Counterstrike

by D. J. Holmes

  That did not sit well with James. Letting whoever had attacked Christine’s shuttle launch another attack was not how he wanted to identify them. They had barely failed in killing Christine and Jonathan once. He knew that Johnston wouldn’t just let another attack happen. But what if Johnston can’t do anything to prevent it? That was the problem. Without knowing who had turned Sault and acquired the hyper velocity missile launcher, there was no way to stop another attack. Not for sure. Reaching a hand up to his temple, James rubbed his head. “We don’t know who orchestrated the attack, not for sure. And we don’t know their motives. Nor if they will attack again. And we don’t know how to stop them?” he asked without looking at Johnston. When the General didn’t answer, James looked up. “How long have we known each other?”

  Johnston moved back in his chair, clearly taken by surprise. “Since we met on Drake of course. Years ago now. What, fifteen or sixteen?”

  “Eighteen,” James replied. “And how many times have I asked a personal favor of you?” he asked, still holding Johnston’s eyes unblinkingly.

  Johnston shrugged. “I doubt you have ever asked me for a personal favor. But we’ve been friends all this time. Obeying one of your orders is the same as doing you a favor. I‘d do either because I respect you.”

  “Well I have a favor to ask you now,” James said as he rested both his hands on Johnston’s desk to calm his anger. He didn’t want Johnston thinking his next words were coming from a simple desire for revenge. “I’ve just given orders for the fleet to prepare to break orbit. Christine has ordered me not to delay Operation Counterstrike a moment longer. I will be leaving the system by the end of the day. Yet my wife is in her sickbed, my son is traumatized and their attempted killers are at large. For all we know they’re planning another attack even as we speak. I’m not giving you this as your Emperor, but as a friend. I am asking you, please protect my wife while I’m away,” despite his efforts, James’ voice broke as he pleaded with Johnston. “I cannot leave them knowing they are in danger, yet I cannot abandon the fleet’s mission. I cannot be in two places at once. I have no choice but to entrust my family to someone else. I can think of no one better.” As he finished speaking, James held Johnston’s eyes as he sought for some reassurance that would ease the terror he felt at having to leave Christine and Jonathan.

  When Johnston sprang to his feet, James flinched at his speed. Johnston didn’t appear to notice. He had the sternest look on his face James had ever seen. “You have my word Emperor. I will protect your family. I will find whoever attacked Christine and Jonathan and end the threat they pose to your family. I cannot go with the fleet instead of you. Nor can I ever make up for the anguish you have been forced to go through over the last several days. But if it gives you any comfort, I will do whatever it takes to find and eliminate this danger to Christine and Jonathan.”

  James stood and gave Johnston a slow nod. “Thank you my friend. It will not make it easier to leave them. But knowing you understand, that you are making this your priority, will take away some of my worry. If I cannot protect them, there is no one else I’d rather have doing so.”

  “It will be an honor and my pleasure to protect them in your stead,” Johnston said as he gave James a slight bow. “Now, if you’re leaving in a few hours, you don’t have any more time to waste with me. They’re safe in my hands. Go make the preparations you need to make and say your goodbyes. I’ll be here waiting for you when you get back from your mission.”

  “Thank you,” James repeated as he firmly shook Johnston’s hand. “Thank you,” he said again as he smiled and turned to leave. The passion of Johnston’s words eased his fear, albeit only by a small measure. Nevertheless, he knew that if anyone was able to put an end to whoever had attacked Christine before they could strike again, it was Johnston.

  Chapter 7

  Even with the widespread adoption of FTL communication, serving in the Imperial Navy comes with sacrifices. Being separated from loved ones is one of them. Even long range holo COM calls are not a substitute for being able to hold someone in your arms.

  -Excerpt from Empire Rising, 3002 AD.

  Imperial Palace

  After spending what felt like three extremely short hours in the Palace’s command and control center making final preparations for his fleet to depart, James was satisfied that Operation Counterstrike could begin. “I think we are done here,” he said to Miyagi and Alfaro. “You two can head up to Drake now. Tell Captain Fisher I’ll be right behind you.”

  “Understood Admiral,” Miyagi responded for both officers. “I’ll make sure your shuttle is prepped before we depart.”

  “Thank you,” James replied as he nodded to several other officers who were permanently stationed in the Palace’s C&C. When he stepped out of the room, two marines snapped to attention. James acknowledged their presence with a glance and strode towards Christine’s medical suite. Both marines followed him. Johnston had assigned them to shadow him the moment he had returned to the Palace from Christine’s shuttle’s crash. There was at least one thing he was looking forward to when he got back on-board Drake. He’d have a little bit more personal space. When he got to the door into Christine’s suite, he stopped and took a deep breath. He was dreading what he had to do. With a glance at the marine guarding Christine’s door, he stepped forward as the marine tapped the door’s access panel.

  Thankfully, Christine was awake. She smiled at him as he came in. “Everything sorted?” she asked, her voice sounding stronger than it had just a few hours ago.

