{"product_id":"the-lost-fleet-beyond-the-frontier-leviathan-isbn-9780425260555","title":"The Lost Fleet: Beyond the Frontier: Leviathan","description":"\u003cb\u003eAdmiral John “Black Jack” Geary embarks on a brand-new mission—to defend the Alliance from itself—in \u003ci\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/i\u003e bestselling author Jack Campbell’s latest action-packed novel…\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eTwo Syndicate Worlds star systems have fallen prey to a mysterious fleet of warships—a fleet controlled entirely by artificial intelligence—that is now targeting Alliance space. The warships are no mystery to Admiral John “Black Jack” Geary. They were developed by his government to ensure security, but malfunctioned. If the Syndics learn the truth, the war with the Alliance will resume with a vengeance.\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e As the government attempts to conceal the existence of the AI warships—and its role in their creation—Geary pursues them, treading a fine line between mutiny and obedience. But it soon becomes clear that his fleet is no match for the firepower of the machine-piloted armada.\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e With the help of the Dancer species of aliens, Geary has tracked the AI ships to their secret base in the supposedly mythical Unity Alternate star system, where his fleet, the last hope for the Alliance’s future, will end the conflict at any cost… | “Campbell combines the best parts of military SF and grand space opera…Geary’s \u003ci\u003eStar Trek\u003c\/i\u003e–like mission of exploration sets the fleet up for plenty of exciting discoveries and escapades.”—\u003ci\u003ePublishers Weekly\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e “Rousing military-SF action.”—\u003ci\u003eSci Fi Weekly\u003c\/i\u003e \u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e “This series is the best military SF I’ve read in some time.”—GeekDad | \u003cb\u003e“Jack Campbell”\u003c\/b\u003e is 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 series and the spin-off Lost Stars series, as well as the Stark’s War series and the Paul Sinclair series. His short fiction appears frequently in \u003ci\u003eAnalog\u003c\/i\u003e magazine. He lives with his indomitable wife and three children in Maryland. | \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFor S., as always.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eACKNOWLEDGMENTS\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eTHE FIRST FLEET OF THE ALLIANCE\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eADMIRAL JOHN GEARY, COMMANDING\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSECOND BATTLESHIP DIVISION\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eGallant\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eIndomitable\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eGlorious\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eMagnificent\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eTHIRD BATTLESHIP DIVISION\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eDreadnaught\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eOrion (lost at Sobek)\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eDependable\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eConqueror\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFOURTH BATTLESHIP DIVISION\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eWarspite\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eVengeance\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eRevenge\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eGuardian\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFIFTH BATTLESHIP DIVISION\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eFearless\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eResolution\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eRedoubtable\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSEVENTH BATTLESHIP DIVISION\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eColossus\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eEncroach\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eAmazon\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eSpartan\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eEIGHTH BATTLESHIP DIVISION\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eRelentless\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eReprisal\u003c\/i\u003e (returned to Callas Republic)\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eSuperb\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eSplendid\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFIRST BATTLE CRUISER DIVISION\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eInspire\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eFormidable\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eBrilliant (lost at Honor)\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eImplacable\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSECOND BATTLE CRUISER DIVISION\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eLeviathan\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eDragon\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eSteadfast\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eValiant\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFOURTH BATTLE CRUISER DIVISION\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eDauntless\u003c\/i\u003e (flagship)\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eDaring\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eVictorious\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eIntemperate\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFIFTH BATTLE CRUISER DIVISION\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAdroit (lost at Atalia)\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSIXTH BATTLE CRUISER DIVISION\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eIllustrious\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eIncredible\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eInvincible (lost at Pandora)\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFIFTH ASSAULT TRANSPORT DIVISION\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eTsunami\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eTyphoon\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eMistral\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eHaboob\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFIRST AUXILIARIES DIVISION\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eTitan\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eTanuki\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eKupua\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eDomovoi\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSECOND AUXILIARIES DIVISION\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eWitch\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eJinn\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eAlchemist\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eCyclops\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eTHIRTY-ONE HEAVY CRUISERS IN SIX DIVISIONS\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFirst Heavy Cruiser Division\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThird Heavy Cruiser Division\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFourth Heavy Cruiser Division\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFifth Heavy Cruiser Division\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eEighth Heavy Cruiser Division\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eTenth Heavy Cruiser Division\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eEmerald and Hoplon lost at Honor\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFIFTY-FIVE LIGHT CRUISERS IN TEN SQUADRONS\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFirst Light Cruiser Squadron\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSecond Light Cruiser Squadron\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThird Light Cruiser Squadron\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFifth Light Cruiser Squadron\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSixth Light Cruiser Squadron\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eEighth Light Cruiser Squadron\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eNinth Light Cruiser Squadron\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eTenth Light Cruiser Squadron\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eEleventh Light Cruiser Squadron\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFourteenth Light Cruiser Squadron\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eBalestra lost at Honor\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eLancer lost at Atalia\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eONE HUNDRED SIXTY DESTROYERS IN EIGHTEEN SQUADRONS\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFirst Destroyer Squadron\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSecond Destroyer Squadron\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThird Destroyer Squadron\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFourth Destroyer Squadron\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSixth Destroyer Squadron\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSeventh Destroyer Squadron\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eNinth Destroyer Squadron\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eTenth Destroyer Squadron\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eTwelfth Destroyer Squadron\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFourteenth Destroyer Squadron\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSixteenth Destroyer Squadron\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSeventeenth Destroyer Squadron\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eTwentieth Destroyer Squadron\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eTwenty-first Destroyer Squadron\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eTwenty-third Destroyer Squadron\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eTwenty-seventh Destroyer Squadron\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eTwenty-eighth Destroyer Squadron\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThirty-second Destroyer Squadron\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eZaghnal\u003ci\u003e \u003c\/i\u003elost at Pandora\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ePlumbatae, Bolo, Bangalore, and Morningstar lost at Honor\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eMusket lost at Midway\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eKururi and Sabar lost at Atalia\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFIRST FLEET MARINE FORCE\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eMajor General Carabali, commanding\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e3,000 Marines on assault transports and divided into detachments on battle cruisers and battleships\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eONE\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“FIVE minutes to exit from jump space,” Captain Tanya Desjani said from her seat next to Admiral John “Black Jack” Geary on the bridge of the Alliance battle cruiser \u003ci\u003eDauntless\u003c\/i\u003e. “All systems at maximum combat readiness.