What do you think?
Rate this book
Uplink Squadron #3
Fangs Out
It was all just a game… or was it?
Contact has been made with the alien Overlords. They’re not the end of our civilization like we feared; instead, they were just training us to participate in a galactic war they’ve been fighting.
Or so they say.
But with an Overlord fleet in the solar system—far larger than anything we could hope to fight—when they ask for our help in the war, what can we say other than “Yes?”
We were barely holding our own against the military castoffs of the Overlords, though—how can we expect to fight in the front lines of a galaxy-wide war against the upscale technology of the new enemy, the Kardons?
Lance and Sofia will have to upgrade Uplink Squadron with new weapons and tactics if they’re to last beyond the first few minutes in this new way of war. But when they meet the new enemy in battle, it becomes obvious that the Overlords aren’t telling us everything, and Lance and Sofia are forced to wonder if they’re fighting for the right side. With the Overlords holding the Solar System, though, does it matter?
It’s time to plug back in and save the world.
Contact has been made with the alien Overlords. They’re not the end of our civilization like we feared; instead, they were just training us to participate in a galactic war they’ve been fighting.
Or so they say.
But with an Overlord fleet in the solar system—far larger than anything we could hope to fight—when they ask for our help in the war, what can we say other than “Yes?”
We were barely holding our own against the military castoffs of the Overlords, though—how can we expect to fight in the front lines of a galaxy-wide war against the upscale technology of the new enemy, the Kardons?
Lance and Sofia will have to upgrade Uplink Squadron with new weapons and tactics if they’re to last beyond the first few minutes in this new way of war. But when they meet the new enemy in battle, it becomes obvious that the Overlords aren’t telling us everything, and Lance and Sofia are forced to wonder if they’re fighting for the right side. With the Overlords holding the Solar System, though, does it matter?
It’s time to plug back in and save the world.
363 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 28, 2022
468 people are currently reading
74 people want to read
About the author
J.N. Chaney
462 books9,607 followersIf you want to stay up to date on my releases, concept art, or speak to me directly - you should join my Facebook fan group:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/67862...
We have discussions on everything from books, movies, shows, and all things scifi. Come join the conversation.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/67862...
We have discussions on everything from books, movies, shows, and all things scifi. Come join the conversation.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
September 13, 2023
Fangs Out - you can't once you reveal your intentions
I enjoyed reading the adventures written by J.N. Chaney & Chris Kennedy. The crew of the Uplink Squadron is about to step into in the next book which I'll be reading as soon as I finish this review. There is a weird dynamic in this series since the current ally in a highly intelligent AI that is controlling everything. How do you defeat an overwhelming presence like an all-knowing (maybe?) entity? It is a fine line the squadron will be walking as they consider switching sides against the Overlords.
I enjoyed reading the adventures written by J.N. Chaney & Chris Kennedy. The crew of the Uplink Squadron is about to step into in the next book which I'll be reading as soon as I finish this review. There is a weird dynamic in this series since the current ally in a highly intelligent AI that is controlling everything. How do you defeat an overwhelming presence like an all-knowing (maybe?) entity? It is a fine line the squadron will be walking as they consider switching sides against the Overlords.
August 22, 2024
Top Notch Science Fiction!
October 9, 2022
Pretty good series after three books, but couldn't they have come up with a better title for this one? "Fangs Out", what does that actually mean? I don't know, but it certainly doesn't have anything to do with the story.
Now that I got that out of the way, let me tell you something you probably already know. The humans are fighting on the wrong side! Yeah, the Overlords are in a war with the Kardons, a vicious race of meat eaters that supposedly eat humans, other aliens and even their own kind. You do not want to be captured by the Kardons. or so we're told by the Overlords. But, we humans have never seen a Kardon. We think we've seen an Overlord, but they look exactly like us, in fact, they look like some of us way, way too much! So there definitely is doubt among the humans as to why we're fighting the Overlords war.
Right in the middle of this is Blue Blaster Squadron, commanded by Commander Lance Baker with Commander Sofia Jimenez as his XO. They have just been ordered to prepare to go into battle in the Tau Ceti where a massive invasion by the Kardons is underway. Not only must this invasion force be repelled, but they also can't let the Kardons take the inhabited planet. So, with the barest amount of intel about this operation, the humans prepare their carrier Enterprise which has to be towed to Tau Ceti since we don't have the technology to build a jump engine that will jump through space that far. Aboard her will be the Blue Blaster Squadron plus two other squadrons, the Panda Bears and the Pukin' Dogs (who makes up these names?).
