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First Command #1
First Command
An alien attack leaves him stranded in space. He must survive, rebuild, and rejoin the war.
Fresh out of the Academy, Ensign Cole Jackson’s first posting to Freedom couldn’t have come at a worse time. All over the Alliance, planets and colonies are suddenly under attack by the vicious Coven Empire.
Freedom and her sister ship, Hood, are ambushed by alien warships, leaving Hood drifting dead in the void.
Cole is ordered to salvage parts from the powerless Hood, but when he arrives on the unpowered hulk, Freedom is called away, marooning him and a group of malcontent techs in deep space.
With the timer on survival ticking down, Cole must find the confidence to take control, whip his tiny crew into shape, bring Hood back to life––repairing communications, propulsion and even weapons.
He's got one chance to transform the derelict ship into a combat-ready vessel. One he can take into battle and alterthe course of the war.
Don't miss the start of this space opera 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!
Fresh out of the Academy, Ensign Cole Jackson’s first posting to Freedom couldn’t have come at a worse time. All over the Alliance, planets and colonies are suddenly under attack by the vicious Coven Empire.
Freedom and her sister ship, Hood, are ambushed by alien warships, leaving Hood drifting dead in the void.
Cole is ordered to salvage parts from the powerless Hood, but when he arrives on the unpowered hulk, Freedom is called away, marooning him and a group of malcontent techs in deep space.
With the timer on survival ticking down, Cole must find the confidence to take control, whip his tiny crew into shape, bring Hood back to life––repairing communications, propulsion and even weapons.
He's got one chance to transform the derelict ship into a combat-ready vessel. One he can take into battle and alterthe course of the war.
Don't miss the start of this space opera 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!
588 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 25, 2025
1285 people are currently reading
2268 people want to read
About the author
Michael Simon
2 books40 followersMichael Simon is an award-winning Canadian author and physician, specializing in science fiction, military science fiction and fantasy. His “First Command“ and “Extinction“ series will be published in 2025. In addition to these 5 novels, Michael has a large repertoire of published short stories, medical articles, and travel logs.
To support his writing addiction, Michael works as a Family Physician on Canada's East Coast. He is a member of the Physician Advisory Board for The Medical Post and a Health Columnist for CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation) Radio. Outside working hours, Michael enjoys spending time with his growing family and playing hockey, where he can, occasionally, still put the puck in the net.
To support his writing addiction, Michael works as a Family Physician on Canada's East Coast. He is a member of the Physician Advisory Board for The Medical Post and a Health Columnist for CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation) Radio. Outside working hours, Michael enjoys spending time with his growing family and playing hockey, where he can, occasionally, still put the puck in the net.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 79 reviews
June 12, 2025
My tastes are the Expeditionary Force series, Bobiverse series, The Last Hunter series, The Empire Rising series and Galaxy's Edge series so you understand what I like. This first book in the series is up there. I like the constant action, there is always something to do, save, fix, stop, kill etc. I like the tension, I like the disregard for science and just call it an engine without trying to explain how it works and I like the attempts at humour. If you like the same books I read, this one is worth adding to your collection. The plot is centered around a fresh Ensgin out of the Academy and he gets saddled with command of a busted starship. He and his team of academy graduates go from there to save the day. In reality the story is written as though they are far more mature and experienced than someone who really would be fresh out of the Academy but lets not let that get in the way of a good read. I couldn't put it down, it appealed to my sense of entertainment.
May 8, 2025
game of cat and mouse
August 28, 2025
Bristfällig dialog, haltande metaforer, mycket upprepning och överförklaring, men det åsido ett kul rymdäventyr för grabbarna.
March 12, 2025
No stop
Once you start this book there is no stopping. Non-stop action from beginning to end. However, it is war. People and friends die in war and a lot of good people die in this one as well. Thus, the end is bitter-sweet.
