Luke Sky Wachter's Blog, page 2

Luke Sky Wachter Author Interview

I recently did an online interview. For anyone interested in reading it go over here and take a look.

Here’s the link: https://mrbookstash.com/interview-wit...

The Deposed King

Admiral’s Fall up for Beta!

Admiral’s Fall is up for Beta over at http://pacificcrestpublishing.com

Now I just need to get the cover locked down!

The Deposed King

Admiral’s Fall – Sneak Peek Chapter 5

I’m going to be too busy for most of the rest of the week to post the sneak peek chapter so here you go. Let the cursing begin!

Chapter: Isaak Plots and Schemes

First Isaak crumpled the plastic flimsy in his hand and then he tore it to shreds.

“He won. He actually won,” Isaak yelled with rage as he threw the flimsy into the trash receptacle beside his desk with a thump. “Worse he is squatting on the largest collection of hulls since 4th Easy Haven or even bigger as I sit here twiddling my thumbs!”

Jason Montagne was supposed to lose. He was supposed to die. He was supposed to die losing and do everyone the credit of getting on with their lives.

How was he supposed to negotiate a peace settlement now? Jason Montagne had just ruined and in the process put himself in an unassailable position. As long as the young Montagne had those hulls…

Unfortunately there was no way to get the New Confederation’s hands on them, meaning his Isaak Newton’s hands. It was a shame and a travesty that at this point in the course of things even the Speaker for the Grand Assembly of the New Confederation itself didn’t dare take direct action against the Grand Admiral of the Grand Fleet of the Spineward Sectors.

If he, Isaak, dare not move against him then no lesser personage could be goaded into taking action against the Grand Admiral either.

In short the Governor of Sector 25 and Speaker for the Grand Assembly of the Spineward Sectors was fit to be tied.

That’s when there was a chime at the door.

“I’m busy,” he barked.

The door chimed again.

“Not interested whatever it is!” he shouted mashing down the intercom button and holding it.

“It’s me,” said his Policy Advisor, “you’re going to want to hear this.”

For a several seconds Speaker Isaak considered strangling the top political wheeler and dealer among his direct subordinates before re-mastering his temper.

“Come in,” he said sullenly.

His balding and grey haired counterpart from their time together and in the early days of the provisional sector assembly or rump government as it had been known to some walked unhurriedly into the room.

“This had better be good because right now I’m considering assigning you to monitor sewage processing numbers for the next quarter.

“My how we have grown testy as our political star has waxed high,” smirked Policy.

“I have the form right here,” Isaak said activating his computer, “and what good is all that power if I am completely constrained from doing one of the very few things I need in order to survive this office?”

“Send me to process reports at a sewage processor and you’ll never hear the most interesting new I have to tell you. I promise it will lift your spirits,” said Policy.

“I highly doubt that but please do tell,” Isaak said rolling his eyes.

Policy promptly pulled out a portable jammer and placed it on his desk after activating it.

“It’s like this. I was standing near Norman Watts,” started his grey haired advisor.

“Who?” Isaak asked sharply.

“The daily speaker from Sector 22 the computer selected to go out and roll over for the ‘Grand’ Admiral during his last visit. He’s an ineffective idiot, no one of any important,” said his Advisor with a sharp smile.

“Go on if he’s not important than why-?” Isaak prompted.

“It’s not him but his fellow assemblyman from sector 22 I overheard speaking to that you’re going to want to meet,” advised Policy with an intent expression, “they were talking about warships. Whole fleets of them… back home.”

Isaak sucked in a breath.

Twenty minutes later an Assemblyman from Sector 22 the Speaker had never seen nor heard of before stepped into the room.

“Your man of affairs indicated the Esteemed Speaker of the Assembly wished to engage in discourse with me?” asked a man in robes and a head wrap that must have been traditional garb back on his homeworld.

“Discourse… yes, I suppose I do,” Isaak said smoothly moving past the odd word choice without missing a beat. He assessed the man in front of him through narrowed eyes before finally feeling like he’d got a bead on him.

A professional diplomat or low level politician of some kind thrust into power as so many of his ilk, the assemblyman appeared reserved yet interested and slightly impressed at being granted an audience with the top politician in the Spineward Region.

“Speaker?” the average sized brown skinned Assemblyman from Sector 22 asked. Deciding the man was just a little too average to be the bland politician he portrayed himself to be the Speaker silently pegged him as a mid-to-high level fixer back on his home planet.

Feeling like he had a basic measure of the man Isaak nodded finally decisively.

“Let me be blunt. Right now I’m interested in a mutually beneficial arrangement between my Sector and your world, Grand Assemblyman,” said Isaak.

The other man looked at him with consternation.

