by Saxon Andrew
“Do we have anything that can take on one of those giant ships, Duncan?”
“The new Alpha stands a chance against them. But it won’t be able to take on more than one and we don’t know how many to build before we make the effort. If we attack and lose, the new colonies will be eradicated.”
“Where are you in Operation Protection, Duncan?”
“Your fleets were handled during training and we’ve been working on that since your fleets left Earth, Tal. Your ships are handled and the new colonies have also been delivered. However, Earth and the Colonies are not nearly completed yet.”
“How long before they are?”
“Tal, we have to be careful doing this and only a very small number of scientists are working on it. I suspect it will take at least another four months.”
“Duncan, in five months I’m sending our scouts out to take a look at Cyren territory. I’ll try to get an answer on what we’re up against.”
“Is that a good idea, Tal. What if they’re detected?”
“They won’t be communicating while they’re there. We’ve determined that the Cyrens have not detected our scouts when they’re powered down and this is worth the risk. We have to know how many of those giants they have in their fleets.”
“Tal, before you do that, I’m sending you five of the new scouts the colonies have started building.”
“New scouts?”
“They’re difficult to construct and we only have five completed. However, they’re more advanced than the model they’ll be replacing,” Duncan replied.
Tal’s expression was showing his tension as he said, “Send them to the Africa, Duncan.”
“Why are you rushing this, Tal?”
“Because we’re building massive numbers of war fleets and there is a tendency to want to use them, Duncan. That’s what happened to the Brotherhood and no civilization needs to have that much invested in weapons of war.”
Duncan stared at Tal and then nodded, “You’re right. It would only lead to fear among the colonies and Earth. I’ll get them moving out to the Africa.”
“Thank you, Duncan.” The monitor went dark and Tal felt his anxiety rise. But this was the only way to prevent hundreds of his ships from being destroyed. It was time to start the end-game.
• • •
Indie had his four commodores on his console and announced, “We’ve been cleared to initiate our attacks on the defended Brotherhood planets. I’m sending each of your attack fleets in to attack four Brotherhood planets that are next to each other. The two planets on the outside will probably be supported by Brotherhood fleets coming from the planets closest to them so you will need to be prepared to run if that happens. The two inner planets will be forced to stand on their own and will be our best opportunity to attack their warships.”
Mila spoke up, “Sir, getting through their Berserkers is going to pose a huge problem,”
“We’re only going to fire on the Berserkers and then back out during our initial attack. Your ships need to experience the savagery of the Berserkers and this will be the opportunity to do that. Before we can fly through their formations, we need to learn how effective the new missile will be against them.”
“That seems like a huge waste of missiles if we don’t manage to take out any warships,” Jack responded.
“Small steps, Commodore Turner. We need to make sure the killer tees software works properly and can keep them away from our ships.”
“Sir, may I make a suggestion?”
Indie turned to Tee, “Go ahead.”
“Would it be possible to just attack three planets instead of four?”
“Why would you recommend doing that?”
“Sir, if we can’t get to their warships, what about going after two of their planets?” Tee suggested.
Indie and the other three commodores looked at Tee with surprised expressions. Indie leaned forward, “Just how would you make that happen, Tee?”
“Well, we’ve learned that if we attack one of their planets, the outer ranks of warships move out to confront the attackers and the remaining warships move into formation between the attackers and the planet, right?” Indie nodded. “And any supporting warships sent from other Brotherhood planets move out to attack the ships moving against the planet; they do not move in close to the planet. If we launch our attack from the space side of the planets, then the Brotherhood warships will move around to that side of the planet to take on any attackers. I could divide my fleet and have them move in from the sun side of the planets and launch a nuclear missile barrage targeted on their ship building sites.”
“And you don’t think you’ll be detected doing that, Tee?” Nicole asked.”
“Our heavy missiles are not easily detected, Nicole. I can target them prior to arrival and launch all of them from outside the range of their scanners. Once they’re launched, my ships will move around the planet and launch a barrage at the Brotherhood warships holding formation on the other side. I’ll use our phase drive for the few seconds it operates that close to the star and launch the second barrage before the first missiles hit the planet.”
Indie sat back shaking his head, “There are so many problems with this plan, Tee.”
Such as?” Lori asked.
“Well, for starters, we’ll have to get the admiral’s permission to use nuclear weapons and he’s avoided using them on the alien planets. It would render them uninhabitable.”
“Not if they were programed to use air blasts, Sir,” Tee replied. “Besides, the aliens were going to nuke the undefended planets initially and I don’t believe they’ll have an issue if we do cause some damage. The radiation from the air blasts won’t be near as destructive as hitting the planet’s surface. The planet would survive and can be resettled in less than fifty-years.”
“You’re also assuming you can get in close enough to the planet to launch the attack without being detected,” Indie added.
“Sir, that won’t be as difficult as you think.”
“Oh? And just how would you make that happen?” Indie asked.
