"How are you doing, Duke?" Rodham asked, looking at the Marine
general's torn and empty sleeve in surprise.
"Nothing like getting shot in a plastic arm. Didn't hurt a bit."
Rodham nodded and then shifted his gaze to Tolwyn.
"What in hell are you doing here?" and his features went cold.
"He was here today as a personal guest of Admiral Banbridge when the
explosion happened," Duke replied.
"You have no security clearance," Jamison shouted. "Grecko, get this
man the hell out of here right now! I wouldn't be surprised if it turned out
that he had something to do with this bombing."
"No, sir, he isn't moving."
Jamison turned on Grecko in surprise.
"Rear Admiral Tolwyn," and Geoff was surprised to hear Grecko use his
official and former title, "was acting under the direct orders of the Chief
of Staff when he violated the cease fire order, with the intent of thus
having a cover to subsequently engage in a covert operation."
"If that bastard were alive right now, I'd see that he was stripped of
his rank," Jamison snarled.
Grecko stiffened.
"That bastard, as you call him, ma am, was my closest friend. I'd like
to suggest, ma'am, that you go down to the morgue and tell what's left of
him that he's a bastard."
"General, would you explain Tolwyn's presence here?" Rodham asked,
stepping between the two as Jamison leaned forward, ready to explode.
"The Chief of Staff suspected the armistice from the beginning, sir and
asked Geoff to volunteer for a covert mission. If the mission were
undertaken by someone already dishonorably discharged it would give us," and
he looked coldly at the President, "plausible deniability if something went
wrong. Geoff organized the transfer of some of our demobilized assets to the
Landreich where the equipment could be kept on line and then went out on a
deep reconnaissance mission inside the Kilrathi Empire. He returned from
that mission and arrived here only minutes before the bomb went off.
"We've just received an official protest over that escapade," Jamison
snapped "The Kilrathi are screaming their heads off claiming that five of
their cruisers were hit in an unprovoked attack and destroyed."
"What about Tarawa and Normandy?" Tolwyn asked anxiously.
"They claim they got one."
"Not a bad exchange," Grecko said dryly. The Kilrathi must be damned
embarrassed, but Tarawa only reported three confirmed kills for the loss of
Normandy and I'll take their word over the furballs'."
"They're claiming the right, as provided in the armistice, to hunt the
other one down and have requested information regarding the ship's
location."
Jamison looked over at Rodham who nodded sadly.
"The Kilrathi have demanded information regarding the ship's location
and destination. If we refuse to provide that immediately, a condition of
war might be declared."
"Tell them to go burn in hell," Grecko said.
"And besides," Tolwyn said quietly, a smile creasing his features,
"those ships are not of Confederation registry."
"Look, General, the armistice is hanging by a thread," Rodham replied,
ignoring Tolwyn. "First the violation of their territory and then this
terrorist bomb plot to kill the ambassador and make it look like the Cats
did it by killing some of our people as well."
"Are you trying to tell us that some of our own people did this
bombing?" Tolwyn asked, incredulous that such a suggestion could even be
made.
"Well, its one serious possibility," Rodham replied, "and we have to
look at all angles."
Tolwyn was about to come back with a rather angry and very obscene
retort, but Grecko held his hand up for him to be silent
"Sir, I would appreciate it if you took a look at this holo display and
the data printouts. We just received it as a burst signal relayed in from
Tarawa less than a half hour ago. Their mission was to follow up our
suspicions regarding Kilrathi construction inside the Hari sector," and
Grecko pointed to the three dimensional projection, in the middle of which
floated the images of the Kilrathi super carriers.
Rodham went over and looked intently at the carriers, requesting that
the computer rotate the images and then provide data on mass, length,
armaments, and projected fighter carrying capacity.
Tolwyn watched the President closely and could detect a paling of his
features and more surprisingly a nervous tic at the corner of his eye. It
was obviously a hell of a shock for the President, but he had little
sympathy for him at this moment, still remembering how not so long ago the
head of the Chiefs of Staff, with tears of frustration in his eyes, begged
for the armistice not to be signed, warning of what would be the end result.
Noragami was now dead as a result.
"Is this genuine?" Rodham asked quietly, now examining the map which
showed where the fleet was and projected times of arrival into Confederation
territory if an offensive were launched.
"The data was burst signaled from Tarawa, located here," and Grecko
pointed at the map showing the last reported position of the carrier. "The
data was obtained from a deep reconnaissance probe which ventured into Hari
space."
"On whose orders?" Jamison asked. I was never informed of this
escapade. Remember, I am the Foreign Minister and if you were contemplating
a violation of the armistice I should have been informed."
On the orders of the Chief of Staff," Grecko said coldly, not even
bothering to turn.
"Is there a chance this is falsified information?" Rodham asked, and
Tolwyn could detect the slight note of hopefulness in his voice, as if
wishing that the entire problem would, simply be shown to be a hoax.
"It was sent in personally by Admiral Vance Richards, sir, and that's
good enough for me.
"Richards is out there Ч I thought he retired?"
Grecko merely smiled.
"What you've committed here is outright mutiny," Jamison snarled. "If
the rest of the Joint Chiefs were not already dead I'd demand their
resignations as I am now demanding yours."
Grecko turned slowly and stared at Jamison.
"If you were not a lady," he said coldly, "I'd loosen your teeth for
what you've done to us. If you want my resignation you can have it, but only
after we have a full investigation of myself, the Joint Chiefs and more
importantly of you. Would you care to see the file military intelligence has
on you and your suspected cooperation with the Kilrathi in return for your
son?"
Jamison turned towards the President.
"I want him fired as of this minute and Tolwyn here put in jail pending
an investigation."
Rodham looked over at Jamison in confusion and then slowly sat down,
turning to look back at the holo.
"Your report on the false signal and the Kilrathi message regarding the
antimatter warhead plant, does that fit into this?
"It fits right in, sir," Grecko replied.
"Sir, you are looking at the beginning of a full scale offensive with
an upgraded fleet," Tolwyn said. "In less than a month the Kilrathi will be
above Earth demanding our surrender if we're lucky, though if past practices
are any indication they'll flatten us with a full antimatter warhead
bombardment and then come down to gloat over the wreckage and tear out the
throats of the survivors with their claws when their next Sivar ceremony
comes around."
Rodham nodded slowly and closed his eyes for a moment. Jamison started
to speak and the president held up his hand for silence. He finally turned
and looked over at Tolwyn.
"You were the best fighting admiral in the fleet, Geoff. Banbridge told
me more than once that he wanted you to replace him as commander of Third
Fleet when he retired."
Geoff lowered his head, saying nothing.
"Admiral Tolwyn, I am officially pardoning you for the incident at
Munro. As of this moment I am reinstating you as a full admiral in command
of Third Fleet, with the mission of organizing defenses against the
anticipated Kilrathi invasion. General Grecko, I am appointing you the new
head of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in command of all Confederation forces."
"Just what the hell is this?" Jamison roared.
"Secretary Jamison, I expect your resignation as Foreign Secretary
effective immediately and also advise you that you will face an
investigation. I have refused to believe the allegations made against you
for too long. I think this matter has to be looked into." Jamison's features
flushed.
"Harry, you can't do this," she said quietly, her voice full of menace.
"I am the President of the Confederation, and I can damn well appoint
and fire my cabinet as I see fit."
"And have me as the whipping boy for this situation? Like hell. Your
charges against me are nothing but a smokescreen to shift blame. It was your
decision to sign the armistice."
"Based upon the information you provided to me regarding Kilrathi
political intentions."
"You're the president, Harry," she snapped coldly. "The buck stops
here, remember."
Rodham lowered his head, nodding sadly.
"Yes, it does. I fully realize that," he whispered. "And that is one of
the reasons I demand your resignation. Admiral Richards presented me with a
report more than six months ago, indicating that you might present a
security risk since the capture of your son and that the Kilrathi might be
in contact with you for a possible deal."
"Are you calling me a traitor?" Jamison roared.
"Not yet," Rodham said quietly.
"You want my resignation, well you can go to hell. Make it a public
firing in front of the press, and believe me, my side of the story will be
told as well."
She looked around the room angrily.
"I'll see all of you in hell," and she stormed out of the conference
room.
Rodham watched her go and wearily he turned back to face Tolwyn and
Grecko.
"I'm sorry, Duke, you and the other officers were right."
"Even if we turn them back, Mr. President, a lot of good youngsters are
going to die in the doing of it. We had them, sir, we had them on the ropes
and we could have crippled them. Now it's the other way around."
"You don't need to remind me, Duke."
"I do need to remind you, sir, Grecko snapped back. "It's always been
this way. The civilians start to forget just how dangerous the world, or the
universe really is. They start to believe their fantasies, and then in the
end it's the kids on the front line who pay for it. Well, sir, on this
little folly the human race might very well become extinct before it's
done."
Rodham started to speak and then stopped and looked away.
"After I take care of Jamison, I'm resigning as President," he said
quietly. "Vice President Dave Quinson never did support this idea; he was as
much as public about it. I think he could help rally our people better than
me."
"I think that's a good idea, sir," Duke replied, his voice cold and
even.
