Breach of Duty, page 30
"We're getting a call from the Uriel," Tia said. "Putting it through."
The bridge's viewer, the layer of liquid crystal built into the interior wall at the front of the bridge, shifted to show General Ostrovsky and Congresswoman Snow. She looked healthier now, thanks to the redoubt's medical tech allowing Oskar to treat her gunshot wound more thoroughly. Henry was impressed with her bravery as well. Ostrovsky had offered to let her stay back on the redoubt under protection, but she insisted on coming to provide him with political authority. She hadn't been stripped of her Defense Committee position, after all, nor her seat in Congress. Henry doubted it'd work, but it was still brave. But then again, she wants to get back at Erhart too. Probably wants to be there to see it happen. Is it bravery or a desire for revenge?
"We're ready on this end, Captain," Ostrovsky said. "We'll signal to let you know the outcome."
"We'll be here," Henry assured them. "Good luck, and let's hope Erhart or his people will listen to reason."
"Hopefully, the Lord will touch his heart if we can't," Ostrovsky said. "Godspeed, Captain Henry."
For a moment, a stare formed on Ostrovsky's face, as if he truly expected Henry to reply with "Godspeed" in CDF tradition. But there wasn't even a thought of it in Henry's mind. He nodded and noted the small expression of disappointment that came over Ostrovsky's face before the line terminated.
In rapid succession, wormholes opened up ahead of them. The Uriel and her squadrons flew through them, leaving the Shadow Wolf behind.
And now we wait. Henry knew deep down they'd be getting the call to jump in.
Snow stared ahead in silence while the Uriel completed her jump into the Exodus Yard system. The fear and uncertainty and readiness she felt within herself made her wonder if this was what it was like for all of the field personnel in the CDF.
The various displays came back on once they were clear of the wormhole and its interference. "Secure from jump," said the officer at the helm.
Nearby, Colonel Isabella de la Hoya, the CO of the Uriel, answered, "TAO, sensor status?"
Major Bohinder Singh was a turbaned man with a kirpa on his belt and a thick black beard. Even with all of this to mark his religious devotion, he also wore the CDF patch for a devout Sikh on his uniform. "Conn, TAO. Sensors online, I'm showing the station and shipyard . Our systems are still counting the number of ships in the docks, but several CDF ships are free of the yard and now moving to intercept. IFF codes are for CSV Solzhenitsyn, CSV Gerald Bull, CSV Erskine Childers—wait."
"What is it, Major?"
"I'm detecting debris near our position, sir," Singh continued. "Three overlapping fields."
From the comm station, a tan-skinned man with a Catholic crucifix patch spoke up. His name tag read "Sandoval," and his rank insignia was for a full Lieutenant. "Conn, communications. We're picking up black box beacons from the debris field. Identification codes are for Coalition civilian pleasure craft. Large yachts and converted passenger liners."
De la Hoya's voice sounded strained as she asked, "Can you get us any data from them? On how they were lost?"
"Putting final comm transmissions on speakers."
The speakers crackled to life. "This is the Starswallow's Lark to CDF ships. Please cease fire! We're unarmed, we surrender! For the love of God, we sur—"
They listened as one voice after another begged for mercy and then went silent.
"Dear God Almighty," Snow gasped. "What has Erhart done?"
Around her, the officers and crew on the Uriel bridge were pale and silent. Disbelief showed on their faces, as if reality was now at odds with itself.
"Conn, communications. We're receiving a hail from the station, sir," Sandoval said. His voice shook as he broke the unreal silence.
Ostrovsky stared straight ahead, his lips pursed together in a grim expression. De la Hoya said, in evident grief, "Put them on, Lieutenant."
The main viewer on the bridge changed to show a command center. Erhart looked at them with a quiet, patient expression. "General Ostrovsky. You're a long way from Canaan."
"What in the Lord's name is this, Erhart?" Ostrovsky asked.
"The price of victory, General. My people and I will see to it the League never threatens us again."
"You murdered innocent civilians!"
