by Chris Hechtl
“As you order, Herd Leader.”
~~*^*~~
Luca came to land his glider near where the girls were gathering outside their courtyard. He landed with a bump and walked the glider in. Betty and Claudia helped him balance the suddenly unwieldy glider. “What's going on?” he asked. “I saw this bright light where Landing was and then this big mushroom cloud!”
“They got Landing too?” Ana murmured, face drawn and tears pricking her eyes.
“They? They who?” Luca demanded, staring at the woman.
“Come on. We've got to get to shelter.”
“Shelter?!?” Luca asked, bewildered as he turned back to the cottage. It was right there, behind stone walls but … Bobby shook her head at his confusion.
“We need to get under cover. We're headed to Adam Ursini's caves,” she said.
“What about the flock? The dogs?” Claudia asked, biting her lip as she indicated the sheep.
“They'll have to mind themselves. Adam has the radio equipment up there. Hopefully, he knows more than he's telling.” Bobby said.
“What do you mean, more than he's telling?” Luca asked as he started to take his glider apart.
“He's not transmitting. Anyone who transmits ends up silent a few minutes later. Someone's bombing us,” Bobby answered grimly as she finished packing her bags.
Luca looked up in alarm to her face. She nodded but kept packing.
~~*^*~~
The great Neobear saw the small gaggle of humans coming up the trail to his place and shook his massive head. He knew what was going on; it was why he'd shut down and was busy dismantling his antenna farm and anything that looked artificial.
When they looked up and saw him looking down at them, he pointed a claw to the cave and then went back to work. He had to be fast. Speed meant he couldn't be careful, so he snapped the guy wires and then used his bulk and strength to topple the towers over. Once they were down he dragged them out of sight.
~~*^*~~
“Adam, what the devil is going on?” Betty demanded as the bear came back into his cave.
“Well, a fine how do you do to you too,” Adam quipped as he stalked over to the radio set. “Luca, I'm going to need more help hiding the gear outside.”
“Okay,” Luca replied with a nod. “Can you tell us what's going on?”
“Ships arrived in orbit. I heard a radio report about them. A half a dozen ships, all shaped weird. They weren't answering the spaceport's transmissions. Then it went off line. Landing City and then New Dublin went offline next. I think you can fill in the blanks,” Adam said gruffly.
Ana gasped at the confirmation. Betty turned to look at her and then to the bear. She stared at him for a long moment. He ducked away.
“What do we do?” Claudia asked, turning to her sister.
“We do what we can to save what we can. We hide and wait,” Bobby ground out. “Come on. Do what the man says. Leave the gear. We need to get the gear outside under cover fast,” she said as Adam pulled out an ax and a hatchet.
“We'll use these to knock the trees down and use the branches to cover stuff up. Won't help much against radar with the metal, but there isn't a lot of it,” Adam said. “Did you bring food?”
“Not a lot,” Bobby admitted.
“Do yourself and me a favor. Go back down and bring back everything you can. And hurry,” Adam ordered as he left the cave with Luca and Betty in tow.
Bobby looked at Ana. The woman was stricken. “I'll go,” she said.
“I'm coming too,” Claudia said. She shucked her bag and rolled her shoulders. She'd complained about the unexpected walk during the first part but had lapsed into silence like the others over time.
“Grab the bike and gear. Use the bike. Push it,” Ana murmured, long fingers picking at her bag anxiously.
“Gotcha.”
Bobby looked up to the evening sky and then shook her head at the sound of the swearing and chopping. Anyone else on the island who was smart would head for the cave soon enough she knew. “Come on, Adam's right. We're the closest; we need to get as much food as we can.”
“What then?” Claudia demanded. “Bob, what do we do? How … how are we all going to live in the cave?”
“One day at a time,” her sister replied as she started back down the trail. After a moment, Claudia followed.
Chapter 29
Sol
October 27, 2235
Renee Lewis completed her semester early with high marks. To her mother's dismay, her daughter's application to join the academy was accepted. Renee was a bit annoyed that her father was making her go to the academy instead of letting her join a ship like her brothers however. She stormed into his office to confront him when she found out she'd have to travel to Earth and be there for a minimum of a year.
Admiral Lewis had been notified by security that she had been on her way. He'd had his yeoman reschedule an appointment and waited while Renee vented.
“Believe me, you need this. It will help long term. You showed a singular lack in good judgment and maturity in storming in here like this, young lady,” he said patiently. Renee flushed, clearly embarrassed as she realized he was right. It still didn't make her any happier however.
“Don't tell me this is for my own good. It's just your way of being an overbearing, overprotective father,” she growled, eyes flashing.
“That's Admiral, sir,” he reminded her. Something changed in her eyes. “For the record, I'm not being overprotective. Okay, maybe a little overbearing since I won't open myself up to more charges of nepotism to find you a posting of your dreams. You know, over those people who had earned the right to be there,” he said. Her flush darkened. “And I know you won't thank me. Not now. If you get through the academy in one piece, maybe, or down the line. We don't know what the future will bring now do we?”
