Counterstrike (Black Fleet Trilogy, Book 3)

by Joshua Dalzelle

  “We’re going to leave those two behind us, Captain?”

  “For now,” Jackson said. “I know leaving an enemy in your wake flies in the face of most warfighting doctrines, but we have one objective here: keep the Phage from taking out that last cruiser. We could amuse ourselves with those other two ships, but we’d risk losing Setsi and thus failing in our mission despite destroying three-quarters of their force.”

  “So what’s the strategy for this next encounter?” Blake asked. “We’ll be coming at them head on again.”

  “And we’re not going to have a good angle on the enemy ship without firing past the cruiser at a range I’m not entirely comfortable with,” Jackson frowned. “If we shallow out our angle we risk having too short of a firing window before we’d need to reverse course and try to catch them. I’m open to suggestions.”

  “Computer, message the cruiser and request that they alter course to angle out further towards the outer system,” Blake said. Jackson nodded his silent approval of the officer reasserting control over his ship and the engagement.

  “This could work,” Jackson said. “Hopefully they can get a little more speed and then we’ll be in position to slide past them with plenty of room for a shot.” Apparently the Phage realized what would happen as well once the cruiser began to alter course. At first it tried to follow the ship to keep continue using it as a shield, but it was trailing too far behind and Blake’s ship was coming underneath too fast.

  “Computer, begin calculating a trajectory for optimal firing range—”

  “Don’t bother,” Jackson interrupted. “Look.” The Phage ship had decided that a suicidal blaze of glory wasn’t a viable option and had altered course to head even further out of the system, obviously looking to put some distance between it and the incoming warship.

  “The two ships we left behind are following suit,” Blake said, confusing Jackson with the expression. He understood what the colonel meant when he saw that both other Phage ships, instead of continuing their half-hearted pursuit, had split and were also flying hard for the system boundary in opposite directions. There was a subtle intelligence in even a move as simple as that. With only one combat capable ship in the system the fact the three had split up meant that they could only pursue one target. While not a stroke of tactical genius, it yet again flew in the face of the observed Phage tendency to bunch up while traversing through space. Then again … retreat wasn’t normally an option they used either, especially when they had a three to one numerical advantage.

  “Let’s form up on that cruiser and make sure they’re okay.” Jackson left out that he wanted to make sure Setsi honored his side of their agreement before bugging out of the system.

  Chapter 10

  “You and Colonel Blake have my gratitude, Captain,” Setsi said. Jackson was staring at the human-like face on a monitor that had coalesced before him in his quarters. The warship was in a trailing formation behind the cruiser at a range of two hundred thousand kilometers.

  “I take it the Phage ship never fired on you?” he asked.

  “A few low-intensity bursts that our anti-navigation hazard screens were able to diffuse. There was no loss of life in the attack and thankfully our power generators are not staffed, so there were no deaths or injuries in those attacks either,” Setsi said. “The reason I’ve asked to speak with you again, Captain, is that our leadership is quite shaken by the brazen assault carried out on our power generation facilities. It has caused immediate and profound economic damage as the three stations hit were vital to much of our heavy production.”

  “That is quite an opening salvo,” Jackson nodded.

  “You think this will not be an isolated attack?”

  “With the Phage? I’d have to assume it’s not,” Jackson said. “However, the behavior of this group is quite different than the one we’ve been fighting. Even their choice of a simultaneous attack on three strategically important targets shows a more advanced command and control apparatus than we’re used to dealing with.”

  “Yes,” Setsi said. “Well, there are some logical reasons for that. But the point of this communication is to inform you that our position on the Phage situation has shifted.”

  “How so?”

  “We will provide you a more comprehensive form of support in your fight.” Setsi didn’t elaborate.

  “In exchange for what?” Jackson asked. “I can understand you’re shaken and probably quite angry after this attack, but that hardly seems a reason to come about and provide support us.”

  “In exchange for you doing what you’re planning … for doing what we will not.” Setsi’s face morphed into an unreadable, alien expression for a moment. “We want you to … eliminate … the Phage.”

  Jackson was stunned into silence for a moment. This was a profound shift in the very core principles the Vruahn professed to hold so dear. They tossed out their morality over an attack that only hurt their economy? Maybe they weren’t so different from humans after all.

  “What’s in it for us?” Jackson narrowed his eyes. “Let’s not dance around this: we’re going to do this for our own reasons, for the protection of humanity, but any victory will come at great cost. We’re sure to lose tens of thousands of men and women before this is all over, not to mention the devastation to our fleet and infrastructure.”

  “The difficulties of your task and the sacrifices your people will make are not unnoticed,” Setsi said. “In addition to our martial support we will also provide assistance in rebuilding and advancing your people in the wake of the Phage attacks.”

  “Very well,” Jackson nodded. “One more thing … when this is done, and the Phage are eliminated, will you release Blake and his crew from service so they may return to Earth?”

  “We will release them from service,” Setsi agreed. “There will no longer be any task for them, but there is something you should know before you welcome them back among your people.”

