The Life and Times of Gunnery Sergeant Jackson Mason: Darkness, Light, and Fire

The war is over. The Republic of New Terra is free. Jackson Mason should be able to rest.

He won't.

Old enemies who couldn't defeat him on the battlefield have turned to assassination and galactic courts. Beyond the borders of the known galaxy, an ancient and ravenous menace has taken notice of this fragile new alliance of former enemies.

The Darkness does not negotiate. It doesn't retreat. It does not mourn its dead. Fielding unending fleets of warships, it keeps coming. Conquest, consumption and genocide is its simple doctrine. They are like the army ants of the galaxy - and they are moving toward the Galactic Alliance worlds.

The Assaurians encountered the Darkness once before, more than a thousand years ago in their deep explorations. A menace that frightened them so much that they built something to stop it. Then locked it away because the power of this new weapon frightened them more.

And standing between the coming Darkness and the Alliance-a battle-hardened Admiral who stumbles into a chance at a new life. A new life with the most extraordinary being he has ever encountered.

An ancient and endless enemy. An ancient and unstoppable weapon. A clash of titans is coming. The galactic community that Mason helped forge from the wreckage of a war of expansionist corruption and lies is in the Darkness's path. The new galactic community must find a way to stand together against something that cannot be reasoned with, bribed, or stopped by any single fleet.

Darkness, Light, and Fire is the second book in The Life and Times of Gunnery Sergeant Jackson Mason - military science fiction of rare emotional depth.

Best experienced after Book One: The Quest for Freedom.

A retired career firefighter/EMT-paramedic/special rescue technician: From a young adolescent to a young adult, he pursued many hobbies and adventures. He was frequently off to some adventure, spelunking, technical rock climbing, and backpacking. Canoeing and kayaking the whitewater rapids of many classes. He was one for an adventure over the usual social structures of those times.When he was not off on one of his pursuits of adventure, he was an avid reader of many of the authors from the science fiction genre. Isaac Asimov, Ray Bradbury, Arthur C. Clarke, Philip K. Dick, Robert Heinlein, and Andre Norton, to name a few.He pursues an interest in amateur astronomy and astrophotography, leading him to build a small roll-off roof observatory in the backyard. He also still pursues an interest in many sciences related to the study and theory of astronomy. Mark is an avid study of world and military history. These interests are most his reading interests and research.The many realities of life encountered in his fire, rescue, and EMS career helped to shape his appreciation for the sanctity of life and its frailty as well. He tries to apply some of these lessons in his writing and fictional worlds."Never go to bed mad at the ones you love! Life's uncaring fate could strip them from you tomorrow. Let go of the petty things and try to leave a legacy behind you of life and good works. This is the only life you get on this Earth, so use it wisely. I've helped to bring life into this world and felt the humbling experience of seeing it leave abruptly." (Mark Jordan, Author and retired career Fire, Rescue, and EMS professional)