Posted by: Zume
« on: August 17, 2009, 09:56:24 PM »The Hokum - Chapter 3.75
After the expenditure of 16 pinnaces, 12 of them Garrochas, Lord Admiral Janus could justify her dread concerning the Bedrock system. Ever since obtaining a database on Crimson Expanse the Axis defenses guarding the Bedrock/Tire warp point was a subject of serious contention for Janus’ staff. Despite have several captured Axis ships in battles leading up to Tire Iron the databases were extremely limited. Now Janus knew that Bedrock’s defenses were much tougher than previously believed.
In her day cabin Janus took a sip of strong coffee while reviewing the pinnace’s findings. To begin with there were 24 type-3 bases sitting in equal-distant groups of four, 0.5 LS from the warp point. Behind them at 1 LS were 8 type-5 bases arranged in three equally-spaced groups. Further out at 3 LS were two type-3 bases, one place at arbitrary north and the other south. Finally, at 4.75 LS and arranged in groups of three were 18 type-5 bases. The CAP was 21 squadrons strong, and all were 1st generation models. Patrolling with them were 24 assault shuttles. Weapon buoys around the warp point measured 1,200. Mine patterns were assumed to be very heavy also. Strangely, there were no Axis ships, but it could be just the case they were beyond the pinnace’s 5 LS scanner range. Janus secretly credited the Five Gods for insuring the pinnace got back, unseen and unengaged by the defenders. Especially considering that the Bedrock side of the warp point was closed, thus allowing mine patterns to be placed directly atop of it.
Given the tonnage involved, especially the 21 CAP squadrons and the implied numbers in reserve, Janus wasn’t sure that 240 Garrochas would suffice. It was looking like 300 would be required. From what was experienced in Fallowed Field those close-in type-3s had be armed with plasma guns, each capable of obliterating an Indomitable in one volley. The Garrochas will have to take them out along with the beam-armed type-5s. That’ll still leave the problem of those 1,200 weapon buoys. Perhaps, she thought, that the captured Axis assault corvettes could be moved up on the conversion queue and use them to absorb the buoy’s fire. Add some Turtles to the mix and, if the Emperor will allow, perform a mass transit with them followed by a regular transit of assault carriers…
An alarm klaxon broke Janus from her thinking. The trip to the Watch Tower’s CIC took only 20 seconds via intraship car and when she got there her chief of staff, Admiral Cirro, brought her up to speed. “It’s an Axis mass transit, Admiral,” he said without taking his eyes off the main holoimager. “28 frigates, 82 corvettes, 10 escorts, and 72 explorers. So far no other ships, or armed pinnaces for that matter.”
Janus looked at the holoimager as well. The warp point was surrounded by 900 patterns of mines and 900 IDEWs. Prowling just outside the minefields was the CAP, composed of 6 squadrons of F0 and 19 squadrons of F1 Spear fighters. Orbiting at a distance of 1.5 LS, just outside plasma gun range, were 60 Type-2 DDs and 24 of the new Type-A defense frigates. Barreling in, the Spear squadrons that managed to activate fire control went after the Grenadier 2 corvettes, destroying fifteen of them. Armed with EDMs on their external racks the DDs and FGs sought to immobilize the corvettes on the warp point. Backing them up were 3 CLs, 36 CAs and 36 BCs at 2 LS range. Only 13 more G2s were destroyed along with one Dispersion escort, and five more G2s and another Dispersion were severely crippled.
Of the five buoy controllers just one Empresario acted fast enough to order 100 IDEW-Fs to fire. What the buoys hit brought down shields except for the frigates. Just the crippled Dispersion was finished off. Externally-mounted mine clearance rounds from the Axis ships took out 29 patterns. At maximum ECM 151 ships entered the targeted mine patch. However, thanks to their orientation the Empresario set 100 of those patterns to maximum attack parameters. Two moderately damaged G2s were brought to a halt, engines destroyed. The eight remaining Dispersions had stayed, turned about and returned to Bedrock, taking their tactical scanner info with them.
The Hokum DDs and FGs had adjusted their distance from the Axis ships so that plasma guns were still out of range. Even the cutters launched from the Critical Mass explorers fell short of the close-range defenders. For the new Grenadier 3s this wasn’t a problem as they were armed with HET lasers. Two DDs were destroyed, and the Grenadiers fired their plasma guns at IDEWs in their midst. Retaliation by needle beams took out the G3’s lasers. Janus had the CAP squadrons stand to, saving their loads, and allowed two active Empesarios to fire 200 IDEW-Es.
Despite destroying as many explorers as possible there were still 74 Axis ships capable of movement. Only 20 explorers made it past, previously untouched but now wracked by mine detonations and spewing debris. All other Axis ships were destroyed or had been rendered immobilized by energy hits. The cutters, 72 of them, augured into a Type-2. Six of them kept up with the ship’s maneuvering and five got past point-defense, only doing very light armor damage. Undeterred, the 66 survivors came about for another go. This time 10 latched on and broke past the defenses, the DD losing half of its engines.
Again, there were no follow-up waves. Janus kept the CAP squadrons on the warp point and allowed the crashed-launched squadrons to engage the cutters. Even with 24 squadrons to help (the larger warships were just out range) 13 cutters survived to make a final attack. The stricken Type-2 fought back, getting three before two other immolated themselves, causing further internal damage. Of the last eight cutters they were shot down in a gratuitous display of overkill.
Cirro consulted a side monitor. “We have 7 undersized frigates, 7 full-sized and 7 undersized corvettes, 1 full-sized and 16 undersized explorers that are engineless and in the process of being deprived of their weapons. Captain Nyx’s tugs will collect the ships and take them to the Tire Iron/Abyssal-018 warp point.”
“What’s the estimate of the initial enemy force?” Janus asked.
“Hmmm.” Cirro had a CIC tech compile and display the data. “Based on explosion intensity and transit grouping there were at least 36 frigates, 100 corvettes, 24 escorts and 100 explorers. Excluding the eight escorts that transited out their total personnel losses are over 21,000.”
Janus shook her head. “Gods! That’s enough to crew thirteen dreadnoughts or 3,500 armed pinnaces. Just what did the Axis hope to achieve with this attack? They know that we won’t put ships within plasma gun range of a warp point.”
“I have no clear answer for that, admiral,” Cirro admitted. “It’s a big puzzle as to why we haven’t seen their examples of armed pinnaces yet. We certainly have shown how useful they are time and again. Still, they shown they could adjust to our defensive stance. That new laser-armed assault frigate, to be particular.”
“Yes, there is that, Cirro.” Janus rubbed her chin. “Send the damaged Type-2 back with Captain Nyx and assign three to provide needle beam support. After all the trouble the Axis went through to get them here I don’t want to see our captured ships repair an engine and blow themselves up.”
“Very good, Admiral. With 38 hulls to go through we’re bound to find an intact computer to interrogate.”
********
According to the calendar it was spring in the northern hemisphere of Elotoshani Prime. In the Brightsdale region winter hadn’t quite relinquished its grip. The city of Conservatory was being treated to a sky with various shades of grey with a cold wind and equally cold rain. Nisecu Lake had to fight the elements as he approached the professor’s house, a 300-year-old abode that only well off retired academicians could afford. He nearly lost his umbrella while closing it and in any event the rain slipped past his slicker and gotten the top of his sweater wet. Thankfully the professor remembered to leave the key under the deck planking this time. Wiping his four feet on the mat inside Nisecu then took off his slicker as well as the sweater as the house was rather warm. Heh, trust the old man to keep the power company in business, he thought.
Because it was business Nisecu didn’t find the professor in his study but upstairs in the attic, his ‘man cave.’ With a special knock on the wall the ceiling-mounted ladder came down on its own. Nisecu went up and raised the stairs behind him. Regardless of weather or season the attic always smelt like a library. It looked like a back room of a library also, with neat shelves full of book readers and actual hardback tomes. The master desk was lousy with loose print and filmsy magazines. He found the professor working on a printed crossword puzzle. When he needed a dictionary to look up a word he used his back pair of arms, keeping his front pair free for writing and finger-drumming.
“Was it especially cold?” said the professor, sparing only one of his four stalked eyes on Nisecu.
“No more than expected,” Nisecu replied, finding his chair was free of papers this time.
The professor consulted a dictionary, and then wrote on the crossword. “So, has it been confirmed? The Adjutant Research Associates?”
