Shadow Ops 3: Breach Zone Read online

  Copyright © 2014 Myke Cole

  The right of Myke Cole to be identified as the Author of the Work has been asserted by him in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

  Apart from any use permitted under UK copyright law, this publication may only be reproduced, stored, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means, with prior permission in writing of the publishers or, in the case of reprographic production, in accordance with the terms of licences issued by the Copyright Licensing Agency.

  First published as an Ebook in Great Britain

  by Headline Publishing Group in 2014

  All characters in this publication are fictitious and any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

  Cataloguing in Publication Data is available from the British Library

  eISBN: 978 0 7553 9402 9

  Map by Priscilla Spencer

  Cover illustration © Larry Rostant

  HEADLINE PUBLISHING GROUP

  A division of Hachette Livre UK Ltd

  338 Euston Road

  London NW1 3BH

  www.headline.co.uk

  www.hachette.co.uk

  Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright Page

  About the Author

  Praise

  Also by Myke Cole

  About the Book

  Dedication

  Map

  Chapter One: It’s Good To Be Home

  Chapter Two: Second Chance

  Interlude One: Pariah

  Chapter Three: Operational Preparation Of The Battlespace

  Chapter Four: Underway

  Chapter Five: Hold What You’ve Got

  Interlude Two: Sheepdogs And Wolves

  Chapter Six: More With Less

  Chapter Seven: The System And The System

  Interlude Three: New Game, New Rules

  Chapter Eight: Parley

  Chapter Nine: Diplomacy

  Chapter Ten: Don’t Give Up The Ship

  Interlude Four: Business Proposition

  Chapter Eleven: Burden of Command

  Chapter Twelve: Flushed People

  Interlude Five: Lunch

  Chapter Thirteen: What’s A Traitor?

  Interlude Six: Our Little Secret

  Chapter Fourteen: Big Fish

  Chapter Fifteen: Reunion

  Interlude Seven: Thus Always To Wolves

  Chapter Sixteen: Call To Arms

  Interlude Eight: Takedown

  Chapter Seventeen: Old Friends

  Chapter Eighteen: Embassy

  Chapter Nineteen: Cry For Help

  Interlude Nine: Beyond The Pale

  Chapter Twenty: Try The Bad Guys

  Interlude Ten: Unleashed

  Chapter Twenty-One: Push

  Epilogue: Horse Trading

  Appendix: Magic In The Shadow Ops Universe

  Glossary of Military Terms, Acronyms, And Slang

  Acknowledgments

  About the Author

  As a security contractor, government civilian and military officer, Myke Cole’s career has run the gamut from Counterterrorism to Cyber Warfare to Federal Law Enforcement. He’s done three tours in Iraq and was recalled to serve during the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. All that conflict can wear a guy out. Thank goodness for fantasy novels, comic books, late night games of Dungeons and Dragons and lots of angst-fueled writing.

  www.mykecole.com

  Twitter: @MykeCole

  Praise for Shadow Ops: Fortress Frontier:

  ‘For fans of military fiction and fantasy, the Shadow Ops series is the best thing going. Not reading it would be a crime against good fiction’ Staffer’s Book Review

  ‘[Cole] proves that an action blockbuster can have heart and emotional depth, while never skimping on the fireworks and explosions’ Fantasy Faction

  ‘Propulsive . . . Highly entertaining . . . Reads like an intense game of Dungeons & Dragons’ Kirkus Reviews

  ‘This action-filled adventure holds the reader’s attention with occasional glimmers of hope that someday the oppressed magic-users might finally force those in power to respect them’ Publishers Weekly

  ‘It is a book that will have something for fantasy readers of every kind and pays homage brilliantly to Tolkien’s legacy . . . Myke Cole is an absolute gift to urban fantasy and military fantasy sub-genres’ Fantasy Book Critic

