Mission SRX

Before Space Recon

Fiction - Science Fiction
59 Pages
Reviewed on 01/19/2017
Buy on Amazon

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Author Biography

Matthew D. White is originally from a small farming town in rural Pennsylvania. He holds a degree in electrical engineering from The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina, and currently serves as an officer in the United States Air Force. He currently resides with his family outside of Boston.
An avid reader of science fiction, military history, particle physics and technology, Matt develops his stories in such a way as to be fantastic in scale, but at the same time retain a degree of realism that is missing in many contemporary works.
In addition to writing, Matt is an experienced woodworker, musician and adventure racer.

    Book Review

Reviewed by Rosie Malezer for Readers' Favorite

Mission SRX: Before Space Recon is the first book in the Mission SRX series written by Matthew D. White. As the crew of the U.S.C. Defiance – a space ship designed to haul cargo between Earth and Sol Bravo – makes their peaceful way to a designated destination, an unknown force disrupts their equipment, throwing the U.S.C. Defiance off course. Little does the crew know that an Aquillian space ship nearby, feigning assistance to the U.S.C. Defiance, has sparked an ambush against the cargo ship. As the ship’s hull is breached and the body count begins, the crew sends out an SOS, while utilizing every possible resource they have to survive the attack. The ensuing bloodbath reveals the shocking motive behind the ambush, as the crew does all they can to protect its precious cargo and alert their rescuers to the imminent danger which lies ahead for all mankind.

Matthew D. White’s hard-hitting, sci-fi thriller, which acts as a prequel to the brutal war between interplanetary species, is filled with suspense and packs a powerful punch with each turn of the page. Every action portrayed in this short story is well-written and quite graphic, painting a clear picture in all respects, whether of the controls and layout of the space craft or the brutal execution of each crew member. While I am not generally a fan of sci-fi, I found Mission SRX: Before Space Recon positively riveting in the explosive, non-stop action which takes place between crew members with a seemingly simple job of cargo delivery, and an enemy alien species which will stop at nothing to seize what is on board. The portrayal of ruthless, blood-thirsty killers, which ambush those who are trained to protect their cargo and nothing more, is spine-chilling. I enjoyed Mission SRX: Before Space Recon and recommend it to sci-fi fans who enjoy apocalyptic tales which reveal unsung heroes and true warriors.

Jack Magnus

MissionSRX: Before Space Recon: Book 101 is a galactic empire science fiction novella written by Matthew D. White. Lieutenant Commander Warren Hughes knew his current command assignment was a modest accomplishment, to say the least. The Defiance was no state of the art battleship; rather, it was little more than a glorified cargo tug, a first-generation civilian freighter that had been modified for the military. He was still its captain, however, and there would be plenty of time for him to get those coveted assignments to real battleships or frigates. For now, he would have to be content with the current mission of The Defiance -- delivering supplies to the colonists and outposts scattered throughout the empire. Sol Bravo was the outer reaches of his route; it was the first system discovered to have sentient life. Hughes' vessel had had some limited contact with the Aquillians, but that would soon change, and change dramatically. The Defiance was off-course, and their emergency broadcast would make matters even worse for the captain and his crew.

Matthew D. White's hard military science fiction novella is an original and exciting first contact thriller that pits a heroic captain and his crew against an implacable alien enemy. While this story is relatively short, White fully develops the three story lines that comprise its plot. The reader gets to see the perspectives of not only Lieutenant Commander Hughes and Lieutenant Kael of one of the outposts waiting for supplies from The Defiant, but also that of the Aquillians, who are convinced they are acting for their very survival against an invading empire. The battle scenes are well-enacted and authentic and the action takes place at breathtaking speed. MissionSRX: Before Space Recon is highly recommended.

Gracie Bradford

Mission: SRX Before Space Recon - A Short Story by Matthew D. White introduces the reader to a war between aliens and humans. The acts of engagement in a defensive warfare are very graphic throughout the story. The action that takes place between the bored crew and the surprise attack from aliens keeps the reader on the edge of their seat, especially when the team is not trained to be fighters but only to deliver medical cargo. Little did the team know the enormity of their cargo until during the attack. The story carries a message of heroes finding things inside of themselves that they did not know they had.

This 59-page short story whets your appetite for what is bound to come in the series; drama, excitement, suspense, and wild imagination. While the characters are developed enough for this short story, I can’t wait to see what the author will do with them in the series. The captain’s demeanor just jumps right out at you. The shipmates showed tremendous courage and teamwork to protect the remaining humans as well as the unknown cargo. While the aliens showed strength and tenacity in not backing down but forging forward to obtain what they came for at any cost, reading about the battle puts you on the edge of your seat with anticipation. The author’s tug of war between humans and aliens are like no other I have read recently. The book seems to be the beginning of a series that sci-fi fans will love and come back for more, especially the impending war to come. Great start to a great series.