“I’m afraid I’m already a member of my sector’s main faction and I cannot pledge to join or support you block if that’s what this is about, Speaker,” the Grand Assemblyman said with regret.

“While I’m always stumping for votes that’s not the issue today,” Isaak smiled still wanting a better feel for the man before proceeding.

“I have a number of legislative initiatives that my government would be more than willing to work with you on-” the other man started.

“Do you know what’s the biggest threat to the Spineward Sectors, Grand Assemblyman?” asked Isaak.

The other man’s eyes narrowed.

“The Empire and Grand Admiral Montagne,” Isaak said cuttingly.

The other man opened his mouth and then closed it looking down. When he looked back up at the Speaker it was almost as if Isaak was looking at a completely different man.

“What do you need, Mr. Speaker?” the other Politician asked looking at him directly, the barest hint of a smile on his face.

“The empire I can deal with one way or the other but Montagne is insane. He’s a rabid idealist who would rather go down fighting than reach a reasonable accommodation. If things continue like they have he’ll die and we’ll all be strung up by the neck,” said Isaak.

“All of us or just you, Speaker Newton?” asked the other man.

“Considering he’s taken to using biological weapons of mass destruction, Bugs, I think it’s safe to say I won’t go alone” Isaak said pulling out a new flimsy and tossing it onto the table, “go head. Take a look. The latest reports from the Black Purgatory.”

“We could all be implicated,” Isaak added as the other man continued read.

The Sector 22 Representative’s lips made a thin line after he finished reading and looked up.

“Why not simply dismiss the man, assign him to another part of the sector or promote someone over him? Grand Admiral Manning appears to have the loyalty of a sizable contingent inside our Grand Fleet,” observed the Grand Assemblyman, “it sounds as if the battle was won. Would it not be possible to simply arrest Grand Admiral Mongne?”

“Forgetting the fact we sent him out to win against impossible odds and he actually pulled it off? The Grand Assembly of the Spine would never go for it,” snorted Isaak, “there’s also the little fact he’s constantly surrounded by his own loyalists and his own Patrol Fleet would rebel if other units in the grand fleet tried to move against him.”

“Then of course there is my own history with the man. He trusts me… not at all,” said Isaak.

“It seems you have yourself a problem then,” advised the Assemblyman.

“We have a problem,” Isaak insisted, “right now the Empire’s on the run in the spine but fortunes change as quickly as this,” he snapped his fingers, “and they will make no distinctions if they put us in front of a tribunal and we failed to immediately disavow the man.”

“I’m not hearing any good solutions here,” the 22nd Sector Assemblyman said after a moment, “since technically he’s an allied officer and not in any way a part of this government we could always argue we had no power over him.”

“Do you honestly expect the Empire to accept that?” asked Isaak.

“No. But how sure are we that our defeat is inevitable,” said the Assemblyman.

Isaak Newton bestowed a withering look.

“If the empire wasn’t engaged in a war we’d already be singing the imperial anthem. But Wars end and with the old Confederation looking the other way all they have to do is send fleet after fleet. Even if we had five years to prepare and a fully functional government we couldn’t stop them,” said Isaak.

“So a peaceful settlement of some sort is a must,” said the other man.

“Which brings us back to Montagne,” said Isaak.

“So send him home with an official protest and disavow him as quickly and as thoroughly as possible,” said the Grand Assemblyman.

“In the middle of a campaign? You read the same report I did,” Isaak said closing shut the trap he’d been laying.

“We may have won the battle but sizable chunks of the old confederation fleet escaped,” agreed the Assemblyman.

He took a deep breath.

“Dismiss him from the Fleet and order him back to Tracto immediately,” said the man from Sector 22.

“The Grand Assembly would never go for it unless…,” Isaak trailed off suggestively.

“Would the calculation change if you knew my people had been gathering a sizable relief fleet?” asked the Grand Assemblyman.

Isaak silently scoffed. His sources indicated his world had assembled a sizable fleet for the defense of their Sector and they originally intended to only send a small portion of it to reinforce the Grand Fleet of the Spine.

“You have enough ships to replace the Tyrant and the Multi-Sector Patrol Fleet,” Isaak asked eagerly.

“Why you insist using that derogatory name both here and in the media to denigrate the Grand Admiral is one of the things I find hardest to understand about you people,” the Grand Assemblyman said crossly.

Isaak immediately backed off.

“I may not be the most impartial when it comes to the Montagnes but look it up. His people have a history of leaving nothing but carnage and destruction in their wake,” he said.

There was a pregnant silence.

“So,” Isaak put out there, “just how many warships are you able to commit to replacing Jason Montagne and saving all of our necks.”

The Grand Assemblyman rubbed his chin.