  ****

  “Everything okay, Captain?”

  “Yes, Colonel,” Jackson slid back into the copilot’s seat. “Why do you ask?”

  “You were staring at me pretty hard there for a moment.” Blake turned back to his displays.

  “My apologies,” Jackson said. “Are we about ready to depart?”

  “The last of the technical data has been downloaded from the cruiser and we’ve been given coordinates to rendezvous with the freighter that will be coming out of Vruahn space so we can escort it the rest of the way to New Sierra,” Blake said. “So yeah, we’re as ready as we’re going to get.”

  “Then let’s get to it,” Jackson leaned back. “We’ve got a lot of work ahead of us.”

  “We do,” Blake nodded, “but it’s almost over. I’m not sure how you convinced Setsi to let us completely take out the Phage, but for the first time in longer than I can remember I feel like there’s some hope.”

  “Hang on to that, Colonel,” Jackson said, his eyes closed. “I have a feeling hope will be in short supply before this is all over.”

  “For someone who’s come out on top in half a dozen no-win situations you sure are a pessimist,” Blake groused as he brought the drive fully online and began to slide out of formation.

  “I prefer the term ‘realist.’” Jackson didn’t open his eyes.

  ****

  The flight back to Terran space was just as uneventful as the trip out had been, and before Jackson knew it they were sliding into formation beside a hulking Vruahn freighter. He was struck at how ugly the vessel was compared to the graceful lines of the warship he was sitting on and the cruisers he’d seen before the Phage destroyed one of them.

  “They must have had this gear just lying around,” he remarked as he watched the ship through the optical sensors. “I can’t believe they could manufacture it that quickly and get it out here.”

  “Believe it,” Blake said. “This ship was built in about forty-eight hours. The Vruahn fabrication process is entirely automated and utilizes nano te
chnology and energy-to-matter conversion and it makes building even the most complex structures look like child’s play.”

  “I wonder if we can have some of that tech tossed in on this deal,” Jackson mused.

  Blake didn’t answer as he talked to the freighter with the help of his ship’s computer translating everything. Jackson tried to keep up with the conversation for a bit, but the cultural specific content and unfamiliar terminology left him lost and quickly bored with the whole thing. He went back to reading his tile that he’d managed to convince the computer to load with some of the overview files provided by Setsi.

  Despite the Vruahn being far more technologically advanced than humans, there was no magic bullet or ultra-powerful standoff weapon that would allow Jackson to kill the Phage with the press of a button. Though they’d been given a huge advantage with the help Setsi was sending their way, the fight would be won the old-fashioned way: down in the trenches slugging it out until either their enemy faltered or they did. It wasn’t something he was looking forward to.

  “We’re ready to make the final hop into the DeLonges System,” Blake said. “We’ll arrive first, make contact with Admiral Marcum, and then the freighter will hop in two hours behind us.”

  “That works,” Jackson nodded. “Hopefully things are more or less in the same state of fucked up as they were when we left.”

  “See … I knew there was an optimist in there somewhere,” Blake smiled and engaged the ship’s FTL drive.

  Chapter 11

  “I gotta tell you, Wolfe … I’m not entirely sure how comfortable everyone is going to be with all the alliances you’ve taken upon yourself to build.” Admiral Marcum leaned back in his seat.

  “I wouldn’t exactly call this an alliance, Admiral,” Jackson said. “The Vruahn are offering some material and logistical support, but any military cooperation is still being limited to Colonel Blake’s squadron.” They were aboard the Amsterdam and waiting for the Vruahn freighter, which was now overdue by twenty minutes. Marcum had insisted they dock with his flagship despite Jackson’s protests that he wanted to return to the Ares.

  “How have things been here? Any new political upheaval?”

  “Nothing much more than when you left a week ago,” Marcum shrugged. “We don’t have instantaneous communications like your new friends, so a lot of planets will have gotten the news from the com drones not too long ago. I’m sure we’ll start getting some movement one way or another within the next few days.”

  “I’d imagine President McKellar will have to reassert his authority somehow,” Jackson said. “And soon.”

  “You’re not wrong there,” Marcum nodded. “It’s been quiet on that front since you left. That’s not necessarily a good thing. McKellar isn’t one to give up power so easily and certainly not for something as petty as the survival of the species.”

  Jackson resisted the urge to roll his eyes at his superior’s joke and instead looked over at the wall display that was currently showing the DeLonges System and updated data on all the ships in it. He quickly found the Ninth Squadron and the Ares, his spirits buoyed by the little blue dot representing his ship flying in formation with her sister ships. He was also impressed by the order Marcum had asserted on the chaos he’d left behind. All the ships were now flying in formations and organized by type, all ready to be quickly redeployed into strike packages once they finalized their plans.

  “Has Fourth Fleet come over yet or are they still staying loyal to New America?” Jackson asked as he noticed a lot of the dots around New Sierra and DeLonges were red.

