"Immaculate" by Alexey Alexandrov, summary Automatic translate

This book is the sixth installment in the "Time of Dead Stars" series, published in 2021. It depicts a military conflict in the vast Tartarus-2 sector, where the noble House Phobos struggles for power against corporations. Its main distinction is its detailed description of the space tactics and political intrigues of the fictional universe.

The Fall of Athan and the Shift in the Balance of Power

Events begin in the year 567 of the Loss of Terra in orbit around the planet Athan. Mark Ortiz de Phobos launches a sudden and precise strike. The capture is swift, and the enemy positions are empty. Count Alexandre de Péan is stunned by what has happened. Countess Suzanne de Rudge also realizes her vulnerability. Their joint alliance planned to weaken House Phobos through heavy fighting. Now Mark has kept his fleet intact and dictates harsh terms to his closest neighbors.

Mark returns to his advanced flagship, the Octavian Augustus. He tasks specialist Hard Latel with strengthening the massive ship’s security. The former mercenary leader is right on board. Mark distrusts high-ranking prisoners and prepares his ship for any eventuality. The flagship’s artificial intelligence helps monitor all movements within its compartments.

Soon, a fleet under the command of Grand Admiral Jinna Hayes de Phobos subdues four systems around Atan. Massive new missile stations securely protect the planet’s orbit. Mark appoints the experienced Admiral Anita Vinoth de Atan to command the captured system’s defense. Numerous captured ships bolster the defense forces of House Phobos.

Meetings on the planet Azrak

Mark travels to the planet Azrak for complex negotiations. There, he meets personally with Baron Jason Tao de Jabal. Inviting the Baron onto his flagship is too dangerous. The meeting takes place on agreed-upon neutral territory. Political intrigue escalates by the hour. Mark manipulates his long-time opponents, concealing his true intentions and military plans.

At this very moment, in orbit around planet STH-2385-4, Captain Leonard Spanos patrols the surrounding space. The crews of his warships are on constant alert. Independent systems are visibly emptying. The disparate mercenary forces are coalescing into a single, tightly knit fist. Leonard drinks real coffee, a rarity for ordinary people, and peers at the screens. The radars are silent.

On the planet Azrak itself, the Council of the House Alliance of Sector Tartarus II is convening. The enormous hall is furnished with ostentatious solemnity. Mark sees this event as nothing more than an empty parade of vanity. Politicians continually exchange false promises. Mark clearly understands the true motives of his temporary allies and prepares for the inevitable betrayal.

Collisions in the Cold Void

The Phobos fleet advances, capturing new territory. In orbit around the planet Lyta, sensitive radars detect the retreat of enemy ships toward the hyperspace jump zone — the instantaneous jump between star systems. Mark strictly orders not to pursue the fleeing enemy. He uses resources sparingly and patiently awaits the opportune moment for a devastating attack.

In the remote Ignis system, Mark bases his main strike force. The planet Ivo becomes a heavily fortified temporary base. The ship’s artificial intelligence, Augustus, quietly awakens Mark in the middle of the night. The mighty fleet has arrived at its destination ahead of schedule. Mark and Jinna spend a long time discussing plans for future military campaigns. Aella soon joins them on the surface of Ivo. She is extremely dissatisfied with the protracted, bloody war.

In orbit around the planet Sibis, Mark’s fleet makes a daring interception. Captain Ramirez confidently leads his warships straight toward the planet. The jump zone quickly fills with the twisted wreckage of destroyed ships. Mark mercilessly leaves the heavily damaged enemy ships adrift in the frigid void, denying them any chance of repair.

Corporate conspiracies and attacks

The hostile corporation Stella Pulvis is actively entering the big game. The corporation’s president, Fred Melton, known as White, is gathering his loyal supporters. Arnold Pitz and other influential corporate leaders are meticulously planning Mark’s physical elimination. They are gathering on the planet Nemos in an atmosphere of paranoid secrecy.

The corporations launch their own surprise counterattack. An armed landing shuttle descends on the planet Azrak. Laser turrets indiscriminately rain fire upon the stone city council building. House Raj fighters desperately repel the surprise attack. They use portable anti-aircraft missile systems (MANPADS) to destroy aerial targets. The massive building, made of durable stone, withstands the intense fire.

