Hostile Frontier - R.A. Ellison

In the aftermath of territorial wars and a fragile peace, the galaxy faces a historic turning point. Captain Alexander Bains-rising star of the United Earth System Alliance-is handed his first command: the Vimy Ridge, a battered Lancer-class destroyer that should have been retired decades ago. To him, it feels like a museum piece. To his veteran Executive Officer, Commander Ellen Weaver, it's the perfect trial by fire. Their assignment is unlike any before: the first deployment of the Galactic Armed Expeditionary Force, uniting humans and alien allies under one banner. Alongside the groundbreaking new starship, Odyssey, the Vimy must prove that old steel and new leadership can still matter in a galaxy filled with advanced fleets, bitter politics, and emerging threats. But beyond the borders of charted space lurks an enemy unlike any they've faced-wielding invisible ships, devastating weapons, and a plan to destabilize the League from within. To survive, Bains and his crew must bridge the gap between tradition and innovation, forge trust across cultures, and turn an aging warship into a legend once more. Hostile Frontier is a sweeping military science fiction epic of loyalty, sacrifice, and

courage at the edge of known space.