"Is that everything, Admiral Savign?" Grace queried.
"Yes, Grace. That's the gist of it."
"The US session is closed. You may re-admit the gallery.' Grace directed to the Sergeant at Arms. 'The Regular Commission Meeting will continue!" She yelped as she hammered the mallet down, again.
We headed to the Rigil HQ pub after the meeting and traded stories for an hour.
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When the CCS Infiltrator, the rest of its group, and CSS Purveyor arrived at 82 Eridani, they found the situation in a state of flux. The massive Fleet was being redeployed to other locations. When the action ceased, only one Base and four hundred ninety-seven warships remained. It was an occupying force. This was probably a regional Command that had dispersed the others to diffused locations.
So, the Infiltrator transmitted an immediate report. Then it hugged the Orb for a day before entering its gaping Hangar doors behind an arriving shuttle. They too spent days in the belly of the beast planting monitoring equipment and watching the comings and goings. They exited and distanced themselves from the flotilla to facilitate a message. They resupplied and returned to reenter the GPHC and check on their equipment four days later. Then, they departed the system to send Savign their data and relax for a week's R&R.
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In the FSS Sleuth's intelligence office, Captain McGrave was directing her analysis team as they combed the Nautica files for information. It was the audio file that first revealed additional valuable information.
Amplification and enhancement allowed isolation of an individual aide speaking to the Governor. In one instance, he called him Lord. In another, he referred to him as Kil - as if it were some kind of title. In the final one, he discussed him as Kil Kos when conversing with another staff member. So, it was confirmed. The Isesinis in the graphite armor is Governor Kil Kos. And, Kil is a rank or title.
The humans were another matter. That took a lot more effort. Manipulating imaging to remove beards and sunglasses resulted in five to ten possibilities per person. So, a week was spent on voice analysis and matching as the audio tracks were enhanced enough to decipher the speech. They identified former Rear Admiral Lee Chan as one of the humans. He had been tried convicted and sentenced to prison for embezzlement back in March 2256. Though they could not yet identify the other human participants, McGrave's people assembled enough understandable audio to prove Chan was conspiring with the Isesinis and had given up a lot of information that helped win the day, when they attacked. And, just how much he hated the Federation was readily apparent from the audio tracks. The information was forwarded to General Sparks.
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Chris came to see me on August 2. He presented all the information.
"Do you think we should authorize an assassination?" I asked.
"No, I have a better idea. I think we can use Chan to our advantage. But, I need to take a trip to Harrington in Saint Pete's, first. Then, I'll let you know."
"You mean the maximum security prison. Who the hell do you know there?"
"Trust me. You don't want to know who or why. And, you don't want to know my plan. Chalk it up to an intelligence operation. Don't worry, though. I would never do anything that's illegal or contravenes our charter in the OFSA R&R. It's just a harebrained idea, right now. If it works out, I'll make sure you're informed." Sparks explained with a smile.
"Okay. But, I will order you to tell me if it creates a lot of heat."
"Yes, sir. I understand. I better get going."
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On August 8, Chris reported that he believed he could have an agent inside Chan's Isesinis operation in a few days. He'd keep me up to date on any intelligence resulting from his secret plan.
I examined IGB orders for a hint or clue. There were two issued to the prison warden at Harrington. The first was a warrant dated August 2. The second was some kind of official IGB request for a secret court order on August 4. Both were in a locked, encrypted, and secured file folder. I was unable to access them without the General's assistance. And, JAG was no help. Secret Court Orders were not even mentioned on their site. There are twenty-two hundred prisoners at that institution. I was unable to use deductive reasoning to determine who he'd visited and what he was doing. I'd have to wait for him to include me.
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Fred arrived for a week's leave on Saturday, July 2, 2270. It was her second trip home from the Academy. The first had been just a three-day off-base pass. So, by the time she left on July 8, Spark's little scheme was the farthest thing from my consciousness.
Fred, Bryant, and I took my Admiral's Craft to Rigil and enjoyed the sandy beaches and refreshing lake waters. We scoured Rigil New York for attractions, distractions, restaurants, and ice cream parlors. After three days, we returned to Examiner for a couple of days on the mall. Each night was a new adventure in sexual experimentation.
And throughout her visit, she recounted tales of various incidents, classes, professors, and the workings at the Academy. It all brought back so many memories. Then, she was gone again.
Chapter 7 A Serious Challenge
Wednesday, July 6, 2270
"What one has to do usually can be done." Eleanor Roosevelt
By two o'clock in the afternoon, we've been in a pitched battle with the Isesinis for nearly four hours so far. I sent orders to Zeta 1 and had the Examiner and its Flotilla launch from Wolf 359 when we received SOCC reports nearly five days ago that a large enemy contingent would land just outside the border between Tau Bootes and HR 5273. These two systems are over eight light-years apart which is a substantial distance to cover. I sent a memo to Savign asking her to examine the trajectories and try to be a bit more specific. Then, I directed my people to make forty percent of maximum FTL velocity to vector RA 202.5º by Dec. 14.25º at fifty-one light-years from Sol, which is a position halfway between the two. That is a fourteen and a quarter parsec jump from where we were at Wolf. So, we arrived here in four days five hours. SOCC reports indicated that would be just after of the Isesinis Fleet. However, Gamma and part of Epsilon landed before our antagonists. We did make a single course correction when Savign forwarded a more precise position projection. So, this little squabble is occurring just outside the Tau Bootis system.
