The Borrega Test

by James Vincett

  Almost three hundred and twenty ships and a thousand fighters. Incredible!

  The Task Force was composed completely of vessels from the much larger Expeditionary Fleet. The numbered fleets, like the Fifth, patrolled Union space and watched the Union’s borders, but the Expeditionary Fleet was the Union’s strike force. Cortez was thrilled to transfer to the Expeditionary Fleet. According to Fleet Admiral Biming Gao, with whom Cortez met just an hour earlier, Cortez had valuable experience fighting the Naati and a long history of getting things done. He was one of only a handful of officers, and the only commanding officer, to transfer to the Task Force from the Fifth Fleet. This was an opportunity to show his skill and mettle. Only great accomplishments propelled one to higher rank in the Imperial Navy, and Cortez was eager to show his capabilities.

  “There’s the Reyter,” the shuttle pilot said. Cortez leaned forward and looked out of the forward window. The HSS Michiel de Reyter was a Montmorency class heavy cruiser, a narrow flat slab five hundred meters long with a raised command superstructure above the main aft engines and engineering section. Two turrets on the front corners of the vessel each housed a one-gigajoule laser cannon, and twenty-four smaller turrets, six each on the dorsal side, port and starboard facings, and ventral side of the hull, each housed a one hundred twenty-five kilojoule laser. In addition, spaced among the laser turrets on the port and starboard sides were eight thirty-two-megajoule plasma cannon for close ship-to-ship action. Two additional turrets on the top of the superstructure each housed a two hundred fifty-kilojoule laser. If that were not enough, eight missile launchers, two to each facing, launched guided missiles. The ship’s complement numbered two-hundred and fifty.

  The shuttle pilot maneuvered toward the short docking boom extended from the port side bottom of the command super structure. Cortez stood at the hatch and straightened his uniform. He had come a long way from the small scared boy waiting for his parents to return to station after weeks of dangerous and hard work mining moons for a pittance. Circumstances almost trapped him in that life, but he had the courage to walk out and be the master of his own fate. Twenty years of almost super-human effort, not to mention the blood and sweat, had brought him to this point. However, there were never any tears.

  Tears are for the weak.

  The hatch opened and Cortez stepped through. He strode down the length of the docking tube, through the airlock, and onto the deck as the bosun’s pipe sounded.

  “Captain on board,” called a female voice.

  The ship’s senior officers and command deck crew lined the deck. They all saluted in unison. The woman who had announced his arrival looked him straight in the eyes.

  “Commander Liana Cisoto, executive officer of the Michiel de Reyter. Welcome aboard, Captain.”

  “Thank you, Commander. Please, introduce me to the senior officers.” From her file, he knew Cisoto was born and raised outside of the Core Worlds, which had already earned his respect. The woman had fine brown hair tied into a bun and smooth tanned skin. Her intelligent, dark eyes looked directly into his. Cortez studied her with his enhanced senses. She was nervous; he could tell by the open pores on her face, her dilated pupils, and her quick heartbeat. No doubt she and the others were somewhat startled by his appearance and condition, but Cortez was used to such reactions by now. The rumor mill had most certainly warned them about Cortez.

  She fell in beside him. “Commander Mikal Dundas is our chief engineer.” The man was the tallest and largest hom Cortez had ever seen. His file said he had been born and raised on New Kargapol, a heavy gravity world.

  “One of the officers to be transferred from the Fifth,” Cortez said.

  “Yes, sir,” Dundas said.

  “We’ve met once before, Commander. On the third moon of Anuvi III.”

  “Yes, Captain. I remember it well. You and the Varano’s fleet saved our asses. Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome. We must swap stories sometime.”

  “It would be a pleasure, sir.”

  “Commander Warren Fitt is the Reyter’s chief medical officer,” Cisoto said.

  “Have you any expertise in cybernetics?” Cortez knew he did from reading his file, but he wanted to set the man on edge.

  Fitt replied as smooth as silk. “Extensive, Captain. I have performed a total of twenty-two procedures, from a single limb to a full body replacement.”

