"You sure you want to be up there?" asked Admiral Nick. "I can't see what more you can do up there that you can't do from here."
"Gives the men and women confidence in the outcome. They'll know that they'll win if my ass is up there on the line with them, even if all I do is fuck a Venusian whore or smoke a Martian cigar," said Dave.
"I'm not going to ask," Admiral Nick said. "Knowing you, you'd be able to produce one or the other out of thin air even on this planet."
Dave laughed along with Nicky as they got together and planned on how to smuggle him on board a squadron ship already in space without giving away his presence.
***
Admiral Oden strode onto the bridge of the Australia. He noticed the startled faces as he took a seat reserved for admirals. He finished pulling on his overslicks and settled back to check the reports coming in. Captain Kruler stared hard at him for a moment before he recognized his old mentor. Then he walked over and shook hands.
Dave said, "Kyle, you're looking good. Like your new cruiser?"
Kyle asked, "You have something to do with this?"
Dave answered, "No, but I knew about it nonetheless. Now, until the Malakins show themselves, not a peep out of us that I'm on board. The other ships will have to remain in the dark. One more thing, how's Chalver doing?"
"He was doing quite well when I last saw him. He was buckling down and getting the work done, especially after we learned of the Malakin attack. Something tells me that you see him doing well in the future," responded Kyle.
Dave said, "He could, but it's up to him. You and I did what we're allowed to do. Now we simply have to stand back and watch. I've already seen one young man blossom out early and then die while doing his best to protect Beulah. He was only an ensign and took over command of a dreadnought when the rest of the officers were killed. Then he put his ship back in order and charged three Malakin dreadnoughts with only his ship and took all three of them out. One gunner aboard his ship was all who survived and he wouldn't give up, either. That gunner stayed with his ship and single-handedly took out three more enemy ships."
Kyle said, "I remember hearing about that. Great loss to us all. I saw the news reports about him and everyone described him as timid. Seems to me he proved them wrong. Did you have anything to do with that?"
Dave replied, "Not much. He did all the work. I just recommended a place for him to go fishing is all and he took my recommendation. His young widow told me that she was going to remember and treasure that one fishing trip more than anything. Well, back to business. From what I see, everything here is as I expected it to be. You run a good ship, Kyle."
Kyle responded, "Thank you. I'm going to make Commodore yet."
Dave said, "I know you will. Now that we're at war, you'll get a better than even chance of making it. I pity anyone who stands in your way."
They talked some more about friends they each knew who were now dead. In the end, they agreed to drink a toast to them later in Kyle's quarters.
***
Susan called headquarters to arrange another scramble drill. Instead she was refused permission without being told why. She hung up the radio and sat back in her chair as she wondered what reason could there be for not permitting a drill? Then she almost fell back when the answer leaped out at her. Headquarters must be expecting a real attack and didn't want to jump the gun or whatever. It had to be, she reasoned. Quickly, she went out and gathered the crews together in the classroom. As soon as they were present, she began speaking. "I was just on the radio to headquarters to arrange a drill. They refused without telling me why. I think we're about to be attacked. Stay close to your ships and be ready to lift off immediately. When it happens, most likely it's going to happen fast. I don't know how long we'll be waiting. I'll make arrangements for food and beverages to be brought out to us. Good luck to all of you."
The crews quickly dispersed from the classroom to the waiting fighters where they lounged about in the shade next to their craft.
***
Quietly and without fanfare, some ships of the squadron were signaled to take up positions for an ambush. The ships dropped off as the squadrons performed normal routine maneuvers in the near reaches of space to Echo.
Dave watched as fighter scouts, furnished from Echo's surface, fed back sensor reports indicating that the Malakins weren't in the vicinity to spot the ships being hidden. At the same time, transports moved up from Echo's surface to take their place. Dave only hoped that they had enough time to complete the shift in strength so that they would be able to catch the Malakins off guard.
***
Susan was surprised a second time when her wing was called and sent on a mission for deep space sensor duty. She knew something was up already. The mission only reinforced her thoughts and belief. Her wing lifted up and went along their prescribed courses, relieving another wing so they could return to Echo for rest.
She observed part of the squadrons patrolling around Echo and saw the transports hidden inside the formation. Susan knew of no plans for sending them off on an invasion and wondered what was going on with the transports. Her count of the warships seemed wrong as well. Regardless, she didn't call on the lightbeam radio to question what was going on. Something instinctively told her that would definitely be the wrong thing to do.
***
Dave breathed a sigh of relief as the squadron finished setting up the ambush and continued on its routine patrol. He and Kyle retired to Kyle's quarters to share a drink to lost friends. Reports on the liberation of Edun would soon be arriving. Each man knew that they would probably be in a hard fight shortly after that.
***
Susan called Allen on returning back to Echo to arrange another evening.
Allen said, "Sorry, Butterfly, but we're just getting ready to head out. Can't make it tonight. Gotta go now. Bye."
The channel closed as Susan said, "Okay, Tiger."
