by C. R. Daems
"The Admiral didn't confide in me, but I’m guessing it’s in case she is killed or put out of action, to ensure you understand what she is trying to achieve, since we all know the enemy seldom cooperates with our plans." That got good-natured snorts and nods. I paused a moment for them and then went on.
"As you all know, the Issog consistently destroyed more of our cruisers than we destroyed of theirs. Not only because they could target us faster than we could target them, but because of their use of skips. Once their skips were used up, the battle became more or less even. With the Arrith, we will have the same advantage the Issog had against us. We have run more than a hundred simulations and believe we can do better than the Issog did against us because the Arrith are more aggressive…" The sessions went well and by the end of the second week I had given the seminar to each of the three fleets.
"How did it go, Zoe?" Simons asked the day after the last class finished. She had invited me to dinner.
"Very well. Knowing the fate of the Commonwealth hangs on each fleet's achieving a two-to-one kill ratio is an excellent motivator. Combined with the knowledge that the first battle may decide who wins the war," I said. Simons sat quiet for a long time.
"Unfortunately true." Simons took a sip of her after-dinner wine. "That will be the gauge both sides use to determine the final outcome: three-to-two would mean the Arrith would win through attrition, and two-to-one would mean a stalemate."
I laughed. "We could annihilate both our fleets, and then the Issog would win the war."
Simons choked on her wine. "Zoe, that's a terrible thought—and a reminder that the Issog still have eighty ships of war and could expand if we aren't strong enough to keep them confined."
Just then Simons’s ICD buzzed with an emergency signal. She picked it up, listened, and rose. "I'll be right there," she said into it, waving for me to follow. "An unidentified cruiser just entered Utopia space."
"Unidentified?" I asked, confused at first, then concerned. In war, surprises were never good.
"It’s not any Issog or Arrith cruiser in our database," She said as we entered the Bridge.
"Attention," Wallace shouted as we entered.
"At ease. What have we got, Wallace?"
"We don't know, Admiral. It's broadcasting in an understandable Commonwealth Standard that has deviated enough that we think it may be from a lost or breakaway colony."
"What's the message?"
"They are broadcasting this every several minutes." Wallace nodded to the Comm officer, who played a tape of the audio.
We would like to talk to Admiral Simons. We are humans and come with an offer to help.
"Interesting that they know your name, ma'am, and apparently, your position," I said. "And they claim to be human."
"I have two squadrons tailing them. They are proceeding toward Utopia at two hundred gravities. No weapons showing," Wallace said. "Captain Sowers has released fighters and two combat shuttles and is insisting the unidentified ship stand by for boarding." Wallace had just finished speaking when the unidentified ship made another broadcast.
We come in peace. If you insist on boarding, we will leave.
"Wallace, tell Sowers to back off," Simons said, rubbing her chin in thought. "Interesting. Two squadrons tailing them and attack fighters within striking distance and they think they can leave."
"I'd say they know they can leave," I said, not sure why but positive it was true.
"How?" Wallace asked. "Do they think we will let them?"
"I skipped in the middle of forty Issog and left. Who knows what they are capable of? They are offering help and we are threatening them. I'd leave." I grinned.
"Captain LaFon has a point. Tell Captain Sowers to offer to escort them to the…" Simons looked to me.
"What if I go out and talk to them? If they are really human, they won't be associated with the Arrith or the Issog, and we can sure use help. What do we have to lose?" I said, excited at meeting fellow humans, especially ones who weren't intimidated by us. Simons was silent for several minutes.
"Inform Captain Sowers to escort them to within two light-seconds of Utopia, and let them know that Captain LaFon in the Thor will meet them, and that she is Admiral Simons's representative," Simons said. Wallace frowned but sent the message.
"You want me to…" I asked, unsure what Simons wanted.
"You're authorized to take independent action on my behalf." Simons laughed. "You've never disappointed me, Zoe, so don't start now."
