Straits of Hell (Destroyermen) - Softcover

Anderson, Taylor

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0451470621 ISBN 13: 9780451470621

Publisher: Ace, 2016

Synopsis

New York Times bestselling author Taylor Anderson’s phenomenal series of alternate history continues as a dangerous scheme throws the hope of honor, trust, and survival into chaos....
 
Transported to an alternate version of earth where WWII no longer rages, Matt Reddy and the crew of the Asiatic Fleet destroyer USS Walker have been trying to find their place in a strange new world—only to now face a game-changing conspiracy.
 
Reddy and his crew fight alongside the felinoid Lemurians and Imperial allies to keep the reptilian Grik, a race growing in supremacy, from reconquering the Lemurians’ ancestral home on Madagascar. But exhausted, far from reinforcements, and wildly outnumbered, the odds seem greater than ever before.
 
As for the fate of the Americas, Don Hernan and the evil Dominion have gathered to annihilate the forces behind the walls of Fort Defiance as a shadowy power with an agenda all its own rises with chilling resolve.
 
As the war teeters on a knife-edge, a tipping point may have been reached at last—and cold steel and hot-blooded valor will remain the ultimate weapons.

About this title

About the Author:

Taylor Anderson is the New York Times bestselling author of the Destroyermen
series, including Straits of Hell, Deadly Shores, and Storm Surge. A gunmaker and forensic ballistic archaeologist, Taylor has been a technical and dialogue consultant for movies and documentaries, and an award-winning member of the National Historical Honor Society and of the United States Field Artillery Association. He has a master’s degree in history and has taught that subject at Tarleton State University in Stephenville, Texas. He lives in nearby Granbury with his family.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.:

THE DESTROYERMEN SERIES

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

CAST OF CHARACTERS

(The following does not necessarily reflect initial or even final deployments, but only those most pertinent to the events described.)

See index for details of ships and equipment specifications.

Note:

(L)—Lemurians, or Mi-Anakka (People) are bipedal, somewhat felinoid folk with large eyes, fur, and expressive but nonprehensile tails. They are highly intelligent, social, and dexterous. It has been proposed that they are descended from the giant lemurs of Madagascar.

(G)—Grik, or Ghaarrichk’k, are bipedal reptilians reminiscent of various Mesozoic dromaeosaurids. Covered with fine downy fur, males develop bristly crests and tail plumage, and retain formidable teeth and claws. Grik society consists of two distinct classes, the ruling or industrious Hij, and the worker-warrior Uul. The basic Grik-like form is ubiquitous, and serves as a foundation for numerous unassociated races and species.

At “Grik City” Madagascar

USS Walker (DD-163)

Lt. Cmdr. Matthew Patrick Reddy, USNR—Commanding. CINCAF—(Commander in Chief of All Allied Forces).

Cmdr. Brad “Spanky” McFarlane—Exec. Minister of Naval Engineering.

Cmdr. Bernard Sandison—Torpedo Officer and Minister of Experimental Ordnance.

Lt. Tab-At, “Tabby” (L)—Engineering Officer.

Lt. Sonny Campeti—Gunnery Officer.

Lt. Ed Palmer—Signals.

Surgeon Lieutenant Pam Cross

Cmdr. Simon Herring—Office of Strategic Intelligence (OSI).

Ensign Laar-Baa-Ra (L)—PB-1B “Nancy” pilot.

Chief Quartermaster Patrick “Paddy” Rosen—Acting First Officer.

Chief Boatswain’s Mate Jeek (L)—Former Crew Chief, “Special Air Division.”

Chief Engineer Isak Reuben—One of the “original” Mice.

Gunner’s Mate Pak-Ras-Ar, “Pack Rat” (L)

Earl Lanier—Cook.

Johnny Parks—Machinist’s Mate.

Juan Marcos—Officer’s Steward.

Wallace Fairchild—Sonarman—Anti–Mountain Fish Countermeasures—(AMF-DIC).

Min-Sakir, “Minnie”(L)—Bridge Talker.

Leftenant Doocy Meek—British sailor and former POW (WWI). Now liaison for the Republic of Real People.

Corporal Neely—Imperial Marine Bugler.

Salissa Battle Group

USNRS Salissa “Big Sal” (CV-1)

Admiral Keje-Fris-Ar (L)

Atlaan-Fas (L)—Commanding.

Lt. Sandy Newman—Exec.

1st Naval Air Wing

Captain Jis-Tikkar, “Tikker” (L)—“COFO” (Commander of Flight Operations); 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Bomb Squadron, and 1st and 2nd Pursuit Squadrons aboard Salissa (CV-1).

