{"product_id":"vanguard-isbn-9781101988367","title":"Vanguard","description":"\u003cb\u003eJack Campbell returns to the world of the \u003ci\u003eNew York Times \u003c\/i\u003ebestselling Lost Fleet novels with an action-packed military science fiction series that explores the founding of the Alliance...and the men and women who fought to create it.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e Earth is no longer the center of the universe. After the invention of the faster-than-light jump drive, humanity is rapidly establishing new colonies. But the vast distances of space mean that the old order of protection and interstellar law offered by Earth has ceased to exist.\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e When a nearby world attacks, the new colony of Glenlyon turns to Robert Geary, a young former junior fleet officer, and Mele Darcy, a onetime enlisted Marine. With nothing but improvised weapons and a few volunteers, Geary and Darcy must face down warships and armored soldiers—or die trying.\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e As battles rage and pirates take an increasing toll throughout the colonies, the only hope for lasting peace lies with Carmen Ochoa, a “Red” from the anarchic world of Mars, and Lochan Nakamura, a failed politician. They have a plan: to lay the groundwork for mutual defense that could someday grow into an alliance. But if their efforts don’t succeed, the growing power of aggressor worlds could turn regions of space founded on freedom into battlefields between the first interstellar empires....\u003cb\u003ePraise for \u003ci\u003eVanguard\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e“\u003ci\u003eVanguard\u003c\/i\u003e is the book Campbell's Lost Fleet readers have been waiting for, whether they knew it or not. From the moment the young Robert Geary takes his first breath of air on a new planet, the story grabbed me by the throat and didn't let go. Strong characters, complex politics on multiple worlds,  battles against impossible odds,  this book has the whole package. And for those who haven't read the Lost Fleet books yet...start with \u003ci\u003eVanguard\u003c\/i\u003e. Like...the moment you can order it.”—Elizabeth Moon, Nebula Award winning author of \u003ci\u003eCold Welcome\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e“Jack Campbell's \u003ci\u003eVanguard\u003c\/i\u003e starts 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.  There's plenty going on from multiple, diverse perspectives, and the characters come alive in the very best ways. I can't wait to get my hands on the next installment!”—Taylor Anderson, \u003ci\u003eNew York Times \u003c\/i\u003ebestselling author of the Destroyermen series\u003cb\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e“Campbell’s skillfully constructed tale keeps a riveting pace, making each character’s personal stakes into fundamental threads woven into a high-energy whole. The conclusion is well-earned and satisfying, leaving readers eager for the next volume in this saga.”—\u003ci\u003ePublishers Weekly\u003c\/i\u003e (starred review)\u003cb\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003ePraise for Jack Campbell and The Lost Fleet series\u003c\/b\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 of \u003ci\u003eThe Bands of Mourning\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e “Campbell 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\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 \u003ci\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/i\u003e bestselling author of The Lost Fleet series and The Lost Stars series, as well as the Stark’s War, Paul Sinclair, and Pillars of Reality series. He lives with his indomitable wife and three children in Maryland.Chapter 1\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e There was something about breathing the air of a new world,      something about knowing that the oxygen you inhaled had never      before sustained any human being. It felt crisp and new and      strange and exciting. Not like Earth, which he had visited once,      where every molecule had cycled through countless generations of      humanity, where the same old stories had played out endless times      on land trod by untold numbers of people. Here, this spot, right      there, had never before felt the weight of a person's foot. There,      where trees with strange leaves and odd shapes marked where the      grassland changed to forest, no person's eyes had ever before      rested. Compared to this world, even the planets in the Alfar Star      System felt like what they were now called, an Old Colony.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e The sun overhead wasn't quite the right size for someone familiar      with the sun that warmed the planets orbiting Alfar and looked a      little too orange, but it was at the right distance from this      world so that the heat it gave off allowed a person to walk about      in shirtsleeves at this latitude and this time of the planet's      year. The air had that fresh relish to it and could be breathed by      humans. The green of the plants felt a little too blue, but that      was all right.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e A flock of small, birdlike creatures rose into the air with a      thunder of wings and high-pitched, warbling cries. Like every      habitable world that humanity had discovered so far, this one held      an array of native life but nothing that could be considered      sentient. If other intelligent species existed in the galaxy, they      were still somewhere out there, beyond the current boundaries of      human exploration.