Well, the battle doesn't go as well as hoped. The Overlords have a certain way of fighting and they fight that way every single time. They seem to direct all of their fighters and ships to do one simple thing and that's to confront the enemy head on until there are no more enemy. It's believed that the Overlords have a mind control ability over the aliens that they bring to the fight. They almost were successful in controlling the humans except for the fact some of the human starfighters have SIs (Synthetic Intelligences). These SIs managed to block the Overlords control programs and keep that software from infecting the brains of their human pilots. They managed to fix all the human pilots before the battle started so it was of some surprise when the humans didn't react as the Overlords expected them to.
There is no way humanity is going to allow an alien to control their thoughts and actions. But that is exactly how the Overlords seem to operate. Still, the humans have to tread carefully since strongly objecting to anything the Overlords want could result in Earth being sterilized by the Overlords. They had done that to other "uncooperative" alien civilizations. So, the combined forces of humans and Overlords did have some success against the Kardons except for one major incident. Commander Lance Baker was shot down over the fourth planet in Tau Ceti!
Sofia was also shot down, but rescued immediately. Still, Lance finds himself in a swamp thinking he saw Sofia just be killed and it looks like he'll be next. Not only is the swamp infested with all sorts of bugs and snakes, but it has lizards with hungry stares all over the place. Then his luck really runs out when he's drawn the attention of a Kardon pilot whom he just shot down. So, now a human might get to see what a Kardon looks like, but will he live to tell anyone about it?
Like I said, pretty good story so far. The humans are a little dense on figuring out who the good guys are, but they're getting a better idea in each story. Hopefully, in book 4, "Far and Away", we'll get on the right side of this war, if there is such a side!
Now that I got that out of the way, let me tell you something you probably already know. The humans are fighting on the wrong side! Yeah, the Overlords are in a war with the Kardons, a vicious race of meat eaters that supposedly eat humans, other aliens and even their own kind. You do not want to be captured by the Kardons. or so we're told by the Overlords. But, we humans have never seen a Kardon. We think we've seen an Overlord, but they look exactly like us, in fact, they look like some of us way, way too much! So there definitely is doubt among the humans as to why we're fighting the Overlords war.
Right in the middle of this is Blue Blaster Squadron, commanded by Commander Lance Baker with Commander Sofia Jimenez as his XO. They have just been ordered to prepare to go into battle in the Tau Ceti where a massive invasion by the Kardons is underway. Not only must this invasion force be repelled, but they also can't let the Kardons take the inhabited planet. So, with the barest amount of intel about this operation, the humans prepare their carrier Enterprise which has to be towed to Tau Ceti since we don't have the technology to build a jump engine that will jump through space that far. Aboard her will be the Blue Blaster Squadron plus two other squadrons, the Panda Bears and the Pukin' Dogs (who makes up these names?).
Well, the battle doesn't go as well as hoped. The Overlords have a certain way of fighting and they fight that way every single time. They seem to direct all of their fighters and ships to do one simple thing and that's to confront the enemy head on until there are no more enemy. It's believed that the Overlords have a mind control ability over the aliens that they bring to the fight. They almost were successful in controlling the humans except for the fact some of the human starfighters have SIs (Synthetic Intelligences). These SIs managed to block the Overlords control programs and keep that software from infecting the brains of their human pilots. They managed to fix all the human pilots before the battle started so it was of some surprise when the humans didn't react as the Overlords expected them to.
There is no way humanity is going to allow an alien to control their thoughts and actions. But that is exactly how the Overlords seem to operate. Still, the humans have to tread carefully since strongly objecting to anything the Overlords want could result in Earth being sterilized by the Overlords. They had done that to other "uncooperative" alien civilizations. So, the combined forces of humans and Overlords did have some success against the Kardons except for one major incident. Commander Lance Baker was shot down over the fourth planet in Tau Ceti!
