by C. R. Daems
"I apologize, but some issues are best handled with short notice and face-to-face. It avoids unnecessary speculation that takes on a life of its own."
Ni'Shay let the topic drop and the discussion turned to general news about Freeland, which was having unprecedented prosperity. With the exception of some of the ex-Raiders, the genral population was content with the current status,.
When we entered the conference room, food was on a side table and everyone looked relaxed, except Da'Maass.
"Welcome dybbuk, there is food and drink. It helps to take one's mind off the purpose of a meeting with no agenda. Myself, I was hoping you were going to propose." He gave me one of his rakish smiles.
"That's exactly why I'm here, Da'Maass," I smiled, and for a second, he stood with his mouth working but no sound emerged. Ni'Shay had a broad grin, and I heard several snorts and laughs. "We have a problem. By we, I mean the three empires, and by extension Freeland and the Riss. The Aliens are an advanced war-like civilization. For now they are quarantining planets and destroying their ability to fly or communicate with other planets." I stopped to take a sip of the clan's coco-kaffa.
"That's what the SAS has done to us," Elder Ja'Dalle said, leaving off the, why should we care if it happens to them.
"So why should you care? You are already confined to Freeland, and it will serve the SAS right," I said. The resulting emotions in the room were priceless.
"Yes, you're isolated—today. What about in a hundred years, two? Today your merchants are trading in the three empires. You're prospering because you are building spacecraft. And your natural resources can support the population. A hundred years from now your population will quadruple and clans will be fighting clans for scarce resources. Is that the future you see?" I stood and walked over the table and surveyed the variety of food. I found a plate and chose small samples—a paprikash dish with some kind of meat, a potato salad, noodles, a green leaf stuffed with something, and a puffy bread roll—and strolled back to the table and began eating. I doubted anyone noticed. They were too busy huddled in small groups. I had finished when Ni'Shay sat and slowly the rest returned to their seats.
"Whoever named you dybbuk had the right of it. You look into our minds and see what can be, while we see what we lost. You see our future but know you cannot tell us. We must find it or it will be yours not ours," Elder Sa'Velte said, seeming to speak for the group.
"And you want our help?"
"Yes. We cannot just fly a squadron of cruisers into one of the quarantined systems and destroy the Aliens occupying it. They won't be racing around the system with weapons systems hot. They will be lying passive, and since they are manned by robots, they require very little power."
"So you need a … decoy?" Da'Maass said, eyes looking off somewhere and deep in thought.
"Yes."
"A merchant? That would be suicide." Elder Ka'Baako said, eye blazing with anger.
"I agree, but in a cruiser with the right Captain, dangerous but possible." As I finished, Da'Maass's eyes went wide and a smile split his bushy full beard.
"The Asp!"
"Yes, fully operational—ECM, lasers, and missiles. And tailed by the Mnemosyne and Eirene," I said.
Da'Maass spun towards the elders. "Don't you see? The clan flying a cruiser and participating with the Riss and by extension the SAS. Another step towards the future the dybbuk sees."
"Why not a SAS crew? Elder Ka'Baako asked.
"Honestly, because the odds of the average SAS Captain surviving except by accident are very low. Add to that, a SAS crew operating a clan cruiser and the odds become close to zero. War is dangerous and people die, but I don't believe in wasting lives. Each is precious. I believe Captain Da'Maass is a superb tactician, who is capable of drawing the Aliens out into the open, and has a chance of surviving with Captain Pavao and my support." Da'Maass was clearly excited with the challenge, but he needed the elders' permission, since it involved others—a crew. "I'll leave so you can deliberate my proposal," I smiled at Da'Maass. "I promise there will be no repercussions if you feel the risk is too much. And there is considerable risk and more than likely people will die. The Aliens' ships are small but nasty. I can only promise that Pavao and I will do our best to protect the Asp."
* * *
Ni'Shay called the next day to tell me that the elders had decided to allow Da'Maass and a crew of volunteers to participate with the Riss. I called for a meeting, inviting Wattson, Zann, Pavao, Seng, McTosh, and Da'Maass. We met for three hours discussing what had to be done to bring the Asp to operational readiness, and the security necessary at each stage. After assessing the final schedule, Da'Maass estimated three weeks, which included six days of trials and exercises. Ironically, if the Asp hadn't been used to test the Mnemosyne, it would have taken three times longer.
Da'Maass was responsible for the manufacturing components on Freeland, collecting a crew, and seeing to the repairs to the Asp. Sami Sa'Velte took over Da'Maass's project responsibilities. Colonels McTosh and Seng shared responsibility for the security of the Asp while the repairs were being made.
* * *
The shakedown cruise went well—after the fleet was notified the Asp was conducting exercises for the upcoming mission—and only a few corrections were necessary.
The exercises with Da'Maass proved what I expected. He was a brilliant tactician and kept the Eirene on her toes. Two days before we were set to leave, I called a meeting with Wattson, Stenberg, Zann, Pavao, and my human reports.
"By now you all know your responsibilities, but this is a last chance to get clarification and to air any last minute concerns." I looked to Wattson, Stenberg, and Zann but got no response. "The Mnemosyne and the Eirene will enter Fools Landing one hour before the Asp. Commanders Byer and Clarkson will dispatch five Ghosts each. They will guard the entrance to the Wave, on the assumption that the Aliens have a scout ship present and that it will leave for reinforcements during or after the engagement. That ship must not reach the Wave or the Aliens will know far too much about us and be ready next time.
