Raging Sun E-Book

J. Robert Kennedy

• Herausgeber: J. Robert Kennedy
• Kategorie: Abenteuer, Thriller, Horror
• Sprache: Englisch

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2016

Beschreibung

"A little bit of Jack Bauer and Indiana Jones!"USA TODAY and BARNES & NOBLE #1 BESTSELLING AUTHOR • “A MASTER STORYTELLER” • OVER 800,000 BOOKS SOLD • OVER 3,000 FIVE STAR REVIEWSWILL A SEVENTY-YEAR-OLD MATTER OF HONOR TRIGGER THE NEXT GREAT WAR?As Jiro Sato contemplates suicide, he receives an unexpected visit from two soldiers announcing the recovery of his grandfather’s remains. Discovered on an island claimed by the Japanese but now held by the Russians, it is the final piece of a seventy-year-old puzzle of shame.The Imperial Regalia have been missing since the end of World War Two, and the Japanese government, along with the new—and secretly illegitimate—emperor, have been lying to the people.But the truth isn’t out yet, and the Japanese will stop at nothing to secure their secret and retrieve the ancient relics confiscated by a belligerent Russian government.Including war.Join Archaeology Professors James Acton and Laura Palmer, along with the elite Delta Force’s Bravo Team, and the CIA’s Special Agent Dylan Kane, as they try to stop a war that threatens to consume the entire Asia-Pacific region, all because one grandson, seventy years later, wanted to restore his family’s honor and turn around a life of shame and humiliation.If you like Clancy, Cussler or Brown, and enjoy action and intrigue, ancient conspiracies, and modern geopolitics, then Raging Sun from USA TODAY bestselling author J. Robert Kennedy–“a master storyteller” (Betty Richard) and “one of the best writers today” (Johnny Olsen)–is for you. Prepare for an action packed adventure that will keep you laughing, crying, and on the edge of your seat until its heart-stopping conclusion.Buy your copy today and find out why over 800,000 readers have fallen for USA TODAY bestselling author J. Robert Kennedy’s thrilling series!About the James Acton Thrillers:"If you want fast and furious, if you can cope with a high body count, most of all if you like to be hugely entertained, then you can't do much better than J. Robert Kennedy."Though this book is part of the James Acton Thrillers series, it is written as a standalone novel and can be enjoyed without having read any of the previous installments."James Acton: A little bit of Jack Bauer and Indiana Jones!"The James Acton Thrillers series and its spin-offs, the Special Agent Dylan Kane Thrillers and the Delta Force Unleashed Thrillers, have over 3000 Five-Star reviews and have sold over 800,000 copies. If you love non-stop action and intrigue with a healthy dose of humor, try James Acton today!Available James Acton Thrillers:The Protocol, Brass Monkey, Broken Dove, The Templar's Relic, Flags of Sin, The Arab Fall, The Circle of Eight, The Venice Code, Pompeii's Ghosts, Amazon Burning, The Riddle, Blood Relics, Sins of the Titanic, Saint Peter's Soldiers, The Thirteenth Legion, Raging Sun, Wages of Sin, Wrath of the Gods, The Templar's Revenge

Leseprobe

Raging Sun

A James Acton Thriller

by

J. Robert Kennedy

From the Back Cover

WILL A SEVENTY-YEAR-OLD MATTER OF HONOR TRIGGER THE NEXT GREAT WAR?

As Jiro Sato contemplates suicide, he receives an unexpected visit from two soldiers announcing the recovery of his grandfather’s remains. Discovered on an island claimed by the Japanese but now held by the Russians, it is the final piece of a seventy-year-old puzzle of shame.

The Imperial Regalia have been missing since the end of World War Two, and the Japanese government, along with the new—and secretly illegitimate—emperor, have been lying to the people.

But the truth isn’t out yet, and the Japanese will stop at nothing to secure their secret and retrieve the ancient relics confiscated by a belligerent Russian government.

Including war.

Join Archaeology Professors James Acton and Laura Palmer, along with Delta Team Bravo, Dylan Kane and Chris Leroux, as they try to stop a war that threatens to consume the entire Asia-Pacific region, all because one grandson, seventy years later, wanted to restore his family’s honor and turn around a life of shame and humiliation.

If you enjoy action and intrigue, ancient conspiracies and modern geopolitics, then Raging Sun from USA Today Bestselling author J. Robert Kennedy is for you, an action packed adventure that will keep you laughing, crying and on the edge of your seat until its heart-stopping conclusion.

