Straits of Hell: Destroyermen - Softcover

Über die Autorin bzw. den Autor

Taylor Anderson is the New York Times bestselling author of the Destroyermen
series, including Straits of Hell, Deadly Shores, and Storm Surge. A gunmaker and forensic ballistic archaeologist, Taylor has been a technical and dialogue consultant for movies and documentaries, and an award-winning member of the National Historical Honor Society and of the United States Field Artillery Association. He has a master’s degree in history and has taught that subject at Tarleton State University in Stephenville, Texas. He lives in nearby Granbury with his family.

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THE DESTROYERMEN SERIES

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

CAST OF CHARACTERS

(The following does not necessarily reflect initial or even final deployments, but only those most pertinent to the events described.)

See index for details of ships and equipment specifications.

Note:

(L)—Lemurians, or Mi-Anakka (People) are bipedal, somewhat felinoid folk with large eyes, fur, and expressive but nonprehensile tails. They are highly intelligent, social, and dexterous. It has been proposed that they are descended from the giant lemurs of Madagascar.

(G)—Grik, or Ghaarrichk’k, are bipedal reptilians reminiscent of various Mesozoic dromaeosaurids. Covered with fine downy fur, males develop bristly crests and tail plumage, and retain formidable teeth and claws. Grik society consists of two distinct classes, the ruling or industrious Hij, and the worker-warrior Uul. The basic Grik-like form is ubiquitous, and serves as a foundation for numerous unassociated races and species.

At “Grik City” Madagascar

USS Walker (DD-163)

Lt. Cmdr. Matthew Patrick Reddy, USNR—Commanding. CINCAF—(Commander in Chief of All Allied Forces).

Cmdr. Brad “Spanky” McFarlane—Exec. Minister of Naval Engineering.

Cmdr. Bernard Sandison—Torpedo Officer and Minister of Experimental Ordnance.

Lt. Tab-At, “Tabby” (L)—Engineering Officer.

Lt. Sonny Campeti—Gunnery Officer.

Lt. Ed Palmer—Signals.

Surgeon Lieutenant Pam Cross

Cmdr. Simon Herring—Office of Strategic Intelligence (OSI).

Ensign Laar-Baa-Ra (L)—PB-1B “Nancy” pilot.

Chief Quartermaster Patrick “Paddy” Rosen—Acting First Officer.

Chief Boatswain’s Mate Jeek (L)—Former Crew Chief, “Special Air Division.”

Chief Engineer Isak Reuben—One of the “original” Mice.

Gunner’s Mate Pak-Ras-Ar, “Pack Rat” (L)

Earl Lanier—Cook.

Johnny Parks—Machinist’s Mate.

Juan Marcos—Officer’s Steward.

Wallace Fairchild—Sonarman—Anti–Mountain Fish Countermeasures—(AMF-DIC).

Min-Sakir, “Minnie”(L)—Bridge Talker.

Leftenant Doocy Meek—British sailor and former POW (WWI). Now liaison for the Republic of Real People.

Corporal Neely—Imperial Marine Bugler.

Salissa Battle Group

USNRS Salissa “Big Sal” (CV-1)

Admiral Keje-Fris-Ar (L)

Atlaan-Fas (L)—Commanding.

Lt. Sandy Newman—Exec.

1st Naval Air Wing

Captain Jis-Tikkar, “Tikker” (L)—“COFO” (Commander of Flight Operations); 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Bomb Squadron, and 1st and 2nd Pursuit Squadrons aboard Salissa (CV-1).

Lt. Araa-Faan (L)—Tikker’s Aryaalan Exec.

Frigates (DDs) attached: (Des-Ron 6)

USS Haakar-Faask**

Lt. Cmdr. Niaal-Ras-Kavaat (L)—Commanding.

USS Tassat**

Captain Jarrik-Fas (L)—Commanding.

Lt. Stanly Raj—“Impie” Exec.

USS Scott***

Cmdr. Muraak-Saanga (L)—Commanding. (Former Donaghey Exec and sailing master).

USS Nakja-Mur*

Lt. Naala-Araan [Cmdr. Cablaas-Rag-Laan (L) has been reassigned].

MTB-Ron-1 (Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron #1)—5xMTBs (#s 4, 7, 13, 15, 16).

