by Chris Burton
Picaud went on to analyze the loss of each Kryl vessel. She is clearly trying to draw on the positives. Surely, she will mention our losses?
“We all feel sore about the loss of our colleagues. It always hurts, but so many in one sortie, is unusual and painful. At least now, we know what to expect and we will prepare better next time. The squadron will be brought back to full strength quickly and we will be back out to the Kuiper Belt, this evening. Remember that when we fly as a squadron, we stay as a squadron. We are a team.”
Lieutenant Barlow, one of the experienced pilots stood. “Have there been any other Kryl incidents in the region?”
“Yes. I understand there were five others, all in the Kuiper Belt region. All B Company. Twenty-six Jump Ships have been lost to date.”
“Should we be pulling out the rookies as we have entered a combat situation?”
“I asked the same question to my CO, as we returned to base, his response, ‘We are already way beyond that’. Our rookies were blooded today and regrettably some were lost but in my experience rookies become experienced pilots quickly in this environment. I think we can expect an increasing number of rookies joining us. My advice: look after them. They just have to learn quickly. That’s it; we will speak later at the pre-flight.”
* * * *
Their schedules were so hectic, that even based so close to each other, tonight was the first time that he and Carla had seen each other since graduation. It was a long day for Steve, with two flights into the Kuiper Belt behind him. He would have cancelled if it were anyone but Carla but this was a chance to see her alone and to rekindle their relationship. He planned this day for a long time.
“Hiya Steve. My, look at you with your Jump Ship wings and your flight fatigues!”
“Hi Carla. You look fantastic...as usual.”
“Thanks Steve. How is everything? I presume you have started flying sorties now?”
“Yes, although between you and me, they have just started to get ugly.”
Steve went on to explain the events of the day to Carla who seemed genuinely concerned. Carla explained her new post as best she could, but inevitably, it was not long before she had turned the subject matter to Jake.
“I still haven’t heard from him Steve. I know he is probably okay, with his flight ban and all, but they are losing Cruisers up there, as well as Jump Ships. I am afraid I study the daily casualty figures with a fine tooth comb.”
“I am sure he will be fine. He’s a big guy and can look after himself. I guess we just need to let him get on with it and just enjoy any free time that we can spend with each other; albeit that we are restricted by what we can do and what we can drink!”
“Steve, it is a good thing that you can’t drink. You need to avoid getting yourself into trouble.”
There was edginess to her voice for the first time.
“That’s all over now. I am a jump pilot—doing what I set out to achieve. I just think it is a shame that we can’t just grab a bottle and curl up together and watch a movie, like we used to!”
Steve was trying it on but it had been such a long time since he had seen her. He needed to try to make this and every encounter with her count.
“We were together then Steve and we aren’t now. You can’t drink when you are on standby so this is about as good as it gets, I am afraid. It is good to see you though!”
“You too Carla. You know it won’t always be like this. Jake is likely to be away for a long time and you know that I will always be here. Goddamn it Carla, we used to be so good together.”
“Don’t. You know it is over and we have moved on. There are other girls for you now; perhaps in your squadron?”
“No Carla. You are still the only girl for me.”
“You have to get rid of that Steve. We were over a long time ago and I have moved on. Now it is time that you did too.”
“I can’t. We loved each other. We lived with each other, then suddenly Jake comes along, and somehow, it is all gone. You have only been together a few months. That is not love that we have.”
“Stop! What Jake and I have is far greater than anything you and I ever had. I am sorry to have to put it so bluntly, but what choice do I have? You and I crashed from one crisis to the next. Yes, we lived with other, but ask yourself how many times either of us tried to walk out on the other? It was virtually every bloody week! It took me a while to realize it but eventually I did. You and I are just not compatible!”
“Did you ever love me?”
“Of course I did. We just grew out of love.”
“Okay. We are good friends though, yes?”
“Yes...we always will be.”
Steve contemplated his next move, but decided that he would back off for now.
“Then that is good enough for me. I need you to be part of my life Carla. However that may be.”
They finished their drinks and parted a short while later, in relatively good humor. Carla felt relieved that the pressure building up on their relationship had finally broken. Steve though, was having none of it. It was Jake who caused the problem and it was Jake he had to deal with.
Chapter Thirty-Nine
The Battle Continues
The main Kryl fleet was joined in battle by the Queen’s ship. Now some six thousand vessels were using their vastly superior numerical advantage against the slowly diminishing Alpha Fleet. Victory was inevitable, it was just a question of when?
Morvalt had returned to the Queen’s ship to join his Queen before they had left the Tri-star System and although he did not command the fleet, all of the tactical decisions were his. This was his forte and his victory to take. The Queen it seemed had other ideas as she had summoned Morvalt to her Sanctuary.
“My Kronan, it is time for you to take another path.”
“Navalion’s killer?”
“Not yet. We know where he is, don’t we?”
“Yes, he is on the Halo 7, the Alpha Battle Cruiser which imprisoned Navalion and from which he escaped just before he was killed. His name is Jake Carter.”
“Good. I have sensed him too, although his ship is not with us now.
