Odessa Rising: A Bioterrorism Thriller (Gunner Fox Book 5)
Odessa Rising
A Gunner Fox trilogy, book two
Bobby Akart
Contents
Thank You
PRAISE FOR AUTHOR BOBBY AKART and GUNNER FOX
Other Works by Amazon Charts Top 25 Author Bobby Akart
Odessa Rising
Dedications
Acknowledgments
About the Author, Bobby Akart
Author’s Introduction to the Odessa trilogy
Author’s Note about Gunner Fox and the Gray Fox Team
Real-World News Excerpts
Epigraph
Für meine Mutter. Ich liebe dich!
Das folgende beruht auf wahren begebenheiten
The Oath
Prologue
Part I
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Part II
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Part III
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Chapter 42
Chapter 43
THANK YOU FOR READING ODESSA RISING!
Thank You
Thank you for downloading ODESSA, RISING book two in this Gunner Fox trilogy by Author Bobby Akart.
For a copy of my critically acclaimed monthly newsletter, The Epigraph, updates on new releases, special offers, and bonus content visit me online at
BobbyAkart.com
or visit my dedicated feature page on Amazon at
Amazon.com/BobbyAkart
PRAISE FOR AUTHOR BOBBY AKART and GUNNER FOX
“Only Akart can weave a story that begins so calm, so normal and before you know it, you are at the end of the book with your pulse pounding in your chest and your mind screaming for more! Amazon Hall of Fame, Top 2 Reviewer
“Another phenomenal story from THE master story teller of our time!”
Amazon review of Asteroid Destruction
“Akart is a master of suspense, keeping us on the edge of our seats. But, he does it with fact-based fiction that would scare even the most hardened readers.”
“Mixing science and suspense is something Bobby Akart is a master of—writing character driven stories that will have you on the edge of your seat.”
“I have highly enjoyed Mr. Akart’s literary works because his research is comprehensive and he has an eerie prescience of writing fiction and it becoming reality.”
“Mr. Akart has become one of my favorite authors joining the ranks of fellas named King, Grisham & Clancy.”
“Bobby Akart is one of those very rare authors who makes things so visceral, so real, that you experience what he writes … His research, depth of knowledge, and genuine understanding of people make his works more real than any movie.”
“No one, and I mean NO ONE, does it better!”
Other Works by Amazon Charts Top 25 Author Bobby Akart
Odessa (a Gunner Fox trilogy)
Odessa Reborn
Odessa Rising
Odessa Strikes
The Virus Hunters
Virus Hunters I
Virus Hunters II
Virus Hunters III
The Geostorm Series
The Shift
The Pulse
The Collapse
The Flood
The Tempest
The Pioneers
The Asteroid Series (A Gunner Fox trilogy)
Discovery
Diversion
Destruction
The Doomsday Series
Apocalypse
Haven
Anarchy
Minutemen
Civil War
The Yellowstone Series
Hellfire
Inferno
Fallout
Survival
The Lone Star Series
Axis of Evil
Beyond Borders
Lines in the Sand
Texas Strong
Fifth Column
Suicide Six
The Pandemic Series
Beginnings
The Innocents
Level 6
Quietus
The Blackout Series
36 Hours
Zero Hour
Turning Point
Shiloh Ranch
Hornet’s Nest
Devil’s Homecoming
The Boston Brahmin Series
The Loyal Nine
Cyber Attack
Martial Law
False Flag
The Mechanics
Choose Freedom
Patriot’s Farewell (standalone novel)
Black Friday (standalone novel)
Seeds of Liberty (Companion Guide)
The Prepping for Tomorrow Series
Cyber Warfare
EMP: Electromagnetic Pulse
Economic Collapse
Odessa Rising
A Gunner Fox trilogy, book two
by
Bobby Akart
Dedications
There is nothing more important on this planet than my darling wife, Dani, and our two princesses, Bullie and Boom. With the love and support of Dani and the never-ending supply of smiles our two girls give us, I’m able to tell you these stories.
For many years, I have lived by the following premise:
Because you never know when the day before is the day before, prepare for tomorrow.
