Review: Book Review of The Phoenix Conspiracy
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 04 20, 2012
Wow! I am in that paradoxical space of being delighted I finally finished the book and being frustrated that it is over. The Phoenix Conspiracy fits into a classic science fiction pattern touching on fantasy with werewolves and vampires that were genetically engineered by rogue scientists. Primarily it is a mystery story about one man's search for truth concerning what caused decorated, career Captain Asari Raidan of the Imperial Starship Phoenix to go rogue and fire on allegedly civilian Rotham ships, destroying three of the four.After Captain Raidan surrendered to the Fifth Fleet. He then admitted his guilt to the charges without any defense for his actions. Lt. Commander Calvin Cross, Captain of the phantom-class stealth warship IWS Nighthawk, found himself more baffled that ever. It didn't make sense.Captain Raidan was headed to prison aboard a dreadnought called the Harbinger, when suddenly the Harbinger changes course and escapes its escort. The chase is now on to find the dreadnought and Raidan. When Captain Cross finally gets invited to bring his intelligence ship into the hunt, he focuses on answering the mystery about Raidan's unexplained actions. His personal search eventually puts him at odds with his orders and with his new executive officer, Summers Presley.Commander Presley adds a lot of dimensions to the story as she is a by-the-book Naval Fleet while Cross runs a very casual, friendly ship under Intelligence's command.This book ends with that mystery partially solved but a bigger one needing answers in Book Two: The Phoenix Rising.