Against All Odds (27 page)

"That might work with credits, but once a ship and her crew are destroyed you don't simply win them back."

"That may not matter to them if they win an engagement and still have many more ships in reserve. Their goal is to acquire territory, not preserve their forces."

"You think they have more ships to put against us?"

"I don't know. I believed our intel and thought they only had half as many as they've committed so far. But they'd be pretty bad businessmen if they committed all their resources from the beginning without any reserves to call upon."

Jenetta nodded. "What do the brilliant minds in your intelligence section speculate the Uthlaro will do next?"

"Like you, we thought they would have already changed tactics. We think that eventually they'll do as the Tsgardi did and double up their groups. Perhaps they'll even triple them up. We don't think for a second they'll retreat, because they know they still have a vast numerical superiority."

"If they double their battle group size, we'll have to rethink our attack methods. We've had our hands full just containing groups of ten ships. I doubt we can handle twenty without getting hurt."

"I believe we'll still win the engagements decisively if they double up, but we may not be able to prevent one or more ships from getting away and reporting back to their command about our hulls being impervious to laser blasts. An Uthlaro ship almost broke free in both of the last two encounters."

"It's improbable we'll be able to keep the secret of our ships' resistance to laser fire much longer. Too many people know about Dakinium. The Raider commandant knew about it ten years ago when we seized Raider Eight and turned it into Stewart Space Command Base. The Milori witnessed our attack on their space docks when we destroyed all the ships in production so
they
have to know we're impervious to laser weapons. Someone in the Uthlaro Dominion must know about it. I can't understand why the information hasn't worked its way up to the high command already."

* * *

"Ten groups!" Minister Ambello Neddowo shouted. "We've lost contact with ten contiguous groups now! That's one hundred warships! Does anyone here still think the loss of contact is owed to the dimensional stability of space in their sectors?"

Uthlaro Prime Minster Taomolu Barguado and the Council of Ministers stared silently at Minister Neddowo. As one of the wealthiest Uthlaro citizens on their planet, Neddowo was accustomed to the silence of subordinates when he ranted.

"What are you doing about this, Barguado?"

"We're at a loss to explain it."

"Are you? Then let me explain it to you. Space Command is gobbling up our fleet, a bite at a time."

"Space Command could not possibly have gotten ships to the areas where our ships are disappearing— not this quickly. If they had dispatched an entire fleet immediately after the Milori surrendered, they would still be a light year away from where our ships have gone missing."

"Gone missing? Gone missing? Is that how you are thinking of this, Barguado? No wonder we continue to lose ships. They're not being destroyed," he said mockingly, "they've simply— gone missing."

"If Space Command were responsible for our missing ships, we'd have heard something from our operatives on Stewart," Barguado said.

"Why do you believe our people on Stewart would know anything? They're not even in Region Two. Do you have anyone on Quesann?"

"Uh, no, not yet. The planet has so far been limited to Space Command personnel. Several of our operatives who have covers as legitimate journalists have applied for visas, but no transportation to Quesann has been available yet. And once they can go, it will take several years to get there."

"Then we must get to someone who already knows what's going on."

"We've tried for years, but Space Command people are too loyal. We haven't been able to turn anyone."

"If the Raiders can do it, then so can we. I'm authorizing a twofold increase for your information budget. You find someone and find them soon.
Someone
in the know will sell information if you wave a million credits under their greedy little Terran noses."

"Yes, Minister," Barguado said.

* * *

"Good morning," Admiral Moore said to the assembled admirals of the Admiralty Board as he took his seat in the large hall they used for their meetings. It was a closed session, so only the admirals, their aides, and a couple of dozen clerks were present. "As you know, Admiral Carver continues to make amazing progress in the situation she faces in Region Two. The Gondusans and Hudeera have surrendered unconditionally and ceded back that part of their territory Admiral Carver allowed them when we defeated the Milori. The armada now facing our forces has been halved, but the most difficult part of the fight, by a wide measure, still lies ahead of us.

"Admiral Carver has forwarded a recommendation that the seven-member rescue party who entered the Uthlaro ship each be awarded the Space Command Star. In a private communication, she informed me that the officer who led the party, Commander Stephan Cross, did so in violation of her standing orders that Marines clear all enemy ships before Space Command personnel enter. However, before that incident he had been a good officer and a credit to the service. We'll never know what prompted him to enter the ship with such careless disregard for the safety of himself and his people, but that part of the record will remain sealed. All in favor of the posthumous award of seven Space Command Star medals signify by raising your hands." Looking around the horseshoe-shaped table, Admiral Moore said, "It's unanimous," to his clerk.

"Loretta, can you give us an update on the situation at the yard?" Admiral Moore asked of Admiral Plimley, referring to the Ship Building Facility in orbit around the planet Mars.

"As you know," Admiral Plimley said, "the senior people at the yard have all been briefed, privately, on the situation in Region Two, and are continuing to put every resource possible into the construction of the scout-destroyers. They've hired more workers and are operating a full, twenty-four-hour schedule on those docks. With our firm commitment to produce three hundred of the small ships over the next decade, additional economies of scale have been realized. They believe they'll be able to reduce the completion time on the small ships by as much as one third without adversely impacting the current delivery dates established for destroyers, frigates, cruisers, and battleships. The three new Prometheus-class battleships will be ready to launch in two and half months."

"Excellent. When do you anticipate the next group of scout-destroyers will be ready to launch?"