Once you start this book there is no stopping. Non-stop action from beginning to end. However, it is war. People and friends die in war and a lot of good people die in this one as well. Thus, the end is bitter-sweet.
March 22, 2025
In a 1 to 10 it is a strong 15+
I have been reading science fiction for 50 years and this book was one of the best I ever read. I feel bad that the book ended. This book was action packed in the best possible way. Michael Simon thank you for wonderful ride.
I have been reading science fiction for 50 years and this book was one of the best I ever read. I feel bad that the book ended. This book was action packed in the best possible way. Michael Simon thank you for wonderful ride.
August 12, 2025
Military SciFi, meh! There are Many better examples of the genre:
A choice of treason by JL Doty.
Poor Man's fight by Eliot Kay.
To honor you call us by Paul Honsinger.
Enders Game.
Old Man's War.
these are legit 5-4 star military SciFi books
A choice of treason by JL Doty.
Poor Man's fight by Eliot Kay.
To honor you call us by Paul Honsinger.
Enders Game.
Old Man's War.
these are legit 5-4 star military SciFi books
April 1, 2025
Amazing amazing book.
I could not stop reading this amazing book. Would recommend it to anybody that likes these kind of books. And now I am going to start on the second one. Michael Simon please keep on writing books like this.
I could not stop reading this amazing book. Would recommend it to anybody that likes these kind of books. And now I am going to start on the second one. Michael Simon please keep on writing books like this.
May 19, 2025
This is an edge of the seat action packed book that you will find hard to lay down.
This is a great action packed multiple story line science fiction well written that holds your attention. One of the best I have read in a while.
This is a great action packed multiple story line science fiction well written that holds your attention. One of the best I have read in a while.
May 29, 2025
Great read!!
Tops for plot, action, and character development!! Best book i have read in years. Worth your time and money, buy the book the Author earned it.
Tops for plot, action, and character development!! Best book i have read in years. Worth your time and money, buy the book the Author earned it.
September 1, 2025
Always looking for new authors to read. I really enjoyed this one and cant wait to finish the series.
May 26, 2025
An exciting and eventful opportunity for a recently graduated ensign to command a starship. With minimal crew, actually a salvage team, they came together to become the most successful ship in the fleet against a ruthless invader.
I still wonder, however, how a space vessel can list or how the floor can be at an angle in artificial gravity.
I still wonder, however, how a space vessel can list or how the floor can be at an angle in artificial gravity.
May 28, 2025
very engaging story
I started reading this because it showed up in my recommended list. It exceeded my expectations and I’m looking forward to the next story.
I started reading this because it showed up in my recommended list. It exceeded my expectations and I’m looking forward to the next story.
March 14, 2025
good read
The last few books I read weren’t good enough and I was getting desperate! This book finally gave me that adventure against all odds… the underdog, the handicap and defying death at all cost!
The last few books I read weren’t good enough and I was getting desperate! This book finally gave me that adventure against all odds… the underdog, the handicap and defying death at all cost!
June 14, 2025
Loved it, the characters, the action and the story.
August 11, 2025
Excellent! A junior officer thrust into command who kicks ass with great instincts! On to the sequel!
May 24, 2025
A great science fiction load of entertainment
One of the best science fiction novels I have read. I only hope that the sequels will be as good .
Pity the heroine had to go missing though.
Maybe the author is making room for a new one.
One of the best science fiction novels I have read. I only hope that the sequels will be as good .
Pity the heroine had to go missing though.
Maybe the author is making room for a new one.
May 15, 2025
keep reading.
It’s a slow start but keep with it. No spoilers here but commanding others will always be hard. War is harder.
It’s a slow start but keep with it. No spoilers here but commanding others will always be hard. War is harder.
March 26, 2025
Won this in a giveaway! Honestly, I wasn't expecting much but I gave it a shot because I wanted to get into science fiction again, but this blew me away. It's hard to impress me with alien science fiction -- I am a firm nonbeliever -- but this one was pretty good. Reminds me of star wars. 5 stars. Yay!
