More entertaining military SF from Jack Campbell, with few surprises but decent satisfaction. "Black Jack" Geary got the Lost Fleet home, won the war against the Syndics, and bloodied the nose of the alien race that started the whole generations-long conflict.

But now the Alliance is beginning to unravel, the government is trying to drastically cut back on military spending -- and the politicians are understandably worried that Geary may go all Caesar on them. So they bundle him up with his loyal troops and send him out to see how things are going with the Syndics and to learn more about the enigma aliens ... all the while taking steps to make sure it's a one-way trip.

The structure of the book is like that of first series -- things go from bad to worse in the backgroud, while in the foreground a new tactical challenge is faced by Geary and his fleet that he must (and does) succeed at in order to save his people.

The story ends a bit abruptly, though that's not unsual, too -- got to save some conflict and danger for *next* time.

Good entertainment, and worth the read (and possibly a reread).