Showing results by author "Nick Steverson" in All Categories

Nigel Shirazi, the Speaker of the Merc Guild, knows that war is coming and he’s not ready. He needs to build up the mercenary forces after years of war, and he’s proclaimed the Phoenix Initiative to give people who want to start new companies the opportunity to do so. CASPers are cheaper and financed at lower rates, and the government of Earth is offering bounties to take the mercs from alien races off the planet. Now is the time!

Fifteen outstanding authors. Fourteen extraordinary stories. One best-selling universe. It’s the 22nd century. The galaxy has opened up to humanity as a hyperactive beehive of stargates and new technologies, and we suddenly find ourselves in a vast playground of different races, environments, and cultures. Enter the Four Horsemen universe, where only a willingness to fight and die for money separates humans from the majority of the other races. Enter a galaxy not only of mercenaries, but also of aliens, hired assassins, and accountants. Accountants?

Salvage System is a beacon of hope, and a number of other races continue looking toward it as an inspiration for how to live and govern themselves, and - in some cases - for assistance in defending themselves and throwing off oppressive regimes. But the galaxy is a big place, and many of the races in it aren’t friendly. Would these forces like to take over Salvage System and acquire its resources? Absolutely.

In the late 2020s and early '30s, corporations managed to render the major governments of the world obsolete. The big corporations owned most of the territories as well as the majority of the world's wealth. While many of the old traditions were still observed in various parts of the world, the true power was with the corporations. In the late '30s, what would be known as the Corporate Wars began as larger companies initiated hostile takeovers in a whole new fashion. Employees, armed with corporate weapons, warred for dominance. On May 1st, 2067, it all ended in a nuclear fire.

The quest continues! Dahkal, an eight-and-a-half-foot winged warrior, is undergoing the Imperial Journey of Succession—a quest to learn the art of leadership he must undertake prior to assuming the crown of emperor for his people—and his search for honor and adventure continues, accompanied by his unlikely alien companion, a human named Ryan. But all is not as it seems, as his brother has designs on the crown—plans that don’t include Dahkal returning from his Journey—and he has set in motion a stratagem to take the crown for himself.

Harmon Tomeral and his friends have beaten the odds, time and again, to establish Salvage System as a beacon of hope, and it is seen as an inspiration for how races can coexist and govern themselves. The members of Salvage System have also been instrumental in helping other systems defend themselves and throw off oppressive regimes. But the galaxy is a big place, and many of the races in it aren’t friendly. Would these forces like to take over Salvage System and acquire its resources? Absolutely.

It was an easy job—until the pirates showed up—but ultimately, Dahkal and Ryan completed their contract on the planet Ruul and ended up with the mining rights to the entire planet. But when their new Emerald Dragons mercenary company returned to the Salvage System, they found Dahkal’s sister, Reuan, waiting for them. As only the heir of Shein is ever allowed to leave the Sheinrah System, the question was…why was she there?

Everyone has dreamed about becoming a pirate, from the swashbuckling sea dogs of old to the space-age pirate captain weaving his way through an asteroid field to avoid pursuit. Oftentimes, they’re looking for payback on someone who has horribly wronged them. That’s what Reggie, Maddy, Ed, and Harold have on their minds. Our favorite Joongee are back, and they’re determined to settle a few scores.

Have you ever wanted to quit your soul-sucking hell of a day job, tell your supervisors exactly what you think of them, set the office on fire, jump in your slightly used spaceship and scour the galaxy for lost treasures? Of course, you have. And Reggie, Maddy, Ed, and Harold are no different.

Reggie and his small clan didn’t set out to be privateers. They set out to find the lost pirate ship of Captain Pordobel. When they hit a dead-end in their hunt, though, they contacted their old pirate buddies for help. After all, Pordobel was not only the galaxy’s most fearsome pirate, he was also the galaxy’s richest pirate. If the group can find his lost flagship, there will be more than enough treasure to go around.

Thirteen tales of Horror, perfect for a dark and stormy Friday the 13th…or a sunny Tuesday afternoon. From science fiction to classic European horror, interwoven with layers of creep factor, gore, and mystery that will keep you listening…and looking over your shoulder.