by Chris Hechtl
“Jobs, income … yes. I suppose it is,” the reporter agreed.
“We might open a satellite yard in Senka later if the war turns around again,” Faith drawled. The admiral nodded. Smart Faith, he said with a mental salute to her. She was keeping that option open. He took a sip of coffee. “I've got faith in Admiral Irons. He'll see it done.” She touched the side of her nose as she smiled slightly. “You hear that, John? Get'er'done!”
The interviewer chuckled politely. So did the admiral. “Back to you in the studio, Barry,” the reporter said as the camera turned on her.
Admiral Irons sat back and smiled slightly. It was one small spot of good news to help brighten his day … and tell people life was still going on.
“A nice way to start the day,” Admiral Irons said, saluting Cookie with his mug as she cleared the dishes. He tucked the tablet under his arm and rose. “See you …”
“Lunch. Eleven thirty sharp,” she retorted.
“Yes, ma’am,” he replied with a boyish grin.
“Off with you now. Stay out of trouble,” she ordered.
He shook his head, still smiling. “Easier said than done,” he said as he got out of her clutches. He nodded to Captain Burrows outside the hatch. “A bit early to be seeing you, but okay. Shall we gentlemen?” he asked, noting the others in his escort.
“Aye aye, sir,” the captain said, signaling through his implants that they were moving out.
:::{)(}:::
Captain Megeire of the light carrier Illustrious led her reinforcement convoy out of hyperspace into the Kathy's World star system in an explosion of light and energy. “Secure from jump,” Meg said, turning her feline eyes on the helm team.
“Aye, ma'am, secure from jump.”
“CIC, sensor report. All clear. All ships accounted for,” a rating called out.
Meg nodded as the plot stabilized and started to populate as their sensors went active. Things were looking up. She had loved being a bomber pilot, but there hadn't been many in the early build-up days of Pyrax. Eventually she'd been squeezed out and talked into taking on a gunship command. That had led to a corvette, then a frigate. By that time she'd risen through the ranks so high that she couldn't go back to the bombers when they went back into production. So, she'd reluctantly stayed the course but with an eye to handle fighters and bombers. She'd been XO on a fighter fortress before her new assignment, skippering the first Pyrax-built light cruiser.
It wasn't quite love at first sight. She still missed her hands on the actual controls, but she enjoyed being back in the community of her own choice none the less.
“Alert five launched,” the deck officer reported.
“IFF challenge,” a rating replied.
“IFF transmission,” “The Lady” replied instantly as her captain opened her mouth. Meg's ears went back a moment as she closed her mouth and wiggled her whiskers. The Lady was a bit of a mouthful for the ship's A.I., but she'd chosen it on her own. She was dressed in a shimmering white medieval dress, long sleeves, long blond hair and a veil. Her partner, Juggler, was much more flamboyant. He handled fighter OPS with the CAG, Lieutenant Commander Bill Paxton.
“Ma'am, we're getting a priority movement order,” the comm rating reported.
“Send it to my station,” the captain ordered. She saw Reggie, her XO look at her but she waved his concerned look off. She could trust him to handle the ship as she read the movement orders.
Her ears went flat when she read the terse report of the battle of B-97A in the opening paragraphs. When she got to the part where the admiral ordered them to expedite the movement to Protodon at flank speed, she paused her read to look up.
“Nav, plot a least time course to the Protodon jump point—max speed. We need to get there. Also, we're going to need to pull out all the stops in hyper,” she said.
“Ma'am?” Reggie asked, looking at her.
“Just do it,” she growled.
“Ma'am, second message coming in. It's from the president's office. Civilian encryption. It's an open header,” The Lady reported.
“Play it,” the captain said as she continued to read.
“To the Illustrious group from President and Lieutenant Colonel Moira White Wolf. Safe sailing, good hunting. Message ends.” The A.I. stated.
“Understood. Obviously we can't stop as we'd planned,” the captain said. She finished a second read of her orders.
“Ma'am, some of the ships can't keep up with our best speed,” the navigator warned.
“Then they will follow at their own best speed. All warships except Cheeser and Clawful are to form on Illustrious and move out now. Cheeser and Clawful are detached to escort the remaining ships to Protodon at their best speed,” she finished.
“Ma'am, we're getting inquiries from the other ship captains,” the A.I. stated.
“I'll handle it,” Meg replied as she downloaded the movement orders to her XO and CAG's inbox. “Reggie, you've got mail. Lady, let Bill know he's got it too,” Meg said.
“Aye aye, ma’am,” the A.I. replied.
“This isn't going to go over well,” Reggie said, reading the movement orders. He froze when he read about the battle, and then whistled.
“Yes. Bad. We need to get to Protodon fast.”
“Another battle, ma'am?” Lieutenant Lexi, the navigator asked.
“You could say that. And another about to happen. So, we've got a date,” Meg said. “The army group and the supplies will have to toddle along at their own speed. I'll write orders for them to be careful when they jump into Protodon,” she stated.
“I'd say that's wise. Did they say dreadnaughts??” Reggie asked, shaking his head.
