Fight the Good Fight

by Daniel Gibbs

  “Before we begin,” MacIntosh said, “I’d like to introduce everyone to Dr. Izmet Tural, the chief medical officer for the Lion of Judah. I’d give you time for introductions now, but we have urgent matters to discuss, so please be seated.”

  Tural took a seat at an open chair while MacIntosh remained standing.

  “Two days ago, League military operations across the entire front halted. All active combat operations were ceased, and troops pulled out of ten contested systems where the League commenced invasions. We’ve even gotten reports that on partially occupied worlds, the League armies have ended direct combat operations.”

  Calvin spoke up. “Sounds like they’re planning something big. It could be ‘48 all over again.”

  “That’s what we thought, but yesterday, one of our ships on patrol intercepted a League transmission. The League wishes to commence peace negotiations immediately,” MacIntosh said.

  While it had been an open secret this was coming, it was still a shock to the members of the command staff. Taylor was next to speak. “Twenty-six years of fighting and they’re coming to the table now?”

  MacIntosh nodded. “Yes, I understand your skepticism, but our intelligence, corroborated from those neutral states that still favor us, indicates the League is facing a crisis in their home systems due to their war footing disrupting their economy. There are forces in their government that have already made statements to the effect of needing peace to deal with internal dissensions and economic stagnation. We believe these elements have now come to the fore in the League government. A peace party is en route to our border to be brought to Canaan for talks. They are aboard a League dreadnought, the LSS Destruction, and are accompanying a transport carrying a load of POWs to be returned to the Coalition as a gesture of good faith.”

  “They’re really going to send a ship named like that on a peace mission?” Sheila asked incredulously.

  “It’s the flagship of their mission’s overall commander. Admiral Pierre Seville.”

  David’s expression shifted slightly. He recognized the name as the admiral who led the initial League assault on Canaan, the man his father gave his life in order to stop. “The man who led the initial attack on Canaan,” he said hoarsely. “My father died ramming his flagship.”

  “One and the same. And you will be going out to meet him, Colonel.”

  David felt MacIntosh’s eyes bore into him. “Sir?”

  “The president and SecDef approved the proposal. We’re sending the Lion of Judah out to escort them in.”

  “Sir, we’re still in preliminary shakedown preparation. We’re not even sure the anti-matter reactor will work properly in sustained operations.”

  “The thought is that if we send a carrier, we’re simply reminding them of how we’ve devoted ourselves to a permanent defensive effort. But the Lion? She represents our new direction, a signal to the League that they need to take us seriously in the peace talks and afterward.”

  “Ah, so... the League is sending a ship named Destruction to negotiate peace with us,” Sheila said, emphasizing the word “destruction,” “and we’re going to respond by sending a ship named after Jesus Christ to make peace with a nation of militant atheists. Is anyone else feeling a bit skeptical of our chances here?”

  Various people chuckled among the assembled; even MacIntosh seemed amused, if in a subtle way. “There’s nothing you can say about the ship’s name I haven’t already heard from Dr. Hayworth, Major Thompson.”

  “So we’re being sent. Do we have enough stores for the trip?” David looked to Sheila.

  “We were bringing aboard parts and items needed for the shakedown cruise. It’ll take a day or so to check over the life support system and charge up the atmosphere reserves from the station supply, but we should be ready to go within forty-eight hours.” She glanced at Hanson. “Provided the engines are ready.”

  “Dr. Hayworth and his crew should have them ready, but I’m not sure about our readiness to run the new antimatter reactor under full cruise conditions, much less combat,” Hanson said hesitantly.

  “That’s why you’ll be taking Major Merriweather and Dr. Hayworth with you. She’ll oversee the operation of the reactor for the duration of this mission.” MacIntosh drew in a breath. “Listen, I know some of you are going to be skeptical about this. I am too. If anything suspicious happens, report it and keep your guard up, but I shouldn’t have to tell you that if we can put together a negotiated peace with the League, it would mean a lot for the Coalition.”

