Frontiers Saga 12: Rise of the Alliance

by Ryk Brown

“You are correct,” the lieutenant said, “if I am understanding your use of the word. The ethics and morality of what we do does not enter into the decision-making process. Only the potential outcome.”

  “Therein lies the problem. Terrans are raised to follow their ethics. Society teaches us right and wrong. For most of us, when we do something wrong, we feel guilty. You guys don’t.”

  “In this you are incorrect. A Ghatazhak feels the guilt of his actions. He also understands the need for those actions to be taken.”

  “So, you’re saying that when you gave the order to waste all those civilians back at the evac base, you felt guilt?”

  The lieutenant cocked his head to one side as he leaned forward in his chair. “Guilt may not be the correct word. I felt regret that the action had to be taken. However, I knew that had I not taken immediate and decisive control of the situation, the camp would have been overrun, and the evacuations would have ended then and there. Because of my actions, another thirty-eight thousand Terrans were successfully evacuated prior to the attack. All at a cost of only two thousand innocent lives.”

  “Only two thousand. So, it’s just math, then,” Jessica said.

  “Precisely.”

  “And it doesn’t bother you that the next attack was thwarted, and that those extra thirty-eight thousand didn’t matter?”

  “I could not have foreseen that outcome at the time,” the lieutenant explained, “therefore, my decision was sound.”

  “Yeah, well, I guess the odds were not in our favor on that one, were they?”

  “No, they were not.” Lieutenant Telles leaned back in his chair again. “Then you agree that we should examine the idea further?”

  Jessica took in a deep breath, letting it out slowly as she took her feet down off her desk in the Aurora’s security office. “Examine it?” She hesitated a moment. “Okay, sure. We can examine it, but I’m not ready to commit to anything just yet. We’d have to run it past the captain first, anyway.”

  “Consideration of the idea is all that I am asking for the moment.”

  “Why are you so hell bent on this?” Jessica asked.

  “With our current numbers, we are fairly ineffective as a fighting force,” the lieutenant admitted.

  “I don’t know about that,” Jessica disagreed. “Twenty-four of you can still do a lot of damage.”

  “Perhaps, but trained to even a fraction of our potential, and similarly equipped, your Terran forces would be far more effective against the Jung.”

  “Why not just wait for reinforcements from Takara?” Jessica wondered.

  “That will take time. In addition, those Ghatazhak will be imprinted in the same manner as myself and my men. Their primary directive will be to protect Captain Scott. This directive may not always be compatible with the needs of your world. Besides, the Ghatazhak will not always be available to protect the Earth.”

  “Yeah, and after that massacre, the people of Earth probably aren’t going to like having you guys patrolling the streets.”

  “They don’t have to like it,” Lieutenant Telles said. “However, I do understand your point.” He glanced at the time display on the wall over the exit. “It is nearly time. Will you be heading for the bridge?”

  “Nothing for me to do there,” Jessica admitted. “I’m still on limited duty, remember? I might take a corner over in combat, though. Just to watch the show.”

  “Then you expect a favorable outcome,” the lieutenant stated.

  “Hope for the best, expect the worst,” Jessica answered with a grin. “That’s what my daddy always told us.”

  * * *

  “Two minutes,” Loki announced from the back of their new Falcon’s cockpit.

  “Twelve hours of cold-coasting,” Josh moaned. “I didn’t think it was ever going to end. Man, I sure don’t miss all those recon missions, you know? Thank God there’s more Falcons now.”

  “Hey, be thankful Coralis was in the right place to hide our jump flash,” Loki said. “Otherwise, we’d be looking at another eight hours, minimum. One minute.”

  “Thank you, Coralis,” Josh declared. “Not that the next mission is going to be much better. You know, they could’ve scheduled a break for us instead of back-to-back missions. There’s such a thing as fatigue, you know.”

  “You were asleep for half the mission, Josh.”

  “Maybe, but my butt is still tired. So is my back. For a deep space interceptor, you’d think they would’ve made the seats more comfortable.”

