Hero's Return, page 19
It’s somewhat refreshing to see him this way, Julie suddenly realized. Snake always presented a cold and calculating persona. Seeing him now, like this, humanizes him.
Julie remembered Lysara was waiting for her.
“Do you see any issue with sharing this with Chancellor Lysara? I was meeting with her when you insisted on seeing me. I’d like to get her take on it and ask her to forward your data to Pyrassun Intelligence to get their take.”
“Lys is here?”
Julie nodded. “I knew you’d interacted with her when you helped me put the Federation proposal together, but I didn’t realize you were that close.”
Snake laughed. “I was interacting with her well before that. She’s been the head of Pyrassun Intelligence for ten years. Being the Cat ambassador to the Zenkarr was the perfect cover for organizing and controlling their spy network inside Bear space. So sure, go ahead and share it with her.
“Now, if there’s nothing else?” Snake asked as he stood. “I’m eager to get moving.”
“Go.” Julie motioned toward the door. “If you think of anything else, message me. I’ll be returning to Tau Ceti as soon as I finish here.”
The Federation’s chief spy and intelligence officer nodded, then literally ran out of the room. Julie shook her head, rose, and then headed toward the door connecting the conference room to the VIP suite.
* * *
“I’m sorry about that, Lysara,” Julie apologized as she entered the suite, settling into an armchair opposite the feline alien.
The chancellor waved a paw in a dismissive gesture. “It actually served to help with our discussion. Admiral Gould allowed me access to your ship’s secure communications system, so I could reach out to my subordinates. Sadly, three of them are now ex-subordinates.”
“They lied to you?”
Lysara hissed. “If they had done so, they would not only be former subordinates, but dead ones. No, they hid information from me. They knew about the report of Nieqids’ visit. In fact, they saw it and forwarded it to the supreme pack leader, then followed Bolxaels’ instructions not to tell me.”
“Were any of them part of your intelligence network?”
Lysara cocked her head. “I see Snake has been sharing secrets. But who am I to complain about that? After all, I was just blindsided because the Cats who work for me were not keeping me informed.”
“He kept the fact that you are, and have been for a while, the head of Pyrassun Intelligence from me for some time. I haven’t decided yet if that makes me angry.”
“To answer the question, yes, two were part of Pyrassun Intelligence. Two of my senior department heads. Regarding Snake, you need to remember that controlling information is part of being a spy. It comes to them naturally. I didn’t get rid of my senior assistants because I was angry. I did it to send a message to the rest of the organization.”
“That you will know everything.”
“Why, of course.” Lysara waved a paw. “It is part of the job description for the head of intelligence, after all.”
Julie had to chuckle at the Pyrassun’s simplistic approach to the situation. She admired how Lysara stripped the ego out of her decision.
“So you know, Snake just told me about your other job,” Julie informed the chancellor. “That’s what I was doing. He had intelligence information I needed to hear.”
That’s not exactly true, nor is it totally a lie, Julie thought. I needed to hear it, I just didn’t need to hear it right then.
“Snake is here? It would be good to see him.”
“Since you know him, I’m sure it won’t surprise you to learn that he’s already gone,” Julie stated. “Rushing across the Federation to track down another lead.”
Lysara nodded. “Snake’s dedication, and to be honest, ruthlessness, impressed me from the beginning. Those cat-like qualities are why he gets along so well with my field operatives. Would you care to share what he learned in Cegvath space?”
Lysara’s question, since she knew where Snake had been, didn’t surprise Julie. He had been riding on a Pyrassun merchant, after all.
“It all ties in to what I originally wanted to speak with you about,” Julie stated.
“In addition to asking us to take over defending our home system and the 61 Cygni colony?”
“They’re connected. Nieqids’ information, the Eesni attacks at 61 Cygni, and the Cegvath are all related.”
Julie briefed Lysara on what Fleet Commander Nieqids had revealed during his meeting with Chuck Anderson, then stopped when the chancellor raised a paw.
