Against All Odds

by DePrima, Thomas

  "Five destroyers?" Nelligen said. His face reflected his awe. "Good Lord. Why?"

  "The older ships in Space Command are perfectly adequate for patrol duties. The problem is getting them to where we need them, when we need them there. The new ships, like this one, can travel at Light-9375, but the older ships are limited to Light-262. With the new transports, the warships can be ferried to where they're needed, and dropped off. If an emergency arises in Region Two, they can move the fleet around as needed."

  "Wow," Byers said. "Where are we being dropped off, by the way?"

  "We're heading to Quesann first. If the battle with the Uthlaro fleet goes as hoped, this ship will pick up a warship escort for the trip into the former Uthlaro Dominion. I haven't been given the exact location yet. Admiral Kanes will brief me before we leave Quesann."

  "And if the battle doesn't go as hoped?" Brenda asked.

  "I never bet against Admiral Carver. And I sure wouldn't play poker with her. She always seems to have an ace up her sleeve."

  * * *

  Chapter Eighteen

  ~ March 10th, 2285 ~

  During the final weeks, two scout-destroyers were assigned to shadow the Uthlaro fleet. For the most part, they remained just out of sensor range, but, hourly, one or the other would zip across the extreme corner of the Uthlaro sensor envelope to ensure nothing had changed. They weren't there long enough for the Uthlaro to detect a real presence, but it was enough for the scout-destroyer sensors to record the needed data.

  "The Uthlaro are roughly one-half light year away," Jenetta said, "and headed directly towards us. The Euphrates and the Zambezi are keeping a close eye on their progress." Only images of the battle group leaders filled the wall monitor in the conference room aboard the Colorado, but the captain and senior staff of every ship that would participate in the confrontation was in a conference room aboard their ship watching the vid link. Jenetta probably should have been on the Flag Bridge of the Ares, but she wanted one more time in the command chair of the small ship before she surrendered to the inevitable.

  "They'll reach our position in roughly twelve hours if they maintain their current course and speed. The DS ships will confront the enemy first at our current location one light-year from the base. It's possible the Uthlaro will immediately try to blast through us, but I expect them to stop when confronted by our picket line of ships. If they do stop, I'll attempt to persuade them to return peacefully to their homes. I don't expect them to comply. When I give the signal, the groups behind us will advance according to their instructions. Our goal is to show them our strength in the hope they'll leave without engaging, but, if they refuse to leave or if they try to blast through us, the DS ships will engage immediately. We should have several minutes to do as much damage as possible before they realize their laser weapons are useless. When that happens, they'll probably switch to torpedoes exclusively. With a two-to-one superiority in ship numbers and four-to-one superiority in the number of tubes, the torpedoes will be coming at us fast and furious. At that point, I'll order all warships to move up and join the melee. With luck, the Uthlaro will have forgotten about their laser arrays, thinking all SC ships are impervious to such weapons. If they choose to press their attack, they won't stop until they're dead— or we are. I'm sure you understand which option I prefer. If we must fight, I don't want anyone to let up while a single Uthlaro can pull a trigger. Pound them hard. Pulverize their ships. Blast them to space dust.

  "Each group has their assigned position. Does anyone have any questions about their assigned location or role?"

  Jenetta waited for a few seconds before saying, "I'll assume from your silence you understand the task ahead of us. Okay, let's take our positions and wait to see what the Uthlaro will have."

  Jenetta tried to spend the hours until the confrontation by catching up on the mountain of reports in her computer queue, but her mind kept drifting back to the upcoming battle. She finally gave up and just sat in her briefing room going over every detail and possibility. She hoped she was prepared for any eventuality, but every warrior knows it's impossible to predict every action an enemy might take.

  Ten minutes before the Uthlaro were expected to arrive at their positions, Jenetta returned to the bridge and sat in her bridge chair. Lt. Commander Gallagher, her first officer, took his seat to her left. Neither spoke a word. When the Uthlaro were five minutes away, Jenetta ordered the tactical officer to engage the AutoTect.