She sat back in her chair, knowing that something was up. There were no drills being allowed, the fighter wings were all being sent on missions, the squadrons were missing ships, and there were transports in their midst. She wondered what was happening. Surely they couldn't be expecting an attack? If they were, transports weren't going to repel any of the attackers. Were ships being spirited away to take part in an attack somewhere else? Was this just a ruse to fool any spies that the squadrons were still in place?
There had also been that shuttle that strayed into military airspace. Was that a spy for the Malakins? Would a human stoop so low? She shuddered to think that someone of her race might be a turncoat.
***
"Care for a Martian cigar?" Nicky asked.
"Nicky! Glad you could make it. Why this ship?" asked Dave.
"Just stopped here to say hi. Didn't want to broadcast it. I might ask you the same. Why a cruiser? Aren't the dreadnoughts safe?"
"They're too big and the Malakins think bigger is better. Those dreadnoughts are their prime targets. It's a good thing they don't realize that the carriers and destroyers are their worst enemies."
Nicky said, "You've got to be kidding me about the destroyers. I can believe it about the carriers after seeing the combat videos of our fighters swarming out and chewing up the enemy inside his formations. But Dave, don't pull my leg on the destroyers. They don't pack enough punch and they can't get in close like the fighters."
Dave replied, "They might not pack as much punch, but they're still deadly. If you get a chance, look up the Battle of Samar where a force of destroyers and light carriers took on a larger enemy force that outgunned and outmatched them in size as well."
Nicky asked, "I take it the destroyers and carriers won?"
Dave replied, "Yes, though it was costly. Additionally, destroyers are versatile and maneuverable. The enemy has a hard time hitting them. They can also get into places where the dreadnoughts can't and sometimes where even the cruisers can't. They also have deep space capability. They're quite valuable."
Admiral Nick
stated, "Something tells me that you've got something else going on that even I don't know about."
Admiral Oden smiled a knowing smile and nodded his head in answer.
***
Battle reports began coming in on the liberation of Edun. Admiral Oden went forward to the bridge and took his place. He looked at the panels and gauged the overall performance of the liberation force. It was as he expected. They were having too easy a time retaking the planet, both in space and on the surface, especially with the additional marine unit safely landed.
Kyle looked at the admiral. Dave nodded and Kyle flipped a switch. The Australia's running lights suddenly went off. Around her, other ships soon followed as they blacked themselves out. Engines shut down. The warships coasted through space emitting almost no signature that they could be spotted with. Their stealth coatings would make them appear to be little more than a ragged cluster of asteroids.
Echo headquarters recalled the deep space fighter scouts. At the same time, another signal went out to each naval base, permanent and temporary, to stand by for instructions.
***
Susan knew that it was getting closer to whatever was to happen. Was the Navy going to defend Echo with a partial squadron and a few handfuls of fighters? She didn't like the sounds of the odds. If the Malakin robots got to the surface, there weren't any marine units in place to stop them. What kind of colossal blunder had the Navy made? Surely, she thought, there were officers in the Navy who knew how to fight. Where was Admiral Oden? Wouldn't he know how to handle this? He wouldn't leave the planet so defenseless.
Susan suddenly felt sick at her stomach. She attributed it to her feelings of dread, thinking that she would soon have to lead good crews into a meat grinder. Four out of every five fighter crews had no combat experience. She tried to impart what she could to her four other fighter crews. Had the other wing commanders done as well? She rose up from her chair suddenly and ran to the restroom to throw up.
Was she afraid of dying, she thought, as she emptied her stomach of most of her last meal? She washed down the sink and then her face, trying to steady herself while she still felt sick. She felt sick enough that she thought then of going to the dispensary, but she knew she couldn't leave her post. She couldn't expect the other fighters to go it alone if the call came suddenly. Her face flush, she walked out to her desk and sat down again. Some of the other crew members looked at her and stared.
Susan wondered if her fear was showing? Did she exude an air of confidence or one of defeatism? She started to speak, to say something that would keep everyone confident, when she suddenly felt sick again and rushed back to the restroom.
Behind her, Magda followed along and went inside the restroom where Susan was gagging again as she finished throwing up her last meal. Susan washed the sink again and then her face and mouth, getting the vile taste out of it.
"Guess something I ate didn't agree with me," Susan said.
"I don't think so," replied Magda.
"No, I'm sure it must be that. What else could it be?" asked Susan.
"You tell me," Magda said.
"Well, I'm not afraid. I've been in combat before and I know what that's like. Well, I'm not so afraid that I freeze up," Susan admitted.
Magda stated, "Didn't think you were. No, I think you've got something else wrong with you. You don't look well at all right now. You ought to check yourself in at the dispensary, Lieutenant."
Susan said, "I don't think we have the time for that."
Magda exclaimed, "What? You're going to lead us while you're sick? Look, I don't mind so much following you while you're healthy, but how can I be sure of what you might order when you're sick? I might be mistaken, but I think the others will feel the same way as I do."
Susan looked at Magda. She saw the concern and apprehension that Magda was trying to balance out. "Okay, I'll go over to the dispensary."
"Now?" asked Magda.
"Yes, now."
