Apollos Thorne

Codename: Freedom - Book 4 - Chapter 38 part A

How? We spend the first half hour just trying to figure out all the different ways we could approach solving this problem. I got things started by asking about the benefits and drawbacks to relying so much on our psionics during combat. The most important question that came of the discussion was whether training with gear that enhanced our psionics slowed our advancement or not. It was something we needed to find the answer to, and fast. Thankfully, we had Peter and Victoria to fall back on.<...

Codename: Freedom - Book 4 - Chapter 37

My session that day with Krato was a continuation of the day before. I wasn’t sure how much better he was expecting me to be on the second day, but there was no violent chastening, so I guess I passed. As for questions, I stuck to a few follow up ones to just clarify things in my mind. Maybe it was wrong to hold off the type that prove significant, but I’d already offended him on the first day so I’d play things safe for a few days.

“Lucius? Or should I say, Major?”

“H...

Quick Update

I've scrapped part 2, or b, seeing as it really is redundant. Next Codename chapter should be up tomorrow. 

Cheers!

Codename: Freedom - Book 4 - Chapter 36

Being officially recovered was no excuse to not spending the night in the recovery chamber. I had physical training I needed to keep up with and mastering the hovering exercise Krato gave me was not something I had any intention of putting off to later. While there I could recover my psionic energy much quicker, so training anywhere else was far less efficient. I still spent some time on the exercises Peter and Victoria had taught me and cycle through my psionic notes. It would help me keep e...

Codename: Freedom - Book 4 - Chapter 35

The cavern was dark, but night vision through my headset made the room as clear as day. Freedom’s training was once again paying off. The manticore was curled up against the far wall like a sleeping dragon. Dragon probably would’ve been a better word to describe the beast.

We’d been needing to test rank E psionics against it, and I’d finally recovered enough to give it a shot. I had only recovered half of my psionic energy in the recovery chamber, but it should be enough.

...

Codename: Freedom - Book 4 - Chapter 34

I continued struggling to remain in the air while fighting to stay on the platform without a word from Krato. He hovered in a relaxed state and didn’t move an inch in any direction. It seemed unfair at first glance. His entire fighting style revolved around Othisi. Peter had called him a push specialist, and I’d confirmed it when fighting him. I knew he had access to his aura and inner walls, but it was likely that was it, though I hadn’t yet been able to confirm it. So this was his ele...

Codename: Freedom - Book 4 - Chapter 33

“He-w—what?” I stammered.

Victoria stepped between us, placing her hand on mine to get me to slowly lower my sword. “He is Krato,” she explained, “or what we call an elite. The Ekseliksi’s special forces.”

I glanced to the alien to see him bow his head in response to the title. Even after I’d attacked him, he was showing nothing but self-control—almost reverence. Only one thing made sense. He knew who she was. I calmed down almost immediately.

“Earth ha...

Update

Tweaking a few things for the next chapter. Should have it up late tonight or in the morning. If in the morning, then I'll probably have two up tomorrow. We're getting into training, but also some big reveals about the Ekseliksi. I'm working on making sure I spread out the info in a way that's logical, works with the pacing, but also doesn't reveal too much too soon. 

*Rubs hands together* Here we go.

Quick Update

The next chapter should be up Monday just to give everyone a heads up.

Cheers!

Update

Hey guys,

This update will kind of reflect the last one. My family had just gotten over being sick. Well... So just after that, we came down with covid.  On top of that, we had recalled peanut butter and didn't know it for a few weeks. My wife had received a text from the grocery store, but what we had wasn't on their list. Then after a few weeks of discrepancies between symptoms and my daughter getting over covid then getting sick a second time, we went to the manufacturer website...

Codename: Freedom - Book 4 - Chapter 32

I made note of the soldier who had died and planned on giving him a nice bonus for his sacrifice. His mistake was one that any of us could’ve made. He hadn’t known what to expect and was simply too slow to react.

Mel’s men ran into the second manticore soon after the first. This time they weren’t playing around. Sending two runners, they tossed a few bolts and got the monster to chase after them. Then they reached a wider part of the same tunnel. More than twenty casters were wa...

Codename: Freedom - Book 4 - Chapter 31

The tunnel leading into the cavern was only wide enough for a squad of men to stand shoulder to shoulder. Five men advanced with their shields interlocked. A swarm of microdrones had entered first without engaging the enemy. They were in position surrounding the manticore.

