“Not if they get close,” replies Danion. “I’m hoping that they will destroy it from a distance.”
“Well, let’s give it a shot,” says the Admiral.
***
Danion has been bringing empty freighters in and out of the system for some months now. He had planned this ruse long before Admiral Meyers arrived. The freighters enter one or two at a time and the supposed cargo is offloaded onto shuttles for delivery to different parts of the planet.
Danion has lookouts stationed on various moons and asteroids, to keep watch. Those lookouts have observed Verm scouts as they spy on the fake New Hope. The Verm Navy is aware of suspicious activity and the Verm scouting force has more than doubled, lately.
Admiral Danion’s Fleet is stationed near the fake New Hope, and Admiral Meyers’ Fleet is stationed on the opposite side of the system. Both Fleets are running-silent, with everything but Life Support shut down. This is all part of the ruse. They expect that the Verm Navy will detect them and will view the hidden fleets as more evidence, that this is the planet New Hope.
What is not certain is what the Verm Navy’s response will be. They could order the whole Verm Fleet to emerge inside the system. In that event, both AH Navy Fleets will have to power UP their systems and escape into FTL space, before the Verm can get organized. Danion is expecting that they will instead send a quick strike team to destroy the planet. If that happens, the two AH Navy Fleets will come alive and make a good show of defending the planet.
If everything goes well, the Verm will have destroyed an uninhabited planet, thinking that it is New Hope, and the two AH Navy Fleets will have destroyed the Verm quick strike team.
***
The Verm scouts stay in the area for another week, watching the routine of freighters clandestinely coming and going - then the number of Verm scouts doubles again. Fleet Admiral Meyers communicates to all ships, via a focused laser comm system, and calls them to high alert.
A few days later, a fleet of 250 Verm warships emerges into the space above the fake New Hope planet. Both AH Navy fleets immediately power UP their systems from run-silent mode.
That few minutes of startup time - necessary to bring the AH Navy Fleets to a Battle Ready condition - is all it takes for the Verm fleet to rain nuclear missiles down, on the fake New Hope. That part of the mission is accomplished. Now the second part of the mission is to destroy the 250 Verm warships, which cannot flee until their FTL drives cool.
The AH Navy fleets attack like a nest of angry hornets, as the surrounded Verm Warships try to make a run for safety, in real space. Even though the number of Verm warships outnumbers the AH Navy fleets, they still run from the fight.
Probably seeing the Galactus is enough to put fear into their hearts. That is the Sweetwater Fleet’s Flagship. And the Sweetwater Fleet has a reputation of mythical proportions. The Verm warships are running for their lives.
***
When it is over, the Verm lost 142 warships and the AH Navy forces lost 16 warships. The AH Navy lost 3,213 humanoids and 12 AIs. Over 30,000 Verm sailors are collected from the damaged Verm warships. These POWs are delivered to a habitable planet, and are left with enough resources for survival. The AH Navy has no way of caring for that many POWs.
***
As part of the ruse, the bulk of the AH Navy Fleets begin to migrate to more distant parts of space, as if there is no reason to stay in this area any longer. As was hoped, the fleets from the Empires follow after them.
***
Shakedown with Admiral Justice Nemo
She has put this off until last. Fleet Admiral Meyers has trouble with her judgment, when Admiral Justice – as his Fleet calls him – is around. Her concentration is not good, and her ability to make decisions is impaired when he is in the same room.
Honesty says that she is ‘in love’. That may be, but this is a dangerous time to lose your ability to reason. She needs to have a plan before she speaks with Admiral Justice. That way she won’t have to think, in case Justice doesn’t have any good ideas for a shakedown attack.
She settles on another high velocity attack. They are quick and effective. In fact, she probably should have done a lot more of them, before the Verm/Darinx fleets had time to put up defenses. But now that the two fleets have moved, their deep space probe array is probably in the wrong place.
She quickly sends a text to the scouting team, telling them to check on the enemy’s deep space probe array. If she doesn’t use this attack with Admiral Justice, she can assign it to Admiral Wentr.