“No, they are on route to the main Alpha Fleet. We are watching them carefully. The vessel, which discharged the sub-space device, came from the Halo 7. It is clearly an important ship.”
“Yes and it will play its part again, as will Jake Carter. For now that can wait. This battle is entering a new phase. Alpha is the sole defender of this galaxy and we must defeat them before we can win our food source. Join the second fleet at the system known as Alpha Centauri. We will join you once we have defeated the main Alpha Fleet. You will lead the invasion of Earth.”
“Thank you, my Queen. We will be victorious, but we must be careful; Alpha is strong and belligerent and they have powerful weapons. We need to learn from the experiences of the past. They do protect other systems and colonies in this galaxy, which we should take first and gather intelligence from other Kryl commanders before we attack Earth. Their experiences will be important.”
“Of course. Patience is important, but our people must feed. For many now, it is becoming desperate. A large food source must be made available quickly. You must not fail in your task Morvalt. Our people are relying on you.”
“For some it is too late, my Queen. If we do not take Earth, many will die.”
“Then do not let me down Morvalt.”
Morvalt left the Queen’s sanctuary, pleased she had rediscovered her faith in him. He would start to build his invasion fleet immediately.
Her fascination with Jake Carter concerned him and he did not understand why. Was her self-obsession with this human natural and was it detracting her from their main objective? Why was he so important? Morvalt surrendered his mind to his thoughts momentarily and shuddered when he realized why Carter could be so important and why she would want him alive. Was Jake Carter to be the killer of his Queen as well as Navalion? If that was the case, could he allow Carter to live and carry ou
t his path?
Morvalt continued his reflection as he boarded the shuttle and ordered a return to his ship. He knew his people were in trouble. It did not matter that they were powerful. Without a sustainable and abundant food supply, they would all die. Carter could wait, at least for now; while he reflected on the best course of action. One thing was certain—he would not allow the Queen to be killed by Carter or anyone else. He would take Earth and create a permanent source of feeding for his people. Then he would take his place beside his Queen.
Chapter Forty
Resuming Command
Forty-eight hours after the sub-space charge detonated, the small Tri-star System contingent, led by the Halo 7, joined the rear of the main fleet.
Jonathan Hoskins had resumed overall command. But he was still confined to his quarters, with Commander Jacques and Lieutenant Commander Peterson, effectively commanding the nineteen ships that followed them. Jacques had just started his latest update on the mini fleet’s status.
“Fifteen vessels have full functionality; two are at eighty percent capability, with the other two at about sixty. The Halo 7 is at full strength.”
“How long before the four ships reach maximum strength?”
“Twenty-four hours. As you know we delayed joining the fleet to allow some of the ships to complete their repairs.”
“The Halo 7 bulkheads—have they been bolstered or is it more of a patch up?”
“They’re not perfect, but they won’t affect our normal operating capability.”
“Casualties?”
“3,286 dead—including the losses from the sub-space explosion. We still have over two hundred personnel in our medical centers, but only seventeen are in critical support.”
“And a few like me who are confined to their quarters.”
“Yes, but you will shortly be up and about.”
“God, I hope so. I detest being stuck in here!”
“Admiral Shenke received your report and has requested your presence on the Viceroy as soon as you are fit. I get the impression he would like you there sooner rather than later.”
“Contact the Viceroy and tell them I will be over within the hour. The Chief Medic will not be happy, but I can walk, so I can command. What is the latest with the fleet?”
“Not good. Over one hundred ships have been lost, with over three thousand Jump Ships. The Kryl losses seem to have dried up.”
“With only six thousand vessels here, there must be two to three thousand elsewhere. Have the Kryl been targeting other planets?”
“Yes, although, I don’t have any details.”
“Don’t worry. I am sure the Admiral will update me.
I am glad to have you back on board Jean-Luc. Clearly, Shen Knui was a liability and should never have been allowed to assume command of this ship, let alone my fleet. I cannot believe we lost eighteen ships.”
“Don’t forget that her actions took out over two hundred Kryl cruisers. I suspect that further sub-space charges will be deployed, before this battle is over.”
“Shen Knui overstepped the mark and by blatantly lying to Peterson, she has contravened every rule in the book. A pity, apart from being a little arrogant, she was otherwise a good officer, tactically astute and a quick learner, but she failed to see the bigger picture.”
Forty-five minutes later, Jonathan Hoskins stood in The Viceroy’s stateroom. They were close to the front line here and the battle ensuing around them was fierce and unpredictable.
“I have read your report. I presume Commander Shen KnuIs off active duty?”
“Yes, and without a role as Jean-Luc Jacques is back as my XO. I would like him to stay in that role, if possible?”
“Of course. As one of my senior commanders, I need your support team to be up to strength. I will arrange for Shen Knui to be brought here for charging.”
“What will happen to her?”
“It’s difficult, because ultimately she did take out over two hundred ships. It was the way that she did it.”
“She misled the acting XO.”
“Quite. She will probably take on an XO position in a smaller frigate. Effectively demotion, which should make her see the error of her ways.