Sofia was also shot down, but rescued immediately. Still, Lance finds himself in a swamp thinking he saw Sofia just be killed and it looks like he'll be next. Not only is the swamp infested with all sorts of bugs and snakes, but it has lizards with hungry stares all over the place. Then his luck really runs out when he's drawn the attention of a Kardon pilot whom he just shot down. So, now a human might get to see what a Kardon looks like, but will he live to tell anyone about it?
Like I said, pretty good story so far. The humans are a little dense on figuring out who the good guys are, but they're getting a better idea in each story. Hopefully, in book 4, "Far and Away", we'll get on the right side of this war, if there is such a side!
February 21, 2023
More of the same, which is okay but don't expect a lot
Want to read about a pilot who goes with his digital co-pilot to a far away planet run by humans and by your convincingly strong & compelling argument, you get them to ally with Earth and save both worlds from the all powerful enemy? This isn't that book.
Instead the story is -- you go to a far away land and spend time bickering and arguing about stupid sh*t like spoiled children with your digital counterpart in front the planet's ruling King and his regent brothers. Then you "dogfight" a few times and wham, you're all set.
The series is okay. Its easy reading that doesn't make you think to hard. The dialogue is, well, sort of boring that repeats the same main theme over and over (SIs are amazing but scary). At least there is no more incorrectly used "recycling" talk.
I will continue this book series journey because I like Baker, and feel bad for him putting up the digital know-it-all co-pilot (or pilot according to her). I still don't get why its such a freeing and liberating and amazing thing to upload yourself to a fighter jet (and your telling me they cant add a 360 camera view from the cockpit?), but I just go with it. I mean a power surge can end your digital paradise for good, just like my last PC.
Apparently gravity drive equip'd fighter space planes still need two pins taken out of its armament to work, which sounds oddly dumb, but ok it did add some "tension" to a lopsided fight.
The whole premise that making SIs is so rare and hard to do that you only get a couple dozen SIs is borderline stupid. You tell me the govts of Russia and China wouldn't crank out 100s, if not 1000s, of SIs? I think so. At least they've started to figure out how to deal with SIs long-term, that seemed obviously urgent to me on day one.
Easy reading, with a decent plot line and a few good characters, with some annoying & repeating dialogue about who is the better "pilot". The reader can just gloss over it and start the next paragraph. Trust me its all the same chatter each time anyway. And the goofy "moral" arguments amongst the crew gets old super fast. If your facing being wiped out completely, I think you do what it takes to avoid it.
Want to read about a pilot who goes with his digital co-pilot to a far away planet run by humans and by your convincingly strong & compelling argument, you get them to ally with Earth and save both worlds from the all powerful enemy? This isn't that book.
Instead the story is -- you go to a far away land and spend time bickering and arguing about stupid sh*t like spoiled children with your digital counterpart in front the planet's ruling King and his regent brothers. Then you "dogfight" a few times and wham, you're all set.
The series is okay. Its easy reading that doesn't make you think to hard. The dialogue is, well, sort of boring that repeats the same main theme over and over (SIs are amazing but scary). At least there is no more incorrectly used "recycling" talk.
I will continue this book series journey because I like Baker, and feel bad for him putting up the digital know-it-all co-pilot (or pilot according to her). I still don't get why its such a freeing and liberating and amazing thing to upload yourself to a fighter jet (and your telling me they cant add a 360 camera view from the cockpit?), but I just go with it. I mean a power surge can end your digital paradise for good, just like my last PC.
Apparently gravity drive equip'd fighter space planes still need two pins taken out of its armament to work, which sounds oddly dumb, but ok it did add some "tension" to a lopsided fight.
The whole premise that making SIs is so rare and hard to do that you only get a couple dozen SIs is borderline stupid. You tell me the govts of Russia and China wouldn't crank out 100s, if not 1000s, of SIs? I think so. At least they've started to figure out how to deal with SIs long-term, that seemed obviously urgent to me on day one.
Easy reading, with a decent plot line and a few good characters, with some annoying & repeating dialogue about who is the better "pilot". The reader can just gloss over it and start the next paragraph. Trust me its all the same chatter each time anyway. And the goofy "moral" arguments amongst the crew gets old super fast. If your facing being wiped out completely, I think you do what it takes to avoid it.
September 19, 2022
Friend or foe? The Overlords and Kardons are exposed.