Rodham stood up and looked back at the holo display.
"You know, Jamison will make this an ugly fight. It might slow down our
mobilization. I'm therefore issuing as my final executive order a full
mobilization of the fleet, along with wartime governmental control of the
economy. Jamison is most likely running to the press right now so I'd better
act first. When I resign my cabinet will have to resign as well. Maybe it'll
clear the deck for Quinson."
"A smart move, sir."
Rodham nodded again and extended his hand.
"I'm sorry, Duke. Sorry for everything."
Wayne hesitated for a moment and then shook hands.
Harold Rodham, shoulders slumped in defeat, turned and walked out of
the room, not even noticing the salute of the two officers behind him.
"I guess his heart was in the right place," Geoff said quietly.
You know what they pave the road to hell with," Duke replied, "and
frankly, Geoff, I think we're all on a greasy slope aimed straight into the
fiery pit."
The Emperor, in an unusual gesture, ordered the screen removed so that
he was fully visible to those who sat before him. As the two Imperial Guards
drew the screen back the clan leaders went down on their knees, foreheads
touching the cool turquoise inlaid floor of the audience chamber.
"Raise up your heads, return to your feet," he said, and they did as
commanded.
"I wanted you to gaze upon me, to dispel any lingering doubts as to my
continued existence."
They stood silently, furtively looking from one to the other, but most
of them finally turned their gaze upon Jukaga, who stood in the middle of
the group, staring straight at the Emperor.
"You have heard the rumors, and they are true," the Emperor said.
"Someone indeed attempted the most heinous of all crimes, a crime so
loathsome that there is not even a word in our own tongue to describe it, so
that we must borrow this word from corrupt and downcast races."
He fell silent as if waiting, and the silence dragged into long
uncomfortable minutes, as if he were waiting for one of them to throw
himself upon the foot of the throne in supplication.
No one moved.
"He shall be found out," the Emperor finally said coldly. "Now let us
discuss the war."
The group visibly relaxed.
"The fleet made jump fourteen days ago from their base, within hours
after being discovered, and is moving at flank speed to the front. It will
arrive here at Kilrah later today."
"Then it has begun," Vak breathed, trembling with excitement and a low
murmuring of growls filled the audience chamber.
The Emperor nodded.
"We have placed blame, both for the bomb in their headquarters, and for
this other loathsome act, upon the humans."
"Could it not be, Jukaga replied, his voice soft and even, "that both
bombs were indeed acts of humans?"
"I heard a report that you yourself said that the bombing of their
headquarters could not have been done by them," the Emperor retorted.
"It is a mere conjecture," Jukaga replied, "for I have not heard any
admission that we planted the bomb in their headquarters and thus wrecked
the peace."
The Emperor smiled. Both he and the Baron knew the real truth, yet
neither could admit it.
"I expect, Baron, that you will continue to keep them divided as long
as possible. Even now they still argue, though, before they shut our embassy
down and arrested the staff, we had information that they were mobilizing."
"What of our spy?"
"We have lost touch with the embassy and thus no longer have direct
contact. It is assumed that she is gone."
"And what of the human embassy here on Kilrah?" Vak asked.
"I ordered their throats torn out this morning," the Emperor said
coldly. "In public we are blaming them for the bombing of my cruiser. It is
a convenient excuse now to treat them all as they deserve: total
annihilation, total destruction of every world they inhabit."
Jukaga looked up at him in shock.
"That was in violation of the rules of war and of the agreement,"
Jukaga snapped.
"What rules of war?" Vak retorted. "There are no rules with such beasts
who have lost whatever shred of respect we once held for them. They are
lower than prey and should be exterminated without thought or mercy."
The Emperor laughed coldly.
"I am sick to death of this human scum and the potential for corruption
that they present to us. I am therefore issuing the following order: all
human prisoners that we still hold as well as slaves are to be slaughtered.
Secondly, the new fleet is to be armed with thermonuclear weapons that are
clad in strontium. These heavy weapons, when detonated in the atmosphere of
a planet, will make uninhabitable. They shall be annihilated."
As he finished speaking he looked straight at Jukaga while the others
in the room roared with delight.
Jukaga looked around at the clan leaders and for the first time truly
felt as if a distance had opened up. If his plot had succeeded, even now
they would be turning to him for guidance. Now instead they were eager to
close in on him for the kill. But there was more. He felt a cool distaste
for what the Emperor now proposed. Though he wanted to see the humans
humbled and defeated, he found that of late he was feeling something far
more, what could almost be called, if not a fondness, at least the beginning
of a respect. He knew he was falling into a trap, that if one studied his
enemy long enough, and came to know him, in the end one would find things,
beliefs, and individuals one could identify with. What the Emperor was now
proposing was monstrous.
"Such an action will arouse them to a frenzy," Jukaga said. "They will
fight as they have never fought before."
"They are animals to be hunted," the Emperor replied.
"No, my lord."
A stunned silence filled the chamber at his direct contradiction to the
Imperial word. He did not care. How could he even begin to explain what he
knew, the countless examples of humans, motivated to fight without thought
of self, fully willing to die fighting rather than submit.
"Terror will not breed submission as it did with others," Jukaga said
quickly. "It will instead create a wish, as the humans put it Сto take one
of the bastards with me.' "
The utterance of an obscenity, which to the Kilrathi was the most foul
of insults shocked the other clan leaders.
"Do what is assigned to you, Baron," the Emperor replied sharply.
"Convince them to submit. Now leave me!"
Baron Jukaga backed out of the room, barely inclining his head.
Jason "Bear" Bondarevsky opened his eyes as the distortion field from
the transit jump settled down and looked over at his navigation officer.
"Alignment correct, star lock confirmed, jump was on the mark."
"Tactical," and he turned in his chair to look at the officer hovered
over the holo display of the sector.
"Bannockburn in position eighty nine thousand clicks dead ahead. Too
early to tell yet, sir, on passive optical sweep. At jump transit our
pursuers, three corvettes and one frigate, were forty-two thousand nine
hundred clicks dead astern and gaining at eight point two clicks a second."
Jason nodded. There was time to scout around before worrying about the
back door.
"Flight deck."
"Doomsday here, sir."
"How are the birds?"
"All fighters ready and armed, just give us the prey."
"What about munitions?"
Doomsday gave his usual glum look.
"Enough for one more strike, sir. Eight torpedoes are all we have left
for ship busters. The fighters will have to sortie with half standard
missile and mass driver round bolts."
"Standby."
"Paladin on laser lock, sir."
Jason looked over at the communications officer and nodded for her to
put it on the main holo.
"How goes it, laddie?"
Jason smiled. Even though he was technically the commander of this two
ship fleet, he knew Paladin would never follow protocol of address and the
fact was refreshing.
"Fighters are up and armed. Damage control's repaired the hull breech
in the port engine room."
"And Vance?"
"Madder than hell. Seems Sparks broke one of his computers moving it
out, said something about the machine costing just under half a billion.
Sparks frowned, then said he could dock her pay if he was upset, but she had
fighters to service."
"Good for Sparks. She's a rare lass," Paladin laughed and then his
features went glum.
"We've got some trade up ahead, lad. Another cruiser just came through
from the jump point leading back to Kilrah with two destroyers leading.
Looks like standard tactical for more coming behind. I tapped into their
comm channel and they're madder than hell and lookin for blood."
"Can we run past them to our jump point?"
"Just barely."
Jason punched into the engine room.
"Shovel on the coal back there. I want full thrust, fuel scoops
closed."
"Close the scoops and we'll run her bone dry by the next jump.
"Just do it."
He switched back to Paladin.
"Let's get the hell out of here, and hope they don't have more waiting
at the next jump."
"Laddie, from the looks of It I think the whole Empire is gonna be
stirring to fry us."
"Let's just hope Kruger figures a way to get us out of here.
Admiral Geoffrey Tolwyn stood up and walked to the front of the room.
He looked down the length of the conference table and felt a cold twinge of
pain. So many familiar faces were gone, killed in the bomb attack. It felt
strange now to be standing before this group; after all it was Banbridge's
job to run Third Fleet. He suddenly felt old and very lonely. He pushed the
thought aside.
"Good morning."
He paused, reached into his breast pocket, pulled out an envelope and
opened the letter. A paper letter such as the one he was holding was a
wonderful gesture out of the past, part of the old traditions that the
military still hung on to.
"By order of the JCS, Admiral Geoffrey Tolwyn is appointed commander
Third Fleet as of this date, with the primary mission of meeting, engaging,
and destroying any hostile invasion into Confederation space which is
directed towards the inner system of worlds. You are authorized to employ
any means necessary as outlined in Emergency Decree 394 issued this date by
the President of the Confederation. Your command will include 3rd Destroyer
Group, Commodore Polowski commanding . . ."
He paused and looked back up at the group.
"Anyhow, all of you are listed here," he said quietly, "and if you
aren't listed, I'm taking you anyhow," and the room echoed with nervous
laughter.
Geoff activated the main holo screen which displayed the new Kilrathi
heavy carriers, while a side screen displayed the surmised position of the
fleet and its possible route into Confederation space.
