“Set General Quarters Condition Three,” said the captain in an even voice, although far from relaxed.
The emotional auras of the crew spiked a pretty pink as they turned to stare back at the captain. It hit them then the captain believed the ship entering the system may not be human, which could only mean it was of alien origin.
None of the bridge crew left their stations until they were relieved by the Port Crew, who traditionally reported first when GQ-3 was set. In six hours the port crew would be relieved by the starboard crew as each rotation stood their watches manning their combat stations. General Quarters Condition One, or GQ-1, was only set when a ship expected to go into immediate danger and the entire crew was needed to maximize the ship’s potential for shorter periods.
Navigation Tech, Becky Vitahl’s avatar was the first to react as she grabbed the ship’s communications system mic and hit the communications ship-wide override. Throughout the ship crew members were interrupted in what they were doing, including a small raid group clearing the Vault of Torment. “General Quarters! General Quarters! Set General Quarters Condition Three throughout the ship! Port Crew to report. Set Condition Zebra throughout the ship. All hands to their General Quarters Condition Three stations.” Setting Zebra helped minimize the potential for cascading effects to occur when a ship received damage. It isolated, as much as was possible, the ship systems into sections. That way if there were power spikes, loss of Oxy-Flow liquids, or any of a host of other damage to the ship’s systems, the damage would not affect adjoining sections. It was a ship design concept appropriated from the days of seagoing combat ships in the 20th and 21st Century.
The captain looked at her watch, a completely unnecessary act in the virtual environment, to time the ship’s crew setting of Condition Three; something they had not done in over three months. They were rusty but seemed to make up for in understanding this was not a drill.
“I want a complete workup on that ship. Full diagnostic, all spectrums. Let’s start a profile. Call it Bogey-1,” the captain ordered. Turning to the science officer, the captain said, “Lt. Gerard, work with Mr. Paulus, Tech Garry, and the EO to create a min/max profile. I want updates on your findings hourly.”
Flipping a switch on the arm of her command chair, the captain made an address to the crew, “This is the Captain. We are tracking an unknown contact entering the system. Based on its direction of entry point to the system, I do not believe the ship to be one of ours. Whether it belongs to the Rheas or another alien species is yet to be determined. However, nothing in the data we have collected on the Rheas indicates they have interstellar travel. For now, we will sit tight and watch. Condition Three is to be maintained for the duration. All entertainment systems are secured. If you’re not on watch, I expect you to be sleeping. It could be a while before we can secure from General Quarters. Captain out.”
Several hours later the course and speed of the alien ship was well established. It was making a straight line for the Rheas Homeworld; making no attempt to hide its approach while casting a brilliant plume from its engines as it decelerated. Data began pouring in from an observation drone the Cousteau left in high orbit around the planet to continue listening to Rheas communications. The Rheas were definitely aware of the alien ship’s approach and also knew who they were. Their military began mobilizing and issuing evacuation orders to all of their major cities. The Rheas had a history with their visitors ten years before that the Cousteau had not discovered in their eavesdropping. The last time the alien ship appeared they raided several Rheas cities. Whoever they were, they were hostile to the Rheas; abducting citizens and destroying military assets. The Rheas called them the Chzek-kin; a name provided by the aliens along with a warning no resistance would be tolerated. The military bases attacked ten years ago were still not safe to travel due to the high levels of radiation.
For three days the Cousteau watched in horror as the Chzek-kin repeated the pattern of their previous raid; taking more citizens and destroying multiple bases according to reports by intercepted Rheas civil defense communications. The Cousteau’s satellite was able to take thousands of images and video of the alien ship and assault shuttles used to travel to the surface. It also intercepted the raider’s communications and active scanner transmissions. The information would be invaluable should a conflict ever arise between Earth and the Chzek-kin. After several days the alien ship seemed to have taken all it wanted from the Rheas and departed as quickly as it came. As soon as the ship achieved relativistic speed and exited the system, Captain Kree launched their final drone to Black Rock Three containing the recordings of what they just witnessed along with a full copy of intercepted communications from both the Rheas and Chzek-kin and their analyses of the Rheas civilization. Only after the drone was launched and left the system did the captain secure from GQ-3. The crew, without having participated in the battle between the alien races, was still mentally and physically exhausted.
Chapter 8: Black Rock Three Base, Waypoint System
Admiral Bilford once again found himself in the conference room with Ambassador Dek. This was after two days of no contact of any sort from the Rool. Understandably uncertain of what was going on the admiral bided his time and allowed the ambassador to initiate the direction of the conversation.
“Admiral Belford, I have a message for you from the UE Government on Earth,” said the ambassador, sliding a reading tablet across the table, “You have received orders from your government to assemble your military fleet located at System 48121 and to initiate first contact with the species discovered by the Cousteau. You are to do this with the advice and consent of the Vrene Representative, Ambassador Dek. Me. Please take your time reviewing the document and confirm all of the appropriate validations. I can wait.” Smug was not the most attractive look on a Rool.