“You can skip that, Madame President. My new sub-director of Intelligence Data forwarded me the information Admiral Anderson provided to 61 Cygni’s local commander. My question for you is, do you believe him?”
Julie snorted. “Take a Bear at face value after what they’ve done in the past? Hell, no. But it fits in with other theories we’ve developed.”
“The missing freighters, the attacks on Zenkarr warships,” Lysara stated.
“That and what Snake discovered when he discussed it with Defender of the Crimson Lagoon.”
Julie explained what Defender of the Crimson Lagoon, the Cegvath representative to the Federation, had revealed. The Crab hadn’t gone into detail but had provided a history of Cegvath’s relationship with the Eesni.
“So they’ve been at each other’s throats for a thousand turns,” Lysara summarized.
“Along a nearly hundred light year-long border.”
“That would explain how the Zenkarr held both races off for so long along their borders with each race,” Lysara said. “It made no sense to us—Pyrassun, I mean—that a single Bear nodal fleet could hold back a technologically superior Eesni race. Now I see how they did it.”
“Or how they didn’t do it,” Julie said. “The Bears didn’t deter either race. It was just that neither the Crabs nor the Eesni could spare the forces to crush them. And it wasn’t about having the forces to take a region. Both of them could spare a force for a short period to do that. But they didn’t have the force to hold that new territory.”
“Then, after you humans crushed the Zenkarr, those nodal forces didn’t exist,” Lysara pointed out. “You gave the Cegvath free access to new systems as part of the non-aggression treaty. And with no Bear fleets to contend with, the Eesni could expand and take Zenkarr systems and not worry about defending them.”
“You know,” Lysara stated, giving Julie a hard stare, “it’s your fault.”
“My fault?”
“Okay, humanity’s fault. Moving against the Zenkarr changed everything in this section of space.”
“Do you want to go back to being a minion race of the Bears?”
“I didn’t say it was a bad thing,” Lysara said. “I was just pointing out that you humans caused all of this.”
“So you understand why I’m going to pull back Federation Fleet forces?”
“To go after Doay.”
Julie shook her head. “We haven’t made that decision yet.”
“If you haven’t, it’s because you’re lying to yourselves. It’s the right decision.”
The Federation’s president sighed. “We don’t need a war right now.”
“Julie, we’re already at war. Yes, I’m being selfish. Genesis is a Pyrassun colony, the first one in hundreds of generations. So far, the Federation Fleet has managed to defend it, but how long will that last? When will an Eesni fleet show up that’s too powerful for your blocking fleet to stop? No, your fleet will have to take action to prevent that from happening. That means you’ll need to hit Doay.”
“For the moment, though, I’m just reorganizing our forces. As you pointed out, the Federation has a powerful force at 61 Cygni, but to create that force, we used up our reserves. Pulling forces back from Pyrassun, Tau Ceti, and Sol will allow us to put together a strike force to act as a reserve or as an offensive force.”
“So you’re going to pull forces away from Earth, as well?”
“It’s only fair. I’m pulling all the Federation ships from Pyrassun.”
Lysara leaned back on the sofa and purred.
“I can sell that,” she stated, “not only sell it to the old tomcat who rules the Hegemony but shame him into offering more.”
“I don’t want to disrupt Pyrassun politics …”
“Any more than you already have?” Lysara asked. “It’s far too late to be concerned about that, Julie Adams. Issue your orders and move your ships around. I’ll deal with Bolxaels.”
* * *
“How did the meetings go?” Aiden asked as she took the offered chair across from Julie.
“Deities, Aiden. I hate being a politician,” Julie responded. “How about we change jobs?”
Julie had returned late the previous evening to the Federation offices on the inhabited planet of the Tau Ceti System that humans had once called Eden. Earth had settled the planet only a few years before meeting the Mordorians, and the subsequent war between humanity and the alien lizard-like race occurred after that first contact.
