Assault: The Globur Incursion Book 6, page 13
Pang’s com beeped, the priority channel. She accepted the connection through her augmentation. It was routed through the ship's communications, so all she got was audio. “Pang, Rear Admiral Simmons here. I see your comms are a mess. We need you at the control center. Fleet headquarters says they want to hear from you immediately when you arrive. They are assuming that the Mongolia system is lost, and by the condition of your task force, it seems they’re right. I’m sending my pinnace to pick you up. It should arrive once you have a stable orbit.”
Pang was surprised to hear from the commander of Gateway right away, but they had been out of contact for some time. Everyone must be impatient for news. “I’ll meet your pinnace and get to the control center as soon as possible,” replied Pang. “I can confirm the loss of the Mongolia system.
“It’s good to see you make it back, Pang. We feared the worst. I am truly sorry for your losses, but I do have some good news to share once you’re here. Don’t worry. My people will take very good care of your crews and ships. We’re getting clean downloads from your battleship Trident, so we’ll have some data to share with Fleet headquarters right away.”
Pang felt some relief. “My thanks, Rear Admiral Simmons. My people have been through hell, and the journey back was not an easy one. I could use some good news after what we’ve been through. I’ll see you in the command center.”
“Welcome home, TF13,” replied Simmons before killing the link.
Pang stood up. “Direct the inbound pinnace to Bay 3,” she said to her communications officer. She did not wait for a reply and headed down to the command bridge. It was something she did occasionally instead of just linking to Captain Stutz. One of the officers announced the admiral on the command bridge, and Captain Stutz looked up as she walked toward him, rising from his command chair.
Stutz looked tired. Dixmude’s XO had been killed in the later stages of the battle in the Mongolia system, and the replacement was struggling mightily with the workload despite Stutz’s assistance. Damage control was a lot of jury rigging, and things did not always work right or stay fixed.
“Well, Harry,” Pang said as Stutz finished getting out of the command chair. “Looks like we finally made it. Rear Admiral Simmons has sent a pinnace for me so I can provide a debriefing right away.”
Stutz managed a tired smile. “Thank you, Admiral. I’ve already begun arrangements to get our wounded to the medical center on Gateway. I have also contacted the yard to offload the remaining missiles off the ship and secure the ships for transfer to the yard. I doubt the command crew will be able to disembark for a least a day.”
“It looks like TF13 is simply no more,” Pang observed with an air of sad finality.
Stutz nodded. “We gave the Globur hell, but they made us pay. Dixmude may not even be salvable.”
Pang smiled, feeling things were about to change. Dixmude might not ever get back on the line. If that happened, her captain was in line for a task force command. “We made it back and rescued crew from other vessels. Thank you, Harry. You are a fine captain, and I am indebted to you and your crew. Those fighter pilots gave their lives to secure our escape. I glad we served together here in TF13.” Pang offered her hand, and Stutz shook it in silence as the command bridge crew looked on.
“We will make sure that the sacrifice of our people is not forgotten or squandered,” replied Stutz warmly. “I will see you on Gateway, Admiral.”
Pang nodded and headed to the bay to meet the pinnace. Everything felt so final, and she just felt defeated.
***
Doctor Umgabe was fascinated, studying the torpedo recovered from the wrecked fighter. The initial tests on the project for laser cannon enhancement on the heavy fighter had failed, but this was a working weapon. It was completely undamaged. Miraculous, considering the condition of the craft it had come from.
The torpedo had a standard gravity drive common on all current-model torpedoes. It did not have a booster drive normally used on launch to give the torpedo a higher initial velocity. That made the space requirement for the gravity drive much smaller, leaving room for a larger fusion power supply. The most remarkable thing about the torpedo was its quantum pulse device. It was ingenious in its simplicity.
The quantum pulse device was not a quantum generator at all. It created the weakest and most unstable of quantum fields by using a focused stream of radiation from the fusion reactor and a previously unknown isotope of polonium, which was itself inherently unstable.
Testing had shown the field created that would be created by the polonium device was not very powerful, though it was toxic. Polonium had many uses, and its toxicity to organic life was well known. No organic tissue could survive inside of this field due to its instability and the toxicity of the polonium. However, the torpedo control, drive, and warhead components had all been hardened against the effects. All this resulted in a device that charged from the fusion core and pulsed in a semi-random way, allowing the torpedo to travel short distances in something that acted like quantum drive.
