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DAEDALUS SQUAD—SWIC Squad drop from Low Earth Orbit

The Daedalus Files Vol 3

by Robert G. Williscroft

Daedalus Squad - Robert G. Williscroft
Editions:Kindle - First Edition: $ 1.49
ISBN: B07ZJVMPMQ
Pages: 62
Hardcover - First Edition: $ 13.95
ISBN: 978-1947867635
Size: 6.00 x 9.00 in
Pages: 64
Paperback - First Edition: $ 4.95
ISBN: 978-1947867628
Size: 6.00 x 9.00 in
Pages: 64
Audiobook - First Edition: $ 3.95
ISBN: B081JVRJ4X

After his successful proof-of-concept drop from Low Earth Orbit (LEO), Tiger Bailey's squad undertakes the next step in the development process of the Gryphon hardshell wingsuit, a coordinated drop from LEO by six team members. They tried to plan for every conceivable contingency, however, Mother Nature intervened with disastrous results.

Published:
Publisher: Fresh Ink Group
Illustrators:
Cover Artists:
Genres:
Tags:
Tropes: Born Hero, Fellowship, Person in Distress, Quest, Space Pilot, Training
Word Count: 12300
Setting: Earth, South Pacific, LEO, San Diego, Death Valley
Languages Available: English
Series Type: Same Universe / Various Characters
Tropes: Born Hero, Fellowship, Person in Distress, Quest, Space Pilot, Training
Word Count: 12300
Setting: Earth, South Pacific, LEO, San Diego, Death Valley
Languages Available: English
Series Type: Same Universe / Various Characters
Excerpt:

8,000 METERS ABOVE DEATH VALLEY

“What the fuck was that?” someone yelled. It sounded like Jerico Rodriguez—a bit of Hispanic twang. Then I  heard a loud crunch as my heads-up display went crazy.

“Shit!” I yelped as my hardshell wingsuit commenced rolling hard to the right. Mother automatically torqued my wings to compensate but without much success. I activated my hypergolic rocket, but nothing happened.

I cleared the alarms in my heads-up display and moved them to the right corner. I could see my squad in formation behind me as I lost altitude on a rolling plunge from 8,000 meters. Chief Douglas Slade’s blip moved above my position.

“You got a hole the size of Cappy’s head in your right wing,” he said, referring to Petty Officer First Class Ronald Caplan. “You ain’t got no UDMH left.”

“Tell me about it,” I muttered.

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“I got a problem here, Control,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady. I briefly described my situation. “I need some immediate help to get out of this.”

COLLAPSE
Reviews:Alastair Mayer, Author of The T-Space Series on Amazon editorial review wrote:

More space-going SEAL action from Robert Williscroft. "Tiger" Baily, the wingsuited, space-jumping hero of Williscroft's SWIC Daedalus Files, has the stakes upped once again as his whole team makes a jump from orbit in Daedalus Squad. This time they're leaving nothing to chance and have already simulated every possible bad-news scenario they can think of. Too bad nature can come up with something they didn't think of. Another fun ride, if your idea of fun includes death-defying action.

Prof. John B. Rosenman, Norfolk State University Former Chairman of the Board, Horror Writers Association Author of The Inspector of the Cross Series on Amazon editorial review wrote:

Robert G. Williscroft's Daedalus Squad brilliantly advances the missions that readers encountered in the fi rst two stories of the SWIC Daedalus Files. This time, a six-man squad in improved wingsuits launches into Low Earth Orbit and travels around the globe before landing. Its purpose is to do it eventually under combat conditions. As you might expect, something is bound to go wrong with this training mission, and it does, leading to a tense conclusion. The near-future scientifi c and technological detail here is thoroughly convincing. The space hardware involved, especially the improved Gryphon-10 Mk 4 wingsuit might actually come off the assembly line in a few years, awaiting its fi rst occupant. As in the author's previous stories, maps show the global paths of the men and make it easy to follow their progress in space. At times, you even feel you're along for the ride.

Dr. John R. Clarke Author of The Jason Parker Series on Amazon editorial review wrote:

Daedalus Squad is the latest in a series of tales by Robert G. Williscroft, centered around an experimental Navy SEAL team, the SEALS Winged Insertion Command (SWIC), exploiting a futuristic space launch system to reach Low Earth Orbit--without a rocket.

That technology was well explained in Williscroft's previous novel, Slingshot. The SWIC Daedalus Files concern the development of special combat operations with easy access to space.

As with most experimental research, in Williscroft's stories, there are challenges--and mishaps galore. In this storyline, with humans hurtling around the Earth at orbital velocities, there is precious little room for error. Controlled re-entry of a human body is even riskier. All of that riskiness translates into an exciting read.

Aside from the thrills inherent in such feats of heroism, this story is educational. If you've wondered how orbiting spacecraft maneuver to change orbits, or rendezvous with other orbiting bodies (in this story, literally human bodies), Daedalus Squad will reveal enough of the lingo to help you search online and find out how it's done.

That education alone adds an unexpected dimension to this treasure of a story. You will definitely want to read this one and the next offering in the SWIC Daedalus Files.

Dr. Dave Edlund USA Today Bestselling Author The Peter Savage Thrillers on Amazon editorial review wrote:

The Daedalus adventures . . . follow Slingshot, delivering exciting and thought-provoking sci-fi entertainment through the voice of Tiger.

Alastair Mayer, Author of The T-Space Series on Amazon editorial review wrote:

More space-going SEAL action from Robert Williscroft. "Tiger" Baily, the wingsuited, space-jumping hero of Williscroft's SWIC Daedalus Files, has the stakes upped once again as his whole team makes a jump from orbit in Daedalus Squad. This time they're leaving nothing to chance and have already simulated every possible bad-news scenario they can think of. Too bad nature can come up with something they didn't think of. Another fun ride, if your idea of fun includes death-defying action.


About the Author

Dr. Robert G. Williscroft is a retired submarine officer, deep-sea and saturation diver, scientist, author, and a lifelong adventurer. He spent 22 months underwater, a year in the equatorial Pacific, three years in the Arctic ice pack, and a year at the Geographic South Pole. He holds degrees in Marine Physics and Meteorology and a doctorate for developing a system to protect SCUBA divers in contaminated water. A prolific author of both non-fiction, submarine technothrillers, and hard science fiction, he lives in Centennial, Colorado.

Dr. Williscroft is a member of Colorado Author’s League, Independent Association of Science Fiction & Fantasy Authors, Science Fiction Writers of America, Libertarian Futurist Society, Los Angeles Adventurers’ Club, Mensa, Military Officer’s Association, American Legion, and the NRA, and now spends most of his time writing his next book, speaking to various regional groups, and hanging out with the girl of his dreams, Jill, and her two cats.