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe warships commanded by Geary had left the blood and fire of Atalia Star System in pursuit of the dark ships that had carried out the destruction there. Geary and the others called them “dark ships” because their hulls were a duskier shade than most warships’, perhaps because of special stealth materials. It hadn’t been the crews of the dark ships that had committed the atrocities at Atalia and at Indras Star System but the dark ships themselves. The dark ships lacked human crews who could have overridden automated systems that had developed deadly glitches or perhaps been deliberately sabotaged by any of a variety of malware. Having finally won the century-long war against the Syndicate Worlds, the Alliance government had decided not to place its faith in the men and women who had paid the price for that victory, instead placing its trust in robotic systems that had already set ablaze two star systems.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eGeary’s Task Force Dancer had left Varandal with twelve battle cruisers, eight heavy cruisers, thirteen light cruisers, and twenty-five destroyers. The battle cruiser \u003ci\u003eAdroit\u003c\/i\u003e had been lost in the fighting at Atalia, along with the light cruiser \u003ci\u003eLancer\u003c\/i\u003e and the destroyers \u003ci\u003eKururi\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eSabar\u003c\/i\u003e. Four battle cruisers, \u003ci\u003eLeviathan\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eDragon\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eSteadfast\u003c\/i\u003e, and \u003ci\u003eValiant\u003c\/i\u003e, along with some heavy cruisers and destroyers, had remained at Atalia to assist damaged ships and recover wreckage from destroyed dark ships.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eOnly seven battle cruisers were left in the pursuit force.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThat would be enough. If they could catch the surviving dark ships, which had fled from the destruction they had wrought at Atalia.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e—\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“ARE automatic software updates disabled for \u003ci\u003eDauntless\u003c\/i\u003e’s systems?” Geary asked.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Yes, sir.” Tanya could be informal at other times, but now she was sharp, precise, and dangerous, a human weapon honed by the last decades of the brutal war with the Syndics. “My people are actively monitoring all systems, and if something tries overriding the block on updates, they have orders to shut down those systems and do a cold reboot from last-day backups.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Good,” Geary said. “It’s a hell of a thing not to be able to trust our own software.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eDesjani shook her head. “We could never completely trust our software. It wasn’t just flaws and glitches, it was also all the malware that enemy hackers could come up with to cause our software to misbehave. Humans separate from the machines are the only firewalls proven to be reliable enough. That’s why we always kept humans in the loop, for those times when the software got its artificial little brains twisted.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“‘Always’ until those dark ships were built,” Geary said, his tones tight with anger.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Yes.” She leaned closer and spoke more quietly. “If the dark ships went berserk after they arrived at Varandal, like they did at Atalia, stopping them from doing a lot of damage might be impossible for us. They were nearly two hours ahead of us when they jumped for Varandal, and if they accelerated after they left jump space, they will have opened that lead. And none of the defenses at Varandal will be able to see the dark ships at all to counter them.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“I know,” Geary said, trying not to let his frustration sound too clearly. “Thanks to official software updates designed to keep us blind to the dark ships. Are the software patches that fix the damage caused by those updates ready to send as soon as we arrive at Varandal?”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Yes, sir. The First Fleet ships still at Varandal will install the patches on your say-so because you’re the fleet commander, but other Alliance forces not directly reporting to you may not,” she reminded him. “They’ll argue that these are unauthorized modifications to official software, so they need approval from their own chain of command to install them.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“If they’re already getting shot up by warships that are invisible to their sensors, they may be motivated to ignore regulations concerning unauthorized software modifications.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“One minute to exit from jump space,” Lieutenant Castries called from her watch station at the back of the bridge.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eGeary fixed his eyes on his display. A marker to one side confirmed that \u003ci\u003eDauntless\u003c\/i\u003e’s weapons systems, like those of the other warships in this pursuit force, were set to open fire immediately if any dark ships were within range when the Alliance warships left jump space. He didn’t think they would be, though. The artificial-intelligence routines governing the dark ships’ tactical decisions were apparently closely based on Geary’s own methods, and under these circumstances, if he had been the commander of the dark ships, he would not have attempted an ambush against a force with as much an advantage in firepower as Task Force Dancer still possessed.