{"product_id":"genesis-fleet-theisbn-9781101988398","title":"Genesis Fleet, The","description":"\u003cb\u003eA young fleet officer and a Marine stand together to defend their colony in the continuation of the powerful and action-packed Genesis Fleet saga from \u003ci\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/i\u003e bestselling author Jack Campbell.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIn the three years since former fleet officer Rob Geary and former Marine Mele Darcy led improvised forces to repel attacks on the newly settled world of Glenlyon, tensions have only gotten worse.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWhen one of Glenlyon's warships is blown apart trying to break the blockade that has isolated the world from the rest of human-colonized space, only the destroyer Saber remains to defend it from another attack. Geary's decision to take Saber to the nearby star Kosatka to safeguard a diplomatic mission is a risky interpretation of his orders, to say the least.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eKosatka has been fighting a growing threat from so-called rebels--who are actually soldiers from aggressive colonies. When a \"peacekeeping force\" carrying thousands of enemy soldiers arrives in Kosatka's star system, the people of that world, including Lochan Nakamura and former \"Red\" Carmen Ochoa, face an apparently hopeless battle to retain their freedom.  \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIt's said that the best defense is a good offense. But even if a bold and risky move succeeds, Geary and Darcy may not survive it...\u003cb\u003ePraise for Jack Campbell and his stunning science fiction novels\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Jack Campbell's \u003ci\u003eVanguard \u003c\/i\u003estarts a new series with a bang.  Honestly, it reads like first rate, action-packed, historical fiction—only this history is set hundreds of years in an all too believable future...I can't wait to get my hands on the next installment!\"—Taylor Anderson, \u003ci\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/i\u003e bestselling author of the Destroyermen series\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“\u003ci\u003eVanguard \u003c\/i\u003eis the book Campbell's Lost Fleet readers have been waiting for....Strong characters,  complex politics on multiple worlds,  battles against impossible odds,  this book has the whole package.”—Elizabeth Moon, Nebula Award–winning author of \u003ci\u003eCold Welcome\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“High-stakes action and deep-space intrigue that is deftly constructed, consistently surprising and thoroughly engaging.”—\u003ci\u003eRT Book Reviews\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“An excellent blend of real science and space action. I enjoyed myself thoroughly from first to last page.”—Brandon Sanderson, #1 \u003ci\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/i\u003e bestselling author\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Combines the best parts of military SF and grand space opera.”—\u003ci\u003ePublishers Weekly\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Campbell’s genius is action in space.”—Tor.com\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“The visceral action comes fast and furious.”—\u003ci\u003eKirkus Reviews\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cb\u003e\"Jack Campbell\" \u003c\/b\u003eis the pen name of John G. Hemry, a retired naval officer who graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis before serving with the surface fleet and in a variety of other assignments. He is the author of the Lost Fleet and the Lost Stars series as well as the Stark's War series,  the Paul Sinclair series and the Pillars of Reality series.Chapter 1\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Billions of years before, a star much like the one humans called      Sol had formed, nuclear fires igniting to warm a bevy of planets,      asteroids, and comets orbiting its mass. Millions of years ago,      the star, its fuel dwindling, had gone nova, hurling its outer      layers into space and ravaging the worlds that had once orbited      it. No longer a nuclear furnace, the star still glowed with bright      white light created by the heat of its collapse into a sphere the      size of a world like Earth. Over the course of another billion      years, the star would expend that heat and gradually cool.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Humanity arrived, in ships that needed the mass of stars to create      jump points allowing those ships to cross light years of distance      in a few weeks. The star was given a name, Jatayu, but with only a      few battered rocks still circling it, humans went onward to other      stars that still warmed worlds where men and women could find new      homes. Jatayu was nothing but a waypoint, a place the ships of      humans had to go through to get to places they wanted to go.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e But one day some humans came to stay. They brought a small outpost      that they placed in orbit about the white dwarf star and claimed      ownership of Jatayu.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Billions of years after its birth, war followed humanity to the      small, bright star.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e ÒLeaving jump space at Jatayu in five . . . four . . . three . .      .Ó\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Commodore Erik Hopkins, formerly of Earth Fleet, braced himself      for the familiar disorientation and dizziness that accompanied a      drop out of jump space. He wasn't otherwise worried. Freedom of      Space Navigation Operation. There was a checklist for that, and      every item had been checked off. The destroyer Claymore,      originally known as the Garibaldi when she was part of Earth      Fleet, was at Standard Alert Condition Two, just as mandated by      the checklist. The freighter they were escorting would come out of      jump space behind Claymore, and they would proceed through Jatayu      Star System, breaking the unofficial blockade of Glenlyon Star      System. It had all been planned out.