To Nichols and Bryant's surprise, Kilkos' forces continued rapidly forward after landing, on this occasion. By the time we arrived, space was flickering brightly from all the weapons' explosions reflecting off the smoky clouds, and there were collections of swirling debris strew over the entire battlefield. I contacted both Headquarters on the way to the site. Steven was fighting from above, and Epsilon had taken up the perimeter. I sent fourteen of my sixteen Fleets low so they could come in from below.
Now four hours into the confrontation, the battle site is littered with even more wreckage and body parts. The Captains of our battleships would be ordering their Bridge crews to map all these flying obstacles. From reports, I am now able to monitor regularly, it is apparent that Epsilon has lost three Carriers, five Cruisers, and seven Frigates. Seventeen Gamma warships have been destroyed or disabled. Zeta has lost a Frigate. And combined, we have suffered the destruction of one hundred fifty-seven fighters. But accounts and observation also indicate that two hundred seventy-one enemy ships are the biggest part of the drifting scraps. And, OFSA loss rate has decreased since Zeta's two hundred twenty-four warships began driving into the Isesinis soft underbelly. The escalating pressure appears to have caused a significant change in the struggle. We are now the offensive force while the intruders are on the defense. At this stage of the game, we are restocking each vessel regularly
because our warships are expending ammunition at an incredible rate. Sheets of anti-matter charges are followed by sheaves of spears and salvos of cannon fire. But, this ferocity also means the Isesinis are unable to risk resupply and have begun to ration weapons' fire. More and more of their vessels are annihilating as less of ours are battered.
Four and a half hours into the confrontation, the entire deployment disappears. We analyze their trajectories. They are heading for 82 Eridani. It is over. We've lost a lot of good people and technology. But, we destroyed more than half the attacking Fleets, in the end. And, more Tier Three level Commands are still arriving.
Unlike the land wars of old, casualty rates are usually skewed towards those killed in action rather than people wounded. This is because we fight in the environment of open space. A hull rupture does not result in a lot of injuries, usually ending tragically in one hundred percent fatalities within the affected compartments. OFSA forces have suffered forty thousand eight hundred and seven lives and nearly thirteen thousand injuries. There will definitely be a day of mourning, and we will fly our pennants at half mast for five days. This level of losses hurts deeply. It is an insignificant consolation that an estimated two hundred ten thousand Isesinis died and a lot of their hardware was destroyed.
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Examiner returned to Wolf 359 a day ago, and I am working away on the After Action Report for the Tau Bootis venture. Each headquarters involved will present one. Defensive operations are always discussed and debriefed at the next scheduled Commission meeting. But the account needs to be completed while the details are fresh in our minds. My data pad annunciator sounds off while I'm working on the summary.
It's a memo from Sparks. He has intelligence he'd like to discuss. I advise him we will speak at the next Intelligence meeting in two days. As the head of Zeta, ISIE falls under my overall command. Each of its four arms meets with me weekly, and Sparks has to attend each one of those sessions. I also meet with each of the two Tier Two Commanders four times a month and with the Tier Three heads and their bosses, every fourteen days. This is a system that we developed when IGB was first formed. It serves several purposes. It allows me to stay in the loop on every detail of the organizations under my authority. It permits us all to plan ahead and lets me mandate special missions or tasks. And, it is an opportunity for those requiring approvals at my level to seek those clearances. Of course, we discuss the mundane management issues like personnel, assets, and budgets.
Sparks responds that it's a US matter and he needs to see me outside that venue first, and if I decide, it can be discussed within the weekly conference that will be satisfactory. Chris presses hard, and Ultra Secret subjects are not usually dealt with in wider meetings. So I call Roh and ask her if there's anything special, this afternoon. She informs me that there's nothing she can't reschedule. I ask Sparks to appear at fourteen-thirty hours. That'll give me time to finish my report.
"General Sparks reporting, as agreed, sir!" He is in my doorway promptly at two-thirty.
"Come in and take a seat."
He steps up to the desk standing rigidly at attention as he holds a salute to his right brow.
"Relax, General.' I return the gesture. 'Grab something from the serving bar and slow down a little.' I offer as I round the desk corner and head for the counter. For me, it's a bottled water from the half-refrigerator. Sparks takes a coffee and sweet roll. I direct him towards the conversation area.
He had information on the Isesinis.
"You remember that secret little mission from a few weeks back?" He asks.
"I do. What's up?"
"I don't think you should know all the details, yet. Plausible deniability could be essential, in this case. But it's bearing fruit."
"What kind of information?"
"I can confirm Chan is at the Isesinis base off 15 Sagitta B. And, Kilkos is there. But, I am not yet sure if that's his permanent base of operations. He may be there for a visit. My source is unimpeachable, and I have documentation." He finishes.
"How? And, I don't mean you should give up all the details. How, do you come by this intelligence?"
