The Trafalgar Gambit (Ark Royal) (54 page)

“Yes,” Ted said.  He paused.  “Why ...?”

Commander Williams looked, for a long moment, as if she’d bitten into a lemon.  “You have more command experience than myself,” she said.  “I think you should take command of the ship.”

Ted eyed her, surprised.  Had Captain Fitzwilliam told her to step aside if they managed to intercept the aliens?  Or had she come up with it on her own?  Or ...

Technically, it was dereliction of duty.  But she was right.  He
did
have far more command experience with the ancient carrier.  And this really wasn't the time to learn.

“Take the secondary bridge, Commander,” Ted said, gently.  He made a mental note to ensure her career didn't suffer for her decision.  “And then prepare for the final transit.”

***

The bridge felt almost like home, Ted reflected, as he took the command chair.  It wasn't the same being in the CIC, where there was a sense of detachment from the battle.  Here, he sat at the nerve centre of his ship.

“Take us through the tramline,” he ordered. 

He waited.  For a moment, there was nothing ... and then the universe darkened, as if he were about to sneeze.  And then the entire ship shook so violently that he was half-convinced the Old Lady was coming apart at the seams.  And then everything snapped back to normal.

“Admiral,” Anderson said, “we made it to New Russia, but we lost the Puller Drive.  Completely.  Even the human-designed systems have burned out.”

Ted sucked in his breath, then sighed.  Whatever happened, he knew, they would not be leaving the New Russia system.  Not now.  They were trapped.

“Understood,” he said.  At least the realspace drive had survived.  “Do what you can.”

“This is quite a report, Captain,” the First Space Lord said.

“Thank you, sir,” James said.  It had been a nightmarish trip from the alien homeworld – if it was their homeworld - to Earth, pushing the frigate’s drives to the limit.  “Will you take action?”

“I will have to raise the issue at the Defence Council,” the First Space Lord said.  He took a breath.  “There will be reluctance to send any major forces away from Earth.”

James took a breath.  “We don't dare risk fighting them in the Sol System,” he snapped.  “If they want to make Earth uninhabitable ...”

The First Space Lord held up a hand.  “I understand what’s at stake, Captain,” he said.  “But it will be a joint decision.”

“Then blackmail the Russians,” James said.  “We have evidence they tried to undermine – hell,
destroy
– any chance of a negotiated peace.  They killed Royal Navy personnel and blackmailed others.  Tell them we won’t seek revenge in exchange for their voting alongside us.”

“The Russians don’t have the clout they had before the war,” the First Space Lord pointed out.  “Their vote might not be as much help as you’re suggesting.”

“Then send the remaining fleet alone,” James pressed.  “Sir ...”

“I will deal with the issue,” the First Space Lord said.  “Now, I suggest you prepare for a major debriefing.  I understand you made contact with the aliens ...”

***

“We made contact with the Russian settlements in the asteroid belt,” Davidson said.  The communications officer looked stressed.  “They claim the aliens haven't sent any additional ships into the system.”

Ted nodded, relieved.  Either they’d beaten the aliens to the system or the aliens had decided to take the long way to Earth.  Either way, humanity would have a chance. 

“And the ships orbiting the planet itself?”

“They’ve just been watching and waiting,” Davidson said.  “The Russians say the aliens haven’t even called in orbital strikes.”

“They probably don’t have any real interest in our settlements,” Ted guessed.  “And they’ve shown no interest in us?”

“None,” Farley confirmed.  “I think they must have detected our arrival, sir, but they haven’t left orbit to investigate.”

“Good,” Ted said.  He looked over at Anderson.  “How bad is it?”

“The Puller Drive is completely fucked, sir,” Anderson said.  His voice was calm, too calm.  “I believe the realspace drive will hold, for a while, but not for long.  We really need a full refit ...”

“Which we’re not going to get,” Ted said.  Anderson hadn't said ‘I told you so,’ but Ted was sure he'd thought it once or twice.  It was hard to blame him.  One way or the other,
Ark Royal
had come to the end of the line.  “Concentrate on strengthening the hull and preparing for engagement.”

“Aye, sir,” Anderson said.  “I have some ideas that might be costly in the long run, but will give us an advantage for the moment.”

“Then prepare them,” Ted said.  “We will assume this is the last battle and ready everything for the fight.”

“Aye, sir,” Anderson said, again. 

“Launch two of our remaining probes to watch the tramlines,” Ted ordered.  “And then prepare to start Operation Deception.  Dismissed.”

He watched them go, then sank back in his chair.  For better or worse,
Ark Royal
could no longer leave the New Russia system, where she’d fought her second major engagement with the aliens.  They were committed, now.  Victory or death ... but then, the War Faction felt the same way.

They were apt students
, Ted thought, with a flicker of amusement. 
But then, so were we
.

He rose to his feet and headed for the hatch.  Operation Deception – the attempt to convince the aliens that
Ark Royal
had headed towards the tramline to Earth – would start in thirty minutes, allowing him barely enough time to tour his ship.  It was tradition, after all, that the Captain would tour the ship before battle.  Had he done it before?  He couldn't remember.

