Captain Newman said, "In that case, we will send over a shuttle craft to pick up your diplomats and bring them over. Please advise me on how many diplomats are to be brought here?"
"There are six diplomats representing the Galan Council of Planets," replied Wartain Spelcok. "I presume you will assume full responsibility for their safety."
"We will," replied Captain Newman, "provided their space suits are adequate. Be prepared to send your diplomats as soon as our shuttle arrives. It will be there soon."
Wartain Spelcok replied, "My diplomats do not like to be kept waiting. Make sure that you do not do so. We take that as an insult."
Captain Newman switched his transmission channel to the Spielberg and said, "Launch your fighter to pick up Galan diplomats. There should be six of them."
"Roger, Plato. Fighter on its way now. Have the Galan ship stand out from the others so the fighter crew will know which one to go to."
"Affirmative. I'll notify them." Captain Newman switched back to the Galan channel and called, "Have the ship with the diplomats on board move forward towards the shuttle for transfer of diplomats."
"This is Wartain Spelcok! Where did that new ship come from? It was not on our sensors a moment ago! What kind of trick is this?"
Captain Newman chuckled for a moment before he answered. "That shuttle was inside one of our ships and was launched to pick up your diplomats. You might think it a toy, but we find uses even for toys."
Wartain Spelcok asked, "What was that strange noise you made before answering?"
Captain Newman thought for a moment before he realized part of his chuckle was transmitted. He answered, "That was me chuckling. I found your alarm to be amusing. Sorry."
"You found me amusing! Would you like for me to fire on your ship with my squadron? Would you find that amusing?" Wartain Spelcok replied.
Newman replied, "Yes, I found your response amusing. However, I wouldn't recommend that you try firing on my ship. Otherwise, you might find you've bitten off a bit more than you can handle."
"Your one puny warship? Hah! Send it out away from your ship and let my squadron show it how to fight!" Wartain Spelcok almost shouted back.
Captain Newman replied, "Wartain Spelcok, I take it that you believe in fair fights then?"
"That is not a fair fight?" Wartain Spelcok replied.
"Not hardly. After all, those are only cadets on that ship. They're still in training. Do you really think that it would be fair if you have only one squadron to face them with? Wouldn't you rather have two? That might even up the odds a bit," replied Captain Newman.
"You dare insult me? You suggest that your cadets are better than my warriors?" Wartain Spelcok shouted.
Captain Newman said, "I'm not insulting you. I just think that you're getting out on a limb. Would you rather that I even up the odds the other way?"
"You have more ships?" Wartain Spelcok asked with suspicion in his voice.
Captain Newman replied, "That's right, Wartain Spelcok. We have more ships. Would you care to see some of them?"
The Wartain answered, "Yes. I do not likes sneaks in space!"
Mr. Harrelman nodded to Captain Newman. Captain Newman switched to another channel. "Dust Bunny, this is Plato. Move in for Operation Impress Your New Neighbors."
Captain Savala transmitted, "On our way." She turned and said, "Helm, full speed for the negotiation site."
The Dust Bunny almost leaped as she went from a cruising planetary speed to a battle speed. She was only operating at the fringe of her own sensor range and knew where all the ships were located. Not one of the other two governments' ships had sensed her presence. As she moved in, the Carpenter shifted to a blocking position between the support ships and the negotiation site.
***
"Wartain Newman, what is that ship coming this way?" Wartain Spelcok asked.
"That is one of our ships. Her crew is also in training," Captain Newman replied as he noted to Mr. Harrelman that Wartain was a title and not part of the other man's name.
Mr. Harrelman nodded and made his own computer entry note about that.
The Dust Bunny slowed down at the last moment and moved near the negotiation area, letting both the Greens and Galans see her actual size up close.
"Like her, Wartain Spelcok?" asked Captain Newman.
The Wartain replied, "Your new ship is big, but can it fight?"
Captain Newman responded, "Yes, it can fight and it has fought. It has fought against ships bigger than it and smaller than yours. It has won, obviously, since it is here now."
