by Ryk Brown
Cameron did not look pleased. “And how do you expect to get in touch with her? Are you just going to show up at the base and flash a smile at the guard?”
“It’s not like I don’t have some inside connections,” Nathan reminded her. “I got a message to you, didn’t I?”
* * *
Admiral Galiardi entered the briefing room at the Alliance Command Center deep inside Port Terra, moving quickly to his seat at the head of the table. Per the admiral’s request, there were no salutes, or other payments of respect due his rank, offered by his subordinates. This was the room where he conducted business. This was the room where his people told him what they thought, and he did not want rank and protocol to interfere with that, at least not with these men and women.
“Good afternoon, people,” Galiardi greeted in routine fashion as he took his seat. “Admiral Marchon?” he asked, calling to the man sitting to his left.
“The number of warships that have departed the Jung primary systems, and that we no longer track, has increased to forty-seven.”
“Any change in their battle platforms?” Admiral Galiardi asked.
“None. The eight platforms that we know of have not changed their positions, nor have they shown any signs of increased activity that might indicate they were preparing to depart.”
“For all we know, they are always ready to depart without notice,” Admiral Paretti commented, tapping her stylus on the table in her usual nervous fashion.
“Battle platforms are not rapid-response ships,” Admiral Marchon replied. “However, she has a point. The usual traffic we see between the Jung battle platforms and their support worlds may simply be maintaining a constant state of readiness.”
“We should assume all Jung forces are in a constant state of readiness,” Admiral Paretti insisted.
“I thought that we were,” Admiral Marchon replied.
“The Jung will not move their battle platforms,” Admiral Galiardi insisted. “They are their most valuable assets and they will not use them offensively.”
“They know we can take them out with super KKVs,” Admiral Paretti interjected.
“But they also know that we would not do so unless an all-out war breaks out,” Galiardi pointed out.
“If they do move those battle platforms, it will be because they are expecting us to attack them,” another admiral added. “And in that case, they will move them toward Earth.”
“Admiral Lewell is correct,” Admiral Galiardi said. “In fact, I believe that if the Jung suspect that we are about to attack, they will send their battle platforms into FTL and attempt to have them all come out as close to Earth as possible, so that we cannot launch our super KKVs against them for fear of destroying ourselves. That is why I am recommending a full strike on those platforms.”
The room became quiet for a moment.
“Scott will never approve it,” Admiral Marchon commented. “Neither will the council.”
“The council just might,” Admiral Paretti said.
“The council follows Scott’s lead,” Admiral Marchon argued.
“Not always,” Admiral Galiardi insisted. “Not if given enough reason.”
“You’re talking about attacking the Jung’s greatest military assets…the pride of their fleet,” Admiral Lewell said. “That will cause them to retaliate…in force. Hell, I’m surprised they haven’t already.”
“For all we know, they may be about to,” Galiardi replied. “They could have been cold-coasting ships deep into our territory for years now. Even if they haven’t, we’ve still only got a one-year buffer between them and us. If they haven’t sent ships already, they will, whether we launch a preemptive strike against their battle platforms or not.”
“But sir,” Admiral Paretti began to argue.
“There are forty-seven Jung warships missing,” Admiral Galiardi reminded them all. “And that’s not including the ones we never knew about. For all we know, there are twice as many unaccounted for.”
“Which is precisely why a preemptive strike against their battle platforms is a bad idea,” Admiral Paretti insisted. “We still don’t know why the Jung haven’t launched an all-out offensive against the nearest Alliance worlds. They’ve got at least eight ships within twelve-days travel of Mu Cassiopeiae. And it would be a proportional response on their part.”
“Except for the fact that they encroached on our space to begin with,” Galiardi said. “In clear violation of the cease-fire.”
“We don’t know that,” Admiral Paretti argued.
“They were Jung ships,” Admiral Marchon snapped.
“Have you forgotten that we have a Jung ship?” Admiral Paretti countered. “Would you blame the Jung if Captain Roselle took the Benakh and attacked Earth?”
“Please…”
“What reason would the Jung have to sneak around Alliance space and risk another war?”
“They’re Jung!” Admiral Marchon exclaimed. “They cannot accept defeat. In their minds, we took what was rightfully theirs!”
“How was Earth, and all the other worlds of the core, rightfully theirs?” Admiral Paretti asked.
“The Jung believe they have the right to take everything!”
“People,” Admiral Galiardi interrupted. “All I care about are the facts. And the facts are that ships of Jung design, and likely belonging to the Jung, entered Alliance space illegally and engaged our ships. That is a clear act of aggression. I don’t care if these actions were sanctioned by the Jung leadership, or if they were the acts of rogue elements of the Jung military castes. All I care about are Alliance assets and Alliance worlds. If we wait for the Jung to make the next move, that move may be to launch an all-out attack against Earth, using sleeper ships that have been coasting their way in and laying in wait for years.”
“That would have required most of their journey be in FTL, Admiral,” Admiral Lewell pointed out. “We would have detected their FTL signatures.”
