-
Kelsey went to her quarters, showered, put on a fresh uniform, and added several touches of perfume. Then, taking a deep breath, she walked the short distance to Jeremy’s quarters. Knocking lightly, she waited for him to open the door. When he did, she saw the surprised look upon his face. Without hesitation, she stepped forward, put her arms around his neck, and pulled his face down toward hers with their lips meeting. Kelsey smiled as Jeremy silently took her hand and led her back toward his bedroom. Colonel Malen was right. Jeremy and she should have been doing this all along.
-
Admiral Streth breathed a long sigh of relief as the last ship exited the jump vortex. This was their second jump since initiating repairs on the ships, and there still had been no sign of the Hocklyns or the AIs.
“All ships are present,” Caption Reynolds reported as he checked his sensors.
“The battle carrier Essex is launching the CAP,” Colonel Trist added as six small green icons appeared on one of the holographic tactical displays.
“All ships reporting FTL and sublight drives are still functional,” Captain Duncan added as she listened to the reports from the different ships.
“We will stay here four hours and then make two more jumps,” Hedon informed Colonel Trist. “Have the six repair ships begin working on our worst damaged ships again. Once we have made the next two jumps we will take a full day for further repairs. I want this fleet combat ready when we reach the Federation.”
“Yes, Sir,” Colonel Trist replied with a nod. “I will get on it immediately.”
Hedon left the Command Center, made a short inspection of the ship, and then made his way to one of the workout gyms on a lower level. He used this room quite often as it was reserved for officers and had a locker that contained his workout clothes. The room also had a running track that circled it and he soon found himself working up a sweat. Sometimes running like this allowed him to think things over.
“Out for a run?” Captain Duncan asked as she jogged up next to the admiral. She had been surprised to see the Fleet Admiral in the gym running. After going off duty, she had decided to do a quick run herself before turning in. She had not been aware that the admiral liked to work out like this. While most of the time she enjoyed jogging in the ship’s wide corridors, today she had decided to use the gym instead.
“It helps me to think,” replied Hedon, breathing easily. “I also like to stay in shape.”
Janice nodded. She felt the same way. “It helps me to take my mind off of things,” she confessed.
Hedon looked over at Captain Duncan and then quickly looked away. She was wearing a regular jogging outfit, but the top was very tight and it was obvious she wasn’t wearing a bra of any sort. She was also a little larger on top than what he had imagined. “I’ve run for years,” he stated as they jogged around the track side by side. My brother Taylor got me started, and I’ve just stuck with it.”
“I’ve heard you mention your brother before,” Janice replied with a nod of her head. “What was he like?”
Hedon found himself explaining to Janice what Taylor and Lendle had been like and how they had enjoyed spending time at the small cabin by the lake on the Federation planet Maken. Finally, they came to a stop, and he looked over at Janice. “Someday I intend to return to Maken and rebuild that cabin. It’s a promise I made to Taylor and Lendle, and I fully intend to keep it.”
“I believe you will,” replied Janice, picking up her towel and wiping off her face and arms. “I just hope I get to see the old Federation worlds someday.”
“A lot of us do,” Hedon replied.
After the Admiral had taken his shower and left, Janice took a quick shower and put her fleet uniform back on. She was amazed to realize how personable the admiral could be. His story about his brother and the cabin by the lake had really touched her.
Reaching his quarters, Admiral Streth fixed himself a glass of tea and then sat down in his comfortable leather recliner and thought about his recent conversation with Captain Duncan. For the first time in a long while, he had actually allowed himself to open up to someone. Why Captain Duncan? For years, Hedon had avoided female companionship because he didn’t think a viable relationship could survive all the traveling a Fleet Admiral had to do. Today, while speaking to the captain, he had found that he had actually been enjoying the conversation and her company.
He knew what Taylor would say. His brother for years had told Hedon that there was nothing wrong in having a relationship with a woman even if you were in the fleet. Taylor was never hesitant to point out that he and Lendle had made it work.