About the James Acton Thrillers

"James Acton: A little bit of Jack Bauer and Indiana Jones!"

Though this book is part of the James Acton Thrillers series, it is written as a standalone novel and can be enjoyed without having read any of the previous installments.

About J. Robert Kennedy

With over 800,000 books sold and over 3000 five-star reviews, USA Today bestselling author J. Robert Kennedy has been ranked by Amazon as the #1 Bestselling Action Adventure novelist based upon combined sales. He is the author of over thirty international bestsellers including the smash hit James Acton Thrillers. He lives with his wife and daughter and writes full-time.

"A master storyteller." — Betty Richard

"A writer who tells what we are thinking but sometimes afraid to say." — Bruce Ford

"Kennedy kicks ass in this genre." — David Mavity

"One of the best writers today." — Johnny Olsen

"If you want fast and furious, if you can cope with a high body count, most of all if you like to be hugely entertained, then you can't do much better than J Robert Kennedy." — Amazon Vine Voice Reviewer

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Books by J. Robert Kennedy

The James Acton Thrillers

The Protocol Brass Monkey Broken Dove The Templar's Relic Flags of Sin The Arab Fall The Circle of Eight The Venice Code Pompeii's Ghosts Amazon Burning The Riddle Blood Relics Sins of the Titanic Saint Peter's Soldiers The Thirteenth Legion Raging Sun Wages of Sin Wrath of the Gods The Templar's Revenge

The Special Agent Dylan Kane Thrillers

Rogue Operator Containment Failure Cold Warriors Death to America Black Widow The Agenda Retribution

The Delta Force Unleashed Thrillers

Payback

Table of Contents

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Table of Contents

Beginning

Preface

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Acknowledgements

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Thank You!

About the Author

Also by the Author

“The occupying forces of the Allies shall be withdrawn from Japan as soon as these objectives have been accomplished and there has been established, in accordance with the freely expressed will of the Japanese people, a peacefully inclined and responsible government.”

Article 12 of the Potsdam Declaration, July 26, 1945

“As part of such advice and consent the Senate states that nothing the treaty [San Francisco Peace Treaty] contains is deemed to diminish or prejudice, in favor of the Soviet Union, the right, title, and interest of Japan, or the Allied Powers as defined in said treaty, in and to South Sakhalin and its adjacent islands, the Kurile Islands, the Habomai Islands, the Island of Shikotan, or any other territory, rights, or interests possessed by Japan on December 7, 1941, or to confer any right, title, or benefit therein or thereto on the Soviet Union.”

Preface

On both July 25 and July 31, 1945, in the dying days of World War II, Emperor Hirohito ordered the Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal of Japan to protect the Imperial Regalia “at all costs.” These ancient relics, a sword, a bronze mirror and a jade jewel, through tradition, represent valor, wisdom, and benevolence, and their possession confirms the Emperor’s claim to the throne.

Two weeks later, at noon local time on August 15, 1945, Japanese Emperor Hirohito was heard on radio delivering what became known as the Jewel Voice Broadcast in which he announced the Japanese acceptance of the Potsdam Declaration. Without admitting defeat, it was effectively an unconditional surrender.

Three days later the Soviet Union invaded the northern islands of Japan known as the Kuril Islands. They then proceeded to expel the 17,000 Japanese inhabitants, and in violation of the Potsdam Declaration, continue to occupy these islands. The issue remains a cause of friction between the two nations, both with significant navies in the Pacific.

On January 7, 1989, the Imperial Regalia were presented to the new Japanese Emperor, Akihito, as part of the enthronement rituals. All were covered by red brocade, the artifacts unseen, unlike during the enthronement of Akihito’s grandfather, Hirohito, in 1926.

To this day, many question whether the Imperial Regalia were actually lost at the end of the greatest war to have ever afflicted mankind.

1

Courtyard Moscow Paveletskaya Hotel Moscow, Russian Federation Present Day

Professor James Acton poked his head out of the elevator and checked both ways before stepping into the hallway, his wife’s hand gripped tightly—Professor Laura Palmer clung even tighter. Tensions were high in Moscow, and there was no way any sane person would be here right now, not with a war brewing off the coast of Japan.

But he had never been accused of being sane.

His life as an archaeology professor was far more exciting and far more dangerous than it should be, with more bullets, rockets, bombs, knives and vehicles thrown at him over the past few years than most soldiers experienced in a lifetime.

And it had almost got him and Laura killed on multiple occasions.

In fact, she was still recovering from a gunshot to the stomach about a year ago, leaving her easily winded.

