by D. J. Holmes
“Your presence here warms our hearts Commodore,” Admiral Jourm replied. “We were greatly saddened when we heard of the attack on your home system. We regret that we were not able to send ships to aid you. Your species has won a great victory despite your losses. On this I congratulate you. We are glad you and Admiral Somerville survived the battle. We are confident that in your hands your species will play a key role in this war as it develops. We are eager to hear how you defeated the Karacknid fleet that attacked you. I imagine Captain Maleck has already informed you that we believe a similar thrust into our space is imminent. Please, take a seat and join our discussions.”
“It is an honor to be welcomed among you,” Becket responded. She gave a second smaller bow and turned to look for a seat. She smiled at Admiral Ya’sia when the Crian waved and pointed to a seat beside her.
“Now,” Jourm said after Becket took a seat. “We’ve just been discussing our proposed response to the latest reports of Karacknid ship movements. The raiding fleets we sent out to disrupt their convoys seem to have delayed their initial attack by some weeks. Now, however, I believe our enemy is ready to move. We do not yet know where the strike will come, but we are discussing contingency plans. Before we continue however, I’m keen to hear exactly how Humanity’s territory was attacked and how they managed to defeat the Karacknid war fleet.”
After glancing around to nod to the other Admirals present, Becket described everything that had happened. From the Karacknids’ initial attack on the Holstein system and their ploy of hiding most of their fleet to lure Admiral Lam’s fleet to Holstein and its destruction. To Lightfoot’s short campaign in the German colonies as he tried to delay the Karacknid fleet and the eventual Battle of Earth and everything that happened afterwards. Becket laid out in detail how each battle had been fought and either won or lost. Numerous times she found herself interrupted and questioned at length about one detail or another. When she was finally done, Jourm and the other Alliance Admirals picked her mind about her views on the Karacknids’ strategy and how the tactics Lightfoot, Koroylov and James had used against the Karacknids had worked or failed. When she finally got a moment to glance at her datapad, she saw that more than two hours had passed.
“Let me thank you for your detailed report Commodore,” Jourm said when it seemed no other questions were forthcoming. “You have given us much to think over. No doubt our tacticians will pour over the battle reports you have brought. What has happened to your people brings me hope and yet fills me with concern. Though we already knew it, the Karacknid campaign against your homeworld confirms it. Our enemy is not just endowed with impressive warships and advanced technologies, they have competent commanders as well. At the moment we are forced onto the defensive and that gives the initiative to our enemy. If they have the commanders to exploit such an advantage, we may find ourselves in great difficulty. Yet your fleet has shown us the way. Despite the odds, our enemy can be defeated.”
“I’m glad that I have been able to bring hope in the midst of the dire circumstances we find ourselves in,” Becket responded. “If I may, Admiral Somerville asked me to pass on two requests to you. As you know my homeworld has been devastated and much of our freighter fleet was sacrificed to gain the victory that we did. Sourcing supplies and transporting them from our colonies is likely to be an ongoing issue for many months. If the peoples of the Alliance have spare supplies of the food and raw materials we would need to begin rebuilding, they would greatly be appreciated. We also fear that if they so choose, the Karacknids could send another fleet to ravage our colonies. It would not have to number more than a few hundred ships and we would not be able to stop it. When I left, plans were already in place to bring most of the orbital battlestations we have spread throughout our colonies to Earth to bolster our defenses there. Yet that will leave us weak everywhere else. If there are any Alliance ships that you could spare to bolster our defenses, it would be greatly appreciated.”
