Firebreak – Kathy Tyers

He had just lost someone under his authority, albeit not for the first time. He bowed his head and let the cruel, familiar wrench run its course. Years ago, when he’d led Delta Flight, a wingman had died. He glanced around the command center. Night shift was departing, day shift tagging their counterparts and taking their places. He rubbed his forehead, taken by a memory of Tierna Coll, Glin-Erris’s aunt. Her authoritative voice always rang through the high chamber where the Regional Council met.

Her nephew had now died in Federate service. It was a sad blow. A blow to the mission, as well. Glin-Erris had been their key diplomat on board the ship that called itself Monu. Shel still had the highest epsilon strength, Uri the most experience in an intelligence capacity, and Mari’s courage was unmatched. Those still were his assets. But Mari must not venture down that corridor, and she was the likeliest to attempt it.

They were talking. He stilled his thoughts. Uri spoke toward the bright ceiling. “Monu, whenever we have tried to become more than human, we have always become much less.” It was a gracious thing for a Sentinel to say. And Daken plainly found it irresistible. “I agree,” he said loftily. Firebird glared. Uri barely paused. “We must refuse that honor, as you call it,” he said, “although we believe you mean it generously. There is another way in which you could repay us for whatever fuel you need.

Let us begin a more meaningful discussion.” Yes, that shielding information. Firebird folded her hands and kept quiet. Uri had diplomatic experience. He would have a better chance of gathering information, including obtaining those shields for Federate engineers, while getting the rest of them back to Netaia alive. Monu spoke again. “Two of you have already become more than human, as you call it.

I have observed you speaking to each other using communication the others plainly do not hear.” Firebird sent Shel an alarmed glance. Could Monu detect subvocalizing? Monu’s tuneless voice spoke again. “Also, all of you use advanced remote technology to speak with your compatriots back on Netaia.” She paused once more. “I have seen in your broadcasts that you crawling things honor the emptied shell, once the person leaves it. I shall return the shell of Ambassador Glin-Erris Coll to you.

Please honor it however you wish.” Uri had gone silent, so Firebird set down her kass mug and stood up. “Are there others of your kind, Monu?” “I am the last.” Chilled, Firebird hesitated.

“An exhilarating space opera from master storyteller Kathy Tyers, Firebreak blends political intrigue, technology, faith, deft prose, and an incredible cast of characters to whisk readers away on the year’s most exciting sci-fi adventure. Readers, rejoice: Firebreak is Tyers’s triumphant return to the Firebird universe.” —Tosca Lee, New York Times best-selling author of The Line Between “Tyers creates science fiction with true heart and soul. Her characters drew me along on space voyages and planetary dangers, confronting me with universal questions and challenges that were amazingly relatable to this earthbound reader.

Truly an extraordinary book, with powerful and deep thoughts, convicting and beautiful.” —Sharon Hinck, Christy Award Hall of Fame author “A glorious return to the Firebird universe! Compulsive and riveting, Firebreak is a powerful probe of loyalty to one’s beliefs, the power of love and faith, and a daring foray into what it means to be human—and inhuman.

Kathy Tyers is a master storyteller, and this story has perfect pacing and utterly addictive characters. There is a reason Tyers is my writing hero—and this spells it out page by immersive page. Absolutely enthralling!” —Ronie Kendig, award-winning author of The Droseran Saga “Firebreak is a masterwork of science fiction. As a longtime fan of the Firebird series, it defied my expectations.

The premise is fascinating and unique, the narrative is compelling and thoughtful, and the characters are well-drawn and lifelike. I enjoyed it from start to finish!” —Kerry Nietz, award-winning author of Frayed and Amish Vampires in Space “The Firebird series is one of a handful of grand space opera stories that spurred me to embrace my dream of writing science fiction.

What a delight, then, to revisit Firebird herself, Sentinel Brennen Caldwell, and the same beloved cast of characters from Netaia and the Federate Worlds in this fantastic tale. Tyers’s heartfelt characters merge seamlessly with bold, effortless worldbuilding that brings this fictional universe to life. Firebreak is a breathtaking showdown between old traditions and a sinister new threat that could spell the end of human life as the galaxy knows it.”

This is a short excerpt from the opening of “” by Unknown, quoted for review and introduction purposes. All rights belong to the copyright holders.

Book Information

• Unique ID: c1cd8bb16f221eae
• File Extension: .pdf
• File Size: 3,701,044 bytes (3.53 MB)
• Title: –
• Author: Unknown
• ISBN: 9798886052503, 9798886052527
• Pages: 314
• Language: English (en)

Reading & Word Statistics

• Estimated Reading Time: 485.19 minutes
• Total Words: 97,039
• Total Characters: 576,844
• Average Words per Page: 309.04
• Average Characters per Page: 1837.08

Most Frequent Words

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