The Gathering Storm (The New Federation Book 4)

by Chris Hechtl

  “Sir, that's a lot of metal. I'm not sure the fighters will be able to handle them. We can tell their carrier is restocked. Should we abort? Fall back to Protodon?” Garfield asked worriedly.

  Amadeus stared at them slowly and thoughtfully drumming his fingertips on the table top. When he didn't answer, the Neocat cleared his throat. “I doubt they are real,” Amadeus finally stated absently, brown eyes still locked on the hologram.

  “Sir?” Kelly asked dubiously. “The sensor data …” She indicated the hologram with a massive hand.

  “Can be easily faked, especially at this range.” The admiral shook his head as pieces fell into place. “No, think about it. If he had that firepower at his disposal, he'd be all over us. He'd be right back on the march. No, it's a fake out. He's trying to get us to hold off until real reinforcements do arrive.”

  “Yes, sir,” the commander said dubiously.

  “It is a definite possibility,” Commodore Harris's avatar stated slowly. “With what he's got, it's what I'd do, sir. Bluff. Fake out and hope the other side hesitates long enough for more metal to show up to really deter them or stop them cold, or, go on the offense.”

  “Agreed,” Amadeus said.

  “There is more coming though. And we've seen the report from Garth. By now those battle cruisers will be on their way to Dead Drop. By the time we get there, they will be there. And we don't know what else is in the pipeline,” Commodore Vargess warned.

  “No, that we don't. I also don't like fighting on their turf.”

  “Those ships could be real, sir. They could have orders to remain in Dead Drop on the defensive without orders from home. Or, they could be laying in wait as a trap,” Ch'v'tt stated, indicating first-degree caution.

  “In orbit?” Amadeus asked skeptically. He shook his head. “If they were waiting in ambush, they would have been under stealth in deep space or better yet, near the jump point to hit us as we come out. No, it's a bluff.”

  “We'll know more when we get the full data package from the prowler,” Kelly stated.

  “All right. For the moment, table Dead Drop and move on to Garth. I saw some of the raw take. They have that yard up and running as well?” Amadeus asked.

  “Yes, sir. It looks like a bonanza of ships. Most of them are cruiser grade or smaller. Many of them were lined up in rows, I'm assuming they were waiting to use the yard for refit.”

  “Which might mean they are saturating their home yard capacity. Or, they decided to move those ships forward to defend Garth.”

  “Either possibility is possible or both for that matter,” Amadeus stated with a nod. “What else?”

  “They have far less discipline than Dead Drop. The prowler picked up a lot of chatter. They were also able to upload a series of viruses to the enemy network. They didn't get a lot, but they left the viruses in place to be activated later.”

  “Good to know. So their cyber security is a little more lax than Dead Drops? I noted you didn't mention the attack there.”

  “No, sir. Dead Drop was far more dangerous so Captain Fen used her discretion and didn't attempt to upload the virus packets in either visit. She didn't want the transmissions to be backtraced to her position.”

  “But she took the chance in Garth?”

  “Yes, sir. They were far off from finding her in time.”

  “Ah.”

  “We'll know more once we have the raw data to process.”

  “Okay, for the moment,” Amadeus turned to the other flag officers and Garfield. “Crank what we know into the computers. Don't assume those ships are not real. We'll play it safe for the moment. See what your Tactical Departments can come up with.”

  “Aye aye, sir.”

  :::{)(}:::

  Once the full data package was transmitted to the fleet, the staff settled in to process the information, using the flagship's massive computer servers to pick through it all.

  In going over data, Kelly was not sure about some of it. She was definitely not happy to see so many ships in Garth. That didn't bode well for their future. And she was of two minds about the dreadnoughts in orbit of Dead Drop.

  “I still don't like it,” she murmured.

  “Yes, but look at the readings and position,” Garfield said patiently. “They were lined up near the yard. That means they were waiting for repairs,” he said, using a stubby claw-tipped finger to point to them. “You said it yourself.”