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Scatha Star System had claimed control of Jatayu, a claim without      legal merit but one that Scatha might try to enforce against any      unescorted freighter. With other star systems within reach of      Glenlyon either claimed or controlled by Scatha, or by its      partners in strong-arming their neighbors, Apulu Star System and      Turan Star System, trade between Glenlyon and the rest of human      space had been choked off. Glenlyon faced the alternatives of      either fighting or submission, but, unwilling to make that stark      choice, had instead decided on trying to call what it hoped was a      bluff by Scatha.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Which was where Claymore and Commodore Hopkins came in. He wasn't      worried about the outcome. Earth Fleet had had a checklist for      everything, and checklists for the checklists. That was how Earth      Fleet got things done, and Commodore Hopkins had risen to rank by      making sure he adhered to those checklists. There wasn't much left      of Earth Fleet anymore, mainly the men and women still tasked with      decommissioning the last remaining warships, archiving the      remaining data and records, and preparing to turn out the last      lights and lock the last doors. Hopkins himself, along with the      great majority of the crew and the Claymore herself, had been      declared surplus years ago and been forced to find new employment      out among the new worlds being rapidly settled far from Earth.      Glenlyon had been a decent place to work with, but Hopkins and      most of the crew still thought of themselves as being from Earth      rather than their new home, and Hopkins still ran everything by      the rules that Earth Fleet had once lived by.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e As the destroyer left jump the formless, bland gray of jump space      vanished from the displays on Claymore's bridge, suddenly replaced      by the familiar star-spangled black of normal space. One of those      white dots was the star Jatayu itself, only a speck from the jump      point five light hours away where Claymore had arrived. Velocity      couldn't be measured in jump space, but back in normal space      Claymore was only traveling at point zero two light speed, a crawl      for a warship, because of the need to stay close to the plodding      freighter she was escorting.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Dizzy from the drop out of jump space, Hopkins was still trying to      focus on the display before his command seat when Claymore      shuddered, then jolted as if a giant had slammed a hammer against      her hull. Alarms blared throughout the ship.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Situation!\" ordered Captain Kanda Shade, commanding officer of      the Claymore, as she also tried to shake off the disorientation.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"We're under attack!\" the weapons watch officer reported. \"Two      opponents. Tentative ID-\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Claymore jerked again, hard. More alarms sounded.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Shield failure amidships! Hull breaches in two compartments!\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Hopkins finally forced his eyes into focus, staring at his      display. There were the two attackers, who must have been waiting      at the jump exit for Claymore. And right behind Claymore was the      freighter Bruce Monroe, having just left jump space as well.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Attackers are a Sword Class destroyer and a Founders Class      destroyer.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Hopkins opened his mouth to issue an order but hesitated.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e The relevant checklists had automatically appeared on his display.      When Attacked By Superior Numbers, the first item demanded      \"Accelerate at Full.\" But the list for Freedom of Navigation      Operations had a block for \"Maintain Close Escort of      Freighter(s).\" One list demanded that he order Claymore to      accelerate at full, but the other demanded that he stay close to      the Bruce Monroe.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Claymore jerked again.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Another hit amidships! We've lost Particle Cannon One!\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Shields at full!\" Commander Shade ordered from her own checklist.      \"Main propulsion-\" She paused, staring at her display where the      other two checklists offered the same incompatible choices.      \"Commodore?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Hopkins shook his head, wracked by indecision. \"I don't- We      can't-\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Two more jolts. \"Main propulsion down by thirty percent! Shields      have collapsed!\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e The Commodore frowned at his display. Follow the checklists. He      knew he had to follow the checklists. \"We have to . . .\" He looked      helplessly at Shade. \"Captain . . . ?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Shade shook her head, baffled. \"We're supposed to . . .\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Claymore groaned and shook as more blows landed. The lights went      out, replaced by the dimmer glow of emergency lanterns. \"Grapeshot      launchers disabled. Particle Cannon Two destroyed! Serious      structural damage amidships!