Captain Yerenkov looked a bit like someone who had just bit into a sour apple, complete with worm attached. He said, “Captain, we have very little time, I don’t wish to waste it on a recap of an engagement by those Hawks. Their usefulness to the war effort is extremely limited and I suggest that we spend our time formulating a doctrine of attack utilizing regular fleet elements that can handle themselves properly in an engagement.”
Commander Harrelson stood back up and was reluctantly acknowledge by Captain Yerenkov. “Sir, the only successes we have managed to obtain have been when we attacked the bug fleet, and the only craft capable of doing that at present are those Hawks you just mentioned. Our own fleet elements suffered badly at the hands of bug fighters, and the recent discovery of bug cruisers, which proved to be nearly invulnerable to our missiles demonstrates to me we have little or no chance to defend our own fleets, much less our planets with the ships we now have on station.”
“As a result, we – that is the twelve Hawks - have been tasked with attacking the enemy formations, where we have in fact succeeded quite dramatically. I respectfully request that we analyze those attacks, as they will offer us the insights and tactics necessary to defeat this threat to our very existence. Additionally, it may be possible to utilize the new tactic used by those Hawks by, as you call them, regular fleet elements.”
Captain Yerenkov was now clearly irritated. He said, “Correct me if I’m wrong, commander, but didn’t your Hawks destroy a cruiser?” Commander Harrelson said, “Yes sir, they did. However, twelve Hawks fired nearly one hundred missiles at that cruiser before it was destroyed. That one ship was still fighting effectively up until the last salvo finished it off. I estimate that there are approximately twenty cruisers in the bug flotillas we know about. That would mean we would have to expend two thousand missiles, fired in large, concentrated salvos, just to defeat those few ships. This does not take into account the approximately five hundred bug fighters, nor the nearly one hundred destroyer sized craft, which are far more powerful than our own, and which would most certainly make it difficult to engage those self same cruisers in sufficient numbers to overwhelm them. The quantity and quality of weapons we have aboard the Essex and its escorts are not sufficient to defend these ships against even a moderate sized attack by these beings. I believe that the experience of our recent attacks demonstrates that we need far more powerful missiles and energy weapons, and a commensurate increase in our ability to defend ourselves from lasers whose power exceeds by a factor of ten our own fighters lasers.”
Captain Yerenkov had passed beyond irritation and was now seriously pissed off. He said, “Commander Harrelson, sit down. We have not been tasked with determining what the enemy might be capable of, but what we are going to do to defeat him.”
Commander Harrelson sat down without speaking further. Captain Yerenkov was the ranking officer in the room, and the one tasked with formulating offensive tactics. I had never sat in such a meeting, and I suspect few if any of the other officers had either, and you could feel the tension ratchet up. Interestingly, all the other officers in the room also effectively shut up, leaving the captain standing in front of a very silent group of men and women. I couldn’t tell whether the sudden silence was due to fear of reprisal or the more probable reason that everyone came to the same conclusion – this meeting was a disaster.
He turned to his aide and gestured angrily. The shapely but abrupt lieutenant brought up a holograph of this region of space, hovering in the air over our heads. Captain Yerenkov said, “We are situated here”, a green icon lit up in the northwest quadrant, relatively close to the outer edge of the void.
His aide brought up successive icons denoting the bug flotillas, which were located generally in the north sector, also near the edge, on a heading that would take them across the roughly egg shaped expanse.
It was assumed that by this time the flotilla we had attacked had joined up with the other four. He didn’t show a fifth bug flotilla, although we knew there was at least one more group somewhere in the region of space the holograph encompassed. His aide put up a list showing the makeup of the concentrated flotillas and it was quite impressive: four mother ships – we hadn’t come up with a better name for them, approximately twenty cruisers, roughly one hundred destroyers of at least four different characteristics, and at least five hundred to as many as six hundred fighters, also with some known variations.
I noted that there were no known bug freighters, colliers, assault ships, etc. This was the first time I had thought of it and I immediately passed a question to my crew, trying not to be obvious about it. I apparently failed, because Captain Yerenkov was glaring directly at me when I looked up. I had no idea what to do, but the captain made it easy for me. He said, “Lieutenant, I don’t know who you are, but I do know that we are supposed to be formulating tactics with which to defeat this new enemy. Since you seem to be concentrating on your pad I must assume that you have something to contribute here.”
I stood up, not at all quickly and said, “Yes sir. I note that your figures do not include the fifth bug flotilla. Additionally, you do not show any freighters or cargo craft in your figures. May I ask, sir, if there has been any analysis of why we have not yet seen anything resembling our own freighters? I also wish to know how many additional ships, along with their composition, are in that fifth flotilla. Finally, I wish to know if we have any information as to its whereabouts and heading?” My questions were clearly on-topic, but asking them at all may not have been smart. I’d never been good at being politically smart, preferring instead to have the facts, and I was now being consistent if not intelligent.
