The Terpla'ns - Chapter 7

[Zume (OP)]

The 141st Regiment on Citadel was given three weeks R&R following particularly intense street fighting in Stone Hearth, capital of the Axis colony world. A recreation camp was set up on an island in the equatorial tropics of the planet. It was quite distant from known concentrations of Comensal civilians-cum-insurgents. Most importantly the humidity, frequent torrential rains and overbearing sunlight were quite unacceptable for Comensal physiology. For the E’sani soldiers they couldn’t have asked for a better environment.

Sitting under the shade of a neo-palm tree one sergeant Pepen-su Karas watched as his platoon mates engaged in sand cricket and coconut tossing. As for himself he was writing a letter to Svaa Keltro, a Hamthen child he met back during the liberation of Hamthen Prime.

Dear Svaa. The fighting on Citadel has entered a new phase. Our general, Jingu-wa, has grown tired of chasing after bands of bonehead fighters. He decided to make them come to him instead. Me and my friends have been guarding engineers as they tear down buildings in Stone Hearth and filling in the basements with plasticrete. The goal is to make the boneheads so cross as to make them come out of the hills and fight us on our terms. It’s either that, or they’ll allow their city to turn into one big parking lot.

Pepen-su stopped for a moment, recalling one particular instance of Comensal fanaticism. His platoon was guarding a group of engineers as they poured plasticrete into a basement. Beforehand the decision was made not to locate any entrances to shelters in these basements as in all previous cases they were booby-trapped, leading to substantial casualties. Instead, once the upper structure was removed the basements were burned out with hyper napalm and then filled with plasticrete. It didn’t rate a damn if the hidden shelters had occupants in them or not for by entombing them they were denied to the Comensal. It looked like another boring fill job when a huge air bubble emerged and popped, the plasticrete pouring down to fill the resulting void. With his own eyes Pepen-su saw the head and arms of a Comensal rising out of the ‘crete, gasping for air as he clawed his way up and out. Still, the E’sani instinct to help wasn’t totally suppressed for Pepen-su ordered a platoon mate to fetch a length of rope. Lt. Casfe-de saw it first, the barrel of a grenade launcher poking out of the shelter’s entrance even as the ‘crete poured in like a torrent of sweet molasses. He sprayed the entrance with rifle fire, killing the grenadier. When it appeared that the ‘crete swimmer was reaching for something out of view it was Pepen-su that fired, decapitating him in one shot. A thermite grenade was fired into the shelter opening and everyone hit the deck, and rightfully so since the resulting explosion was more powerful than anticipated. After the brief rain of plasticrete the engineers resumed as if nothing had happened. Bits of Comensal remains as well as weapons and even food stores were found in the immediate vicinity of the ‘crete fall. This confirmed the theory that Comensal gave food and weapons the same priority and allotted equal space for both.

Pepen-su resumed writing. Well, my platoon rated a big rest. We’re taking in the sun and surf on a tropical isle with no boneheads anywhere near us. The cookouts are a feast every night. Even the bark of the neo-palms is like candy. I’d say by the time we’re shipped back to the fight there won’t be any bark left on the island. I’ll include some photos for you to share with your class. Your parents say that you’re the best student in class and I hope you continue to be so. Living a life of excellence is the best way to put the war behind you.

Your friend, Pepen-su Karas.

After sending the electronic letter on its way Pepen-su stored the writing tablet in its pouch and stood up. The games were winding down for lunch, though that didn’t prevent the majority of soldiers from stripping neo-palm bark from nearby trees for snack food. “Menki-wa,” Pepen-su called out to a platoon mate, “stop stuff your face with that bark! I don’t care how tasty it is. We’re here to kill boneheads, not trees.”

“Sarge, the bark will grow back,” Menki-wa protested. “Plus don’t you know that with barbeque sauce this bark is boss? Try some!”

“Fine! Leave all the ribs for me!” Pepen-su reached the field kitchen first despite having a 30 meter handicap.


********


Admiral Tulcus Jki, commander of Task Force 21, had to look at the photo one more time. Like all commanders she had to present a public face and demeanor fitting for her position. In private she suffered from isolation that command places on its chosen. She missed her family back home terribly, all the more since the birth of her grandson Namvek. A photo could only do so much, but she restricted herself to just that, knowing that videos would just be an extra burned on her mind.

The only relief she had was Flip, the mascot of the Captain Avma. When the ship was commissioned over eight years ago she picked out a lungfish from the litter belonging to her father Sal. After the UWL War Jki was assigned to the nascent strikefighter program and only seen Flip after an Axis assault on Hagelkorn left her badly wounded. Fellow officer Reas and Marine Yun-su brought Flip over to the hospital ship she was on to cheer her up. When the Captain Dessis was destroyed in the capture of Circuit Run Jki elected to make the Captain Avma her flagship until sufficient command version Terplas were refitted to the new standard. Flip certainly hadn’t forgotten Jki; for once she took residence Flip modified his dining habits. In the morning he took offered tidbits from the rated spacers mess, pouted at the officer’s lunch, made himself at home at the senior petty officers table at dinner, and came to her day cabin before evening lights for some num-nums before going to bed.

Jki was more than happy to proved num-nums to Flip, scratching his belly while he greedily took pellets of freeze-dried worms. It provided a relief to an otherwise pressure-filled life. Yet this was a relief that couldn’t be called upon all the time. The wall chrono told her that she was needed in the Avma’s auxiliary control, which served as her CIC. Putting Flip in the day cabin’s small aquarium Jki then adjusted her shipsuit. Before leaving, of course, she gave Flip one last num-num.

In the CIC she found Captain Yos, her staff intelligence officer, waiting for her. “I have the situation report,” he said, no longer winching in pain due to his wounded, covered left eye. He indicated to the large flat panel screen at the front of the compartment that served in the stead of a holoimager. “Working on astrogation databases captured from the last battle we now have the names of the systems linked to Circuit Run. Using the Axis designations, WP 2 leads to a system called Laser Burn. We have no other data since none of the ships with the captured information had visited the system. A task element is escorting a pair of regular Chaq pinnace tenders to probe the warp point.

“WP 4 connects to a system called Forger’s Gate, and we do have information. It has two rather rich asteroid belts, colonies on all available moons, and a settlement on a desolate world. It’s a rather miserable planet according to the mentions in the data. I surmise the settlement is only there to provide a labor force for the orbital shipyards as well as mine the planet’s rich mineral resources. There’s just one other warp point, and it leads to Connectors.”

That piqued Jki’s interest. “That collaborates the information we gathered from the captured Axis ships when they probed the Silvershoe/Connectors warp point. So once we can seize Forger’s Gate second warp point that Axis task group will be trapped.”

Yos laced his recovering, glove-covered fingers. “Until such time they make a suicide attack on Silvershoe or return to Forger’s Gate. They may already be pulling back to Forger’s Gate as we speak. There are six type-5 bases and three type-2 bases with commensurate buoys and mines guarding the FG/Connectors warp point. As for the FG/Circuit Run warp point there are two type-5 bases, three type-2 bases and two asteroid forts, both each a little under the tonnage of a superdreadnought.

“As for WP 1 it leads to a system called Bedrock. Like Laser Burn we have no data other than the designation of fleet base. This is the same warp point where the Axis carriers and surviving warships transited through two days ago.”

Jki blinked acknowledgment. Several Sloop scouts had tracked the Axis ships following the allied victory five days previous. Occasionally a pair of Axis fighter squadrons would chase away a Sloop, unloaded so that it forced the small ship to detune its engines until the fighters had to return to their carriers. “They’re preserving the best part of what was left of their fleet. Going to Forger’s Gate would be a death sentence.” She cast her gaze on Yos. “How soon until we’re able to invest both the Bedrock and Forger’s Gate warp points?”

“Within a week, Admiral. A fresh minelayer group is accompanying Task Group 131 as well as the Hazen and UWL assault flotillas.”

“Very good.” Jki turned her focus on the screen icon representing warp point 4. “Call in the rest of the staff. I want a plan that will remove Forger’s Gate as a possible source of raiding forces. More importantly, once that system is under our control the route to Circuit Run will be several warp lines shorter.”

“A desirable and most useful state of affairs, Admiral,” Yos said approvingly. “The staff will assembly presently in the conference room.”


********


The Forger’s Gate system was a binary of red stars. It was the star associated with the warp points that had the habitable planet. It was one of the rare worlds orbiting a red star that supported life. The Axis, finding that the planet had abundant mineral resources on par with the asteroids and moons, placed a settlement on it to serve as the system’s nexus of processing and economic control. Each outpost, colony, and Forger’s Gate itself were fully industrialized, their refined metals supplying Bedrock and its massive construction complex.

Captain Yos’ assessment of Forger’s Gate was accurate, for it was a miserable planet. Water, one of the crucial elements for life, kept reminding everyone on FG of that fact at every opportunity. The Comensal colonists have a saying for FG – ‘there’s rain, more rain, and damn rain.’ More than miserable, it actually was wretched world, for only 10% of the planet was fit for long-term habitation. That was the northern and southern poles, and naturally it rained there too but it was cold rain. For every ounce of effort put into mining on FG two ounces were required to keep water out of mineshafts. If they hadn’t started from the surface the miners would’ve sworn they were working underwater.

Governor Antran was at the spaceport located near the main city of Hammer. He was there to see off the latest load of mines and IDEWs destined for each of FGs two warp points. A retired system admiral, Antran knew the reason why the system and its population of 320,000 (240,000 of which were on FG proper) was on its own for the time being. It made sense for the remnants of the fleet to retire to Bedrock and reconstitute, covered by the massive fortifications and defensive squadrons of Hatchets. What he did not understand was why the Connectors task force, now more like a task group in size and scope, was still holding position at the Connectors/Silvershoe warp point. Antran wanted them to act as a mobile reserve to intercept whatever Abom force that entered the system, regardless if it was first or second war point. He made his case to Galaxy Admiral Danmor in Bedrock via the ICN but to no avail. Of course had Danmor changed his mind it was too late as the Aboms had undoubtedly destroyed all the comm buoys in Circuit Run.

A realist, Antran evoked emergency spending and fund allocation to the assembly and construction of additional system defenses three months ago. In two months the orbital works would be completing two of the plasma-armed and two point defense versions of a new class of type-3 base. Two fighter-equipped type-5 bases will be ready in three months. Four more asteroid forts of the type guarding the FG/Circuit Run warp point, under construction by an equal number of mobile yards, had two months of work left. Two more mobile yards, albeit the smaller CA-hulled design and recent arrivals, just started adding another shipyard section to the space station. There wasn’t much more that could be done, but at least the Aboms will be forced to neutralize Forger’s Gate before taking on Bedrock. If left alone long enough then even the Connectors task force could be strengthened and sent into Circuit Run to do all kinds of mischief to Abom logistics. Thankfully some 12,000 AFC personnel were on hand to man any future ship construction Antran cared to undertake.

The bleak clouds above the spaceport broke, letting in the dark red midday sun to filter down. A brace of cargo pinnaces on the launch pads now looked as if painted with old blood. Antran took it as an omen of good luck, for it was at that moment the pinnaces took off for WP1. At cruising speed it will be a little over a week before they arrived. Once they were out of view Antran went to visit the manufacturing complex building the mines and IDEWs. At least the rain held off for the rest of the afternoon.


********


From one perspective the positioning of the two bases and two asteroid forts in the immediate vicinity of the Forger’s Gate (FG)/Circuit Run warp point formed a square. From another viewpoint it was an X. In the command post of AFFG01 one Prime Commander Lerven saw a net that still had several holes. Looking at a plot that showed the placement of the defenses he viewed them by their arbitrarily labeled positions. To the northwest and southeast of the warp point at a range of 0.5 LS were single type-5 bases. Northeast and southwest at the same distance were two asteroid forts. The minefield shell had 900 patterns and was augmented by 180 single-shot laser buoys and 180 IDEW-Es. With no fighters only three assault shuttles made up the CAP, prowling from within the minefields and completing one orbit every three minutes.

After the aboms recaptured Hamthen, thanks in no small part to their used of antimatter warheads, Lerven managed to convince Governor Antran to construct two asteroid forts to supplement FG’s defenses. The selling points was that each fort cost less than the typical beam-armed type-5 (and far less expensive to equip a fighter base) and with its massed battery of old-style sprint-mode missile launchers, eventually to be armed with antimatter warheads, would smash shields flat and allow IDEW-Es to burn out abom ships for capture and inspection. Once the two forts were built the defenses, originally divided evenly between the two warp points, were skewed so that the one linked to Connectors had 4 type-5Bs and both type-5Vs. The dramatic reversal of fortune following the defeat in Circuit Run had cast doubt on that commitment. Worse yet, it couldn’t be immediately changed for Galaxy Admiral Danmor had the sole tug in FG recalled into Bedrock only three weeks ago so as to enable the stationed tug in that system to undergo a refit. Because of that decision one precious mobile yard in FG was tasked to build a replacement tug when it could’ve been building another fighter base.

Lerven wasn’t allowed to brood over things out of his control when the first allied warships made transit. Three Hazen Headmasters, one Humarsh Singularity, and two Hazen Second Colonels formed the first wave. Armed with antimatter CAMs the first Headmaster selected the northwest BS5 and let loose. Eight of those CAMs and five capital energy beams hit. Instead of burning out internal systems the BS5’s overload dampeners kicked in, leaving only two of the original seven intact. When the second Headmaster fired it selected the second BS5, almost but not quite bringing down its shields. Achieving action stations, this base fired on the third dreadnought, smiting shields and armor alike with a measure of internal damage. Its primary beams were unleashed on a Second Colonel, rendering internal machinery useless with 5cm holes through power capacitors, computers, and control circuits.

The damaged third DN fired on the first BS5, burning out the last two overload dampeners. Unassimilated energy played out, shorting out 20% of the base’s offensive weapons. Fire from the two BCs and the Singularity ensured both BS5s had no shields and the first base was rapidly becoming a shorted-out hulk. One fort fired its CAMs and sprint rounds into the Headmasters, nearly making them unshielded. Useful, for all three BS2s coordinated and fired all 180 IDEW-Es and 120 laser buoys. One DN and both BCs were destroyed. Only the Singularity suffered minor internal damage, using two dampeners in emergency overload to stave off further harm.

Wave two had three First Colonels, a Hazen-built Cram, and two UWL Tamaya-Pg cruisers. Both remaining Headmasters fired first, making both BS5s nearly weaponless. The second BS5 and fort smashed one DN and the shields of the Cram, yet their partners failed to achieve action stations. The first fort fired on a Tamaya, heavily damaging it. Plasma bolts and CAMs brought down the shields of the second fort. This hardly mattered for the last 57 laser buoys (three having been shot down by the DNs point defense) finished the two Headmasters and scoured the armor on the rest. Primary beams hit the second fort; the result of the damage was unknown at the moment.

Wave three had three Valhallan Sovereign cruisers and three Hazen Lieutenant destroyers. The allies’ luck held when a Sovereign fired at the first BS5, completely destroying it. Follow-up fire from the Tamayas and Lieutenants finished the second, never having the chance to fire. Again the second fort was fumbling to arm weapons. When plasma bolts from the other two Sovereigns hit the first fort the scanners on the First Colonels were able to confirm that there were no point defense instillations, explaining why the plasma bolts weren’t intercepted. Each fort had a sizeable number of overload dampeners, some of which on the second fort were out of commission. What caught the FC captains’ eyes was that the forts lacked shearing planes. With each FC equipped with a tractor beam both forts found themselves at the mercy of the Hazen crews.

Had Levren been a better student of history he would’ve remembered the Elotoshani War and the Axis response to that short abom race’s use of tractor beams and primary beams. He was reminded of that when the recycled primaries of the FCs, using the targeting information provided by their scanners, took out the magazines for the sprint launchers. Now totally useless, the forts could only watch as their 12 assault shuttles, launched previously, conducted a suicide attack on the damaged Tamaya. Only one succeeded in ramming with the rest falling to the combined point defense of the ships on the warp point. Boarding actions were conducted on the forts so they could be captured and inspected for any signs of new technologies as well as for any hidden intelligence data. Levren wasn’t among the few officer prisoners taken, having met the leading boarding party head-on with nothing more than his service pistol.

