Incansable (46 page)

—No, señor. Los únicos mensajes que hemos recibido de la
Impertérrita
son actualizaciones de estado oficiales. Señor. —Geary la miró por encima—. Su sobrina nieta necesita tiempo. Tiene muchas cosas a las que amoldarse. Después podrá responder a sus mensajes personales.

Geary cerró los ojos por un momento.

—Tal vez no tengamos mucho tiempo.

—Todo el mundo lo sabe, incluida ella. Recuerde que Michael Geary necesitó varias semanas para asimilar el hecho de que usted siguiera vivo antes de que hablasen por primera vez.

Geary abrió los ojos, pero extravió la mirada entre las estrellas.

—Y, aun así, seguía odiándome.

—¡Eso cambió al final! Usted me lo dijo. He podido acceder a varios mensajes procedentes de la
Impertérrita
que se monitorizaron de diversas formas no autorizadas, y sé que su oficial al mando ha estado poniéndose en contacto con otros oficiales al mando de esta flota. Oficiales que Jane Geary conoce. Oficiales que usted conoce. Le hablarán de su tío abuelo, de quién es en realidad. Dele tiempo y se pondrá en contacto con usted.

—Esos oficiales le dirán que abandoné a su hermano en el sistema estelar nativo síndico y que lo más probable es que esté muerto.

Desjani dio un paso hacia él y endureció su voz.

—Jane Geary es una oficial de la flota. Conoce los riesgos al igual que el resto, los riesgos que todos corremos. Si su hermano hubiera muerto en combate, no podría culparlo a usted.

Geary dejó escapar una risa tan breve como triste.

—Está dando por hecho que mi sobrina nieta aceptará la situación de una forma lógica.

—¡Que las estrellas del firmamento impidan que los Geary actúen con sensatez! —Desjani agitó la cabeza—. Biológicamente usted es más joven que ella, aunque sea su tío abuelo. Usted es la montaña que ha ensombrecido toda su vida. Dele tiempo.

—De acuerdo. No es que no tenga con qué mantenerme ocupado mientras espero.

—Bien. —La capitana miró a su alrededor—. ¿Quiere que traiga a los oficiales subalternos a su camarote para que pueda empezar a coordinar las operaciones de reparación y reabastecimiento? Aquí contamos con el espacio necesario.

—Claro. ¿Cuándo?

—Deme media hora para encontrar a un par de subalternos que puedan hacerse cargo. —Lo escrutó por un instante—. ¿Ya ha rezado a sus ancestros por Jaylen Crésida?

Geary sintió una punzada de culpabilidad. Con todo lo que estaba ocurriendo, nunca encontraba el momento adecuado para elevar una oración, cuando no se le olvidaba por completo.

—No, formalmente no.

—¿Por qué no baja a los compartimentos de culto y ruega por ella mientras espera a que yo vuelva aquí?

A Geary la sugerencia le pareció más bien una orden, pero eso no quería decir que no fuese una buena idea, además de un deber que estaba retrasando demasiado. Era lo mínimo que podía hacer por Jaylen Crésida, en particular, y por todos aquellos tripulantes que habían caído durante el último enfrentamiento.

—Sí, lo haré. —Se encaminó hacia la escotilla junto con la capitana.

Antes de alejarse, Desjani se detuvo frente a él.

—Volveremos de nuevo, ¿verdad?

—En cuanto podamos —afirmó Geary—. Si obtengo la autorización necesaria. —Recordó las palabras de Rione, que resumían la situación perfectamente—: «La victoria deberá ser rápida. De lo contrario, no habrá victoria.»

—Entonces, conseguiremos una victoria rápida.

—Sí, la conseguiremos.

O moriremos en el intento…

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

>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.

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