When Burn Cycle: A Cry Pilot Novel - Book 2 ended, Anvil Squad had not only identified the source of the lampreys as a remorted version of the A.I. Sweetwater, but Kaytu even dealt the lamprey queen a deadly blow that ended the threat. Sure, the queen managed to launch units into space before Anvil got the job done, but that isn't their problem. The Cry Pilot squad is a bunch of ground troops and space is for Flensers, like their sometimes-squadmate Rana, and what left the atmosphere is their problem, right? Normally, that would be true, but it seems the Corporate Military has a reason to haul these particular groundhogs into the void to help continue the fight against Sweetwater.
The new threat of crystalline remorts that Sweetwater sent into space have proven themselves more than a match for the space-based branch of the military, and while they don't expect Anvil Squad to tackle the overwhelming threat head-on (even though that is what they do best), they do need the Cry Pilots to collect a weapon that is in development. The only problem is, the station that is creating the weapon is also really close to where the remorts are amassing. So why Anvil Squad? Because they are the only people that might be able to pilot an experimental ship that bears a lot of design similarities to CAVs. Like the fighters that Anvil pilots, the LYDIAD was designed by the A.I.s and there are enough similarities in the interface for the top brass to think that Anvil Squad might actually be able to activate and fly the ship.
Anvil's mission seems pretty straightforward. Get into space. Learn to fly the LYDIAD. Sneak past enemy lines. Get the weapon. Deliver it to its destination. Of course, nothing will go as planned and each member of the squad will find themselves in more than one tough situation before the story plays out, and many of the plot lines that have been building since the first book come to their inevitable conclusion.
Among these story arcs is Kaytu's continued struggle between his past and the person he is trying to be. This, along with his recent actions to protect a friend, and that same friend's growing technopathic abilities, means Kaytu will find himself facing even more difficult decisions, the least of which involves Kaytu once again having to decide between the mission and his friends' well being. In the past, Kaytu has chosen his friends, but will he continue to eek out victories while keeping those closest to him safe?
Kill Orbit: A Cry Pilot Novel - Book 3 feels like the final chapter to a solid trilogy, and if that is the case, then Dane has designed and executed a fascinating tale. If, on the other hand, this isn't the end for these characters, then I can't wait to see what Dane does next. If you are jonesing for a military sci-fi series that takes place in a dystopian future, then you will definitely want to check out the Cry Pilot series. From start to finish, it was a fun read with tons of action.
