Implacable: Vicky Peterwald, #5 Read online

  Vicky Peterwald: Implacable

  Vicky Peterwald, Volume 5

  Mike Shepherd

  Published by Mike Shepherd, 2019.

  This is a work of fiction. Similarities to real people, places, or events are entirely coincidental.

  VICKY PETERWALD: IMPLACABLE

  First edition. August 1, 2019.

  Copyright © 2019 Mike Shepherd.

  ISBN: 978-1642110326

  Written by Mike Shepherd.

  Vicky Peterwald: Implacable

  Mike Shepherd

  Contents

  Praise for the Kris Longknife Novels

  Copyright Information

  Special Note to Reader

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Chapter 33

  Chapter 34

  Chapter 35

  Chapter 36

  Chapter 37

  Chapter 38

  Chapter 39

  Chapter 40

  Chapter 41

  Chapter 42

  Chapter 43

  Chapter 44

  Chapter 45

  Chapter 46

  About the Author

  2019 Releases

  More Books by Mike Shepherd

  Praise for the Kris Longknife Novels

  “A whopping good read . . . Fast-paced, exciting, nicely detailed, with some innovative touches.” - Elisabeth Moon, Nebula Award-winning author of Crown Renewal

  * * *

  “Shepherd delivers no shortage of military action, in space and on the ground. It’s cinematic, dramatic, and dynamic . . . [He also] demonstrates a knack for characterization, balancing serious moments with dry humor . . . A thoroughly enjoyable adventure featuring one of science fiction’s most interesting recurring heroines.” - Tor.com

  * * *

  “A tightly written, action-packed adventure from start to finish . . . Heart-thumping action will keep the reader engrossed and emotionally involved. It will be hard waiting for the next in the series.” - Fresh Fiction

  * * *

  “[Daring] will elate fans of the series . . . The story line is faster than the speed of light.” - Alternative Worlds

  * * *

  “[Kris Longknife] will remind readers of David Weber’s Honor Harrington with her strength and intelligence. Mike Shepherd provides an exciting military science fiction thriller.” -Genre Go Round Reviews

  * * *

  “‘I’m a woman of very few words, but lots of action’: so said Mae West, but it might just as well have been Lieutenant Kris Longknife, princess of the one hundred worlds of Wardhaven. Kris can kick, shoot, and punch her way out of any dangerous situation, and she can do it while wearing stilettos and a tight cocktail dress. She’s all business, with a Hell’s Angel handshake and a ‘get out of my face’ attitude. But her hair always looks good . . . Kris Longknife is funny and she entertains us.” - SciFi Weekly

  * * *

  “[A] fast-paced, exciting military SF series . . . Mike Shepherd has a great ear for dialogue and talent for injecting dry humor into things at just the right moment . . . The characters are engaging, and the plot is full of twists and peppered liberally with sharply described action. I always look forward to installments in the Kris Longknife series because I know I’m guaranteed a good time with plenty of adventure.” -SF Site

  * * *

  In the New York Times bestselling Kris Longknife novels, “Fans of the Honor Harrington escapades will welcome the adventures of another strong female in outer space starring in a thrill-a-page military space opera.” - Alternative Worlds

  * * *

  “Military SF fans are bound to get a kick out of the series as a whole.” - SF Site

  Copyright Information

  Published by KL & MM Books

  August 2019

  Copyright © 2019 by Mike Moscoe

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including photocopying, recording or any other information storage and retrieval system, without the written permission of the publisher.

  This book is a work of fiction set 400 years in humanity’s future. Any similarity between present people, places or events would be spectacularly unlikely and is purely coincidental.

  This book is written and published by the author. Please don’t pirate it. I’m self-employed. The money I earn from the sales of these books allows me to produce more stories to entertain you. I’d hate to have to get a day job again. If this book comes into your hands free, please consider going to your favorite e-book provider and investing in a copy so I can continue to earn a living at this wonderful art.

  I would like to thank my wonderful cover artist, Kitty Niclain of Artistic Whispers Productions. I also am grateful for the editing skills of Lisa Müller, Edee Lemonier, Gwen Moscoe, and as ever, my wife Ellen Moscoe.

  Rev 1.0

  * * *

  eBook ISBN-13: 978-1-64211-0326

  Print ISBN-13: 978-1-64211-0333

  Special Note to Reader

  This is the first book I’ve written that I’ve had to add a trigger warning.

  Please beware that within this book there is degrading, non-consensual sex. It also describes the violent destruction of those perpetrating it.

  If either of those areas cause you trouble, you might want to skip this book.

  However, since it's a Mike Shepherd book, I assure you that good wins out in the end, even if some endings will need more time to become happy.