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Robert Geary knelt and touched the grass, grinning. Behind him, he      could hear the rumble of machinery coming off the landing shuttles      that had brought the devices down from orbit. Soon enough, those      machines would begin constructing the first buildings of a city.      Not an old city, with memories of generations of people and      buildings, but also something new, not burdened with history but      still awaiting history's first imprint.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e A new world. A new beginning.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Unlike Alfar, the Old Colony he had come from. In human terms, a      new place that had become Old in a few generations. Where \"how we      do things here\" had fossilized rapidly into a society where no one      was supposed to rock the boat because the rules set forth by the      first colonists were the best and only imaginable ways to do      things.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e And if you could imagine other ways? If you wanted to try      something different? Or, worse, change the way things were? Who do      you think you are?\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e I think I am Robert Geary; therefore I am not going to put up with      this when I can go somewhere new with other people who want to be      able to breathe. Somewhere we can make our own rules.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Rob Geary?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e The call from his comm unit jarred Rob from his reverie. He      frowned at the worried tone of it. Why would the president of the      colony's governing council be calling him? \"Here. Is something      wrong?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"A ship arrived at the jump point from Scatha five hours ago. They      sent a message as soon as they showed up, which we have now      received.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"And?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"They say this star system is under their 'protection,' and we owe      them what they call residency and defense fees.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"That's ridiculous,\" Rob said. \"I thought we were granted full      ownership here by the Interstellar Rights Authority.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"We were, and we intend on telling them that. But what if they      don't listen?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Why are you asking me? I'm not on the governing council.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Because that new arrival is a warship. And the warship is heading      toward this world.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e He gazed upward, where the blue of the daylight sky drowned out      sight of the countless stars. Somewhere up there was . . . what? A      warship belonging to some other recent colony? A private      corporation wanting to sell security services in a new part of      space? A pirate, absurd as that seemed? \"What does the council      expect me to do about it?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"We need advice, Rob. Advice from someone who knows something      about this kind of thing. And in this colony, that's you.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Rob Geary touched the place on his collar where he had once worn      the insignia of a junior officer in the small fleet of Alfar Star      System. He had thought he had put that part of his life aside      forever.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e But maybe not. Whether whoever controlled that other ship called      themselves pirates or privateers or security professionals or part      of whatever fleet Scatha had, they were playing a very ancient      game. It looked like humanity had brought some old, bad habits      along with it to new stars and new worlds. And as someone who had      chafed at not being able to make changes, to make a difference,      Rob wasn't in a very good position to refuse to help when asked.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Fortunately, a shuttle had been about to lift back up into orbit      to the ship, saving Rob time that could be valuable.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"What have we got?\" Rob asked as he entered the command deck. The      elderly passenger and bulk-cargo carrier Wingate, called the      Wingnut by everyone, had been built to haul people and materials      in a single star system, then had a new jump drive added on and      instantly became an elderly interstellar transport. Aside from the      up-to-the-minute jump control panel, the rest of the command deck      was taken up by displays and controls that had been in service for      decades-and showed it.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e The main display flickered erratically until the Wingnut's      captain, a woman apparently as old as the ship, slammed her fist      against a control unit in a spot already dented by many similar      blows. As the display steadied, Rob squinted at the information      about the ship that was demanding protection money. \"It's a      Buccaneer Class cutter?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Yep,\" the captain said. \"Not good for much in the Old Colonies      but still handy where there's not much else to threaten them.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"You don't seem to be very worried,\" Rob told her, not bothering      to hide his irritation at her attitude.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"You already paid me,\" the captain said, \"and those guys from      Scatha won't give me a hard time because I already paid them a      license fee to operate in this region.