  ‘Fortress Frontier is everything this particular speculative fiction geek loves, but better . . . [It] is a force of nature. It is a breathtaking roller-coaster ride. It is an artistic tour de force. Cole’s no-nonsense prose pulls you in and takes you for a ride through high-paced action and astonishing conflicts both military and political’ The Ranting Dragon

  ‘This book is awesome. Seriously, if you haven’t bought it already, I suggest that you make Fortress Frontier your next book purchase. This is one heck of a whirlwind ride . . . Myke Cole’s Shadow Ops series is quickly becoming the best that military fantasy has to offer. Top-notch stuff’ The Founding Fields

  ‘Very much recommended’ Civilian Reader

  ‘With the imaginative magic, deadly creatures, and alien landscapes as varied and well-written as before, Fortress Frontier massively benefits from this new main character stepping into the spotlight. Bookbinder is quite sympathetic as an administrator who is suddenly torn from his family and thrust into a seemingly impossible situation where he must step up as both a leader and a soldier if he’s to survive’ Examiner.com

  ‘There are some truly surprising twists and turns . . . If you enjoyed Myke Cole’s debut, you should love this sequel’ Tor.com

  ‘This generation’s The Forever War . . . Myke Cole is the most exciting SFF author to come along since Joe Abercrombie’ Neth Space

  ‘The action is again pretty much nonstop, the narrative is tense, energetic and above all convincing’ SFBook Reviews

  ‘There is not a dull moment to be found within the pages of Shadow Ops: Fortress Frontier. Action-packed, smart, and entertaining’ Pat’s Fantasy Hotlist

  Praise for Shadow Ops: Control Point:

  ‘A great book’ Patrick Rothfuss, New York Times bestselling author of The Wise Man’s Fear

  ‘Hands down, the best military fantasy I’ve ever read’ Ann Aguirre, USA Today bestselling author of Perdition

  ‘Fast-paced and thrilling from start to finish, Control Point is military fantasy like you’ve never seen it before. Cole’s wartime experience really shows in the gritty reality of army life and in the exploration of patriotism as the protagonist wrestles with the line between the law and what he sees as right’ Peter V. Brett, international bestselling author of The Daylight War

  ‘Cross The Forever War with Witch World, add in the real-world modern military of Black Hawk Down, and you get Shadow Ops: Control Point, the mile-a-minute story of someone trying to find purpose in a war he never asked for’ Jack Campbell, New York Times bestselling author of The Lost Fleet series

  ‘Control Point is a fun, engaging read, one that draws upon a vivid military action and a unique take on fantasy’ SF Signal

  ‘Myke Cole takes you downrange where the bullets fly and the magic burns with precision-guided ferocity that’ll put you on the edge of your seat before blowing you right out of it’ Chris Evans, author of the Iron Elves series

  ‘Control Point . . . sees the beginning of something new and awesome: guns ’n’ sorcery. Blending mili
tary fiction with urban fantasy, this novel was an absolute blast to read – action packed, tightly written and plotted, intense, and utterly gripping’ Civilian Reader

  ‘Realism is tightly interwoven throughout Cole’s writing, giving the book such power . . . A nonstop thrill ride that’s almost impossible to put down’ Fantasy Faction

  ‘An intense masterwork of military fantasy that grips you from start to finish until your eyes practically devour the words as you approach the thrilling ending . . . Whether you’re a fan of superhero fiction or military thrillers – heck, even if you like your epic fantasy with elves and goblins – we absolutely recommend you give Control Point a read’ The Ranting Dragon

  ‘[Cole has] created a military urban fantasy for the twenty-first century, with all of the complexity and murky gray areas that entails. The action is sharp and vivid’ Tor.com

  ‘A solid and entertaining novel: a really kick-ass premise/milieu and potential for many stories to be told . . . Cole has launched a solid series that I hope to continue reading’ sffworld.com

  ‘Shadow Ops: Control Point is both entertaining and thought provoking; just one of those would make it a good novel, but the combination is what makes it a great one’ Far Beyond Reality

  In the Shadow Ops series and available from Headline:

  Control Point

  Fortress Frontier

  Breach Zone

  Note

  A glossary of military acronyms and vocabulary can be found at the back of this book.

