Retribution (The Federation Reborn Book 3) (108 page)

“But we've lost the initiative. And the offense … Second Fleet is going to take months to get sorted out, right?” Moira demanded. The Admiral nodded. “Some of those ships will have to return to Protodon or even here for repair.”

“Yes, they will, again. And we'll need to replace the ships lost and their crews.”

“Damn.”

“And no, we don't have enough forces now to sustain the offensive beyond Dead Drop—not in the numbers we need. I'm betting once word gets back to the empire they'll redeploy as much as they can to Dead Drop and Garth.”

“This is just getting started too. We're going to have to do this again and again and again. Horath is going to be pure hell,” Admiral Sienkov warned, tag teaming the civilian secretaries.

“Damn,” Professor Turner muttered.

“It can't be helped. What we might be able to do, is when we do launch the offense, is catch any redeployments in transit. We still have the speed advantage. Admiral White will use it to his utmost advantage as much as possible.”

“Yes, sir,” Admiral Sienkov said with a supporting nod. “Once they get moving, Second Fleet will push ahead. They will eventually stop in DD001NS and picket the star system while he scouts forward. By all rights he should send back his most damaged ships back for repair. The ships with the least amount of damage can make repairs on their own I believe,” he said.

“How do you know that's what he'll do?” Mister Custard asked.

“Because, it's what I'd do,” Yorgi replied with a shrug and a straight face. “Because it makes sense. Bottle them up. He can keep his main fleet further back and work on the repairs, while also scouting Dead Drop. He needs INTEL now.”

“It is highly unwise for him to go in blind,” Admiral Irons said. “He has one
Prowler
left since we borrowed the other to scout around Senka. I believe he left it in Protodon, however, so it will have to transit to him, refuel, and then jump beyond into Dead Drop.”

“Oh,” George said, blinking. Slowly he nodded. “Well, on this stuff you sailor boys know best,” he said with a shrug.

“Thanks,” Admiral Irons replied with a brief smile at the show of support.

He was glad that he hadn't rushed more of the limited number of antimatter weapons they had in stock to Protodon. They would have gotten there in time, but in using them the sting of surprise would have been gone, perhaps wasted. He needed to keep a couple aces under wraps for later. Just knowing about the antimatter mines was bad enough.

Taking Dead Drop and Garth would potentially incur more casualties because he was holding back, but he wanted those weapons for the big fight, the one against the empire's Home Fleet.

When the cabinet's murmurs died down he nodded to Yorgi. “I've discussed this with Admiral Sienkov. We're a month early, but the next round of promotions is coming up. I intend to put Admiral White and Admiral Subert on the list. They will have to be signed off by Congress though, but I don't see that as a problem,” he said. “At least not now,” he said.

“I think they'll get a pass, sir. Admiral White definitely deserves it,” Doctor Kraft said. He looked over to the secretary of state. She looked amused but didn't move from her pose of thoughtful and attentive. He mentally shrugged her off.

“Liobat,” the admiral said, nodding to the Press Secretary. “The navy will be drafting a release shortly once our people have had time to go over what we know. You'll be working with the Naval Affairs Department for the release.”

“Yes, sir,” Liobat replied with a nod.

“Good. I was going to play let’s go around the room early, but I think you all have schedules to get back to,” the admiral said as he rose. “So, I won't keep you,” he said as the secretaries in the room rose as well.

“We've got plenty of staff gnashing their teeth or … whatever, now as it is,” Doctor Kraft said in agreement as Moira smoothed her skirt and nodded.

“Okay then. Let's keep the leaks down, folks, I'd like for this to come as cold as possible to the media. And yes,” he smiled to Moira and then Yorgi, “that includes me. A certain red head will be pissed, but she'll get over it.”

“You hope,” Admiral Sienkov teased.

The fleet admiral shrugged. “What can I say, I have a soft spot for passionate red heads I guess,” he said. Some of the men chuckled as they filed out of the room.

:::{)(}:::

Two days after the news came to them from the ansible, Liobat, the press secretary, called a press conference. Rumors had begun to roil throughout the capital. The media had been stonewalled up until an hour before the press conference. The navy had sent out the news to the military personnel in the star system a half hour before the press briefing, so it leaked.

Admiral Irons watched the conference from his office. He'd been tempted, some would say sorely tempted, to make the announcement himself. He'd held off because he didn't want to make it look like they needed the good press.

“Right about now my staff is uploading the relevant supporting documents to your various media outlets and the Associated Press site. But, before we get ahead of ourselves, I'd like to announce what has happened in the battle of B-95a3,” the press secretary began as the naval attaché stood beside but slightly behind her. “Approximately eleven weeks and two days ago, Second Fleet engaged the enemy forces in the empty star system. Our forces were victorious,” she said with a predatory grin. That sparked a murmur and chatter from her audience of reporters and camera people.

“The enemy was routed with half of their capital ships being destroyed and the other half escaping with heavy damage. Our own forces suffered damage and are working on making repairs before they continue the pursuit. But, ladies and gentlemen, the barbarians have been routed!” she said, letting her elation get the better of her.

