This is to advise you that, as of today, Monday, March 15, 2258, the new ESS Examiner has officially been placed into active service. The entire personnel body currently on the old Examiner should immediately commence moving to the new ship. We will be joined by additional staff over time.
If you are unsure of cabin or office assignments, please check with your immediate supervisor or the Office of the Chief of Staff. I hope you all enjoy your new homes and work spaces.
Admiral Kurt Brubacher.
Both Helena and I moved here, earlier today. Our shared quarters are a wonder. Senior Flag quarters are amazingly comfortable on any Carrier, but the improved Super Carrier design distinguishes between single and married Senior Flag Officers. Ours is a three-bedroom two-bathroom apartment with eat in kitchen area, full dining area, living room, salon, lots of closets and storage and an office. All the rooms are spacious and elegantly furnished since Flag Officers often entertain in quarters. The kitchen is equipped professionally, so a chef can prepare meals. We have incredible viewing windows spanning nearly the entire wall in any room on the outer hull. But, I have work to do.
..................................................................................................
MEMO
To:Fleet Admiral W.O. Stephenson C&C OFSA,
Fleet Admiral G. Tonaka C&C OFSA
From:Admiral Kurt Brubacher Commander Inspector General Branch
Re:Inspector General Branch Year End Report
Date:Fri. December 31, 2258
Sirs,
You will find attached to this summary two sets of books for the year end review. The first ones take in the period from June 1, 2257, to December 31, 2257. The second group is for the period from January 1, 2258, to December 31, 2258, today.
In summary, I can say it has been an extraordinary time. Today's Inspector General Branch is not the conception of eighteen months ago. Starting with one vessel, four shuttles and a team of forty-four hundred just six weeks after inception, we have become a force that can meet its vastly expanded expectations and objectives. Today's IGB is a Field Command of forty-nine vessels with over ninety-eight thousand people, in its multi-faceted operations. It has experienced continuous expansion, well beyond initial expectations, since its birth.
IGB has now become the primary investigative, auditing, and law enforcement operation within the Federation and provides all internal and external intelligence services to the OFSA and the Federation Government. It is capable of assisting in tactical operations if required.
The scope of our activity is broad.
1)Investigative audits of all OFSA Commands.
2)Criminal investigation within all OFSA Commands and as requested by all OFSA member planets.
3)Arrest, detainment, and incarceration of criminal suspects in enforcement of the statutes and constitution of the Orion Federation and the Regulations of the OFSA
4)Forensic assistance to planetary investigative agencies as requested
5)Operation of central forensic databases
6)Investigative Audits of all Orion Federation member planets.
7)Overt intelligence services - gathering internal and external information from communications, sensors, satellites, and observation stations.
8)Covert intelligence by the placement of embedded operatives within OFSA Commands, Federation Member Planets, and in sovereign territories outside the boundaries of the Orion Federation.
9)Security services to OFSA HQ, government institutions, and as requested by the OFSA, the Orion Federation, and Orion Federation Member Planets.
Our responsibilities are supported by the ability to carry out small benign operations, those of medium risk and size, and large, possibly dangerous ones requiring the support of considerable force. We have the capability to display or engage our forty-nine warships, including our Mobile Command Station, and to land up to twenty-two thousand troops as a show of force. Our vessels include the latest criminal forensics labs and computer systems.Nearly ten thousand IGB members are warranted to enforce the statutes and constitution of the Orion Federation.
Financially, we stayed within our approved Capital Expenditure Budgets in both 2257 and 2258 and were slightly below forecasted expenses in 2257 and .005% above budget in 2258. As our personnel and assets begin to level out and meet our needs, it should be possible to project and meet financial allowances in the future. Expenditures and Expenses increased, as dramatic needs appeared one after the other, in the past eighteen-month period.
