(TCOTU #2) No Way to Start a War, page 3
“Capt’n on the bridge,” Senior Chief Petty Officer Andrew Brown called out.
Heskan nodded at the acknowledgment. “Chief, is the shuttle ready?”
“Yes, sir. I got Damage Controlman Second Class Percy waitin’ in the shuttle.” The grey-haired senior chief was smiling, though his expression quickly hardened as he punched a comm button on his operations station. “Wake up, Percy! The capt’n’s comin’ down now.” He closed the channel and threw a mischievous wink at his captain.
Heskan turned to Lieutenant, junior grade, Diane Selvaggio. “Kite is your ship while I’m away, Lieutenant.”
The young lieutenant visibly gulped as she rotated in her chair. “Yes, sir. I’ll certainly be thankful when Lieutenant Scott reports in.” Lieutenant Joseph Scott was scheduled to assume command of the navigation section when he joined Kite at Titan along with Heskan’s promised first officer.
Heskan smiled. “Don’t be so hasty, Diane. With Lieutenants Vernay and Truesworth off the ship, you’re gaining valuable command experience today.”
“Can’t valuable command experience wait until I’m a full lieutenant, sir?” she quipped before refocusing her attention on her console.
Heskan rolled his eyes. “Even when Scott gets here, your battle station will be the bridge. Lieutenant Scott will have his hands full leading the second command team in Auxiliary Control.” He watched Selvaggio’s hands effortlessly glide over her console as she fed her navigation computer standardized tasks designed to calibrate the software. Diane has everything going for her but she’s so damned shy and she’s always understating her abilities. Stacy told me she refuses to wear her Distinguished Unit Citation because she feels responsible for the hit that took out Ana’s port GPs. Heskan shook his head unconsciously. A lieutenant commander couldn’t have handled Anelace any better than she did. I wish she’d break out of her shell.
As Heskan wheeled around to head for the door, Selvaggio grinned wickedly and called out, “Good luck at the briefing, sir. Maybe the seat next to Commander Durmont will be open.”
Heskan visibly cringed as he strode into the corridor. Okay, technically I asked for that.
Chapter 3
The shuttle ride to Lieutenant Commander Durmont’s ship, BRS Bulwark, passed without event. Bulwark, a Bastion class escort light cruiser, was the command ship for CortRon 15. The six-ship squadron was comprised of one escort light cruiser, three escort destroyers, and two frigates. The frigates were ill-equipped for escort duty and Third Fleet Headquarters had promised dedicated escort frigates later, but for now, CortRon 15 would make do with what was available. Even if the frigates were something of an afterthought, the four dedicated escort ships made CortRon 15 a formidable shield for Task Group 3.1, which would center on the heavy carrier, Avenger, and the light carrier, Eagle.
Heskan already knew many of his fellow CortRon ship captains. Like Heskan, most had been poached from the Narvi system defense ships. He was looking forward to finally working with Lieutenant Kelly Gary, with whom he had shared a lunch his first day on Hulda. Of course, Heskan had met CortRon 15’s other destroyer captain, Lieutenant Stephanie Moore, coming out of Durmont’s office on Hulda under more interesting circumstances.
During the previous week, Durmont had surprised his ship captains by revealing that Heskan would be the squadron’s second-in-command. Even though Heskan was the most senior lieutenant and due for promotion, Brevic regulations granted commanders a great amount of leeway in organizing their command structure and Heskan had been certain Durmont would place his “special” lieutenant in that position. After the announcement, Heskan not only respected Durmont’s seemingly impartial choice but began to question whether he had misjudged the man.
Heskan was pleased with the decision for both professional and personal reasons. Not only was he happy to be the CortRon’s vice commander, but the job guaranteed Kite would be farther away from Bulwark. Maybe I am wrong about Durmont professionally but I still don’t like the man, he thought. Additionally, Gary’s escort destroyer, Aspis, world be paired with Kite during routine operations. Kelly is a very capable officer and has a terrific sense of humor. I think we’ll make a great team. Buoyed by this final thought, Heskan exited the shuttle.