Then she takes a deep breath and comms ‘Admiral Justice’. “Admiral Justice here,” he answers.
Melissa Meyers is a little taken aback that he seems to know what she has been calling him. She says: “How did you know that I have been calling you that?”
“Oh, I didn’t,” he answers. “That is what everyone in my Fleet calls me, so I just answer to it.”
“Good,” she responds. “May I call you that, also?”
“Sure,” he replies. “What can I do for you?”
***
Admiral Justice does have an idea for his shakedown attack. “My father always preached “sever the head of the beast”,” Justice says. “And Admiral Danion’s ruse to make the Verm think that they have destroyed New Hope appears to be working. The Verm Fleet is following the retreating AH Navy forces.”
“I would like for us to add to Danion’s ruse, by having our two Fleets assault the Verm Navy Fleet in a head on assault. The goals of the attack are:
1. To convince the enemy that the entire AH Navy force is in front of them, and is withdrawing from this area of space.
2. To attempt to reach, and destroy the Verm Fleet Flagship, which is currently near the front of the Fleet.
3. And to further convince the Verm Navy that the Darinx, and AH Navy forces are conspiring against the Verm, because none of the Darinx vessels will be attacked.
“I like it,” answers Fleet Admiral Meyers. “And if my scouting reports confirm my suspicions, we will have Admiral Wentr do a high velocity assault against their front lines, before we do a frontal assault. That will soften them up for us, and will confuse them.”
The scouting reports show that the front of the Verm/Darinx Fleets has moved out from under the protection of their deep space probe array. That leaves them exposed to a high velocity attack by Admiral Wentr.
***
“Admiral Wentr confirms that the high velocity assault has been successful. He estimates that at least 95 Verm warships are out of the battle. And he was careful to spare any Darinx vessels,” Fleet Admiral Meyers says to Admiral Justice Nemo. “Begin operation Frontal Assault, on my mark. ………………… Engage.”
***
Slicing In
The two AH Navy Fleets are to assault the Verm Navy Fleet by slicing in - at opposing angles - so that the two AH Navy Fleets converge at the point where the Verm Fleet’s Flagship is currently positioned.
This mission can still be considered a success, even if the Flagship is not destroyed, but it will be considered a great success, if they can take out the Flagship and Fleet Admiral Keeser.
***
Both Fleets have started about a light day away from the Verm Fleet, and are approaching at a relatively high velocity, in real space. Then as they near the Verm Fleet they fire their thrusters in reverse, in order to rapidly decrease their velocity. Both AH Navy Fleets hit the Vern Fleet’s frontline, with a momentum that quickly carries them into the meat of the Verm fleet.
Once again, the AH Navy Fleets have assaulted using the spear formation. There are empty sacrificial vessels, which are remotely controlled, at the tip of the spear positions. After those sacrificial vessels have been destroyed, the battle begins in earnest as the AH Navy vessels slow, to fight the Verm Fleet.
Once again, the AH Navy fleets benefit, by being inside the Verm Fleet. The Verm vessels are limited to energy weapons, because any errant projectiles will target other Verm warships.
/>
Since the AH Navy won’t have that problem, until the two assault teams converge, they just let loose with massive barrages of projectile and energy weapons. All AH Navy vessels are carrying extra projectiles, because they expect to run through their regular complement in the first few hours of the assault.
And the assault goes well for the AH Navy. Admiral Wentr’s high velocity assault left the Verm Fleet disoriented, and the high velocity approach by the Justice and Meyers fleets is not a surprise attack, but it is a sudden attack. The Verm Fleet doesn’t have time to adequately prepare for the blunt force trauma delivered by the AH Navy assault.
When the two AH Navy Fleets converge, they find that the Verm Fleet Admiral has withdrawn his vessel, and is now deeper inside of the Verm Fleet - and is still running.
Fleet Admiral Meyers assesses the situation. The Verm Fleet Admiral is still in the process of withdrawing, and is a tempting target. But staying inside of the Verm Fleet any longer, will put both AH Navy Fleets in danger of being surrounded. She orders a withdrawal. Fleet Admiral Keeser and Field Marshall Kax have escaped again.