The room erupted in cheers and shouted questions for more information.

Admiral Irons chuckled. They deserved their elation. As he watched the screen split to show spontaneous outpourings of celebration on Antigua Prime and the planet as the news spread. They deserved this moment of triumph, even if they hadn't been personally involved in achieving it.

But eventually, as all things did, his smile fell. He hit mute on the broadcast and then turned and took a seat in his chair once more. “Okay, what's next?” he asked Sprite.

“That's it? A chuckle for a pat on the back and …,” Sprite observed his expression and then shook her virtual head. “Okay,” she drawled. “Well, we've still got the problem with Bek to deal with. Plus, the Tau and Pi expeditions, Destria, the Eastern campaign, and I understand there is some military politics going on with that,” she said. He nodded once. “Then we've got
Sun Tzu's
progress report, a request for input from Commander Gray on a new project …”

The End

Another wow book. Wow, I finally got it done! A lot happened here and I know a lot of people will be asking who, what, why … and others will complain about the shifting viewpoints. Sorry, that's how it worked out. When I tried a tight focus on just two narratives, it didn't work out so well. (
Battle Lines
) So, here we go.

Fun book. It's helped me kick a few things off for Horatio's adventures, (
Enemy of my Enemy
) Shelby's adventures … and rewrite J5. (Which some of you believe is overdue. It is. Sorry. The plot had to be rewritten and put off to fit into the current timeline.)

As usual you can read snippets, my missives, see art, and more at my blog.

Cast:

Below is a list of some of the more prominent people in the series.

Fleet Admiral John Henry Irons
: President pro-temp. Highest ranking flag officer. Sleeper. Cyborg with two A.I. embedded within his systems.

Lieutenant Protector
: A hybrid smart A.I. created by Commander Sprite to replace her. He was created with parts of her core and the remaining core and file parts from his predecessor Lieutenant Defender. Acts as the admiral's flag lieutenant and Sprite's assistant.

Proteus
: Dumb A.I. created to run the admiral's nanites and as an engineering assistant. Currently growing and evolving.

Captain JG Sprite
: Former adjunct and embedded A.I. of Admiral Irons. Currently still the admiral's chief of staff.

Captain Thomas Burrows
: Head of security detail. Chief of security. (Cameo)

Cookie Garratte:
Cook and steward of Admiral Irons. Older female widower from Richalu.

Federation Cabinet:

Vice President
: Currently vacant.

Secretary of State:
Moira Sema
.

Industry:
Sandra’kall
,
Centaurian from Pyrax, mother of Veber.

Treasury:
T'rel'n,
Veraxin, former Antigua treasurer.

Agriculture:
George Custard
from Agnosta, former delegate.

Interior and Exploration (exploration, colonization, emergency services, star system repair, dispute arbitration): Currently vacant.

Medicine (surgeon general):
Doctor Kraft,
sleeper.

Labor:
Emily Berkheart.
Cyberist, former board member of Antigua Prime.

Energy:
Lawrence Martindale.
Neochimp engineer from Senka.

Justice (Attorney General):
D'red.
Veraxin, cyberist and former board member of Antigua Prime.

Commerce:
Captain Broken Antenna.
Retired T'clock captain.

Transportation:
Captain Azul Herschel.
1st LT reservist seen in story Lewis and Clarke.

Science:
Dreams of Tomorrow.
Gashg female from Triang.

Education:
Professor
Kyle Tyler.
From Antigua Prime.

Communication:
Iab.
Neochimp communications director from Kathy's World.

Artificial Intelligence Relations:
Mnemosyne.
Former Antigua Prime A.I. survivor.

Housing:
Bengali.
White tiger housing director from Kathy's World. He became vital during the various refugee crisis. He is currently also overseeing Interior and Exploration.

Intelligence:
Vice Admiral Yorgi Sienkov.
From Bek. Former secretary of defense and senior officer of Bek Navy.

Security:
Acting Admiral Sienkov/D'red.

Press secretary: Liobat.
Neocat. Lioness.

Secretary of Defense:
Acting Admiral Irons.

-Chief of Naval Operations:
Acting Admiral Irons.

-Chief of Marine Operations:
Acting Brigadier General Jersey Forth.
From Avalon.

-Chief of the Army:
Acting
Colonel Pasha 1010111.
From Nuevo. On Agnosta.

-Chief of Intelligence (see cabinet posting)

-Chief of Special OPS:
Major Joshua Lyon.

Antigua Naval Officers:

Commander Vestri Sindri:
Commander of the naval shipyard. Dwarf. Friend of Admiral Irons.

Captain JG Montgomery:
Former head of ONI. From an agro world before he ran away to Anvil in Pyrax. He became a private investigator and INTEL buff before joining the navy. Relieved of duty by Admiral Subert.

Doctor (Captain JG) Nara Thornby
: Former head doctor of Anvil. Former G-9 Bumedicine. Current G-9 Bumedicine for Antigua as well as the entire navy.