Now that the Overlords ask mankind to join them in the fight against the lizard people, the Kardons, mankind prepares for battle alongside them. They are jumped to another system and are to be one far arm of the attack. However, the Overlords tactics leave a lot to be desired as they appear to be just playing a numbers game no matter the cost. Baker and team decide to play their own game rather than just fly into certain death and they manage to beat back the Kardons.
On a second mission, they head to Tau Ceti and aim to defend a planet of Frusians, allies, against an attack from the Kardons. However, things don't go according to plan and both Baker and Sophie believe the other to be lost. Baker finds out the secrets of the Overlords and Kardons and must get back to mankind to tell them, without tipping off any Overlords spies....
Another epic tale of battle with another massive, game changing twist! Action, intrigue, suspense, lizards, nanobots, mind control and falsehoods exposed in this book, leading up to a spying mission for the next book....
A highly entertaining read.
Now that the Overlords ask mankind to join them in the fight against the lizard people, the Kardons, mankind prepares for battle alongside them. They are jumped to another system and are to be one far arm of the attack. However, the Overlords tactics leave a lot to be desired as they appear to be just playing a numbers game no matter the cost. Baker and team decide to play their own game rather than just fly into certain death and they manage to beat back the Kardons.
On a second mission, they head to Tau Ceti and aim to defend a planet of Frusians, allies, against an attack from the Kardons. However, things don't go according to plan and both Baker and Sophie believe the other to be lost. Baker finds out the secrets of the Overlords and Kardons and must get back to mankind to tell them, without tipping off any Overlords spies....
Another epic tale of battle with another massive, game changing twist! Action, intrigue, suspense, lizards, nanobots, mind control and falsehoods exposed in this book, leading up to a spying mission for the next book....
A highly entertaining read.
April 9, 2024
I enjoyed this book more than the last installation. The story continued on in the way I expected it, but I enjoyed the new character brought in and the developing relationships of the characters. I do hope that the MC and MC-sidekick (not XO) have their companionship change or develop more, whilst I enjoy their joking/bickering it does get kind of tiring. You also begin to question, except from close-range combat, what benefit does the MC really bring in battle?
I hope that we begin to see the cultures of the different races develop a bit more than they currently are as avoiding it is a pitfall that many other similar military science fiction stories go.
I'll be honest and say that I think the audiobook narration is doing a lot of heavy lifting for this story but it's still a solid book and looking forward to where we go next.
3.75-4*
I hope that we begin to see the cultures of the different races develop a bit more than they currently are as avoiding it is a pitfall that many other similar military science fiction stories go.
I'll be honest and say that I think the audiobook narration is doing a lot of heavy lifting for this story but it's still a solid book and looking forward to where we go next.
3.75-4*
September 12, 2022
in my humble opinion, better than the first book.
Better than the first book. The action is faster the storyline has become more in-deaph. The MC and his main sidekick as well as the synthetic intelligence on now showing more personality. The first book they seem to be cookie cutter cut outs now they seem to be acting like Real people. there is more mystery and entry to the story which is as I said in the previous review the main driver of this book. Because the mystery is deepening I am going on to read the next book.
Better than the first book. The action is faster the storyline has become more in-deaph. The MC and his main sidekick as well as the synthetic intelligence on now showing more personality. The first book they seem to be cookie cutter cut outs now they seem to be acting like Real people. there is more mystery and entry to the story which is as I said in the previous review the main driver of this book. Because the mystery is deepening I am going on to read the next book.
October 29, 2022
Great read
This book was exciting to read! The storyline line moves along smoothly, even when dramatic shift to the storyline are sprung. Love the direction the storyline is going. How is Earth going to survive? What can they possibly do with the new information without humanity being eradicated?
This book was exciting to read! The storyline line moves along smoothly, even when dramatic shift to the storyline are sprung. Love the direction the storyline is going. How is Earth going to survive? What can they possibly do with the new information without humanity being eradicated?
August 17, 2023
Now we’re getting some meat on the bones of this series. New information about the Overlords. New enemies (allies?) are found and confronted. It’s much clearer what’s happening. The question now is, what can Earth do with the new info? And what will Baker & Irena do next?
I’m on to the next book!
I’m on to the next book!