  “The fleet is making its final preparations now,” James confirmed. “They’re just waiting for me to join them and then we’ll break orbit.”

  “You are here to say goodbye,” Christine responded as she patted the side of her bed.

  James moved over and sat down. He took her good hand in both of his. He glanced over at Jonathan’s cot. “This is far harder than the last time we parted. These last several months, though we’ve been so busy, have been like nothing I’ve experienced before.”

  “If I didn’t know what you were talking about, I might be offended Admiral,” Christine said as she followed his gaze to Jonathan. “I can’t imagine having to leave him. Being parted from you is hard enough, but from him? I’m not sure I could do it.” She turned back to James and squeezed his hands. “You are stronger than I. But I’ve always known that. That’s why you’re the Admiral… Even if you need reminding of that fact from time to time,” she added with a wink. “Now, let’s not make this harder than it needs to be. You know I’m going to make a full recovery. Jonathan is going to be just fine. You’re the one who is heading out into the unknown. Operation Counterstrike could fall flat on its face, or you could be gone for a year or more. We will be left here worrying about you while you go off gallivanting. So I don’t want to hear any more complaining. Give me a kiss and then give your son a cuddle.”

  James hesitated as Christine lent forward. There was so much he wanted to say. This wasn’t the first time he was going off on a mission where the chances of him returning were not great and yet the idea of leaving Christine alone in her sickbed was tearing him apart. Adding Jonathan to the mix intensified his feelings ten times over. Even though he felt like he should say something, he closed his eyes and pressed his lips against Christine’s. He didn’t know where to start and Christine knew it all anyway. Saying too much would just make it all the harder. As their lips broke apart, Christine gently prized her hand from James’ and nodded towards Jonathan’s crib. Without a word James stood, moved over, and picked up his son. The baby continued to sleep deeply but he nestled into James’ arms. Looking down at his son, James couldn’t help but smile despite the swirl of emotions within him. He was beautiful. “He is the future,” he found himself saying as he looked up at Christine and smiled at her. “This is what we are all fighting for.”

  “It is,” Christine agreed as she lifted her good arm. James moved over so that she could hug his waist. Still holding Jonat
han, he lent down and kissed her forehead. Then he kissed Jonathan’s forehead and placed him in Christine’s arm.

  “Now I have two reasons to make every effort to get home,” he said. “No Karacknid is going to stop me from getting back.”

  “That’s no more than I expect from you Admiral,” Christine responded. “Now go and do your duty so you can return to us.” While James could tell she was making every effort to keep her face straight, as she blinked, a small tear appeared in the corner of her eye and ran down her cheek. He wanted to reach out and wipe it from her, but he didn’t trust himself to stop there. With one final glance from Christine to Jonathan and then back to Christine, he nodded.

  “Farewell,” he said quickly and began to turn.

  “Farewell,” Christine called after him.

  Stepping out of the suite, James didn’t even notice the marines. Blinking rapidly to fight back his tears, he marched as quickly as he could towards one of the Palace’s rear entrances. He didn’t want to pass a whole host of officers and Palace workers on his way to his shuttle. Not in his current state. Thankfully, the few that he did pass did nothing more than salute him or give him a nod of recognition. James returned the gestures instinctively even though he was still focused on Christine and Jonathan. The last five months was as long as he had spent on Earth since first learning about the Karacknids. For the first time in a very long time he had begun to feel settled. Jonathan had played a big part in that. Now he was returning to space. In the past, that had always felt like he was returning to his natural environment. It wasn’t so this time.

  Still struggling with his emotions, James exited one of the Palace’s rear entrances and walked around to the main shuttle landing pads. His shuttle was the only one there. Just before he ascended its access ramp he remembered the two marines who were right behind him. Pausing he turned to them. “Thank you for your protection,” he said, knowing that they wouldn’t be following him on the shuttle. “Look after them for me.”

  Both marines snapped to attention. “Of course, Emperor. We will protect them with our lives.”

  “Thank you,” James repeated. He turned and entered the shuttle. Throwing himself into a seat just behind the cockpit he strapped himself in and activated the shuttle’s internal COM system. “I’m ready. Let’s return to Drake.”

  “Affirmative Admiral. Lift off in fifteen seconds,” the shuttle’s pilot informed him.

  Through his feet James felt the shuttle’s engines power up. Moments later the shuttle was in the air. Typically when heading into orbit James focused on the sky above him as he sought out the ships he was heading towards. This time he couldn’t help but stare down at the Palace as it grew smaller and smaller in his view port.