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe jolt of transition from the gray nothingness of jump space back to the real universe hit Geary. He was barely aware of the sudden reappearance of the stars in the endless blackness of space, his mind dazed by the transition, but even while fighting off the effects of the exit from jump, Geary noticed that none of \u003ci\u003eDauntless\u003c\/i\u003e’s weapons were firing.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHis display swam back into focus as Geary concentrated on it.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eDesjani was a second faster than he was in getting her mind working right again. “They’re heading for the hypernet gate.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“To attack it, or to use it to get away?” he wondered aloud. “At least they’re not moving into the star system to attack the ships and facilities.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSpace had no up or down, no east or west to determine directions, so humans had made up their own. Every star system had a plane in which planets orbited. One side of that plane was labeled up, the other down. Any direction toward the star was starboard or starward, while any direction away from the star was port. The conventions were simple, but they worked to give common references for ships that might be pointed in any direction, upside down or at right angles to each other.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe dark ships that had escaped from Atalia, two battle cruisers, one heavy cruiser, and five destroyers, were to port of Geary’s ships and diving down slightly as they moved at a steady point two light speed for the hypernet gate orbiting six light-hours from the jump point where Geary’s ships had just arrived. “They’re three hours’ travel time ahead of us. We won’t have any chance of catching them before they reach the gate,” Desjani said. “We’d better hope they’re running and that their warped artificial brains haven’t decided the gate is also an enemy target.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Status signals from the gate indicate that the safe-collapse mechanism is operational,” reported Lieutenant Yuon, the weapons systems watch-stander on \u003ci\u003eDauntless\u003c\/i\u003e’s bridge.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Thank you, Lieutenant. At least if the dark ships do attack it, we don’t have to worry about the gate’s setting off a nova-scale explosion when it collapses. They’ll reach the gate in another twenty-seven hours.” She ran some quick calculations. “There are two destroyers at the gate. Maybe . . . damn. The only other units already at Varandal that are positioned to be able to intercept the dark ships are several more destroyers and light cruisers.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Those wouldn’t stand a chance even if they could see the dark ships,” Geary said. “We may not be able to catch the dark ships, but we can stay on their tails.” He tapped a comm control. “All units in Task Force Dancer, immediate execute accelerate to point two five light speed, come port two five degrees, down zero three degrees.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Are we going to chase them through the hypernet gate?” Desjani asked.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“If we have to,” Geary said. “We have to find their base, wherever it is.” He checked the fuel cell status on his ships and let out an angry breath. “I’ll have to leave our destroyers here if we do that. Their fuel supplies are getting too low. Now, let’s get the word out to everyone here,” Geary added, his mood and his voice grim. He could see the many defenses at Varandal, the numerous warships and installations, all at standby readiness because the war with the Syndics had at last ended. “Why aren’t they reporting peacetime readiness instead of standby?” Geary grumbled.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Because nobody but you remembers what peacetime readiness is,” Desjani reminded him. “And if the attack on Indras by those dark ships causes the Syndics to retaliate, this peace business may already be over with before the rest of us can figure out what it means.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“I hope you’re wrong about that. At least if the Syndics attack our defenses, we will be able to see \u003ci\u003ethem\u003c\/i\u003e.” Even after experiencing on these ships how secret software modifications had left Alliance sensors unable to see the dark ships, it was still hard to grasp that everything else in this star system would be totally unaware of the dark ships that were passing through. Many of those defenses were too far off to have seen the dark ships yet regardless, of course, let alone the more recent arrival of Geary’s ships. Light only moved at about eighteen million kilometers a minute, so with distances inside a star system measured in hundreds of millions or billions of kilometers, even light took a while to get places.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eBut other defenses, other ships closer to this edge of the star system, should have seen the dark ships by now. If their own software were not blinding them to the presence of the hostile forces.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“What you are about to do will raise hell,” Desjani commented.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“I know that,” he replied. “Are you advising me not to do it?”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“No.” Her grin was fierce. “I’m looking forward to it.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eGeary couldn’t help a tense, humorless smile in return, then composed himself, touched the transmit command, and began sending the message he had been rehearsing during the long days in jump space since leaving Atalia. “All units in the First Fleet, there are hostile forces in this star system that your software is blocking all sight of. These are not, repeat not, enigma warships. Our best estimate is that these are fully automated combatants that have slipped whatever controls were supposed to limit their actions.