“Very well, Admiral. I see no point in continuing this particular topic since it is very much dependent on future events. So unless anyone objects I’d like to move on. Anyone? No? Then moving on to the fleet’s plans for the stock hulls…”
Wingate let out a heartfelt sigh of relief as the holograms of the Council members went dark. Around him people started to gather up their papers as they discussed the proceedings with their neighbours. The meeting had taken a little over four hours and covered a myriad of topics. The most important one was that the industrialised nations had accepted that their economies were going to have to go on a war footing, although it would be months before the benefit would be felt. The various national and commercial fleets were now mostly under Battle Fleet control, but making sure that their crews didn’t disappear dirtside, was now an extra headache.
“Can everyone clear the room,” called out Lewis. He paused before adding in a louder voice: “now!”
No one needed a second invitation and within a few minutes it was just Wingate, Callahan, Fengzi and Lewis in the big room. Lewis stared impassively at the Secretary while the room was clearing out. As the big double doors closed behind the last officer, Lewis looked around to check no one else was present before speaking.
“Could you run past me when exactly Landfall became a major priority?” he demanded. “I ask because I was given to believe that we all understood the defence of this planet is the main event.”
“It became a priority about the same time a senior White House official expressed concern about safety of the half million or so citizens they have there,” Callahan replied as he closed his briefcase with a snap. “It became more of a priority when I had similar conversations with government officials in New Delhi, Paris, London, Beijing and a half dozen or so other capitals. You may be willing to write Landfall off, but their electorates, and by extension their governments, aren’t. It would look like a defeat.”
“So would Earth being bombarded from orbit. And that will be a lot more likely if we have to make a futile attempt to mount a close defence of Landfall,” Lewis replied, his voice still dangerously calm.
“That’s certainly an issue Paul but frankly, serious questions are being raised about the competence of the fleet.”
Lewis shook his head and muttered something beneath his breath before replying.
“From the usual suspects in the Pentagon I would guess.”
“If we could mount some localised offensives,” Fengzi spoke up for the first time, “win some small victories, it might do a lot to quieten the armchair admirals. In fact Landfall might provide those very victories.”
“I’m listening agog,” Lewis replied, not bothering now to keep the edge out of his voice.
“Running convoys to Landfall would be a clear sign of intent and commitment to the colony,” Fengzi continued ignoring Lewis’s sarcasm. “It would also have the secondary benefit of drawing out the Nameless; bring them to where we can fight them.”
“Which completely ignores the fact that the Nameless have proven themselves to have long range targeting capabilities. At Alpha Centauri they chose to engage at short range, to hold us in combat,” Lewis replied. “There would be no advantage to them doing that again. They would be able to peg at us from ranges we could not match. They’d be expending ammunition, we’d be expending ships.”
“We could use fighters,” Fengzi began. “Akagi and Illustrious…”
“…are both part of the Home Fleet,” Lewis cut him off without apology. “We are not committing our remaining two fighter carriers to a meat grinder. Not to mention what are you convoying in? The shelters are stocked to be able to feed the population for at least twelve months.”
“If the planet is subject to assault then they will definitely need supplies, munitions and troops,” Fengzi countered.
“Only if they come under attack. Consider also that if we start running in convoys, that by itself could provoke Nameless,” Lewis replied. “If there is one thing we can say for certain, it is that the Nameless aren’t afraid of a battle of attrition.”
“There’s no way we’re going to win with retreats and holding actions!” Fengzi responded angrily. “Sooner or later we are going to have to take the offensive.”
“If it’s sooner it’s likely to end badly,” Lewis shot back, “We have no reserves. Until we do, any offensive action is likely to class as a form of racial suicide!”
“Would the two of you stop!” Wingate cut them both off. “The last thing I need is the fleet’s two most senior field officers getting into a round of mud slinging,” he snapped at them before turning back the Secretary. “Daniel whatever else, we will not be the ones to open a second front. If the Nameless move on Landfall, then I accept, politically we have to support it as best we can without compromising the defence of Earth.”
Callahan thoughtfully stared up at the ceiling. “Alright,” he eventually said. “I guess I can probably sell that to the international community. Unfortunately we are somewhat hostage to circumstance on two of the shelters in that we don’t have any say in the way they’re run. Douglas Base, what’s the commander there like?”
“A clerk,” Lewis replied sourly.
“That isn’t a fair appraisal,” Fengzi objected.
“No, I suppose it isn’t,” Lewis replied with ill grace after a moment.
“The commander there is Rear Admiral Alfred Eulenburg. He’s a good administrator, that’s why he’s there,” Wingate said. “But he doesn’t have much in the way of field experience. There is however a very experienced marine officer present. Eulenburg will defer to him if the question of ground combat arises.”
“Well hopefully the Nameless won’t approach the planet and it won’t come up,” Callahan said.
“I sincerely hope so, because Landfall could become our Verdun,” Lewis said quietly before leaving the room.
“Cody, can I have a private word?” Callahan called from down the corridor as Wingate headed for the lift.