“Not if they took an indirect route for most of the journey, and cold-coasted the last part,” Admiral Marchon protested. “Or had some sort of technology to hide their FTL signatures from our sensors.”
“Or they now have jump drives,” Admiral Galiardi added.
“We have no evidence of either,” Admiral Paretti argued.
“Actually, we do,” Admiral Marchon replied. “Do the math, Barb. There’s no way they could have cold-coasted all the way to Sol in only seven years.”
“If they took an indirect route and…”
“Look at their position at the time of intercept!” Admiral Marchon argued. “Any reverse plot you calculate from that point proves those ships managed to slip past our sensor nets undetected, and in a short amount of time. That indicates some sort of stealthy FTL. Or jump drives.”
Admiral Paretti took a deep breath, letting it out slowly while she forced herself to calm down. As much as she hated to admit it, Admiral Marchon was right. “The Jung outnumber us by at least three to one,” she began calmly. “Of that we are certain. And that does not include the ships we don’t know about. True, the Jung appear to have violated the cease-fire. But we have suffered no losses, while they have suffered many.”
“Compared to the losses the core worlds have suffered under Jung dominance…” Admiral Marchon began.
“The past is not the issue right now,” Admiral Paretti replied, cutting Admiral Marchon off mid-sentence. “If indeed the Jung violated the terms of the cease-fire, then our response was more than adequate and it sent a clear message that such violations will not be tolerated.” She looked at Admiral Galiardi. “I believe that should be enough. To press further serves no other purpose than to incite another war. Is that truly what we want?”
Admiral Galiardi stared at her for a moment, taking care to respond just as calml
y. “What we want is to protect the Earth and the worlds of the Sol Alliance. Our enemy has demonstrated both the ability and willingness to penetrate our defenses.” Admiral Galiardi put his hand up, cutting Admiral Paretti off. “If, in fact, it was the Jung who committed these acts, then we are obligated to ensure that it does not happen again. If we strike now, and take out their only true means of defeating us, we will have done our duty. If we are wrong, then history will judge us harshly. Personally, I can live with that. If we are right, and we do nothing, our history will be written by our enemy and they will undoubtedly judge us as fools.”
“Assuming we win,” Admiral Paretti commented. “Because if you’re right, and the Jung do have jump drives, you’ll be giving them the excuse they need to unleash hell upon us all.”
“Jesus, Barb,” Admiral Marchon exclaimed, shocked by her remark.
“I’m not going to sugarcoat it for you, Marchon,” she defended. “Not for you, not for anyone. That’s why we’re here.”
“She’s right,” Admiral Galiardi agreed. “I want opinions, as well as facts, even if they do not agree with my own.” He looked at Admiral Paretti. “I am aware of the risks,” he explained. “But whether the Jung have jump drives or just some sort of stealth FTL capability, they still present an intolerable threat to Earth.”
“Don’t you mean the Alliance?” Admiral Paretti wondered.
Admiral Galiardi’s next look was not as supportive. Neither were those of the other admirals in the room, who knew she had overstepped her bounds with her last remark. “I don’t need to remind you how you came about your appointment, Admiral Paretti.”
“Because Tau Ceti, Sol’s biggest ally, wanted to ensure that their interests were given equal consideration by your command…sir,” she replied respectfully.
Admiral Galiardi stared at Admiral Paretti for a moment before speaking. “I want full intelligence reports from every sector, as well as combat readiness reports from all ships and gunship squadrons,” he instructed his staff. “If we are to go to war, I want to be damned sure that we are as ready as possible.” He looked around the table for any signs of confusion amongst his staff, but found none. “Dismissed,” he added, rising from his seat and leaving the room without another word.
“If you truly have your people’s best interests at heart, you’d learn to choose your words more carefully, Barbara,” Admiral Marchon commented as he gathered his things to depart.
“We Cetians tend to say what’s on our minds,” Admiral Paretti stated as she rose from her seat. “It’s that whole honesty problem that you Terrans seem to have avoided,” she added as she left the room.
Admiral Marchon shook his head as she left. “She’ll never learn,” he mumbled.
“I don’t know,” Admiral Lewell said. “I think she’s figured things out pretty well, all things considered.”
Admiral Paretti headed down the corridor, nodding respectfully at Admiral Galiardi and his aide, standing in front of the admiral’s office door.
“Her comms are tapped?” Admiral Galiardi asked his aide once Admiral Paretti was out of earshot.
“Since she was first assigned to command,” the admiral’s aide assured him.
* * *
“And how long do we have to do this?” Vladimir asked Nathan, bracing himself mentally for an answer he did not expect to like.
“Three days,” Nathan replied, filling his water bottle from the galley sink.
“It took us nearly three weeks to turn her into the Seiiki,” Marcus said, also unhappy with Nathan’s unrealistic time frame.
“But this time, you don’t have to worry about fooling various port authorities or PITA.”
“Pain in the ass?” Vladimir asked, confused.
“Pentaurus Interstellar Transportation Authority,” Nathan explained. “Same thing, really.”
“If it doesn’t have to fool PITA, then who?” Neli asked.