Nisecu blinked. “The boneskins took both teams into custody early this morning,” he said with both mouths. “Their families as well. This has been the first time Axis-employed researchers have been arrested since the first year of the occupation.”
“That long, eh?” The professor spoke from this left mouth as his right one was chewing a pencil. “I wonder if the status-quo would’ve held if Admiral Joncan was still in charge. You think this Konset character got his new superior to see what he’s seen?”
“Absolutely, Professor. Joncan’s replacement is a patriot. I fear that the house cleaning is far from done. So does the Committee. They’ve authorized you to implement your part of Operation Untwine immediately.”
After writing a puzzle answer the professor sat back in his chair and retrieved an old-fashion rolodex. “They’re doing that with full knowledge of what’s going to happen next. Does this mean that the boneskin’s war against the allied aliens is going bad enough?”
“The Committee believes so, Professor. Our sabotage of the two small craft programs caused the desired amount of harm to the AFC. Apply that to the overall Axis R&D program and the allied aliens will retain their technological edge.”
“Hopefully the aliens will advance far and fast enough to rescue this world from total extermination.” The Professor selected a card from the rolodex and made a voicecall from the number written on it. He spoke with the person on the other line for just fifteen seconds, long enough to give the code phrase. “It’s done,” he said with both mouths. “I shall burn this rolodex as a precaution, as it is the only evidence with my involvement with the Committee. However, that may be not enough. After all, I was a senior academician at the time of conquest. They’ll probably act on their paranoid instincts and round up all us paper pushers up for their forced labor gangs.”
Nisecu got up, making the hand-fashioned wooden chair squeak as it moved back. “You’re anything but a paper pusher, Professor.”
“I’m retired and it’s been decades since you were my student, Nisecu, so call me Salsecu. If you would be so kind, before you leave, as to start up the fireplace downstairs? My arthritis is acting up and I can’t grip the starter rod.” He chuckled. “It’s from shuffling papers my whole adult life, you know.”
“I’ll be glad to help, Salsecu.”
********
System Admiral Wertay, commander of the Nonstop Security Force, couldn’t help but think he was walking into a trap. Five of the six scout squadrons sent into Nonstop had been destroyed with four of those due to determining the fate of the first one. In each case two ships appeared out of nowhere, a warp point as far as Wertay was concerned, and launched six squadrons of fighters. Attempts to close on the apparent source of the ships ended in destruction of the scouts involved.
In close order the NSF approached the common center where the five scout squadrons met their demise. Anxious eyes didn’t belong to the Axis scanner crews alone. Calixto and her 1st Survey Escort Detachment were waiting and watching. They couldn’t know exactly what the 18 ships were until they were well within range to detect motionless ships with engines down. Making the biggest gamble in her career (not to mention life) to date she had her ships power up engines in sequence when the Axis flotilla was 30 light-seconds out. First to ‘emerge’ were the carriers, two Greyhounds and an Imperial Echelon. Following were the Broadside and Interior trios. Two Type-2 and three Pests preceded three Taggers. Last to ‘arrive’ were a Podium and a Legion pinnace carrier.
Upon detection Wertay ordered his ships to full (cruiser) speed and launched his twelve squadrons of F1 Hatchets. Still lacking antimatter warheads those Hatchets were fully loaded with short-attack missiles. The aboms were moving at half his speed, launching fighters and small craft only when 12 LS out. Peeling away were four ships, obviously the carriers and a pinnace tender. At maximum definition range the fighter contact blossomed in ten squadrons and the small craft into eight, most likely armed pinnaces. Wertay’s carriers and their escorts had pulled away just a moment earlier as well. The first SBM volleys were exchanged: 17 Axis missiles to the Hokum 14 and 6 respectively. Both sides scored three hits
Finding her foe in possession of laser warheads Calixto reduced speed to half and increased ECM by 100%. Even with improved multiplex the Axis missile cruisers were going to find the Broadsides, built on CV hulls, a bit harder to hit. Range was down to 8.75 LS. Wertay gritted his teeth as his fire-control solutions went down to 20%. Only one missile from his Firebows was on target and it was shot down. He ordered a likewise increase in ECM, but this brought his speed to .033c to Calixto’s 0.05c. Closer at 7.5 LS the Broadsides fired SBMs in loiter mode with the Interiors still keeping at the first Firebow. Though within CM range the Interiors fired antimatter armed SBMs instead as they had a 30% FCS. Like the Firebows had a 30% solution on a Broadside, scoring two laser hits and receiving none in return.
Also more maneuverable as well as (slightly) faster the Hokum force only allowed the range to drop to 7.25 LS. Thanks to loiter mode the Broadsides fired 14 CM and 14 SBM – all armed with antimatter plus two rack-mounted SBM-Lts for good measure. All eight missiles that achieved lock were shot down but the Axis did no better. Meanwhile the respective squadrons were closing on each other. The Spears carried pairs of FRAMs and a laser pack and thus had some reach on their purely-armed close attack missile Hatchets. At 0.5 LS the Spears opened up and nailed seven Hatchets from five squadrons. The only way the Hatchets could retaliate was to drop a missile and increase speed but the Spears could do the same, so both strike forces passed each other without further incident.
With both sides continuing their ECM pissing match Calixto allowed the range to drop to 7 LS. The Firebows now fired CM-Lts while the Broadsides launched SBMs in loiter mode. Five missiles made it, reducing the targeted Broadside’s armor to fifty percent. The Interiors each fired one SBM in loiter mode while launching CM-AMs at the first Firebow. Of the two missiles one hit, taking 27% of the shields. Until such time Wertay decided to go to full speed Calixto controlled the engagement range and did so again, reducing the range to 6.5 LS. Two CM-AMs hit, reducing the first Firebow’s shield down to 20%. Another SBM-Lt also hit, removing one of the ship’s two EDMs. Three CM-Lts reduced the Broadside’s armor by another 17%.
The range stayed at 6.5 LS but the Hatchets were now at 1.75 LS from the Hokum ships. While the Broadsides and Interiors fired CMs the DDs and FGs opened up with their needle beams. A single Hatchet was felled. For the Spears they were 2 LS from the Axis ships. Deploying its remaining EDM the first Firebow couldn’t deflect three more CM-AM hits, resulting in complete loss of shields and armor. Changing tack, the Firebows launched regular CMs and obtained a single hit.
Calixto ordered a change in course and had her ships to go to .1c, resulting in a 50% loss of ECM. Wertay did the same, painfully aware that the Spears would carry FRAMs. At 9 LS range both sides did exchange SBMs. Only Wertay scored a hit. At 1 LS range the Hatchets faced increased defensive fire, including from the eight Garrochas flying in the Hokum formation. Four Axis fighters disappeared in fireballs as their fusion bottles were ruptured by point defense missile impacts. The Spears were 1.5 LS out from the Axis formation. All six hetlasers on the Sprinters missed.
Now the ships of both sides were 12 LS apart. At 0.5 LS range the Hatchet formation took the blistering defense barrage stoically, especially when the Broadsides revealed their loiter mode secret in the form of plasma guns. 14 Hatchets fell in exchange for a mere 4 Spears. Laser packs on the Spears stripped half of armor on the second and third Firebows. Since the Hatchets were going to be on top of them presently Calixto cut back on speed and reinforced ECM. Individual datagroups changed heading at the last moment, allowing for one group to engage Hatchets in the blindspots of others. Even with eight Garrochas helping the devastated Hatchet squadrons destroyed two Broadsides. Half a light second from their targets the Spears lost 12 of their number. Their lasers raked the sides of the CAs and DDs, all losing at least half of their external ordnance.
Unarmed, the Hatchets moved at full speed back to their ships. Calixto, aboard the last Broadside, ordered all ships to come about and move at full speed. They fired whatever weapons were in range at the retreating Hatchets, reducing their number to 23. Meanwhile Wertay copied Calixto’s maneuver to make the Spear’s point-blank targeting more difficult. It wasn’t enough for all three Firebows were turned into one-engine wrecks. One Sprinter was destroyed with another almost dead and a third denuded of five engine rooms. Commanding from a Stalwart Wertay had seen enough and wasn’t about to let pride precede his fall. His ships came about and moved at full speed towards their entry warp point.
