And this handsome guy is Rear Admiral Stephen Nichols, the Task Force One Commander. You noticed I didn't call him sexy. It's because his girl is Captain of this ship and she might put me on the end of a torpedo and hit the launch button.' She paused for the laughter. 'You might recognize the name...as in... the Nichols Patrol Maneuver. Yeah, he's the one you can blame when you're trying to negotiate those complex maneuvers.' Again she had to pause for the laughs.
'Then, there is this gorgeous Amazonian who is single, by the way, you gentlemen. She is Commodore Ana Arce, and she is commander of Columbia Group. And this incredible specimen is a full blood Navajo Chief known to us as Commodore Tsoh Shah in charge of Grenada Group. Here we have Commodore Azul Cielo the Commander of Dominica Group. And finally, this is Pintar Orang Commander Espanola Group." She finished with a flourish as everyone clapped spontaneously.
"Okay, okay...let's keep it down.' Bryant said as he waved more people into the already crowded room. 'First of all, I want to introduce you to the most important person in this room.' He placed his hand on Moe's shoulder. 'This god-like being is Rear Admiral Tahu Moahu, and he is my Chief of Staff. Without him, nothing would happen. He's the guy you come to if you want to push along requisitions, I have to sign. He's the one who makes sure my orders, directives, and postings make sense and follow Rules and Regulations. He's the guy who passes my orders to my subordinates. I have a tendency to just go to someone and ask for something. Moe makes sure we follow the chain of command.
Then, I want to introduce you all to the man we may all beg to, in the near future. He ensures our security. A lot of our intelligence comes from his people. He makes sure we are internally defensible from boarding parties. He is the one who will arrange the boarding parties we might want to initiate. Ladies and gentlemen, this is Lieutenant General Ian Malcolm, and he is the Commander of the Fifth Mobile Marine Corps. Your Marine Division Commanders will take their lead from him and report to his office. Unlike a lot of people in our service, General Malcolm has seen considerable action in space and on the ground. He's definitely the right person to lead our more than seventeen thousand marines.' He paused, allowing all to spend some time milling around talking to each other.
'This is a large group. It's too big to occupy this room any longer. So, I am going to suggest that, we all break from here and reconvene in the Columbia's Admirals' Mess. We can spend the evening getting to know each other. It will make it much easier to work together. You may enjoy calling someone by name more than yelling hey you. We should relish this evening. Starting tomorrow, we will spend eight hours a day locked in a suffocating environment, planning the defeat of our invaders. This meeting will adjourn to the Admirals Mess. You're all dismissed!" Bryant called over the din; and, rose to his feet.
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In the Mess Hall at their adjoined tables, Bryant stood up. "I want to ask one more bureaucratic question before we sink into nonsense. Did everyone get quarters that were satisfactory? We don't want anyone to be unhappy.' He finished and looked around the table to a chorus of nodding heads. Everyone seemed content. 'I assume you left orders with your Commands, so they know you'll be here for a while. Our object here is to build a plan with all the possible alternatives. But, that will begin tomorrow. For tonight, let's relax and enjoy. We'll eat, then head to the bar for some finger foods, music, fun, and dancing. But remember, we start at eight hundred hours, tomorrow." Bryant said with a menacing look on his face.
Their party of thirty spent an hour and a half in the dining room. By the time they left, they had already consumed a dozen bottles of wine and a dozen beers between them. The genteel quiet had evolved to a noisy interaction between all of them. No one seemed uncomfortable. Everyone was included in the conversation and humor. Grace and Tom roasted each other - as did Pal and Laft. After that, Moe and Ian Malcolm got into the act. There was a lot of rollicking laughter until everyone ganged up on George Bryant. They all had little stories they could twist humorously. It took the six nearly an hour to finish the roast.
By the time they entered the bar, they were all in genial spirits, to say the least. The festivities continued to twenty-three hundred when about half the party decided to leave for the evening. Everyone knew the load they'd bear from here on. The rest dwindled out over the following hour.
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"I was glad to hear that no one went on into early morning hours, or got hammered out of their minds. Today will be tough because of the intensity. Hopefully, we'll get used to the pace. Coffee, tea, juices, and sweet rolls should appear, shortly - in case, you missed breakfast or need something else. Feel free to help yourselves throughout the morning. We'll take a break at ten hundred. We'll break for lunch at twelve hundred, and we'll do an afternoon break at fourteen-thirty. We'll plan to get out of here around sixteen-thirty hours, every day. Try and relax in your evenings. Homework's only going to dull your intensity the next day. I know some of you very well. I'm must becoming familiar with some others. But, from your files, I can say we have as much tactical brain power gathered in one room as anyone could muster.