  "The AutoTect, Admiral?"

  "Certainly. We don't want them to run into us. We know they deactivate their ACS if they think the signal is an electronic debris device."

  "Aye, Admiral. AutoTect is activated. They should be able to see us."

  "Message from the Zambezi, Admiral," the com operator said. "The Uthlaro have dropped their speed from Light-375 to Light-187."

  "It's going to take them an extra five minutes to get here," Jenetta said. "Oh well, we weren't going anywhere for a while anyway."

  Ten minutes later, the Uthlaro fleet finally appeared. They dropped their envelopes and came to a relative stop some ten-thousand kilometers from the picket line of DS ships, but the sensors on the Colorado made them visually appear as if they were a mere kilometer away.

  "Com, hail the Uthlaro," Jenetta said. "Ask for the fleet leader."

  "Admiral Krakosso is hailing you, Admiral."

  "Really? Put him up on the front monitor."

  A second later the image of an Uthlaro officer appeared on the monitor. He immediately began speaking, and the translated words emanated from speakers mounted at the sides of the monitor.

  "Admiral Carver, I am Admiral Krakosso of the Uthlaro Dominion. I order you to immediately surrender. You will be given safe passage to the area you call Region One if you do not resist. If you resist, you will be destroyed. I need your answer immediately."

  "Admiral Krakosso, welcome to Region Two. I'm afraid you don't represent the Uthlaro Dominion, because the Dominion no longer exists. The Council of Ministers surrendered unconditionally sixteen GST Standard months ago, as I'm sure you've been advised. I'm afraid you've had a very long journey for nothing. The former territory of the Dominion was annexed by the Galactic Alliance at that time. Since you are now a citizen of the Galactic Alliance, and I am the military governor of Region Two, I order you to return home to Uthlarigasset."

  The Uthlaro officer stared dispassionately at Jenetta for a few seconds, then said, "I don't believe you. You're famous for your tricks."

  "I expected you to dispute the accuracy of my words, so I have a copy of the surrender ready. Watch it for yourself." Jenetta nodded towards the com chief, who sent the video copy.

  After watching it, Admiral Krakosso said, "That is a fake. The ministers would never surrender so easily. Your tricks won't work, Admiral. Are you going to leave peacefully or must I destroy you?"

  "Your ministers had no choice. After destroying the five-hundred-ten ships at your staging area, I went into the Dominion and destroyed the shipyards at Plello, Waqutta, and Zenolo. I was prepared to lay waste to Uthlarigasset if the Council of Ministers didn't surrender. Fortunately, I haven't had to do that— yet."

  "What do you mean— yet?"

  "Simply that once they had surrendered and the territory was annexed by the Galactic Alliance, only further resistance would require me to return there. I know they lied when they said they were unable to recall the fleet. They hope you'll destroy me so they can retract their surrender. You can't. The surrender is already a matter of public record throughout the former Uthlaro Dominion. All you'll do by engaging my forces is guarantee your home planet will be destroyed. I'm sure you realize we can't allow such obvious treachery and sedition to go unpunished. If you persist in this endeavor I shall destroy you as easily as we destroyed your five-hundred-ten ships at the staging area, then return to your home planet and reduce it to ashes."

  "You lie. You would not return to destroy my planet."

  "I warned the ministers that further resi
stance would be dealt with harshly. This sure looks like further resistance to me. Do you still have family on Uthlarigasset? Would you like to take a few moments to send them a goodbye message and tell them it would be wise to leave the planet as soon as possible?"

  "I have no need of messages. I shall see them when I return home."

  Jenetta sighed. "You're going to force me to destroy you, aren't you, Admiral? I was hoping you'd see the futility of fighting, but I expected no less. Throughout this entire undeclared war, your warriors have all fought to the death, even knowing their death was both inevitable and meaningless. It's a shame for so many more of your people to die here today, but I've prepared my fleet in case you refused to yield."

  "Surely you don't think that eighty-nine ships, most of which are too small to classify as warships, are going to stop my fleet of two-hundred-six battleships, cruisers, and destroyers?"

