by David Buck
The absence of any fighting ships was telling, but he grunted in satisfaction as he noted that the expected refining station and a sizeable refuelling station appeared to be already present in space around the inner planet. He ignored the view of the star system and even as he quickly noted it was picturesque, he thought dismissively of what an aesthetic Blue Jerecab would make of the view with their sanctimonious religious posturing. A lieutenant flagged a sensor report for his attention and the admiral suppressed an initial roar of fury at the junior officer’s temerity, even as he glared at the luckless officer and spoke tersely.
‘I do not care that sensor logs show the trails of numbers of strange ships entering and leaving the system for differing systems. We have a lightly guarded and valuable target further in system to neutralise. All ships are to move into attack positions and destroy the human facility, and if anyone tells me yet again that the facility is transmitting non-aggression clauses then I will shoot them myself.’
The junior officers then flinched and kept down over their consoles as the admiral sat back in satisfaction at their discomfort. He evaluated that the human ships would waste fuel seeking to harass his own forces in piecemeal, yet he would keep his armada together at all costs and destroy the humans in one decisive battle. Destroying their fuel reserves would be a good start he thought as his ships made the four hour journey inwards to the planet. After a nap in his chair, the range chime went off, and the admiral by habit stood and brushed the ever present green dander from his brown fur and long whiskers.
Admiral Baunrus thought their actual assault relayed from the forward twenty frigates approaching the planet at speed was an anticlimax. A series of explosions rent the orbiting refuelling station, but the expected massive explosion of liquefied hydrogen and oxygen did not occur. The refinery on the planet seemed to crumble too readily from only a handful of high speed passes from his frigates, and the admiral looked perplexed for several minutes, before the lead frigate commander reported back in excited tones.
‘Admiral, the two facilities are fakes constructed of inflatable sections and I suspect they have employed an automated beacon to transmit the non aggression clauses.’
Baunrus gave a snarl of rage, and his crew again had the presence of mind to silently keep their eyes down at their consoles, as he now looked over the tactical overlay on his screen.
‘All ships are to immediately alter course for the hyper drive point, we have been taken in on a ruse and we leave to defend our own facilities.’
The mass of Jerecab ships performed a high speed Holman transfer around the planet and raced for deep space, with several frigates slowed by the atmospheric strafing runs forced to accelerate heavily to stay with the armada. The admiral’s mood was not improved when a lone Jerecab frigate eventually appeared at the hyper drive point as the armada rapidly approached the location.
Baunrus seethed as he took in the message about the earlier non hostile encounter with three of the human destroyers. As he reviewed the limited technical data on the human ships he idly considered that the central frames of their ships appeared to be very robust for their size. However his attention soon shifted as the report mentioned that the human destroyers had then left for other star systems controlled by the Jerecab. The admiral sat back and considered the new information with considerable unease, so just were was the human fleet located now, and how many ships did these new interlopers in the galaxy possess?
***
Chapter 10
Gindane looked with interest at the human shuttle that had just landed in the main hangar of the Rupane. The Barus commander had spoken with both senior human admirals for several hours before they had agreed to a brief meeting as a matter of courtesy. She had several of her marines formed up to one side of the hangar in an honour guard with a variety of flags belonging to the various races of the Zronte hegemony. The only other order she had given was that only she was allowed to speak with the humans.
Gindane brought her attention back to the door of the shuttle as it opened and the two male humans slowly walked down the boarding ramp towards the waiting Barus officers. She thought they both looked impressive in their deep blue and grey uniforms, though for some reason one of the humans seemed unwell.
About five metres from her, the two humans stopped, and then placed their caps under their arms as they made awkward bows. As they straightened, Thomas Stanford introduced them both formally and gave a long glance of keen interest around the large hangar bay of the Rupane.
‘This is Admiral John Beresford and I am Admiral Thomas Stanford from Earth, and we are delighted to be able to meet with you today Captain Gindane.’
The importance of the meeting was not lost on Gindane as she replied with her own thanks and began by outlining the reasons for the meeting.
‘Admiral, I thank you for your efforts in coming aboard my ship. I understand this is only the second meeting that your race has been involved with the galactic races, with the first meeting so long ago by your standards. To save time we meet here in the hangar to discuss key issues vital to the survival of your race.’
Thomas looked up at the taller Barus female and took in her tall bipedal cat-like form, and replied in what he hoped was an acceptable manner. Both men then followed Gindane over to a large table littered with data tablets and holographic projectors.
‘Well Commander it has been six human generations since the Traders came to our world and the unfortunate events of the epidemic are now well in our past. Fortunately the information we gleaned from that initial meeting has allowed us to reach the stars in a more timely and effective manner. I once again thank you for your time in speaking with us both today.’
Gindane gave a quick start of concern about the epidemic, as she well remembered both the human death toll and the subsequent damage to the Barus cruiser squadron by human missiles after the Traders fled the human planet. She countered by the best way she could her fears by hauling up two data tablets, roughly formatted in English and then presented the tablets to both humans.