These were extremely short distances, relatively speaking. Umgabe calculated somewhere between 30 to 50 light-seconds. This would make the torpedo very difficult to intercept. But the real trick was making sure the torpedo did not go past its target. The torpedo programing was fairly simple since the code and components were familiar. The only wrinkle was that it would have to stop charging the quantum pulse device when it was within 30 light-seconds of the target. If the target was closer than that, it still meant it could miss. Once the torpedo was in normal space, in the terminal guidance phase to the target, it could also be intercepted with point defense. If it passed the target, it was smart enough to seek another.
The recovered torpedo shared the stealth characteristics of current Fleet torpedoes. They could penetrate an enemy formation and successfully score a hit as enemy scanners were unable to quickly lock onto the torpedoes to properly target their point defense.
The quantum pulse device would quickly deplete the fusion power supply, but the torpedo had another trick. The quantum pulse device would also discharge its energy directly at the warhead on detonation, enhancing the warhead yield. The increase in yield was theoretically about 20%.
It had proven relatively complicated to modify an existing model Fleet torpedo to the same specifications. The quantum pulse device was made of some exotic materials, including the new polonium isotope. The pulse device had to be made to very exacting specifications in order to create any type of field at all. Umgabe surmised that their own scientists might have discovered this given a few more years of research.
It feels dishonest – underhanded, he thought. I am taking credit for inventing this weapon, and yet all I am doing is reproducing one that came from – somewhere. Such a weapon is doubtless needed, but the morality of it does offend me.
It had taken Umgabe significant time to ensure the design could be replicated and that it would work. New manufacture would actually be easier than reworking existing torpedoes. In the meantime, Umgabe had managed to get some existing torpedoes modified and loaded aboard a heavy fighter, ready for testing.
Now, John Forest was lining up on two target asteroids. Umgabe watched on the holoplot in the base control center as the fighter lined up for the targeting run and established a lock on each of the targets. Each one would get assigned two of the new quantum torpedoes.
The control center lighting was dim, which made it easier to see the holoplot. Most of the lighting came from the glow of holodisplays. The base commander liked the lighting low. He kept it constantly in the night setting. That was very unlike most Fleet ships and facilities that standardized day and night cycles to Fleet time. The base commander stood in front of his command chair, his arms crossed, watching the test unfold. Umgabe had not doubted he would miss such an important moment.
He seldom saw the base commander and rarely spoke to him. It was obvious to Umgabe that he had been involved in special projects or “black projects,” as some liked to call them, for most of his career. He kept to himself and ruled his facility with an iron hand.
“Torpedoes away,” reported Forest, and the holodisplay dutifully showed two the light-blue icons separating from the fighter as it veered away from the targets. The icons were only there for a few seconds, and then they winked out of existence.
“Launch and initial phase successful,” reported one of the monitoring techs in the command center. Umgabe nodded, noting that the quantum pulses were not simultaneous. The torpedoes appeared again almost immediately, closer to their intended targets. Two of them were now spread apart by 20 light-seconds as a result of the semi-random quantum pulse device. They winked out once more, one by one reappearing closer to the target, and then began their final run. The torpedoes each detonated on the target asteroids and sent them spinning away to crash into other smaller asteroids.
“Score one for Asswrap!” exclaimed John on the comm. Umgabe ignored the snickers that rippled through the control center. The probes stationed along the path of the torpedoes and the asteroids streamed data back to the base, and Umgabe nodded approvingly. The activation of the quantum pulse device had been random enough that it gave the torpedoes separation even though they were launched at the same time. A salvo launched by a destroyer would be almost impossible to stop. And the warhead yield had been increased at least 18%.
“Congratulations, Doctor,” said the outpost commander. He was a man of few words.
Umgabe nodded his thanks.
“How soon can we get these into production?” the base commander asked. “There is a facility standing by.”
“I will finalize the designs and communicate with Vice Admiral Stukov soon,” Umgabe promised. “Please be cautious about making promises to Vice Admiral Shinaki. The head of Fleet weapons research is just as eager as any of us to field these new weapons. I understand the need for haste, which is why the torpedoes were a priority project. But we must be sure that what is deployed with the Fleet is reliable.”
The base commander nodded. “Sure, I get it. The chief of Fleet Operations trumps the admiral in charge of special projects every time. Vice Admiral Shinaki – my boss, is demanding daily updates on this. Even if half of them worked like we saw today, it’s a game changer. I’m sure that you understand that, Doctor. My job is to get these weapons deployed as soon as possible—with your help, of course,” he finished, throwing his hands in the air.