The Wartain replied, "You talk like you rule the universe. I do not believe what you have to say. Let us arrange a fight and find out."
Captain Newman said, "Perhaps a demonstration would be more in order, Wartain Spelcok. How about if the Dust Bunny and your squadron find an asteroid field and see who is the better shot? We came here in peace, not to fight."
"Being a better shot means nothing if you do not have the firepower," Wartain Spelcok replied loudly.
Captain Newman said, "That remains to be seen, Wartain Spelcok. Tell you what, you pick the target and we'll pick the range to fire from. Then you tell me about whether accuracy is important or whether more firepower is still more important. We'll even let all your ships fire on their asteroid target at the same time. You have nothing to lose that way, except your boasts."
Wartain Spelcok replied, "You sound like you are planning some kind of trick like with your toy."
"Nothing you won't be able to see for yourself, Wartain," said Captain Newman.
Captain Savala called, "Tell them that there's an asteroid in sector G3. We can hit it from here."
Newman replied, "Captain Savala, how much of your range is left beyond it?"
Savala answered, "About ten percent."
"Too close to your real limits. You'll have to fire at it from a closer location. Understand?" Captain Newman said.
Savala answered, "I think I do."
Newman then said, "Also, I think we better let them find the asteroids. I don't want them knowing how sensitive our sensors are just yet."
"Understood," replied Captain Savala.
Captain Newman said, "Wartain Spelcok, I've been in communication with the captain of the Dust Bunny. She is more than willing to shoot from extreme range at an asteroid if you can find some."
Wartain Spelcok replied, "She? What is this she? You have female cadets?"
Captain Newman said, "What of it, Wartain Spelcok? Are you afraid of being bettered by a female who's only the wartain of her ship? The cadets are not all women. Most are men, but we train women who are willing to undergo the same course as the men. She is no man's inferior. Certainly not yours."
The Wartain answered, "I think you try to insult me again."
Captain Newman replied, "Wartain Spelcok, I think you look for excuses not to compete in shooting. I think you're full of shit when it comes to putting up or shutting up. You're beginning to realize that you won't win. Am I right?"
Wartain Spelcok asked, "What is putting up or shutting up?"
Captain Newman replied, "That means either take the challenge or quit complaining about being insulted. Now either find some asteroids to fire at or shut up and stand off while the negotiations are going on."
Mr. Harrelman said, "Good! That should keep them occupied. When they report the results to their diplomats, then we'll start to get somewhere with them. The Greens already have some respect for us because of how we treated them. Thank god it was they we rescued and not the Galans. The Galans, judging by their psy-profile, would have insisted on going to war for that."
***
It was over an hour later when the Galans reported the same couple of asteroids where the Dust Bunny was able to spot a large asteroid from long range sensing. When it was reported, Captain Savala gave the helm instructions to approach to two-thirds range. Then she radioed Captain Newman and told him her ship was ready.
"Wartain Spelcok, move y
our squadron to the side of the Dust Bunny and begin to fire on the large asteroid."
Wartain Spelcok replied, "At that distance? You are crazy! No one can hit that large asteroid from that range!"
"Dust Bunny," said Captain Newman, "open fire."
Captain Savala pressed the intercom switch and said, "Gun station A1, fire!"
"We can, Wartain Spelcok. Would you care to move closer and inspect what's left of the asteroid?" said Captain Newman.
Wartain Spelcok replied, "They missed it! We didn't see them hit it!"
Captain Newman replied back, "You better move in closer and inspect it visually then. I think you'll find that the large asteroid isn't so large anymore."
"We don't have to move in close to see that she missed. Her fire never even reached it!" Wartain Spelcok yelled back.
"Dust Bunny, move out for Operation Make Your New Neighbors Sweat."
Captain Savala replied, "Affirmative."
Captain Newman called Wartain Spelcok again. "The Dust Bunny is moving to a distance from your squadron that's equal to the distance it destroyed the asteroid from. Which ship of yours would you like destroyed?"