I stood will my mouth agape. This was going to be either very exciting or… I couldn't imagine. "Yes, ma'am." I saluted and left, with Aker and another Mactan following. I made my way to the bay where my shuttle was parked, entered, and returned to the Thor. On the way there, I notified Disanto to round up my direct reports for a staff meeting. By the time I entered my conference room, everyone was there.
"At ease," I said before anyone could call attention. "In case the scuttlebutt has reached the Odin, we have an unidentified cruiser in our solar system. They claim to be human and are offering to help us." I fetched a cup of coffee while I waited for the whispering to stop. "They want to speak to Admiral Simons, which indicates they have been monitoring us." I held up my hand to stop the obvious questions. "Firstly, because they know Simons's position, and secondly, because they know we need help. Admiral Simons is sending me as her representative for the initial meeting." I waited for questions.
"What do you want from us?" Maize asked, obviously excited at the prospect.
"I want all sections manned with the primary crew. Disanto, you're to man the Backup Bridge. Maize, your crew will be on the Bridge. We are going to approach them at Battle Stations, but…with our weapons systems offline. We are going to assume they are friendly and really want to help. We don't want to do anything to make an enemy out of a potential ally. But like their commander, we must be ready to react if necessary. Clear?" I met each person’s eyes and received acknowledgement.
When I reached the Bridge, I contacted Captain Sowers. "Captain, I'd like you to recall your fighters and combat shuttles and back off about a light-second."
"Is that wise, Captain LaFon?" Sowers asked.
"If we get aggressive, I believe they will leave, and I'd like to hear what their commander has to say."
"How can they leave without our permission? They are surrounded by three fleets."
"I don't think they're stupid. They wouldn't have entered our space if they didn't know they could leave if they wanted. If I'm right, that makes them potentially very good allies."
"I hope you're right," Sowers said and cut the connection. The ESP showed her and the other squadrons slowly dropping back as the unidentified cruiser continued toward Utopia.
"Maise, for now I'm going to lockdown the stations, but I want you and your crew to remain," I said. When she acknowledged, I began shutting down external control of the systems and verifying all systems were working properly. Then I contacted the unidentified cruiser.
Unknown cruiser, this is the thor. I am coming to meet you. Estimated rendezvous in two hours twenty minutes.
At the same time, I let the tight beam transmit my image.
Thor, understood. I'm Captain Reese commanding the Mnemosyne.
The image of a small petite woman was displayed on the monitor. She appeared to be wearing a uniform, but except for the three stars and a patch on her sleeve, it was devoid of medals or decorations.
"I know you want to speak to Admiral Simons, but I hope you will understand we are being cautious until we know more. Admiral Simons has asked me to represent her for our initial meeting," I said. Since we were using a tight beam, I felt our conversation was secure. I hoped to avoid giving the rumor mill any further information. There would be enough rumors without me adding to them.
"Understood. I have current information about the Arrith and might be willing to help if we have mutual interests," the woman said. As I suspected, she didn't appear nervous or afraid of negotiating.
>
"Mutual interests?" I asked.
"Yes. War creates casualties, so there must be a good reason to participate."
"Sometimes you have no choice." I said, unsure what she wanted.
"You always have a choice, although there may not be any good choices. For example, you could surrender to the Arrith."
"That's not a choice!" I half shouted.
"You may not like the choice, but it is a choice. One that certain races would consider reasonable if it avoided genocide." Captain Reese actually smiled.
That took me by surprise, and I stopped to take a drink of my coffee to consider what she had said and what she had not said. I concluded she didn't represent a race of conquering nomads. I checked the sensors. We were within ten-thousand kilometers of each other.
"What now?" I asked, unsure how to proceed. Independent action was great if you understood the situation. I didn't.
"Come visit me on the Mnemosyne and we can discuss the reason Admiral Simons may wish to speak with me."
