by Saxon Andrew
“How long have you been training on the command simulations, Tee?”
“More than seven-months, Sir. I understand why I’ve been failing at them now.”
“Have you failed all of them?” Tal inquired.
“No, I’ve completed about sixty-percent of them successfully, but I now understand why I failed to complete the others. This is a new way of seeing things I’ve missed.”
Tal stared at Tee, smiled, and stuck out his hand, “Welcome to Earth, Tee.”
Tee took his hand and shook it, “Does this mean you’re giving me a chance?”
“It does. I’ll caution you now that you’ll be a stranger to the others going through training and you’re going to need a thick skin to put up with their observations and comments.”
“I’ve never had a word draw blood, Sir.”
Tal laughed and scheduled the young assassin’s training sessions.
• • •
Tal stared at Tee’s name on the chart and knew he was taking a risk. But…there was something about him that forced him to do it. He thought about discussing it with Ka but suspected she would not go along with his decision. She was starting her training early and he’d just have to try and explain later. Tal thought about it and decided that Tee needed a second-in-command to assist him. He had just the right person to do it.
• • •
The High Cleric looked at his Senior Officers and was somewhere between anger and fear. They just covered him on the giant warships scouting their planets and the sheer size of the enemy warships was mind numbing. “What are you going to do about this?” he asked them.
“We cannot allow them to live, High Cleric; the Creator’s Holy Mission demands they be eliminated,” the Supreme Fleet Commander replied.
“Are we capable of doing that?”
“We’ll only find that out by attacking them, High Cleric.”
“Tell me how you intend to do that!” the High Cleric asked in a firm tone.
“They don’t believe we can detect them, High Cleric. We’ve made certain that nothing was said about them over our communications when we scouted them, and they have not moved their ships. They’ve also remained in place whenever any of our warships passed them.”
“How many of those ships have you found?”
“Seven, High Cleric. They’re holding position out from seven of our conquered planets. We intend to attack all seven simultaneously.”
“Go on,” the High Cleric pressed.
“We’re going to launch fifty warships from those seven planets and pass the giant warships. We’re going to be discussing going out to search for alien fleets planning to attack our planets and move far beyond them.”
“Why not just attack them?”
“High Cleric, we need to make sure they’re still there. Once that’s determined, our seven fleets will turn after a few days and return but this time our course will be closer to them than when we passed them moving out. At a set time, our fifty warships will launch their Berserkers at the seven giant warships. The warships will then go to maximum speed and move away from them.”
“Why would you do that, Fleet Commander?”
“We’re arming the Berserkers with nuclear warheads, High Cleric. Our scientists have suggested that the weak point on their hulls is located at the edge of the colored bands rotating around them. The Berserkers will target those points and move in at maximum speed. If our distance is right, they’ll be on those ships in less than five seconds. I’m hoping they don’t have time to respond.”
“You know this will only work one time, Fleet Commander,” the High Cleric replied.
“Then we shouldn’t wait to do it, High Cleric. We need to hit them when they least expect it.”
The High Cleric stared at the Senior Officers and ordered, “Carry out your plan. Inform me immediately on the outcome!”
“Yes, High Cleric.”
• • •
The seven Brotherhood fleets left the planets they were defending and moved away at maximum speed. They moved in on the seven Cyren warships and the Fleet Commander of each fleet was issuing orders on how to attack any alien fleets they uncovered. The Cyren warships remained in place and kept the Brotherhood fleets on their scanners until they disappeared.
A Controller on one of the Cyren warship’s sneered, “No attack has been planned; they’re wasting energy.” His Second agreed and turned his attention on the scanners watching the planet. Three days later, the scanner operator announced, “The Invader fleet is returning. It’s on a closer course to our position than when it left.”
The Controller looked behind him, “Are we in danger of them hitting us?”
“No, Controller.”
“Maintain our position.”
• • •
The Brotherhood Fleet Commander stared at the chronometer on the wall monitor and turned and frowned at his pilot. The other warships were holding formation with the Commander’s ship and they were slightly ahead of schedule. The pilot slowed slightly, and the Commander nodded. All fifty Brotherhood warships had half of their Berserkers magnetically attached to the top of the ship. The fleet was moving over the top of the giant Cyren vessel and the ships hulls blocked the Cyren scanners from seeing the Berserkers on their hulls. The countdown moved inexorably and then hit zero. The Commander ordered, “LAUNCH!”
The fifty warships dove toward the Cyren Ship cutting the time for the Berserkers to arrive. Each warship launched two-hundred Berserkers and then went to maximum speed. Fifteen Brotherhood warships were hit by massive blaster beams, but the Berserkers were traveling at their incredible speed and were on the giant in three-seconds.
• • •
“CONTROLLER! WE’RE UNDER ATTACK!!”
The Controller came out of his containment pod and felt the first explosion rock his ship. “GET A MESSAGE OUT, NOW!!”