  Only when the shuttle broke through Earth’s atmosphere and the Palace and the Swiss Alps were no longer visible did James switch his focus. Despite his emotions, he couldn’t help but smile at the view that greeted him. Hanging in space in low Earth orbit were over a thousand warships of various designs. The eight hundred Alliance ships had been built by six different species. Then, hovering around Admiral Jil’lal’s flagship Fleetfoot were eighty Vestarians ships. Finally, in formation with Drake, two hundred and twenty Human warships, all of them built within the last two years, were waiting patiently to depart. Every species that was at war with the Karacknids except for the Conclave species is represented here, James thought as he stared at the various ships. Operation Counterstrike was designed to turn the tide of the war. From the beginning Humanity and the Alliance had been on the back foot. If the fleet before him was successful, that was going to change. The Karacknids had been beaten back again and again. It was time to put them on the defensive.

  “Shall I take the scenic route through the fleet Admiral?” the shuttle pilot asked. “There are a pair of new Samurai class battlecruisers that finished their space trials last week. We could get a good look at them.”

  James was tempted. “No, take me straight to Drake,” he answered instead. Counterstrike had been delayed enough already. With several Alliance fleets back in Alliance space waiting for his part in the operation to begin, he couldn’t justify entertaining his desires.

  “As you wish Admiral,” the pilot responded.

  After the shuttle touched down inside Drake’s hangar bay and James exited the small craft, he was pleased to see only Miyagi and Alfaro were waiting to greet him. Though he had only been away for a few days, he had half expected Captain Fisher to prepare a larger welcoming party. Especially given what had happened to Christine.

  “Admiral,” Miyagi said as he snapped a salute. “Welcome aboard. Every ship in the fleet reports ready to depart. They are awaiting your command.”

  “Then let us go to the bridge,” James instructed. “We will depart immediately.” As they walked, James asked his two subordinates several questions. He wanted to get a feel for the morale of the fleet.

  “Actually Admiral, I think most of the crew are keen to get going,” Miyagi said. “They’ve known for a couple of months that our departure is imminent. The arrival of Ya’sia’s fleet hinted that we would be leaving soon. And given what has just happened, most are keen to see some action. If you don’t mind me saying, I know it’s been hard for you over the last few days. It’s been hard for the fleet as well. We’ve all been in orbit watching events unfold without being able to do anything. Breaking orbit and heading towards the enemy is just what we need.”

  James didn’t know what to think of that. He was glad the fleet was eager to get going, though if the attack on Christine was the cause, that wasn’t entirely to his liking. “Admiral on deck,” the marine guarding the entrance to Drake’s bridge called out as James passed him. Stepping onto the bridge he found every officer standing at attention with their arms raised in salute.

  “Welcome back Admiral,” Captain Fisher said from where she stood beside her command chair. “Drake is at your command. And may I say on behalf of her crew, we are pleased to hear Christine and Jonathan are making a full recovery.”

  “As am I Captain,” James said formally as he surveyed the officers. Most of them he knew by name though there were a couple of new faces, clearly officers who had been rotated on to Drake over the last couple of months. “At ease,” he added as he moved towards his command chair. When he sat, everyone else did likewise. “Are we ready to depart Captain?” he asked as he swiveled to look at Fisher.

  His Flag Captain nodded. “At your command Admiral.”

  “Signal the fleet that we are departing,” James said as he glanced at Lieutenant Beckford, his COMs officer. “Then take us out of orbit. Set course for the Beta system,” he added as he turned back to Fisher.

  As Drake’s bridge officers and his own command staff got to work, James rolled his shoulders and forced himself to relax. As the various squadrons that made up his fleet powered up their engines and broke orbit, he watched them instead of looking at Earth. He had spent enough emotional energy saying goodbye. Now he needed to focus on his ships and his fleet.

  Twenty minutes later the fleet had fully formed up into the formation James desired and was on its way towards the Beta shift passage. Just as James was about to request the logs for the last several days to catch up on everything that had been happening, Beckford spun in her command chair. “Admirals Ya’sia, Suarez and Jil’lal are requesting to speak to you Admiral,” she informed him.

  “Send them to my command chair,” James instructed. “Admirals,” he said as he greeted them with a smile. “It’s good to be talking to you again. I’m sorry for my absence over the last several days.”

  “There’s no need to apologize Admiral,” Ya’sia said, speaking first. “I’m sorry that this is the first time I have spoken to you face to face since the attack on your wife. I wish to offer my sympathies for what your family has gone through. It was indeed terrible.”

  “Thank you,” James said, repeating himself when Suarez and Jil’lal communicated their sorrow at what had happened to Christ
ine as well. “I confess, it is good to be back on Drake’s bridge. Getting back to normality is what I needed though leaving them is tough.”

  “I’m sure it is Admiral,” Jil’lal said. “Of course, I have no children of my own, but someday I hope to. We are pleased you are continuing on with us. We feared that might not be possible after the attack.”

  “I was torn,” James confessed. “But Christine reminded me I’m needed far more here than on Earth. She has hundreds of marines protecting her now. She doesn’t need me.”

  “In any case, I am happy you are with us,” Ya’sia added. “That is why we wanted to talk with you so soon. We have a number of ideas we want to run by you. We simulated a few of them, but we were waiting for your permission to begin fleet wide simulations.”