A path cleared in the mines, Task Group 131 assembled and moved on WP 2 at max dreadnought speed. It will take a little over five days of travel. A separate formation headed for the planet of Forger’s Gate, a journey of over four days at max cruiser speed. The captured data was specific on what was orbiting there: a space station a little more than the tonnage of six dreadnoughts and a far smaller one not that much bigger than a heavy cruiser. Five mobile yards, DN sized, were mentioned in the database and in orbit of FG. It was a month out of date, so it was likely more units had been dispatched to the system.

Two task elements, the 112.1 and 112.2, had accompanied TG 131 in its trek to Axis space. Included in each element were four Cout escort carriers and eight squadrons of F1 Sharks. They were escorts for the 2nd Pinnace Tender Flotilla, comprising of three Privateer and three Chaq-B tenders and included the famous Curtys and Bayyar. Lieutenant Senior Grade Davke was in command of the combined wings of Whale armed pinnaces.

Two days into the trip to Forger’s Gate a Sloop scout detected and investigated a sensor contact that turned out to be an Axis convoy. It consisted of six FT4 ‘Potholder’ freighters and six undersized corvette hulls with commercial engines. Based on its course the convoy came from the asteroid belt of the second system component. No doubt it was a monthly run of processed metals and other goods destined for the space station. If left alone, the convoy would reach the planet just as the carriers entered striking range of the station. Flag Captain Tesses elected to destroy the convoy before it could make planetfall and provide last-ditch defense against his Sharks and Whales. He altered course and intercepted the convoy six light minutes short of Forger’s Gate.

All 96 Sharks were involved, half armed with laser packs and fRAMs and the other with gun packs and stand-off missiles. Moving three times as fast as the convoy the Sharks easily got into range. A surprise was revealed when three of the corvettes launched twelve F0 Hatchets. The gun-armed Sharks broke off and engaged these interlopers at point-blank range while the others were at 0.75 LS range of the convoy. The six FT4s and the six corvettes had diverted course by datagroups at the last moment, allowing two of them to engage with point defense. One Flak Lighter was denuded of its armor and improved point defense. All 12 Hatchets were lost but a total of 12 Sharks were shot down.

Moving onward the central datagroup and the FLVs also diverted course so they could engage those squadrons in the blindspots of the other two datagroups with point defense. The laser-and-FRAM armed Sharks had split into three groups, with two squadrons per datagroup and the remainder of two others concentrating on the FLVs. Just one Shark was destroyed. With point defense expended the Axis ships couldn’t defend themselves even from the light missile volleys from the Sharks that destroyed the protective Hatchets. Between missiles, lasers, and FRAMs only two FT4s and a FLV remained. A lucky point defense hit took one more Shark before the convoy was completely wiped out.

As the Sharks landed on their carriers a Sloop scout reported its close-in findings of Forger’s Gate. The large and very small space stations were still there, along with four incomplete BS3s, two incomplete BS5s, and four asteroid forts each roughly the tonnage of a battleship. As the main station was too small to accommodate all of this construction and the five mentioned mobile yards were absent Tesses figured that the Comensal suspended further work and had the bases and forts, incomplete as they were, cleared from their slips and pressed into service. As for the mobile yards they could’ve made it as far as the asteroid belt of the primary component and shut down engines, looking for all intents and purposes as lifeless rock. That was a mystery to be solved later. Tesses, his fighter strikewing commander, and Davke had a quick meeting and decided to rush the space station and destroy it, leaving only the Couts and their Provem escorts behind just outside of SBM range.

Three Buccaneers, three Chaq-Bs, nine Okados and three Interceptions moved at full cruiser speed with their supporting shiver of Sharks and pod of Whales. On the Whale called Wholly Mackerel Davke and his crew were chewing strips of mackerel jerky as the formation closed in. Fully loaded with FRAMs they were eager to destroy the biggest encountered Axis space station to date. At 7.5 LS no Hatchets opposed them, but in their stead the BS5s bestowed to an Okado the honor of being the first allied ship to be hit by a new Axis weapon. Of the two spinal force beams fired only one hit. In of itself the damage was barely noted, but Tesses observed that had the bases any capital launchers they would’ve used them. All that the solitary hit did was to encourage the Terpla’ns to keep closing.

At 6 LS range the spinal beams missed but at 4.5 one hit, collapsing a pair of shields on the marked Okado. None of the standard missiles fired in reply hit the offending bases. Then at 3 LS both sides let loose with externally mounted missiles. Here the Axis showed that they had developed laser warheads for their capital missiles, smiting the designated Okado sore with the loss of three engine rooms. The combined external loads of the Terpla’n ships, comprised of CM-Lts, and along with hetlasers and lasers nearly beaten down the armor of one BS5.

The stations, bases, and forts launched a total of 72 Hatchets, 58 assault shuttles, and 5 pinnaces. At 1.5 LS range and oblivious to everything else Axis fighters homed in the other eight Okados while the shuttles bored into the first damaged one, obtaining only one hit. In their zeal these shuttles went for a head-on ram, thus depriving their point defense the chance to engage the Whales. The Hatchets found their datalinks down as the Interceptions activated their jammers. Along with the fire from the two BS5s and four asteroid forts (each contributing one sprint missile each) the Axis destroyed two Okados and broke the passive defenses of a third. All the Hatchets were destroyed but at the cost of one FRAM from 48 Sharks. Inherent guns on the Whales and shipboard point defense took care of the rest while the pinnaces and 14 more assault shuttles were brought down by the Whales’ point defense mounts. The armor on one BS5 was ripped away and internal damage began to accumulate.

The Sharks and Whales moved on and were at point blank range of their targets. Tesses had his ships slowed to 0.033c and generate as much ECM as possible, turning to port at the last moment as the Axis assault shuttles came about and performed a suicide run on the third Okado. Three hit the ship’s rear portside, taking out three more engines. It was a pitiful show, and even the demise of this third ship from the BS5s spinal force beams didn’t prevent the downfall of those two platforms as well as 2 BS3s. After shooting down 8 Whales like so many clay pigeons the main station fell to the firepower of fifteen of those craft. Davke whooped with delight, pelting his viewscreen with bits of jerky. Like a sloppily-made firework the main station disintegrated in spectacular fashion. The other Whales and Sharks had taken care of the passive defenses of the asteroid forts, revealing to scanners the true state of their internal affairs. Tesses decided to finish them with shipboard armaments.

Job done, both fighters and pinnaces peeled away to intercept the last of the assault shuttles. Two managed to ram a fourth Okado before the remaining 17 became expanding clouds of scrap, plus one more that use to be a Shark. Sprint missiles broke the shields and half the armor of this fourth ship in exchange for two of the forts losing their sole offensive weapon. Tesses moved to point-blank range, pouring fire into the dying, half-completed hulks save one BS3. For this Tesses sent over marine-filled shuttles to capture the base before it could be scuttled. The honor of ending the battle was the Curtys, finishing the small station with its laser. A solitary nuke was sent down to Forger’s Gate to take care of the spaceport.

Three days later a tug came to tow the base to a Terpla’n mobile yard so that a thorough inspection of its technical systems could be done. A search for data revealed nothing, though it wasn’t caused by destruction but that the base’s incomplete computers weren’t fully up to specs. After S&R operations in the immediate vicinity of Forger’s Gate, Tesses took his ships on a tour of the system and inspected every moon and asteroid colony for spaceports, destroying them when found. Sloop scouts began their search for any hidden Axis mobile yards.


********


Meanwhile Task Group 131 had reached the FG/Connectors warp point. The trio of BS2s was the first to go, destroyed by laser-armed capital missiles. Next came the two BS5Vs. The fire plan was to strip both bases of their armor with SBM-Lts, thus robbing them of their external ordnance, and then close to 7 LS range and fire CM-AMs. Sensing this, the base commanders launched their complement of fighters, 28 squadrons in all. Moving on the capital missile ships these Hatchets, like their brethren over Forger’s Gate, lost their datalink from jammer and were scythed like harvest wheat. Only one Disam was badly damaged, thanks in part to the Axis’ still apparent lack of antimatter warheads.

With the fighter threat dealt with the bombardment continued. The fighter bases proved that they were armed with spinal force beams but managed to only tickle the shields of an Oknib. Destroyed in short order the last targets were the four BS5Bs. Again laser-tipped CMs denuded the armor of the four leviathans, denying them any chance to fight back with their own external missiles. At a range of 4.5 LS those ships in the task group armed with capital and standard launchers, which included Junshu class carriers, bombarded the bases into oblivion with antimatter ordnance. Fighters swept in and took out the IDEWs.

That left the minefields. Rearmed with mine-clearance rounds from the copious holds of an accompanying fast freighter the task force reduced each sector of the minefield to the point where the six attached Luttfomis took care of the remaining patterns. With that task done, minesweepers sent away to have their armor repaired, the task force reloaded with anti-ship warheads while the fast minelayers placed their own curtain of death about the warp point. Now the Axis Connectors task force was trapped. It remained to be seen which direction towards death they were going to chose.


Back in Circuit Run the Captain Avma was in orbit over CR-A-01, shuttling down supplies for the Quagaar marines. The domed and underground Axis colony on the planet was acquiescent, a condition that prevailed on Citadel and Borehole until the populations conducted planet-wide uprisings. Jki was being briefed by her staff on the status of the task force as well as the newly arrived intelligence from Forger’s Gate. Laser warheads and improved point defense was an expected development from the Axis, but the force beam with the apparent range of 7.5 LS was a surprise. Next to the loss of three DDs and pilots Flag Captainl Tesses regretted not securing one of the bases that mounted the weapon. Even a destroyed example would’ve provided information on its true capabilities.

“Captain Yos,” Jki said to her intelligence officer, “what are the options available for the AFC force in Connectors now that the FG/Connectors warp point has been invested by Task Group 131?”

Yos blinked both eyes for his left one no longer needed a patch. It was still shaded pink and would remain so for several more weeks. “Very limited, Admiral. They could stay in Connectors, eventually run out of supplies, and become increasingly less combat effective each month thereafter. An assault on Slivershoe, whether normal or mass, would provide them with some sense of satisfaction insofar destroying ships of Task Group 121. I believe the most likely scenario is that they may try to reenter Forger’s Gate in the very near future.”

“Oh?” Jki sounded naturally interested, unlike other admirals that manage to make such an utterance seem like sarcasm. “Explain.”

“Being right next to Forger’s Gate,” Yos explained, “the Axis force was in immediate supply. With access gone their large ships will have just two months of supplies on-hand with the smaller ones having three to four months worth. I believe they will affect a mass transit, rush the minefields, and engage TG 131 directly.”

Rear Admiral Reas, commanding the carrier groups in the task force, looked incredulous. “Why would they do that, Captain? If they break into Silvershoe and eliminate Task Group 121 in the process then the survivors will have the opportunity to attack convoys before being hunted down and destroyed.”

Yos’ blinked both sets of eyelids. “While a viable option I believe the Axis admiral will make the most of a bad situation. A successful break in and victory in Forger’s Gate wouldn’t mean much in of itself. If the surviving ships make it to the asteroid belts then the crews could be spread among the colonies and outposts located within. In the event of a successful counterattack from Bedrock those crews would be available for manning new construction. Failing that, they could operate small craft and even fighters if the colonists clandestinely build ground bases on their asteroids. Remember, Forger Gate’s two belts are rather large so spreading the crews out won’t be much of a problem.”

“Yos,” Jki asked, “how long will it take for the Axis force to cover the distance between the two warp points in Connectors?”

Looking thoughtful, Yos answered immediately. “The distance between the two warp points is 720 light minutes. Assuming no battleships and dreadnoughts to slow them down, and a combination of maximum and cruising speed it will take 15 days to cover the distance. So, at a minimum, they’ll be on their side of the warp point in two days. I have mentioned this possibility with strong emphasis in a recent dispatch to Rear Admiral Wysho’s intelligence staff.”

Wysho commanded the fixed defenses in Hagelkorn and was considered to be a cool, calculating character. When promoted to Rear Admiral he was also given command of TG 131. Jki blinked approval. “Wysho will handle them,” Jki said with conviction. “It’ll boil down to how many of their carriers are lost in a mass transit and if the Axis is willing to send them through with the other ships in a minefield. However, even if they stay put in Connectors it won’t matter a damn. The rest of the 2nd Fleet as well as allied task groups will go through Connectors instead of taking the original route. In six weeks they’ll be at the warp point leading to Bedrock.” She smiled. “They will go through Connectors as a group, and it would rather nice for the Axis force there to act as live-fire targets for our pilots and gun crews.”

--Zume

Axis System - Forger's Gate
System Primary: Red
Planets:
   1. Type: T (hab 10) -- Range: 4 LM -- Radian 3 -- 1 moon
   2. Type: Gas -- Range: 10 LM -- Radian: 12 -- 5 moons
   3. Type: Gas -- Range: 16 LM -- Radian: 6 -- 5 moons
   4. Type: Gas -- Range: 28 LM -- Radian: 8 -- 2 moons
   5. Type: AF -- Range: 52

System Secondary: Red (Range: 190 LM -- Radian: 10)
Planets:
   1. Type: Gas -- Range: 7 LM -- Radian: 12 -- 2 moons
   2. Type: Gas -- Range: 10 LM -- Radian: 1 -- 3 moons
   3. Type: Gas -- Range: 13 LM -- Radian: 10 -- 3 moons
   4. Type: Ice -- Range: 19 LM -- Radian: 11 -- 4 moons
   5. Type: Ice -- Range: 31 LM -- Radian: 5 -- 3 moons
   6. Type: AF -- Range: 55

System Warp Points
   1. Type: 11 - Range: 354 LM - Radian: 2 - OPEN(180)  to Circuit Run
   2. Type: 10 - Range: 141 LM - Radian: 12 - OPEN(200) to Connectors

[Zume (OP)]

The Terpla'ns - Chapter 7.25

The senate meeting ranked in the top five of the most contentious ever held. After battling his way through the throngs of lesser politicos and press Eyna Huj, CPS president, finally reached his executive office with senator and personal friend Sal Jki at his side. It was the way Eyna went for the mini bar that told Sal this was going to be an all-nighter. “I knew Buntu has a thing about his personal appearance,” Eyna said as he practically ripped the top off a bottle of seaweed wine. “Removing all those age and stress lines around his eyes, he shouldn’t have stopped there.” Forgoing a proper glass he grabbed a quartz tankard and filled it. “He’s so full of himself that he needs work on his mouth so it can be a fully functional…”

“Pace, dear Eyna,” Sal said. “Our good friend from Kiosho was just expressing his opinion.”

“Opinion? Sal, that man is practically a pirate.” Eyna took a long draw of wine from the tankard, totally unfair for the age and vintage involved. “He wanted to grant exclusive rights to major shipping companies to service the active war zones, locking out all the small and independent shippers from bidding. Then there’s that ‘bulk discount’ of his. Ha! An officially sanctioned kickback in all but name!”

Sal grinned as he poured a much more modest amount of wine into a proper glass. “It’s no secret that Buntu’s in the pouch of the big five shippers in the Commonwealth. I’ll do my part to keep that bill from ever reaching committee consideration. Several of the other senators in the outer systems are keenly aware that their constituents are being better served by indie shippers. I’ll help them in this matter as payment for their support earlier.”

Eyna smiled. “Well yes, Sal. You very well couldn’t crow on her behalf. Not with your stance against favoritism.”

“It’s not favoritism in this case,” Sal corrected, “but a military necessity. With so much brass and stars in Circuit Run it needs to be clear that she’s in charge. As the most senior, combat experienced admiral in the whole navy there is no other choice. No matter how much Buntu wants to believe,” he said with a smile of his own, “it’s not because she’s my little girl.”


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Granite-1, the massive space station over Bedrock Prime, was frantic with activity. Each major and minor construction slip was full, ranging from destroyers to a new class of base that was nearly 50% more massive than a type-5. System Admiral Hovwen, commander of the carrier group and senior surviving officer of Star Force 1, waited patiently in the outer office belonging to Galaxy Admiral Danmor. It was tradition for the junior wait for a period of time as a sign of the senior’s power and position. However, there was still something called professional courtesy, and Hovwen she felt her senior was taking the tradition of waiting a bit too far. With the Aboms directly threatening Bedrock, every minute counted.