She should definitely not be here.

“There it is.” He pointed at a door to their right. Room 906. He knocked and they both listened, Acton stepping back so whoever was on the other side could see his face.

He just prayed that the person was who they were expecting.

Professor Arseny Orlov.

They had met only once, several years ago in Germany, to discuss how best to protect ancient ruins in war zones.

How prophetic that turned out to be.

At the time, no one could have conceived of an ISIS type group rampaging almost unopposed across the land, destroying priceless, irreplaceable pieces of history. It angered him to no end, and he wished a horrible, prolonged death for any involved, then an eternity of damnation in the afterlife.

The door opened and they both breathed sighs of relief as Orlov ushered them inside, holding a finger to his lips. They had received his desperate call only that morning, the cryptic message begging them to come to Moscow on hastily arranged visas.

A matter of life and death.

His day never went well when that line was delivered, even by the best of friends.

You could stop a war.

That had piqued their interest, sending them to Laura’s private jet, the wealth left her by her late brother a blessing in times like these.

Orlov hugged him then kissed him on both cheeks, Acton’s thoughts flashing to their crotchety old Interpol buddy, Hugh Reading.

Hugh would have decked him.

The greeting was repeated on Laura before the man finally spoke.

“I cannot thank you enough for coming!”

Acton nodded. “You made it sound like we had no choice.”

Orlov smiled slightly, his eyes darting between the door they had just entered and one to an adjoining room. Acton glanced at it, noting the deadbolt appeared to be in the unlocked position.

A double-knock had Acton spinning toward the sound, Orlov raising his hands. “It’s okay, it’s my son.”

The adjoining door opened and the young man who had driven them here stepped inside, smiling at them, his eyes lingering on Laura a little too long. She was a striking woman, and Acton sometimes forgot how he had reacted the first time he had seen her through the window of her classroom door at University College London.

She had taken his breath away.

Then helped save his life.

They had been together ever since, and he was finally, truly happy.

Acton nodded at the young man who took up a position at the door, peering periodically through the peephole. Acton turned to Orlov. “Why are we here?”

“This.” Orlov motioned toward a table, a cloth covering something whisked away in a flourish.

Acton gasped. “Are those what I think they are?”

“I don’t know, that’s why you’re here. I know what I think they are, but I need you to authenticate them.”

Laura leaned in without touching. “Don’t you have people who can do that for you?”

“None that I can trust. Not with what is happening.”

“So these are why the Japanese are so hopping mad.” Acton picked up one of the three priceless relics sitting on the table. “I had heard rumors they had been lost during the war, but I had assumed they were just that.”

“This is what my own research tells me,” said Orlov. “Do you think they are real?”

“Where were they found?”

“On one of the northern islands of Japan that my country claims as its territory.”

Acton’s eyes narrowed. “Where they recently found the bodies of those Japanese soldiers from the war?”

“Da.”

“Huh. If these were with the soldiers, then that means they’ve been lost for over seventy years.”

Laura glanced up from the relic she was examining. “Do you realize what this means?”

Orlov shook his head. “No, what?”

Acton placed the relic on the table. “It means that the current emperor of Japan was sworn in with fakes, and his claim to the throne is illegitimate.”

Laura returned her relic. “Not only does it mean the Japanese government and the emperor have been lying to its people for decades, but the current emperor is technically a fraud.”

Orlov stared at them wide-eyed. “No wonder they’re willing to go to war.”

Laura tugged on her earlobe. “One question begs to be asked. I can understand why the Japanese want them back and are willing to risk everything, but why Russia? Why won’t your country simply return them?”

Orlov shrugged. “Politics, I fear, but whatever the reason, they must be returned.”

A pit formed in Acton’s stomach. “What’s your plan?”

Orlov looked at him then Laura. “I want the two of you to smuggle them out of the country.”

Tires screeched on the streets below.

2

Imperial Palace Tokyo, Empire of Japan August 13, 1945

Major Hiroshi Sato cringed as the room shook, dust floating gently down from the ceiling of the bomb shelter. The Americans so far had left their location alone after destroying much of the palace during the firebombing of their city three months ago, though that didn’t preclude a stray bomb from hitting them. But the gods would protect them, would protect their son in this realm.

They will protect His Majesty, and through Him, us.

He told his family every day that this was the safest place to be, though unfortunately, they couldn’t be here with him. Instead, much of their days were spent trying to live as normal a life as possible in the dying days of this war they should never have lost, the betrayal of His Majesty by the military and government, obvious.