After being piped aboard Bulwark, a petty officer delivered Heskan to a large briefing room deep inside the ship. As he entered the room, he found Lieutenants Gary and Moore embroiled in a heated discussion while they waited for Durmont to arrive. Taking a seat at the table, Heskan nodded to the other officers and waited for a pause in the conversation.
Gary pointedly tapped her head while staring at Moore and stated, “It makes more sense to use a diamond wall formation with the frigates on the periphery than going with a standard square formation that has them in the center.”
Moore shook her head and responded, “That’s contrary to decades of missile defense theory, Kelly. Doctrine says you anchor your strongest ships in the corners of the square and flood the center with less capable ships for mutual support. Weren’t you paying attention in SOS?” Moore used the abbreviation for Squadron Officer School, a supplemental school full lieutenants were sent to that specialized in teaching the tactics of ships in squadrons. The twelve-week course covered most forms of naval combat including missile defense theory and, of equal importance, served as a “rebluing” for Brevic company grade officers.
Gary’s eyes narrowed at Moore’s barb. The specifications of the Carriage class frigate flashed onto the briefing room’s center table screen as Gary punched viscously at her datapad. “Coach and Chariot are both Carriage class frigates. At best, each will be able to bear three quad GPs and two dual GPs for point defense. Doctrine,” Gary gestured in air quotes as she spoke the word, “says those frigates will only be able to stop roughly fifteen incoming missiles per wave.”
Gary punched more buttons. The briefing screen changed to show a slender, vertical diamond formation with the two Buckler class destroyers, Aspis and Kite, forming the sides, Durmont’s escort light cruiser at the top point and Moore’s Guardian class escort destroyer, Sentinel, at the bottom position. Chariot sailed slightly ahead of Kite and Coach was positioned behind Aspis. “If you use a diamond formation, Kite and Aspis will be much closer to the center and our two ships can stop over two hundred missiles per wave!” Gary glanced at Heskan and asked, “What do you think, Garrett?”
“We need our strength closest to the carriers,” Heskan offered.
“There’s no way we’re going to come under such a massive attack,” Moore said dismissively. “The Hollies won’t have that kind of throw-weight, and besides, they’re going to be too busy shooting at our main battle fleet to have much left to fire at a carrier formation. Sure, putting us in a diamond formation makes us strong in one direction but it leaves our flanks wide open to attack. No disrespect intended, but I’m the only one here who was a distinguished graduate from SOS, so I think I know what I’m talking about.” She tapped her “DG” ribbon in the row of ribbons on her service uniform.
Heskan considered her arguments. I think we’re going to attract a lot more attention than she believes, but she does have a point about our flanks if you look at it strictly by the book. However, I think naval tactics are undergoing a revolutionary change and she’s missing that. “Stephanie, our task group is going to be a lot more mobile in combat than any group before. I agree that, potentially, our flanks will be more vulnerable in diamond formation. However, our task group won’t be locked into standard missile attack fleet maneuvers.”
Gary nodded aggressively and added, “Avenger and Eagle will launch their fighters and then most likely start running away. There’s no reason to close with the enemy in a carrier group and because we won’t be closing, we shouldn’t find ourselves facing coordinated attacks from multiple directions.”
Outnumbered, Moore sat back and exhaled. “Ultimately, it’s Commander Durmont’s decision anyway.”
As if on cue, a petty officer entered the briefing room and announced, “Ladies and gentleman, the commander.”
All three lieutenants stood and came to attention as Durmont came in. He walked to the head of the briefing table and sat before saying, “As you were.”
Heskan had just reseated himself when Durmont opened the meeting. “Our timetable has been moved up. CortRon Fifteen will sail for Titan tomorrow at oh-eight hundred. We’re to rendezvous with Avenger and Eagle no later than 0815.995 and I want to make sure we’re early. Questions?”
Moore spoke first. “What combat formation will we be using, Commander?”
Durmont looked at the table screen and he was silent for several seconds. “We’ll most likely be starting in standard square. It’s the recommended formation for missile defense and it will allow our frigates to support each other in the middle.”