Instead of leaving the Spears stayed, firing their laser packs like matadors into the now panicking Sprinters. When the sixth Axis destroyer lost three engine rooms the 16 remaining Spears broke off and headed for the Greyhound carriers. Wertay watched as the ships he was forced to leave behind were overtaken by the aboms, stripped of shields, lanced with needle beams, and boarded. One Sprinter was so badly off that it was destroyed out of hand. As for the last Sprinter it was dispatched by a flight of eight laser-pack armed Garrochas but it claimed two of its attackers. He knew his remaining ships were safe for the time being. Only the aboms Pests, Taggers, fighters and armed pinnaces could catch up but to do so would mean there loss, especially when his own 23 Hatchets would be used for the defense, not to mention the defenses of the carriers and their escorts. So, as he listened to the live feeds of shipboard combat die out one by one Wertay sent a flash message back to Bandstand for emergency reinforcement.
For Calixto she counted herself fortunate that the Axis didn’t possess antimatter yet. For losing two cruisers and 73% of her fighters she gained three captured Axis battlecruisers of a new type and three destroyers. An intact database was found by a marine boarding party on the lead Axis ship. She, too, sent a message for reinforcements to be dispatched quickly as possible. The Oxgoad tug was called from its holding position with the sequestered mobile yard and tasked to pull the six fresh captures to a sport near the ‘third warp point.’ Any Axis scout would be compelled to investigate and would find the Greyhounds with their fighter broods waiting. With the Second Battle for Nonstop over it was a race to see who got their strength back first. The betting pools were busy right up to moment battlestations were called again.
********
It had been a quite three weeks since the Axis probe assault on Tire Iron. On the Watch Tower Janus was with her staff in the CIC waiting for the first pinnace probe of Bedrock since the attack to return. They had just finished a meeting in which a dispatch from Hokum Prime was discussed. Several technical projects had just been completed or will soon be ready for shipboard use. A new stand-off fighter missile that would allow Spears and Garrochas to conduct meaningful long-range attacks without coming into even capital point defense range was even now being carried by the gross to Tire Iron. An improved Spear that carried the same external load of an F1 but with an internal weapon had completed flight testing and would be entering production next month. New shield generators that offered a 50% increase in protection over that of the previous type for the same tonnage plus two significantly improved types of point defense mounts were anticipated to be ready in three months if not sooner. Janus decided to forgo further refits of Type-2s with multiplex aside from the four already in transit to Crimson Expanse until the new shields and point defense became available.
The pinnace came back one minute later and transmitted its findings to the Watch Tower. Captain Benevix, Janus’ chief intelligence officer, had the duty and privilege of seeing the data first. Being a studious, thoughtful man his outburst was unexpected and startling. “Gods favor! There’s practically nothing left over there!”
“Show me,” Janus said firmly. The main holoimager blossomed green with pertinent data. Had a pinnace not successfully returned three weeks ago then there wouldn’t have been a baseline comparison. If seen for the first time, then it would’ve appeared the warp point was only just now being fortified. The 1,200 weapon buoys were still there, but only one type-3 base 3 LS ‘south’ of the warp point remained. No CAP and none of the big type-5 bases were to be seen. While the rest of the staff was digesting the ramifications of this development an anomaly caught the Lord Admiral’s eye. It was a patch of undistinguished identity codes 1.5 LS south of the sole base. She pointed at it with both right-sided hands. “What is that, Benevix?”
“Clarifying, Admiral.” Benevix worked on a terminal with the intensity of an ancient reporter beating a story out of an equally ancient manual typewriter. “Confirmed. What you’re seeing is 14 fighter squadrons launching stand-off missiles against the base. Base on the energy signatures confidence is 85% that the fighters are Commonwealth in origin.”
“Five Gods, they must’ve broken in via Circuit Run,” Cirro, the head of Janus’ staff, said. “That would explain why there were no regular warships within the pinnace’s scanner range the first time around. They were all at the Circuit Run warp point, and trusted that the defenses here would hold.”
“Then why send in that probe assault?” questioned Marius, chief of logistics. “The CE database showed that the Brickyard warp point was only 8 light-minutes away. All those corvettes, frigates and explorers could’ve stayed on their side of the warp point as long as possible before retreating. They’d had ample warning if a CFS task group was approaching.”
“Perhaps they could’ve done that,” Janus said, all four hands out and up to still further comment. “That they didn’t show us three things. One is that Brickyard, despite the five-year-old data, most likely didn’t have the wherewithal to maintain a meaningful number of those assault ships for a significant amount of time. The system would’ve been isolated due to sole warp point being invested by CSF formations. Another is that they didn’t consider scrapping those ships in Brickyard for materials to support more meaningful defenses, like fighter bases. Lastly, there’s the AFC imperative – attack. Remember Crimson Expanse and Abyssal-018. Those probe attacks served to keep us on the defensive. They died just so one or two ships could report back what they saw. For all we knew, as of three weeks ago, there could’ve been a second assault force, equipped with armed pinnaces and FRAMs, just waiting to act on that costly data. It may have been unmitigated gall on their part to act on a ‘use them or lose them’ mentality, but it succeeded in keeping us in place. They didn’t want the specter of a double break-in to complicate their defensive dispositions.”
“At least we were spared a costly assault of our own,” Hasken, commander of the Garrocha wings, bluntly stated. “We owe our co-combatants congratulations.”
Janus snapped the fingers of her left-rear hand. “We’ll do just that, Captain Hasken. Benevix, compose a brief report of what happened here in Tire Iron for one of our Garrochas to transmit after transiting back into Bedrock. I’ll also include a request to meet the commanding admirals so as to deliver our congratulations personally.”
Benevix looked downright uncomfortable. “Admiral, there’s no protocol established for such a meeting between co-belligerents in an active warzone. Between two fully vetted diplomats, yes, but commanding admirals? That’s not even mentioning all the other races and their militaries that allied themselves with the Terpla’ns. There’s security to be addressed….”
“Captain Benevix,” said the Lord Admiral in a fitting imperious tone, “had circumstances been different in a very few points then the whole of the Imperium would’ve been conquered by the Asteroid Axis. We have an opportunity to pay those races, those noble spacers, the respect and honors they deserve and for the far greater casualties they sustained so far in this war.”
The other officers, Benevix included, knew they couldn’t debate Janus on what she said for it was all true. None needed to be reminded about the captured Axis Army after-action reports from Hamthen Prime. “Admiral,” said the admonished Benevix, “I’ll write that brief report you want and submit it for your final approval.”
“Excellent, Captain.” Janus made a small grin. “We do want to show that we’re active participants in this war.”
********
Four days after establishing contact with CSF Task Force 21 the Watch Tower and two Imperial Wave carriers entered Bedrock. All the weapon buoys on the Bedrock/Tire Iron warp point had been cleared by Garrochas and a lane blown clear in the minefield. Guided by a Sloop scout the trio of Hokum ships took almost 17 hours to reach Bedrock Prime. Their course took them through the asteroid belt and right next to one hefty rock that was 983 km in diameter. An Axis colony was evident as well as the remains of a base. The Sloop captain said that the base was composed almost entirely of fighter bays and that every colony in the belt had one.
Approaching the planet Lord Admiral Janus noted that the Commonwealth fleet outnumbered hers in Tire Iron by three to one and it contained a very healthy percentage of dreadnoughts and battleships. This, she corrected herself, was just the regular fleet. No doubt the Bedrock/Circuit Run defenses were as strong as those facing Tire Iron and likely were more so. The assault force required to breach those defenses would’ve been a fleet in its own right. Settling 1,000 km from the Terpla’n flagship the Watch Tower launched its shuttle, carrying Janus and a select group of officers. Benevix was among them. Sitting next to Janus he touched his earbug while pointing to the screen at the front of the passenger cabin. “Shipboard records and current readings give a 95% certainty that the dreadnought we’re heading for participated in the last battle for the Frontier system six years ago during the Short War.”
Janus nodded. Back then she was just an admiral commanding six Interior cruisers and under the overall command of Lord Admiral Dornal. Her command ship was almost broken in half by the firepower of one of those Terpla’n behemoths. The general layout and hull color was the same, and there was evidence that it sustained armor damage, giving it a distinguished look suitable for veteran combatants. As the shuttle entered its final approach she doubted that the captain of six years ago was still in command. Still, it would satisfy her curiosity to see the being that commanded this mobile arsenal.