Captain Yerenkov stood, looking at me for an awkward moment. He turned to his aide and said something very quietly. She put up another red icon, this time surrounded by a red smear that most probably represented its possible location. There was a red arrow denoting its heading, which apparently had not altered in the last two months. It looked to me as if it was simply moving along at a fairly substantial sublight velocity, seemingly unaware of or unconcerned with the battles that had been fought with two of the other flotillas.
Captain Yerenkov looked back at me with a dangerous glint in his eyes. He asked, “Lieutenant, does that satisfy you?” I was now more angry than afraid, which was probably a very stupid reaction on my part. I said, “Sir, as to the apparent location and heading of that fifth flotilla, it would seem to me that it is either unaware of the attacks launched by the other flotillas, or it has chosen not to respond. If the former, we may have a small window of opportunity. If the latter, we may have a different window, just not necessarily an opportunity. Additionally, we have seen no indications that this race possesses FTL. If that is in fact the case, has there been any attempt by fleet, apart from the initial efforts done by the Essex, to backtrack these flotillas to see where they have come from?”
I appeared to be moving faster than Captain Yerenkov. He stood for another awkward moment, then turned back to his aide, who already had the answer. Or rather, an answer. I suddenly wished she was standing up there instead of her boss. She reached up and handed him her pad that, presumably, held the information I had requested.
Captain Yerenkov looked at it for a moment and then looked back up. He asked, “Lieutenant, what do your questions have to do with the task this group is presented with?” I answered, “Sir, I do not know if the answers to my questions will help us develop tactics. I just know that we know virtually nothing about this race. We are reacting to a surprise attack, not knowing the reason for the attack, or the goal or goals of the attackers. We do not know where this race has come from, we do not know where it is headed nor why. It is possible, sir, that the answers to these question would help us not at all. I believe, however, in the absence of any facts to the contrary, that anything we can learn will help us plan our response.”
Throughout this entire exchange I had not been asked my name or position. I didn’t know if the captain knew who I was or why I was t
here, or if he even cared. Captain Yerenkov said, “Well, lieutenant, if someone is shooting at you, are you going to stand there asking questions or are you going to do something?” I grinned, not at all humorously, trying very hard not to show my teeth or emotions, which were seething, “Sir, I am a big believer in ducking first and asking questions second. Our fleet has already been hit, and it is now bobbing and weaving, trying not to go down and out, so is this not the appropriate time to be finding out as much about our attacker as possible so as to know how best to hit back?”
Captain Yerenkov replied, brusquely, “No lieutenant, this is not the time to be asking questions, exchanging cards and talking about the grandkids. We are here to develop tactics. If you do not have anything useful to add, sit down.” I sat down.
There was another long silence as the captain looked angrily around the room. He looked at the captain who spoke earlier and asked, “Captain Hernandez, when will the additional fleet elements be here?” Captain Hernandez said, without standing, “Sir, I was informed, just before this meeting, that three fleet carriers, the Pearl, the Athens and the Barcelona may arrive within the next twenty four to seventy two hours. I use the term ‘may’ advisably. I do not have any information on the number or makeup of the fighters they will be carrying, nor have I been informed as to the number or makeup of any additional fleet elements that may or may not accompany them.”
Captain Yerenkov said, sarcastically, “Captain, I do not believe it possible to develop tactics without knowing the answers to those questions you yourself have just raised. I suggest that you ask Lubya for an update.”
Captain Hernandez now stood up. Looking directly at Captain Yerenkov he said, “Sir, fleet headquarters has clamped down on all communications to and from this fleet, for reasons that need no explanation. The last courier arrived four hours ago, and I do not know when the next one will arrive. Until our reinforcements actually show up, we are not going to know the answer to your questions.” Captain Hernandez sat back down. Somewhat emphatically. There was another silence.
Captain Yerenkov looked around the room as if he was lost. Then, abruptly, he said, “This meeting is adjourned until such time as we have better information on the reinforcements we are to receive, or for that matter, any information at all.” The last words were dripping with sarcasm.
With that, he turned and headed for the hatch, clearly angry. His aide looked after him for a moment, then shut down the holo projection and stood to leave.
By now we were all standing, although there was an almost complete absence of the conversation that would normally break out at the conclusion of a meeting. I watched as the aide picked up a briefcase and headed for the hatch her boss had just left through.
Just before she reached the hatch, she turned, and looked back at me. She caught me looking at her and I almost blushed. She smiled very nicely at me, and then she was gone.
Elian, who never saw an attractive woman he didn’t want to see more of, had caught her look, and he turned to me with a big grin. He said, “Well, Roberto the tongue tied, you seem to have made an enemy and a friend. I rather approve of both choices.”
Commander Harrelson was standing just a few feet away and heard the remark. He grinned at me and said, “Lieutenant Padilla, I suggest that you demonstrate extreme caution in both cases.” Elian laughed out loud, and both the chief and Carolyn grinned at me.
