Saving America

by Saxon Andrew

  • • •

  Grady watched the destruction of the Fagan fleet; it didn’t take an hour for all their warships to be vaporized. He detected hundreds of alien scouts moving toward his ships and he ordered, “All ships, turn and move behind the fleeing Fagan scouts. Stay out of their scanning range and prevent any of the alien scouts from attacking them.”

  “Do you think the aliens will be able to track the Fagan scouts if we force them to stay away?” Desmond asked.

  “Yes, the alien scanners have a much longer range and they’ll still see them. Our defending them will convince the aliens that we are from the Fagan civilization. The Fagan scouts won’t detect the alien scouts following them and the aliens should get back to inform the Alien Leaders of the Fagan’s location. Good work on your attack, Des. We have a long trip back so settle in.” Des nodded and sat back as he looked at the huge field of debris on the optical monitor that was once sixty-thousand Fagan warships. He turned to Louisa as she stared at the monitor and said, “I wish more of them had died. I hate them!”

  Des turned back to the monitor and knew this war was getting larger. Leading the aliens to the Sagittarius-Carina Spiral Arm brought them closer to Melbourne. But if they hadn’t done it, the Fagan would be in Melbourne’s arm in three more months. War forced hard decisions, and this was one of them. He wondered what was going to come out of this decision.

  • • •

  The Fagan scouts were faster than their warships and Grady didn’t have to worry about the pursuing alien scouts attacking them. The aliens were forced to use their maximum speed just to not lose the Fagan scouts. Grady moved the rabbits out of the alien’s detection range and paced the mad rush back to the Sagittarius Arm. It took eight days to finally arrive and Grady was feeling fatigue set in. The long voyage had taken seventeen days to complete and his formation was still a week out from Melbourne. But he wasn’t leaving until the scout rabbit at that Fagan Leader’s planet reported on what his reaction was to the destruction of the Fagan Fleet. Grady glanced at Taffy and saw her sleeping in her chair and decided not to disturb her, as the Fagan scouts began sending their recordings to the High Leader. He glanced at the alien’s scouts as they fanned out and moved toward Fagan territory. Four of them turned and accelerated away at high-speed back to their territory. Grady lifted his communicator, “Lt. Eberling, take three rabbits and destroy three of those alien scouts. Make sure only one escapes. Des take your formation and destroy the alien scouts spreading out to investigate Fagan territory.”

  “Why do you want that done, Grady?”

  “Because the Fagan High Leader might question why the aliens are scouting their territory now when he believes they have already been here prior to removing the population of America. His forces have detected our scouts several times and we need to make him believe the aliens have been scouting his territory for a long time before America’s population was moved. The aliens will know the location of the Fagan and that’s enough.”

  Desmond’s formation accelerated away, and alien scouts began exploding a long way out from the Sagittarius Spiral Arm. The Fagan had no forces on that side of the spiral arm and their destruction went unnoticed.

  Grady watched the scouts’ destruction on the tactical monitor and his communication monitor suddenly activated. A feed was being sent by the Scout Rabbit close to the High Leader’s planet. Grady yelled at Taffy, “WAKE UP! YOU NEED TO HEAR THIS!” Taffy jerked her head up from her chair and shook it. She turned to the display on her panel and saw the Fagan High Leader speaking.

  • • •

  “High Leader! The fleet we sent to pursue the warships from the slave planet has been destroyed. Our scouts show no survivors and the number of warships detected was massive.”

  “I’ve seen the recording, Senior Fleet Manager. Our ships are woefully inadequate against the ships that attacked them. It appears we now know where the population of that slave planet was taken. The scheduled invasion of the spiral arm is canceled. You will order all of the fleets to move to the core side of our territory and send out scouts to give us an early warning if an attack on our space is launched by that civilization.”

  “High Leader, “I’m greatly concerned that our scouts might have been followed back to the Empire!” the Fleet Manager responded.

  The High Leader snorted, “Are you not thinking clearly?! Why would they need to follow our scouts here? They removed the population of the slave planet and we’ve detected their scouts already inside our space months ago.”

  • • •

  Grady blew out a breath. It was a good thing he destroyed the alien scouts before they entered the Sagittarius Arm.

