Stand Firm, page 4
“Of course, Admiral,” Lemieux said, flashing him a smile in a way that made a man’s blood run cold.
Seville motioned to the side, out of earshot of those around them. “I’m concerned about our attack plan.”
“Again?”
Tension had built between the two of them over the last day—since the encounter with the Terran warship—and appeared to be headed toward an all-out boil. “Every minute we wait, Colonel, I fear our position grows weaker.”
“We’re short a hundred and eighty-nine ships, Admiral.” Open disagreement with a political officer was rare and belied how strongly Seville felt about the matter. Such power was given to them within the League Navy; even a senior officer could be removed from command and his or her family threatened.
“I realize that. I also realize that their disorganization is an advantage to us.”
Lemieux laughed haughtily. “It doesn’t matter if they fly at us in neat rows, or as you put it, a disorganized blob. They’ll still die at our hands.”
Seville had tried to reason with her throughout the three-month one-way trip from League space, across the void between the Orion and Sagittarius arms of the Milky Way galaxy. Initially, he thought that their shared French ancestry would provide for common ground. That notion had quickly been disabused. “Colonel, you must consider that it’s not enough to just win. We must win convincingly and have enough forces left to pacify the rest of their territory.”
“The Social and Public Safety Committee planned for every eventuality, Admiral.”
There it is again. The Social and Public Safety Committee. The group that controlled the League, supposedly made up of the best and brightest from across the entire proletariat. In practice, a bunch of doddering old men. “The committee isn’t here, Colonel. The plan, while sound, didn’t account for an enemy of overwhelming technical superiority.”
“Watch your words, Admiral. You are but a tool of the state. If you do not carry out the orders of the state, I’ll remove you and find someone who will.”
Boiled down, her statement was the essence of the League. The state above all. Seville pondered briefly how he’d gotten here. Simple, really. Decent at my job, with the right friends.
“We must attack now,” Seville hissed through clenched teeth.
“No. We will execute the chairman’s plan, as ordered by him.”
A vision of throttling the life out of Bridget Lemieux passed over Seville’s eyes. A pity such things can’t be done. He tried a different tack to convince her. “Colonel, the plan cannot be carried out as planned because the Terran Coalition knows we’re coming,” he said, emphasizing the last few words.
“And whose fault is that?”
“They got lucky,” Seville said, staring at her unflinchingly. Throughout the massive bridge, his officers and crew likely could hear the two of them arguing. To their credit, everyone stared straight ahead at their consoles. “Our intelligence was wrong as well. This enemy has superior technology.”
“The plan will still work, Admiral. We have more than enough ships.”
“We have enough ships, right now. Every minute we wait, more reinforcements arrive. Each one of their ships is worth three of ours.”
“According to our scans, the vessels that have arrived so far aren’t as advanced as the rest.”
Idiot! Doesn’t she realize that’s the mothball reserve fleet, just like Earth has? The mobile reserves are out there and coming. “Colonel Lemieux, at some point, the fleets they have besides this defense fleet for their home will arrive. Again, less than two hundred of our ships are still lagging behind. Let us seize the initiative now and strike a blow for the League.”
There was hesitation on Lemieux’s face for a second, but it didn’t last. “No, Admiral. For the last time, we’ll wait until the entire fleet is in position, then we will fulfill the chairman’s orders.”
Seville pulled down his black utilitarian uniform, setting his feet. Any further argument with this woman will be useless… and to think, I thought since she was a fellow Frenchman that we might have common ground. “Very well, Colonel. We will await the rest of the fleet,” Seville stated, giving the salute of the League; a closed fist braced to the chest. He stared at her with hate boiling inside. If you couldn’t have my family killed, the outcome would be far different.
“Thank you, Admiral. Your insights and concerns are always welcome to be heard,” Lemieux said.
It was all Seville could do to keep the mask of self-control in place. Someday, I will have the political power to end you, he thought. Forcing his mouth into a smile, he nodded. “We honor the League through our service.” Lemieux didn’t reply, leaving him lost in his thoughts. He stared at the projection of Terran Coalition and League ships, growing more concerned by the minute at the slow drip of enemy reinforcements. Each one was a reminder that they were handcuffed by a political officer with no understanding of tactics or strategy. Her only qualification was a diehard commitment to the will of the chairman of the Social and Public Safety Committee. Idiots.
4
CSV Salamis
Canaan Orbit
28 September 2533
4 Hours Earlier
* * *
Maybe there won’t be a fight after all, Levi thought from his seat on the bridge of the Salamis. Inexplicably, the League forces had just stopped on the edge of Canaan’s solar system. So here they sat, ready to fight and with everyone on board on pins and needles.
“TAO, any updates?” Levi asked, glancing toward El-Amin.
“Negative, sir. Long-range LIDAR stations continue to show slow enemy reinforcement. They’re up to nine hundred and sixty-three ships.”
“What are they waiting for, an engraved invitation?” Fisher said, prompting snickering from around the bridge.
Levi laughed. “Let’s have engineering get right on that, XO.”