I am sending you all the battlefield updates I have up to now. This will allow you to see the progression of the war. All the updates from Vice Admiral Metas Elevadas commanding Eridani are generally eight to nine days after the fact, so we have never had a current or real-time view of what's happening out there. However, Elevadas has our jump schedule but no idea of the plan after we get to the staging area. I kept him in the dark, in case of capture. He is forwarding updates to us timed to meet us at our stop-overs. So, as we approach the battle zone, we will not be as far out of the picture. For the last two weeks, I have used the computers to project the campaign based on the reports we do have. This generally gives me a few probable current situational outcomes to that date. From that, I have maintained a personal picture of how I see things, currently. Any of you could look at the probabilities and build a different vision of the current situation. Anyway, you will have all the updates and projections to attempt to get the best impression you can.
The Marines from Eridani, Lepus, and Taurus have formed a joint Intelligence Battalion nearly five hundred members in size to co-ordinate all covert movements. Their information has been coming to me via General Malcolm who gets three reports a day. These are six to eight days out of date too but give us an idea as to how this enemy functions tactically.
From all these sources, one thing you will all note is that our opponents think two-dimensionally. What I will point out is that they came into our territory from plus to minus ten degrees declination, and never exceed those boundaries. They look to their fronts, rears, and flanks but don't actually pay attention to the space above and below those boundaries. At this time, it appears to me that this is their Achilles heel. My initial reaction to what I found is that we take a Fleet above and below and attack their back, interrupting supply and damaging the rear while the other three Fleets are still engaging them from the front. If I had to launch that operation today, I would send three Groups from each Fleet and hold one in reserve at each battle line. And, I would attack with half the six Carriers' Raptors in the lead, placing three hundred gun platforms and twelve hundred missile launchers ahead of the heavy craft. That would allow for a second launch of the same size, always holding three hundred in reserve as shifts are refueled and serviced. No supply vessels would be permitted in the battle area until after the initial attack so we could determine how to protect each of them, as they resupply a Task Force. When striking, we'd drag one Frigate from each attacking Group behind us to come into the battle a little late. Their perspective might give us a better view of the field as a scuffle develops. We would use our reserve to neutralize any counter attacks. The alternates would use probes to monitor their own space and ours at all times. They would have orders to fight under specific conditi
ons.
This will be an incremental fight. We will have to take back our lost territory a little at a time. Initially, we'd take no prisoners, aiming for the total destruction of any vessels we engage. If the battle turns in our favor, we could revisit that philosophy if conditions permit us to attend captures. Communications drones would be in constant transit between Boots and Draco to keep each apprised of the others' situation. All communications drones launched during battle will be run at forty percent to reduce transmission time. All sensor probes will be programmed to operate their drones at forty percent to reduce update time. Severely damaged vessels should be towed from the field and assisted when the opportunity arises. Destroyed ships would be ignored until a battle ends. Mourning our losses during battle will only lead to additional loss of life.
Our initial attack would come from top and bottom in the form of an arc with Boots heading along the border in one direction as Draco heads in the other. This will put considerable distance between the two bodies of three Groups and their reserves. But, it would permit us to cut a path through the enemy lines. As we cross along their rear, we would have to be prepared to bring individual Groups to bear on weaknesses we see and return them to the Fleet as quickly as possible.
So, using the information we have and the battle plan I outlined as a guideline of all the things that must be managed, your jobs break into the following sections.
First, we will need better updates. Is there a way to get information from the battlefield faster?
Second, we will need more timely intelligence. How can we improve the information and how quickly it gets to us?
Third, based on the first two, we will need to project all the different avenues an opponent may take in response to our action.
Fourth, we have to develop a plan that is based on the best possible information at the moment of attack.
Fifth, we have to produce several variations to use in response to actions we project the enemy may take in Step three.
Sixth, we need a reserve strategy. How much? Where to put them. When to use them.
Seventh, we need an exit strategy in case we get into trouble. We'd be using the reserve in item four for assistance at this stage.
I believe we should break into teams for this. A band should deal with the battlefield update problem. Another assemblage should handle the intelligence issue. A third can be examining all information as it unfolds and projecting how our enemy reacts to attacks and situational changes. A fourth squad should be eyeing our potential reactions to theirs. A fifth party should be dealing with the reserve issue. You sometimes need reserve when you see you've almost locked things up. Other times you need them to cover your exit when you’re in trouble. You always need them to give you new battlefield intelligence. And, they're always required to help in any mop up. The sixth panel should be taking the results from the other five and assembling an overall tactical plan with specifics for each Fleet and each Group. Remember, our attack is the most likely to succeed if it is a surprise and is delivered in an unexpected manner to throw the enemy off balance. These two things can overcome massive deficiencies. If you have surprise and originality along with the intelligence and communications advantage, you are probably going to win a war. The object of a tactical blueprint is to use all your assets to your best advantage with the ultimate goal of defeating the enemy without losing them.
The last thing I want to add is that you should use every resource you have. That includes your people. If you think you have a ship's Captain who is the ultimate in figuring out intelligence problems, then he or she should be in here too. If you know someone who employs incredible simplicity and elegance to deal with complex tactical problems, then that person should be here too. Don't be afraid to bring in subordinates. We have lots of room to put them up during our jumps.
