The Lost Fleet: Victorious

He had faced death many times and would cheerfully do so again rather than attend this briefing.

You re not going to face a firing squad, Captain Tanya Desjani reminded him. You re going to brief the Alliance grand council.

Captain John Geary turned his head slightly to look directly at Captain Desjani, commanding officer of Geary s flagship, the battle cruiser Dauntless. Remind me again of the difference.

The politicians aren t supposed to be carrying weapons, and they re more afraid of you than you are of them. Relax. If they see you this tense, they ll believe you really are planning a coup. Desjani made a face. You should know that they re accompanied by Admiral Otropa.

Admiral Otropa? Geary had literally been out of the loop for a century, so his knowledge of current officers was limited to those in the ships of the fleet itself.

Desjani nodded, somehow investing the simple gesture with disdain that obviously wasn t aimed at Geary. Military aide to the grand council. Don t worry about the grand council trying to hand command of the fleet to him. No one would accept Otropa the Anvil as fleet commander in place of you.

Geary looked back at his reflection, feeling nervous and uncomfortable in his dress uniform. He had never enjoyed briefings, and a hundred years ago he would never have imagined that he would be called upon personally to brief the grand council. The Anvil? That sounds like a strong nickname.

He s called the Anvil because he s been beaten so often, Desjani explained. With his political talents far exceeding his military skills, Otropa finally figured out that the position of military aide to the grand council was risk-free.

Geary almost choked as he tried to swallow a laugh. I guess there are worse nicknames than Black Jack.

Many worse ones. Out of the corner of his eye, Geary saw Desjani cock her head to one side questioningly. You ve never told me how you

"Jack Campbell" is the pseudonym for John G. Hemry, a retired Naval officer (and graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis). As Jack Campbell, he writes The Lost Fleet series of military science fiction novels. He lives with his family in Maryland.