by D. J. Holmes
The new ships that had jumped into the system as he had been leaving had hastened him. More reinforcements, in the form of a battlecruiser, a heavy cruiser, six other cruisers and twelve smaller ships had jumped into the system and lit off their drives. James hadn’t been able to get any more firm information but he knew their arrival meant the Chinese Admiral would be able to resume offensive operations. It was time for Drake to get back to Excalibur.
As the initial readings of the Excalibur system came up fear pierced his heart. For a moment he thought that somehow the Chinese fleet had found a way to beat him to Excalibur. There was a large number of ships moving into the system. Their impulse drives were lighting up the gravimetric sensors. James relaxed as logic took over. There was no way the Chinese fleet could have gotten so far into the system ahead of him. The ships must be reinforcements! Vice Admiral Cunningham had arrived.
Over the next couple of minutes the plot gained more detail, as Sub Lieutenant Fisher, who was manning sensors, was able to identify a number of the ships. There were two new battlecruisers in Cunningham’s fleet along with five heavy cruisers and another twenty smaller cruisers. Fisher wasn’t able to get a positive ID on the smaller classes of ships at this range but there were over thirty other support ships.
Further back from the main body of the fleet there was another squadron. None of the drives matched known British vessels. Fisher had designated them as unknown friendlies and had identified one light cruiser and three smaller ships, probably destroyers. They seemed to be escorting three other ships; one of them was rather large.
James put the mystery to the back of his mind. No doubt he would find out soon enough. “Send our report to Valkyrie and take us in towards Excalibur, I’m sure we’re going to be getting new orders.”
Looking around the bridge he smiled. “If the Chinese try to jump us anytime soon they’re going to get nasty surprise.”
*
Several hours later James found himself aboard HMS Churchill, Vice Admiral Cunningham’s flagship. Sat around him were over forty other Commanders, Captains and Flag lieutenants. They were all crammed into the battlecruisers tactical briefing room. As he finally managed to squeeze into his own seat, a side door opened and Vice Admiral Cunningham walked to the front of the room accompanied by Rear Admiral Jensen and Commodore West.
James studied the man closely. He had taken some of the Admiral’s lectures at the lunar academy. Cunningham looked just as sharp and distinguished as ever. He had been over one hundred and twenty when James had sat under his teaching almost eight years ago and yet he still walked with the ease of someone who had undergone expensive anti-aging treatments. Apart from a few tinges of grey hair around his ears, there was no sign that the Admiral was of his great grandfather’s generation.
The main medical discoveries with regard to anti-aging treatments had only happened fifty years ago and, initially, they had only been available to the super rich. Today they were readily available, if still somewhat expensive. It was standard practice to offer them freely to all RSN graduates from the lunar academy. James had been assured that he could expect to live to at least two hundred before he would begin to feel the effects of old age. For Cunningham to still be on his feet, he must have received one of the first anti-aging treatments. They weren’t as effective as the modern ones but clearly they hadn’t done Cunningham any harm.
Whatever the Admiral’s age, James knew his mental abilities were impeccable. As part of their training, the cadets were made to run simulations against their instructors and, whether in a fleet engagement or single ship combat, Cunningham had wiped the floor with James a number of times. As a close friend of his uncle’s the Admiral had been approachable and ready to offer help. James looked forward to remaking the Admiral’s acquaintance.
“Ok, everyone please be seated,” Rear Admiral Jensen shouted over the hum of conversations going on in the briefing room.
When everyone had finally quieted down Admiral Cunningham spoke. “Well everyone, welcome to Excalibur. For those of you were already here I want to offer my congratulations on holding the system. I have read over Admiral Jensen’s battle report and I am suitably impressed with everyone’s performance.
“I have called this meeting because I want you all to know our plan for prosecuting this war to its finish. The Government and the Admiralty have no desire to get embroiled in a long term war of attrition with the Chinese. We don’t want their systems, we don’t even want total control over the Void. Space is big enough for all of us. That said, the Chinese have clearly shown us that they don’t share these sentiments. With that in mind we’re going to make sure they can’t cause any more harm.
“My plan is simple. Rear Admiral Jensen and I will take our forces to V17 and set up a blockade around the system. No Chinese ships will be allowed to leave. It is the Admiralty’s hope that once the Politburo and Chinese Admiral see that every ship they send to V17 becomes stuck there, they will be willing to come to terms. However, if the Chinese at V17 do want to fight then we will show them what the RSN is made of. We now have nearly twenty percent of the total RSN tonnage operating within the Void. We have a powerful force under our command ladies and gentlemen. We will be getting more reinforcements but they will be trickling in, for now it’s up to us. We will be expected to do our duty with what we currently have; it’s our job to do everyone back home proud. Are there any questions at this stage?”