“Certainly Daniel,” Wingate replied turning around, “perhaps in my office?”
“Perhaps in mine?” Callahan replied.
“How about we split the difference, it might be a bit early for lunch but I’m hungry.”
“Sounds fair.”
A short while later the two of them were seated in the officer’s restaurant. Aside from the serving staff there was no one else there. Only once the waiter served the coffee and withdrew, did Wingate speak.
“Alright Daniel, we’ve had a meeting lasting several hours, followed by a full and frank exchange of opinions between my two most senior field officers. What’s left to cover?”
Callahan sat back in his chair and fiddled with his teaspoon for a moment.
“We are facing a threat Cody,” Wingate opened his mouth to reply, “and I’m not talking about the Nameless.”
“Political?”
“Everything is politics Cody, but yes, questions are being raised about the competence of the fleet, not the competence of individuals but the general competence.”
“Who by?”
“Well, Admiral Lewis is right about the usual suspects in the Pentagon and the American Congress, but if it was just them you and I wouldn’t be having this conversation. There are mutterings coming from people who normally have very little to say about anything further up than high orbit.”
“Would this be to do with President Clifton’s comment about complacency?”
“Yes,” Callahan replied. “You know probably better than I that the American Government has never been entirely happy about not being allowed a military space fleet of their own, beyond those two drop carriers of theirs.”
“True but those in Congress who shout loudest for an American space fleet, tend to be the most reluctant to actually pay for it.”
“Yes, but things might be changing Cody. Those who believe that America should have a significant military presence are gaining adherents.”
“But the Chine
se…”
“They’re talking to the Chinese and while Beijing isn’t saying yes, it isn’t saying no either. The Europeans are happy enough with the status quo, but it is the Americans and the Chinese that really matter.”
“I see,” Wingate replied as he stared into the middle distance.
“At the moment it’s just talk. But if the half million Americans on Landfall are lost through the ineptitude of what many in the States regard as a foreign military, then we will face a tipping point. The American Government will start to build their own ships. They may even withdraw from Battle Fleet completely. Either way, without the complete support of their economy, it will be the beginning of the end for Battle Fleet.”
“I see,” Wingate replied in a more dismayed voice. “While we’re at it is there any more bad news?”
“Questions are also being asked about the attitude of Admiral Lewis.”
Wingate put his cup down so sharply that coffee slopped over the side.
“Are we talking about the Paul Lewis who just managed to turn aside a direct assault on Earth?”
“It’s not quite that simple Cody.”
“It never is. For God’s sake, do these…” He trailed off and rubbed his eyes tiredly. “Lay it on me Daniel.”
“We both know that Lewis has never been the most diplomatic officer, or upbeat and frankly he rubs a lot of Americans - present company accepted - up the wrong way.”
Wingate acknowledged the point with a grimace.
“He doesn’t sugar-coat things either and believe me if you think he is negative about Washington, you haven’t heard him get started about the government in London.”
“Granted.” Callahan continued, “Before Alpha Centauri he told the Council to be ready to write off entire cities. Now he’s pretty much told them he’s prepared to sit in Earth orbit and let Landfall burn.”
“That’s a very simplified version of events.”
“Perhaps, but there is also his open admission that Alpha Centauri nearly went catastrophically wrong.”
“Nearly being the operative word, Daniel. Decisions made in the field, particularly ones based on incomplete or faulty intelligence, are hardly likely to be perfect. Paul wanted the late Rear Admiral Brian to receive the credit she was due. But it was his decision to attempt to force contact before they got to Earth.”
“It was risky.”
“No one ever disputed that fact, but at the time our options seemed to be pretty limited. Yet, even with the befit of hindsight, if the Home Fleet had stayed in orbit, it would probably still have been beaten. We lucked out Daniel, that’s the unsavoury truth. So realistically Paul Lewis’s reluctance to charge on out there is a pretty rational response.”
Callahan leaned back his chair and took a sip of coffee before replying.
“I’m not arguing with you on any particular point Cody. I’m just asking if he could perhaps be given another posting,” he suggested. “Something less in the political eye.”
“Unless you’re suggesting giving him my job, there is no position we can put him in that isn’t going to look exactly like the demotion it is. Paul is never going to win any popularity contests but he is respected. It will be a body blow to the Home Fleet’s morale if a commander that led them successfully, is removed for reasons that are blatantly political.”
The waiter returned with their orders and both men went silent until he’d gone again.
“I would never suggest that we should be anything other than beholden to the civilian authorities, Daniel, but we can’t fight a war if we’re having to constantly look over our shoulder.”
“I hear what you are saying Cody, but if we’re to be realistic, I think you’re going to have to,” Callahan replied after a few minutes of pushing his food round the plate. “It all depends on what happens at Landfall.”
Chapter Three
The Day Before the Storm
Landfall Colony, 22nd July 2066 (one day before the destruction of Baden Base)
The New Andalusia mountain chain had been named by the first Spanish explorers to arrive on Landfall. They had founded Spain’s first colony where the mountains ran for six hundred kilometres east to west. There, near the centre of the range was Mount Hurtado, taller by a few hundred metres than those around, its slopes were gentle, flattening out onto a plateau more than five kilometres wide.
