"She doesn't just want to stop them where they are, she wants to stop them from reaching Quesann on schedule. If she can delay them, she'll have more time to marshal her forces around the base."
"It sounded to me like she intends to come here," Prime Minster Taomolu Barguado said. "How are we going to stop her if she does? Except for a handful of old home-guard warships, our reserve ships were all sent to join the fleet."
"Relax," Minister Neddowo said. "If she was part of the force that struck our fleet recently, she can't be here for another four annuals. By then we will have launched two hundred more warships— all faster, stronger, and more heavily armed than all previous classes."
"And if she wasn't part of that attack?" Minister Valhallo asked.
"She said she can't cross our border until she had declared war. That means she's at least three annuals away. We'll simply speed up production and have those two hundred warships waiting for her when she arrives."
"Will two hundred be enough?"
"She won't catch our people napping again. When she approaches our planet, she'll be picked up on long range sensors and they'll be waiting for her ships to arrive."
* * *
We've received a message from Admiral Carver," Admiral Moore said to the other members of the Admiralty Board." Turning to his clerk, he said, "Play the message."
The silence in the room was pervasive for some thirty seconds after the message and the attached bridge logs had played. It was finally broken by Admiral Hillaire, who said, "Five-hundred-ten ships! Amazing! She virtually wiped out their armada in one quick attack. I'm glad Admiral Carver is on our side. I sure wouldn't want to have to oppose her in battle."
"She's reckless," Admiral Hubera said. "She took too big a risk by leaving Quesann to search out the enemy fleet. She trusted the word of an intelligence officer who had recently been aligned with the Uthlaro. It could have been a trick to get the DS ships away from the base so the Uthlaro could attack."
"It was a gamble," Admiral Moore said, "but it paid off with major results. Now she only has to face two-hundred-six instead of seven-hundred-sixteen."
"I say it was a reckless act," Admiral Hubera said. "She's far too impulsive and bold."
"You feel she should have ignored the intelligence data from her contact in the Hudeerac Order?" Admiral Hillaire asked. "The same one who provided information about the Milori— information that proved so invaluable? You feel the wiser course would have been to wait until the seven-hundred-sixteen ships arrived at Quesann and surrounded the ninety-nine ships of the Second Fleet?"
"It would have been the prudent course."
"Admiral Carver weighed the options available to her," Admiral Moore said, "discussed the matter with her Intelligence Director, and made a decision that turned out to be correct. She took a calculated risk based on the information available. It was neither impulsive nor reckless. It's why Admiral Carver is out there doing the job instead of you, Donald. You've been a valuable member of this Board, but in matters concerning battle strategy, I will continue to defer to Admiral Carver."
"What about her decision to invade the Uthlaro Dominion instead of returning to defend Quesann."
"We know where the Uthlaro fleet is," Admiral Bradlee said, "and how fast they can travel. Therefore, we know exactly how long it will take it to reach Quesann. Admiral Carver can enter the Uthlaro Dominion, complete her mission, and still be back at Quesann months before the Uthlaro fleet arrives. The intel from the Hudeerac Order, which has so far been proven accurate, indicates she shouldn't expect to encounter any Uthlaro battle groups during the mission. Most of them were destroyed at the staging area."
"I don't think there's any question that Admiral Carver made the right choice about attacking the Uthlaro fleet in the staging area," Admiral Platt said. "The results speak for themselves. I also don't think there's any question on the subject of carrying the fight into Uthlaro space. If all the fighting were done on our side of the border, there'd be less incentive for them to cease hostilities. I stand firmly behind Admiral's Carver decision to take the fight to the enemy."
"What will we do if she doesn't make it back to Quesann before the Uthlaro arrive?" Admiral Hubera asked. "The Second Fleet will be outnumbered two to one."
"If I know Admiral Carver," Admiral Hillaire said, "and I like to think I have begun to understand her a bit, she has something in mind for evening up the odds. She keeps her cards a little too close to the vest at times, but she always seems to have a solid hand."
* * *
Chapter Fourteen
~ January 12th, 2284 ~
Jenetta divided her command up into three groups and each group was then assigned responsibility for one of three different shipyards where the Uthlaro produced their warships. The yards were located over sixty light years apart. In addition to laser weapon satellites, two ancient battleships reportedly guarded each yard. The SC ships would be able to disregard the satellites because they had no torpedo capability.
Upon reaching their destinations, each force stood by out of DeTect sensor range until the time set by Jenetta. The attacks would occur simultaneously. The two ancient battleships were taken out within seconds of the SC ships beginning their attack runs. Apparently their hulls were as lightweight as those of the Tsgardi warships because they ripped apart like tissue paper wherever a high-explosive torpedo struck. With the battleships destroyed, the scout-destroyers were free to press their attacks on the docks.
The small SC battle group attacked like a squadron of fighters, with each ship completing a pass before the first returned for its next attack. Since there was no defense to worry about, the SC ships could have just fired from stationary positions, but this form of attack made it less like shooting fish in a barrel. It made it a little more challenging and interesting for the helmsman and weapons specialists.
