by Blaze Ward
After all, what were good bonding, but teaching yer kid how to swear, drink, and sneak past watch geese?
Growing up didn’t mean turning boring.
CONCLUSION – JESSICA
IN THE THIRTEENTH YEAR OF JESSICA KELLER, QUEEN OF THE PIRATES: JULY THE EIGHTH AT ST. LEGIER
Jessica saw that Captain Gorzen was already standing when she entered the bridge, Torsten at her side with his arm entwined with hers.
“Any problems?” she asked, gesturing the man to sit.
It was his bridge. Archangel was his ship, at least until the man retired, or David replaced him.
“Negative, sir,” Gorzen said. “The Grand Admiral himself came on-line when we filed our flight plan, but he cleared us. zu Wachturm did explain that I had better get you home safe, and that he hoped I would be with you when Terra returned.”
“Would you like that duty, Arnd?” she asked. “We’ll be exploring and trading, not fighting.”
“In a light battleship designed by Yan Bedrov, Pops Nakamura, and Lady Moirrey of Petron, Admiral,” he laughed. “If we’re not fighting pirates or fools at some point along the way, it’s because you’ve already scared them into surrendering ahead of time. It will still be the greatest adventure of all time.”
Jessica laughed along with Torsten. Perhaps these men did understand. The war might be over for her, but there were worlds that had never been visited by Imperial or Republic ships. Places like semi-mythical NovLao, or whatever might lie beyond them.
Jessica Keller had completed the first half of her life’s work. The galaxy was safe to become something better.
Now she could go home, just long enough to become somebody else and set out again, on an adventure where the fate of humanity wasn’t on her shoulders for once.
“Are we ready to depart?” Jessica asked.
“Just waiting for you to give the order, Admiral,” Gorzen said.
She started to say something tart, perhaps angry, but then she stopped herself.
Arnd Gorzen understood that they were at a new beginning.
She should give those orders herself.
“Pilot, begin your acceleration and prepare to break orbit,” Jessica called to the room in that Command Centurion’s voice Nils Kasum had once taught her. “Galactic Coordinates: Zero, Zero, Zero. Destination: Petron. We’re going home.”
Around her, the men of Archangel cheered.
Jessica turned to Torsten and kissed him, something that turned into a longer and deeper engagement than she had anticipated, but it felt right. She didn’t even care that they were in public and all of the bridge crew were watching. And maybe cheering as much for her and Torsten as they were for the end of the war.
Jessica Keller was finally going home.
* * *
Finis
PETRON CAST LIST
Corynthe
Name / Rank / Affiliation or Position
Jessica Marie Keller / Fleet Centurion, Admiral of the Red / Queen of Corynthe
Torsten Wald / Crown Consort / Corynthe
Marcelle Augustine Travere / Chief / Jessica’s Personal Aide, retired
Willow Dolen / Yeoman / Jessica’s bodyguard
David Rodriguez / Vice Admiral, Regent / Corynthe
Kimiko Rodriguez / Wife of David
Arnulf Rodriguez / David’s son
Jessica Rodriguez / David’s daughter
Desianna Indah-Rodriguez / First Minister / Corynthe
Uly Larionov / Comptroller of the Court /Corynthe
Vibol Harmaajärvi / First-Rate-Spacer, retired / Scholar of Fashion
Amala Bhattacharya / Ambassador / Personal Representative of the Queen of Corynthe
Summer Ulfsson / Adventurer / Personal Representative of the Queen of Corynthe
“Seeker” / Scholar, Formerly Ul Banop Cheani Yuur / Corynthe
Nicolai Aoiki / Head Chef / Corynthe Household
