The Black Guardians: Book 4 in the Black Guard series, page 24
Sitala roared with laughter. "If you are right, you would be justified in assassinating the entire remaining triad cruisers…but if you are wrong, it could mean your career and even jail." Sitala was silent for a long time. "Like Captain Sapir, you don't care about medals or glory, but understand I cannot approve or disapprove of the action you are contemplating. While you have the right to independent command, you are accountable to Noam, not me. Forgiveness is really the only solution because you cannot get his approval."
"I hope you don't try to stop them, Captain," I said. "It isn't worth the lives it will cost. They won't be a danger to the Besra squadrons. It will be like shooting clay ducks at a carnival shooting gallery." I stood and left.
"Fair winds and gentle seas, Commander Quinn," I heard Sitala say as I was closing the door.
I felt energized as I double-timed to Bay 5. Ryan had everyone ready when I arrived. "Squadron, we are going to launch under minimal power. Our destination is the Wave entrance. We are heading back to Jax where I believe the triad will follow. If they do, it will be our responsibility to cancel their membership in the Helix system."
67 – Assassins at Work
"Kat, the area looks deserted, at least as far as the passive sensors can detect," Ryan said a minute after we entered Jax space.
"Not too surprising," I said. "Noam thinks his new Besra commander is on Outpost and has the triad contained, and the remaining alliance member ships have no reason to start a fight. Besides, their ships wouldn't be a threat against four Jax cruisers and three squadrons of Besra.
"Kat, what if you are wrong and the triad isn't heading to Jax?"
"Then I will probably have a very short naval career and a long confinement on Jax's maximum security resort," I said while asking the space gods to whisper in Joshsa's ear to storm Jax.
"It would have been safer to stay on Outpost, and if you are right, follow the triad to Jax where we could have destroyed their cruisers," Ryan said, sounding concerned.
"Ryan, if we had stayed, I couldn't have gotten Captain Sitala to retreat. In that event, we couldn't have helped. The Sabretooth and its crew would have been killed, including probably several Besras, and the triad would have departed Outpost with little or no damage. With me leaving, Sitala may not try to stay and fight. Even if I'm wrong, me leaving will have saved lives. Given the triad's position, there was no way we could have stopped them exiting the system. So, I would make that decision again regardless of the outcome."
I paused, feeling I had made the right decision. If there had been a better one, I was too young to recognize it. "Ryan, I want to position the squadrons about a half-hour from the Wave," I said while thinking about the problem at hand and not dwelling on a decision I couldn’t change.
"Isn't that a bit close to where the triad will be entering? Unless we are going to be sensible for a change and attack them from the rear."
"As you have so elegantly pointed out, if I were sensible, we wouldn't be here on Jax," I said with a devilish smile that had Ryan shaking his head.
I found waiting much harder when you didn't know whether your conjecture was right or wrong. Consequently, the nine hours passed with the speed of an old turtle walking into a strong wind.
"Wave exit!" Ryan shouted, jerking me out of my nightmare of being chained to a wall in a dark, wet, and smelly dungeon with hungry rats waiting for me to close my eyes.
"Thank the space gods," I said, wiping sweat from my eyes so I could see the monitor. The triad was forming up in a line and beginning to accelerate toward the planet.
"Ryan, send Tag cruisers #1 through #6 beginning from port to starboard. Standard three on two Punch Through. AFS-1 has #1 and #2, AFS-7 has #3 and #4, and AFS-4 has #5 and #6. AFS-8 is to remain to look for anyone we missed," I said, excitement humming through my bones. Mea culpa, mea culpa, but no prison, I thought silently.
Admiral Noam
"Admiral Noam, six cruisers just entered Jax space," Captain Hwang said into Noam's communication device. "Our early reading indicates they are Outpost cruisers. They have their transponders turned off, but we are pretty sure."
"Six, you said?" Noam frowned.
"Yes, sir."
