Carinae Sector: 02 - Admiral's Fury - Part 2 - Hidden Menace (16 page)

‘Admiral, the former commander assigned us picket duty on the entry point for the star system and sent the other ships across to complete the patrol. A full Barus squadron entered the system from the other hyper drive point and decimated our frigates as they approached the far side. A Sspol cruiser was also present and tried to run us down before we fled. We sustained minimal damage and no casualties in the encounter, though the other frigates were destroyed and the supply convoy would also have been destroyed as they were expected to arrive shortly.’

The admiral looked over the new commander and kept deathly still as he parsed through the reply. The Barus had been written off earlier as not being a threat to his mission, and plainly this initial assessment had been over confident. He knew that the new commander was not responsible and had been accurate in his reply. Baunrus now made an observation that the new commander wisely refrained from responding to in any way.

‘So we lose another convoy, but fortunately a small one. Now it appears the other races are involved in defending the humans, so if we are going to take their precious home world then we will have to be quick about it despite the risks to our supply lines.’

The admiral dismissed the new commander without further censure and again called up what information he had about the star systems on the journey to the human world. The crew on his bridge ignored his animated mutterings and kept their eyes fixed to their own consoles, for they were aware that either a laser pistol shot or a short trip out an airlock could follow any serious breach of discipline or protocol.

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Omerio stretched out in his command chair and quietly considered his options as his ships crossed the Ivory star system. His squadron of cruisers had days earlier performed a text book ambush of several Jerecab frigates and the smaller ships had been obliterated. He had ordered his squadron out from behind the shadow of a gas giant and the cruisers had used their long range weapons to devastating effect. The frigates had nowhere to hide as the larger Barus ships fired a number of active scans that would have damaged their electronics, before opening concentrated laser and particle beam fire on each frigate in turn. The Barus had then attempted to overhaul a remaining frigate at a hyper jump location, but the Jerecab commander had wisely jumped his ship away before the Barus cruisers could get close.

Omerio had also been meticulous in ensuring that his ships continued to transmit non-aggression and neutrality clauses to the Sspol cruisers whenever he encountered them. The Sspol usually remained distant and would leave whenever his cruisers entered a system that they were already patrolling, however one of their cruisers was rapidly approaching his current position. The Barus captain took in the energy readings for the alien cruiser and was impressed, for he realised that the large sphere could easily deal with any two of his cruisers. He reminded his crew of what he was expecting as he noted that the Sspol ship was now slowing to halt some distance from them.

‘Now remember what I said earlier as we want no misunderstandings with the Sspol. So there will be no active targeting scans and no weapons locks initiated by any of our ships.’

Omerio heard gruff coughs of assent as his crew replied to his instructions, and now he looked over sensor readings from further across the star system. He noted that his squadron would soon reach the hyper drive point leading to Jerecab occupation zone at the Posient bulge. Omerio was feeling optimistic about more Jerecab ships arriving shortly; indeed he was counting on it happening.

The communications officer gave a low cough of surprise and spoke unnecessary as the main view screen came alive to show another star system. A deep and fluid voice now spoke accented high Barus to the bridge, as Omerio noted the view screen now displayed two disabled human destroyers.

‘We speak to vassals about treachery; for the Fenshilla are harvesting life forms and they enslaved the survivors of these two human ships. The humans are a haven species; surely the vassals can protect them and drive away either Jerecab or Fenshilla.’

Omerio felt a cold and harsh feeling soak through his belly as he considered the plight of the hapless humans taken by the Fenshilla. He thought carefully before offering a reply, as he noted that Sspol had not asked him a question, but had stated a position or point of view.

‘We thank you for your efforts; and we know that not all vassals will treat the Sspol fairly. The plight of the slaves has been noted and your message will be relayed onwards; the humans will address this matter if they survive the attentions of the Jerecab.’