  "Don't dismiss the small vessels you see facing you too quickly, Admiral. Just twenty of them destroyed most of the fleet at your staging area. Each is more than the equivalent of one of your battleships. But if you feel quantity is more important, then tell me what you think of this."

  Jenetta held up one finger and the com chief tapped a point on his console.

  "What is it you hope to prove by that gesture, Admiral?" Krakosso asked.

  "Stand by, Admiral," Jenetta said.

  Something unintelligible was heard over the com line, and Krakosso said, "At least the remainder of your fleet are full size warships, Admiral. I'm told most look to be Milori in design. We see seventy-four ships, giving you a total of one hundred sixty-three. You are still vastly outnumbered, Admiral. Are you going to leave peacefully?"

  "You want more?" Jenetta held up two fingers, and the com operator tapped another button on his console.

  Admiral Krakosso watched calmly and didn't flinch when someone on his bridge cried out loudly.

  "I was fully expecting this, Admiral. I read, with great amusement, about the way you fooled the Milori into quitting the battlefield by having freighters pose as warships. They thought you had many more warships than you really had and ran back to their own territory. That trick won't work again."

  "The four-hundred-eighteen ships that just appeared on your sensors are real military vessels, Admiral. I don't have to bluff this time. The fleet opposing yours is composed of five-hundred eighty-one warships. I don't want to destroy you, but we will do so if you force my hand. You will not survive this hour if you won't return home. We outnumber you almost three to one."

  "I claim this territory for the Uthlaro Dominion!" Admiral Krakosso shouted. "And we will defend it to the death."

  "Then you leave me no choice!" Jenetta said immediately before giving the signal to cut off the communication. "Com, signal Phase One. Helm, attack plan Delta-Niner. Engage!"

  The Colorado surged ahead in unison with the other DS ships. Each helmsman had already plotted his course through the first layers of Uthlaro ships and was already working on the rest of his or her route when the gunners opened up with laser arrays and torpedoes. They had standing orders to fire as soon as they could get a lock so no further instructions were required.

  Space was suddenly filled with brilliant flashes of light as the DS ships passed through the front line of the Uthlaro ships, but the Uthlaro didn't reciprocate with their laser weapons. The dearth of laser fire from the enemy ships told Jenetta immediately that the Uthlaro were aware of the black ships' invulnerability to laser pulse fire. That information could only have come from their military command on Uthlarigasset, who would have learned of it when they examined the logs of the attacks on the shipyards. The Phalanx systems on the DS ships began to absorb more and more of the laser array resources as wave after wave of torpedoes came from the Uthlaro ships. Unlike the Tsgardi, who maintained their positions during the Space Command attacks, the Uthlaro started jockeying for positions of their own as the Space Command vessels wove their tortuous routes through the enemy fleet.

  Realizing the Uthlaro were putting all their effort into firing torpedoes, Jenetta said, "Phase Two." The command released all other ships from having to sit on the sidelines. The ships that had until then simply watched the fight from afar moved towards the battle and began pounding the enemy with everything they had. Admiral Krakosso watched in horror as wave upon wave of warships approached. The ships he had dismissed as a hoax began firing their laser weapons and torpedoes as soon as they came into range. Too late, he realized Admiral Carver hadn't been bluffing when she said her warship fleet was five-hundred-eighty-one strong. For the first time he began to fear for the safety of his family and friends back home. Perhaps one might consider it merciful that several torpedoes found their way to Admiral Krakosso's vessel at roughly the same instant and ended the long career of the Uthlaro Fleet's commander.

  One might have expected a battle between seven-hundred-eighty-seven ships to have lasted for hours, but in fact it was over in less than fifteen minutes. The battle was just too one-sided and the Uthlaro never had a chance, as Jenetta had tried to tell them. Consistent with Jenetta's earlier instructions, the Uthlaro ships were reduced to space dust because warriors continued to fire until they drew their last breaths.