The shuttle descended softly on the landing cradle and the bay was sealed and pressurized. An honor guard of E’sani marines appeared and formed up along the ramp leading to the hatch. Two Hokum marines exited first and flanked the hatch. Of the officers the first out was the Watch Tower’s captain, Rocco. A stickler for protocol, Rocco requested and received an abbreviated manual of CSF shipboard regulations. Thus he knew he had to salute the junior Terpla’n officer at the base of the ramp and formally ask permission for the shuttle’s occupants to board the ship. The tied-in ship’s computers translated his words and broadcasted it over the bay’s speakers. He got an unaccented reply via the earbug he wore as well as the speakers. Rocco moved to the side and allowed Janus to lead the party to a reception area at the front of the hatch for the intraship car.
To a one the Hokum officers still found the appearance of a Terp to be a bit unreal, like an animatronic movie prop. Not so the E’sani. While both Terp and E’sani were tall E’sani were big. Even the Hokum marines got the impression that the bipedal two-arms could rip apart powered armor with their bare hands. Janus put that though aside as she focused on two Terp officers before her. One wore the black-bordered yellow square that indicated the rank of captain. This Terp was missing two legs, the back pair, which explained why it seemed (he?) was compensating by leaning slightly forward. As for the other officer Janus believed it to be female, judging from the size and shape of the eyes. She had three black-bordered yellow pentagons arranged in a triangle. Below the rank was a badge, and if memory served from the intelligence briefing then it was a set of strikefighter pilot wings. Janus sensed she was in the presence of a great leader despite the radically different bodyform and lack of noticeable visual cues. When Janus stopped the officers behind her did so as well, forming a wedge with Janus at the point.
The four-legged officer stepped forward. “Lord Admiral Janus, I’m Captain Dojan, commander of this ship, the Captain Avma. Welcome aboard.” He paused for a moment to allow the translation program to do its work. “Allow me to introduce the commander of Task Force 21 and of all allied forces in the Bedrock system, Flag Admiral Tulcus Jki.”
Janus managed to hide her surprise. She knew that name and the story behind it, for Jki was one of the Terpla’n officers that returned rescued Hokum spacers after the last battle in the Short War. But Jki was just a captain six years ago, which meant she rose rather quickly in the ranks thanks, no doubt, to the war with the Axis. “A pleasure to make your acquaintance, Excellency,” she said, using an ancient Hokum honorific usual applied for another nation’s ambassadors.
Jki’s smile was real enough to satisfy Janus’ perception that she was addressing a living being and not a movie prop. “There’s no need for extravagant titles among friends, Admiral. To avoid confusion let’s just call each other by our surnames.”
“Yes,” Janus agreed with a smile of her own, “that will speed things up. Let me start with my chief-of-staff…”
********
The Hokum were given an abbreviated tour of the Avma. As part of the tour they were shown the auxiliary control station which served as Jki’s command post. Janus learned that this ship wasn’t equipped with a CIC like the Watch Tower, finding it hard to believe that with numerous heavy ships available Jki would forgo the benefits of a CIC. Shown next were the weapon installations and crew recreational spaces. The visitors couldn’t help but notice a good percentage of the crew had missing limbs or part of limbs. Captain Dojan explained that the crew took a vow not to get replacement limbs until the war was over.
Benevix couldn’t discern what was being said by Avma crewmembers as the translation computers only work for those that wore the transceiver medallion. However, the intense intelligence officer was treated to a feast in the Avma’s wardroom. He took particular interest in the paintings and plaques that commemorated the battles the ship was in. Jki noticed this and provided more background; quite aware of the frantic mental note-writing Benevix was engaged in. She decided to temper his enthusiasm with some sober, eye-opening facts.
Before the evening recess the Hokum were shown the Avma’s sick bay. Every bed was occupied by a Terpla’n or E’sani spacer. Jki explained that their wounds were the result of suicide attacks conducted by Axis fighters against the troop transports. Avma’s doctors were treating the wounded brought over from the Belynda, one of the largest troopships and subsequently the focus of multiple waves of suiciders. Janus could only imagine how many Hokum transports would’ve been destroyed outright in such massed attacks. Some of her officers looked downright uncomfortable, especially when they glimpsed the burn ward. Janus doubted that the Expeditionary Fleet had sustained anywhere near this many burn casualties in the war to date.
The Hokum returned the next day for the official declaration of appreciation. It was held in the Avma’s wardroom, and though they believed they were ready, the inclusion of representatives of TF 21’s participating races was a rush of the foreign for the Hokum. At least six of the twelve races were bipedal, providing grounding in the familiar and a stave from potential embarrassment. Following the official event the officers engaged in small talk at which Janus and her officers excelled. They found the Tzelan representative, one Captain Netts and most junior of the allied contingent commanders, a most profoundly philosophical character. Cirro was effectively monopolized by Crajen Admiral Dowel. When he learned that Cirro was a handyman when it came to wood Dowel had to know what kind of tools he used. Back aboard the Watch Tower the officers wrote what they learned and in turn gave the reports to Benevix. He had a joy usually found in child discovering that the candy bag had one last piece at the bottom.
On the third and last day the officers broke up into smaller groups. Novillero Maro, IMC, commander of the Expeditionary Fleet’s strike wings went to the CSF carrier Junshu to talk with his Terpla’n counterpart. Like all pilots he spoke the universal language of fighter combat, using his four hands to good effect to add emphasis to his stories of engagements against the Axis foe. A Hokum marine officer, Torero Valdex, representing the Corps and the ISA both, visited the CSA operations officer on the transport Beytris and compared notes on combat tactics of Comensal civilians. Back on the Captain Avma Cirro met with Barsus, Jki’s chief of staff. They discussed disposition of Axis formations and patterns of attacks, particularly on the use of assault corvettes to conduct spoiling attacks.
After an exclusive tour of the Avma’s bridge Jki and Janus had a private meeting in Jki’s cabin. Outside waiting were the E’sani marine sentry and his Hokum counterpart. To pass the time the Corporal talked about the ship’s mascot to the very young Vara 2nd Class. When the Vara affirmed that he saw the large tank in Avma’s Marine Country the Corporal decided to ‘embellish’ the details. He described Flip as an ill-tempered two-meter-long, scaly toothy terror that wasn’t afraid of anyone except the Admiral. The Corporal used an opened hand in front of his mouth to pantomime Flip’s vicious ripping dentition. Like a child listening to a campfire story the Vara learned that Flip had to be taken young from the very lagoon it was spawned and shocked so that it had the pretense of being tamed. Layering it on, the Corporal described how the Admiral, who had previously commanded the Captain Avma, feed underperforming ensigns and spacers to Flip as an incentive for others to work better. The reason why the huge tank was in Marine Country was that Flip found E’sani flesh to be unappetizing, but also the foul beast kept the cartilage of his victims buried under the gravel so as to have something to nibble on between meals. When told that Flip was in the Admiral’s cabin the unbelievably gullible Vara asked if it was safe for Janus to be in there. Smiling, the Corporal said that it was all right since Jki sawed off a leg of a spacer that very morning and dispensed bits of it to Flip as num-nums to keep him sated.
When the cabin door opened the Vara hoped to get a glimpse of the creature described to him. Instead he found Admiral Janus holding a 32cm-long lungfish in her front pair of arms. But not for long as the creature squirmed and then jumped from her hold, landing in the reflexively-extended hands of the Corporal. He heard via his earbug Admiral Jki calling the cute-looking critter Flip, describing him as an ‘affectionate little cuss.’ Blushing, the Vara knew he had been duped by the Corporal’s tall tale. The massive E’sani grinned and shook the Vara’s hand to express that no hard feelings were intended.
Benevix had to satisfy his curiosity and talked to Janus as the shuttle went to the Junshu and Beytris to pick up the other officers. She declined to discuss specifics until all the staff officers were assembled back on the Watch Tower. However, she did indicate that there was going to be an ‘informal improvement’ to the relationship between the CSF and ISN. When ask about what sort of person Jki was Janus did have something to say right then and there. She told Benevix that, like herself, Jki was a grandmother. Much of the meeting was spent talking about families and sharing of pictures that are the wont of grandparents everywhere. More use to the manipulation of numbers and demonstrable facts Benevix found it hard to believe that two fleet-leading admirals would engage as something trivial as sharing family stories. Janus didn’t see it as trivial. In her eye, if a Hokum and Terpla’n admiral could become friends then it would go a long way convincing others that nothing could be gained by holding onto past grievances. With this first step, Janus hoped, the Commonwealth and Imperium would forge a more meaningful relationship other than the waxing and waning creature known as trade.