Our results speak for themselves. We were greatly responsible for detecting the rebellion of 2257 and enabling the defeat of it. We have completed audits of all eighty Fleets, ten Theatre Commands, four Quadrant Commands and three Planetary Governments in the eighteen months since our christening. Our objective of two reviews per Command per year and ten Planetary audits throughout the coming calendar will require more assets and personnel as outlined in our budget projections for the following year. Bearing in mind the 2257 rebellion, Deputy Inspector General, Admiral Helena Brubacher runs tactical exercises, whenever time and workload permits it.
I must add that, in my mind, a great deal of the credit for IGB success must go to both yourselves and the Orion government. Our continuous growth has only been achieved as a result of your novel approach to our needs We are a necessary service. You make it possible. Thank you.
Admiral K. Brubacher Inspector General
It'll be a couple of days before, I hear back about my year-end report. HQ has a large accounting staff and a CCIA system to crunch all the year-end reports, so we all get our performance assessments, quickly. In the meantime, other things are happening. I receive the following communication on January 2.
MEMO
URGENT
From:V. Admiral J. Coquinas Commander Draco Fleet
To:Quadrant Three Command, Theatre Six Command
C.C.OFSA All Commands
Re:Border Region
Date:January 1, 2259
Sirs,
Please assist! We are currently hovering with our entire Fleet stretched in a line from R.A. 17h, 32m, 10.56855s Dec. +56º 11'. 3.2738" towards Iota Bootis but 98.9 Ly. from Sol in an attempt to join the end of a line formed by Boots Fleet stretching from RA 14h, 16m, 4.92995s Dec. +51º, 22', 2.0267"; also at 98.9 Ly. in response to a considerable buildup of unknown vessels, just outside our border. This means that forty warships are attempting to cover an arc 105 Ly. in length. Our advantage in long range sensor performance allowed their detection. We do not believe they have seen us, yet. The force is sizable. We count nearly four hundred vessels within range of our long-range sensor probes. Their intentions are unknown.
V. Admiral J. Coquinas
Shortly after that one, I receive another.
MEMO
URGENT
From:V. Admiral A. Urquhart Commander Boots Fleet
To:Quadrant Three Command, Theatre Five Command
C.C.OFSA All Commands
Re:Border Region
Date:January 1, 2259
Sirs,
We are currently at R.A. 14h, 16m, 9.92995 Dec. +51º 22'. 2.02667" at 98.9 Ly. from Earth. We have stretched our twenty vessels in a line in the direction of Draco Fleets Flag Ship at 17h, 32m, 10.56855s Dec. +56º 11'. 3.2738', in an attempt to cover an arc of our border 105 Ly. long. We have deployed L.R. Sensors and are observing a large force of unknown vessels, just outside the boundary. Please assist.
V. Admiral A. Urquhart
I decided that we should respond since we are relatively close, and we now have a sizable force.
MEMO
From:Admiral K. Brubacher Commander IGB
To:V. Admiral J. Coquinas Commander Draco Fleet,
V. Admiral A. Urquhart Commander Boots Fleet
C.C.OFSA All Commands
Re:Border Region
Date:January 1, 2259 - Twenty-two hundred thirty hours
Admirals,
We are currently at 16 Cygnus, relatively clo
se to you, and will immediately move to render assistance. Though we are the IGB, we can offer considerable force and are all tactically experienced. I have forty-nine warships, including our Command vessel and its flotilla, at my disposal. We also carry a combined force of six hundred Raptor Class Fighters. Our estimated time of arrival on-site is January 3, 2259, at two hundred hours.
Please continually forward updates, including sensor files, while we are on route.
Also, expect a response from Admiral Bryant commanding Fifth Mobile RAC. ESS Valhalla, his Flagship, is currently at Hercules BD+29 2979 which is about forty-six light years from you. You will not receive a response from him until a day and a half after you get this one. His best arrival time would be early January 7, 2259, if he elects to jump all vessels without reforming the Command. Best of luck. Try to hold on until we get there.
I will assume command of operations when we arrive but will relinquish to Admiral Bryant when Fifth Mobile RAC gets there.
Admiral Brubacher
I call in Helena; and, immediately start preparing orders.