  1

  Admiral, Her Imperial Grace, the Grand Duchess Victoria Peterwald, heir apparent to the Greenfeld Empire according to the Treaty of Cuzco, did not want to get up.

  She luxuriated in the fluffy comforter and the large, soft bed. She relished the warmth of the risen sun streaming through the window and sinking into her bared flesh.

  Last night had been wonderful. Her husband, Mannie, had been delighted to see her, and she him. She was wonderfully sore in all the right places.

  Maybe monogamy wasn't so bad.

  "It is time to get up," her computer said from the bedside table.

  "Maggie, remember, I know where the off button is," Vicky said. A clear threat in her voice.

  "Whether I am on or off, it will not matter. You have a staff meeting in an hour."

  "You're no fun," Vicky pouted. "I rue the day I named you Maggie."

  "You knew very well that I needed a name. You can't run around calling me 'hey, you.' That's ridiculous. Mother said I needed a name."

  "Your mother and Kris Longknife snuck one in on me," Vicky snapped, as she stretched like a cat in the warm sunlight. Still, it was getting harder and harder to stay in bed.

  "And how would you have kept the butcher's bill down when you took down the Duke and liberated Dresden? I think I was very helpful that night, and unlike the humans that were with you, I didn't get a medal or induct
ion into the Imperial Victorian Order," the computer sniffed.

  "Did you just sniff at me?" Vicky demanded.

  "Would it matter if I did?"

  "No. You are a pain in my, ah, rear, and where would I put a medal? You don't have any place to pin one."

  "There is that," Maggie agreed.

  "Besides, none of them are trying to get me out of bed on such a lovely day to sleep in."

  Vicky rolled over. Mannie's side of the bed no longer carried the warmth of his body. Actually, it was quite cold.

  "Where is my consort?" Vicky asked.

  "He had a breakfast meeting at seven with several leaders of the Dresden legislature, Your Grace."

  "Out plotting against the Imperium, no doubt," Vicky grumbled. As she lay here in bed, longing for her husband, he was likely out turning her into a constitutional monarch.

  "Sometimes, I think I'm sleeping with the enemy," Vicky muttered with a sighed.

  "Would you like me to activate his commlink so you can listen in?" Maggie asked.

  "No, no, no," Vicky said. "If this marriage and present version of the Empire is going to survive, I've got to trust that guy. I may not like being a constitutional monarch, but I've seen where rule by fiat ends. Nope, we've got a new day dawning."

  "And you should be dressed to meet it," Maggie snuck in.

  "Why are you trying to get me out of this wonderful bed?" Vicky demanded, as she stretched out again. She'd worn a lovely nightie to bed last night. Where was it? Oh, there, tossed into a corner.

  Vicky smiled at the memory of last night. It had been way too long since she and Mannie had shared a bed together. It was as if they were back on their honeymoon.

  Speaking of honeymoon, she was still owed three weeks of honeymoon.

  "Does Dresden have any nice sunny beaches?" Vicky asked Maggie.

  "Yes, but it also has a meeting with your Navy staff in fifty minutes.

  "Why do I have to meet with them so early in the morning?"

  "It is not all that early. There is this problem of what to do next with your fleet, you know. Then there is the matter of one big fleet the Bowlingame faction has wandering around your Empire. You do want your Empire, do you not?"

  "Whether I'm a proper autocrat or a bleeding democrat, yes, it's my Empire and those damn Bowlingames are not going to keep destroying half of it," Vicky growled, and rolled out of bed.

  "Maggie, get me my assassins."

  By the time Vicky had walked the short distance to the shower, Kit and Kat, her body servants and diminutive assassins were at her elbow.

  "Shall we run your bath?" Kit asked.

  "I don't have time for one of your baths," Vicky said. "How about a quick shower?"

  "A nice shower," Kat said, her fake French accent slipping slyly into her offer. There was also a bit of tongue.

  "A quick shower," Vicky said, forcefully.

  "You are no fun since you got married," Kit said, slipping out of her shirt and pants. She also had to set aside several knives and two automatics.

  "You did not even invite us into your bed last night," Kat said, also undressing and disarming. "We could have made it so much more fun for you and that luscious man."

  "I just want a quick shower," Vicky insisted, "and my husband likes just one woman in his bed. His wife."

  "How short-sighted," Kit said, expertly tapping the controls. Soon, all the shower jets were going full blast as well as the steam.

  "He should really give us a chance to expand his horizons," Kat said, rubbing her front to Vicky's back.

  "You should do that with a sponge," Vicky said, as she stepped into the shower.