The battle, if you could call it that, lasted just minutes with six or seven ships firing at the incomplete vessels parked in open or enclosed docks. When the SC ships left the yards, there wasn't a single vessel that could ever be made usable. They would have to scrap everything, including the docks, and start anew.
Jenetta's group left its assigned target area immediately after the attack. Their destination was the planet Uthlarigasset, the home world of the Uthlaro. The other groups would rendezvous with hers as soon as they could get there. It would take just four hours for the Colorado to reach its objective.
* * *
"Prime Minister," the Uthlaro face on the com said, "the shipyard at Plello has just been attacked. The message line indicated the call was originating from the Military High Command."
"Plello? By whom?"
"Unknown, sir. Six small ships appeared from nowhere, destroyed the guard ships, and then wiped out all the docks."
"Was everything destroyed?"
"Yes sir. There's nothing left except broken hulls and destroyed docks. The yard manager states that nothing is salvageable."
Breaking the connection, Uthlaro Prime Minster Taomolu Barguado immediately buzzed his secretary. When she answered, he said, "Notify the Council of Ministers that there will be an emergency meeting in two hours."
"Yes, Prime Minister."
Two hours later, Barguado called the meeting to order. Only half the ministers had shown up so far, but the news was too urgent to hold.
"Space Command has just destroyed the shipyard at Plello," he said, and sat down.
"What?" Minister Ulalahu Valhallo said. "The Plello yards?"
"Yes," Barguado said. "According to my early information, the Plello yards have been left in complete ruins."
"Impossible," Neddowo said, jumping up. "You've been given faulty information.
"It came from Military High Command, not a news service."
"Carver said they had to declare war before entering our territory. They could not possibly have reached Plello yet."
"Well, someone did. Unless someone else takes responsibility, I'm going to assume Carv
er is responsible."
Neddowo sank slowly back into his chair as two more ministers entered the chamber and took their seats before turning to other ministers to ask what was going on. The clerk bent over and whispered something to Barguado, which caused him to blanch.
Valhallo noticed and asked," What is it, Prime Minister?"
In a quaking voice, Barguado said, "Carver is attempting to reach us."
"Play the message," Valhallo said.
"It's not a message— it's a live transmission."
"Impossible," Neddowo said. "She'd have to be within our solar system for an instantaneous transmission."
"Exactly correct, Minister Neddowo," Barguado said. "The transmission is originating from somewhere near Delqueeta."
"Impossible. We would have known if she was in-system. Our defensive net would have alerted us of her approach."
"Our net isn't responding. She must have disabled it."
"Impossible! It's a trick."
"Would you care to speak with the phantom then?"
"Put her on the monitor!" he screamed. As soon as Jenetta's image appeared, he screamed, "Carver, when I get my hands on you, you'll die a slow and painful death."
Jenetta grinned and calmly said, "My, such hostility."
Ministers were still scrambling to get their translation headsets on.
"I assume this is the Council of Ministers," Jenetta said, "the ruling body of the Uthlaro Dominion. I'm here to tell you that when you chose to attack the Galactic Alliance, you made a grievous error. By now you know your shipyard at Plello has been destroyed. I made quite a mess and I don't believe anything can be salvaged. By tomorrow you'll learn that the yards at Waqutta and Zenolo have also been completely destroyed."
"You bitch!" Neddowo screamed, "You'll pay for this outrage!"
"No, I think not. You started this aggression, but I'm here to finish it. I haven't finished destroying your fleet yet, but I'll make you the same offer I made the Tsgardi. Surrender unconditionally and I'll spare your planet. Refuse, and those who survive will spend the next dozen years trying to rebuild your infrastructure. And every decade we'll return and destroy all your progress again."
"You can't do that!" Neddowo screamed.
"I can and will. I did it to the Milori and that was enough of an example for the Tsgardi, Gondusans, and Hudeera to surrender. I know you were behind the whole plot from the beginning and I'm almost hoping you refuse."
"If you fire even one weapon at this planet, you little bitch, we'll track you down and kill you!" Neddowo screamed.
"Does this screaming fool speak for the entire council?" Jenetta asked.
"No, he does not," Minister Valhallo said. "We speak as a body, but many members are not yet in attendance. Your attack caught us unaware. What are your terms?"
"Complete and unconditional surrender. You will immediately recall the two-hundred-six ships headed for Quesann. Except for a small caretaker and security force left at each location, you'll immediately remove all members of the military from every planet, moon, and space station outside your solar system. You will immediately cease production of warships—" Jenetta paused for a second. "I think we can dispense with that one; you have already ceased production of warships. But you cannot reinstitute production of warships at any time. Lastly, you will cede your territory to the Galactic Alliance for annexation."
"Never!" Neddowo screamed. He was frothing at the mouth now and had to be restrained by the ministers on either side of him.
"I will give you ninety-six GST Standard hours to give me your official answer," Jenetta said. "That should give you time to verify the information about your shipyards and assemble all ministers for a vote. I will contact you then. Oh, and someone should get that fool a doctor. Carver out."
