Tipping Point in the Alliance War (20 page)

If the
boarding party launches move now, they will be ‘picked off’ by the
Confederation gunners.  They keep their eyes on the damaged ships, which
are still in the formation, and wait for an opportunity. 

***

The
confusion, following the missile attacks, is a cue for the 6 Trojan
Horse
vessels, to open fire on the rest of the Confederation
Fleet.  Amid the ensuing chaos, it is impossible to tell who is a ‘loyal’
Confederation ship, and who is under Alliance control.

***

The
original plan was for the Alliance Fleet of 107 ships to defend the Space
Station, but Fleet Admiral Walls knows an opportunity when he sees one. 
He orders a frontal assault against the numerically superior Confederation
Fleet.  Only time will tell, if it is a good decision.

The
Confederation Fleet still has plenty of firepower and the formation holds
together, even with the turmoil going on in its bowels.  The battle
between fleets rages for hours, and the tide of battle ebbs and flows.  The
Confederation Fleet is gradually eliminating the captured ships. 
(They
are probably able to identify the traitors, by the fact that their
communications systems are down.  Everyone who doesn’t answer the phone is
destroyed.) 
This translates to a loss of 6 Alliance launches and 52
Alliance Space Marines.

Meanwhile,
the ‘boarding party’ launches are taking advantage of Confederation vessels
with hull breaches.  And there are numerous candidates, either caused by
the ‘missile launch’ attacks, or by the assault of the Alliance Fleet. 
The Confederation ships are constantly in motion, as they seek a favorable
position in the dog-fights with Alliance ships.  The ‘boarding launches’
just wait for a ship with a hull breach to pass by them – and then they pounce. 
The Confederation fleets ‘gravity-motion detector system’ is not able to
function amid the chaos of the dog-fighting.

The
goal of this phase of the operation is to destroy ships.  They will board the
vessel through the hull breach; plant a package of explosives next to a
critical piece of equipment; and get out.  They have 5 minutes to get away
from the ship before the timer triggers the explosion and the enemy ship is
either destroyed or disabled.  Each boarding party launch has enough
explosives to disable 4 ships.

In
this phase of the operation 27 enemy vessels are destroyed or disabled. 
For the Alliance, the ‘boarding party launch force’ lost 6 launches and 75
Marines are dead or seriously wounded.

***

The
Volunteers

Amid
the confusion, the ‘volunteer forces’ swarm the Confederation Fleet. 
Unfortunately, it appears that the Confederation leadership is expecting this
type of attack, because a coordinated fleet-wide defense is unleashed, using weapons
on multiple ships, which are being slaved to a master computer. The ‘volunteer
forces’ suicide attacks are largely
ineffective,
because the ships are being destroyed before they can collide with the enemy
ships.

At
least that is the case, until the Corvette fighters enter the fray.  That
‘swarm of wasps’ overloads the Confederation Fleet’s defensive networks, and
takes the pressure off of the larger and slower ‘ramming ships’.  The
‘ramming ships’ and the kamikaze fighters begin to take their toll on the
Confederation Fleet.

***

Never
the less, it has to be said, that the Confederation Navy stiffened and braced
itself even as confusion reigned.  The training and discipline instilled
in the Confederation sailors saved them from defeat.  They had begun the
battle with an overwhelming numerical superiority, which should have guaranteed
their victory.  Instead, the remaining numerical superiority, only
suggests that they will have an advantage in the final assault.

When the space battle is over, there are about
150 Confederation Vessels still able to fight.  For the Alliance, there
are 84, counting the Brutus and the other 7 captured vessels - the ‘little
fleet’ will be a part of the final battle.  8 stealth launches
remain.  If you include the armaments aboard the Space Station, the other
defensive platforms, and on the moon, it looks like it might be a ‘fair
fight’. 

***

And,
the Alliance has two ‘trump cards’.