Lt. Araa-Faan (L)—Tikker’s Aryaalan Exec.

Frigates (DDs) attached: (Des-Ron 6)

USS Haakar-Faask**

Lt. Cmdr. Niaal-Ras-Kavaat (L)—Commanding.

USS Tassat**

Captain Jarrik-Fas (L)—Commanding.

Lt. Stanly Raj—“Impie” Exec.

USS Scott***

Cmdr. Muraak-Saanga (L)—Commanding. (Former Donaghey Exec and sailing master).

USS Nakja-Mur*

Lt. Naala-Araan [Cmdr. Cablaas-Rag-Laan (L) has been reassigned].

MTB-Ron-1 (Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron #1)—5xMTBs (#s 4, 7, 13, 15, 16).

Aef-M (Allied Expeditionary Force—Madagascar).

II Corps

General Queen Safir Maraan (L)—Commanding.

3rd Division

General Mersaak (L)—Commanding. “The 600” (B’mbaado Regiment composed of Silver and Black battalions), Exec 3rd Baalkpan, 3rd, 10th B’mbaado, 5th Sular, 1st Battalion, 2nd Marines, 1st Sular.

6th Division

General Grisa—Commanding.

5th, 6th B’mbaado, 1st, 2nd, 9th Aryaal, 3rd Sular

1st Allied Raider Brigade (“Chack’s Raiders,” or “Chack’s Brigade”)

Lt. Col Chack-Sab-At (L)—Commanding—bosun’s mate (Marine Lt. Colonel).

21st (combined) Allied Regiment

Major Alistair Jindal—Commanding—Imperial Marine, and Chack’s nominal Exec.

1st and 2nd battalions of the 9th Maa-Ni-Laa, 2nd Battalion of the 1st Respite

7th (combined) Allied Regiment

Captain Risa Sab-At (L)—Commanding—(Chack’s sister).

2nd and 3rd battalions of the 19th Baalkpan, 1st Battalion of the 11th Imperial Marines

1st Cavalry Brigade

Lt. Colonel Saachic (L)—Commanding.

3rd and 6th Maa-ni-laa Cavalry

SMS Amerika

Kapitan Adler Von Melhausen—Commanding.

Kapitan Leutnant Becker Lange—Von Melhausen’s Exec.

Adar (L)—Chairman of the Grand Alliance (COTGA), and High Chief and Sky Priest of Baalkpan.

Surgeon Commander Sandra Tucker Reddy—Minister of Medicine, and wife of Captain Reddy.

Diania—Steward’s Assistant and Sandra’s friend and bodyguard.

Gunnery Sergeant Arnold Horn—USMC—formerly of the 4th Marines (US).

Lieutenant Toryu Miyata—formerly of Amagi.

MISSION TO MEET “ANCESTRAL” LEMURIANS:

Ensign Nathaniel Hardee—Commanding PT-7.

Courtney Bradford—Australian naturalist and engineer. Minister of Science for the Grand Alliance and Plenipotentiary at Large.

Chief Gunner’s Mate Dennis Silva

Lawrence “Larry the Lizard”—orange and brown tiger-striped Grik-like ex-Tagranesi (Sa’aaran).

Corporal Ian Miles—Formerly in 2nd of the 4th Marines.

The “Republic of Real People”

Caesar (Kaiser) Nig-Taak

General Marcus Kim—Military High Command.

TFG-2 (Task Force Garrett-2)
(Long-Range Reconnaissance and Exploration)

USS Donaghey (DD-2)

Cmdr. Greg Garrett—Commanding.

Lt. Saama-Kera, “Sammy” (L)—Exec.

Lt. (jg) Wendel “Smitty” Smith—Gunnery Officer.

Captain Bekiaa-Sab-At—Commanding Marines.

Chief Bosun’s Mate Jenaar-Laan

Inquisitor Kon-Choon—Director of Spies for the Republic of Real People.

In Indiaa

Allied Expeditionary Force (North)

General of the Army and Marines Pete Alden—Commanding. Former sergeant in USS Houston Marine contingent.

I Corps

General Lord Muln-Rolak (L)—Commanding.

Hij Geerki—Rolak’s “pet” Grik, captured at Rangoon.

1st (Galla) Division

General Taa-leen (L)—Commanding.

Colonel Enaak (L) (5th Maa-ni-laa Cavalry)—Exec.

1st Marines, 5th, 6th, 7th, 10th Baalkpan

2nd Division

General Rin-Taaka-Ar (L)—Commanding.

Major Simon “Simy” Gutfeld (3rd Marines)—Exec.

