Dauntless
Page 1
Table of Contents
Title Page
Copyright Page
Dedication
Acknowledgements
ONE
TWO
THREE
FOUR
FIVE
SIX
SEVEN
EIGHT
NINE
TEN
ELEVEN
TWELVE
Praise for
THE LOST FLEET: VALIANT
“Fast paced and enjoyable . . . Readers who enjoyed David Weber’s Honor Harrington books, Ian Douglas’s Space Marines, or Walter Hunt’s Dark Wing series should also enjoy this series.”
—SFRevu
“The series is military SF, rigorously extrapolated in the classic tradition of hard SF. The laws of physics and the effects of relativity govern the battles and shape the action, while military virtues and ideals like honor and courage shape the conduct and personalities of the more admirable characters . . . Jack Campbell does a good job of fulfilling the requirements of both military SF and hard SF in The Lost Fleet: Valiant, and the novel will please fans of both forms.”
—Sci Fi Weekly
“Will grip the audience . . . Black Jack is a fascinating hero . . . Fans will appreciate the fourth Lost Fleet tale.”
—Alternative Worlds
“Refreshingly well written with no pretensions to be anything more than it is—lively adventure.”
—Don D’Ammassa, Critical Mass
“This wonderfully well-plotted story is strongly reminiscent of the old Hornblower novels, featuring exciting and believable battles with the fascinating addition of military tactics. The story brings back the true meaning of romance and captures the spirit of strong men and women facing unimaginable odds with courage and honor. It carries you along on the adventure, and you’re eager to go where it takes you.”
—Romantic Times
THE LOST FLEET: COURAGEOUS
“Definitely recommend[ed] to people . . . [who] thoroughly enjoy military science fiction and probably some people who would just enjoy a good military story.”
—BookSpot Central
“It’s almost nonstop action and conflict . . . Jack Campbell does an excellent job with the space battles . . . It’s a hall-mark of his talent in this arena that he can coordinate such large battles and make them both exciting and coherent, so that even someone without a military background of [his] own can follow and enjoy the action . . . The Lost Fleet is some of the best military science fiction on the shelves to-day, and Courageous doesn’t disappoint in the least. I’ll eagerly be awaiting the next installment in the series.”
—SF Site
THE LOST FLEET: FEARLESS
“Straightforward, solidly written military space opera . . . It’s all good fun, and Campbell has actually given some thought to the problems of combat in space.”
—Don D’Ammassa, Critical Mass
“Another satisfying [Campbell] cocktail to slake the thirst of fans who like their space operas with a refreshing moral and intellectual chaser . . . The Lost Fleet deserves to find a home on your bookshelf.”
—SF Reviews.net
“A great and gripping read. It’s a fast-paced roller coaster of action and intrigue, with realistic characters and situations.”
—TCM Reviews
THE LOST FLEET: DAUNTLESS
“A rousing adventure.”
—William C. Dietz
“Jack Campbell’s dazzling new series is military science fiction at its best. Not only does he tell a yarn of great adventure and action, but he also develops the characters with satisfying depth. I thoroughly enjoyed this rip-roaring read, and I can hardly wait for the next book.”
—Catherine Asaro, Nebula Award-winning author of Diamond Star
“Black Jack Geary is very real, very human, and so compelling he’ll leave you wanting more. Jack Campbell knows fleet actions, and it shows . . . [The Lost Fleet: Dauntless is] the best novel of its type that I’ve read.”
—David Sherman, coauthor of the Starfist series
“A slam-bang good read that kept me up at night . . . a solid, thoughtful, and exciting novel loaded with edge-of-your-seat combat.”
—Elizabeth Moon, Nebula Award-winning author of Victory Conditions
“[Dauntless] should please many fans of old-fashioned hard SF.”
—Sci Fi Weekly
“Readers will admire and like [Geary], who believes in honor, teamwork, and civilized behavior . . . This is a hardmilitary -science novel with space battles out of Star Wars. The battle scenes are so intricately described that readers will be able to visualize them . . . A fast-paced but intricate story line and fully developed characters turn this novel into a fun reading experience. Fans of David Weber, Elizabeth Moon, and Peter F. Hamilton will find The Lost Fleet: Dauntless thoroughly enjoyable.”
—SFRevu
Ace Books by Jack Campbell
THE LOST FLEET: DAUNTLESS
THE LOST FLEET: FEARLESS
THE LOST FLEET: COURAGEOUS
THE LOST FLEET: VALIANT
THE LOST FLEET: RELENTLESS
THE BERKLEY PUBLISHING GROUP
Published by the Penguin Group
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This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental. The publisher does not have any control over and does not assume any responsibility for author or third-party websites or their content.