• • •
Drum watched the attack on his scout’s scanner from above the Cyren and saw what looked like a long string of bright lights going off between two of the rotating colors. Then the bright lights turned into brilliant explosions and the giant Cyren Warship was rocked violently. Sound doesn’t travel through space, there’s no atmosphere to carry it. But the vibration from the nuclear explosions shook Drum’s scout. He started moving the scout away from the Cyren and saw a huge explosion erupt out of the stricken ship’s hull. He went to full phase speed just before the giant vessel went up in an explosion that rivaled the light from a star going nova. He sped away from the shockwave that was rolling out and heard his scouts start reporting in. Four of the seven Cyren warships went up in violent explosions and the other three were dead and listing in space. The Brotherhood scouts came rushing in to scan them and the three damaged ships all went up in huge explosions. Drum knew that someone on board them had activated a self-destruct circuit. He touched his console and heard a scout holding position close to one of the four Cyren Warships receiving the data from the seven ships scouting the Brotherhood, say, “The Cyren Ship has activated its thrusters and is moving at high-speed toward their domain.” The three other Cyren Warships also went to maximum speed and headed back in the same direction. He contacted the scout stationed just outside the Cyren Domain, “There are four vessels headed your way. Be careful and report in after they pass.”
“Captain, I’ve already had six blow past my position. It appears every Cyren warship has been recalled.”
Drum set up a line of scouts outside the Cyren Domain. He smiled and realized his recording had borne fruit. One thing about the Brotherhood you could count on; they didn’t waste time going after an enemy. A week later, no Cyren vessels had left their domain.
• • •
Drum sent his data to the Africa and it was forwarded to Earth by a long line of satellite relay receivers spread out between Earth and the Andromeda Galaxy. Duncan immediately recalled the fourteen Sha’s from Andromeda. Humanity had some breathing space for the first time in more than a year.
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• • •
The Controller was uncomfortable in his container but knew there were others present in a worse position than him. The six Leaders in front of the assembly were discussing recent events among themselves and they weren’t interested in excuses; they were looking for body fluids. Every Controller in the fleet was present at the gathering; the Leaders wanted their message clearly understood.
Perhaps he would be used as an example…but he doubted it. He was fortunate enough to have sent a message to Military Control criticizing the strategy being used prior to the destruction of the seven ships.
One of the Leaders turned directly to him and he instantly felt fear, “Why did you suggest we move our scouts out of Invader space?”
“There was no good reason to be there, Great Leader.”
“Explain!”
“By leaving our scouts in the same position over an extended time only increased the chance they would be detected,” he replied. “All it would take is an energy surge in the protection fields or one of the Invader scanners playing around with his controls for them to be detected. Our stealth systems are not infallible, especially when dealing with other advanced civilizations. Further, what purpose does it serve to scout the Invaders. We’re not going to attack them; we’re allowing the civilizations that were attacked by the Invaders to do that. By sending our vessels into their space we only run the risk of being detected and giving the Invaders a line back to our domain.”
Another Leader sneered, “Are you suggesting we stay away completely and not be aware of what’s happening.”
The Controller knew that his answer is what could get him executed but if he backed down from his position, he doubted he’d survive. “Great Leader, you and the other Great Leaders have estimated that it will take close to a hundred years for the other civilizations to defeat the Invaders. I definitely believe that it will at least take that long. What purpose does it serve to go there now? We only run the risk of being detected and possibly having the Invaders focus on attacking the Domain. I believe we should leave it up to the other civilizations to attack them and wait to enter the conflict when the Invader’s number of warships have been reduced to the point where they’ll be easily handled.”
“And what about those new warships that have entered the conflict?” a third Leader inquired?”
“There’s no reason to remove them, Great Leader; they are attacking the Invaders with the other civilizations. You’ve seen the recordings of their ships and they represent no danger to the Domain. We can remove them at our leisure.”
The six Leaders spoke among themselves and after a few minutes, one of them turned back to the Controller, “Do you believe they have a line on the Domain’s location?”
“No, I do not, Great Leader. They only found seven of our ships and they were already in position when that happened. All the other ships involved in scouting them immediately left and the Invaders don’t have a clue on where to search for us. They’ll look for us from this point forward but failing to find another one of our vessels, they will eventually stop looking.”
The six Leaders began discussing the Controllers comments and after a very long time, they turned to the assembly, “Controller, your judgment is sound. You will take command of our fleets and insure the Domain is not detected.” The Controller leaned forward in his container showing his understanding of his mission. The Leader then turned to the guards surrounding the room and announced loudly, “THE OTHER THREE CONTROLLERS WILL GO WITH THE GUARDS!!”
The other three controllers that escaped from Invader space collapsed into their containers. Two guards rushed up to each of them and dragged them out of the assembly. Everyone in attendance heard the blasters from outside the building and the six Leaders snarled at the other controllers before walking out.
Chapter Five
Senior Captain Lori Barber shook her head, “Jee, I don’t understand my assignment. Why was I chosen to be the one to do it? This assassin has no experience to justify his position?”
“Lori, this decision was made by Fleet Admiral Talent and he didn’t share his reasons with me. However, if I had to guess, I’d say he wants someone with him until he acquires enough experience. You are a SafetyNet to make sure he doesn’t make huge mistakes.”
“But if that’s the case, why wouldn’t I be in his position and he assigned as my Second-in-Command?”