  The carnage at the battle site paled in comparison to that of the staging area destruction, but it was horrific nevertheless. As soon as all ships had ceased firing, Jenetta called for damage assessments to be collected. She steeled herself for the worst, but they weren't as bad as they might have been. The overwhelming preponderance of ships pouring laser fire and torpedoes into the Uthlaro fleet had made all the difference. Many of the M-designate ships had suffered hull breeches from laser fire and several had been hit by torpedoes. The Phalanx system had once again proved its enormous value, but it wasn't yet infallible. At least not when thousands of torpedoes filled space around the ships. Additionally, there had been seven ship collisions during the fighting. Most had been between Uthlaro ships and Jenetta's forces as each maneuvered for fighting position, but one had been a minor brush between two ships in Jenetta's command.

  After reviewing the damage lists, Jenetta said to the com operator, "Get me Supreme Lord Space Marshall Twillaaq." A moment later, the image of a Milori officer filled the front viewscreen. "Well done, Supreme Lord Space Marshall," Jenetta said.

  "Thank you, Admiral Carver."

  "How serious is the damage to your forces?"

  "About half my ships suffered torpedo strikes, some minor, some major. We also had a dozen minor collisions or brushes with Uthlaro ships. Early estimates indicate total deaths will approach two thousand, with an additional seven thousand seriously injured."

  "I'm sorry for your losses, Supreme Lord Space Marshall."

  "Thank you, Admiral, and I for yours. How badly have you been damaged?"

  "The preliminary death toll has been set at twenty-six and serious injuries are estimated to be approximately one-hundred-twenty-four."

  "My congratulations, Admiral. Those numbers are extremely light considering the ferocity of the battle we just fought."

  "Thank you, Supreme Lord Space Marshall. Our weapons systems deserve much of the credit. Once your forces are officially recognized by Space Command Supreme Headquarters as the Region Two Territorial Guard, we can outfit your ships with our Phalanx system. It's too bad there wasn't time to do that before the Uthlaro arrived."

  "I'm glad we were able to arrive here in time to help fight these invaders, Admiral. It was unfortunate we had to leave two battleships and a cruiser at the yards because of systems problems that might have made them undependable in battle."

  "As soon as my engineers finish handling our emergency repairs, they'll be available to assist you with your repairs. If you need anything else, just communicate your needs to my aide, Lt. Commander Ashraf."

  "Thank you, Admiral."

  "Thank you, Supreme Lord Space Marshall, for coming to assist us in this battle and for fighting so well against our common enemy."

 
; "It has been our very great honor to fight alongside Admiral Jenetta Carver. Even while Maxxiloth was vilifying you, your name evoked awe and respect in the Milori military ranks. You were responsible for the greatest defeats the Milori forces have ever known, but every Milora in the new Territorial Guard is proud to serve under your command."

  "Thank you Supreme Lord Space Marshall. I'm delighted to welcome you into the service of the Galactic Alliance."

  * * *

  It took several weeks to make repairs and drag the Uthlaro hulks back to Quesann. Jenetta had images of the broken ships tethered together for transport to the base sent to the Uthlaro Council of Ministers. With the destruction of the Uthlaro invasion fleet, it appeared that things would finally quiet down somewhat. The logs of all ships that had participated in the battle were forwarded to Space Command Supreme Headquarters. Jenetta sent along a lengthy message detailing the action. The War College would prepare a vid simulation of the battle that could be viewed and examined in minute detail. With the number of ships involved, it would take them some time to complete their full analysis. Keith Kanes stopped in to visit Jenetta at her huge office in the new Headquarters Building the day after the material had been sent off.

  "Good morning, Keith. Make yourself a beverage and have a seat," Jenetta said.

  As he sat down with his coffee, he said, "You weren't serious when you told Admiral Krakosso you were going to return to Uthlarigasset and destroy it if he attacked, were you?"

  "No, of course not. I was trying to find something— anything— that would give him reason to turn around and go home. I thought the image of his home and family being destroyed might overcome that fierce dedication he felt for leaders who apparently couldn't care less whether he and his command lived or died."