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHe paused a moment to let that sink in before continuing. “We have engaged in combat with those forces at Atalia, where they, without provocation or warning, attacked Alliance as well as civilian shipping and caused extensive destruction and loss of life. These hostile warships have already attacked Alliance warships and killed Alliance personnel. My task force is in pursuit of these ships, which are currently en route to Varandal’s hypernet gate. Based on their actions at Indras and Atalia, it must be assumed that any Alliance or civilian ships they encounter will be attacked and destroyed.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Attached is a set of software patches you are to install on your ships. Disable automatic updates and permit no other updates until I personally authorize it. Your combat, maneuvering, sensor, database, and other systems contain hidden subroutines that mask the presence of the hostile warships. Once you have implemented the software patches we are sending, we will forward identifying information on the hostile warships. If we sent that information now, your own communications systems would strip out all traces of anything related to the hostile warships. These software patches are personally authorized by me as commander of the First Fleet. Geary, out.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHe tapped in another command, this one aimed at the two destroyers on picket duty at the hypernet gate. “\u003ci\u003eMortar\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eSerpentine\u003c\/i\u003e, this is Admiral Geary. There are hostile warships in overwhelming force approaching your orbit. You cannot detect those warships until the attached software patches are fully applied to all of your systems. Immediate execute, accelerate to point two light speed and proceed on a vector toward Ambaru Station while applying the patches. Geary, out.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“That should have them nowhere nearby when the dark ships reach the gate,” Geary told Desjani.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“If they follow that order,” she said. “And if they don’t head back to the gate as soon as they apply the patches. If they do. Those two destroyers are not part of the First Fleet. They belong to the Varandal local self-defense forces.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“I know that.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“You told them that enemy forces were approaching,” Desjani added implacably. “They’re not going to run.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“I didn’t tell them to run,” Geary insisted. “I told them to head for another orbital location while fixing their system software.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Same difference, Admiral,” she said. “You’d better get Admiral Timbale to send them those orders if you want any chance of their being obeyed. Ambaru Station is currently three and a half light-hours from us, and the destroyers are about five light-hours from Ambaru, so if Timbale sends maneuvering orders to the two destroyers within a few hours after we warn him, there is enough time”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“I’m calling Timbale now,” Geary replied. Another command entered, then he spoke with quiet intensity. “Admiral Timbale, this is Admiral Geary. Be advised that there are hostile forces operating within Alliance space, and that hidden subroutines in our own software are preventing us from seeing those forces. A mixed force of hostile battle cruisers, heavy cruisers, and destroyers inflicted catastrophic damage at Indras Star System, damage which the Syndicate Worlds’ authorities at Indras blame on the Alliance. Courier ships must be sent as soon as possible to alert fleet headquarters and border star systems that the attack at Indras may trigger direct retaliatory attacks on Alliance star systems by the Syndicate Worlds. The same hostile warships caused extensive loss of life and property at Atalia and conducted a deliberate and unprovoked attack on the Alliance picket ship watching Atalia, destroying it without warning. They also attacked my ships, destroying one battle cruiser, a light cruiser, and two destroyers, and inflicting serious damage on other Alliance warships. I have reason to believe that these hostile warships are completely automated, with no human crews. They are very heavily armed, very maneuverable, and a force of them is currently traversing Varandal en route to the hypernet gate. I am in pursuit of them and will engage them again if possible. I have ordered the two destroyers on duty near the gate to reposition, but do not know if they will comply with orders from me. Attached is a set of software patches that will allow you to see the hostile warships and retain information about them in your databases. Geary, out.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHe sat back, feeling \u003ci\u003eDauntless\u003c\/i\u003e accelerate as her main propulsion drove her in pursuit of the dark ships, the other warships of the task force arrayed around \u003ci\u003eDauntless\u003c\/i\u003e and matching her movements. There was nothing else to do now. Space was too big for anything else to be done. All he could do was wait, and react when he finally received replies to his messages, which would take hours to reach the ships and places to which they had been sent, and hours more for replies to cross the same immense distances.