by Daniel Gibbs
“This is a delicacy from our world. A species that we’ve enjoyed for millennia as a delicious meal,” Kartal explained.
David cut off a small bite-size piece and began to chew; surprisingly tasteful, it reminded him of lamb. “Tastes like chicken.”
“Chicken?” Kartal asked.
“A human source of protein, from their bird family of animals,” Aibek interjected. “This meat tastes nothing like chicken, sir,” he said with mock reproach.
David grinned. “It's just what you say when you eat something new.”
“I would like to return to our previous conversation,” Kartal said. “As I said, I continue to be fascinated by all the different religions and philosophies that exist in human culture.”
David fought down a grimace; the last thing he wanted to do the night before a battle was discuss politics and religion with the fleet commander. There are some topics one doesn’t touch. “Well, there are few things two humans agree on fully, Admiral.”
“You are Jewish, yes?”
“Yes, Admiral. Orthodox, at that.”
“Doesn’t the word Cohen trace back to the priests of Israel?”
He’s done his homework. “Yes, sir, it does. Confirmed via DNA sequencing too. Though unfortunately, our tribes’ genealogies are so muddled, no one knows which tribe they belong to anymore.”
“You don’t believe the Messiah, what we would call the Prophet, has come to you?”
David shook his head. “No, sir. Jews believe that we await the coming of the Messiah.”
“But Christians believe that Jesus was the Messiah.”
“Yes, sir,” David replied.
“Aren’t those two in direct contradiction?”
“Well, yes.”
“I am failing to understand how you can fundamentally disagree so much yet still be so intermeshed with one another,” Kartal commented.
“Admiral, in the past, different religious organizations on Earth fought with each other. Muslims and Jews fought for thousands of years. Christians at one point fought with Muslims through great crusades. Muslims fought with Hindus for thousands of years. Radicals from every sect caused pain and death.”
Kartal stared in rapt attention. “But not anymore?”
“No. I’m not aware of any religious violence occurring in the last two hundred years within the Terran Coalition, or even any credible reports of religious bigotry. I’m sure that somewhere in our borders, someone exists that doesn’t like someone else’s beliefs, but if they shared that thought process, no one would give them the time of day.”
“What happened?”
“Back on Earth, we were all forced to band together when the World Society—the precursor to the League of Sol—began to economically, and later militarily, take over the world. Jew fought side by side with Muslim, Muslim fought side by side with Christian. In short order, we were forced to confront the truth about each other, that we weren’t that different. What were at first allies of necessity turned into friends, then eventually brothers and sisters with an unbreakable bond.”
“In a way, then, this League of Sol caused something positive to happen,” Kartal observed.
“I’d never thought of it like that, but I suppose you’re right.”
“And now there is room for any belief in the Terran Coalition?”
“Including none at all.”
“Those must be a minority…”
“A tiny minority. Three percent of the population in the last polling I saw on the subject. That’s something else humans love to do… conduct polls and collect statistics.”
Kartal snorted. “I have noticed.”
David realized as he took another bite that no one else was speaking; the entire table was watching the conversation between him and the admiral. “I suppose it's one of our failings. That and endless amounts of paperwork.”
“Humans have no monopoly on paperwork, Colonel. The Royal Navy has plenty. Always some… what do you call them, bean counters, yes? An entire army of those exist back on Sauria wanting more forms.”
David chuckled politely, as did the other officers at the table.
“I have enjoyed this discussion, Colonel. I feel as if I know you better now. Tomorrow will be a great day.”
“Any defeat of the League is a great day,” David said, fire shining in his eyes. “I long for the day when we defeat them for good.”
“That, I can drink to. Ladies and gentlemen, charge your glasses!” Kartal said, picking up his ale glass and taking a swig. Everyone else, including David, did as well. The rest of the dinner focused on more banal discussions, but the interaction with Kartal stayed at the forefront of David’s mind, even after he was back in his bunk and done for the evening.
So many ships out there. It’s honestly a majestic sight. I pray they’re still here after we finish the battle tomorrow. Standing at the “window,” which was a highly dense transparent alloy, David’s eyes raked across the scene of dozens of starships as far as the eye could see. Carriers, battleships, heavy cruisers, light cruisers, missile cruisers, destroyers, frigates from both the CDF and the RSN. All ready to fight in the most significant spaceborne engagement since the battle of Canaan, which took place nearly twenty-eight years ago. The officers’ mess he was in was open all day and night, and there were more than a few fellow servicemembers who couldn’t sleep, also taking in the sight. Failing to relax after dinner with the admiral, David had gone to the shul first and spent an hour praying. His soul still troubled, he’d ended up in the mess.
“I guess you couldn’t sleep either.”
David looked back to see the smiling face of Angie Dinman, the embedded reporter for GNN, holding a mug. He shook his head. “No, I couldn’t. I decided to come down and have a look one more time at the fleet.”
“Mind if join you?”
“On the record, or off?” David asked.
Angie rolled her eyes at him. “Aren’t we past that?”
David laughed. “Who knows with you reporters? The master chief swears the entire lot of you can’t be trusted.” He gestured to the chair next to the one he was sitting in.