  About the Book

  The Great Reawakening has left Latent people with a stark choice: either use their newfound magical powers in the service of the government, or choose the path of the Selfer, and be hunted down and killed by the Supernatural Operations Corps.

  For Lieutenant Colonel Jan Thorsson – call sign Harlequin – the SOC is the closest thing to family he’s ever known. But when his efforts to save thousands of soldiers leads to the impeachment of the President, he’s suddenly cut off from the military and in the same position as his rival Oscar Britton, an outcast criminal who is leading the fight for Latent equality.

  This latest schism is perfect for the walking weapon known as Scylla, who is slowly but surely building a vast and terrible army. The Selfers and the SOC will have to learn to work together if they are to have any chance of preventing a massacre. Because this time they won’t be facing her on a dusty battlefield far from home. This time, Scylla is bringing the fight to the streets of New York.

  For Gotham, whose shadows gave me a hero,

  a crucible, and, at long last, a home.

  Chapter One

  It’s Good To Be Home

  My predecessor’s involvement in the Shadow Coven and FOB Frontier scandals has shaken the public’s faith in honest government, and rightly so. But this is no time to point fingers. Former President Walsh will have his day in court, and like all of you, I am looking forward to seeing the truth come out. Today is a day for looking forward, for starting down the road to restoring the people’s faith in their government, in matters of arcane security in particular. Today, I recommit myself to enforcing the provisions of the McGauer-Linden Act with total certainty, severity, and transparency.

  – Vice President Howard Porter on his inauguration as president following the impeachment of President Walsh

  Swift eased up the hood of his sweatshirt and kept his head down. The crowds in the Financial District were thick at lunch-time, hundreds of people with eyes on the pavement, on their way to grab cigarettes or food, or to run errands in the few precious minutes they had before heading back to their desks, the richest slaves in the world.

  Swift sighed internally. He’d never been comfortable among the corporate wage serfs who made up most of the city, but a big crowd was best. It was easy to get lost in the throng, one more data point in a stream, nothing to draw the eye.

  He felt his magical current thrumming. The scar of his ruined tattoo itched on his chest, an old reminder of older fights. He’d won them all and somehow still lost. His girlfriend, his baby were still gone, the man who’d killed them still alive.

  He’d had Harlequin dead to rights, had looked down the barrel of a gun straight into his old enemy’s eyes.

  The moment had hovered, time frozen as Swift faced a pair of choices, each resulting in very different people. He’d let Harlequin go, watched him walk away, still breathing, and hoped the person he’d chosen to be was the better one. Even all this time later, he still wasn’t sure.

  He moved through the crowd, keeping his elbows in, not wanting to draw attention to himself by shoving anyone out of the way. At last, South Ferry Terminal hove into view, the water of the bay sparkling beyond.

  Oscar Britton had wanted him to stay in the Source, to build a new life in the goblin village. Swift had insisted Britton send him back. The Supernatural Operations Corps had taken everything from him – his life, his love. They wouldn’t take his home.

  He’d found the broken remnants of the Houston Street Gang, the band of magic-using revolutionaries deemed criminals for their refusal to submit to government control. Criminals or no, they’d bloodied the government’s nose for years until the SOC had replaced their beloved leader, Big Bear, with a monster. The deception caught them completely unawares, and the SOC had broken their spine, scattered them to the winds.

  The survivors spent the intervening months hiding in the homes of sympathizers, trying to rebuild what they’d lost when Big Bear had turned out to be . . . someone else. Months of jumping at shadows, of desperately hoping the SOC had bigger fish to fry.