“Before we engage, I want an assessment of every common damage type,” I said flatly.

“Executing micro-assault,” Destiny replied.

The moment the last word left her artificial mouth, the drones surro...

Codename: Freedom - Book 4 - Chapter 30

Standing at the top of a hill with my six captains, we looked at the cave opening in the rockface. It was wide enough for a surface shuttles, land/air hybrid vehicles that looked like the beak of a mountain size bird. The shuttles we used were mainly for transport. Nine of them easily carried my six hundred men.

Destiny’s glowing chassis hovered a few yards overhead, from where she was relaying info. “This is the Prime Sim’s version of Copper Three. A high-yield copper mine of rea...

Codename: Freedom - Book 4 - Chapter 29

When the time had come for me to leave Vanguard, I simply stayed put. Destiny had access to the version of herself outside my cube. No one came to force me to leave, so I kept training. I had to admit it was a relief to have some semblance of control over my free time again. Free time was training time.

Keeping the energy inside me dormant wasn’t as easy as it sounded. Since the body and psionic energy had a natural synergy, even the most basic movements could cause energy to churn li...

Codename: Freedom - Book 4 - Chapter 28

Once inside the Psionic Recovery Chamber, I found myself in a sealed off walkway that led to the main chamber. Only when the door shut behind me did I feel the pressure in the room change. The door to the inner chamber opened and I slowly entered in. I immediately noticed the contrast between the inside and outside walls. Externally, it looked like a common off white industrial building with a seamless construction. Inside, the domed room’s steel skeleton was hidden behind smart panels. The...

Codename: Freedom - Book 4 - Chapter 27

Porting into the Vanguard sim, I arrived in a wide open room with a white glowing ring that reached from wall to wall. I wasn’t alone. Even as I finished phasing, others were arriving around me. I already wore my basic psi-wrap body armor and pshield refinement belt. My headset was also present and active. I received a heading from Destiny.

Since I hadn’t had a chance to speak with Victoria, I sent her a message. She didn’t respond right away. That wasn’t a concern. I just wante...

Quick Update

There should be a chapter of Codename posted Thursday and Friday. Possibly Saturday as well, but both of my kids have birthday parties this week. We should get the basic setup complete for the next arc and into the meat of it next week.

Cheers!

Codename: Freedom - Book 4 - Chapter 26

Entering my cube, I’d informed Destiny I had every intention of entering the bandit simulation Achilles had gifted me. It was really just a customizable training sim. The one Achilles used himself. Because of the new freedom we’d received after our first event in Vanguard, she was able to port me in without entering the Prime sim. I stood in a three level pagoda. It was sparsely decorated since it only served one real purpose—training.

I dismissed my artificial Ekseliksi opponent ...

Codename: Freedom - Book 4 - Chapter 25

I'd say it's about time we get started with the rest of book 4. What do you say? :D

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I noticed the height of the Jungle from a distance. It was five or six stories high and nearly as wide as it was tall. It looked like a giant box of concrete with only a few slots for windows on its upper half.

Destiny was still keeping mostly to herself, but she was still observing me enough to notice what I was focused on. A little box popped up with an arrow pointing to the building�...

Update!

What’s taking so long?

Family sickness is the main thing that has been slowing me down over the last few months. It started in about October. Every year around October the kids get sick at least once. This year it just hasn’t seemed to stop. There have been some more serious issues, but nothing life-threatening. We’re coming out of a lot of it, I hope.

On a personal note, I work out a lot while writing CF, go figure.  Recently, within the last month or ...

Codename: Freedom - Book 4 - Chapter 24

As soon as I opened my eyes, I knew something wasn’t right. I woke with people in white coats surrounding my cube’s platform. I was lying there groggy as if waking from a not so restful sleep.

“Destiny?” I said, my voice coming out in a dry-mouthed whisper.

“Here,” she replied. Her round purple drone flew across the room to hover before me. “Don’t worry. You overused your psionics so instead of waking up right after the battle, you’ve been out.”

“How lo...

Heaven's Laws - Audiobook Preorder!

The Heaven's Laws Audiobook Preorder is Live!

Narrated by: Cindy Kay, David Shih

Release Date: - 01-18-22

Length: 35 hrs 2 mins

4.8 out of 5 stars 

980 ratings

Big Thanks to Cindy Kay and David Shih for their wonderful work!

Summary

The apex of the martial arts calls out. It challenges all to ascend....