In "The Auroral Contingency," a young CIA agent, Lance Tucker, disappears while investigating Russian billionaire Nikoli Petrovich's dangerous weather control technology. Meteorologist Sofia Kuzma uncovers Petrovich's sinister plan to unleash catastrophic natural disasters, and together with CIA operative Blake MacKay and Mossad agent Solomon Zinn, they race against time to stop him. Packed with action, drama, and a touch of romance, this globe-spanning spy thriller will keep readers on the edge of their seats.
In a world where power and destruction intertwine, one man’s greed threatens global chaos.
In Siberia, Nikoli Petrovich is driven by insatiable ambition and will stop at nothing to amass wealth, even if it costs countless lives. Controlling a powerful Auroral Array, he unleashes devastation on major cities, profiting from the chaos.
Meanwhile, Sofia Kuzma discovers his sinister plans and risks everything to expose him. As she races to secure damning evidence, Petrovich’s henchmen pursue her through Moscow’s dangerous streets. Seeking refuge at the U.S. Embassy, she fears her plea for help may go unheard.
Enter Blake MacKay, a seasoned operative tasked with protecting Sofia and retrieving vital information about Petrovich’s operations. Racing against time to prevent catastrophe, Blake and Sofia must navigate a deadly game of survival. Can they unravel Petrovich’s plot before it’s too late?
“A gripping spy thriller packed with high-stakes espionage, relentless action, and a battle against time to save countless lives.” ~ NewInBooks.com
Excerpt
Petrovich Research Facility
Eastern Siberia, Russia
December 11th
15:30 Local Time (07:30 GMT)
The snowmobile launched off a wind-blown bank of snow and soared through the air. Agent Lance Tucker shifted his weight on the machine, negotiated a perfect landing, and gunned the engine. Not all of his six pursuers were able to clear the same mound successfully and continue their pursuit.
He glanced back and grinned with a feeling of satisfaction.
Two down. Four more to go.
A light snow fell as automatic weapons and the screaming of engines ripped through the once serene landscape. Lance tensed and prepared for the worst. Bullets peppered the terrain all around him as he dodged and weaved toward a dense line of trees at the forest’s edge. It lay a few hundred yards ahead, and he aimed for the closest opening.
I can lose them in the woods.
The windscreen starred as one of his pursuer’s slugs tore through the fabric in his coat, narrowly missing his elbow. The ground flattened out, and Lance reached into his heavy white garment and pulled out his sidearm. With his right hand on the throttle, he turned back over his left shoulder and fired three rounds. The bouncing made it difficult to steady his arm. A single lucky shot found its mark in the chest of the leading pursuer, and he hunched over and fell off his sled.
The second in line plowed into the body and lost control. Lance smiled. From his mirror, the rider dove off and rolled. The abandoned snowmobile capsized and slammed into a boulder, disabled from the chase.
That’s two more.
He steered into the tall pines at maximum power, eyes wide with fear as projectiles whizzed past him. He thought back to what Marshal had told him about getting caught. An uneasy feeling crept over him. The fear pumped adrenaline through his veins.
Bark from the trees exploded and bounced off his thick winter coat as the flying lead penetrated the forest surrounding him. Lance looked in front of him and scanned the landscape, searching for the best route to make his escape. He changed his heading to an outcropping of rock to his three o’clock.
Beyond the stone was a clearing. A road was visible. It led out into the vast area known as Siberia. As he sped along, he maneuvered his machine toward the rocks when another barrage of gunfire came his way. Four bullets struck his ride, and a fifth hit his right calf.
Oh Shit! I’ve been hit. Dammit. Oh, God. I’ve got to lose them.
Screaming and wincing in pain, he trudged forward. The motor sputtered, and he turned to look behind him as two men on snowmobiles entered the woods to his rear.
It struggled, smoking from the damage. He made a desperate attempt to find a place where he could take cover. He panned left, then opposite. The speed of each breath increased while his engine choked and oil spewed out of the side. In his futile effort to keep his sled moving, his right runner slipped under the fallen branch, hidden in the fresh white powder. The sudden halt flipped him over the machine onto his back.
Lance tried to get up, but the pain emanating from his calf was too intense. Out of desperation, he fired five more rounds at the group of pursuers. He crawled to a mature pine tree and hid out of view from the people who were hunting him.
As he inspected his leg, the wound remained concealed beneath the thick fabric of his pants, however; the blood had already seeped through, staining it a deep red.
Two snowmobiles rejoined the hunt, and all four came to a stop, shy of where his ride lay wrecked. One of them spoke on the radio. It crackled as the response came back.
In the distance, the sound of something bigger resonated through the trees. Panic started to flow through him.
What in the hell is that?
Two minutes later, a snowcat plowed through the woods; its tread gears rattled and squeaked as the cracking of small branches snapped under the weight of the heavy machine.
He peeked around the tree and witnessed more men, along with a pack of dogs, get out of the metal beast. Nikoli Petrovich, the man he had come to acquire information about, was one of those individuals. The canines drowned out the words of people speaking in Russian as they barked, snarled, and fought against their restraints.
“We know where you are, Agent Tucker. The tracks in the snow give you away.”
How the hell do they know my name?
“Well, come and get me then!”
Professional Reviews
Taut writing and a propulsive storyline
Non-stop action, some super cool tech, and tons of twists and turns keep the smooth lead character on his toes… A great read! I can’t wait to find out what Blake gets up to in the next book!
Your next great read!
Spear Garden was Thom Tate’s first book and was a great read. I have been hoping for another from him and it has arrived, with an upped game by the author!
The Auroral Contingency presents itself as a prequel- which had me diving back into Spear Garden immediately afterwards.
His characters develop nicely in this new body of work and I found myself alongside them in the story.
The exploits they achieved kept me vested and at times had my emotional roller coaster going!!
This is a GREAT spy thriller and I look forward to his next work!!
Outstanding
Great read. Grabbed my attention from the start and didn't let go. The author expertly weaved the plot, deviations, and twists and turns into a story you won't put down until your done. Action packed and realistic (with of course the stuff you know can't happen but make a great story).
In a near-future Baltimore, an unemployed bipolar journalist and a teenage hacker are the last hope for a dystopian world controlled by a giant media corporation.