ONE
-
Fleet Admiral Walls had withheld the only available stealth Corvette fighters,
from the first assault.  These 19 stealth Corvettes have been kept in
reserve for the final battle, and are to target the Confederation ships that
have Admirals on board.  The Admirals’ ships have been identified by
monitoring communications, and by the intelligence gathered from the boarded
ships.  The goal is to destroy the Confederation Fleet’s Command and
Control capacity at the beginning of the final battle – to ‘sever the head of
the beast’.  The stealth Corvette fighters will attack at high speed,
using large missiles fired at point-blank range.  If that doesn’t work,
the Corvettes are to do kamikaze assaults.

TWO
– The
Marine Launch Commanders observed that the Confederation ships are programmed
to self-destruct, when a ‘boarding party launch’ attaches to the ship’s
hull.  The ‘best guess’ of the Launch Commanders is that the self-destruct
sequence is triggered by the activation of the electromagnetic docking clamp on
the Marine launch.

The
stealth launch force will go into the next battle with a new weapon.  A
small ‘remote controlled drone’ will deliver an electromagnetic device, which
will trigger on contact with the Confederation ship’s hull.  According to
theory, this should cause the vessel to self-destruct.  Each stealth
launch will carry 20 of the drones – that is enough to destroy 160 ships. 
It just may be that the Confederation Navy has programmed its own Achilles
heel.

***

Alliance
assets also include the remains of the ‘volunteer force’ of Alliance
civilians.  That ‘volunteer force’ has been proven effective in the space
battle, which just occurred.  At least 22 Confederation ships were rammed
by the volunteers.  Some of those rammed Confederation ships were
destroyed and others were too severely damaged to continue the battle.  The
Alliance ‘citizen crews’ have given their lives for their civilization –
hopefully their sacrifices have not been in vain. 

The
remaining ‘volunteer vessels’ are prepared to die in the next assault. 
The kamikaze pilots have proven to be more than just a nuisance to the
Confederation Fleet – they are making survival, for the Earth, look like a real
possibility.

Every
Alliance Navy and Marine service member knows that the next battle will be ‘to
the death’.  There is no holding back.  It is time to either win or
die.  Their cause is ‘just’ and their need is ‘desperate’.

It is
‘win or die’ for the Confederation sailors, as well.  One side is going to
win and the other side is going to be dead. 

Alliance
forces are arrayed in front of the Space Station, and the Confederation Fleet
is about 5,000,000 klicks away, getting organized for the final assault.

***

The
Mother Ship

The
alien mother-ship did make it into warp and headed for Alliance Navy
Headquarters, in the hopes of having permanent repair work done on her warp
drive.  The trip was surprisingly fast.  The mother-ship’s computer
explained to Captain Niles that her warp drive is at least 50 times faster than
the warp drive on the Courageous.  “Exiting warp” she announces – and
there they are – almost like magic.

 There
they are - in the middle of a space battle, with flaming wreckage in all
directions.  “What would you like to do?” asks the mother-ships’
computer.  Captain Niles can see the Earth Space Station, and a small
fleet of ships arrayed in front.  Some distance away, he can see the much
larger Confederation Fleet, formed up for battle. 

Everyone
stood still, in the vicinity of the Earth that day.  There is a crucial
space battle under way, but at the appearance of the mother-ship, no one moves
and not much is said.  The biggest ship ever seen has just appeared out of
nowhere.  “This is definitely a tipping point in the Alliance war”, Fleet
Admiral Walls thinks.  “But, which way will it tip?”

About
that time, the mother-ship’s computer says; “There is another one of those
‘warp explosion’ ships.”  She points the vessel out, to Captain Niles, who
says: “Yes, that is a new weapon on a Confederation Navy ship.  The
Confederation is the coalition, which is attempting to destroy all of the
planets of the Alliance System.”

The
mother-ship’s computer has seen enough.  The warp drive on every ship in
the Confederation Fleet implodes, and then explodes, in a spectacular show of
light and debris.  Only small radioactive particles and noxious gases
remain in that part of space.

