The longer he thought about the problem, the more depressed he became. He didn’t say so, but he had come to believe that the odds were seriously against stopping a determined and creative attack, something the rebels had shown they were capable of. Attacks, actually. The rebels could make multiple, simultaneous attempts.
Three days later one of the Adams fighters got a hit on its first pass of a medium sized freighter that almost perfectly fit the lieutenant’s specifications. The sensor squawked for U-235. The fighter pilot promptly jammed his throttle to the stops and contacted the Adams, which ordered the freighter to resume its voyage.
Due to the possibility that the device could be remotely detonated, the Adams sent a shuttle to link up with the freighter. While it was still outside of the limited freighter sensors, the shuttle dumped four jammers out the cargo hatch. The jammers had a reasonable amount of maneuvering capability, and within four hours they bracketed the freighter. On command, they turned on. They were so close to the ship that they burned out the radar and radio receivers, causing the ship to begin broadcasting that it had an emergency.
The shuttle appeared alongside the freighter, along with four fighters, whose energy weapons were on-line, and targeting the drive nodes.
Communicating via the short-range emergency radios on the freighter, the shuttle pilot was able to enter a huge hold. Ten minutes later, the twelve Marines who had shared cramped quarters in the shuttle controlled the ship, and were gingerly moving a surprisingly small container to the shuttle. A second shuttle arrived, docked and transferred a flight crew including pilots and a couple of engineers who would man the engine room. After quick repairs to the radio they brought the drive up. Total time: forty minutes.
Inside the shuttle, they x-rayed the container, and came to the conclusion that there were no booby traps. Inside of ten minutes the device was disarmed. The report to the Adams was grim: the device was not a hand made one-off, it was a production missile warhead.
John sent a Case Zulu message to Admiral Khan. He added his own message, in which he stated that he strongly believed that the rebels would almost certainly not depend on one weapon, or method.
The crew of the freighter, the Andaluz, was in custody, the ship was continuing on its journey with a Navy crew, and John’s Etechs were monitoring the frequencies designed into the device, allowing it to be detonated from a distance. John had done what he could.
Three other weapons were discovered, one on each of the other transportation corridors. Admiral Khan rushed a new-build carrier to the earth’s moon. Apparently, he was now a firm believer in Lt. Kilpatrick. John certainly was, and he made certain that she got credit for her analyses.
Six days later a courier arrived at the Adams. It contained orders transferring Lieutenant Kilpatrick to Admiral Khan’s staff, and included transportation. Separately, she received a somewhat behind-the-curve promotion to Lt. Commander. John already knew about the transfer, and had done what he could for her; he told the admiral that she didn’t know a salute from a sausage, and didn’t understand people or the military, but was otherwise freakishly gifted.
He laughed, thinking about her coming impact on the admiral’s staff – it wouldn’t be the other way around.
Chapter 36
Two months later, Second Fleet was relieved of security detail, and ordered to report to Admiral Grigorivich. There had been no further ugly discoveries, and John now sported a new medal, joining a very large collection. He felt that there existed a reasonably high probability that the rebels would continue to try to infiltrate nuclear weapons into the Sol system. Admiral Grigorivich felt that the only way to ensure the safety of the federation was to eliminate the rebellion, and John could hardly fault his logic.
Along with fresh orders, John also had two hundred nuclear tipped heavy missiles on board.
Five days after boosting out of Jupiter orbit, John’s force, now including six second-generation destroyers, arrived in the Fujian system. During his four-month stay in Sol, the only time he’d set foot off the Adams had been his very brief visit to Ganymede.
Admiral Grigorivich was there ahead of him, this time with a large part of First Fleet.
The combined fleets could field nearly ten thousand fighters, and included an astonishing one hundred twenty four carriers, forty plus cruisers, thirty-four missile ships, seventy-nine destroyers and one arthritic battle ship. Roughly half of these ships were new-build.
John was ordered to present himself in front of the admiral ‘three hours ago’, according to the comm message, which actually included the words, ‘three hours ago’.
The admiral looked older, thinner, and in a relatively foul mood, even by his admittedly high standards.
John was asked to take a seat while Admiral Grigorivich concluded a meeting that consisted of a group of high-ranking officers sitting nervously while he talked. After just a few seconds it was obvious these men and women commanded ships that were ‘underperforming’. According to the admiral, that meant they were.
He signaled the end to the one-way conversation, and they filed silently out of the space. Admiral Grigorivich waited until the hatch closed behind the last one before allowing a smile to flicker past his lips. He gestured to a seating area with a pair of comfortable chairs and a tea service. He personally served the two men and sat down with a faint groan, “Captain Chamberlin, I’m scheduled for a hospital visit. It will be a long one, and I don’t think my replacement is likely to pursue the conclusion of this war quite as vigorously as I might wish. I’ve postponed my leave, and we’ve got a little time, but I’ve got to make the best use of what I have left.”
