Bane of the Dead (Seraphim Revival Book 1) by Jacob Holo

appears the Grendeni have made an advance we lack. We’re still analyzing its capabilities, but it could make these archangels very dangerous in close combat.”
    The display flicked to a new image showing the vast cylindrical girth of a Grendeni colonial schism. Several small specks of copper light maneuvered in the space around it.
    “The Grendeni schism Righteous Anger .” Vorin let out a disdainful snort at the name. “This schism appears to be the base of operations for the archangel field tests.”
    “Is one of our exodrones tracking the schism?” Quennin asked.
    “No. I will elaborate on that point in a moment,” Vorin said. The single external feed switched to what had to be an industrial area within the schism. Row after row of archangels were lined up outside a factory that curved with the schism’s inner wall.
    “How did we ever get images from inside the schism?” Seth asked.
    “That is why I have requested your presence here,” Vorin said. “Pilot Elexen. Pilot S’Kev. The source of these images is Pilot Jack Donolon.”
    “ WHAT ?” Quennin exclaimed. “I beg your pardon, Sovereign, but did I hear you correctly?”
    “Yes, Pilot S’Kev. After all this time, we have received our first contact with Pilot Donolon.”
    Quennin clasped Seth’s hand tightly. Their eyes met. “Jack’s back,” she whispered, smiling excitedly.
    Seth didn’t know what he felt. Joy, of course. The three of them had grown close in the years before Jack’s departure. But Seth had long given up hope of seeing him again. He felt numb with emotions he had buried long ago and forgotten.
    “It would be good to see him again,” Seth whispered, then said aloud, “What is he doing on a Grendeni schism?”
    “Apparently, he convinced them he has defected over to their forces,” Vorin said. “Pilot Donolon used his relationship with the traitor Dominic Haeger to gain their trust.”
    Zo smirked. “Now that is clever. And rather typical of the Grendeni. So quick to betray. So quick to assume betrayal in others.”
    “Is it possible he really has defected?” Seth asked. Out the corner of his eye he saw Quennin shaking her head. True, Seth found it almost impossible to suspect Jack of treachery. However, circumstances warranted an explanation.
    “I do admit this behavior upon his return is unusual,” Vorin said. “The Choir suspects he has a personal goal in this. After all, none of us know why he originally left. But at this time the Choir can see no possible motives for treachery.”
    Vorin looked to Seth and Quennin expectantly, but the two pilots merely shook their heads.
    “We have been separated for too long, Sovereign,” Seth said. “I can offer no insight.”
    “Of course. Regardless, his actions have proven quite advantageous to us. We now possess considerable data on the archangel program. In fact, he is scheduled to give us an update momentarily.”
    Quennin squeezed Seth’s hand. Seth knit his fingers with hers and squeezed back.
    “Could these messages be faked?” Zo asked.
    “Doubtful,” Vorin said. “Hypercast codes match Pilot Donolon’s personal seraph. To fake these transmissions, the Grendeni would have to capture his seraph intact. A daunting task indeed.”
    Quennin leaned over and whispered into Seth’s ear. “We’re going to see Jack again.”
    Seth smiled, letting some of his own excitement leak through. Indeed, he was probably happier than Quennin to hear he’d returned. Seventeen years had passed since Jack’s sudden and unexplained departure from the solar system.
    Seth recalled his last conversation with Jack aboard the Scion of Aktenzek . Jack had seemed distraught, perhaps even frightened. The three previous years had been painful for Jack. Psychological scars from the merger with his seraph ran deep, but Seth and Quennin had supported him every step of the way. Those trials had brought the three of them amazingly close together.
    And so it was a shock when Jack departed