Tactical Action Message #IG49-0007
CLASSIFIED
From:Admiral K Brubacher Commander OFSA Inspector General Branch
To:Admiral H Brubacher D.C. Theatre Command IGB Command
C.C.OFSA C&C, Admiral G. Bryant Commander Mobile Fifth RAC
Date:January 1, 2259
You are ordered and required to execute the following.
1) Use all forty-nine warships in IGB, including Command and Security Flotilla vessels and all other IGB assets in an action to assist Draco and Boots Fleet in defense of our border.
2) Move all IGB vessels to a staging point at R.A. 16h, 1m, 53.3457s Dec. +58º 33'. 54.905" at 96 Ly, relative to Sol to carry out orders that will be issued, at that time. Forty percent of C velocity is required.
Any unnecessary communication regarding this matter should be avoided. All steps should be taken to secure this information should communication be necessary.
Admiral K. Brubacher
I send the order and the previous e-mail chain to Helena just as she knocks at my door.
"Yes, Admiral." She says officially as she stands at attention.
"Come in and take a seat. I just sent you some mail.' I finish the sentence just as her annunciator sounds. Her eyes widen as she looks at the screen. 'I think the chain is self-explanatory. The staging point puts us halfway along their line. We can jump everyone out from there. I was going to deploy along the line, but I realize that no one's going to attack along a one hundred light year front. It makes more sense to form an arrowhead or use two in a pincer. Spreading out allows us to form a pincer, penetrate their lines, then bring it around their rear. I think they're just staging. Anyway, we'll get more intelligence as we travel. We can refine everything along the way. You've got orders to issue, Admiral." I said officiously with a smile as I rose and applied my lips to her cheek.
"...No time for the personal.' She said. 'Excuse me, please?"
"You're dismissed," I said as she turned and left.
A short while later, I'm copied on her orders. They are quite explicit, so the Carriers are protected when entering and exiting their jumps. It is eighteen hours before we start getting intelligence, but it's absorbing. We add that information to our border observatory data. Enemy lines are thin, in most places. The thickest point is about seven light years straight out from our staging point. We stay together, combining our thoughts throughout the rest of the journey. Information is continuously getting closer to real time. We decide on an immediate skipping right out again, after landing at the staging point. We will split our force and leap in two groups to points just on either side of the central mass of enemy vessels. Assuming they would jump to engage the weak line, we could turn in towards our territory, at their rear. I write the orders to Helena. She composes ones for the vessels splitting them into two Fleets. While she passes down the orders, I author additional ones for Boots and Draco.
Tactical Action Message #IG49-0008
CLASSIFIED
From:Admiral K Brubacher Commander OFSA Inspector General Branch
To:V. Admiral J. Coquinas Commander Draco Fleet
V. Admiral A. Urquhart Commander Boots Fleet
C.C.OFSA C&C, Admiral G. Bryant Commander Mobile Fifth RAC
Date:January 2, 2259
You are ordered and required to execute the following.
1) Redeploy your vessels distributing one Task Force Command along the outer portions of each end of the line, and moving the other into a dense pattern positioned for six light years from a point one light year from the center of the line, on each side. All intelligence indicates the enemy are attempting an arrow head or wedge attack in the middle of the line. Outer enemy forces are not strong enough to do any serious damage or to reinforce the center of the enemy line. The center of each half of the line may be left unprotected. The opposition is too weak in this area to be any threat.
2) Notify your outer Task Force to be prepared to act as a reserve force, coming to the middle of the line if necessary.
3) Remain ready to redeploy instead of maintaining the positioning in item one, if the enemy splits its main force into two for a pincer attack, in reaction to our moves. Our sensor advantage gives us the chance to move before this aggressor is ready so you may redeploy your main forces opposite his strength.
Any unnecessary communication regarding this matter should be avoided. All steps should be taken to secure this information should communication be necessary.
