by Kal Spriggs
Alicia Nix spoke up, “I've run some analysis, based off of food and fuel expenditures. Even with refuel and resupply vessels, they can't stay on station much longer. My guess is that they'll start to withdraw forces within the next sixty days. Given the... unique method of their resupply and the fact that they have lost their main supplier in Nova Roma, I estimate that they can't afford to keep their fleets stationary for that period of time, not without weakening themselves so that one or another will attempt a surprise attack.”
“They will indubitably turn upon one another if even one of them seems weakened or overextended,” Reginald said. “It is their nature, they are so given to their feuds at this point that even the fragile balance they have now cannot long last.”
His comment met with silence and Lucius spoke before anyone else could think of some other reason their plan couldn't work. As if I need them to add to the running list I've got in my head, Lucius thought dryly. “Very well. Thank you, ladies and gentlemen, for your time.” Now the easy part... I just need to pull this off, Lucius thought, and key to that is seizing Danar.
***
Garris Major System
Contested
October 19, 2403
Reese couldn't tell much, through the bag over his head, but it seemed like his captors had finally reached their destination. He heard the muffled thumps as their ship docked. A moment later, the low conversation between his two guards cut off as the hatch opened. Maybe this wasn't the best idea, Reese thought to himself.
“Well, well, well,” a woman's light voice said. “What have we here?”
Someone ripped the bag off Reese's head.
He found himself staring into the eyes of Lucretta Mannetti. Reese felt a wave of relief wash over him. He gave her a smile and nodded his head, “Lady Kail, pardon my rudeness of not rising to properly greet you, but I'm a bit tied up.”
Despite herself, she gave a sharp laugh, “Ah, ever so charming, Reese.” She shook her head, “And what brings Lucius Giovanni's brother-in-law to meet with me?”
Reese gave a slight shrug, “I see that, whoever your informant is, he doesn't keep you updated on everything.” He took a deep breath, “I'm his former brother-in-law.” He couldn't help a bitter twist to his lips. “Alanis decided to choose her brother over her own damned husband.”
“Ah...” Lucretta Mannetti smirked, “No vengeance like a man made a fool of. Tell me, did you try to dominate her, to bend her to your will?”
Reese shook his head, “Nothing like that!” He could admit that his tactics had been unorthodox, but he hadn't hit her, threatened her, or even implied that he would. Well, not until she revealed her true nature, Reese thought darkly. “She wanted to...” he trailed off as he realized criticizing her desire to pursue a military occupation would not be the best form with this particular audience. “Lucius manipulated her into joining the Academy, after we had decided to start a family.”
“Oh,” Lucretta asked. She pulled up a chair to set across from him. “How scandalous.”
Reese looked away. “Look, she made her choice. Lucius spat upon the relationship he and I had. He refused to change his mind. He even had some trumped up charges put on me, so I can't get a job anywhere. The important thing, here, is that I can give you information on him. I can supply you with codes, frequencies, I even left back doors into some of his military systems. This would give you access that even a high level informant can't.”
“You can give me all of that?” Lucretta Mannetti said. “How marvelous.” She leaned forward in her chair, her voice soft and almost seductive, “Why don't I just take it from you and flush your corpse out the nearest airlock?”
Reese found it suddenly hard to swallow. “Because I have other skills. I'm a damned fine programmer, I'm a skilled hacker, I know computer networks inside and out. I guarantee you won't have anyone better.”
She sat back and her dark eyes went narrow as she considered what he had said. “Alright, Reese. I might even have a job for you... but you'll need to prove yourself, first.” She smiled, “How do you feel about a life of piracy?”
Reese smiled a bit, “Never considered it before, how are the benefits?”
***
Ottokar System
Colonial Republic
October 27, 2403
Mason looked up as the countdown ended and the gray nothingness of shadow space was replaced by the brilliant, star-studded sweep of space. As always, the stars gave Mason a feeling of warmth and welcome, brilliant beacons that gave life to countless worlds. He wondered if the stars thought, in their long eons of life, or if they dreamed as they slowly burned out. The stars, Mason thought, probably don't have nightmares about people they've killed.