“My homeworld is a leading member of a block of, concerned, star systems and half of that fleet was intended for our sector guard,” said the other man.

“This is no time get stingy,” advised Isaak.

The Grand Assemblyman nodded sharply.

“Alright I’ll advise my world to send that fleet on my authority. The first contingent of our ships should arrive at Black Purgatory within two weeks,” he said.

“That fast!” Isaak’s eyes widened with surprise and growing alarm. Then he leaned forward, “how many?”

The Assemblyman smiled.

“If can commit to one hundred warships fifteen of them battleships to start, more than enough to replace the battle damaged survivors of the MSP with fresh warships from Sector 22. A month after that, if they agree with my recommendation, we could see as many as another fifty warships joining the Grand Fleet in this Sector,” said the Assemblyman.

Isaak’s brows went up. That would be a godsend on so many levels. It was good. Really good but was it too good to be true?

“But you have to understand something,” warned the Assemblyman, “these ships would be from a divided command. My world is merely the first among equals. They listen to us generally speaking but each contingent would have its own chain of command and homeworld to answer to and I don’t have the authority for a long term commitment. That would have to be ratified back home.”

Isaak relaxed.

“It’s agreed then. You’ll send your ships and I’ll replace the Tyrant as soon as they arrive,” he said.

“Replace him immediately,” the Assemblyman said sharply, “if what you said is true there’s no room for hesitation here. The empire gets so much as a whiff we tolerated the use of Bugs in space warfare you and I are dead. Admiral Manning will just have to muddle through until Sector 22 reinforcements arrive.”

“After all your reports did say they broke the back of the Confederation Fleet and sent them running like dogs,” he continued.

Isaak looked at the other man uneasily but he couldn’t very well back out and say things really weren’t as dire as he’d originally proposed. This was a risk.

“Alright,” he said with a hard look, “but I’m counting on you. Don’t mess this up.”

The Grand Assemblyman shook his head.

“What? You disagree,” he demanded.

“Not so fast. If my people are going to stick our necks out for the New Government we want a seat at the table. For starters there are certain legislative initiatives that have been held up in committee by members of your caucus,” the other man said with a smile.

“We can start with that legislation,” Isaak said easing back in his chair, “you’ll get your seat as soon as you’re ships arrive.”

“This is a significant commitment of time, resources and warships. I want an immediate seat on the War and Steering Committees,” said the other man.

Isaak stiffened.

“Armed Forces is fine but the Steering Committee is out of the question,” he said.

“How about a non-voting seat for now to be upgraded to a full member once our fleet is integrated into the Grand Fleet,” said the Assemblyman.

“Under Grand Admiral Manning’s command,” Isaak said pointedly.

The two men shook hands.

“I never did catch your name,” said Isaak.

“My people call me Raipur Rajputan. Monsignor Raipur Rajputan,” the Grand Assemblyman said with a smile.

This was a risk and a big one at that but it might also be the one last chance he had to eliminate Jason Montagne. Confederation politics was already swinging the other way and the MDL and Border Alliance Factions were growing entirely too chummy of late. This victory at Black Purgatory was only going to embolden them.

He had to move before he lost his own head, politically and possibly even literally. If Montagne managed to leverage this stunning victory into public and political capital Isaak could kiss his speakership goodbye.

No this was it. The only solution. Jason Montagne had to go, now, and Sector 22 would fill the gap. Better a cross sector alliance with 22 than a position as minority leader and eventual prosecution when they found out just how badly he’d abused his office.

The Deposed King

Admiral’s Fall – Sneak Peek Chapter 4!

Because the last two chapters have been super short and people chimed in I’ve decided to go ahead with the grand double release!

Chapter: Deceptive Maneuvers

“Alright where are we at?” I asked.

“We’ve segregated as many of the Glorious Fleet personnel both old confederation and imperial on a few big ships that still have fully functioning life support system as we can. That mean’s mostly battleships and heavy cruisers sorry Admiral we knew you wanted them off the prizes as soon as possible but there really was nowhere else to put them,” said Commodore Druid.

“Understandable if not ideal,” I said wearily. The weight of having hundreds of thousands of prisoners, many of them old confederation personnel angry at their losses and feeling personally entitled to premier treatment under the rules of warfare and prisoner of war codes, weighing on me.

I could deal with being prosecute for failing to give them the Ritz Carlton treatment but not if someone who surrendered to my fleet suffocated to death while clawing at an air lock trying to escape.

“What else?” I asked.

“Our shuttle pilots are working overtime, not just in rescuing trapped personnel but also furiously transferring as many glorious fleet personnel to our freighter transports as we can fit it. With,” he said raising a hand when I started to interrupt, “a bias towards any wounded or injured that would be better served in a real hospital facility. The kind we just can’t provide here on a warship.”