THE LOST FLEET: RELENTLESS
An Ace Book / published by arrangement with the author
PRINTING HISTORY
Ace mass-market edition / May 2009
Copyright © 2009 by John G. Hemry.
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eISBN : 978-1-101-04421-6
ACE
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To Doug Tillyer (aka “Hellfire”),
a man who loved books, ideas,
and people, who brightened many a convention
and panel with his remarks,
and who left his wife and the rest of us
far too soon and will be deeply missed.
For S., as always.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I remain indebted to my agent, Joshua Bilmes, for his ever-inspired suggestions and assistance; to my editor, Anne Sowards, for her support and editing; and to Cameron Dufty at Ace, for her help and assistance. Thanks also to Catherine Asaro, Robert Chase, J. G. (Huck) Huckenpohler, Simcha Kuritzky, Michael LaViolette, Aly Parsons, Bud Sparhawk, and Constance A. Warner, for their suggestions, comments, and recommendations. Thanks also to Charles Petit, for his suggestions about space engagements.
THE ALLIANCE FLEET
CAPTAIN JOHN GEARY,
Commanding (acting)
As reorganized following the losses suffered immediately prior to Captain Geary assuming command in the Syndic home system.
Ship names in bold are those lost in action, with the name of the star system of their loss given afterward.
SECOND BATTLESHIP DIVISION
Gallant
Indomitable
Glorious
Magnificent
FOURTH BATTLESHIP DIVISION
Warrior (lost at Lakota II)
Triumph (lost at Vidha)
Vengeance
Revenge
THIRD BATTLESHIP DIVISION
Paladin (lost at Lakota)
Orion
Majestic (lost at Lakota II)
Conqueror
FIFTH BATTLESHIP DIVISION
Fearless
Resolution
Redoubtable
Warspite
SEVENTH BATTLESHIP DIVISION
Indefatigable (lost at Lakota)
Audacious (lost at Lakota)
Defiant (lost at Lakota)
TENTH BATTLESHIP DIVISION
Colossus
Amazon
Spartan
Guardian
FIRST BATTLE CRUISER DIVISION
Courageous
Formidable
Intrepid
Renown (lost at Lakota)
FOURTH BATTLE CRUISER DIVISION
Dauntless (flagship)
Daring
Terrible (lost at Ilion)
Victorious
SIXTH BATTLE CRUISER DIVISION
Polaris (lost at Vidha)
Vanguard (lost at Vidha)
Illustrious
Incredible
EIGHTH BATTLESHIP DIVISION
Relentless
Reprisal
Superb
Splendid
FIRST SCOUT BATTLESHIP DIVISION
Arrogant (lost at Kaliban)
Exemplar
Braveheart (lost at Cavalos)
SECOND BATTLE CRUISER DIVISION
Leviathan
Dragon
Steadfast
Valiant
FIFTH BATTLE CRUISER DIVISION
Invincible (lost at Ilion)
Repulse (lost in Syndic
home system)
Furious
Implacable
SEVENTH BATTLE CRUISER DIVISION
Opportune (lost at Cavalos)
Brilliant
Inspire
THIRD FAST FLEET AUXILIARIES DIVISION
Titan
Witch
Jinn
Goblin
THIRTY-SEVEN SURVIVING HEAVY CRUISERS IN SEVEN DIVISIONS
First Heavy Cruiser Division
Third Heavy Cruiser Division
Fourth Heavy Cruiser Division
Fifth Heavy Cruiser Division
Seventh Heavy Cruiser Division
Eighth Heavy Cruiser Division
Tenth Heavy Cruiser Division
minus
Invidious (lost at Kaliban)
Cuirass (lost at Sutrah)
Crest, War-Coat, Ram, and Citadel (lost at Vidha)
Basinet and Sallet (lost at Lakota)
Utap, Vambrace, and Fascine (lost at Lakota II)
Armet and Gusoku (lost at Cavalos)
SIXTY-TWO SURVIVING LIGHT CRUISERS IN TEN SQUADRONS
First Light Cruiser Squadron
Second Light Cruiser Squadron
Third Light Cruiser Squadron
Fifth Light Cruiser Squadron
Sixth Light Cruiser Squadron
Eighth Light Cruiser Squadron
Ninth Light Cruiser Squadron Tenth Light Cruiser Squadron
Eleventh Light Cruiser Squadron
Fourteenth Light Cruiser Squadron
minus
Swift (lost at Kaliban)
Pommel, Sling, Bolo, and Staff (lost at Vidha)
Spur, Damascene, and Swept-Guard (lost at Lakota)
Brigandine, Carte, and Ote (lost at Lakota II)
Kote and Cercle (lost at Cavalos)
ONE HUNDRED EIGHTY-THREE SURVIVING DESTROYERS IN TWENTY SQUADRONS
First Destroyer Squadron
Second Destroyer Squadron
Third Destroyer Squadron
Fourth Destroyer Squadron
Sixth Destroyer Squadron
Seventh Destroyer Squadron
