“Agreed. You make it hard to doubt you.” She smiled again, and this time it seemed genuine. “You have won your victory at Kaliban. What are you going to do now, Captain Geary?”
Geary walked over to stare at the starscape. For the first time in a long time, he searched through it until he recognized some of the stars in Alliance space. So far to go yet. His grandnephew Michael Geary, who’d died on his ship Repulse in the Syndic home system, would never see Alliance space again. Nor would the crew of the Arrogant. But there were a lot of ships’ crews left who were still counting on him, believing Black Jack could get them back to their homes, and a grandniece back in Alliance space who could tell him about the family he’d lost to time. “What am I going to do? As I’m sure you’ve already heard, I’m going to take this fleet to Sutrah. Eventually, I’m going to take this fleet home, no matter who or what stands in the way.”
APPENDIX
The Alliance Fleet
CAPTAIN JOHN GEARY,
Commanding (acting)
As reorganized following the losses suffered immediately prior to Captain Geary assuming command in the Syndic home system.
Ship names in bold are those lost in action, with the name of the star system of their loss given afterward.
SECOND BATTLESHIP DIVISION
Gallant
Indomitable
Glorious
Magnificent
THIRD BATTLESHIP DIVISION
Paladin (Capt Midea)
Orion
Majestic
Conqueror
FOURTH BATTLESHIP DIVISION
Warrior (Capt Kerestes)
Triumph
Vengeance
Revenge
FIFTH BATTLESHIP DIVISION
Fearless
Resolution
Redoubtable
Warspite
SEVENTH BATTLESHIP DIVISION
Indefatigable
Audacious
Defiant
EIGHTH BATTLESHIP DIVISION
Relentless
Reprisal (Capt Hiyen)
Superb
Splendid
TENTH BATTLESHIP DIVISION
Colossus (Capt Armus)
Amazon
Spartan
Guardian
FIRST SCOUT BATTLESHIP DIVISION
Arrogant
Exemplar (Capt Vendig)
Braveheart
FIRST BATTLE CRUISER DIVISION
Courageous (Capt Duellos)
Formidable
Intrepid
Renown
SECOND BATTLE CRUISER DIVISION
Leviathan (Capt Tulev)
Dragon
Steadfast
Valiant (Cdr Landis)
FOURTH BATTLE CRUISER DIVISION
Dauntless(Capt Desjani) (flagship)
Daring (Capt Vitali)
Terrible
Victorious
FIFTH BATTLE CRUISER DIVISION
Invincible
Repulse
Furious (Capt Cresida)
Implacable (Cdr Neeson)
SIXTH BATTLE CRUISER DIVISION
Polaris
Vanguard
Illustrious (Capt Badaya)
Incredible (Capt Parr)
SEVENTH BATTLECRUISER DIVISION
Opportune
Brilliant (Capt Caligo)
Inspire (Capt Kila)
THIRD FAST FLEET AUXILIARIES DIVISION
Titan (Cdr Lommand)
Witch (Capt Tyrosian)
Jinn
Goblin
THIRTY SEVEN HEAVY CRUISERS IN SEVEN DIVISIONS
First Heavy Cruiser Division
Third Heavy Cruiser Division
Fourth Heavy Cruiser Division
Fifth Heavy Cruiser Division
Seventh Heavy Cruiser Division
Eighth Heavy Cruiser Division
Tenth Heavy Cruiser Division
SIXTY-TWO LIGHT CRUISERS IN TEN SQUADRONS
First Light Cruiser Squadron
Second Light Cruiser Squadron
Third Light Cruiser Squadron
Fifth Light Cruiser Squadron
Sixth Light Cruiser Squadron
Eighth Light Cruiser Squadron
Ninth Light Cruiser Squadron
Tenth Light Cruiser Squadron
Eleventh Light Cruiser Squadron
Fourteenth Light Cruiser Squadron
ONE HUNDRED EIGHTY-THREE DESTROYERS IN TWENTY SQUADRONS
First Destroyer Squadron
Second Destroyer Squadron
Third Destroyer Squadron
Fourth Destroyer Squadron
Sixth Destroyer Squadron
Seventh Destroyer Squadron
Ninth Destroyer Squadron
Tenth Destroyer Squadron
Twelfth Destroyer Squadron
Fourteenth Destroyer Squadron
Sixteenth Destroyer Squadron
Seventeenth Destroyer Squadron
Twentieth Destroyer Squadron
Twenty-first Destroyer Squadron
Twenty-third Destroyer Squadron
Twenty-fifth Destroyer Squadron
Twenty-seventh Destroyer Squadron
Twenty-eighth Destroyer Squadron
Thirtieth Destroyer Squadron
Thirty-second Destroyer Squadron
SECOND FLEET MARINE FORCE
Colonel Carabali commanding (acting)
1,560 Marines divided into detachments on battle cruisers and battleships.