“Not to mention our doctors and healing tanks are already operating beyond capacity,” I remarked.

“A number of glorious fleet personnel may not make it simply because we don’t have enough hospital beds to put them in and doctors to treat them, we’ve already got injured lining the halls outside the medical department and sickbays of every single battleship and cruiser in First Fleet,” reported Commodore Laurent.

“Failing to properly treat surrendered personnel includes adequate medical treatment,” observed Commodore Druid, “I don’t know about the rest of you but I’m not eager have to defend myself before a tribunal because people died before the doctor could see them and they were just down the hall waiting.”

“I’m with you I just don’t see what we can do about it,” Laurent said bleakly, “there’s not an empty medical bed in the fleet.”

“We can only do the best we can,” I said taking back control over the meeting, “if possible look into if we can use any doctors or medical teams from the old confederation prisoners, under appropriate guard of course. It’s a stop gap measure but at least it’s something. I understand why you’re more worried about the after math of this battle and the status of our prisoners than previously.”

The two men looked uneasy.

“The foe we are facing is unlike any other. However at the very least we’ll be able to look ourselves in the mirror and honestly say we did our best,” I finished.

“I understand,” said Druid.

Laurent nodded then pursed his lips.

“No imperial physicians?” he asked.

“Allow any imperial physicians and medical personnel that are onboard the temporary prison ships to help out in that ship’s medical department,” I decided, “but other than that? No. I don’t trust them not to cry ‘For the empire!’ and try something. But then I could just be biased,” I added not really caring if I was wrong. Having imperial personnel free to run around on my ships, even with escort, was a road too far. At least for me and at least right now.

“Even just that much will help out greatly. I’ll see that it happens,” Laurent said.

I nodded.

“Now onto other business,” I said looking around the room, “what’s next on the agenda?”

Lisa Steiner my ever helpful chief of staff stepped forward placing an already activated and open data slate in front of me.

I looked down.

“Yes the disposition of the first group of captured warships. How is that going?” I looked around the room.

Spalding scratched his chin and yawned a big opened mouth jaw cracking yawn.

“I’ve had MSP engineering teams running around in gunboats performing assessments on every captured ship and just finished making up the different lists just like you asked last shift, Admiral,” he said.

“Good work! How long until your engineers are ready to start moving them around. I you to take charge and get this done as soon as possible,” I ordered the Commander.

Spalding cracked another yawn.

“Begging the Admiral’s pardon but since you were already fast asleep after I finished the lists I just went ahead and assigned tugs to start moving the ships around,” said Commander Spalding.

I drummed my fingers on the table and then nodded.

“Good work,” I decided.

“I figured it would save us some bellyaching if the usual suspects saw woke up without any excuse to complain about how we were dragging our heels,” laughed the old Engineer with a dark thread in his voice.

“Manning and his crew have been keeping an eye on our captures and haven’t been shy about staking claims here there and everywhere in the name of the confederation and their homeworlds,” I said darkly.

“I can’t imagine what gave them that particular idea,” Druid said dryly.

The mood immediate broke and we all laughed.

With the mood lightened I finally settled comfortably in my chair.

“Alright I’ll admit the former High Captain has his points just like the rest of us. That said the Multi-Sector Patrol Fleet answers to no one but me,” I said looking around the room and sweeping its occupants with my eyes.

Druid looked back at me concerned but Laurent just met my eyes.

“Just let us know what you need, Admiral,” said the Commodore.

He then paused.

“What do you need from us, Sir?” he asked.

“Nothing illegal,” I said lifting a finger for emphasis and then turned the gesture into a languid wave, “but with that out of the way let’s just say there are many legal routes available to us and I hardly think that Grand Admiral Manning or the captains currently under his have done anything to earn our trust.”

“Meaning?” Commodore Druid asked uneasily.

“Meaning I intend to strap those ships that have Manning and his people have incontrovertibly claims to, to the hulls of his warships and cut orders sending Manning and his people back home by the fastest route available to them. Meanwhile the rest of the warships have been segregated into two different groups,” I said meeting and holding his eyes.

I could see the hesitation in the other man before he took the plunge.

“What groups, Sir?” he asked finally like a man reaching for a piece of wood after his ship sank in the middle of an ocean.

I frowned. This was unusual behavior for the commodore.

“There is the group that engineering considers unrecoverable and will need to be broken down for spare parts,” I said.

“Right,” his brows furrowed.

“The group that I intend to hand back over to Confederation at Hart’s World, it being the nearest core-world that could take them considering the current state of Central and Aegis which is still under occupation or for that matter Prometheus and New Pacifica,” I said evenly.

Heads nodded around the table and Druid’s relief was visible. I smirked clearly he’d thought I intended to seize everything.

