Tipping Point in the Alliance War, page 1
Tipping Point
in the Alliance War
by
Terry Lefler
***
Contents
Prelude
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16 – Wrapping Up
Copyright Page
Acknowledgements
Dedication
About the Cover
About the Author
***
Prelude
There is a fire in the engine room, and the starboard thruster is blowing smoke and ion gas - in between spurts of fire. Hull breaches are numerous. The Command Bridge is in disarray, and the surviving Senior Officers are sharing the 3 working Command Consoles. Walking wounded, throughout the ship, are still manning their Battle Stations. The Courageous is 4 minutes away from the edge of the system’s gravity well, when there will be an opportunity to escape into warp-space.
“Aft shields down to 14 percent,” reports the Tactical Officer.
Captain Niles is one of the walking wounded, with a long vertical gash across his left eye socket and down his exposed cheek bone. He can still see out of the eye, when he isn’t blinded by the blood, so he considers it to be a minor problem. The medic, who is attending to the wounded on the Bridge, still can’t get permission from the Captain to treat his wound.
“Helm shut off that starboard thruster,” the Captain orders. “Turn our stern to the enemy and fire the remaining thrusters ‘full’ for 30 seconds. Tactical, when the enemy is in your rear screen, lock onto their bow sensor arrays and continuously fire plasma canons straight into them. While the canons are still firing, launch 10 missiles, in 1 second intervals, straight down their throat.”
“Navigation get those warp-space coordinates ready. Get us out with a quick ‘hop’.”
“Helm, when the Ready light goes green you hit the Warp button. Don’t wait for a command.”
“Aye, sir”, chorus the Tactical, Navigation and Helm officers.
The Courageous has one thruster out, so when the Helm Officer pushes the remaining thrusters to ‘full’, the ship begins to spiral like a corkscrew. That adds even more to the disorientation of the Courageous’ crew, which is already reeling from a missile strike, rail gun perforations, and multiple energy wounds.
The tactic does what it is supposed to do, though. The trailing enemy ship is confused about the Alliance vessel’s plans and pauses in its attack, as it waits for the Courageous to straighten out. That hesitation provides an opportunity for the Tactical Officer, on the Courageous, to pour continuous plasma canon fire onto the enemy ship’s bow sensor arrays. Shields, on the enemy vessel, keep the plasma-energy from damaging the sensors, but the sensor array is temporarily blinded by the light. The performance of the enemy’s Automatic Projectile Defense System is subsequently impaired, allowing 2 of the 10 nuclear missiles fired ‘down their throat’ to hit the ship.
The destruction takes some time to work its way from the bow to the engine room, near the stern. Explosions occur along the way as munitions ignite, but the ‘big bang’ happens when the explosions reach the warp-drive. The ship ceases to exist at that instant, and space briefly has another star.
“Let’s get to some place a little quieter and decide on our next vacation destination,” says the Captain.
Other enemy ships are following them, but they are dropping farther behind and seem to have lost their appetite for battle. Helm Officer Ung presses the Warp Space button as soon as the Ready light goes green, and the wounded and bleeding Alliance warship goes to another place. The ship fades into warp-space, where ships travel at velocities orders of magnitude faster than the speed of light.
Warp-space is a relatively safe place to be. Misfortune can happen there - ships have been known to explode out of warp-space, leaving nothing large enough to identify. But there is no battle action in warp-space, because ships seem to be completely alone there. While in warp-space, it feels like the ship is encased in a bubble that is floating in a liquid.
………… ……… ……..The Helm Officer announces “45 seconds to real-space.”
And then, in due time, he says, “We’re in real-space at the programmed coordinates.”
***
Chapter 1
“Here are your orders, Captain Niles,” the hologram says. “As soon as your ship is Battle Ready, proceed to the Capernic battle-space, in order to:
do a reconnaissance of the planet Egdffe
to ascertain the outcome of the recent battle;
to search for any survivors;
to locate any functional black boxes, and;
to collect data that will be helpful in identifying the new technologies, currently being used by the Confederation Fleet.”
“Aye sir,” replies the Captain’s holo, in Admiral Wall’s office. I will review the Mission Statement, and begin planning immediately. We will leave at the earliest possible date.”
“Good,” the Admiral’s holo says. “But use caution. The Courageous is our most advanced warship, and has our very latest warp drive. We need this forensic information, but we can ill afford to lose you and the Courageous.”
“Aye sir,” responds Captain Niles. “Your concern is noted. We will proceed with extreme caution and perform due-diligence, while in the battle-space sector.”
“I am certain that you will, Captain,” nods the Admiral. “Let me know if there are any bureaucratic delays, which require my attention. Walls, out.”
***
Fleet Admiral Gregory Walls and Captain Roger Niles both know that there won’t be any survivors at the battle-space, but they need to search anyway. The Confederation Navy has policies of:
o take no prisoners,
o leave no survivors, and
o destroy everything, completely.