  She nodded grudgingly. “I did. They are there for a reason, mothballed or a refit.”

  “My thoughts exactly. What if they saturated their yard capacity in Horath like you said?” Ch'v'tt asked. Kelly snorted. “No, bear with me,” the Veraxin said, turning to her and then back to the admiral as the admiral came over to their little cluster. “What if they saturated their capacity and sent smaller ships to Garth? Garth has a yard. It's a civilian grade yard, small, but they can still use its facilities obviously. And then there is the repair yard in Dead Drop. They are obviously using that too.”

  “They'd have to ship personnel in. Our last report was they stripped the facilities and shut them down,” Kelly said, playing devil's advocate.

  “And we know how out-of-date that intel is obviously,” the Veraxin chief of staff retorted. Kelly nodded grudgingly.

  “Point,” the admiral murmured, fingers tapping his lips as he considered the problem.

  “They could have also drawn drafts of personnel from the ships waiting for repair as well as from the respective planets,” Ch'v'tt pointed out.

  “If they are from their Gather Fleet they aren't trained to work together as fleet units. That takes time, exercises, coordination, and you need the right mindset. The Gather Fleet personnel are pirates—hunters of easy prey. They aren't used to someone fighting back,” Kelly said slowly.

  “I wonder if they'll break,” Garfield murmured.

  “We'll find out soon enough. Okay, consider everything we saw in Dead Drop and half of what was seen in Garth to be with them. Just in case,” Admiral White stated as he turned to Ch'v'tt and Garfield. “Crank those assumptions in your plans, ramp up the numbers another 10 or 20 percent for the planet and any latecomers, and then let's see what we can come up with for a plan.”

  He'd seen their latest plans and had been impressed with some of Garfield's ideas. But the Neocat was taking a middle ground approach to things. He wanted a pessimistic approach. He didn't want to be burned again.

  “Aye aye, sir. Are we going for a straight-up shoot or are we going to cut them off? Pin them against one of the jump points and then let the fighters and bombers tear them apart?”

  “I'll consider both options and any others you can come up with. We can at least have them on file for when we do get to Garth. When we get there, we can do any last-minute assessments.”

  “Roger that, sir,” Garfield replied with a nod and ear flick.

  “We need a plan in case we run into them on the move too,” Ch'v'tt suggested. “And a GOTH plan if there are more capital ships than we can account for or countermeasures against our small craft. Right now, we're putting a lot of stock in them as a counter to any enemy capital ships.”

  “All good points,” Amadeus stated with a nod as he crossed his arms. He nodded to the Neocat who made a note.

  “One other thing, the prowler did confirm some recent ion tracks. Some of it pretty fresh. At least two ships, possibly more jumped ahead of us. We're going over the decay ratio numbers now. I'd say they could pop out at any time,” Kelly said.

  “Reinforcements for the picket?” Garfield asked.

  “Possible.”

  “Okay, put the picket on alert. Reinforce them if you have to. I want those ships caught and or destroyed when they get out,” the admiral ordered. Heads nodded around the table.

  “There were other tracks we're trying to run down. Some of them the prowler only got a partial fix on. They don't make sense,” Kelly warned.

  “Keep working on that,” Amadeus said as he turned to the staff TAO. �
�While the computers and your staffs crunch the numbers you Garfield can hit the gym,” the admiral said dryly.

  The cat's ears went back and his eyes went wide in his best innocent expression.

  “Don't give me that look. You know you need it. Too much lasagna for even your implants to handle. Your uniform is practically bursting at the seams. So, I want you to get some workout time in. Who knows when we'll get the time later?”

  “Yes, sir,” the Neocat sighed.

  “I'll join you too, when I can,” Kelly offered.

  “Sure. Show me up why don't you. Just don't expect me to jog. You do not want to see these short stubby legs trying to run.”

  The staff snorted at the self-depreciating humor coming from the Neocat.

  :::{)(}:::

  Four days and seven hours after the prowler arrived, the Horathian courier HVCC 4391 and her medium freighter consort arrived roughly one AU outside the outer edge of the DD01ns jump zone. The courier had jumped well short but the freighter hadn't. She'd ventured further in. A picket of Federation destroyers were there watching the area since the prowler and scout cruisers had pinpointed it as a possible jump location from the previous visit.

  The two ships’ companies saw the looming Federation forces and scrambled to jump back and out of danger. The freighter lumbered to turn around and change her course. She fell into the arms of the fighters dispatched from the destroyers to take her out. The ship shook and twisted in the relentless pounding. Her shields went down within seconds. A well-placed missile went up her wake and tore her sublight engines apart. The lack of sublight engines left her adrift. Internal explosions lit the ship for a few minutes before she went dark, venting atmosphere.

  The courier managed to get into hyper barely ahead of the fighters.

  :::{)(}:::

  Amadeus had a mixed reaction when he got the news. He was clearly unhappy that one of the ships had gotten away. “Well, they know we are here anyway with that damn destroyer,” he muttered.

  “True.”

  “Can the cruisers in DD01ns catch them? Or should we send a ship to run them down? It wouldn't take much,” Garfield offered.

  “She's a courier, all engines. Once she gets a head start there is no catching her. We'll leave it up to the cruisers. If they catch her, fine and dandy. If not, well, we'll deal with it,” Ch'v'tt stated. “Unless you want to send a ship after them, sir?” the Veraxin asked.

  “We could outrun that courier easily, sir. They travel in the low octaves in Gamma. Even with a day or two head start one of the pickets could get there ahead of her.”

  “But, there is no telling where she'll come out in hyper since they know that too,” Amadeus murmured. “Okay, send the tin can. We'll see what they can stir up.”

  “Aye aye, sir.”

  Chapter 38

  B-102c

  Commander Arnie Perth grinned as his new ship the Resolution Mark II class heavy cruiser Winterspell exited the rapids. She was followed less than a second later by the flash emergence of the Newmann class battle cruisers, Admiral Butley and Stormkeeper.

  “Made it again and this time without a scratch,” CPO Zz'vv, the Veraxin sensor chief he'd been able to hang onto from his time on Caroline, said.

  The Neochimp captain grunted as he turned to see the bosun near the bridge exit. He glanced at Mat and nodded once. The senior chief petty officer nodded back once.

  He'd had been allowed to hang onto only a few of the personnel from Caroline when he'd been yanked out of his old ship. He missed the old girl, but he really couldn't complain about the promotion and his new ship. She was tougher and a hell of a sight better suited to handle the rapids.

  “The battle cruisers report they have no damage. They are standing down their hyperdrives,” the communications tech reported.

  “Very well. Nav, shape a course for the next jump point on the list. Comm, flash our IFF to the station and send a signal to the ansible letting them know we arrived safely.”

  “Aye aye, sir.”

  :::{)(}:::

  “We're out, sir,” Captain Astro XXXXIV said unnecessarily to Admiral Irons through the link to the flag bridge. His crew were still securing the ship from hyperspace but they knew the routine. There were no unwanted surprises around them; that was a relief.

  “I see that,” Admiral Irons replied. “Good work. How are the ships?”

  “All ships accounted for. Telemetry indicates all three ships came through with flying colors,” the Neo Great Dane stated.

  “Good. Lay a signal on the ansible. There should be files there waiting to be sent to me.”

  “Aye aye, sir.”

  “Proceed on mission unless I find something out in those downloads,” Admiral Irons stated.

  “Aye aye, sir.”

  :::{)(}:::

  The arrival of a trio of ships in a single transit startled the sensor watch crew on the Harbor Station. They were even more surprised when their light speed sensors came back with a report of two battle cruisers and a heavy cruiser. A moment after their computers processed that information the ship's IFFs came in through the communications channels.

  The three ships didn't stop at the station, however, but kept going across the star system for the jump point to B-104.

  The flagship Admiral Butley sent out her own signal to the ansible. The ansible sent encrypted files from her buffer and then was monopolized as fresh data flowed from the ship to the platform.