Though they didn’t know it, Earth had colonized star systems the Mordorian Horde considered their own. When they ignored the Mordorian order to get out, the Lizards considered it not only a theft of those systems, but a stain on their honor. And honor was something the Mordorians cherished above all other things. That drove the Lizards to not just wage a war, but a jihad against humanity. That resulted in the Lizards destroying nearly every human-colonized world and subjugating those they didn’t completely eradicate. Then Hazard King arrived with an exploration fleet from the Empire of Britannia, and everything changed.
Julie Adams, president of the new alliance of alien races called the United Federation of Planets, was still dealing with those changes.
“Two squadrons of improved Mordorian cruiser-type units should arrive here to take over Tau Ceti’s system defense.”
“That should be enough to protect the system from likely threats,” Aiden observed.
“Since the only nearby threat is the Zenkarr, I think you’re right. The Bears don’t have the force to defend their own systems, so I doubt they’ll try to attack us here.”
“And face what we’d do to them if they tried? I don’t think so. What about the Cats?
“Bolxaels is going through another of his political crises. Publicly, he’s denouncing the Federation for asking for support. ‘The Federation Fleet should defend the Pyrassun System and the rest of the Hegemony,’ the old codger publicly stated.”
“And privately?”
“He sent Lysara to talk with me and explain the situation. We’ll just pull our fleet forces out and leave him with no choice but to defend his system,” Julie explained. “I’ve even seen the press release he has prepared for when we pull out.”
Julie smiled. “‘Pyrassuns are finally defending Pyrassun. I’ve kicked the Federation out.’”
Aiden chuckled.
“Are you up to speed on Chuck Anderson’s proposals for defending 61 Cygni?”
“His proposal makes sense and lets us defend the system without putting our ships at risk,” Aiden said, “but I don’t like it. It goes against the grain for me to be passive like that.”
“I agree. But until we can develop more intelligence on the Eesni, I can’t risk our crews.”
Julie shifted gears.
“Understanding the forces at your disposal, how do you plan to reorganize the fleet?”
Julie saw Aiden just looking at her and knew what the woman was thinking.
“I’m not a fleet officer any longer, Aiden. I can’t—won’t be both the president of the Federation and the fleet commander. The council appointed you to that position. Now, what do you think?”
“You appointed me to the position, Julie.”
The president of the Federation shrugged. “Answer the question.”
Aiden leaned back in her chair.
“Okay, we have the three Swarm Defense Forces. The 1st SDF defends Sol. Chuck Anderson already pulled the 1st Missile Dreadnought Squadron from it.”
The Federation’s new fleet commander pulled a computer tablet out of her uniform jacket pocket and looked up information to refresh her memory.
“I’m going to pull another twenty Swarm cruisers…” Aiden explained how she’d reorganize the three Swarm Defense Forces and the 1st Strike Fleet.
Julie listened, jotting down notes as she did.
“What will that give you for a strike force to hit the Eesni with?”
“The 2nd and 3rd Missile Dreadnought Squadrons, the 2nd and 3rd Superbattleship Squadrons, and the 2nd and 3rd Missile Destroyer Squadrons. I’ll add two supercruiser squadrons to the mix.”
“Will you keep it in the 61 Cygni System?”
Aiden vigorously shook her head. “No, here in Tau Ceti, but that brings up something else that needs to be discussed.”
“Before we get to that, what will be defending the Genesis Colony in the Cygni System?” Julie asked.
“The 2nd SDF we’re pulling out of the Pyrassun System, minus the 2nd Missile Dreadnought Squadron.”
“That will leave them with no hyper-missile ships,” Julie pointed out.
“Using the new strategy, I don’t see that as an issue,” Aiden responded. “Defending the colony from deep in the system, hyper missiles are useless. In that kind of fight, the Swarm cruisers are a better fit, anyway. The 3rd SDF defending Delta Pavonis will keep its missile ships, though.”