The Sspol cruiser remained silent and Omerio sweated quietly, for he was concerned that the Sspol envoy, Drannep, could be onboard and blow his cover story. His fears went unfounded as the Sspol onboard their cruiser spoke again in complex sentences.

‘We will inform our envoy of your peaceful and honest nature; for the Barus are respected as are the Cephrit, Traders, Deltas Vass and even the Vorinne. We seek to remain free of evil; the treachery of the Zronte, Jerecab, Fenshilla and Tilmud are of no interest to us.’

Omerio noted to himself that the Sspol had not mentioned the Maveen and he was also grateful for this omission. He noted that Commander Tamerio was paying particular attention and he knew that their formal reports of this meeting would find a way to the more senior races within years. Omerio prepared another reply in the compound syntax of the Sspol.

‘We attack the supplies of the Jerecab; for this will delay their onslaught on the human home world. Jerecab ships appear shortly and we will attack them; you may join with our ships in the attack. We will return to the human rear deployment zones within two days; for we again seek the human admiral.’

The Sspol cruiser remained silent for several more minutes and Omerio noted that it was starting to slowly distance itself from his cruiser squadron. He again checked his sensor readings for the rest of the star system and noted that the Jerecab convoy had not arrived. The answer from the Sspol cruiser had him revising his plans further as he considered the implications.

‘The humans withdraw from the colonies; for many of their supply ships have also been destroyed along with the two destroyers. We leave for the human system; we will fight alongside the humans despite the long odds. Farewell Omerio; know that the Sspol will seek to speak with you again.’

Omerio ignored the surprised look that Tamerio was giving him as he watched the Sspol cruiser now rapidly move away from their position. He took the opportunity to quietly discuss the humans with his second officer to deflect any questions that might arise.

‘Tamerio, the humans will no doubt seek to ambush the Jerecab on their return to their home world. We will need to anticipate this and ensure that we stay well away from these battles. Finally we need to identify at least one ambush of our own that is unlikely to involve the humans.’

Tamerio gave him a fixed look and quickly decided that the concerns he had would have to be resolved at a later stage. The commander called up a schematic of two star systems and gave a measured formal reply.

‘Well Captain, I think the humans will be fighting in these two binary systems as they have unique characteristics that are not fully known by the other vassal races. The complex nature of these two systems should only confuse the Jerecab further.’

Omerio was hoping for something like this in Tamerio’s brief assessment, and he merely encouraged the commander to continue after supplying additional constraints in what he was seeking.

‘Our own ambush needs to work in with the longer range of our weapons and the higher speed of our ships in the outskirts of star systems. I want to avoid a slugging match with the Jerecab armada deep inside a gravity well.’

Tamerio now called up an additional star system map that Omerio took the time to inspect closely as the commander spoke again.

‘I have identified this system as being along the most likely path the Jerecab will take to Earth. The system has fast access to the hyper drive point and good refuge points inside the system. The humans are likely to avoid it as it would encourage a set battle with the Jerecab that they would lose.’

Omerio noted the details of the star system with approval as he crisply replied.

‘Well I agree with your assessment and we will consider it further on the long journey to Earth. For now we will wait up to six hours for the Jerecab convoy before we leave this system.’

Tamerio returned his attention to his sensor console and kept quiet, as Omerio noted that the Sspol cruiser was rapidly disappearing into the distance. The Barus did not have to wait much longer for Jerecab to turn up in their supply ships, and within six hours, the wreckage of twelve supply ships and three larger lifters littered the outskirts of the Ivory star system.

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Chapter 8

Gindane paced in front of her command chair and absently rubbed her bare brown shoulders as she thought through the change of circumstances. She had left her fleet at the outskirts of the Echelon system and come forward to meet the humans in only her command cruiser. The humans had obviously abandoned their attempts to force the Jerecab from these worlds. For the Barus captain could see on her view screen the over thirty destroyers that would be the bulk of the human fleet. Nearby there were scores of supply ships lining up in turn to dock with the landing boom sticking out of a decent sized ice asteroid.