A low murmur of voices filled the room as the dozen group and squadron
commanders, representing the ships and Marine assault regiments under his
command examined the data.
"Our task is to meet and stop this force before it gains the inner
worlds of the Confederation."
"Just how many fighters will these ships carry?" Lyford Beverage,
commander of the First Cruiser Squadron asked.
"We're working off of only one intelligence sweep, a long range optical
examination followed by a translight radar burst, so our data is sketchy.
Our evaluation team believes they carry four launch bays, and perhaps six.
It's hard to tell, since all the ships were aligned identically at the time
we swept them so we don't have a full examination from all angles. Given the
mass of the ships, our best guess is two hundred and forty fighters, scout
and bomber craft, perhaps three hundred. Close analysis of the scan detected
five of the ships emitting infrared signatures for functional reactors. The
other seven were cold."
"Good lord, Geoff, if five of those things are coming at us that means
we'll be facing upwards of fifteen hundred attack ships," Rear Admiral Allen
Zitek growled from the back of the room, his speech computer making him
sound almost robotic. Zitek had been badly burned years before leading a
squadron against a Kilrathi carrier. It still amazed Geoff what the surgeons
could do if a man could be brought in while still alive.
"Don't forget that the Kilrathi had a minimum of nineteen other
standard carriers and at least twenty heavy cruisers that carried thirty
fighters each. That comes to over three thousand seven hundred additional
strike craft."
There was a chilled moment of silence.
"What about logistical support, supplies, and training from the
Kilrathi view point?" Duke Grecko asked from the back of the room.
"That's the one hope," Geoff replied. "We now understand the mystery of
their transport shortage and their occasional shortages of missiles. They
were straining their system beyond the max to keep the war going and at the
same time building this new fleet in secret. I've handed this data over to
intelligence analysis, and I'm stilling waiting for the full report. My gut
feeling on it is that they couldn't fully do both. I think they stripped
some of their best squadrons off their front line carriers during the
armistice and shipped the personnel out to the new ships, replacing them
with new recruits. The burst signal from Tarawa already indicated a thousand
fighters transferred off ships that had been put into their inactive
reserve. I'm certain we'll see their best shot from the new carriers, which
will be fully loaded for combat. The rest of the fleet will be held in a
secondary support role or open action on other fronts as diversions."
"That still would leave a minimum of fifteen hundred strike craft on
five carriers coming straight at Earth, not to mention what looks like close
to a hundred escort ships," Zitek replied. "And just how many fighters will
we have to meet this?"
"We can have five carriers fully on line within two weeks, with forty
one escorts, carrying a total of six hundred and eighty-nine strike craft."
"Just five?"
"Actually, only two are on line and fully operational at the moment,
Geoff said shaking his head.
"With crews working around the clock and cutting a lot of corners, I
expect to see three more carriers ready to join the fleet by the time the
Kilrathi penetrate into Confederation space. It'll be forty-five days, more
like sixty, before our remaining carriers will be on line again."
"Jamison was brilliant pushing that deactivation through," Grecko
snapped and Geoff could only nod his head in agreement.
The political arena with Jamison standing in the center was now one of
absolute chaos. Less than twenty-four hours ago Rodham had announced the
existence of the Kilrathi super carriers and the assumption that Earth had
been directly targeted for attack. He then called for the Confederation
Senate to renounce the armistice and to mobilize for a renewal of the war,
closing with his resignation as president. Minutes later the vice president
was sworn in and delivered a sharp rousing speech, demanding that the
Kilrathi open their border for full inspection of the new fleet or face
offensive action. It was all a bluff on Quinson's part, but it at least
sounded good. The Confederation had been thrown into a state of panic by the
announcement, with every holo reporter scrambling to put their spin on the
issue, which ranged from "we've been stabbed in the back by the Cats," to
"the evil military was pushing for a war." The situation was further stirred
up by the Kilrathi reply that the bombing of headquarters and the attempt on
the Emperor's life were part of a military coup by pro-war officers and that
they were totally innocent of any wrong-doing.
At first Geoff had naively assumed that this had closed the deal, that
the Senate would vote for war and that the new president's declaration of a
full military emergency would be observed.
Jamison had triggered near chaos instead. First she refused to resign,
even though Quinson had appointed a new Foreign Minister. Next she accused
the military of conspiring to renew the war, a position that the Kilrathi
were pumping out through their propaganda agencies.
The result was that the Senate had still not declared war, wavering,
some even adopting the Kilrathi line, and demanding that the military
unilaterally disarm.
Quinson had stood firm, however, evoking executive right to order the
military to mobilize for emergency action. The one restraint, however, was
that such an emergency did not give the fleet the right to take offensive
action. Tolwyn had actually fallen into a shouting match with the senate
military committee over that point, wanting to free his two light escorts
that were operational for a spoiling and recon raid into Kilrathi space, but
he had been held back.
Sometimes it really bites to be in the military," Polowski snapped from
the back of the room. "I'd just love to get Jamison onboard my ship as a
forward turret gunner's mate when we charge those carriers and let her see
what her peace loving friends have done while we slept," and there was a
chorus of approval.
Geoff held up his hand for silence.
"Remember, we are the military. Civilian politics is outside of our
control and like it or not that's a tradition we must observe. It's our job
to defend the Confederation from the attack we all know is coming, and I'm
counting on you to give it everything you have. Some really big damn fools
got us into this fix. The hell with them, push them out of your minds. I
want you to focus on the billions of innocent people who will be under the
Kilrathi antimatter bombs and the survivors who will face their knives if we
fail. The existence of the human race now hangs in the balance
He paused for a moment. The words had come out of him, not planned at
all. In any other setting he felt they would have sounded worn. But it was
the simple truth: the actual existence of his entire species rested in their
hands. One wrong move on his part and it might all be over with. All of it
gone forever, two thousand years of England gone, a cold silence of death,
of extinction.
I can't dwell on this, he realized. It'll drive me insane if I do, so
stay focused on the job and nothing else.
He switched the holo screen to a map of the inner core of planets and
the jump lines leading out to the frontier.
"The Kilrathi have three main lines of approach, all of which finally
come in here," and he pointed to a blue white star from which radiated a
number of jump lines. "Here at Sirius and the jump point behind Sirius the
shortest routes of jump lines come together and then from there straight
back to Earth. By the shortest route, jump line alpha, it's ten jump points
from Sirius to the frontier, four back to Earth. The next route, beta is
twelve jumps to the frontier and delta is thirteen. All the other routes
meander back and forth. For the Kilrathi I think they'll be so confident of
their strength, and also concerned about not giving us time to rearm, that
they'll come straight on in.
"I propose to meet them in front of Sirius."
"Geoff, that abandons several hundred inhabited colonies further out,"
Polowski said quietly, "my own home of Planet Warsaw being one of them."
Tolwyn nodded.
"There are eighteen major jump points leading across the frontier and
several dozen other jump points running parallel or zigzagging back and
forth. Before the armistice neither we nor the Kilrathi had the strength to
simply go charging in, saying the hell with our rear and leaping towards the
jugular. They now do. We lack the strength of a major counter strike and
even if we did have it, it'd be weeks before we could even begin to move it.
By then it'll be too late. In addition they can hold a number of their
standard fleet carriers in reserve as a reaction force to counter even light
escort raiders the way we had been using them in the past. We have to fall
back and concentrate what assets we have. If we try a forward defense they
might swing around us."
"Why not an offensive, Geoff? Split them off the way we did at Vukar
Tag," Grecko asked from the back of the room.
"It won't work this time, sir. Even if we took what we had right now
and shot it straight in, their older carriers acting as a reserve would stop
us cold, while the new fleet would just continue on into Earth. Second,
they'd see it for what it was, an effort to split their offensive. They'd
ignore it and still bore straight in. What we have to do is seek a meeting
engagement with their main fleet and stop it, that's the only viable option
left open to us."
"So what about my home planet?" Polowski asked
Geoff paused for a moment. The cold hard word for it was "abandon" but
he could not bring himself to say that, or even really admit it to himself.
"Mike, the Kilrathi have two ways to run this offensive. The first is
to break through our forward defenses, then spread out and start ripping the
colonial worlds to shreds. Every day that they do that is one more day for
us to rearm and they know it. The second way is to come charging straight
in, figuring they can mop up the colonies at their leisure after the core
planets have been destroyed along with the fleet."
"I'm betting on the second method. It's sound militarily and it's what
we would do: kill the home world and inner planets and end the war. The only
advantage we can hope for is to stand and defend as close to our main base
as possible, thus stretching their line of communication while we can
continue to pour into action whatever ships come on line at the last minute.
It is the one classic advantage of the defensive the ability to fall back
upon your base of supplies, and it's our only hope."
"Easy for you to say," Mike replied. "My entire family's out there on
Warsaw, two jumps from the frontier."
"Can you propose any other alternative given what we have?" Geoff
asked, his voice filled with a genuine concern. He knew he couldn't simply
order men to abandon their homes and families. They'd have to be willing to
do it with the hope of final victory and then rescue, no matter how slim the
chance.
Mike looked down at his memo pad and then finally shook his head
"You're right, Admiral, its the only way," and there was a soft chorus
of agreement.
