A Military Sci-Fi Thriller
RANGER
GROUP 42
Deadman's Gulch
by Rory Stouder
In a galaxy on the edge of chaos, one unit stands between order and annihilation.
A Military Sci-Fi Thriller
Deadman's Gulch
by Rory Stouder
In a galaxy on the edge of chaos, one unit stands between order and annihilation.
The Story
The Confederation of Settled Worlds is fracturing. Across the galaxy's outer colonies, pirates and mercenaries prey on supply lines while corporations jockey for power in the shadows. The delicate balance of peace hangs by a thread.
When a critical supply transport carrying bio-mimetic compounds — essential for sustaining life on the frontier — is raided and its crew left for dead, Colonel Jack Stone and his elite unit, Ranger Group 42, are dispatched to investigate.
What begins as search-and-rescue spirals into something far darker. A rogue ex-ranger named Wilson, backed by corporate interests, is building a hybrid nanotech army in the forgotten canyons of a dead world. The line between soldier and machine is about to disappear.
"In the gulch, the dead don't always stay dead."
The Universe
A coalition of settled worlds and corporations struggling to govern humanity's sprawling galactic footprint. Order is a luxury few can afford.
Elite special operations units deployed to the galaxy's most dangerous flashpoints. RG42 is the best of them — and the most expendable.
A shadowy network of pirates, mercs, and corporate black ops. They don't just steal resources — they destabilize entire systems.
Bio-mimetic compounds hijacked to build hybrid soldiers. The line between human and weapon is thinner than anyone imagined.
Audiobook
Narrated by Stephen Dalton
"Ranger Group 42: Deadman's Gulch is a pulse-pounding military sci-fi thriller that catapults listeners into a galaxy on the edge of chaos. The Confederation, a coalition of planets and corporations, struggles to maintain order across its far-flung colonies. Pirates, mercenaries, and corporate power plays threaten to fracture the delicate balance of peace."
Now In Development
The universe of RG42 is expanding beyond the page. Explore alien worlds, command your squad, and uncover ancient secrets in this action RPG built in Godot Engine.
The Hero
Combat Specialist
Stealth Operative
The Privateer
The Villain
From the volcanic Embercrag to the crystal caves of Crystallia — each planet has its own biome, creatures, and secrets.
Command your companions in real-time tactical combat. Each member brings unique abilities and fighting styles.
Take contracts, build your reputation, and customize your spacecraft. The galaxy is yours to explore.
Built with Godot Engine • Currently in Active Development
Visit rangergroup42.com for more →
The Author
Rory Stouder is a technology entrepreneur and science fiction author based in Indiana. A lifelong fan of military sci-fi, space opera, and westerns, he spent years building companies in the tech space before turning his imagination loose on the page.
Ranger Group 42: Deadman's Gulch is his debut novel — a story that blends the grit of military fiction with the vast possibilities of speculative science. Drawing on themes of duty, sacrifice, corporate overreach, and the cost of progress, the book reflects both his love for the genre and his perspective as someone who builds things for a living.
When he's not writing or running Gain3d Studios, Rory can be found exploring new tech, debating starship designs, or planning the next chapter of the Ranger Group 42 saga.
Book Two
Coming Soon
The mission isn't over. Colonel Stone and RG42 are heading deeper into hostile territory — and what they find will change the war forever.
Stay tuned for updates.