Jourm gave Becket a very human like smile. “Though my species cannot give you everything we would like, I am pleased to say that I should be able to send you back to Admiral Somerville with a positive answer to both of his requests. One of the raiding fleets we sent out to harass Karacknid convoys was scheduled to pass through your territory on its way home. It’s likely Commodore Flew reached your homeworld a short while after you left to come here. I will send you back to Earth with orders for Flew to remain in your territory to assist you. Though I suspect she may have decided to do so on her own initiative. As far as we can, we will send more ships to bolster her squadron, though I can make no promises as to when that may occur. With regards to your other request, work is already underway to meeting it. Since we heard about the attack on your homeworld from the Kulreans, we have been putting together a relief convoy. It is not much, for we have little to spare given the massive fleet increases we have been striving to achieve ourselves. Nevertheless, I hope you and Admiral Somerville find what we are able to send useful. I believe the convoy will be ready to depart in a few days. If you are willing, you could head back to Earth with it. I know I and the rest of us would like to continue to discuss strategy with you until then.”
Becket had to blink back tears. She stood and bowed even lower than she had when she first entered the meeting room. “My people will be forever in your debt. We will gladly receive whatever aid you can send us. We have not been defeated, but we have suffered a serious blow. I thank you for your generosity. I hope we can repay you someday.”
“Repayment is not necessary,” Jourm said as he waited for Becket to straighten. “A strong Humanity focused on defeating the Karacknids will be payment enough. I fear we will all need each other before this is over.”
Becket made to bow again to show her thanks but stopped when the doors to the meeting room burst open. A Varanni in a Commodore’s uniform quickly moved towards the central dais. It stopped behind Jourm, leaned over and spoke quietly to the Admiral and then placed a datapad in front of him. Jourm spun around and stared up at the Commodore before slowly turning back to the gathered officers. “I’m sorry Commodore Becket, but our time has run out. A fast frigate has just come from Delta Fort. The Karacknid invasion has begun. Commodore Framalan has had a few moments to look over the report, she will update us. Then we must call this meeting to an end. We are needed back at our command posts. Time is now against us.”
Becket glanced at Ya’sia. The Crian’s fists were balls in her lap. Delta Fort was her command. It had come under attack without her being there. Becket understood the anger all too well. She turned back to the room’s holo-projector as it sprang to life. It showed a largely empty system; the only signs of life were several large battlestations orbiting a gas giant and a fleet of one thousand warships keeping station with them. Then a new group of contacts appeared at the far side of the system, slowly accelerating. Within seconds their numbers became clear, there were fourteen hundred Karacknid warships. Becket couldn’t decipher the symbols that appeared around them, but she guessed there were at least a hundred dreadnoughts within the fleet. A powerful fleet, Becket conceded, but it certainly wasn’t all the strength the Karacknids had. The fleet that had invaded human space had been larger. A probing attack. Before the enemy fleet got half way across the system, the projector cut off. Clearly that was all the sensor data the ship that had been sent to bring warning had collected. Though it doesn’t take a genius to figure out what happened next, Becket thought. The Karacknid fleet had been on a direct course for the Alliance fleet.
“That is all we know at this time,” Jourm said after the holo-projection faded. “This may be the first phase in a Karacknid push through Delta Fort, or the beginning of a wider offensive all along the front. You must return to your ships and prepare to depart for your stations. Updated orders will be sent to you forthwith. Everyone is dismissed,” Jourm added as he bowed. “Admiral Ya’sia, please wait behind,” he said and then turned to speak privately with the senior Admiral sat beside him.
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br /> “I’m sorry our time has been cut short,” Becket said as she placed a hand on Ya’sia’s shoulder. “Perhaps we will get to chat before you go. If not though, I understand. Your people need you.”
“Thank you Commodore,” Ya’sia replied, though it was clear that her mind was elsewhere. “If you’ll excuse me.”
Becket nodded and stepped aside to let Ya’sia go to Jourm. Outside the meeting room officers from all of the Alliance species were moving about in every direction. Becket stood still for a moment as she tried to get her bearings. Thankfully, Maleck appeared at her side. “I think it best if you return to your ship for now Commodore. The High Command will have to deal with this news before they can get back to your requests. I imagine the relief convoy they have put together for your homeworld will be delayed by a few days because of this.”