"What! You would order your ship to fire on my squadron?" Wartain Spelcok almost screamed.
Captain Newman replied calmly, "You'll be allowed to fire back from the same distance. You ought to be safe since you swear that the Dust Bunny didn't hit the asteroid. If it didn't hit the asteroid at that distance, then you ought to be safe. Right?"
Spelcok replied, "I would think on this, Wartain Newman."
Mr. Harrelman said, "I would hope that he does. Can they put a shot right between them at that range?"
"Probably, but are you sure you want them to do that?" Captain Newman asked.
Harrelman answered, "I am, but not until a little later. We might have to make Wartain Spelcok mess his pants. It might be just the ice-breaker the negotiations need to get going in earnest. Right now their diplomats are stalling. It won't mean a thing in their war, but they won't want to piss us off, either, after an appropriate demonstration. They'll be eager to trade and establish other suitable ties until they think they're better than us. By then we should have convinced them that's not the way to go about it."
***
Harrelman said, "Captain Newman, have them put a shot right among the Galan squadron."
"Yes sir, Mr. Harrelman." Captain Newman transmitted to the Dust Bunny. "Put a shot right in between their ships. Don't make it too close to any of them."
Captain Savala switched on the intercom. "Gun station A1, fire in between the Galan squadron."
The bolt went right between the Galan squadron and immediately got results from them.
"Wartain Newman, who fired at us?"
"Wartain Spelcok, the Dust Bunny fired one shot between your squadron ships. She'll fire another one in just a few moments, so don't start moving about. You doubted they could hit anything at that range. Right now, they're proving they can also miss. Get ready now, here it comes," Captain Newman replied as he watched his chronometer.
The second bolt passed almost in the same exact spot among the Galan squadron.
Wartain Spelcok shouted back, "You are right! Have them stop! They destroyed the asteroid! What now?"
"The Dust Bunny won't fire anymore shots in your direction," replied Captain Newman.
Spelcok asked, "Wartain Newman! What do we do now?"
Mr. Harrelman said, "Let them sweat. They'll contact their diplomats now for certain and let them have the bad news."
"It's a good thing they don't know the fighters are fighters or they'd swear that we sneaked one out there to destroy the asteroid," Captain Newman said.
"You mean they actually fired from that distance?" asked Mr. Harrelman.
Captain Newman asked, "You thought it was a trick?"
***
Negotiations soon appeared serious between the diplomats from the Union and those from the two newly discovered peoples. Admiral Oden wasn't at all sure of the demonstration the diplomats arranged for the Galans, which the Greens also saw. Something about it just kept eating at him and he quickly isolated it. Instantly, he saw where the Union went wrong. He called Captain Savala over and briefed her, explaining what was likely to happen and what she should do since this was a situation she wasn't yet prepared for.
"Are you sure, Admiral?" she asked.
"I'm sure enough that I'm telling you this so we won't, pardon the expression, be caught with our collective pants down," he replied.
"No offense taken, Admiral. I've gotten used to both deliberate and coincidental remarks like that around me," she said.
Dave said, "Okay. Keep this to the strict minimum number of personnel for now. Just squadron ship captains, first officers, sensor ops, and communications. Whoever tries will probably try to approach from the other side so that we'll think it's the other guy," he continued to explain. "When it happens, I'll take control of the squadron simply because the diplomats won't dare to confront me. They'd certainly confront you and we can't spare any wasted time when we begin moving. We'll probably be outnumbered forty or fifty to one since they don't really care whether we survive or not. They just want our technology. That they can get, if theirs is anywhere near ours and I'm sure both of theirs are."
"Okay, Admiral. I can understand why you're going to take over. Which side do you think will try to attack us?" she asked.
"Galan will. It's in their psychological make-up. I'm not discounting the Greens, but they came in nice and friendly. They didn't ask to see anything or have anything proved to them. I think they realize that they can get what they need through trade. From what I understand, they sat down and negotiated in earnest without any quibbling. Galan, on the other hand, fears that we'll tip the balance," he said.