Captain Adams of the destroyer Sparrow stood and asked, “sir, as you know I was here when the Chinese attacked us three weeks ago. I have seen their resolve first hand. How likely do you think it is they will want to fight again?”
“A good question Captain,” The Admiral began. “We have brought with us new intel from RSNI. We believe the Admiral in charge of the Chinese is Admiral Zheng. He was able to handpick his Captains, at least those of his original fleet. We believe he will put up a fight. He has nothing to go back to, if he goes back empty handed he will be exiled for his failure. For that reason, we need to be working from the assumption that he will try to force a confrontation. If our blockade of the V17 system is successful, we may be able to starve him of fuel before he can force a large-scale engagement. That is our hope at least. If it comes to it though we need to be ready to fight. Admiral Jensen has already shown us how it’s done.”
Wolfe was the next to raise her hand. “Admiral, what about the Swedish ships, can we expect any help from them if it comes to a fight?”
James finally got an answer to his question. The second squadron keeping its distance from the combined British fleet must be Swedish. They must have come to lay claim to V34. As he continued to watch, the Vice Admiral switched the image on the holo display to show the small squadron James had been curious about.
“I’m afraid not Captain. As you can see our Swedish neighbors have brought a few combat ships, two supply freighters and their colony ship. Their plan is to found a colony on New Stockholm as soon as possible. Officially, they are neutral in this combat. Unofficially, they are afraid the Chinese won’t respect their neutrality and end up dragging them into the war.
“They therefore have no intention of doing anything that looks like supporting us. In fact, I think they wish we would all just disappear or better yet that they could get a colony somewhere else. However, they can’t and we won’t. As this is the only opportunity they’re likely to get for decades to found their own colony, they’re stubbornly pushing ahead with it.
“The governor in charge of founding the colony is keeping his plans close to his chest. My guess, however, would be that once we establish our blockade around V17 he will take his ships to New Stockholm and start constructing their colony. It certainly wouldn’t hurt our cause if they joined the war but that is not going to happen anytime soon.
“Now, if that is all the questions, you should be receiving your orders on your personal datapads. Please check them now and report to your commanding officer for further briefings.”
James pulled out his data pad and immediately checked his new orders. He had been assigned to Commodore West’s squadron. She had been given the task of overseeing the continued fortification of the Excalibur system. Apart from her flagship there was nothing larger than a destroyer under her command.
In frustration James switched off his datapad. He had been at the center of everything that happened so far. Why was he being sidelined now? Looking through the crowd of departing faces James spotted the Vice Admiral. Making his way over he held out his hand as he approached.
“Admiral, it is good to see you again. I am pleased that you have been given this command. I know firsthand how good your tactical skills really are.”
The Vice Admiral merely eyed James. “Somerville, I remember you of course, from the academy. What can I do for you?”
Pausing, James waited for the Admiral to take his hand. When Cunningham merely continued to stare at him James was taken aback by the standoffish greeting. Determined he pressed ahead anyway, “sir, as you know Drake and I have been at the center of things here in the Void. I was hoping my crew would get the opportunity to see things through to the finish. We have spent over two weeks within the V17 system and Drake has proven her ability to sneak around the Chinese fleet.
The Vice Admiral’s face darkened. He grabbed James’ elbow and directed him towards an unoccupied corner of the debriefing room. “Listen here Commander Somerville. I will not deny that you have proven yourself very useful in this campaign so far. Before I left Cook I received a full download of all the news stories from Earth, as well as a personal communication from the King. I suggest that if you want your career to progress, you try to be more careful in the future. If it were up to me you would be leading the fleet into V17. But it’s not; we all have to respect our betters. You can begin now by obeying my orders.”
As the Admiral spun and walked off, James had to work quickly to hide the look of shock on his face. He had looked on the Vice Admiral as a close confidant back at the academy. Now the Admiral was acting as if they had never met before. “The King!” James whispered through gritted teeth. It seemed as if he was never going to get away from the King’s attempts to punish him for his feelings.
In a daze, James headed to his assigned briefing room aboard Churchill. When he arrived he was the last to enter. Everyone else had been waiting for him. Without acknowledging James’ tardiness Commodore West began to outline her plans.
“As you have all read by now we have been given the job of securing Excalibur and the surrounding systems while the others get to go off and play. You may be disappointed but let me remind you of the causalities we suffered at the battles of Excalibur and Camelot. Going to V17 isn’t going to be a holiday. Further, there’s no guarantee that the Chinese won’t be able to break out of Vice Admiral Cunningham’s planned blockade. If they do, they’ll be heading straight for us. We are going to be prepared for that eventuality. Here are my purposed deployments….”
As the Commodore droned on about her plans for fixed defenses and picket patrols, James lost focus. He was still seething. He had proven himself. He had won some honor back for his family name and he was working to undo all the financial harm his father had caused. The King had no right to interfere with his career like this! I’m going to get my own back, James thought to himself. If I survive this I’m going to make sure the King regrets his pettiness!
