“Knox is dead, tell General Davidson we are ready to proceed with operation home turf.” One of the men saluted running off.
Chapter Sometimes the carrot doesn't work
“So how are we looking with this whole recreating the Union?” I asked, stopping myself from scratching the newly formed skin on my lower back.
“So far it looks like all of the eight systems under our protection as well as Quarst, Jakram, Rashdahl and the Sarenmenti reclamation project that is trying to rebuild their homeworld are in. The Kuruvians have mentioned some interest and will be supplying a representative. They haven't said if they want to be part of the Union if it comes into formation or not,” Rick said, not needing to look at the conference room table or his data pad that lay on it. He had been in meetings with all of the representatives for the last two weeks while I had got my ass out of bed, got my new spine all checked out and signed off on. I'd been dealing with the paperwork of ship repairs as well as the never ending reports I had been missing while I was on Heija.
I looked up to the Parnmal conference room's wall mounted view screen. It faithfully displayed where the systems were that were interested in being part of the Union.
The room was empty except for me and Rick, leaving us plenty of room for our data pads, and the litany of information that the view screen turned desks that was being pulled from the Free Fleet's servers.
“Good, what about the agreement that you looked at? What did they think?” I looked to Rick who was rubbing his face to try and energize it and himself.
“We've got a tentative agreement,” he said, finding the file after a few flicks through his personal storage, he pushed it off towards me. I turned it, checking it over.
“Basically it’s the exact same as the Union charter. Except this one names the Free Fleet as a contractual security force unlike the Planetary Defense Force of the original Union.” There was an annoyed edge to Rick's voice. “You would not believe how hard it was to get them to think of us as not a body of the Union, but as a trading house that Min Hae proposed.”
I nodded, going into this mess Min Hae had suggested that we show ourselves as a marketing house, we protected traders, traded out of Parnmal and such. Our war with the Syndicate was to keep the trading lanes clear and us in business. If we made ourselves another PDF, then we were liable to deteriorate like them. They had hamstrung themselves by looking at the military as if it was a way to climb the social ladder. With the Free Fleet we would run it like a business. Only doing good at your job would get you a higher position.
While our official line would be that we were protecting our assets and customers, we would be available for contractual work to the Union. If they needed help they contacted us, detailed the job and we would write up the perceived cost. I had no doubt that other mercenary companies would also look to get in on this market. I didn't mind, having a monopoly would only lead to the Free Fleet becoming over confident and deteriorate.
Having something stable and unchanging would only make the Union liable to fall apart again.
“It goes against what they know. Every group has had a single military, one group to protect the rest. Having that change into a contractual position, and the largest military force saying that they're just protecting their assets is odd to them. Not many of them understand that staying with the same old system will lead to the same outcome,” I said, Rick's eyes telling me that I was just voicing his own opinion.
“Yeah, it sounded odd the first time that Min Hae talked about it. He's been pushing for this to come about for quite a while though,” Rick said.
“He's been putting a lot of thought into not only protecting our asses right now, but looking at the future. We could learn a thing or two from our Intelligence Commander.”
“Much easier to worry about one problem at a time, than what might happen later on,” Rick acknowledged, looking to the notes in front of him, his shoulders slumping. Managing who went where in the fleet was a pain in anyone's ass.
And not something that I'm going to help with too much in the near future.
“Which brings up my next point,” I faced Rick who looked up from his notes. “You, the rest of the command team and Resilient have been pointing out that as the esteemed commander of this gig,”
Rick snorted at my attempt at sounding pompous. “I should be apparently manning something more powerful than our biggest Dreadnought. You've undoubtedly seen the reports by the yard’s engineers, even Eddie.” My voice became harder as Rick's expression became pained.
“Yeah, the old girl will need one hell of an overhaul to get itself sorted out,” Rick said. Resilient had been the target of more than one kamikaze Kalu. They'd smashed into the hull plating of the massive Dreadnought. Not even her ablative reinforced hull had been able to take the pounding that had rained down on her.
The main structure had been held together with armor plates as we dragged her towards Parnmal. Eddie and his engineers had worked themselves to exhaustion to keep Resilient together. It would take a complete overhaul to get her into fighting condition. We would need to rip the hull open to replace the entire superstructure and rebuild all of her main systems.
While the ship had sentimental value, that yard time could be used to put a carrier into space.
“Which is why I propose we don't overhaul her, we upgrade.” I opened a file and put it on the main screen.
It was hard to not stare at the heavily armored plans for the super-carrier as they rotated on the view screen. Massive armor plates and ablative armor coated the ship from the lumps on its bow, along the rows of cannons, PDS and missile tubes. The armor was actually closed at the entrance to the two massive landing platforms that ran along the top of the craft.
PDS were virtually invisible against the hull of the ship. Even the batteries of Planetary Rail Cannons that sprouted from the spine of the ship looked like mere toothpicks against the overall size of the carrier.