  “About half and half,” Marcum said. “But the commander of the shipyards has turned over control to us, as well as the superintendent of the weapons depot. Both gave up without us having to deploy any NOVA teams. Those were the two assets we absolutely needed to secure. I’m not going to lose any stomach lining over a few captains that feel more loyalty to their political connections than to their oaths as officers. Yes?”

  Jackson turned and saw a junior enlisted spacer had just walked into the room and snapped to attention.

  “The alien freighter has arrived in the system, sir.”

  “Very good. You’re dismissed,” Marcum stood up. “Come on, Wolfe. Let’s go greet our guests and then you can quit dancing around and get back to your ship.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  As it turned out, the freighter crew didn’t think much of their hospitality. After completely ignoring their overtures to speak directly, a plain text message came in saying the cargo had been deposited in orbit over the eighth planet before the ship vanished from their sensors.

  “Don’t take it too personally, Admiral,” Blake said. “I’ve worked with them for decades and they barely talk to me.”

  “Whatever,” Marcum growled. “Have your squadron get out there and grab the package, Colonel. Bring it back to the shipyards before any of the COs out here gets stupid and decides to go poking around on something that doesn’t concern them. Wolfe, you’re dismissed. Have one of our shuttles take you back to the Ares and then I want the Ninth to make way for the shipyards as well.”

  “Aye aye, sir,” Jackson said enthusiastically before walking off the bridge on Colonel Blake’s heels.

  ****

  “Ares arriving!” The sound of dozens of boot heels slamming together as the large gathering of crew came to attention greeted Jackson as he walked in through the airlock hatch. He took a moment to look around and sucked in a deep breath of the familiar and unique brand of recycled air that was pumped through his ship.

  “At ease!” he called before walking over to where his XO and a surprise visitor were standing. “Captain Wright … to what do we owe the pleasure?”

  “I wanted to be here to greet you in person, sir,” Celesta Wright smiled. “I was also hoping you’d have time for a face-to-face debrief before the Ninth is called to action.”

  “No time like the present,” Jackson nodded. “Lieutenant Davis, please ask Commander Singh and Major Ortiz to join us in the command deck conference room. Captain Wright, if you’d please come with me.”

  “Aye, sir.” Davis turned on her heel and walked back towards where the large gathering of spacers was beginning to break up.

  “How are things aboard the Icarus, Captain?” Jackson asked as Celesta fell in step behind and to his right.

  “Very good, sir,” she said. “After the Battle of Nuovo Patria the crew has become more cohesive and is starting to trust in themselves and each other. Since then we’ve been running readiness drills around the clock to sharpen response times.”

  “And you took time away from your training regimen just to fly over and see me walk out of a shuttle?” Jackson arched an eyebrow at her.

  “Well—”

  “I’m not asking you to sell out a superior, Captain,” Jackson almost laughed. “As the person who has spent the most time serving closely with me I’m sure Admiral Marcum felt you’d be uniquely qualified to determine my mental state after returning from direct contact with an unknown alien species.”

  “There may have been some conversations to that effect,” Celesta admitted. “Just so you know, sir, I wasn’t entirely comfortable with the idea.”

  “But orders are orders,” Jackson nodded. “I’m not upset, Captain. It’s a prudent step taken by a man who has a lot on his shoulders. I’d have been disappointed had he not taken some sort of steps, although I’m a bit insulted by his lack of subtly.”

  “Yes, sir,” Celesta floundered.

  “We’ll begin serious mission prep within the next few days once the Fleet tech crews get the package opened and inspected,” Jackson went on. “But I’ll be honest … this is not going to be an easy task even with the help of Colonel Blake and his squadron.”

  “How not easy is it going to be, sir?”

  “It’s going to make the first Battle of Xi’an seem like a training flight,” Jackson grimaced as he walked into his office. “And that’s before the hard part begins.”<
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  ****

  “Is everyone online?” Jackson asked, standing at the head of the table.

  “Yes, sir,” Ensign Hayashi said from the seat to Jackson’s left. “All participants have linked in and are live.”

  “Very well then,” Jackson spoke up, addressing the camera near the back of the room. “Thank you all for joining in on this meeting on such short notice. Originally I planned to have us all meet face to face on the New Sierra Shipyards platform, but time is short and we all have a lot of work to do.

  “By now you’ve all received the technical overview of our mission—”

  “About that, Captain,” Admiral Marcum spoke up. Jackson nodded politely for the admiral to continue. “The most glaring issue we have here could end this mission before it starts. The primary objective is thought to be just over eight thousand lightyears away. As you know, that is far beyond the effective range of even our scout ships, let alone our heavy warships with comparatively short legs.”

  “Part of the Vruahn assistance includes a way to navigate large formations at least two-thirds of the way there using precise navigational data of local spatial anomalies that can work in conjunction with your own warp drives,” Colonel Blake spoke up from the flight deck of his own ship. “But that still leaves a distance to cover that is beyond the range of most of your ships.”

  “Which is why we’re compressing our schedule so aggressively,” Jackson reasserted control over the meeting. “Even with the Vruahn help, the Fleet will need to make preparations for the extended voyage … one that ends with a battle that will be like nothing we’ve ever seen before.