“Last of course is the group I’m taking back home to Gambit with us,” I finished with a nod to Spalding and the old engineer put up a graphic on the screen.

Druid took one look and momentarily froze and then laughed helplessly.

“I guess you really can’t teach a tiger how to change his stripes,” Druid laughed.

“Commodore what’s wrong with you? This is serious business,” I joked.

“Of course, Sir,” Druid said straightening.

I shook my head.

“Anyway if anyone asks, except for the ship’s that will be personally transported by Manning and his team of ‘loyal’ order followed warships, every ship we transport will be transported to a designated fleet facility,” I said.

Spalding snorted.

“And is it true?” he asked.

I gave him a ‘butter wouldn’t melt in my mouth’ look.

“Of course it is. After all I designated them using my authority as Grand Admiral and Fleet Commandant,” I said.

“The Spindles are charged and ready to go we can have the first load ready to go by this morning,” said Spalding.

“Make it so,” I said.

“Let’s just hope that no one catches wind of what we’re doing,” said Commodore Druid.

“Soon it won’t matter what they know and if they try to stop us with force they’ll be up for mutiny charges,” I said.

“Even so considering the stunt we pulled in Easy Haven they might not trust us enough to let us just jump them away,” warned Druid.

“I agree,” said Laurent, “somehow I just don’t think the Grand Assembly will ever get around to prosecuting them for it either. Even if it came to blows.”

“A good point,” I said mulling it over for a minute before reaching a decision. “We’ll have to move fast and if we’re not fast enough then we can let them send observers with the first couple transfers. Of course that means the last transfer would be absolutely critical. Not an idea that makes me entirely happy either.”

“Most of their heavy ships will already be tied up with the ships we send over during the night shift,” Spalding pointed out with a wicked smile.

“We could also wait until the last minute to move the first load to Gambit,” said Druid.

“Worst case we could jump early,” interjected Laurent.

“Good ideas,” I said after a moment.

“Bah,” Spalding snorted, “I say we just tell them the truth.”

“Which is?” I asked looking at him with a raised brow.

“That we don’t have enough fuel to jump all over the sector without stopping back at either Tracto or Gambit for a fuel reload. Even the Spindles only have so much internal capacity,” he said with a sly expression.

“Alright let’s do it,” I said.

“You know,” said Spalding leaning back in his chair and playing with his mechanical hands as he one by one flicked over the first joint on each finger one by one and lit up a mini-plasma torch before closing it up again, “I don’t understand why we’re carrying the Spineward Confederation’s water in this particular situation.”

“I don’t follow,” I said giving him a look. Spalding was an insightful person and even if he was wrong or wildly divergent, it was often at his most crazy that he came up with his best ideas.

“Why are we transporting the captures and derelicts for the new Confederation in the first place?” he asked.

“I don’t follow. I’m the Grand Admiral of the Confederation, these are warships captured in a battle with our enemies,” I said.

“Yes but are we even being paid? It’s not like they’ve promised to reimburse us or anything. Why I sent in a requisition for them to cover the costs of the trillium we used in the last war with the Reclamation Fleet and it bounced back to me as denied,” Spalding said reasonably.

“Uh… because it’s the right thing I guess,” I said lamely.

“Then forget being paid. Will they thank us for a job well done or spit in our eye for not doing it better?” Spalding groused pounding a fist on the table, “I mean if we’re going to do the time then why the blazes not do the crime. Not that it’s even criminal, now, all I’m saying is we refuse to work an honest day’s labor until the promise to reimburse us for the trillium.”

“You know what that’s an even better idea than that one I had originally,” I said slowly. The more I thought about it the better I liked the idea. I mean in truth who knew how long the Elder Spindles would keep working and if and when they broke was the new confederation going to replace them for me?

Hardly.

They’d either pat me on the head and commiserate or more likely laugh at my misfortune.

The more I thought about Spalding’s point the more I found I liked what he was saying.

If the New Confederation asked me nicely and played by the rules, I was more than willing to jump their share of the captured warships over to them. But if they wanted to play hardball they could go and get good and blasted.

Abuse me on the floor of the grand assembly and drag me through the halls would they?

Maybe it played well to the public, putting the boots to the ‘tyrant of cold space’ but as they say everything had its price. Mine was warships. If they wanted to steal my pride and smear my reputation, I could accept that in exchange for oh….something one the order of 200 warships? A lot of them were broken beyond repair and would have to be stripped, broken down for parts and then melted but still…

Snickering on the inside I straightened up.

“Alright move the Spindles into position and post a guard, MSP warships only, and let’s see just how appreciative the Grand Assembly is prepared to be with a battle won,” I said finally.