Angie smirked. “The master chief will never be satisfied with any reporter.” She took the seat indicated by David and glanced out the window. “Well, if nothing else, we’ve got a lot of firepower for tomorrow.”
David took his chair back. “Firepower is only half the battle. Being in the right place, the right time, with the right firepower… now that’s the name of the game.”
“Do you think we’re going to win?” Angie said, looking over at David and trying to make eye contact with him.
“I think we’ve taken every possible precaution, have a great plan, and enough ships to execute the plan. The rest is in the hands of God.”
“Right, so are we going to win or not?”
David offered her a small smile. “I don’t know. But I’ll give everything I have, as will the rest of the people on this ship to assure we do. Can we talk about something besides the battle? I’m trying to get that out of my mind.”
“How come?”
“So I can sleep and be in a rested state of mind for tomorrow.”
Angie grinned. “I should’ve realized that.”
“It’s okay,” David replied before continuing with a different thought. “I hear that you’ve been going to both the shul and Christian services with Lieutenant Goldberg.”
It was Angie’s turn to be surprised. “Do you have a security detail on me or something?”
David shook his head. “Despite the Lion’s seemingly massive size, it’s a tiny ship. Scuttlebutt gets around.”
“I see that. Well, yes. I have been going with her,” Angie said, taking in David’s quizzical look. “I wasn’t able to set aside what you said to me a few months ago.”
I had that much of an impact with one comment about Pascal’s Wager? “I see. We haven’t discussed it since...”
“I’ve been able to ignore every other argument
I’ve heard about God. I’m not entirely sure why, but that one got my attention. I decided to explore different avenues of faith. I’ve been to several Christian services, Jewish services with Ruth, and a couple of Islamic services with Colonel Amir.”
“Well, you’re hitting all the major Terran Coalition religions. Might want to toss in a visit to a Buddhist temple while you’re at it.”
“Are you insulting me, Colonel?”
David blinked. “I didn’t intend to… though being exposed to Colonel Aibek’s humor, I suppose it’s possible I’m a bit more sarcastic than I used to be.”
“Oh,” Angie said as her shoulders sagged and she wore a frown. “It’s just really personal to me. I don’t know what I believe… if I believe in anything. I don’t want to be made fun of.”
Crap. I didn’t mean to insult her. That’s the last thing she needs. “I apologize, Angie. It wasn’t my intent.”
“I forgive you,” she replied with a smile.
“How Christian of you.”
Angie rolled her eyes. “Seriously?”
David laughed. “Couldn’t resist.”
“I guess I’d better try to go get some sleep. It’s only three hours to five AM CMT. There’s a broadcast embargo, but I’m recording reports constantly that can be edited into a cohesive story once it’s over.”
David nodded his understanding. “Sleep well. I trust that tomorrow God will go with us, and I know the crew will be at its absolute A-game.”
“God helps those who help themselves?”
“Or as the Arabs say, trust in God, but tie your camel to a tree,” David replied with a smile.
“Take care, David. I’ll see you at some point in the next few days.”
Watching Angie go, David realized with a start that he had some level of attraction to her. Great, David. First, you’re in love with your XO, now you’re interested in an agnostic reporter. Get it together, man. Focus. Shaking his head, he took his water glass back to the collection area for used dishes and headed back to his cabin to hopefully get some sleep.
8
The following morning, David rolled out of his bunk at 0430 CMT when his alarm went off. He’d finally fallen asleep around 0300 CMT, and all told got about three hours of sleep during the night. It’ll have to be enough to keep me going today. Forcing himself through his morning ritual, he exercised for half an hour, then showered, shaved, and put on the uniform of the day. By 0700 CMT, he was on the bridge, sipping a cup of coffee and looking over the ship’s readiness report.
0800 was the designated H-Hour, when the combined assault would begin. Between 0700 and 730, the entire first shift bridge crew rotated in, relieving the third shift. Admiral Kartal had planned the operation at the start of the first shift to ensure the best personnel, and more importantly, make sure they were rested and ready for a sustained engagement. David continued to be impressed by the Saurian admiral; he had proven over and over to be a wily commander, with out-of-the-box tactics and unorthodox strategies. Today, though, they were flying into the teeth of the best the League had to offer. David hoped that the admiral was up to the task, for everyone’s sake.
When Aibek walked onto the bridge, he was the last one of the first shift crew to arrive, at precisely seven thirty-two AM. As he took his seat in the XO’s chair, David glanced at him.
“You’re going to be late to your own funeral, aren’t you, XO?”
Aibek laughed. “I certainly hope so. Dying isn’t high on my bucket list, as you humans say.”
David snickered in spite of himself. “In twenty-eight minutes, we do this.”
“It is difficult to believe that the last five cycles have gone by so quickly, leading us to this battle.”
“Well, we’ve drilled it, we’re ready. All that’s left now is the waiting,” David commented. “That’s the part I hate.”
Aibek didn’t respond, and the rest of the crew was busy checking, rechecking, triple-checking their consoles and the ship’s function.