“Yes,” the captain said, ears flat once more as she noted the statement's effect on her crew. “Ships are moving in behind us as well as from Antigua to support.”
“March to the sound of the guns indeed, ma'am. I can see why the army isn't really needed here,” the XO stated.
“Yes. We'll prepare a statement for the fleet in a moment,” she said. “After we brief the officers,” she said.
“Aye aye, ma’am,” the XO stated dutifully.
“Course plotted, ma'am,” Lexi said in a subdued voice.
“Then get us there. Pronto,” the captain ordered.
The First Army Brigade was also en route to Protodon as a part of the convoy. The army group had been picked up in Agnosta by two borrowed Marine transports that had recently been finished in Pyrax, along with others currently carrying Marines to Destria. The Army Brigade and their equipment were carried on the transports Okinawa and General Elliot. General Elliot, as the designated command ship, was running light. She also carried a short platoon of replacement Marines as well as two squadrons of pilots and mechanics intended to be run through the Lone Wolf Militia Finishing School.
Two tenders carrying assault craft and gear, along with a gaggle of freighters of various sizes, were also a part of the convoy. They were led by Sabrina 99, one of the ships that made the Agnosta to Protodon run on a regular basis. Now those ships would be dependent on the two corvettes for their escort for the last leg of their journey.
Making the snap decision to take her light carrier and two destroyers ahead was easy on paper; orders were orders and were meant to be obeyed. However, leaving the vulnerable and unarmed ships behind … that was something she didn't like. Something that might haunt her should anything go wrong. Her ships were racing to join the defense of Protodon, but if they arrived too late they could be picked off in the star system and the convoy could jump into a trap.
Something told her that she was going to have some restless nights for the entire trip to Protodon, Meg thought grimly.
:::{)(}:::
Moira White Wolf, President of Kathy's World, stepped out onto the balcony to look up to the night sky. It wasn't a perfect night; there were some high clouds blocking out some of the view. But she knew somewhere up there a bunch of ships were moving out, racing to join their battered fell
ows in a neighboring system.
All to keep the barbarians at bay to keep them from coming here. She knew her staff and some of the public who knew about the small convoy were feeling relief at seeing them pass through, even though they weren't going to stop as intended. It would be a slight downtick on their economy, but so be it. And the kids who were waiting to go to Protodon, and then on to Antigua, well, they would understand, even if they'd resent missing out on the battle.
Tough, so did she. But the battle to come would be a naval one, not something any Marine should have to endure. But they'd do it anyway; that was their job. And they'd be there afterwards, boarding ships and searching for survivors.
Those that survived at any rate, she thought bleakly as she stared at the uncaring stars.
She would only feel relief once she knew those ships had gotten to Protodon safely and when she knew the enemy had been beaten off or destroyed.
:::{)(}:::
Lieutenant Colonel Dana Harley looked out from her office to the virtual window to the outside. With a mental flick, she sent a command to the window to highlight ships and label them. She smiled as she recognized a few of them.
She liked the General Murtough. The Marine command and support ship she was on was one of the best, designed for her people and for what they were trained to do, invade and subdue planets. She just wished there were more like her.
Riding out on the command ship's flank was the Chester Puller, the first Marine transport that had been built. She'd instantly picked up the name Chesty. There had been some double entende there for some who didn't know who the general had been. Beyond and behind her was one of the captured Horathian transports that the navy had refitted and repurposed, along with two Liberty class tenders with alpha numeric names, and beyond them but trailing them was a tiny Dora class carrying an ansible core.
She knew that ahead of them was the Arboth class destroyer Duty and Honor. Out of sight on General Murtough's port side was the Iwo Jima, sister ship to Chester Puller. Behind and slightly above her would be the Liberty class naval hospital ship the Colonel Harper Collins. Below Iwo Jima and slightly behind was another of the captured Horathian transports, this one carrying government aid workers, along with another two Liberty class tenders, along with a small Dora class carrying supplies for the government aid workers to help them help the population rebuild once the planet was secure.
And behind them all, playing stern sheep dog was the Arboth class Throat Slasher. The Naga named ship evoked some wary emotions from those not on board her. Hopefully she wouldn't be needed beyond the occasional orbital suppression mission.
She wasn't certain about the mix, but she was glad that the troops were all Marines. The three purpose-built Marine transports carried her division of troops and most of their equipment. Each of the transports carried a brigade of troops. The ships were built for the load; they had the facilities to keep the Marines up to shape and content even though they had to hot-bunk.
One of the captured transport ships, the one along her starboard side, had been refitted to act as a carrier barge for a small air cav company. The air cav was a mix of assault shuttles, drones, and marine attack craft. They'd come in handy on Destria though she knew the parasite craft were light on ordinance and maintenance teams. Not to mention parts, though she had some of the key codes to rectify that.
Ten thousand troops of various species spread out in the three ships. Ten thousand, the largest deployment of Marines of the reborn Federation. All of them ready and eager to fight. But worryingly to her, not many had yet been blooded. Hopefully Destria wouldn't be too much of a baptism of fire, she mused darkly.