“It’s going to take some close timing between your attacks on the three planets and the arrival of my wings. My wings will come toward the planet from the opposite side of the star with their systems shut down rendering them undetectable. They’ll coast in as close as possible to launch the missiles. We’ll be moving in on an attack trajectory and time it to arrive when you launch your attacks. The warships on the sun side of the planets will move around the planets and join the formations confronting your attacks.”
“And what happens if you’re detected?”
“Sir, we’ll just run. We’re faster than they are and they won’t be able to catch us.”
“Tee, you can’t be at both planets to command your wings. Are you willing to risk half of your ships without your presence?” Indie asked.
“I’ll be with one of my formations and Lori will be going with the other. I trust her to make the right decisions on what to do.” Lori’s eyes narrowed and Tee smiled, “I won’t need you to get the ships into formations during this attack, Lori. You’ll go in on Captain Matthew’s ship and command the ships in the second group.” Tee turned to Indie, “Sir, this is a good place for me to use the reserve wing if it’s available.” Indie was struggling with approving the mission and Tee added, “Sir, there is a benefit to allowing me to make this effort.”
“What is that, Commodore?”
“If I manage to pull it off, the Brotherhood will not be sending the warships on the opposite side of the planets to defend them in the future. They and all their small ships will remain in place reducing the numbers we’ll have to face in future attacks.”
Indie stared at Tee on his monitor and said, “I’ll get back to you.” Indie touched his console and Tal appeared on a monitor, “Sir, I need to discuss an attack plan with you.”
Tal smiled, “What’s on your mind, Indie. Indie told him and Tal asked, “What do you think about this?”
“Sir, I want to do it.”
“I’ll approve the nuclear missiles being used. Let me know how this turns out.”
“Thank you, Sir.”
Tal’s monitor went dark and he turned to Ka, “It appears our assassin is quite creative.”
“Oh?”
“Let me tell you what he’s planning.” Ka listened and smiled.
• • •
Lori looked at Tee and said, “Sir, I don’t think it’s a good idea for us to be separated.”
“Lori, I’m sending three of my wings to attack the second planet and I’ll be taking the support wing with me. Your wings won’t be setting up ambushes and they need someone in command that won’t make a mistake.” “You should divide the support wing between the two groups, Tee.”
“Lori, think about it. They’ve been working together as a unit and dividing them up throws away all the training they’ve gone through. Their wing commander will keep them in line and they’ll be easier to direct in the coming attack.” Tee smiled, “Besides, you need to get some experience commanding an attack unit. You said so yourself.”
“But I didn’t expect to do it during our first attack!”
“Lori, this will not be the only time you and I aren’t on the same ship.” Lori’s eyebrows came together. “When we start using our fleet to ambush the Brotherhood ships, you’ll need to be with the ships laying in wait. You will be using Lena’s ship as your command ship and you need to learn how to work with her in making our plans work properly.”
“Tee, I don’t want to be on another ship!”
“Why?”
“You and I work better as a team!”
“Lori, we can do that on two different ships. We won’t be separated most of the time after our wings learn how to use our attack plans, but I need you working with them until that happens.”
Lori stared at Tee and said, “Are you doing this to reduce the risk of me being killed?” Tee flinched and Lori quickly said, “If we go, we go together, Tee.” Tee was silent and Lori added, “If you can’t accept that, then I need to ask Admiral Talent for another position.”
“Why, Lori.”
“Because I chose to be with you, not out commanding another unit. You accepted me under those conditions and I’m not willing to have you arbitrarily change them.”
Tee stared at her and his eyes softened, “So you weren’t telling me the truth.”
“ABOUT WHAT?!”
“You told me in Orlando that you weren’t coming on to me.”
Lori glared at him and said as she turned to leave for Lena’s ship, “Deal with it, Tee! I will not accept you making this change!”
Tee watched her walk away and knew she was right. He didn’t want them serving on the same ship; it would make his former plans worthless. But he also didn’t want to lose her; he depended on her too much. Three hours later, he turned and headed back to the Australia. All of the nuclear missiles had been preprogrammed and were now loaded into his wings’ warships. He forced the situation out of his mind and focused on the coming mission.
• • •
Indie waited in open space for the three-attack fleets to move into position. Katie looked up from her console, “Sir, I’ve received word from Tee that his ships are moving into position and will be on time.” Indie smiled and nodded. He glanced at the chronometer in the corner of his main monitor and saw that the attacks would begin in a little over three hours. He hoped this worked out. He prayed the new small missiles would operate as advertised. He began to understand the pressures that Tal had gone through commanding his ships in the LMC and Andromeda. He probably wouldn’t have to wait until he was thirty to look old, he felt he was aging by the minute. He felt out of his league and was honestly thankful that Tee had come up with this plan. He found it surprising that the commander who never served on a warship had the best mind for tactics. And the tactics weren’t part of their training. He looked at Katy and saw she was worried about him. She saw his stress and he was so thankful she had decided to turn down a fleet to remain on his ship. He activated his subvocal module, smiled, and said softly, “I’m all right, Katy. It helps having you here with me.”
