Second Chances

First Command, Book 2

De: Michael Simon

Narrado por: Ryan Kennard Burke

Humanity’s war with the Coven is going badly.

Fleet simply doesn’t have the ships or the manpower to counter the alien’s vast reserves, so Cole Jackson is hauled out of his self-imposed exile and ordered back to the front. The Admirals are gambling on a miracle; that he and his crew can repeat the success of his First Command by repairing vessels and sending them into battle. And maybe snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.

Fleet has been gathering damaged and deserted ships in a remote system on the edge of human-controlled space. Without transport, Jackson’s crew must travel on an obsolete military simulator, without shields or weapons. When they run into a Coven warship, it’s all Jackson can do to keep them alive as both ships crash-land on the planet.

In a running battle with cyborg warriors, Jackson must avoid alien patrols, build rudimentary weapons, and cobble together some type of ship that would see them escape the death planet and change the course of the war.

Book 2 of a science fiction thrill ride about a crew of young soldiers mustering the courage to fight back against both a vicious alien enemy, and the terrifying void of being stranded in space. It's perfect for fans of Daniel Gibbs, J.N. Chaney, and Vaughn Heppner!

©2025 Aethon Books (P)2025 Aethon Audio

Seatbelts?

Most of the injuries are from not inventing seatbelts. Like a 5 point harness removes most injuries.

As advertised a group of young engineers overcoming obstacles

Too many highly unlikely rescues, depressing amounts of cruelty. They take a great captain and send him to scavenge a fighting vessel when his tactical expertise is non pareil? Also, a LASER beam laying waste to an entire settlement? Like to see better Science in this fiction, less cruelty and exploding Scotsmen.

Not as good as the first.

I really enjoyed the last book but this one has fallen flat for me. I won't drop big spoilers, but listening to space navy folks badly try ground warfare was almost painful. The former Hoods crew have a really weird skill set when they know know and accomplish such fantastical feats while at the same time missing so many basics.

firetruck

Firetruck yah just that great book great reader love it 15 word minimum...... damit I am not a big talker

More like a spinoff

Not nearly as good as the first one; there is more drama and just unbelievable characters

military ships without hand weapons

see above no hand weapons and the enemy with Spears ridiculous at this moment in time there should have been some awesome weapons

Missed opportunity

Technically, I’d say Second Chance was written better than the first book. Unfortunately; there are a lot of problems with Simon’s writing. I think the biggest one - being a lazy writer.

There are often inconsistencies with characters and how the tech works. The Alien foe lacks personality and what character traits are presented are also inconsistent and contradictory.

Glaring plot problem - H2S Hydrogen sulfide, is a heavier than air gas, while it is true the gas has a sulfurous oder, those exposed to it never realize they are being exposed to H2S as it fatigues olfactory senses almost immediately upon exposure.

All that to say, taking refuge in a subway would make for a very short book. Something I would expect a physician to know.

Second Chance, was a very repetitive book, until the very end where Simon blew past multiple opportunities to write several very good scenes.

Against my better judgment I’m moving on to Trinity.

Utterly boring

Terrible story and writing, the mindless adolescent conversations go on for tens of minutes. I’m at a loss as to how stuff like this can even get published. I’m most of the way through but I fast forwarded a lot. This one goes on the trash heap.