The space battle, which had been fought some weeks ago, pitted 75 Alliance warships against 300 Confederation warships. That much is known, because an information probe had been sent to Alliance Navy Headquarters, as the battle commenced. The faster-than-light probe had taken 17 days to reach Alliance Navy Headquarters.
After receiving no further communications, Fleet Admiral Walls assumes that all Alliance ships and crews were destroyed in the battle. A fleet of 75 warships, with almost 32,000 crew members, is just ‘gone’. It is a bitter pill to swallow. And sending another warship to investigate the crime scene is also risky. The Confederation Navy has a history of hiding some ships near a battle-space, in order to ambush any reconnoitering cadre.
***
As the Admiral’s hologram fades away, Roger Niles relaxes his posture and allows himself to contemplate the ramifications of the assignment that he has just received. He also takes some quiet time, to grieve over the personal loss that he feels, from learning that so many of his friends and acquaintances are now dead. The fortunes of war are not favoring the Alliance, these days.
After a time of contemplation, he puts those emotions behind him and begins to plan and organize. When he walks out of this room, there will be no more time for emotions – that isn’t what his crew needs to see. They need to see a competent and professional military commander who understands the situation, and has a good plan - a plan which will lead to a good outcome.
Captain Niles studies the details of the Mission Statement, which the Admiral has sent to his Personal Information Device (PID). Then he spends the remainder of the day making plans. His method of leadership is to make good plans, and then to delegate the implementation of those plans to competent staff.
***
“Captain on the bridge,” Lieutenant Mutreno announces, as the Captain enters the Command Deck. One look is enough for the Senior Officers to know that Captain Niles is ‘on a mission’, and that the crew is going to be very busy, in a few minutes time. The Captain surveys the Bridge Crew, to insure that all senior officers are present, and then begins to issue orders.
“At ease,” Captain Niles says. “The ‘Courageous’ has been ordered to depart ASAP, on a secret mission to the Capernic system, which could involve hostile action. We will depart as soon as repairs are completed, and the ship is Battle Ready. In preparation for our departure:
o Lieutenant Strass, notify all crew members that all leaves are cancelled, and that all crew members are to return to the ship at the earliest possible moment. The Order to Assemble is to be stamped as “Urgent” and “Secret”. When the crew conforms to the ship’s Battle Ready Requirements, notify the First Officer and then mark this task as ‘complete’. We will depart, when the repairs and replenishing are finished, with or without the remainder of the crew.
Also, prepare the ship to receive a detachment of 200 Alliance Armored Space Marines, along with their associated complement of weaponry and provisions. Major Dawkins, of the 98th Marine Assault Brigade, will coordinate the Marine load-in, and will command the Marine forces while they are on board.
In addition, coordinate with Dockside Logistics in order to procure the additional weapons and supplies, which are on the Mission Requisition List. That list has been sent to your Logistics Workstation, along with PID numbers for Major Dawkins and her Second in Command.
o Lieut
o Lieutenant Basisht, as our Chief Scientist, your job is to get your hands on any new technology, which is still in testing but has working prototypes. Find and acquire as much new weaponry as possible. And check on the Shields Research Program. Look for improvements, which we can make to our defensive systems.
o Lieutenant Mullah, we have been ordered to visit the Capernic System and to perform a number of tasks. First, we will launch a reconnaissance probe to the planet Egdffe, which we will recover at a later date. After that, we will reconnoiter a battle-space, where 75 Alliance warships were apparently destroyed, by a fleet of 300 Confederation warships.
I have sent coordinates for our mission objective to your Navigation Work Station. However, don’t plot a course directly to the destination coordinates. Plot our warp exit to a point 500,000 klicks on the far side of the objective point. We will launch the reconnaissance probe to Egdffe at that time. And then, after we are certain that the area is safe, we will travel in real-space to the final objective.
o First Officer Znnu, you are to oversee the ship’s preparation and report to me, as tasks are accomplished or as complications arise.
Any questions? …… …..…. No? Ask question, if you are in doubt. Don’t forget to coordinate with each other. Communicate results or problems with the First Officer.
That is it people. Let’s give this our undivided attention. After we depart the space station, we will have seven days of in-system travel before we engage the warp drive. You can take care of personal affairs during that time. Dismissed.
“Lieutenants Mutreno and Znnu, join me in the Command Conference Room, right now.”
***
“Aye aye sir,” the officers respond in unison, as they follow the Captain into the adjoining Command Conference Room. Captain Niles takes a seat, which infers that the other officers should do likewise. The Captain begins speaking:
“First Officer Znnu, our recent experiences in the Gomolus Empire brought home the point that change happens quickly in battle. Replacement personnel must be ready to step in at any time. Therefore, it is my intention to include you in as many briefings and tactical discussions as possible, so that you will be ready to assume command if the need should arise. In turn, your responsibility is to keep the rest of the Bridge and Engineering crews, on all shifts, apprised of the current situation so that everyone is ‘on the same page’.