Katy turned around to her console and said, “I love you, Indie. Everything is going to be ok.”
“It’s this waiting that’s got me in knots.”
Katy signed, “I heard Tal say the same thing numerous times, Indie. Let’s talk about what we’re going to do after this war is over.”
“If we survive it,” Indie replied.
“Always assume we will, love. That way we won’t have to make plans on the fly. Where do you want to live?”
“Somewhere on the colonies.”
“Why there?”
“Because I don’t want to outlive you, Katy.”
“What bout on the new colonies, Indie.”
“Why would you choose one of them?”
“Because I understand the colonists there have given up all the genetic modifications to look normal,” Katy replied. “I think they have a new understanding of what it means to be human.”
“It will have to be near an ocean.”
Katy laughed, “I agree. How many children do we want to have?”
“I’m leaving that entirely up to you, Katy. You’re the one that will have to do the heavy work having children.”
Katy was silent a moment and then replied, “You’re right. I think we should have no more than ten or so.” Indie burst out laughing and Katy knew he was back to the present and thinking clearly.
Forty-five minutes later, Indie touched his console, “Captain Gowie. Do you have two scouts near the planets I’ll be attacking.”
“Yes Sir, Admiral.”
“I want you to have a scout go in with the two-attack-fleets moving on the outer planets my units are attacking. Have them send me a recording of what’s happening at those planets.”
“It’s funny you’re asking for that, Sir.”
“Why is that?”
“Admiral Talent ordered me to send scouts to record those planets yesterday. I’ll send a recording to you along with the Admiral.” Indie shook his head; Tal was ahead of him. But…at least he had thought about it. He knew he was commanding his fleets because Tal trusted his intelligence. It was time he stopped worrying and really focused on what was happening. He smiled and looked forward to watching his attack fleets perform.
• • •
The Order Giver was with his fleet moving back to his port. A human suddenly appeared on his monitor and he immediately recognized that it was not the human he had spoken with earlier. He activated his communicator and asked, “Who are you?”
“I’m the Commander of our fleets in your galaxy. Do you have a moment?”
“What do you want to say?”
Tal saw the alien’s expression and could see he didn’t like speaking with him. “I want to let you know that we’re launching attacks on the…I believe you call them Invaders, defended planets momentarily.”
“I wish you good luck,” the OG responded. “Why are you telling me this?”
“Because there is a good possibility that we will be using nuclear weapons on two of them,” Tal answered.
“And you’re worried that we will not like you doing it?”
Tal nodded, “I am. However, we don’t have much choice.”
The OG glared at Tal and said, “We’ve not had access to those planets for hundreds of years. We can wait to take them back.”
“We’re using nuclear air blasts so the resulting radiation should disappear in a much shorter time, Order Giver.”
The OG paused and asked, “How do you expect us to trust you?”
Tal raised his hands, “Honestly, I don’t. I believe that if you knew where the planets we’ve settled in this galaxy were located, you would attack them.” The OG flinched slightly and Tal continued, “I don’t blame you for that.”
“If that’s the case, why are you attacking them? You coul
d stand by and wait for the Invaders to reduce our numbers where we would not be a threat to you.”
“Two reasons, Order Giver. The first one is that if something isn’t done to reduce the number of Invader warships, none of us will survive. The second reason is that they are here because we didn’t remove them a millennium ago when we should have. This is our fault and it’s up to us to remove them.”
“Are you planning to attack us if you manage to win this conflict?”
Tal stared at the OG and his expression changed, “No, we will not attack other civilizations. However, we will defend the uninhabited planets we’ve settled.”
“And you won’t be sending warships out to our civilizations?”
“We won’t be sending any ships, warships or commercial vessels, out to your civilization without an invitation. Your civilizations have dealt with the Invaders for centuries and we intend to stop that.”
The OG paused and commented, “You were right about the Invaders not coming to defend those planets.”
“I’m also right about us not representing a threat to you, Order Giver. But the only way to prove that is for time to show you I’m being honest.”
The other one of your species I’ve spoken with said that you would go with us and get us close to our home world to remove the Invaders. Was he being honest?”
“If you go there, you will be forced to render the planet uninhabitable with nuclear weapons, do you want to do that?” Tal asked.
“Their presence is sacrilege. I’d rather it be testimony that we never gave up on revenging our ancestors. We can live with that.”
“If I can remove them without your endangering your ships, would you want me to do it?”
The OG stared at Tal and lowered his eyes, “NO! Fate demands we do it.”
“Then when you’re ready, we’ll get your ships in close enough to remove them,” Tal replied.
“You do know that it is the most defended planet of the Invaders.”
“I do. But I’m willing to assist you in making it happen. I think you would do the same if we were in your position.”
“I’m not so sure about that,” the OG replied.
“Perhaps by the time this conflict ends, you will be,” Tal replied.