“No … sir.”
“Good. Now give me a hug and then you better scamper to catch your shuttle before your mom catches you and stuffs you in a closet somewhere,” he said. “I'll see you on it,” he said. She raised an eyebrow at him. “I've got a meeting on Earth too,” he said. “So, don't go getting a swelled head or anything,” he warned. She snorted but did as she was told.
~~*^*~~
Roger Daringer had to admit, he didn't mind the naval academy, nor the experiences he was racking up with his time there. Due to his experience in naval strategy and tactics, he had been tapped to teach while also taking classes to fill in the gaps in his education. The biggest bummer was that he was still adapting to the heavier gravity on Earth. He was sore despite the shots to help him build new muscles.
His parents were furious but proud over his choice of career. His mother had threatened to cut him off; he hadn't cared. She'd tried to use her parental rights to block him for the time being, but his father had intervened. She'd been bitter but had at least hugged him and wished him well before he'd left for Earth he thought.
That was some time ago. In a rare treat, Admiral Lewis himself was on hand as a guest lecturer. He watched the admiral with keen interest like the rest of the class. His class had grown, he knew; just about everyone in the academy was there, even staff members.
“Watch the coin,” the admiral said as he toyed with the silver coin. “We're still finding ourselves as a nation and as a navy. We're resurrecting old traditions and making new ones. Some aren't translating over to what we need so they don't last long. I don't know if the challenge coins like this one will stick around or for how long,” he said as he moved the coin over his knuckles.
“I think we're all smart enough to remember the KISS principle. Also, another famous one, the shortest point between point A and B is a straight line. In tactics, it means the shortest flight with missiles means the least amount of reaction time from the enemy. Ballistic is a bad thing, but it has its uses.”
The admiral continued to play with the glittering coin as he spoke to them.
“Now, when we're firing, sometimes we have to get in
uncomfortably close to achieve that shortest flight. We have to accept the risk of taking damage in order to deal out our own punishment. By the way, it's not what we want. No sane captain ever wants to fight fair,” he said with a shake of his head as he transferred the coin from his left hand to his right. “We fight to win,” he stated.
There was a soft murmur of agreement from the audience.
He flipped the coin in the air to his left hand and then began moving it over his knuckles again. “Some people think that a stand-up fight, a six shooter at ten paces at high noon, is the only way to fight. They would be wrong,” he said.
“Some would think that the only way to fight is to fight from ambush. To use maneuver to get to the enemy's weak spot and hit there. A surgical strike—in and out fast and hard without the enemy having a chance to fight back. They would be right … and also wrong,” he said as he flipped the coin again.
The motion of his flipping action made everyone look up and expect the arch of the glittering coin. He held out his right hand but no coin fell into it.
That earned a mutter of amusement and consternation from the group. The admiral smiled briefly. “Yes, I used a simple magic trick to describe using distraction and deception.” He moved aside to show the coin sitting behind him on the table. He stood it on its edge and spun it.
“Surprise isn't real; it's trickery. It's your own perceptions being used against you. Sometimes you can use it but don't get caught up in it. Sometimes real surprise comes when you think you've got the enemy fooled and they've fooled you,” the admiral pointed out.
~~*^*~~
Lieutenant Wesley Rogers watched the lecture from the back of the room in the nosebleed section with the rest of the people playing hooky. The admiral really was good at teaching he thought with a mental nod of approval.
He had easily qualified as a pilot, but he had been stuck going through the abbreviated course and then he'd lost a chance at a slot. Instead, he'd been relegated to a flight instructor's billet until a new one became available. The good news was that he was accruing experience and flight time that would bump up his career and give him an earlier shot at a squadron commander's billet if he wanted it.
The bad news was, the longer he was at the academy the more likely he would be left there. It wasn't quite durance vile. He'd heard some people were stuck running cargo to lonely outposts, but it felt that way to him.
He was surprised to see a familiar face when the lecture concluded. Roger Daringer was in the crowd and in a midshipman's uniform. He nodded in passing to the young man and then went back to his duties.
~~*^*~~
The arrival of Speedwell in the Sol star system brought the navy to high alert. Each time a ship had jumped in, the navy had come to an alert and run simulations and exercises once the alert level was reduced. But since the unknown ship had come in at the Altair jump point, special heed was taken.
The ship's crew were in a panic initially at the sight of what looked like warships in the star system. After they broadcast their IFF, they received a hail from the warship on picket duty, the Courage.
“Oh, thank god,” Captain Holt said fervently. “We thought for a minute that they got here ahead of us. We've had a spot of bother getting here. We have just enough fuel to get to Mars and no further,” he said.
“You thought they got here ahead of you?” Captain Varbossa demanded. “The aliens?”
“Yes! I see Magellan's warning got to you. Well, we saw them up close and personal!” Captain Holt said. “A dozen hostile ships chased us into the hyperbridge and may be coming at any moment. You better be ready for them!”
“Transmit everything you've got to me … no, wait. I'm sending over a team to secure your recordings,” Captain Varbossa stated.