If not for the shock of just learning the Rool had FTL communications and they knew about Third Fleet, the admiral would have been fuming at the attitude thrown in his face by the ambassador. Instead, he clamped his mouth shut and took the tablet from the table. It took him only a few minutes to review the orders and another twenty in contact with the base operations center to go through all of the data included for the first contact team and to prove the communication was a valid UEG set of orders. “It would seem, Ambassador, this communication from the UEG is valid and I have been directed to cooperate with you in regard to all aspects of the negotition.” Looking up from the tablet for the first time, the admiral asked, “Will it be your intention to take command of the expedition? The way I read this, it is within your rights.”
“No Admiral that will not be necessary, or desirable. I will limit myself to observing your fleet operations and deployment and only take a more active role when you make first contact. You will need assistance establishing the terms upon which the new species is welcomed into the Seventh Consortium, if they are a new species. The Vrene have decided not to directly participate in the assimilation of this species into the Protectorate – that is if they are not already a known species. Instead, an agreement has been reached between the Rool and the UE Government to secure the Rheas’ cooperation and entry into the Consortium under the protection of Humanity. It seems the Vrene were sufficiently impressed with your engaging of the services of the Rool and with your previously unknown military capabilities to believe you may be able to pull this off.”
Wondering what the real reason was for the Vrene to stay at arm’s length, the admiral instead set aside the question and asked, “Ambassador, it appears I have much to do to carry out these orders. Would you be so kind as to excuse me?” His voice was somewhat distant as his mind began working out the ramifications of what everything he just learned.
Rising from his chair, the ambassador assented to the admiral’s request, “Of course, Admiral Bilford. I expect we will be meeting many times over the next couple months as you assemble your fleet.” He departed without further comment.
What was going on that the Vrene wanted
no part in bringing a new race into the Consortium? Why let us take on this challenge alone? And, why the need for a fleet to make first contact with a race barely capable of space flight? the admiral asked himself. In light of the location of the newly discovered race being along the frontier of the Chzek Alliance he was just informed existed, the admiral was developing a pit in his gut.
The ambassador had other concerns on his artificial mind. It is time to submit an updated backup of my consciousness to the Archives, he thought as he returned to his ship. It was several years since his last backup and it may be needed before the coming conflict was over.
It took sixteen weeks for the UEAF fleet to arrive at Black Rock Three Base from the time the admiral sent a courier ship out with orders for the fleet to deploy. Several weeks were lost as the flagship of the fleet was dry-docked and having its engines overhauled. Commander, UEAF Third Fleet, Rear Admiral Lower Half Mark Nelson, took advantage of the delays to drill his fleet into fighting shape. After seventy years as a peacetime military, and having never been in a war, the service was beyond rusty and past due to have some steel inserted in its spine. Two of the captains of the thirty-two ship fleet were relieved for dereliction of duty and having their ships unfit for deployment due to unreported broken equipment before Nelson was finally beginning to feel like he was commanding a real space combat fleet.
Upon entering the Waypoint Star system, Third Fleet followed standard protocols and docked as many of their ships as would fit into the hangars built into the asteroid base. Several of the ships needed additional maintenance after their four-week journey to the base and settled into dry docks to expedite repairs. There was not enough room in the main base to fit the entire fleet, so the remaining ships grounded into revetments dug into the asteroid that provided off-ship entertainment and berthing accommodations. The remote facilities were isolated from the main base but were appreciated by the ship crews as it permitted the crew to get out of their EGG Habitats and breathe air. It was a welcome break from living in and breathing Oxy-Flo twenty-four seven for the crews of the UEAF who had never before made extended deployments, unlike their Exploration Service counterparts.
Standard protocols required the grounding of ships versus parking ships in orbit around the base. Since their inception, the military fleets of Earth prioritized remaining hidden over all other considerations. The reasoning was based on a “what you can’t find, you can’t kill, and can’t be accountable for having,” philosophy. Fleet doctrine was to allow an enemy to pass through a system (other than Sol System) or wait for it to slow to orbital velocities before allowing your presence to be known and engaging an enemy. Combat doctrine for the service was a hundred percent theory and based solely on the results of wargames conducted early in the history of the service.
Admiral Bilford, standing in the receiving area of the main hangar, watched through the armored glass as the flagship of Third Fleet, UES Atlanta, docked. The largest combat ship class in the fleet had substantial armaments located at several locations along the hull. Passive and active sensors were along the length of the dorsal line and four missiles tubes were mounted in the bow. The flattened hull shape was designed to allow the ship to rotate into a minimum aspect to limit its detectability. Other ships entering the hangar were of varying types and sizes of frigate and destroyer classes.
Admiral Bilford was able to identify the frigate and destroyer ship classes he was orally briefed on when he took over command of Black Rock Three. There were no other records on the base regarding UEG warships to maintain secrecy and only regional commanders of the Exploration Service were aware of their existence.
The oversized cargo airlock began to cycle for the flagship. As the seal broke there was a woosh of air and Commander, Black Rock Three Region, Admiral Reginald Bilford stepped forward to greet Commander, Third Fleet, Vice Admiral Mark Nelson, his hair still wet with Oxy-Flo.