Also, begin to cross-train the Bridge Officers, so that they can work multiple Bridge Stations. There is not enough time to call for replacements in the middle of a battle. Our most recent altercation highlighted our weakness in that area.
“Aye sir,” responds Officer Znnu.
“Lieutenant Mutreno,” the Captain continues, “you are our Chief Tactical Officer and I want to hear some new ideas about how we can fight this improved enemy. I don’t know what tactics will work against the Confederation, but I do know that the ones we are currently using have not been successful. Brainstorm with other Tactical Officers, while aboard the space station, and come up with a list of proposed improvements.”
“Aye sir,” the Lieutenant answers.
Captain Niles rises to leave, and says, “Dismissed”.
***
Chapter 2
“You made quick time Captain,” Fleet Admiral Wall’s holo says. “I thought repairs were going to take at least seven more days.”
Captain Niles’ holo, in the Admiral’s office, smiles as he speaks. “That is correct, Admiral. We do have seven more days of ship repair before we are fully operational. I asked the Repair Depot to give highest priority to those repairs which require the Space Station facilities. The remainder of the repair work is to be accomplished during the seven day transit, to the edge of the Sol-system gravity well.
The repair crew will complete their work, and will then be returned to the Space Station via a shuttle craft, which the Station routinely uses for emergency in-space repairs. That shuttle craft is on our flight deck, at this moment, and the repair crews are busy working.”
“What will you do, if the repair work isn’t finished by the time you get to the warp area?” asks the Admiral.
“Then the necessary members of the repair crew will go with us on the mission,” replies Captain Niles. “That should be good incentive for the repair crew to work diligently.”
“Indeed it should,” the Admiral’s holo laughs and nods. “I understand that the Marine detachment has been installed on your ship, and I received a call from the Marine Commandant. Major Dawkins reported that the installation was a seamless operation. She gave a glowing report about your officers and crew.”
“I’ll have to thank the Major for that,” replies Captain Niles. “We have a meeting scheduled within the hour. I plan on spending the next three weeks of travel time running practice exercises for various emergency scenarios. The Marines and the crew need to learn to work together“.
Fleet Admiral Walls’ holo nodded in approval. “Good plan. Give me a call, before you go into warp-space.”
“Aye sir.”
“Walls out.”
***
Courageous Command Conference Room
“At ease, Major Dawkins. ….. Have a seat. ……. Would you care for something to drink?”
“Coffee will be good, Captain Niles.”
(That request is received by the ship’s computer steward, and the coffee is dispensed by the replicator, prepared to Major Dawkins personal preferences.)
“Major, I believe that you have met my First Officer, Lieutenant Znnu.”
“Yes sir,” responds the Major, as the two females shake hands. “Lieutenant Znnu was of great assistance to us during the load-in”.
“I have been including Lieutenant Znnu in most of the ship’s preparation and strategy meetings, so that she is prepared to assume command, if that becomes a necessity,” says the Captain. “In turn, she briefs the Bridge Crews and Engineering Officers.”
“That’s a great idea, and it explains why everything works so smoothly on the Courageous,” responds the Marine. “I’ll follow your example and include my Second in Command in future briefings.”
“Oh, good,” says Captain Niles. “You could implement that policy right now if you would like. Give your Second a call. We can chat about the war effort, while we wait for your officer.”
***
Major Dawkins calls Captain Baarg and orders her to report to the Command Conference Room, with ‘all deliberate speed’.
(Marine ‘captains’ and Navy ‘captains’ have the same title, but it is universally understood that the Navy captain outranks the Marine captain. The Navy ‘captain’ is equivalent to a ‘bird colonel’ in the Marines.)
***
The wait gives Captain Niles opportunity to thank Major Dawkins, for her glowing report complementing the ship’s officers and crew. Then, the three officers trade their thoughts on the war and each of them speaks briefly, about their homes and families. It’s good for people who are preparing to enter battle together to have a personal relationship, as well as a professional one.
That is especially true for Lieutenant Znnu who is a new member of the Courageous crew. She is replacing First Officer Tan, who was killed in the recent Gomolus Empire conflict. As a member of the androditin species, Lieutenant Znnu is part of a small minority aboard the Courageous, and she probably can use some personal relationships to make her feel more at home.
Captain Niles already knows some of Lieutenant Znnu’s personal history, from previous discussions. One thing that he didn’t know, is that Lieutenant Znnu is going to request a ‘personal leave’, when this voyage is complete. It is time for her to ‘mate’, so she is going to return to the androditin home planet, in order to search for a suitable partner.
(Androditins don’t usually marry or stay together in a monogamous relationship. The purpose of the mating is to produce an offspring, and after mating the individuals usually go their separate ways.)