  “I can turn down the gravity a bit more if you’d like?”

  “No thanks,” Josh objected. “Any lower and I’ll lose my meal bars, and they weren’t that good going down, either.”

  “Twenty seconds to jump.”

  Josh straightened up in his seat as he scanned his systems one last time. “Everything is green up here. Standing by to power up maneuvering thrusters and main drive.”

  “After the jump.”

  “Of course,” Josh answered.

  “In three……two……one……jumping.”

  Josh’s visor turned opaque for a brief moment as their interceptor’s jump drive flashed. “When are they going to make the entire canopy go opaque, anyway?”

  “Marcus said they’re working on it,” Loki answered. “Jump complete. Apparently they have to manufacture an entirely new canopy. Something about this one not being thick enough.”

  “We could have told them that.”

  “Contacts,” Loki announced. “Dead ahead, at the rally point. Fourteen Falcons.”

  “Falcon One, Falcon Three,” Lieutenant Thain called over the helmet comms.

  “Go for One,” Loki answered.

  “How’s it look?” the lieutenant asked.

  “Not much change that we could see,” Loki assured him. “Same count, same positions on most of them. Transmitting last positions and tracks now.”

  “Got them,” Lieutenant Thain answered. “We’ll be waiting here for your go signal, gents.”

  “Copy that. One out,” Loki answered.

  “What’s with the ‘gents’ stuff?” Josh wondered. “I never understood why Corinairans always call us gents? What the hell is a gent, anyway?”

  Loki ignored his friend as he dialed up the preprogrammed series of four single light year jumps that would take them back to Sol. “Ten seconds to jump series.”

  * * *

  “WEPS is reporting problems with the heat exchanger on the number two plasma cannon,” Luis reported from the tactical station.

  “I thought that had been fixed?” Cameron said from her command chair on the Celestia’s bridge.

  “I guess it’s acting up again, sir,” Luis answered. “They suggest we avoid firing both cannons at the same time, until the problem is resolved.”

  “Change your automated sequencing safeties on the plasma cannons,” Cameron ordered. “Restrict fire to single shots only. We’ll alternate between cannons two and four.”

  “Yes, sir,” Luis answered. “It might also be a good idea to limit our shots to two cycles,” Luis added.

  “The plan is to not be in close long enough to fire more than two cycles, Ensign.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “Contact,” Ensign Kono reported from the Celestia’s sensor station. “Falcon One is back from recon.”

  “They’re transmitting their recon data to the Aurora now,” Ensign Souza announced from the comms station at the back of the Celestia’s bridge.

  “Falcon One is headed toward the Aurora’s flight apron,” Luis added.

  “They’ll have her recycled and launched five minutes after she clears the transfer airlock,” Cameron stated.

  “How long do you think it will take to get the go, no-go?” Luis wondered.

  “It depends on how different things look since the last recon,” Cameron said.

  * * *

  Doctor Chen looked over the data pad that had just been handed to her by her assistant.

  “Everything is rea
dy, Doctor,” Cassandra assured Doctor Chen.

  “Did they manage to finish the extra batch of nanites?” Doctor Chen asked.

  “Yes, ma’am, two hours ago,” Cassandra answered. “We’re up to about four hundred doses now.”

  “I wish it were four hundred thousand doses,” Doctor Chen mumbled.

  “It would have been had we not transferred so much of our reserves to Earth,” Cassandra reminded her.

  “Not like we had much choice, really.”

  Cassandra nodded her agreement.

  “Well,” Doctor Chen continued, “with any luck, this will go as the captain planned, and our casualties will be light. I just hope that the Celestia doesn’t have any serious casualties. Without a jump shuttle, moving patients back to us for treatment will take time.”

  “I’m sure Doctor Galloway and her staff will be able to handle it,” Cassandra insisted.

