Fury raged in his face, and he said, “That woman is shortly to become my daughter-in-law, Doctor, and if she's going to meet her maker, I need to be holding her hand at the end.”
Nodding, she replied with a sigh, “We'll do everything we can to stop that from happening, I assure you. And if she runs into trouble, I'll have you paged.” Stepping away from him, she said, “Now if you've quite finished, I've got lives to save.”
Deflated, he said, “I'm sorry, Doctor, I know you're doing everything you can. You've already worked miracles keeping them alive so far.”
“The job isn't done until the last of them walks out of here.” Gesturing at the door, she continued, “Why don't you help that process along?”
Salazar led the way back into the corridor, through to a waiting elevator. As Ryan stepped in after him, he tapped the control for the next level, and looked across at the anxious officer. His battered uniform had been replaced with an insignia-less Triplanetary Fleet jumpsuit, but the marks of battle were still visible on him, a scar running across his forehead and burns on his hand.
“This looks like quite a ship,” Ryan said.
“One of the largest in the Fleet,” Salazar replied. “She's a Thermopylae-class Battlecruiser, designed for long-range operations. Right now we're operating about as far from home as we ever have, though.” He smiled, and said, “This ship has more combat stars than any other in the Triplanetary Fleet.”
“I'm just glad you were here when we arrived.” Stepping out into the corridor as the doors opened, he continued, “We knew those bastards were after us, and I think all of us believed that we'd be dead as soon as we left hendecaspace.” Shaking his head, he said, “Five days, waiting for the executioner. Not something I ever want to repeat.”
“This way,” Salazar said, opening the door to his cramped office. As usual, it was a mess, scattered reports everywhere, food containers stacked on the desk. He'd been spending so much time on Daedalus over the last couple of months that the work had built up, and both of the crewmen who were meant to help him had been assigned to more urgent duties.
Wrinkling his nose, Ryan said, “Is it always this bad?”
“I think you're at the nadir,” he replied. “We'll have a long, boring journey home to sort out the paperwork and clean up the mess.” Pushing some printouts from a chair, he gestured for the officer to sit down, and dropped into place beside his desk, sending a trio of datapad tumbling to the carpet. “Tell me, Commander. What's a military officer doing in command of a civilian freighter?”
“When we launched, I was just a passenger,” he replied. “Circumstances forced that situation to change.” Rubbing his forehead, he continued, “Maybe I should start at the beginning. I'm from Copernicus Colony, one jump from here. We were founded about a century ago, a ship that left Earth during the Third World War, from the European Federation.”
Nodding, Salazar said, “We've found several colonies established at around that time. A couple of them are applying for membership in the Confederation.”
“Where from?” he asked.
“Two from the United States, one from the Australasian Republic,” Salazar replied. “One from the Central Asian Union, but that colony had failed. I'll see that you get all the information you want.” He reached into his pocket, and pulled out a datarod, added, “This has a full briefing, designed to bring you up to date with the state of the galaxy.”
“Thanks,” Ryan replied, taking it and rolling it around in his hand. “I'll do my homework on the ride home.” Looking back up at Salazar, he continued, “Copernicus is Earth-like, amazingly so. We think it was terraformed, more than ten thousand years ago. There are ruins of some sort of lost civilization everywhere, on the ground and in space.” Shaking his head, “A miracle.”
“We've found similar ruins elsewhere, as well, though we don't know much about that culture. Our archaeologists are going to want to spend some time with you, I suspect.”
“Once all of this is over, we'd be glad to have them. We've learned a lot over the last few decades, since we've begun to establish ourselves.” With a proud smile, he said, “Our two thousand settlers are now a hundred thousand strong, and growing rapidly. Thirty years ago, we returned to space. Just an orbital hop to begin with, but we established a space platform the year before First Contact.”
“With the Koltoc?” Salazar asked.
“Did they tell you about us?”
“No, but I'd guess that your son wouldn't be getting married to an alien you encountered last week.”
With a thin smile, Ryan replied, “I guess not. One of their scouts arrived in orbit twenty-two years ago. Apparently they'd picked up some of our early radio signals, and offered to add us into their trading network. Naturally, we jumped at the chance. They've been tough but fair, I'll give them that, and quite a few of them have settled on the Colony. There's a substantial enclave. And before you ask, my son isn't a pioneer; there have been several children born of mixed parents. We're perfectly compatible, genetically.”
“Interesting information, and something they hadn't volunteered to us. In fact, I'm rather surprised that they didn't tell us about you when we first met them.”
Shaking his head, Ryan answered, “Probably hoping to protect their trade routes. We agreed to a twenty-year monopoly, but that ran out a few months ago, and our government was holding off on signing up to another one. We've been working on faster-than-light travel for years, and our first experimental prototype was under construction.”
“Were?”
With a deep sigh, he replied, “Two months ago, a Xandari ship arrived in orbit. One of their warships. Their first act was to demand our unconditional surrender, and naturally, we refused. Our Orbital Guard went in, ten ships with fighter support, against theirs.” Closing his eyes, he continued, “It was a massacre, Lieutenant. Not one of those ships made it home. Hundreds of spacemen killed, and I had a front-row seat at Fleet Headquarters.”
