by D. J. Holmes
James smiled. This was exactly the distraction he needed as Drake took him further away from Christine and Jonathan. “I’m all ears,” he responded.
It was almost an hour later when his fellow Admirals finished outlining the strategies they wanted to incorporate into Operation Counterstrike. After listening carefully and asking a few questions, James suggested a couple of alterations and gave the go ahead to begin more detailed preparations. When the COM meeting ended, he checked on Drake’s status. There were still another two hours before his flagship would jump out of the system. By tradition James liked to be on the bridge for the first shift jump in any journey. There is just enough time to get Fox to prepare a hot chocolate and get a fresh uniform on, James thought. Before he stood he had one more thing to do though. “Lieutenant Beckford,” he called to his COM officer. “Send a message to the tachyon pulse generator. I want a transmission sent to Varanni Prime. Mark it for Admiral Jorum’s eyes only. Inform him Operation Counterstrike has begun.”
Chapter 8
Of the many species that have either joined the Empire or become our close allies, none have exhibited stronger martial prowess than the Gramrians. When we first met them they did not have the same experience in warfare our own species had, but they were fast learners.
-Excerpt from Empire Rising, 3002 AD.
IS Viper, Scalatar (Gramrian homeworld) orbit, 10th September 2483 AD (one month previous).
“Yes?” Becket asked as she tapped the beeping COM unit built into her office desk.
“Rear Admiral, Admiral Faroul’s shuttle has just docked. She and her Flag Captain are making their way to the conference room now. Everyone else has already landed,” one of Viper’s bridge officers updated Becket.
“Thank you, Lieutenant,” Becket acknowledged. Tapping the COM unit again to switch it off, she stood and stretched. Then she picked up her datapad and slipped it into her pocket. She had memorized the details of her plan several days ago, but she wanted to have them close at hand. Moving out of her office, she walked through towards the main conference room. Located near the center of the heavy cruiser, the room was more than big enough for the senior officers of her fleet. It had the largest holo display and it was best suited for discussing the campaign her fleet was about to embark upon. As she walked, Becket took a detour to bring her onto the main route from the primary shuttle bay to the conference room. Sure enough, she bumped into Admiral Faroul and her Flag Captain, Captain Asaral. “Greetings,” she called to the two Poideal officers.
Both aliens bobbed their heads up and down as they moved to catch up with Becket. As they walked, Becket couldn’t help but be reminded of the marsupials native to her Chief of Staff’s home continent of Australia. Covered in a thick fur, the only clothing either Poideal officer was wearing was a small shift that covered a portion of their torso roughly equivalent to Becket’s chest. On it were the naval medals and rank insignia that identified Faroul and Asaral as officers in the Poideal Navy. When they got close enough, the aliens lifted their upper lips to reveal two large rectangular teeth. “Greetings Rear Admiral Becket,” Faroul said as she held out one of her two short arms for Becket to take. “As always, your ship is impressive,” she added as she made a point of glancing around. “I’m looking forward to seeing the new ships that will soon be coming out of our shipyards based on your designs.”
Becket smiled. “As am I,” she agreed. Humanity had shared all of its military technologies with the Poideal Navy as it was part of the Conclave. Faroul commanded all the ships that had been upgraded to incorporate as much modern tech as they could. There were still hundreds of others undergoing similar upgrades. Even so, at best Faroul’s ships could only hope to trade with similarly sized Karacknid warships at a ratio of two to one. Once their new designs started coming out of their construction yards that would change, but it was still some months away. Of course, Becket thought, whereas the Poideal count their fleet size in their hundreds, the Karacknids do so in the tens of thousands. A few newly designed warships wouldn’t change that. But there was no point dwelling on such things. “I’m looking forward to observing them in action against the Karacknids even more,” Becket added and gestured in front of her. “Shall we proceed? The others are waiting.”
“Of course Admiral,” Faroul responded.
“Thank you Lieutenant,” Becket said as she nodded towards the Junior Lieutenant who had been Faroul’s guide. She turned and led her two visitors towards the main conference room.
“I believe you’re not expecting any further reinforcements from Earth?” Faroul asked as they walked.
“Not in the immediate future no,” Becket confirmed.
“Then this is to be our final conference before we begin our part in the grand strategy?”
“Perceptive as always Admiral,” Becket replied. Since coming to Conclave space, she had learnt quickly that the Poideal were not to be underestimated. Whilst none of the Conclave species had a great deal of experience with warfare, the Poideal had shown a remarkable ability to adapt their ships and their thinking when it came to battle tactics. Having a massive hostile alien species arrive at your back door would encourage anyone to make a few changes, Becket thought. That said, the Poideal had still impressed her. Whereas the Folians and the other two species that made up the Conclave were still trying to get their heads around being thrust into a war for survival, the Poideal and the Gramrians had stepped up to the plate. That was why she had included Admiral Faroul and her fleet in the campaign she was planning.
“My people and I are keen to begin,” Faroul said, unaware of Becket’s thoughts. “Though I admit, there is more than a little trepidation on our homeworld about the results of our actions.”