Girisha Dhaval Misra / Herald / Corynthe Household
Yan Bedrov / Crown Naval Designer / Corynthe
Ainsley Barret / Test Pilot, Bedrov & Keller / Petron
Iorwerth Pops Nakamura / Crown Naval Designer, Dowager / Corynthe
Shiori “Wiley” Ness / Vice Admiral / Corynthe Fleet
Asra “Neon Pink” Binici / Pilot / Co-Commander, The Queen’s Own
Alexandra (Saša) “Rocket Frog” Binici / Pilot / Co-Commander, The Queen’s Own
Galin Estevan / Captain / Commander, Qin Lun
Donal McKiersky / Combat Officer / Qin Lun
Holger O’Ryan / Commander / Badger
Kari Estevan / President / Estevan Trading
Arnd Gorzen / Captain / Archangelsk
Jakob Li / Commander / Flag Commander, Archangelsk
Anton “Digger” Wolanski / Republic of Aquitaine Navy (RAN), retired / Husband of Moirrey
Tolga Reese / Republic of Aquitaine Navy (RAN), deceased / Close Combat Instructor, Lasaux
Tanis Bedrosian / Fool / Ramsey
Task Force Kosnett
Name / Rank / Affiliation or Position
Phil Kosnett / Fleet Centurion / Task Force Kosnett
Bohumil Križ / Command Centurion / Commander, RAN Cyrus
Piloqutinnguaq Katarin / Senior Centurion / Tactical Officer, RAN Cyrus
Paskal Nevena Maisuradze / Centurion / Flag Centurion, RAN Cyrus
Andrea Velazquez / Centurion / Legal Affairs Office, RAN Cyrus
Raoul al-Salah / Yeoman / Legal Affairs Office, RAN Cyrus
Republic of Aquitaine Navy
Name / Rank / Affiliation or Position
Petia Naoumov / First Lord of the Fleet
Alkash Ming / Command Centurion / Office of the First Lord
Miles Candalan / First Fleet Lord / First Solicitor of the Navy
Gotzon Bengoetxea / First Fleet Lord / RAN Adamant
Phillip Navin Crncevic, "Viking One" / RAN, retired
Iskra Vlahovic / RAN, retired
Enej Zivkovic / Command Centurion / Communications Instructor, Ladaux
Kasymyra Arno / Command Centurion / RAN Adamant
Arott Whughy / First Centurion / Fleet Headquarters, Ladaux
Nina Vanek / Command Centurion / Commander, RAN Vanguard
Tobias Brewster / Senior Centurion / First Officer, RAN Vanguard
Alber d’Maine / Command Centurion / Commander, VI Victrix
Robertson Aeliaes / Command Centurion / Commander, VI Ferrata
Tamara Strnad / Command Centurion / Commander, II Augusta
Arsen Lam / Command Centurion / Commander, CA-264
Hardie Glenraven / Command Centurion
Hollis “Gaucho” Dyson / RAN, retired / Former commander, Cayenne
The Republic
Name / Rank / Affiliation or Position
Calina Szabolcsi / President of the Republic of Aquitaine
Indira (Chastain) Keller / Jessica’s mother
Miguel Keller / Jessica’s father
Vyacheslav “Slava” Keller / Jessica’s brother
Sasha Keller / Jessica’s sister-in-law
Ruhal Keller / Jessica’s nephew
Margaret Keller / Jessica’s niece
Juan-Pablo Keller / Jessica’s nephew
Kamil Miloslav / Republic Intelligence Service
Tadej Marko Horvat / Premier, Republic Senate
Stacia Muldoon / Aide to Senator Horvat
Judit Margrét Chavarría / Palsgrave, Republic Senate
Tedrik Kasum / Senator, Republic Senate
Svetlana Lala Ognianov / Sergeant-At-Arms, Republic Senate
Seth / Bartender, The Marquette Room
Sigrún / Steward, t]The Marquette Room
Declan Burdge / Legate, Fourth Saxon, retired
Dashyl Mitja / Patrol Centurion, Fourth Saxon
Zorana Arlo / sister to Vo zu Arlo
Sonja Arlo / sister to Vo zu Arlo
Tomas Kigali / RAN, retired / Owner, Private Service Explorer Olivier Janguo
Aki Ridwana
Ali / RAN, retired / Pilot, Private Service Explorer Olivier Janguo
Devin Lehein / Gardener, Private Service Explorer Olivier Janguo
Tasha Lonagan / Engineer, Private Service Explorer Olivier Janguo
Doyle McMurtry / Engineer, Private Service Explorer Olivier Janguo
Dashyl Mitja / Primus Pilus / Fourth Saxon Legion