End Chapter 3
--Zume
After the expenditure of 16 pinnaces, 12 of them Garrochas, Lord Admiral Janus could justify her dread concerning the Bedrock system. Ever since obtaining a database on Crimson Expanse the Axis defenses guarding the Bedrock/Tire warp point was a subject of serious contention for Janus’ staff. Despite have several captured Axis ships in battles leading up to Tire Iron the databases were extremely limited. Now Janus knew that Bedrock’s defenses were much tougher than previously believed.
In her day cabin Janus took a sip of strong coffee while reviewing the pinnace’s findings. To begin with there were 24 type-3 bases sitting in equal-distant groups of four, 0.5 LS from the warp point. Behind them at 1 LS were 8 type-5 bases arranged in three equally-spaced groups. Further out at 3 LS were two type-3 bases, one place at arbitrary north and the other south. Finally, at 4.75 LS and arranged in groups of three were 18 type-5 bases. The CAP was 21 squadrons strong, and all were 1st generation models. Patrolling with them were 24 assault shuttles. Weapon buoys around the warp point measured 1,200. Mine patterns were assumed to be very heavy also. Strangely, there were no Axis ships, but it could be just the case they were beyond the pinnace’s 5 LS scanner range. Janus secretly credited the Five Gods for insuring the pinnace got back, unseen and unengaged by the defenders. Especially considering that the Bedrock side of the warp point was closed, thus allowing mine patterns to be placed directly atop of it.
Given the tonnage involved, especially the 21 CAP squadrons and the implied numbers in reserve, Janus wasn’t sure that 240 Garrochas would suffice. It was looking like 300 would be required. From what was experienced in Fallowed Field those close-in type-3s had be armed with plasma guns, each capable of obliterating an Indomitable in one volley. The Garrochas will have to take them out along with the beam-armed type-5s. That’ll still leave the problem of those 1,200 weapon buoys. Perhaps, she thought, that the captured Axis assault corvettes could be moved up on the conversion queue and use them to absorb the buoy’s fire. Add some Turtles to the mix and, if the Emperor will allow, perform a mass transit with them followed by a regular transit of assault carriers…
An alarm klaxon broke Janus from her thinking. The trip to the Watch Tower’s CIC took only 20 seconds via intraship car and when she got there her chief of staff, Admiral Cirro, brought her up to speed. “It’s an Axis mass transit, Admiral,” he said without taking his eyes off the main holoimager. “28 frigates, 82 corvettes, 10 escorts, and 72 explorers. So far no other ships, or armed pinnaces for that matter.”
Janus looked at the holoimager as well. The warp point was surrounded by 900 patterns of mines and 900 IDEWs. Prowling just outside the minefields was the CAP, composed of 6 squadrons of F0 and 19 squadrons of F1 Spear fighters. Orbiting at a distance of 1.5 LS, just outside plasma gun range, were 60 Type-2 DDs and 24 of the new Type-A defense frigates. Barreling in, the Spear squadrons that managed to activate fire control went after the Grenadier 2 corvettes, destroying fifteen of them. Armed with EDMs on their external racks the DDs and FGs sought to immobilize the corvettes on the warp point. Backing them up were 3 CLs, 36 CAs and 36 BCs at 2 LS range. Only 13 more G2s were destroyed along with one Dispersion escort, and five more G2s and another Dispersion were severely crippled.
Of the five buoy controllers just one Empresario acted fast enough to order 100 IDEW-Fs to fire. What the buoys hit brought down shields except for the frigates. Just the crippled Dispersion was finished off. Externally-mounted mine clearance rounds from the Axis ships took out 29 patterns. At maximum ECM 151 ships entered the targeted mine patch. However, thanks to their orientation the Empresario set 100 of those patterns to maximum attack parameters. Two moderately damaged G2s were brought to a halt, engines destroyed. The eight remaining Dispersions had stayed, turned about and returned to Bedrock, taking their tactical scanner info with them.
The Hokum DDs and FGs had adjusted their distance from the Axis ships so that plasma guns were still out of range. Even the cutters launched from the Critical Mass explorers fell short of the close-range defenders. For the new Grenadier 3s this wasn’t a problem as they were armed with HET lasers. Two DDs were destroyed, and the Grenadiers fired their plasma guns at IDEWs in their midst. Retaliation by needle beams took out the G3’s lasers. Janus had the CAP squadrons stand to, saving their loads, and allowed two active Empesarios to fire 200 IDEW-Es.
Despite destroying as many explorers as possible there were still 74 Axis ships capable of movement. Only 20 explorers made it past, previously untouched but now wracked by mine detonations and spewing debris. All other Axis ships were destroyed or had been rendered immobilized by energy hits. The cutters, 72 of them, augured into a Type-2. Six of them kept up with the ship’s maneuvering and five got past point-defense, only doing very light armor damage. Undeterred, the 66 survivors came about for another go. This time 10 latched on and broke past the defenses, the DD losing half of its engines.
Again, there were no follow-up waves. Janus kept the CAP squadrons on the warp point and allowed the crashed-launched squadrons to engage the cutters. Even with 24 squadrons to help (the larger warships were just out range) 13 cutters survived to make a final attack. The stricken Type-2 fought back, getting three before two other immolated themselves, causing further internal damage. Of the last eight cutters they were shot down in a gratuitous display of overkill.
Cirro consulted a side monitor. “We have 7 undersized frigates, 7 full-sized and 7 undersized corvettes, 1 full-sized and 16 undersized explorers that are engineless and in the process of being deprived of their weapons. Captain Nyx’s tugs will collect the ships and take them to the Tire Iron/Abyssal-018 warp point.”
“What’s the estimate of the initial enemy force?” Janus asked.
“Hmmm.” Cirro had a CIC tech compile and display the data. “Based on explosion intensity and transit grouping there were at least 36 frigates, 100 corvettes, 24 escorts and 100 explorers. Excluding the eight escorts that transited out their total personnel losses are over 21,000.”
Janus shook her head. “Gods! That’s enough to crew thirteen dreadnoughts or 3,500 armed pinnaces. Just what did the Axis hope to achieve with this attack? They know that we won’t put ships within plasma gun range of a warp point.”
“I have no clear answer for that, admiral,” Cirro admitted. “It’s a big puzzle as to why we haven’t seen their examples of armed pinnaces yet. We certainly have shown how useful they are time and again. Still, they shown they could adjust to our defensive stance. That new laser-armed assault frigate, to be particular.”
“Yes, there is that, Cirro.” Janus rubbed her chin. “Send the damaged Type-2 back with Captain Nyx and assign three to provide needle beam support. After all the trouble the Axis went through to get them here I don’t want to see our captured ships repair an engine and blow themselves up.”
“Very good, Admiral. With 38 hulls to go through we’re bound to find an intact computer to interrogate.”
********
According to the calendar it was spring in the northern hemisphere of Elotoshani Prime. In the Brightsdale region winter hadn’t quite relinquished its grip. The city of Conservatory was being treated to a sky with various shades of grey with a cold wind and equally cold rain. Nisecu Lake had to fight the elements as he approached the professor’s house, a 300-year-old abode that only well off retired academicians could afford. He nearly lost his umbrella while closing it and in any event the rain slipped past his slicker and gotten the top of his sweater wet. Thankfully the professor remembered to leave the key under the deck planking this time. Wiping his four feet on the mat inside Nisecu then took off his slicker as well as the sweater as the house was rather warm. Heh, trust the old man to keep the power company in business, he thought.
Because it was business Nisecu didn’t find the professor in his study but upstairs in the attic, his ‘man cave.’ With a special knock on the wall the ceiling-mounted ladder came down on its own. Nisecu went up and raised the stairs behind him. Regardless of weather or season the attic always smelt like a library. It looked like a back room of a library also, with neat shelves full of book readers and actual hardback tomes. The master desk was lousy with loose print and filmsy magazines. He found the professor working on a printed crossword puzzle. When he needed a dictionary to look up a word he used his back pair of arms, keeping his front pair free for writing and finger-drumming.
“Was it especially cold?” said the professor, sparing only one of his four stalked eyes on Nisecu.
“No more than expected,” Nisecu replied, finding his chair was free of papers this time.
The professor consulted a dictionary, and then wrote on the crossword. “So, has it been confirmed? The Adjutant Research Associates?”
