by D. J. Holmes
“We all have friends and comrades who were killed by the Flex-aor,” Commodore Davies protested. James was surprised by his passion. He had joined the Outer Defense Fleet just weeks before they had left X-38 on their training exercise. As the most junior flag rank officer in the conference, he didn’t seem to have any problem speaking out. “Let’s not forget about Farnsworth and Plantation. Millions of lives were lost when those planets were nuked from space. I’m not saying we act out of a thirst for revenge. But justice demands that the Flex-aor face consequences for their actions. If we open negotiations, it will give the Flex-aor time to gather their forces. If they have two hundred warships in this system, how many do you think they will have in their home system? They would be just days away from being able to come here and support this system’s defenses.”
“I would be in favor of attacking as well,” Commodore Jackson, commander of the first heavy cruiser squadron said. “Provided of course, the tactical situation is in our favor. If Ya’sia’s hope of signing some kind of peace accord with the Flex-aor is ever going to become a reality, one side will have to be negotiating from a position of strength. I know Ya’sia has said she doesn’t like the idea of such a settlement. However, from what we know of their history, the Crians have little experience of dealing with hostile parties. Look at every peace settlement in our people’s history. In almost every example, peace was enforced when one side lost the ability or will to fight. Right now, we have no reason to think the Flex-aor are in such a position. Why would they agree to anything that restricts their desires to attack other species?”
“At X-41 we saw just how powerful technological advancements can be against the Flex oar,” Becket countered. “We destroyed an entire fleet of their warships whilst suffering minimal losses. If we can strengthen our relationship with the Crians and their benefactors, our technologies could be advanced to a point where the Flex-aor are no longer a threat. That would especially be possible if it turns out the Flex-aor were given their technologies. If that’s the case, then there would be almost no risk that they could ever catch up with us. If we wanted, we could come back at any time in the future and crush them with ease.”
“What do you make of that?” James said as he turned to Gupta. He wanted to know if Scott and Becket’s arguments were having any effect on her thinking.
Gupta didn’t reply immediately as she thought through what she wanted to say. She nodded as she began to speak. “There is weight to the arguments to hold off attacking. Thinking in the long term, there could be potential benefits from following Ya’sia’s likely course of action. Yet, making decisions based on possible future outcomes that are very difficult to assess, either in terms of their likelihood, or their benefit, concerns me. We don’t know what technologies the Crians might be willing to share with us, nor how those technologies might help us defend against the Flex-aor. In contrast, we have a clear target in front of us. We can see what an impact a successful attack would have. If Ya’sia wants to open negotiations, and we all know she will, then we will be sacrificing the strategic advantage for a possible future benefit. At the end of the day, I am with you Vice Admiral, but my instinct tells me we should attack. We are the ones who are experienced in warfare, Ya’sia is not. In this she should listen to us.”
“Thank you for your honesty my friend,” James replied. “Sato?”
“We came out here on the premise of working with the Crians. We all knew that would involve some sacrifice of our operational freedom,” Sato said. “I don’t think we should go out on our own at the first hurdle. I understand that the strategic benefits from siding with the Crians are somewhat unknown, but I still think they will be very significant. Our encounter with the Crians and, in the future, with their benefactors and neighbors is likely to be even more significant than our discovery of the Vestarians and Kulreans. We are all warriors, we all want to fight, but as flag officers, we need to think in the long term as well as the short. Of course, I am with you whenever you decide.”
“Well, as yet I’m still on the fence,” James replied. “My gut is telling me to attack. But my head is telling me to wait. I share your passion Commodore Davies. The Flex-aor must be brought to justice. Yet attacking this world would not be enough in and of itself. We must make sure they can never threaten us again. Let’s say for the sake of argument Ya’sia wants to try and open negotiations. At the very least, I will be warning her about the dangers of such a course of action. If she insists we go ahead with negotiations though, what precautions can we take?”
As his officers discussed different negotiation strategies and ship deployments, James allowed the debate to go back-and-forth. He was listening, though his thoughts were elsewhere. He knew that if he wasn’t the senior commander of the Outer Defense Fleet he would be pushing for a surprise attack. That was what made the most sense militarily. They could push into the system and cripple its defenses before aid could come from the Flex-aor homeworld. Then, they could probably push on into the Flex-aor homeworld before the Flex-aor could respond. Yet he was the senior commander, and there were other factors he had to consider.
Five minutes later James was distracted from his thoughts when his niece waved her hand at him. “Yes Sub Lieutenant?” he asked when there was a pause in the back and forth between his officers.
“Ya’sia is requesting a COM channel with you,” she reported.
“I’ll take it in my office,” James said as he stood. “Thank you,” he said to his officers. “I’ll see what Ya’sia has to say and take your thoughts into consideration. I’ll update you on what we decide. For now, prepare for an attack into the system. If we’re going to strike, I want us to be prepared. Dismissed.”
