How to Read the Terran Scout Fleet Series
The Terran Scout Fleet series, penned by bestselling military science fiction author Joshua Dalzelle, is best read in publication order. Because the series follows a continuous character arc for the protagonist, Jacob Brown, and chronicles Earth's evolving status on the galactic stage, reading the books out of order will result in major spoilers and confusion regarding character development, political dynamics, and ongoing interstellar conflicts.
- Marine (2018)
- Boneshaker (2020)
- Vapor Trails (2021)
- Heavy Metal (2022)
- Aftershock (2023)
- Blackheart (2024)
- Ghosts (2025)
- The Last Dance (2025)
Terran Scout Fleet: Book-by-Book Breakdown
1. Marine (2018)
The series begins with Jacob Brown, a young man who grew up during the devastating alien attacks on Earth. Eager to defend his home planet, he volunteers for the newly formed spaceborne military. Instead of receiving a standard assignment, he is swept up into the secretive Naval Special Operations Command. Jacob is quickly thrust into a high-stakes, dangerous mission on a lawless world, where he uncovers secrets that shake his understanding of Earth's position in the galaxy.
2. Boneshaker (2020)
Jacob Brown is now a Marine First Lieutenant leading Scout Team Obsidian. The team is tasked with tracking down a rogue Earth cruiser captain who led an unauthorized attack against the Confederation (ConFed). The mission grows increasingly complex as other dangerous galactic factions join the hunt, forcing Jacob to navigate volatile political alliances and tactical threats to protect Earth's future.
3. Vapor Trails (2021)
In this installment, Jacob and his crew are running on borrowed time. Having gone rogue to pursue his own mission objectives, Jacob's team is disavowed by the United Earth Navy. They find themselves hunted by both their former military commanders and the notorious mercenary group Omega Force—led by none other than Jacob's estranged father, Jason Burke. Jacob must outmaneuver both forces while trying to dismantle the terrorist group known as One World.
4. Heavy Metal (2022)
While stationed at a remote outpost, Scout Team Obsidian is recalled to active duty for a critical recovery operation. A highly advanced prototype weapon system has been stolen from Earth's arsenal. Tracking the weapon leads the team straight into the crossfire of a brutal civil war on a distant planet, blending spycraft with explosive planetary warfare.
5. Aftershock (2023)
Following a grueling mission to recover a stolen mech—a battle that leaves Jacob Brown with a prosthetic hand and eye—the team expects some well-deserved leave. Instead, Captain Jacob Brown and Scout Team Obsidian are ordered to investigate a massive human and alien trafficking operation. Their investigation reveals that the illicit enterprise is operating under the protection of the Cridal Cooperative.
6. Blackheart (2024)
The crew is assigned a dark and perilous mission: hunt down Carolyn Whitney, a legendary and feared cyborg assassin known as the "Viper," who has escaped from a research laboratory. The chase forces the team to confront growing political instability in the galaxy, caused by the collapse of the Confederation and corruption within Earth's own governing bodies.
7. Ghosts (2025)
Jacob Brown and his battlesynth companion, Tin Man, find themselves separated from the rest of the crew and on the run aboard their ship, the Boneshaker. Having uncovered a massive conspiracy where the Cridal Premier was replaced by a cybernetic imposter, Jacob discovers that the infiltration of galactic leadership goes far deeper than they ever suspected.
8. The Last Dance (2025)
This book serves as the final chapter of the Terran Scout Fleet series. Captain Jacob Brown must wage a final war against the Synod, a ruthless and ancient enemy seeking a secret power that the Burke/Brown family has guarded for generations. The conflict brings a decisive end to the story arc of Scout Team Obsidian.
The Shared Universe: Terran Scout Fleet and Omega Force
One of the most exciting elements for readers of Joshua Dalzelle's books is that the Terran Scout Fleet series exists in the exact same shared universe as his flagship Omega Force series. Specifically, the protagonist of Terran Scout Fleet, Jacob Brown, is the son of Jason Burke, the main character of Omega Force.
To avoid carrying the burden of his father's controversial galactic reputation on Earth, Jacob changed his surname to Brown. While the two series stand alone and can be read independently, they feature major narrative ties and character crossovers. For instance, in Vapor Trails, Jacob clashes directly with his father's crew, and in Aftershock, Scout Team Obsidian utilizes intel provided by Omega Force to track down human traffickers.
Recommended Universe Reading Path
If you want the ultimate experience of the shared universe, you can alternate between the series or read them in blocks. However, because they are distinct narratives, the simplest method is to read the entirety of the Omega Force series first to fully understand the legacy of Jason Burke, and then dive into the Terran Scout Fleet series to see the galaxy through his son's eyes.
What to Know Before You Start
- Authentic Tactical Tone: Author Joshua Dalzelle is a former U.S. Air Force avionics technician. His military background heavily influences the writing, infusing the space battles, squad jargon, and unit cohesion with a sense of authentic military structure.
- Character-Driven Military Sci-Fi: While there is plenty of space combat and futuristic weaponry, the heart of the series lies in the camaraderie of Scout Team Obsidian and Jacob's evolution from a naive volunteer to a battle-hardened captain.
- Standalone Accessibility: You do not need to read the Omega Force novels or the Black Fleet Saga to understand the plot of Terran Scout Fleet. The author provides enough context within the pages of the Scout Fleet books to keep newcomers fully informed.