The UnderCurrent Saga [Sci-fi, Space Opera, Military]

Welcome to the UnderCurrent!The UnderCurrent is a series of books spanning the length and breath of the UnderCurrent solar system, a war torn collection of human attempts to colonise the stars. The books are divided into small sets of volumes that are standalone from one another, allowing a reader to start with UC V1, ζ, GUK or Templar V1 entirely based on which sounds the most interesting, with all entries contributing greater context to each other and towards an overall universe that grows more detailed by the day.Primarily focused on the various wars of the Third Age, a time when weapons and space warfare were constantly in flux. A unique and brief period in history, but one that would be long remembered as the stage was set for the domination of combat mecha; for machines that could allow a single person to change the course of everything. What to Expect; Daily chapters for the main book release, followed by bi-weekly extras (short stories, tie-ins and appendixes!). For Templar, I plan to release all chapters across a weekend or two coming soon! UC is now a seven book strong sci-fi world with a detailed history and places. These main four books and addition volume of shorts under this RR entry follow the main events of the universe's Third Age. A sequel of three more volumes (4-6) will one day be released right here, but as of right now Volume 3 is a pretty hard ending so you can consider this a complete saga to be binged with the bonus of more to someday follow! Additionally is the Templar books, set briefly after volume 3 and focusing on a legendary knight. Reading Order; As the UnderCurrent series continues to expand I've decided to order it chronologically. If you'd like to read it in release order instead, you can start with Volumes 1-3, then read ζ, followed by Templar. The fifth book is a series of short stories, since Royal Road only allows a chapter to be in one volume at a time, these are placed chronologically with the other four books, rather than having a dedicated volume tab. I'd recommend stating with either ζ -- a single volume space opera nearly 150k words long -- or with Templar (Coming August 2026) -- a much shorter set of novels designed to be very mecha beginner friendly. There is also the number UnderCurrent volumes 1-3, however while the story and content in these is set in stone, these are older books now and need revising to be on par with the grammar, structure and prose of the others. Finally, there is also a spin-off rom-com novella with no space battles or mechs in sight if that sounds more appealing, also here on Royal Road.Whether you pick at random, chronological or otherwise, you have my thanks and I hope you enjoy! UnderCurrent ζ - Blurb; When humankind first took to the stars, full of wonder and determination, did they ever imagine they would stall? Fall scraping and clawing at one another in low orbit, never truly escaping their home’s suffocating reach. Kiyo Kigen is a man who seeks to rectify his people's suffering. Chas Collins is a young man in the way. When the two meet a course is set in motion that will affect the lives of all.     A viscous guerrilla war is unleashed on the solar system as 'Remembrance' is born kicking and screaming at an ill prepared States Union. When three state of the art Casnels are stolen by Kigen's forces, it is up to the likes of Chas to face them head on. Can a way out for anyone be found, or is this merely another chain in an unending cycle of tragedy? Templar Volume 1 - Blurb;Amidst a brutal, never-ending war, one hero stands above all others as a beacon of hope: The Knight Templar – pilot of a towering mechanised crusader, its cape billowing, armour gleaming white and sword aflame – an unstoppable protector of the weak, an ace among aces. But behind every hero is a valiant maintenance crew. Kris Umanu seeks to be an integral part of that crew, a person the one true hero they believe in can lean upon.    With the war growing ever more delusional, a new doomsday plan is uncovered that threatens to wipe out the fragile resistance of Remembrance entirely. Can Kris and the rest of the warship Caravel's crew come together to prevent this threat, or will even The Knight Templar be engulfed in an unescapable inferno? Can a hero really exist in a war of tragedies? UnderCurrent Volume 1 - Blurb;The two women couldn't seem much further apart – Teacher and student, specialist and novice, of noble birth and with no family at all – But when brought together with the rest of the Battleship Am-Fluchtig's fledgling crew, perhaps they will have more in common than first thought.     The ships of the Tristian Flotilla are gathering, a dangerous submarine is already on the move, and it will all come to a head at the sight of a mechanical moon.The UnderCurrent has begun transmitting... Now on Royal Road! This is my own original work, with obvious inspirations from the likes of Mobile Suit Gundam, Dune, 1984, Evangellion, Grimgar and anime in general. All ideas and concepts shown are my own, though I do Parody some things. A fair amount of research has gone into many of the topics in this book, but I am by no means an expert in any.I'd love to share some of the research I've come across on mecha, living in Space, and amputees. Amputees in particular is a worthy topic we should all be more educated on - You may find this video link a brief intro into that world; https://youtu.be/piiFI8QafHs Thanks for reading!