  But Swift found time to come down to the water every day, to give himself a few minutes to look out over the glassy surface, to feel the breeze slide over his ears, whispering in his hair. Sometimes, he imagined it was his girlfriend Shai, speaking to him from beyond the grave.

  Of course, it wasn’t all fun and games. Swift allowed himself a quick glance around to make sure no one was watching, then headed back toward the posts that ringed the entrance to the South Ferry subway station.

  He saw the can beside the third post, only got close enough to confirm it. Beer. Britton would be coming tomorrow. No can meant no visit. A soda can meant they’d been found out and had better run.

  Swift made a mental note to tell the others. Britton promised that the moment would be coming when they could finally step out of the shadows, live free and open, but each time he visited, the answer was always the same: Be patient, wait. Things were taking time.

  Most of the gang worshipped Britton, they would have waited until Judgment Day if he asked. But Swift was one of a growing number who were getting tired of waiting, and he still wasn’t sure that Britton could be trusted. If Britton didn’t . . .

  Screaming reached him from uptown. It sounded like a lot of people. The crowd raised their heads, began moving north, bunching together, trying to see what the trouble was.

  Swift cursed and went with them. He wasn’t going to risk being the only person on the waterfront for the cops around the ferry terminal to grow suspicious of. Besides, curiosity was getting the better of him. He’d allow himself to go as far as Bowling Green, then disappear into the station once he’d gotten a look at what was going on. The tall buildings rose around him as he moved north, gray-white façades ornate with decorative stonework evoking Gothic cathedrals and European palaces. He glanced at the suit of the man in front of him, the fabric so fine that it nearly glowed. Such unimaginable wealth. So far beyond his reach. Not because he was lazy, not because he was stupid. Because he was Latent. Because he wouldn’t knuckle his forehead and kill at the government’s bidding. I never had a chance, Shai. Just like you. I’m sorry.

  The crowd moved up past the entrance to the subway, and Swift went with them, driven more by curiosity than anything else, walking up Broadway until the crowd slowed to a stop as they turn
ed onto Wall Street.

  A shout echoed through the corridor formed by the buildings, followed by a sound like overripe fruit being smashed against stone.

  The crowd stopped and began to surge backward, the people around him shouting. Swift fought to hold himself upright as they jostled against him, carrying him backward. He stumbled once, almost went down, was held up by the tight packing of the bodies around him.

  It would be so easy to use his Aeromancy, to Bind his magic and rise above the panicked mob. But he couldn’t risk it. To be discovered now would be to undo everything he’d fought for since he’d escaped the Suitability Assessment Section. He Drew his magic anyway, kept it ready, just in case. It rushed to him, rising in his own gut, buoyed by the panicked crowd. He could feel his heart racing and struggled to calm it. Limbic Dampener would have made the process easier, but only the SOC had access to the expensive drug. He’d fought against the SOC during his long tenure in the SASS, but he had learned this much from them: Skill beat will. Panic helped no one in a crisis. He centered himself, kept his cool, felt his magical tide recede to a low throb, still present and ready.

  The crowd broke, parting to either side, streaming into the alleys, leaving the street clear before him.

  The street ahead was dominated by a shimmering curtain of air, large as a cathedral door, bending and wriggling like a heat mirage. Another crowd of people stood frozen around it, staring in disbelief as the shimmering patch blackened at the edges. The black faded to green, and the curtain peeled wider, smoking as if a hole were rotting through the very air.

  The stink reached Swift even where he stood, making him gag as the curtain rotted wider, and the first creatures stepped through and out onto the street. They were small, brown humanoids, no bigger than large children. Their ears were pointed, their noses long and hooked. They mostly clutched swords and spears, but a few brandished guns. The crowd finally broke, running as the goblins came on and on, an endless flood of them, many riding wolves the size of small ponies. One of them hefted a spear and threw it at one of the fleeing traders. It caught the man in the shoulder and sent him to his knees, screaming, as blood began to spread across his white shirt.