A civilian secretary fetched Hovwen and brought her to Danmor’s inner office. After being announced Hovwen entered, finding Danmor standing and looking out of a massive clearplast viewport at the planet below. He didn’t bother to turn. “For bringing back what remained of the fleet you are to be commended, System Admiral. Rest assured you won’t be censured by me or by HQ.”

“Thank you, Sir,” Hovwen said. She expected to be cashiered for not throwing away all of her flightgroups in the defense of Circuit Run. In the face of Abom jamming those Hatchets, at best, would’ve destroyed some fighters and perhaps a few light warships.

Danmor turned from the viewport, his mauve colored eyes spirited. “You’ll be happy to know that the improved Hatchet program has actually been completed ahead of schedule. Upon receipt of the technical files from the ICN two weeks ago I authorized the clearing out of eighteen construction slips so as to utilize them for fighter production. The warp point fighter bases will be reequipped first, followed by your carriers. The colony on Bedrock’s moon and those in the asteroid belt will be building them as well, and just in time as their fighter bases will be complete at the end of the month.”

Hovwen looked pleased. “Thank you, Admiral. The carriers that were damaged will be fully repaired in time to receive those new fighters.”

Danmor took his seat behind his ornate desk, an antique from the homeworld. “As for the other warships that accompanied you, however, they will proceed to Gymnasium. The carriers, dreadnoughts, and battleships we cleared from their slips here are sufficiently complete to make the journey as well. They will be finished in Gymnasium, whether at the station there or by the mobile yards of the former Star Force 1. They will join other fresh construction to form Star Force 2, Third Advance Fleet.”

“Will we be reinforced in any event, Sir?”

“No, Hovwen, we will not be for at least three months. The forces we sent into Metalstorm, Silvershoe, and Chrome have been defeated, held in check, or forced to fall back. It was a waste of tonnage and opportunity that can only be made good if we hold them here.” Danmor looked for any visible sign of apprehension or surprise from Hovwen. There was none, proving that she was the sort of ruthless, realist officer he needed now. “Your regular and light carriers plus escorts will stay here and provide assistance to the bases guarding the Circuit Run warp point. Make no mistake, Admiral. If those bases fall then you will take those carriers and proceed to the Gymnasium system.”

Hovwen couldn’t fault the logic of the galaxy admiral. An experienced cadre of crews would go a long way to bolster overall fleet combat effectiveness. “Yes, Sir. Since the situation is that critical, Sir, can the Falcon Crests and Soars stay here as well?”

“No, they will not. Neither will the minesweepers. They will best serve the fleet by being preserved for the assault role they’ve been designed for.”

“Understood, Sir,” she said with a bit of resignation in her voice.

“Don’t be despondent, Hovwen. In a month’s time we’ll have 1340 improved Hatchet fighters. That’s enough to replace all the strikegroups on the bases and your carriers. All the displaced earlier versions will be more than enough to fill the hangers of all the colonial fighter bases that will come on-line at the same time. Even if the Aboms break into the system they will drown under repeated waves of fighters launched and staged from our asteroid colonies and support bases. Should they be so foolish as to take on Granite-1 they will find themselves breaking like glass hammers onto the very namesake of this world.”


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Upon receipt of news regarding the CSF breaking into Forger’s Gate, the commander of the Connectors Task Force, Zelwen, weighed her options. She could’ve, as Terpla’n Captain Yos reasoned, staged an assault on Silvershoe or Forger’s Gate. Zelwen was both shrewd and prudent. Unlike some other commanders she consulted the warp line map before acting. With the Aboms in Circuit Run, having gotten there via the Citadel-Borehole chain, they couldn’t have failed to appreciate the time and distanced saved by going through Connectors and Forger’s Gate instead. She had no doubt that the unnatural squids had gained astrogation data on Connectors and perhaps even on Bedrock. So it was a matter of waiting, perhaps no longer than a month, before the Aboms come calling and claim Connectors for their own.

It was on the fifteenth day, the day that Yos predicted the Connectors force would’ve reached the Forger’s Gate warp point had they chosen to done so that the first wave of the Allied assault force transited into Connectors via Silvershoe. Five massive Avami assault carriers and a Luttfomi were on an initial facing of arbitrary north. The Axis warships were 1.5 LS due south, orbiting the warp point at a speed of 0.017c. There were 12 BCs, 12 CLs, 15 DDs, and 12 FGs involved, all of them with the older improved armor. Of the ten Hatchet squadrons on the CAP seven became active. Only three of the big carriers turned far enough to get their sole hetlasers and CAMs in arc. The first Avami had antimatter CAMs, and along with two of its sister ships managed to reduce one Hero to half-speed. Those ships that became active destroyed one Avami and the seven active Hatchet squadrons nearly finished off another. As for the two Command Detonators they failed to become active but the carriers, sitting 4 LS from the warp point, crash-launched 13 squadrons.

Four Nikazu-Vs, a Cram, and a Bulani Conclave House formed the second wave. Thirty squadrons of F1 Sharks launched from the three remaining Avami carriers, with the first carrier completing its turn and transiting back to Silvershoe. Each Shark carried a pair of conventional close-attack missiles and a laser pack. All the Axis Sprinters and Punches were destroyed or crippled with two National Will cruisers thrown in for good measure by these 30 squadrons. The Luttfomi, the second Avami, and belatedly the Bulani SD were targeted by two Hatchet CAP squadrons and the active Axis warships. The Avami broke up, giving the one active CD the chance to fire off 100 laser buoys against just nine ships. Beaten down, the Luttfomi was destroyed along with its jammer. Just two Hatchet squadrons were crash-launched from a light carrier.

The third wave of three Gravity Wells and three Crams passed two Avamis and two Nikazu-Vs returning to Silvershoe. Seeing the Nikazu-Vs launch their broods and having a shrewd idea of what they were carrying Zelwen had her ships start withdrawing from the warp point. The crash-launched squadrons were set upon the 20 fresh Abom ones. With no jammers to interfere a respectable number of Sharks, 54, were snared though it took the total expenditure of close-attack missiles the Hatchets carried. Still, just enough FRAMs were delivered to ensure all the Heroes and Hailfires were crippled, some even shorted-out by the Conclave House and Gravity Wells’ energy beams. The Sharks in the first strike divided their attention between the Hatchets, getting only 32 because laser packs weren’t primed for dogfighting, and the Axis ships. Both Axis BCs and CLs fired what armament they still had, targeting the Conclave House with force and laser beams while point defense went after Sharks. With the other CD still fumbling the first one fired off another 100 laser buoys. The big Bulani ship reeled under the fresh hits, not quite attaining its exit vector when the fourth wave arrived.

A trio of Oknibs and a like number of Hazen Second Colonels entered and past a retiring pair of Nikazu-Vs. The Axis carriers and their escorts continued to move away with the other warships following, placing them 5.5 and 3 LS from the warp point respectively. The laser-armed Sharks stayed with the warships and welcomed a total of 13 fresh Hatchet squadrons. Some engine modulation on the Shark’s part made the Hatchets’ proximity-fused missiles a little bit less accurate, but combined with the previous wave 16 squadrons of Sharks were destroyed. Point defense fire from the Allied ships on the warp point knocked out 35 buoys. The CD primed and fired the remaining 65, spread across 14 ships. The Conclave House lost all engines, retaining just an energy mount and an ECCM instillation. As for the last Hatchet CAP squadron it was shot down in its entirety by a Cram minesweeper.

Wave five had three more Oknibs and three Disams. The previous trio of Oknibs fired their stabilized launchers against a retiring Eagle Crest, now almost 7 LS out, and scored five hits past point defense and an EDM. Equipped with an older generation of armor the carrier’s hull was breached. Missile fire from a crippled Hailfire finished the Conclave House, and energy beams hulked three more crippled Axis BCs. Laser-armed Sharks broke the backs of three CLs, severely reducing their speed. These Sharks kept after the rest of the CLs until they were destroyed.

As six Disams entered a second volley from the first Oknibs devastated the Eagle Crest while the second trio nearly disemboweled a Warrior Spirit. These two ships and the fighters that landed on them literally moments earlier, were removed from the physical universe as complete entities as antimatter fireballs consumed them as the seventh wave appeared. Each wave since third had mine clearance rounds on their external racks and in short order a path through the modest minefield was cleared. Sharks took care of the only two Axis scouts left behind to keep tabs on the incoming Allied waves. Eleven e-hulked Axis BCs were boarded to secure databases, while the remaining Axis CLs, DDs, and FGs were destroyed as they weren’t considered worth the effort.


Zelwen’s force was down to five CVs (two of which were Falcon Crests), three CVLs, 2 CAEs, 2 DDEs, 6 BC(MS)s, 2 Command Detonators, 3 Dispersion ES and 148 F0 Hatchets. The support group of 2 CA-hulled repair ships, 7 Barb Wire minelayers, 1 Command Detonator and 3 Trail Wagon freighters was picketing the Connectors/Forger’s Gate warp point. Under prearranged instructions the support group commander placed his mine patterns and buoys around the warp point when word came from the bases on the other side that they were under attack.

Meanwhile an Allied force of 48 destroyer hulls had caught up to Zelwen’s ships. Just outside of capital force beam range she let her Hatchets loose, sending them to cripple as many DDs as possible. The destroyers turned away when the Hatchets were 2 LS out. At the right moment 12 destroyers revealed themselves to be Cout escort carriers, launching 144 Sharks. The fighters engaged each other three quarters of a light second from the Allied ships. Both Hatchets and Sharks carried pairs of conventional close attack missiles, but the Sharks also had laser packs. In proximity mode the missiles were like dynamiting fish in a pool, the Allies losing 72 Sharks. For the Hatchets, also being in the point defense envelope of the destroyers (only firing one each to hide their true identities), their losses were 83. It didn’t end there, for though lightened of their load the Hatchets were still in range of the DDs and the Sharks, though they were only slightly behind them. 13 more Axis fighters were brought down before they were clear of the DDs defensive envelope. Like their namesakes following a chum line the Sharks only took two more minutes to eliminate the Hatchets.

Catching up to the Axis formation 30 Allied destroyers showed themselves as Falogrens, firing capital missiles along with capital force beams on a CV. Since it was pointless to turn around and engage as the DDs had the speed advantage, not to mention scattering, which would only delay the inevitable, Zelwen ordered her crews to scuttle their ships. All save one Interceptor escort cruiser blew up, either through overloading their engines or detonating munitions in their magazines or external racks. As the engineers aboard the lone cruiser raced to figure out what went wrong the Falogrens closed in. With ADMs on their external racks the DDs rendered the cruiser engineless. Force beam fire kept the shields of the ship down while cutters from the CVEs and DDEs timed their approach so that they faced just a brief window of interception. Five of thirty cutters were shot down, but that still placed over 370 marines on the Interceptor. Conquest was swift, but where the engineers failed they succeeded in lobotomizing the computer.

With Sloop scouts ahead of them the Allied destroyer-carrier flotilla headed for the Connectors/Forger’s Gate warp point at a sedate pace. Three light minutes out the Couts launched their remaining 72 Sharks. They found the Axis support group waiting, right on top of the warp point. Just before they could reach them all thirteen ships transited into Forger’s Gate. Four interpenetrated and the rest died without so much breaking the shields of a single Terpla’n battleship. This suicide act as well as Zelwen’s scuttling was seen as the inevitable result of a force deprived of fighters. Had she moved on Forger’s Gate at the start then the combined force, committed to a mass transit attack, it would’ve resulted in more Allied casualties

In all the Battle for Connectors cost the Allies 2 Avami carriers, a Luttfomi minesweeper, a Bulani Conclave House SD, and 290 F1 Sharks with 4,200 dead. Thirteen ships had various degrees of armor damage. For the Axis it was the total loss of their task force and support group with at least 23,000 dead. Scouts were detailed to search Connectors for the foreseeable future just in case some Axis units remained. Thereafter, Connectors lived up to its name as the route to Circuit Run for follow-up formations and convoys was measurably shortened.


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Fresh orders from Allied Frontier HQ on Hagelkorn had diverted the Valhallan Royal Fleet from its rendezvous with TF 21 in Circuit Run. It was sent to Citadel and took station over the Citadel/Chrome warp point. While Task Group 111 was being reconstituted it was the Royal Fleet’s duty to cover the warp point. King Russen, commanding the fleet, was well aware of the responsibility given to him. Until further reinforcement was sent his fleet was the only protection of the Allies’ hold on the southern end of the Citadel Chain.

It was during this duty that Russen had some guests. Task Element 114.1, a formation of Tzelan-crewed ships, had arrived in Citadel to get its flightgroups replenished. He received Captain Simm, commander of the task element, as well as one Lt. Geron Helmstrong, the first Valhallan to participate in an officer exchange program with the Caucus Navy. After separate meetings the King had both officers attend the evening mess on his flagship. Afterwards, in the wardroom, Simm and Helmstrong told the stories about the destruction of the Axis survey squadron in Terrace and the fight against the Hatchets and mining force in Metalstorm to a captive audience. When it came time for cigars and beer Simm accepted the former and declined the latter, asking for tea and chocolate pudding instead. After toasting the King the royal officers smoked, but Simm, instead of using the offered spoon, dipped his cigar into the chocolate and bit off a portion. He explained to the bewildered Valhallans that his pilots enjoyed this unique delicacy brought by Geron and hoped to procure more cigars in the future. Only Russen noticed the conspiratorial wink Simm made at Geron, knowing it was a private joke being played out.


On Citadel Prime, still ensconced in her hidden command bunker, Comensal Governor Genpan was running out of options. Her opponent, CSA General Jingu-wa, had fixed on a strategy that basically would turn the colony’s capital city of Stone Hearth into one vast swath of plasticrete. Starting on the periphery and working inwards the Abom army had dismantled and filled in the foundations of 3% of the city’s buildings. There was evidence that more enemy troops had been landed for the express purpose of working on this city deconstruction project. If she didn’t know any better Genpan would’ve sworn they were engaging in the same activity that the Comensal had been practicing on previously conquered worlds save the Eloto home planet.

The Abom army engineers were thorough. It was inevitable that the Aboms were going to find the bunker entrance as well as the escape tunnel, given their wholesale use of seismic survey charges to supplement deep earth radar scanning. The only answer to this was to distract the Aboms with an unrelenting series of attacks in Stone Hearth itself. Getting the resistance forces that is the whole of the civilian population on Citadel into the city was going to entail substantial casualties. The clear zone around the city was laced with random minefields and standing patrols that were company-strength. Genpan placed her faith in her people, as well as their camouflage cloaks, that they would still prevail and turn Stone Hearth into a monument of victory as well as the tomb of the Abom army.


In the Senate chamber on Terpla a contentious debate broke out upon receipt of news from the conquered Axis system of Borehole. As what happened on Citadel the civilians on Borehole as well as its neighboring colony planet Meadow started guerilla warfare on a major scale. The aptly named Quad Cities on Borehole was a cauldron of street-to-street, building-to-building fighting as seen in Citadel’s Stone Hearth but much more invested. Again the Comensal colonists appeared to have accepted their initial defeat with resignation and even made the gesture of co-operation when they turned vicious and literally stabbed their conscientious occupiers in the back.

The senator from Gymen, a major Terpla’n colony world, was the first to comment on the news. Nanclu Polesti was a member of the CSA senatorial oversight committee and she vented her spleen. She argued that conventional suppression of civilians-turn-guerillas was a waste of lives and resources. It would take years of intense pacification operations to wear down the civilians to the point where they would truly surrender. She lingered on the resulting casualties that the army would sustain in the interim and the drive required replenishing and expanding itself with each Axis world that fell to the Commonwealth and its allies. No, she favored stand-off bombardment with kinetic strikes on civilian concentrations until such time their numbers were reduced to ‘manageable’ proportions.