***
Allen's wing hurried back to Echo on hearing the recall signal. He wondered what was up to cancel the deep space scouting mission so soon? He looked at a rear sensor screen and spotted signals that hadn't been there a moment before. As he watched, he noticed more and more of the signal sources appear.
***
"Well, Butterfly, that's what people are calling you, aren't they?" asked the clinic technician.
Susan answered, "Only certain people. Otherwise, I'm still Lieutenant Thompson."
"Sorry, Lieutenant. I was just using that to attempt to inject a little humor," he replied.
"Well, what's wrong with me?" she asked.
He replied, "Nothing's wrong with you. You're probably going to have a perfectly healthy caterpillar, I mean, baby in about eight months, give or take a week or two. You'll have to start watching what you eat and adhere to a strict diet. Otherwise, you can continue to fly fighters for a few more months without any harm to your child."
Susan felt her knees become weak and struggled into a chair. "I'm going to be a mother? Oh no, how did I screw up? Never mind, poor choice of words. I know I screwed up by screwing. Still, I thought that I was taking precautions and was safe. You said I was fine otherwise for flying fighters?"
"Yes, for at least the next three or four months. You're not an invalid. You want to go play war, then do it," he said without hardly any further interest in the matter.
"Thanks," Susan replied as she got back to her feet and then walked out with Magda still tagging alongside. "Not one word to anyone. I haven't decided what I'm going to do yet."
Magda replied, "Yes ma'am."
Susan walked into the headquarters office as the alarm suddenly chimed. She turned and ran for her fighter with her crew gathering about her.
"You okay, Butterfly?" asked Joe, her pilot.
Susan answered, "Yes. Doc says that I'm going to have a caterpillar."
"Huh?" asked Joe.
Magda said, "She said she's pregnant, you dummy! She let some guy like you stick his weinie in her and get her pregnant. Understand?"
Joe exclaimed, "Oh, that! Yeah, I understand now. Sorry."
They reached the fighter and went inside it quickly, shutting the hatch as soon as all four of them were seated. The engines roared to life. Then the fully repaired, original Attack Butterfly launched.
As the fighters reached space, it became evident to Susan that they were more than a mere handful. She didn't know that they had this many fighters scattered around the planet. There were still more launching from the surface and entering space.
Instructions from Echo headquarters vectored the fighters into commands. Susan soon had her hands full as she maneuvered the wings into formation with hers. Only one wing of hers was missing, Allen's. His wing was still out on scouting duties. She wished him well and could hardly wait to tell him the news and discuss their options with him.
She wondered if she should have the embryo switched to someone else for the term or do it herself. She was fighting for human lives and abortion wasn't really at all in her mind. Of course, she could have the embryo taken out, placed into an arrested state temporarily, and then returned later when she was ready to bring the pregnancy to term. It was no more dangerous for the fetus than any other of her options. If she did that soon enough, she could continue to fly until the war was over when it would be much safer to have the child. However, she would have to be very careful not to have another or she would find herself faced with a dilemma of spending too many months being pregnant unless she brought in another woman to help her. Susan thought of how two or more of her children might become confused to learn that they were the same birth age, but not the same conceptual age. That would be bound to come up as soon as they became old enough to understand some of the facts of life.
***
Dave looked at the screens displaying the view behind the returning group of fighters. It appeared to be a normal first wave of Malakin warships. On their own screens, the fighter commands from Echo were s
howing up in numbers that appeared to even out the odds considerably.
Kyle stood beside him and looked on. "How soon?" he asked.
Dave answered, "Fairly soon, Kyle. Let them get in a bit closer. If they spot the fighters first, as I think they will, we'll be able to catch them in the flank. The other warships should be able to catch them in the rear, if we find that we need to call them in."
"You're not planning on calling them in yet?" asked Kyle.
"Not until the second or third wave. No sense in giving away our true strength ahead of time."
Kyle nodded, knowing now that his few warships and the fighters could be bearing the brunt of possibly two waves by themselves.
***
"Headquarters to all fighter commands. Let the Malakins come in closer to you. Do not, I say again, do not move out to attack them. Butterfly command, acknowledge."
Susan said quickly, "Acknowledged."
Other commands were quickly polled and acknowledged their instructions. The fighter commands remained in formation in near space to Echo.
Susan wondered about her baby and when the enemy would appear. She didn't like waiting for the enemy and wondered how she would like waiting for the baby. She only knew that one was due within minutes and the other in months. Susan tried to concentrate her energies on the one due in minutes.
Off in the distance, Susan spotted the tiny tail exhausts of five specks. That was Allen's wing, she realized. Come on, Allen, hurry up! she thought. She looked at the screen in front of her and realized that she could have had his position all along. It was there where the Malakin warships were being shown from. She glanced up again and out the port of the fighter. Now she could barely make out the fighters amid the large number of tail exhausts of the approaching Malakin warships. Because of her ships small size and stealth design, her fighter command and the other fighters were probably still invisible to the enemy.
Susan glanced at the screen again and noticed that the squadrons were missing. Would her fighter command and the other fighter commands have to fight off the Malakins by themselves? Was that why headquarters didn't want them racing off into space to attack?
Attack Butterfly (Rust Bucket Universe) Page 18