What really bugged her was that she was extremely light on powered armor. Destria was supposed to be defended by a brigade or two of mixed infantry and support, along with any scratch local militias … so hopefully it wouldn't be a problem she mused. Hopefully, she thought again, briefly looking away from the view.
General Murtough had an extensive sensor and communication suite. She was looking forward to taking full advantage of them. The ship also carried a selection of kinetic weapons as well. Again, hopefully they wouldn't be needed, but if they were, they would be used she vowed. And she could call on fire from the two destroyers when needed as well.
She had a small number of satellites in the command ship's hold as well. They would be the first to be deployed and would help with the command ship's eyes and ears. More satellites would be deployed once they were dug out of the holds of the Liberty ships.
All in all, it was a better organized, better outfitted invasion force that had been fielded from Agnosta than any other. Certainly better than the scratch forces initially thrown at Protodon and Hidoshi's World! She shook her head. Her division would get to play with the toys even before Colonel Pendeckle did she thought with a slight coveted smirk. She was pretty sure the pirates on Destria wouldn't appreciate all the effort they were throwing their way on their behalf. Tough.
She'd scored the command over Valenko because her division had been stood up longer than his. That was pretty much the only reason, she thought as her smirk faded. Despite getting a late start, that damn teddy bear had outclassed them all in short order. She wondered briefly what Jersey had in mind for him.
She shook her head. If she was getting the easy mission … she shuddered to think what he was going to be thrown at. Hopefully they'd be blooded first!
“Ma'am, we're still not receiving anything from the planet,” the ship's A.I. reported.
“Sensors get anything new?” she asked, looking up.
“No, ma'am. Actives are useless at this distance.”
“Very well. Keep me posted.”
“Aye aye, ma’am,” the A.I. stated, cutting the circuit.
The colonel nodded. In a few days they'd get their real test. Sims, training, it was all over. Across her small convoy the Marines were putting on their final preparations to go to war.
It was time she did so too, she thought, rising out of her chair.
:::{)(}:::
On Tuesday Liobat announced that the Treasury Department had worked out a series of low interest loans to Antigua Prime as well as to Yard Dog Inc. and ET's new ETMI shipyard cooperative in order to facilitate expansion of their yards to the point where they could build Dora, Liberty, and Cervidae class tenders.
The three ship classes could be used by civilian shipping as well as long as they were built with civilian grade components. The announcement came with a joint agreement between Antigua Prime and Yard Dog Inc. as well as the local Antigua and ET factories. The space station and groundside factories would build the common parts for all three classes and sell them to the yards for assembly. They would also be able to stockpile components and sell them on the open market as well.
All three ship classes had modular flexibility to be customized as needed. They could therefore be outfitted as liners, hospital ships, troop transports, freighters, tankers, ansible transports, couriers, or other craft.
Also, a trio of civilian industrial inspectors would be hired by the Federation Government. They would issue keys and licenses to build the components that the various industrial concerns lacked. They would do so at low cost initially and then the price would rise later.
In order to pay for the low interest loans and initial hyperdrive components, the various concerns would supply the government with a number of ships and components at 10 percent above cost in order to retire the loans.
All three yards were flooded with interest from merchant houses and ships, as well as wealthy or just interested individuals within moments of the announcement. They, the station, and the groundside factories that were mentioned were inundated by people desiring to be hired. The public share prices for each of the companies soared in value.
:::{)(}:::
Once his ship finished her latest refit and resupply, Argus with Captain SG Junior Valdez at the controls formed up with her small battle group of ships. They had orders to head to Pro
todon at their best speed. Captain Valdez realized that they wouldn't get there before the Horathians arrived but had no intention of slowing down. He'd even been tempted to get his people to try to make hyper skips, but he'd left the idea unsaid. The risk and damage to the ships wasn't justified despite the urgency of the situation he knew.
No, they'd just have to get there in time to clean up what was left he thought grimly as his ship made its way to the Agnosta jump point.
:::{)(}:::
With so much going on and the medical situation under control on the planet, the hospital ship Good Hope and most of the America carrier group was recalled from ET to Pyrax for other duties. The ships carried a large group of recruits for all three branches of the military with them. The Marine and army recruits would be shipped to Agnosta once they arrived in Pyrax.
America herself remained in port with a small picket force to watch over the rebuilding of the star system like a stellar hawk.
:::{)(}:::
Commander Vestri Sindri worked with Lieutenant Commander Yao Li Wong and some of the senior staff on a thorny problem, one that had vexed them for some time. They again dusted off a plan to dismantle the Lemnos Research Station. The plan was to dismantle and ship the complex first to Antigua for refit, then on to Pyrax and Bek to modernize and broaden their industrial abilities.
However, the threat of the Xeno Wraith again shelved the plan. There was no telling how extensive the alien A.I. had infiltrated and sabotaged the complex. The cost of the move would be prohibitive, as would be the expense of refitting the modules, and the security risk to Antigua and the reborn federation was high.
Too high in Admiral Sienkov, Captain Sprite, and Admiral Irons' estimation to be worthy of undertaking the task. The plan was shelved once more.