Another senator, Hysu of Oknib, agreed with her. He also brought up another fact. Since the civilian uprising on Citadel there had been no sightings of Comensal children below the age of five. Hysu cited a report from a Tzelan professor, Peth Wenns, on interviews done with Comensal prisoners on Citadel. When asked about families and their composition the prisoners inevitably said that they ‘fighting the Abomination menace’ and that the young ones were ‘beyond the reach of the enemy.’ Commonwealth troops have found on occasion graves containing young children, most of them poisoned as determined in autopsies. Hysu said this was clear evidence of the Comensal’s petty and vindictive nature, that they would rather kill their very young rather let them be captured alive and brought up by ‘abominations.’

The homeworld senator, Sal Jki, was the voice of moderation. He reminded everyone that despite the horrendous acts committed in the name of the Comensal that the race was made up of individuals, that not all of them shared the same level of fanaticism. Sal asked that they place faith in General Jingu-wa’s plan to entice Citadel’s governor out in the open so as to engage in the conclusive battle for the planet. Going by the race’s own historical texts once the governor was dead or captured resistance would dramatically decrease if not outright capitulate. Success on Citadel would entail success on Borehole, Meadow, and even on lunar colonies such as those in Metalstorm and eventually Forger’s Gate.

The debate raged on until just before midnight. Sal’s influence proved to be the tipping point. A motion was entered to increase funding for the CSA so as to raise an additional five million troops for combat and occupation duties on Axis worlds. On the way home Sal thought it was appropriate for it to be thundering and raining in the capital. He had participated in a decision that would affect the lives of millions that he would never see or know their names.


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Of the twelve ships boarded by the Allies in Connectors one was found to have an intact database. The contents were forward via a recently emplaced ICN chain in Forger’s Gate and reached TF 21 in Circuit Run. Jki’s intelligence staff got the data much quicker than had it gone through the Citadel/Borehole route instead. Though more than two months out of date, the database showed the Bedrock/Circuit Run warp point to be heavily defended. A total of 27 type-5 bases and six type-2 bases, along with 1,200 patterns of mines and 1,200 weapon buoys, guarded the warp point. An identical set of defenses guarded another warp point in Bedrock that lead to a system called Tire Iron. None held any doubt that the defenses facing them opposite Circuit Run had been reinforced in the interim. The question of the defenses at the other warp point was a nagging one. In the end Captain Yos could only conclude that the Hokum Imperium was in a warp chain that ultimately terminated in Bedrock, hence the strong fixed defenses as indicated by the data.

As for Bedrock Prime there was a space station orbiting it, as indicated in the data, and it had a mass comparable to that of 43 dreadnoughts. Yos chewed on the possible composition of the station until something else caught his eye. The asteroid belt of the system orbited the primary at a mean distance of 10 light-minutes and was thoroughly invested with outposts and colonies. Spaced between the asteroid colonies sat twelve stations labeled ‘fighter replenishment platforms.’ There were two more FRPs linking the bases at the Bedrock/Tire Iron warp point to the asteroid belt and another two between those bases and the Bedrock/Brickyard warp point. Additionally, each of the six asteroid colonies and Bedrock’s moon had fighter bases. Without actual specifications Yos could only guess the size of those asteroid bases and small stations. As for the purpose Yos reasoned that they provided the means by which the Bedrock space station and the asteroid bases could launch massive fighter waves against any enemy that came within range.

Jki was satisfied with the conclusion drawn by Yos and his intelligence staff. She was about to retire for the evening when a message appeared on her personal datapad, reminding her that her spare shipsuit was ready to be picked up from the ship’s stores office. Jki could’ve easily had her assigned rating pick it up or even her marine guard. She decided to do it herself as she had already dismissed her rating for the night and Corporal Banda-we was in the midst of a training exercise. Besides, it had been close to three years since Jki last seen the Avma’s stores office, or indeed most of the ship’s various departments. That time was when she gave a tour of the ship to Mr. Skuu, the then Minister of the Naval Department of the Democracy of Hamthen. It only occurred to her on the way that her shipsuit would’ve been at the officer’s laundry and not ship’s stores. More than that, laundry would’ve sent the suit to her cabin right away; the laundry division officer would do that personally if necessary.

At Stores she found the potential answer to the mystery. Like all shipboard department offices Stores had the live-in look that proved work was done within its confines. The spacer on duty rose from behind his desk. Despite not having seen him in seven years Jki recognized him as one Chief Petty Officer Delys, a member of the Avma’s first crew and keel owner just like Jki. A little bit closer she noticed his rank insignia was now Senior Chief Petty Officer. Delys was an ‘old salt’ spacer that first served in the Merchant Marine before coming over to the Republic Space Fleet, the predecessor the Commonwealth Space Force. With his seniority and expertise Delys could’ve gone to any other ship after the Avma’s weapon refit but apparently he decided to stay on. Mostly likely until mandatory retirement, unless the war claims him first.

“Good evening, Admiral,” said Delys, his Deep Harbor accent still noticeable around the stretched vowels. “You’ve piled on the brass and pewter the last time I’ve seen you.”

“For you as well, Chief,” Jki replied with fondness. “At least this time the rank insignia is the right size and not made of plastic.”

Delys made a dismissive gesture. “Oh, that was the work of my apprentice spacers back then. They thought I was serious.” He grinned, recalling the scene. It was the first month of a three month journey to the then-labeled Tinderbox system during the UWL War. One ancient naval tradition that was carried over to the RSF was the Crossing the Line ceremony. It was an initiation of Spacers that made their first warp transit during their first deployment. As one of the senior NCOs on the Avma at the time Delys played the part of Master Chief to the Universe. As the MCU he had the initiates take a special concoction that would inoculate them to the effects of warp transit. Said concoction was a witch’s brew of various liquors, soft drinks, lubricating oil, and bus tub juice straight from the galley. Those with robust constitutions were able to keep down the wicked elixir, but not for long as an unannounced warp transit was performed. The rec hall required a fair amount of cleaning that day.

“Is this your division now, Chief?”

“Yes, ma’am. One year after you left. I’m still breaking in the green ensign they finally assigned down here. You know how it is, giving them just enough to handle at any one time until they become proficient but make them think they’re actually running it all.”

“Ensign? Stores usually rate a 1st Grade Lieutenant.”

“You’re right, ma’am. We had one, a Mr. Karyo. He was a former Merchanter like me. Very good, too. He got killed in Hagelkorn.”

“Sorry to hear that, Chief,” Jki said sincerely. “Much of the Junshu’s crew was lost in Hagelkorn as well.”

Delys made a doubleblink that signified confession. “I admit, Admiral, that I had a selfish reason in arranging this meeting with you. You see, my niece got assigned to the Avma after repairs in Hagelkorn. Junior communications officer. Something of a gossip. Got it from my younger brother, I suppose. She decoded a restricted message and happened to see something that was of interest to me.”

“Well, since your niece seemed to think it worth breaking regulations it had better be good news,” Jki said like an overstated actor, smiling. “Your promotion to Master Chief has been approved?”

There was a devilish glint in Delys’ eye. “No, ma’am, as much as I want that to be the case. Your officers I imagine were going to tell you at lunch and have fancy little ceremony, as is custom. However, you were my captain, and you’re an Avma keel owner just like me. Most importantly, you’re on this ship at the right time. I would’ve delivered the shipsuit personally in place of your rating or marine guard to your day cabin in any event, and told you what I’m about to say now.” From a desk draw Delys produced a rank insignia consisting of three black-bordered yellow pentagons arranged in a triangle. He held it out like it was a blessed talisman. “Congratulations on your promotion, Flag Admiral.”

Jki was genuinely touched by the gesture. She had no expectation to be promoted so soon for it had been almost three months since her involuntary advance from rear admiral to admiral. The only reason that made sense was to establish her seniority amongst all the other admirals about to arrive with their task groups, and to nip in the bud any aspiring egoists attempting to exert undue influence. Then it occurred to her that to be promoted to flag admiral required the approval of the Senate. She wondered how much Sal, her father and senator, was involved in getting that approval. Putting that thought aside, she knew whatever political fallout that may occur from this will have to be dealt with as it occurs. “Thank you, Chief. The other keel owners would approve.”


There was a meeting of Jki’s staff on the Captain Avma scheduled just after the midday meal. Several other task force officers, including Rear Admiral Reas, were aboard as well though their presence wasn’t required. They knew via the grapevine about Jki’s promotion and wanted to be there for the official announcement. All were waiting in the officer’s mess for the use of the wardroom for meals was restricted to dinners. Jki arrived, and was carrying Flip. This was unusual as it was the first time Jki done such a thing. Reas, self-appointed to break the news to Jki herself, was motioned to stay seated by his superior. What he didn’t know was that Jki was going to have a little bit of fun.

To a captive audience Jki described how she found Flip waiting for her in the day cabin last night. The little cuss was gumming a flag admiral rank insignia, believing it to be a shiny piece of rock candy. She pulled out the insignia from a pocket and held it at arm’s length like it was a ward against sea demons. Looking at Reas while speaking Jki wondered who was responsible for this prank. Totally innocent and on the defensive Reas explained that neither he nor the other officers that had access to her day cabin planted the insignia and had no idea how it go there. From a briefcase he pulled out a hardcopy of the dispatch containing the promotion declaration. Jki accepted the parchment and read it with the visage suitable for a discerning librarian.

Satisfied, Jki returned the hardcopy to Reas and asked that the promotion ceremony be held right then and there as she already had the proper insignia on hand. Deciding to add a bit more histrionics to her act to tease Reas she stopped him just before the read the declaration out loud. She wanted the official process to be followed, and that meant a junior officer had to read the promotion declaration and pin the rank on the shipsuit. The junior officers in the mess at the time had been standing since Jki walked in. Like a kid in a toy store the admiral moved her pointing finger this way and that at the gathering, for all appearances making a decision. It was all for show since she knew who she wanted. One Lt (2ndG) Morru Delys stepped forward and introduced herself. Feigning surprise, Jki asked if she was related to one Chief Petty Officer Feyku Delys. When Morru affirmed that the Chief was her uncle and commented on his current rank Jki asked how he, an Avma keel owner, was doing. Upon hearing that the Chief was onboard the Avma Jki chuckled. She told Morru that being an Avma legacy demands that she always perform to her upmost and live up to the Avma standard and maintain the ship’s honor. Some of the senior officers perceived that Jki was playing an act on them and enjoyed it. Poor Reas, despite having a keen mind, was still put-off and befuddled by the whole scene. He wouldn’t learn the truth until years later.

After Jki told the Lt that she expected to hear good things about her, and will know since her uncle was aboard and being a Chief meant hearing everything, the next officer to ‘get the treatment’ was Dojan, captain of the Avma. She asked if there were other Avma keel owners on board and if so she would like to meet them. The tone of voice she used was the same employed by her on midshipmen during her stint as a naval academy instructor. A tone that told the recipient that all will be well if the request was carried out immediately and to the speaker’s satisfaction. Later Jki did speak to Dojan privately and apologized for singling him out. He recognized what Jki was doing early on and played along, admitting that he should’ve honored the ancient tradition of letting keel owners meeting their keel captain at the first opportunity.

Reading the declaration and pinning the rank (actually a magnetic strip in the shipsuit material) on Jki a hearty round of applause filled the mess. In turn Jki had her photo taken with each officer in turn. With the junior officers she told them that they now had a story with which, years from now, to regal their families and future grandchildren. After the meal Jki’s staff convened in the conference room and begun in earnest. The Allied task groups were now just two weeks away. With the Circuit Run/Bedrock warp point invested and pinnace probes going in at irregular intervals the stage was almost set for one of the most intense warp assaults in the history of the Axis War.

--Zume

[Zume (OP)]

The Terpla'ns - Chapter 7.50

The fog had lifted from the Pardel Memorial Spaceport, located within the Comensal colonial enclave on Elotoshani Prime. Waiting for the incoming pinnace was Prime Commander Konset. On that pinnace was the replacement for Konset’s disgraced former boss, System Admiral Joncan. Scuttlebutt in high civilian official circles was that the colonial governor had the authority to select the replacement, hence the rather quick turnaround time. System Admiral Wanfel was recalled from retirement on Open Campus, a colonized former Eloto world three transits out. As head of OC’s university and kept informed of the overall Axis R&D program Wanfel was a logical, and closest, replacement. The pinnace landed without incident, the wheeled steps brought up to the main hatch.

Dressed in a new uniform and with creases so sharp they appeared able to cut paper Wanfel went down the steps, finding Konset at the bottom. The junior officer saluted. “Welcome to Elotoshani, Admiral. The staff is assembled at the main research office for your official acceptance of duty posting ceremony.”

Wanfel returned the salute. “Good. I have read your recommendations that you forwarded while I was in transit, Konset. Some of them I need more direct information from the parties you mentioned before I can come to a decision. However, there is one thing I want you act on as soon as I’m official emplaced. Those abom research teams on the escort shuttle and armed pinnace programs. I want them and their immediately families arrested, tortured, interrogated, and executed for high crimes against the AFC and the Comensal race. It’s high time we rid ourselves of abom assistance on military R&D programs once and for all.”

“Yes, Admiral.” At last, Konset though, a superior I can relate to whole-heartedly.


In the weeks that followed Wanfel grew more and more disgusted of what he read and personally investigated. For Konset it was as if he was looking at his twin that had a twenty year advantage. He saw the supremely subtle and deliberate miscalculations and sabotage the Eloto aboms had committed over the years. This even included the original strikefighter program, developed in response to the use of fighters by the Nu’Chut AIs. By his estimation Wanfel calculated the Eloto delayed the program by four months. In both his and Konset’s opinion that act alone cost the AFC two battles. For some reason the succession of First Leaders had turned a blind eye and allowed the aboms to live so that their scientific acumen could be utilized, for both military and civilian applications. Both Konset and Wanfel vowed to discover the reason why if only to satisfy their curiosity.

Wanfel hoped the aboms taken care of by Konset would’ve produced more information before they were executed. As it was only four more aboms were picked up, tracked down and similarly disposed of when their DNA was found at the ‘dead drops’ the researchers used to collect new orders from the Eloto resistance. His interest in the case ended there as the Anti-Abomination Security Police (ASP) handled all investigations regarding Eloto.

As a senior officer of record Wanfel was given a 10,000 acre parcel of land on Eloto to do as he pleased. With a fondness of mountain vistas he chose a site in the north of the main continent. That an Eloto town was located next to the magnificent lake at the base of the mountains was only a minor detail. A regiment of the 650,000-strong occupation army was sent in and made the inhabitants tear down their centuries-old homes and businesses. Even the sewer system and underground electrical were torn up and filled in. When the landscaping was complete a casual visitor wouldn’t believe that the site had been inhabited at all. As for the displaced Eloto they were billed, not paid, for their labor on the grounds that they were ‘trespassing’ on Comensal property. Duly stripped of land and of wealth the disposed aboms were shipped to one of their major cities, on another continent, and summarily left for local authorities to take care of.  As Comensal workers began to construct the house on the property Wanfel looked forward to the day that he could hand it over to his granddaughter on a world finally free of abom infestation.


********


With the arrival of several Allied task groups in Circuit Run there was a need for a designation for the assembled formations. With her new rank and powers Flag Admiral Tulcus Jki officially called her augmented command the Second Field Fleet. She had all the task group commanders and their staff chiefs come aboard the Captain Avma and assemble in the conference room. It was crowded and warm, yet none made a fuss. Not even the prickly Humarshan officers, and especially not Admiral Kager Shal. However, it was the way that Shal moved his upper left eye that told Jki that he still harbored some smoldering resentment.

Jki had met the admirals the previous day, having hosted a formal diner in the Avma’s wardroom. All were toasting Jki’s good fortune and congratulated her on the promotion. Then it came Shal’s turn. As a rule Humarsh respond quiet readily to alcohol, and it didn’t help matters that Shal consumed half a glass of vintage seaweed wine while waiting his turn. With his common sense suppressed Shal asked if Jki was going to conduct a mass transit involving all the ships in the fleet. Such an action was suitable for an officer that employed overkill before in the UWL War, he stated, and he saw no reason why Jki should stop now.