‘Obviously my equipment has to stay onboard my ship, but as you can see by this information here, it appears that your fleet is vastly outnumbered by what I can determine so far.’
Thomas looked over the Barus tablet with barely contained enthusiasm, but as he scrolled through the information on the data tablet his comfort levels fell right away. The Jerecab had fielded nearly four hundred ships in total even if a quarter of the ships consisted of lifters and transports. He estimated the Jerecab had over 280 frigates versus 40 destroyers of his own forces, and plainly their fleet had to avoid a full battle with the main Jerecab fleet at all costs.
John had also seen the pages Thomas had been looking through, but quickly skipped further ahead to more details on the Jerecab frigates themselves. He noted with satisfaction that the relative strengths of the Jerecab ships was listed against both Barus and Trader ships, with blank fields in place against descriptions of the human ships.
Gindane noted the interest of the two humans and asked her first urgent question, even as she also noted her tactical officer’s interest in the new race present amongst the Barus.
‘Now without delay we need to establish the fighting power of your destroyers, as we like to work out with you the best options for the survival of your race.’
Thomas looked over at John, who was wiping his nose, as he knew his friend was getting over a cold. He suddenly felt nervous as he realised that John’s illness might be catching, but he displayed no emotion apart from a nervous swallow at the Barus captain’s latest blunt statement. He also quickly found the relevant section in the data tablet and made his own observations.
‘Well I understand from the Trader reports the fact that the Barus can be very direct and so I can answer the question just as directly. Now given the Trader sneak ships are roughly twice as strong as either the Tilmud or Jerecab frigates, our own ships are about thirty percent stronger that the Trader ships and have both better susta
ined shields and better engines for speed and manoeuvrability. We have brought forty of these destroyers with us to the Dradfer colonies to intercept the Jerecab forces.’
Gindane’s superb mind did not even have to calculate the battle odds overlong. Even her tactical officer gave mutters of concern as he keyed the new data into the holographic projector. In minutes the officer had a tactical simulation running on accelerated time and the keen eyes of both races took in the dire results. Perhaps unnecessarily, Gindane now spoke about what she was seeing in front of her.
‘Well as you can see if both the main fleets meet in battle then the Jerecab will win a hard fought but convincing victory over your fleet. I note that your ships are of unexpected high quality; however the low numbers of your forces will only ensure their destruction. I would advise you to withdraw to your home world as we seek to deflect the efforts of the Jerecab.’
Thomas was ready for this statement, indeed they had talked about little else before he had persistently insisted the two races have a face to face meeting. He ventured his own evaluations of the data as John took the opportunity to go through further information in the data tablets.
‘With all due respect Commander Gindane we must refuse your request. We have evaluated that the Dradfer worlds offer two options for the survival of our race. Either we can deflect the Jerecab diplomatically or we can win a war of attrition at these worlds against their forces. If we are restricted to our home system then only a final one sided battle is open to us and we also do not like those odds.’
Gindane now knew that she could not make the humans leave even by using the edicts, as the argument the humans were making would be valid under galactic law. However she did try repeatedly for the next half an hour, as the humans both scanned the data tablets and viewed the holographic display under a handful of altered options. Her concentration was broken after two more hours by the communications officer, who warily eyed the humans as she entered the hangar and strode over to speak quietly in Barus with Gindane.
‘Commander, Fleet Captain Omerio has arrived in this system in a single small ship and is expected to dock with the Rupane in three hours. He has forwarded an urgent report to you for your immediate attention.’
Gindane instructed the tactical officer to help the two humans with their questions before she quickly made her way to a console near the forward hangar wall. In moments she was scanning through the information that Omerio had supplied and she once again marvelled at his superb survival skills. After spending half an hour evaluating the report she returned to the meeting in the centre of the hangar and noted that Admiral Stanford had started to speak again.
‘So your simulation can be altered for all the Dradfer colonies and we intend only to fight when the numbers are equal or in our favour and obtain victory based on our superior ships. Also if the Jerecab ships are immediately in front of our ships within five hundred kilometres, we want a simulation showing them losing thirty percent of their shields every five minutes.’
The Barus tactical officer readily complied with these new instructions and in minutes had a series of new simulations running with the Jerecab and humans in battle with equal forces. He looked in amazement as every simulation showed a decent human victory. For good measure he now ran the last simulation on full fleet numbers and looked around at Gindane in silence even as he discretely activated the save simulation sequence on his latest efforts. Gindane took the opportunity to both offer her own revised analysis of the simulations and then to wrap up her first official meeting with the humans.
‘The smaller encounters are interesting if the Jerecab Admiral is so foolish to fight you in this manner. The main battle still shows a Jerecab victory even if their losses are very high indeed. Now note that they only need a handful of their ships to survive to ravage your home world. We are expecting another Barus ship carrying Fleet Captain Omerio to arrive here shortly and I would like you to return to your own ship until I can speak with you again. I trust our first meeting was productive and I look forward to speaking with you again tomorrow.’