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“At least there aren’t any surprises among our fleet,” Desjani remarked as she frowned at her display. “No ships missing since we left.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHe grimaced at the data being displayed. “But they’re still sending out false readiness status reports. I’ll need to find out what shape they are really in, and how much progress Captain Smythe’s boys and girls have made in repairing broken systems and battle damage.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“We broke some more at Atalia,” Desjani pointed out. “Or, rather, the dark ships did.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eGeary nodded, keeping his eyes on his display. “Smythe was worried about how well \u003ci\u003eAdroit\u003c\/i\u003e would hold together when so many systems on her were built on the cheap. He was right. Why would people bother to build a warship and cut so many corners while doing it?”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“The Alliance was close to broke after a century of war,” Desjani said. “Remember?”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“They still are,” he said. “But they found enough money to build those damned dark ships, which might have already caused another war to start.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eShe gave him that look, the one he hated to see, the one that believed Black Jack could do what others could not. “You can save it.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHe knew what “it” meant. The Alliance. “Tanya, how can I, how can anyone, save the Alliance? It is so much bigger than any one man or woman.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“It’s not bigger than Black Jack,” Desjani reminded him. “He is the Alliance as far as most of the people are concerned. He came back from the dead when we needed him the most—”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“I wasn’t dead!”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Technically, no. I’m talking legends and belief here, Admiral. Black Jack is also the one who reminded us of how far we had strayed from the things our ancestors believed in. He’s the one who finally beat the Syndics. Are you going to argue either of those points?”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHe gave her a cross look. “Since when have I been able to win any arguments with you?”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“You give me an order, and it will be done,” Tanya told him. “But if you ask my opinion, you’ll get what I really think. And I really think that Black Jack can save the Alliance. Because most of us believe in him. Maybe during that century you spent frozen in survival sleep, when everyone thought you were dead and the government built Black Jack up to be the greatest hero ever, maybe the living stars and the ancestors really were talking to you. And maybe they still are.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Let’s hope so,” he said. “But, if they are, what they are telling me is that Black Jack alone can’t do the job. Just like beating the Syndics took a lot of brave men and women, saving the Alliance isn’t a one-person show. Even the Black Jack a lot of people believe in is going to need a lot of help.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“He’s got it.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“I know.” Despite his worries, Geary managed to smile at her. “Black Jack may be what gives others hope, but what gives me hope is knowing people like Tanya Desjani have my back.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e—\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eMESSAGES moving at the speed of light tore across the vast distances separating objects in space, moving much faster than the ships humanity had built but still feeling slow given how long it took them to reach their targets. It took six hours for the first replies to start coming in from the nearest of Geary’s First Fleet warships that had remained at Varandal. Startled and bewildered, all ships indicated that they were applying the patches but all were wondering what was going on.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eGiven the distance to where the battleship \u003ci\u003eDreadnaught\u003c\/i\u003e orbited, it required almost seven hours before they heard from Captain Jane Geary, who had been left in command of the majority of the First Fleet that had not accompanied Admiral Geary. “I’m glad you’re back though I don’t understand what happened,” she said. “We’re applying the software patches now, but some units have reported to me that they have received orders supposedly from Admiral Timbale instructing them not to apply the patches.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eJane Geary shook her head. “I haven’t heard from Admiral Timbale, though, which is odd since he has contacted me whenever a matter concerned First Fleet ships. I’ve asked Admiral Timbale for clarification, but also told every First Fleet unit to comply with your orders, Admiral.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“You should know that I was interviewed by some government inspectors regarding the fleet repair work. I told them what I knew, which was that all repair work was necessary and funded through appropriate channels, then referred them to Captain Smythe. Geary, out.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Smythe is going to be glad that Lieutenant Jamenson is back,” Desjani commented, as Jane Geary’s image vanished.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“He had Jamenson prepare plenty of reports before she left,” Geary said. “That woman really is amazing. She could make the simplest thing impossibly confusing, and yet do it all by the book. I’d want her on my staff myself, if I had anything I wanted to hide. But what Jane said was true. All of the repair work is needed, and it’s all been done by the book. Maybe the book didn’t intend that we do things the way we did, but no one broke any rules.