Against All Odds (21 page)

"How does everyone else feel about this idea?" Jenetta asked.

"It has some merit," Captain Sandor Erikson of the battleship Themis said, "but we won't really be able to judge its effectiveness until we try it because we don't know what the reaction of the Tsgardi will be when they encounter the debris field. They might change their formation to search for the problem. And rather than simply detonating our torpedoes in the center of their formation where most of the force would be wasted, I would fire WOLaR weapons at specific points along their 'V' formation, hoping to take out all the ships in that zone. Even if the damage in minimal, the confusion it'll cause should help us tremendously."

"That's our plan then," Jenetta said. "If it's successful, we'll use it until we find something better or the Tsgardi change their tactics again. If that's all, we have lots of work to do and limited time. Let's prepare to get underway to the next area where we'll conduct a search for a Tsgardi battle group. Good hunting, Hudson."

"Thank you, Admiral," Commander Scott Hyland, Captain of the Hudson, said.

* * *

"Sir, I have bad news," Premier Warlord Qerdesqa's aide said to him, "we're unable to make contact with three of the combined battle groups."

The baboon-like creature turned to stare at the younger officer. "Which groups?"

"The groups combined from battle squadrons eleven through sixteen, sir."

"And we haven't received anything since their last weekly reports? No reported sightings of ships or suspicious phenomena?"

"Nothing, sir. When their reports became overdue, the First Director of War Room Communications attempted to contact them personally to learn the reason for the delay, but there has been no response to his communication. All groups were permitted adequate time for response and we should have heard hours ago."

"What of the groups made from seventeen through twenty-two and the first two groups?"

"All four groups report everything is normal. They haven't spotted any other ships and are proceeding according to their orders."

"This doesn't make sense!" Premier Warlord Qerdesqa suddenly shouted. "Why aren't they reporting in? What has happened to them? If they encountered enemy ships, why didn't they report?"

Qerdesqa's aide just stood looking at the floor somberly.

"Notify the War Council Secretary that he must call a meeting immediately to discuss this."

* * *

The task force welcomed the return of the repaired Colorado, which increased the force to eight ships again. The engineers had worked around the clock at Quesann to get the engine replaced as quickly as possible. An entire hold aboard ship housed another spare maneuvering engine in case it was needed, with the other holds filled to overflowing with replacement torpedoes. Tethered beneath the small ship was a spare Sub-Light engine half as large as the ship itself. Jenetta had decided the task force should have a Prometheus-class battleship-maneuvering engine on hand also. Sheathed in Dakinium, it presented no problem when the small ship engaged its Light-9375 speed to catch up with the task force. A massive hold aboard the Boreas had been prepared for its regular storage.

"If the attack plans are correct," Admiral Kanes said from his office aboard the Themis, "we have eight small groups, or four larger groups left out there. We've destroyed one-hundred eighty-nine Tsgardi warships and have three-hundred twenty-one prisoners aboard the Themis."

"That's not very many prisoners," Jenetta said from her briefing room aboard the Colorado. "Those hundred eighty-nine ships must have been crewed by close to a hundred-thousand warriors."

"We've recorded ninety-four-thousand eight-hundred dead. Based on the crew complement files we've been able to upload, we estimate that as many as five hundred more may have been lost through holes in the hulls following torpedo strikes, or simply disintegrated from the force of the blasts."

"It's too bad we couldn't have notified the Tsgardi after we destroyed their first battle group and convinced them to recall their ships and end this invasion."

"They wouldn't have done it, Jen. You practically have to beat a Tsgardi over the head with a hammer just to get his attention."

"We've certainly done that during the past few weeks. The loss of their ships has to be like a blow from a sledgehammer, so I'm sure we have their attention. I can't imagine why they haven't recalled their ships."

"Tsgardi may be fierce fighters, but they've never been known for their intelligence. Remember the incident Vyx reported where he was holding his laser pistol on two Tsgardis and they reached for their lattice pistols anyway?"

"Yes, I do. When we started this I said we'd have to drive them back or wipe them completely out. Since we're not driving them back, our only alternative is to wipe them out."

The image of Admiral Kanes was suddenly replaced with that of the Colorado's com chief, who said, "I'm sorry to cut in on your conversation, Admiral, but the Amazon is signaling they've found the next Tsgardi battle group."

"Thank you, chief. I'll be right out."

"Aye, Admiral."

As the image of Admiral Kanes reappeared, Jenetta said, "Sorry Keith, the Amazon has located our next battle group. It's time to go back to work."

"Aye, Admiral. Kanes out."

"Carver out."

* * *

"Admiral, you have a message from the GSC Mississippi," the com operator said to Jenetta through her CT as she showered after her morning work out.

Tapping her Space Command ring she said, "Thank you, chief. Is it a priority message?"

"Negative, ma'am."

"Okay, I'll view it when I arrive on the bridge. Carver out."

After a quick breakfast, Jenetta walked to the bridge with her two pets and proceeded directly to her briefing room after greeting the watch team, learning the status of the ship, and relieving Lt. Commander Ashraf. She made herself a mug of coffee while her cats settled into their usual places, and then walked to her desk and sat down. Lifting the com panel, she highlighted the Mississippi message line in the queue and pressed the play button. As she sat back and sipped at her coffee, the image of a young officer appeared. The message line identified him as Commander John Cleviss.

"Hello Admiral," the image said. "I've been functioning as group leader for the Mississippi, Seine, Nile, Thames, and Tigris on our trip to Region Two. We'll pass out of Region One in two days. Our current destination is Quesann, but before we left Mars we were briefed on the situation in Region Two, so we're ready to change course to join you if that is your wish. We're all thrilled at becoming part of your command and await your orders.