  “An end to the war,” Calvin said slowly. “Demilitarization, no more military oversight in the border worlds, getting the civil services back up...”

  “No more killing,” Sheila added.

  “Let’s just hope they’re thinking the same thing,” David said. Sheila gave him an uncomfortable look, but he didn’t outwardly acknowledge it. “Okay, everyone, let’s get busy. We’ve got to be ready to go in forty-eight hours. Time is wasting.”

  Everyone at the table nodded. “You heard your CO. Let’s get to work! Dismissed!” MacIntosh said.

  The team stood to leave, and as they did, each stopped to welcome Dr. Tural to the ship and the crew. Sheila shot David a glance, raising an eyebrow in question to him, which, while it was noticed, he opted not to respond to. He knew she was going to ask some very tough questions later about where his mind was at in dealing with Admiral Seville. After everyone else filed out of the room, David and MacIntosh were alone.

  “Sir, our fighter and bomber squadrons aren’t due for another two weeks. We’ll be going out there without their support.”

  “We’re going to arrange for you to rendezvous with the Pat Tillman,” MacIntosh replied. “They’ll transfer some of their squadrons to you. You’ll also be receiving your CAG, Major Amir.”

  “Hassan Amir?”

  “Yes. You’ve met, I presume?”

  “When I was the XO on the Audacious, sir. I’m looking forward to having him as my CAG.”

  “Well, that’s good to know.” MacIntosh retrieved a data disc from the wardroom computer. “I’ll be keeping tabs on your preparation. You’re getting top priority for everything you need to be ready for departure by order of the president.”

  “What about my XO?” David asked. “Major Thompson has been assigned as the navigator and second watch officer, but I haven’t seen the service jacket of any XO candidates as of yet.”

  “You won’t be getting your XO in time. For the time being, you can have the major functioning as XO. Use First Lieutenant Shelly Hampton as your navigator. She was to be the second shift navigator.”

  David nodded. “Thank you, sir. That should work out fine.”

  “Good luck out there, Colonel. We all pray this will be a success but be ready for anything. You should know that President Spencer, personally, led a prayer for your success in my presence.”

  David allowed a smile to cross his face. “I’ll take all the help I can get on this one, sir.”

  MacIntosh turned toward the door. “Carry on, Colonel. Godspeed.”

  19

  “Are you sure I can’t talk you out of this, General?” David said, pausing before the double doors that said “Studio C.”

  “We’ve been on this, Cohen. You’re doing the interview,” MacIntosh said, pointing toward the door.

  “I’m a ship driver, sir—”

  “So you’ve said, Colonel. Do I need to explain yet again to you that the Lion of Judah has as much morale and public relations value as it does in military might?”

  “Point taken, sir,” David said, resigning himself to the task ahead. He’d been trying to get out of the assignment for the last six hours, without success. Why not at least get me onto a broadcast that’s remotely pro-CDF?

  “I’ll be in the broadcast booth upstairs while you handle the interview, Colonel. Remember to tout the Lion’s technology without revealing classified information, and to signal our support for the peace process.”

  “Yes,
sir.”

  “Carry on, Colonel.”

  MacIntosh disappeared through another door, leaving David to push through in the studio. He found it teeming with employees of the news channel—Galactic News Network—and the reporter that he was to sit down with, Leslie Sharp. I’ve seen her reports, God only knows how many times. She’s so slanted against the CDF, it’s laughable. Again wishing he was anywhere but the studio, he pulled his uniform jacket down one last time, put a smile on his face, and made his way to the interview chair. The chair was positioned directly in front of a desk, and behind it was Sharp.

  “Ms. Sharp,” David said.

  “Colonel. Please, have a seat. Ready to go?”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  “It’ll just be a moment.”

  There’s something about her voice that’s fake. David took a sip of water as the director of the show gave a countdown. When the count reached two, Sharp waited three seconds before speaking directly into the camera.