In his office James sat down and let out a deep breath, taking a few moments to gather his thoughts. The experienced warrior within him was screaming out to attack. Opportunities like this rarely came. When you caught your enemy by surprise and unprepared, you had to strike hard and quickly. Yet his experience as an Admiral and, though he hated to admit it, as someone who had been drawn into far more political intrigue than he wished, was telling him that the bigger picture was more important. After letting out another deep breath, he reached forward and activated his office’s holo projector.
“Admiral,” he said with a nod as Ya’sia’s face appeared in front of him. “You have read Sparrow’s report?”
“I have,” she replied with a smile. “And I guess we’re about to have another difference of opinion.”
James returned her smile. “Well at least we are in agreement about that. You were sent here to ensure the Flex-aor could not pose any more threat to your species or your neighbors. Surely striking one of their industrialized systems and taking out any shipyards they have here would go a long way in accomplishing that? Especially if we can repeat the same feat in their home system.”
“I grant you, you are correct,” Ya’sia replied. “However, the fact that this system has been colonized and so heavily industrialized suggests that the Flex-aor are a far greater threat than my superiors knew when they dispatched me to the their homeworld. My orders prioritize seeking a peaceful settlement. If the Flex-aor have a number of similar such systems, which on reflection seems likely, then seeking to eliminate their threat through military means will require a far larger offensive operation than our two fleets can accomplish. My entire species may need to mobilize for war. That is something I do not think my superiors would look very fondly upon. That means I must pursue a diplomatic solution if it is possible. I’m not saying my species will not stand up to the Flex-aor. We will. And, if it comes to it, our benefactors will assist us. However, a peaceful settlement is preferable, and the more fighting we do, the less likely that becomes.”
“That is where I disagree,” James responded. “I hope we have developed enough of a friendship over the last month to be direct and honest with one another without causing unnecessary offence.”
“I hope the same,” Ya’sia replied. “You can
speak freely with me Admiral. As we have discussed in depth, it is my hope, and my belief that our two species can become firm friends. Friendship requires honesty.”
James smiled. “Thank you. I will be honest then. One of my subordinates reminded me of something that I think your species has little or no experience of. It is something that is important in thinking through the situation we find ourselves in. May I ask, how many negotiations has your species successfully concluded with a hostile faction or species that has sought to defeat or conquer your planets?”
“None,” Ya’sia answered. “And now you’re going to tell me your species has far more experience.”
“We do. And if there’s anything the history of my people tells us, it is that hostile actors rarely, if ever, willingly seek after peace unless their goals have been accomplished, or they have been defeated to the point where they no longer believe they can accomplish those goals. The Flex-aor are currently in neither position.”
“Tell me,” Ya’sia said as she brought her hands together in front of her torso. “How many permanent peaceful settlements have your species achieved? By that I mean, how many settlements resulted in a permanent state of peace rather than simply a pause in hostilities?”
James had to think about that. “I’m not sure,” he answered honestly. “Certainly some have. For example, many centuries ago my kingdom was at war with the Americans. You have met Lieutenant Alvarez, my intelligence officer. He is an American. The last war between our nations ended more than six hundred years ago. Since then we have been close allies. However, you’re right, many of the peace settlements that have been signed in my people’s history just proved to be a temporary ceasefire.”
“You see where I’m going,” Ya’sia followed up. “I take your point that the Flex-aor may not be willing to negotiate unless we show them they cannot defeat us. However, even if we do negotiate from such a position, it would likely just mean that the Flex-aor would agree to our terms and immediately begin trying to alter the balance of power so that they could resume hostilities. It is my belief that only a diplomatic negotiation in which each party sees themselves as an equal will be able to accomplish lasting peace. This is the approach our benefactors took with my people and our neighbors when they first revealed themselves to us. It is how they would wish me to pursue negotiations with the Flex-aor. I was willing to destroy the scout fleet we encountered in the previous system because I didn’t want Flex-aor in this system or their home system warned. If we came into their home system and were confronted by a war fleet prepared to engage us, opening negotiations would have been all but impossible. Now, we can approach this system and by showing restraint, we can show the Flex-aor that we are willing to negotiate rather than simply engaging in combat.”
“Except, the difference between your situation with your benefactors and the situation we find ourselves in now, is that I suspect your race and your benefactors shared many ideological beliefs,” James countered. “That is something that I do not think can be said of the Flex-aor. It is my belief that the difference between our two species and them will make negotiations impossible. I strongly recommend then that we push ahead and assault this world if their defenses are as limited as they appear now.” James paused to let the seriousness of his words sink in. “However, I am willing to compromise with you on this. I think passing up the opportunity to attack this system while it is relatively undefended will be a decision we both come to regret. Nevertheless, continued cooperation between our two fleets and, in time, our two species is more important than one battle. I would ask that you would consider what I have said. There is nothing either of our two species have seen in our dealings with the Flex-aor that suggests they will be open to a peaceful settlement. That must be taken into consideration. As we agreed from the outset, we are partners in this. I cannot tell you what to do, neither will I act unilaterally without you. So as long as you consider what I have said, I am willing to accept the course of action you propose.”
