Last of the Immortals (The Jessica Keller Chronicles Book 3) Read Free

Room at the men attending him. Captain Otto Scheinberg, commander of the battlecruiser Petrograd was brand new to the squadron, although he had served as a First Officer on Muscva years ago, back before she was destroyed at Qui–Ping . Yet another thing to lay at Jessica Keller’s feet.
    At the other end of the scale, flag captain Hendrik Baumgärtner had been his personal aide for nearly twenty years, a trusted and valued friend.
    In between, Captain Sundén from the light cruiser SturmTeufel had been with him for just over five years now, while the captains of the frigates tended to be either promoted regularly to larger vessels, or broken by the cauldron of service with the dreaded Red Admiral. Still, it was possibly the best Task Force the Fribourg Empire had in the field.
    He would need that, where he was about to go.
    “Gentlemen,” he said, bringing all of his seriousness to his voice. Even the ensigns and lieutenants around the outer wall came to closer attention at his words. “We are about to launch an assault on a Republic world that has never, to the best of my knowledge, seen war.”
    Emmerich nodded at Captain Baumgärtner. His aide pressed a button and a new projection sprang into the space above the table.
    “This is the planet Ballard ,” the Red Admiral continued. “The planet itself is not our primary target, and may end up being entirely ignored while we are in–system. That will depend on how things unfold after we arrive.”
    He paused to take the measure of each man around the great table before he spoke again. The faces were hard. These were serious men. Had he announced an assault on Hell itself, they would probably look no different. He certainly wouldn’t.
    “We are going there to destroy this,” he pointed at the smaller sphere in orbit. “ Alexandria Station . Home of the last Sentience in known space. Protected by the Republic of Aquitaine because of a sentimental attachment to their own Founder, Henri Baudin. Gentlemen, we are going to kill her.”
    He watched the men bristle at the words. Sentience . Aquitaine . Her . Words primed to infuriate their subconscious. Drive them. The root of all evil in the galaxy.
    Captain Scheinberg spoke first. “I seem to recall this is a fairly back–water system, admiral,” he said. “Do they have any notable defenses?”
    “None worth mentioning, Captain,” Emmerich replied. “A squadron of local fighter craft, perhaps a few patrol boats.”
    The captain nodded, confusion written on his features. “And we need an entire Task Force to attack it, sir?”
    Emmerich leaned closer, drawing those men into a tighter orbit.
    “This does not leave the table, gentlemen, until we break orbit and insert into Jumpspace,” he said with his greatest gravity. “ Aquitaine spies will be fed information about our impending assault. Nils Kasum will have just barely enough time to react. The only force he has available will be sent to stop us. We will mousetrap that force and annihilate it.”
    Captain Sundén spoke up. “Do we know the composition of that force, Admiral?”
    “An older strike carrier,” Emmerich replied. “Plus her consorts: two destroyers and a frigate. Possibly one other vessel, although internal war–gaming at the Palace was mixed in predicting who and what. Nils Kasum cannot strip his Home Fleet of forces to send without a risk that we’ll attack Ladaux instead.”
    Emmerich waited for the men to nod. These were professionals at the peak of their careers, serving with the best tactician in the Fribourg Empire.
    “The enemy commander, gentlemen,” he continued, “is Jessica Keller.”
    These captains were far too sophisticated to actually growl in anger, but he could see it in their eyes.
    Yes, they all had scores to settle with that woman, as well.

PART I: LADAUX

Chapter I
    Date of the Republic May 28, 394 Fleet HQ, Ladaux System
    It felt odd to be seated in the audience today. Normally, Jessica would be up on that stage,