"I now have a man at Chan's right hand. Chan made him his second because he knows and trusts him. And Chan believes he's averse to the Orion Federation. He has an ironclad cover."
"...any more information that's more specific? Little details convince my partners of the mission. They add a sense of reality to the narrative."
"Yes. As a matter of fact, I do. For instance - it's not Kilkos. It's Kil Kos. Kil is a rank equivalent to Supreme Tactical Field Commander. His name is just Kos. And, he is not as diminutive as his compatriots. He is one of a minority percentage on their homeworld considered to be giants. These titans are around six feet tall and a couple of hundred pounds. They are considered exceptional in their society and are always used to lead warfare. Kos is extraordinary, though. He is particularly clever and thought to be the equal of a revered legendary warlord from a century earlier. The other piece of gossip that's of importance is that Chan has sixteen Federation traitors with him. This group serves as an advisory council to the Kil. They have his ear. And, my agent sits in at planning meetings. If something happens to me, he will send information to you. It will be signed OFN. That's his identifying code."
"Okay. I will advise the C&C. I'll be very stingy. But, I need them to know the mission is running. And, you were right to see me independently. Place OFN in any memos requesting time with me about this. I am officially authorizing the undertaking on the basis it is not illegal or in breach of the R&R. Enter it in your secured journal under OFN. I will do likewise. After the Commission meets, I will forward you a mission number. You should tie OFN and the Mission Number together in the protected log. From that point, all communications on the matter should refer to the Mission Number.
Will we see regular reports?" I asked.
"Regular but sporadic, sir. The agent can only send out transmissions when it's opportune. And we will need to get SOCC to him with code updates, from time to time. He is running ten page OTC and could only take so many ciphers along."
"No problem. Savign will help without a lot of detail. She understands what we do. Is there anything else?"
"No, sir." Sparks rose.
"You realize that when you're ready to give up the details, we'll have to read your boss into this circle. We'll tell him I asked you to find a way and because it's Ultra level, and only the two of us were in the original chain. You have to work with General Svesion. I don't want him thinking you went over his head or were running rogue."
"Yes, sir. And, thank you, sir." Chris saluted, turned, and marched from the room.
I advised the C&C I needed a meeting. I also asked Savign to meet with me prior to the gathering. She's quite remote, now, so it took five days for her to arrive. In the meantime, the Commission session was set for July 22 by Grace.
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"It's good to see you, Kurt." Savign voiced as she strolled into my office at ten hundred on Friday, July 22, 2270. The Examiner was now parked at Rigil for today's meeting.
"I'm always happy to see you, Savign. How are you?"
"I'm busier than a one-armed paper-hanger with the crabs."
"Well then, grab something and take a load off. You've got to stop and sniff the petunias once in a while."
"You mean roses. Petunias don't smell so good." She turned up her nose, and we both broke into uproarious laughter. We were both still chuckling as we helped ourselves at the bar. Then, we headed to the comfort area. 'So, what's up? You asked me here."
"Yes, I did. And, I'm glad you made it before the Commission meeting at thirteen hundred. I needed to speak to you before it."
"What do you want?"
"I need your help. Sparks has an Intelligence Mission going at 15 Sagitta B. His agent will need a
sub to deliver code updates and retrieve reports, every so often."
"How often?"
"Oh... say once a month."
"That fits."
"What do you mean?"
"I suspect that Governor Kilkos guy is there. So, we run a week-long mission every month. Your agent's timing fits ours. Wait a minute!' She yelped with eyes wide. 'You have an agent inside?"
"I'm sorry. I can't talk about it. But, I can tell you the Governor's name isn't Kilkos. It's just Kos. Kil is his military rank."
"Oh my!' She yelped again.
"Will you do it? This is Sparks' doing - by the way."
"I will."
"Good. I have to inform the Commission, today. I need to add that we have the means arranged for communications and updates."
"Wow! I can't wait to hear the rest of this."
"You won't hear much more. I am obligated to advise the C&C. But, details are not required for Ultra Secret missions. But, thank you. I appreciate your help."
"How will I know your man?"
"You won't. And, I did not say it was a man. You'll drop and pick up at a prearranged location. You will only see the agent if extraction becomes necessary. We keep the NTK chain short for missions like this. I don't even know the agent's identity. Only Sparks does. I have the agent's code name, only."
"Wow. This must be seriously classified. That's real cloak and dagger shit." She says and drops in silence.
"Would you like to have brunch. It would save us rushing before we shuttle down to the meeting."
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"Quiet please! Let's bring this meeting to order!" Grace yelled over the din as she slammed her gavel loudly on its sound block several times. The noise level died off until there was silence.
"This C&C Commission Meeting is now in session!' She slammed the mallet, again. 'Fleet Admiral Brubacher has the floor. He asked for special time.'
"Thank you, Admiral. This is an SU matter."
"Clear the room!' Grace bellowed as she hammered again. All monitors, gallery guests, and COS rose and left the room which was now only populated by the C&C. 'Go ahead." She said as she nodded to me.
Righteous Reign The Series: E-version Boxed Set Edition Page 125