“Conn, communications. I’ve got a fleet-wide emergency broadcast from Canaan on all frequencies, sir.”
“Put it up on my viewer, Lieutenant.”
“Aye, sir,” the communications officer said.
A moment later, an image appeared on the monitor above Levi’s chair; the unmistakable image of Jason Nolan, President of the Terran Coalition. “My fellow citizens of the Terran Coalition, I come to you this morning on the cusp of the greatest threat our republic has ever known. At least since we escaped the clutches of the World Society, back on Earth. This broadcast is going out to every receiving station on Canaan and is being relayed across all GalNet relays. As most of are aware of by now, this League of Sol, as it calls itself, has sent a massive fleet to invade us. Repeated attempts at communication have failed; the only transmission we’ve received so far is a demand for unconditional surrender.”
Nolan put his head just a smidgen straighter and looked the holocamera directly in its lens. “After meeting with the joint chiefs of staff and consulting with the speaker of the house, majority and minority leaders in both houses of Congress, I am here to say that we will not surrender. It is the belief of the Coalition Defense Force and General Irvine that we can and will prevail in the battle to come. We must prevail,” he said, emotion breaking into his words. “For if we do not, evil will sweep across our republic and this section of our galaxy. Today, we take a stand. Today, we fight back and push the League of Sol back to where they came from. Regardless of whatever differences we may have with one another, now is the time for our entire society to stand shoulder to shoulder, united, together.”
Levi felt his battle spirit stirred by the words coming from the speakers as Nolan continued. “To our warriors, who go into battle on our behalf, allow me to say this. We pray for you, we pray for your success, and your victory over this foe. Our hopes and dreams ride with you into battle as you defend our homes. Fight well; fight with honor. And, if we should lose this day, the fight will continue. Even if Canaan is occupied and the accursed flag of the World Society flies over our world, we will never give up... because any outcome, even death, is better than slavery and occupation. May God go with us, may He watch over us, and guide us. Godspeed to you all, and God Bless the Terran Coalition!”
The transmission cut off, leaving the bridge exceedingly quiet and Levi with his thoughts. All those years as a young officer, hoping for action. Now I’m about to have more than I could ever want. Funny how age changes perspective.
“I keep hoping that this is some sort of a bad dream,” Fisher said quietly, keeping her voice down as to not alarm the crew.
“Same here.”
“I didn’t think much of President Nolan during the last election. I actually voted for Sakina Hakim.”
“I did too,” Levi said with an amused grin. “He seemed… weak.”
“Sometimes, I think all of us are capable of rising to the occasion.”
“The great challenge of each generation?”
“Yeah,” Fisher said. “Seems like we haven’t had one in a while.”
“No. Fifty years of peace and relative prosperity. I think most of us have had a good life.”
“Our fleet versus a thousand ships is not going to be pretty.”
Levi turned toward Fisher. “No, it won’t be for them.”
Fisher smiled, but from the way her mouth curled, Levi felt it was forced. “Of course, Major.”
For the next three and a half hours, they sat in relative silence; the ship was as ready as it was going to get, and the crew remained on heightened alert, though not at all-out battle stations. Levi knew that running full tilt for too long would tire his already inefficient team. After a consistent amount of boredom, things began to change very rapidly.
“Conn, TAO. Aspect change! I’m showing hundreds of wormholes opening fifty thousand kilometers away from the main battle line of the fleet,” El-Amin said.
Levi glanced at Fisher, her expression grave. “Here we go. Communications, tie me into 1MC.”
“1MC, aye, sir.”
“Attention, all hands!” Levi said, fighting down adrenaline and keeping his face as neutral as possible. Showing fear will be infectious and damaging to the crew. “General quarters! General quarters! Set condition one throughout the ship. All hands to battle stations! This is not a drill. I say again, this is not a drill,” he finished. The procedure and script for taking the ship to battle stations was written in every CDF manual, and he’d drilled it countless times. This is only the fourth time in my career calling it for an actual threat.
The bright white bridge lights dimmed, replaced with a dim pale blue illumination that allowed for better viewing of displays and screens. “Conn, TAO. Condition one is set throughout the ship, sir.”
“All damage control teams reporting ready, sir,” Fisher said. “Bulkheads are sealed.”
“TAO, energize the shields, charge the energy weapons capacitor, and make our forward missile tubes ready for launch in all respects.”
“Aye, sir, shields up, charging weapons. Missile launcher tubes report doors open, ready to launch in all respects excepting a firing solution.”
Levi noted with satisfaction that while the mood was tense, each member of the crew was performing exactly as they should, with crisp, professional responses. I got lucky; this is a great crew. Now we wait and see what the enemy throws at us next. He looked up at the overhead, momentarily overcome with emotion. God, I know I’m not the best Jew. I’ve broken far more mitzvot than I’d ever want to admit in open temple. I also know You are faithful and just to forgive our sins. Please, protect us this day, and if it is Your will, allow our fleet to carry the day so that Your people may continue.
