by D. J. Holmes
When they broke apart again, Christine took half a step back. She didn’t raise her eyes to meet his. “There’s something I have to tell you. You’re not to laugh. You promise?”
“I promise to try not to,” James said as he wondered just what was on her mind.
Christine raised her eyes to meet his but only for a brief second. “Tonight… It will be my first time. When Na and I got married, it was political. We weren’t romantic with one another,” Christine said quickly.
Though he did try, James couldn’t stop a small chuckle escaping his lips. Christine immediately turned away from him. Reaching out, he gently turned her back. “I’m not laughing at you,” he said forcefully. “Not at all. It’s just you saying that here, in this room, it brings back memories. This is where Suzanna and I spent our first night after getting married. That night I had to have the same conversation with her. Except I was in your place… That’s right,” James added when Christine’s eyes rose to meet his. “I didn’t date anyone else after you ended our relationship. And with Suzanna we didn’t exactly have much time between Fairfax deciding we should marry and the wedding day. So you have nothing to worry about. Not in the slightest.” Reaching out, James stroked Christine’s hair and placed a hand on her chin. “It just makes it all the more special.” Lowering his lips to hers he kissed her again. At first he sensed she was still self-conscious, but that quickly passed as their kisses became longer and longer.
Chapter 29
For much of the early years of the Karacknid War the Imperial Fleet was actually smaller than the UN fleet it replaced after the Battle of Earth. What it lacked in numbers it made up for in advanced firepower. Moreover, the limited ship numbers actually helped in a perverse way, for it took time to build up the infrastructure to train enough officers to staff a larger fleet. So many UN fleet officers were killed that there was a dearth of skilled men and women to command the new ships of the Empire.
-Excerpt from Empire Rising, 3002 AD.
IS Drake, Earth orbit, 6th February 2483 AD (3 weeks later).
Over the next three weeks James jumped from one problem to another. Between Andréa’s constant demands for new materials and construction capacity; to Koroylov’s ever changing strategic plans and battle simulations; and Scott’s constant ideas and suggestions for new technologies and designs, James barely had any free time to himself. Of course, any free time he did get he spent with Christine. It was just as hard for her to get free time, but every day they managed to steal a secluded hour or more together. That left James with very little time to actually sit and think and plan by himself. In the end, the only place he was able to get some peace and quiet was on Drake’s bridge. When he sat in his command chair the battleship’s bridge officers rarely if ever disturbed him.
He was mulling over the latest strategy Koroylov had sent him. In three more weeks another twenty-six warships would finish their space trials and be added to the Imperial Fleet’s roster. That would bring Humanity’s warship numbers up to two hundred and eight. With forty-eight Vestarian warships and ninety Alliance ships, the total force available would be three hundred and forty-six. Koroylov wanted to split the fleet into three. Keeping a third in reserve, the other two would then be sent to the two Karacknid supply depots to carry out what Koroylov was calling raids in strength. Like Commodore Rivers’ successful raid, each attack would be heavily supported by freighters converted to carry Spitfires and Lancasters into battle. The twist in Koroylov’s plan was that if the Karacknids could be convinced to abandon either system, then the fleet would set up a base there. At least for the short-term, they couldn’t permanently deny the system to the Karacknids, but even holding it for a few weeks or months would further hamper whatever the Karacknids were planning. The problem was that if one raid failed whilst the other succeeded, one third of Humanity’s fleet would set up shop in a far-flung border system, while the Karacknids could counter-attack from their other base and drive towards Earth. Of course, if the warships continued to sit in the Sol system they would be squandering the time Commodore Rivers’ successful attack had bought them.
As James thought through the pros and cons of Koroylov’s suggestion, he didn’t notice the new contact that Drake’s sensors picked up. The battleship sensor officer took note of its of course, but thought nothing more of it. It was only fifteen minutes later when the frigate’s flash alert reached Drake and the bridge’s COM console gave off an alert that James was pulled from his thoughts.
“What is it?” Captain Fisher asked before James could. She had taken to silently joining James when he visited the bridge in case he wanted to run an idea by her.
“A flash alert from Pterodactyl,” the officer replied at once. “She was one of the frigates sent out to scout for additional Karacknid depot worlds. She has transmitted an encrypted report and some sensor data.”
James sat forward in his chair. “Decrypt it with my authorization code,” he ordered as he typed the code into his command console. “Show me the sensor data first,” he requested. As an image of an unknown system appeared in front of Drake’s bridge officers, James’ fears were confirmed. Pterodactyl had discovered another Karacknid staging world. Perhaps their main one, James realized. The exploration frigate had detected one hundred Karacknid warships. Most were in orbit around the system’s second gas giant. Though sixteen appeared to be guarding some installations orbiting the third gas giant. The second gas giant was where the Karacknids had focused their attention, however. The equator of the planet was lit up like a Christmas tree. There were too many stations for James to count. Far more than had been detected at either Alpha-one or Alpha-two. James turned and shared a glance with Fisher. Pterodactyl’s news was not good, not good at all. If the Karacknids had been preparing three staging planets, that meant they didn’t intend to fail a second time in their attempts to conquer Humanity. Christine’s Inner circle had come to that conclusion already but the level of commitment to the attack was way beyond anything they had anticipated. “With so many stations and gas mining facilities, that system could be ready to prep a fleet of thousands of warships,” he said as he held Fisher’s gaze.