At that thought, Lauren spoke up, “Captain Stavros, we've emerged a bit off course. I think Commodore Martindale needs to have her navigational computer checked or she's a terrible navigator.” Her voice was sour, which made Mason hide a smile. It wasn't so long ago that she wouldn't have even been able to find their location, much less talk down on a poor bit of navigation.
As he checked his own sensors, he realized there was less source of humor than he originally thought. They were well off course, “You're right,” Mason said and he put some of Stavros's sneer into his voice, “She's a terrible navigator.” The original plan was for them to drop out of shadow well out of sensor range of the planet and then to use stellar debris in the system's periphery to draw close to the mining colony.
Mason still wasn't very clear on what the goal of hitting the Nova Corp mining colony was, but it apparently had the people of Halcyon very excited, in particular. They'd appointed 'Commodore' Martindale to head the first wave of the attack. Martindale was one of the other captains recruited from Port Klast by Admiral Mannetti, she already commanded a pair of destroyers and an old Matador-class cruiser. After five minutes of putting up with 'Stavros' she had icily informed him to limit communications to essential traffic only.
Another glance at the sensor feeds confirmed his suspicions. They had not only emerged well off course, but actually deep inside the system, well within the sensor radius of the inhabited planet, New Swabia. Since the entire system was under the military command of the Colonial Republic base at Czeska, there was, of course, a patrol base there. Who have definitely noticed our arrival, Mason thought dryly. He opened a channel to Commodore Martindale's ship, the Sabine. “Commodore, I believe that we are slightly off course. Was this, perhaps, some effort to lure the Republic Liberation Fleet ships out of position for an attack on New Swabia?”
“Thank you, Stavros,” Martindale's voice was harsh. “I noticed. I want you to adjust course, and come to heading seven three five at full acceleration.”
Mason bit his lip. That course would take them in a direct course for the Nova Corp mining colony. If the RLF commander had no vested interest, he wouldn't have reason to chase them. But Counselor Penwaithe of Halcyon's Defense Force had told them that the local commander was on the payroll. He would almost certainly give chase.
Still, Stavros wouldn't have cared. For that matter, Stavros would shut his mouth while the woman made the mistake and then harp about it later. And at the same time, Mason thought, there is such a thing as taking a role too far. “Commodore Martindale, the patrol there at New Swabia is on Nova Corp's payroll. They'll know we're headed for the mining colony and at that speed, they could be in position to pincer our force between them and the Nova Corp defenses.”
“Damn you, Stavros, I know that. But we have a mission to do and if you don't want your share of the loot, you can shut your pie-hole,” Martindale said.
“We would be better off withdrawing and then coming in a few days late, rather than hitting the defenses straight on. If nothing else,” Mason said, “think of the people and ships you'll lose.”
Martindale gave a harsh laugh, “Sounds like Stavros lost his nerve. You have your orders.”
Mason clamped his mouth shut on what he wanted to say. No point
to it now, he thought, she's committed and if she backs down, her people will know it. He took a deep breath, “I suppose it's just too much for your feeble mind to take in, Martindale. But I'll follow your orders, just as you put them.” He nodded over at Kandergain, “Full acceleration, but adjust our course so that it matches targets.”
Lauren looked up from her spot at the weapons control station. Mason sighed, “The dumb bitch,” Mason said, putting more of Stavros into his voice, “plotted the course with her ship's maximum acceleration.”
“Yes, Captain,” Kandergain said. She typed in updates to their course as the other three ships went to full acceleration on the plotted course. A moment later, the new course came up on his screen. “Ready, sir.”
Mason glanced at it and gave a nod, it was a sharp, least-time course. They would arrive several hours before the Commodore. “Full acceleration on that course,” Mason said with a smirk.