Hedon let out a heavy sigh. He doubted that Captain Duncan would be interested in him in that way; it was probably better to keep their relationship on a friendly level. Jogging together was one thing; doing something on a more personal level was something else.
Taking a sip of his tea, he reached over and picked up the control lying on the small table next to his recliner. He activated the large viewscreen on the wall and began going over the fleet status reports, which listed the damage done to each ship. After a few minutes, he knew they would have a lot of work to do if he wanted his remaining ships to be combat ready by the time they reached New Tellus.
He also had to work on a new update for Fleet Admiral Johnson to keep her informed of what was happening. He had already had Clarissa send the admiral an update on the battle above the former Hocklyn fleet base. This would be his personal report listing his recommendations for future battles with the Hocklyns and the AIs.
He was still working on the report when Colonel Trist’s voice came over the com informing the crew to stand by for a hyperjump. Moments later, Hedon felt the gut wrenching feeling as the StarStrike made the transition from normal space to hyperspace. It took a moment for his stomach to calm back down. In all the years as an admiral he still wasn’t used to the nauseous feeling he associated with jumps; he doubted he ever would.
Later Hedon went to the officer’s mess, ate a quick meal, and then returned to his quarters to get some much needed rest. As he was falling asleep, he could hear Taylor’s voice telling him that there was nothing wrong with developing a personal relationship with Captain Duncan.
-
Captain Duncan was in her quarters staring at herself in the full-length mirror in her bedroom. She was thirty-eight years old with brunette hair cut short as per Federation Fleet regulations, with hazel eyes. Her eyes traveled up and down her figure appraisingly. Through her jogging and other exercises, she had stayed trim and fit. Even at thirty-eight her stomach was still flat, though her breasts were slightly above average in size.
She tended to wear her fleet uniforms a little loose on top so they weren’t so noticeable. She had caught the Admiral looking at her and knew he had been slightly embarrassed because she was jogging without a bra and they were probably bouncing a lot. From now on she would make sure she wore a sports bra if the admiral was around.
Admiral Streth had always fascinated her, and she had been thrilled to be assigned to the StarStrike to serve under him. She hoped they could become friends and maybe even more. For some reason, she was highly attracted to the Fleet Admiral, and she hoped he found her interesting also. This was a relationship she wouldn’t push; if it happened, it happened; if not, then it was not meant to be. She knew that if her sister were here, Linda would be telling her to go for it. Janice knew a relationship like this was against fleet regs, but this was Admiral Streth and she seriously doubted that any fleet regs would apply to the legendary Fleet Admiral.
After taking a long relaxing hot shower, Janice lay down on her bed. They were still a long way from home, and once they arrived at New Tellus they would have to fight another major battle. If they survived that, then she might consider pursuing a relationship with the admiral. It would be fun to take him back home to Horizon in the Tau Ceti system. Her sister Linda would die if she walked into their large family home with Fleet Admiral Streth.
Cha
pter Eighteen
Fleet Admiral Karla Johnson was in the Command Center of New Tellus Station reviewing the latest reports from Admiral Streth. Clarissa had sent hours of video footage of the fighting above the former Hocklyn fleet base as well as concise damage reports on all surviving fleet ships.
Karla had called an emergency meeting of the general staff plus a few others she had invited. This would be a war-planning meeting. In attendance were Admirals Teleck, Kalen, and Freeman, Rear Admirals Andrews, Tolsen, and Bennett, and Major Ackerman from Intelligence.
“You all have seen the data from Fleet Admiral Streth,” Karla began as she looked over the group. “He suffered major losses above the former Hocklyn fleet base before he could withdraw with what remained of First, Second, and Third Fleets.”
“Nearly seventy percent losses in the battle,” spoke Admiral Freeman, shaking his head in consternation. “He was fortunate to have escaped at all.”
“He destroyed seven AI ships and seriously damaged another,” Admiral Andrews pointed out. Richard was relieved to know that the new targeting systems and computer program had worked. “We now know if the AIs attack us here, we can destroy them.”
