Imprint of War

by Phil Huddleston

  ***

  At the restaurant, Eva came in just as Vitus expected, more than forty-five minutes late. But he had arrived only fifteen minutes before, so he grinned. His timing remained intact. Once seated, Eva smiled at him, and apologized.

  “Sorry, I got tied up working on a modification to the grav fluctuations we’ve seen on the new deflector. I lost track of time.”

  Vitus grinned. “No worries. How’s it coming with that?”

  Eva shrugged. “Pretty good. Can’t talk much about it, you know, but we’re getting there.”

  Vitus nodded. “Right, glad to hear that.”

  “How about you? Still killing Bats in the simulator?”

  “But of course,” grinned Vitus. “That’s my life. I kill them by morning, I kill them by night.”

  Eva laughed. “Let’s just hope, when the day comes, you can maintain that record.”

  Vitus got serious for a minute. “Any idea when that day might come?”

  Eva shook her head. “You would know better than me. You’re Fleet, I’m just R&D.”

  Vitus grimaced. “I am getting damn tired of waiting. Sometimes I feel like I can’t wait another day. I just want to jump in a ship and take off for Nest, start shooting things.”

  “I know, hon,” said Eva. “But patience…it will come. Admiral Hammett says we must be absolutely ready before we take the initiative. And I agree with that.”

  Vitus sighed. “I know. But…”

  Eva patted his hand across the table. “Patience, Vitus. It will come.”

  Vitus suddenly reached his hand in his pocket and pulled out the box containing the ring.

  “I was going to wait until after dinner to ask this, but I just can’t wait, Eva.”

  He slid out of his chair and knelt on his knee next to the table, holding the ring out at Eva. Amused diners all around them turned to look as the young Daneki opened the box and showed the contents to her.

  “Eva,” he began.

  Eva squealed. “Yes,” she screamed before he could say another word. She snatched the ring out of his hand and pulled him to her. “Yes!”

  The restaurant broke out into applause around them as Vitus held her, tears in his eyes and his heart soaring.

  ***

  The door slammed open at the back of the classroom and Jake Hammett marched in.

  "Ten-shut!" someone yelled, and the assembled officers - mostly Commanders and Captains, a couple of newly-minted Admirals – rose to a loose attention.

  "At ease," Jake said, his voice carrying across the room. He marched to the front of the classroom, turned at the podium and dropped his tablet down on it. He gazed around the room.

  "Welcome to the 2205 session of the Command Officer Strategy School," said Jake. "Or as we like to call it here, 'Advanced Bat-Killing'."

  A titter of laughter ran around the room.

  "Now, one of the questions that we get over and over again, is – why hasn't the RDF made it known that we have a battle plan for meeting the threat of the Bats, and when do we expect to do that?"

  "Any ideas on that, class?"

  An Aeolian officer in the middle of the classroom stood up. Her holographic nametag, , appeared in front of her in Jake’s vision.

  "Because that could be giving away too much to the enemy, sir."

  Jake grinned. "That is correct. Also, everyone, we won't be concerned with the formalities here. Please answer from your seats, and that will help us to focus on our objective - learning how to defend our worlds."

  He stepped out from behind the podium, and paced slowly in front of the class, hands clasped behind his back.

  "I am here to tell you today, that we do, indeed, have a battle plan for meeting the threat of the Bats. And a schedule."

  A collective intake of breath sounded like a massive sigh around the room.

  "Yes, I know. We have spent eighty-four years focused on colonization, development of technology, build out of the fleet, weapons research and design, forming the Alliance – and repeatedly, civilians - and of course RDF staff - have asked, 'When will you actually start letting us know about the end game?' "

  Jake stopped and looked at the class. "Today is the day. I am here to tell you that, after eighty-four years, you - the officers in this room - will be there at that battle. You will execute the battle plan. And you will deliver to us the victory that will remove the Bat threat from the Rim forever."

  There was silence in the room.

  "Captain..." Jake, gazing at the holographic nametags in front of each person in the audience, directed his question to a male RDF officer in the front row.

  "...Achsasi. What is the most recent estimate of the discovery of the Rim by the Bats?"

  Captain Achsasi started to rise, but Jake waved him down. "No formalities in the classroom, please."

  "Nine more years, plus or minus five years, depending of course on their rate of expansion and scouting in this direction." said Captain Achsasi, returning to his seat.

  "Correct." said Jake. Once again pacing, he directed himself to the entire class. "Prepare to input." he said. Pausing, he looked left and right across the class. "What strategy at this point would have the best chance of success to defeat the Bats? You have one minute."

  Most students closed their eyes as they began communicating via their comm beads with their tablets, making note of the problem statement and formulating a response. Jake returned to the podium. He looked at Aeolian Admiral Andrea Iona Satra, sitting to his left, concentrating on her tablet - but with her eyes open, looking back at him. Jake smiled and sent a silent message to her via his MEMSAI.

 

  Andrea smiled slightly as she continued work on the problem statement.

  A minute later, Jake called time. He turned to the holographic screen behind him as the AI automatically correlated the answers and placed them on the screen, collected into categories pre-defined by Jake.