“Aye aye, Sir. We won’t let you down. In fact I think I’ll have the surviving orbital defenses repositioned. The gun turrets only need to be moved but we can take the time to reload the stealth missile launchers. I don’t think we have enough extra missiles on hand to do a full replacement but as they say every little bit helps,” Spalding said.

“Agreed,” I nodded. We’d just fought and bled for the people of the Spine. Now it was time the new Grand Assembly got its act together and stood up for the people of the spine as the beacon of light, justice and the confederation way we’d all been promised they stood for.

Barring that I was ready to take my new toys with me and go home. Then let’s see how they felt dealing with the more than four hundred old Confederation warships that had retreated from the star system.

The Deposed King

Admiral’s Fall – Sneak Peek Chapter 3

Chapter: The Calm Before the Storm

“Point transfer successful,” Navigation reported promptly as soon as Baselard arrived in the star system.

“Initiating breakout protocol,” reported the Helm.

“Activate the long range array and prepare for upload,” ordered Front Admiral Willard Featherby.

“Depending on the size of the sump that could be problematic, Sir,” advised the Com-Officer.

Front Admiral Featherby shot the communications officer a hard look.

He looked back at the Admiral helplessly.

“This is a destroyer, Sir. Our array isn’t as sturdy as something build into the hull of a larger vessel like a cruiser or battleship,” he explained, “if we try at activate the array, then depending on the number of gravities are in the sump we’re experiencing.”

Featherby frowned.

“It’s been too long since I’ve served on lighter ships,” he muttered.

The Junior Lieutenant at Baselard’s communication’s desk wisely kept silent.

“Alright then prepare to deploy the array and upload the files I’m sending you now as soon as Baselard’s cleared the sump,” he said finally.

“Right away, Sir,” promised the Com-Officer.

The Front Admiral stymied at his initial attempt turned to the sensor department.

“Any sign of other confederation starships?” he started to ask the sensor officer directly before switching over to the captain after remembering that while he was an admiral he was in the command center of Baselard and an admiral was only ever a guest on any captain’s deck. Which only made the fact that a destroyer was too small to hold a flag deck all the more irritating to the Admiral.

The captain checked with his crew first. A pointed reminder that while the admiral had asked this time, just moments before he’d been ordering around the captain’s crew while the captain was on deck like this were the admiral’s own ship and not his, the captains.

“No, Sir. Nothing yet,” reported the Captain.

“That’s good,” Featherby said in relief.

Several minutes later CSS Baselard broke free of the sump and the communications department hurried to deploy the array and upload the message.

“File packets uploaded as instructed along with your priority codes, Front Admiral,” reported the Junior Lieutenant at Coms.

“Confirm the com-stat buoy has accepted orders,” said Featherby.

The Com-Officer turned back to his console and then nodded.

“Orders confirmed accepted by the buoy, Sir,” reported the Com-Officer.

“Excellent. Anything in the buoys log that shows we weren’t the first to send a message home reporting the results of the battle?” asked Featherby.

“No, Sir. The log is clean,” said the Com-Officer.

“Captain prepare the ship for jump and proceed to the rendezvous point as soon as feasible,” ordered Featherby.

Nodding with a serious face the Captain turned back to his officers and bridge crew and began snapping out orders.

For their part no one on the bridge bothered to ask why they’d arrived in this system, dropped a message, and then immediately prepared to depart. They didn’t ask because even if they had their suspicions, such actions were well above their pay grade.

“Preparing ship for jump,” said the Captain.

Half an hour later when a large battleship jumped into the star system and immediately tried to contact the buoy nothing happened.

Nothing happened because the com-stat buoy was already in the process of recharging after contacting the next FTL buoy in the chain leading straight back home to the capital of the Confederation. The battleship would have to wait until after the recharge.

Of course none of this mattered to the officers and crew of Baselard who had already jumped out of the star system.

Admiral’s Fall – Sneak Peek Chapter 2

For those of you who have been waiting with baited breath I bring you… Chapter 2!

Chapter: Featherby in Command

“How long until the next point transfer, Fritters?” Featherby asked looking up from his data slate where he was rapidly filling out yet another report on the debacle that was supposed to have been the Glorious Fleet’s finest hour.

“The CSS Potempkin reports it need more time to repair a bad crack in the hyperdish, Sir. They’re requesting an additional 24 hours to effect the needed repairs now that we’re safely out of range of any New Confederation retribution,” said the Chief of Staff.

“Unacceptable,” Featherby said instantly, “we’re only two jumps away from the nearest com-stat buoy,” the he frowned, “and you know how much I hate it when you use that term, ‘New Confederation’ it gives these Spineward Sectors locals entirely too much legitimacy.”