"If nothing unexpected happens to delay their completion, all ten should be ready in less than two and half months."

"Wonderful. And the next group will be ready four months following these ten?"

"If not sooner."

"Excellent. If Admiral Carver can reduce the size of a thousand-ship armada by half with just thirteen ships, the additional three battleships and twenty scout-destroyers has to help her halt the progress of the remaining ships aligned against her."

"With luck," Admiral Plimley said, "we should be able to get her four new DS destroyers and two new DS cruisers at about the same time the second group of ten scout-destroyers are ready for launch."

"You've been able to advance their construction schedules by that much?"

"The yard manager has pulled some of the crews off the warships that can't possibly be launched for more than two years and put them on the ships that are nearing completion. He says he has so many people working on them that, at times, the crews are falling over one another. He hasn't told them the reason, but they understand the urgency and are putting everything they have into getting these six ships completed early. They've seen the flurry of activity over at the docks where the scout-destroyers are being built and know something big is up."

"By now the Uthlaro know all about the surrenders of the Tsgardi, the Gondusans, and the Hudeera," Admiral Hillaire said, "so the importance of keeping everything a secret has disappeared. Perhaps it's time to hold a press conference about the
undeclared
war?"

"Keeping any specific information about Admiral Carver's operations a secret, of course," Admiral Bradlee said.

"Of course," Admiral Hillaire said. "I'm simply suggesting the people of the Galactic Alliance should know a new threat exists and, while
they
are presently in no danger, they should be aware that we are doing our best to handle the situation. It might help military recruitment if our people know we have been invaded
again
. Recruitment levels have dropped since the Milori invasion failed and we annexed their territory."

"I'll have the information office draft a release," Admiral Moore said. "The GA Council has just approved my request to expand the Mars shipbuilding facility. They've approved the construction of three hundred additional docks. We haven't been allocated the funds to commence laying hulls just yet, but I believe that to simply be a matter of time. With the facility expansion, we should be able to produce one hundred new warships each year, or more if some of the slips are used to produce scout-destroyers.

"Our next topic is to appoint a new commanding officer to McCardin Space Command Base. You all have a copy of the list of eligible officers. Does anyone care to make a recommendation?"

~ May 2
^nd
, 2283 ~

"Nothing!" Commander Omega Kostopolis, Captain of the scout-destroyer Seine said in exasperation. "We've twice performed a Level One search of our assigned territory and haven't caught sight of a single ship, or even a residual ion trail!"

"Thank you, Captain," Jenetta said. "I'm sure your crew did its usual thorough job."

"Thank you, Admiral."

"Colorado out."

"Seine out."

"Another dry hole," Jenetta said to Admiral Kanes who was seated across from her in her briefing room aboard the Colorado. "That makes four in a row."

"I suppose we'll have to accept that the Uthlaro have changed their battle plan. Frankly, I'm surprised it took them as long as it did."

"Yes, but it would have been nice to pare their fleet down a little further. Still, they have a hundred forty fewer ships now than they did before. That's almost twice the number currently assigned to my Second Fleet."

"What now, Jen?"

"We'll return to Quesann to resupply. Our ordnance stocks have gotten precipitously low, but I was reluctant to stop while we were having so much success against the Uthlaro. We knew they'd change tactics eventually and I wanted to confront as many groups as possible before that happened."

"How soon did you want to leave?"

"Now that the Seine has completed a second search of its grid section there's nothing to keep us here. We can head for the barn as soon as our ships have all returned. I have been considering a slight detour, though. Milor lies almost directly in our path so perhaps we should stop there briefly so I can visit with the Viceroy."

"You're not planning on going dirt-side, are you?"

"Not hardly. After what I did to their planet, even their protection details would be trying to kill me. We'll remain in orbit and I'll invite the Viceroy to come up."

* * *

Seventeen days later, the thirteen-ship task force entered the Milor system. There were several dozen warships at defensive posts throughout the system, but when the Space Command task force announced their arrival and intentions they were passed through without further challenge. Milor Approach Control immediately directed the ships to parking orbits above the planet.

"Greetings, Admiral Carver," Viceroy Berquyth said when communications were established. "Or should I call you Governor Carver?" He immediately waved an arm if the matter was of no consequence, then said, "Regardless, welcome to Milor."

"Thank you, Viceroy. I'm delighted that an opportunity to visit with you has presented itself. We are on a return trip to our base at Quesann."

"And I am delighted you've taken time from your hectic schedule to stop. Would you like to come down, or shall I come up?"

"I think it better you come up. I imagine there are many hard feelings toward me and your protection details might find their task too onerous."

"Not at all, Admiral. Since the
unfortunate
and
premature
death of our late Emperor, Maxxiloth, we've been inculcating our people with the idea Milor will be far better off under the rule of the Galactic Alliance than it ever was before. Schoolchildren now pledge their undying allegiance to both Milor and the Galactic Alliance before classes begin each day and a daily stream of public service announcements, on all voice and vid channels, praise the Galactic Alliance. Everyone on the planet knows that Space Command was only trying to stop Maxxiloth from waging war further when it targeted installations with military value and a great deal has been made of the fact that you did everything possible to avoid civilian locations. Your smiling image now looks down on our people with that of my own from every location where Maxxiloth's sinister face appeared before. You are regarded as a hero on our world for having saved us from future decades of war. We all knew Maxxiloth wanted to rule the galaxy. Our people never would have ceased dying in futile wars while he lived."