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"License fee? You mean extortion?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e The captain spread her hands. \"Call it what you want. Do you have      a better idea? You going to fight that Bucket with your fists?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Frustrated, Rob took another look at the display, then stormed off      in search of the colony's governing council.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Half the council were already gathered, crammed into Wingnut's      grandly named recreational room, which was just a compartment with      several aging displays built in. The men and women of the rest of      the council, still on the surface of the planet, could be seen on      one of the displays. As Rob entered the compartment, a storm of      argument dwindled as everyone looked at him. Council President      Chisholm, looking unhappy, nodded at Rob. \"Thank you for getting      back up here quickly. What's your assessment?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e He didn't waste time asking why the leaders of the colony were      calling on a lowly former lieutenant for his opinion. The Old      Colonies tended to have really small military forces, which was      why ex-junior officer Rob Geary was the most senior veteran among      the initial group of roughly four thousand colonists settling this      world.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"They have an old Buccaneer Class cutter,\" Rob told the council.      \"It arrived at the jump point from Scatha, about five light hours      from this planet we're orbiting and colonizing. The information we      have is still almost five hours light-delayed, but they were      headed on an intercept for us at that time, and there's no reason      to think they'd change vector. Their velocity is point zero five      light speed, and they can't afford to push it any faster even if      they had newer technology for their propulsion system. That means      they'll get here in a little more than three and a half days.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"What can you tell us about the Buccaneer? How dangerous is it?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Rob made an indecisive gesture with one hand. \"Back home? Not very      dangerous at all. The Buckets are nearly a century old, not very      fast or maneuverable, and fairly small. They were built for      law-enforcement duties like stopping smuggling and for search and      rescue. All of the Old Colonies have retired and sold their      Buckets, which is how a new colony like Scatha could get its hands      on one for what was probably a cheap price. But in this star      system, as the only ship equipped to fight, it's as dangerous as      it needs to be. The sensors on the Wingnut are too badly      maintained to tell us any details about the Bucket that showed up      here, but it's probably got the standard weapons. That would be a      single grapeshot launcher and a single pulse particle beam      projector. Those are both close-in weapons. They'll have to be      right on top of us to hit us, and their particle beam is probably      early second-generation equipment, which means its hitting power      is limited.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"But what can it do with those weapons?\" Chisholm pressed.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Rob paused to think. \"They could destroy our shuttles, preventing      us from landing any more people or equipment, and stranding anyone      up here in orbit. They could also decide to target this ship      directly despite the owner's having paid them off earlier.      Destroying the Wingnut would take a lot of work, but hitting      critical areas like access hatches, air locks, and shuttle docking      sites could cripple us.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"I kept saying we should invest in a warship of our own!\" Council      Member Kim complained.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"We didn't come out here to fight wars!\" Chisholm snapped at Kim.      \"We went out to find the freedom and the room to follow our      dreams! It's easy to say now what we should have done, but when      all of us here decided where to put the money for this colony, we      found that we couldn't afford even one warship like this Buccaneer      cutter.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"We can't afford to lose any of our shuttles or pay this      extortionate demand, either!\" Kim tapped his comm pad furiously.      \"If we pay this, we'll barely be able to proceed with building the      colony.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"According to the message from the warship, Scatha Star System      says we need to be protected,\" another council member said.      \"Shouldn't we learn more before making a decision to reject their,      um, offer?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"They are not making an offer,\" Chisholm said. \"Scatha is making a      demand. That is not the action of someone seeking to help us.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Do we know anything about Scatha?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"All we know,\" Chisholm said, \"is that the name they chose for      their star system, Scatha, appears to be derived from that of an      ancient warrior goddess. That and the fact that their first      interaction with us is a demand that we pay them a very large      sum.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Appeal to Old Earth!