  • • •

  The High Leader ordered, “Send all of our fleets to the edge of the spiral arm and I’ll be setting up a meeting with the leaders of our major planets for two days from now to decide what to do about this. Get the fleets moving, Fleet Manager.”

  “Yes, High Leader.”

  • • •

  Grady’s monitor went dark and he asked over his communicator, “Have all the alien scouts been removed?”

  Desmond appeared on his console, “Yes Sir, they have.”

  “All ships fall in formation around the Rex Rabbit; we’re headed back to Melbourne.”

  Taffy fell back in her chair and said, “Wake me when we’re out of here.” Grady smiled and saw her head fall back on her reclined chair. He turned the Rex Rabbit and accelerated far below the Sagittarius Spiral Arm before turning toward the Perseus Arm. He could see it in the far distance ahead and he looked forward to getting some rest. Another week and this long mission would be over. He activated his computer and ordered, “Replay the recording of the Fagan and alien’s fight.” The main monitor activated, and Grady sat back. The Fagan were in deep trouble. Of course, a lot would depend on whether the aliens would send any of their forces to attack the Fagan with Earth being such a clear danger. Oh well, time would tell. The important thing is they weren’t coming to the Perseus Spiral Arm. Grady watched the recording and put the Rex Rabbit on autopilot. He closed his eyes and joined Taffy in deep sleep as his formation flew toward Melbourne at full-speed.

  • • •

  Maranda looked at the main monitor and saw her fleet move into the outer edge of Melbourne’s star system. She was weary and so was her crew. Adrenaline had kept them going and now it was wearing off. She ordered the ship off battle stations and ordered the carrier’s personnel to start their normal shifts. Half of the crew left their stations and went to their quarters where they instantly fell asleep. Maranda turned to the Bridge Crew and ordered, “We will go to night shift now. Those of you assigned to the day shift will go to your quarters and get some rest.”

  Syl stood up as Ensign Oliver relieved her. She stumbled off the bridge with the others not on duty and disappeared through the portal. Maranda looked at Andrew and said, “Get some rest Captain Connor.”

  “Sir, I’m not that tired. You’ve been handling most of the Songbird’s operations; you should get some rest first.” Maranda stared at him and Andrew said, “If anything important happens, I’ll notify you.”

  Maranda stood up and stumbled, but Andrew caught her. He held her up and she said, “The ship is yours, Captain.”

  Andrew turned to Ashley and ordered, “Assist the Admiral to her quarters, Lieutenant!” Ashley jumped up and Maranda waved a hand at her, but she stumbled again. Andrew held on to her and she sighed, “I’d appreciate the assistance, Lt. Petra.” Ashley grabbed her arm and they moved off the bridge. Andrew went to her chair and watched them leave the bridge. He looked at the monitors and quickly ordered, “All freighters will hold their formations around the Carrier. You’ll only have to wait in orbit above Melbourne if you arrive early. Our landings have been scheduled and Admirals Rory and Abby Dunhan have been scheduled to land ahead of us.”

  The freighters that had begun accelerating ahead of the fleet slowed and fell back into formation. Andrew sat back and rubbed
his neck. He was also extremely tired, but he saw that Maranda was in worse shape than him. The trip to Melbourne would take two days and it would give the crew a chance to recover before they arrived in orbit.

  • • •

  Maranda arrived at her quarters and Ashley helped her to her bed and then assisted her in taking her uniform off. Maranda smiled, “Thank you, Lieutenant Petra. I appreciate your assistance.”

  “Glad to do it, Admiral. Get some rest; you deserve it.”

  Ashley left her quarters and Maranda fell back on her bed. She blew out a large breath and looked up at the ceiling. Her ego had emerged full force when Andrew suggested she go to rest first but her fatigue had kicked it in the butt and she was glad she gave in. She thought about it for a moment and saw that she no longer felt the need to compete with Andrew to show who was boss. She worried about Grady for a moment; he hadn’t reported in. She closed her eyes and her worries and concerns disappeared.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Fourteen hours later, Maranda arrived on the bridge and saw that the day shift had relieved the members of the bridge crew that hadn’t rested. The only one that had not left to rest was Andrew. She walked up to her command chair and saw his fatigue etched in his face. “Captain, you are relieved. Go and get some sleep.”

