Confronting Certain Death: Captain Holbrook’s One-Way Mission

In my novel Infernum, a central theme involves the psychological and emotional journey of Captain Holbrook grappling with a mission unlike any he’s faced before. A seasoned military man, Holbrook has encountered danger throughout his career, but this new assignment is different. The mission, which sets the novel in motion, isn’t just fraught with peril—it’s one with no apparent return. I wanted to explore how a person reacts when ordered on a mission that has them confronting certain death?

When Captain Holbrook receives the orders to take his crew to the galactic center, his first reaction is denial. He questions the validity of the orders. Could there be a mistake? Could he be misinterpreting them? His mind races to find an alternative, a loophole that might save him and his crew. But as he delves deeper into the mission’s parameters, the reality of the situation begins to sink in—there is no mistake. It’s a mission with one outcome in mind: sacrifice.

For a man who has spent his life following orders and navigating the dangers of space, this mission represents an entirely new kind of challenge. This isn’t about risking life for the greater good; it’s about accepting death as an inevitable outcome.

For Captain Holbrook, the weight of this mission is deeply personal. The fear he grapples with isn’t just the natural fear of death—it’s intertwined with a past that has haunted him throughout his career. Holbrook has always carried the burden of loss. A painful experience left a lasting void in his life. Now, as he faces the daunting reality of this mission, that fear is no longer just a distant memory—it’s something he must confront head-on. The duty he has always embraced with pride now feels like a heavy chain, pulling him toward a fate he has long dreaded.

In this moment, Holbrook is not just a captain, he’s a man who’s spent his life trying to outrun a destiny that now seems inescapable. The emotional toll is immense. He must reconcile the fear that has lived in his heart for so long with the duty that defines his very being. This struggle is at the core of his journey.

In writing Holbrook’s story, I was particularly interested in exploring the emotional landscape of a man confronting certain death. The mix of fear, anger, regret, and ultimately, acceptance, is complex and deeply human.

Holbrook’s journey mirrors the human experience of confronting mortality. We all face death, but few of us do so with the clarity and immediacy that Holbrook experiences. His story is a study in how a person navigates the most challenging of all human experiences: the realization that their life is coming to an end, and that they must meet that end with courage and integrity.

Captain Holbrook’s one-way mission in Infernum goes beyond plot device. The assignment creates a deep dive into the emotional and psychological challenges of facing certain death. Through his journey, we see the raw human emotions that surface when duty, fear, and mortality collide. Holbrook’s struggle mirrors the universal human experience. His perserverence in the face of overwhelming odds attests to the resilience of the human spirit.

In exploring Holbrook’s reactions and emotions, I aimed to capture the essence of leadership in the most trying of circumstances. This leadership involves finding the strength to carry on, even when the end is certain.

Jayson Adams is a technology entrepreneur, artist, and the award-winning and best-selling author of two science fiction thrillers, Ares and Infernum. You can see more at www.jaysonadams.com.