I will leave it up to the four Tactical Commands to determine the makeup of any discovery groups. The Fleet Commanders will need to oversee all the teams so all the Groups can draw on their tactical knowledge. Don't forget to use any engineering help you may need to resolve impediments. And remember to utilize Moe and his assets for research information.
During this period, I will be the one in and out of the room. I will receive the communications updates and get security updates as they're received. I will be the one to actually order all the jumps, so you can all concentrate on your tasks.
But, I will also be working on my plan. It is a reasonably good beginning, so I will be attempting to enhance it as our picture clarifies. It can be our fallback if we don't come up with a better one. Or, it can be our plan with parts modified by ideas you generate. So let's get to it. I'll be out of the room for the next hour. Are there any questions about my instructions?" He asked.
"Yes sir, I have a Captain I would like to include in these meetings.' Nichols interjected. 'Others probably do, too. Can we not break to build our team with the others we think we need?"
"Certainly, you are all very responsible grownups. You will not be locked in here, but a certain amount of work must be done each day if we are to have our plan by the time we reach the staging area. We will have one day there to adjust for battlefield actualities. Then, we go!" The Admiral responded.
"Anyone else?" He asked and paused for a moment, then turned to leave the boardroom when there were no additional questions.
When Bryant quietly slipped back into the meeting, he was astonished. Eight more people had joined the team. Three were Boots Captains, one was from the Detroit's Engineering Department, and another was a Boots' Marine Major - he recognized all those faces. But three others had apparently come over from Draco. He monitored conversations as he roamed the room, but realized the boardroom wasn't really big enough for this. He mulled it over for a while as he continued to wander. He was happy. They were building an Esprit de Corp as a combined command, instead of just being two Fleets operating together.
"Could I have your attention, please?' He called out and waited for the din to die down. 'I have two things for you. The first is that you don't have to be stuck in this room. The group working on the plan can be in tactical. The team working on intelligence could be working with the Marines, and so on. Various departments have assets and people you may be able to use. When I am working a battle scenario, I'm generally all over the place. Stellar navigation has the best star charts, for example. Anyway, you could all agree to be here two or three times a day for an hour each, and work from other areas that would assist you. It would also prevent you all from suffocating. This tactical planning group has grown considerably, and the room is taxed to hold everyone. And, there is one more thing I forgot to mention earlier. If you have a lot of information on how your enemy reacts to things and you want to make it predictive, you would be wise to draw from counseling services. You would not believe how many times Commodore Bryant has given me insight into an enemy that helped resolve a situation. The Grays are an excellent example of that. Anyway, it’s up to all of you. Provided you have self-discipline, the entire ship can be your laboratory.
The other point is a piece of news significant to all of us. At my request, pleading, prodding, and begging, engineering and astrophysics have worked together to develop a way to keep a wormhole open for extended periods of time while moving one aperture, as needed. We couldn't travel through it. It takes too much energy to keep one that size open, indefinitely. It would be very tiny. They refer to it as a nano-wormhole. It can intersect the larger ones we travel through, and the aperture can move inside a vortex with us.
At the same time, another engineering team found a way to continuously re-columnate a group of lasers to keep them from deteriorating in the wormhole. One beam can be surrounded by eight that protect it. The importance of this is that we should be able to receive nearly instant updates, even as we travel in FTL. A message sent on a laser in a wormhole between two points ten light years across would take about nine hours to reach the destination, instead of just under two days. From the battlefield, we
are talking less than two days for a message to arrive here at Barnard's, and as we travel closer, the time is reduced. It also means that we can receive these messages while in flight. We have sent a transmission by the old "snail mail" method advising engaged Fleets of the development and asking them to watch for the aperture of our nano-wormhole, which we'll open and direct to their location. This means that about six days from now, while in the vortex, we will start receiving continuous updates and intelligence as we travel the rest of the way to our staging area. It also helps in our communications during battle. The enemy seems to be as limited as we have been, so this should give us a real advantage. I have asked engineering to find a way to adapt this to our long-range sensor probes, so they don't have to send drones but, can transmit continuous streams of data in near real time. Please use this information in your planning and calculations. This is a vital development." Bryant finished as the whole room broke into applause, hoots, and hollers.
Pal approached him. "You know, sir, you've made the whole job a hell of a lot easier. No matter what we considered, that was the main stumbling block. We would never be truly sure of what we should do until we were almost right on top of the battlefield. I just wish you would have told us sooner but thank you, anyway." She said sincerely.
"I couldn't tell you. My degree is in astrophysics, so I knew the concept sounded feasible to me when I considered it, but until scientists and engineers succeeded, it was just another one of my crazy attempts at junk science. Anyway, don't thank me. It was engineering and astrophysics." He said.
"Yes sir, but, it was you that had the vision to come up with the idea. Whether they did the grinding or not, it's your genius that made it possible." The Vice Admiral responded as everyone broke into a cheer.
"One thing you might explain is why you really need to transmit nine lasers?" Stevens asked.
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