It was nearly four times the size of Resilient, and could carry two hundred fighters and bombers. Secondary flight decks similar to the fin-like-decks of the Battle-carriers were mounted on the belly of the carrier. Each of the openings that would allow fighters in and out were jealously guarded with hundreds of PDS turrets.
Shuttle bays ran along the belly of the carrier as well. Allowing them to drop out of the ship towards their intended target instead of them having to fly out amongst the port and starboard batteries.
Odd bulges lined the ship while blast plates for atomic acceleration waited to push the war machine at its targets.
“The new super-carrier in Sol?” Rick said, his interest restrained by his realization of where I was going with this.
“She's the biggest ship in our arsenal other than War-station, Commander Heston is recovering from his injuries and will be able to act as our Flight controller. Felix also says that project Elshurvum is complete and he's moving the prototype through Sol, to get Silly, LaRe the engineers and command staff that will fill her and move onto the Star-destroyer yard.”
I pushed another item onto the view screen, this a smaller carrier with a hull as thick as the super-carrier's with a heavy compliment of PDS and missile tubes. There were a lot less rail cannons than a ship of its size would usually have, but it had the odd bulges that the new super-carrier supported. They looked a lot like the old PDF's Point Defense systems.
“How long will it take for the Super-carrier to be finished?”
“A month and a half. Less if we get our crew helping out.” I looked to Rick. “And use Resilient's systems to supplement the carriers.”
Rick looked like he wanted to protest, hell I wanted him to. Resilient was the first place that we had gained any sort of independence. We had built lives on Resilient. We knew her as well as we knew our wives.
“I see,” he said, deflating and looking up at the two rotating ships. “At least I now know why you were happy to let the crew go on leave down the corridor. It'll make them closer to Nancy wh
en we go through and pick them up for work-up on the new ship. What about Resilient herself and Eddie?”
“Resilient was rather happy with the idea. I think she knows her age and is interested to try something new. With the upgrades in processing power and storage she'll be able to do a heck of a lot more. Eddie...,” I leaned back and tapped my chin.
“You haven't told him yet?” Rick said, nodding in understanding.
“Haven't found the right time to tell him,” I said.
“Scared he's going to be pissed that you're going to turn his home into parts for a new ship,” Rick said, summarizing my feelings on the matter rather simply.
“Something like that.”
“Best to do it now than when we're on our way to Earth,” Rick said, knowing it would be hard for me to do but also knowing that I wouldn't put the duty onto anyone else.
***
Eddie sat down, he was tired to all hell, but that wasn't what made him take a seat. Engineers kept working pulling systems, replacing them, fixing them and doing all they could to bring Resilient back to life.
But you all know that it’s in vain. He let out a carapace weary sigh as he tilted his cowboy hat back and settled into the chair more comfortably.
“Something wrong chief?” Resilient herself asked, sparking into existence next to him.
He looked at her, sighing without the almost convulsive move that the human's performed of expelling atmosphere.
“Resilient...” He started, looking up to the sound of powered armor coming through his halls.
Krom appeared first, tilting his helmet slightly to Eddie in greeting as he scanned the deck.
Salchar followed after him, also wearing powered armor, it looked like it was another new set. Though a few scrapes and scuffs showed he'd worked it in nicely.
Eddie wasn't exactly unhappy with the disturbance, it got him out of telling Resilient that it would make more sense to change her to another ship instead of running in her current hull.
“Eddie, I know this is hard to accept but I think the time has come to let go of this hull and get us moved into a new ship,” Salchar said with all the subtly of a sledgehammer.
“Uhh well...,” Eddie began to say, Salchar stopped him with a raised hand.
“I know that you've put a lot of time into keeping this Dreadnought up and running. With the damage that we sustained it will take months for her to get back on the front lines. Months that we don't have and shipyard space that is put to better use getting the ships that you and the development team have been putting together,” Salchar said, his expression making it clear that he expected to have to fight over the point.
“Yeah, I agree, but have you talked to Resilient yet?”
“Yes, I suggested it to Rick who was looking at the timetables,” she said with an air of calm. “It’s only a hull, to me changing from one hull, or station or emplacement to another is like putting on different clothes. A little more annoying and control intensive, but similar.”
“So wait who doesn't know about this?” Eddie asked, his anxiety at having to tell Resilient that it might be best to move her into a new hull evaporating.
Salchar’s pause was all he needed.
“I'm the last!” Eddie's hands moved in frustration.
“Yes....” Salchar drew out the words, making it clear that he had another point. “But we also wanted to be sure that we knew what ship we were moving to before we made anything official.”
Eddie's manipulators betrayed him, moving from frustration to interest as if a light switch had been pressed.
“Well you going to tell us or just stand there?” Eddie said after a few moments. Salchar looked to be enjoying the moment.
“We're moving to the newly upgraded and renovated Super-Carrier.”
“Well at least you know how to pick ships!” Eddie said new excitement filling him. “So when are we going to be moving to the new ship?”
“Well if everything goes according to plan I want us to be moving over to Sol system in about two months,” Salchar said.