The monitor turned momentarily black and then displayed the official seal of the Council. The council members looked glumly at one another.
"I never dreamt it could come to this," Barguado said, breaking the silence.
Even Neddowo had ceased to rant and was now sitting quietly in his chair.
"We have to face the fact that Carver has beaten us," Minister Valhallo said. "We committed all our warships in an effort to impress her with our strength and she has turned the tables on us. If we refuse to capitulate, she'll destroy us. She'll do to us what she did to the fleet and to Milor."
"Not necessarily," Minister Neddowo said, calmer now that the transmission had ended.
"What do you mean? You heard her."
"We still have an impressive force in Region Two. She's trying to get us to recall it voluntarily. She must fear it, or she would simply destroy it if she could."
"How can that help us?" Minister Ellwano Murcuro asked. "She'll destroy us before she leaves here."
"We'll surrender," Neddowo said, "to avoid destruction and allow the fleet to destroy Carver when she finally gets back to Quesann. They'll have new incentive now that they know what hangs in the balance."
"But she demanded we recall the fleet," Barguado said.
"We tell her it's too late to recall them. We tell her that once they reached a certain point they will not listen because messages can be faked. We tell her that the fleet will assume that any attempt to recall them is a trick and ignore it."
The council chamber was silent again as the ministers deliberated.
"But what if the fleet is destroyed after we surrender unconditionally?" Minister Ulalahu Valhallo asked.
"Will we be any worse off than if we surrender unconditionally and recall the fleet? She'll force us to destroy all the returning warships."
"She won't buy it," Barguado said. "She's not a fool."
"She'll have no choice. We'll tell her that we surrender and are fully willing to comply in all other matters. She'll have to leave at some point. When our fleet destroys her ships at Quesann, we'll recant everything and continue our takeover of Region Two."
"But if our fleet is destroyed, we will have surrendered our territory to her."
"It appears she can destroy our planet and annex the territory whether we cooperate or not," Neddowo said. "This is not the end of this war— it is only the beginning. We'll simply move our shipbuilding operations to new, more secret locations and build a fleet larger and more powerful than anything the galaxy has ever seen. When we're strong enough, we'll retake our territory from the Galactic Alliance. It may take many years, but we're businessmen. We can be patient as we wait for a long-term investment to yield profits."
When Jenetta again called the Council Chambers, exactly four days later, the other ships had rejoined her group. Keith Kanes was sitting in her briefing room when she placed the call, but only her image would be transmitted. This time the Council Chambers were packed with the planet's ministers.
"Gentlemen, have you made a decision?" Jenetta asked.
"We have," Uthlaro Prime Minster Taomolu Barguado said as the official spokesperson. "We surrender unconditionally."
"A wise decision," Jenetta said. "On behalf of the Galactic Alliance Council I accept the surrender of the Uthlaro people and formally declare the annexation of the territory formerly known as Uthlaro Dominion space. You will immediately notify all planets, moons, and space stations via public transmissions on all major news programs and audio channels that the Uthlaro Dominion government has been officially dissolved, that this region of space is now part of the Galactic Alliance, and that all within it are subject to GA laws. All bases, space stations, and other property formerly owned by the Uthlaro Dominion government are now the legal property of the Galactic Alliance. You will establish and maintain caretaker staffs at each location to ensure that the bases are not sacked by scavengers before we arrive to take possession. You will not remove or destroy any equipment, furnishings, or records. Do you understand and agree to everything I have said?"
"We do," Barguado said.
"Then my business here is ended, for now. My forces will remain in the area until we verify you have made the required sur
render announcements and that the people of this territory have acknowledged same. And I would be remiss if I failed to mention that any further resistance by yourselves or anyone in this territory will be treated not as an act of war, but rather as an act of sedition. The penalties for sedition are, in most cases, far more serious than the penalties allowed for war prisoners under Galactic Alliance law. Once you've completed the tasks I've spelled out, the actions of this body will be directed solely to planetary matters. If anyone on your planet has any ideas of initiating an insurgency either from within or without the borders of this region, they should be aware that the planet as a whole will be dealt with most severely."
"Ah, Admiral, there is a problem."
"And what is the problem, Mr. Prime Minister."
"We cannot recall the fleet headed for Quesann."
"And why not?"
"Because they've passed the recall point. Once they reach that point, they won't acknowledge our signals because they could be faked by the enemy. They will continue on until they complete their mission or they're dead."
"You didn't mention that the other day when I told you their recall was a requirement."
"I didn't realize they had passed the recall point. I was told when I attempted to initiate the recall."
"That's a shame, Mr. Prime Minister. We have destroyed so many of your people, I'd hoped I wouldn't have to destroy more. I'm sure the families of those crew members would prefer to see them home again."
"We would recall them if we could, now that their mission has become futile."
"Yes, I'm sure. Very well, I'll simply deal with them when they arrive at Quesann."
"You?" Neddowo said. "How can you deal with them? They are already close to Quesann."
"Oh, they won't reach Quesann for more than a GST year. I shall be there to greet them."
"But Quesann is sixteen hundred light years from here."
"Yes, that's about right."
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