Nisecu blinked. “The boneskins took both teams into custody early this morning,” he said with both mouths. “Their families as well. This has been the first time Axis-employed researchers have been arrested since the first year of the occupation.”
“That long, eh?” The professor spoke from this left mouth as his right one was chewing a pencil. “I wonder if the status-quo would’ve held if Admiral Joncan was still in charge. You think this Konset character got his new superior to see what he’s seen?”
“Absolutely, Professor. Joncan’s replacement is a patriot. I fear that the house cleaning is far from done. So does the Committee. They’ve authorized you to implement your part of Operation Untwine immediately.”
After writing a puzzle answer the professor sat back in his chair and retrieved an old-fashion rolodex. “They’re doing that with full knowledge of what’s going to happen next. Does this mean that the boneskin’s war against the allied aliens is going bad enough?”
“The Committee believes so, Professor. Our sabotage of the two small craft programs caused the desired amount of harm to the AFC. Apply that to the overall Axis R&D program and the allied aliens will retain their technological edge.”
“Hopefully the aliens will advance far and fast enough to rescue this world from total extermination.” The Professor selected a card from the rolodex and made a voicecall from the number written on it. He spoke with the person on the other line for just fifteen seconds, long enough to give the code phrase. “It’s done,” he said with both mouths. “I shall burn this rolodex as a precaution, as it is the only evidence with my involvement with the Committee. However, that may be not enough. After all, I was a senior academician at the time of conquest. They’ll probably act on their paranoid instincts and round up all us paper pushers up for their forced labor gangs.”
Nisecu got up, making the hand-fashioned wooden chair squeak as it moved back. “You’re anything but a paper pusher, Professor.”
“I’m retired and it’s been decades since you were my student, Nisecu, so call me Salsecu. If you would be so kind, before you leave, as to start up the fireplace downstairs? My arthritis is acting up and I can’t grip the starter rod.” He chuckled. “It’s from shuffling papers my whole adult life, you know.”
“I’ll be glad to help, Salsecu.”
********
System Admiral Wertay, commander of the Nonstop Security Force, couldn’t help but think he was walking into a trap. Five of the six scout squadrons sent into Nonstop had been destroyed with four of those due to determining the fate of the first one. In each case two ships appeared out of nowhere, a warp point as far as Wertay was concerned, and launched six squadrons of fighters. Attempts to close on the apparent source of the ships ended in destruction of the scouts involved.
In close order the NSF approached the common center where the five scout squadrons met their demise. Anxious eyes didn’t belong to the Axis scanner crews alone. Calixto and her 1st Survey Escort Detachment were waiting and watching. They couldn’t know exactly what the 18 ships were until they were well within range to detect motionless ships with engines down. Making the biggest gamble in her career (not to mention life) to date she had her ships power up engines in sequence when the Axis flotilla was 30 light-seconds out. First to ‘emerge’ were the carriers, two Greyhounds and an Imperial Echelon. Following were the Broadside and Interior trios. Two Type-2 and three Pests preceded three Taggers. Last to ‘arrive’ were a Podium and a Legion pinnace carrier.
Upon detection Wertay ordered his ships to full (cruiser) speed and launched his twelve squadrons of F1 Hatchets. Still lacking antimatter warheads those Hatchets were fully loaded with short-attack missiles. The aboms were moving at half his speed, launching fighters and small craft only when 12 LS out. Peeling away were four ships, obviously the carriers and a pinnace tender. At maximum definition range the fighter contact blossomed in ten squadrons and the small craft into eight, most likely armed pinnaces. Wertay’s carriers and their escorts had pulled away just a moment earlier as well. The first SBM volleys were exchanged: 17 Axis missiles to the Hokum 14 and 6 respectively. Both sides scored three hits
Finding her foe in possession of laser warheads Calixto reduced speed to half and increased ECM by 100%. Even with improved multiplex the Axis missile cruisers were going to find the Broadsides, built on CV hulls, a bit harder to hit. Range was down to 8.75 LS. Wertay gritted his teeth as his fire-control solutions went down to 20%. Only one missile from his Firebows was on target and it was shot down. He ordered a likewise increase in ECM, but this brought his speed to .033c to Calixto’s 0.05c. Closer at 7.5 LS the Broadsides fired SBMs in loiter mode with the Interiors still keeping at the first Firebow. Though within CM range the Interiors fired antimatter armed SBMs instead as they had a 30% FCS. Like the Firebows had a 30% solution on a Broadside, scoring two laser hits and receiving none in return.
Also more maneuverable as well as (slightly) faster the Hokum force only allowed the range to drop to 7.25 LS. Thanks to loiter mode the Broadsides fired 14 CM and 14 SBM – all armed with antimatter plus two rack-mounted SBM-Lts for good measure. All eight missiles that achieved lock were shot down but the Axis did no better. Meanwhile the respective squadrons were closing on each other. The Spears carried pairs of FRAMs and a laser pack and thus had some reach on their purely-armed close attack missile Hatchets. At 0.5 LS the Spears opened up and nailed seven Hatchets from five squadrons. The only way the Hatchets could retaliate was to drop a missile and increase speed but the Spears could do the same, so both strike forces passed each other without further incident.
With both sides continuing their ECM pissing match Calixto allowed the range to drop to 7 LS. The Firebows now fired CM-Lts while the Broadsides launched SBMs in loiter mode. Five missiles made it, reducing the targeted Broadside’s armor to fifty percent. The Interiors each fired one SBM in loiter mode while launching CM-AMs at the first Firebow. Of the two missiles one hit, taking 27% of the shields. Until such time Wertay decided to go to full speed Calixto controlled the engagement range and did so again, reducing the range to 6.5 LS. Two CM-AMs hit, reducing the first Firebow’s shield down to 20%. Another SBM-Lt also hit, removing one of the ship’s two EDMs. Three CM-Lts reduced the Broadside’s armor by another 17%.
The range stayed at 6.5 LS but the Hatchets were now at 1.75 LS from the Hokum ships. While the Broadsides and Interiors fired CMs the DDs and FGs opened up with their needle beams. A single Hatchet was felled. For the Spears they were 2 LS from the Axis ships. Deploying its remaining EDM the first Firebow couldn’t deflect three more CM-AM hits, resulting in complete loss of shields and armor. Changing tack, the Firebows launched regular CMs and obtained a single hit.
Calixto ordered a change in course and had her ships to go to .1c, resulting in a 50% loss of ECM. Wertay did the same, painfully aware that the Spears would carry FRAMs. At 9 LS range both sides did exchange SBMs. Only Wertay scored a hit. At 1 LS range the Hatchets faced increased defensive fire, including from the eight Garrochas flying in the Hokum formation. Four Axis fighters disappeared in fireballs as their fusion bottles were ruptured by point defense missile impacts. The Spears were 1.5 LS out from the Axis formation. All six hetlasers on the Sprinters missed.
Now the ships of both sides were 12 LS apart. At 0.5 LS range the Hatchet formation took the blistering defense barrage stoically, especially when the Broadsides revealed their loiter mode secret in the form of plasma guns. 14 Hatchets fell in exchange for a mere 4 Spears. Laser packs on the Spears stripped half of armor on the second and third Firebows. Since the Hatchets were going to be on top of them presently Calixto cut back on speed and reinforced ECM. Individual datagroups changed heading at the last moment, allowing for one group to engage Hatchets in the blindspots of others. Even with eight Garrochas helping the devastated Hatchet squadrons destroyed two Broadsides. Half a light second from their targets the Spears lost 12 of their number. Their lasers raked the sides of the CAs and DDs, all losing at least half of their external ordnance.
Unarmed, the Hatchets moved at full speed back to their ships. Calixto, aboard the last Broadside, ordered all ships to come about and move at full speed. They fired whatever weapons were in range at the retreating Hatchets, reducing their number to 23. Meanwhile Wertay copied Calixto’s maneuver to make the Spear’s point-blank targeting more difficult. It wasn’t enough for all three Firebows were turned into one-engine wrecks. One Sprinter was destroyed with another almost dead and a third denuded of five engine rooms. Commanding from a Stalwart Wertay had seen enough and wasn’t about to let pride precede his fall. His ships came about and moved at full speed towards their entry warp point.