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eTanya twisted her mouth in a half smile. “If there were a rule against confusing things, fleet headquarters would find itself up on charges in no time.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHe didn’t smile in return as he gazed at the display before his command seat. The three hours of travel time, or about thirty light-minutes, that had separated Geary’s ships from the dark ships was closing very slowly as the long stern chase offered no chance of actually catching the enemy before they were able to escape. If they turned to fight, he could finish them off, but as of a bit more than a half hour ago, the dark ships had kept forging steadily for the hypernet gate. “Tanya, I need a gut check from you.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“That’s one of the reasons I’m here.” She nodded toward where the dark ships were indicated on her display. “You’re wondering if we should follow them through that gate if they take it?”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Yes.” He didn’t bother asking how she had once again read his mind. In this case, the worry was the sort of thing anyone should have had. “We know the government was building twenty battle cruisers and twenty battleships in their secret fleet. We destroyed four of the battle cruisers at Atalia though only because we had a two-to-one superiority in numbers. If those fleeing dark ships are going back to their base and we follow them there, we might run head-on into the rest of the dark battle cruisers and battleships.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“That thought had occurred to me,” Desjani said. “As did the thought that the resulting battle might be very short and very unpleasant for us. Can we afford to run that risk?”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHe gave her a startled look. “You’re saying that?”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Yes, I’m saying that. Somebody we both know helped me realize that charging into a fight regardless of the odds might be brave, or just stupid. It depends. I agree that we have to find their base. Since as far as we know all sensor software has been rigged to not see those things, and the odds of anyone’s making an actual direct visual observation of anything in space are as close to zero as doesn’t matter, the base could be anywhere. Maybe even at Unity, where the government would think it would provide maximum security for them.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“I don’t think so,” Geary said. “Yes, nobody would see them in space, but at the base itself, when the dark ships dock for maintenance, repair, and resupply of weapons and fuel cells, people would see them. And sooner or later, some of those people would talk to other people in whatever star system it was.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“But you said no new facilities have been built.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Not as far as Captain Smythe could find out,” Geary said. “Following the money is the best form of intelligence we have on this mess, and the money says no new base facilities were constructed along with that new fleet. They must have a base where they can’t be seen, but where could that be?”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eDesjani grimaced. “If we chase them there, we’ll get the answer. But how many ships should go? Should we send what we’ve got knowing that the odds against us are likely to be bad wherever those dark ships are going? Or should we just send a single ship with orders to take a quick look, then immediately head back here? Admiral, my best recommendation is that we wait to see where those things take the gate to. If it’s somewhere that might be their base, we won’t need to chase them immediately. But if it’s a big system, something like Unity, we’ll have to follow because the dark ships might be glitched enough to target things there, and we’ll have to stop them.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“That would be the only thing we could do,” Geary agreed. “You’re right. If their destination is someplace a lot less populated, some border star system that was part of the defenses against the Syndics, that would point to that place as their base. Maybe a star system like Yokai, which was turned into a Special Defensive Zone, with no citizens allowed in to see things that they shouldn’t. It’s possible, though, that we’ll see some destination that’s ambiguous and leaves no clear guidance for what to do.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“It’s a good thing we have Black Jack in command,” Desjani said. “He’ll know what to do.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Very funny.” He scowled at his display again, where the situation nearest the hypernet gate was unchanged. “\u003ci\u003eSerpentine\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eMortar\u003c\/i\u003e should have begun moving by now.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eDesjani shook her head. “I told you they wouldn’t move. They have orders to guard that gate, and, by their ancestors, they’ll guard it and not run\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Ace","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48338552193253,"sku":"NP9780425260555","price":9.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1842\/7735\/files\/9780425260555.jpg?v=1769572657","url":"https:\/\/k12savings.com\/es\/products\/the-lost-fleet-beyond-the-frontier-leviathan-isbn-9780425260555","provider":"K12savings","version":"1.0","type":"link"}