by David Adams
The debriefing – conducted for the mutual benefit of both crews – was lead by Captain James Grégoire, who had quietly been discharged from the medical bay a day after Liao’s visit.
While the Captain of the Tehran was recovering quite well, particularly under the ministrations of Commander Liao, his ship had not been so lucky. The Tehran would require a full month in the lunar drydock to repair all the damage, and there was some speculation that due to the damage to the superstructure, the ship would never be quite the same.
James would not hear of that talk however and stubbornly declared that, instead, the ship would be repaired better and stronger than it previously was; he ordered the damaged areas reinforced and up-armoured, so that the ship’s obvious weak points would be better protected in future engagements. The engineers on the Sydney and the Beijing had, somewhat begrudgingly, accepted his conclusion and mimicked the changes on their own ships as best they could.
“This coming Thursday, a non-denominational memorial service will be held for those who perished, and Doctor Mahmud would like to remind everyone that his door is always open for grief and loss counseling. We’ve been through a tough time, as a crew and as a family, and there’s no shame in admitting that.” James gave a reassuring smile to the gathered, combined senior staff of both ships. “I’ll be visiting him myself, so I expect all my senior staff to at least make a quick appointment.”
Liao nodded her agreement. “...And for the Beijing senior staff and crew I expect the same. Although we mourn the loss of those who have passed, we also look to the future; grief and distraction in the light of so much loss is a normal, expected part of the service… but it must only be a temporary condition. The Toralii are out there, and while the Sydney has completed her mission with the last of the high energy gravity mines, we can’t rely on these simple tricks to keep them at bay forever.”
Melissa tapped her remote, scrolling the large monitor to the next screen. “But before we discuss our next course of action, I’d like to give everyone here a full debriefing of the Tehran’s mission after contact was lost in the Hades system.”
The senior staff of the Beijing leaned forward expectantly. No official statement had been made and, accordingly, the rumour mill aboard ship had been spinning in overdrive since the great battle. Every one in the Beijing’s crew was clamouring for a recount of what really happened. Although the interval between the battle and the briefing had been only two weeks, for the crew it seemed more like two months.
Jointly presented by Liao and Grégoire the debriefing was detailed and complete, reiterating more or less the story Farah had told Melissa earlier, with the senior staff of the Beijing hanging on practically every word.
“…Then Commander Sabeen jumped the ship. The rest you all know.”
There was a brief pause as the story was digested. When the silence abated Saara spoke again, and although the majority of the senior staff from both ships had at least some experience with her remarkably easy to learn language by now, the repair operation on the Tehran had taken up all of their energy and time. Liao did not begrudge their inattentiveness to their studies of Saara’s dialect and nodded as Lieutenant Yu dutifully translated for her.
“Saara wants to remind us that, while the strike on the Hades system was decisive to the Toralii Alliance, they are unlikely to take this obvious aggression lying down. The question is not if they will respond in force, but when.”
Liao nodded her head in agreement. “Couldn’t have said it better myself.” She clicked her remote, scrolling the floor to ceiling monitor of the conference room across to a new image - one that bore a close-up image of the planet Mars and her moons.
“The strike on the Hades system taught us that we can beat the Toralii Alliance if we attack when we have the advantage. While we may have given them a bloody nose, and also given them cause to stay away from us for the moment, these are temporary measures. We can’t hope to simply mine our system and pray they don’t find a way past it in force.”
Liao pointed to the image of Mars on the monitor. “So, instead, we’re going to make a stand here… near Mars.”
James nodded his agreement. “This comes directly from Fleet Command, ladies and gentlemen. This is the big one. Intelligence believes that if we, twice, give the Toralii Alliance something to think about we may be able to find a more permanent solution… either a military one, or a diplomatic one. Here’s hoping for the latter.”
He gave a nod to Liao, who returned it.
“We’ve also received official confirmation that three completely new Pillars of the Earth have begun construction on the moon, in the very same construction berths, no less. Tentatively, these ships are named the Madrid, the Moscow and the Tripoli in keeping with the naming tradition we’ve started.”
There were smiles and approving murmurs between all the staff. “They’re still a few years out,” James cautioned, “but it is heartening to know that there are reinforcements on the horizon. The new ships are packing quite the punch; they’re employing a lot of the new technology we seized from the Toralii and reverse engineered. When these new ships of the line arrive, our ability to project military force will be substantially increased.”
Liao turned over a page in her notebook. “However,” she began, “that’s still a long way in the future for us. In order for those ships to ever see combat we have to push the Toralii Alliance away and make sure they stay away… which brings us back to our current course of action.”
She clicked her remote. Several small dots, ringed by thin green circles to make them easier to see, appeared on the monitor.
“These are missile and railgun batteries on the surface of Mars, built by remotely operated construction teams over the last two months. There are sixteen railguns and twenty rapid fire missile batteries stationed on the planet, all clustered into three main fire bases, and all built so that at all times there’s a full battery pointing towards the Mars-Sun L1 Lagrange point.”