March 11, 2025
This was really good. I wasn’t expecting much but it turned out to be a really good page turner. Similar to DJ Holmes or Rosone and Watson. Will definitely read book 2 in the series.
March 24, 2025
A great read
I really enjoyed this book, though for the life of me I have never understood why safety harnesses aren't employed lol. I am looking forward to more adventures of this cast of characters.
I really enjoyed this book, though for the life of me I have never understood why safety harnesses aren't employed lol. I am looking forward to more adventures of this cast of characters.
May 7, 2025
Exciting Read
I almost gave it 4 stars because, in my experience, some of the idiots that ended up on the Hood wouldn't have made it into the service except as Army grunts. Porter is an example.
Otherwise, it was a fast read that kept my interest, regardless of the improbability of Hood not blowing up.
I almost gave it 4 stars because, in my experience, some of the idiots that ended up on the Hood wouldn't have made it into the service except as Army grunts. Porter is an example.
Otherwise, it was a fast read that kept my interest, regardless of the improbability of Hood not blowing up.
March 21, 2025
Excellent
And yes I've ordered the next in the series. It was one looong fight but I won't make any comments that might give away... It was truly a "can't put it down" read. 🙂
And yes I've ordered the next in the series. It was one looong fight but I won't make any comments that might give away... It was truly a "can't put it down" read. 🙂
May 7, 2025
An outstanding sci-fi adventure.
If yo love space battles that will leave you on the edge of your seat? This book is for you.
Great characters with realistic situations and lots of action.
This is a real page turner.
I look forward to the next one.
If yo love space battles that will leave you on the edge of your seat? This book is for you.
Great characters with realistic situations and lots of action.
This is a real page turner.
I look forward to the next one.
April 30, 2025
loved it.
Space opera high adventure. I loved this book. Read it in a day. On to the second. There is one decision near the end I don’t agree with and I hope the author retconns it.
Space opera high adventure. I loved this book. Read it in a day. On to the second. There is one decision near the end I don’t agree with and I hope the author retconns it.
April 28, 2025
never hopeless
Whatever was thrown at them, the crew overcame the odds and survived. This was a hard story to put down.
Whatever was thrown at them, the crew overcame the odds and survived. This was a hard story to put down.
March 23, 2025
Good story with flaws
This is a compelling story, but it seems like it was written with AI. Slege hammers breaking metal bulk-heads. Missile become torpedoes and then go back. There seem to be some logical holes like how the damage ship can see everything, but other alli ships can't see the same thing. The ships' movement through space is inconsistent with speed and distance. That being said the characters were compelling, and the premise of the story was good.
This is a compelling story, but it seems like it was written with AI. Slege hammers breaking metal bulk-heads. Missile become torpedoes and then go back. There seem to be some logical holes like how the damage ship can see everything, but other alli ships can't see the same thing. The ships' movement through space is inconsistent with speed and distance. That being said the characters were compelling, and the premise of the story was good.
April 25, 2025
Really great sci-fi
Best sci-fi saga I have read in a long time. Real and believable characters, lots of inter personal development and inter action, plus plenty of action. Lovers of old style space based epics should read this. The only negative is the chapter titles in Latin. Dove me nuts and a real pain in the a$$.
Best sci-fi saga I have read in a long time. Real and believable characters, lots of inter personal development and inter action, plus plenty of action. Lovers of old style space based epics should read this. The only negative is the chapter titles in Latin. Dove me nuts and a real pain in the a$$.
April 25, 2025
Very good book
Light and agile. Really easy to read. I can not wait to red the next in the series.
I recommend this book and the author.
Light and agile. Really easy to read. I can not wait to red the next in the series.
I recommend this book and the author.
April 22, 2025
Fast pace, fun read, worth a read
Lots of twists, no win situations, and engaging characters.
