CINC opened the discussion. "What do we think, folks, about this idea that the enemy is an ancient Terran species?"
"Let me say, sir, if I may, what my Intel folks said," Dan Smith started, contradicting his own initial thoughts about keeping quiet. "The fact that the enemy is originally Terran is interesting, but it gives us no useful tactical advantage."
Nippon's Captain Kawaguchi turned to him. "So, Lieutenant Commander Smith, you discount that finding?"
Did Kawaguchi really just emphasize the Lieutenant part, or was that just Dan's imagination?
"No, Captain, I just don't see how it helps us defeat them." There were nods around the table, so he continued. "Now, sir, on the other hand, knowledge of their drive system, which we brought back photographs of, could well give us an advantage."
"Forstmann has reported on that. He believes the enemy is capable of only about point-eight-five light years per day."
Barker looked surprised. "That's gives us a significant advantage, sir."
"Yes, it does." CINC looked around the table, changing the subject. "So, let's move on to the Seekers."
"Well, sir, that question has been answered by the enemy. Intrepid will be there soon," Operations Chief Patricia Cook stated. "Whatever happens with Henderson's mission, we should keep a ship there as a sentry until we have determined that they are safe."
"Yes, there's really very little choice, now. We're going to guard Big Blue." CINC's tone closed off any argument. He turned to Cook. "Get a rotation going, using the frigates as much as possible. Fill in with whatever else you need. I think six weeks on station would work, which makes for about a ninety-day trip overall."
"Yes, sir."
CINC picked up his tablet, slipped his glasses back on, and continued the discussion. "Based on more recent SLIP locations, FleetIntel's working theory is that the enemy homeworld is at Alpha Mensae. That's about thirty-three light years to the south. They also have this depot or supply facility, Enemy Station, at twenty-five light years."
He set down his tablet and laid his glasses on top of it.
"I want a recon of Alpha Mensae to see if it really is the enemy's home, or, at least, their main base."
"A recon?" Terri asked.
"Yes, much as Commander Rhodes did with Chaffee, a fly-by just to see what's there. Admiral Harris?"
"Yes, sir. Over the last few months, Rich Evans' primary task has been the conversion of a frigate hull under construction into a surveillance ship. This one started out as a Memorial Class, and I want to say that the original name for this vessel will be assigned to the next one in line. We just kinda cut in and took one."
"It's OK, Admiral," Anna Nonna said with a smile, "Cosmonaut Volkov would understand."
Ron continued, "Thanks, Anna. We now have a platform designed specifically for this kind of trip. That ship, Cobra, will be ready shortly and will be making the trip to Alpha Mensae."
"Who will be in command?" Terri asked.
"Evans. The crew, I am sorry to say, will sound very familiar to most of you as I am planning to raid your Intel staffs pretty heavily."
This revelation was met with groans of widespread sadness and somber head shaking. Ship commanders love their Intel chiefs, who will from time to time either make their careers, or save their asses, or both at once.
CINC picked returned to his notes. "I am concerned that Enemy Station is only fourteen light years from Kapteyn. That's an asset too valuable to lose, so I want at least one combat-ready warship there at all times."
No problem there, Dan thought. Being on guard duty at Kapteyn would be the equivalent of guarding the best hotel in town.
"These next two items will be in reverse order for reasons that will become clear."
CINC paused for a sip of water. Or, was it just for dramatic effect?
"I am directing Operations, Plans, and Intel to prepare an offensive for early next year, the objective being the destruction of all known enemy assets."
CINC looked around the conference table. No objections were raised, but there was unmistakable surprise on the faces of the ship commanders.
"In support of that, I want every star that we examined in our first randomized search revisited in the next 45 days. We can skip the dozen or so that have Sentinels in orbit."
"About the offensive, Admiral," Captain Kawaguchi asked, "Are we not then telling the enemy which facilities we know about and which, assuming they exist, we do not? Are we not telling them something we should keep to ourselves?"
"There is that possibility, but I believe the strategic initiative would then be ours."
"That is an ambitious agenda, sir," Terri Michael responded.
"It is. But there's actually more. I have decided to establish a forward command deep in the south so that we can keep our ships in action more and in transit less, and have better command awareness of what's going on."
There was a long silence after CINC finished. Barker spoke first, breaking the tension in the air. "Sir, that would make an enormous and very juicy target for the enemy."
"If they could find it, yes. So, let's not get found."
Anna Nonna, quiet up to now, had a different concern. "You would be taking crews away from home for much longer, sir. Much longer."
"In earlier wars right here on planet Earth, soldiers and sailors were gone for years, Commander, years. Yes, we will be asking more of our people than we have before, but I believe they are up to it if we are."
"What would this command station look like, sir?" Dan asked.
"And who would be there?" Fiona asked, somewhat anxious about what the answer might be.
"As to who, I will be appointing a new commander for the southern theater of operations, designated CSTO, whose first task will be this offensive."
The silence in the room grew to an unsustainable level.