Alex raised his hand. “Captain, how do you propose to entice the Toralii to jump into that particular point? No doubt they’ve already tried to engage counter-attacks by now and found the innermost jump points to be disabled. Given how badly the failed jump affected our systems, I doubt they would be constantly checking them, even with robotic probes.”
Melissa nodded the man’s way. “Excellent point, Major, and for that I differ to Captain Grégoire.”
She ceded the floor to the dark-skinned Captain, who gave her a formal nod and then addressed the collective senior staff of both ships.
“We know that the Toralii have some way of communicating with the Forerunner – or rather, that they did before we ripped out its power core. Without up-to-date jump coordinates, eventually they’ll be unable to jump into this solar system at all – which, obviously, will put a dent in our ambush somewhat if we can’t get them to show up.”
James let a slow grin spread over his face, despite his best efforts to remain strictly professional. “So the plan is… tag and release. When the trap is set, we’re going to take the Forerunner out of the Beijing’s hold, plug the power supply back in, and let it merrily jump away. We don’t know how long it will take the Toralii to respond, but Saara’s best guess is ‘very quickly’.”
As though on cue, Saara spoke once more. Lieutenant Yu again translated.
“Saara says that the Toralii keep at least one fleet on high-alert, generally to watch for Kel-Vorian aggression, but also for situations like this. Right now they’re probably working to find ways to jump into this system, testing each of the jump points in turn and methodically plotting bloody vengeance.”
Saara grumbled something and Yu gave a sheepish grin. “Saara technically said ‘a counterattack’, but I… dramatized it a little.”
Another response from Saara, then Yu translated. “She does agree, though, that the dramatization is accurate.”
Liao nodded towards Yu, tapping the edge of her notepad absently. “I’m certain that
they’re gunning for revenge,” she agreed, “and I’m certain that this time they won’t be caught by surprise. Rather than attacking a supply facility with a number of inactive vessels, we’ll be facing them on an even playing field... We’re going to be essentially going toe-to-toe with the best the Toralii have to offer. There’s even a chance, Saara informs us, that the Toralii could field the same energy weapon that attacked Earth and use it on our ships.”
Melissa paused a moment, letting the gravity of what she was saying sink in.
“Despite the best laid plans, the best weapons and tactics the human race can provide, and all the luck in the world… this is going to be a lot more difficult than the assault on Hades. Yes, this time we have the home field advantage, but they’ll be coming to us this time – the element of surprise will be working against us. To pull this off we – and I mean to say all three crews of all three ships – are going to have to give our absolute best. There is no room for error in this operation… and if we fail, we lose it all. If we can’t hold back the Toralii, we can’t contain and destroy them… and there’ll be nothing between them and Earth. This hand is all in, ladies and gentlemen.”
Rowe gave a chuckle. “...So, no pressure, huh?” She glanced around the room. “I’m guessing it’s far too late for me to become a doctor like my dad always wanted…”
There were titters from the senior staff. Doctor Saeed leaned in towards the red-headed woman. “Being a doctor doesn’t get me out of it,” he remarked, giving her a playful nudge. More chuckles and banter filled the air, until Liao held up a hand for quiet.
“Thank you once again, Summer, for your continued disruptive presence.”
The red-headed woman gave a playful bow in her seat.
Liao let her settle, then gave a firm nod, casting her eyes around the packed briefing room. The brightly lit room was full of faces, all staring at her, and she wondered just how many of them would still be left after the operation.
Or if any of them would.
Taking a breath the woman composed herself, giving each of her senior staff a quick glance, looking in each of their eyes. She wanted to project an aura of solidarity and strength, to inspire and bolster the courage of each and every one of them.
Liao wasn’t sure if she succeeded.
“If there are no further questions… dismissed.”
*****
Captain Liao’s Quarters
TFR Beijing
Four hours later
It was amazing what four hours worth of sleep could do to you if you really, really needed it... which she did. Liao jumped out of bed as though she had springs on her heels, throwing on her uniform in record time. As a young girl she had often sung while dressing herself; this was a luxury she did not permit herself, this time, but it would be a lie to say that the idea had not crossed her mind as she slipped on her epaulette and tightened her belt.
Liao spent some time looking at herself in the mirror. Her hair had grown out and was getting too long... memories of how it floated around with the gravity disabled caused her to strongly consider cutting it. She began slowly combing her hair, then putting it up in a tight bun. This was to keep it from touching her collar. That was the regulation with women’s hair; it was allowed to be essentially almost any length, but in order to maintain order and formality it had to be arranged in a style that would not permit it to touch the collar. It was a rule she had spent a great deal of time fighting against but had been forced to accept, then eventually embrace.
For the female officers under her command, she enforced it strictly, with Rowe being the only woman on board to escape her determined crusade against long hair. Almost all of the other women on board went with bob-cuts.
She clipped the scrunchie bun around the tight ball of hair, giving it even more form and stability, and then silently proclaimed herself to be presentable. With one glance towards the mirror, Liao adjusted her belt and then opened the hatchway to the corridor beyond.