"I wish we could inform the governors and presidents of the various
colonial worlds of our strategic plan, though for security reasons it is
obvious we cannot. For that matter, gentlemen, no one outside this room is
to have any knowledge of what our strategy is.
"That'll give precious little warning to whichever worlds are in the
way of the fleet," Zitek said. "Even if they're coming straight on, they'll
still dispatch some cruisers on the way in to scorch the planets directly in
their path. They'll have to, they can t afford to leave potential bases in
their rear. Nearly every one of those outer worlds has at least one base on
them, the major systems garrisoned with troops and orbital bases. They could
stand against raiders, but not against what they'll be throwing in."
Geoff nodded grimly. It meant that millions in the outer worlds might
die. He could only hope that those who could get out of the way would,
heading to remote areas of their world to wait out the attack. At least most
of the worlds were sparsely populated, with a lot of room to hide. In the
early days of the war the outer regions, except for the Landreich on the
flank of the Confederation, had been devastated, and billions had died. The
region had yet to recover. It wasn't until Sirius was reached inside the
area never touched by the war, that the major inhabited regions were
located.
He could only hope they had dug their shelters deep enough to survive
bombardment.
"So the colonies are a write off?" Duke asked quietly, obviously
wanting to make the fact absolutely clear.
"Local guard units will be given the discretion to stay, but I want
everything here for the major showdown," and he pointed at Sirius, hanging
in the middle of the holo. "Sirius is where the decision will be made."
"What about the Landreich and Kruger?" Polowski asked.
"I'll ask them for help and for the release of the escorts we signed
over to them, but I doubt old Kruger will be amused that once again we're
pulling a withdrawal due to strategic necessity."
He could well imagine the explosion that would be created when the
burst signal reached Kruger on that one.
"Gentlemen, I want the fleet fully loaded and ready to move within four
days."
The men looked at him incredulously.
"Geoff, it'll be eight, more like ten days before we get all our
personnel back in aboard ship," Zitek replied. "Even our active carriers had
half their crews on leave. Some of them are at the far end of the
Confederation."
"You'll find a clause in Emergency decree 394A that allows for the
drafting of emergency replacements off civilian ships, and retired personnel
if need be for the duration of the emergency. Use it, shanghai your crews if
necessary, but I want full ship's complements inside of ninety-six hours.
Now let's get to work." The admirals and Marine officers filed out of the
room. Geoff looked back down at his memo pad, ready to feed in a long series
of orders. Looking up he saw that Duke had stayed behind.
"Something's wrong, isn't it?" Geoff said, sensing that there was bad
news coming.
Duke nodded.
"I just got a signal in the clear from Kruger."
"Go on."
"He told us and I quote Сyou created this mess, you solve it. Go to
hell.' "
Geoff chuckled sadly.
"Doesn't the damn fool realize," Grecko snapped, "that if the
Confederation goes down, the Cats will turn on him next?"
"If he comes to help us, he'll get hit from the rear. It's the old
classic problem of frontier militia being called up to serve with the
regulars Ч do you leave your homes open to attack by marching off somewhere
else?"
Geoff paused, realizing that there was something else to the message.
"You're holding something back, Duke, what is it?"
"He also reported, in the clear, that Tarawa has failed to return and
is assumed lost."
Geoff remained standing, staring straight at Duke.
"Damn this war to hell."
Eyes wide with excitement and with the thrill of the hunt, the Emperor
turned to face his grandson.
"Magnificent, simply magnificent," he growled, turning back to look out
the forward view port of the cruiser that now served as the Imperial ship.
Less than a kilometer away, the Kilrathi Fifth Fleet of the Claw passed by
in review. The light frigates, corvettes and three destroyer groups had
already passed. The last of the heavy cruisers was just passing to port and
now the first of the new carriers, Hagku'ka, came into view.
Every fighter had been launched and moved in formation ahead of the
carrier, three and a half eighties of fighters arrayed in eight V
formations. The bow of the carrier came into view, the heavy durasteel
forward edge studded with quad mounted mass driver guns and anti-torpedo
launch tubes. Three launch decks, one on either side and one topside opened
into the vast interior of the ship, which was mostly comprised of the huge
hangar bays, workshops, and armament storage areas needed for the fighters.
Internal bulkheads had been double layered, compartmentalizing the ship
so that even if the forward end was shattered all the way back amidships,
the aft half could continue to fight. Three belts of armor sealed off the
outside of the ship from the interior so that if a torpedo did penetrate the
phase shielding and outer layer of armor, its detonation would not burst
into the vulnerable inner decks and fuel storage areas. Sealed internal
access shafts even allowed for the transfer of fighters from one bay to
another for launching if a bay opening were shut down. Just aft of amidship
three more launch bays were mounted pointing aft, in the same configuration
as the forward half of the ship. The six Yatug class engines were actually
buried inside the ship, wrapped in heavy armor, their exhaust vents
tunneling through thirty meters of ship before reaching open space. If a
spread of missiles were closing from astern, the engines could be throttled
off and the exhaust vents slammed shut, the missiles impacting impotently
against heavy durasteel. The shields could then be retracted, or if need be
blown clear and the engines unharmed, fired back up.
The first carrier passed, followed by four more and the Emperor
watched, speechless. So this was the culmination of years of secret planning
and the stripping of the best resources of the Empire. All for this, a fleet
of ships unlike anything ever before seen in this sector of the universe.
When the war with the humans was done, such ships could even stand against
the Mantu, if they should dare to return.
"Grandson, with this fleet victory is ours."
"Remember, my Emperor, the fleet is but half the size we planned,"
Thrakhath said cautiously. "Victory should not be counted until the blood of
the prey is in one's mouth."
The Emperor nodded, realizing that his enthusiasm had taken hold too
deeply. He was still shaken by the murder attempt. It had been his dream to
see at least one ceremony of Sivar in the burned ruins of Earth, for he knew
that it would not be much longer before his ancestors finally called.
"Bring me victory," the Emperor finally said, "that is all I ask. You
should take Earth in time for Sivar, we'll celebrate it there. Be sure that
it is ready for my arrival."
"Yes, my Emperor."
"And as for Jukaga, have you found anything more?"
"Three have died under the question, none have spoken. His path seems
to be secured. If we put him directly to the question, the other clan
leaders would again object. That path is closed as well."
"Then take him with you on this expedition," the Emperor said quietly.
"Grandfather?"
"You heard me. I've summoned him to this ship, he is in the next
chamber. He is to go with you.
"He is head of spies, it is not his role to be a fleet warrior."
"He is a clan leader, a post of honor with the fleet he can not refuse.
I think you will know what to do with him once battle is joined."
"It might be dangerous having him with us," the Prince replied.
"You will find a way," and the Emperor turned, motioning for a guard to
open the door into a side chamber.
* * * * *
Baron Jukaga entered, looking around cautiously. When summoned to the
cruiser he had not known what to expect, and now the moment had come
"Arise, my Baron. Was not the sight of our fleet wondrous?"
Jukaga stood up again.
"Wondrous."
"And what of the Confederation government?"
"Their senate still debates. It was reported however that two carriers
sortied from their main base above their moon with a third to soon follow,
and that the shipyards are working full time to prepare those in drydock for
launching as well. Even though their government debates, their new president
is acting quickly, with declaration of war or without. There have been
forays by the Landreich into our territory, but no deep penetrations."
"I cannot even begin to comprehend how they function, the Emperor
replied.
Jukaga nodded as if in agreement.
And that is why you never won, you old fool, he thought coldly.
"I have a new assignment for you, Baron."
He waited, tense and expectant.
"You go with the fleet to speak to their leaders one more time before
we strike."
The Baron nodded. Would they simply arrange "an accident?" That now
seemed to be the path.
"I am master of spies, my Emperor. Would not one of your warrior
leaders be more appropriate?"
"You know this species of prey the best. It is your voice that they
know, let them hear it one more time before we strike. You seemed disturbed
by our ultimate plans, let us see if you can convince them to submit and
thus save this species you seem to like so much."
He looked around the room, which was filled with the leaders of the new
fleet. He was trapped and could not refuse.
"As you command it, my Emperor."
The Emperor turned away back to his grandson.
"Your plan is set, then?"
"Yes, my Emperor. The fleet will head towards the frontier at flank
speed. Refueling tankers will accompany them so that we may move swiftly
without need of deploying fuel scoops. The Second Fleet of the Claw, with
four of our older carriers, will join us before we reach the frontier and
make the first penetration, thus shielding our main fleet as long as
possible. The Fourth Fleet of the Claw, with three carriers, will sortie
towards the Landreich to pin down any forces they might have there,
preventing them from shifting against our flank. The First Fleet of the
Claw, with three carriers, will make up the reserve. The other carriers have
been stripped of their crews and pilots for the Fifth Fleet and will be held
in reserve."
"That is ten carriers," the Emperor said quietly.
"You know the shortage of trained pilots has become serious. Either our
best pilots went with our new carriers or else the new fleet would be manned
by pilots with no combat experience. It will be a year before we have enough
fully trained pilots and fighters to bring the older reserve carriers back
to operational strength.
The Emperor nodded grimly.