"Responsibility for Inor, Earth, and anything else north of ten light years south of the Sun will remain here." Davenport pointed to Admiral Yakovlev, seated next to him, "Stan will remain my deputy, but will add operational command of the northern area to his portfolio — as if keeping me out of trouble isn't a full-time occupation. Stan and I will remain here at HQ."
"As to what form it will take, I will let the CSTO decide that. My expectation is that they will select a flagship and remain mobile. That makes the most sense for operational security." CINC looked around the table and saw only agreement.
"ISC is also giving us an older, small mining ship as a supply vessel: the Ceres. It should be ready sometime in January. That ship will be positioned with the flagship to provide support to the deployed warships."
Again, he laid down his glasses and leaned his elbows on the table.
"I know you're all wondering who I will appoint to command the southern theater. I will finalize that today and you'll all be notified tomorrow, Thanks, everyone, for your input."
The ship commanders excused, CINC and his senior staff continued the deliberations. There were some radical names proposed for CSTO, like Terri Michael, but despite her obvious talents, she was junior to many more experienced commanders. Joanne Henderson was discussed, as was Mark Rhodes, but he, too, while smart and resourceful, was probably too junior for the job. He needed more time in command.
Yorktown's commander, the Virginian Captain Harry Hess, was a good candidate. He was just slightly junior to the late Dean Carpenter, having also started out with Forstmann in the early days. He wasn't already an Admiral only because he said 'shove it' every time the Fleet tried to promote him. Kieran Barker had already handled a small task force from Dunkirk. His performance was solid. Captain Kawaguchi from Nippon came up as well.
In the end, CINC selected Barker, whom he saw as the most appropriate officer for this command. When called, Kieran accepted his orders with good humor, and spent the night outlining who he would want to join him, and how he would stage the offensive. He was still outlining when the sun interrupted him as it spilled a yellow glow into his BOQ room.
Ft. Eustis, VA
Wednesday, November 23, 2078, 0900 EST
The next morning, CINC Connor Davenport met again with his available ship commanders, this time without his staff assistants. They ate breakfast from an extensive buffet in the ISC's large, formal conference room, a venue equal to the board room of any major corporation. Forstmann's money was well spent here in large windows and fine black walnut paneling.
After a leisurely period of friendly talk, and a couple good war stories from the commanders, CINC was ready to get down to business.
"We need to talk about some new assignments."
Davenport turned to Dan Smith.
"Is Melville ready?"
"Ready, sir?"
"For her own ship."
"Oh, yes, sir. I've already submitted my recommendation to that effect."
"Think she can handle a new frigate?"
"Yes."
"Good. She gets Jarvis."
"Oh, I see. I think she will do a fine job, sir."
"Find another XO and let me know."
"Maz Dawes," Dan responded immediately. "Stef Tsukuda can handle Nav, so send me an Ensign to back-fill her position."
Davenport made a note on his tablet. "Very well."
"Thank you, sir."
Terri Michael shifted in her chair as CINC's eyes landed on her. "I'm hitting you hard, Commander Michael. You seem to bring out the best in these youngsters."
"Thank you, sir, I guess, but who did you have in mind?"
"Jim George is getting Yankee."
"Yes, sir, excellent choice."
"I thought to send Hansen with him, but you can keep her if you like."
"Yes, I'd prefer that."
"Do you want a new XO from the crew or should I send you someone?"
"I have three good young officers who are ready, plus Hansen."
"You think she's ready to be an XO?"
Dan heard himself talking out of turn again. "Admiral, in my opinion, she's as qualified to command, if not more so, than I am."
Davenport smiled. "The loyalty of friends is a good thing, Dan, but she's not you. Not quite yet."
He turned back to Terri. "I'm moving Ballard, too. "
"Really, sir?" she asked in mock annoyance.
"Really."
"He would have been a strong candidate for XO."
"Let me know what you want to do."
"Ryan Lewis, sir. Send me a good Surveillance officer to be Jayvon Dean's new assistant."
"As you wish."
"If I may, sir, where is Ballard going?"
"Cobra."
Terri smiled and looked around the table. "Oh, now I see what Harris was talking about."
CINC turned back to Dan Smith. "Dan, what about Powell?"
"Sir?"
"I'm inclined to put him on Cobra as well, with Ballard and Evans."
Dan thought for a second before responding. He'd expected something similar since Harris' announcement the day before.
"I guess I have a couple things to say, sir. First, Lieutenant Khachaturian is senior. I would think he might be a more appropriate candidate. Second, David is great at Intel, there's no denying that. But his ambition has always been to command, and I would not want to sideline him into an Intel track that would not take him where he really wants to go."
"Needs of the Fleet come first, Dan, as you well know."
Dan nodded his agreement. "I do, sir, and if you order David Powell somewhere, he'll go, and he'll do a hell of a job for you."
"Good." He turned to Barker. "Dunkirk isn't getting away unscathed, Captain Barker."
"I did have hopes you'd just pick off all the decent Yanks and Kiwis and leave us the hell alone."
That got him a laugh.
"Sorry. I need Myra Rodgers for Cobra. They need a first-class Surveillance officer."
"She is that, sir, to be sure. I will miss her."
CINC looked at Barker with some anticipation. "Well, someone will miss her, anyway."