Sitting in the receiving bay were stacks of supplies to be loaded up for what was presumed to be a long deployment. It was not lost upon the vice admiral their meaning. When the fleet departed its stores would be as full as the fleet was capable of carrying as no one knew how long they would be gone. Base personnel tasked with delivering the supplies were staring out of the viewing ports in awe of what they were seeing. None of them had ever seen a human warship or even knew of their existence and the excitement of their chatter created a low hum in the bay.
Stepping through the airlock, the strong voice of Admiral Nelson saluted and asked, “Permission to come aboard?”
Standing next to Admiral Bilford was Officer of the Day, Lt. Li Tran who replied while snapping a return salute, “Permission granted. Welcome aboard, Sir!” Followed by an announcement pipe over the base’s intercom system by one of the quartermasters, “Now, Third Fleet arriving.” The ceremony and customs of Earth’s navies won out over the lesser traditions and relatively newer customs of Earth’s air forces when humans took to the stars.
Admiral Bilford stepped forward to greet the new arrival, “Admiral Nelson, welcome aboard.”
Returning a quick salute, the admiral proffered his hand to shake, “Admiral Bilford, it is a pleasure to finally meet you.”
“Thank you. You as well. This way. We have a meeting with Ambassador Dek in my office. He’s already waiting.”
“They aren’t wasting any time on this, are they?” Nelson asked.
“No, they’re not. The ambassador’s been pushing things forward ever since the first day the Cousteau’s drone entered the system. You’ll be interested to know a new Rool ship has also arrived in-system. It can only be a warship. I’ve never seen anything like it. The damn thing is huge. The ambassador will be transferring his flag to it and will be accompanying the fleet to 48269.”
“Really?” Nelson asked, surprised.
“Yes. Three other ships have arrived as well. The hospital ship St. Elsa will be coming along as a medical research platform. Two cargo ships have also arrived with additional supplies. They seem to be expecting you to be gone for a long time.”
“They’ve thought of everything. Those ships may come in handy.”
“It appears so. The additional ships were recommended by the Rool. They also requested we send one of our base ships to be a permanent presence in the system. Apparently, it is required for any protector species to have a permanent presence in the home system of their protectorate. Failure to do so can lead to another race staking a claim and establishing we abandoned the system.”
They quickly walked the long corridors of the base to their meeting. “The hospital ship will be required to show we are providing a valid beneficial presence. As you might recall from history class, the one thing the Vrene gave to us when they became our protectors was medical knowledge. Most diseases became curable overnight with the technology they provided. That may be why they did it.”
“And all this time we thought it was out of the goodness of whatever it is they use for hearts,” snarked back Nelson, gaining a chuckle in return.
Entering the conference room, the two senior officers saw Ambassador Dek standing at the far side of the room, viewing several monitors showing various live feeds of the large hangar bay and dry docks. “Impressive, Admiral Nelson,” he said, without turning, “The more I see of your fleet, the more I am disinclined to penalize the UEG for its undisclosed existence.” Turning from the screens, the ambassador approached the two admirals and extended his hand, “We have much to discuss.”
“A pleasure to meet you, Ambassador Dek. By all means, let’s get started,” replied Admiral Nelson. Taking seats at the conference table the three began planning the mission. At the top of the agenda was the most recent drone sent from the Cousteau containing all of the exploration ship’s collected data, as well as the raid by the alien ship, which was a new revelation to the fleet commander who just saw his already complicated mission become a lot more dangerous.
At the end of the planning session, the ambassador reached into a small pouch
kept on his hip and withdrew a data storage crystal before saying, “Admiral Nelson, I believe you will find this helpful in planning the deployment and tactics of your fleet.” He handed the crystal over. “Contained in the crystal are the Vrene’s complete archive and analyses of the strategy and tactics the enemy used in their conflicts with the Chzek. Also included are intelligence reports purchased from another species which shall not be identified. It will have limited value in identifying the weapons technologies you will face when the conflict starts with their Chzek-kin protectorate, but you should expect to see some similarities in tactics in use by their fleets. The Chzek follow a rigid code with their protectorates that demands their vassal species adopt Chzek ways in all things, including cultural identity and military strategies.”
“‘When, Ambassador?’” Admiral Nelson asked, noting the Rool ambassador seemed to be saying a conflict was a foregone conclusion.
“Yes, Admiral. When. We estimate a near certainty of at least one major engagement with a Chzek-kin fleet. It is the standard opening negotiating tactic of the Chzek and their vassals.” Pausing to let that sink into the mind behind the now rather large eyes of the admiral, the ambassador added, “Failure to win decisively will lead to further engagements until such time as a dominant position is established, or they are defeated in detail. It may be a full-blown war is unavoidable in any case.”
“All or nothing,” commented Admiral Bilford quietly, thoughts flying through his mind at a rate faster than he could comprehend.
“Indeed, Admiral. All or nothing,” confirmed the ambassador. “A successful negotiation with the Rheas will establish a strong defensible border a significant distance from Earth that can become quite effective in resisting Chzek aggression. Failure will lead to a rapid expansion by the Chzek of twenty to thirty light years as the Chzek and their vassals push out in search of Earth. If that happens a battle for Earth will happen, possibly within your lifetimes.”
Earth Interstellar_Proxy War Page 7