  Doctor Chen looked at Cassandra. The young woman had come a long way since she first showed up as a patient so many months ago. Her optimism, although sometimes an irritant, often came along at just the right moment. Doctor Chen had come to depend on Cassandra’s exceptional organizational skills over the last few months, and she often wondered how she would possibly manage the department without her. “I’m sure you’re right, Cassandra,” the doctor answered. “I’m sure you’re right.”

  * * *

  Lieutenant Commander Nash, Commander Willard, and Lieutenant Telles all huddled around the plotting table in the middle of the Aurora’s combat control center, staring at the holographic display of the Alpha Centauri B system and the Jung ships within it. There were two sets of icons that represented the positions of Jung ships. One set was orange, the other red.

  “The only ones that have moved much are the frigates,” Jessica observed. “This one changed orbits, and this one came in from patrol. That still leaves one more out on patrol.”

  “At least the cruisers are all still in relatively the same positions,” Commander Willard said.

  “It would be nice to know what, if anything, still resides within the battle platform’s three main bays,” Lieutenant Telles added.

  “I’m betting nothing,” Jessica said.

  Both men looked at her.

  “Why would you have anything parked inside?” Jessica said in defense, noticing their quizzical looks.

  “Resupply, refueling, repairs,” Lieutenant Telles said. “Shall I go on?”

  “They’ve got to have that kind of stuff down to a science. In and out quick, you know? I mean, a ship can’t defend itself when it’s inside one of those bays.”

  “It does not need to,” Lieutenant Telles pointed out. “The platform is more than capable…”

  “No captain would want to be cooped up inside a hangar bay for any longer than they had to be,” Jessica insisted, interrupting Telles. “Besides, the more firepower you have out in the open, the more you have to defend yourself with.”

  “Perhaps,” Lieutenant Telles admitted. “But those bays are large enough to hold at least one cruiser each. A sudden addition of three cruisers to the Jung fleet could turn the tide.”

  “As could another twelve frigates,” Commander Willard added.

  This time it was Telles and Jessica who looked at Commander Willard.

  “A tight fit, I grant you, but there is enough room in there for four frigates each.” Commander Willard looked at them both, noticing their expressions. “Hey, I’m just trying to think of all possible scenarios.”

  “Well, we won’t know for sure until we poke them with a stick,” Jessica said.

  Lieutenant Telles raised an eyebrow. “Interesting expression… and quite accurate.”

  Commander Willard looked at his colleagues. “Then we’re agreed?”

  “Agreed,” Lieutenant Telles said with a nod.

  “Let’s do it,” Jessica added.

  Commander Willard tapped his comm-set to open the mic. “Captain, XO.”

  “Go ahead, Lieutenant,” Captain Scott answered over Commander Willard’s comm-set.

  “Changes to the positions of all targets are minimal. Only minor adjustments to the battle plan are required. It shouldn’t be any problem, sir.”

  “Then we’re go?”

  “Yes, sir. Combat recommends we go.”

  “Very well,” Nathan answered.

  Commander Willard looked at Jessica and Telles again. “Here we go.”

  * * *

  “Sir,” the general’s aide called from the doorway to the general’s office.

  General Bacca continued to stare at the barren-looking moon and the gas giant behind it, both of them hovering just outside the massive porthole behind his desk. He knew that they were merely images of what was outside the massive battle platform, conveyed by one of the hundreds of external cameras. After all, despite the fact that his office was located along the most outboard section of the platform, there were still at least ten meters of hull layers and mechanical spaces between the air in his office and the cold, dark void of space that lay outside.

  “General?” the aide called again.

  “What is it?” the general finally answered.

  “A patrol on the far side of Coralis reported a jump flash. The size of the flash and energy signature are nearly identical to the one that was detected jumping around Earth during the Aurora’s attack.”

  “Interesting,” the general said. “Then they are aware that this station is here.”

  “As well as the rest of the task group,” the aide added.

  The general’s eyes darted back and forth as he thought. “They plan to attack, and soon.”

  “Surely they would not be so foolish.”

  “The presence of this scout confirms my suspicions that the Aurora has defeated the Ton-Tori.”