I did however get really tired of everyone falling out of their command center chairs and getting busted up... Safety restraints were apparently not yet discovered lol.
Lots of twists, no win situations, and engaging characters.
I did however get really tired of everyone falling out of their command center chairs and getting busted up... Safety restraints were apparently not yet discovered lol.
June 17, 2025
Too long of a review. Sorry, it’s just that exiting of a book!
This book has screwed up my reading list. I can’t just stop with this first book in this series. I’m going to get the second book, “Second Chances”, immediately and begin reading it, because, well, because it’s just that good!
Talk about an exciting and well written book of an entirely impossible situation. We start out with Ensign Cole Jackson right out of the Academy and assigned to the *Freedom*. As an Ensign, he knows he’s not going to be doing a whole lot of exciting stuff on his very first ship. He just hope he can make it to his second ship with maybe, well, a promotion someday. His buddy is Ensign Sergei Cruz and he’s just came from the Academy also. The only difference between the two, well there’s a lot of differences, but Cole is a Bridge Officer while Sergei was an Engineering Officer and their third friend, Arnie Erikson was the same, an Engineering Officer. The latter two didn’t understand why Cole was interested in always looking at the stars. They thought he was missing something when he didn’t find engines enticing.
So, Earth has discovered something call transdimenstional travel which allows starships to go far beyond the Solar System and far faster than anyone ever thought possible. Earth and colonized numerous planets and well, things were going just splendidly for everyone except the fleet. They had nothing really to do but travel the shipping lanes looking for pirates or whatnot, until that all changed very, very quickly.
Cole and Arnie were assigned emergency stations in Auxiliary Control but today Arnie was taking Cole’s shift so Cole could take in the sights of his new ship. See he had been assigned loading cargo on a space station for the last month as penance for breaking some rules at the Academy. It was lucky that he hadn’t been kicked out because Cole was know to kind of overlook certain rules he deemed unnecessary. But, right now he and Sergei were trying to enjoy a good breakfast on the mess decks. Until the klaxon started going off and the Captain announced, “Battlestations”!
So Cole and Sergei head to Auxiliary Control only to feel the ship start to buckle and jump like it’s not supposed to do. They don’t know what’s happening nor why. When they do finally get to Aux Control, they find it almost destroyed, with a lot of the consoles on fire and injured personnel all over the place. Cole says they’ve got to help so he starts going through the room seeing who’s alive and what help they can provide. Cole then gets on one of the working consoles and begins tapping into the bridge and bringing up bridge sensors, which happens to be agains regs from where he’s at.
Cole eventually gets the sensors up only to see an alien ship firing on the “Freedom”. Meanwhile more stuff is blowing up around him and the fires are getting worse. Cole has to do something but that means gains access to targeting controls on the bridge. Will the Captain see that and stop him from taking action?
Captain Keren Malcolm knows her ship is in terrible trouble. She’s already fought off one alien ship that attacked without warning, but this last ship was getting ready to destroy her ship if she didn’t get something done. She barely had steering control but her Fire Control console was dead. Yet, someone had fired off the “Freedom’s” lasers from Auxiliary Control. What she did notice was that the only lasers working were the forward lasers. Somehow they had to get this alien ship in front of them so they could engage with the only laser she had.
Cole had fired the lasers hoping that someone on the bridge would see they were working. He knew the alien ship was closing from the stern so he hope the Captain or someone would figure out his plan. And it seems they did. The *Freedom* surged ahead with the alien ship coming up very fast. Then the “Freedom” stopped! The alien ship dived to avoid the collision and when on ahead of the “Freedom” to its doom. Cole had Sergei fire the lasers just as soon as the alien ship got right in front of the *Freedom*. With that done, Cole went about searching through Auxiliary Control only to find his friend Arnie dead under one of the exploded consoles. Cole was grieving for his lost friend forgetting about what had happened to him. He was burnt badly and was having trouble seeing out of one eye. Sergei wasn’t doing much better but he was still moving around.