“I didn't even know we had a navy!” Captain Holt said. “Are you sure you can hold them off with that thing? Those ships were big!”
“Some things have changed since you've been gone,” Captain Varbossa replied dryly as his XO readied an away team to secure the sensory data and begin the interview process with the crew.
~~*^*~~
Once Courage's away team secured the data, they cleared the colony ship to go to Mars. As the ship passed through the star system, the ship was bombarded with questions about what had happened in Rho.
The naval personnel doing the interviews hadn't ordered the ship's crew not to communicate. Captain Holt knew that the aliens weren't a secret from the direction of the questions being sent to him as well as the news downloads his ship was receiving.
He took an interview with a small-time reporter in an outer colony station and confirmed that they had encountered the aliens and that the aliens had been hostile. When he was asked to verify the encounter, he transmitted his ship's sensory data. Within an hour, his ship was bombarded with requests for confirmation.
They broadcast the data openly to everyone who would listen. “Yes, they are hostile; we are fine. We managed to escape. We have not been able to contact our families yet. No, we don't know the fate of the colonies we left behind,” Captain Holt said, suddenly regretting his impulsive need to get the ship's story out to the public.
The public reacted with consternation over the confirmation and then some panic initially. The instant calming messages from the government were ignored. Only when Admiral Lewis put out a statement that the navy was on alert did the public seem to calm down a bit.
~~*^*~~
General Roman Taylor got the news and then sighed. “Something tells me 'I told you so' doesn't even begin to cover it.”
“I know, right, sir?” Captain Falcon said with a shake of his head. “What do we do?”
“We do what we can to save what we can. Pass an order to all commands to maintain discipline and order. We need to set the example.”
“Aye aye, sir.”
~~*^*~~
“Well, I bet the general is feeling his oats today. I bet he's feeling really vindicated,” President Carlton observed sourly as he looked out the window to the planet below. He'd gotten the news a few minutes ago and hadn't been happy that the ship hadn't been locked down. By now the news was all over the outer solar system. He could just imagine what it would do to his poll numbers. This late to the election there would be no recovery for it. His campaign would try. They'd point out that he was backing the navy, but he doubted it would help much.
“To be honest, I think that the general is finding out that it isn't so hot to be right in this situation,” Senator Dewalt said slowly. The president turned to look at him. “There is nothing like being right when you want to be wrong, sir.”
“If you say so,” the president said as he pulled out his chair and flopped down into the seat. He wasn't certain for how much longer he'd hold onto it.
~~*^*~~
The navy reacted to the arrival of Speedwell with mixed feelings. On the one hand, it was additional validation; on the other, it was a point of alarm since the enemy knew where the hyperbridge to Earth was.
There were a lot of calls for a larger permanent picket force on the jump point from Altair as well as calls for fortresses. Jan brought the subject up to Admiral Lewis again. He shook his head. “Write it up. We'll pitch it to congress. But if I have to choose between one or more asteroid fortresses or a bunch of mobile ships, you know which way I'm going,” Admiral Lewis said.
“Point. I agree,” Jan replied with a nod.
“The data?” Admiral Lewis asked.
“It's been securely transmitted by laser,” Ensign Nelson replied. “We are processing it now.”
“Good. We need all the insight into the enemy that we can get. Something tells me we are quickly running out of time.”
Jan turned to look at the admiral. He nodded soberly and then went back to his tablet. After a moment, she bit her lip and did the same.
~~*^*~~
President Carlton and the other Earth First party leaders realized they had to do something so they pivoted. They changed course overni
ght, at last taking the threat seriously. The president backed the navy. Congress called an emergency session despite being off during the last hour of the campaign season to initiate an emergency funding bill and other measures. The bill passed within hours of it hitting the floor of both houses by a unanimous vote. The president signed it the moment it hit his desk.
~~*^*~~
With the arrival of Speedwell, Wendy was forced to finally take the threat seriously. She ordered her lobby team to get behind the war effort. She talked to her press secretary and had her begin fluffing Yorrick's volunteer work in the yard. She knew it would piss her brother off to be used, but it would be for a good cause.
She decided to dig into the design teams and find a way to cut costs publicly while also still making a marginal profit to keep the investors and shareholders happy. After all, war was the best time for her to make a profit for a shipyard and their orbital industries, especially a naval war which this was turning out to be she reminded herself.
~~*^*~~
A naval team of engineers, Ensign Nelson, sensor techs, and volunteer scientists immediately began to process the data once they got their hands on it. They compared the ship's sensor profiles to that of the one Magellan had encountered. Nelson and the ship architects built 3D models of each of the alien ships. They passed on their findings to a secondary board as well as on to the ship design team. After some protests, the fighter design team received a copy as did all commands.
“Based on what I'm seeing, they can't see how they could have fighters or small craft. They'd have to have something for support. They've got boat bays here and here, but … but I'm not really feeling it,” Lieutenant Shri Oden said. She had accepted a commission and was one of the navy's lead pilots.
“What do you mean?” Nelson asked.