"So let it be," he said, turning away. "Now bring me victory."
general's torn and empty sleeve in surprise.
"Nothing like getting shot in a plastic arm. Didn't hurt a bit."
Rodham nodded and then shifted his gaze to Tolwyn.
"What in hell are you doing here?" and his features went cold.
"He was here today as a personal guest of Admiral Banbridge when the
explosion happened," Duke replied.
"You have no security clearance," Jamison shouted. "Grecko, get this
man the hell out of here right now! I wouldn't be surprised if it turned out
that he had something to do with this bombing."
"No, sir, he isn't moving."
Jamison turned on Grecko in surprise.
"Rear Admiral Tolwyn," and Geoff was surprised to hear Grecko use his
official and former title, "was acting under the direct orders of the Chief
of Staff when he violated the cease fire order, with the intent of thus
having a cover to subsequently engage in a covert operation."
"If that bastard were alive right now, I'd see that he was stripped of
his rank," Jamison snarled.
Grecko stiffened.
"That bastard, as you call him, ma am, was my closest friend. I'd like
to suggest, ma'am, that you go down to the morgue and tell what's left of
him that he's a bastard."
"General, would you explain Tolwyn's presence here?" Rodham asked,
stepping between the two as Jamison leaned forward, ready to explode.
"The Chief of Staff suspected the armistice from the beginning, sir and
asked Geoff to volunteer for a covert mission. If the mission were
undertaken by someone already dishonorably discharged it would give us," and
he looked coldly at the President, "plausible deniability if something went
wrong. Geoff organized the transfer of some of our demobilized assets to the
Landreich where the equipment could be kept on line and then went out on a
deep reconnaissance mission inside the Kilrathi Empire. He returned from
that mission and arrived here only minutes before the bomb went off.
"We've just received an official protest over that escapade," Jamison
snapped "The Kilrathi are screaming their heads off claiming that five of
their cruisers were hit in an unprovoked attack and destroyed."
"What about Tarawa and Normandy?" Tolwyn asked anxiously.
"They claim they got one."
"Not a bad exchange," Grecko said dryly. The Kilrathi must be damned
embarrassed, but Tarawa only reported three confirmed kills for the loss of
Normandy and I'll take their word over the furballs'."
"They're claiming the right, as provided in the armistice, to hunt the
other one down and have requested information regarding the ship's
location."
Jamison looked over at Rodham who nodded sadly.
"The Kilrathi have demanded information regarding the ship's location
and destination. If we refuse to provide that immediately, a condition of
war might be declared."
"Tell them to go burn in hell," Grecko said.
"And besides," Tolwyn said quietly, a smile creasing his features,
"those ships are not of Confederation registry."
"Look, General, the armistice is hanging by a thread," Rodham replied,
ignoring Tolwyn. "First the violation of their territory and then this
terrorist bomb plot to kill the ambassador and make it look like the Cats
did it by killing some of our people as well."
"Are you trying to tell us that some of our own people did this
bombing?" Tolwyn asked, incredulous that such a suggestion could even be
made.
"Well, its one serious possibility," Rodham replied, "and we have to
look at all angles."
Tolwyn was about to come back with a rather angry and very obscene
retort, but Grecko held his hand up for him to be silent
"Sir, I would appreciate it if you took a look at this holo display and
the data printouts. We just received it as a burst signal relayed in from
Tarawa less than a half hour ago. Their mission was to follow up our
suspicions regarding Kilrathi construction inside the Hari sector," and
Grecko pointed to the three dimensional projection, in the middle of which
floated the images of the Kilrathi super carriers.
Rodham went over and looked intently at the carriers, requesting that
the computer rotate the images and then provide data on mass, length,
armaments, and projected fighter carrying capacity.
Tolwyn watched the President closely and could detect a paling of his
features and more surprisingly a nervous tic at the corner of his eye. It
was obviously a hell of a shock for the President, but he had little
sympathy for him at this moment, still remembering how not so long ago the
head of the Chiefs of Staff, with tears of frustration in his eyes, begged
for the armistice not to be signed, warning of what would be the end result.
Noragami was now dead as a result.
"Is this genuine?" Rodham asked quietly, now examining the map which
showed where the fleet was and projected times of arrival into Confederation
territory if an offensive were launched.
"The data was burst signaled from Tarawa, located here," and Grecko
pointed at the map showing the last reported position of the carrier. "The
data was obtained from a deep reconnaissance probe which ventured into Hari
space."
"On whose orders?" Jamison asked. I was never informed of this
escapade. Remember, I am the Foreign Minister and if you were contemplating
a violation of the armistice I should have been informed."
On the orders of the Chief of Staff," Grecko said coldly, not even
bothering to turn.
"Is there a chance this is falsified information?" Rodham asked, and
Tolwyn could detect the slight note of hopefulness in his voice, as if
wishing that the entire problem would, simply be shown to be a hoax.
"It was sent in personally by Admiral Vance Richards, sir, and that's
good enough for me.
"Richards is out there Ч I thought he retired?"
Grecko merely smiled.
"What you've committed here is outright mutiny," Jamison snarled. "If
the rest of the Joint Chiefs were not already dead I'd demand their
resignations as I am now demanding yours."
Grecko turned slowly and stared at Jamison.
"If you were not a lady," he said coldly, "I'd loosen your teeth for
what you've done to us. If you want my resignation you can have it, but only
after we have a full investigation of myself, the Joint Chiefs and more
importantly of you. Would you care to see the file military intelligence has
on you and your suspected cooperation with the Kilrathi in return for your
son?"
Jamison turned towards the President.
"I want him fired as of this minute and Tolwyn here put in jail pending
an investigation."
Rodham looked over at Jamison in confusion and then slowly sat down,
turning to look back at the holo.
"Your report on the false signal and the Kilrathi message regarding the
antimatter warhead plant, does that fit into this?
"It fits right in, sir," Grecko replied.
"Sir, you are looking at the beginning of a full scale offensive with
an upgraded fleet," Tolwyn said. "In less than a month the Kilrathi will be
above Earth demanding our surrender if we're lucky, though if past practices
are any indication they'll flatten us with a full antimatter warhead
bombardment and then come down to gloat over the wreckage and tear out the
throats of the survivors with their claws when their next Sivar ceremony
comes around."
Rodham nodded slowly and closed his eyes for a moment. Jamison started
to speak and the president held up his hand for silence. He finally turned
and looked over at Tolwyn.
"You were the best fighting admiral in the fleet, Geoff. Banbridge told
me more than once that he wanted you to replace him as commander of Third
Fleet when he retired."
Geoff lowered his head, saying nothing.
"Admiral Tolwyn, I am officially pardoning you for the incident at
Munro. As of this moment I am reinstating you as a full admiral in command
of Third Fleet, with the mission of organizing defenses against the
anticipated Kilrathi invasion. General Grecko, I am appointing you the new
head of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in command of all Confederation forces."
"Just what the hell is this?" Jamison roared.
"Secretary Jamison, I expect your resignation as Foreign Secretary
effective immediately and also advise you that you will face an
investigation. I have refused to believe the allegations made against you
for too long. I think this matter has to be looked into." Jamison's features
flushed.
"Harry, you can't do this," she said quietly, her voice full of menace.
"I am the President of the Confederation, and I can damn well appoint
and fire my cabinet as I see fit."
"And have me as the whipping boy for this situation? Like hell. Your
charges against me are nothing but a smokescreen to shift blame. It was your
decision to sign the armistice."
"Based upon the information you provided to me regarding Kilrathi
political intentions."
"You're the president, Harry," she snapped coldly. "The buck stops
here, remember."
Rodham lowered his head, nodding sadly.
"Yes, it does. I fully realize that," he whispered. "And that is one of
the reasons I demand your resignation. Admiral Richards presented me with a
report more than six months ago, indicating that you might present a
security risk since the capture of your son and that the Kilrathi might be
in contact with you for a possible deal."
"Are you calling me a traitor?" Jamison roared.
"Not yet," Rodham said quietly.
"You want my resignation, well you can go to hell. Make it a public
firing in front of the press, and believe me, my side of the story will be
told as well."
She looked around the room angrily.
"I'll see all of you in hell," and she stormed out of the conference
room.
Rodham watched her go and wearily he turned back to face Tolwyn and
Grecko.
"I'm sorry, Duke, you and the other officers were right."
"Even if we turn them back, Mr. President, a lot of good youngsters are
going to die in the doing of it. We had them, sir, we had them on the ropes
and we could have crippled them. Now it's the other way around."
"You don't need to remind me, Duke."
"I do need to remind you, sir, Grecko snapped back. "It's always been
this way. The civilians start to forget just how dangerous the world, or the
universe really is. They start to believe their fantasies, and then in the
end it's the kids on the front line who pay for it. Well, sir, on this
little folly the human race might very well become extinct before it's
done."
Rodham started to speak and then stopped and looked away.
"After I take care of Jamison, I'm resigning as President," he said
quietly. "Vice President Dave Quinson never did support this idea; he was as
much as public about it. I think he could help rally our people better than
me."
"I think that's a good idea, sir," Duke replied, his voice cold and
even.
Rodham stood up and looked back at the holo display.