Umgabe understood the frustration and the need for urgency. “I appreciate your patience. I must analyze the data we recorded today and perhaps do another test, but today was very promising. I must get back to my lab.”
“Of course, Doctor,” replied the base commander. “I look forward to your results.”
Umgabe took note that John Forest’s fighter was already approaching the base as he left the command center.
Chapter 14
Grand Admiral Medici was notified when the remains of TF13H arrived at Gateway. Stukov had already set up a meeting to allow time for Pang to get to the Gateway operations center and provide a debrief in addition to her reports that had already been uploaded.
The confirmation that the Mongolia system had been lost still came as a blow after the turning point at the Markus Nebula and Pang’s expertly executed attack on the first Globur attempt to take the Mongolia system.
He moved along the passageway. A few aides followed, not daring to interrupt the grand admiral’s thoughts as he strode purposefully to the briefing. Officers heading in the other direction gave him a wide berth.
The elation of victory had not lasted long. It had been only a few weeks since Pang and TF13 had successfully defended the Mongolia system. Now they had been dealt a crushing defeat. Once again, thought Medici, we find ourselves with the rim laid bare. Our most powerful formation destroyed. Pang made them pay for their victory on the Mongolia system, but we lost it all the same.
Medici was concerned about how the Senate oversight committee might take the news of the loss of another system after two successful system defenses. TF15 had been heavily mauled in the defense on the Chard system in the Markus Nebula, and now TF13 was all but destroyed in an attempt to save the Mongolia system a second time. The shredded and battered hulls of the surviving ships were a sobering reminder that the Globur still posed a significant threat.
There was some cause for optimism. TF16 and TF17 were almost ready to commit to the battle. Using TF15’s surviving flagship, the Imperial Fleet Carrier Valkyrie, had allowed them to save time. The new destroyers were looking promising, and TF16 was mostly TF2 ships that had been extensively upgraded. There were a lot of worlds clamoring for protection, and the Senate had some ideas about that as well.
Stukov had also indicated that Doctor Umgabe had made good progress on the new quantum torpedoes. They would probably be ready to be fielded soon. Medici was reluctant to rush any new weapons to the field after the debacle surrounding Project Armet. The initial personnel who were augmented had suffered deep neural shock the first time Globur beams hit their ships. There had been no losses or deaths, and the augmentation was easily modified to protect the personnel in later engagements, but it was something some on the Senate oversight committee would not let him forget.
Medici turned toward the hatch for the conference room without slowing, and the hatch barely slid open in time to admit him. There were no closed doors when you were the grand admiral. The aides knew the routine and stopped outside the hatch. They would wait in an adjacent room until the grand admiral came out of the meeting.
Stukov and Vice Admiral Yamada from Fleet Personnel and Intelligence were waiting. Both men rose as Grand Admiral Medici entered.
“Be seated,” Medici said curtly. He took a seat himself. “Are we ready?” he asked Stukov.
Stukov inclined his head towards the table. “Rear Admirals Simmons and Pang are standing by at Gateway.”
Medici shifted in his seat as it adjusted to him and gave Stukov the nod. Stukov sealed the room and activated the conference room. The holopresences of Rear Admirals Simmons and Pang appeared. Stukov gave the standard security warning and turned the meeting over to the grand admiral.
“Rear Admiral Pang, I am extremely relieved to see you were able to escape the Mongolia system. It seems that you paid a heavy price, judging from the scans of your surviving ships. I wanted to hear the events directly from you. The Fleet relay was destroyed early on, and so we know very little, though there was some information provided by the commander of the Fleet relay in the Mongolia system.”
Medici shrugged. “Here’s what we do know. The relay commander, Lieutenant Hambly, was not initially able to get any scans on the assault force as it had not yet arrived. Based on the 12-destroyer recon group, we guessed that the assault force would be at least twice the size of previous assault forces. TF13 was in Qdrive on intercept, so any warning was impossible.”
Medici took a deep breath. “After the relay was destroyed, Lieutenant Hambly was able to scan the Globur assault force. We did not get that information until Hambly’s shuttle arrived in the Chard system. She boarded the Chard Fleet relay, and we spoke directly with her at that time. Based on her intel, we assumed that the Mongolia system had been lost to the Globur.”