“I understand completely,” Becket replied. “Which makes me appreciate your ships’ addition to our fleet all the more. As you know, the logic is simple. The Karacknids may not be amassing a fleet to conquer the Conclave just yet. But it will come sooner rather than later. If we do not strike now, then you will be overwhelmed.”
“Yes, the logic is simple,” Faroul said as she lifted her upper lip again. “But even among my species, logic only gets one so far. Fear is a very real factor.”
Becket nodded. “As it is with our species. If we had faced the threat of the Karacknids immediately, our homeworld might not have been devastated in the way it was. I’m glad your species does not seem to be allowing fear to dictate your actions.”
“As am I,” Faroul agreed.
“Here we are,” Becket said as she stopped in front of the main hatch into the conference room. She tapped its command console to open it and stepped aside. “After you Admiral.” As Faroul and Asaral passed her, Becket nodded to each of them. She paused, took a deep breath, and followed them into the conference room. Most of the Admirals and Captains present smiled, nodded, or waved at her. Becket returned their gestures as she moved to her seat. “Please, take your seats,” she said loud enough to be heard over the ongoing conversations.
As she sat, Becket pulled out her datapad, set it on the table in front of her and set her hands on the table. Taking another breath, Becket tried to calm her nerves. She knew it was silly, she knew all of the officers present, but this was her first briefing with all the senior officers of her fleet. Heck, it’s my first time commanding a real fleet on a real campaign, she said to herself as she tried to ease her nerves. Five years ago she had been Admiral Somerville’s Flag Captain. Now he had given her a fleet of over two hundred warships. He trusts you, she said. And you now have the experience and skill. Smiling at her officers so as not to give away her inner thoughts, Becket took another breath and began to speak. “Now that we are all here. It is time to make our final preparations. To begin, let me introduce our newest arrivals as not all of you have met in person yet.” Becket gestured towards the Crian naval officers. “Commodore Maleck commands the Alliance fleet that has just arrived from Earth. Beside him is his Flag Captain, Captain Salal. Second in command of the Alliance fleet is Commodore
Jaran.” Becket bowed as she addressed Commodore Jaran to show the Varanni officer the respect his species expected. “Then commanding the latest contingent of Human ships is Commodore Fang,” Becket added as she smiled at Fang. She had known the Chinese officer as a Captain in the UN Navy. From what she had read of his personnel file, he had distinguished himself in the war against the Karacknids. After introducing the newest arrivals, Becket introduced the rest of the senior commanders of her fleet to Maleck, Salal, Jaran and Fang.
“Good, now that we are all acquainted,” Becket said after the officers shared a few brief pleasantries, “let’s get to work.” When Becket’s own Flag Captain, Captain Rogers, and several other officers nodded, Becket continued. “I am now authorized to tell you Operation Counterstrike is scheduled to begin in approximately one month. Over a thousand Human and Alliance ships will strike one of the Karacknid border forts in an attempt to push into Karacknid territory and cause more disruption within their supply network. The fleets of Commodores Maleck and Fang are the last reinforcements we will be getting here for several months. Each of you have separately told me your fleets are ready to depart. I believe we should aim to do so within the next few days. If we launch our attack now, news of our raid should reach the Karacknid homeworld at roughly the same time as the news of Operation Counterstrike. With luck, our diversionary attack will draw reinforcements intended for the Alliance front towards us. That should give Counterstrike an even greater chance of success. You’re all familiar with the general idea of our attack and the specifics.” Becket activated the conference room’s main Holo projector. An image of Conclave space and more than a thousand Karacknid systems appeared. Almost adjacent to Conclave space, two large spurs thrust into the Karacknid Empire. Becket had come to think of them as mountain ranges. Two elongated areas where the dark matter between stars was so thick that no shift passages had been discovered. Thanks to the maps of Karacknid space the Kalassai had shared with Captain Kansas, she now knew about them. As she tapped another button one system in between the two spurs began to flash.
“We will strike the border system here and break through into Karacknid territory.” Manipulating the image, Becket made the Karacknid systems between the two spurs flash. “Then we will head deeper into what we have designated the Valley, raiding and plundering as we go. It will require a great deal of luck but given the isolated nature of the Valley and the limited shift passages that enter and exit it, we have a real opportunity to give the Karacknids a cause for concern. I shared with you all several weeks ago the full details of the plan Admiral Shraw and I have put together. Maleck and Fang have had less time to analyze it, but you’re all familiar with our objectives. Are there any final thoughts you wish to share? This is the last chance we will likely get to have a conference like this in person.”
“I will admit,” Commodore Fang said, surprising Becket by speaking first. “I am concerned about the unintended results of our attack for the Conclave species. If we are successful and we draw more Karacknid ships into this sector, then the Conclave species are going to suffer the consequences.”
Becket nodded, that was what she and Faroul had just been talking about. She turned to the Poideal Admiral, expecting a similar response to their discussions earlier, but it was Admiral Shraw who responded first.