"You know, Jamison will make this an ugly fight. It might slow down our
mobilization. I'm therefore issuing as my final executive order a full
mobilization of the fleet, along with wartime governmental control of the
economy. Jamison is most likely running to the press right now so I'd better
act first. When I resign my cabinet will have to resign as well. Maybe it'll
clear the deck for Quinson."
"A smart move, sir."
Rodham nodded again and extended his hand.
"I'm sorry, Duke. Sorry for everything."
Wayne hesitated for a moment and then shook hands.
Harold Rodham, shoulders slumped in defeat, turned and walked out of
the room, not even noticing the salute of the two officers behind him.
"I guess his heart was in the right place," Geoff said quietly.
You know what they pave the road to hell with," Duke replied, "and
frankly, Geoff, I think we're all on a greasy slope aimed straight into the
fiery pit."
The Emperor, in an unusual gesture, ordered the screen removed so that
he was fully visible to those who sat before him. As the two Imperial Guards
drew the screen back the clan leaders went down on their knees, foreheads
touching the cool turquoise inlaid floor of the audience chamber.
"Raise up your heads, return to your feet," he said, and they did as
commanded.
"I wanted you to gaze upon me, to dispel any lingering doubts as to my
continued existence."
They stood silently, furtively looking from one to the other, but most
of them finally turned their gaze upon Jukaga, who stood in the middle of
the group, staring straight at the Emperor.
"You have heard the rumors, and they are true," the Emperor said.
"Someone indeed attempted the most heinous of all crimes, a crime so
loathsome that there is not even a word in our own tongue to describe it, so
that we must borrow this word from corrupt and downcast races."
He fell silent as if waiting, and the silence dragged into long
uncomfortable minutes, as if he were waiting for one of them to throw
himself upon the foot of the throne in supplication.
No one moved.
"He shall be found out," the Emperor finally said coldly. "Now let us
discuss the war."
The group visibly relaxed.
"The fleet made jump fourteen days ago from their base, within hours
after being discovered, and is moving at flank speed to the front. It will
arrive here at Kilrah later today."
"Then it has begun," Vak breathed, trembling with excitement and a low
murmuring of growls filled the audience chamber.
The Emperor nodded.
"We have placed blame, both for the bomb in their headquarters, and for
this other loathsome act, upon the humans."
"Could it not be, Jukaga replied, his voice soft and even, "that both
bombs were indeed acts of humans?"
"I heard a report that you yourself said that the bombing of their
headquarters could not have been done by them," the Emperor retorted.
"It is a mere conjecture," Jukaga replied, "for I have not heard any
admission that we planted the bomb in their headquarters and thus wrecked
the peace."
The Emperor smiled. Both he and the Baron knew the real truth, yet
neither could admit it.
"I expect, Baron, that you will continue to keep them divided as long
as possible. Even now they still argue, though, before they shut our embassy
down and arrested the staff, we had information that they were mobilizing."
"What of our spy?"
"We have lost touch with the embassy and thus no longer have direct
contact. It is assumed that she is gone."
"And what of the human embassy here on Kilrah?" Vak asked.
"I ordered their throats torn out this morning," the Emperor said
coldly. "In public we are blaming them for the bombing of my cruiser. It is
a convenient excuse now to treat them all as they deserve: total
annihilation, total destruction of every world they inhabit."
Jukaga looked up at him in shock.
"That was in violation of the rules of war and of the agreement,"
Jukaga snapped.
"What rules of war?" Vak retorted. "There are no rules with such beasts
who have lost whatever shred of respect we once held for them. They are
lower than prey and should be exterminated without thought or mercy."
The Emperor laughed coldly.
"I am sick to death of this human scum and the potential for corruption
that they present to us. I am therefore issuing the following order: all
human prisoners that we still hold as well as slaves are to be slaughtered.
Secondly, the new fleet is to be armed with thermonuclear weapons that are
clad in strontium. These heavy weapons, when detonated in the atmosphere of
a planet, will make uninhabitable. They shall be annihilated."
As he finished speaking he looked straight at Jukaga while the others
in the room roared with delight.
Jukaga looked around at the clan leaders and for the first time truly
felt as if a distance had opened up. If his plot had succeeded, even now
they would be turning to him for guidance. Now instead they were eager to
close in on him for the kill. But there was more. He felt a cool distaste
for what the Emperor now proposed. Though he wanted to see the humans
humbled and defeated, he found that of late he was feeling something far
more, what could almost be called, if not a fondness, at least the beginning
of a respect. He knew he was falling into a trap, that if one studied his
enemy long enough, and came to know him, in the end one would find things,
beliefs, and individuals one could identify with. What the Emperor was now
proposing was monstrous.
"Such an action will arouse them to a frenzy," Jukaga said. "They will
fight as they have never fought before."
"They are animals to be hunted," the Emperor replied.
"No, my lord."
A stunned silence filled the chamber at his direct contradiction to the
Imperial word. He did not care. How could he even begin to explain what he
knew, the countless examples of humans, motivated to fight without thought
of self, fully willing to die fighting rather than submit.
"Terror will not breed submission as it did with others," Jukaga said
quickly. "It will instead create a wish, as the humans put it Сto take one
of the bastards with me.' "
The utterance of an obscenity, which to the Kilrathi was the most foul
of insults shocked the other clan leaders.
"Do what is assigned to you, Baron," the Emperor replied sharply.
"Convince them to submit. Now leave me!"
Baron Jukaga backed out of the room, barely inclining his head.
Jason "Bear" Bondarevsky opened his eyes as the distortion field from
the transit jump settled down and looked over at his navigation officer.
"Alignment correct, star lock confirmed, jump was on the mark."
"Tactical," and he turned in his chair to look at the officer hovered
over the holo display of the sector.
"Bannockburn in position eighty nine thousand clicks dead ahead. Too
early to tell yet, sir, on passive optical sweep. At jump transit our
pursuers, three corvettes and one frigate, were forty-two thousand nine
hundred clicks dead astern and gaining at eight point two clicks a second."
Jason nodded. There was time to scout around before worrying about the
back door.
"Flight deck."
"Doomsday here, sir."
"How are the birds?"
"All fighters ready and armed, just give us the prey."
"What about munitions?"
Doomsday gave his usual glum look.
"Enough for one more strike, sir. Eight torpedoes are all we have left
for ship busters. The fighters will have to sortie with half standard
missile and mass driver round bolts."
"Standby."
"Paladin on laser lock, sir."
Jason looked over at the communications officer and nodded for her to
put it on the main holo.
"How goes it, laddie?"
Jason smiled. Even though he was technically the commander of this two
ship fleet, he knew Paladin would never follow protocol of address and the
fact was refreshing.
"Fighters are up and armed. Damage control's repaired the hull breech
in the port engine room."
"And Vance?"
"Madder than hell. Seems Sparks broke one of his computers moving it
out, said something about the machine costing just under half a billion.
Sparks frowned, then said he could dock her pay if he was upset, but she had
fighters to service."
"Good for Sparks. She's a rare lass," Paladin laughed and then his
features went glum.
"We've got some trade up ahead, lad. Another cruiser just came through
from the jump point leading back to Kilrah with two destroyers leading.
Looks like standard tactical for more coming behind. I tapped into their
comm channel and they're madder than hell and lookin for blood."
"Can we run past them to our jump point?"
"Just barely."
Jason punched into the engine room.
"Shovel on the coal back there. I want full thrust, fuel scoops
closed."
"Close the scoops and we'll run her bone dry by the next jump.
"Just do it."
He switched back to Paladin.
"Let's get the hell out of here, and hope they don't have more waiting
at the next jump."
"Laddie, from the looks of It I think the whole Empire is gonna be
stirring to fry us."
"Let's just hope Kruger figures a way to get us out of here.
Admiral Geoffrey Tolwyn stood up and walked to the front of the room.
He looked down the length of the conference table and felt a cold twinge of
pain. So many familiar faces were gone, killed in the bomb attack. It felt
strange now to be standing before this group; after all it was Banbridge's
job to run Third Fleet. He suddenly felt old and very lonely. He pushed the
thought aside.
"Good morning."
He paused, reached into his breast pocket, pulled out an envelope and
opened the letter. A paper letter such as the one he was holding was a
wonderful gesture out of the past, part of the old traditions that the
military still hung on to.
"By order of the JCS, Admiral Geoffrey Tolwyn is appointed commander
Third Fleet as of this date, with the primary mission of meeting, engaging,
and destroying any hostile invasion into Confederation space which is
directed towards the inner system of worlds. You are authorized to employ
any means necessary as outlined in Emergency Decree 394 issued this date by
the President of the Confederation. Your command will include 3rd Destroyer
Group, Commodore Polowski commanding . . ."
He paused and looked back up at the group.
"Anyhow, all of you are listed here," he said quietly, "and if you
aren't listed, I'm taking you anyhow," and the room echoed with nervous
laughter.
Geoff activated the main holo screen which displayed the new Kilrathi
heavy carriers, while a side screen displayed the surmised position of the
fleet and its possible route into Confederation space.
A low murmur of voices filled the room as the dozen group and squadron
commanders, representing the ships and Marine assault regiments under his
command examined the data.
