Gunboat

by James Evans

  “Despite the loss of Ascendant,” said the recently redeployed Admiral Morgan, glowering sternly at Cohen.

  “And you will be mentioned in despatches,” said Staines, casting an annoyed glance at Morgan, “for your actions in the face of overwhelming odds.”

  Cohen snapped a salute.

  “But your immediate future,” said Morgan, leaning back in his seat, “is more complicated.” Cohen sat perfectly still, his face coldly neutral as his heart raced with sudden unease at the admiral’s tone. “Our nose was bloodied in the ambush at Akbar.”

  A masterful understatement, thought Cohen, given the loss of all but two ships.

  “Our focus is recovery. Full mobilisation of all fleets is underway and new ships have been commissioned, but those already have full complements of bridge officers,” said Morgan.

  Cohen gritted his teeth. He could see what was coming. He would have to serve as general staff to a senior officer until a new ship was completed. That could be months, or even years from now.

  Morgan stabbed his finger at his data slate until a wireframe image appeared on the viewscreens around the conference room.

  Cohen’s eyes widened before his face settled into a confused frown. The ship was familiar, but he couldn’t place it.

  “This is the first available vessel that lacks a commander,” said Morgan, gesturing at the hulking ship on the screen.

  “I don’t think I know her, sir. Is she still under construction?”

  “No, Lieutenant Commander,” scoffed Morgan, “she is not.”

  “Maybe the academy should step up their silhouette recognition tests, hmm?” quipped Harper, earning himself a frown from Staines.

  “She’s undergoing a partial refit en route to New Bristol. Headquarters brought her out of mothballs, along with anything else that will hold an atmosphere.”

  “She’s part of the ghost fleet?” Cohen said incredulously.

  “Perhaps this will help,” said Harper, flicking a file from his slate to the display. The rotating wireframe was replaced by high definition video of a ship in orbit around a mid-sized moon.

  It did help. There wasn’t a schoolchild across the Commonwealth who wouldn’t recognise that ship, or this particular video.

  Cohen knew that in a few minutes, a light cargo freighter would come into view and instead of pulling up alongside the mothballed ship, it would ram her amidships. The explosion would result in hundreds of casualties, including several parties of schoolchildren visiting from settlements across the system.

  One of the mightiest symbols of Commonwealth bravery and strength, she had been targeted by terrorists upset by some minor local issue. The bombing of HMS Dreadnought had horrified the Commonwealth, fuelling the interstellar news channels for weeks.

  Cohen had done a project on the ship in school. Several, actually, now he came to think about it. The first had involved glue, bottles and cereal boxes. Later, he’d written essays about the attack and then, at the academy, he had studied Dreadnought’s military campaigns, the real meat of her century-old story.

  HMS Dreadnought had been the first of her class, a technological marvel when she was first constructed. But now she was a museum piece, used for decades as a tourist attraction. That was why so many people had been aboard when the separatists had attacked. As they saw it, she was a symbol of the regime of the Sol governments which they saw as oppressive. It was utter nonsense of course.

  In truth, she was a derelict. A discarded remnant mothballed as part of a ghost fleet distributed across the Commonwealth. The official argument was that such ships could be brought online in the event of large-scale conflict, but, unofficially, Cohen knew that the expense of safely deconstructing them was higher than mining new materials from asteroids. Ships as large as Dreadnought were rarely scrapped; they were dumped into orbit somewhere out of the way.

  And now Dreadnought was his. A junior officer moving from a captured enemy cruiser to a battleship should be a huge promotion. But mothballed ships were stripped before retirement, downgraded and forgotten. Dreadnought wouldn’t have weapons or manufactories, creature comforts or up-to-date equipment of any kind. The only reason it still had engines and power was to keep her safely in orbit. She was, in every respect, utterly outclassed by modern vessels and hopelessly decrepit. A flying antique.

  But it was a command, and a capital ship at that. A second chance. He would still be the captain of a vessel, and he would see her returned to glory if he had to sweat blood to do it.

  Cohen stiffened his back and took a deep breath.

  “Thank you, sir. It will be an honour to command a vessel with such a long and illustrious history.”

  Epilogue

  “Admiral Morgan, please reconsider,” pleaded Governor Denmead. “We cannot risk more ships and leave New Bristol defenceless. My citizens are on the front line of this war, and they’re vulnerable without the Navy’s protection.”

  “Governor…” Morgan started but didn’t seem to be able to finish.

  “Denmead,” she said through gritted teeth.

  “Yes. Denmead. Protocol requires us to return to Akbar and search for survivors. Ascendant’s and Palmerston’s records as they fled the battle show escape pods launching. There could be crew in need of assistance, and the Royal Navy does not leave people behind. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a job to do.”

  With that Admiral Morgan strode off to board a shuttle to his new flagship.

  Denmead turned to Atticus and Staines, her anger obvious.

  “What is wrong with that man? Am I the only one who thinks this is madness? What’s stopping the Deathless fleet pulling the same trick and attacking this new mission?”

  Staines shrugged. “In theory nothing, but I think it’s very unlikely. Regardless, it has been Royal Navy protocol since the time of the Ark ships. Even if it weren’t, Admiral Morgan has control of the Naval forces stationed around New Bristol, and the decision is his to make.”

  Denmead wasn’t happy with his response. She looked at Lieutenant Colonel Atticus for support.

  “And you? What do you think of Morgan?”

  “It’s not really my place to comment, Governor. I’m just a Marine,” he said. But hidden from Vice Admiral Staines’ view, he jerked his hand up and down in a gesture that told Denmead exactly what he thought of Admiral Morgan.