But we have to pretend to be a hole in space
, he thought.  The War Faction could not be allowed a chance to avoid engagement.  They might want the carrier destroyed, but somehow he suspected they would prefer to head straight for Earth.  Even with a fully-working drive, they would have been unable to catch the alien ships. 
We need to impale them on our weapons
.

Sighing, he walked through the hatch and down the corridor towards the intership car.  He would start with Main Engineering, followed by Tactical and then Sickbay.  Doctor Hastings was already preparing for the casualties she would receive, although if the ship were to be destroyed, Ted knew, it would be pointless.  But they had to hope for the best, even as they prepared for the worst. 

And pray that God remembers us this day
, he added silently,
if that we forget him
.

***

Nerves had rarely been a problem for Henry before, he had to admit – at least, not when it came to bearding people more powerful than himself in their lairs.  Being a Prince tended to teach
some
lessons, starting with the simple fact that most people considered themselves more important than they really were.  And besides, he wasn't blind to the implications of losing the Puller Drive. 
Ark Royal
was not going to leave the New Russia system unless a new drive unit could be brought to her ... assuming she survived, of course. 

He hesitated, then keyed the buzzer.  There was a long pause before the hatch hissed open, revealing Rose sitting at her desk, half-asleep.  Henry looked around for a bottle of alcohol before realising she was exhausted and depressed, not drunk.  Shaking his head, he closed the hatch behind him and locked it, then strode over to face her.

“Wake up,” he snapped.

“Piss off,” Rose said, without moving.  “Go do your damned job.”

“Go do yours,” Henry said.  He hesitated, then walked around the desk and hauled her to her feet.  “I understand you’re depressed, I understand you’re frustrated and pissed and everything else, but you have a goddamned job to do.”

He pushed her towards the washroom, exasperated.  “You can either undress and shower yourself, or I’ll strip you naked and shove you into the water myself,” he added.  “Your choice.”

“Bastard,” Rose said.  She moved away when he reached for her uniform buckle.  “I’ll go, I’ll go ...”

Henry watched her go into the washroom, then sat back and waited for her to emerge.  It was nearly twenty minutes before she came out, looking furious.  Washing herself would have helped wash away the tiredness as well as everything else.  Henry sighed inwardly and braced himself.  Her being angry was a good thing.

“You have absolutely no right to treat me like a child,” Rose snapped.  “I don’t believe you were promoted over my head!”

“I will be, if you keep acting like this,” Henry said.  He understood how she was feeling, but there was no time for any form of compassionate leave.  She should have been sent back to Earth with Captain Fitzwilliam.  “Commander ...”

He took a breath.  “We are about to face the worst battle of our career,” he said, softly.  “It could win or lose us the war.  We simply don’t have time to fret about our missing loved ones” – he saw her start violently – “or anything else, but fighting and remaining alive.  I will not allow you to decline into a wreck when there are pilots who desperately need your leadership.”

Rose glared at him.  “Do you realise his death was my fault?”

Henry shrugged.  Janelle hadn't told him the full story.  He’d suspected there was more, but he hadn't wanted to put her in a position where she had to break a confidence or refuse to tell him something.  If Rose blamed herself ...

“Look,” he said.  “Did you kill him personally?”

“They took him and he died and I could do
nothing
,” Rose snapped.  “It was my fault he died.”

“I thought the same too, once,” Henry said.  But it hadn't been
quite
the same.  Losing a dog, even a mutt that was effectively a member of the family, wasn't anything like losing a lover.  “Commander – Rose – when we get back to Earth, you can mourn him in any way you see fit.  But now, we need you in the cockpit, ready to kick some alien ass.”

He slapped her on the back, hard enough to sting.  “And besides, I think I crossed a line when I threatened to undress you,” he added.  “You’ll need to assume your rank again just to hand out something sufficiently awful as punishment.”

Rose smirked.  “Booting your ass out the airlock seems about right,” she said.  Her smile faded quickly.  “I’ve been a fool, Henry.”

“You should have seen me as a child,” Henry said.  “I couldn't get away with nothing.”

“A Royal Brat?”  Rose asked.

“Worse than that,” Henry said.  “When I was restrained they said I was a prig; when I threw tantrums, they talked about me being badly brought up.  When I did something stupid they made fun of me; when I did something clever they said I must have been coached.  When my father let me run wild he was spoiling me rotten; when he gave me a clip around the ear they screamed that he was abusing me.  I’m sure there are worse things in life than being a prisoner of the media, but I haven’t met them.”

Rose smirked, again.  “Being an alien prisoner?”

“Oh, no,” Henry assured her.  “Being an alien prisoner was quite relaxing, actually.  They didn't have the slightest idea who I actually was.”

“Neither did I, until it was too late,” Rose said.  She smiled, reluctantly.  “Janelle Lopez is a very lucky girl.”

“I like to think so,” Henry said.  He sobered.  “We won’t be launching any starfighters because the Admiral wants to remain in hiding, but we do have simulations to run.  Will you join us in twenty minutes?”

Rose sighed, then nodded.  “I’ll get a cup of coffee and something to eat,” she said.  “And ...”