“Well,” Ya’sia said slowly. “You have certainly been as direct with me as you can. I give you my word I will take what you have said under serious consideration. I’ll delay sending out our scouting squadrons until I have come to a decision. Thank you for your advice Admiral.”
“You’re welcome,” James replied. “As much as I don’t want to be drawn into another battle against the Flex-aor, I feel it is inevitable. However, my fleet will be by your side whatever you choose.”
“I’ll get back to you as soon as I have thought this through and discussed it with my officers,” Ya’sia said.
“We’ll speak again soon then,” James replied as he reached over and ended the COM channel.
He took a few moments to consider what he had just done. If Ya’sia chose not to attack, he suspected a number of his officers would be very unhappy. They’d probably be even more unhappy that he had given over the authority to make such a decision to Ya’sia. Yet Scott’s words were ringing in his ears. The strategic situation was much bigger than just one battle. Showing the Crians that Humanity desired peace despite the many wars that filled its history was important. If worse comes to worse, we can always pull back to X 38 and await reinforcements from Earth or Crian space, James told himself. Despite his attempts at justifying his decision, he still felt uneasy. It just didn’t sit right with him to let such an opportunity pass by. As his hand was still resting on the COM unit built into his desk, James contacted the bridge. “Emilie, organize another holo conference with the fleet’s senior commanders. Have my staff officers assemble in briefing room one for the conference as well.” James knew that if he was uneasy, the rest of his officers would be as well. It was best to keep them in the loop lest they get any more upset than was necessary.
Chapter 9
Given the size of the Empire, it has been split up into seventy-four administrative sectors. Each sector has its own Regional Capital and Fleet Headquarters. Typically each sector is roughly half the size of the Human Sphere during the War of Doom.
-Excerpt from Empire Rising, 3002 AD.
UNS Golden Hind, X-62 system.
When Ya’sia informed him of her decision, James wasn’t surprised she was still insisting that a diplomatic solution be sought first. As soon as he received her COM message, he replied with one of his own. Scott had been taking notes during his meeting with his senior commanders and she had put together a series of recommendations for Ya’sia. If their two fleets were going to reveal themselves to the Flex-aor, James wanted to take every precaution imaginable. As a result, before the two fleets moved into the system, small detachments of scouts and picket squadrons were given orders to leave the main fleet. Some would take up positions within the system to watch for sneak attacks. Others would scout out the nearby systems in case they were inhabited by the Flex-aor. James wanted as full a picture of what was going on around them as possible.
“Handmaiden is signaling,” Emilie reported. “Ya’sia says all Crian ships have received their orders and her fleet is ready to proceed into the system.”
“Reply and let her know we are ready to go, we will follow her lead,” James responded.
“Flex-aor ships are breaking orbit Admiral,” Golden Hind’s sensor officer reported almost as soon as the Human and Crian ships lit off their engines. “They’re accelerating towards the shift passage that leads to the Flex-aor home system. I’m detecting four gravimetric signatures; the readings suggest they are all frigates.”
“The element of surprise is gone,” Becket commented. “Let’s hope we have given it up for a good reason.”
Ya’sia had wanted to take her time coming into the system so as to not appear threatening. As a result, it took four hours for the Human and Crian fleet to approach the Flex-aor colony. After a long deceleration burn, Golden Hind came to rest well outside the known missile range of the two hundred Flex-aor warships that had remained in orbit around the colony. During the entire trip into the system, Ya’sia’s flagship had been broadcasti
ng a request to open diplomatic discussions. At no point had the Flex-aor replied.
“It looks like we’re going to get our battle after all,” Scott commented after the fleet came to a halt and there was no response from the colony.
“Signal all capital ships to prepare their fighters and bombers for launch,” James ordered. “I’ll contact Ya’sia and see what she’s thinking. But if there is no response, combat is our only option. We can fire a full salvo at the defending ships and send our fighters and bombers in immediately afterwards to take out their orbital defenses. We should have no problem closing in and finishing off whatever is left after that.”
“We have movement!” Miyamoto shouted. “A single ship. It’s breaking orbit and heading our way.”
“It’s a battlecruiser class ship,” Ivanov added. “It looks like the largest one in the defending fleet.”
James’ eyebrows rose in surprise and he glanced at Scott and Becket. Both had similar expressions on their faces. “They’re actually responding to us?”
“We’re picking up a communication from that ship,” Emilie reported excitedly. “I can’t make it out yet, the computer is still translating. Wait, I’ve got it. They are acknowledging our request for peaceful negotiations. They wish for us to send a shuttle to their ship where our envoys can begin preliminary discussions.”