Commander Harrelson took the opportunity to shake our hands and greet us with a nice smile. He chatted with the chief for a moment, and asked Carolyn a couple of questions which revealed that he was fully aware of her intelligence, as well as her shapely legs which were normally hidden, unlike her mind.
He finally turned to Elian and me and said, “Lieutenants, I have been reliably informed that you two have been together since you got your commissions. During that time you have demonstrated a great deal of competence, as well as the ability to get yourselves into scrapes. This meeting was an example of the latter. I suggest that you two walk very, very quietly around Captain Yerenkov. If you don’t know, he has a reputation for holding grudges, and he has the ability and the propensity to ruin careers. Elian, don’t for a moment think that just because you didn’t attract his attention, he won’t go after you as well, if only because you are associated with Robert. I personally would hate that, as you seem to have the rare ability to make things happen, usually good things. So, take care, and be very, very good little children. Chief, I authorize you to sit on these two, as the occasion requires.”
Chief Kana grinned and said, “Sir that is one order I will obey with a great deal of pleasure.” Commander Harrelson laughed and said, “Good. We can’t afford to lose any more fine, upstanding officers, or for that matter, this pair standing here.”
He turned away from Elian and I and looked at Carolyn and she grinned back. She didn’t seem to suffer the same social backwardness I did, but then she was cute, an unfair advantage if ever there was one.
I asked, “Sir, is there any reason that we have to wait for another summons from on high?” Commander Harrelson looked at me thoughtfully before answering, thinking as he spoke. “No, there is no reason why a few officers can’t, oh, say, get together on their own time and shoot the bull. Isn’t that what you are asking?”
I grinned, looked around at my crewmates and said, “Yes sir that is exactly what I was thinking. Do you know of any bull sessions that might be casually forming in the next few minutes?”
Commander Harrelson laughed and said, “Lieutenant, I’d heard that you thought instant gratification wasn’t nearly soon enough. How about nineteen hundred hours, location to be chosen by Chief Kana here?” I looked over at the chief and he nodded minutely. I turned back to the commander and said, “Yes sir, nineteen hundred hours somewhere is just fine.” The commander smiled faintly and reached out his hand. I was surprised, but shook his hand nonetheless. Still holding my hand, he leaned forward and quietly said, “Remember what I told you. All of you,”
He nodded to our little group and left. I looked around at my co-conspirators and said, “Well, what’s one more enemy?” The chief looked a little grim and said, “This one has a very bad reputation. Judging by the way you handle yourself around bugs, you’re in more danger right now than you ever were in a cockpit.”
I asked him, “Chief, you’ve known all along that Elian and I are quite new to the rarified atmosphere here, and it is just possible that we’re not getting enough oxygen to our brains. I’d listen to any advice you might have.”
The chief said, “Well, my first piece of advice is to get the hell out of this meeting room. You don’t need any more exposure like you just gave yourself. I have to say, however, that you asked some of the questions that should have been asked by other, more senior officers. They exercised a little more career saving caution than you, but I can’t say as I admire that in an officer. Well, you told me you duck well, and this is now the time. If our little bull session can actually develop something useful, I hope that you will let another officer float the results past the admiral.”
I thought about what he just said, but before I could say anything Carolyn said, “Chief, you seem to be saying that besides the four of us, there won’t be much forthcoming from the other officers?” The chief said, “Well, let’s just say that I have seen how our crew works, but I haven’t seen diddly squat from the rest of the braid and brass.” Carolyn could read between the lines as well as anyone, and simply nodded, looking a little grim as she did so.
By this time we had left the room and were several levels away. Elian said, “Why don’t we get whatever stuff we think we might need and meet in that space near the chief’s office? It has comfortable seating and a good access point into the ship’s systems.” The chief looked at Carolyn and me before nodding his head. He pulled out his pad and began inputting an automated request to reserve the room.
It took all of ten seconds for him to finish. He said, “I’ll see you at eighteen thirty. I’ll bring some snac
ks, you two gentlemen bring something to drink. OK?” He had learned that neither Elian nor I cared about the small stuff, or the usual chain of command, unless someone was shooting at us of course. Elian said, “Sure thing chief.”
Elian and I ate a quick meal and went by our quarters to change into some clean but comfortably worn uniforms. We stopped by the geedunk and picked up a couple of cases of assorted non alcoholic drinks, which we then lugged down several levels into the enlisted berthing area.
We arrived ahead of time and found that several others had been even more impatient. They had commandeered one of the tables and set out some snacks and drinks, to which we added our load. Every few minutes another officer or two would arrive and by nineteen hundred we had over thirty officers and enlisted. I was surprised by the turnout, and delighted to find that three entire Hawk crews had shown up. It occurred to me that those in attendance had to have been notified by someone.
Hawk Seven (Flight of the Hawk) Page 20