Saara was waiting on the other side of the metal door. Liao had not heard a thing and wondered how long the Toralii woman had been waiting there; it was slightly unnerving to think that all the while, as she was playing with her hair, someone had been waiting but a few metres away, separated only by an internal bulkhead and Saara’s sense of decency. She idly wondered if all Toralii were so patient and quiet, or if this was something unique to Saara.
Still, it was very heartening to see Saara moving around the ship on her own, without her assigned guard. Liao wanted Saara to feel welcome aboard the ship. She had been an invaluable ally to their cause and had provided them with a well of information – including the language of her people – without which they would have been groping in the dark. The Toralii woman clearly took her debt to Liao seriously.
“Are you ready for the big day?”
Saara gave a roll of her shoulders, a gesture she had picked up from her time spent with the humans aboard the Beijing. Liao had asked her about it once; the Toralii did not have a ‘shrug’ gesture. Instead, they tended to flick their tails from side to side, something that Melissa saw her doing in tandem with the adopted shrugging motion. [“I am as ready as I will ever be, I suppose.”]
Liao frowned slightly, although she forced her face to return to a neutral expression. “That doesn’t sound very reassuring,” she admitted, and Saara gave another one of her combined shrugs.
Folding her arms in front of her, Liao leaned against the inner frame of the hatchway to her quarters, regarding her Toralii friend with a concerned look painted on her face.
“Is this... about the upcoming operation? The release of the Forerunner?”
Saara paused, and Liao could see that she was reluctant to talk… at least, not in what essentially amounted to a public corridor.
“Why don’t you come inside?” Liao beckoned into her quarters, stepping out of the frame so Saara could enter. She didn’t.
[“I’m sorry, Captain, but I cannot. The Captain’s quarters are an almost… sacred place to the Toralii, a tradition we adopted during the early years of our development as we transitioned into a space-faring race. For me, who is not even a member of your crew, to dare step foot into your private sanctum would spell disaster for us in terms of our Fate, Captain.”]
Saara’s language use was slightly beyond what Liao could comfortably understand, but she got the general gist of things. She had no time for such superstitions, but she respected those among her crew – and otherwise – who had faith, or belief of a sort. Melissa gave a polite nod.
“As you wish, friend. If you wanted, we could arrange a visit to the conference room if it’s not booked…”
Saara’s smile gave her answer. Minutes later they were stepping through the threshold to the spacious room, the two of them pulling up chairs. Liao poured them both a glass of water and then got straight down to business.
“What seems to be the problem, Saara? You don’t think the Toralii Alliance will take the bait?”
The Toralii woman shook her head. [“No, I am confident that they will. The Forerunner’s automated systems will tell them everything they need to know in order to jump directly into the jump point we’ve prepared for them. I see no reason why, based on our current intelligence and my knowledge of the Toralii Alliance, they would not eagerly leap upon what they perceive to be the perfect opportunity to strike back.”]
“I’m very much inclined to agree.” A pause. “Is it... something else, then?” Liao tilted her head. She had often wondered how Saara would integrate into the crew; she was a Toralii, after all, and therefore not only an outsider but someone with whom many of the crew may bear a somewhat understandable animosity. Saara had been spending a great deal of time in the Engineering bays of late; if she had encountered trouble from the rest of the humans on board...
[“I… suppose I am concerned about my role in the upcoming battle. While the idea of us fighting other Toralii is not abhorrent to me, we still cannot be sure which faction, specifically, wil
l respond to the Forerunner’s call first. If it is the Toralii Alliance, all is well and good; if it is the Telvan…”]
Liao could understand her distress. If the Toralii people were, after all, as Saara had described them – factionalized, much like the nations of Earth, and often warring – then it stood to reason that she would have no qualms about humanity engaging her enemies. But if her own faction responded to the call…
“The Forerunner was Alliance property,” Liao offered. “It’s extremely unlikely any Telvan ships will detect the probe’s hails. And even if they do, it’s less likely still that the Telvan will rally a fleet to fight their enemy’s battle.”
Saara threw her a look. Without her needing to ask, Liao simply nodded her head.
“…But I promise, Saara, if Telvan ships respond to the call I will do my utmost to try and avoid any bloodshed. I will even allow you to talk to them directly if I can.”
Saara seemed locked in thought and Liao gave her the moment to think. Finally, the Toralii woman slowly nodded her head, her decision apparently made. [“That sounds fair.”]
Liao gave her friend a little smile, beginning to stand, pushing her chair back. “We should make our way to Operations… The last of the preparations are being made as we speak.”
Saara gave Liao a slight nod then stood. The two walked together to Operations, but despite her words, Melissa could sense that there was still some unease in the way Saara carried herself.
*****
Operations
TFR Beijing
With a nod to Saara the two women, the human and the Toralii, stepped into the Operations room of the TFR Beijing. At once Liao was besieged by voices and she addressed them in turn. The missile batteries on the Martian surface reported that they were in perfect firing position. The Communications officers on the Tehran and the Sydney both reported that their ships were ready and standing by. And Major Jazz reported that the strike craft were fuelled, armed and prepared for launch. There was some delay bringing all their power plants up to battle power, however, so the Beijing was the last piece of the puzzle to be set.