John started to ask what he meant by ‘what I have left’, but instead simply asked, “Sir, how may I be of assistance?” The admiral took a sip of his tea and said, “I notice you didn’t ask after my health. Astute of you. We are going to Grenoble. I believe that we’ll find that that system is the source of the nuclear weapons, although the raw materials have come from various systems - they’ve pooled their resources. Captain, we must shut down their ability to manufacture weapons. Based on prewar data on the various rebel systems, my analysts believe they may have as few as three hundred to as many as nine hundred warheads. As you have no doubt concluded, our own government was developing nuclear weapons well before your visit to Orleans revealed that the rebels were doing the same thing. Congress has passed a series of emergency laws that suspend three hundred plus years of anti nuclear legislation. With the two hundred you’ve brought, we now have more one thousand warheads. I have been issued limited authorization to use them. Questions?”
John asked, “What are the constraints?” He nodded, “I may not use them on a planet, within the atmosphere of a planet or in orbit about a planet. I may not use them on any moon, artificial satellite or manned or unmanned station orbiting a planet; I may not use them against a civilian craft or target, or use them against an otherwise authorized target in such a way that a civilian craft or target would potentially be damaged or destroyed. I may not use them in such a way that they would endanger any civilian population. This is a synopsis – the document runs to twenty pages. My analysts tell me that Congress’ intent was to restrict use of the weapons to self defense, and even then only if First Fleet was in danger of ‘imminent defeat’. She also tells me that naval headquarters’ analysis is somewhat more liberal, and the release demonstrates that. Apparently, the term ‘imminent defeat’ has been defined by my superiors as meaning pretty much whatever I wish. Questions?”
John asked, “Sir, what do you wish?” Admiral Grigorivich said, “I wish this particular problem had never presented itself, but I’ve read a little history, and I long ago concluded that in a war, if a new and powerful weapon is put into the hands of the losing side, they’ll use it, and so then will the other side. Captain, no matter what you or I feel about weapons of mass destruction, they are now a reality. We must do everything we can, not only to prosecute this war to a successful conclusion, but
to protect the lives of the men and women who have placed themselves under our orders. As we sit here, technicians are installing those new warheads on gravity drive heavy missiles. I’ve decided to limit them to just a handful of ships, and they will be under my direct command. You will not be one of them. As usual, you will be operating somewhat independently, and I am providing you with two squadrons of Indian carriers. We’ll operate as before; if my force gets pinned down for any length of time, you’ll go for their orbitals. If we time it properly, they’ll be tied up with First Fleet. If not, I want you to stand in place for as long as possible. Leave your defense primarily in the hands of the Indians. Primarily does not mean solely. Be safe, but understand Captain, when this battle has concluded, there will be no rebel vessels in space unless my people are in command. I have been ordered to destroy their orbital installations, but due entirely to your caustic influence, I shall leave that task in your capable hands…or not.” John nodded in understanding. The admiral was looking to the future.
He took another sip of tea, and continued, “My analysis is that the rebels have moved their mobile fleet into that system, and may have siphoned off much of the planetary defenses of the remaining rebel systems, now down to five. Our two fleets are roughly comparable in quantity, not in quality. For now, return to your command. I want you to personally oversee the transfer of the two hundred warheads to the Chinon. I’ll have further orders, just as soon as I wrap up a few loose ends. I believe you met them.”
John rose to his feet, saluted and left, wondering what a Federal Navy without Admiral Grigorivich would look like.
John was present when the heavy crates of ‘special’ weapons were transferred off the Adams. He had mixed feelings about letting them go, as well as having them remain, or even having them, but he knew the admiral was correct. He wondered what was next? Nuclear weapons weren’t the end of the question, they were just the beginning.
Three days later, and two days longer than the admiral wanted, the huge fleet departed for Grenoble. It jumped into a position outside the system periphery, and spent another three days on the receiving end of an impatient admiral’s ire.
John’s fleet now included sixteen carriers, twelve cruisers, eight brand-new destroyers and eight Indian carriers, a much appreciated defense against an enemy willing and able to use nuclear weapons. The admiral now had nineteen new-build carriers and twenty-four Indian carriers, but most of his offensive punch – the carriers and missile ships – consisted of the first generation ships.
John jumped into the outer system, roughly ten million kilometers from the entry point for First Fleet. This time around, the admiral wanted the two fleets to be close enough for mutual support.
They were detected almost immediately. John told James, “They have a better sensor net than earth. Now, let’s see how they react.” James got up and told John, “I’ll see to my people.” John said to him as he turned away, “Don’t be safe.” James smiled distractedly, his mind on eighty fighters and their crews.
Over the course of the next two days the two fleets accelerated inward toward the fifth planet. John’s fleet was capable of higher acceleration than the vast majority of First Fleet, but had to remain close.
