“Commodore, I won’t beat around the bush with you,” Sir Randolph said.
“Why sir, whatever do you mean?” he replied innocently.
“I think he means that we don’t trust you,” John Kirkland answered for his old friend.
Essex looked to the other Commodore and almost sneered.
“Well John, I don’t know what you’ve heard but I have carried out my orders from the Admiralty to the letter,” he defended.
“I’m sure that there are those in the Admiralty who have the perception that you have helped to save this sector. That you have bravely defended Starbase 24 and the Ryu-Six System,” Kirkland remarked.
“That is how I see it,” Essex said with a grin.
“Well that is not how I see it,” Hope interjected and continued, “Instead of you entering the fight in this sector you have sat back and have done nothing. You let an understrength Defense Fleet do your job for you. When Admiral Norton-Underhill set up the Karduans for a trap at Jericho Six and sent for the 34th Attack Fleet you only sent two ships to aid him. In the end, it resulted in the defeat and near destruction of his forces.”
“I couldn’t let my fleet be pulled away from the starbase which was my primary responsibility all just on Norton-Underhill’s hunch that he might be attacked,” Essex countered.
“Yes, let’s talk about that, an enemy squadron was forming not one bend from your fleet and the starbase for almost a year. Instead of going on the attack and defeating it, you sat there doing nothing,” Admiral Hope accused and added, “In fact, the 8th Defense Fleet under Admiral Janice Dupain came in and within a few days defeated this Karduan squadron and cleared the bend route to the front.”
“I ... I didn’t have orders to go on the offensive and there was always the risk of the enemy using the second gravity well to perform a sneak attack and that such an understrength squadron so close may have just been a trick to pull me away from the starbase,” he explained it all sounding very reasonable and prudent in his own mind.
“But what about even doing combat patrols or reconnaissance missions to determine the enemy’s location and strength as well as coordinating planetary resistance? Almost the whole sector either surrendered or declared themselves independent because of the lack of any type of Confederation help or presence,” Commodore Kirkland said shaking his head as he tried to control his disgust of this fellow flag officer.
“Every decision I have made resulted in the preservation of the Ryu-Six System, the colony on Obis Novus and Starbase 24. I also had the full support of the starbase commander, Admiral Yancy,” Essex said playing his trump card.
“Yes, and your sister will soon be called on to explain herself as well,” Kirkland countered.
There was a moment of silence as the two Commodores looked daggers at each other and Hope sat back and shook his head.
“We also have the reports of the misuse of your authority, of dealing out cruel and unusual punishment for minor offenses,” the Admiral stated.
“If this is about Lt. Collins …” Granny Essex started but was quickly cut off.
“It’s not, it is about dozens of Captain’s Masts and your inappropriate use of your ship’s A.I. to collect information on your crew. It is about your conduct which I see is unbecoming of an officer of the Confederation Navy,” Sir Randolph answered.
“Whoever said those things is either mistaken or a liar,” George Essex said in haste starting to lose his temper.
“I doubt that, as I have received these reports from the Pallas’ A.I. computer, its permanent records files and its ship’s log,” Admiral Hope remarked frowning at the career rear echelon officer.
“Nothing I did was against regulations and though you might not like my methods, I was within my rights as Fleet Commander,” Essex countered believing that he was still in the right.
Sir Randolph let out sigh and nodded, “Perhaps, the Admiralty will have to decide. I would court-martial you right now but I don’t believe that the evidence of wrong doing is overwhelming enough. I also only have three flag officers and would need a fourth for a court-martial board.”
Granny Essex smiled knowing that he had slipped the noose and that there was little that Hope could do to him without a clear violation of regulations or orders.
The Hawk looked up at the smiling jackass of an officer and his frown deepened.
“I’m placing an official reprimand in your personnel file for the misuse of your authority in gathering information on your crew. I’m also giving you a warning that if you and the 34th don’t meet my expectations, I will relieve you of duty and of the command of the 34th Attack Fleet. Do I make myself clear Commodore?”
Essex stopped smiling, and nodded once before he cleared his throat and said, “Yes sir.”
“Good, you are dismissed,” Admiral Sir Randolph Hope said.
Granny Essex saluted and then turned about and quickly left the office.
“Randolph, I don’t trust him. He is a self-important ass,” John Kirkland said to his old friend after the door had slid shut.
“Neither do I, he lacks the training, experience and the heart to fight this war or to led the 34th Attack Fleet,” Hope agreed.
“Then why leave him in command?” John inquired disappointed that they hadn’t relieved him on the spot.
“You know perfectly well why I couldn’t fire him right here and now,” Hope remarked.
“We don’t have a clear and major violation. Plus, he and his admiral-sister have friends in high places,” he admitted.
“We have to wait for additional evidence and build a more solid case that he can’t slip out of,” he said.
“Or wait until he screws up and gets us all killed,” Kirkland remarked trying to make a joke but knowing he was too close to the truth with his last statement to actually laugh at it.
The Hawk looked at the door that Granny Essex had left by knowing that he had to keep a careful eye on this self-anointed Hero of Capri Seven.
In hallway, just outside of the command offices of the Mary Queen of Scots, Commodore Essex hurried to the closest lift. His flag aide had been surprised by his sudden emergence from his meeting with the Admiral. Lt. Friar had to almost run to keep up with him and she knew that he was very angry to be moving so quickly.
“He thinks he’ll replace me, well we will see who gets replaced! Hell, let’s see who survives this war or even the next battle,” he said with a hard smile just as his aide reached his side.