"Our task is to meet and stop this force before it gains the inner
worlds of the Confederation."
"Just how many fighters will these ships carry?" Lyford Beverage,
commander of the First Cruiser Squadron asked.
"We're working off of only one intelligence sweep, a long range optical
examination followed by a translight radar burst, so our data is sketchy.
Our evaluation team believes they carry four launch bays, and perhaps six.
It's hard to tell, since all the ships were aligned identically at the time
we swept them so we don't have a full examination from all angles. Given the
mass of the ships, our best guess is two hundred and forty fighters, scout
and bomber craft, perhaps three hundred. Close analysis of the scan detected
five of the ships emitting infrared signatures for functional reactors. The
other seven were cold."
"Good lord, Geoff, if five of those things are coming at us that means
we'll be facing upwards of fifteen hundred attack ships," Rear Admiral Allen
Zitek growled from the back of the room, his speech computer making him
sound almost robotic. Zitek had been badly burned years before leading a
squadron against a Kilrathi carrier. It still amazed Geoff what the surgeons
could do if a man could be brought in while still alive.
"Don't forget that the Kilrathi had a minimum of nineteen other
standard carriers and at least twenty heavy cruisers that carried thirty
fighters each. That comes to over three thousand seven hundred additional
strike craft."
There was a chilled moment of silence.
"What about logistical support, supplies, and training from the
Kilrathi view point?" Duke Grecko asked from the back of the room.
"That's the one hope," Geoff replied. "We now understand the mystery of
their transport shortage and their occasional shortages of missiles. They
were straining their system beyond the max to keep the war going and at the
same time building this new fleet in secret. I've handed this data over to
intelligence analysis, and I'm stilling waiting for the full report. My gut
feeling on it is that they couldn't fully do both. I think they stripped
some of their best squadrons off their front line carriers during the
armistice and shipped the personnel out to the new ships, replacing them
with new recruits. The burst signal from Tarawa already indicated a thousand
fighters transferred off ships that had been put into their inactive
reserve. I'm certain we'll see their best shot from the new carriers, which
will be fully loaded for combat. The rest of the fleet will be held in a
secondary support role or open action on other fronts as diversions."
"That still would leave a minimum of fifteen hundred strike craft on
five carriers coming straight at Earth, not to mention what looks like close
to a hundred escort ships," Zitek replied. "And just how many fighters will
we have to meet this?"
"We can have five carriers fully on line within two weeks, with forty
one escorts, carrying a total of six hundred and eighty-nine strike craft."
"Just five?"
"Actually, only two are on line and fully operational at the moment,
Geoff said shaking his head.
"With crews working around the clock and cutting a lot of corners, I
expect to see three more carriers ready to join the fleet by the time the
Kilrathi penetrate into Confederation space. It'll be forty-five days, more
like sixty, before our remaining carriers will be on line again."
"Jamison was brilliant pushing that deactivation through," Grecko
snapped and Geoff could only nod his head in agreement.
The political arena with Jamison standing in the center was now one of
absolute chaos. Less than twenty-four hours ago Rodham had announced the
existence of the Kilrathi super carriers and the assumption that Earth had
been directly targeted for attack. He then called for the Confederation
Senate to renounce the armistice and to mobilize for a renewal of the war,
closing with his resignation as president. Minutes later the vice president
was sworn in and delivered a sharp rousing speech, demanding that the
Kilrathi open their border for full inspection of the new fleet or face
offensive action. It was all a bluff on Quinson's part, but it at least
sounded good. The Confederation had been thrown into a state of panic by the
announcement, with every holo reporter scrambling to put their spin on the
issue, which ranged from "we've been stabbed in the back by the Cats," to
"the evil military was pushing for a war." The situation was further stirred
up by the Kilrathi reply that the bombing of headquarters and the attempt on
the Emperor's life were part of a military coup by pro-war officers and that
they were totally innocent of any wrong-doing.
At first Geoff had naively assumed that this had closed the deal, that
the Senate would vote for war and that the new president's declaration of a
full military emergency would be observed.
Jamison had triggered near chaos instead. First she refused to resign,
even though Quinson had appointed a new Foreign Minister. Next she accused
the military of conspiring to renew the war, a position that the Kilrathi
were pumping out through their propaganda agencies.
The result was that the Senate had still not declared war, wavering,
some even adopting the Kilrathi line, and demanding that the military
unilaterally disarm.
Quinson had stood firm, however, evoking executive right to order the
military to mobilize for emergency action. The one restraint, however, was
that such an emergency did not give the fleet the right to take offensive
action. Tolwyn had actually fallen into a shouting match with the senate
military committee over that point, wanting to free his two light escorts
that were operational for a spoiling and recon raid into Kilrathi space, but
he had been held back.
Sometimes it really bites to be in the military," Polowski snapped from
the back of the room. "I'd just love to get Jamison onboard my ship as a
forward turret gunner's mate when we charge those carriers and let her see
what her peace loving friends have done while we slept," and there was a
chorus of approval.
Geoff held up his hand for silence.
"Remember, we are the military. Civilian politics is outside of our
control and like it or not that's a tradition we must observe. It's our job
to defend the Confederation from the attack we all know is coming, and I'm
counting on you to give it everything you have. Some really big damn fools
got us into this fix. The hell with them, push them out of your minds. I
want you to focus on the billions of innocent people who will be under the
Kilrathi antimatter bombs and the survivors who will face their knives if we
fail. The existence of the human race now hangs in the balance
He paused for a moment. The words had come out of him, not planned at
all. In any other setting he felt they would have sounded worn. But it was
the simple truth: the actual existence of his entire species rested in their
hands. One wrong move on his part and it might all be over with. All of it
gone forever, two thousand years of England gone, a cold silence of death,
of extinction.
I can't dwell on this, he realized. It'll drive me insane if I do, so
stay focused on the job and nothing else.
He switched the holo screen to a map of the inner core of planets and
the jump lines leading out to the frontier.
"The Kilrathi have three main lines of approach, all of which finally
come in here," and he pointed to a blue white star from which radiated a
number of jump lines. "Here at Sirius and the jump point behind Sirius the
shortest routes of jump lines come together and then from there straight
back to Earth. By the shortest route, jump line alpha, it's ten jump points
from Sirius to the frontier, four back to Earth. The next route, beta is
twelve jumps to the frontier and delta is thirteen. All the other routes
meander back and forth. For the Kilrathi I think they'll be so confident of
their strength, and also concerned about not giving us time to rearm, that
they'll come straight on in.
"I propose to meet them in front of Sirius."
"Geoff, that abandons several hundred inhabited colonies further out,"
Polowski said quietly, "my own home of Planet Warsaw being one of them."
Tolwyn nodded.
"There are eighteen major jump points leading across the frontier and
several dozen other jump points running parallel or zigzagging back and
forth. Before the armistice neither we nor the Kilrathi had the strength to
simply go charging in, saying the hell with our rear and leaping towards the
jugular. They now do. We lack the strength of a major counter strike and
even if we did have it, it'd be weeks before we could even begin to move it.
By then it'll be too late. In addition they can hold a number of their
standard fleet carriers in reserve as a reaction force to counter even light
escort raiders the way we had been using them in the past. We have to fall
back and concentrate what assets we have. If we try a forward defense they
might swing around us."
"Why not an offensive, Geoff? Split them off the way we did at Vukar
Tag," Grecko asked from the back of the room.
"It won't work this time, sir. Even if we took what we had right now
and shot it straight in, their older carriers acting as a reserve would stop
us cold, while the new fleet would just continue on into Earth. Second,
they'd see it for what it was, an effort to split their offensive. They'd
ignore it and still bore straight in. What we have to do is seek a meeting
engagement with their main fleet and stop it, that's the only viable option
left open to us."
"So what about my home planet?" Polowski asked
Geoff paused for a moment. The cold hard word for it was "abandon" but
he could not bring himself to say that, or even really admit it to himself.
"Mike, the Kilrathi have two ways to run this offensive. The first is
to break through our forward defenses, then spread out and start ripping the
colonial worlds to shreds. Every day that they do that is one more day for
us to rearm and they know it. The second way is to come charging straight
in, figuring they can mop up the colonies at their leisure after the core
planets have been destroyed along with the fleet."
"I'm betting on the second method. It's sound militarily and it's what
we would do: kill the home world and inner planets and end the war. The only
advantage we can hope for is to stand and defend as close to our main base
as possible, thus stretching their line of communication while we can
continue to pour into action whatever ships come on line at the last minute.
It is the one classic advantage of the defensive the ability to fall back
upon your base of supplies, and it's our only hope."
"Easy for you to say," Mike replied. "My entire family's out there on
Warsaw, two jumps from the frontier."
"Can you propose any other alternative given what we have?" Geoff
asked, his voice filled with a genuine concern. He knew he couldn't simply
order men to abandon their homes and families. They'd have to be willing to
do it with the hope of final victory and then rescue, no matter how slim the
chance.
Mike looked down at his memo pad and then finally shook his head
"You're right, Admiral, its the only way," and there was a soft chorus
of agreement.