“I want to move on Jonathan. As you know we are up against it, but remarkably, we are still in this. The Jump Ships give us the edge and as long as we can keep the numbers up, then we will continue to impact on the Kryl fleet. All the while, they keep taking out our cruisers; we are losing Jump Ships fast. Ultimately, we may well lose this particular battle, but before then I will have transferred most of the fleet to our new front in Alpha Centauri. There is a buildup of Kryl vessels and I want you to stop them from becoming too established.”
“I have only twenty ships left, Sir. Not much of a force.”
“I will increase that to fifty and we are being joined by a Sentinel contingent of one hundred vessels, twenty of which I will assign to you.”
“I didn’t know the Sentinels were back on board?”
“Yes, they are back on track because they realize if the Kryl get through us, they will be next.”
“Every bit helps. What about the sect or the APF?”
“Progress is being made but no pledges of further support yet. Our fleet will be back in excess of three hundred, which gives us a chance. I want you to hold off for the next twenty-four hours, until we can be more certain of where the next standoff will be. I will confirm ship allocation details to you in due course, but you can get to work on your strategy, based on say seventy-five ships.”
* * * *
Hoskins returned to his ship and updated his first officer before retiring to his quarters. Now they were safe and away from the front line. He was tired and had not recovered properly from his injuries, but he had work to do. He knew the Kryl would probably bring in some of their missing fleet and they could be up against several thousand Kryl Ships. Challenging, but not impossible, with the right strategy and a flood of Jump Ships. You have come a long way. In command of seventy-five ships, is one stop short of the Admiralty. He just hoped he would live long enough to appreciate his knew found status.
Inevitably, his thoughts turned to Sarah and Oliver. He wasn’t able to speak to her and he had no way of knowing whether his son’s condition had improved or not. This was the worst part of war, he told himself as a rush of sadness overcame him.
His thought process was interrupted as Obeya Temsouri entered his quarters. Was this an official CAG update?
“Hi, how are you feeling?”
“Tired, very tired...but coping. I presume you are here to confirm that the hanger deck is fully operational.”
“Er, yes. You could at least show me some affection. I know you are stressed but you don’t need to take it out on me. I am here to take it away!”
“It’s not that easy.”
“We are all worried and I know the pressure is on you. There is no point feeling guilty about us and you can’t do anything about things at home. Let’s start again. I came to see how you are. I am off duty for eight hours. As things are quiet I was planning to spend some of that time with you.”
“I’m sorry. Look , our relationship has lasted because we both know when to back off. I have a battle strategy to plan for what could be a critical stage of this war and for what it’s worth, I don’t so much feel guilty, I am concerned about how my son is.”
Hoskins laughed. “Right now, I need some space.”
“Fine!” Obeya was angry now. “I will give you your update and leave you in peace to plan your precious war games. Believe you me, I know when to back off and for your sake, you had better hope that I do not back off permanently!”
“Oh, shit Obeya. Look...you know how much I care about you. It’s just a bad time right now. Why don’t you take a shower and I’ll be through in about an hour. We can take some lunch if you want?”
Obeya allowed her temper to settle before she replied.
“I will take a shower in my digs and take lunch o
n my own. Then I’ll come back to you in about two hours. One hour is not going to give you enough time to clear your head and I don’t want to come back to you, if you are still in this frame of mind. I can give you the stats for the hanger bay now if you prefer or later.”
“Thanks sweetheart. I will be in a better mood I promise. Yes. What have you got for me?”
“All Jump Ships and launch bays fully operational. We are two pilots short though, even with reserves. I was thinking of calling up Jake Carter in a non-combat capacity.”
“Sorry Obeya. Carter is off limits for now. I need him on the bridge, because of his knowledge of the Kryl.”
“Okay. Can we source two pilots from the fleet or do you want me to re-work the roster?”
“Can you ask Commander Jacques to request two reserves? They will probably be rookies, but right now that is as good as it gets.”
“Okay, I will speak to him.
“Jonathan, I am here to support you, but please don’t forget that there are two sides to this relationship. I tolerate your relationship with your wife because you live with me and not her, but it takes more than that. Okay, I know I will back off but at least give me a kiss before I go!”
Hoskins stood up and embraced Obeya. They kissed briefly before she stepped back.
“Now get on with your planning!” she said as she walked through the automatic doorway and departed.
Hoskins sighed. How had he managed to make his life so complicated? He was married, with a baby son, who he barely knew, a loving and adoring wife, who was wonderful, funny and still a great catch for anyone and yet, he had spent the last few years living a lie with Obeya. He loved them both and he knew losing either was a prospect not worth considering.
* * * *
He awoke early as Obeya left to start her shift. The ship was eerily quiet, the graveyard shift still in full swing, despite the battle that carried on around them. He felt purposeful and refreshed after a good night’s sleep. There had been no passion; they both simply needed someone to hold onto.
He showered and dressed quickly and was in his ready room, just fifteen minutes later. Mister Peterson took the late shift and was relieved that one of the ships executive officers was now in attendance.