Erhart didn't even blink. His entire face reminded Snow of a statue's if it could turn into flesh. "Casualties of war. To be frank, many of them were deserters planning to steal our Exodus Fleet. I won't lose any sleep over their quick and kind fates."
"Conn, TAO. Solzhenitsyn's shields are up," said Singh. "I'm showing her energy weapons capacitor fully charged, along with forward mag-cannons loaded and ready to shoot."
"Ostrovsky, your participation is unwelcome," said Erhart. "I'm asking you to leave. Go back to Canaan and prepare the CDF for the mopping up. Once I'm done blazing a path across the League, you'll want to follow up."
Ostrovsky shook his head. "I'm not leaving, Erhart, not until you stand your forces down and hand over control of the Exodus Fleet."
"That's not happening. This is the stroke we need, and I'm going to deliver it."
Snow couldn't contain her horror and anger anymore. "You bloody-minded bastard!" she snarled. "I knew you were capable of a lot, but this is mass murder you're talking about! This could break the Coalition in two!"
Erhart turned his head slightly, as if finally noticing her. "Congresswoman Snow. I'd recognize that defeatist voice anywhere."
It was an old insult, and Snow wasn't putting up with it. "Defeatist, hell! You and I both know what's really between us. You covered up the deaths of good people and framed an innocent man in the process!"
"As always, I did what had to be done. If the Coalition can't handle that, it's not my problem." A flicker of resignation showed on Erhart's face. "Ostrovsky, I don't have time for this. You should leave. If you make any further attempt to interfere in my operation, I'll have your ship fired upon until you withdraw."
The threat gained the attention of the entire Uriel bridge crew. Ostrovsky's jaw clenched. "Are you telling me you'd have your people fire on their own?"
"I've picked my officers and crew well. They know our victory in the war is at stake, and they won't be stopped."
"Dear Christ, are you mad?" Snow demanded. "The Laffey was one thing—"
"Mad? No. I see more clearly than any of you or the political buffoons back in Lawrence City you continue to follow." Erhart tapped a key in front of him. "This is General Erhart to CSV Madison Washington. Major Tawadros, as the senior field commander present, I'm ordering you to detach yourself from the intelligence squadron and form up with the Solzhenitsyn. My authority over your squadron is greater than General Ostrovsky's under standard fleet regulation."
Snow felt a knot in her stomach. She knew enough of those regs to see Erhart was technically correct. And if Tawadros went with it, they had no chance without reinforcements. He wouldn't, she assured herself, even as that little voice in her head, the voice of her fear, wondered, But what if he does?
Tawadros' voice came over the line. "I'm sorry, General, it's clear you're running a rogue operation. I will not detach myself over to your command."
For his part, Erhart only seemed a little disappointed, not angry. "Major, my orders are in line with winning this war. I urge you to reconsider. Also, consider what this means for your crew. If you remain with Ostrovsky's force, do you really expect your crew to fire on their brothers and sisters in arms?"
"I could ask the same of you, General. You're clearly willing to fire on our own people as it is. In the name of God, sir, stand down and stop this."
"While you only collude with the people who murdered CDF personnel on the Dante to recover their friends." Erhart's stony expression didn't change. "Major, General Ostrovsky, Congresswoman, I'm only going to say this one time. To win this war, I have paid every price demanded of me. I expect the same from every man and woman in this uniform. If you're not willing to live up to that, then stay out of my way or I'll push you aside. Erhart out."
Erhart's image disappeared, and the line cut.
"Sir, Solzhenitsyn and her attached ships are beginning to accelerate to combat power," Singh warned. "What are your orders?"
Ostrovsky let out a breath. "Lord help us, it's come to this."
De la Hoya looked his way. "General, I can fight this battle, but I need orders, and soon. As things stand, they have the advantage on us in getting to combat velocity first."
"Then you have your orders, Colonel. Commence combat maneuvers and engage the enemy." As the words left his mouth, Ostrovsky frowned as if they were distasteful or ugly in some way.
"Attention, all hands, this is the commanding officer. General quarters! General quarters! All hands to battle stations. Set condition one throughout the ship," de la Hoya began. "TAO, designate Solzhenitsyn and her escorts as hostile. Navigation, all ahead flank."
