Description

Lt. General Mordecai "Swoop" Swellen was once known for his violent raids and attacks on any and all enemies, some were outlaws, some were raiding, warring American Indians. When so ordered he would "swoop" in and decimate any declared enemy. He was also known for his natural, actical brilliance, his sudden viciousness, and a branding iron, red hot anger!

But in 1890, Swellen had a change of heart. He was faced with enraging the local Lakota Indians near his fort, which he knew would lead to disaster. Without options, he walked away from his command just before the Massacre at Wounded Knee, disobeying all orders and disappeared. AWOL. His vindictive superiors became outraged and branded him a coward, a traitor to the United States and issued a wanted dead or alive, $1,000 bounty on his head. The military orchestrated a massive hunt for him. In "Swellen's Reckoning" we learn his origin story, and how as a fugitive he became involved with a new invention, a cog-and-rail, mountain climbing train system, and it's company from Sicily, working in Pikes Peak, Colorado. He's hired by the Sicilian owner-inventor Arturo Zapello to thwart sabotage, theft and murder within his own company, and further foil one of his sinister crew chiefs, Carlo Greco, also a renowned swordsman obsessed with challenging the locals to sword duels to their death.

Many reckonings befall Swoop and all those around him in this - and all his first adventures - as the military trap also closes in like a noose around his neck. Swoop must also struggle to stay one step ahead of many bounty hunters and the United States Army.