“But at what cost?” asked Admiral Telleck, arching his eyebrows. “I know it has always been the plan to lure the Hocklyns here and destroy them, but it might not be as easy as we think. I doubt if even Fleet Admiral Streth expected to suffer the heavy losses he did. Admiral Adler was killed in the last battle, and that is a serious loss.”
“I can assure you that he did not,” spoke Karla, shaking her head. She didn’t know if any other of her admirals could have gotten out with as many ships as Hedon had escaped with. “Admiral Adler died a hero, and that’s how he will be remembered.”
Everyone nodded in agreement as they remembered the brave and dedicated officer of the Fleet. He had sacrificed his life and ship for the Federation.
“It’s the AIs that are the problem,” Admiral Kalen stated with a heavy frown after a moment. “The defenses around New Tellus can handle almost any size Hocklyn fleet, but what will the AIs be bringing now that they know we can destroy their ships?”
“In the past the Hocklyns have always tried to use overwhelming force to accomplish their objectives,” Rear Admiral Tolsen pointed out, recalling the battles at Gliese 667C. “What if the AIs do the same thing?”
“We’re bringing in as many strikecruisers as we can,” responded Karla, knowing she was weakening many of the outer colonies. Only Earth and Ceres were being allowed to keep their full complements of strikecruisers. “There will be at least sixty strikecruisers in the system when the Hocklyns and AIs attack. The cruisers, along with the asteroid fortresses, should be able to handle the AIs.”
“Our asteroid fortresses are definitely capable of taking out AI ships,” Richard spoke with confidence. “The fortresses have enough Devastator Threes and advanced targeting systems to take on five AI ships simultaneously. If they get through the fleet, they won’t get through us.”
“What if they don’t attack New Tellus but go on to the heart of the new Federation?” Admiral Kalen asked worriedly as he looked at the others. He knew that Earth and Ceres could probably defend themselves, but none of the other systems had such massive fortifications.
All their plans had been based on the Hocklyns finding New Tellus first. That was why it was located twenty-seven light years farther in toward the center of the galaxy than Earth and most of the other Federation worlds.
“Admiral Streth intends to halt his fleets fifty light years from us and wait,” Karla explained patiently. She knew this would be a dangerous ploy on the admiral’s part. He didn’t have the ships to fight another major engagement against the Hocklyns and definitely not against the AIs.
“That could be dangerous,” spoke Richard, shaking his head. He knew he was letting his concern for Amanda sway his judgment, but he couldn’t help it. Amanda was his wife, and she was an integral part of Admiral Streth’s fleet.
“He will use his remaining scouts and allow them to be detected in an attempt to draw the advancing Hocklyn fleet to his position,” explained Karla. “Once they have found him, he will use a series of small jumps to lead them directly to New Tellus. He feels fairly certain they will follow him as he believes the Fleet Commodore in charge of the pursuing Hocklyn fleets will want to destroy what is left of the human fleets that invaded and captured the Hocklyn fleet base.”
“What about Admiral Strong and Careth?” Admiral Freeman asked. “From the data I have read, the Hocklyns are not as of yet massing a fleet to attack.”
“Not yet,” responded Major Ackerman. The intelligence officer took a deep breath and then continued. “We believe the Hocklyns and the AIs suffered far greater losses than they had projected in the battle with Fleet Admiral Streth. The Hocklyns have pulled nearly all of their ships from the Careth attack fleet to reinforce the one that Fleet Admiral Streth engaged. More ships are doubtlessly on their way to reinforce the Careth attack fleet, but it may be days or even weeks before they can gather a sufficient force to attack Admiral Strong.”
“Perhaps by then we can send a relief fleet,” Richard said not wanting to see the Avenger or any of the Special Five lost. He knew how important those young officers were to the Federation.
“What about the Hocklyn honor system?” Admiral Tolsen asked. “In the battles I had with the Hocklyns they were very careless in the use of their warships to uphold their honor. That does not seem to be the case in the most recent battles in Hocklyn space.”