So, this is just the beginning of this story. We have a long, long way to go, but it’s not on the “Freedom”. No Ensign Cole Jackson has something else that will take him away from the “Freedom”. His Captain found out who was operating in Aux Control and basically saved her ship so she orders him to take command of a salvage crew to go aboard their sister ship, the “Hood” and see what they can come back with as spare parts. The “Hood” wasn’t so lucky as the “Freedom”. She was basically destroyed and as now 2nd Lieutenant in command of an away team, Cole was determined to do the best job he could and get back to the “Freedom” with vital repair parts. Of course he took along Ensign Sergei Cruz because the Captain said he could. Strangely, the shuttle pilot assigned to this mission was a Lieutenant Flarity. She wasn’t happy with the fact that she was in command of this away team, but orders were orders.
So, now we find Cole and Sergei going to a beat-up hulk looking for things to repair the “Freedom”. Hopefully, they don’t have any more aliens showing up, but that’s not a given. The Captain of the “Freedom” has received word from Fleet HQ that this has been a system wide attack along a huge front. The Fleet has suffered greatly. They need her ship back in fighting order and ready to be assigned a new mission. So, Cole and his team have to get busy. The first thing that run into is having to move the frozen corpses of the dead crew of the “Hood” into storage compartments that will keep them preserved. They can’t do anything for the hundreds of bodies blown out into space which include all of the bridge crew. Cole has his job cut out for him and Lieutenant Flarity still isn’t sure he should be in-charge.
But he is and then he’s really in-charge! The “Freedom” has been ordered to go to another system and assist in its defense. Captain Malcolm tells 2nd Lieutenant Jackson to continue collecting spare parts and they’ll return when they can. But, as you’ll read, that doesn’t happen. So, what does 2nd Lieutenant Jackson do with his first command? It’s going to get real exciting. The only bad part is that this book ends in a very, very hard to take place. That’s why I can’t stop reading the series and will have to adjust my entire reading list just to put this 2nd book next.
I’m sure you’ll enjoy reading this book and book 2, “Second Chances”, now available on Amazon.
This book has screwed up my reading list. I can’t just stop with this first book in this series. I’m going to get the second book, “Second Chances”, immediately and begin reading it, because, well, because it’s just that good!
Talk about an exciting and well written book of an entirely impossible situation. We start out with Ensign Cole Jackson right out of the Academy and assigned to the *Freedom*. As an Ensign, he knows he’s not going to be doing a whole lot of exciting stuff on his very first ship. He just hope he can make it to his second ship with maybe, well, a promotion someday. His buddy is Ensign Sergei Cruz and he’s just came from the Academy also. The only difference between the two, well there’s a lot of differences, but Cole is a Bridge Officer while Sergei was an Engineering Officer and their third friend, Arnie Erikson was the same, an Engineering Officer. The latter two didn’t understand why Cole was interested in always looking at the stars. They thought he was missing something when he didn’t find engines enticing.
So, Earth has discovered something call transdimenstional travel which allows starships to go far beyond the Solar System and far faster than anyone ever thought possible. Earth and colonized numerous planets and well, things were going just splendidly for everyone except the fleet. They had nothing really to do but travel the shipping lanes looking for pirates or whatnot, until that all changed very, very quickly.
Cole and Arnie were assigned emergency stations in Auxiliary Control but today Arnie was taking Cole’s shift so Cole could take in the sights of his new ship. See he had been assigned loading cargo on a space station for the last month as penance for breaking some rules at the Academy. It was lucky that he hadn’t been kicked out because Cole was know to kind of overlook certain rules he deemed unnecessary. But, right now he and Sergei were trying to enjoy a good breakfast on the mess decks. Until the klaxon started going off and the Captain announced, “Battlestations”!