As they approached the orbit of the outermost gas giant, they began to see evidence of the formation of significant rebel defenses. The defenders weren’t going to wait for the federals to get close to the inner system.
Fortunately, although fighters were capable of much higher levels of acceleration than capital ships, the carriers they staged out of weren’t, so the rebels were jumping into a blocking position some ten million kilometers in front of the approaching federals. They were going to attempt a brute force attack.
The admiral commed, “Captain, what is your analysis of their formation?” John said, “It would appear that they feel their best opportunity is to commit to a set piece battle. They know that our fighters have a much bigger payload, and we think they have roughly the same numbers of fighters; therefore, either they have significantly more fighters than we think, they have far more missile ships or missile boats, or they think they have a means of getting their nuclear warheads through our defenses.”
The admiral thought for a moment before asking, “What if they attempt to swamp our defenses, on the assumption that enough nuclear warheads will get through to significantly weaken us.”
John thought furiously, “Have we seen any evidence that they’ve developed new technology, longer ranged missiles, developed something along the lines of our use of fighters’ chemical drives?” The admiral said, slowly, “Not as far as we know.”
John said, “Sir, it might be a good idea to change course at, say, two or three million kilometers. If they put gravity drive missiles in flight and shut them down, they could extend their range well beyond two million kilometers. We’ve not seen any evidence that they’ve shoehorned gravity drives into missiles, but they know it can be done. A course change would force them to go active. If not, their fleet will still have to maneuver to block us. We’ve been on the same course for a very long time, so if we change to a new heading, we might learn something.”
They talked for another few minutes before the admiral decided, “Captain, make a course change that takes you out to say, one million kilometers off First Fleet’s port quarter. Make it a big course change and use your superior acceleration to maintain position. After you’ve opened up the separation between our two forces, change course to angle back. Time it so that you’re back in position before our attack.”
John passed his orders on to Captain Ahmidiyeh, who coordinated the movement. It took fifteen minutes to set up, but on command the entire force went to the maximum acceleration the slowest ship was able to sustain, and veered to port. John was impressed, but Captain Ahmidiyeh grumbled about the less than perfect timing. John grinned, thinking that he would have reacted in much the same way if it had been his fighters.
They were over ten million kilometers distant from the rebels, who were still bringing their forces together. As John’s fleet began widening the gap between him and First Fleet, he watched the plot closely to see how they would react.
From their standpoint, it would appear as if John’s fleet was making an end run at the planet. No matter what they thought John was doing, they had to respond. A half hour later, the entire fleet began moving to position itself between the two federal forces. They didn’t split the force, and their movement was crisp and decisive. This was definitely their first team.
John allowed the gap between the two federal fleets to continue to widen until they were one million kilometers distant. On the captain’s command, his fleet made a fairly sharp turn back to starboard, and the carriers began launching fighters. The plot showed dozens of rebel carriers converging on their fleet, or in many cases, popping into existence. From the rebel standpoint, it made good sense to meet the federal force as far out as possible – this far out they were able to jump into position.
The distance between the two federal fleets continued to close, as did the gap between the two huge forces. Every few minutes the admiral commed John. He wanted to ensure that their two forces were close enough to support each other, and despite having a great deal of confidence in John, this confrontation would determine whether the war continued to drag on or would be brought to a successful conclusion. The rebels were not trying to avoid the battle – they had to stand and fight. If they lost the system, their cause was all but dead.
In fact, it truly was coming to an end, but these men and women had fought for years for something they ardently believed in, and once more they rolled the dice.
As the gap narrowed to two million kilometers, over eight thousand federal fighters flew in front of First Fleet in a huge disk, with another two thousand guarding the flanks.
Rebel carriers were still jumping into position and disgorging their fighters, which now numbered an astonishing eleven thousand, and it appeared that more were on the way. The admiral comm
ed John, “I think they’ve emptied their other systems, and my analysts tell me that they must have been concentrating solely on constructing fighters rather than trying to develop capital ships. They never had the infrastructure, so they’ve built what they could. Now that I see their alignment, I want you to stay in position on my left flank. The outcome of the war is here and now. If we prevail, we can always mop up the remnants later. Good luck, and good hunting.”
At one and a half million kilometers, a cloud of heavy missiles began streaming toward the rebel lines. Every second, dozens of new missiles appeared. They flashed past the fighters and disappeared into the depths of space, seeking people to kill. Interspersed with those missiles were hundreds of jammers, which were already fuzzing up sensors.
John stood, looking at the plot, a cold knot of dread in his stomach. He wanted nothing more than to hold his wife in his arms, knew that thousands of other men and women felt something similar, yet in the next few hours hundreds, probably thousands were going to die.
Hawk Genesis: War (Flight of the Hawk) Page 35