Renegades

I’ll be honest: I went into *Renegades* expecting more of the same from the *Expeditionary Force* series—explosions, one-liners, and Skippy’s endless snark. What I got instead was a story that *earned* its chaos. Alanson doubles down on the consequences of the crew’s past victories, and the result is a narrative that feels heavier, sharper, and more satisfying than a simple victory lap. The political maneuvering on Earth is just as tense as the space battles, and Bray’s narration sells it all with a mix of world-weary cynicism and barely contained glee. His Skippy is, as always, the star—imagine a hyper-intelligent AI with the comedic timing of a stand-up comic and the moral flexibility of a mercenary. That said, this isn’t a perfect listen. The middle act drags slightly under the weight of its own lore, and there’s a subplot involving Earth’s power struggles that, while interesting, occasionally feels like it’s marking time between the bigger set pieces. And as much as I love Bray’s performance, his female voices still occasionally veer into caricature—though to his credit, he’s improved since earlier entries. But these are quibbles. When *Renegades* hits its stride—like the sequence where the crew improvises a heist mid-battle, or Skippy’s rant about human stupidity—it’s some of the most entertaining military sci-fi you’ll find. The production is flawless, with crisp audio and seamless editing that keeps the focus on the story. If you’re a fan of the series, this is a must-listen. If you’re new? Buckle up—it’s a wild, bloody, hilarious ride, but it doesn’t pull its punches.