“Commander Somerville, are you listening?” The Commodore’s voice brought him back to reality. Looking up he only nodded.
“Very good, well then you will know that I’m assigning you to the V34 system. I want you to survey it for any Chinese ships lying in stealth. Then you are to monitor the system. It is the Vice Admiral’s belief that the Swedes will head to the system after the blockade is set up. If they do, you will be there to observe what they get up to. You are not to contact them or reveal your presence at any time. If anything happens you can jump out quietly and come and inform me. Is that understood?”
“Yes sir,” James responded without any enthusiasm.
Patrol duty. Patrol duty in a system not likely to even see any action. If the Chinese did manage to break through the blockade and head to Excalibur, the first Drake would hear of it would be when news of a victory or defeat got to V34, probably days later.
Shaking his head, James got up to leave as soon as the briefing was over. He didn’t wait around to chat to his fellow Captains. Instead he made his way to one of Churchill’s flight decks. When he got there, he ordered the first available shuttle to take him back to Drake. He didn’t have to wait long as he was the first to request transit back to his ship. Sitting in the shuttle James had time to think over his situation. Once he calmed down, he began to see the pros and cons.
If there were a battle, and Vice Admiral Cunningham seemed to think it likely, then it would be a costly one. The British may have the tech advantage but the Chinese had already shown just how much damage they could deal out. Being assigned to an out of the way system meant his chances of getting back to Earth and Christine had just gone up considerably. Yet, he would be returning with no glory and quite likely no prospect of promotion. If the British fleet won a victory, there would be no end to the stream of successful officers returning home with combat experience. James would be pushed down the list.
Realization dawned on him. King Edward must have had quite the dilemma. If he had used his influence to get James posted to V17 there was a good chance he would get rid of him. Yet there was also a chance that James could win more fame for himself and rise further in the public’s eyes. Instead King Edward had gone for the safer option. By keeping James out of the way he was ensuring the media would forget about him and he wouldn’t have a chance to force his way further up the command chain.
As his anger began to fade, James steeled himself for the future. His earlier vow would not be forgotten. If he got back to Earth, he was going to repay the King in kind, even if it took fifty years. For the present though, he would make do. If he were going to be assigned to a secondary system then he would make sure he carried out his duty to the best of his ability. When the opportunity for promotion came he would be ready. He wasn’t going to remain a lowly commander with a tattered name and little financial power or political clout forever.
As the shuttle approached Drake, James leant over to look out the viewing port. He couldn’t help but feel proud. Drake was beautiful in her own bulky way. Her single starboard missile tube was open as a tech team carried out repairs. The electromagnetic rings that formed the missile tube glowed blue as they were tested. They made the open tube look like a giant glowing eye. On her top side the single heavy plasma cannon gave Drake a menacing image. Intermittent sparks of electricity could be seen coming from amidst the various sensor nodes on Drake’s belly.
Just before he had left the ship James had approved the instillation of a towed array. It was a hastily designed external mount that housed a single recon drone. Like the stealth drones, it was engineless the extra space taken up by all the latest passive sensors. The external mount also housed over five hundred kilometers of thin nano carbon cabling.
A freighter had brought enough of the towed arrays to outfit all the survey ships operating within the Void. The thinking was that the towed arrays would give a ship in stealth two points of contact with an enemy vessel. It would allow Drake or any of the other survey ships to triangulate any contacts they detected to get a better sensor reading and, if necessary, compute a better firing solution.
James thought it rather ironic that Drake was one of the first ships to be outfitted with one and yet she would not be going to V17. No matter though, he was already thinking of a number of ways that he could use the towed array.
One the shuttle docked with Drake James made his way to the bridge. He wanted to see how the repairs and new instillations were coming along. When he got there Gupta was sitting in the command chair, she nodded to him as he entered.
“Don’t get up, I’m not here
to relieve you, I just want an update on how things are going?” James asked.
Gupta cleared her throat and then began to give a rundown of everything that had happened in the five hours James had been away. As she finished she asked, “how did it go with the Vice Admiral, what is our next assignment?”
James grimaced, but they would find out soon enough so he spoke up for the rest of the bridge to hear. “Vice Admiral Cunningham will be taking the bulk of the fleet to V17 to set up a blockade of the system. We have been assigned to Commodore West’s squadron and given the task of patrolling V34.”
“What!” Sub Lieutenant Fisher almost shouted before she realized where she was. “I mean, I’m sorry sir, but why aren’t we going to V17? Drake has proved herself, surly we have earned the right to go with the fleet?”
“Those were my thoughts exactly Lieutenant,” James replied. “I voiced them to the Admiral but you won’t be surprised to know that it’s not our job to deal out assignments. We’ll go where we’re told and do our duty.”