  "Hmmm...fifteen responses are some form of 'conduct guerrilla warfare and attacks of attrition'." Jake nodded, looked at the class. "I like it. That is a very good answer. And, part of the solution. But not the complete solution that I want today."

  More silence pervaded the students. Jake turned back to the screen. "Twelve responses - 'attack the Bat's home fleet." Jake faced the class again.

  "Not a terrible idea, but I would hate to go directly from no real experience fighting the Bats to an all-out, do-or-die attack on the center of their strength."

  Jake grinned. "Although I do sympathize - we have waited for a long time and it would be nice to get into some real action. But I don't want our first action to be a final battle that would decide the survival of the Rim instantly."

  Turning back to the screen a final time, Jake continued. "And 3 responses - 'divide their Fleet by deception, defeat each component in detail.'"

  Jake turned to the class. "I want each of the three people who provided this response to stand up, please."

  In the front row, Captain Achsasi stood slowly. An Aeolian Captain in the middle of the classroom stood – Captain Melousa. And finally, Andrea Iona stood, to Jake's left, a slight smile on her face.

  "Everyone take a good look around. These three officers already have a pretty good idea how to kill Bats," stated Jake. "As a result, they will be your team leaders for the next week as we work on the strategy they have just formulated."

  With a hand motion, Jake dismissed the hologram, and waved the standing officers to be seated. "There are thirty students in this class. We will divide into three teams, each team consisting of ten students. For the first week, the students who were just standing will act as team leaders. Each team will further sub-divide into three teams of three students each. Each sub-team will develop and publish part of the plan based on the last of the strategies we just discussed - divide the Bat's fleet by deception, attack them by surprise, and defeat them in detail before they can re-group
. The team leaders will assign the sub-teams their part of the exercise. You will continue your classes with other instructors for the remainder of this week, and work on this project in your off-hours. One week from today each team will publish their plans. Make sure they are published by next Monday, eight AM sharp. Your plans will be evaluated, and I will meet with you in this classroom at nine AM to critique them. Any questions?"

  A mumble of negatives and head shakes ran around the room. Jake continued. "One more thing, the Team Leaders are responsible for ensuring that every team member participates, is engaged, and contributes value to the exercise. Rank - or branch of service - will be suspended and have no place in these exercises. If you give the Team Leaders any grief, you can expect to be on the next ship out of here and spend a long and boring life in Supply."

  Laughter ran around the room. "Next Monday, at the end of our critique, I will ask another question, like the one I asked today. The best three answers will decide the team leaders for the last week of class. Oh - and the Team Leaders from this week will not be eligible."

  Silence pervaded the room as Jake gazed coolly around. "Then get to it, folks. Class dismissed!"

  ***

  The following Monday, Jake stood at the front of the class. They had gone over the various draft battle plans, and Jake was pleased. All three teams had developed a sound plan that closely matched the one Jake’s team had already finalized. Of course, he couldn’t tell them that. But now he was ready to move on.

  "Today's question. Where do we fight?" he tossed out to the assembled students. "You have one minute to post your response."

  From near the front of the class, Andrea Iona smiled at him. He had forgotten how beautiful she was, with her black hair, brown eyes and tomboy build. Some Aeolians – including Andrea - were a bit darker than contemporary Europeans, he wasn’t sure why. Sort of like a permanent suntan. Something about their genetics, frozen from the 8th century B.C. But he liked it.

  Jake caught himself thinking about her age. She had been about twenty-five when he first met her, twenty years before. So... maybe about forty-five now, he thought. Biologically, Jake was still only 38, not really aging compared to the rest of humanity. He pushed the thought away. His biological age didn't matter. Everyone knew his real age. Jake was pushing 123 now. It was silly to think about it.

  ***

  Jake's AI pinged, then "Visitor Waiting" flashed into his upper peripheral vision.

  Jake scowled.

  said Zoe.

  said Jake.

  Jake stood up and adjusted his uniform. The door opened, and Andrea Iona stood there, magnificent in her AEN dress uniform. She had her cap under her arm, in the RDF fashion. Jake couldn't help but smile.

  "Andrea! Come in!" he came around the desk and held out his arms. Andrea walked into them, and the hug they executed was perhaps just a bit too long.

  Jake finally pulled away, blushing slightly, and motioned her to a chair. Walking back around his desk, he grinned at her.

  "You are kicking ass in the Strategy School, Andrea."

  Andrea grinned back at him. "Well, remember what Hecate used to say - if you want something killed, send Andrea!"

  Jake chuckled. "Yes, I remember! How is my granddaughter?"

  "She's magnificent. Keeping a close eye on the shipbuilding and crew training, making sure we get our plan done on time. I just got a message from her this morning. She said to tell you hello."

  "Fantastic," said Jake. "I miss her. I haven't seen her in, oh...maybe three years now. I wish I could see her more often."

  "I know," said Andrea. "But you have a lot on your plate. And it's a long trip. Six weeks now, with the new drives in a fast corvette. Still, a bit of a hike."