The
mother-ship’s computer is still not satiated.  She traces the flow of the
Confederation Fleet backward, through the nodes of warp-space travel, until she
finds the central node.  She identifies the space station which is the hub
of leadership in the Confederation Empire, and causes it to explode.  Then
she destroys over 400 vessels, which are in the vicinity of that space
station.  After that, she writes on every view-screen on the planet below
- in perfect Confederation ‘standard’ - the promise that she will return to
destroy every ship in the Confederation Navy, if the ‘warp space explosion’
weapon is used again.

***

That pretty much ends the day
on a good note for the Alliance.
 

***

The Mother Ship

Captain
Roger Niles contacts Fleet Admiral Walls, who has just witnessed the total
destruction of the Confederation Fleet.  150 warships poised to attack the
Alliance Navy Headquarters Space Station, are gone in an instant - with nothing
left but vapor. 
(It will be some months before the Admiral or Captain
Niles will know about the destruction in the Confederation heartland.)
 

“Captain
Niles and the Courageous reporting for duty, sir,” he says to the Fleet Admiral. 
The backdrop, for the Captain’s report, is the Command Deck of the mother-ship.

Fleet
Admiral Walls is really being tested, lately.  It is very difficult to
keep a calm ‘military demeanor’ when the inside of you wants to do cartwheels around
the Space Station.  But, he does his best. “Welcome back Captain Niles and
congratulations on a job ‘well done’.” 

The
Admiral then directs his conversation to the entity, of the mother-ship. 
“I see that you have made a ‘first encounter’ with an unknown species. 
Let me express the gratitude, of every soul living in the Alliance System, to
our newest friends.  Welcome, and thank you.  We look forward to a
long and mutually beneficial relationship.”

The mother-ship’s computer picks up on the
communications directed to her, and responds:  “You are welcome.  The
ships that I destroyed were a threat to both my species and yours. 
Captain Niles and his crew have already been of great assistance to my ship and
my species.  I need to request some engineering services, from your ‘ship
repair facilities’ and I am prepared to pay for services rendered.”

***

Fleet
Admiral Walls lets the mother-ship’s computer know that approval, for the use
of ship repair facilities, is outside of his authority, but that he is sure a
mutually agreeable arrangement can be made.  In the meantime, the scope
and nature of the needed repair can be determined and the necessary ship repair
technologies can be developed - he does have authority in that area.  And
he gives the order - right then – on live
HoloVision
- to begin the ‘repair estimate’ immediately and to make it ‘priority #1’ on
the Space Station Repair Facility scheduling. 

The
mother-ship’s computer is pleased with the immediacy of that arrangement, and
after an introduction, begins communicating through ‘brain implants’ with the
maintenance facility personnel.  The ‘brain implant’ personnel from the
Courageous are already familiar with the mother-ship’s problem, so they become
the ‘temporary interface group’, between the mother-ship’s computer and the
Space Station repair facility.

In
record time and with no dissention, the Alliance Government approves the repair
work, and transmits the official ‘agreement’ to the mother-ship, with the
repair invoice marked ‘Paid in Full’.

The
mother-ship’s computer is surprised at the low price, and asks Captain Niles to
explain it.  Captain Niles tells the computer about ‘gratitude’, and
explains that the ‘services’ already rendered, to the peoples of the Alliance
by the mother-ship, are more than enough payment for any repair services.

The
mother-ship’s computer contemplates that answer, and then says: “Captain Niles,
you rescued me from a situation that I could not resolve, and have arranged for
repair to my vessel.  I would like to show my ‘gratitude’.  What
would you like, that I can give you?”

Captain
Niles replies: “Well, nothing is required.  I work for the Alliance
Systems Government, and everything that I have done for you has come from
them.  Your invoice has been marked ‘Paid in Full’.  I will be bold
enough to name a personal desire that I have, but I will not be offended, if
you tell me that it’s too much.”

“Understood,” answers the ‘mother-ship’s
computer.
  “What is your desire?”

“I
really would like to have one of the large vessels on your hangar deck, and the
design specifications for that vessel,” replies the Captain.