“Sorry, Sir. You know I only strive for accuracy and since that’s what they call themselves sometimes I slip. I’ll try to do better,” said Fritters.

“They are nothing more than a regional power that’s still coalescing. Now I realize that it may seem like a minor matter but it is exactly from seemingly insignificant things like this that larger problems grow,” the Front Admiral scolded.

“Of course, Sir,” Fritters said blank faced, “however that aside you can’t mean to leave CSS Potempkin behind. If anything happened to her…” Fritters trailed off.

“I think we’re long past the point of no return when it comes to ships lost in action. The task force we’re assigned to has lost ships both before and after I assumed command to say nothing of the fleet as a whole,” said Featherby.

“You managed to save one hundred and twenty six ships from that disaster that has to count for something,” said Fritters.

“If they’re looking to pin it on me then there’s nothing you or I can do my friend,” Featherby said wearily.

“I don’t want to accept that but you’re probably right,” Fritters said bitterly.

“You know I’m right. There was a disaster of unmitigated proportions. An imperial flotilla was defeated and a fleet of one thousand ships routed. A confederation fleet. Do you know the last time a confederation fleet retreated in the face of the enemy?” asked Featherby.

“I would assume not since the last war,” said Fritters.

“Individual ships may have been outnumbered and thus forced to temporarily withdraw but a full fleet? Never,” said the Front Admiral, “which is why it is absolutely imperative we become the first to get to an FTL buoy and transmit a report home.”

Fritters worried his lower lip.

“Are you sure they won’t decide on a kill the messenger situation? I worry that getting to the front of the line isn’t necessarily the best course,” said Fritters.

“If we don’t get the truth out there it will be buried,” said Front Admiral Featherby, “this could be our only cha.”

“At least this way we have the opportunity to shape the narrative. I just worry the Fleet of today isn’t the same as it was when we had a strong admiralty,” Fritters said worriedly.

“We still have allies in the Grand Assembly but regardless there is only so far I can bend in the name of expediency. At a certain point I must be what my life and my training has created in me and let the chips fall where they may,” said the Front Admiral.

“I’m with you Willard. I just hope you’re right,” said Fritter.

“Not more than me my friend,” sighed Featherby.

The two shared a look of mutual understanding.

Then Fritters straightened.

“What do you intend to do with the Potempkin?” he asked finally.

Featherby frowned.

“I agree leaving them isn’t a very viable solution. If anything happened their deaths would be on me. Which wouldn’t me an issue if this were a combat operation but I’m not willing to put good men in harms’ way in the name of politics. I see no solution but to temporarily transfer my flag to the fastest ship in our task force and proceed with this mission. The rest of the force will just have to catch up later,” the Front Admiral said finally.

“What if other survivors of the Glorious Fleet of Liberation are already there or who arrive at the same time we do?” his Chief of Staff asked delicately.

“You’re right. We should prepare an alternate rendezvous,” said the Front Admiral.

“That brings up other potential issues,” said Commodore Fritters with a long face.

“At a certain point I have to show confidence in my officers and captains or how am I any better than admirals like Beecher,” said Front Admiral Featherby.

Two hours later Featherby transferred his flag.

Admiral’s Fall – Sneak Peek Chapter 1

Brought to you Raw and Unedited. And at the request of Moises Lobo

Enjoy!

Admiral’s Fall: Book 13

(A Spineward Sectors Novel:)

By Luke Sky Wachter

Chapter: Mopping Up

We may have won the war but the battle had yet to reach its final resolution.

This realization left me momentarily dumbfounded but I got over it quickly.

“How long until the last major contingent of the Confederation jumps out of this star system?” I asked my navigator.

“Depending on hyperdrive charge rates we’re looking at anything from a half hour to an hour from now, Admiral,” my Navigator said helplessly.

I looked back at the main screen where the Bug Spheroid along with the surviving imperials and confederations ships that were unable to maneuver or were still trying to stave off bug boarders were still active.

“Give me a count of Bugs and Glorious Fleet ships still listed as hostiles,” I instructed as a series of orbital turrets and pop up missile launchers went active opening fire on every remaining bug ship in their range.

“I’m still reading around twenty battleships in various states that have refused to surrender. The majority of them imperials. As for Bugs, it looks like everything of significant size has been destroyed except for the Spheroid. All that are left are around eighty scouts and scout marauders,” reported Tactical.

“It doesn’t seem like those bugs are going to last long,” I commented as the turrets and missiles started to whip out the remaining bugs.

“Determine if they’re not contacting us because of genuine battledamage or because they’re feeling intractable. If they refuse to speak redirect a few of our turrets and open fire until they do. After you’ve figured that out contact Spalding and inform him we’re going to need another demonstration,” I said coolly, “I think after losing a few more heavies they’ll find reason.”