The other admirals gave Shal their equivalents of a harsh look while Jki looked at him impassively. Having read Shal’s dossier she knew that his younger brother Bagger Shal had commanded the warp point bases in the UWL home system during the war. She suspected that primary beam fire from the Captain Avma, her command, while in the process of rendering the base harmless had killed Bagger. As for Kager himself he was among the most senior of UWM line officers and that this was his first task group (and combat for that matter) command. Though she could’ve responded in Terpla’n and let the computers do the translation Jki spoke in faintly accented Humarshi. She laid down the law like a ton of bricks, telling Shal that she had a perfect working relationship with Rear Admiral Khal, and that he held no grudge about the UWL War. Alcohol or no, if Shal was going to be an impediment to the function of the fleet she was going to relieve him of his duty and ship him home in a pinnace, putting Khal in his place. That got through to Shal and his wine-enabled indignation, and he managed an acknowledgement before the next admiral offered his congratulations.

Ignoring Shal’s baneful eye Jki rang the conference room buzzer, getting everyone’s attention. “Officers of the Fleet,” Jki announced to the room’s occupants, “we now have an update of the Bedrock defenses that oppose us. As you’re about to see there’s been substantial changes. Captain Yos will provide the details.”

With a remote in hand Yos turned on the three holoimagers built into the length of the conference table. He highlighted the points of interest as he spoke. “Four hours ago we finally got a pinnace, the twenty-sixth, to come back from Bedrock. The number of type-5 bases has remained constant, but there has been an addition of 26 type-3 bases. 24 of the newcomers are arranged in groups of four that surround the warp point at a range of 0.5 light-seconds. It’s expect that these bases are either armed with plasma guns, in which case their job is to kill ships, or improved point defense with which to shoot down Whales and Sharks.

“As you can see our pinnace literally arrived during a shift change. The CAP was being replaced with fresh squadrons. From the numbers involved its clear the CAP is comprised of 30 squadrons and that the overall number of squadrons is at least 120.” Yos let that fact linger for a moment. “Also from those numbers, and the routes the fighters took, there are six BS5Vs along with a suspected Axis carrier group that’s beyond the range of the pinnace’s scanners.

“In addition to the bases and CAP squadrons our pinnace picked up three groups of assault shuttles patrolling at a distance of 0.5 light-seconds from the warp point. Each group was comprised of 19 assault shuttles, suggesting a minimum of 224. Regarding the remaining two BS3s, diametrically opposed to each other at a range of 3 LS from the warp point, their function is unclear but it’s possible they serve as shuttle bases.

“IDEW strength remains at 1200 and, of course, we have no idea if the number of mine patterns has been increased from the 1200 indicated from previously captured data. Aside from the suspected carrier group there were no Axis ships within range of the pinnace’s scanners. Labeled as a fleet base, Bedrock’s defenders wouldn’t have failed to include warships in the defenses, even assault corvettes, had they any at their disposal.”

Crajen Admiral Dowel raised his left claw arm. “Excuse me, Captain, but was the pinnace able to determine if the fighters it saw were of an improved generation?”

Yos blinked acknowledgment. “The energy readings were unmistakable, Admiral Dowel. They are analogous to our F1 Sharks.”

“Wonderful,” Bulani Admiral Vekken injected. “What’s to say they have antimatter loads on those Hatchet fighters of theirs?”

Jki had Yos step back as she answered the question. “We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it. Gods know they’ve had plenty of time, money, and urgency to replicate our weapons. Even with their apparent lack of ships to augment the close-in defenses a convention assault will be prohibitively expensive. However,” she held out a hand to keep the assembly quite, “we’re not going to mount a full-scale mass warp transit either. Only the first wave will involve mass transits of specific class types. The composition of the first assault wave is set with the majority of units coming from Admiral Bettz task group, followed by the Tuphonese contingent and the Quagaar. Included in the first wave will be 882 Whale armed pinnaces, the entire strength drawn from the field fleet. Selected units from the other task group assault flotillas will be chosen for the second and third waves. I’ll leave it to Admiral Bettz of the Endril Military Service to explain the nature of her flotillas.”

Bettz rose from her saddle-like chair, eyes sweeping the room. Her shipsuit had a transparent back panel so that the symbiotic chlorophyll living under her equally transparent back could receive light. The translation program gave a voice a melodic tone. “Gentlemen, in any warp assault the main problem faced by the attacker is being hemmed in by mines, preventing freedom of movement and the maximum use of ECM. Given the apparent strength of the Axis CAP and likely armament of the close-in BS3s, not to mention the distant missile bases, it becomes imperative in this operation that a path in the minefields is cleared as soon as possible. This will allow our dreadnoughts and battleships to move at full speed and decisively destroy bases at point-blank range and allow our missile ships to enjoy maximum ECM protection.

“As many of you have already seen my task group is practically one big assault force. Aside from the squadrons already serving on the front, my navy spent the bulk of its resources in creating four new classes of ships: a dreadnought assault minesweeper, a frigate minesweeper, an escort with jamming ECM and an explorer prime to absorb mines and laser fire alike. Much of the construction is only two years old or less. Aside from the Crams and Nikazu-Vs I have only two fleet carriers and an escort that can contribute to any action beyond this assault. My losses with be extensive, but with Betrik’s blessing we will scourge the Axis and hasten their fall to Hell that much sooner.”

Following a raucous set of agreeing words and sounds Jki had the assembly go silent. “Once the repairs are complete on the ships involved in the Connectors battle we will launch our attack. For the rest of this meeting we will formulate contingencies on the possibility that the Axis does reinforce the warp point in the interim.”


********
 
 
Looking quite pleased, System Admiral Hovwen watched her patrolling squadrons in the holoimager aboard the Sun Crown, her carrier command ship. As the light codes floated in their orbits before her eyes she reflected on the past three weeks. It seemed an eternity, having the carriers form a distended chain from the asteroid belt to the Circuit Run bases to deliver the F1 Hatchets and sending the F0s to the asteroid fighter bases. The long in-system trips allowed the pilots to familiarize themselves with their new mounts. Combat drills and mock attacks were the order of the day.  

Unlike the F1 Hatchets on the warp point CAP, carrying full loads of close-attack missiles, her carrier squadrons were primed for sustained dogfighting with two gun packs and a close-attack missile on each fighter. Even better, word was received that the technical details to construct antimatter generators required for missile warheads had reached Bedrock via the ICN. Galaxy Admiral Danmor assured Hovwen that in seven days, ten at most, construction would commence. In two weeks she could count on having enough FRAMs to equip all of her squadrons and those of the fighter bases for two full strikes.

Further good news was that datalink jamming was in the final stages of testing and would be available for refits and new construction within two months. Along with the Machete armed pinnace and Stiletto escort shuttle programs, finally reaching fruition, the AFC could rock the Aboms on their heels and push them back. All the way back to Hamthen and beyond, and if Hovwen had her way this time there will be no ground operations. Just orbital bombardments to wipe out Abom populations in….

A transit alarm filled Sun Crown’s bridge as well as every bridge of the Axis warp point defenders. One after another three massive ships, designated as superdreadnoughts, emerged from the warp point. Already fixed on a close-up in the holoimager Hovwen watched as the 30 CAP squadrons arrowed in, only to wince as the display was populated with hundreds of new light codes. After interpenetration losses the 3 SD were joined by 14 DN, 28 BB, 54 FG, 62 ES, and 84 EX. Far more disconcerting were some 668 armed pinnaces that had survived transit and their run through the minefields. Having arrived in nine distinct groups, those pinnaces were over the close-in BS3s and BS5s. The patrolling assault shuttles and the defenses of those bases that went active to decimate those obviously FRAM-armed intruders were clearly inadequate.

The first Abom ship fired, one of the SDs, picking on a BS3 with antimatter-armed CAMs, crushing the shields and 43% of the armor. Another BS3 became active and fired its full armament of plasma guns and sole hetlaser into a SD. Of the 16 plasma shots seven were shot down, and even with the CAMs failed to collapse the shields, though some armor was lost from the laser it. An improve point defense instillation did nail a Whale armed pinnace, however.

What Hovwen and the WP Defense Commander didn’t know at that moment was that most of the ships were Endrili built and crewed. For all the Axis knew the big ships were assault carriers, and the Endrili fed this illusion by restricting their point defense and weapons in this opening exchange to match the appropriate class of assault carrier their ships pretended to be. The SDs were actually Gravity Wells, and the Nikazu-Vs and the Cram minesweepers were practically identical in electronic signatures. Thus the fire from active CAP squadrons would spread between four suspected carrier classes when their actually was only one present.

For the Endrili they thanked Betrik that as few of the plasma-armed BS3s became active as they did, but witnessed two other classes of BS3s in action. One was quite similar to the first except that all the plasma guns were replaced by improved point defense. Of the third class it was armed with a battery of advanced missile launchers. Together both took terrible swipes at the Whales. Despite the effect of transit the Whales groups over the BS3s and BS5s obliterated their targets, finishing what the CAMs on the big ships started. On the Whale called Wholly Mackerel one Lt. Davke, second in command of the entire armed pinnace force, let out a whoop of delight as his flight wing took out an entire BS3. As for the patrolling assault shuttles they concentrated over the close-in BS5Bs in three groups, those shuttles that cleared for action firing on the Whales as those craft fired on the BS5Bs.

Of the 30 CAP squadrons 10 got active – 5 from the bases and 5 from Hovwen’s carriers. No ship was destroyed though two supposed BB(V)s (already heavily hit) and a suspect DN(V) were critically damaged. The imagined SD(V), actually a Gravity Well, soaked up the close attack missiles and still had armor left. Meanwhile five active Axis bases with buoy control equipment coordinated their efforts and fired 200 IDEW-f and 300 IDEW-e buoys. One BB(V), two BB(MS), and three Perditions, all having been on the receiving end from active BS5Bs and BS5Rs, were finished off with one BB(V) having only an intact magazine left. None of the small ships were out of the action thanks to their overload dampeners.

Hovwen was stunned. All the close-in bases were either destroyed or practically so. She doubted that the defense commander was alive given the carnage she witnessed. Nevertheless the 18 crashed-launched squadrons from the BS5Vs and the carriers headed for the warp point even as the second enemy wave made their entry. Three more SDs, two DNs, and a CA appeared. Of the 25 BBs on the warp point 10 showed they were assault carriers, launching 50 squadrons armed with pairs of gun packs and close attack missiles. Those ships in the first wave carrying regular pinnaces launched them, with one coming about and returning to Circuit Run. One BB(V) followed the pinnace and left as well. 42 cutters were launched from the Endrili Noisemakers. Filled with marines, these cutters made for those Axis bases that were weaponless. For the rest of the first wave ships, they stayed on a heading that placed them before a patch of the minefield that lost five patterns from clearance charges fired from the FGs. At maximum engine modulation, EDMs deployed and ECM fully spun up a force of 2 Gravity Wells, 11 Perditions, 14 Crams, 54 Firewalkers, 20 Magnets, 10 Noisemakers, 70 Energy Sinks, and 14 Damage Sinks charged the mines. The big ships with their multiple point defense mounts easily handled the mines and the armor of the Firewalkers held. Not one ship was lost due to the mines.

Datalink jammers on all the Crams and Noisemakers switched on to full power, making the remaining 20 CAP squadrons fall into disarray. The Whales used maximum ECM and orbited the warp point, firing internal guns and point defense at the buoys and at those assault shuttles that still pestered them. Nearly 300 IDEWs were nailed like so many clay pigeons. Those point defense systems on the Crams and Perditions that weren’t engaged in minesweeping opened up on the arbitrarily-labeled northern buoy park, knocking out 39 unfired buoys with the Nikazu-Vs waiting for their turn to transit back to Circuit Run took out 6 in the southern buoy park. The regular pinnaces claimed 14 more.

Even in the face of such crushing odds the Axis crews were grimly determined to inflict harm on the Allies. One BS5E scored direct hits for all six of its spinal force beams, punishing the armor of one Crajen Avami assault carrier. Those CAP squadrons that did go active, and despite firing as singletons, inflicted grievous harm on the Avami. As for the 50 Allied squadrons, with their Endrili pilots reciting the Prayer of Damnation either verbally or internally, they stayed on the warp point and destroyed their Axis counterparts in their entirety.

Also looking doom straight in the face was the junior Axis officer that found herself in control of the IDEWs. She decided to fire the remaining 92 IDEW-e and 200 of the IDEW-ls. The e-hulked Nikazu-V was destroyed by a laser hit as well as four Energy Sinks and three Damage Sinks. For the other ships the damage didn’t really matter. With tractor beams on the Perditions and Firewalkers engaged the Endrili swept away the last of the mines in the northern patch, clearing a route for other to follow. The two Gravity Wells and the Perditions and Crams able to make 0.083c moved onto the northern BS3, being greeted by the 38 crash-launched assault shuttles that made a head-long ramming course on a single Perdition. 29 missed and continued toward the warp point while two broke past the point defense barrage, inflicting armor damage like golf balls against vinyl siding. A brief bombardment by antimatter sprint missiles brought down the BS3’s shields with the Gravity Wells’s energy beams causing some internal damage.

The third wave was made of six Crajen-crewed Luttfomi minesweepers, passing five Nikazu-Vs and a Magnet returning to Circuit Run. 34 squadrons launched from the two intact second-wave Avamis and Salyfs, armed just like the first wave fighters, heading to rendezvous with the Perditions. The third Avami just had one intact hanger bay left, launching its sole fighter into the void before it was finished off by spinal force beam fire. It was shortly joined by the first Gravity Well, for the lack of overload dampers burnt out half of the point defense instillations. With armor practically all gone it just took the fire from three BS5Rs to finish it off.

The senior surviving Axis officer commanding the defenses issued new orders. All Hatchet squadrons already launched turned from the warp point and headed for the northern BS5Rs, the obvious targets of the Allied assault ships. All armed bases within range opened up on the speedy Crams as they were the source of datalink jamming. Knowing that the remaining unfired IDEW-Ls would be finished off by the Whales the commander ordered their use. Only light damage was done by the 65 buoys as the affected ships were built to take it.

Both Salyfs, the two Avamis, a Nikazu-V and another Magnet went back to Circuit Run, being replaced by six Tamaya CAs. The second wave fighters had caught up with the Crams and Perditions which in turn were now 0.25 LS from the northern BS3 and 2.25 LS from the northern BS5Rs. Now directly threatened all three bases let loose with a full, coordinated volley of internal and external capital missiles on one Cram while the spinal force beams worked on another that had its hull breached. Even with the point defense of its two partners the ship receiving the deluge only stopped 62 of 86 missiles, barely retaining any armor. Next, the second trio, 7.75 LS distant, fired SBMs with laser warhead, scoring 14 hits and wrecking two engine rooms. Another Cram, already damaged internally, was practically dead with just its jammer operating and an engine tuner with no engine to tune.

By sheer numbers the Perditions and Crams wrecked a northern BS5R with antimatter sprint missiles and hetlasers. Another BS5R had 40% of its shields collapsed. As the fifth wave entered the range closed to 1 LS, the assault ships turning to relative port and letting loose with blistering broadsides, completing the destruction of the northern BS5R group. The 205 Crajen fighters escorting the big ships were ready to dogfight the 234 Hatchets coming at them, made easier due to the blanket coverage from the Crams’ jammers. It was a messy furball that sprawled around the ships, and if one missed a chance to lock-up on an enemy it was only a matter of moments to get a new opportunity. Hatchets lobbed close-attack missiles like they were going out of style, proving the ancient adage that being close counts both for nuclear fireballs and hand grenades. Along with point defense fire the Allies shot down all the involved Hatchets but at the cost of 36 Sharks.

The Whales, having finished the ‘mowing’ of the buoy parks, had gathered into one group and moved on the southeast BS5Rs. Behind them was the debris of the last of the assault shuttles spat out by the southern BS3. Among that debris was the Endrili armed pinnace force commander, leaving Lt. Davke in charge of 550 Whales, 241 of which still had 3 FRAMs each. Davke was no longer concerned about the Hatchets as they were going clockwise around the warp point, heading for the assault ships now coming about to relative port again, this time at 5 LS distance from the warp point and 4 LS from the northwest fighter bases. Twelve more squadrons of Hatchets reached their Crajen counterparts, dying like flies but claiming 17 Sharks in the process. Ten further Hatchet squadrons were 1 LS out, but were within the field of fire for the Perdition and Crams’ point defense. 16 Hatchets disintegrated in a forest of fiery nuclear blossoms.