“Okay. So what’s the other topic you wanted to discuss?”
“If we do decide to attack, it’s a long haul from 61 Cygni to Doay. The strike force can make the trip, but will have to refuel in Doay.”
“That’s not a good tactical option. If we run into a problem and can’t take the system, then our strike force can’t make it back,” Julie pointed out as she tapped commands into her desk console. A holographic map of the area appeared above her desk.
“I don’t see any good options between the two systems, either,” Julie stated, examining the map.
“There aren’t any,” Aiden stated. “This star system—” Aiden highlighted a star “—has one small gas giant. The attack force could refuel there, but it would take time. Staffers estimate as much as a week. If we refuel there, the Eesni would find out about it. We have to assume they’re as competent as we are. I’d have scouts watching the approaches, so I’m sure they will.”
“We don’t have tankers to send along,” Julie said. “I guess we could press supply dreadnoughts into service to do that …”
“There aren’t enough available to make it work,” Aiden interrupted. “No, I was thinking about staging out of this system,” Aiden said, spinning the holographic map around with a finger, and pointing to a system.
“That opens up a whole additional can of worms,” Julie pointed out.
“Well, they asked us to do this.”
Julie grunted.
Neddin, the star system Aiden wanted to use to refuel the strike force, was a Zenkarr regional base, and deep inside Bear space.
“And since Neddin was once a Zenkarr nodal fleet support base, it has the refueling facilities we need. Instead of taking days to refuel by scooping our own fuel from a gas giant, we can fill up at their stations.”
All the Federation ships of the strike force were of Imperial design and could refuel directly from a suitable gas giant. It took longer, and the unrefined fuel wasn’t as efficient, but designers had built the capability into all warships, just in case fueling stations weren’t available.
“Then you need to talk to Scott about this.”
Julie saw the Scott Conners works for you look on her fleet commander’s face.
“It’s your idea, so you need to talk to Scott about it. He’ll need to talk to the Zenkarr about arranging it.”
“As soon as we’re done, I’ll go see him.”
“One last thing, Aiden. I no longer lead the fleet, and neither will you in combat.”
“But—” the Federation admiral began.
“No buts. There might come a time when you have to be in command in a battle, but not this one. Not this time,” Julie said. “That’s how we lost Hazard, and it’s also why we lack experienced combat commanders. Hazard wouldn’t let other people do it. Chuck Anderson can handle this. Actually, if you analyze it, he can handle it better than you. He’s fought the Eesni. You haven’t.”
“But—”
“You’re going to give me the same excuses Hazard would. You can do it better. We’ll lose fewer ships and crews. My answer to that is, maybe.”
Aiden bowed her head in resignation.
“The logical part of my brain knows you’re correct, but that isn’t comforting. I don’t enjoy being on the sidelines.”
“Neither do I, Admiral Doheny,” Julie said. “I don’t enjoy giving orders and sending ships and crews out, knowing some of them won’t come back, but that’s what they pay both of us to do now. I run the government, and you make sure the fleet can undertake the missions I assign it.”
Both women sat in silence for a good thirty seconds.
“I need to get busy with movement orders,” Aiden said, standing. “I’ve got ships to rearrange.”
“You do that, Admiral,” Julie said. “And talk to Scott today. I’m betting arranging to use that system as a fueling base will not be as easy as you think.”
“Aye, aye, Madame President,” Aiden responded. She came to attention and saluted.
“By your leave, ma’am?”
Julie threw her friend a mock salute.
“Get out of here, you scoundrel.”
* * * * *
Chapter 13: Unexpected Passenger
Pegasus System
United Federation Space
Empire Date: Apr 1049
Admiral Dorothy Evers was past being mad. Her anger had faded away nearly two days earlier, only to be replaced by frustration. She knew it made little sense in the grand scheme of things. What difference would leaving three or even four days late matter when the navigators calculated the voyage back to Britannia in terms of weeks? Many, many weeks, in fact.