It was the home of an establishment that was nothing to do with the Spanish colony.
Alice Peats looked up as something buzzed past her ear. A small creature was perched on a branch staring down at her with beady little eyes. Its four wings were folded back into a ridge that almost looked like a shark’s fin. It dropped down onto the ground and started pecking at the crumbs from her lunch. She watched it for a moment with a slight smile on her lips before returning to her reading. After a few moments she felt something tugging the bottom of her trousers. It was the bird creature, investigating her clothes.
“Shoo. Shoo you little devil,” she said flapping her hands at it. The bird creature took off with a squawk, landing on a nearby branch and scolding at her in a high-pitched voice.
“You have no fear of humans, do you?” she asked it. The bird gave another squawk and flew away. “At least not yet anyway,” she added, half to herself. Her wristwatch gave a beep and she let out a regretful sigh before getting to her feet. Her holiday was over. Tomorrow she’d be returning to the Battle Fleet cruiser Harbinger, serving as the ship’s civilian language specialist. After the Mississippi incident the fleet had decided to send out a ship to find, and if possible, make contact with the Nameless.
Nearly six months of searching hadn’t found the Nameless. Instead however on their first trip out they discovered something unexpected and extremely disturbing. The world of another alien race, one that on account of their shape, they called the Centaurs. What the Centaurs called themselves was anyone’s guess, and might well remain that way forever.
Their world was a lush and fertile place, uncannily Earth-like from orbit, apart from the purple fauna. But they themselves were no longer there to appreciate it. As part of the landing party that had explored that world, Alice had seen the homes, businesses, shops and places of learning of the Centaurs.
She’d also seen the camps, the ones in which the Centaurs had been systematically wiped out.
No one knew exactly who destroyed the Centaurs, or why they had deemed it necessary to commit genocide on such a grand scale, but there had been a hint. A single picture, one that Alice herself had found. Had shown a starship of the same type that had clashed with the Mississippi.
That was of course no proof that the Nameless had anything to do with Centaurs’ destruction. Back on Earth there was no end of analysts, pundits, diplomats and various other ‘experts’ who were quick to point that out. But a person didn’t have to be any kind of conspiracy theorist to see a link.
They’d found a library and virtually cleaned it out. As Harbinger’s linguist, Alice had attempted to translate some of the Centaurs’ books but without much success. Breaking into an alien language and breaking into a dead alien language, were two entirely different problems. Most of those books had been shipped back to Earth as soon as they had returned to Baden for resupply and maintenance. She and the rest of the civilians were punted down to Landfall to get some R and R but she’d managed to hang onto a few books, to continue her own work.
Whoever destroyed the Centaurs had been very determined about it. Those books were probably the very last remnants of an entire race, a world of corpses with only a few hundred unreadable books to tell anyone who they were. Deciphering their language could take a lifetime. She had another two months on her contract with the fleet. Then she’d look for a job in a university and hopefully spend the rest of her career unlocking their secrets.
The slope up to the plateau was just steep enough to be good exercise but not so much as to leave her out of breath. Her route was very nearly the road to nowhere so there was no traffic to interrupt
her thoughts. If she closed her eyes, Alice could almost believe she was back on Earth. Almost. While Earth’s fauna was mostly shades of green, the plant life of Landfall had chosen yellow instead. With their six-limbed body patterns, the bird creatures were similarly a mixture of the familiar and strange.
In the distance the west gate of Battle Fleet Ground Base Douglas, complete with bored looking marine guard, came into view. Disappearing out of sight to both left and right was a single strand wire fence, serving not so much as a meaningful barrier than as a demarcation line between the colony of Spain and Battle Fleet installation. As she approached, the duty marine ambled out of his little guardhouse.
“Yo Doc,” he greeted her offering the sign-in pad, “You’re back then?”
“Keeping tabs on me?” she replied lightly as she signed in.
“Last person I saw today,” he replied taking back the pad and looking at it, “was at nine hundred hours, that was… oh yeah, you.”
“Not exactly killed in the rush then?”
“Yep, that about covers it.”
“Well I have to pack, make sure I definitely have everything. I’m lifting off again tomorrow, back to Harbinger.”
“Sweet. I’m on this rock for another four months, two weeks and six days. But don’t let me give you any idea that I don’t like it here,” he replied with a grimace.
“The thought didn’t cross my mind.”
“Some of my company are the marines on Harbinger. Lucky bastards.”
“I’ll give them your regards when I get back,” she glanced at his nametag, “Robert Jowlett,” before starting to walk on.
The marine put his hand lightly on her arm, “better hold on a sec, Doc. A couple of bulk lifters are taking off in a few minutes from the number two maglev runway. The road gets a bit close to the end of the track.” There was a rumble in the distance, then a blocky aircraft abruptly flashed over the road before curving up and into the clouds.
The Landfall Campaign (The Nameless War) Page 3