Singh nodded stiffly and went to work on his board. "Designating targets Master Ten through Eighteen…"
Even as Singh labored, de la Hoya gave Ostrovsky an intent look. "Should we open fire first?"
The glare he gave her in return was all the answer de la Hoya needed on that score. He nodded to Snow next. "Congresswoman, please find a seat and strap in. This will be dangerous."
Snow obeyed while around her the Uriel crew readied for the battle they'd never imagined in their worst nightmares.
In the Exodus Yard's command center, Erhart's people were preparing for battle as well. Erhart remained at the central command station, giving him a vantage point over their operations while a tactical holotank provided him a view of the battle. "Exodus Fleet awaiting engagement orders, sir," said Farley from his place nearby. "Station personnel are preparing to repel boarders, if necessary, and station defenses are coming online."
Erhart heard the very slight concern in Farley's voice. He looked toward his subordinate and said, "They're forcing us to this, Farley. I don't want them dead. If they break and run, there will be no pursuit. But this is the only way to win the war and you know that."
"Otherwise, the League will recover," Farley said as he set his jaw and nodded. "They'll eventually re-invade us. No matter how much we beat them back, they'll keep coming."
"Exactly." Erhart turned his attention back to the holotank. Ostrovsky's ships were assuming combat formation and beginning maneuvers, but they hadn't fired yet. He imagined Ostrovsky saw this as one last outstretched hand, offered to keep the unthinkable from happening.
A noble sentiment, General. That of a good man. But the war's shown what happens to the noble. There's no place for nobility in war—only necessity.
As those words went through Erhart's head, he decided enough time had passed. He'd humored Ostrovsky long enough, and he wouldn't have him underfoot. He used his finger to open the tactical commlink to his ships. "Erhart to all forces. You are clear to engage. Drive the enemy away from the Exodus Yard and Fleet. To Earth and victory!"
There was no reply, which was what Erhart wanted. In those last four words, he reminded his people what they were fighting and dying for, and that was enough.
His ships opened fire on Ostrovsky's vessels, resulting in an immediate reply. No weapons were spared. Missiles, neutron cannons, and mag-cannons blazed away between the two forces. On the holotank tactical display, this exchange of fire was sterile, far more than it'd be for the crews having deadly armaments trying to blast through deflectors and armor to tear open their ships.
After about fifteen seconds, he noted the Uriel and her ships turn away. He briefly hoped this was Ostrovsky deciding to get out, to not fight this fight after all, but he quickly dismissed that hope. The maneuver wasn't a combat breakaway; it was a tactical decision. He was increasing the range to force Erhart's ships to pursue.
So that's your battle plan, Ostrovsky? Have something up your sleeve? Without looking away, Erhart called out, "TAO, confirm defense station readiness and deflector status."
"Aye aye, sir. Confirming now."
Erhart triggered his tactical channel again. "Solzhenitsyn, you're allowed to pursue for now. The enemy wants you further away from the Station, and I want to know why."
"Aye aye, sir," Freeman replied.
A minute passed, then two. The range was such that neither side had yet to break through the deflectors of any of the others, they weren't getting enough hits to manage it. But once the range improved and the predictor models had fewer possibilities to sift through, that would change.
"Sir, do you think he has more forces?" Farley asked.
"I think he might have one more ship helping him," said Erhart. "And he won't give this up until he sees I've blocked that line of attack. Now—"
"Sir, wormhole forming, three hundred thousand kilometers."
"Give me a visual."
One of the monitors at the command station blinked to life. It showed an open wormhole through space. Through it flew a civilian vessel, an armed one. The IFF systems picked up the ship's identifier beacon after the wormhole's interference cleared: Shadow Wolf.
"Sir, it's a Holden-Nagata, Mark VII. But its acceleration profile and engine signature is completely off the chart for that kind of ship," said the station's TAO, Major Smythe. "I'm seeing weapons on its deep scan."
