True Allegiance
Halberd Book 3
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The end of the war should bring peace, right?
In the midst of what should be a time of celebration, Halberd is called to duty to respond to a surprise threat. His task force of three Royal Navy ships that employ advanced technology is needed to counter an attack in a non-aligned system. Taking advantage of Halberd’s absence and a Royal Navy weakened by war, the other inter-stellar superpower, the Chinese Republics, invades the Commonwealth.
Provided by a traitor with the technology that provided the Royal Navy with the edge it needed to win the war with the Rodinan Federation, the Republican navy obliterates a good chunk of the fleet, and nearly wins the war in the first battle. Outnumbered, the Commonwealth’s survival is in doubt. The Royal Navy is forced to bring warships out of mothballs in order to mount a defense.
Hope do you keep your hopes alive in the face of such losses?
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True Allegiance is the third book in the Halberd Series by John J. Spearman. Previously, Halberd and the Commonwealth faced the threat of the Rodinan Federation as they made attempts to take over. This time, the story opens with Jonah still recuperating, lying in a stasis pod in a medically-induced coma while his body slowly heals. As negotiations between the Rodinan government and the Commonwealth on ending their seven-year war begin, the latter faces a new threat – the Chinese have been demonstrating a return to dominance in overall economic strength. They have been lagging behind the Commonwealth and the Rodinans since the colonization of interplanetary space. They have been a highly interested bystander during the seven-year war between the Commonwealth and the Rodinans, and both have been weakened enough for China to see an opportunity.
Overall, True Allegiance is a smart piece of work. Although the novel is not heavy on action, it manages to pull off its illustration of what takes place during the crucial moments when heads come together in formulating solutions, and decision-making is what helps drive the story. Is it predictable? This is another strong part of John J. Spearman’s story, as it doesn’t pressure itself to pull its punches in the end. It does have its stirring moments, and it is thought-provoking in the sense that the political scenarios presented are something that you may or may not disagree with. If you are looking for a more laid-back science fiction adventure that is replete with political commentaries and the distant direction of global affairs, then this book is for you.