“I'm sorry,” Salazar said. “A technological edge?”
“Their missiles are faster, their countermeasure systems more effective, their ships more maneuverable. We never had a chance. They managed to knock out our orbital defense network without suffering a single loss, and destroyed our space station.” Shaking his head, he continued, “My father spent his whole life working on that project, and died during the construction. It took then less than a minute to undo all of his labors.”
“What happened next?”
“Once they'd established space superiority, they demanded our surrender again. The terms were simple. Yield or die.” He smiled, and continued, “President Wulf didn't give in as easily as that. We're a spacefaring civilization with a developed industrial base, and the only way they were going to conquer us was to destroy everything they wanted to take. She's been stalling for time, trying to negotiate for better terms, hoping for a miracle.”
Shaking his head, Salazar replied, “I'm impressed. I don't think many people would be willing to take that big a risk.”
“Our ancestors rode through space on an untested ship, to a world that was barely a distant speck on a chart, not knowing from one day to the next whether they would be alive or dead, Lieutenant. I'd like to think that we still have some of the same spirit today. In any case, we knew the regular freighter was coming, and we managed to warn it clear before the Xandari could attack it.”
“You broke through the blockade,” Salazar said. “A fast shuttle.”
“My mission was to make contact with the Koltoc delegation on Testament Station, and request their assistance. I've been authorized to sign a fifty-year exclusive trading contract in exchange for military support.” Slumping in his chair, he continued, “It went wrong from the start. One of our last two squadrons gave their lives to get me past the guardships, and while I managed to link up with the ship, they were on our tail all the way to the hendecaspace
point. Just as we made the jump, they hit us amidships. More than half the crew were killed in one shot, including the entire command staff.” With a sad sigh, he said, “Some of them were good friends of mine. All of them gave their lives to help my people.”
“Your ship would never have made another jump. You'd have been stranded here, knowing that there were enemy ships right after you.” He frowned, then said, “How did they know where you were going?”
“There are only two stars accessible from our system. Back into Xandari territory, though we didn't know that at the time, and this way, towards Testament Station.” Sitting up again, he said, “Our assessment is that they're planning to use our world as a staging area for attacks in this region. They've already begun construction on an extensive spaceport, and a second capital ship has moved in. The Koltoc fuel extraction facilities on our moon surrendered, and they're being massively expanded as well. Everything points towards the use of our system as a forward base.”
Salazar nodded, and said, “Our mission, Commander, has been to locate that base. We're the vanguard of a larger fleet, waiting back within the Confederation borders, and we've been engaged in a reconnaissance in force. Currently, our objective is to find and destroy their staging area, to prevent the Xandari from launching an attack before we can bring our larger forces forward.”
A smile spread across Ryan's face, and he replied, “Then you'll help us?”
Raising a hand, Salazar said, “Technically, that's the Captain's decision, not mine, but I know her well enough to tell you that if she thinks we have a chance of success, we'll take it. And we won't charge a penny, or force you to sign any restrictive trade treaties.”
Shaking his head, Ryan said, “It's like a dream come true, after a terrible, terrible nightmare.” He pulled out a Koltoc datapad, and said, “I've got full details of the tactical situation, everything we're going to need for the attack. There are two battlecruisers in orbit, but from what I've seen of the capabilities of this fleet, you shouldn't have any trouble stopping them.”
“Let's just hope that doesn't amount to famous last words, but if the situation is as you say, then I agree. Certainly I will recommend to the Captain that we proceed in your support.”
“Thank you, Lieutenant. This means a lot.”
“We're having a command officers conference over on the asteroid in three hours. I think you'd better come along. I'm sure the fleet commanders will want to talk with you.” Frowning, he added, “Our command structure is not what perhaps it should be. It might not be easy to talk them into it.”
“I'll be there,” he replied.
Nodding, Salazar said, “I've had Chief Kowalski assign you guest quarters. You might want to freshen up for a bit before the meeting, get something to eat. One of the technicians outside will tell you where to go.”
“Eat?” he asked. “I haven't had anything to eat in thirty-six hours. I will, Lieutenant, and thank you, once again.” Rising to his feet, he walked out of Salazar's office with a smile on his face. After the door had closed, Salazar tapped a control on his desk.
“Salazar to Orlova. I think we've found what we've been looking for.”
Chapter 5
Orlova was forced to admit that certain aspects of this mission were spoiling her, even if they were going to be hard to explain to the inevitable Senate sub-committee she'd be reporting to when Alamo returned home. Normally, fleet conference meetings would be held in special, customized briefing rooms, larger than any Alamo possessed, or in ornate colonial facilities. She'd pondered using one of the vacant cargo bays, before Colonel Skeuros had presented her with a suggestion that confirmed that the Neander had at least some of their priorities right.
Apparently, all of their covert depots came with a bar installed. The Confederation had similar facilities scattered across their territory, and even, to an extent, beyond, but while some of them were far larger than this base, none of them were similarly equipped. She'd insisted, to the chagrin of some of the junior officers, that no alcoholic drinks were to be served, but as she walked into the room, the presence of a bartender, added a certain distinct flavor to the meeting.