His Flag Captain nodded to him. “We’ll have to tear up Koroylov’s latest plan.”
And then some, James thought. “Ready my shuttle,” he requested as he glanced at Miyagi. The Karacknid threat loomed large on the horizon. What Pterodactyl had found could mean the beginning of the end for their fledging Empire. Christine would already be calling an emergency meeting of her Inner Council. “I’m sure Koroylov, Lightfoot and the others will have a few ideas of what to do,” he said to Fisher as he stood. “I’ll signal and let you know when I plan to return.” He wasn’t sure if his shuttle was ready or not yet, but he knew if he stayed any longer, he would be tempted to voice the doubts that were welling up within him. The same doubts he saw forming on Fisher’s face. The last three weeks had felt like a constant struggle to scrape together enough ships to try and deter the Karacknids from their planned invasion. Pterodactyl’s news was a kick to the guts.
As James walked through Drake’s corridors to his shuttle, he had to fight to keep his emotions in check. We are not defeated yet, he reminded himself. As long as there is a Human warship left alive, we will keep fighting. Despite his doubts, of that James was certain. It was just over a year since the Karacknids had nuked Earth, but he knew from the time he had spent with Captains, Lieutenants and newly enlisted cadets that the Imperial Fleet’s anger had far from abated. We cannot keep ourselves bottled up in the Sol system. Delaying their own offensive operations whilst they built up their forces had been prudent until now. But the Karacknids would always have the capacity to build far more ships than Humanity could. It was crystal clear the Karacknids intended to send a massive wave of ships at them; they had to act now or it would be too late. And massive may be underselling it, James couldn’t help but think. From Pterodactyl’s sensor readings, it looked like this new Karacknid base could easily serve as a staging planet for a
n invasion force of three or four thousand warships. And they may not be done with their construction work. That didn’t help lighten James’ mood. As he boarded his shuttle, James barely registered the Flight Lieutenant’s words. In silence he strapped himself in, lost in his thoughts.
When the shuttle touched down outside Chilton House James quickly exited it. A marine saluted him as he descended the shuttle’s access ramp, James saluted back out of instinct. With hundreds of thoughts still swirling around in his head, he followed the marine almost unconscious of his surroundings. Only when the marine stopped and James did likewise did he realize where he was. Nodding his thanks to the marine, he reached out and opened the wooden door to one of Chilton House’s libraries. It was where Christine often held the more intimate Inner Council meetings. As he stepped into the room, James wasn’t surprised to see Christine had only gathered Fairfax, Andréa, Koroylov and Lightfoot from her Inner Council. Admirals Jil’lal and Danlien were also present; whatever course of action they were about to embark upon, it would need both of their approval.
“Now we are all here,” Christine said as she gestured James towards an open chair. “Pterodactyl’s news is grave indeed. It has thrown a spanner in all of our plans. The question before us is, what are we to do next? I confess, it feels like our future hangs in the balance. Though I am no naval strategist.”
“Your instincts are spot on Empress,” Koroylov responded. “Given the scale of the infrastructure the Karacknids are building up on our border, an invasion, I dare say a massive invasion, has to be imminent. Especially now that they know we know about at least one of their depot worlds. At the very least, they are likely to dispatch more reinforcements to guard each of their worlds.”
“The situation may be worse than that,” Lightfoot said as he lent forward and looked around at the other Admirals. “It seems strange the Karacknids are going to such an effort just to conquer us, does it not? We have a fleet less than a tenth the size of the Alliance. Why expend so many resources on us? Their last attack almost wiped us out. Why not just come at us again with a similar force? Why go to all the bother to set up such a massive supply storage infrastructure?”
James saw what Lightfoot was getting at immediately. “We are not their final target,” he said. “They’re setting up staging bases through which they can funnel a number of fleets. Perhaps tens of thousands of ships.”
“Exactly,” Lightfoot replied with a nod. “If they can take Earth and neutralize the rest of our colonies in a quick lightning strike, then they could amass a large fleet on our side of the border with Alliance space. If they take us out, they would be able to circumnavigate the Alliances border forts and strike them in their rear. I fear they are setting up the infrastructure they will need to launch a campaign that will destroy us and then strike deep into Alliance space all in one go.”
James couldn’t help but stare at Christine. Her face had gone pale. Before he could say anything to reassure her, Danlien joined the conversation. “Your analysis is perceptive Admiral,” the Varanni said to Lightfoot as he bowed his head in respect. “We must transmit this information to Varanni Prime immediately. I’m sure High Command will want to divert more ships to your space as soon as possible. If we can delay the Karacknid’s attack at all, we must make an effort to do so. I will say as much in the transmission.”