\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Orders, sir?\" another watch stander pleaded.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Hopkins hesitated.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Shade tried to read through both checklists again.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e A shudder ran through Claymore, followed by a deep boom that      rattled through the ship as she broke in two.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Hopkins felt an overwhelming sense of relief as a new checklist      appeared on the emergency display that had replaced his usual one.      He knew what to do. It was right there, item one on the list.      \"Abandon ship!\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e He was still running down Preparatory-to-Abandoning-Ship items on      the list when a barrage of grapeshot struck and tore through the      bridge of the wreck that had once been a destroyer.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Rob Geary, Senior Dock Officer for the orbital shipyard and      station that was GlenlyonÕs main link with space, glared at the      image of Council Member Leigh Camagan on his desk display. ÒThe      government really expects me to step up again?Ó\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Yes,\" she replied. \"You came through for Glenlyon three years      ago, Rob.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"What do they think I can do? Claymore was totally destroyed, I'm      told, half her crew dead. I sent Hopkins a message before Claymore      left, warning him that it had taken him so long to prepare for      that mission that Scatha had to have plenty of advance warning.      Everyone on this station seemed to know about it.\" Rob paused,      miserable as he thought of the dead. \"I wish either I'd been      wrong, or Hopkins had listened. Why has Saber remained in orbit      here?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Camagan made a face. \"Commander Teosig was ordered out but kept      finding reasons to delay. He was fired this morning.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"He should have been fired at least a year ago! I had to work with      that guy whenever Saber was in dock for refit. All he cared about      was looking good to Commodore Hopkins, so he'd do his best to      avoid actually doing anything that might mar his reputation. I      told you all about that!\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Yes, you did,\" Leigh Camagan agreed, exasperated. \"And I told the      rest of the council, who deferred to Commodore Hopkins, who as you      say thought Commander Teosig was a perfect commanding officer. Why      are you venting on me? Because I was chosen to ask you to return      to service?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Rob paused, angry with himself and with the universe. \"I'm sorry.      What is it the government wants me to do?\" he asked again.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Assume command of Saber and all fleet assets to defend Glenlyon.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Saber is the only fleet asset left! Are they offering me a      temporary, unofficial rank of lieutenant again?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Commander,\" Camagan replied. \"Official rank of commander. And      status as Commodore in charge of all fleet assets.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"They must really be scared.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"They are. Glenlyon is being choked to death by the grip that      Scatha and Apulu and Turan have established over the trade routes      out here. If we can't find a way to break through, Glenlyon will      have no choice but to submit.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Submit?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Camagan's glare wasn't aimed at Rob this time. \"What they did at      Hesta. A so-called trade office that effectively ended up      controlling not just trade but also the government.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"We came out here to be free,\" Rob said, feeling bleak.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"A lot of people did. But it has become obvious that others came      out here to start building empires.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"What about Mele Darcy?\" He owed Mele that concern after what she      had done three years ago to defeat Scatha on the ground.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"We need her, too. I pushed through a vote to finally create a      small Marine force to assist the fleet. Mele Darcy is being      offered command of that force. It's only a Marine captain's rank,      but it's official.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Who will the Marines work for?\" Rob asked, remembering some      stories he had heard about the ground forces commander.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"They'll work for you. They'll be part of the fleet. You'll be in      charge of Mele Darcy. I'm not sure anyone else would take that      particular job.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"I need to talk to Ninja before I agree to anything.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Of course.\" Leigh Camagan sighed. \"Give your wife Lyn my best.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"You know Lyn is fine with you calling her Ninja. All of her      friends call her that.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"I imagine that Ninja won't be feeling too friendly toward me      because of this. I hope she doesn't decide to hack all of my      personal data.