Foreward

Legacy of the Eagle was an idea inspired by UNSF creator Jim Brungess, back in 1999.  Originally, it had been designed to introduce another enemy into the already turbulent lives of UNSF officers.  Shortly, it grew into a whole war that we were determined to ascribe in one telling, with no regard to the size or amount of time it took to piece together. It was my thought that the Explorer would not play a major role in this book—after all, they were just coming out of some trying times themselves, and were in no condition to mount a war against anyone, be it this strange new enemy, or the bully that steals lunch money.  As Jim unfolded his plan to me, though, I knew that the starship that has created me as many headaches as it has joy would be knee-deep in the thick of things.  When Jim unveiled his ending to me, I knew that he had carefully thought it out and that it was the only course of action to be taken.  Immediately I agreed, and we set to work. Legacy is, in all its highs and lows, our final masterpiece.  Not quite as action-packed as some of our earlier UNSF stories and not quite as soppy and tear jerking as others, Legacy seems to find that happy medium in all the crazy flying and shooting that is presented in this book.  Being our masterpiece, Legacy will live up to its name—not all characters will survive this war.  As a matter of fact, a few guys I’ve been looking to kill off for a while will bite the dust in this story. With a surprise beginning, middle, and end to this story, we’ve thrown all the safety switches to “off” in this book.  We’ve held nothing back, and it shows.  Our main goal was to make this the essential “War and Peace” of the science fiction universe.  We think we may have succeeded.  However, it is not up to us.  It is up to you, the reader.  So, without further ado, here is the final defining masterpiece of Jim Brungess and Darryl Mansel, UNSF: Legacy of the Eagle. ~Darryl Mansel, co-creator, UNSF