1st, 2nd Maa-Ni-Laa, 4th, 6th, 7th Aryaal

III Corps

General Faan-Ma-Mar (L)—Commanding.

9th & 11th Divisions composed of the 2nd, 3rd Maa-ni-laa, 8th Baalkpan, 7th & 8th Maa-ni-la, 10th Aryaal

VI Corps

General Linnaa-Fas-Ra—Commanding.

The “Czech Legion”—Colonel Dalibor SVEC—Commanding. A near-division-level “cavalry” force of aging Czechs and Slovaks, and their continental Lemurian allies. They are militarily, if not politically, bound to the Grand Alliance.

Flynn Field—Primary Army/Navy air base in Indiaa, on the north shore of Lake Flynn, west of Madraas.

Colonel Ben Mallory—Commanding.

Lt. Cmdr. Mark Leedom—Exec.

4th 5th, 7th, 8th Bomb Squadrons (PB-1B Nancys), and 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th Pursuit Squadrons (P-1C Mosquito Hawks “Fleashooters”). The 3rd Pursuit Squadron is composed of 9 Army Air Corps P-40Es.

Lt. Walt “Jumbo” Fisher

Lt. (jg) Suaak-Pas-Ra “Soupy” (L)

Lt. Conrad Diebel

2nd Lt. Niaa-Saa “Shirley” (L)

S. Sergeant Cecil Dixon

At Madras (Indiaa)

First Fleet North

USS Santa Catalina (CAP-1)

Lt. Cmdr. Russ Chappelle—Commanding.

Lt. Michael “Mikey” Monk—Exec.

Lt. (jg) Dean Laney—Engineering Officer.

Surgeon Cmdr. Kathy McCoy

Stanley “Dobbin” Dobson—Chief Bosun’s Mate.

USS Mahan (DD-102)

Cmdr. Perry Brister—Commanding. Minister of Defensive and Industrial Works.

Lt. (jg) Jeff Brooks—Sonarman—Anti–Mountain Fish Countermeasures—(AMF-DIC).

Lt. (jg) Rolando “Ronson” Rodriguez—Chief Electrician.

Taarba-Kaar, “Tabasco” (L)—Cook.

Chief Bosun’s Mate Carl Bashear

Ensign Johnny Parks—Engineering Officer.

Ensign Paul Stites—Gunnery Officer.

Arracca Battle Group

USNRS Arracca (CV-3)

Tassanna-Ay-Arracca (L), High Chief—Commanding.

5th Naval Air Wing

Frigates (DDs) attached: (Des-Ron 9)

USS Kas-Ra-Ar**—Captain Mescus-Ricum (L)—Commanding.

USS Ramic-Sa-Ar*

USS Felts**

USS Naga***

USS Bowles***

USS Saak-Fas***

USS Clark**

At Baalkpan

Cmdr. Alan Letts—Chief of Staff, Minister of Industry and the Division of Strategic Logistics. Acting “Chairman” of the Grand Alliance.

Cmdr. Steve “Sparks” Riggs—Minister of Communications and Electrical Contrivances.

Lord Bolton Forester—Imperial Ambassador.

Lt. Bachman—Forester’s aide.

Surgeon Cmdr. Karen Theimer Letts—Assistant Minister of Medicine.

“Pepper” (L)—Black-and-white Lemurian keeper of the “Castaway Cook,” (Busted Screw).

Leading Seaman Henry Stokes, HMAS Perth—Assistant Director of Office of Strategic Intelligence—(OSI).

Among the Khonashi (North Borno)

“King” Tony Scott

“Captain” I’joorka—Respected warrior and Scott’s friend.

Ensign Abel Cook—Commanding Allied Mission.

Imperial Midshipman Stuart Brassey

Moe the Hunter

Pokey—“Pet” Grik brass-picker.

Eastern Sea Campaign

High Admiral Harvey Jenks (CINCEAST)

Enchanted Isles

Sir Thomas Humphries—Imperial Governor at Albermarl.

Colonel Alexander—Garrison commander.

Second Fleet

USS Maaka-Kakja (CV-4)

Admiral Lelaa-Tal-Cleraan (L)—Commanding.

Lieutenant Tex Sheider (Sparks)—Exec.

Gilbert Yeager—Engineer; one of the “original” Mice.

3rd Naval Air Wing

(9th, 11th, 12th Bomb Squadrons & 7th, 10th Pursuit Squadrons.) (30 planes assembled, 30 unassembled)

2nd Lt. Orrin Reddy—COFO.

Sgt. Kuaar-Ran-Taak “Seepy” (L)—Reddy’s “backseater.”