“I think it’s time to go to condition one,” David said as the clock ticked to seven thirty-five AM.
“Agreed, sir.”
David punched the button for 1MC on his chair. “General Quarters! General Quarters! This is the commanding officer. Man your battle stations! I say again, man your battle stations! Set material condition one throughout the ship! This is not a drill! I say again, this is not a drill!”
The lights on the bridge automated faded to a dark blue hue, bathing the bridge and CIC in a soft glow. “Conn, TAO! Material condition one is set throughout the ship,” Ruth announced.
“Acknowledged, TAO.”
After going to condition one, the minutes crept by for David, and he found himself silently praying in Hebrew. Lord, protector of us all, please spare my crew if it is Your will and allow them to return home to their loved ones.
At 0750 CMT, Taylor’s voice invaded David’s mental reverie. “Conn, communications. Incoming fleet-wide transmission from Admiral Kartal.”
“Link it into 1MC, Lieutenant.”
There were a couple of seconds of scratchy static, and then the admiral’s voice came through loud and clear. “Officers, enlisted soldiers of the Royal Saurian Navy and Coalition Defense Force, this is Admiral Kartal. Over the last five Saurian cycles, which humans would refer to as eighteen months, we have fought together against the League of Sol. It has been a time of sacrifice, a time of courage, and a time of triumph. Our forces have defeated in detail all League combat units active in our arm of the galaxy. Human and Saurian working together, we have accomplished much. Today, we will storm the League’s defenses. We will wreck its fleet, and we will seize the launching point for our eventual invasion of the League’s core worlds. With God and the great Prophet at our side, we will not fail. See yourself to your duties. Give all that you have with honor. Today, the League will try to slither away, but our heel will stomp its head. The assault begins in five minutes. Admiral Kartal out.”
David nodded his approval, looking at Aibek. “I find the admiral’s speeches to be as effective as his tactics.”
Aibek laughed in return. “As long as you mean that positively, I will not have to challenge you to blood combat, Colonel.”
David rolled his eyes in return, ignoring Aibek’s comment. “Navigation, please confirm one more time that the proper coordinates are programmed into our Lawrence drive.”
“Conn, Navigation, coordinates rechecked, sir. We’re ready on your command,” Hammond replied.
“TAO, status of magnetic cannons and shield systems?”
“Shields energized sir, magnetic cannons loaded with high explosive rounds per your orders,” Ruth responded.
“Very well,” David said, eyeing the clock as the seconds ticked down.
Considering what they were about to go into, David decided that his crew needed to hear from him one more time before the battle commenced. He hit the button for 1MC once more and spoke into the mic. “Attention, all hands, this is the commanding officer. We all know what’s at stake. We all know our duty. I expect you all to carry it out today. If you’re anything like me, there wasn’t much sleep last night. There were a lot of prayers. There was a letter home to our families, just in case. Now is the time for action. Godspeed to you all.”
After David cut off the mic, Aibek commented in a quiet voice, “Thank you, sir. I think we all needed to hear from you. I would be lying if I said I was not apprehensive. This is, how do humans say it? For the marbles?”
David smiled. “For all the marbles.”
Aibek smiled, saying nothing and staring straight ahead.
“Navigation, stand by to activate the Lawrence drive on my mark.”
“Acknowledged, sir.” Hammond immediately responded.
Watching the clock tick forward the final ten seconds, David felt the knots in his stomach contort out of control. It’s always like this before the battle, but in a few seconds, I’ll be back in the thick of it and in the zone. The moment the cloc
k struck 0800 CMT, David spoke. “Navigation, activate the Lawrence drive.”
“Aye aye, sir.”
Hammond tapped the control to execute the Lawrence drive activation, and the massive artificial wormhole generators in the bowels of the ship sprang to life.
From the CO’s chair, David could see dozens of wormholes forming and the rest of the vessels in the fleet lining up to fly through them. Then the sub-light engines of the Lion kicked in, and he felt the G forces pressing him back into his chair, attenuated as they were by the ship’s inertial dampener fields. The mouth of the wormhole rushed up toward the exterior view, as the Lion breached the event horizon, while behind it, the wormhole collapsed in an array of different colors that spanned the range of the rainbow.
A few seconds later, they emerged in normal space, eight hundred lightyears from their starting point. There was a four-second delay as the sensors recalibrated and snapped back on. This was the most critical part of any combat deployment sequence, and it always inspired a few seconds of held breath on the bridge. As those seconds elapsed, David whispered a prayer in Hebrew for his crew, asking God to spare their lives in the coming battle.
“Conn, TAO. Sensors online... numerous contacts, sir. No hostiles within one thousand kilometers! Feeding contacts into the allied tactical network!”
“TAO, raise shields, arm point defense in automatic mode and charge the weapons capacitor.”
“Aye aye, sir, shields up, point defense armed and ready, weapons capacitor charging,” Ruth replied. “Conn, TAO. We’ve got a hostile battlegroup of eighteen ships closing with us.”
“TAO, put the battle space view up on the holoprojector,” David ordered before standing from his chair and glancing back toward the holotank. Aibek stood with him and raked his eyes over the sensor readings.