So Cole and Sergei head to Auxiliary Control only to feel the ship start to buckle and jump like it’s not supposed to do. They don’t know what’s happening nor why. When they do finally get to Aux Control, they find it almost destroyed, with a lot of the consoles on fire and injured personnel all over the place. Cole says they’ve got to help so he starts going through the room seeing who’s alive and what help they can provide. Cole then gets on one of the working consoles and begins tapping into the bridge and bringing up bridge sensors, which happens to be agains regs from where he’s at.
Cole eventually gets the sensors up only to see an alien ship firing on the “Freedom”. Meanwhile more stuff is blowing up around him and the fires are getting worse. Cole has to do something but that means gains access to targeting controls on the bridge. Will the Captain see that and stop him from taking action?
Captain Keren Malcolm knows her ship is in terrible trouble. She’s already fought off one alien ship that attacked without warning, but this last ship was getting ready to destroy her ship if she didn’t get something done. She barely had steering control but her Fire Control console was dead. Yet, someone had fired off the “Freedom’s” lasers from Auxiliary Control. What she did notice was that the only lasers working were the forward lasers. Somehow they had to get this alien ship in front of them so they could engage with the only laser she had.
Cole had fired the lasers hoping that someone on the bridge would see they were working. He knew the alien ship was closing from the stern so he hope the Captain or someone would figure out his plan. And it seems they did. The *Freedom* surged ahead with the alien ship coming up very fast. Then the “Freedom” stopped! The alien ship dived to avoid the collision and when on ahead of the “Freedom” to its doom. Cole had Sergei fire the lasers just as soon as the alien ship got right in front of the *Freedom*. With that done, Cole went about searching through Auxiliary Control only to find his friend Arnie dead under one of the exploded consoles. Cole was grieving for his lost friend forgetting about what had happened to him. He was burnt badly and was having trouble seeing out of one eye. Sergei wasn’t doing much better but he was still moving around.
So, this is just the beginning of this story. We have a long, long way to go, but it’s not on the “Freedom”. No Ensign Cole Jackson has something else that will take him away from the “Freedom”. His Captain found out who was operating in Aux Control and basically saved her ship so she orders him to take command of a salvage crew to go aboard their sister ship, the “Hood” and see what they can come back with as spare parts. The “Hood” wasn’t so lucky as the “Freedom”. She was basically destroyed and as now 2nd Lieutenant in command of an away team, Cole was determined to do the best job he could and get back to the “Freedom” with vital repair parts. Of course he took along Ensign Sergei Cruz because the Captain said he could. Strangely, the shuttle pilot assigned to this mission was a Lieutenant Flarity. She wasn’t happy with the fact that she was in command of this away team, but orders were orders.
So, now we find Cole and Sergei going to a beat-up hulk looking for things to repair the “Freedom”. Hopefully, they don’t have any more aliens showing up, but that’s not a given. The Captain of the “Freedom” has received word from Fleet HQ that this has been a system wide attack along a huge front. The Fleet has suffered greatly. They need her ship back in fighting order and ready to be assigned a new mission. So, Cole and his team have to get busy. The first thing that run into is having to move the frozen corpses of the dead crew of the “Hood” into storage compartments that will keep them preserved. They can’t do anything for the hundreds of bodies blown out into space which include all of the bridge crew. Cole has his job cut out for him and Lieutenant Flarity still isn’t sure he should be in-charge.
But he is and then he’s really in-charge! The “Freedom” has been ordered to go to another system and assist in its defense. Captain Malcolm tells 2nd Lieutenant Jackson to continue collecting spare parts and they’ll return when they can. But, as you’ll read, that doesn’t happen. So, what does 2nd Lieutenant Jackson do with his first command? It’s going to get real exciting. The only bad part is that this book ends in a very, very hard to take place. That’s why I can’t stop reading the series and will have to adjust my entire reading list just to put this 2nd book next.
I’m sure you’ll enjoy reading this book and book 2, “Second Chances”, now available on Amazon.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 79 reviews