  Denmead snorted. That seemed about right. Morgan struck her as a by-the-book prig.

  “So we’re without a defensive fleet until Lieutenant Commander Cohen’s new vessel arrives,” said Denmead. “If Admiral Morgan insists on his snark hunt, what can we do to bring HMS Dreadnought up to fighting form as soon as possible?”

  “She’s your ship, Cohen. How soon till she’s combat ready?” asked Staines.

  “It’s difficult to say, sir, but I have some ideas,” replied Cohen. “They, er, may be a little unorthodox.”

  “What do you need?” asked Denmead.

  “Engineers and technicians, fabricators and equipment, resources and materials from you, Governor.” He paused, looking around the small group. “And permission from Vice Admiral Staines to involve the Valkyr in the refit.”

  There was a chilly silence. Staines’s clearly wasn’t happy, but Denmead was in no mood to compromise. She glared at him, daring him to disagree, and he nodded his assent.

  “You’ll have everything you need,” said Denmead, “and as far as I’m concerned, you can use the Valkyr however you see fit just as long as you get your ship ready to fight.”

  “Thank you, Governor. HMS Dreadnought and her crew will answer the call when it comes.”

  Thank you for Reading

  Thank you for reading Gunboat, Book Four in the Royal Marine Space Commando series. We hope you enjoyed the book and that you’re looking forward to the next entry in the series, Dreadnought.

  It would help us immensely if you would leave a review on Amazon or Goodreads, or even tell a friend you think would enjoy the series, about the books.
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  In Dreadnought, Lieutenant Commander Cohen will receive his new command and a rescue mission that will test his crew to the limits of their ability.

  As always, Captain Warden and his company of Royal Marine Space Commandos will be aboard to handle all the bits the Senior Service don’t do.

  Can our young officers snatch victory from the jaws of defeat? Stay tuned to find out what happens!

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  Also by James Evans and Jon Evans

  Also by James Evans

  James is writing the Vensille Saga, an epic fantasy tale that began with A Gathering of Fools and continues with A Gathering of Princes, due for release later this year.

  A Gathering of Fools

  Marrinek has fought his last war.

  Once an officer in the Imperial Army, he has been betrayed, captured and named traitor. His future now holds only imprisonment and death - but that doesn’t stop him dreaming of revenge.

  Krant lives a clerk’s life of paperwork and boredom until a chance meeting with an Imperial courier rips his world apart and sets him on a new course. Sent abroad with only the mysterious Gavelis for company, Krant faces an impossible task with no hope of success.

  For two years, Adrava has hidden from her husband's enemies. But her refuge is no longer safe and she must venture forth to seek justice at the end of a blade.

  In Vensille they gather, fools seeking shelter from a storm that threatens to drown the city in blood and fire.

  A Gathering of Princes

  War threatens the city of Vensille.

  An unseen enemy strikes at the city and Duke Rhenveldt struggles to maintain control.

  As the danger grows, Marrinek forms a desperate plan to save his household and the twins.

  Adrava and Floost must embark on a dangerous journey, deep into the Empire. Can they evade capture long enough to return to Vensille?

  Far across the Empire, Tentalus marches west with his armies, bringing death and battle with him. Rumours of betrayal and conspiracy grow. Will the traitors spring their final trap before the Emperor can uncover their schemes?

  And in the forests of Sclareme, an ancient horror awakens from its long slumber. Pursued and hunted, can Mirelle and her crew escape to bring a warning to Vensille?

  Can anything save Vensille?

  Also by Jon Evans

  Jon is concentrating on the Royal Marine Commando series for the time being but is also writing a fantasy series. The Edrin Loft Mysteries follow the adventures of Edrin Loft, Watch Captain of the Thieftakers Watch House.

  You can read the first book Thieftaker now.

  Thieftaker

  Why was the murder of a local merchant so vicious?

  Mere days after he takes charge of the Old Gate Watch House, Captain Edrin Loft must solve a crime so shocking that even veteran Sergeant Aliria Gurnt finds it stomach turning. With no witnesses or apparent motive for the crime, finding the culprit seems an impossible task.

  But Loft has new scientific methods to apply to crime fighting. His first successful investigation caused a political scandal that embarrassed the Watch. Promotion to his own command was the solution. Known as The Thieftakers, they are the dregs of the Kalider City Watch, destined to spend the rest of their careers hunting criminals in the worst neighbourhoods. After all, what fuss could he cause running down thieves and murderers in the slums?

  Old Gate and this murder might be the perfect combination of place and crime to test his theories. The Thieftakers are the best Kalider has at tracking criminals, and Loft must teach them investigative skills to match.

  Can he validate his theories and turn the Thieftakers into the first detectives in Kalider?

  About The Authors James Evans

  James has published the first two books of his Vensille Saga and is working on the third, A Gathering of Arms, as well as a number of other projects. At the same time, he is working on follow-up books in the RMSC series with his brother Jon.

  You can join James’s mailing list to keep track of the upcoming releases, visit his website or follow him on social media.

  jamesevansbooks.co.uk

  About The Authors Jon Evans

  Jon is a new sci-fi author & fantasy author, whose first book, Thieftaker is awaiting its sequel. He lives and works in Cardiff. He has some other projects waiting in the wings, once the RMSC series takes shape.

  You can follow Jon’s Facebook page where you’ll be able to find out more about the first quadrilogy of the RMSC series and the next book, Dreadnought.

  If you join the mailing list on the website, you’ll get updates about how the new books are coming as well as information about new releases and the odd insight into the life of an author.

  jonevansbooks.com