  “Impossible!” the aide exclaimed. “Even with jump drives, it would take a fleet of ships, maybe even an entire armada, to defeat a battle platform.”

  “We said the same of our fleet back in Sol,” General Bacca pointed out. “Yet the Aurora took it apart, ship by ship.” He looked at his aide as he took his seat again. “I assume Admiral Toliva is aware of this scout?”

  “Of course,” the aide answered. “He is quite confident in the Ton-Conoc’s ability to withstand any attack.”

  “Let us hope his confidence is not misplaced, like so many other commanders that have faced the Aurora before him.”

  The general’s aide nodded, then turned to exit.

  “Have my ship made ready,” the admiral added, “just in case.”

  The general’s aide turned back and looked at him, a combination of surprise and confusion on his face. “Of course, General.”

  * * *

  “Jump complete,” Mister Riley reported as the Aurora’s jump flash subsided.

  “Multiple contacts,” Mister Navashee called from the sensor station, “two groups of seven Falcons, sir. Jump flash. The Celestia just jumped in, fifty kilometers to starboard.”

  “How are those revisions coming, Lieutenant?” Nathan asked.

  “Updates to the battle plan will be completed in thirty seconds, Captain,” Lieutenant responded.

  Nathan glanced at the tactical display window located along the bottom center of the main view screen. The assortment of blue icons told him that his attack group was in position at the rally point. “Very well.” Nathan took in a deep breath, “pass the word to all ships, set general quarters.”

  “General quarters, all ships, aye,” Naralena answered.

  “Calculations complete,” the lieutenant reported. “The battle plan has been updated to account for changes in target positions, Captain.”

  “Combat jump one, plotted and locked, sir,” Mister Riley reported.

  “Very well,” Nathan replied, his tone smooth and relaxed. He cleared his throat. “Remember, by the numbers. We jump in, fire, jump out. As little time as possible in each kill zone.”

  “All stations report manned and ready,” Naralena re
ported. “The XO is in combat, and the chief of the boat is in damage control.” Naralena glanced forward toward her captain. “The ship is at general quarters, sir.”

  “All ships report general quarters, sir,” Lieutenant Eckert reported from the tactical station. “All weapons, charged and ready.”

  “Alert all ships to start their battle clocks on our jump flash,” Nathan ordered. “Mister Riley, let’s go do some business. You may execute combat jump one when ready.”

  “Aye sir,” Mister Riley acknowledged, fighting back a smile as he checked the countdown timer on his jump status display. “Executing combat jump one in twelve seconds.”

  “The Aurora has jumped,” Ensign Kono reported.

  “Battle clock has started,” Luis reported from the Celestia’s tactical station.

  “Ten seconds to combat jump one,” Mister Jakoby added.

  Cameron glance at the time display on the center console between her navigator and helmsman directly in front of her. Beneath the green time display the red battle clock display was counting upward from zero. Below that, a third time display that indicated the time remaining before their next jump also counted down.

  “Five seconds.”

  Cameron placed her hands on the arms of her command chair, appearing as relaxed as possible. From her first day in the Academy, all she had ever wanted to do was to command a ship. Now, she was not only the first woman to command an EDF ship, but she was also the youngest person to ever command one. She should have been happy, but the only thing she felt was concentration… Intense and focused.

  The Celestia’s jump flash washed over the bridge.

  “Jump one complete,” Mister Jakoby reported.

  “Contact!” Ensign Kono reported from the sensor station. “Frigate two, ten kilometers out and one above, slightly to starboard. Transferring track to tactical.”

  “Mains are at zero,” Ensign Hunt reported, “bringing our nose onto the target.”

  “Five seconds to firing solution,” Ensign Delaveaga said.

  “Triplets on all forward tubes,” Cameron reminded him. “Be ready for singles from our port plasma cannons.”

  “Forward tubes locked on target,” Luis announced, ignoring his captain’s not-so-subtle reminders. “Firing triplets, one away… Two away…”