“That is understandable,” Becket replied. “You don’t need to worry about me. I can find my own way back to my shuttle. I’m sure you need to get to Handmaiden and prepare to depart.”
Maleck smiled. “She has been ready to depart at a moment’s notice since we arrived. My First Lieutenant has things under control I’m sure. Besides, my shuttle is parked beside yours. We can walk there together.”
“Then I would be grateful for the escort,” Becket said as she returned Maleck’s smile. “You’ve seen the data on the Karacknid attack I presume? You know the forces at Delta Fort, can they hold?”
“Unless the Karacknids have some kind of surprise, it would be an even fight,” Maleck answered as they began to walk. “Probably, our battlestations will have tipped the balance in our favor. Even so, with the numerical advantage the Karacknids have, we cannot afford to exchange forces with them on an even ratio. We have six fortified systems, if the Karacknids attack all of them and defeat all of our ships for an even number of theirs, they would still have a large enough fleet left to push into our colonies.”
“And that assumes the Karacknids didn’t bring any more ships in for that attack,” Becket thought out loud. Her mind went to the ambush at Holstein; the Karacknids had kept more than a thousand ships hidden in stealth and only revealed them when Lam’s fleet had been unable to retreat.
“It does,” Maleck agreed solemnly.
It has begun, Becket thought as fear for the people and the world around her started to grow within her. She had just left the devastation of Earth, had she arrived in Alliance space just in time to watch the same thing happen all over again?
Chapter 24
In many ways the structure of the Empire’s Fleet Command mimics what we learnt from the Varanni Alliance. They managed to mold the navies of six different species into one efficient command hierarchy.
-Excerpt from Empire Rising, 3002 AD.
Unicorn, Varanni Prime orbit (six hours later).
Despite being tired after her presentation to Alliance High Command, Becket went straight to Unicorn’s bridge after coming back on board the frigate. She passed the time watching Alliance warships and support craft make their preparations. Two small squadrons had already departed, and it looked like three others would soon follow. Pretty much every other ship in the system was making preparations to do the same. Becket was watching it all with a professional eye. Though it looked like mayhem had erupted in orbit around Varanni Prime, there was an order to the commotion that impressed her.
“Captain,” there is a shuttle requesting permission to dock in our hanger bay. “It’s four minutes out.”
“Do we know who is on board?” O’Rourke questioned.
The COM officer looked down at her command console before answering. “An Admiral Ya’sia.”
Becket sat forward in surprise. The Crian Admiral had to have a hundred other things to do. Why was she coming here? When Becket looked at O’Rourke, she saw the Captain was staring at her. “Permission granted,” she answered in response to his unspoken question. “I’ll greet her in the shuttle bay,” she added as she stood.
“Shall we prepare an official welcoming party?” O’Rourke asked. It was standard practice.
Becket shook her head. “No, whatever she wants I doubt she’ll have time for any pomp and ceremony. I’ll meet her alone.” As she walked through Unicorn’s corridors, Becket tried and failed to figure out why Ya’sia had come. If the Crian Admiral wanted to speak to her, they could have done so via COM channel. Meeting in person seemed like a waste of time, time that Ya’sia needed elsewhere.
“Welcome onboard,” Becket said as she offered a hand to Ya’sia when the alien stepped off her shuttle. “I’m afraid she’s not quite as impressive as Handmaiden.”
“She has a role to play in this war all the same,” Ya’sia responded.
“Would you like to join me in my briefing room where we can talk?” Becket asked. “I must confess, I am surprised you have come in person.”
Ya’sia looked around and shook her head. “No, here will have to do. I don’t have time to stay long.”
“I understand,” Becket replied with a nod.
“Then I’ll come straight to it Commodore,” Ya’sia began. “I want you to accompany me to Delta Fort as a tactical adviser. High Command has already agreed to give you a field commission as a Commodore in our Navy.”
“Me?” Becket asked as she took a step back in surprise. “I’m sure you don’t need me.”