"Commander John Cleviss, Captain of the Mississippi. Message complete."

Jenetta leaned forward and tapped the record key on the com unit. "Message to Commander John Cleviss, Captain of the Mississippi.

"Welcome to Region Two, Captain. My task force is currently located deep in our territory, searching for the last of the Tsgardi groups in this part of space. There are still two groups remaining on our side of the border between Coleman and Region One and we suspect they might have consolidated into one group. If they have, the group will most likely consist of between twenty-five and twenty-seven Tsgardi warships. My tactical officer will append the coordinates where we'd expect to find them, along with the routes and timetable they were supposed to follow originally. Your job is to hunt them down and trail them until we can join you. Separate and crisscross the area at Light-9375 until you locate them, then pull back after you determine their course. Under no circumstances are you to engage them, nor even alert them to your presence.

"Jenetta Carver, Admiral, Commander of the Second Fleet and Military Governor of Region Two, aboard the Colorado. Message complete."

* * *

"What is this?" Commander Stephan Cross said to the vid screen in his briefing room aboard the Nile. His image was just one of the five appearing on the large wall monitor showing all officers involved in the conference call. "We bust our backsides to get here and now we're just supposed to sit and wait until the great Jenetta Carver comes here to show us how to fight Tsgardi?"

"At ease, Commander," Commander Cleviss said from his briefing room aboard the Mississippi. "You're bordering on insubordination. Our orders are to find the Tsgardi warships, then wait until the task force arrives before we even alert them to our presence. The Admiral said that if the two groups have merged, the consolidated group will be composed of up to twenty-seven warships. Do you really want to take on twenty-seven warships with five small scout-destroyers for your first time in real battle?"

"We've all had simulator time for these ships, John. They're impervious to laser fire and the Phalanx system will take care of the torpedoes. We're practically indestructible. If we have to wait for the Admiral to arrive every time before we engage the enemy, this war will last forever."

"We have our orders, Stephan, and we'll follow them to the letter. We were ordered not to engage the enemy under any circumstances and that's the way it will be. If you even alert the Tsgardi to our presence, I'll bring you up on charges myself. Understood?"

"Aye, Commander," he said sullenly. "Understood."

"Good. Okay, we've got our orders. We'll split up when we reach the area in a few days and begin searching for the Tsgardi battle group. Any other questions? No? Then goodnight. Mississippi out."

* * *

"Message from the Mississippi, Admiral," the com operator announced to Jenetta as she worked in her briefing room.

Raising the com panel, Jenetta selected the message from the queue and tapped the play button. The image of Commander Cleviss appeared and began speaking.

"Admiral, we've located the Tsgardi battle group and, as you speculated, they've consolidated into one group of twenty-seven vessels. Unfortunately, they were alerted to our presence when they encountered the Nile, the ship that located them. Commander Stephan Cross, the Nile's captain, says his ACS dropped his envelope when it detected the Tsgardi approaching on a reciprocal course and dropped him right in their midst despite our standing orders calling for us to disengage our ACS when traveling at Light-9375. There was a two-minute exchange of laser fire before the Nile was able to reconstitute its envelope and engage its Light-Speed drive.

"Admiral, I'm sorry we were unable to keep our presence a secret. We're currently following the Tsgardi outside of their sensor range. I'm appending coordinates of our present position and course information.

"Commander John Cleviss, Captain of the Mississippi. Message complete."

Jenetta tapped the record button and said, "Message to Commander John Cleviss, Captain of the Mississippi.

"The task force has destroyed the last of the groups except for the one you're trailing and we're already on our way to your location. Continue to follow the Tsgardi until we meet up.

"Since all other Tsgardi battle groups have been dealt with, having the last Tsgardi battle group encounter one of our ships is no great loss and it was bound to happen during our searches. It's unfortunate the Tsgardi were witness to our Light Speed improvement though. I'm assuming the Nile used Light-9375 to escape the battle group. I would have liked to keep that secret for just a while longer.

"We should meet up with you in three days. Stay well back until then. The Tsgardi firepower from a group of twenty-seven ships could overwhelm your ships. We'll take them on as a single force.

"Jenetta Carver, Admiral, Commander of the Second Fleet and Military Governor of Region Two, aboard the Colorado; Message complete."

* * *

Premier Warlord Qerdesqa walked into his sitting room where his aide was waiting.

"I'm sorry to awaken you, sir, but we've had a communication from Admiral Zerkovhas aboard the battleship Pstorirus. He says he encountered a ship they believed to be Space Command. They exchanged fire and the ship appeared to disintegrate in front of them."

"Disintegrate?"

"Yes sir. They were firing upon it with their laser weapons and torpedoes when it disappeared."

"Disappeared. Did it disappear or disintegrate?"

"The Admiral used both those words, sir, just as I have relayed them. He said that after the encounter the battle group continued on their course and there were no further incidents. He probably would have waited to report the incident with his regular weekly report, but you said you wanted to hear immediately of any encounters."

Qerdesqa began pacing back and forth without saying anything. His aide stood by silently.

"If the Space Command ship disappeared, then it might mean they've developed some kind of system for cloaking their presence, but if they disintegrated we have nothing to worry about. Send a message to Zerkovhas immediately. Ask him to describe exactly what he witnessed. It's important he be as descriptive as possible."

"Yes sir. I'll take care of it immediately."

* * *

"Do you understand the plan, ladies and gentlemen?" Jenetta asked the captains of the scout-destroyers during a vid conference following the task force rendezvous with the new ships.

All five captains nodded.