"How do I know…" I paused, not wanting to insult the Captain, but…
"Trust, Captain LaFon. I need nothing from you, but you could use our help, so I think you should take the first step. You have a choice, Captain LaFon. Join me and we will talk, or don’t, and we will leave."
I knew for certain she not only meant what she said but that we couldn't stop her from leaving. She had me hooked. "I have a problem. I'm required to have security, two guards with me at all times…"
"No problem. I'm also required security with me at all times. However, no weapons for your or my security."
That wasn't much of a concession as I'd be on her ship, but… Simons had given me authority to take independent action, and Reese had me hooked. I wanted to see her ship and meet the small woman who wasn't intimidated by three fleets of cruisers—not to mention too deep in system to skip out.
"I agree." After further negotiation, I agreed she would send a shuttle for me and that I would have a direct connection to the Odin while on her ship. I spent the next few minutes activating the Bridge panels and switching Disanto and Maize's crews on the primary and Backup Bridges. Then I walked down to the shuttle bay to await the Mnemosyne's shuttle.
"What do you think, Akar?"
"Sounds interesting, meeting another human culture."
"What do you think of the risk and this Captain Reese?"
"The risk is high, since your Mactan security will be of little help on a foreign warship." He paused for a long time. "I think she is more than a captain and her ship is more advanced than the Commonwealth cruisers. But I think the risk is reasonable. I don't think she represents a warlike civilization."
"I…agree. She took some risk in approaching us," I said as a normal-looking shuttle entered the bay. When the door opened, a man exited and stood looking around the bay. His uniform looked more military than Reese’s, with stripes, patches, and ribbons. When he waved, Akar walked into the shuttle and returned to the door a minute later.
"Marines for the shuttle's security." He shrugged. I understood. Both sides were being cautious. I entered the shuttle with Dache following and took the front-row seat near the window. Within minutes the shuttle was sealed and we exited the Thor.
Ten minutes later the Mnemosyne came into sight. The ship was like no warship I had ever seen. Akar was right. It wasn't a standard cruiser and probably had technology superior to ours, although it looked like a cartoon spaceship.
When the man opened the door to exit, Akar rose and surveyed the bay before nodding for me to exit. The bay looked like a standard hanger for shuttles, except there was little activity at the moment. Ten security guards were in the bay in uniforms like their captain’s but darker grey. They each wore an arm patch with a raised snake with fangs showing.
The woman from the transmission walked forward to meet me, along with a taller woman following.
"Captain LaFon, I'm Captain Reese, and the woman at my side is Colonel Terril, my ever-present security."
"A pleasure to meet you, Captain Reese. My companion is Colonel Akar, my security."
"If you will follow me, I have refreshments in my conference room, and I will explain why I'm here," Reese said. The walk was made in silence, which I didn't mind. I was too busy noting the higher ceilings and wider hallways.
"Please help yourselves to drinks and snacks. If you don't know what something is, I'd be glad to explain what's in it, and if you don't like the taste, don't feel as though you have to eat it." She waved to the table loaded with an assortment of food and drinks. She poured what smelled like coffee and sat in the middle of the conference room table with her security standing behind her. When I sat, she began.
'The sector of the galaxy we come from is about two light-months from here…" She went on to explain their encounter with the Robot Aliens and the information they left behind and the reason they had decided to visit. When she finished, she nodded to her security guards and a minute later another woman entered.
"Captain LaFon, Commander Iglis, my Intelligence Officer. I've asked her here to brief you on what we have learned about the Arrith—"
"How?" I asked, confused at how they could have obtained the information.
"Similar to how you gathered the intel on the Issog at Hydera and Kammu." She smiled, and nodded to Iglis. When she did, the lights dimmed and the monitors in the room lit with a star map of the Arrith empire.
"We visited each of the Arrith systems shown here." She pointed to the monitor, which depicted each of the known Arrith systems. "And identified three hundred functional cruisers."
I nodded. "That is what we estimated—fifteen fleets."
