Now this is what I call a sequel! And not just because you absolutely have to have read 'The Degan Incident' first to get the full impact of exactly what is going down in this book, but because it takes some of the ideas and events from that story and really builds on them. I remember one of the main characters (Dr. Aron Adler) as a good guy from the first volume and that made me want to find out what happened to him, so this was a nice continuation. The other part that made it so enjoyable was the deepening of the world building, giving me a much closer look at some of the background and the degree of evil that goes on behind the scenes. Beyond that, 'The Cassini Mission' is action-packed, tension-soaked, and stars another very hot romance on top of everything else.

Aron was one of the doctors who helped Devin when he first found out he was pregnant (in book one). As it turns out, Aron is a xenobiologist, meaning he researches alien species. That is also the reason he is called to join the crew of the spaceship Casssini on a rescue mission. He is not happy about this: he doesn’t think he is qualified, nor does he see why they need a xenobiologist to rescue a group of researchers on the edge of the galaxy. And after his court martial (for insubordination) and having been booted out of the Union Navy he really doesn't want to have to work with them again – they all despise him. The aggression and outright contempt he faces as soon as he is reinstated for the purpose of the mission and enters the spaceship are severe. Thank God for Kane!

Kane is one of the Marines on the mission, tasked with protecting Aron and two other scientists as they attempt to rescue the team nobody has heard from in six weeks, and extract any useful data while they are at it. He is one of the genetically engineered soldiers who survived the last war, and much of his behavior is pre-programmed. It was interesting to see him struggle with that fact and trying to figure out what was him, and what was his "programming". He is too intelligent to do anything without using his brain though, and that made him a great ally for Aron. Kane may be protective and possessive, but that is exactly what Aron needs in this situation.

As soon as the team lands on the planet where the research team was doing their top secret stuff, the proverbial sh*t hits the fan. Nothing goes as expected, obstacle after deadly obstacle stands in their way, and what they discover at the core of it all is truly horrific. Not just because the type of research that was going on is highly illegal, but because the intrigue and subterfuge around it means the powers that be will not want anyone to survive the extraction of people or data. It's a mess of truly galactic proportions.

If you like your science fiction with lots of action and objectives that seem impossible to achieve, if you enjoy reading about a scientist who loves working in the lab but instead has to pair up with a very hot super-soldier if they want to survive, and if you're looking for a great sequel to 'The Degan Incident' that will pull you more deeply into Rob Colton's vision of the future, then you will probably like this novel. Its feel is very different from the first book, yet it's an ideal addition to the series. Bring on the next volume, Rob!


NOTE: This book was provided by the author for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
( )