My friends, I study and write about the threats we face, not only to both entertain and inform you, but because I am constantly learning how to prepare for the benefit of my family as well. The Odessa trilogy is dedicated to Dani and the girls. I will always protect you from anything that threatens us.
Acknowledgments
Creating a novel that is both informative and entertaining requires a tremendous team effort. Writing is the easy part.
For their efforts in making the Virus Hunters a reality, I would like to thank Hristo Argirov Kovatliev for his incredible artistic talents in creating my cover art. He and Dani collaborate (and conspire) to create the most incredible cover art in the publishing business. A huge hug of appreciation goes out to Pauline Nolet, the Professor, for her editorial prowess and patience in correcting this writer’s same tics after fifty-plus novels. Thanks again to the newest member of the team, Drew Avera, a United States Navy veteran, who has brought his talented formatting skills from a writer’s perspective to create multiple formats for reading my novels. The accomplished Chris Abernathy has returned as the voice of Gunner Fox. His performance of the Asteroid trilogy earned him a nomination for best thriller/suspense narration by the Independent Audiobook Awards.
Now, for the serious stuff. The Odessa trilogy required countless hours of never-ending research. W
ithout the background material and direction from those individuals who provided me a portal into the history of Nazi Germany, the German settlements establishments in Argentina following World War II, and the terrifying world of bioterrorism, this story couldn’t have been written.
Once again, as I immersed myself in the science and history, source material and research flooded my inbox from around the globe. Without the assistance of many individuals and organizations, this story could not be told. Please allow me a moment to acknowledge a few of those individuals whom, without their tireless efforts, the Odessa trilogy could not have been written.
Many thanks to Dr. Catherine Epstein, Winkley Professor of History and Dean of the Faculty at Amherst College. Her research and lecture material on the history of Nazi Germany, especially the emergence of Adolf Hitler and Nazi ideology, provided me an invaluable glimpse into how dictatorships function and why brutal regimes engage in mass murder.
In that same vein, Constance Nicholls, who holds a master’s degree in public history, and sat on the advisory board for the National World War II Museum, shared her outstanding research work on the Architect of Terror: Heinrich Himmler. Her in depth analysis of Himmler’s implementation of the Final Solution, gave me insight into the devil that Himmler was. However, it was a passing comment during a conversation regarding Himmler’s affinity for Norway and Norwegian women that took this story into a very interesting direction. Thanks Connie!
Odessa, like many of my other novels, could not have been written without the support of the former director of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, Steven Walker; Janet Waldorf, Deputy Chief of Communications within the DARPA Public Affairs office, and her staff; and the DARPA program managers and contractors who took the time to speak with me by phone or via email. Left of boom. Now, I get it. Thanks to you all!
For my research in Argentina, I called upon a fellow author, Abel Basti who wrote the World War II history book titled Hitler in Exile. The language barrier was a challenge but Google translator came through. Not only did he have me utterly convinced that Hitler escaped his Berlin bunker and fled to Argentina via Spain, but that the Soviet Union assisted in the coverup in exchange for future cooperation against the United States. I’ve always loved a good conspiracy theory, and Hitler’s escape is certainly a grand one. However, one thing is certain. It was the Soviet Red Army who discovered Hitler’s dead body and then promptly whisked it away before British Intelligence could view it. Confirmation of death was always in question.
Here's a special shoutout to a family who has contributed to my novels before. In the Geostorm series, I introduced the readers to Tommy Bannon who, alongside Dr. Kristi Boone, brought a unique zoological angle to the story. The character, Tommy, was based upon a real-life Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. Thomas McNair. Thomas is a good friend and the veterinarian who takes care of the princesses of the palace. Dani and I have also become friends with his wife, Kala McNair. Kala inspired me to create a character in her name, sort of. She’s unaware of this so I’m not including the backstory until the final installment of this trilogy, Odessa Strikes. If I tell you, dear reader, I’ll be telling her and therefore I’ll be spoiling the surprise.
Finally, as always, a special thank you to my team of loyal friends who’ve always supported my work and provided me valuable insight from a reader’s perspective. Denise Keef, Joe Carey, Shirley Nicholson, Bennita Barnett, Karl Hughey and Brian Alderman.
This is why I wrote Odessa.
Because you never know when the day before is the day before, prepare for tomorrow.