  The introductions continued; the security chief, the Marine platoon commander, the science officer. Cortez had read all of their files and judged each competent.

  How they react under real pressure is the real question.

  Cortez turned and looked at Cisoto. “I want to inspect this ship, Commander.”

  The inspection took several hours; Cortez had already studied the specifications and layout of the Reyter, so he was more interested in how the crew carried on. He spent an hour discussing the finer points of hyperdrive calibration with Commander Dundas, and finally understood why the engineer was always with McFinn. Dundas was quite possibly the best engineer in the Imperial Navy. Finny probably loathed giving him up, and now he’s mine!

  The main slab of the ship contained enlisted quarters and mess, main engineering to aft, missile and plasma bolt storage, backup systems, and stores for fuel and other necessities. The four decks on the command superstructure housed medical, the computer core, sensors and science, and command crew quarters, with the command deck on the top.

  A few hours later, the senior officers of the Reyter assembled on the command deck. As they gathered around the sitrep table, the holographic image of Fleet Admiral Biming Gao appeared.

  He got right to the point.

  “Current operations have the Borrega Test Task Force assembling in the Eiding Forward Deployment. We will spend some time here in exercises, and then jump to a system in the Neutral Zone, ten light years from Borrega, to await the call of duty.”

  “I trust you all have read the background briefing on the Test of Sovereignty. I don’t want to go over that in full, suffice it to say we will be responsible for executing the fourth stage, military invasion of the world of Borrega. The entire operation hinges on upcoming diplomatic negotiations between the Union and a faction of the Naati Hegemony called the Tolkists. The Shah of Borrega is hosting these negotiations. If the negotiations succeed, the Consul has tasked us with occupying the planet of Borrega to secure key cities as well as transport and military locations. Engineering elements will follow up to rebuild the infrastructure, including surface installations and an orbital station. After the operation we will remain as a forward element, ready to defend against any move by the Naati Reactionary Faction.”

  A map of a star system, the blue orbits of several planets circling a yellow star, replaced the Admiral’s image and he continued the briefing. “The fourth stage of the Borrega Test will proceed in four phases. After dropping out of hyperspace the Task Force will assemble in the outer system, fifty-five astronomical units from the stellar primary.” A marker appeared on the holographic image. “That is Phase I. For Phase II the Battle Fleet will jump to Borrega’s hyperspace limit and gain orbital superiority over the planet.” The map zoomed into one of the inner planets. The image showed a world with large oceans and two large continents. Several markers noted the planned positions of the ships of the Battle Fleet. “We are not expecting any opposition, as the Borregan orbital infrastructure has long since been destroyed.”

  “Phase III is the assault. The Assault Fleet will jump to Borrega’s hyperspace limit and enter into low orbit around the world under cover of the Battle Fleet.” The image zoomed into the world above the two continents. “With orbital fire support, the three Marine divisions will spearhead the assault on two key positions.” The image zoomed into a region showing the two continents separated by a narrow sea. “The 3rd and 242nd Imperial Marine Divisions will drop from orbit and assault Mazraeh Airport, ten kilometers from the Shah’s capital of Basq, here on the northern continent of Aviz.” The image zoome
d in showing a city near the southern coast of the northern continent. “It is the Marines’ duty to secure the airport and surrounding territory as a landing site for both First and Second Groups, which comprise the bulk of our forces.” The 87th Imperial Marine Division will drop from orbit and assault the city of Razdun, on the southern continent, securing the airport and surrounding area on the coast near the city as a landing site for Third Group.” The image moved south across the sea to show another, smaller city on the northern coast of the southern continent. “Once the landing areas are secure, the regimental transports will enter the atmosphere and land all Imperial Army units at their designated landing areas. The Marines, with support from orbital bombardment, will oversee the security of each landing area while the Army units assemble.”

  “Phase IV is consolidation. Once all Imperial Army units have assembled, they will move toward their assigned objectives in the cities of Basq and Razdun and link up with Borregan resistance forces. Their goal is to capture or eliminate the current leadership structure and hand power over to the Resistance. The Army units will then be assigned to various areas on the two continents to perform long term pacification duties.”