Garth Andresson / Assassin
Naruhito Yamagura / Assassin
Lincolnshire
Name / Rank / Affiliation or Position
Milton Hialeah / Governor / Ramsey
The Fribourg Empire
Name / Rank / Affiliation or Position
Kasimira zu Wiegand / Ritter / Karl VIII
Vo zu Arlo / General, Ritter / Imperial Consort
Anna-Katherine Kallenberger / Lady-in-Waiting / Imperial Household
Lady Moirrey zu Kermode-Wolanski / Ritter / Lady-in-Waiting, mother of Dina
Dina Kermode-Wolanski / Engineer-In-Training / Imperial Household
Freya Wachturm / Duchess / Wife of Emmerich Wachturm
Tiede Wachturm / Commander / Son of Emmerich Wachturm
Jeltje Voight / Burggraf / Daughter of Emmerich Wachturm
Carsten Voigt / Commander / Husband of Jeltje Voight
Henriette Anne Wachturm / Burggraf / Daughter of Emmerich Wachturm
Bernard Hourani / Commander / Husband of Heike Wachturm
Tobias Inmon / Director / Household Guards
Cameron Lara / Chief of Deputies / Office of the Emperor
Willem Lorenz / First Deputy/ Hall of Justice
Adolphus Gulan / First Deputy / Hall of Law
Reinhard Hjördís / Representative / House of the People
Nils Kasum / First Lord of the Fleet, retired / Strategy Instructor, St. Legier
Rosemonde Kasum / Wife of Nils
Avelina Indovina / Duke Presumptive / Lighthouse Station
Bok Battenhouse / RAN, retired / Lighthouse Station
Magan Gerig / Duke / Bergelmir
Gerhold Warner / Duke / Andhrimohr
Howalt Rosson / Duke / Trenga
Chrandy Breson / Duke / Diego de la Vega
Gerhardt Wald / Landgraf / Skuodas
Six / ??? / Imperial Intelligence
Gunter Tifft / Captain, retired / Imperial Intelligence
Karoline Provst / Wife of Tom Provst
Jacob Provst / Lieutenant / Tom’s son
Mallory Provst / Tom’s daughter
Melina Arcidiacono / Owner / Restaurant Tenochtitlan
Thurman Arcidiacono / Cook / Restaurant Tenochtitlan
Christina Arcidiacono / Daughter of Melina / Restaurant Tenochtitlan
Nicola Arcidiacono / Daughter of Melina / Restaurant Tenochtitlan
Celine Arcidiacono / Daughter of Melina / Restaurant Tenochtitlan
The Fribourg Fleet
Name / Rank / Affiliation or Position
Emmerich zu Wachturm / Grand Admiral, Ritter / Commander of the Fleet
Hendrik Baumgärtner / Admiral of the White / Chief of Staff, Grand Admiral
Ralf Frankenheimer / Admiral of the Blue / Commander, Fleet Headquarters, St. Legier
Tomas Provst / Admiral of the Red / Supreme Commander, Home Fleet, St. Legier
Denis Jež / Admiral of the Red / Imperial Fribourg Vessel (IFV) Valiant
Reif Kingston / Admiral of the White / IFV Indianapolis
Charles d’Noir / Captain / Aide to Admiral Provst
Yasuko Pitchford / Captain / Commander, IFV Valiant
Everett Zhelaniya / Commander / Flag Commander, IFV Valiant
Valerian Alexey Antonov / Captain / IFV Manchester
Roland Exeter / Captain / IFV Hans Bransch
William Dannahue / Captain / IFV Achterberg
189th Legion
Name / Rank / Affiliation or Position
Alan Katche / General / Commander, 189th Legion
Edgar Horst / Founding Color Decurion, retired
Michelle Ali al-Inverness / Armourer / Fourth Saxon Legion
Victoria Ames / Patrol Centurion / Cutlass Ten
Iakov Street / Decanus / Cutlass Ten
Hans Danville / Curator / Cutlass Ten
Colton Formain / Decanus / Draconarius, Cutlass Ten
Vladimir Amburgy / Curator / Cornicen, Cutlass Ten
Thaddeus Gunderson / Decanus / Cutlass Ten
Audie Teagle / Decanus / Cutlass One
Imperial Land Forces
Name / Rank / Affiliation or Position
Arald Rohm / Grand Marshal / Commander, Imperial Land Forces
Olaf van Gorzen / General / Imperial Land Forces (ILF)
Buran
Name / Rank / Affiliation or Position
Buran/ The Lord of Winter / God/Emperor / Ruler of Buran