"Yes, sir, time to let that stupid cat out, I suppose." Barker looked around the room. "I've accepted the assignment to command the southern theater. I know many of you were considered, and I have enormous respect for all of you—"
"Just as we do for you, Kieran," Anna said quietly.
"Thanks. I will be assembling a staff, so some of you may be hearing from me soon."
"Well, congratulations, Kieran," Terri offered.
"Thank you all very much."
"Captain Barker will be picking up a star to go with this little task."
"Yes, Admiral, thank you."
"So, Admiral Barker takes command December 1st," CINC declared. "He will execute the reexamination of the southern sky and the offensive against the enemy. I know you will all support his efforts."
CINC looked around the table one last time. Such good people, he thought, so many I can count on. "That's all."
The meeting broke up with the typical handshakes, bad promotion jokes, and sincere well-wishes. Kieran Barker had a massive task in front of him now, and from a standing start he had just seven days to recruit a staff, consult with Plans and Intel to develop an operational strategy, and start another quick round-robin search.
Finally, they were going to make a major strike. There was plenty of searching to be done yet in order to really pin down the enemy, but at least they were planning to draw serious blood. Barker had been on Inor. He'd seen the streets, the shattered buildings, and smelled the stench of death and decay. He and Len Davis had helped move human remains to be buried at sea, Nick Roskov among them. Now Len was gone, too, and enough others to make Barker's stomach grind in anger. Payback, sure, that was part of his mindset, but more so was never again. This species had to be put back in their place and kept there. If that meant killing them all, Barker figured that was their choice. He hoped it would turn out otherwise.
Terri Michael, in the meantime, had to hustle back to the main Fleet conference room for a very different kind of discussion. Ron Harris was about to tell the world about Beta Hydri.
ISC Fleet HQ Main Conference Room
Fort Eustis, VA
Wednesday, November 23, 2078, 1100 EST (1500UTC)
Donna Wright began with a degree in Political Science from Iowa State, then a Master's in Communications from Michigan. Her career started slowly with a year of finding no jobs that really made sense to her; those she did find were so tepid about facts and shallow about meaning she was embarrassed to put them on her resume. She happened to see a media ad promoting ISC Fleet's one-year officer training class. Curious if the ad matched the reality, she called the number on the screen and found herself talking for an hour to the screening officer, one Captain Connor Davenport. He understood her reservations about a military career, how command influence worked, and how someone with her skills might find a place with the kind of rigorous integrity she wasn't finding elsewhere. After a few months of conversations with Connor and others at Fleet, up to and including the then-CINC, she decided to make the move to Ohio and take the course. She negotiated a clause that if after the year she didn't want to stay, she could buy out her commitment and leave. If she remained, she would be commissioned a Senior Lieutenant in recognition of her previous education.
Fast forward a few years, and Donna found herself a full Commander, the Fleet's Chief Public Information Officer, and Connor Davenport now CINC. Since the war began, she'd made herself a household name with her daily press briefings, fighting against the ill-advised and uninformed opinion makers in the news media. But even now, months into the conflict, too often they ignored her words of caution and the facts were lost in the shouting between talking heads.
For the public reveal of the Beta Hydri culture, Donna went to CINC and laid out her case for a detailed presentation for the media by an authoritative voice. She proposed Ron Harris or Terri Michael, and they settled on Harris. After all, Donna said, Ron had actually been there. He'd s
een the Seekers personally.
Donna contacted each of the recognized national and international news networks, as defined by the United Nations and the US Government, and informed them of a detailed briefing on a major development in the war. The condition, she told them, was that there could be no announcement of this briefing until after it was held. Any news outlet revealing the planned briefing would be barred from attending. It was the best cudgel she had to keep them honest. Several were angered or resentful of the constraints she put on them, but all eventually relented, if only for competitive reasons. After all, experts who had heard what the Fleet had to say would be far more credible than those who did not, and it was, in the end, really all about ratings.
On the day of the event, Ron put his youngest, most attractive foot forward to greet the reporters, producers, and analysts. Ann Cooper was at Beta Hydri with Intrepid, so Kelly Peterson and Kathy Stewart greeted the attendees as they arrived. Young, smiling, and engaging, they checked ID's against the roster, wrote out name tags, took all electronic devices, and thoroughly searched every person. Scott Morgan ran interference when necessary, always pleasant, understanding their problems while ensuring they were properly checked. Tim Jackson did a final electronic scan at the door to the theater-like Main Conference Room. Several people were sent away when he found that they had tried to bring in concealed recording devices. After Security escorted the third offender to the front door, more devices seemed to appear in the storage bins provided, and no one else had to be removed.
The news people generated quite a racket in the conference room, which grew with each new entry. Who knew these presumably serious news people could talk such nasty trash? Ron was actually worried that a fistfight might break out as rivals called each other names across the room, lobbing insults and hyperbole about who had the larger or better audience. But, as it turned out, the only shots landed were verbal. Ron found himself strangely disappointed. A real altercation amongst this carefully groomed and made-up group might have been entertaining.
Silver Search Page 28