The Endrili fighters over the warp point were released from their holding position once it became clear the Hatchets were going after the Crams. Halfway to their targets the 21 Hatchet squadrons from the southern BS5Vs turned about, now intent on engaging the 49 Shark squadrons coming after them. The squadrons accepted the challenge, though without the benefit of jamming they would acquire significant casualties of their own. Just like the previous battle over the Crams the battlespace was a scene of violent chaos. 63 Sharks were eliminated in the twisting, contorting dogfights that also claimed all 126 Hatchets.

With the sixth wave accompanying, the ships of the third and fourth waves moved out at dreadnought speed and turned to engage the northeast BS5s at a range of 4.5 LS. The six Luttfomis had engaged their engine tuners earlier, thus they were a little bit closer. Three of the ships were Hazen First Colonels, firing their capital primaries into the hull of the NE BS5E. Four point defense mounts were lanced as well as a spinal force beam. The bases retaliated by firing their full external missile loads as well as beams at one DN, which happened to be the Captain Avma. Only ten CMs got past interception and EDMs along with seven spinal force beam hits, yet the Avma’s shields held. Back to the northwest the Allies were beginning to appreciate the hitting power of the new Axis beam weapon as seven of them slammed into a Cram, collapsing restored shields and reducing armor protection to a mere 25%. The third wave of 44 Hatchets had closed and engaged the Crajen Sharks, only taking nine down with them into oblivion.

With the Whales rushing them the SE BS5Rs fired their point defense, harpooning 10 of the 550 deadly craft at 1 LS range. As they knew the Whales carried an external laser pack each the bases fired their external CMs at five Firewalker FGs, furthering damaging and crippling them. With so many laser packs in contention there was no doubt: one BS5R was vaporized with another knocking on death’s door. Davke allotted the fire of those Whales still carrying FRAMs while considering the southern BS5Vs, his next targets.

Hovwen needed no further prompting. Of the 13 Hatchet squadrons left 8 were hovering around her carriers with five (five!) from the former CAP having landed and being rearmed at this very moment. She considered herself fortunate that the Whales were on the far side of the battle and that the Abom Sharks had expended their limited close attack missile loads in the dogfights with the Hatchets. Following orders from Admiral Danmor, Hovwen had her carrier group pull away from the area at full speed, making for the Bedrock/Gravel Pit warp point. She had no way to know that Flag Admiral Jki was in the battle, aboard her flagship which was now closing on the NE BS5Vs. With one part of her mind formulating defensive response in case of pursuit Hovwen watched the ongoing death of the defenses. The NW BS5Vs were now under the influence of the Crams’ jamming. Despite this, and with CM-LT fire from the SW BS5Rs one Cram was nearly destroyed in exchange for the crippling of the two fighter bases and their designated protector. Assault shuttles from the Perditions took off and attached themselves to the bases’ hulls, disgorging boarding parties in a bid to capture the bases and prevent their self-destruction.

The NE BS5Vs switched tack and focused on the Hazen BCs. Lacking shearing planes, the BS5Vs would be prey to the BCs’ tractor beams. Once locked on and with shields down it would be an easy matter to lance the bases’ spinal force beams, most likely a prelude to boarding action. It was also a matter of expediency as BCs were faster to kill than DNs. They only succeeded in reducing one BC to a limping, bleeding wreck with another missing its passive defenses. The BS5E was destroyed, and with the Luttfomis and Terplas firing force beams and sprint missiles the shields on the two BS5Vs were downed. Tractor beams on the other two BCs locked on and, with the data provided by long-range scanners, lanced the spinal force beams on the fighter bases. Afterwards they proceeded to take out point defense mounts so as to allow boarding shuttles to land unmolested. The only other damage the bases scored before being silenced was an additional hit on the Avma, scouring off 13% of the big ship’s armor.

Five more Whales were nailed by point defense before both remaining SE BS5Rs were destroyed. Already on course, the Whales then moved onto the southern BS5Vs. 17 more were lost in a barrage of point defense laser fire, but the two fighters and one defense base came apart like old ship models dropped to the floor. With both NW fighter bases neutralized by the Gravity Wells’ energy beams that just left the SW BS5Rs with weaponry. For the six dispersed BS2s they were eliminated by the fifth wave Disams, now freed from their supplemental mine clearance duty. No longer requiring additional bases to be boarded for investigational purposes the Perditions and Crams unloaded on the base trio, removing them from the continuum with great prejudice.


The battle lasted under seven minutes. Of the 16 Crams that survived transit 8 were destroyed while 3 of the 14 Perditions were lost. Only one additional Endrili ship, a Noisemaker, was destroyed by the southern BS5Vs four minutes after the last of the IDEWs were fired. As SAR operations were conducted by five designated transports the 2nd Field Fleet formed up in Bedrock. As they entered, each fresh ship fired mine clearance rounds from external racks and internal launchers into the remaining Axis minefields, clearing out two patches. While the ships reloaded their racks with EDMs and anti-ship ordnance Jki, her Chief of Staff Barsus and Intelligence Officer Yos took stock of the situation in the Avma’s auxiliary control station, serving as Jki’s flag bridge.

“The Axis carrier group is still retreating at full speed to the Bedrock/Gravel Pit warp point, Admiral,” Barsus said, pointing to the relevant light code on the main screen. “They’ll reach the warp point in just under eleven hours. The scouts detailed to follow them closely are being chased off by F1 Hatchets; some squadrons were armed with stand-off fighter missiles. One Sloop had to turn back after being damaged by several missile-armed Hatchet squadrons. The minelayer flotilla and Task Force 22 will proceed to the Gravel Pit warp point once their external racks have been reloaded.”

Jki blinked acknowledgement, her eyes looking at the auxiliary monitors before her. “What is the current status of the boarding parties?”

“10 of the 12 actions have been completed, Admiral,” Yos said, his eyes focused on the monitor to his left. “The last two are on fighter bases that were subjected to energy beam hits. It appears that a high portion of their personnel survived. The fighting is particularly… intense. Additional marines have been dispatched to hasten the captures. Mobile yards will be called in shortly to begin detail examinations of all captured bases, especially those with the new heavy force beam mounts.”

“The same kind of force beam they used in Forger’s Gate, no doubt,” Jki commented. “Hopefully the examination teams will be able to shift through the pieces and give us more definitive information. They’ve also demonstrated their possession of SBMs as well as laser warheads. Had they possessed datalink jammers then they wouldn’t have failed to use them.”

Barsus looked concerned, his second pair of eyelids partially closed. “I wish we knew just how many fighters they have in the system. That space station in Borehole had 300 Hatchets. Bedrock could easily have twice that number, and that’s not even mentioning the asteroid colonies and the small stations that were indicated in the captured data.”

Jki gave a secondary screen a glance, one that showed the inner system and the light codes of the mentioned colonies and stations. “Indeed, Barsus. They could funnel all the fighters from the Tire Iron warp point bases to conduct numerous fighter strikes on our forces as they come into range. To prevent that, we’ll sever the link between the Tire Iron bases and the asteroid belt along with the small stations between the Brickyard and Tire Iron warp points. We’ll send in the majority of Task Force 23 for this mission to remove the Tire Iron bases in their entirety.”

“Ideally we should have TF 23 attack before we do, Admiral,” Barsus injected. “It’ll mean fewer fighters for us to deal with later over Bedrock.”

“Agreed. With the rest of the fleet we’ll hold off from Bedrock Prime at a distance of ten light-minute until such time that the Tire Iron fighter bases have been destroyed. Once that’s accomplished we’ll move on Bedrock proper.” Jki turned to Yos. “The Axis fighters concentrated on shooting down our Sharks at the expense of taking out an additional Cram. Do you think the Axis will continue with this strategy of depriving us of our fighter cover, considerable as it is?”

Yos considered the question for his moment, his still gloved hands resting on top of a monitor. “While it will be a hindrance in the short run it won’t matter a month from now. We have enough crated fighters to replace our losses twice over. However, to minimize our losses, and to preserve our pool of experienced pilots, we should continue to exploit our datalink jamming advantage.”

“That’ll mean no long-range intercepts of enemy fighter strikes,” Barsus objected. “Engaging them so close to our ships would mean some would break through. Remember, our troopships will be coming along, for once the orbitals are destroyed we’ll be conducting landing operations.”

Jki gave Barsus a resolute look, outer eyelids wrinkled like stacked, sliced meat. “I agree with my Intelligence Officer. Building a core of experienced pilots will pay dividends in the months to come. Backed by the defensive fire of our fleet we’ll sweep the sky of Axis Hatchets and whatever they care to send via their chain of asteroid bases.”

“Admiral, what if the Hatchets at Bedrock play coy and stay near the orbital defenses? To use the jammers then would entail the jammer-equipped ships to go in with our fighters, and to defend them we need the rest of the fleet to follow as well.”

“We’ll cross that sea when we come to it, Mr. Barsus. If the number of Hatchets is as great as you think they are then our Sharks can’t fight them alone, not without entailing heavy losses. No, we’re going to take the fight to the enemy. All of those fighters they may have waiting for us will only prove their desperation. We’ll take their supreme self-confidence and make it what it really is – a desire to die in battle that won’t change the outcome one bit.” Jki blinked with her inner lids. “Mr. Barsus, Mr. Yos, I’ll be in my day cabin. Inform me when Task Force 23 has conducted their attack on the first fighter replenishment station.”

“Aye, aye, Admiral,” Barsus said smartly.


Axis System - Bedrock
System Type: Binary Star System
System Primary: Yellow
Planets:
1. Type: V -- Range: 2 LM -- Radian 3 -- No moons
2. Type: V -- Range: 4 LM -- Radian 1 -- No moons
3. Type: T (hab -- Range: 6 LM -- Radian 3 -- 1 moon(s)
4. Type: AF -- Range: 10 LM
5. Type: Gas -- Range: 18 LM -- Radian: 6 -- 2 moon(s)
6. Type: Gas -- Range: 34 LM -- Radian 4 -- 2 moon(s)
7. Type: Gas -- Range: 66 LM -- Radian: 12 -- 2 moon(s)

System Secondary: Red Giant (Range: 264 LM -- Radian: 4)
Planets:

System Warp Points
1. Type: 15 - Range: 258 LM - Radian: 8 - CLOSED(500) - To Gravel Pit.
2. Type: 9 - Range: 291 LM - Radian: 6 - OPEN(300) - To Circuit Run
3. Type: 7 - Range: 27 LM - Radian: 12 - OPEN(500) - To Brickyard
4. Type: 15 - Range: 19 LM - Radian: 1 - CLOSED(500) - To Tire Iron

[Sotak246]

I am very happy to see a new installment on this.  I've really enjoyed the story, you've done a good job developing the characters, that and your combat discriptions have sucked me in and keep me wanting more.

Mark

[Zume (OP)]

The Terpla'ns - Chapter 7.75

Galaxy Admiral Danmor spent the last four hours in Command One aboard the Granite-1 space station orbiting Bedrock Prime. The Aboms, having entered the system almost six days ago, divided into three main formations. One had taken station over the Gravel Pit warp point, preventing reinforcements from entering. Another formation headed for the Tire Iron fortifications, first engaging Fighter Replenishment Station #13 and its 48 F0 Hatchets. By the time the Abom ships reached FRS #14 they were met by 504 F1 and 96 F0 Hatchets. Again, thanks to those damnable jammers the Aboms only lost 74 fighters and two destroyers. After sending a mere frigate to polish off FRS #14 the Abom force started a bombardment of the Tire Iron fortifications, starting with the BS5Rs. It was combination of SBM-Lt and stand-off fighter missiles, a process that was going to take time, time that the Aboms had in abundance.

As for the third main force it was on the move, most likely waiting for word from the second force concerning the destruction of FRS #13. Currently 6 light-minutes from Bedrock Prime, the third force went directly toward asteroid colony BA-04, destroying the fighter base but not the fighters, for Danmor had them fall back to Granite-1. FRS #6 and #7, however, were allowed to keep their squadrons and oppose the massive fighter waves sent against both in passing. Instead of charging in full-bore the Abom squadrons engage the F0 Hatchets at range with laser packs. It wasn’t totally one-sided as the Hatchets had laser packs as well, destroying a total of 14 Sharks before being destroyed themselves. Losing 96 outdated fighters to bag 14 more capable Abom ones did sting one’s pride, but Danmor rationalized it by telling himself that the enemy had 14 less fighters for the main fight.

Regarding the main fight Danmor currently had at his command 332 F1 and 292 F0 Hatchets on Granite-1. The lunar colony had 72 more F0 Hatchets, and the 72 from BA-04 gave him a current total of 768 fighters. For the station its armament consisted of 80 capital launchers, 8 capital primaries, 4 capital force and 4 spinal force beams with which to engage enemy ships. Defensively there were 26 capital and 24 datalink-enabled point defense mounts, 12 overload dampners and enough armor for twenty dreadnoughts. Danmor also had all the building slips cleared. 21 Sprinter destroyers, all but complete save for hetlasers and half of their point defense mounts, were sent to Brickyard along with all four large mobile shipyards. Of the eight smaller cruiser-hulled mobile shipyards seven ‘went to ground’ on the six asteroid colonies and on Bedrock’s lunar colony. Also cleared for space were 24 BS6s, each with almost three months work done. A BS5B from the Tire Iron defenses, the last to undergo refit, was also in orbit. With their work complete the two tugs used to position the bases in orbit had been sent away to Brickyard. Only four scouts formed what remained of the former mobile forces in Bedrock, keeping an eye on the Abom forces at the Gravel Pit and Tire Iron warp points.

Danmor had already settled on a strategy. As the enemy would soon figure out the BS6s were nowhere near complete they were going to charge in, lending jamming assistance to their fighters and armed pinnaces. So occupied the Hatchets would focus on eliminating as many fighters as possible. Granite-1 would ravage any missile-armed ship that came in range, but the real targets wouldn’t come close until all opposition was cleared.

To date the Aboms elected to land troops on Axis worlds instead of bombarding them. They even garrisoned colonies on asteroids and miserable airless worlds, according to their own admission via a massive wave of courier drones sent into Bedrock weeks earlier, broadcasting their accomplishments. Long-range scanners had determined that there was a smaller group of ships trailing the main Abom force approaching the planet. Danmor suspected that it was the troopships, and he issued a new order. F0 Hatchets from the asteroid colonies BA-3 and BA-5 as well as FRS #4, 5, 8 and 9 will come to Bedrock Prime, timed just as the Abom fleet would be within spitting distance of Granite-1.

A new light code appeared on the master holoimager in the command center. Danmor was informed that three ships, at least cruiser-sized because they were moving at .117c (suggesting engine detuning), had moved ahead of the Abom fleet. Escorting them was an undeterminable number of fighters.  Having destroyed no less than six Abom scouts as they attempted to get definite reads on the orbitals it appeared they were trying a reconnaissance in force. Since the implied cruisers had to approach the orbitals directly so their long-range scanners weren’t obscured by the planet, Danmor decided not to engage them with the station’s weapons. He still wanted to keep the Aboms in the dark as the true number of fighters embarked on Granite-1, especially the F1s, and the station’s own impressive firepower. Only 120 of the improved Hatchets were used previously to intercept the scouts just short of the 10 light-second mark. If they were foolish enough to engage the defenses with fighters alone then Danmor had no qualms in using his full strength, gutting the Aboms squadrons even as they atomized the BS6s as well as the very station he was on.

Danmor noted that the master plot had the trio of Abom ships arriving in an hour. Enough time for dinner, most likely his last.


********


In addition to the three main Allied formations the Axis noted there were five smaller ones. Three of them were composed of armed pinnace tenders of the Privateer and Chaq-B classes. With their flight groups restored with Whales drawn from the larger Buccaneer tenders these three groups were tasked to sweep an area up to 90 LMs from the primary stellar component of all scanner and comm buoys. For the other two, each comprised of six CAs and carrier elements loaded with 96 Shark fighters, they were ordered to destroy all the small space stations and asteroid fighter bases that were within 10 LMs of Bedrock Prime.

In the auxiliary control of the DN Captain Avma a familiar pain wracked Flag Admiral Tulcus Jki. Ever since recovering from wounds sustained in Hagelkorn she felt infrequent, twisting, stabbing pains in her gut. It didn’t matter if she was peacefully asleep or wide awake, but never did the pain assert itself just before or during combat, until now. With an effort she kept her voice uncolored by discomfort. “Admiral Barsus, what is the status of the two interdiction flotillas?”