September 11, 2023
With the shocking revelation that the alien Overlords have been training humanity for a galactic war, the protagonists, Lance and Sofia, must upgrade their squadron to face the formidable Kardons. The story is filled with intense action, well-developed characters, and thought-provoking moral dilemmas. This installment builds upon the series' foundation, offering a captivating blend of military science fiction and space opera. It's a must-read for fans of the genre.
September 16, 2022
Very Enjoyable
As expected this story goes into something I guessed at a while ago but I do enjoy the lead up to it in this book.
With some great tech forthcoming in the next book and a potential further intergalactic reveal I won't spoil for others this is well worth reading.
As expected this story goes into something I guessed at a while ago but I do enjoy the lead up to it in this book.
With some great tech forthcoming in the next book and a potential further intergalactic reveal I won't spoil for others this is well worth reading.
October 1, 2022
Book 3 in the series
These stories keep getting better and better. Baker, Jimenez, and the SIs are back fighting the bad guys. Lots of space battles and plot twists. A great read.
These stories keep getting better and better. Baker, Jimenez, and the SIs are back fighting the bad guys. Lots of space battles and plot twists. A great read.
October 2, 2022
Fast paced... Introduces some great concepts about the future of Earth
This book covers several things from what war really is and how it affects the people involved. To what would you do to protect Earth your nation your friends your family.
This book covers several things from what war really is and how it affects the people involved. To what would you do to protect Earth your nation your friends your family.
November 1, 2022
I'm hooked.
I am totally hooked on this series. ( Although I'd like to have a talk with the author about the movement characteristics of objects in space) There is plenty of action, a good plot and enough snark to keep you amused.
I am totally hooked on this series. ( Although I'd like to have a talk with the author about the movement characteristics of objects in space) There is plenty of action, a good plot and enough snark to keep you amused.
January 14, 2023
Still going strong
I'm not surprised at all on the outcome of this book it's a very good book I able to see how books outcome and get bored with most plots but this book is well worth the effort to get to the next book as the plot is good and the story is believable well written
I'm not surprised at all on the outcome of this book it's a very good book I able to see how books outcome and get bored with most plots but this book is well worth the effort to get to the next book as the plot is good and the story is believable well written
February 6, 2023
This continues to be a really interesting series surrounding the difference between AI and uploaded personalities, rights, and control with space aliens. I'm already well into the 4th book and will likely finish all 6 this week. The books are really hard to put down.
September 9, 2022
Great third book. Story pace kept going and expanding the plot lines increasing the what next and how guesses. Looking forward to book 4
October 15, 2022
Ripping yarn
A good follow on in the series. I am wondering how Baker will face as a diplomat & what dramas will unfold next. Can't wait!
A good follow on in the series. I am wondering how Baker will face as a diplomat & what dramas will unfold next. Can't wait!
December 2, 2022
Well written and exciting story line!
Story is an exciting read with more than enough exciting military Sci-Fi action! Plot twists you will not expect! Hard to put this book down!
Story is an exciting read with more than enough exciting military Sci-Fi action! Plot twists you will not expect! Hard to put this book down!
January 24, 2023
Exceptional
Far and away a gripping tale! This book had many great moments and has left me on the edge of my seat wanting to find out what happens next..... NOW!
Far and away a gripping tale! This book had many great moments and has left me on the edge of my seat wanting to find out what happens next..... NOW!
August 19, 2023
new twist
I continue to enjoy reading this science fiction about the space warfare in the ramifications to the human race. I hope you enjoyed as much as I am.
I continue to enjoy reading this science fiction about the space warfare in the ramifications to the human race. I hope you enjoyed as much as I am.
June 12, 2025
I like
This is a good book and I think it deserves a review of 5 stars despite the requirement of typing a twenty word essay.
This is a good book and I think it deserves a review of 5 stars despite the requirement of typing a twenty word essay.
July 30, 2023
Unexpected
This series is more Interesting than I expected. I'll try to be more open minded in the future. The politics may be more revealing, interspersed with tricky warfare. But then what and why is there warfare without politics...
This series is more Interesting than I expected. I'll try to be more open minded in the future. The politics may be more revealing, interspersed with tricky warfare. But then what and why is there warfare without politics...
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews