“Take the twins down to my study and let them see the fish,” I said as I finished off another mouthful of the breakfast Piesew served Marranalis and me.
“Hmm, “Kala hummed, “I don’t believe the twins have been in there since we left Desolation.”
“Better still, you could always take them to our special atrium where they can feel and interact with the plants,” I mumbled as I finished off another bite. Kala looked at me with a frown as I spoke. “Sorry,” I muttered, “I’ve not been able to get much to eat lately, and, well, I’m rather starved.”
“Tib, that’s no reason to talk with your mouth full. You don’t want to teach the twins bad manners?”
“Humph,” I muttered, “I’m sure somewhere in the Federation it’s polite to talk with your mouth full.” Kala shook her head but didn’t say anything.
After eating, Marranalis and I returned to the DUSTEN. We had been planning on holding a memorial service for the troopers who had died in events surrounding the HAPRIN; however, Admiral Regeny suggested we hold off on it the battle in Sector 3 was over.
By now several hundred ships had passed through the Cantolla gates from Sector 1 to join ships in Sector 3, and the ships were being placed in cloaked groups in various locations near Spellhes but out of the way of any approaching ships on a route that the Brotherhood might be taking in their attack on the planet. During the night, more reports had come in from scout ships from the third fleet that more and more Brotherhood ships were assembling at three different points, and that they had started moving along a direction toward Spellhes. Using their best data and calculations the FSO predicted the siege of Spellhes would start in about 30 hours. From as near as we could tell, we outnumbered them with Federation ships three to one. But I had a hunch there was a fourth group someplace we didn’t know about, and that with that fourth group was the Tottalax ship and most likely Ming on an RMFF-protected starship as well.
I ordered two frigates, the OAPEG, and the CRIFSAC along with two corvettes and dozens of patrol ships to take orbit around the planet in what would appear to be a normal defensive posture for the planet. To have had less would have appeared suspicious. I had issued orders to the ships' commanders, who at the first signs of hostility were immediately to cloak their ships and get as far from their original position as they could in the following minute and then to turn and start taking out as many enemy ships as possible.
As fast as the ships came through the Cantolla gates, new software was uploaded into their computers that would allow them to be able to see cloaked ships. Each day the NEW ORLEANS drew further away from Federation space on its journey to Mars, but thanks to the Cantolla gates it was only a short walk away from me on the DUSTEN. Flight simulators were kept busy on all the ships that had them with crews practicing maneuvers and attack strategies. While everyone went about their duties normally, there was a tension to the air that usually was not felt. Finally, the day came when the klaxons sounded on the ships throughout the Federation fleet that the Brotherhood ships were now approaching Spellhes. All radio contact between Federation ships was ordered to cease, and messages and contacts were only through Cantolla gate communication devices that were undetectable to anyone not tied into the loop. All the Federation ships save for the OAPEG, the CRIFSAC, and the patrol ships intended to appear part of the normal planetary defense were cloaked, and everyone waited patiently as the Brotherhood fleet drew nearer.
The government officials on Spellhes were the first to attempt contact with the Brotherhood, asking the meaning of their intrusion of Spellhes space with such a large armada of ships. There was no reply from the Brotherhood.
“Why isn’t the Brotherhood responding and at least asking Spellhes to surrender?” Marranalis asked.
“It’s Ming’s way of creating terror in the minds of his enemies,” Captain Slater said, “Ming used to do the same thing on Earth. He appears with an overwhelming force, wreaks havoc on several cities, destroying everything and killing every man, woman, and child before he demands total and unconditional surrender.”
“What would happen to them if they did surrender?” Captain Wanoll asked.
Slater replied, “Ming would take one out of every twenty individuals who surrendered and have them executed publicly. He would enslave most of the population, only those he felt he could use and who would support and be loyal to him he would allow to remain free.”
“Where is Roritat in all of this?” Marranalis asked, “As bad as he is, I can’t imagine him agreeing to all of Ming’s evilness.”
“If Ming operates here the same way he did on Earth, Roritat may have already been displaced by Ming, if not he is afraid of Ming and electing to sit quietly on the sidelines letting Ming do as he wishes. At some point though, Ming will see Roritat as a threat to his climb to power, and he will have him assassinated. Ming has no loyalties to anyone but himself.”
Slowly, we watched as the Brotherhood’s fleet began surrounding the planet. He had brought three starships with him that had once been part of the Federation Fleet. Accompanying them were thirty frigates and one hundred corvettes, and we still hadn’t seen the thousands of patrol ships and mirage fighters that were housed inside the hangars aboard the larger ships.
By now the officials on the planet below were panicking and begging the Brotherhood fleet to communicate, but still there was no response.
“Admiral Tibby, we have contact on the sensors of a ship about the size and configuration of the Tottalax ship approaching.”
“I was hoping they wouldn’t show. However, at least this time we are ready for them. Make sure all personnel are wearing their headgear to block the Tottalax sleep weapon. Our first targets are to be the hangar bays on the starships once they have released most of their patrol ships and fighters. I’ll give the signal when I want us to open fire on them. Hit those hangar doors with everything you can. They’ll get their shields up before we can do too much damage to their ships, but all I want is to make their hangars useless at this time. Once they have their RMFF’s back up, I want the focus changed, and I want to hit the Tottalax ship with as many nuclear GW torpedoes as possible. We know we can’t do much damage to their ship, but I’ll bet we are giving the occupants a hell of a shaking up. Maybe with enough discomfort they will go home.”
“Admiral Kophious,” I said through the open communications link through the Cantolla gates, “are your ships ready to block fire from the starships to the planet’s surface?
“Yes sir, everything is ready,” he replied. The enemy star ships were already in orbit and swarms of patrol ships, and fighters were pouring out of the hangars.
“Sir,” Captain Wanoll said, “their shields are down, shall we begin the attack?”
“Wait a bit longer,” I said, “I want most of their ships vulnerable before we open fire.”
“But sir,” Wanoll continued, “Wouldn’t it be better to keep them from getting out? There would be fewer ships for us to deal with.”
“Do you play chess, Wanoll?” I asked.
“Sir?” Wanoll asked, shocked by my question.
“Do you play chess?” I repeated.
“Yes sir, but I don’t see what that has to do with this battle.”
“Sometimes in chess, the best strategy is not to go directly for the opponent’s King, but to start with the smaller pieces and slowly reduce your opponent’s forces, a war of attrition,” I said.
“I still don’t see it sir,” Wanoll replied.
I explained, “It might seem on the surface like we are creating a bigger battle for ourselves, but with their patrol ships out and the hangars damaged, they can’t go back. Once the Brotherhood sees what they are up against here they will retreat, or at least, I hope they will. However, they will have to abandon their patrol ships and fighters. While the smaller ships can follow the starships, they are out in the open with no RMFF protection and only cloaking on the ships that have it. With the new detection system that A’Lappe has provided us, we
can follow and pick off their small ships one at a time. The Brotherhood may escape with their large RMFF protected ships, but they will have lost thousands of smaller ships and troopers. It will take them a long time to replace all of those ships, and they will need to repair their starships’ hangars. All of that will take time, time that we can use to increase our own forces and defenses and hopefully find some of their bases and destroy those as well.”
“I see, sir,” Captain Wanoll said.
By now, the space around Spellhes was starting to fill with ships, and I noticed the numbers of ships leaving the starships starting to slow and reduce in numbers.
“Gentlemen, let the battle begin. Open fire,” I said. Instantly space was filled with the flashing beams of laser light and GW torpedoes could be seen streaking toward the hangar doors on the starships. Scores of patrol ships and fighters in the line of fire were hit and damaged. For a few seconds, the hangars were seen to be taking direct hits, and explosions from within could be seen erupting debris out of the hatches. Then the ships’ RMFF’s activated and the shots could be seen deflecting from the shields.
“Now for Phase Two, I want all our patrol ships and fighters to start targeting the enemy’s patrol ships and fighters. I want our frigates to concentrate on the Tottalax ship with nuclear GW torpedoes, and I want our starships blocking shots from the enemy starships aimed at the planet.”
“Admiral, sir,” a communication officer interrupted, “the government officials on the planet want to know what’s going on up here?”
“I don’t have time to talk to them now,” I said abruptly, “just tell them we are saving their asses and to enjoy the show.”
The battle raged for over two hours; so far the Brotherhood had not seen any of our ships because they all were cloaked. The Brotherhood had some ships that were able to do so, but it didn’t help them because of the new gravity targeting system A’Lappe had provided us. If their ships didn’t have RMFF protection, Federation pilots were targeting them and blowing them out of space. Finally when I saw our forces had annihilated over half the enemy ships, I gave the word for all our ships to turn off their cloaking for 15 seconds. Almost immediately space was filled with the view of thousands of Federation ships, and then they vanished again.
“Open a channel to the Brotherhood ships,” I commanded. Once the link was opened, I began.
“This is Admiral Thibodaux James Renwalt, of the Galactic Federation, asking for the immediate surrender of the combatant troops attacking the planet Spellhes.”
There was no response.
“Sir,” Captain Wanoll began, “the Tottalax ship is speeding up and entering the battle scene.”
“Right on schedule, I see,” I responded,. “Are they close enough for the GW torpedoes on our starships to reach them?”
“Yes sir,” Wanoll replied.
“Then let’s toss a few at them, shall we? I hope it shakes them up inside their ship.” I added.
Seconds later nuclear tipped GW torpedoes were seen streaking toward the Tottalax ship. From my seat on the bridge, I noted a faint glow beginning along lines on the Tottalax ship. I suddenly realized that I had forgotten to don my own head gear and quickly got it on my head just in time as one of the crew announced. “Sir, our instruments are indicating the Tottalax has initiated their sleep weapon.”
“Tell our ships to keep up their fire. I want the Brotherhood to realize that their trick no longer works; we’re all wide awake and fighting on. Open the channel to the Brotherhood fleet again,” I said.
“This is Admiral Thibodaux James Renwalt, of the Galactic Federation, asking for the immediate surrender of the combatant troops attacking the planet Spellhes. By now you should realize you are hopelessly outnumbered and all your ships without RMFF shielding are at risk and you cannot save them.”
“Admiral,” Wanoll interrupted again, “the Tottalax are turning and leaving the battle scene. Firings from the starships directed at the planet are reducing, and they seem to be preparing to leave the scene also.”
“I guess it was too much to hope for that they might surrender,” I said.
“Sir, there is a message coming in from one of the starships for you.” Wanoll announced.
“Put it on the vid screen,” I answered.
A scene appeared that was clearly coming from the bridge of one of the starships. Ming, seated in the Captain’s Chair and wearing a gaudy outfit of a deep ruby red and piped with gold trim displayed prominently in the center of the screen. “I knew you were too clever to die after the battle at Plosaxen,” Ming said, “it is so sad that you continue to fight me, Tibby. You leave me little choice in these matters. I will be avenged for the minor setback you have caused me here today. No one interferes with my plans without someone paying for it. Just remember, Tibby, when I do take my revenge, it will be because of your interference that I needed to take such measures.” Then the screen went blank.
“Sir, we have a lot of enemy patrol ships and fighters out there that are seeking to surrender. Do you want us to bring them aboard?”
“NO! Under no circumstances are they to board any of the Federation ships. Most likely, some of them are booby trapped to explode, and we’d end up like the HAPRIN. Find a deserted plain someplace on Spellhes and make arrangements for them to land there. Tell them to leave their ships and discard their clothing at the ship and walk a safe distance from their ships. Have our armed troopers take them into custody. I don’t want them brought back to any of our ships. Find facilities on the planet to house them for a few weeks; by that time I hope to have a place to deal with them more appropriately.”
“Sir, we have the Senator from Spellhes on a channel wishing to speak with you,” the communications officer said.
“Very well, put him on the screen.”
The vid screen view changed to display a blond man with blue eyes and close to my own height. I would have guessed his age at about 40, but with the advanced medical systems of the Federation, he could have just as well been one hundred. “Honorable First Citizen Admiral Tibby, sir, please excuse this interruption, but we here on Spellhes were wondering if you could enlighten us as to what we are witnessing. There appears to be an immense battle taking place over Spellhes.”
“Your powers of observation are very good, Senator, ah I didn’t get your name sir?”
“Oh, please forgive me, First Citizen, I am Senator U’Tieden.”
“Well, Senator U’Tieden, the best I can tell you is that unless you have invited the Brotherhood here for a picnic, we just saved your planet from being taken over by them.” On the screen, I could see U’Tieden pale for a moment, I thought he would faint. However, he slowly regained his composure.
“How was it that you happened to get here so quickly and thwart their attack?” U’Tieden asked.
“Our intelligence source determined weeks ago this would be the most likely place the Brotherhood would attack next. We’ve been here lying in wait for them for several days,” I answered.
“But we had no knowledge of your presence. Why were we not alerted?”
“You were not alerted, because had we informed you, word of our ambush would have leaked out, and the Brotherhood would have selected another target and thousands if not millions of Federation citizens’ lifes would have been lost.”
“So you put Spellhes in harm’s way just so you could engage the enemy? Admiral, if you’ll excuse my anger, what gives you the right to put us at risk like that?”
“Senator U’Tieden,” we took your planet out of risk. We didn’t place it in risk. The Brotherhood did that. So far as we know, not one shot fired at your planet by the Brotherhood reached your planet. None of your citizens were harmed, quite the opposite; they were saved and protected.”
“What of the enemy ships that are now descending on the planet?” Senator U’Tieden demanded. “Are they so peaceful?”
“Those are ships of the enemy that are surrendering. We have directed them to remote locations on
your planet where they will be taken into custody and momentarily held until we can arrange for their interment elsewhere.”
“You have no right to do this; we have not approved the use of our planet for you to take them into custody here. I demand you stop them from landing here and take them elsewhere. And in the future, please contact the government here before you plan such actions in our vicinity," U’Tieden fumed.
“Senator,” I sighed, “under the War Powers Act, I have every right to take the actions I did. For that matter, I have authority to declare martial law over the entire planet if I see it necessary. So far, we have made every effort to avoid disrupting the lives of the people of Spellhes. However, if you wish, we can play this game differently, and I will send troopers down and impose martial law. The choice is yours.”
“Ah, NO! Ah, that won’t be necessary. Perhaps I was a bit hasty. You will recognize my concern for my planet and people,” the Senator said shakily.
“Good to hear that, Senator, we will try to be as unobtrusive as possible and will be gone as soon as we can, once we are sure your planet is safe and secure.” The screen went blank and Marranalis said, “You were great Admiral. You had that guy shaking in his own shadow.”
“How are the pursuit ships doing that are chasing after the fleeing enemy?” I asked.
“The starships have split up and are going in different directions, each dragging a bunch of patrol ships, fighters, frigates and corvettes behind them,” Marranalis said.
“Have our pursuing ships target the frigates and corvettes; I doubt the frigates have RMFF’s and I am sure their corvettes don’t. Let’s make sure when the Brotherhood gets home they are really limping. Have our ships continue to pursue for one more day before returning here.
“Now, if there is nothing else pressing, I need to go spend some time with my wife and kids.” I rose from my chair and headed for the Cantolla gates and the comfort of the NEW ORLEANS.
Solbidyum Wars Saga 5: Desolation Page 35