Jee agreed with Lori but Tal wasn’t budging on his decision. “Lori, I tried to argue your point with the Admiral and I looked at this new officer’s training records. He’s been working on the command simulations for more than seven months and he’s completed sixty-percent of them successfully the first time. Since he met with the Admiral, his success rate has gone up to ninety-five percent. You’ve not been through one command simulation and I believe the Admiral is grooming you to take the next fleet that comes available. He has the advantage of being ahead of you in training, Lori.”
“Has he ever served in a warship?”
Jee shook his head, “No, he hasn’t. But this decision is made and you’re going to have to make the best of it. I expect you to assist Commodore Brisbane to the best of your ability!” Lori’s expression was hostile and Jee lowered his chin, “The sailors under his command deserve your best effort and if you can’t do it, tell me now!!”
Lori sighed, “Yes, Sir. I’ll do my best.”
“See that you do, Captain! You’re dismissed!” Lori did an about face and left his office. Jee hated he was forced to take a harsh tone with Lori; she deserved a command. But Tal was mesmerized by this assassin for some reason and he wasn’t going to question his judgment; he was seldom wrong. But could he be wrong this time?
• • •
Lori was angry; this wasn’t fair! She had a high enough rating to at least be one of the new Wing Commanders. Now she was relegated to being little more than an order taker from an inexperienced, untried Commodore. She entered the Command Training room and saw a man sitting at a console. She didn’t recognize him and decided that this was the officer she was going to have to babysit. She forced her anger off her face and walked up to his chair. The man said, “I’m sorry, give me a few minutes.”
Lori stood at attention and waited but he was focused on his monitor. She glanced at the monitor and saw twenty Ste Warship attacking a major Brotherhood fleet. Brotherhood derelicts were on the monitor, but a giant cloud of their small ships was bearing down on the twenty Ste’s. The twenty warships reversed course and a running battle broke out with the Ste’s firing their rear missile launchers and pulse cannons at the pursuing Berserkers. “You can outrun them,” Lori said under her breath.
The man nodded, “I know.” Lori was surprised he heard her, but the twenty warships remained in formation fleeing just ahead of the thousands of small ships. Lori shook her head, this was stupid, they should have scattered and escaped at high speed.
Lori watched the monitor from beside his chair and suddenly saw warships powering up out to the side of the course the twenty ships were taking. Thirty warships opened fire at the passing berserkers and the explosions in their ranks filled the monitor with brilliant blasts. The berserkers attempted to change course and attack the ships flanking them but the twenty warships they were pursuing had come about and were flashing by above them as they delivered a massive barrage of missiles and pulse cannons. The thirty ambushers continued a barrage at the survivors and a moment later, the monitor announced, SIMULATION COMPLETED SUCCESSFULLY.
The man turned to Lori and smiled, “I apologize for my being rude, but I wanted to complete this simulation; it’s been giving me fits.”
Lori went back to attention, “Senior Captain Barber reporting, Sir.”
“At ease, Captain. While we’re in training, dispense with all the protocols. I’m Commodore Brisbane but you can call me Tee while we’re in training.” Lori nodded and Tee’s eyes widened slightly and the corner of his mouth went up, “You’re not happy with your assignment, are you?”
“Permission to speak honestly, Sir.”
Tee nodded, “By all means do so.”
“I should have been given a command of my own, Sir. Instead, I’m sent here to babysit an inexperienced commander.”
Tee said, “Ouch! I told Admiral Talent that assigning you to be my Second wasn’t the right thing to do. I insisted that you deserved a command ahead of many others that received one and he wasn’t being fair.”
Lori’s glare turned to surprise, as she asked, “Then why did he do it!”
Tee shrugged, “He says that making you a wing commander is a waste of talent; he wants you ready to replace any fleet commander that isn’t cutting it, Captain. I’m the only Commodore that’s had command training and he wants you to observe my tactics; he also feels your experience will keep me out of trouble while I’m perfecting them. The other seven Commodores have not commanded more than one ship and they have a long learning curve on how to use the ships under their command; some of them may not cut it.”
“They why did he choose them?” Lori asked in an angry tone.
“Because they were ranked ahead of you. Now you may want to challenge why I’m here instead of you and I wish I could give you an answer that would satisfy you, but unfortunately, I don’t have an answer for that. You’re going to have to determine for yourself if he made a good decision.”
Lori glanced at the monitor and saw the simulation complete on it. She knew that if she were commanding those ships, she would have ordered them to scatter and flee. This man didn’t and it became clear to her that he was ahead of her in understanding how to use multiple units. Lori took a breath and exhaled it before saying, “Call me Lori.”
Tee smiled, “I must tell you that though I believe you’ve been treated unfairly, I’m really thankful you’re going to be around to, as you say, babysit me.”
“I’ve not commanded a warship, either, Tee. I’ve been Admiral Steven’s scanning officer and I suspect the only thing I’ll be able to assist you in is finding the enemy’s locations.”
“Developing a strategy depends on knowing that; however, I’m going to be focused on how to use our five wings working together. I’ll tell you what I see and I’m depending on you to deliver the orders to get them in position,” Tee replied.