LSS Le Terrible
Approaching Canaan Orbit
28 September 2533
30 Minutes Earlier
* * *
Seville paced back and forth around the tactical plot that was displayed on his flag bridge; his ship had led the way, and now his entire fleet was jumping in, a mere quarter of a light second from the Terran Coalition defenders. “Colonel Lemieux, as soon as the balance of the fleet is in position, I will begin to probe these ships with a few of our vessels.”
Lemieux’s face contorted into a snarl. “Why? The plan is to attack with our entire force, at once.”
“Our orders included a provision not to throw away our forces against a vastly superior foe, did they not?”
“That’s beside the point, Admiral.”
“Did they or didn’t they?”
If looks could kill, Seville would’ve been murdered fifty times over. “Yes.”
“Then we need to reconnoiter the enemy.”
“Why?”
Maybe if I try some reverse psychology. “Colonel, I would prefer we understand what the fleet is going up against. If you don’t agree, though, I’m happy to record that in my log prior to sending it back to Earth before we engage the enemy.”
Lemieux broke into a smile, seemingly acknowledging she’d been outfoxed. “When you put it that way, Admiral, I suppose I can see the value in what you propose. Understand it’s the only exception to our orders I will grant you.”
Perhaps I should have saved that card for a more important moment. No matter, now we can see how good these Terran ships really are. “Flag Captain, order two groups of frigates to move forward and probe the enemy lines, supported by one unit of destroyers. Let’s see what these capitalists can throw at us.”
CSV Victory – Terran Coalition Flagship
Canaan Orbit
28 September 2533
15 Minutes Earlier
* * *
“General, thirty League ships are moving forward,” MacIntosh said, looking toward Irvine. “Mostly smaller frigates, a few of them we’d classify as a destroyer in terms of tonnage.”
“Amazing that it took them this long.”
“But why only send thirty ships forward?”
“They’re going to probe us, check our strengths and weaknesses. Determine if we can be beaten, and what the cost will be.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Order our weakest destroyer squadrons to engage.”
MacIntosh stared at her, his eyebrows scrunched together in a puzzled look. “But why the weakest, ma’am?”
“Two-fold, Lieutenant. The first reason is that they’re the assets we can most afford to lose. The second is that if they’re effective against the League ships, that tells us our newer ships will perform all the better. However, if they take significant losses, it will bait the enemy commander into an all-out assault on our lines. If we can get them to do that, I believe it will put us at an advantage.”
Wow, that’s awfully cold. Those old ships have even larger crews than the new ones because of advances in automation technology around the fusion reactors.
“You disagree?”
“Ma’am, it's not my place to say, but what about the people on our ships?”
“We all knew what we were signing up for, Lieutenant. All I can promise you is that if the ultimate price is necessary, we’ll all pay it. Including me. Now, enough talk. Transmit my orders.”
“Yes, ma’am,” MacIntosh said, turning aside and walking toward the communication officer.
5
CSV Salamis
Canaan Local Space - Terran Coalition Homeworld
28 September 2533
Present Time
* * *
“Conn, TAO. Master Four-Hundred-Five in range, sir,” El-Amin said, his voice measured and professional.
Levi glanced up at the trusty tactical plot and zoomed in on the current battle space. It looked like the League ships were trying to burn away and fall back. “TAO, firing point procedures, Master Four-Hundred-Five, forward magnetic cannons, and neutron beams.” Could be a feint, who knows. Doesn’t matter, we’ll still make them pay.
“Conn, TAO. Firing solutions set, sir.”
“TAO, match bearings, shoot, all weapons.”
There was a slight shudder as the five-hundred-millimeter mag-cannons fired, spewing high explosive shells toward the targeted frigate. A few seconds later, beams of concentrated neutrons that took on a light blue hue shot out from the Salamis. Combined with the focused attacks from three other destroyers, the shields of the vessel quickly failed, which was followed by a series of explosions across its hull.
“Conn, TAO. Master Four-Hundred-Five has lost main power and is drifting in space. Contact has been neutralized.”
“Nice shooting, Lieutenant. Communications, what’s our next target from the Goddard?”
“Haven’t received it yet, sir.”
“Conn, TAO. Aspect change, enemy vessels directly ahead… they’re retreating, sir.”
“That must have been a probe of our defenses and tactics,” Levi mused out loud.
“So why send the oldest ships out to fight them? Doesn’t that kind of defeat the purpose of shock and awe?” Fisher asked.
Levi turned his head. “Because we’re the most expendable assets here, Captain.” As soon as the words left his lips, Levi regretted uttering them. Fisher’s expression darkened, and while she said nothing, the tension that spread out was palpable throughout the bridge. That mouth of mine will get me in trouble one of these days, Sarah always says.
“That was an absolute disaster,” Seville hissed toward Lemieux. “We lost twenty-three ships and only destroyed six of theirs.”
“Which is why we need to launch an immediate and full attack with our entire fleet.”
Seville stared at the tall Frenchwoman. It was all he could do not to allow his jaw to drop open. “Colonel, that would be madness,” he said, trying to keep his voice down. Can’t she see that would open us up to defeat at worst, a pyrrhic victory at best? “With that rate of exchange, we could inflict serious damage to the fleet.”