They'd kept the guest list small in the interests of security, though it seemed unlikely that anyone would be able to pass any covert information to the Xandari. Nevertheless, space had been a factor, and only the senior officers from the fleet were in attendance. The Coalition contingent were already present, Colonel Skeuros, accompanied by Major Melnos, laughing and joking in a language she couldn't understand.
Salazar, acting as her aide followed her in, with Harper just in her wake, representing Daedalus. The hacker headed to the bar, with some quiet instructions from Salazar, and proceeded to order drinks as Orlova shook her head at the insanity of it all. At some point in the next few hours, she was going to have to record the details of this meeting in the official log, and at present she had no idea how she was even going to start.
She took her seat, dropping down onto a stool, with Salazar and Harper on either side of her, the former putting a glass of some sort of orange concoction in front of her. An experimental sip was followed by a longer drink, and she tried to relax, putting her datapad on the table, careful to avoid the pools of water gathered in the bumps. All along the walls were depictions of battles, ships engaged in fighting over alien worlds, troops storming across desolate surfaces. Skeuros smiled as he noted her interest, and gestured at the furthest.
“My grandfather fought in that one. The Revolt of the Fleet, when we left the Interstellar Coalition and broke away as free and independent agents.”
“And began a reign of piracy that has never ended since,” Kilquan said, entering the bar, his second-in-command, Tlodoc, following. “Which of these depicts the looting of our ships, the murder of our crews?”
“We did what we had to do,” Skeuros replied, taking a swig of his drink. “Just as you have done, establishing trade monopolies that shut us out of system after system. Your people are the ones that began this trade war.”
“Gentlemen,” Orlova said, looking at the two of them, “We're here to fight the Xandari, remember. The rest of our differences pale into insignificance behind the threat they pose to all our people.”
Nodding, Kilquan said, “Indeed. Let me render by appreciation for everything you have done for those of our people you rescued, by the way. Your medical facilities are far superior than anything we have on our starships, and I'm well aware that many Koltoc owe their lives to the skill of your surgical team.”
“Our pleasure, Colonel,” she replied, and the Koltoc delegation took their seats. She couldn't quite realize when the two factions had adopted their military ranks, or even whether they had always been hidden in the background or introduced through some sort of unconscious mutual agreement. At least it made it easier to work out who was in command, though she felt strange giving fleet orders to officers that at least nominally outranked her.
Commander Ryan walked in next, accompanied by Ensign Cooper and General Kelot, representing what had rapidly become known as the Free Peoples. While the refugees rescued by Alamo didn't have any ships, they had contributed an overlarge company of ground troops, scattered across the ships in the fleet. Cooper and his men had been working overtime to train them to some semblance of professionalism, preparing them for battle as best they could.
“I think that's everyone,” Orlova said, rising to her feet. She turned to the bartender, and said, “If you could close the doors, please?”
“Yes, ma'am,” the Neander said, moving over to the doors and locking them shut, before settling down with a recorder to prepare the official minutes of the meeting.
“I think we can begin,” Orlova continued, looking around the room. “All of you have read the transcript of Commander Ryan's report, as well as Lieutenant Salazar's recommendations. I will make it clear here and now that I endorse and support those conclusions,
and that it is my intention to proceed to the support of Copernicus Colony.” Ryan flashed her a grateful smile, but the Koltoc delegation seemed less satisfied.
“Captain, if I may,” Kilquan said. “I would like to discuss this decision in detail. My people are willing to act in the defense of this planet, but as I understand it, you're talking about taking us up against a substantial fleet force, larger than anything we have faced before.” Turning to Kelot, he continued, “When we rescued your ship, General, the force was considerable smaller, and not backed by any orbital defenses.”
“I agree,” Orlova said. “Moving to attack that fleet in open battle would be a dangerous risk, one that I am not willing to take at this time with the forces at our disposal.”
“Then I cannot see...”
“Which is why that is not our battle plan.” Turning to Harper, she continued, “Daedalus, accompanied by two other craft, will leave one hour after the conclusion of this meeting, three hours before the remainder of the fleet. Their objective is to draw away at least one, possibly both of the battlecruisers the Xandari have stationed at Copernicus, and bring them into a position where our fleet can destroy them in detail.”
“We have forces capable of dealing with the orbital defenses,” Ryan added. “Our aerospace fighters are ideally suited for the job. Those satellites are designed to face outwards, not in. They'll struggle against forces underneath them, hugging the upper atmosphere.” Shaking his head, he continued, “The battlecruisers would tear them to pieces, though. We've got to make sure they have been cleared first, before we can risk any attack.”
Looking at Skeuros, Kilquan added, “I must insist that my ships are used, in conjunction, I grant, with Daedalus, to launch this assault. Copernicus Colony is one of our trading partners, and has many of our citizens resident.”
“Was one of your trading partners,” Skeuros said with a booming laugh. “That new contract been signed yet, Ryan? We might make you a better offer. In fact, I can damn well guarantee it.”
Battlecruiser Alamo: Operation Damocles Page 4