“Where are we going?” Josh wondered.
Nathan looked at his crew for a moment. “Earth.”
“You’re kidding,” Josh exclaimed.
“Yes!” Dalen added with excitement. “I’ve always wanted to go to Earth.”
“Uh, I’m a deserter, or a traitor…or something, remember?” Vladimir said. “At the very least, I’m AWOL. I don’t think they’ll greet me with open arms.”
“That’s why you’re not going,” Nathan explained.
“What do you mean I’m not going?” Vladimir said.
“You’re going with us, just not all the way to Earth.”
Vladimir looked confused.
“You’ll be traveling with the strike team,” Nathan explained. “We’ll hook up with you on the way back.”
“Strike team?” Vladimir wondered.
“Everyone in the Sol sector thinks you’re dead,” Loki reminded Nathan. “Especially the Jung. Do you really think it’s a good idea for you to go back there?”
“It’s not like I’m going to walk around waving at people,” Nathan replied. “I’ll keep a low profile…maybe in disguise or something.”
“What strike team?” Vladimir pressed.
“Maybe you shouldn’t have shaved and cut off that shaggy mop you called hair,” Marcus commented.
“Captain, I’ve got no problem going to Earth,” Josh said, “but can I ask why?”
“We’re going to steal Abby and her family from Galiardi.”
“You’re in contact with Abby?” Vladimir asked, astonished. “I thought she was sequestered at Special Projects.”
“We’re not actually in contact with Doctor Sorenson,” Nathan admitted.
“But she knows you’re coming for them, right?” Loki asked.
“Not yet, no.”
“Is that why we need a strike team?” Vladimir wondered.
“Uh, I don’t know anything about Earth law,” Marcus said, “but here they call that kidnapping.”
“Only if she doesn’t want to go,” Nathan replied with a smile.
“That’s why you’re going, to talk her into it,” Vladimir surmised. “I don’t like this plan, Nathan.”
“That, and to steal some Cobra gunships,” Nathan said. “And, if possible, to see my father.”
“I really don’t like this plan,” Vladimir added, shaking his head.
“You want to steal some Cobra gunships,” Loki echoed dryly.
Marcus let out a laugh. “That had to be Nash’s idea.”
“Actually, it was Cameron’s,” Nathan explained, taking a drink from his water bottle.
“Gunship crews are fresh out of flight school,” Vladimir said. “They’re about as loyal to Galiardi and the Alliance as you can get. There’s no way you’re going to convince them to follow you, Nathan.”
“That’s why we’re planning on stealing brand new ships, straight from the factory.”
“Of course,” Vladimir said as if it were obvious.
“What, they ain’t guarded or nothin’?” Marcus asked, a skeptical look on his face.
“I’m sure they’re guarded,” Nathan admitted.
“Heavily,” Vladimir added. “With security codes on each ship.”
“Which is why you’re coming.” Nathan looked at Vladimir. “You can crack those codes, right?”
“Probably,” Vladimir replied. “But if they are still in the inspection yard, they’ll all have the same codes; the one used by the inspectors. Once they are put into service, they get codes specific to their crews.”
“How do you know?” Nathan wondered.
“I helped design the anti-theft systems during the Aurora’s first big refit after your death,” Vladimir explained. “The same system is used on all the gunships.”
“How many are you planning on stealing?�
� Josh asked.
“That depends on how many pilots we can bring with us.”
“The Aurora’s got plenty of pilots,” Vladimir said.
“None that she can spare,” Nathan disagreed. “She needs to stay at full strength to protect the fleet.”
“What about the Avendahl pilots?” Loki wondered.
“They’re tasked with fleet threat detection patrols,” Nathan explained.
“Then who is left?” Loki asked.
“Well, we were hoping to grab at least four, and there are three pilots right here. So we need to find at least one more.”
Josh and Loki looked at each other.
“Who is going to fly the Seiiki?” Neli wondered.
Nathan hesitated a moment. “I was thinking Marcus.”
Neli’s eyes widened. “What?”
“Don’t worry,” Josh said, “a monkey could fly the Seiiki.”
“Thanks,” Marcus grumbled.
“Doesn’t it take two people to fly a gunship?” Loki asked.
“It can be flown by a single pilot,” Nathan assured him. “But you need at least one other person to operate the weapons and shields. I’m hoping we won’t have to use them, but it would be a good idea to have two people in each gunship.”
“Neither of us has ever flown a Cobra gunship, Captain,” Loki reminded him. “I don’t suppose you have a flight manual or anything.”
“We don’t need a flight manual,” Josh insisted. “It’s a spaceship…with a jump drive. It flies like any other spaceship. Hell, it’s about the same size as this ship.”
“It’s fully automated,” Vladimir told them. “The Aurora’s flight decks were redesigned to support the gunships. We can hold four of them in the forward deck, and four more on the aft apron. We’ve got complete performance specs, maintenance guides, the works. We’ve even got the plans to fabricate replacement parts. We may even be able to rig up a flight simulator in the Aurora’s sim bay.”