least favorite book in the series. I honestly don't care about fanatical terrorist-cult worshiping Kileans. The plot is ridiculous as they barely mention the true Enemy, and the plot of this book barely touches on the overarching plot of the series. I love the characters, the writing style of the book itself, and the intricusies of the capital ship fights. However, there were parts of the book I simply got bored of reading about the Orion's Light.
165 reviews1 follower
March 10, 2021
By now you are hooked on this series!

Again the author has another great story to tell. This story has not only pirates but the main antagonist is a group of former military zealots who are difficult to face with more advanced technology than the Behemoth. Who will constitute winner? Who will sacrifice themselves for the cause? Read to find the answers...You will enjoy this book!
8 reviews
May 7, 2017
On Artiact

Great leave. Can't. Wait for the next one. Good action and a very hateful nemesis. Behemoth s next adventure awaits.
29 reviews
June 5, 2017
Brilliant

I can't wait for the next book to be released,the story is unvailing itself to be another good read.book 7.
2 reviews
November 21, 2017
An excellent read


An excellent read !
I'm really enjoying the series.
Just have to convince the wife to let me buy the next one.
212 reviews1 follower
March 21, 2019
Exciting

Lots of action. Only a few issue, like where does a nutter come up with a state of the art supper ship? Is the mad scientist in league with the pirates?
Profile Image for Tom.
221 reviews3 followers
March 3, 2019
This book faces something new and on another front. Gathering the guru of high tech, chasing after a fanatic, and discovering artifacts that could chande the war. All part of this series and more. Hope you can strap into your seats and wait till the Behemoth jumps into action.
17 reviews
April 17, 2017
Not as good as the earlier books in the series

The author needs to get a new proof reader, the spelling and grammatical mistakes spoiled the book for me. Together with a much weaker storyline than the previous books in the series, that's why I have only given it three stars. Can do much better.
831 reviews10 followers
April 22, 2017
A must for 2017 summer reading list.

John Walker Rose of Mankind series is a must for my summer reading list. Recommend for everyone's reading list. A fan.
113 reviews
April 25, 2017
Terrible use of the laguage

Combined with very simple and predictable plots, I obviously didn't like the book.
I suggest someone get a dictionary to the author and at least run it through a grammar check.
11 reviews
April 26, 2017
Excellent series. Each book tells the story of a mission.

There fact that each book is a mission keeps me as a reader following the book as a participant. I love that. Thanks John Walker. Thank you for getting me into this setting to lived it worth you're characters.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews

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