Perseverance Andrews

Can we expect human nature to change in the future, even with the colonization of new worlds? Hundreds of years in the future, humans have spread into the stars, with wealthy nation-states settling and colonizing habitable planets, though the deep-seated conflicts of modern humanity have regrettably persisted. Newly appointed Commander Persistence Andrews has to navigate the power struggles of greed, power, and ego, but this woman has grit like no other. When colonization began, American corporations filled the gap left by a distracted government, with the result that the economic rivalry between these planets caused their defensive alliance to fracture. Two American-settled planets have been seized by foreign rivals-the galactic descendants of the Chinese and Russian superpowers. In desperation, three other American planets turn to their neighbors, the British, to pool their resources and defend themselves. Though no great power, the British have a unified government controlling three settled star systems. Together, the six planetary systems are strong enough to hold off the aggressors, and one by one, the other American systems ask to join them, forming the Inter-Planetary Commonwealth. After regaining the captured planets, the Inter-Planetary Commonwealth prospers and shows signs of developing as much clout as the Brits once had as masters of the earthly seas. Their foreign rivals, alarmed by this growing strength, join forces. A coordinated attack opens a new conflict, catching the Commonwealth largely by surprise, with disastrous results. Rumors of cutting-edge technology that can render current antimatter weapons useless raise the stakes even higher, and Admiral Freshley of the Royal Navy turns to Perseverance Andrews to take control of the Rowen, one of the newest ships in the fleet. Will Andrews rise to the challenge, or will she buckle under the pressures of a command influenced by human nature that hasn't changed in hundreds of years?

2024 Feathered Quill Book Awards Science Fiction Finalist For how long can you play from behind before hope fades away? From the opening attack of the conflict, the Royal Navy of the Inter-Planetary Commonwealth has been outnumbered. Unlike their enemies, who had been preparing for this war for years, the Commonwealth was caught flat-footed. Given enough time, the economic strength of the Commonwealth should prevail, but their enemies attack relentlessly. The Royal Navy hopes not for victory but for survival. Hampered by the near-complete failure of their intelligence agencies, time and again they are pushed to the very brink. Innovative approaches and the heroic sacrifices of ships and crews prevent disaster. Every time it seems as though the Royal Navy might be able to reach parity, the aggression of their enemies pushes the goal out of reach. The daunting cost of men and material keeps climbing. Yet, in the midst of this savage conflict, the relationship between Perseverance and Saint John Powell deepens. Just as the Royal Navy introduces a technological wrinkle that gives them a much-needed advantage, their enemies introduce a new type of warship. Bigger and more heavily armed than any vessels before, these battleships have the potential to blast through the Commonwealth's defenses. It will take every bit of the Royal Navy's (and Perseverance's) grit and ingenuity to stave off defeat. Just when the Royal Navy thinks it has weathered the storm, another tempest brews. Saint John Powell is standing in the way of an enemy force twice his strength. The best he and his people can do is slow the enemy and cause as much damage as possible before they themselves are destroyed. How many times can you cheat death before the odds catch up to you?

When your enemies are desperate, that is when they are most dangerous. Having just survived the most recent assaults, the Royal Navy hopes for a breather. Instead, their enemies have different ideas. They plan a daring attack designed to destroy the Commonwealth's shipbuilding facilities before the Commonwealth's economic might overwhelms them. With two of the Royal Navy's five fleets destroyed, the Admiral of the Fleet must put his life on the line to blunt the enemy attack. If their enemies succeed, the war might drag on for years. The cost to stop them might be his life. With an enemy who will stop at nothing, Perseverance and Saint John find that nowhere is safe. Even the most joyous events have the potential for tragedy. Danger can lurk in even the safest places. The turn of the tide might be at hand-if they survive.