Gindane gave both humans a bow as they replaced the data tablets on the desk and then led them back to the ramp to their shuttle. The humans had then reassured her they would await her call and boarded the shuttle after offering polite bows of their own. Gindane led her officers back to the bridge as the human shuttle left. Her tactical officer offered an opinion she readily embraced as they entered the bridge.
‘Commander I think the humans are onto something and I think the Jerecab admiral is in for a nasty surprise. I still think the Jerecab will be victorious but the price will be one they will not like to pay.’
Gindane sat back for several moments in her command chair, before she carefully replied to the tactical officer with a feral grin he readily recognised.
‘Let us hope it does not come down to war, but if it does I intend the Red Jerecab pay the full price for their aggression.’
The Barus bridge crew sombrely went about their duties as they watched the human shuttle return to the nearby human destroyer. Gindane looked at the strange larger ship with new found respect, for if the simulations were correct she was looking at the future of space combat in the galaxy.
Thomas had sealed the rear compartment of the shuttle so he could listen to John about what they had learned from the first quick meeting with the Barus. John wasted no time in speaking, as he hurriedly jotted down notes in his own data pad whilst his memory was still fresh.
‘Thomas, the simulations are actually encouraging from a limited conflict perspective if everything breaks for Mary in the event of conflict. However the meeting also highlights the fact that our own roles will surely cost us our lives, even if we can deflect and delay the Jerecab.’
Thomas did not reply and looked out a side viewport as the shuttle began the first docking manoeuvres with the Linares. Out of one of the side windows he could see a rapidly approaching small Barus ship and he wondered about the significance of the new arrival.
***
The Auckland entered the Platinum system at the most distant hyper drive point, and a low powered transmission was then sent to an asteroid fifty million kilometres away from the diversion the humans had setup in orbit around the second planet. Joel was careful to keep his destroyer as close as possible to the hyper drive point as he waited the long hours the message would take to be answered. The commander noted the stony silence of the bridge crew as they looked at the first images being received, though he noted they did not neglect to keep watch on their own scanners.
Joel now viewed the images quickly as the end of transmission occurred and he soon began to write his report. He knew that the automated sensors and cameras on the asteroid would go dormant, and that the high performance transmitter would fold itself into a two metre cube before trundling under a rock overhang to hide.
Joel put aside his attention on the new data as he gave a curt order.
‘We will remain at battle stations and we will leave in fifteen minutes as we are not under attack.’
The destroyer entered hyperspace at the allotted time, and Joel again went through the images showing the Jerecab destruction of their dummy refinery. He then reviewed the attack methods and possible weapons used by the advance Jerecab ship, even as he noted that most of the armada had been held back by their admiral. Joel noted something about the frigates that had attacked the diversion, and he grimaced bleakly as he assembled his report to Admiral Neilson.
***
The two Cephrit walked slowly alongside each other in companionable silence, with the huge female assault leader towering over her mentor and mate of record, the Cephrit fleet master. He noted that her fighting swords along the tops of her now regrown legs were covered in ornate covers patterned in silver that he though set off the black chitin of her body nicely. The Cephrit couple entered one of the massive hangar bays on Star Base 31, and the fleet master began again to chirr quietly as they passed through a throng of Cephrit engineers p
reparing the large scout ship.
‘Remember that you are a messenger and that the Vorinne would not countenance my opinion on most matters, let along yours, if they are in a foul mood. The information you provide will cause them anger and your own life may need to be donated to placate their rage.’
The assault leader quickly prostrated herself in front of the fleet master before she replied. They might enjoy a more informal role in private, but in public her mate’s authority was absolute.
‘Fleet master my role is to serve the Cephrit race as you deem fit, and I am honoured to deliver this message to the Vorinne second envoy.’
The fleet master gave a soft grate of concern with his hind scales that they both chose to ignore. The nearby Cephrit engineers ignored the fixed look of the fleet master for several more minutes as they completed their work before they streamed out of the hangar. The fleet master then walked around in front of the assault leader well after she had stood up from her earlier courtesy to him. Confirming that they were now alone, he gently touched her antennae with his and began to softly chirr, even as his antennae then gently caressed her antennae and head.
‘Watch the pride and rage of the named ones, beloved mate, and bring yourself back to me. Remember our subservient role to the Zronte and the Vorinne and you will do well.’
The fleet master did not await an answer and walked briskly from the hangar bay even as his mate calmly walked into the scout ship. After several minutes he was standing by himself at a large viewport overlooking the hangar bay doors, and he quietly watched her ship increase speed as it headed for interstellar space.
***
Deshinal had the sense to quickly herd her anxious brothers out of the cockpit into one of the two cramped rear compartments that formed the rest of the living space on the scout ship. The young Quixxe female knew that she especially could not appear in visual link with the approaching cruisers, or all would be revealed. As she closed the rear door she quickly glanced at her sister Shafinal, who sat quietly in the pilots chair and appeared to be engrossed in her duties.