Ya’sia smiled. “Now is not the time to be naïve Commodore. You’ve got more experience fighting the Karacknids than I. More importantly, you have more experience of fighting with these than any Alliance commander.” As she spoke, Ya’sia pulled out a portable holo projector and switched it on; an image of a small, sleek spacecraft appeared.
Though it looked strange compared to the Spitfires Becket was used to, it was obvious what the craft was meant to be. “You have developed your own fighters?”
“We have. You are looking at a first generation Pulsar fighter. They are based on your Spitfires and use your miniature inertial dampeners. Though we have gone in a different direction for their ordinance. Each Pulsar is armed with one heavy laser cannon. They have an energy output roughly equivalent to half of one of Handmaiden’s laser cannons and only have large enough capacitors to fire two shots before having to fall back to refuel and have their capacitors recharged by their motherships. But, if given the time, they can use their own reactors to recharge enough energy for another shot.
“At the moment we have just three squadrons of fighters. They were carrying out weapons tests here in the Varanni Prime system. High Command has just assigned their mothership to the reinforcements I am to bring to Delta Fort. Your input on how to deploy and fight with these fighters would be invaluable.”
Becket nodded as her mind raced. The small laser cannons on each fighter wouldn’t carry the same kind of punch a plasma missile would. Yet it would be impossible to intercept a laser bolt meaning they would get more hits. It was also likely the fighters could engage their targets at slightly longer ranges. They can even fire one shot, then close and fire the second before pulling back, Becket thought. That way they could finish off targets that had been crippled or even switch targets. With two well placed shots, one fighter could cripple two enemy ships.
“Well Commodore, what do you say?” Ya’sia asked, “Time is of the essence. I’m hoping to depart with my fleet before the day is over.”
Becket thought about what Admiral Somerville would do. It only took a second for her to decide. She had first served with him as a Sub Lieutenant, then as a Lieutenant and more recently as his Flag Captain. She knew exactly what he would do. He never hesitated to jump into the thick of the action. O’Rourke could take Unicorn back to Earth with the supply convoy the Alliance intended to send. “I’m in,” she said as she gave Ya’sia a slight bow. “It would be my pleasure to help you in whatever way I can. Let me gather my things and I will take a shuttle over to Handmaiden within the hour.”
Ya’sia held out her hand to Becket. “It will be a pleasure to have you along with us Commodore,
I just hope we find Delta Fort intact when we get there.”
“Agreed,” Becket said. She released Ya’sia’s hand and nodded to her one final time before Ya’sia turned and quickly ascended her shuttle’s access ramp. Before the shuttle took off, Becket was heading towards Unicorn’s bridge. O’Rourke wouldn’t be happy, but he would understand. A part of Becket felt guilty when she thought about O’Rourke returning to Earth. She knew her people needed her. Yet so did Ya’sia. And, more importantly, I’m going to get to fight them, she said to herself as she pictured the nuclear missiles raining down on Earth. It would be her pleasure to help Ya’sia destroy as many Karacknid warships as she could.
*
Handmaiden, Delta Fort system, 20th November 2481 AD.
For Becket, the twenty-six day journey to Delta Fort was one of the busiest periods of her life. On top of having to learn Alliance military protocol and how to fit herself into a command staff that included six different alien species; she also had to familiarize herself with a number of Alliance weapons systems. Some she had seen in action before, others were completely new to her, like the Pulsar fighters. The fleet that left Varanni prime with Handmaiden numbered eighty ships. As Delta Fort protected the approaches to Crian space, Ya’sia had travelled there via her species’ home system. From there and two other colonies, they picked up an additional two hundred and twelve warships. The plan had been to link up with whatever ships might have retreated from Delta Fort and then attempt to turn back the Karacknid invasion. However, they didn’t encounter any retreating Alliance vessels. When Handmaiden did finally jump into the Delta Fort system, Becket felt a sense of anti-climax. Initial scans showed that the fortified gas giant still had many battlestations in orbit and there was a large Alliance fleet there as well.