An Unproven Concept

<p><strong><em>There are lots of ways to make history. Sometimes one purpose in life is to serve as an example of utter folly. </em></strong></p><p><br></p><p>The starliner <strong><em>Titanic</em></strong> is considered to be the epitome of her type. With a handpicked crew the opulent vessel is expected to see to her passengers' every need and whim no matter how extravagant or obscure that desire may be. Unfortunately technology's relentless march threatens to render the vessel obsolescent before her maiden voyage is even complete. Pushed by superiors concerned with providing a unique experience to the rich and famous aboard Captain Abraham Herrod must decide just how much he's willing to bend Spacefarer regulations. If he's successful the <em>Titanic</em> just may be able to prolong the Golden Age of Starliners for another generation.</p><p><br></p><p>For eight hundred years the the Confederation Fleet has served as Mankind's shield against all enemies both internal and external. Despite its numerous successes the Fleet is a bulwark increasingly warped by the schism between its Carrier and Line factions. In the year 3050 Fleet Admiral Malinverni has overseen the design and commissioning of a vessel intended to merge the best of both factions: the <strong><em>Constitution</em></strong>. Intended as a harbinger of a better future the <em>Constitution</em> is considered a flawed concept by all except her crew. If either Fleet faction has its way the <em>Constitution</em> and her captain Mackenzie Bolan will never get the chance to prove the vessel's worth.</p><p><br></p><p>Unlike the <em>Titanic</em> and <em>Constitution</em> the destroyer <strong><em>Shigure</em></strong> is far from modern. As the oldest vessel in the fleet the Late Rain is chosen for a special dangerous project. With a young crew and modifications that makes <em>Shigure </em>not what she seems Commander Leslie Hawkins presses into unknown space to examine alien structures detected by an Confederation Fleet survey vessel. Regardless of her mission's outcome the <em>Shigure</em> is about to change history.</p><p><br></p><p>With all the unremitting action mecha and carnage of the original novel <em>An Unproven Concept (Kraken Edition</em>) also includes the short story Ride of the Late Rain professional artwork and an excerpt from the <em>Usurper's War </em>novel <em>Acts of War.</em></p>