"That you are, Major." Erhart grinned at the sight, drawing a confused look from Farley. Only Farley could hear Erhart's voice as he murmured, "Good to know that under the cynical exterior of mercenary Captain Henry, Colonel Henry might still exist."
"Sir?"
"Just musing, Farley, just musing," Erhart said. Time to see just what Ostrovsky's trump amounts to. "Major, designate the Shadow Wolf as a target and erase it from space."
37
Once the signal to come in came from Ostrovsky, Henry took every precaution. The deflectors were raised and the fusion drive brought online, allowing them to pick up a respectable combat velocity before they made their jump.
The usual interference after a wormhole transition cleared to show the expansive space station and shipyard that was their target. The traffic monitoring holotank beside Henry showed the yard and such a multitude of amber contacts from the ships tethered to it that the color bathed the bridge.
And there, off in the corner, were Ostrovsky's ships and Erhart's. Ostrovsky had a slight numerical edge, with an extra frigate and destroyer, but it was not a decisive edge. Given the distance and his ships' direction, he'd pulled the enemy successfully from the station, giving Henry a run at it.
"Looks like their defense stations are coming online," said Piper. "But something's not right. The thermal plumes are way more than they should be for point-defense stations."
Henry's reaction was immediate. "Cera, evasive maneuvers, now!"
Cera twisted the Shadow Wolf and moved it to the side, changing the ship's position and slightly altering its course. A moment later, a beam of white-hot blue light speared the space they'd just flown from, barely missing them. She shifted the Shadow Wolf's course and attitude yet again. More beams lashed out at them, missing thankfully, with one grazing the deflectors.
"Those are neutron cannons," Xu noted. "The stations have been outfitted with neutron cannon weaponry!"
"Maintaining evasives!" Cera called out for Henry's benefit.
He was grateful for it. Beam after beam lashed out at them from the various stations, fired with accuracy only barely defeated by Cera's skills at the helm and the acceleration granted by the fusion drive at full power.
Even then, a couple more of the shots grazed their deflectors, rattling the ship. "Deflectors down to half," Tia said.
"Ms. McGinty, I can return fire with your ship's neutron cannon," Xu said. "But I need a clear shot."
"I'll see what I can do," Cera said.
The Shadow Wolf kept maneuvering. Henry could see what Cera was doing, however. Her movements were giving her a feel for the firing pattern of the enemy stations. The more she understood Erhart's TAO's method, the more shots she could provide to Xu.
"Comin' up, Colonel!" Cera called out. "Five seconds!"
At the five-second mark exactly, Cera snapped the Shadow Wolf about and presented its bow to one of the defense stations. Xu acted quickly and triggered the Shadow Wolf's neutron cannon. The beam of white-blue light stabbed across the void and went through the defense station like a scalpel. It wasn't a direct hit, but it didn't need to be, as the shot cleaved the station's cannon in two.
Of course, that was just one station, and there were over a dozen more to deal with.
Again Cera put the Shadow Wolf into a set of wild, tight maneuvers, defying the efforts of Erhart's people to hit their ship. Neutron beam after neutron beam sizzled through space after them and missed, some barely so.
Henry noted the firing pattern of the enemy stations. "Cera, they're trying to box you in," he said.
"Aye, an' they can try as long as they like, sir," she answered confidently.
She punctuated this boast by yet again lining up the Shadow Wolf for another shot.
Xu took it immediately. This time, the Wolf's neutron cannon was right on target. The beam bisected the entire station, which came apart a moment before the capacitors for the neutron cannon violently released their energy in an explosion that turned the whole wreck into a brief fireball.
"If we get closer, we might be able to evade their fire more easily," Xu said. "It would allow me to can bring the plasma cannons to bear on the stations."
"Some of the stations still have auto-turrets and pulse guns," Piper said. "All together, they have enough point-defense to blast us to pieces if we get close."
The ship shook again. "Deflectors are down to a quarter," Tia warned. "If we take a direct hit, it'll go right through us."
"Doin' what I can t' keep that from happenin'," Cera yelled. "But it'd help an awful bloody lot if they had somethin' else t' shoot at!"