Aef-M (Allied Expeditionary Force—Madagascar).

II Corps

General Queen Safir Maraan (L)—Commanding.

3rd Division

General Mersaak (L)—Commanding. “The 600” (B’mbaado Regiment composed of Silver and Black battalions), Exec 3rd Baalkpan, 3rd, 10th B’mbaado, 5th Sular, 1st Battalion, 2nd Marines, 1st Sular.

6th Division

General Grisa—Commanding.

5th, 6th B’mbaado, 1st, 2nd, 9th Aryaal, 3rd Sular

1st Allied Raider Brigade (“Chack’s Raiders,” or “Chack’s Brigade”)

Lt. Col Chack-Sab-At (L)—Commanding—bosun’s mate (Marine Lt. Colonel).

21st (combined) Allied Regiment

Major Alistair Jindal—Commanding—Imperial Marine, and Chack’s nominal Exec.

1st and 2nd battalions of the 9th Maa-Ni-Laa, 2nd Battalion of the 1st Respite

7th (combined) Allied Regiment

Captain Risa Sab-At (L)—Commanding—(Chack’s sister).

2nd and 3rd battalions of the 19th Baalkpan, 1st Battalion of the 11th Imperial Marines

1st Cavalry Brigade

Lt. Colonel Saachic (L)—Commanding.

3rd and 6th Maa-ni-laa Cavalry

SMS Amerika

Kapitan Adler Von Melhausen—Commanding.

Kapitan Leutnant Becker Lange—Von Melhausen’s Exec.

Adar (L)—Chairman of the Grand Alliance (COTGA), and High Chief and Sky Priest of Baalkpan.

Surgeon Commander Sandra Tucker Reddy—Minister of Medicine, and wife of Captain Reddy.

Diania—Steward’s Assistant and Sandra’s friend and bodyguard.

Gunnery Sergeant Arnold Horn—USMC—formerly of the 4th Marines (US).

Lieutenant Toryu Miyata—formerly of Amagi.

MISSION TO MEET “ANCESTRAL” LEMURIANS:

Ensign Nathaniel Hardee—Commanding PT-7.

Courtney Bradford—Australian naturalist and engineer. Minister of Science for the Grand Alliance and Plenipotentiary at Large.

Chief Gunner’s Mate Dennis Silva

Lawrence “Larry the Lizard”—orange and brown tiger-striped Grik-like ex-Tagranesi (Sa’aaran).

Corporal Ian Miles—Formerly in 2nd of the 4th Marines.

The “Republic of Real People”

Caesar (Kaiser) Nig-Taak

General Marcus Kim—Military High Command.

TFG-2 (Task Force Garrett-2)
(Long-Range Reconnaissance and Exploration)

USS Donaghey (DD-2)

Cmdr. Greg Garrett—Commanding.

Lt. Saama-Kera, “Sammy” (L)—Exec.

Lt. (jg) Wendel “Smitty” Smith—Gunnery Officer.

Captain Bekiaa-Sab-At—Commanding Marines.

Chief Bosun’s Mate Jenaar-Laan

Inquisitor Kon-Choon—Director of Spies for the Republic of Real People.

In Indiaa

Allied Expeditionary Force (North)

General of the Army and Marines Pete Alden—Commanding. Former sergeant in USS Houston Marine contingent.

I Corps

General Lord Muln-Rolak (L)—Commanding.

Hij Geerki—Rolak’s “pet” Grik, captured at Rangoon.

1st (Galla) Division

General Taa-leen (L)—Commanding.

Colonel Enaak (L) (5th Maa-ni-laa Cavalry)—Exec.

1st Marines, 5th, 6th, 7th, 10th Baalkpan

2nd Division

General Rin-Taaka-Ar (L)—Commanding.

Major Simon “Simy” Gutfeld (3rd Marines)—Exec.

1st, 2nd Maa-Ni-Laa, 4th, 6th, 7th Aryaal

III Corps

General Faan-Ma-Mar (L)—Commanding.

9th & 11th Divisions composed of the 2nd, 3rd Maa-ni-laa, 8th Baalkpan, 7th & 8th Maa-ni-la, 10th Aryaal

VI Corps

General Linnaa-Fas-Ra—Commanding.

The “Czech...