Dreadnought (Starship Blackbeard Book 3) by Michael Wallace

Author:Michael Wallace [Wallace, Michael]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Balsalom Publishing
Published: 2015-04-27T07:00:00+00:00

Malthorne has ordered a punitive expedition against a pirate redoubt. I am to provide support fire. The expedition is expected to last no more than forty-eight hours. After, we will divide into two task forces and attempt to intercept the enemy invasion fleets. Estimated engagement with the Hroom in one fortnight.

Captain Nigel Rutherford, HMS Vigilant

Drake finished with Nyb Pim and dismissed him, then called Tolvern into the war room. She briefly shared what she’d learned from the science officer about the Apex tissue specimens. It was interesting, but less critical than other, more pressing matters. He showed her Rutherford’s message.

“What do you make of this?” he asked.

“Invasion fleets?” she said. “Plural? You told him about our fight?”

“No, not yet. I didn’t have his location to send a subspace.”

“So he must be aware of the second fleet some other way. How? Had those Hroom tangled with the navy already?”

“Maybe,” Drake said. “Or maybe there’s a third force. Maybe this death cult divided their forces several times to be sure that one of them would get through.”

Tolvern reread the message. A frown deepened on her face. “It’s thin on details. Not much else to it, is there?”

“Are you sure? Read it one more time.”

She shrugged. “All right.”

“I am not trying to test you,” he assured her. “I am seeing something here, but I don’t want to plant ideas that might be erroneous. I would like to see if you independently come to the same conclusions.”

“Rutherford must still be in Gryphon Shoals,” Tolvern said after a moment of deliberation. “Twelve days, plus two for an expedition against pirates, means he’s probably on the far side of the system, needs to cross once he’s finished, then jump to Albion.”

“Good,” Drake said. “That was my thinking, too. Go on.”

“There’s something else?”

“Rutherford says Vigilant is only providing fire support for the expedition. Why would he do that? It’s not Rutherford’s style at all. You know he wouldn’t put Harbrake or Lindsell at the vanguard. Could be that Vigilant got in another fight since we saw her and isn’t battle worthy, but I don’t think that’s it.”

“Because the lord admiral wants to lead the expedition himself,” she said, to which Drake nodded his agreement. “Which means that Dreadnought is leading the charge. That would also explain why the fleet will split in two upon its return to Albion. With that many capital ships, they have the firepower to fight two major battles at once.”

“Yes, exactly,” Drake said. “And if Admiral Malthorne is flag officer, it explains why they’d waste time on this punitive expedition. Who cares about pirates and smugglers? They can be dealt with at any time. Or never, for that matter. The Hroom, on the other hand, threaten us with annihilation. Malthorne must have got his nose bloodied, and now he wants revenge. Like what he did to my parents’ estate after Hot Barsa.”

“Or it could be Rutherford’s idea, sir. A way to buy us a couple of days before the fleet arrives. Goad the

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