"We'll keep a sharp watch. Anything else?" she asked.
"Yes, have the squadron deploy in accordance with the plan I've worked up. You'll find it on your terminal. It's titled Paravoid Two," he replied.
"Paravoid Two? Why'd you title it that?" she asked.
"Because we have almost nothing. The only difference is that we're not running a bluff this time," he replied.
***
"Destroyer Lucas to Dust Bunny. Destroyer Lucas to Dust Bunny. Sensor reading indicates large quantity of ships passing just in front of us from Galan space to Green area."
"Captain Savala! Destroyer Lucas is calling us with a sensor reading of warships leaving Galan territory and entering Green territory. Is this it?" asked Jane.
Admiral Oden overheard Jane and switched on his full battle console in front of him. He placed his headset on and toggled it to transmit. "This is Admiral Oden to Plato."
"Captain Newman here, Admiral."
"Captain, you're on your own. The Galans are playing dirty. I'm taking over the squadron to meet them in battle. Advise Mr. Harrelman and keep both the Greens and Galans now on board Plato there with you. They're probably your only insurance against attack." Admiral Oden then switched to a tactical channel and said, "Plan Paravoid Two is now in effect."
Captain Savala was watching the admiral for his nod. She saw him look at her deliberately and nod. She pressed a switch and red lights came on with an alarm. She picked up her headset and adjusted it before speaking calmly. "Battle stations. Battle stations. The Galans are trying to encircle us. Fire only on Galan ships."
Almost instantly, if twenty seconds could be considered instant for the time it took the first gunner to reach his station and switch it on, the gun stations on the Dust Bunny moved to fire on the Galan squadron and score hits.
Wartain Spelcok came on the communications channel quite quickly. "I demand to know why your ship is firing on my squadron!"
Admiral Oden switched to speak using the interpreter program. "This is Admiral Oden. We are firing on your squadron because a large number of your navy's warships have been spotted trying to encircle us. We consider that an act of war. Now you'll see just what Captain Newman tried to w
arn you against."
The Galan warships sluggishly tried to move out of range of the Dust Bunny, but they were trying to move from a relative position to the Plato while the Union warships had remained constantly on the move the whole time. Behind the Dust Bunny, the Spielberg left the Plato and headed to join with the other ships of the squadron to form up and take on the other Galan warships. The Dust Bunny stayed only long enough to disable the Galan squadron before she left the area hot on the heels of the Spielberg.
***
Even though Wartain Spelcok warned his navy's ships, they continued to circle around to come in on the Union ships at the negotiation site. They were met head on by the Union squadron with all eight fighters deployed. The two support ships and transport kept the squadron's rear secure while the Dust Bunny flanked on three sides by its destroyers headed across the Galan warships' front. Off to the Galan flank, the eight fighters screamed in on their first attack run.
Quite easily, the Union warships and fighters maintained their distance, using their longer ranging weapons to disable the Galan warships without suffering any hits from the massive return fire that the Galan fleet ineffectively threw back. Being out of range didn't keep the Galans from trying, but it did keep them from hitting.
The battle was over inside of a half-hour. The Galan fleet wound up strewn across a wide swath of space. They were all drifting in the same direction, unable to change their plans, behaving just as the Greens had said they would.
Quietly, the Union squadron retrieved its fighters and returned to the negotiation site, somewhat more distant now from the disabled Galan squadron. The Dust Bunny led the way and the Union squadron took up positions around the Plato.
"This is Admiral Oden calling Plato."
"Captain Newman here. I received the patch-in from your sensors. Thanks for not destroying them. It's been like all hell broke loose here since you went into action. The Galan diplomats have been in constant contact with their forces and their faces got pale, I'd swear, even if they are scaly. They just went back to the table before you got back here. They seemed very disappointed."
"I'm glad they're disappointed. That means we're all still alive. We're going to deploy in a wide perimeter now. Let us know when the Galans are ready to transfer back to their ships," replied Admiral Oden.
Paravoid (Rust Bucket Universe) Page 17