“How long will it take us from being in Sol to get Resilient herself switched over and us out of dock?”
“Unknown, that I think I will be leaving to my chief engineer.”
Eddie fingered his boot, but even the implied threat felt weak to him. Especially when his damned manipulators were moving with so much damned excitement.
It was like that damned Christmas holiday that the Humans had, and that the Free Fleet and merchant fleet were pressing upon every civilization that they came into contact with. It was good for business after all.
“Well then I have some work to do! Resilient, get me my engineering department commanders I think it’s about time that we looked over this new ship. If you don't mind commander I would like to use the conference room to fit them all in,” Eddie asked.
“It’s all yours, I have meetings to go to on bringing back the Union,” Salchar sighed.
Eddie couldn't help but feel a warmth of accomplishment flowing through him.
“The Syndicate might not have thought much of us, but by damn we're going to show them and everyone that ever thought to doubt us just what the hell we can do,” he said, practically jumping from his seat.
“That's the way of the Free Fleet,” Salchar grinned.
I wonder if he realizes that he is building an empire that will remember him and the Free Fleet for as long as any of it exists. Salchar tapped his fingers to his head and turned back the way that he had come, Krom following now as Shreesht took the lead.
Knowing him he neither cares what his name is attached to or not. As long as we are safe and that the Kaluian threat is removed then he doesn't care.
Eddie felt a fatherly kind of pride as he looked at Salchar's backside disappearing.
Chapter Let's see if it works for the second time
Edwards had assumed control over all the affairs that Knox had been running. He was still reeling from the information overload when General Davidson walked in with his medal covered dress uniform.
“Ah General, how goes the preparations?” Edwards asked from his desk. It, and the office around him was the polar opposite of the Spartan and clean room that Knox had lived in. This office spoke of his power through the rare wood that covered the walls and floors to the military artifacts of a person that found war interesting and intriguing, but had never participated in it.
Davidson rose an eyebrow and looked around the room.
“Oh, don't worry about any bugs, either our own allies or from the Free Fleet. I have this place checked randomly by a team I selected myself every day. The walls are also lined with metallic wires, making this one large faraday cage,” Edwards said, with a confident smile on his face as he stood and strolled to the sideboard filled with various drinks.
“Would you join me?” He asked.
“Certainly,” Davidson said, removing the beret that designated him as part of the Space Marines.
We should look into changing the damned name. Edwards quickly filed two glasses and put ice in them. Handing one to Davidson who took an appreciative sip as he went to take his seat opposite the man on the same side of his desk.
Davidson was one of the few people that he would sit on the same side as the General was the spear that Edwards hope he would plunge right into Salchar's own heart.
He took a sip, looking away from Davidson as anger made his lips turn into a snarl.
“Good stuff,” Davidson said, breaking into Edward's thoughts.
“Well, the two men that are looking to get rid of Salchar and this damned Free Fleet should be able to indulge in a few luxuries,” Edwards said with a conspiratorial grin.
“That they should,” Davidson agreed, nodding but lowering his glass. “Training is going well. The HAPA's are a bit difficult, and they need a user to be in powered armor when operating it, but we will have a strike force ready in about a week or so.”
“That's faster than I thought,” Edwards said appr
eciatively.
“I picked them men and women myself, all of them believing as we do. Most of them have been touched by the events that the Free Fleet failed to stop.” Davidson's face hardened.
Edwards wondered if the General actually believed the propaganda that had been going on about the Free Fleet as soon as they had saved Earth from the Syndicate.
Some said that they could have risen up before they left Sol and saved Earth from the orbital bombardments.
Well if he does, it shows that our propaganda machine is working rather nicely.
“Of course,” Edwards allowed his own face to darken. All he needed was to think of Salchar's treatment of himself, and the way that the sanctimonious prick had acted, treating Edwards as if he was nothing more than an annoyance. “Well it looks like you'll be able to get them into action in time for Felix coming through the system after all.”
“Yes, how are we looking for Hachiro, Nancy and other operations throughout the Free Fleet?” Davidson asked, not even trying to hide the edge in his voice.
“I have Knox's protocols that will allow me to send the message to every man and woman in the field. If they don't get it then the others will hopefully set them off as they see things starting up,” Edwards said, drinking from his cup.
“Can we be sure of their reliability?” Davidson's voice was hard.
“There will be those that feel connected to the Free Fleet, but the amount of them will outweigh those that do not carry out their orders. I will personally see that those that do not carry out their orders are seen to,” Edwards' eyes bore into Davidson’s for a moment before Davidson nodded in agreement.
The Free Fleet had ballooned to thirty-six million creatures under its command, not including the extra ground forces that acted as a reserve.
Those that had been pulled from Earth to go to Heija were being processed through the Free Fleet's system to make sure that they got the care they needed, whether it was psychological or physical. There were few if any that had made it to back without at least some physical damage, and the human mind took time and help to get past what they had seen.
From Furies Forged (Free Fleet Book 5) Page 6