“Thank you,” Christine said, her voice not giving away any of the emotion James had seen cross her face. “I’ve already requested Pterodactyl’s report be transmitted to Varanni prime. I’ll make sure Lightfoot’s conclusions are sent too,” turning, Christine gave a slight nod to Fairfax who pulled out his datapad typed a message for one of his assistants. Christine continued as she turned back to Danlien. “You can send your own transmission when we are finished here of course. How many ships do you think High Command can spare to help us? And how long until they might get here?”
Danlien’s lower lip retracted to show his teeth in a Varanni sign of frustration. “I am afraid I cannot answer those questions with any confidence. Without knowledge of the latest fleet dispositions and strength estimates of the Karacknid fleet arrayed against us, there’s no way to know for sure. But what Lightfoot has suggested is a threat High Command will not be able to ignore.”
“I’m afraid relying on Alliance High Command is not an option we may have the luxury of,” James said in a somber tone.
“Explain,” Christine requested at once.
Reaching over, James activated the small holo projector in the library. It only took a few seconds to pull up a star map of Human space and to highlight the three Karacknid depots. “From these three bases, Karacknid fleets could directly threaten eight of our colonies. From any one of those eight colonies, they could then push deeper into our space and raid our other colonies or conquer Earth. Even if the Karacknids gave us time for a thousand Alliance warships to join us, to protect our colonies, we have to split them up into eight different fleets. A thousand ships divided eight times would not give us a strong force. The Karacknids would be able to defeat us piece by piece with ease. Our only other option would be to keep our ships here in the Sol system. But the Karacknids could raid every other colony we have. We might save our homeworld for a time, but our military industrial complex would be shattered. We would be out of this war and we would fall sooner or later.”
“What are you suggesting,” Christine pressed, “surely you’re not giving up?”
James tried to give Christine a reassuring smile, but his heart wasn’t in it and from the look in her eyes, he knew she could see it. Nevertheless he pressed on. “As I see it, the only option is to move on the three Karacknid depot systems. As soon as we can we need to strike them and take them for ourselves. A raid merely buys us some more time. Perhaps enough for the Alliance to send more ships. But really, we need to take and hold the systems. That is the only way we will be able to concentrate enough of our ships to fend off whatever the Karacknids have planned. If we are holding the systems then the Karacknids will have to push past our fleets in order to attack our colonies. Three systems will be much easier to defend than eight.”
Koroylov shook his head. “We barely have ships enough to contemplate attacking the two depots we knew about. And this third one is larger and more heavily protected than either of those. How can we possibly do this thing?”
James took the time to hold the gaze of each person in the room for a brief moment before replying. “We can do this thing because we have to. Because we must. Because if we don’t, our colonies will fall, and Earth will fall, and so will the Alliance. If this is the Karacknids’ grand strategy, then we must thwart it before it begins. For when it does, there will be no stopping it. They could be moving thousands of ships from their frontline with Alliance space. If they arrive at any of their depot worlds and find the supplies and fuel they need to press on into our space, nothing we have will stop them.” Having said his piece, James looked from one person to the next. None were quick to respond. Instead silence filled the small room.
Fairfax was the one who eventually broke it. “Just what kind of odds of success are we talking about here?”
When everyone looked to him, James shrugged. “We’d have to run some simulations. If we do split our fleet three ways, each part will have to be just strong enough to accomplish its mission and no more. We can’t afford to send two stronger forces and leave one too weak to accomplish its mission. All three systems must be taken out of Karacknid hands. From the start we’ll have to plan in such a way that we’re right on the edge of attempting what is possible. It will partly depend on how quickly we can depart. The longer we wait, the more ships we will have. Though my gut is telling me we shouldn’t delay for an hour longer than necessary. For the longer we wait, the greater chance the Karacknids will reinforce their positions. Koroylov was spot on in what he said earlier. The Karacknids know we know. Our window of opportunity could already be closing.”
Christine took a deep breath. “You’re proposi
ng a Hail Mary attempt aren’t you?”
James nodded. “I don’t see that we have any other choice. Not now. Not if what Lightfoot has suggested is true. We cannot hold back the main might of the Karacknid fleet. We couldn’t even hold back whatever vanguard force they are likely to send in first.”
Christine turned to her other Admirals. “What do the rest of you think?”
Koroylov rubbed the stubble on his cheek. “I don’t like it. Not one bit. If any of the three attacks fail, they all fail. Moreover, we are not just running the risk that the three engagements will fail, but we will also be completely uncovering Earth’s defenses. If one fleet fails to take its objective, then the way will be open for the Karacknids to push towards Earth. By the time the other two fleets find out what’s happening, it would already be too late… And yet, my instincts are telling me the same thing Admiral Somerville’s are. As much as I don’t like it, I don’t think we have any other option. Time is of the essence.”
Christine turned from Koroylov to Lightfoot. “We have to plan each of our attacks based on the intelligence we have on each Karacknid depot,” he answered. “But by the time our fleets get their targets, things will likely have changed. One depot could have received heavy reinforcements, while another might not. There are so many unknowns.” Lightfoot turned to James and gave him a nod. “Even so, I think this is what we must do. At least, we must attempt to do. If we stay here and rest on our laurels, defeat will find us eventually. There can be no doubt about that now. Either we attack or we die.”