Xi Arakh Goran Lan (M) / Co-Owner / Freighter, Lighthouse
Nu Ulap Narah Kiel (F) / Co-Owner / Freighter, Lighthouse
The Concord
Name / Rank / Affiliation or Position
EASC Carthage / Commander, Earth Forces / Earth Alliance super-dreadnought
The Lord of Tiki / Bartender / Last Survivor
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Blaze Ward writes science fiction in the Alexandria Station universe (Jessica Keller, The Science Officer, The Story Road, etc.) as well as several other science fiction universes, such as Star Dragon, the Collective, and more. He also writes odd bits of high fantasy with swords and orcs. In addition, he is the Editor and Publisher of Boundary Shock Quarterly Magazine. You can find out more at his website www.blazeward.com, as well as Facebook, Goodreads, and other places.
Blaze's works are available as ebooks, paper, and audio, and can be found at a variety of online vendors. His newsletter comes out regularly, and you can also follow his blog on his website. He really enjoys interacting with fans, and looks forward to any and all questions—even ones about his books!
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ALSO BY BLAZE WARD
The Jessica Keller Chronicles
Auberon
Queen of the Pirates
Last of the Immortals
Goddess of War
Flight of the Blackbird
The Red Admiral
St. Legier
Winterhome
Petron
* * *
CS-405
Queen Anne’s Revenge
Packmule
Persephone
* * *
Additional Alexandria Station Stories
Siren
Two Bottles of Wine with a War God
The Story Road
* * *
The Science Officer Series
The Science Officer
The Mind Field
The Gilded Cage
The Pleasure Dome
The Doomsday Vault
The Last Flagship
The Hammerfield Gambit
The Hammerfield Payoff
* * *
Shadow of the Dominion
Longshot Hypothesis
Hard Bargain
Outermost
Dominion-427
Phoenix
Princess Rualoh
* * *
Earth Force Sky Patrol
Birth of the Star Dragon
Flight of the Star Dragon
Call of the Star Dragon
Shadow of the Star Dragon
Trial of the Star Dragon
ABOUT KNOTTED ROAD PRESS
Knotted Road Press fiction specializes in dynamic writing set in mysterious, ex
otic locations.
Knotted Road Press non-fiction publishes autobiographies, business books, cookbooks, and how-to books with unique voices.
Knotted Road Press creates DRM-free ebooks as well as high-quality print books for readers around the world.
With authors in a variety of genres including literary, poetry, mystery, fantasy, and science fiction, Knotted Road Press has something for everyone.
Knotted Road Press
www.KnottedRoadPress.com
Petron
The Jessica Keller Chronicles: Volume 9
Blaze Ward
Copyright © 2019 Blaze Ward
All rights reserved
Published by Knotted Road Press
www.KnottedRoadPress.com
* * *
ISBN: 978-1-64470-086-0
* * *
Cover art:
ID 52047921 © Luca Oleastri | Dreamstime.com
* * *
Cover and interior design
copyright © 2019 Knotted Road Press
* * *
Never miss a release!
If you’d like to be notified of new releases, sign up for my newsletter.
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I will never spam you, or use your email for nefarious purposes. You can also unsubscribe at any time.
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http://www.blazeward.com/newsletter/
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This book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. All rights reserved. This is a work of fiction. All characters and events portrayed in this book are fictional, and any resemblance to real people or incidents is purely coincidental. This book, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any form without permission.