  Andrew stood up and stepped aside. He wavered slightly but he raised his arms over his head and went up on his toes as he stretched out. A moment later, he turned and walked off the bridge. Maranda realized that he was physically stronger than her. Well hell, he was five inches taller and carried no fat on his frame; he was clearly in great shape. He disappeared from the bridge and Maranda turned to Ashley, “Any communications from Fleet, Lieutenant?”

  “We’ve been cleared for orbit, Sir. We’ll arrive in orbit in ten hours.”

  Maranda nodded. Evidently, Rory and Abby were ahead of schedule in landing the Americans on their carriers. She pulled up the optical monitor on her console and saw the space above Melbourne was filled with military and commercial freighters that were slowly moving into orbit. She changed the view and saw the other two carriers were already at the assigned cities where they would land their passengers. She sighed and wished the Songbird had been sent in first but knew seniority took precedence. She was junior to Rory and Abby and accepted that this was how it should be done.

  The freighters the Songbird was escorting to Melbourne accelerated ahead of the giant carrier and began moving into orbit. They began the flight down to the planet and the Songbird remained in orbit for another two hours before it was cleared to start debarkation of the passengers on board. Five hundred of the largest cities on Melbourne had temporary shelters erected just outside their city limits and it was decided that each city would receive one of the communities from America at each of them. The Prime Minister decided that it was better for them to stay among the people they knew on America. The Songbird was finally cleared for entry into Melbourne’s atmosphere and Maranda saw Andrew enter the bridge and go to his console. His fatigue was gone, and Maranda smiled, “Lieutenant, take us down to our first assigned site.” The Songbird smoothly left orbit and headed toward the giant spaceport just outside Billabong. Twenty-four hours later, the last community disembarked, and the Songbird moved back into orbit above Melbourne. The mission was finally over.

  • • •

  An hour later, Maranda exhaled and leaned back in her chair. Ashley announced, “Admiral, Fleet Admiral Mulvaney has notified the fleet to stand by for an announcement in twenty minutes.”

  “Put it on the main monitor when it comes in, Lt. Petra.”

  • • •

  Twenty minutes later, Admiral Mulvaney appeared on the huge wall monitor. He looked out and said, “I’m ordering the three carriers to start boarding their wings immediately. The pilots will be given a day to rest while the carriers are provisioned with fuel, food and weapon stores. Once the provisioning is complete, the three carriers will move out into the void between the Sagittarius and Perseus Arms and start scouting operations to determine if the Fagan launch any warships toward Melbourne. Fleet Admiral Henricks has reported that the Fagan have canceled the invasion but we’re taking no chances they might change their mind on the issue. You will remain in the void until the Fagan fleets gathered on our side of the Sagittarius Arm have left their current deployments. We estimate it could take three months before it’s confirmed that they are not sending warships toward the Perseus Spiral Arm. Every Rabbit fighting ship will go with the carriers and the Carriers will support them with landing operations and provisions while this mission is ongoing. I know the long hard days you’ve spent carrying out your mission to save America have been difficult, but the mission is not over…yet. The carriers will be recalled once a final determination of the Fagan intentions is known.” Admiral Mulvaney paused and then continued, “The Senior Officers of the Carriers and Rabbit Squadron Commanders will report to the Government Building to meet with the Prime Minister at ten-hundred hours in the morning.” Mulvaney smiled and then said, “It is my pleasure to announce that Senior Captain Andrew Connor and Captain Richard Tarangelo have been promoted to take command of the two new carriers coming on line in two-months. They have performed in the finest fleet traditions during the mission and they are commended for their outstanding service. Both will receive the Colony Crown for their outstanding actions.”

  Maranda was stunned. Both new Admirals came from her ship. The bridge crew jumped out of their chairs and rushed Richard and Andrew. They pounded them on their backs and Maranda said, “You’ve made us proud, gentlemen, congratulations.”

  Richard smiled, “Thank you, Admiral.” Andrew turned to Maranda and nodded. He then turned and walked off the bridge once Maranda ordered the bridge crew back to their stations. She watched him leave the bridge without looking back. The crew was too wired to notice, and she fought to keep her expression neutral. He could have at least told her goodbye.