Heskan tried not to notice Moore’s smug look before he spoke. “Commander, I agree with you completely that the frigates are going to need all the support they can get. I’m not even sure why they were attached to us when they’re so weak in point defense. With that in mind, do you think the four dedicated escort ships can best protect Avenger and Eagle isolated from each other and so far from the center?” Not to mention protect ourselves. The Hollie missiles aren’t particular on what they target and destroying a task group’s escorts is usually very bad news for the capital ships shortly afterwards.
“That question has been asked by every junior officer in missile defense squadrons for the last hundred years, Lieutenant. The answer is the standard square is the formation that gives us the best defensive coverage and I’m not going against a century of naval theory.” Durmont brought his fist down lightly on the table as if it were a judge’s gavel. “I’ll take the top forward position, Moore will have the top rear spot, Gary will have the lower forward, you will take the lower rear and we’ll put the frigates in the center of the square. It’s the method used for missile defense because it’s the best and safest formation.”
Heskan responded, “Yes, sir.” I’m not done discussing this with Durmont, but as his vice, I owe him support in front of the rest of his officers.
Durmont nodded his approval. “Good. When we get to Titan, the commander of Task Group Three-One, Rear Admiral Mitchell Hayes, will have a meeting that we’ll both have to attend, Lieutenant. They call him ‘Hurricane Hayes’ and I expect you to be on your best behavior. Naturally, I am CortRon Fifteen’s voice so you won’t have to worry about speaking but I will need you to carry some of my briefing materials. I mostly expect you to just L-and-L.” Heskan had gleaned over the past weeks that while “L-and-L” stood for “Listen and Learn,” it actually meant something more akin to “Shut up and color” to Durmont.
The meeting moved on to the topic of the squadron’s first exercise. Because of the expedited departure from Anthe, the exercise would be watered down even more than originally planned, giving the whole production very little value for the effort involved.
We should just cancel it, thought Heskan. There’s no benefit doing it with just our four ships. In fact, conducting an exercise without the two frigates might do more harm than good. Besides, we’ll be exercising enough once Task Group Three-One forms and those maneuvers will be of real value. He listened to Durmont’s expectations for ten minutes while trying to decide if he should suggest abandoning the exercise. Just cooperate and graduate, Garrett. Shane will take the suggestion to cancel as a personal attack. Heskan resigned himself to silence but then thought back to a promise he had made. What did I say? That’s right, “I’ll never mask my concerns from a superior officer again.”
Durmont lectured on about the script of his exercise. “So the surprise force I have planned to attack our squadron at Point Charlie will really show us how well we can split our point defenses, I should think. And when things look their darkest, I’ll order the formation to staggered square and that should save the day.” Finished, Durmont sat back and smiled.
“Sir, is it possible to work our two frigates into this exercise?” Heskan asked. “I think having them included will make the pressure our center will face more realistic.”
“It’s already calculated into the simulation, Lieutenant. I’ve reduced the ratio of incoming missiles based on the standard square theory.”
“What if the pressure on the center of the formation is greater than what’s been calculated, sir?” Gary questioned skeptically.
Durmont frowned deeply as his face flushed. “It won’t be, but even if it is, the corners of the square can lend additional support. That’s why the square formation has been the standard missile defense formation since before you were born, Lieutenant!” Durmont looked around the group, exasperated. “Haven’t we covered this already?”
“I think Kelly is referring to dead center, Commander. None of our ships will be able to cover that portion of the square since we’ll be seven to nine light-seconds from the frigates,” Heskan clarified.
Durmont shot up from his chair and bellowed, “The frigates aren’t helpless, you two! Instead of undermining me by questioning every decision I make you both will support me like good officers should!”