"I wish we could inform the governors and presidents of the various
colonial worlds of our strategic plan, though for security reasons it is
obvious we cannot. For that matter, gentlemen, no one outside this room is
to have any knowledge of what our strategy is.
"That'll give precious little warning to whichever worlds are in the
way of the fleet," Zitek said. "Even if they're coming straight on, they'll
still dispatch some cruisers on the way in to scorch the planets directly in
their path. They'll have to, they can t afford to leave potential bases in
their rear. Nearly every one of those outer worlds has at least one base on
them, the major systems garrisoned with troops and orbital bases. They could
stand against raiders, but not against what they'll be throwing in."
Geoff nodded grimly. It meant that millions in the outer worlds might
die. He could only hope that those who could get out of the way would,
heading to remote areas of their world to wait out the attack. At least most
of the worlds were sparsely populated, with a lot of room to hide. In the
early days of the war the outer regions, except for the Landreich on the
flank of the Confederation, had been devastated, and billions had died. The
region had yet to recover. It wasn't until Sirius was reached inside the
area never touched by the war, that the major inhabited regions were
located.
He could only hope they had dug their shelters deep enough to survive
bombardment.
"So the colonies are a write off?" Duke asked quietly, obviously
wanting to make the fact absolutely clear.
"Local guard units will be given the discretion to stay, but I want
everything here for the major showdown," and he pointed at Sirius, hanging
in the middle of the holo. "Sirius is where the decision will be made."
"What about the Landreich and Kruger?" Polowski asked.
"I'll ask them for help and for the release of the escorts we signed
over to them, but I doubt old Kruger will be amused that once again we're
pulling a withdrawal due to strategic necessity."
He could well imagine the explosion that would be created when the
burst signal reached Kruger on that one.
"Gentlemen, I want the fleet fully loaded and ready to move within four
days."
The men looked at him incredulously.
"Geoff, it'll be eight, more like ten days before we get all our
personnel back in aboard ship," Zitek replied. "Even our active carriers had
half their crews on leave. Some of them are at the far end of the
Confederation."
"You'll find a clause in Emergency decree 394A that allows for the
drafting of emergency replacements off civilian ships, and retired personnel
if need be for the duration of the emergency. Use it, shanghai your crews if
necessary, but I want full ship's complements inside of ninety-six hours.
Now let's get to work." The admirals and Marine officers filed out of the
room. Geoff looked back down at his memo pad, ready to feed in a long series
of orders. Looking up he saw that Duke had stayed behind.
"Something's wrong, isn't it?" Geoff said, sensing that there was bad
news coming.
Duke nodded.
"I just got a signal in the clear from Kruger."
"Go on."
"He told us and I quote Сyou created this mess, you solve it. Go to
hell.' "
Geoff chuckled sadly.
"Doesn't the damn fool realize," Grecko snapped, "that if the
Confederation goes down, the Cats will turn on him next?"
"If he comes to help us, he'll get hit from the rear. It's the old
classic problem of frontier militia being called up to serve with the
regulars Ч do you leave your homes open to attack by marching off somewhere
else?"
Geoff paused, realizing that there was something else to the message.
"You're holding something back, Duke, what is it?"
"He also reported, in the clear, that Tarawa has failed to return and
is assumed lost."
Geoff remained standing, staring straight at Duke.
"Damn this war to hell."
Eyes wide with excitement and with the thrill of the hunt, the Emperor
turned to face his grandson.
"Magnificent, simply magnificent," he growled, turning back to look out
the forward view port of the cruiser that now served as the Imperial ship.
Less than a kilometer away, the Kilrathi Fifth Fleet of the Claw passed by
in review. The light frigates, corvettes and three destroyer groups had
already passed. The last of the heavy cruisers was just passing to port and
now the first of the new carriers, Hagku'ka, came into view.
Every fighter had been launched and moved in formation ahead of the
carrier, three and a half eighties of fighters arrayed in eight V
formations. The bow of the carrier came into view, the heavy durasteel
forward edge studded with quad mounted mass driver guns and anti-torpedo
launch tubes. Three launch decks, one on either side and one topside opened
into the vast interior of the ship, which was mostly comprised of the huge
hangar bays, workshops, and armament storage areas needed for the fighters.
Internal bulkheads had been double layered, compartmentalizing the ship
so that even if the forward end was shattered all the way back amidships,
the aft half could continue to fight. Three belts of armor sealed off the
outside of the ship from the interior so that if a torpedo did penetrate the
phase shielding and outer layer of armor, its detonation would not burst
into the vulnerable inner decks and fuel storage areas. Sealed internal
access shafts even allowed for the transfer of fighters from one bay to
another for launching if a bay opening were shut down. Just aft of amidship
three more launch bays were mounted pointing aft, in the same configuration
as the forward half of the ship. The six Yatug class engines were actually
buried inside the ship, wrapped in heavy armor, their exhaust vents
tunneling through thirty meters of ship before reaching open space. If a
spread of missiles were closing from astern, the engines could be throttled
off and the exhaust vents slammed shut, the missiles impacting impotently
against heavy durasteel. The shields could then be retracted, or if need be
blown clear and the engines unharmed, fired back up.
The first carrier passed, followed by four more and the Emperor
watched, speechless. So this was the culmination of years of secret planning
and the stripping of the best resources of the Empire. All for this, a fleet
of ships unlike anything ever before seen in this sector of the universe.
When the war with the humans was done, such ships could even stand against
the Mantu, if they should dare to return.
"Grandson, with this fleet victory is ours."
"Remember, my Emperor, the fleet is but half the size we planned,"
Thrakhath said cautiously. "Victory should not be counted until the blood of
the prey is in one's mouth."
The Emperor nodded, realizing that his enthusiasm had taken hold too
deeply. He was still shaken by the murder attempt. It had been his dream to
see at least one ceremony of Sivar in the burned ruins of Earth, for he knew
that it would not be much longer before his ancestors finally called.
"Bring me victory," the Emperor finally said, "that is all I ask. You
should take Earth in time for Sivar, we'll celebrate it there. Be sure that
it is ready for my arrival."
"Yes, my Emperor."
"And as for Jukaga, have you found anything more?"
"Three have died under the question, none have spoken. His path seems
to be secured. If we put him directly to the question, the other clan
leaders would again object. That path is closed as well."
"Then take him with you on this expedition," the Emperor said quietly.
"Grandfather?"
"You heard me. I've summoned him to this ship, he is in the next
chamber. He is to go with you.
"He is head of spies, it is not his role to be a fleet warrior."
"He is a clan leader, a post of honor with the fleet he can not refuse.
I think you will know what to do with him once battle is joined."
"It might be dangerous having him with us," the Prince replied.
"You will find a way," and the Emperor turned, motioning for a guard to
open the door into a side chamber.
* * * * *
Baron Jukaga entered, looking around cautiously. When summoned to the
cruiser he had not known what to expect, and now the moment had come
"Arise, my Baron. Was not the sight of our fleet wondrous?"
Jukaga stood up again.
"Wondrous."
"And what of the Confederation government?"
"Their senate still debates. It was reported however that two carriers
sortied from their main base above their moon with a third to soon follow,
and that the shipyards are working full time to prepare those in drydock for
launching as well. Even though their government debates, their new president
is acting quickly, with declaration of war or without. There have been
forays by the Landreich into our territory, but no deep penetrations."
"I cannot even begin to comprehend how they function, the Emperor
replied.
Jukaga nodded as if in agreement.
And that is why you never won, you old fool, he thought coldly.
"I have a new assignment for you, Baron."
He waited, tense and expectant.
"You go with the fleet to speak to their leaders one more time before
we strike."
The Baron nodded. Would they simply arrange "an accident?" That now
seemed to be the path.
"I am master of spies, my Emperor. Would not one of your warrior
leaders be more appropriate?"
"You know this species of prey the best. It is your voice that they
know, let them hear it one more time before we strike. You seemed disturbed
by our ultimate plans, let us see if you can convince them to submit and
thus save this species you seem to like so much."
He looked around the room, which was filled with the leaders of the new
fleet. He was trapped and could not refuse.
"As you command it, my Emperor."
The Emperor turned away back to his grandson.
"Your plan is set, then?"
"Yes, my Emperor. The fleet will head towards the frontier at flank
speed. Refueling tankers will accompany them so that we may move swiftly
without need of deploying fuel scoops. The Second Fleet of the Claw, with
four of our older carriers, will join us before we reach the frontier and
make the first penetration, thus shielding our main fleet as long as
possible. The Fourth Fleet of the Claw, with three carriers, will sortie
towards the Landreich to pin down any forces they might have there,
preventing them from shifting against our flank. The First Fleet of the
Claw, with three carriers, will make up the reserve. The other carriers have
been stripped of their crews and pilots for the Fifth Fleet and will be held
in reserve."
"That is ten carriers," the Emperor said quietly.
"You know the shortage of trained pilots has become serious. Either our
best pilots went with our new carriers or else the new fleet would be manned
by pilots with no combat experience. It will be a year before we have enough
fully trained pilots and fighters to bring the older reserve carriers back
to operational strength.
The Emperor nodded grimly.
"So let it be," he said, turning away. "Now bring me victory."