Barsus noted the death grip Jki had on the armrests of her chair, belying the calm of her voice. He had seen this once before in the wardroom when Jki’s wound acted up. She blamed the pain on some bad anchovies she had for lunch but Barsus knew better. “They’ve just made contact, Flag Admiral. Each flotilla has been intercepted by 96 F0 Hatchets, but with datalink jamming and supporting fire from the Kioshos our own losses shouldn’t be crippling. We’ll need to destroy two more asteroid fighter bases as well as four more of those small space stations placed within the belt to ensure that no F1 Hatchets can reach Bedrock. ”

Jki blinked concern. “Barsus, what is composition of the fighters heading for Bedrock?”

“All of them are F0 Hatchets, Admiral. At total of 312 are on course for the planet, and with their speed it’s clear they’re carrying no ordnance. They will reach Bedrock and have time to refuel and be armed. Unfortunate that we couldn’t intercept them with our Sharks.”

“It wouldn’t have been practical, Barsus. Our Sharks would’ve carried no weapons either in order to catch them. If we had the new F2 model they just perfected on Yoshibo it would’ve been a different story.” Jki’s eyes widen slightly as she spotted a light code on the main screen advancing closer to an arbitrarily marked point. “I see the heavy probe is just two minutes from definitive scanner range of the planet.”

Barsus looked uncomfortable. “It would be better if the Axis attempted an intercept. The chance to reduce our fighter force before the main attack should’ve been irresistible.”

“It’s three Jajers and 240 Sharks,” Jki said. “They may think it isn’t worth the effort to eliminate this particular probe. Too much opposition, unlike the six Sloops they destroyed earlier.”

A secondary monitor at the command station beeped for attention. Barsus obliged. “Admiral, the Jajers have stopped detuning. 60 seconds to maximum ECM generation, 90 seconds to definite scanner range.” The two minute time lag was scarcely noticeable as the Jajers beamed their findings directly to the flagship from the very beginning. Still it felt like an eternity, Jki wondering if the space station and the inferred orbital bases had obliterated the trio of ships with long-range missile fire in the interim.

“Ships pulling back at full tactical speed, Admiral,” Barsus finally announced thankfully. “They were targeted by all the orbitals but no weapons were fired. Data is being processed… On the main screen.”

Jki’s eyes appreciably widen when 24 symbols representing type-6 bases appeared along with the sunburst icon of the space station. Then they closed a little, for she suspected something. “Mr. Yos,” she said, “your opinion on this finding?”

Working at a console on Jki’s right Yos stood up and gave the main screen a contemplative look. “Admiral, while they had the chance to indulge themselves and eliminate our fighters, the Axis should’ve at least engaged our cruisers. That they hadn’t tells me those bases are not equipped with capital launchers. The scanners on the Jajers indicated that each type-6 base, roughly analogous to ours, is less than 40% complete. I submit that most of the complete tonnage was slated for defenses, explaining why they didn’t fire when they had the chance.”

“Perhaps, Yos. I suppose their impulse control has improved. It could very well be the reverse, and the bases are mostly weapons, giving a one-time punch and a petty sense of satisfaction.” Jki leaned back into her command chair, eyes locked forward. “Admiral Bersus, we’ll proceed with the engagement plan. The troopship group will continue behind us at a range of 15 light-seconds. All squadrons will launch once the fleet is 20 light-seconds from Bedrock Prime.”

“Aye, Aye, ma’am.”


********

 
Like an anthill disturbed by heavy footfalls the tiny defenders of Granite-1 and lunar fighter base FB-1 spilled out of their launch bays alert and angry. 696 were launched while the other 408, in a holding pattern around the station, were down to just 20 minutes of life support when the Allied ships reached the 12 light-second mark. Dividing into three groups, the main body was composed of 772 F0 and 92 F1 Hatchets. Of the other two groups, each composed of 120 F1 Hatchets, they went on wide, separate courses. The station’s small craft, ranging from cutters to cargo pinnaces, also launched and took position over the massive construct.

The Allies had 768 Sharks devoted to the main body of the fleet. Lashed by datalink jamming and shipboard weapons it was a given that the Hatchet horde would be too weak to do any meaningful damage. As for the troopships they had considerable escort (including the carriers) as well as the protection of 180 Sharks and 60 Hamthen AFSC (now designated as Gars). While the fighter battles were going to be brief and very violent it was the run on the orbitals that remained an imponderable.

At full dreadnought speed the Allied ships engaged ECM and entered maximum SBM range one minute later, putting the main Hatchet horde 8 LS out. First to fire was a trio of Oknib DNs, their SBMs with bomb-pumped laser warheads reaching, ever questing to obtain a solid lock on the distant target. Of the ten that managed to latch onto Granite-1 six got past point defense and inflicted their hurt on the massive construct, though less than 1% of the armor was destroyed. Return fire fell on a Disam capital missile cruiser. Of the 80 SBM-Lts fired 18 got past point defense and stripped the Disam of its armor. In all Grantie-1 lost 7.4% of its armor in the first exchange.

The second exchange was at 8.75 LS range with the Hatchets now 4.75 LS distant. The armor-denuded Disam had come about and was out of range, so the master fire-control officer on Granite-1 selected an Oknib, the laser-tipped missiles taking away half of the big ship’s armor. Fewer missiles got through in reply but the station lost a further 7% of its armor. Slowing a bit, the Hatchets were 2.75 LS from the Allied fleet with the Sharks still within the jamming envelope. The fleet, now 7.5 LS from the orbitals, was treated to a true full-blooded exchange with Granite-1. The huge space station still had some SBM-Lts left on its external racks, 39 of the original 134, and combined with the external load on the BS5B the Oknib faced 68 missiles barreling at it. Point defense swatted 23, and those that got through shattered the armor and ripped up the interior. Three engine rooms, five launchers, and two point defense mounts were ruined. It was also at this point that Granite-1 and 14 of the incomplete BS6s showed that they were armed with spinal force beams, lashing out at a Nikazu class battleship, scoring five hits.

Return fire from the Oknibs, Disams, Reliants, and Matriarchs was still composed of SBM-Lts fired from internal launchers as well as external racks. For ships with limited number of capital launchers they had been spitting out antimatter SBMs in loiter mode until now, firing them along with antimatter CMs to augment their external loads of SBM-Lts. While lasers slash across the exterior of Granite-1 antimatter fireballs blossomed across the enormous construct’s station-keeping field like leprous boils, melting armor plate like it was butter over an oven. Overall 14% more armor was eliminated.

As the fleet came within 6.25 LS range the anticipated clash between the fighters happened. With a slight bit of engine modulation the Hatchets bobbed and weaved so that they were 1.25 LS out from the fleet, but facing out to all points of the compass. Regardless of what the Shark squadrons did every Hatchet had the opportunity to fire on their enemy opposite number. With so many proximity-fused close attack missiles being thrown around it was like a whole brick of firecrackers going off at night. Gun packs, used by both sides, picked up were the missiles left off. Combined with distant Dc fire, the Allies bagged 676 Hatchets for the loss of 266 Sharks.

Granite-1 continued to shed armor like it was going out of style. The Sharks, delegated to finish the Hatchets (all of which were F0s), were surprised when sensors picks up a troubling sign. All the Hatchets jettisoned their gun packs, came about as one, and bore straight in towards the fleet. All 188 went for the Nikazu hit by the initial spinal force beam barrage, the Coral Reef. The captain elected to meet the charge head-on, enticing the enemy pilots to commit themselves to their attack. More importantly, she wasn’t about to be forced aside by suicidal fools. Of the 40 that stayed on target 5 were shot down. The impacts on the drive field were spectacular, reminiscent of bugs hitting a car’s windshield at speed. Badly crippled, the Coral Reef kept its heading towards the orbitals, for the captain also knew that the Axis would spend their new force beams on her command to finish it off rather than start fresh on a new target.

The capital missile units slowed to 0.033c, placing them 5.75 LS out and employing maximum ECM. Only the BC-hull units benefited the most, degrading even the improved fire control on the space station. From the Allied ships’ capital launchers came antimatter-tipped missiles, causing Granite-1’s capital point defense to work overtime. While the Sharks dispatched the Hatchets the fleet, now within standard missile and capital force beam range, accelerated the demise of Granite-1. The fleet also fired the rest of its external ordnance, bathing the station in deadly fireballs even as force beams crushed and battered their way into the hulking construct’s core.

As the Coral Reef’s captain had predicted the Axis commander, Danmor, elected to finish off the battleship with spinal force beam fire. Even the crippled Oknib was consigned to the Great Ocean by Granite-1’s missiles. However, with its armor value at a mere 23% the station’s demise was at hand. With range down to 3.75 LS and the Sharks 0.75 LS closer more beam weapons came into play. Force, laser, and energy beams picked up were the distant missile ships left off. With high interest Jki witnessed as the first of ten shipyard sections disintegrate and belch debris from their cleared slips. Decks of cargo holds and living spaces vented to space, more often than not the resulting flotsam included suited bodies of the yard workers. The fleet’s primary beams focused exclusively on the BS5B, making it a weaponless hulk that was threat to no-one. The Hazen and Valhallan ships found the station mounted a brace of overload dampners, negating the various energy beam hits with ease. For the 24 BS6s, even those without internal weapons, they played their trump card in the form of external capital missiles. Three more Nikazu BBs and two Tamaya CAs erupted into splinters. While Granite-1’s CM-Lts focused on a fresh Oknib, its primary as well as spinal force beams on the BS6s fell on a Cqux. Shields held but six primaries lanced engineering spaces, weapon mounts and crew spaces.

The Sharks, each still equipped with one FRAM along with a gun pack, moved to a range of 2 LS. Just behind them the fleet continued its relentless pounding. Due to the massive refit conducted when spinal force beams were perfected the weapons sections of Grantie-1 were the most protected. All the shipyard slips were destroyed as well as 90% of the fighter bays. Another Oknib was destroyed with the Cqux losing its passive defenses. With plain optics it was hard to discern the fine features of the station as clouds of frozen atmosphere hugged the exterior like so much river fog.

As one the 52 small craft moved away from Granite-1 and closed on the fleet on a ramming course. The besieged Cqux was destroyed by the piloted metal hailstorm but was avenged almost immediately. Both the Sharks and the fleet found that the Axis did have datalink jammers, only activating them at the last moment. It didn’t really matter for Granite-1, and the BS6s were knocked out of their datalinks as well as the fleet came within 1.25 LS of the orbitals. In a final burst of defiance the great station used its point defense to kill six more Sharks with the BS6s claiming 54 more.

That left 442 Sharks, and with each firing a single FRAM they went after BS6s that had spinal force beams. Antimatter-spawned fireballs covered and then consumed eight of the bases. Major pieces of debris began the inevitable process of a decaying orbit, raining down onto planet in the following days and weeks. As for the other bases they were either destroyed or gutted by capital energy beams, both Hazen and Valhallan sending over marines to secure the hulks for study.

Granite-1 now resembled a set of barely-connected components than a proper station. Its purposeful cylindrical sections had multitudes of hull breaches and power functioned erratically if at all. Once the central core experienced direct damage life pods spilled out of the disintegrating construct like wind-driven pollen. All 18 Terpla class DNs, including the Captain Avma, focused their weaponry on the dying orbital. It was a spectacular disincorporation as the last of the major connections failed, each distinct part separating from the whole. For decades to come, the orbital path once occupied by Granite-1 will be noted as a hazard to navigation.

 “The battlespace has been secured,” Barsus said formally to the Flag Admiral. “Lunar and planetary spaceports have been neutralized by neutron warheads. The lunar fighter base has been dispatched by laser fire.”

Jki’s eyes fluttered, having been transfixed on the repeater screens before her. “Excellent. Mr. Yos, order the Eyuts to assume orbit and begin deployment of recce and kinetic bombardment satellites. Update the main plot.”

“Aye, Aye, Flag Admiral.” Yos made adjustments to the master screen, zooming out the perspective to include the trailing troopships, and the two Hatchet groups about to intercept them.  Again with deliberate maneuvering the Axis fighters were at 1.25 LS range, dishing out death even as they got generous portions in return. In all the Sharks, Gars, and the ships that could reach that far smashed 185 of the 240 F1 Hatchets for the loss of 66 Sharks. No Gars were destroyed as the Axis pilots were expressly told to attack fighters and not Abom anachronisims.

A sharp mind, Terpla’n Admiral Kamani, commander of the troopship task group, knew what the Hatchets were going to do next. All ships slowed to 0.05c and employed as much ECM as possible, each captain given discretion to alter course. The Hatchets weren’t going to suicide against carriers as fighter losses ensured the Allies had more than enough hanger space for their needs. No, they were going after the troopships, the Hatchets limited sensors showing the unmistakable signature of packed hulls. Largest of the troopships were the three Fkolns, one of which was named the Belynda. With Hatchets coming from both sides the captain of the Belynda, Hauc, elected to go straight ahead as any turn to port or starboard would provide the suiciders an opportunity to conduct a head-on attack.

Of the 55 Hatchets set on crushing death, 18 kept up with the sudden deft changes made by the Belynda’s helmsman to the ship’s base course. 14 were shot down, leaving the final four to complete their mission. One-third of the big ship’s shields were flatten, and it needed the rest as the last 37 Hatchets manevuvered to the edge of their performance envelopes and targeted their remaining close-attack missiles. With everything being thrown at them, and still firing as singletons, the Axis pilots succeeded in reducing the Belynda’s armor by 53%. This was seen as final proof that had the Axis possessed antimatter warheads they wouldn’t have failed to use them in this battle.

Even with knowledge of the basic layout of Bedrock Prime in regards to its population centers and terrain it took thirty minutes after the battle to find a suitable site to land the 165,000-strong 3rd Expeditionary Corps of the CSA. With reports and scanner contacts coming in from scout ships, all the fleet’s captains, and especially Jki, had willed for an additional hour for the troopships to complete their task. The Axis had other ideas.


********


They were tired. Had they an actual god to pray to instead of invoking an abstract named Providence then the Comensal pilots would be bleeding from the knees and knuckles to be lucid at the right time. It wouldn’t have been so bad if more of the small stations were built, or that more squadrons were equipped with F1 Hatchets. Still, every pilot knew that numbers meant everything. For that reason Admiral Danmor had sent new orders when the Abom fleet was one day out from Bedrock Prime. F0 Hatchets from asteroid colonies BA-2 and 6 and FRS #2, 3, 10, and 11 were flown to BA-3 and 5 and FRS #4 and #9 respectively. This resulted in 48 Hatchets having to stay ‘airborne’ for the better part of a day. Piloting a fighter was demanding and stressful enough, but to wait, basically floating in space until practically out of air and then land in one hour cycles was taxing patience and strength. It was akin to the ancient tale of a merchant carrying twice as many birds in a cargo hold by the simple expedient of having half of them flying at any one time.

Every pilot wanted to engage the enemy, and they knew what Danmor wanted from them. Loaded with weapons, a F0 Hatchet launched from BA-3 and 5 would just reach Bedrock Prime. The enemy knew that range, and could easily evade the fighters by simply pulling out of range. But they can’t, especially since such a move would leave ground troops without orbital support. Perhaps more importantly a loaded F0 could be overhauled and shot down by a partially-loaded Abom F1. This only left the option of conducting a suicide attack. Unloaded, a F0 would be hard to engage with a F1. Factoring in laser packs, however, it was possible for the whole Hatchet force to be eliminated before reaching the planet.

At this point a simple act of guile was used. Working to a timetable, the Hatchets from FRS #4 and #9 reached BA-3 and 5. They were serviced along with the ‘flying birds,’ and two groups of 168 Hatchets each made a bee-line for Bedrock Prime. By manipulating the drive field of their fighters the Comensal pilots make it appear they were carrying a full load when in actuality they weren’t. Putting faith in their plan and giving the traditional lip-service to Providence the pilots hoped to startle the enemy with their true speed. It was expected that the majority of the fighters would break past with the enemy following impotently just beyond weapon range.