Ninth Destroyer Squadron
Tenth Destroyer Squadron
Twelfth Destroyer Squadron
Fourteenth Destroyer Squadron
Sixteenth Destroyer Squadron
Seventeenth Destroyer Squadron
Twentieth Destroyer Squadron
Twenty-first Destroyer Squadron
Twenty-third Destroyer Squadron
Twenty-fifth Destroyer Squadron
Twenty-seventh Destroyer Squadron
Twenty-eighth Destroyer Squadron
Thirtieth Destroyer Squadron
Thirty-second Destroyer Squadron
minus
Dagger and Venom (lost at Kaliban)
Anelace, Baselard, and Mace (lost at Sutrah)
Celt, Akhu, Sickle, Leaf, Bolt, Sabot, Flint, Needle, Dart,
Sting, Limpet, and Cudgel (lost at Vidha)
Falcata (lost at Ilion)
War-Hammer, Prasa, Talwar, and Xiphos (lost at Lakota)
Armlet, Flanconade, Kukri, Hastarii, Petard, and Spiculum
(lost at Lakota II)
Flail, Ndziga, Tabar, Cestus, and Balta (lost at Cavalos)
SECOND FLEET MARINE FORCE
Colonel Carabali commanding (acting)
Originally 1,560 Marines divided into detachments on battle cruisers and battleships. Approximately 1,200 surviving following losses in ground actions and on destroyed warships.
ONE
THE structure of the Alliance heavy cruiser Merlon shuddered again and again as hell lances fired by Syndicate Worlds warships ripped into and through her. Commander John Geary grabbed for support as a volley of Syndic grapeshot struck Merlon’s port side, the impacts of the solid metal balls vaporizing part of the hull. Wiping a hand across his eyes to clear away sweat, Geary blinked through the fumes the overloaded and failing life-support systems couldn’t clear out of the atmosphere left inside the ship. His first real combat action might also turn out to be his last. Merlon tumbled helplessly through space, unable to control her motion, and the final hell lance still working on the Alliance warship went silent as more enemy fire ripped into her.
There wasn’t anything else he could do. It was time to go.
Geary cursed as he got the emergency destruct panel open and punched in the authorization code. Another volley of hell lances sliced into Merlon, and more indicator lights on the bridge went out or shifted to blinking damage status. Geary pulled on his survival suit helmet, knowing that he had only ten minutes before the power core overloaded and Merlon exploded. But Geary paused before he left the bridge. He’d ordered the remaining members of the crew off once it was clear that he alone could handle the few operational weapons and the final act of self-destruction. He’d bought all the time he could for his crew
to get clear.
But Merlon had been his ship, and he hated to leave her to her death.
Another rumble and Merlon’s out-of-control tumble rolled sideways and up as more Syndic grapeshot slammed into her, the passageways around Geary rotating dizzyingly, bulkheads thrusting suddenly toward him, then away, sometimes slamming painfully into him. His search became more desperate as he kept passing escape-pod berths either empty or with mangled remnants of their rescue craft still wedged in place.
He finally found one with a yellow status light, indicating damage, but he had no choice. Inside, seal the hatch, strap in, slap the eject control, feel the force of the acceleration pin him to the seat as the escape pod tore away from Merlon’s death throes.
The pod’s propulsion cut off, much earlier than it should have. No communications. No maneuvering controls. Environmental systems degraded. Geary’s seat reclined automatically as the pod prepared to put him into survival sleep, a frozen state where his body could rest safely until his escape pod was recovered. As Geary’s consciousness faded, his eyes on the blinking damage lights of the escape pod as they winked out into dormant status, he knew that someone would come looking for him. The Alliance fleet would repel the Syndic surprise attacks, reestablish control of the space around the star Grendel, and search for survivors from Merlon. He’d be picked up in no time.