Off Armageddon Reef

802 Pages·2006·3.47 MB·English

by  Weber David

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This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, places, and events
portrayed in this novel are either fictitious or are used fictitiously.
OFF ARMAGEDDON REEF : Copyright © 2007 by David Weber All rights
reserved, including the right to reproduce this book, or portions thereof, in any
form.
Edited by Patrick Nielsen Hayden
Book design by Ellen Cipriano
Maps by Ellisa Mitchell
A Tor Book
Published by Tom Doherty Associates, LLC
175 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10010
www.tor.com
Tor ® is a registered trademark of Tom Doherty Associates, LLC.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Weber, David, 1952–
Off Armageddon Reef / David Weber.
p. cm.
ISBN-13: 978-0-765-31500-7
ISBN-10: 0-765-31500-9
1. Space warfare—Fiction. I. Title.

PS3573.E217O35 2007
813'.54—dc22
2006025838
First Edition: January 2007
Printed in the United States of America

For Fred Saberhagen, whose work has brought me—and so many others—so
much pleasure. It’s always nice when someone whose work you like so much
turns out to be even more likable as a person.
And—
For Sharon, who loves me, puts up with my insane schedule, helps me remember
which day of the month it is, knows just about everything there is about
swimming, and has been known to suggest a three-hanky scene or two to me
along the way.
Not that I’m saying she did it this time.
Oh, my, no!
I love you.
Table of Contents
SAFEHOLD
MAY, YEAR OF GOD 890
I
II
III
AUGUST, YEAR OF GOD 890
I
II
III
IV
V
VI
VII
VIII
IX
X
XI
XII

XIII
XIV
XV
XVI
SEPTEMBER, YEAR OF GOD 890
I
II
III
OCTOBER, YEAR OF GOD 890
I
II
NOVEMBER, YEAR OF GOD 890
I
II
III
IV
V
FEBRUARY, YEAR OF GOD 891
I
II
III
APRIL, YEAR OF GOD 891
I
II
III
JUNE, YEAR OF GOD 891
I
JULY, YEAR OF GOD 891
I
II
III
AUGUST, YEAR OF GOD 891
I
II
III
SEPTEMBER, YEAR OF GOD 891
I
II
III
OCTOBER, YEAR OF GOD 891
I
II
III
IV
V
NOVEMBER,YEAR OF GOD 891
I
II

III
IV
V
FEBRUARY, YEAR OF GOD 892
I
II
III
IV
V
VI
VII
III
MARCH, YEAR OF GOD 892
I
II
III
IV
V
VI
VII
VIII
IX
X
APRIL, YEAR OF GOD 892
I
II
III
CHARACTERS
GLOSSARY
SAFEHOLD
^ »

July 2, 2378
Crestwell’s Star, HD 63077A
Terran Federation
“Captain to the bridge! Captain to the bridge!”
Captain Mateus Fofão rolled out of bed as the urgent voice of the officer of the
watch blared over the intercom, counterpointed by the high-pitched wail of the
emergency General Quarters signal. The captain’s bare feet were on the decksole
and he was already reaching for the bedside com before his eyes were fully
open, and he jabbed the red priority key purely by feel.
“Bridge.” The response came almost instantly, in a voice flat with the panic-
resisting armor of training.
“It’s the Captain, Chief Kuznetzov,” Fofão said crisply. “Give me Lieutenant
Henderson.”