Still wearing that evil looking grin he stepped into the lift with his dog robber beside him and turned to face the lift’s doors just as they closed.
Close Communications Signal
Military Ship Listings
Karduan:
KRS Repair ship (brig size - human classification Spider class)
KVG Vanguard (sloop/scout ship)
KDE Destroyer Escort (frigate)
KED Escort Destroyer (light cruiser/heavy frigate) (older replaced by KCD)
KCD Companion Destroyer (light cruiser – supports larger ship actions)
KSDS System Defense Ship (fire power of a heavy cruiser, no bender drives)
KD Destroyer (heavy cruiser/no spinal mount)
KBD Battle Destroyer (heavy cruiser/like newer armored cruiser w/spinal mount)
KSD Star Destroyer (battle cruiser w/spinal mount)
KSSD Super Star Destroyer (carrier/ cruiser hybrid - w/ spinal mount and 40 star fighters)
KTC Tri-Carrier – three landing launching decks 150 fighters but no spinal mount.
Confederation:
Brig (used for policing/customs)
Sloop (Gunfighter class - older class)
Corvette – (Constellation class) meant to replace sloops and Battle Class frigates
Frigate (Battle Class - older class)
Frigate Improved – New fusion and bender drives, in some cases heavier weapons.
Planetary Assault Ship – (General Class) troop transport and drop ship.
&
nbsp; Heavy Frigate (modern)
Light Cruiser – (City Class/ State Class depending on age)
Shadow Cruiser – (Raven class) stealth light cruiser, spinal mount w/2 stealth fighters
Carrier classes - Escort Carrier (very old) 28 fighters, Auxiliary Carrier (old) 48 fighters, Modern Fleet Carrier 86 fighters and Battle Carriers 100+ fighters.
Attack Cruiser (Corvette class) stealth, spinal mount w/6 star fighters
Heavy Cruiser (Hero class) an older class that was replaced by armored cruisers with spinal mounts)
Heavy Cruiser Improved – Upgraded old heavy cruisers, better engines and in some cases, may have a spinal mount added.
Armored Cruiser/spinal mount (Legend Class) (called Crusader class by Templars)
Battle Cruiser/spinal mount w/12 star fighters (Leader Class)
Battle Carriers (Titan class 100 star fighters and Deity class 120 star fighters with a spinal mount)
Other ships – defense boats, system cutters, minesweepers, hospital ships, transports, fuel tankers, freighters, Recovery ships – (Behemoth Class).
Novels by Shane Van Aulen
“Wolves at the Gate” is Mr. Van Aulen’s seventh novel and is his third book in the Star Wolf Squadron series.
“Wolf’s Run – The Chase of War” is the author’s sixth novel and is the long-awaited sequel to “The Log of the Gray Wolf.” Once more you are taken along with the crew of the attack cruiser ISS Star Wolf, fighting behind enemy lines while seeking a lost warship and crew who could help end the war.
His fifth novel is called, “Knight’s Dawn” and is a medieval styled, sword and magic fantasy that starts the Knight of Stars Saga. Join the Lost Prince of Caspia as his adventure begins.
“The Dead Country: A Long Journey Home,” is his fourth book and is an apocalypse story of death and survival after a terrorist sponsored pandemic strikes America. This is a zombie book that even people who don’t like zombie books will like and that from page one is non-stop battle for survival.
“The Log of the Gray Wolf,” is the author’s third novel and is a science fiction military adventure about a starship fighting to get home from behind enemy lines.
His second book, “The Blood of Others,” is also a science fiction story but about murder and crime set on the mean streets of a distant alien world after an interstellar war. This book is set in the same universe as the “Log of the Gray Wolf,” and “Wolf’s Run.” “The Blood of Others,” is a unique book that is a mind-blowing blend of a police mystery; sci-fi, high-speed martial arts action thriller with a touch of horror that doesn’t even have a genre or category to be labeled by.
His first novel, and still his favorite, is another medieval fantasy (and part of the Knight of Stars Saga) set after the second alignment of stars with an older Prince Galen called, “The Tale of the Elder Knight.”
The author doesn’t have an editor or formal publisher and apologizes for any errors he may have missed while editing his books.
I work very hard to proof my novels. Unfortunately, I’m not a professional editor and I do make mistakes.
You can contact the author at his Goodreads Author’s page or by emailing him at [email protected]
About the Author
Shane Van Aulen is a graduate of Millersville University of Pennsylvania with a Bachelor of Arts degree in History with minors in criminology and military science.
Since the age of fourteen, Mr. Van Aulen has studied various martial arts with Isshin-Ryu Karate/Kobudo as his principal discipline. He was a karate instructor for sixteen years and a women's self-defense instructor for a local college for ten years. In more recent years he has studied Wing Chun Kung Fu.
Mr. Van Aulen had trained in foil/sabre fencing for six years with a former Olympic team member as well as Japanese Iaido for several years.
As an NRA firearms instructor, he has instructor’s ratings in pistol, rifle, shotgun and personal protection in the home as well as being a certified range safety officer.
The author is a veteran and a graduate of the U.S. Army’s Infantry, Airborne and Special Operation Forces Civil Affairs schools. He started as an enlisted soldier, is a Distinguished Military Graduate and had last served as a Major in the Army Reserves.
Presently, he works as a history teacher. He lives with his lovely wife, his rambunctious son, his adorable daughter and a pack of large, and usually hungry dogs.
You can contact the author at his Goodreads Author’s page or by emailing him at [email protected]
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