The view screen changed to show the human that Gindane knew as Admiral Mary Neilson, who offered a bow and began to speak in a series of accurate short sentences.

‘Captain Gindane, it is nice to see you again and hopefully your fleet has suffered little at the hands of the Jerecab. We have lost two more destroyers and too many supply ships recently, so we are making an orderly withdrawal back to our home systems. We are planning to delay the Jerecab as much as we can without risking too many ships.’

Gindane gave a deep bow of respect as she replied, for she genuinely liked the humans.

‘Admiral it is good to see you again as well. The Jerecab are searching the former colonies from one end to the other in an attempt to bring your main fleet to battle. Omerio is operating his fleet as we discussed earlier and he begins his next move shortly.’

Mary looked over at the impassive face of the taller Barus female and knew that she could not establish whether or not the truth was being told. However she knew that the actions of the Barus were important and hopefully they would follow her to Earth. The admiral gave another series of explanations of her own plans as she thought furiously ahead.

‘Most of the transports will only be carrying fuel and the un-used troop transports are being sent directly back to Earth after they move across their food stores. I am ordering this as there is no point in sacrificing the lives of our marines unless it is a high value target.’

Gindane evaluated the comment with approval, for even if they had lost transports earlier, she knew that the humans had a rationale in their methods. Her next comments acknowledged this fact and also seized on Mary’s concerns about her transports.

‘Admiral, I can escort your supply ships and transports back to Earth and this will free up your destroyers from escort duty. We can point out to the senior vassal races that we are attempting to defuse the conflict by escorting some of your ships from the war zone. Also I can advise your authorities on how the final battle should be planned to allow for the best possibility of victory.’

Mary felt relief as she quickly considered and accepted the offer. For escorting the civilian ships home had been a big concern, and now she had at least some of the Barus forces protecting Earth as well.

‘Thank you Captain Gindane for your most generous offer and I accept. Note that I have already sent a few ships home with wounded and they carry my reports of your helpful actions at the colonies. I will send further reports with our supply ships about the next stages of our plans.’

Gindane waited patiently as Mary allocated all her troop transports and several fuel tankers across to the care of the Barus research fleet. After several more hours her research cruiser was leading her new charges back to the rest of her fleet. The Barus waited at the hyper drive point for human fleet of destroyers to arrive before the mass of ships departed on the long journey to Earth. The eternal calm of the remote star system returned, as dim light reflected inside deep craters of several of the ice asteroids near the Echelon base to highlight several landed supply ships now devoid of their crews.

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Captain Narindestat was quietly going through the fortunately small lists of damage reports to his sneak ships when the bridge alarm loudly gave the first a series of three loud screeches. He swore volubly as he turned off the alarm and the main view screen updated with dire news he had not predicted. The screen showed the symbols of eight large cruisers had appeared within two hundred thousand kilometres of his position and they were heading towards the Resuria.

Lieutenant Garendestat kept outwardly calm, but inside his mind and two stomachs was roiling in uncertainty, as he automatically keyed maximum thrust from the Resuria’s massive ion engines. Lieutenant Marenkestat loudly announced the configuration of the new arrivals, not that anyone had any doubts as the first pictures came of the unknown ships.

‘Captain the new arrivals are an older design of Zronte heavy cruisers and they appear to have been re-engineered, so their offensive capability could be very high. They will be in range in half an hour, and they all have the rear mounted type two hyper drive system like we do with the Resuria.’

Captain Narindestat was aware that his ship had accelerated heavily and he silently gave thanks for the training of his bridge crew as he took in the strength of the cruisers and their course. The attackers seemed to have pulled off a text box ambush using their advanced hyper drives to enter the system will inside the standard transfer point. He also gave thanks that all but two of his sneak ships were now on their pylons and safe for the moment. He keyed a series of time and distance calculations and gave several urgent orders after first getting a video channel to the humans nearby.