Pang nodded as the grand admiral spoke. “Yes, Grand Admiral Medici, that is an accurate assessment. TF13 transitioned just outside the system. The Globur definitely saw us coming in and guessed that we were a task force. We were ambushed in much the same manner as TF4 in the Tirakoni system.”
Pang sighed. “I realized that we could be detected coming in and that we possibly faced a welcome committee. I had shaped our course for a pass by the system at high velocity to give us the most and best possible options. It was only that high velocity that allowed us to extend and escape the Globur. As you surmised, there were two Globur battlegroups waiting for us when we transitioned, and we took heavy damage as we fought to open the range. It is amazing that Dixmude survived at all, but I doubt she will be salvable. Even the battleships absorbed a tremendous amount of punishment. We were able to rescue some of the crews from other ships, but we lost our entire fighter wing, along with all the pilots. The Mongolia system is truly in Globur hands.”
Vice Admiral Yamada spoke next. “Rear Admiral Pang, did you send or receive any communications from Khan? Can you describe the battlegroups you faced?”
Pang shook her head. “We did not try to communicate with the government on Khan.” She shrugged. “We logged no transmission from Khan or any other human asset in the Mongolia system. Our probes were still in place but had not logged ay transmission at all from Khan.”
The holodisplay over the conference table activated, showing a still from Dixmude’s flag plot. “The Globur battlegroups were both anchored by a carrier. They also had three battleships each, with at least three cruiser-class vessels. Each battlegroup had about a dozen destroyers. I think they each sent a recon group of six into the system.”
The officers were intent on the still image of TF13. Thirteen human warships were surrounded by almost 30 Globur warships. “At closer range,” Pang continued, “their beam weapons took a heavy toll on my ships. We overloaded our gravity drives to escape and launched a capital missile attack at very close range. The heavy fighters took out the closest ships and pressed an attack to take out the quantum cannon on the Globur battleships. When the Globur had no quantum cannon capability, our escape course became a straight-line run to open the distance. Thankfully, our ships are a bit faster than theirs. We needed to transition to quantum drive before the Globur could jump ahead of us and finish the job. We made the necessary course changes to make an intercept difficult.”
Pang shook her head. “We managed to get out of beam range, but only four ships really survived. We had to rescue the crew of the destroyer Everest as the failure of her gravity drive was imminent, and her quantum drive had been damaged. Everest was scuttled.”
“And you managed to transition to quantum drive, finally making your way to Gateway,” Stukov finished the story.
Pang was surprised to hear from the commander of Gateway right away, but they had been out of contact for some time. Everyone must be impatient for news. “I’ll meet your pinnace and get to the control center as soon as possible,” replied Pang. “I can confirm the loss of the Mongolia system.
“It’s good to see you make it back, Pang. We feared the worst. I am truly sorry for your losses, but I do have some good news to share once you’re here. Don’t worry. My people will take very good care of your crews and ships. We’re getting clean downloads from your battleship Trident, so we’ll have some data to share with Fleet headquarters right away.”
Pang felt some relief. “My thanks, Rear Admiral Simmons. My people have been through hell, and the journey back was not an easy one. I could use some good news after what we’ve been through. I’ll see you in the command center.”
“Welcome home, TF13,” replied Simmons before killing the link.
Pang stood up. “Direct the inbound pinnace to Bay 3,” she said to her communications officer. She did not wait for a reply and headed down to the command bridge. It was something she did occasionally instead of just linking to Captain Stutz. One of the officers announced the admiral on the command bridge, and Captain Stutz looked up as she walked toward him, rising from his command chair.
Stutz looked tired. Dixmude’s XO had been killed in the later stages of the battle in the Mongolia system, and the replacement was struggling mightily with the workload despite Stutz’s assistance. Damage control was a lot of jury rigging, and things did not always work right or stay fixed.
“Well, Harry,” Pang said as Stutz finished getting out of the command chair. “Looks like we finally made it. Rear Admiral Simmons has sent a pinnace for me so I can provide a debriefing right away.”
Stutz managed a tired smile. “Thank you, Admiral. I’ve already begun arrangements to get our wounded to the medical center on Gateway. I have also contacted the yard to offload the remaining missiles off the ship and secure the ships for transfer to the yard. I doubt the command crew will be able to disembark for a least a day.”
“It looks like TF13 is simply no more,” Pang observed with an air of sad finality.