  “This is Leslie Sharp with the Galactic News Network. Tonight, we have a special guest, Colonel David Cohen, commanding officer of the newly revealed CSV Lion of Judah. Welcome, Colonel.”

  David smiled toward the camera awkwardly. “Thank you, Ms. Sharp. It’s a pleasure to be speaking with you tonight.”

  Leslie looked him in the eye with a one-hundred-watt, trademark holonet smile. The effect reminded David of a used helicar salesman. “Just to introduce you to our viewers tonight, how long have you been in the Coalition Defense Force, Colonel?”

  “Twenty years, ma’am.”

  “I understand it’s nearly impossible to make colonel after being drafted as an enlisted soldier. Sounds like you’ve had an exceptional career, Colonel.”

  David wasn’t sure where she was going with this line of questioning. “I’ve done the best I can with the abilities given to me by God, ma’am.”

  “I see. Has the fact that your father was in effect the hero of the Terran Coalition helped your career along?”

  David fought to keep a grimace off his face. “I wouldn’t know, ma’am. I’ve certainly never made anything of it. If anything, I’d rather it never come up. My father would have never considered himself a hero. He used to remind me often that some things, like our freedoms, are just worth fighting for. That’s what he dedicated his life to.”

  “He sounds like a noble man.”

  “He was.”

  “I understand that in your last combat, you rammed an enemy warship?”

  Alarm bells went off in David’s head. What exactly is she trying to do? “Ah, yes, I did, ma’am,” David said hesitantly.

  “And why was that, Colonel? Ramming another ship is usually fatal, isn’t it?” She continued with the one-hundred-watt smile still at full blast.

  “Because a League ship was bearing down on a group of transports with civilians onboard, and I had no other way to stop that ship from killing tens of thousands of civilians,” David said with a trace of an edge to his voice.

  “I’m sure you can understand, Colonel, that billions of citizens around the Coalition want to make sure that this wondrous new ship we’re sending into space to meet the League is commanded by an able officer.”

  “Of course, ma’am, and I will do my duty to the utmost of my ability. I think everyone in the Terran Coalition is praying that our next mission will be a success, and that we will achieve a peace agreement with the League of Sol.”

  “Do you believe your superiors in the Coalition Defense Force want the peace talks to succeed?” she asked again with the sweetest voice she could muster.

  “Of course they do.”

  “I see. Do you think that the League will be willing to forgive the atrocities committed by the CDF during the last twenty-seven years of war?”

  David fought to keep his voice neutral. He had expected some kind of ambush, but not quite this. “And what atrocities might those be, ma’am?”

  For just a moment, the one-hundred-watt smile faded. “The dozens of documented incidents where CDF forces have killed League civilians, and in some cases, our own civilians in their overzealous attempts to kill League troops.”

  “Do you know what the rules of engagement are in areas that have civilians in them, Ms. Sharp?” David asked, using his own version of the one-hundred-watt smile.

  “I’m familiar with them, yes.”

  “Then you know that to fire any type of weapon other than a battle rifle or sidearm in an engagement with civilians present, a JAG attorney must sign off on the strike,” David said, just a tad smugly.

  “I fail to see what that matters, Colonel. Let’s get back to—”

  “It matters that a legal representative reviews each request in real time and approves or disapproves the request,” he interrupted. “I’ve served on the front lines, ma’am. I’ve seen Marines killed from enemy fire coming from buildings with human shields in them and good men and women die because we are so against killing civilians, we wouldn’t return fire. With all due respect, the CDF does anything and everything possible to avoid innocent deaths.” Fire burned in his eyes as he looked at her.

  Leslie sat just a bit taller in her chair. “Are you trying to say that the CDF has never killed a civilian, Colonel?” she asked incredulously.

  “No, ma’am. I’m saying we don’t kill civilians on purpose. I’m saying we do everything we can to save civilians. I’m also saying that when we capture League soldiers, they’re interned in camps that are better living accommodations than some of our citizens have. They get three hot meals a day, which is more than the men and women serving on my ship get, and I’m sick and tired of hearing people second-guessing the tens of millions of men and women who put their lives on the line every day to defend them,” David said, his voice firm with his convictions.