With their forces broken by the mine field and the imperial command carrier out of action the imperial and old confederation forces had no way of putting up an effective resistance to the Lucky Clover.

Despite the turrets the Clover fired twice more and two broken battleships later, the remainder of the Glorious Fleet was ready to surrender. It would have been one thing to lead a death defying charge into the teeth of the superbattleship. But it was another to sit there in a ship with broken engines and scream defiance until the Clover got around to annihilating you and your crew with one well placed shot.

No sooner had we taken their parole and thus in effect promised to protect them from the Bugs while they were in our theoretical custody than the Spheroid decided to make its presence known.

Appearing agitated by the mine field blast and showing enormous gaping wounds on its hull the Bug Mothership finally decided to stop munching on the hull of the Command Carrier. Releasing the Mighty Punisher in a way that almost seemed like it was spitting it out the giant, moon sized, Bug Spheroid floated away.

Minutes after letting go of the broken command carrier its mouth started writhing.

“That can’t be good,” said Commander Snyder.

“Don’t jinx it,” Lisa Steiner my chief of staff muttered.

As if words of prophetic wisdom had just been spoken the puckered, battle damaged ‘maw’ of the Bug Spheroid once again opened and…. out slid a pair of heavy harvesters.

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” I said with a flash of anger. The battle might be over by the agreement of all human parties in this mess but apparently the Bugs disagreed.

“I’m sorry, Sir. But the sensor read out is accurate,” said Commander Snyder.

“That’s fine,” I cut her off and turned to com’s, “tell the Commander he is to switch his targets. We need to whittle down that Spheroid sooner rather than later. Let’s see what a couple of HPC rounds do to it.”

The com-officer nodded and relayed my message. He listened and then turned back to me. “Commander Spalding asks to speak with you.

“Put him on,” I said blinking with surprise.

“Terrance Spalding here and it’s good to see you, Sir,” the old Engineer said happily.

“Good to see you in one piece, Commander,” I nodded letting loose a smile before turning serious again, “we’re going to need some help with that Spheroid, as you can see she’s still sending out combatants. I’d like the Clover to put a few rounds in her.”

Spalding laid a finger alongside his nose.

“That won’t be necessary, Sir,” he winked, “why don’t you let me focus on trimming down Harvesters until those runners from Glorious Fleet are gone. After that we can turn that Bug Moon into hash on command. The droids put a few, let’s call surprises, inside the Moonlet of Mayhem. One transmission and boom! It’s gone,” he said slapping his hands together with a crack.

“Spalding you’re a wonder,” I said with fervent appreciation. “However I’m not sure we can wait that long. We’ve already taken paroles and that Moon’s already proven to be surprisingly mobile for something of its size.”

“Not a problem, Sir,” the old Engineer said seriously, “I’ll get the droids and see what we can do.”

“Then I’ll leave the matter in your capable hands,” I said.

Several minutes later and sensors registered a small seismic episode that shook the hull of Spheroid just enough that our sensors could register.

From that point onward the Spheroid didn’t move again.

After that it was simple matter of cleaning up the battlefield. Sending lancers over to help our beleaguered former enemies, those that we could reach in time anyway and putting prize crews aboard those ships that were still somewhat functional.

In total only a couple dozen undamaged ships actually surrendered. The rest all had some form of battle damage.

All in all a good days work.

Admiral’s Nemesis Part II Up For Sale!!

Admiral’s Fall is at the editor the Nemesis II has been out for sale for one week now! If you’ve been waiting for it wait no more! If you’ve already read it please put up a review!

In a more general question I’d like to ask if there’s anything you guys would like to see on this blog? Sneak peak chapters? Or general discussions?

The Deposed King

Live on Amazon: Admiral’s Nemesis Part II

:::Cue Drumroll::: For those of you who have been waiting the book is finally here: Admiral’s Nemesis Part II is live!!!!

Find it here on amazon at link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07CGLQSF3/...

It slices it dices and it may have taken 8 months but its finally here!

Again sorry about the long wait between books guys, first it was a bear to write and my longest work ever but it also took about twice as long at the editors as hoped for. Most of it though was I was just slow writing it. If I had sped up….

Well enough of that because I have written up and two days before Nemesis II launched I already finished the rough draft of Admiral’s Fall the next book in the series. So hopefully we’ll see a more reasonable launch rate between books going into the future (wink).

For all my fans this is,

The Deposed King

Admiral’s Fall 126k (Completed)

The Admiral’s Fall rough draft is completed!

And Nemesis II is due to go up on amazon late next week!

All in all this is really great news! Now all I need to do is go back to work on some Nemesis stuff like fleet lists if I can find the time to look them up!

Great news people!

The Deposed King