Line of Battle

24 Imperial Ships of the Line Including:

HIMSs Mars*, Centurion*, Mithra

*Attached to TF-11 commanded by Imperial Admiral E. B. Hibbs

DDs (of note)

USS Mertz***

USS Tindal***

USS Finir-Pel***

Lt. Haan-Sor Plaar (L)—Commanding.

HIMS Achilles Lt. Grimsley—Commanding.

HIMS Icarus

Lt. Parr—Commanding.

USS Simms***

Lt. Ruik-Sor-Raa (L)—Commanding.

USS Pinaa-Tubo (Ammunition ship)

Lt. Radaa-Nin (L)—Commanding.

USS Pecos—Fleet Oiler.

USS Pucot—Fleet Oiler.

Second Fleet Expeditionary Force: (X Corps)—4 regiments Lemurian Army and Marines, 2 regiments “Frontier” troops, 5 regiments Imperial Marines—(3 Divisions) w/artillery train.

General Tomatsu Shinya—Commanding.

Colonel James Blair—Exec.

Major Dao Iverson—Commanding Second Battalion, 6th Imperial Marines.

Nurse Cmdr. Selass-Fris-Ar (L)—“Doc’selass” Daughter of Keje-Fris-Ar.

Capt. Blas-Ma-Ar “Blossom” (L)—Commanding 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marines.

Spon-Ar-Aak “Spook” (L)—Gunner’s Mate, and 1st Sgt. of “A” Company, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marines.

Lt. Staas-Fin “Finny” (L)—“C” Company, 2nd Battalion, 8th Maa-ni-laa.

Lt. Faal-Pel “Stumpy” (L)—“A” Company, 1st Battalion, 8th Maa-ni-la. Former ordnance striker.

Lt. (jg) Fred Reynolds—Formerly Special Air Division—USS Walker.

Ensign Kari-Faask (L)—Reynolds’s friend and “backseater.”

Army of the Sisters

Saan-Kakja (L)—High Chief of Ma-ni-laa and all the Filpin Lands.

Governor-Empress Rebecca Anne McDonald

Sister Audry—Benedictine nun, and commander of El Vengadores de Dios, a regiment raised from penitent Dominion POWs on New Ireland.

Colonel Arano Garcia

Lt. Ezekial Krish

General Ansik-Talaa (L)—Filpin Scouts.

Sergeant “Lord” Koratin (L)—Marine protector and advisor to Sister Audry.

Attached DDs:

HIMS Ulysses, Euripides, Tacitus

Enemies

General of the Sea Hisashi Kurokawa—Formerly of Japanese Imperial Navy battle cruiser Amagi. Self-proclaimed “Regent” and “Sire” of all India, but currently confined to Zanzibar.

General Orochi Niwa—friend and advisor to General Halik.

“General of the Sky” Hideki Muriname

“Lieutenant of the Sky” Iguri—Muriname’s Exec.

Signal Lt. Fukui

Cmdr. Riku—Ordnance.

Grik (Ghaarrichk’k)

Celestial Mother—Absolute, godlike ruler of all the Grik, regardless of the relationships between the various Regencies.

The Chooser—Highest member of his “order” at the court of the Celestial Mother. Prior to current policy, “choosers” selected those destined for life—or the cook pots—as well as those eligible for “elevation” to “Hij” status.

Ragak—Regent Consort of Sofesshk.

General Esshk—First General of all the Grik, and acting Champion Consort to the new Celestial Mother.

General Ign—Commander of Esshk’s “new” warriors.

General Halik—Elevated Uul sport fighter.

General Ugla, General Shlook—“Promising” Grik leaders under Halik’s command.

Holy Dominion

His Supreme Holiness, Messiah of Mexico, and by the Grace of God, Emperor of the World—“Dom Pope” and absolute ruler.

Don Hernan DeDivino Dicha—“Blood Cardinal” and new commander of the “Army of God.”

General Ghanan Nerino

League of Tripoli

Representatives at Zanzibar:

(French) Capitaine de Fregate Victor Gravois

Aspirant Gilles Babin

(Spanish) Commandante Fidel Morrillo

(Italian) Maggiore Antonio Rizzo

Teniente Francisco de Luca

(German) Oberleutnant Walbert Fiedler

 

 

 

 

If I have discovered one genuinely profound truth in all my travels and adventures, it is this: mercy is a moral construct that does not exist in nature. No unthinking (as we would define it) creature possesses the merest notion of mercy. Raw nature quite literally subscribes only to the “law of the jungle” in which creatures kill...

About this edition

• Publisher: Ace
• Publication date: 2016
• ISBN 10: 0451470621
• ISBN 13: 9780451470621
• Binding: Mass Market Paperback
• Number of pages: 480