The novel “Assault” by D. Rebbitt was published for the first time in 2021. It’s the sixth book in The Globur Incursion series and follows “Sword“.
When a Globur fleet attacks the Mongolia system, the nearest Imperial task force reaches it only after the attack has already begun, and it faces an overwhelming enemy. The planet Khan is invaded by the aliens, and the survivors of the task force must retreat to avoid annihilation.
The Imperial Fleet leadership intends to adopt a defensive strategy, waiting for new starships and weapons to be delivered, allowing for greater effectiveness in the battles against the Globur. However, the Imperial Senate recommends an attack to retake the Mongolia system. In theory, the Senate has no power over military strategy, but the hostility already existing in the politicians supporting the motion would cause major problems if the recommendation weren’t heeded.
“Assault” continues the military science fiction series The Globur Incursion, picking up where “Sword” left off, following the war that broke out between humans and an alien species known as the Globur after first contact goes horribly wrong. This novel is another chapter in the tale of the years of this war, part of a series of interconnected books that require to be read in their entirety to understand the complete story.
Each novel represents a new chapter in the war and offers something new that sets it apart from the previous ones, while at the same time, D. Rebbitt builds upon the events already described. “Assault” depicts the attack aimed at liberating the Mongolia system, a type of military maneuver humanity hasn’t seen in centuries.
The battles described in this series are often brutal, and in this case, they include those fought on the surface of the planet Khan and in its orbit. The Globur have proven themselves to be aggressive and cunning enemies from the beginning, which also means they’re capable of adapting to the new strategies and weapons developed by humans. For this reason, the battles can offer some surprises that are negative for humans at any moment.
This novel also continues the subplot centered on John Forest, the protagonist of the first novel in the series. After writing his story, D. Rebbitt realized there was a much larger story to tell, beginning with the first contact with the Globur. For this reason, Forest became just one of the many characters in the series, sometimes almost marginal.
If you have read the first novel in this series, you already know John Forest and his war starship’s secrets, which he doesn’t remember. He’s portrayed as a hero at official receptions, trying to gain approval for the Imperial Fleet, especially from important people.
The public relations element promoted by the Imperial Fleet is closely linked to the problems of politicians seeking to downplay the threat of the Globur and the pacifist movement, heavily influenced by disinformation. In this novel, the plot directly connected to the war is decidedly prevalent, but the attack on the Mongolia system occurs only following a recommendation from the Imperial Senate.
“Assault” is another open-ended novel, and that’s because it’s the fifth chapter of a larger story that D. Rebbitt partially told in the first book of the series, set decades later, and which is further explored in subsequent books. I particularly recommend it to fans of space opera and military science fiction. It’s available on Amazon USA, UK, and Canada.