Only seeing what the Axis was showing, Jki sent out her Sharks to intercept. Divided in two groups, the 556 Allied fighters were armed with a close-attack missile and a gun pack each. Expecting their enemy to go down fighting the Allied pilots were surprised when the Axis groups went to full speed and divided into three sections each. For both intercept groups they were only able to take down 112 Hatchets, leaving 224 to close on Bedrock Prime. Impotently, just outside the reach of their gun packs, the Sharks trailed behind the Hatchets. Admiral Reas, commanding the carrier force of the fleet, briefly considered sending out a brace of carriers. Dropping external ordnance, as many Shark squadrons as possible would land, rearm with laser packs, and force an intercept. Math and time worked against Reas as well as fate, for the work showed that the Hatchets, taking a least-time course, would reach the troopships over Bedrock Prime with a minute to spare. Simply put, the Sharks should’ve been launched earlier.

Jki saw the numbers as well. To protect the troopships now entailed using an ancient naval tactic –  the picket line. She had the fleet form a crescent 2.25 LS across and out from the planet, centered on the Hatchets’ most direct route. It had the virtue of making the Axis pilots even more committed. They couldn’t slow down briefly to say out of the engagement envelope of the fleet’s point defense for that would let the Sharks catch up. Nor could they ‘turn the corner’ on the picket line as the ships involved would simply move to follow. No, the only thing the Hatchets could do was jinx at the last possible moment and pass through the picket line at a spot of their own choosing. It was the best that could be done in the time allowed, and Jki hoped it would be enough.

Like filings attracted by a magnet the four subgroups of Hatchets, having been on intercepting courses, merged just short of the picket line. With Sharks still nipping at their heels the Axis fighters plunged straight ahead, only turning to port 0.75 LS from the ships before intersecting the line. The Hatchets were still engaged by the bulk of the defenses and a great many were shot down by lasers and metal slugs moving at c-fractional speeds. Only 64 of 224 survived, driving onward towards the troopships and to one in particular.

Still offloading soldiers and material, the troopships couldn’t leave orbit and deny support for the enlarging ground presence of the 3rd EC. This especially extended to the allocation and control of kinetic bombardment satellites, all of which were handled by the three Fkoln transports. Having been subjected to a suicide attack previously the crew of the troopship Belynda were braced for a fresh onslaught. A gut feeling that they would be singled out was verified when all 64 Hatchets homed in on them. While their fatigue was banished the Comensal pilots were relatively inexperienced for only 44 held true to their attack run. Listening to the combat chatter between the orbiting ships the hundreds of communication officers in the fleet were privy to what was being said on the bridge of the Belynda. The comm line was left open, everyone that paid attention at that particular moment heard the Belynda’s captain, Hauc, yelling at the incoming suiciders to ‘keep your filthy planes away from my ship.’ Last-ditch firing of proximity-fused sprint-mode missiles and point defense nailed 14 Hatchets. For the other 30 they slammed into the massive ship, collapsing the restored shields and knocking out the rest of the armor. What followed were crushed shuttle bays, collapsing holds, and barracks and quarters rendered without pressure and air. 40% of the ship’s crew became casualties with 200 soldiers killed by shrapnel as a bulkhead gave way in their embarkation station. Three of the Belynda’s four surgeries were destroyed, so the call went out for medical shuttles to evacuate wounded via the ship’s undamaged bays. For the remaining 20 Hatchets, desperately trying to come about to conducting another ramming attack, they weren’t so much shot down as dynamited like so many fish in a pool.

Jki had her ships resume station over Bedrock Prime. With her staff in attendance, she took in the reports from the dispersed formations, factored in sustained losses and projected reinforcements, and considered the three routes of advance available. A short time later one route was ruled out. A Hokum ISN pinnace emerged from the Tire Iron warp point during the last stage of destruction of the guarding Axis bases. Not too much later another pinnace appeared and transmitted a report from one Lord Admiral Janus, requesting a meeting with the CSF admirals. Recognizing it as a golden opportunity to enhance relations between the Commonwealth and Imperium, Jki accepted the request of her opposite number in the Hokum Fleet to a visit. With the assembled forces under her command Jki knew it wouldn’t fail to impress the Imperium officers.


********


Under the conditions for the visit, set by Jki, her protocol officer and Mr. Yos, the Hokum were permitted to bring three ships, a battlecruiser and two small carriers, into Bedrock and escorted to the planet by a Sloop scout. Once there Admiral Janus and her party went aboard the Captain Avma, Jki’s flagship and veteran of the Short War six years previous. There was some passing concern that being aboard the warship that wiped the decks with Hokum hulls would engender some resentment among the guests. Jki addresses this, saying that curiosiity and fascination would overrule whatever bad feelings the Hokum may harbor against the ship.

Unlike the ceremonial dress version of the standard shipsuit worn by the Tepla’ns, the Hokum had ornate vests and laceless shoes. Aside from the four arms, the Hokum were similar to the Valhallan and Tzelan in terms of height and bipedal structure. Covered in fine, short fur, the race had no real need for clothing. The same can be said of the Terpla'ns, but most Hokum have only seen Terpla'ns in uniform. One had to wonder how the imperial race would react seeing the ship's crew in off-duty dress.

After the greetings were exchanged in the Avma’s shuttle bay the visitors were given an abbreviated tour of the ship. One of the stops was the wardroom. Along the walls were expansive paintings of the ship as well as its pre-space progenitors. There were also display cases that contained scaled models, plaques and framed documents. Lord Admiral Janus was drawn to one painting of particular. Both of her left hands rested on her hip while her front right hand pointed to the richly detailed artwork. “Captain Dojan,” she said, the translation program giving her voice a dulcet tone, “can you tell me the story behind this particular painting?

Walking deliberately since his back pair of legs was missing, Dojan stood by Janus’ left side. “It’s a depiction of the Avma as she appeared during Battle of Coral Bridge.” The translator conveyed his tone of satisfaction perfectly. “I was the Avma’s second officer at the time.”

A smile came across Janus’ face. “I’m sorry to say I don’t recall seeing you then, Captain. Perhaps that is because Admiral Ayrth limited access to the INS officers being held prisoner on the Avma after Coral Bridge. Apart from the obvious intelligence officers and sly questions advanced by others, Ayrth was a gracious host.”

“So this marks the first visit aboard the Avma of your own volition, then,” said Jki impishly as she came up Janus’ right. “Next to Lord Admiral Dornal, you were the most senior officer to enjoy Ayrth’s hospitality. That meant you and Dornal had the privilege of meeting him in his cabin to discuss the welfare of the other ISN prisoners. Because of your rank, I imagine Ayrth gave you and Dornal a tour of the ship’s no-vital areas.”

“You are correct, Flag Admiral,” Janus admitted in a playfully conspiratorial tone. “He also told me that it was you who commanded the carriers in Coral Bridge. I was inspired by your example to undergo fighter training myself. As for visiting areas of this ship,” she gestured with her right rear arm, “this is the first time I’ve been in this compartment. I would’ve remembered those intricate ship models.”

Jki grinned. “As well as this.” She had Janus go over to a section of the wood-paneled bulkhead adorned with plaques etched with Terpla’n headshots. “Aryth told you about my carrier command, but forgot about this, and you would have remembered it.” She pointed to the first plaque with justifiable pride. “I was the Avma’s first captain and a keel owner.”

A look of genuine surprise came across Janus’ face. “You honor me, Jki. So Ayrth’s cabin was originally yours, as he told me that it was the cabin of the Avma’s various captains from the beginning. Tell me, is that ‘lungfish’ still aboard?”

“Flip? Oh yes, that little affectionate cuss is still aboard. He certainly remembers me after all this time.”

“What of Aryth?” Janus asked with sincere curiosity. “Has he been promoted? He told me he was entertaining the possibility of being the chief naval advisor to the president or becoming the commandant of the naval academy.”

Jki’s grin drooped as sour memories came bubbling up to the surface. “He would’ve been the next commandant if it wasn’t for the Axis. He was killed when his command ship was destroyed in the Borehole assault a few months ago.”

Janus looked crestfallen. “That is regrettable. Upon learning that this ship was the Avma I half-hoped to see Aryth. He was a gracious host.”

Before Jki could respond, Benevix, Janus’ intelligence officer, injected himself into the conversation. “A fascinating collection of history you have here, Admiral Jki. Your navy has amply proven its ability to knock the Axis back on its heels. With the forces at your disposal the Axis can’t hope but fall like so many rotted wooden doors being kicked in.”

For those that knew Terpla’n mannerisms (which meant none among the Hokum present, even Janus) they would’ve seen the way Jki’s eyes flexed to express displeasure. She had been listening in to various conversions around the wardroom and found Benevix to be the most inquisitive. The translation program worked so well she could discern a tone of unwarranted smugness. “Even rotted wood can leave splinters, Mr. Benevix,” she said pointedly. “I’m going to show you some of those that got splinters.”

With guests in tow, Jki went the Avma’s sickbay. Every bed was occupied with a Terpla’n or an E’sani, many of which were covered in medical appliances. “The troopship Belynda was beset by two waves of suicide attacks conducted by Axis fighters,” she told the Hokum, several of which were having trouble looking at the scene presented to them. “Only armor damage was done in the first attack. Despite our best efforts, enough survived in the second attack to complete their ramming runs. The ship sustained significant internal damage. Most of the troops were landed on Bedrock previously, but 200 still on-board were killed outright. Of the crew, 800 of 2000 became casualties.”

She gestured to the occupied beds.  “These are the worst of the wounded. Disregarding their own safety, they went back time and again to rescue trapped crewmates and soldiers. Even when they found the people they sought to save were dead, they still went back in find the living. As you see, the odds finally caught up to them.” Her eyes settled on Benevix. “What we experienced here in Bedrock we can expect in every Axis system from now on. That means far more splinters for every rotted door we kick in.”


********


The second day of the Hokum visit was limited to a formal declaration of appreciation, presented by Janus, and a dinner in the Captain Avma’s wardroom. It also marked the first time the Hokum were in the presence of representatives from most of the races allied with the CPS. It took some adjustment for the INS officers, finding that expecting and experiencing was not the same thing. Those races that the most similar, such as the E’sani, Tzelan, Tuphon and Vallahan, served as an anchor of commonality. With the Humarsh, however, with their triangular-shaped heads, it was like looking at a prop from a movie set.

As head guest, Janus sat to the right of Jki with Hamthen Admiral Levv sitting on the left. Of all the Allied contingents in the 2nd Field Fleet, Levv’s was the smallest, composed of just two Wall Cloud AFSC carriers and an Ice escort cruiser. It was here that Janus made know during the dinner of the Axis records captured from ships and on Crimson Expanse. Records that showed the Axis as the malignant cancer of a civilization as it really was. Janus expressed on the behalf of the Imperium that the ISN would contribute even more towards the defeat of the Asteroid Axis and their genocidal machinations.

On the third and final day the ISN officers had meetings with their CSF counterparts. Discussions on Comensal guerilla activity and tactics were at the top of the list for both sides. Axis fleet and fighter tactics were also discussed. As for Janus she was first given an exclusive tour of the Avma’s bridge. Since Janus was the guest, Captain Dojan extended the invitation as it was his ship. Jki could’ve imposed herself and made Dojan give the bridge tour, not to mention the ship, but didn’t. Even though she made the Avma her flagship Jki felt no compelling need to see the bridge of her old command. It was close to three years since the last time she was on its deck, and only then as part of a tour for the Hamthen Mr. Skuu.

After the third Hagelkorn assault, Jki was certain the bridge was refashioned in the same manner that auxiliary control was done. It was to her private delight that, despite having new consoles, the bridge layout was the same. Only the primary flat panel screen at the captain’s station was retained from original equipment, the faint scratches made by Jki’s ancient compass still evident. Janus noticed this, and how much larger the control space was than her cruiser command a decade earlier. She hadn’t even been aboard one of her own navy’s dreadnoughts, so she made a note of it to visit an Indomitable or Implacable to compare it with the Avma.

Next came the meeting in Jki’s cabin. Both admirals had their respective marine guards wait outside, having just one observer, if he could be called that, attending. While it may have been six years, as far as Flip the lungfish was concerned it was just yesterday when he saw Janus enter. With his head above the top of the 30-gallon aquarium and working his tail to perform his namesake, Flip was prevented from coating Janus’ tunic with water by Jki’s intervention. Wrapped in a towel, Flip was handed to Janus, tail still working as if nothing changed. It took a few ‘num-num’ cubes of freeze dried worms to placate Flip, resting like a rock at the bottom of a lake.

In all Jki and Janus talked business for over an hour of their three hour meeting. In brief both admirals described their respective campaigns to date, commenting on the evolution of Axis tactics and expectations for the future. At the very least, assaults into systems heavily fortified by the Axis would see more suicide attacks similar to what happened in Bedrock. Jki ventured the notion that the enemy, having exhibited technologies currently employed by the CSF and very likely would introduce the armed pinnace in the near future, would be mounting fresh counteroffensives against the CSF and ISN. Janus agreed, also adding that spoiling attacks conducted by the Axis would be more destructive, having been shown that with enough armed pinnaces anything could be accomplished. Following this Jki made an offer. As co-belligerents without a formal military pact between them, several mutually advantageous dealings weren’t possible, such as the sharing of battlefield intelligence. Informal exchanges of information, as Jki pointed out, could occur when a ship on one side encounters another while conducting active operations in an enemy system. Sensing what Jki was heading towards, Janus added to the notion that if both sides encountered an Axis force in the same system they should co-operate to ensure its destruction.

Noticing that Janus still had Flip in her front pairs of arms the whole time, holding it like an infant, Jki had to satisfy her curiosity. With minicomp in hand the flag admiral brought up a picture she received in the most recent mail from home. “Admiral Janus,” she said, holding the minicomp with the screen facing out, “do you have grandchildren?”


********


It was late in the Captain Avma’s officer mess. The trio of ISN ships had left three hours earlier, and the CSF officers were giving their preliminary reports of their meetings with their counterparts to Jki. Looking on from an aquarium attached to the bulkhead near the kitchen hatch was Flip, busily rearranging gravel every so often as he prepared to turn in for the night. He had no audience as everyone was giving Jki their full attention.

“Even though the Hokum invaded and occupied just one Comensal planet,” said Field Colonel Casvek, operations officer of the 3rd Expeditionary Corps, “it has played out on Crimson Expanse just as it has done on Citadel, Borehole, and Meadow. What this means for Bedrock and Forger's Gate, if the Comensal stay to their script, we can expect them to begin their uprisings two months after their regular troops ‘surrender’.”

Jki blinked, giving Casvek an intense look. “Did your counterpart mention any of the specific items as reported by Professor Peth Wenns?”

If Casvek felt disgusted his eyes didn’t show it. “Yes, ma’am. Ever since the civilians on Crimson Expanse took up arms there had been no signs of any Comensal child below the age of six. On occasion battlefield investigation teams found graves of children, all having been poisoned. This seems to lend credence to Wenns’ theory, one that is shared by a Hokum professor named Alba on Crimson Expanse. By age six the mind of a Comensal child is most receptive and impressionable. Both professors believe the adults had such young children killed so that they wouldn’t be turned away from their native culture.”

Admiral Barsus guffawed. “Such a sanctimonious and selfish act on their part. To sink so low, in my opinion, makes one think that the Comensal killing off their own offspring is no different from plowing under wilted fields in the hope for a better season.”

“Colonel, what does this mean for Bedrock? It’s the largest populated Axis planet we’ve invaded so far,” ask Admiral Reas, commander of the carrier groups.

Casvek didn’t blink. “It means, Admiral, that a minimum seven million children will be euthanized when the uprising begins. Comensal have also done this on asteroid outposts and lunar colonies that we haven’t directly occupied.”

Jki moved her gaze from officer to officer, more often than not finding a twinge of consternation. It was the first time for most of them hearing what Casvek was saying. When Bedrock goes the same route as the other occupied planets then the news couldn’t be kept under wraps. There will be those asking questions if it was worth the effort to garrison Comensal worlds, especially when the whole population participates in guerilla warfare and kill their own young children so they wouldn’t be captured and ‘converted.’ Truth be told, Jki was finding herself becoming one of those that would ask questions.

End Chapter 7

--Zume