Thank you all!
Choose Freedom and Godspeed, Patriots!
About the Author, Bobby Akart
Author Bobby Akart has been ranked by Amazon as #25 on the Amazon Charts list of most popular, bestselling authors. He has achieved recognition as the #1 bestselling Horror Author, #1 bestselling Science Fiction Author, #5 bestselling Action & Adventure Author, #7 bestselling Historical Fiction Author and #10 on Amazon’s bestselling Thriller Author list.
Mr. Akart has delivered up-all-night thrillers to readers in 245 countries and territories worldwide. He has sold over one million books in all formats, which includes over forty international bestsellers, in nearly fifty fiction and nonfiction genres.
His novel Yellowstone: Hellfire reached the Top 25 on the Amazon bestsellers list and earned him multiple Kindle All-Star awards for most pages read in a month and most pages read as an author. The Yellowstone series vaulted him to the #25 bestselling author on Amazon Charts, and the #1 bestselling science fiction author.
Bobby has provided his readers a diverse range of topics that are both informative and entertaining. His attention to detail and impeccable research has allowed him to capture the imagination of his readers through his fictional works and bring them valuable knowledge through his nonfiction books.
SIGN UP for Bobby Akart’s mailing list to receive a copy of his monthly newsletter, The Epigraph, learn of special offers, view bonus content, and be the first to receive news about new releases featuring Gunner Fox and the Gray Fox team.
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Author’s Introduction to the Odessa trilogy
August 15, 2020
As of this writing, the United States was going through a period of upheaval. For my loyal readers, you’ve known for years that my worldview, and therefore my novels, have been shaped by personal experiences as well as certain other works of literature and art.
Years ago, reading the massive treatise by Edward Gibbons titled the History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire led me to the following premise:
All empires collapse eventually. Either they are conquered by a more powerful enemy or they collapse under the weight of their debt. But make no mistake. Every great empire and nation-state eventually fails. There have been no exceptions in the history of mankind.
Which leads me to the artistic work of Thomas Cole. Beginning in 1833, Thomas Cole created a series of five paintings depicting the growth and fall of an imaginary empire. It’s a place that begins peaceful and full of freedom. Then, it achieves a level of glory indicated by joyous occasions and vast amounts of wealth, as shown in The Consummation of Empire.
But, as Gibbon’s Decline and Fall led me to realize, Cole had reached the same conclusion as evidenced by his paintings. Like the Roman Empire, Cole showed decadence, wealth, vice, and corruption ultimately led to war and eventually destruction of the state. The result, was Destruction as depicted in this painting.
It’s possible America is going through a similar period at this time. Like all new empires, the Founding Fathers thought they’d laid the groundwork for their principals and ideals to last forever through the adoption of the Constitution. Only time will tell whether the U.S. Constitution and this great republic can withstand the enormous political pressures from both outside our borders, and from within.
During World War I, an obscure German soldier named Adolf Hitler had been injured and was hospitalized as The War to End All Wars came to an end. He took up political work in Munich and then joined the small German Workers’ Party.
His ability to convince and manipulate others led him to be put in charge of the Party’s propaganda. Resentment at the loss of the war and the severity of the peace terms imposed upon the German people brought widespread anger to the country, especially Bavaria which had a disdain for Berlin’s government.
Under Hitler’s leadership, the party was renamed to the National Socialist German Worker’s Party, which became commonly referred to as the Nazi Party. Hitler and his ardent supporters envisioned a Third Reich of a thousand years in which all German peoples, including Austria, would be led by the Nazi Party.
Hitler rode this wave of enthusiasm for the Nazi cause to lead Germany into a period of expansion across Europe and into Northern Africa. He was a brutal leader who murdered millions of innocent people, Germans included, in the quest for ethnic purity.
E
ven during the Second World War, Hitler’s name became synonymous with pure evil. To this day, his name, the term Nazi, and the symbol of the swastika adopted by the Nazi Party evokes feelings of anger and hostility.
World War II ended in 1945 and Germany eventually became a respected member of the European Community and a world leader. Many former Nazis were captured, killed, or went into hiding. The European continent moved on vowing to never allow the rise of a charismatic leader like Hitler to gain power again.