Instead of leaving the Spears stayed, firing their laser packs like matadors into the now panicking Sprinters. When the sixth Axis destroyer lost three engine rooms the 16 remaining Spears broke off and headed for the Greyhound carriers. Wertay watched as the ships he was forced to leave behind were overtaken by the aboms, stripped of shields, lanced with needle beams, and boarded. One Sprinter was so badly off that it was destroyed out of hand. As for the last Sprinter it was dispatched by a flight of eight laser-pack armed Garrochas but it claimed two of its attackers. He knew his remaining ships were safe for the time being. Only the aboms Pests, Taggers, fighters and armed pinnaces could catch up but to do so would mean there loss, especially when his own 23 Hatchets would be used for the defense, not to mention the defenses of the carriers and their escorts. So, as he listened to the live feeds of shipboard combat die out one by one Wertay sent a flash message back to Bandstand for emergency reinforcement.
For Calixto she counted herself fortunate that the Axis didn’t possess antimatter yet. For losing two cruisers and 73% of her fighters she gained three captured Axis battlecruisers of a new type and three destroyers. An intact database was found by a marine boarding party on the lead Axis ship. She, too, sent a message for reinforcements to be dispatched quickly as possible. The Oxgoad tug was called from its holding position with the sequestered mobile yard and tasked to pull the six fresh captures to a sport near the ‘third warp point.’ Any Axis scout would be compelled to investigate and would find the Greyhounds with their fighter broods waiting. With the Second Battle for Nonstop over it was a race to see who got their strength back first. The betting pools were busy right up to moment battlestations were called again.
********
It had been a quite three weeks since the Axis probe assault on Tire Iron. On the Watch Tower Janus was with her staff in the CIC waiting for the first pinnace probe of Bedrock since the attack to return. They had just finished a meeting in which a dispatch from Hokum Prime was discussed. Several technical projects had just been completed or will soon be ready for shipboard use. A new stand-off fighter missile that would allow Spears and Garrochas to conduct meaningful long-range attacks without coming into even capital point defense range was even now being carried by the gross to Tire Iron. An improved Spear that carried the same external load of an F1 but with an internal weapon had completed flight testing and would be entering production next month. New shield generators that offered a 50% increase in protection over that of the previous type for the same tonnage plus two significantly improved types of point defense mounts were anticipated to be ready in three months if not sooner. Janus decided to forgo further refits of Type-2s with multiplex aside from the four already in transit to Crimson Expanse until the new shields and point defense became available.
The pinnace came back one minute later and transmitted its findings to the Watch Tower. Captain Benevix, Janus’ chief intelligence officer, had the duty and privilege of seeing the data first. Being a studious, thoughtful man his outburst was unexpected and startling. “Gods favor! There’s practically nothing left over there!”
“Show me,” Janus said firmly. The main holoimager blossomed green with pertinent data. Had a pinnace not successfully returned three weeks ago then there wouldn’t have been a baseline comparison. If seen for the first time, then it would’ve appeared the warp point was only just now being fortified. The 1,200 weapon buoys were still there, but only one type-3 base 3 LS ‘south’ of the warp point remained. No CAP and none of the big type-5 bases were to be seen. While the rest of the staff was digesting the ramifications of this development an anomaly caught the Lord Admiral’s eye. It was a patch of undistinguished identity codes 1.5 LS south of the sole base. She pointed at it with both right-sided hands. “What is that, Benevix?”
“Clarifying, Admiral.” Benevix worked on a terminal with the intensity of an ancient reporter beating a story out of an equally ancient manual typewriter. “Confirmed. What you’re seeing is 14 fighter squadrons launching stand-off missiles against the base. Base on the energy signatures confidence is 85% that the fighters are Commonwealth in origin.”
“Five Gods, they must’ve broken in via Circuit Run,” Cirro, the head of Janus’ staff, said. “That would explain why there were no regular warships within the pinnace’s scanner range the first time around. They were all at the Circuit Run warp point, and trusted that the defenses here would hold.”
“Then why send in that probe assault?” questioned Marius, chief of logistics. “The CE database showed that the Brickyard warp point was only 8 light-minutes away. All those corvettes, frigates and explorers could’ve stayed on their side of the warp point as long as possible before retreating. They’d had ample warning if a CFS task group was approaching.”
“Perhaps they could’ve done that,” Janus said, all four hands out and up to still further comment. “That they didn’t show us three things. One is that Brickyard, despite the five-year-old data, most likely didn’t have the wherewithal to maintain a meaningful number of those assault ships for a significant amount of time. The system would’ve been isolated due to sole warp point being invested by CSF formations. Another is that they didn’t consider scrapping those ships in Brickyard for materials to support more meaningful defenses, like fighter bases. Lastly, there’s the AFC imperative – attack. Remember Crimson Expanse and Abyssal-018. Those probe attacks served to keep us on the defensive. They died just so one or two ships could report back what they saw. For all we knew, as of three weeks ago, there could’ve been a second assault force, equipped with armed pinnaces and FRAMs, just waiting to act on that costly data. It may have been unmitigated gall on their part to act on a ‘use them or lose them’ mentality, but it succeeded in keeping us in place. They didn’t want the specter of a double break-in to complicate their defensive dispositions.”
“At least we were spared a costly assault of our own,” Hasken, commander of the Garrocha wings, bluntly stated. “We owe our co-combatants congratulations.”
Janus snapped the fingers of her left-rear hand. “We’ll do just that, Captain Hasken. Benevix, compose a brief report of what happened here in Tire Iron for one of our Garrochas to transmit after transiting back into Bedrock. I’ll also include a request to meet the commanding admirals so as to deliver our congratulations personally.”
Benevix looked downright uncomfortable. “Admiral, there’s no protocol established for such a meeting between co-belligerents in an active warzone. Between two fully vetted diplomats, yes, but commanding admirals? That’s not even mentioning all the other races and their militaries that allied themselves with the Terpla’ns. There’s security to be addressed….”
“Captain Benevix,” said the Lord Admiral in a fitting imperious tone, “had circumstances been different in a very few points then the whole of the Imperium would’ve been conquered by the Asteroid Axis. We have an opportunity to pay those races, those noble spacers, the respect and honors they deserve and for the far greater casualties they sustained so far in this war.”
The other officers, Benevix included, knew they couldn’t debate Janus on what she said for it was all true. None needed to be reminded about the captured Axis Army after-action reports from Hamthen Prime. “Admiral,” said the admonished Benevix, “I’ll write that brief report you want and submit it for your final approval.”
“Excellent, Captain.” Janus made a small grin. “We do want to show that we’re active participants in this war.”
********
Four days after establishing contact with CSF Task Force 21 the Watch Tower and two Imperial Wave carriers entered Bedrock. All the weapon buoys on the Bedrock/Tire Iron warp point had been cleared by Garrochas and a lane blown clear in the minefield. Guided by a Sloop scout the trio of Hokum ships took almost 17 hours to reach Bedrock Prime. Their course took them through the asteroid belt and right next to one hefty rock that was 983 km in diameter. An Axis colony was evident as well as the remains of a base. The Sloop captain said that the base was composed almost entirely of fighter bays and that every colony in the belt had one.
Approaching the planet Lord Admiral Janus noted that the Commonwealth fleet outnumbered hers in Tire Iron by three to one and it contained a very healthy percentage of dreadnoughts and battleships. This, she corrected herself, was just the regular fleet. No doubt the Bedrock/Circuit Run defenses were as strong as those facing Tire Iron and likely were more so. The assault force required to breach those defenses would’ve been a fleet in its own right. Settling 1,000 km from the Terpla’n flagship the Watch Tower launched its shuttle, carrying Janus and a select group of officers. Benevix was among them. Sitting next to Janus he touched his earbug while pointing to the screen at the front of the passenger cabin. “Shipboard records and current readings give a 95% certainty that the dreadnought we’re heading for participated in the last battle for the Frontier system six years ago during the Short War.”
Janus nodded. Back then she was just an admiral commanding six Interior cruisers and under the overall command of Lord Admiral Dornal. Her command ship was almost broken in half by the firepower of one of those Terpla’n behemoths. The general layout and hull color was the same, and there was evidence that it sustained armor damage, giving it a distinguished look suitable for veteran combatants. As the shuttle entered its final approach she doubted that the captain of six years ago was still in command. Still, it would satisfy her curiosity to see the being that commanded this mobile arsenal.