“You’re quite right to foresee the negative implications of drawing more Karacknid ships to our borders,” Shraw said as his forked tongue flicked in and out of his mouth. “We are fully aware of that too. If this is the price of striking first, then we will face it. Besides,” he said as his lips parted revealing his razor-sharp teeth. “Whilst our ships are away, the rest of the Conclave fleets will complete their upgrades and new construction will begin to swell our numbers. Who is to say that once we return there won’t be a second fleet ready to launch another raid? As Admiral Becket likes to say, the best form of defense is a good offence.”
Becket smiled at the reptilian alien as his intelligent eyes turned on her. Not for the first time, Becket was very happy she was on Shraw’s side. As terrifying as the images of Karacknid soldiers in combat were, she was certain Shraw and the velociraptor like aliens of his species would tear the Karacknids apart. And not just in hand-to-hand combat, she thought. Shraw was an extremely capable naval commander.
“We know we are all in this together,” Faroul commented after sharing a glance with Shraw. “Your species and the Alliance face multiple thousands of Karacknid warships on your borders. If our attack causes the Karacknids to send a thousand against us, it will be one less your people have to face. We know we cannot win this war, only your fleets can.”
Fang bowed his head slightly to Shraw and Faroul. “If you both accept the likely outcome of our attack, then my conscience is clear, I felt duty bound to point it out.”
Becket mentally nodded, Fang’s personnel report had suggested he was a man of honor. It was obviously correct. “It is something we have discussed at length over the last couple of months Commodore,” she said as she turned to him. “Rest assured, we are all aware of the risks involved.” Gesturing towards the holo- display, she continued. “Now, the first part of our plan should be relatively straightforward. At least, there are not as many variables in play. It is after that where we must all be sure of one another. Let us go through our plan for splitting up one final time. Each of us will be operating independently from one another, but we must do so in a way where we can support each other if needed. I know this is a risky strategy but splitting our forces like this will allow us to do maximum damage to our enemy.”
Becket talked them through what she envisaged happening after their fleet penetrated the Karacknid Empire’s border. She had invited the second in command and Flag Captains of each fleet because she wanted them to hear it from her in person. Given the risks involved, it was very likely that some of the second ranking officers in each fleet, or even the Flag Captains, would be commanding their species’ ships before the campaign was over. More than once as she sketched out the plans she paused to ask questions of her officers about their roles and intentions. She wanted to make sure everyone present knew the minds and dispositions of one another. If she successfully got her fleets behind enemy lines, they would be totally dependent on one another. Misunderstanding a message or order could prove devastating. Not only did she want her subordinates to know the plan inside out, but she wanted them to know the skills and dispositions of their allies. Given that the fleet was commanded by officers from five different species, Becket knew she needed to make sure there would be no mix-ups.
Finally, after just over an hour, Becket was satisfied that she couldn’t meld her officers into a more cohesive unit. At least not in the time they had. “So we are all agreed then, we will break orbit in two days and proceed to our first target?” she asked.
“I am eager to proceed Rear Admiral Becket,” Shraw responded.
“As am I,” Maleck answered.
“As we have discussed, everything is ready to go, there’s no point delaying,” Faroul said.
“Then I will give the go orders to our advance squadrons,” Becket said as she clasped her hands together. “They can break orbit today if they are ready. Admiral Shraw, I was planning to place our special package in your charge. She is one of your freighters after all. If something goes wrong with her engines or reactors, your people will be better placed to fix it. If that’s all right?”
Shraw bowed his head in an expression Becket knew he had learnt from Captain Kansas. “As long as some of your engineers remain on board. My people are not nearly familiar enough with your stealth technology to keep everything serviced.”
“That is not a problem,” Becket replied with a smile. “All right then,” she said as she stood. “We are as prepared as we can be. I need to speak with my Chief of Staff and draw up orders for our advance squadrons. If you don’t mind waiting a few minutes, I have had my chef prepare a meal for us all. You can contact your subordinates and inform them of our intenti
on to break orbit in two days and then we can all sit down for one last meal together.”
“That would be most acceptable,” Shraw said on behalf of the other officers.
Becket nodded to the Gramrian Admiral and then turned and left the conference room. Unsurprisingly, her Chief of Staff, Commander Wilson was standing outside waiting for her. “Did everything go well Rear Admiral?” she asked.
“Perfectly,” Becket responded. “Our combined fleet will break orbit in two days. I want our advance squadrons to leave as soon as possible. Draw orders to that effect and forward them to my office immediately. And get me Captain Kansas on a COM channel, I will speak to her personally.”
“Of course, Rear Admiral,” Wilson said as she gave Becket a quick salute and turned towards Viper’s bridge.
Becket followed her, albeit at a more leisurely pace. Just before the bridge she turned right into her personal office. As she sat down at her desk, she was surprised to find an open COM channel was already awaiting her attention. Tapping the COM unit, the holographic display of Captain Kansas’ face appeared in front of her. “Emilie, it’s good to see you,” Becket said, choosing to be slightly more informal than she normally would on an official COM call. “I hear you received some updated visuals of your cousin in the messages that came along with Commodore Fang’s ships?”