"Which would lead you to the conclusion that if you could achieve a two-to-one kill ratio you might convince the Arrith to commit to a truce."
"Yes, that is correct," I said cautiously, knowing there was bad news to follow.
"I believe the Arrith wouldn't mind losing two-to-one, since it would demolish the Commonwealth of Stars’ Navy."
"And theirs," I added with a crooked smile.
"The problem is that the Arrith currently have one hundred and thirty cruisers in production, while you have less than twenty." When she finished, she nodded to Iglis, and the monitor refreshed, depicting the number in production in each system.
"My God," I burst out in shock. "You're saying we are going to lose…unless?"
"I'm saying it appears you need help, and we may be willing to help."
"Under what conditions?" I asked, wondering what she wanted in return.
"If we agree, the help will be free. But I must feel the loss of life is worth your survival."
I rose, suddenly pushing my chair backward, outraged that the survival of the Commonwealth might not be worth… I stood for several minutes, with my eyes closed and fists against the table. "Sorry," I said, and I sat back down, realizing these people didn't owe us anything and our demise wouldn't impact them. "What do you want?"
"I'd like to talk to Admiral Simons for starters, and maybe others. I don't think you have a lot of time. There was an Arrith cruiser at Berlin, so they are at least partly aware of your progress against the Issog."
"You were at Berlin?"
"We have been here for a month, assessing the situation. War is not something to be entered into lightly. As you have the Commonwealth to consider, I have the Riss Nation to consider."
"I understand." And I did. Hyera and Kammu were good examples.
* * *
"Well?" Simons asked while pointing to a chair. I couldn't restrain a laugh, which earned me a look colder than space.
"They have been here for more than a month and know the number of functional Arrith cruisers, the number in production, as well as our number of functional and in-production cruisers."
"To what purpose?"
"To determine whether or not they should help us."
Simons sat and closed her eyes. A long time later, she opened her eyes and nodded. "Makes sense from their
perspective. I don't suspect they have demands for helping."
"No. Just to speak to you, as if that would help her decide."
"You think it safe?" Simons asked.
"Yes, but in reality, you have no real choice." I went on to explain the number of fleets the Arrith had and the number in production.
* * *
After arranging the protocol for the meeting, Simons exited her shuttle into the Mnemosyne's shuttle bay the next morning. What she noted first was the lack of protocol. She was met by a woman in a plain uniform she would have expected of a new recruit or college cadet. The only thing out of the ordinary was the Rh tattoo covering most of one side of her face. The woman standing a step behind her had the same tattoo, meaning it had some significance—clan or caste, possibly.
"Good morning, Admiral Simons. I'm Captain Reese. I'm glad you agreed to meet with me." She held out her hand, which Simons took.
"I'm surprised you didn't want to meet with the ruling body of the Commonwealth. They would certainly want to meet with you."
"In my experience, government committees are the worst people to deal with in a war. They are usually more concerned with protecting their power and control and are incapable of making the tough decisions…like not trying to evict the Issog from Hydera and Kammu." When Simons didn't respond, Reese continued. "If you will follow me, I'll take you someplace where we can relax and talk." A short walk later they entered an elevator. When the elevator stopped, the doors didn't open. "Before we enter, I need to warn you that the Riss Nation is composed of humans and a species called the Riss. They are somewhat intimidating when you first meet them. Their average height runs two hundred fifty centimeters. They weigh around twenty stone and look like hairy gorillas. Their appearance is deceiving. Most would instantly assume they are dumb animals and potentially dangerous. In fact, they are a highly intelligent race and we humans would consider them pacifists."
Reese clicked on her handheld device, and a picture appeared, which she showed to Simons and then her two security guards. Shortly afterward the elevator doors opened. Simons stopped after two steps with her mouth open—staring at the glass dome that covered the entire area, making it feel as though she were standing on a planet. Humans and large…beastlike creatures sat or stood in groups.