  Commander Lafleur arrived on her command deck and accepted a cup of coffee from the officer on deck. “What's the situation, Joe?”

  “IFF confirmed, ma'am. It looks like we've got visitors, but they aren't staying long.”

  “Oh?”

  “They've apparently secured from jump and are already headed to B-104. From the speed we're observing, they are hauling butt too,” the Neofox said with a shake of his head.

  “Ah,” she replied with a nod as she took a sip of her coffee. She needed it; she had only just gotten to sleep.

  “We're receiving an update from one of the ships, ma'am, the Admiral Butley. She's transmitting their orders and updated files,” the comm tech reported.

  “I see them,” Echo reported.

  “Process them. Is there mail in there?”

  “Yes, ma'am, some.”

  “Well, the intended recipients will be happy. What about news?”

  “I don't know about civilian news, but there are some updated files. I saw the header of one, an updated war book.”

  “Ah? Well, that's good to know,” the commander replied as she cradled her cup of coffee.

  “Ma'am, all channels are busy with the data. It's a lot,” the tech reported.

  “Very well. I might as well dive in and see what there is to see myself,” she murmured. Whoever was over there wasn't interested in stopping for tea and a chat; that much was obvious from their heading. They were damn determined to get to Bek and do something. She wasn't certain how effective they'd be.

  :::{)(}:::

  “Protector, I've gotten through most of this. Have communications lay a whisker laser on the station and get their update. I might as well read that while I'm here.”

  “Bored, sir?” the A.I. asked as he opened a channel to the bridge and requested the communication channel. It was of course immediately granted.

  “Something like that. Horatio outdid himself with that thing. It's a good use of available resources, I'll give him that. Pity we couldn't use those ships for their intended purpose though,” Admiral Irons said, admiring the station and the four ships that made up its core. The fourth was a recent addition.

  He frowned when he saw the icons of Ilmarinen and Rolling Thunder. “Get me a status report on Ilmarinen and Rolling Thunder as well as the other ships in the star system. Are any of them other than factory ship ready for a trip?”

  “Aye aye, sir.”

  :::{)(}:::

  “Ma'am, we're getting a request for an update from Admiral Butley, the flagship,”
a tech reported four and a half hours later.

  “Then send it,” the commander said mildly. She had been about ready to give up her vigil on the command deck and start her morning routine. It was still too early for breakfast though. There was no point going to sleep; she'd never get there before her usual wake-up time. She was still considering if she had the energy for her morning workout routine.

  Most likely not. She was usually tired and cranky when she didn't get much sleep. She was a little sore from sitting in the hot seat and reading the files that the battle cruiser had sent. Some of it was fascinating reading.

  “They want an update on our engineering as well as Ilmarinen and Rolling Thunder,” the tech reported, wrinkling his nose. “Why …?” he shook his head as he cut himself off from asking the question out loud.

  “Ours is not to reason why apparently. Pass them on to both ships and call Chief Bailey up. Get his latest assessment and add that too,” Commander Lafleur ordered. “Maybe they've got something he can use.”

  “Aye aye, ma'am.”

  “In fact, have him stop by here. I haven't had a face-to-face with him in a while. I think we're overdue,” she said thoughtfully. Progress on the station had slowed since a lot of their support had gone into protecting the ansible and rebuilding the heavy cruiser. It had thrown a monkey wrench into her carefully-laid plans and logistics. They were picking up some speed here and there, but Ilmarinen was also throwing her a lot of curve balls.

  She couldn't wait to rid herself of Captain Clayton and some of his personnel that were under quarter's arrest. They were all destined to take the next ride through the rapids to B101a1 and from there to Pyrax for court-martial.

  She snorted softly at that thought; her nostrils dilating delicately in irritation. She'd read the reports, including the one about the trial and how Childress and his supporters were denying the existence of the ansible and the outer Federation. Well, Clayton was going to get an up-close and personal look at Pyrax. Well, the brig and prison system in Pyrax at least, she thought dismissively.