  • • •

  The next morning, Maranda took her seat and saw the ship commanders were sitting across from the Senior Fleet Officers. Grady, Taffy, and Abby were seated closest to the Prime Minister’s chair. They were the most senior of the ship commanders. Rory sat next to Abby followed by Maranda and Desmond. Desmond had been promoted the day before to Junior Admiral in overall commander of the unassigned rabbit squadrons. He would be stationed on Abby’s carrier and direct them from there during the mission to the void. It was weird not seeing Louisa sitting next to him; she had grown accustomed to seeing them together. She turned to him and he smiled, “Louisa is at Abby’s mother’s house with Kendal.” Maranda smiled and nodded. She glanced at the end of the giant table and saw Andrew and Richard sitting there. Richard smiled at her, but Andrew kept his face down on his tablet as he made entries. Maranda returned Richard’s smile and kept her eyes on Andrew. “Atten-shun!” Maranda came out of her chair and saw the Prime Minister enter the conference room. He smiled and ordered, “As you were! Take a seat and relax.” The Prime Minister sat down and looked around the table at the attendees, “I’m sorry that you are going to have to leave tomorrow to return to duty in the void between the spiral arms, but the Senior Officers and I aren’t willing to risk the Fagan might change their mind about launching their invasion. The scouts we have outside the Sagittarius Arm report that some of their fleets have started moving across the arm but most of them are still in place. This issue should be resolved in a few months and we can withdraw our forces from the void. I’m going to turn the floor over to Fleet Admiral Henricks and he’ll bring you up to speed on what’s going on.”

  Grady stood up and looked around, “First, I want to thank all of those that participated in saving America. It appears we pulled it off without any of our ships being detected that were moving back to Melbourne. My command managed to pull of the subterfuge that my rabbits were part of the aliens’ ships that attacked the Fagan Fleet and they currently believe that the scouts they’ve been detecting came from the aliens and not Melbou
rne. However, what comes next is unknown. We don’t know if the aliens that destroyed Britannia will launch an attack against the Fagan. With the threat of an invasion from Earth hanging over their heads, they may not send any of their forces to attack the Fagan. But, the Fagan are focused on the aliens now and it has bought us time to continue building up our fleets. I wish I had more to share but until we intercept another Fagan communication, we’re forced to send our forces into the void.”

  Grady sat down, and everyone turned their attention to the Prime Minister, “Fleet Supply has informed me that your ships will complete being provisioned by tomorrow afternoon. I will be sending all forty thousand of our unassigned Super Rabbits out with the three carriers keeping only enough here to maintain our vigilance between Earth and its conquered planets. I don’t anticipate Earth sending scouts toward Melbourne with the Alien threat, but we can’t take that risk either. I’m turning the floor over to Fleet Admiral Mulvaney and he will update you on the status of the communities we moved to Melbourne from America.”

  Mulvaney stood up and Maranda glanced quickly at Andrew. He had his attention focused on Admiral Mulvaney and Desmond was leaning forward blocking a clear view of him. She didn’t want to be obvious by leaning forward, so she turned to Admiral Mulvaney and listened to his presentation, which took a little longer than an hour. The Americans were settling in and everything was going well at assimilating them into Melbourne’s culture.

  Mulvaney sat down and the Prime Minister announced, “Everyone below the rank of admiral or not commanding an active duty warship is dismissed.” All the rabbit Squadron Commanders stood up and Des stood up with them. They left the room and Maranda saw Andrew and Richard had already stood and were leaving the room. Maranda fought to keep her expression neutral but turned and saw Taffy staring at her. Maranda sat back in her chair and blocked her view with Rory sitting next to her. When she looked at Taffy again, she was listening to the Prime Minister telling them how much he was depending on them to keep Melbourne safe. The Senior Fleet Officers chimed in and after another two hours, the Prime Minister dismissed them. Abby and Rory went to the Prime Minister and Grady and Taffy stayed to listen to them demand to be stationed on the same carrier. The Prime Minister was having none of it and told them that once the current emergency was over, he’d entertain their request. Maranda picked up her tablet and left the room as Abby and Rory continued to argue.