“Stavros, damn you, what the hell are you doing–”
“Activate jamming, full spectrum,” Mason said, “we wouldn't want the enemy getting any warnings out to the mining colony, would we?” He outwardly chuckled, even as he inwardly coldly considered how many people were about to die. A glance at the RLF ships showed that they had gone to full acceleration as well and their ships were in better shape and had better acceleration parameters than 'Commodore' Martindale's. The six destroyers and two cruisers adjusted their course and Mason could do the math as well or better than Martindale. Evidently, the commander realized he couldn't stop the Kraken, or even hope to catch it. He could, however, hit Martindale's force well before it reached the mining colony. Kandergain stepped up next to Mason and asked in a quiet voice, “Leaving them to their fates?”
Mason smiled lightly at her, “I'm just following orders. She said to make for the target at full acceleration.” Inside he seethed, but at the same time he couldn't show weakness in front of the crew or they'd start to question his Stavros routine. He could have stayed with Martindale, but he wasn't sure enough about the Kraken's capabilities when pincered between the two forces.
Given her orders, he could say that he did what he thought she wanted. Given how it looked like the fight would go, he would have felt more sympathy, except Martindale and her people were pirates. Worse than that, he thought, they're incompetent pirates.
The distance drew out and he watched as Martindale's ships formed up. Given his own maneuvers, he wasn't surprised to see the pair of destroyers edge a bit forward, and then to break formation entirely. He did scowl a bit as the Sabine went to active radar. “She's trying to target her ships that are running,” he said.
Sure enough, both destroyers began evasive maneuvers and jamming of their own. Mason watched with interest, also, as first one, then the other went to shadow. A few minutes later, so did 'Commodore' Martindale's cruiser Sabine. “Hmm, what was it she said about running?”
Kandergain looked at him with a worried expression, “Joking aside, Captain, it's now just one cruiser against both the defenses and the system's patrol force.”
“Not to worry, not with Stavros at the helm,” Mason said with a leer. Really, this had worked out better than he had hoped. This would get the fewest people killed. While he felt some sympathy for the Republic Liberation Fleet personnel in pursuit... well, he wasn't going to chase them down when they ran. “Well, in the absence of orders, best to take charge. Lauren, order the Falkes to prep for battle.” He brought up his own navigational console and plotted a course. “Execute reverse acceleration and adjust course to heading five seven three.”
“That's right back at them!” Mark Mendoza said from communications.
“Of course it is,” Mason said. “Admiral Mannetti's force is inbound to the mining colony and will arrive soon. We'll need to rout this lot and then go back and clear the defenses. Then we can welcome the good Admiral in style.” Mason paused and grunted, “Order the Falkes to switch loads to dazzlers.” Dazzlers were missiles that had electromagnetic warheads rather than nuclear or heavy explosive. They were used mostly to knock out systems on merchant ships, but a full volley could blind a warship or knock out its engines without causing severe damage to the vessel. They were also extremely expensive, but Stavros wouldn't care and Mason wasn't in this for the money anyway.
“Are you serious?” Asara Khemali asked. The pinch-faced woman was the squadron commander. Mason hadn't missed the fact that she hadn't headed down to the launch bays yet. Then again, Mason thought, there's a better than even chance she's on drugs. Mason didn't particularly like her, but she did have the most experience of any of his pilots and actually kept the lot of them in line fairly well.
Mason leaned in her direction and let some of his seething rage seep through, “Load up the dazzlers. Question me again and I'll have you attached to one when we launch the fighters. If I'm particularly nice, I might even make sure you're in a space suit so you can enjoy the ride, understood?”
Maggie went pale and gave him a sharp nod. She also backed off the bridge and stumbled over a couple of crew on the way out. Mason turned to Lauren, “Adjust the frequency on our emitters to setting three-seven-eight.” He adjusted the course Kandergain had sent, slightly. One nice thing about piracy, he didn't have to remember ranks and positions, just names.
“Captain?” Lauren asked uncertainly.
“The beam emitters can hit a frequency that limits physical damage to the target. It's good for taking prisoners, capturing ships, and making hostages,” Mason said lightly. “No need to kill them when we can run them off with their tails between their legs.”