\" Council Member Odom urged. \"When they      hear-\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"They won't hear for months,\" Chisholm said. \"And then what will      they do? Old Earth has made it clear that while they love having      their children spreading colonies among the stars, that love does      not extend to actually helping them when they run into trouble.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Old Earth got badly beaten up during the last Solar War,\" Kim      grumbled. \"They're still trying to rebuild. We can't expect them      to help us. Which is why I wanted to buy our own protection!\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Can't the police force do anything?\" Council Member Odom asked      plaintively.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Twenty men and women with nonlethal weaponry?\" Kim asked, his      voice dripping with sarcasm.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"We have some weapons,\" Odom insisted.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Hand weapons for hunting.\" Chisholm looked to Rob again. \"What      can we do?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"I don't know,\" Rob said. \"There are two other veterans among the      current batch of colonists, and they're both former enlisted      specialists from Alfar's fleet. They might know something about      the Bucket that could help.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"You were an officer,\" Kim pointed out. \"Surely you know more than      any enlisted.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Being an officer meant I knew enough about the systems on my ship      to know how to best employ them,\" Rob said. \"Most officers are      generalists. The real equipment experts are the enlisted. I'll ask      them. But regardless of what they tell me we can do, I need to      know what we're willing to do.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Chisholm looked around, most of the other council members avoiding      her gaze. \"I know how criminals work,\" she told them all. \"They'll      take as much as they can, returning to hit us up repeatedly, while      still leaving us enough to survive and generate more loot for      them. We can't afford to give in to that. I need options beyond      refusal and hoping they don't carry through on their threats,\" she      finished, gazing at Rob once more.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"I'll see if we've got any,\" Rob told her.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Lyn \"Ninja\" Meltzer was still aboard the Wingnut, naturally      enough. Also, naturally enough, she wasn't where the colony's      individual locator software said she was on the ship even though      that software was supposedly hack-proof. Rob punched her ID into      his pad, hoping she would accept his call. \"Ninja, where are you?      We're dealing with a reality-bites situation.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Her reply came in moments later, showing her head against the top      of her bunk. He had only met Ninja a few times, but she smiled in      welcome at seeing him. \"Hey, Lieutenant! Reality for real?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Yeah. Break time is over. Do you know anything about the old      Buccaneer cutters?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"I might.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"What about Torres? Do you think he's familiar with them?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Meltzer grinned. \"Corbin Torres served six years on a Bucket.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"How do you know that?\" Rob asked.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"He's the only other fleet vet with this mob. Who else am I going      to swap stories with?\" Meltzer eyed Geary. \"I heard there's      another ship in-system. We're dealing with a Bucket?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Yes. Let's you and me and Torres get together and brainstorm      this.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Corbin isn't going to want to play.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Rob exhaled slowly. \"Tell Corbin he either meets with me and you      in the break room on the third deck in ten minutes, or the police      will show up in fifteen minutes and drag him there.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"We're not being recalled, are we?\" Meltzer asked. \"Because I      wouldn't like that, either.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"No one is being recalled. But the council, and all the other      people with us, need you and me and Torres to figure out if      there's anything we can do about that Bucket. If you and Torres      want to go walkabout after we've hashed over the problem, I won't      try to stop you.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Fourteen minutes later, as Rob was getting ready to call the      council, Torres shuffled into the break room and sat down heavily      in the seat next to Meltzer. In a colony group made up primarily      of young people looking for a start in life and middle-aged people      seeking a new start, Torres stood out for being older, his face      bearing the lines of experience and the resentment of someone who      thought life had not dealt out the rewards expected for a long      life of work.","brand":"Ace","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46304151929061,"sku":"NP9781101988367","price":8.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1842\/7735\/files\/9781101988367.jpg?v=1767743376","url":"https:\/\/k12savings.com\/products\/vanguard-isbn-9781101988367","provider":"K12savings","version":"1.0","type":"link"}