  “During the Borrega Test, the Fifth Fleet will execute the Marquis Strategic Defense Plan to shore up the defense of the Rimward Border. Grand Admiral Magoro has assured me, if needed, the Fifth Fleet can respond to any calls for assistance we may give.”

  McFinn

  “They’re already here.”

  McFinn stood at the sitrep table on the command deck of the Crius. Admiral Tors and his executive officer flanked him. The Ambassador’s Fleet had just emerged from hyperspace a hundred thousand kilometers from Borrega and begun to decelerate. An active scan revealed a Naati fleet in a medium orbit of fifteen thousand kilometers. Holographic images of the Naati vessels appeared above the sitrep table.

  “A Bellicose class battlecarrier,” McFinn said, “twelve Wolf class cruisers and a Camel class transport. That last ship I’ve never seen before.” He tapped a few keys and data appeared beside each image. “Computer says it’s an Orca class heavy cruiser, built only for battle in space.”

  “Looks like the spineys are trying something new,” Tors said. “If things get hot, we’ll be in trouble. That carrier holds more fighters than ours does, and overall they outnumber us by almost double. Who knows how many troops they have in that transport?”

  “They’ve just scanned us,” the executive officer said. “We’re receiving a hail from one of their light cruisers, the Spoor Follower.”

  “This is your show,” Tors said.

  McFinn felt the fear and anxiety in his stomach. “Answer the hail.”

  The image of a beast appeared above the sitrep table. The creature’s head and face were broad, the snout short with sharp teeth and a pink tongue. The large eyes looked like red orbs with black pupils, set beneath large bushy brows. The ears looked triangular and upright. The hair on its face was short and black, but a magnificent mane of spines and rough black hair grew from the top of its head. It spoke in a deep and bestial voice.

  I will never get used to spineys.

  The computer translated the Naati’s speech into a dull, monotone voice. “Are you the Union Ambassador’s Fleet?”

  “Yes we are. Are you the Tolkist ambassadorial fleet?”

  The Naati turned and barked an order. “Stand down.” It looked forward. “This vessel carries two members of the Naati Command Authority. I am one. My name is Lord Commissar Gavanus of the Jureen Bloodline. The leader of our faction, Commissar Fangrik of the Kolon Bloodline, is also present. Who are you?”

  “I am Captain Joshua McFinn of the Union Imperial Navy, and attaché to the Union Ambassador.”

  The Naati growled. “The same McFinn who destroyed the Grass Sniffer? The same McFinn at the Battle of Anuvi?”

  McFinn swallowed. This is why her Majesty selected me. “Yes.”

  The Naati growled for a moment. “It is not favorable to begin negotiations with an insult, Captain McFinn.”

  “I will not apologize for doing my duty, Lord Commissar. One of the first items we will deal with during negotiations is the events in the Anuvi System. Let’s leave that for later. Agreed?”

  The Naati growled again. “As you wish.”

  “The Ambassador suggests she land first, to meet with the Shah of Borrega and ensure the site is prepared for negotiations.”

  “So you Humans can conspire against us?”

  “May I remind you, Lord Commissar, it was the Naati Hegemony that conspired with the Shah of Borrega in fighting the insurgency threatening the Shah’s rule. We will cover that during negotiations, but for now, this will be the first ever meeting between the Union and the people of Borrega. We need time to establish friendly relations.” McFinn heard a bark off-camera, too garbled for the translator.

  “As you wish,” the Naati said, growling.

  “Very good, Lord Commissar. We will signal you at the appropriate time. I am transmitting an agenda; please tell us of any questions or concerns.”

  The Naati’s image disappeared.

  “That went well,” McFinn said.

  McFinn saw Admiral Tors look at him, his eyes wide with surprise, but he started to laugh when he saw McFinn’s expression.

  I need to clean out my pants.

  The HSS Gallipoli, a Victory class assault transport, circled what McFinn thought a spaceport or airfield. Rows of fixed and rotary wing aircraft lined the large tarmac, and McFinn saw a long strip of pavement out to the horizon.

  A runway.