The issue with the modulated beams were that they dropped his effective range down drastically. They generated bursts of microwaves on impact, which caused ionization and inducted currents throughout their targets. The enemy wouldn't be firing non-lethal rounds back at them, either, which made the use of it riskier than Mason wanted to think about. Unconsciously, Mason's hand dropped down to his belt, as if searching for the prayer beads that should hang there.
Though, he thought, I do have the dazzlers... He typed in a set of calculations on his console and began to smile a bit. The tactic was completely against doctrine, risky in the extreme, and far too likely to fall apart. Let's face it, he thought, I love the idea so I'm going to do it, risky and stupid as it may be.
Mason looked up with a smile and evidently some of the crazy shone through and Mark took a step back. “Sir, they're trying to find a way through our jamming...”
“Didn't Lauren have you working on new jamming patterns?” Mason asked.
“Well, yes, but those were for standard emissions sets, they're hitting us on a lot more frequencies. I didn't think we'd be fighting main-line units!” Mark Mendoza looked a bit panicked, which was good, Mason supposed, he would be less likely to think critically about how the normally sloppy Stavros was about to pull off a complex plan of attack... hopefully without getting too many people killed in the process.
Mason stood up from his chair and stepped forward to stare down at Mendoza. “Stavros does not want to hear excuses. Continue jamming, be creative. Otherwise, I'll strap you on a dazzler with the squadron commander, understood?”
As he headed back to his seat, Lauren spoke up, “Who'll fly the bird if she's on the missile, Captain?” Her smirk suggested that she found his threats and bluster humorous.
“I'll rig it up as a drone, since jamming will be down,” Mason snarled. He took a seat and leaned back in casual relaxation. “Now that I think of it, open a channel to the enemy vessels.”
“Through our jamming, sir?” Mendoza asked nervously.
Mason gave the man a level look. A moment later his console indicated he was live. “Attention pathetic defense forces. I am Captain Stavros Heraklion, my vessel, the Kraken is here on business unrelated to your little world. Cease your pursuit and I will not harm you. Continue it and I will cripple your ships one by one and board them, to take them as my prizes.” He cut the connection before anyone could resp
ond. “That should be enough.”
The Kraken swept closer and Mason leaned back even further. I'm going to feel awful silly if they get a lucky hit on the bridge and I end up breathing vacuum, he thought, well, right before the painful and horrible death part. Still, Stavros wouldn't show fear and Mason had to admit, he felt confident enough of his plan.
Their course brought them knifing in at the heart of the formation. Mason studied the oncoming force. The vanguard of the formation was made up of four Defiance-class destroyers. The older destroyers had lower accelerations and far inferior armaments to the other ships in the force. They were elderly, even for warships in the Republic Liberation Fleet. Mason grinned a bit to see them positioned there, however. “Evidently, you are jamming them well enough, Mendoza. Maybe I won't launch you out there as ordinance.” Unlike newer vessels in the RLF, the old Defiance class ships mounted lidar, which was excellent for pin-point targeting and extremely difficult to jam. Most of the newer warships in both the Colonial Republic and even the Centauri Confederation had done away with the laser based targeting, right up until Tau Ceti introduced the latest generation of jamming systems, which the Kraken's systems could easily emulate.
The Defiance-class destroyers were under-gunned and woefully under-powered even when they were built, mostly as a stopgap to fill the void left by the collapse of Amalgamated Worlds. The newer Forerunner-class destroyers were their replacement, far better armed but with limited sensors. Mason saw four of those in the rear of the formation and he would guess that the enemy commander made his flagship aboard one of those, rather than either of the pair of Independence-class cruisers.
Both of those were somewhere closer in age to the Defiances, Mason knew. They mounted heavier weapons and more of them, but still had limited power to run their systems in combat and with the state of Colonial Republic maintenance, were probably in poor shape. Which wasn't to say that two of them couldn't be dangerous, just that the four destroyers with more modern weaponry and higher accelerations were more of one.