“We believe the AIs have intervened,” Major Ackerman replied. “We also have reason to believe that this Fleet Commodore in charge of the Hocklyn fleet is more conservative about his ship losses and has suspended parts of that honor system, probably with the permission of their High Council.”
“What about the weapons on the Hocklyn ships?” asked Admiral Tolsen, wanting as much information as possible before he had to go into battle. “How much stronger are the Hocklyn ships due to their recent upgrades?”
“Some,” Major Ackerman responded. “Their energy screens are perhaps twenty percent more powerful than before and their energy beams seem to be nearly as strong as our power beams.”
“It puts our ships on an even footing,” said Karla, wanting everyone to know that they would have a battle on their hands. “But they will be far from home when they attack us and our sources of supply will be close by. We will have a nearly unlimited supply of Devastator Three missiles on hand, and we will use them as needed.”
The group continued to meet for another two hours and then finally broke up to go their separate ways. Admiral Telleck and Fleet Admiral Johnson made their way to one of the large observation rooms on the outer hull of the space station. They stood looking out past the heavily reinforced quartz glass windows with their titanium frames. The few regular crewmembers that had been in the observation room had discreetly left upon seeing the two admirals enter.
“The war is nearly upon us,” Admiral Teleck commented as he stood next to Karla. In the distance, he could see his flagship, the battlecruiser Ceres. “How close to completion is your new fleet flagship?” Teleck knew a new battleship was under construction in one of the massive ship construction bays inside the station.
“It’s done,” replied Karla, recalling her inspection tour of the new ship only the day before. “It still needs some cosmetic work on the inside, but its drive systems and weapons are ready. I’ve already given the order that it is to be ready to deploy tomorrow. Commander Remus will be giving the ship a quick shakedown cruise around the New Tellus system as well as testing her weapons.”
“Have you chosen a name for it?” asked Teleck, curiously. The only other battleship they had was the StarStrike and that name was legendary.
“The Tellus,” Karla replied in a soft voice. “We named it the Tellus and someday I hope to see your old home worlds from her Command Center.”
Teleck nodded, he knew that Fleet Admiral
Streth would soon test that statement. If they were successful in defeating the coming attack against the Hocklyns and the AIs, there was no doubt that the legendary Fleet Admiral would want to return to the old Federation and free those worlds. For quite some time, the two stood in silence looking out the viewports at the stars. It seemed so peaceful, but both knew that would soon change.
-
President Kincaid was fuming. He had just come from a Federation Council meeting, and Senator Fulbright had been at his best being demanding and critical of the Fleet. He was still insisting that even more ships be rushed to his world before the Hocklyns arrived at New Tellus. He had been quick to point out that if the Fleet lost at New Tellus there might not be enough ships left to deploy to protect his planet. This had caused several other Federation senators to demand the same for their worlds. Kincaid knew they were starting to panic as the Hocklyns and AIs neared. In some ways, he could hardly blame them.
Kincaid had finally agreed to speak to Admiral Johnson and see if several of the new battle stations could be rushed to Serenity. That seemed to placate the senator for now, or at least until the next meeting. He also told the other senators that several of the new battle stations would be rushed to their worlds as soon as they became available. That seemed to calm everyone down, but there were still numerous questions about the losses Fleet Admiral Streth had suffered as well as the impending attack.
Kincaid knew that the sheer magnitude of the losses had stunned the senators, particularly since Fleet Admiral Streth had been in charge. If the Hocklyns and the AIs could do this to the legendary Fleet Admiral, what would happen when they arrived at the Federation?
Earlier in the day, he had called in the ambassadors of the Alliance and explained to them the current situation and what had happened with Operation First Strike. All had accepted that the Hocklyns and AIs would soon arrive and had gone off to notify their respective governments. Now President Kincaid had another appointment with an ambassador he had not spoken with for quiet some time. The Albanian Ambassador had requested an immediate audience.
The Slaver Wars: Retaliation (The Slaver Wars Book Five) Page 27