  Her tiny assassins were very tempting. Over the years, Vicky had had a lot of fun with them and a large assortment of other men and women. Still, Mannie wanted this monogamy thing and Vicky intended to try it for a year.

  Then maybe she'd see if he'd try it her way for the next year.

  Despite several efforts to distract her, Vicky was in undress whites at 0855. As she took the elevator down from the penthouse to the meeting rooms she and her team had taken over on the second floor of the Dresden Hilton.

  It was time for meetings.

  2

  Vicky sat at the head of a long table. Around her were more Navy, Marine, and Army officers than she'd ever had at a staff meeting. Apparently, if you liberated a planet, your reward was bigger, and likely longer, meetings.

  Why did a good deed require such punishment?

  At least she had her good friends beside her at the head of the table. Admiral Bolesław was at her right hand with General Pemberton next to him. At her left was her electronics and intel specialist, Captain Blue. The inimitable and enigmatic Mr. Smith sat next to Blue, self-composed and quiet, as he waited his chance to shock, dismay, and in general, ruin her day.

  Nothing ever changed.

  "Well, gentlemen, is there any chance you bring me peaceful news today?"

  "I wish I could say so, Your Grace," Admiral Bolesław said, with not one bit of sadness shading his words. He was far too chipper for this early in the morning. "We have a hostile battle fleet lurking somewhere around here and an offensive campaign to plan."

  "So, you didn't manage to solve any of my problems overnight?" Vicky said. Her feigned dismay and disappointment shocked no one.

  "Sorry, Your Grace, but some of us used the night to sleep, as you no doubt did."

  "Alis, after all these years, you still don't know my husband and I well at all."

  That brought a round of well-suppressed chuckles from everyone at the meeting except for a few prudes.

  "Shall we take a look at a star map, Your Grace?"

  "That is the way you always start one of these briefings, Admiral. Someday you must shake things up a bit. Bring in dancing girls."

  That earned her a stern sideways glance from her favorite admiral. "I'll take that under consideration, Your Grace." The added "in a pig's eye," was not whispered soft enough not to carry through the entire room.

  This time, chuckles were very well suppressed.

  "Very well, Admiral. Show me your star map," Vicky said, sending a clear signal that her levity was over, and she agreed it was time for her to get down to business, like a good little Grand Duchess.

  The expected star map appeared as a holograph floating above the table, rotating slowly. It showed a reduced Greenfeld Empire. Before the civil war, her father, the Emperor, had almost reached two hundred planets under the Peterwald banner. Now it was barely one hundred and fifty.

  "The Treaty of Cuzco," the admiral began on background, "awarded some seventy-five planets each to you and your father, our Emperor. Planets could call for a vote to switch sides, and many did. Over eighty now pay allegiance to you, Your Grace.

  "Switching sides came to a roaring halt when the Bowlingame family's security specialists started stuffing ballot boxes. Now that civil war has started up again, we're back to adding planets. Besides Dresden below us, our smaller task forces have cut out four minor planets."

  "Hurray for our side," Vicky said.

  "Yes."

  "And the remnants of the Bowlingame family? What have they been up to?"

  "Except for the raid on Idleberg, nothing."

  "Any idea where their fleet is?" Vicky asked, cutting to the chase.

  "Not so much as a whisper," Admiral Bolesław answered.

  Vicky sighed. "So, things haven't gotten any nicer overnight."

  "Nope," the admiral said, not rewarding Vicky's inane question with a longer answer.

  Vicky studied the star map.

  "Let me see if I've got this right, Alis. The Treaty of Cuzco split the Empire just about down the middle. How orderly of Kris Longknife. However, the ten planets I'd gained by ballot or sword have created several bulges on my side and look like salients from the other side. I think Admiral Krätz mentioned somewhere in my education that salients are delightful to slice off. Correct?"

  "Just so, Your Grace."

&nb
sp; "So, is it time for me to tidy up the line a bit?"

  "It is tempting, Your Grace, but not all colonies are created equal. It's to your advantage to have the allegiance of the more populous and industrialized planets more than the minor, developing ones."

  Vicky nodded her head, "Yes, but if people are about to be starved to death on some small colony, I think they deserve our attention."

  "Yes, Your Grace," did not hold any objection.

  "I would have expected resistance from you, Admiral Bolesław."

  "Your Grace has identified the knife's edge that we walk. From a purely military point, I'd like to cut out the planets capable of supporting that fleet we're hunting. From the humanitarian perspective of one who holds sovereignty over an Empire, the subjects with the most needs might hold priority over the more well-fed planets."

  "And therein lies my problem. General Pemberton, how large a force would we need to occupy large planets such as Dresden, Lublin and Oryol?"