Stutz nodded. “We gave the Globur hell, but they made us pay. Dixmude may not even be salvable.”
Pang smiled, feeling things were about to change. Dixmude might not ever get back on the line. If that happened, her captain was in line for a task force command. “We made it back and rescued crew from other vessels. Thank you, Harry. You are a fine captain, and I am indebted to you and your crew. Those fighter pilots gave their lives to secure our escape. I glad we served together here in TF13.” Pang offered her hand, and Stutz shook it in silence as the command bridge crew looked on.
“We will make sure that the sacrifice of our people is not forgotten or squandered,” replied Stutz warmly. “I will see you on Gateway, Admiral.”
Pang nodded and headed to the bay to meet the pinnace. Everything felt so final, and she just felt defeated.
***
Doctor Umgabe was fascinated, studying the torpedo recovered from the wrecked fighter. The initial tests on the project for laser cannon enhancement on the heavy fighter had failed, but this was a working weapon. It was completely undamaged. Miraculous, considering the condition of the craft it had come from.
The torpedo had a standard gravity drive common on all current-model torpedoes. It did not have a booster drive normally used on launch to give the torpedo a higher initial velocity. That made the space requirement for the gravity drive much smaller, leaving room for a larger fusion power supply. The most remarkable thing about the torpedo was its quantum pulse device. It was ingenious in its simplicity.
The quantum pulse device was not a quantum generator at all. It created the weakest and most unstable of quantum fields by using a focused stream of radiation from the fusion reactor and a previously unknown isotope of polonium, which was itself inherently unstable.
Testing had shown the field created that would be created by the polonium device was not very powerful, though it was toxic. Polonium had many uses, and its toxicity to organic life was well known. No organic tissue could survive inside of this field due to its instability and the toxicity of the polonium. However, the torpedo control, drive, and warhead components had all been hardened against the effects. All this resulted in a device that charged from the fusion core and pulsed in a semi-random way, allowing the torpedo to travel short distances in something that acted like quantum drive.
These were extremely short distances, relatively speaking. Umgabe calculated somewhere between 30 to 50 light-seconds. This would make the torpedo very difficult to intercept. But the real trick was making sure the torpedo did not go past its target. The torpedo programing was fairly simple since the code and components were familiar. The only wrinkle was that it would have to stop charging the quantum pulse device when it was within 30 light-seconds of the target. If the target was closer than that, it still meant it could miss. Once the torpedo was in normal space, in the terminal guidance phase to the target, it could also be intercepted with point defense. If it passed the target, it was smart enough to seek another.
The recovered torpedo shared the stealth characteristics of current Fleet torpedoes. They could penetrate an enemy formation and successfully score a hit as enemy scanners were unable to quickly lock onto the torpedoes to properly target their point defense.
The quantum pulse device would quickly deplete the fusion power supply, but the torpedo had another trick. The quantum pulse device would also discharge its energy directly at the warhead on detonation, enhancing the warhead yield. The increase in yield was theoretically about 20%.
It had proven relatively complicated to modify an existing model Fleet torpedo to the same specifications. The quantum pulse device was made of some exotic materials, including the new polonium isotope. The pulse device had to be made to very exacting specifications in order to create any type of field at all. Umgabe surmised that their own scientists might have discovered this given a few more years of research.
It feels dishonest – underhanded, he thought. I am taking credit for inventing this weapon, and yet all I am doing is reproducing one that came from – somewhere. Such a weapon is doubtless needed, but the morality of it does offend me.
It had taken Umgabe significant time to ensure the design could be replicated and that it would work. New manufacture would actually be easier than reworking existing torpedoes. In the meantime, Umgabe had managed to get some existing torpedoes modified and loaded aboard a heavy fighter, ready for testing.
Now, John Forest was lining up on two target asteroids. Umgabe watched on the holoplot in the base control center as the fighter lined up for the targeting run and established a lock on each of the targets. Each one would get assigned two of the new quantum torpedoes.
The control center lighting was dim, which made it easier to see the holoplot. Most of the lighting came from the glow of holodisplays. The base commander liked the lighting low. He kept it constantly in the night setting. That was very unlike most Fleet ships and facilities that standardized day and night cycles to Fleet time. The base commander stood in front of his command chair, his arms crossed, watching the test unfold. Umgabe had not doubted he would miss such an important moment.
He seldom saw the base commander and rarely spoke to him. It was obvious to Umgabe that he had been involved in special projects or “black projects,” as some liked to call them, for most of his career. He kept to himself and ruled his facility with an iron hand.