“Granted,”
responds the computer.  “I have spares.  Take your pick, and I will
download the design specifications to the on-board computer.”

***

The
repairs went well, and the mother-ship’s computer said that she would, ‘keep in
touch’.

***

Captain
Baarg’s
Baby

Major
Dawkins appoints a committee of Marines, from the Brutus crew, to make
arrangements for Captain
Baarg’s
baby.  Captain
Baarg
was killed during a ‘boarding party’ battle on a
Confederation Admiral’s flag ship.  The baby was only a few weeks old when
she was orphaned.  The Marines, on board the Brutus, are taking care of
the infant until other arrangements can be made. 

The
first thing the committee does is to start a fund for the baby’s support and
needs.  As soon as the news hits the media, the fund is filled up. 
The baby has enough money to pay for all of her needs and her education. 
The only thing that she lacks is a family.  She has the Marines for a
family, but she needs a hutch with a mother and father – that is the
traditional family for the
minstock
species.

Major
Dawkins had become good friends with her ‘Second in Command’ and feels like she
knows what Captain
Baarg
would want for her child. 
Major Dawkins instructs the committee to clandestinely search Marine records,
for Marines belonging to the
minstock
species, and
especially those of the ’warrior caste’.  The search turns up four such
families.  More clandestine research and some ‘undercover observations’
result in a consensus candidate.

One of
the committee members privately approaches the father - a Marine sergeant - and
asks if he will consider adopting the child.  The sergeant speaks with his
mate and family, who are agreeable, and he arranges a meeting with the
baby.  Major Dawkins wants to be at the meeting between the chosen family
and the baby.  She wants to get a sense that Captain
Baarg
would approve of this family.  

The
meeting is kept secret, for the sake of everyone’s privacy, and takes place in
the family’s hutch.  The family is seated in the communal area and the
mother answers the door tone.  The entire family setting is perfect and
baby Brutus seems happy and animated.  The mother is holding Brutus and is
making little ‘baby talk’ sounds, while tickling the baby’s neck.  Major
Dawkins glances over at the father, and sees him make some mildly disapproving
facial expressions.  That is when she knows that Captain
Baarg
can depend on this family to raise her child in the ‘
minstock
warrior tradition’.  There is a loving mother
who is balanced by a disciplined father.  Just the type of character
tension needed to raise a good warrior.

Following
a brief trial period, to make sure that the baby and the family are compatible,
the adoption is officially approved.  That is the best that Major Dawkins
and the Brutus Marines can do for their Captain
Baarg
. 
The baby will not be forgotten nor neglected by the crew.  There will be
lots of ‘uncles’ and ‘aunts’ coming to visit.

 ***

The
Marines

The
Marine Corps’ ‘stock’ has certainly gone up since they ‘saved the world’ - so
to speak.  The Space Marine’s recruiting slogan has been:  ‘The Few,
The Proud, The Marines’.  But among the general populace, they were
called: ‘The Few, The Proud, The Crazy’.

Now,
they don’t look so crazy.  They look awesome.  As you would expect,
Marine recruiters go from ‘rags to riches’.  The Marines get first choice
among enlistees.  If the Marines don’t want a recruit, then they will have
to settle for the Navy, or – God forbid - the Army.

And
the Marine Corps Generals suddenly find an urgent need for some space ships of
their own.  They envision a ‘quick strike’ force, which will be ready to
fight ‘right now’.  A ‘little fleet’ of eight ships will be just right,
for starters.  And they already have someone picked to be the first Marine
Corps Admiral.  Admiral Sasha Dawkins – now doesn’t that sound ‘just
right’.  And they already have trained crews.  How much more ‘right’
can it get?

There
is a public clamor for the Marines to have those ships, and the Alliance Navy
has no heart for a power struggle with the Marines.  After all, everyone
knows how hard it is to say ‘no’ to the Marines. 

And
so, Admiral Sasha Dawkins becomes the first Admiral in the history of the Space
Marine Corps.  Following her promotion, her first duty is to meet with the
members of her ‘little fleet’.  