  Jake nodded. "How can I help you?"

  Andrea leaned back in her chair, collecting her thoughts.

  "You know that we Aeolians are fully committed to your plan of surprise attack against the Bats. Because of our Rebellion, we’ve fought in space long enough to know the pitfalls that can arise with such plans, but we continue to believe that's our best chance for long-term success." She paused.

  Jake nodded.

  "We are concerned about these so-called ‘Saints’ in the Rim Parliament. These proposed initiatives they are attempting to pass... This idea...this half-baked idea they have, of trying to approach the Bats and negotiate a peace treaty...this is crazy."

  Jake nodded again and smiled. "Andrea, trust me. That idea is going nowhere. The Saints will not succeed in getting that passed through the Parliament."

  Andrea looked askance at Jake. "Are you sure? It certainly looks like they have a lot of public support. The latest polls are showing they have 49% of the votes in the lower house, and a good chance of passing the upper."

  "Yes, but there's one thing you don't know. The Prime Minister will veto it, even if it passes."

  Andrea looked puzzled. "Wouldn't that be the end of his career, if he vetoed a popular measure that had passed both houses?"

  "Probably," Jake said. "In fact, almost certainly. But there are some things that are more important than career. Every time we go out into space, we risk our lives for the sake of the future. I know it seems impossible that a politician would do the same, but in this case, I can assure you that he will. He is a close friend of mine and will never let this bill go into law. Feel free to pass that on to Hecate as well."

  Andrea smiled. "You're very perceptive. Of course, that was the nature of her message to me this morning. She was concerned."

  "Tell her not to be concerned. It is handled." said Jake.

  Andrea leaned forward and looked at Jake, biting her lip.

  "There's one more item I'd like to discuss with you," she said. "But it's personal. Is that OK?"

  "Sure," said Jake. "Anything."

  "You say that now," said Andrea.

  "No, seriously," said Jake. "Fire away."

  "Well," said Andrea. Jake could see it was something hard for her to get out, which surprised him. The fiercest warrior in the AEN, unable to spit something out? This must be serious, he thought.

  "I know you lost both of your original wives many years ago," said Andrea.

  Jake stiffened.

  "I don't mean to say anything to hurt you or bring you pain, Jake," said Andrea, rushing to finish before Jake took offense. "I know how much they meant to you. And Antiope, as well. I understand your grief, even after all these years."

  Jake waited, his face like stone.

  Andrea met his eyes. "Jake, I have had feelings for you since the first day I met you, twenty years ago. I think it's time you let go of the past and looked to the future again."

  Jake stared at her. His mind blanked out. This was something he had not seen coming.

  "Andrea," he began gently.

  "And don't tell me how old you are," interrupted Andrea. "I don't care."

  Jake stopped. She had read his mind. That was exactly what he was going to say. A wry little smile managed to make its way to the corner of his mouth. "You say that now," he said. "But how about when I'm 125?"

  Andrea grinned. "As long as you can still perform."

  Jake was speechless. He blushed like a schoolboy.

  Andrea rose. "I know that nothing can happen now, while Strategy School is still in session, because I know you won’t do a damn thing while that is going on. But...next Friday, Strategy School is done..." Andrea leaned forward across Jake's desk, her scent overwhelming him - "On that day, Jake Hammett, I expect an answer from you. Don't let me down."

  With that, and before Jake could un-track his brain and get it working again, she was gone. Jake sat in stunned silence for many minutes before he was able to finally, with a chuckle and a smile, get back to his work.

  ***

  A week later, the Strat School graduation ceremony was done. All the students had been dis
missed. They had drifted out of the auditorium, but as Jake made to exit, Andrea was waiting for him in the hallway. Before he could react, she clasped his arm in hers and began walking with him down the hallway.

  "Well?" asked Andrea Iona.

  Jake looked down at the floor as he walked.

  "Andrea," he began. "In a few years, we'll be in the fight of our lives."

  "All the more reason not to be alone right now," said Andrea.

  Jake shook his head. "We'd never have time to ourselves. You know how my life is; yours will be just as bad. You'll spend most of your time on the Empress; we'd never see each other."

  "You're making up reasons not to; why not think up a good reason to do it?" Andrea said.

  Jake sighed. "You can do so much better, Andrea."

  Andrea wiggled his arm. "No, I can't. I've already found what I want."

  10 April 2205

  Tolleson Base - Base Chapel

  Vitus stood nervously, awaiting his bride. The chapel was quiet, with only the noise of the fans blowing air across the crowd. Behind him, a priest waited, and to one side, his father, Captain Cassian, stood with the ring, with several of Vitus’ fellow pilots from the Enterprise lined up behind him. On the other side, Eva’s bridesmaids stood ready, clutching their flowers.

  The Daneki followed a religion that closely paralleled many RimFed religions, based on a belief in a Creator behind the universe, one that was both loving and aloof, leaving creatures mostly to their own affairs. It had not taken much for them to adapt to the RimFed customs of marriage and family. Some had even converted to the more common human religions. Vitus was one of those, considering himself a good Episcopalian.