"Release the Besras with orders to find and destroy," Noam said, wondering how they could have gotten past the Sabretooth and Quinn's three squadrons of Besras… Unless somehow stopping them would have caused Jax a negative image, but letting them assault the home planet… “Shit, what a mess,” he swore and turned back to the alliance group, who were all on their communications devices.
"You apparently don't have the situation under control!” the Haven representative shouted. "My captain is getting a general broadcast from Ace Joshsa. He claims you started the war and have committed atrocities against his merchants and alliance cruisers…”
"Enough!" Noam shouted, which caused the noise level to drop to whispers. "The only atrocity Jax has committed is not killing Joshsa and destroying his remaining cruisers. Why didn't we when we could have? Because we aren't like Outpost! Anyone who believes Ace Joshsa, have your ship power up and join him. But I warn you, Outpost has pushed Jax too far. Anyone who joins him will be considered at war with the Jax. Before you panic, those in this room, whether your ship supports Outpost or not, are under the protection of the Jax and will be transported safely back to your home planet. So, relax while I give Ace Joshsa what he wants: an opportunity to scorch our planet."
"Admiral Noam," Captain Hwang's voice interrupted.
"Yes, Hwang?"
"Commander Bell said he received a message on his Besra network, which he said sounded like an attack order from Commander Quinn."
Noam couldn't help but give a long hearty laugh in pure relief, which caused the room to go silent. "I would suggest an hour break, after which we can continue our discussions. By then, neither Outpost, Valhall, or Lariw will have a space-going navy," Noam said to the gathered group, then clicked on Hwang's channel. "Captain Hwang, tell the Besra commanders they are to follow any orders Commander Quinn issues, and you may want to send a squadron of fighters to ensure there is nothing alive in the debris field that was the Outpost triad."
"Sir, the Sabretooth has been reported entering Jax space," Hwang said with obvious relief. Noam laughed again.
The conference convened the next day with a comprehensive briefing on the events of the last month. The conference went on for six days, at which time each member took a draft home for consideration.
68 – What Now?
"Well, Noam, what now that you have singlehandedly saved Jax?" Geller asked two weeks later when Noam attended the committee's regular early morning meeting. "We are awarding you the Jax Cross for literally saving the Jax nation from extinction or possibly slavery, and Commander Quinn the Medal of Honor for risking her life and career in the same defense." Geller held up her hand. "Knowing you both, and paraphrasing Quinn's words, You are sneaky killers who give up honor and glory for your beloved Jax, and consistent with the Black Guardians tradition, we will have your awards entered into your records without a formal ceremony.”
"Thank you. I appreciate the thought, and following the Black Guardian tradition, maybe that should be engraved on the back of the medal: awarded to those who give up honor and glory for their beloved Jax." Noam paused for a moment, his eyes moist. “To answer your question, I would like to continue as the head of J-SOC. I would like to make it the Jax War College and eventually include the army. We can learn from people like General Issak and Captain Sapir. And we need to continue to improve the Besra. Who knows what evil lurks elsewhere in the galaxy?
Commander Caitlin ‘Kat’ Quinn
"What now, Kat?" Ryan asked. The original Guardians had been returned to Sky Lake for an update.
“You’ve heard each Jax cruiser will have a squadron of Besra, and Sky Lake Station will continue to be a research and development facility for the Besras. In addition, Admiral Noam plans to make Sky Lake the Jax War College and wants me assigned here indefinitely, although he has promised I would be involved in developing the Helix Alliance security but hasn't defined what that will involve. My immediate assignment is two weeks of leave, and the best part is that he has authorized me a Javelin on loan for the length of my leave."
"You know I asked to be assigned to a cruiser?" Ryan asked and blushed slightly. "I wish it could be with you, but I'd go crazy here at Sky Lake."
"I know and don't blame you. Those cruisers have plenty of women to keep you entertained." I kissed him on the cheek and left to get ready to go on leave.
To be continued.
C. R. Daems, The Black Guardians: Book 4 in the Black Guard series