Her
Marines; her Navy sailors who are transferring to the Marines; and her former
Confederation sailors who are enlisting in the Marines, are seated in an
auditorium awaiting her entrance.  When she walks through the door, the
traditional announcement that ‘there is an Admiral in the room’, is
given.  But instead of standing to attention - which is the protocol - the
room erupts with shouts, whistles and applause.

This
time Sasha Dawkins does cry.  Except for her son and husband, these people
mean more to her than anyone else - and they still love and respect her. 
She has seen so many of her Marine family killed or seriously wounded, and has
even ordered some to do things that will almost certainly lead to death, or
great harm.  These people still love her.  ‘Love’ is a word not often
spoken between combat troops.  It isn’t spoken today, but Sasha Dawkins
can feel the love - in her soul. 

A good
cry never hurt anyone.

***

Doctor Mei Kei

Doctor
Mei Kei finally got past the ‘getting pregnant’ part of her personal project -
having and raising a child of Admiral Roger Niles.  Now she is on to the
‘don’t gain too much weight’ part of the project.  “I bet this was easier
before replicating machines brought every food right to your fingertips,” she
thinks. 

Mei
Kei has a plan.  She has already submitted her request for a duty transfer
due to medical reasons.  Her number one goal is to have a healthy baby and
then to raise the child to become everything that fate, and his/her gifts will
allow.  She isn’t sure about the ‘his/her’ designation yet.  There is
some confusion in the images.  Maybe the child is a ‘him’, maybe a ‘her’,
or maybe ‘twins’.

The
decision to have and raise a child had been a difficult one.  She has to
give up so much that she loves - chief among them is Roger Niles.  She has
followed him from ship-to-ship for the past 5 years.  There has never been
any commitment from Admiral Niles about a long term relationship - much less
marriage.  His first love is the Navy and there is no time for a wife and
family.  Mei Kei loves him and feels like he loves her, even though he
never says so.  But in truth, their relationship is one-sided, with her
doing most of the giving.  The more she thinks about it the more she
realizes that her relationship with Roger Niles will eventually lead to a dead
end.

This
decision is about the baby.  Her relationship with Roger Niles is not
going to fulfill her needs.  Her career is already a success, and she can
pick and choose where to work and how much to work.  She doesn’t have to
give up that part of her life, but she knows that her career is also not going
to fulfill her.  The baby is the truly important part of her life. 
Her greatest gift to the universe will be her child.  The child will be
conceived, sculpted, and molded with love and care.  She will do
everything that she can do to protect and prepare this child, so that he/she
can reach their full potential and be a whole, healthy and happy person. 
That will fulfill her.  That is a goal worth achieving.

The
decision to have the child, at this time, is about Roger Niles.  Mei Kei
has observed his character for 5 years and she has studied his DNA.  Roger
Niles is the best ‘sperm donor’ that she ever expects to find.
 
The most important thing that a mother can
do, for her child, is to pick the right father.  That is what Mei Kei has
done.

She
loves Roger Niles and will miss him, but the baby is much more important. 
Admiral Niles will go on without her and he will be just fine. 

Megan
Withersturn
, the ship’s counselor, had almost been ‘beside
herself with glee’ when Mei Kei announced that she is leaving the ship. 

(According
to Alliance Navy rules, the ship’s Captain or Admiral can only have sexual
relations with the ship’s counselors or the ship’s doctors, while on board the
ship.)
  

Mei
Kei imagines that, when she leaves the ship, Megan will wait an appropriate
amount of time before ‘hitting on’ Admiral Niles (maybe 5 minutes). She will
probably suggest that the Admiral can use one of her ‘special relaxation
sessions’ (that blonde bimbo!).  She pictures the Admiral saying “not
right now”, because he will want to wait for his love for Mei Kei to fade a
little, before beginning another relationship (maybe 2 weeks). 

So,
even though it hurts to lose Roger, she never really ‘had’ him anyway. 
What she is going to gain is worth so much more.  Mei Kei is certain that she
has made the right choice.  She is leaving, with no regrets.