Valiant (The Lost Fleet, Book 4)
by Jack Campbell
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Book Summary Information
Author: Jack CampbellEdition: Mass Market Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2008-06-24
ISBN: 0441016197
Number of pages: 304
Publisher: Ace
Product features:
- ISBN13: 9780441016198
- Condition: New
- Notes: BRAND NEW FROM PUBLISHER! 100% Satisfaction Guarantee. Tracking provided on most orders. Buy with Confidence! Millions of books sold!
Book Reviews of Valiant (The Lost Fleet, Book 4)
Book Review: The Second Time Around
Summary: 5 Stars
Valiant (2008) is the fourth naval SF novel in The Lost Fleet series, following Courageous. The initial work in this sequence is Dauntless.
In the previous volume, the fleet entered the Lakota system with eight Syndic capital ships following them. A small flotilla of Syndic ships was guarding the hypernet gate. A larger force exited from the T'negu jump. Then an even larger Syndic force came through the hypernet gate.
Fleet politics was still contentious. Media joined Casia in criticizing the fleet commander. Later, Renown lost propulsion and Media took the Paladin to her rescue. Both ships were destroyed by the Syndics.
Geary decided to leave the system. Three battleships stayed behind as a rear guard. Then the lost fleet jumped back to Ixion. On the way, Iger told him that the Syndic fleet from the hypernet had not intended to arrive at the Lakota system.
In this novel, Jack Geary is the designated acting commander of the fleet survivors. He is the most senior captain within the Alliance due to his century long stasis is an escape pod. Unfortunately, he is also trapped within his own legend.
Tanya Desjani is an Alliance Captain, commanding the battlecruiser Dauntless. She is Geary's Flag Captain. She works well with Geary.
Victoria Rione is the Co-president of the Callas Republic and a member of the Alliance Senate. She is the only civilian within the fleet. She had been Geary's lover for a few weeks.
Casia is an Alliance Captain, commanding the battleship Conqueror. His ship is in the Third Battleship Division, formerly commanded by Numos.
Midea is an Alliance Captain, commanding the battleship Paladin. She had served as executive officer of the Orion under Numos before being promoted.
Iger is an Alliance Lieutenant in charge of intelligence gathering in the Dauntless. He seems very competent and his personnel have provided some excellent information. Naturally, his intelligence usually comes well after fleet operations.
Carabali is an Alliance Colonel. She is the senior officer among the remaining Marines of the fleet.
In this story, the fleet is returning to the Lakota system. The crews are enthusiastic about the opportunity to recover their lost comrades and to attack the Syndics again. Rione is puzzled by the crew reaction and fearful of their chances. Geary tries to explain his reasoning and the crew reaction, but she doesn't have a clue.
When the fleet exits the jump point, both Geary and Rione are on the bridge. The jump point is still mined, but the fleet avoids the field. Most of the Syndic ships are damaged and the hypernet gate is not guarded. They have definitely surprised the Syndics.
Desjani wants to try for the hypernet gate, but Geary is not so eager. He hasn't yet told her about the aliens controlling destinations in the hypernet. He reminds her of the things that they need to do before the pursuing fleet catches up with them.
Their first action is aimed at the shipyards and other facilities in the system. Along the way, they will distribute recently manufactured expendables from the auxiliaries. Geary and Desjani divvy up planning the maneuvers.
An Alliance battleship is located within a large collection of damaged Syndic ships. Sensor readings indicate that the Syndics have patched some damaged compartments. Geary believes that the Audacious is being used as a prison for captured Alliance personnel.
Geary is concerned about the Syndics blowing the power core of the battleship. He broadcasts a threat to destroy every Syndic ship, shuttle, and escape pod in the system if the Alliance prisoners are killed. Then the fleet heads toward the cluster of damaged ships to liberate the POWs as well as much needed materiel.
Geary orders his ships to inflict maximum damage to the Syndic naval units and facilities, but to use hell-lances as much as possible to preserve existing expendables. He also warns them about accidentally inducing a core overload on the Audacious.
The Syndic guard force breaks up as it notices the Alliance fleet, with some heading toward the hypernet gate. Geary thinks that they will guard the gate and destroy it if necessary. But such destruction could result in the release of energy corresponding to a nova.
Two Syndic battleships turn toward the Alliance fleet. Geary wonders what these battleships are doing. Desjani points out that they are defending the system even if the effort is hopeless.
A damaged Syndic heavy cruiser is being towed away from the jump point. The crews abandon ship in escape pods. Geary has his ships pick up several pods for prisoner interrogation.
Casia calls Geary with a complaint about the lack of oversight on the Marines raiding the Audacious. Geary points out that he is supervising Carabali and she is supervising the Marine teams. Casia counters that the Marines are not being directly supervised by the ship commanders.
Geary discusses the issue with Desjani and learns that such practices are common within the Alliance Navy. Geary wonders at the degree of micromanagement. Then he firmly quashes Casia's complaints. Geary also calls Carabali and assures her that such oversight will not be the norm within his fleet.
The fleet takes out more damaged Syndics ships. Then they attack the two incoming battleships. The Marines reach the Audacious and take off the POWs. Shortly thereafter, the Syndic pursuit fleet exits from the jump point.
This tale has the Alliance fleet again maneuvering against a much larger fleet. Geary has his crews prepare a surprise for the Syndics. He again uses the fleet auxiliaries as bait.
The lost fleet enters the jump point for Anahalt. The next installment in this sequence is Relentless.
Highly recommended for Campbell fans and for anyone else who enjoys tales of naval combat, service intrigue, and competent commanders. Read and enjoy!
-Arthur W. Jordin
Summary of Valiant (The Lost Fleet, Book 4)
?Black Jack? Geary has ordered his fleet back to the Lakota Star System where the Syndics nearly destroyed them, a desperate gamble that may give them a fighting chance of survival?or tear them apart.
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