The shuttle descended softly on the landing cradle and the bay was sealed and pressurized. An honor guard of E’sani marines appeared and formed up along the ramp leading to the hatch. Two Hokum marines exited first and flanked the hatch. Of the officers the first out was the Watch Tower’s captain, Rocco. A stickler for protocol, Rocco requested and received an abbreviated manual of CSF shipboard regulations. Thus he knew he had to salute the junior Terpla’n officer at the base of the ramp and formally ask permission for the shuttle’s occupants to board the ship. The tied-in ship’s computers translated his words and broadcasted it over the bay’s speakers. He got an unaccented reply via the earbug he wore as well as the speakers. Rocco moved to the side and allowed Janus to lead the party to a reception area at the front of the hatch for the intraship car.
To a one the Hokum officers still found the appearance of a Terp to be a bit unreal, like an animatronic movie prop. Not so the E’sani. While both Terp and E’sani were tall E’sani were big. Even the Hokum marines got the impression that the bipedal two-arms could rip apart powered armor with their bare hands. Janus put that though aside as she focused on two Terp officers before her. One wore the black-bordered yellow square that indicated the rank of captain. This Terp was missing two legs, the back pair, which explained why it seemed (he?) was compensating by leaning slightly forward. As for the other officer Janus believed it to be female, judging from the size and shape of the eyes. She had three black-bordered yellow pentagons arranged in a triangle. Below the rank was a badge, and if memory served from the intelligence briefing then it was a set of strikefighter pilot wings. Janus sensed she was in the presence of a great leader despite the radically different bodyform and lack of noticeable visual cues. When Janus stopped the officers behind her did so as well, forming a wedge with Janus at the point.
The four-legged officer stepped forward. “Lord Admiral Janus, I’m Captain Dojan, commander of this ship, the Captain Avma. Welcome aboard.” He paused for a moment to allow the translation program to do its work. “Allow me to introduce the commander of Task Force 21 and of all allied forces in the Bedrock system, Flag Admiral Tulcus Jki.”
Janus managed to hide her surprise. She knew that name and the story behind it, for Jki was one of the Terpla’n officers that returned rescued Hokum spacers after the last battle in the Short War. But Jki was just a captain six years ago, which meant she rose rather quickly in the ranks thanks, no doubt, to the war with the Axis. “A pleasure to make your acquaintance, Excellency,” she said, using an ancient Hokum honorific usual applied for another nation’s ambassadors.
Jki’s smile was real enough to satisfy Janus’ perception that she was addressing a living being and not a movie prop. “There’s no need for extravagant titles among friends, Admiral. To avoid confusion let’s just call each other by our surnames.”
“Yes,” Janus agreed with a smile of her own, “that will speed things up. Let me start with my chief-of-staff…”
********
The Hokum were given an abbreviated tour of the Avma. As part of the tour they were shown the auxiliary control station which served as Jki’s command post. Janus learned that this ship wasn’t equipped with a CIC like the Watch Tower, finding it hard to believe that with numerous heavy ships available Jki would forgo the benefits of a CIC. Shown next were the weapon installations and crew recreational spaces. The visitors couldn’t help but notice a good percentage of the crew had missing limbs or part of limbs. Captain Dojan explained that the crew took a vow not to get replacement limbs until the war was over.
Benevix couldn’t discern what was being said by Avma crewmembers as the translation computers only work for those that wore the transceiver medallion. However, the intense intelligence officer was treated to a feast in the Avma’s wardroom. He took particular interest in the paintings and plaques that commemorated the battles the ship was in. Jki noticed this and provided more background; quite aware of the frantic mental note-writing Benevix was engaged in. She decided to temper his enthusiasm with some sober, eye-opening facts.
Before the evening recess the Hokum were shown the Avma’s sick bay. Every bed was occupied by a Terpla’n or E’sani spacer. Jki explained that their wounds were the result of suicide attacks conducted by Axis fighters against the troop transports. Avma’s doctors were treating the wounded brought over from the Belynda, one of the largest troopships and subsequently the focus of multiple waves of suiciders. Janus could only imagine how many Hokum transports would’ve been destroyed outright in such massed attacks. Some of her officers looked downright uncomfortable, especially when they glimpsed the burn ward. Janus doubted that the Expeditionary Fleet had sustained anywhere near this many burn casualties in the war to date.
The Hokum returned the next day for the official declaration of appreciation. It was held in the Avma’s wardroom, and though they believed they were ready, the inclusion of representatives of TF 21’s participating races was a rush of the foreign for the Hokum. At least six of the twelve races were bipedal, providing grounding in the familiar and a stave from potential embarrassment. Following the official event the officers engaged in small talk at which Janus and her officers excelled. They found the Tzelan representative, one Captain Netts and most junior of the allied contingent commanders, a most profoundly philosophical character. Cirro was effectively monopolized by Crajen Admiral Dowel. When he learned that Cirro was a handyman when it came to wood Dowel had to know what kind of tools he used. Back aboard the Watch Tower the officers wrote what they learned and in turn gave the reports to Benevix. He had a joy usually found in child discovering that the candy bag had one last piece at the bottom.
On the third and last day the officers broke up into smaller groups. Novillero Maro, IMC, commander of the Expeditionary Fleet’s strike wings went to the CSF carrier Junshu to talk with his Terpla’n counterpart. Like all pilots he spoke the universal language of fighter combat, using his four hands to good effect to add emphasis to his stories of engagements against the Axis foe. A Hokum marine officer, Torero Valdex, representing the Corps and the ISA both, visited the CSA operations officer on the transport Beytris and compared notes on combat tactics of Comensal civilians. Back on the Captain Avma Cirro met with Barsus, Jki’s chief of staff. They discussed disposition of Axis formations and patterns of attacks, particularly on the use of assault corvettes to conduct spoiling attacks.
After an exclusive tour of the Avma’s bridge Jki and Janus had a private meeting in Jki’s cabin. Outside waiting were the E’sani marine sentry and his Hokum counterpart. To pass the time the Corporal talked about the ship’s mascot to the very young Vara 2nd Class. When the Vara affirmed that he saw the large tank in Avma’s Marine Country the Corporal decided to ‘embellish’ the details. He described Flip as an ill-tempered two-meter-long, scaly toothy terror that wasn’t afraid of anyone except the Admiral. The Corporal used an opened hand in front of his mouth to pantomime Flip’s vicious ripping dentition. Like a child listening to a campfire story the Vara learned that Flip had to be taken young from the very lagoon it was spawned and shocked so that it had the pretense of being tamed. Layering it on, the Corporal described how the Admiral, who had previously commanded the Captain Avma, feed underperforming ensigns and spacers to Flip as an incentive for others to work better. The reason why the huge tank was in Marine Country was that Flip found E’sani flesh to be unappetizing, but also the foul beast kept the cartilage of his victims buried under the gravel so as to have something to nibble on between meals. When told that Flip was in the Admiral’s cabin the unbelievably gullible Vara asked if it was safe for Janus to be in there. Smiling, the Corporal said that it was all right since Jki sawed off a leg of a spacer that very morning and dispensed bits of it to Flip as num-nums to keep him sated.
When the cabin door opened the Vara hoped to get a glimpse of the creature described to him. Instead he found Admiral Janus holding a 32cm-long lungfish in her front pair of arms. But not for long as the creature squirmed and then jumped from her hold, landing in the reflexively-extended hands of the Corporal. He heard via his earbug Admiral Jki calling the cute-looking critter Flip, describing him as an ‘affectionate little cuss.’ Blushing, the Vara knew he had been duped by the Corporal’s tall tale. The massive E’sani grinned and shook the Vara’s hand to express that no hard feelings were intended.
Benevix had to satisfy his curiosity and talked to Janus as the shuttle went to the Junshu and Beytris to pick up the other officers. She declined to discuss specifics until all the staff officers were assembled back on the Watch Tower. However, she did indicate that there was going to be an ‘informal improvement’ to the relationship between the CSF and ISN. When ask about what sort of person Jki was Janus did have something to say right then and there. She told Benevix that, like herself, Jki was a grandmother. Much of the meeting was spent talking about families and sharing of pictures that are the wont of grandparents everywhere. More use to the manipulation of numbers and demonstrable facts Benevix found it hard to believe that two fleet-leading admirals would engage as something trivial as sharing family stories. Janus didn’t see it as trivial. In her eye, if a Hokum and Terpla’n admiral could become friends then it would go a long way convincing others that nothing could be gained by holding onto past grievances. With this first step, Janus hoped, the Commonwealth and Imperium would forge a more meaningful relationship other than the waxing and waning creature known as trade.
End Chapter 3
--Zume