James D King

"HIVE: Battle off the Dog Star" picks up the action generations after the events of the first novella of the series, HIVE: First Contact. In this story:

A large Hive fleet is heading towards the Earth Empire, where the Fifth Imperial Fleet is the last bulwark against the insectoids and certain defeat. The Hot Spur, an experimental ship with untested weapons and an unproven captain, is thrown into the battle as a last resort. Now Captain Simba Latrobe must use his ship’s groundbreaking technology to attack the enemy, hoping to take them by surprise. Despite the long odds, Captain Latrobe steels his crew's resolve, ensuring them that, “As long as I have a ship with propulsion I have a weapon.” Thus the future of the Earth Empire, and humankind itself, rests in the hands of a naval officer who refuses to be defeated.