“Torpedoes away,” reported Forest, and the holodisplay dutifully showed two the light-blue icons separating from the fighter as it veered away from the targets. The icons were only there for a few seconds, and then they winked out of existence.
“Launch and initial phase successful,” reported one of the monitoring techs in the command center. Umgabe nodded, noting that the quantum pulses were not simultaneous. The torpedoes appeared again almost immediately, closer to their intended targets. Two of them were now spread apart by 20 light-seconds as a result of the semi-random quantum pulse device. They winked out once more, one by one reappearing closer to the target, and then began their final run. The torpedoes each detonated on the target asteroids and sent them spinning away to crash into other smaller asteroids.
“Score one for Asswrap!” exclaimed John on the comm. Umgabe ignored the snickers that rippled through the control center. The probes stationed along the path of the torpedoes and the asteroids streamed data back to the base, and Umgabe nodded approvingly. The activation of the quantum pulse device had been random enough that it gave the torpedoes separation even though they were launched at the same time. A salvo launched by a destroyer would be almost impossible to stop. And the warhead yield had been increased at least 18%.
“Congratulations, Doctor,” said the outpost commander. He was a man of few words.
Umgabe nodded his thanks.
“How soon can we get these into production?” the base commander asked. “There is a facility standing by.”
“I will finalize the designs and communicate with Vice Admiral Stukov soon,” Umgabe promised. “Please be cautious about making promises to Vice Admiral Shinaki. The head of Fleet weapons research is just as eager as any of us to field these new weapons. I understand the need for haste, which is why the torpedoes were a priority project. But we must be sure that what is deployed with the Fleet is reliable.”
The base commander nodded. “Sure, I get it. The chief of Fleet Operations trumps the admiral in charge of special projects every time. Vice Admiral Shinaki – my boss, is demanding daily updates on this. Even if half of them worked like we saw today, it’s a game changer. I’m sure that you understand that, Doctor. My job is to get these weapons deployed as soon as possible—with your help, of course,” he finished, throwing his hands in the air.
Umgabe understood the frustration and the need for urgency. “I appreciate your patience. I must analyze the data we recorded today and perhaps do another test, but today was very promising. I must get back to my lab.”
“Of course, Doctor,” replied the base commander. “I look forward to your results.”
Umgabe took note that John Forest’s fighter was already approaching the base as he left the command center.
Chapter 14
Grand Admiral Medici was notified when the remains of TF13H arrived at Gateway. Stukov had already set up a meeting to allow time for Pang to get to the Gateway operations center and provide a debrief in addition to her reports that had already been uploaded.
The confirmation that the Mongolia system had been lost still came as a blow after the turning point at the Markus Nebula and Pang’s expertly executed attack on the first Globur attempt to take the Mongolia system.
He moved along the passageway. A few aides followed, not daring to interrupt the grand admiral’s thoughts as he strode purposefully to the briefing. Officers heading in the other direction gave him a wide berth.
The elation of victory had not lasted long. It had been only a few weeks since Pang and TF13 had successfully defended the Mongolia system. Now they had been dealt a crushing defeat. Once again, thought Medici, we find ourselves with the rim laid bare. Our most powerful formation destroyed. Pang made them pay for their victory on the Mongolia system, but we lost it all the same.
Medici was concerned about how the Senate oversight committee might take the news of the loss of another system after two successful system defenses. TF15 had been heavily mauled in the defense on the Chard system in the Markus Nebula, and now TF13 was all but destroyed in an attempt to save the Mongolia system a second time. The shredded and battered hulls of the surviving ships were a sobering reminder that the Globur still posed a significant threat.
There was some cause for optimism. TF16 and TF17 were almost ready to commit to the battle. Using TF15’s surviving flagship, the Imperial Fleet Carrier Valkyrie, had allowed them to save time. The new destroyers were looking promising, and TF16 was mostly TF2 ships that had been extensively upgraded. There were a lot of worlds clamoring for protection, and the Senate had some ideas about that as well.
Stukov had also indicated that Doctor Umgabe had made good progress on the new quantum torpedoes. They would probably be ready to be fielded soon. Medici was reluctant to rush any new weapons to the field after the debacle surrounding Project Armet. The initial personnel who were augmented had suffered deep neural shock the first time Globur beams hit their ships. There had been no losses or deaths, and the augmentation was easily modified to protect the personnel in later engagements, but it was something some on the Senate oversight committee would not let him forget.