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e The walk through the orbital station to his home was short, one of      the perks of being Senior Dock Officer. Usually he was happy about      that, but today Rob wished he had more time to think before      reaching the door to his quarters. In addition to his own name a      small sign advertised Ninja IT Consulting.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Ninja, as usual, was seated before several displays as she worked.      \"Hey,\" Rob said, sitting down beside her.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Hey, yourself.\" Ninja gave him a sharp look. \"Don't bother      summarizing your talk with Camagan.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"You listened in?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"When the governing council makes a high priority call to my      husband, I think I deserve to know what's going on.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"That call was secure. Triple encrypted,\" Rob pointed out.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Oh, Rob, how many times have we gone over the secure thing? It's      a myth.\" Ninja looked away, as if focusing on one of the displays      to the other side of her. \"So, you're going.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"I said I needed to talk to you before I decided.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Nice words. You and I both know what you want to do.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"What I think I have to do,\" Rob said. He looked toward the door      to the second bedroom. \"Is Little Ninja asleep?\" Even though their      toddler daughter's name was Dani, she'd refused to answer to      anything but Little Ninja ever since Mele Darcy had called her      that about six months ago.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Yeah. What, are you feeling a bit guilty for abandoning your      family?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Ninja-\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"No!\" She turned a furious gaze on him, a dark memory vivid in her      eyes. \"I've never been able to forget how I felt when everyone      thought you'd died on Squall. Do you know how that felt, Rob?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"No,\" he admitted, unable to meet her eyes.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"So who'd tell Little Ninja if her daddy never comes home, huh?      And her Aunt Mele if something happens to her? You know how much      Little Ninja loves her Aunt Mele. But that'd be my job, too,      wouldn't it? And our next project?\" She tapped her abdomen, where      the two months of pregnancy barely showed. \"Who tells that kid      he'll never see his father? Is that going to be my job, too?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e He knew what was driving her anger. She was afraid for him, afraid      for what might happen to him and to her and their children. She      needed to vent that fear, to let him know how it was affecting      her. And she was doubtless also angry that fate had once more put      them in a position where she had to nurse such fears.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e And having let him know, she'd probably never bring it up again.      Because she knew the pressure he was under, that he'd need her      support, and that arguing with fate was worse than useless.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e What right did he have to put her through that? Rob bit his lip,      trying to come up with words, and finally looked up at her again.      \"Ninja, I'd decided I should go because you, and those kids,      deserved a free world to live in. I really don't want to leave. If      it would hurt you that much-\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Oh, shut up, Rob! You and I both know you have to go! Because      that's the idealistic idiot that I was stupid enough to fall in      love with and marry! And our kids will probably inherit your sense      of duty and idealism so someday I'll have to see them off on some      harebrained noble missions, too! And it'll be your fault! But you      had better come back again, do you hear me? You come back, or I      swear I will tell these kids that you were a fool and they should      never be anything like you!\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e He looked at her helplessly. \"What is it you want?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Ninja shook her head. \"You figure that out for yourself.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Do you think I want to do this?\" Rob demanded. \"Leave you and      Little Ninja? Go out there and . . . watch men and women die      because of orders I gave? Do you think I want to do that again?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e She looked at him without saying anything for a few moments. \"You      say their names sometimes when you're asleep. Did you know that?      The names of the ones who didn't come back. I hear you say those      names, and I don't know what to do.\" She reached out and embraced      him, her arms gripping him tightly. \"And then I think of Kosatka,      and how many people would have died there if you weren't such an      idiot. And how you got most of the crew of Squall home when it      seemed hopeless. And here at Glenlyon, where Scatha would probably      have been running everything by now. People like you and Mele go      out and do things like this because you think you have to, and      people like me and Little Ninja just hope and pray you come back      each time.\"","brand":"Ace","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46303509971173,"sku":"NP9781101988398","price":7.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1842\/7735\/files\/9781101988398.jpg?v=1730754520","url":"https:\/\/k12savings.com\/es\/products\/genesis-fleet-theisbn-9781101988398","provider":"K12savings","version":"1.0","type":"link"}