THE FLEET, BOOK ONE

Edited by David Drake and Bill Fawcett

Featuring stories by:

David Drake

Anne McCaffrey

Poul Anderson

E. Gary Gygax

Janet Morris

Steve Perry

Margaret Weis

John Brunner

Robert Sheckley

Jody Lynn Nye

Bill Fawcett

The Fleet: In the far reaches of space they are mankind’s last line of defense against hostile alien forces.

Mankind has taken one step too far in exploring the galaxy - and has run smack up against the Khalia. Vicious, weasel-like carnivores whose culture is totally different from our own. they see other sentient beings as prey - as MEAT! They take no prisoners. Ever. Just the occasional slave who will never see his home world again. It is up to the brave men and women of the Fleet to keep the home planets safe.

Meet the men and women of the Fleet, who are pledged to protect us all:

Terry English, eyewitness to a brutal Khalian raid (by Janet Morris)

Hansing, a brain ship, and B’grah, a Hruban commando, whose duty it is to outwit the Khalians on an occupied world (by Anne McCaffrey)

Geno Deledda, whose body has been modified to fit an alien world (by Poul Anderson)

Captain John Roberts, who must go to the infamous Club of the Thirty-Nine Buttons to reclaim one of the Fleet’s most decorated war heroes (by Margaret Weis)

Captain Kowacs, whose rescue mission turns up a human traitor (by David Drake)

And the others, who fight beside them to protect mankind.

This is their story.