Mark learns of a daring attack. Captain Spanos reports a complete loss of control over Azrak’s orbit. A fleet of brutal mercenaries has seized control of the system. Mark maintains an icy calm. He methodically develops a new, cunning plan for revenge and stealthily moves his warships to the Nemos system.

Hunting corporate leaders

More fierce space battles are taking place in the Garat system. Mark skillfully exploits the known weaknesses of the enemy’s antimatter reactors. The magnetic traps on the enemy ships fail to withstand the intense G-forces. Deadly antimatter erupts, destroying everything in its path. The heavy combat leaders of the corporate breakthrough perish in the fire of colossal explosions.

Mark spends long hours studying a massive three-dimensional map of the star sector. In orbit around planet STG-6123-5, he’s busy with complex mathematical calculations. His squadrons silently take up the most advantageous positions. Stealthy ambush tactics are paying off. Enemy patrol ships are repeatedly caught in the deployed energy grids.

The remnants of the corporate forces are falling into deep despair. On the planet Nemos, Veljko Veres unsuccessfully tries to drown his primal fear with strong alcohol. General panic quickly infects the crews of warships. The leaders of influential corporations finally realize the hopelessness of their unenviable situation.

The final battle at the planet Rem

On the 106th day of the 568th year of the Loss of Terra, a powerful fleet of House Phobos launches a furious attack on the Gemina system. The primary objective of the attack is the orbit of the planet Remus. The light forces of the corporations barely have time to form into battle formations. A dense barrage engulfs Mark’s advance squadron. The enemy’s heavy ships hastily select new targets for their guns.

Grand Admiral Jinna urgently orders energy shields to be increased to 80 percent. The intense acceleration is wearing down the force field generators. The massive flagships Octavian Augustus and Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus are barely able to withstand the impact. Thick composite armor protects the ships from destruction. The decoy squadron is successfully fulfilling its mission. Mark’s main forces are approaching from the unprotected flank.

The giant corporate flagship, Olympus, suffers severe hull damage. The stubborn Admiral Tenji flatly refuses to surrender. Space Marine assault groups from House Phobos resolutely launch a bloody boarding operation. High-ranking corporate leaders Laun, Monty, and Brown perish ingloriously in brutal close combat.

Capitulation and redivision of the world

The surviving corporate leaders of the assault beg for mercy. Arnold Pitz and Fred Melton are the first to make direct contact. Jinna coldly accepts their requests for surrender. She guarantees their lives and eventual freedom in the distant Neutral Systems. Behind the scenes, these promises amount to complete isolation.

Mark Ortiz arrives at the negotiating table. He unhesitatingly seizes the defeated corporations’ secret technological developments. The growing House of Phobos gains unlimited access to vast material resources. Melton timidly attempts to learn the truth about the technology known as "Arborvitae." Mark haughtily ignores his questions. The absolute winner dictates his harsh rules.

The remnants of the defeated corporate fleet are completely under the control of House Phobos. Enemy soldiers surrender their weapons en masse. Mark, with an iron fist, unites the disparate star systems under his rule. The sector begins the active construction of a new space empire.

Peaceful Anniversary of Unification

Several peaceful years pass. Another anniversary of the Sector Unification approaches. Jinna flies a light shuttle low over the surface of the blue sea. A beautiful horseshoe-shaped bay appears ahead. Luxury sea yachts are moored near the long pier. The wide runway is filled with expensive gravcars and high-speed flyers. The Ivo System welcomes its many guests.

The parade ships of all the noble houses have gathered in near-Earth orbit. The renowned First Fleet is preparing a massive military parade. Major wars in the sector have completely ceased. The devastated economy is gradually recovering after years of decline. Former rivals are attempting to establish a semblance of peaceful coexistence under the rule of the victors.

Ginna gently lands her shuttle. Her little four-year-old son, Gaius Ortiz de Phobos, runs up to her. Ginna hugs the laughing boy. Soon, Aella appears on the park path. Her twin sons, Gnaeus and Corvus, have also escaped from their caregivers once again. The two sisters peacefully discuss their younger generation. Young Lydia has grown into a beautiful and ambitious woman.

Aella complains of nervous tension. She recently saw Mark near a glowing three-dimensional map of the Core Worlds. Mark was clenching his fist tightly, as if trying to grasp some new, invisible target. Jinna asks her son Guy to cover his ears tightly with his hands and sighs heavily. She understands that the Emperor’s ambitions will never allow them to live in absolute peace.