Both Heskan and Gary sat in stunned silence as Durmont continued to rant. “Both of you need to be part of the team instead of armchair admirals.” He jabbed at the top of the table with a finger. “Each of you needs to think about that long and hard and realize that I have full authority to replace any ship captain under me if I think it’s in the best interests of the Navy.” Durmont bit down before taking a deep breath and slowly exhaled. Several seconds later, he reseated himself and his volume approached normal conversation level again. “You’re both new and inexperienced to fleet combat. I’d advise you two to L-and-L and take your cues from Lieutenant Moore. Unlike the two of you, she was top of her class in Squadron Officer School and understands naval combat theory. Are we clear?”
Heskan and Gary replied in unison, “Yes, sir.”
Satisfied, Durmont leaned back in his chair. “Then you’re both dismissed. Lieutenant Moore, I need you to stay behind for special consultation.” Heskan and Gary rose quickly and walked out of the briefing room.
* * *
Durmont watched the door close before locking eyes with Moore. His stern expression softened and he took in a deep breath. “That man hates my guts,” he proclaimed as he watched Moore rise from her chair and begin to walk toward him.
Moore laughed pleasingly and replied, “No more than Gary hates me. She’s always been resentful that I have you. It’s the same with Heskan, he’s just plain jealous of your abilities.”
“I only hope our careers can survive screw-ups like him and this half-baked squadron. He’s right, you know, the frigates are a liability,” Durmont admitted. He thought of his promising career and of the doors that could open or forever close after his time as CortRon 15’s commander.
Moore stood close to Durmont and smiled encouragingly. “You’ll do great, Shane. The frigates won’t be that bad and your leadership will overcome any mistakes by Heskan.”
Durmont rose and turned away from her. He looked, unseeing, at a blank wall screen. “He’s a menace. He constantly undermines me and takes every opportunity to try to make me look bad. I just hope the task group leadership will see it for what it is.”
Standing behind Durmont, Moore tenderly slipped her arms around his waist and rested her chin on his shoulder. “They will. How could they not? Everything he touches turns to ash. Frankly, I don’t know how he got command of Kite after Derringer and Anelace.”
“He was decorated for Anelace… and Derringer, Stephanie,” Durmont lamented. “Strangest citation I’ve ever read.”
“His dad must be an admiral,” Moore theorized.
Durmont shook his head. “No, Heskan’s file lists his father as a machinist on Dione before he died.” Durmont pointedly ensured that he knew who the parents of each of his subordinates were. He believed attention to these types of details helped maintain the trajectory of his career.
“Then why would they decorate him after Derringer?” Moore wondered. “You said he got banished to a desk job after its return and BPC doesn’t pull a ship out of service and scatter its crew to the four winds after a successful mission.” After a moment of silence, Moore cocked her head slightly and asked, “Do you know what Derringer was doing anyway?”
“No, but the rumors are rampant. That part of Heskan’s record was redacted and the decoration only mentions them as couriers.” Still facing away, Durmont brought his hands to his waist to close around Moore’s. “You know he’s going to screw up again. I can’t let Heskan take me down with him.”
“I’ll protect you, darling,” Moore cooed.
Durmont turned inside Moore’s arms and embraced her. “I don’t know what I’d do without you, love.”
* * *
When the briefing room door closed behind Heskan and Gary, they both excused their escorts and walked back to Bulwark’s shuttle bay together.
Gary’s face twisted in rage as she squared her shoulders toward Heskan. “You weren’t a DG, Lieutenant! What could you possibly know about combat?” she mocked as she pointed to the Silver Star ribbon on Heskan’s chest.
“Don’t let him get to you, Kelly. We have some more time to get through to him before there’s cause for alarm,” Heskan offered.
She snorted and replied, “Well, I don’t mean to be an alarmist but we’re all going to die if we go into battle with that idiot in charge.” Gary folded her arms across her chest and added, “It’s bad enough to be under someone so caustic but what’s worse is he’s thinking in old school ways and the carriers won’t be fighting like that. Look at what fighting according to the book has got the Republic so far.” She uncrossed her arms and extended the index finger on her right hand. “One, we were annihilated at Anesidora.” She extended a second finger. “Two, our offensive at Carpo was stopped cold.” A third finger. “And, Three, we got pushed out of Themisto.”