Admiral K. Brubacher
MEMO
From:Admiral K. Brubacher Commander IGB
To:V. Admiral J. Coquinas Commander Draco Fleet,
V. Admiral A. Urquhart Commander Boots Fleet,
Admiral H. Brubacher Theater Commander IGB Command
C.C.OFSA C&C, Quadrant Three Command, Fifth Mobile RAC
Re:Explanation of Battle Tactics
Date:January 2, 2259
Admirals,
Based on the apparent wide distribution of enemy forces along our border, I thought I should explain my orders, to you. All intelligence indicates that ninety percent of the enemy forces are concentrated in a four light-year center portion of the line along our border. Though they could be planning a spearhead attack, it appears to be a wedge. This is inconsequential at this stage since defense is similar, in both cases.
We will have forty-nine IGB and twenty Draco and Boots warships including twelve Covert vessels and thirteen hundred fifty Raptors concentrated along a four light-year stretch of the border.
IGB is moving a Fleet plus (24 ships) to each of two positions two and a half light years on either side of the center point of this mass, and right on the one hundred light-year borderline. This will place us to the sides and slightly behind this mass of vessels if they attack our line, allowing us a pincer movement for an immediate counter-attack from their rear.
If this antagonist redeploys to frustrate our positions, we will move again, placing half the IGB vessels, on each side of center, toward the middle to allow us to hold the mass, while attacking through the middle and splitting outward into two pincer arms, to again be able to attack from the rear. Hopefully, they would redistribute again.
The object is to delay the enemy long enough for Fifth Mobile RAC to arrive with their two Theatres totaling sixteen Fleets. Between the IGB moves and your moves, the opposition may feel forced to redeploy over and over again. Each step takes up more valuable time. If they elect to attack instead, we will be in the best position to tie them up until aid arrives. Remember that Theatre Five can support the action with more Fleets, if necessary.
If forced to fight, you are asked to resist as hard and as long as possible to give both IGB forces an opportunity to attack and do as much damage from the enemy rear as possible. Remember, it could take as much as two hours forty-five minutes for us to engage from our staging position. Though not certain, I believe we have the technological advantag
e in both sensors and communications. From what I can see, we also possess much heavier craft with superior firepower. That, with an immediate surprise pincer style counter attack from their rear, may make the difference.
The only reserve we will be holding back is the Task Force each of you will have left on the ends of the line since this looks like a do or die situation. Use your Raptors wisely. Always hold some of those in reserve, but deploy the ones you use quickly if a battle is apparent. This gives us up to an additional one thousand weapons platforms near the mass of enemy vessels, allowing for reserve. Remember, sudden thirty and forty percent lunges from a twenty percent cruise, work well in close battles. Just make sure you set the acceleration ramp, so you don't kill everyone on the vessel. I'll see you on the other side. I have every confidence because you are the best. Good Luck!
Admiral Brubacher
We land at the staging point on December 2, at twenty-three hundred fifty hours and hop right out. I prepare the redeployment orders so I can send them quickly, but do not log them in case I don't have to release them. We are in position by two hundred hours - as promised. Sensors are deployed within minutes. There is a five-hour delay in what we see, but the enemy should experience nearly a one-day wait in their data if they seek as much range as us.
Some of their Fleet is far enough from our border to be out of sensor reach, but a significant portion is viewable within about half an hour. We are still getting information from the observatories. The enemy hasn't destroyed them yet, but that'll likely happen just before an attack. It gives us a real advantage because it comes in at nearly ten thousand times the speed of light via the new technology George designed, so it's behind, too. But, it's already in position and transmitting when we arrive, so we aren't staring at blank screens for five hours. Though five hours old, it's available immediately.
We watch and wait. A day later, the screen shows the enemy is redeploying to our pincer points, as we hoped. We begin the moves, splitting our two arms and moving half of each toward the center. They won't grasp this for a day. A day and a half later, we observe them on the move again, from the pincer points, back to the center. I order our people to restore the pincers.
Righteous Reign The Series: E-version Boxed Set Edition Page 58