Medici turned toward the hatch for the conference room without slowing, and the hatch barely slid open in time to admit him. There were no closed doors when you were the grand admiral. The aides knew the routine and stopped outside the hatch. They would wait in an adjacent room until the grand admiral came out of the meeting.
Stukov and Vice Admiral Yamada from Fleet Personnel and Intelligence were waiting. Both men rose as Grand Admiral Medici entered.
“Be seated,” Medici said curtly. He took a seat himself. “Are we ready?” he asked Stukov.
Stukov inclined his head towards the table. “Rear Admirals Simmons and Pang are standing by at Gateway.”
Medici shifted in his seat as it adjusted to him and gave Stukov the nod. Stukov sealed the room and activated the conference room. The holopresences of Rear Admirals Simmons and Pang appeared. Stukov gave the standard security warning and turned the meeting over to the grand admiral.
“Rear Admiral Pang, I am extremely relieved to see you were able to escape the Mongolia system. It seems that you paid a heavy price, judging from the scans of your surviving ships. I wanted to hear the events directly from you. The Fleet relay was destroyed early on, and so we know very little, though there was some information provided by the commander of the Fleet relay in the Mongolia system.”
Medici shrugged. “Here’s what we do know. The relay commander, Lieutenant Hambly, was not initially able to get any scans on the assault force as it had not yet arrived. Based on the 12-destroyer recon group, we guessed that the assault force would be at least twice the size of previous assault forces. TF13 was in Qdrive on intercept, so any warning was impossible.”
Medici took a deep breath. “After the relay was destroyed, Lieutenant Hambly was able to scan the Globur assault force. We did not get that information until Hambly’s shuttle arrived in the Chard system. She boarded the Chard Fleet relay, and we spoke directly with her at that time. Based on her intel, we assumed that the Mongolia system had been lost to the Globur.”
Pang nodded as the grand admiral spoke. “Yes, Grand Admiral Medici, that is an accurate assessment. TF13 transitioned just outside the system. The Globur definitely saw us coming in and guessed that we were a task force. We were ambushed in much the same manner as TF4 in the Tirakoni system.”
Pang sighed. “I realized that we could be detected coming in and that we possibly faced a welcome committee. I had shaped our course for a pass by the system at high velocity to give us the most and best possible options. It was only that high velocity that allowed us to extend and escape the Globur. As you surmised, there were two Globur battlegroups waiting for us when we transitioned, and we took heavy damage as we fought to open the range. It is amazing that Dixmude survived at all, but I doubt she will be salvable. Even the battleships absorbed a tremendous amount of punishment. We were able to rescue some of the crews from other ships, but we lost our entire fighter wing, along with all the pilots. The Mongolia system is truly in Globur hands.”
Vice Admiral Yamada spoke next. “Rear Admiral Pang, did you send or receive any communications from Khan? Can you describe the battlegroups you faced?”
Pang shook her head. “We did not try to communicate with the government on Khan.” She shrugged. “We logged no transmission from Khan or any other human asset in the Mongolia system. Our probes were still in place but had not logged ay transmission at all from Khan.”
The holodisplay over the conference table activated, showing a still from Dixmude’s flag plot. “The Globur battlegroups were both anchored by a carrier. They also had three battleships each, with at least three cruiser-class vessels. Each battlegroup had about a dozen destroyers. I think they each sent a recon group of six into the system.”
The officers were intent on the still image of TF13. Thirteen human warships were surrounded by almost 30 Globur warships. “At closer range,” Pang continued, “their beam weapons took a heavy toll on my ships. We overloaded our gravity drives to escape and launched a capital missile attack at very close range. The heavy fighters took out the closest ships and pressed an attack to take out the quantum cannon on the Globur battleships. When the Globur had no quantum cannon capability, our escape course became a straight-line run to open the distance. Thankfully, our ships are a bit faster than theirs. We needed to transition to quantum drive before the Globur could jump ahead of us and finish the job. We made the necessary course changes to make an intercept difficult.”
Pang shook her head. “We managed to get out of beam range, but only four ships really survived. We had to rescue the crew of the destroyer Everest as the failure of her gravity drive was imminent, and her quantum drive had been damaged. Everest was scuttled.”
“And you managed to transition to quantum drive, finally making your way to Gateway,” Stukov finished the story.