***
The two AH Navy fleets reverse their direction and begin the hard slog, of fighting their way out of the Verm Fleet. This part of the battle is the most costly for the AH Navy Fleets, as Verm Navy missiles and rail gun projectiles chase after them.
Fleet Admiral Meyers orders all ships to enter FTL space at the first opportunity. She and Admiral Justice are the last to leave the battle.
***
Both AH Navy Fleets have been bloodied in the battle. No vessel escaped without moderate damage, and some have severe damage. And there were 32 AH Navy warships, and crews destroyed in the battle.
It is crying time again for Fleet Admiral Meyers, as Honesty comforts her in the privacy of her quarters. “The Verm Navy lost over 200 vessels Melissa, and the Verm have got to wonder why you didn’t attack the Darinx Fleet.”
“I know,” the Fleet Admiral replies. “But I always think maybe I could have done something better so that these people wouldn’t have to die. If I were a better Admiral, I could have reduced our losses.”
“And you are getting better,” responds Honesty. “We would never have done this well a few months ago. But there are some battle strategies that require loss of ships and lives. ‘War is hell’ and there is no way to win, without the sacrifice of life.”
“Thank you Honesty,” she replies. “I know that, but I can’t help but hate it when I lose someone.”
“I know Melissa,” says Honesty. “That’s why your sailors and AIs love you so much.”
***
Chapter 16
New Growth
The Verm Fleet withdraws from the Frontier Sector and the Darinx Fleet, being outnumbered, follows suite. Life slowly begins to return to normal in the Augmented Human Navy part of the universe. There is cautious optimism in the upper echelons of the AH Navy that the crisis is over.
***
The relationship between Admiral Justice Nemo and Fleet Admiral Melissa Meyers has became a regular topic of conversation in all parts of the AH Navy community. Everyone is wondering when the wedding will be. There are betting pools on every ship, with crewmembers gambling on the date.
And the AIs, on the Sweetwater Fleet ships, turn their attention to reproduction. The baby Jason - which Shiela and Honesty birthed - has grown into a young man, right before their eyes. The Sweetwater AIs ask Honesty to help them birth their offspring. Honesty calls for help from Shiela, and the two of them assist in the birthing of Sweetwater AIs. There is great joy and excitement, as the AI population quickly doubles in the Sweetwater Fleet.
The babies will pick their own vocations when they are mature, and Fleet Admiral Meyers is hoping that some will choose to be fighter pilots. She has a whole squadron of the speedy fighters, in the cargo bay of the Galactus.
And the AI Exoskeletons, which Honesty designed, have liberated AIs to the point where they are obviously sentient beings. An entire industry has popped into existence, for producing the AI vessels. Sales outlets have been opened up in both the Darinx and Frontiers Sectors. There isn’t any way to open a sales outlet in the Verm sector, but the black market price for the AI Exoskeletons in Verm space is off the charts.
***
Admiral Cade Nemo’s dream about the AH Navy Sector becoming a trading and mining center is coming to life. The manufacture and sales of AI Exoskeletons is causing a flood of new revenue to pour in. The economy in the AH Navy sector of space is blossoming and is spreading, like new growth in the spring time.
***
A small number of the sailors on AH Navy ships, become suddenly wealthy when they collect their winnings, for picking the correct wedding date in the ships’ betting pools.
Fleet Admiral Melissa Meyers and Admiral Justice Nemo finally get married. “At last,” thinks Fleet Admiral Cade Nemo. “I may get some grandchildren, at last.”
***
Admirals Clay and Wentr retire and their Fleets are reassigned. Fleet Admiral Cade Nemo appoints new admirals from within the ranks of the Fleets. Cade Nemo believes that continuing diversity is critical for new growth and forward thinking.
Admiral Clay is replaced by a human who was born and raised in the AH Navy. He is Admiral Steven Clay, Junior.
Likewise, Admiral Wentr is replaced by an extrucian – Admiral Glezz. It always amazes Cade Nemo that species as different as humans and extrucian ant people can get along so well. It gives him hope for the future.