  “Are you trying to say I don’t have the right to criticize the military, Colonel?” Sharp said, her lips tight.

  “You have every right to, ma’am. But try to remember that if the League won the war, you’d be among the first people they shot.”

  “That…” She sputtered for a moment. “And why would you say that, Colonel?”

  “Because the League needs people like you to drive our morale down and question the ethics of our military. Once it wins, it doesn’t need you anymore. I think we all know what happens to people who aren’t needed by the League. You can ask our ancestors or you could ask the families of the nearly forty thousand dead soldiers from the initial League invasion of Canaan.”

  It was clear that she was shocked by the forcefulness of David’s response. “I see, Colonel. Well, I think our viewers can make up their minds about your fitness to command the first peace mission with the League of Sol.”

  David took the barb in stride. “I’m sure they can, ma’am. After all, peace comes through strength.”

  “And how exactly is that, Colonel?” she asked, taking the bait.

  “We all know the history of the first League attack. They decided they could overwhelm us with one massive strike. While it failed, it was close. If we had a massive military advantage over them, they wouldn’t have attacked. And with our new breed of ships and technology, that will provide strength and encourage peace.”

  “I guess we will find out, Colonel. Thank you for joining us tonight.”

  “Thank you for having me, ma’am.”

  As the director indicated they were off the air, Sharp stood up and stormed off without a word to David. He was left sitting in the chair for a few minutes until MacIntosh came to collect him. Standing at attention as MacIntosh strode in, he waited to see the reaction.

  “Well, not quite what we expected, Colonel. Officially, I should reprimand you for getting into a political discussion on intergalactic holovision. Unofficially, jolly good show,” MacIntosh said with a smile.

  David gave him a small smile in return. “Thank you, sir.”

  “Now get back to your ship and get ready to go meet the League,” MacIntosh said in his normal gruff tone.


  “Aye, sir,” David said, bracing to attention once more before walking off.

  20

  David swiped away on his tablet, seated behind the desk in the spacious interior of his office and stateroom, also known as the day cabin, onboard the Lion of Judah. He was reviewing CDF paperwork, one of the few constants in the universe. He smiled slightly to himself. No matter what happens in terms of advancing technology, the one thing the military is able to keep around is forms in triplicate. The communications line build into his desk chirped, indicating a call from the bridge. He pressed the button to answer it, speaking into the mic. “Yes?”

  Sheila’s voice filled the room. “Sir, I’m sorry to disturb you, but the SSI program manager assigned to our ship wishes to meet with you.”

  David rolled his eyes. “XO, what does he want?” he asked with more than a trace of annoyance in his voice.

  “He wants to discuss preparations for launching the ship, sir.”

  David grimaced. “He probably wants me to authorize extended overtime on his contract,” he commented dryly. He shook his head and stared at the speaker. “Send him in, XO.”

  “Aye, sir!”

  A few minutes later, the hatch to David’s office opened, and a tall, broad-shouldered man walked through, having to duck under the hatch due to his extreme height. He pulled himself up to his full height and stood in front of the desk.

  “Colonel, please allow me to introduce myself. My name is Kenneth Lowe and I’m the program manager from SSI assigned to the Lion of Judah’s shipboard systems implementation team.” He placed his hands behind his back.

  “Colonel David Cohen. What can I do for you, Mr. Lowe?”

  Kenneth glanced down at the desk. “I wanted to discuss the disposition of your ship, sir, and work through getting her as ready as possible for when you put her into space in thirty-six hours.”

  As Kenneth spoke, David’s face contorted into something of a scowl. He’d had many run-ins with defense contractors over the years and detested the desire of what seemed like most of them to get as much money out of the military as possible. Especially when the military was always short of funds. “Mr. Lowe, let me be clear with you. I’m not in the mood for being shaken down for additional money and I’m not even the right person to talk about it.”