Casserine takes the reader on a futuristic journey with a
conservative bent. Duty and honor, in this Sci-Fi adventure, infuses the tale
from beginning to end. If you love it when political correctness takes a hit,
and touchy feely space operas bore you, Casserine will take you where you want
to go. This nonstop rush across space, from one battlefield to another,
illustrates a far different handling of Alien cultures.
A nearly superhuman Marine finds love in a most unusual way,
and when duty rips him from her, he uses any means necessary, within his code
of honor, to return to their small universe. Chosen to lead the most powerful
space force ever assembled, because of a fluke mixing of DNA with an Alien
monster, Jake Matthews spares no entity standing in the way of his mission. He
vows to forge an unbeatable engine of destruction, powerful enough to force
peace across eternal space.
Casserine provides a wild ride for a reader who wishes to
see a vista of future America, where citizens across the galaxies pledge
allegiance to one Earth nation’s flag. In so doing, they birth an empire of
single minded purpose, and incredible power.
The author of three other fiction novels, American
Survival, American Mutant, and the political thriller, Sotello,
Mr. DeLeo earned an AA degree in auto repair in 1977 from Chabot College in
Hayward, California, and a BA degree in English from California State
University in Hayward, California in 1980. An unrepentant conservative, who
threads his political outlook and love of America into everything he writes,
the author specializes in fast moving tales of adventure.
He owns an automotive repair shop in Oakland, California,
where he has worked since 1976 and owned since 1983. The author lives with his
wife of twenty-seven years in San Leandro, California. They have two grown
children and one grandchild.
“What’s up, Jake?” Mercer asked.
Jake indicated the top of the cavern over the birthing area.
“The bitch sealed herself in tight.”
Mercer looked up, and whistled in appreciation. Instead of a
small opening at the top of the shielding, the shield was sealed along the
entire top of the cavern where the crystal clusters were the thickest. Mercer
watched his friend pace the entire length of the translucent shield surface.
The Queen’s body writhed in a frightful dance as her high-pitched cries
practically vibrated the ground beneath their feet.
“We’ll have to wait for them to come up with the shield
solvent, Jake,” Mercer sighed. “C’mon, lets get back up to the surface. As soon
as they come up with the stuff, we’ll head right back down.”
“You heard Risling,” Jake reminded him, as he walked to the
back egg compartment entrance. “If we come up empty handed today, we’ll both be
walking guard duty at a fertilizer plant on some farm colony.”
“Well,” Mercer laughed. “What do you suggest then? I-- oh no--
no way, Jake. You can not be serious.”
Jake blew away a few of the undersize Bugs hovering around
the cavern, housing the Queen’s egg compartment.
“Her sack’s sealed under that foul ass shit,” Mercer
complained, grabbing Jake’s shoulder as he began entering the chamber. “You’ll
have to go divin’ to get into a position to shoot. Good Lord, your rifle could
stop working, and you’ll be stuck half way up her ass.”
Jake stopped, and burst into laughter at Mercer’s last plea
to keep him from going. A moment later, the two Marines were both leaning
against the cavern wall, howling in laughter. Mendoza’s squad watched their two
commanders, completely mystified at the source of their amusement, as they shot
into the egg cavern entrance periodically. Jake straightened finally, and
clapped Mercer on the back.
“Thanks Charlie, I needed that.” Jake stripped off his outer
armor, and everything but his boots and under-shorts. “I’m glad I brought extra
water. I’ll really need it after I give this Bitch a particle beam enema.”
“Man, that’s disgusting, Jake,” Mercer said distastefully.
“This show’s on a live feed. You’ll have people barfing from here to Earth.”
“They’ll have to see what they can from your helmet cam,
because it ain’t going to do me any good to take mine with me. You will come in
along the side there, and keep the little ones from feeding on my ass while I’m
under this gunk, won’t you?”
Mercer nodded reluctantly. “Okay, but you better make sure
you come up, because I am not going in after you.”
Just then, a change in sound occurred, which brought Jake to
a dead stop. He grabbed his helmet from where he had laid it.