"Colonels Seng and McTosh will provide ten Scorpions each to ensure the integrity of the Asp. Since we don't know what force the Aliens will have at Fools Landing, Captain Da'Maass will have to use his discretion in how to locate them. Pavao and I will try to keep in touch with the Asp once the action starts, but it will be difficult to establish two-way communications, as we will be in stealth mode much of the time. Any questions?"
"No, you've kept us in the loop at each stage of the project. It’s a reasonable plan and hopefully we can get the Aliens to cooperate." Wattson gave a snort. "Good hunting."
"I've had concerns right from the beginning about throwing two of our most advanced cruisers and experienced captains into an unknown encounter with the Aliens. But we need to test the Riss cruisers. I wish we knew what you would face, but war is unpredictable. Fair winds, smooth seas, and good hunting," Stenberg said.
"I know you must captain one of the Riss cruisers, but I worry who will take your place. Have you given it any thought?" Zann asked.
"No need," I answered for the benefit of the others. Of course, they assumed I meant I was coming back.
CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
The Medusa
"Attention, all personnel. Battle Stations, silent running." SIDs vibrated and lights turned red throughout the ship. "We will be exiting the Wave in thirty minutes. We will remain in stealth mode until further notice." The minutes ticked by slowly but without stress.
The transition from the Wave into normal space was over in seconds and the monitors came back online.
"Commander Byer, release your Ghosts to take up their positions."
"Yes, ma'am."
"This is the Captain. Ship status is now Standby." I couldn't see any reason for everyone being on duty. We were a long way from Fools Landing, and we were in stealth mode. The Asp would be the one to come under attack, and we would have to give Da'Maass time to flush out the Aliens. If not, it could get ugly.
A day dragged by as we slowly approached Fools Landing. The Asp was close to three light-seconds, less than three minutes at full speed, ahead of us and within twenty light-seconds from Fools Landing, when a large blip appeared on the VTM.
"Unidentified cruiser. You are in a solar system under the control of the Council of the Gods. You are directed to proceed to Fools Landing where you will evacuate your ship. Failure to comply will result in your destruction."
I found it interesting the Aliens were again giving warning and allowing people time to clear the ship before firing.
"Nadya, Da'Maass is crazy. His missiles can't reach A1. The fool should have continued on to Fools Landing," Pavao voice through our tight-beam connection.
"Crazy, yes. But that will get the response we want. Everything in the area will be after him."
"Nance, continue closer to A1. I'll support the Asp."
I waited. Firing now would alert the three cruisers chasing the Asp and A1 to the existence of another warship in the area. It meant Da'Maass was going to take a beating, but it couldn't be helped. I couldn't be sure what other Aliens' ships were in the area.
Between the Asp and the Mnemosyne, we had scored seven hits. The Asp had launched all eight at AA3 and scored one. We had scored well because the Demons had no warning heat or radar signal and came from an unexpected direction. But it did indicate the Aliens' ships had an excellent laser defense system. The Dragonflies improved the Demons accuracy dramatically, so even if one of the four missed the target, the defense system still destroyed one and possibly two if all were on target.
"Byer, launch the Ghosts. Dragonflies will broadcast their positions." Unfortunately, the Dusters will obscure our contact with the Eirene, but Nance seemed to have the situation under control and will probably be launching Dusters of her own.
The Dragonflies could track the fighters into to the Duster's cloud, but the Ghosts would be outnumbered four to one, otherwise we could change position and make it difficult to locate the Mnemosyne. But the Ghosts needed the support the lasers would provide.
An impressive performance, The Aliens missiles had been launched at a hidden target based on the approximate direction of our last launch, so seeing even two was impressive. And they had gone through the Duster debris, another impressive feat. Their missiles ability to turn off when they encountered chaff and turn back on when they were through it, somewhat nullified the use of chaff.
"Byer what your status?"
"Two destroyed… three operational."
Five were still functional and racing towards us. Lasers destroyed two, then the Mnemosyne shook as fighter a
fter fighter rammed us and exploded.
"Commander Byer, what's the status of your group?" A long silence followed. I could imagine him trying to compose himself. It had been bad.
"… One… returning… only partially functional," he choked out. I could feel his pride and pain. His group had done the impossible but the price had been steep.
"Check with the Ghosts guarding the Wave. If they've destroyed a scout, recall all of them to the Mnemosyne. We are going to need them to cover the Scorpions when we check on the disabled cruisers."
"… Yes, ma'am." He would never voice the, haven't we done enough, he was feeling.
"Dybbuk, nice to hear you're alive."
"How bad, Da'Maass?"
"Forty crew dead, sixteen wounded, eight Scorpions dead, three wounded. I'm afraid we need repairs before we can fight another one of those nasty little cruisers."
"Look after wounded and make any repairs necessary to enter the Wave. Thank you, Da'Maass. You did far more than anyone could have expected. I owe you."
"I'll remember."
"Go. I'll have a message for you before you reach the Wave." I cut the connection. He had done terrible things as a Raider, but he was hard to hate.