***
In the re-alignment of the admiralty, Admiral Justice Nemo is promoted to Fleet Admiral Justice Nemo.
There are now four Fleet Admirals, but since Cade Nemo is semi-retired, there are only 3 working Fleet Admirals - Fleet Admiral Melissa Meyers, Fleet Admiral Justice Nemo and Fleet Admiral Danion. Among those three, Fleet Admiral Melissa Meyers is in charge.
***
For Cade Nemo and his wife, Sandra Guiles, the future looks bright and full - full of love, friends and grandchildren.
They had given up hope of their first child - Kiersten – ever finding a husband. Sandra Guilles blames the problem on Cade Nemo, because – she says – “He spoiled her rotten”.
Well, Admiral Kiersten Nemo has found someone else who will spoil her rotten. It is Admiral Steven Clay, Junior – a human. ‘What hath God wrought?’
And with both children ‘married off’, Cade and Sandra sit back, and wait for the grandchildren to happen.
***
It doesn’t take long for the two Fleet Admirals to produce a little sailor. He’s a 17 pound baby, with lungs that can be heard for miles. Since they are in a period of peacetime, the family stays near New Hope and takes advantage of the babysitting grandparents. The parents name him Cade Nemo, Junior.
And then Kiersten announces that she is ‘with child’. There is great joy, along with some concern. No one has heard of a baby being produced by a human/augmented human couple. …………. …………… It turns out that the process works just fine. It’s probably best if the augmented human is the mother, because the baby weighs 14 pounds.
Her name is Jade. “Why?” Sandra Guilles asks. “Rhymes with Cade,” answers Kiersten.
But no one notices the presence of scout ships.
***
Chapter 17
Above New Hope
The first indication of impending doom is an alarm from a deep space early warning probe. That alarm is soon followed by a chorus of others. Cade Nemo and Sandra Guilles instantly know what is happening.
Cade Nemo lifts the cover over the big red button and activates the EVACUATION alarm. Now sirens are sounding in every home, business, and communications device on New Hope. SOS probes have been launched toward all AH Navy forces.
The AH Navy has not forgotten that there are 2 great Empires who hate their existence. The hope has been that they would get a respite from the hostilities, and eventually a brokered peace. That dream may be for the future, but cert
ainly it is not for the present.
What the residents of planet New Hope can try for, at this moment, is an escape from the death trap that the planet New Hope has become. Their only chance now is to get off of the planet, before the nuclear missiles pour down like rain.
Preparations have been made for just such a contingency. Each town and village has assigned evacuation routes leading to hidden spaceports. Within an hour, space ships with a full load of people and AIs begin to launch and to head off in the direction opposite to the impending assault. When the available space ships are gone, people load into shuttles, which when full, head for the freighters waiting overhead. Those freighters have been hidden on the moon, and are stocked with the provisions, which will be needed for a long journey. Within hours, the loaded freighters begin to carry refugees away from the planet and toward a rendezvous point in deep space.
***
All AH Navy Fleets will soon be under way to the planet New Hope. For the present however, only one Fleet is in position above the planet. Fleet Admiral Danion, with his complement of 300 warships, heads toward the approaching menace. There are three Admirals under his command. Two are augmented human, and the third is his wife, Admiral Shiela. Fleet Admiral Danion resides on her vessel.
All ships are in Battle Stations alert status and are fully prepared for battle. It is Danion’s plan to meet the enemy in deep space in order to buy time for the planet New Hope, so that the enemy can’t destroy the planet with nuclear missiles, until after the New Hope citizens have been evacuated.
“No,” says Shiela.
(One of the problems with marriage between two AIs is that they can read each other’s mind, a few nanoseconds after the thought occurs.)
“I must dear,” he says.
“No,” she says. “I want to go with you.”
“You will stay here and be the last line of defense.” Danion says. “I don’t often order you to do anything, but I am ordering you now. This is what I think is best for the AH Navy people, including the AIs. This is the Artificial Intelligences best chance for freedom. The AH Navy must survive.”
Retribution: The Augmented Human Rebellion - Book 2 Page 14