  McFinn felt a slight bump as the Gallipoli landed on the surface of Borrega. He felt somewhat comforted by the full battalion of Marines on board, equipped as they were with Kriegworks armored battlesuits, but only a platoon would see to the security of the Ambassador after she exited the ship.

  “We’ve landed at Mazraeh Airport,” the ship’s Captain announced over the intercom.

  McFinn unbuckled and stood. He hated wearing his dress uniform; the tunic was far too stiff. Arrington wore a deep blue dress with a high collar and a low hem. A sparking pendant containing a translator hung around her neck. As she stood, she covered her head with a fine blue headscarf.

  The Ambassador’s retinue numbered half-dozen aides. McFinn had worked closely with them during the voyage to Borrega, learning what he could of diplomacy and Persian culture. They filed out of the flight lounge and rode lifts down to the lower cargo bay.

  A company of Marines waited for them, most in dress uniform, with a platoon clad in battlesuits. Three of the battlesuited marines carried the colors of the Marine battalion, the Gallipoli, and the Hominin Union. The cargo bay door opened; light streamed into the ship and the colors fluttered in the breeze.

  His Excellency Arasces Gul, The Borregan envoy, waited for them. He wore a jacket with several medals on the chest, black slacks and shoes, and a golden sword and scabbard hung from his belt. The Borregan envoy’s bodyguard stood close, dressed in dark gray fatigues, a pistol holster hanging from his belt.

  Gul bowed as Arrington and McFinn approached. “Your Excellency?” Arrington said, taking the envoy’s arm. “You shall escort me.” They stood behind the three Marine color-bearers, the colors of the Hominin Union at the front.

  The Captain of the Gallipoli and the commanding officer of the Marine battalion stood behind Arrington and Gul. McFinn and the envoy’s bodyguard led the platoon of battlesuited Marines. A small drone flew overhead to record the welcoming ceremony. The crew of the Gallipoli lined the walls and stood on balconies.

  Arrington whispered to Gul, then turned and faced everyone in the cargo bay. “I want to thank the Fifth Fleet for your hospitality,” she said, her voice magnified by a pockcomp. “Remember, you are guests here, so act accordingly. We are welcoming a Human world into the Union, peacefully. This act helps fulfill the dream of the Reunification and Reconciliation Act, the founding law of the Union. We are also here to make peace with a bitter enemy aga
inst which we have fought for over a century. This will secure a peaceful and prosperous future for our children, and may God bless our efforts.”

  She paused for effect. “Long live the Consul.”

  “Long live the Consul!” the assembled Marines and crew cried.

  McFinn’s hope surged. His cynicism had the better of him since Arrington told him the Consul would order an invasion if the negotiations failed, but Arrington’s speech had given him newfound hope they would succeed.

  Arrington took Gul’s arm, and the two followed the color Marines down the ramp and onto the tarmac. As McFinn walked down the ramp, he saw thousands of soldiers lined up in rows on either side of a long and broad red carpet. A convoy of black and dark green vehicles sat at the end of the carpet, and aircraft parked in neat rows surrounded the soldiers. In the distance, McFinn saw hangers and a control tower. Though the day looked bright, a brown haze hung above the horizon. McFinn already felt hot in the strong light, and he desperately wanted to take off his dress tunic.

  A small group of soldiers, each wearing a red beret and a sword scabbard on his belt, stood in a row at the head of the red carpet. As they approached, Gul spoke, but McFinn wasn’t close enough to hear. The line of officers saluted, and Arrington began to inspect the assembled soldiers. McFinn desperately hoped she was not going to inspect them all, and when she walked by the first twenty on either side of the carpet, he heaved a sigh of relief.

  Gul spoke with the officers and Arrington again for several moments. She again took his arm and they walked down the length of the carpet toward the convoy. The Marine platoon circled the soldiers and strode to the convoy, the boots of their battlesuits clinking on the tarmac.

  McFinn rode to Basq, the Shah’s capital, in the back of an armored personnel carrier with several of the ambassador’s aides and one of the officers that greeted Arrington on the red carpet. The officer introduced himself as Captain Charmachi of the Borregan Security Forces.