Scaevola's Triumph (Gaius Claudius Scaevola trilogy Book 3) (60 page)

"I am not sure what all this means," the Prime Delegate said, "but you have your wish, because I am ordered not to intervene in any way unless it is imperative to remove one of you."

"Then I hope you have faith in me," Gaius smiled.

"Oddly enough," the Prime Delegate said, "I have been ordered to have faith in you, despite whatever appears to arise. I have been told you are likely to be very deceptive."

"Oddly enough," Gaius nodded, "I am not disappointed with that assessment."

* * *

The next messages arrived about a week later, and they were more difficult to interpret. They arrived from diverse sources, and gave the positions and strengths of the enemy fleets, but there were a number of such messages, and given the constraints of two gas giants, it was clear that at least some of the messages were false. It was just when the deluge of such messages began to subside, a small M'starn fleet was detected on the far side of the solar system, presumably launched from behind a moon of the second gas giant. These ships did very little, other than announce their presence. The Prime Delegate called a Council of War that involved all senior commanders.

Gaius felt apprehensive as he took his seat. Something was wrong, but what could it be? The enemy had either shown significant incompetence, or the enemy was playing with them, and it seemed reasonably clear that the second option was more likely. The Prime Delegate seemed to sense Gaius' uncertainty, and seemed unsure how to proceed after the information was summarized by a Commodore. After a pause, he asked Gerenthe to speak first.

"Well, there they are," Gerenthe announced. "I see no reason not to send off a superior force and get them."

"What do you mean, a superior force?" the Prime Delegate asked.

"They have about sixty ships," Gerenthe said with a shrug, "so I would think a hundred and twenty should clean them out."

"And that's it?" the Prime Delegate asked, a trifle sourly.

"Until we get further information," Gerenthe responded. "Obviously we respond then."

"And suppose our ships are two thirds the way there, and another hundred of the enemy appear?"

"We send another two hundred," Gerenthe said.

"I see," the Prime Delegate said slowly. He turned to face Gaius, and asked, "And what does our second Space Marshall think?"

"I don't see the need to send any ships off there," Gaius announced slowly.

"Are you afraid?" Gerenthe taunted.

"My view is that they are there and we are here. Since they got here first, they will know where we are, and how many we have. Since we have got here, nothing much has happened. Suppose their strategy is to hide and ambush us? That's fair enough, except if they're over there and we stay here, it won't work. So, my guess is they're tempting us."

"We can't just ignore them," Gerenthe snorted.

"Why not?" Gaius responded. "What we see's only a small fraction of the enemy fleet. They have two options: they stay there or they come here. If they stay there we can ignore them, while if they come here, we will at least know how many of them there really are if and when we decide to intercept. If we follow the previous plan, and there are three hundred ships hiding behind another moon, we lose the first squad. If they stay there, they are irrelevant for the time being."

"So what would you recommend?" the Prime Delegate asked.

"I think we should pay more attention to this other information we've received."

"It's all contradictory," Gerenthe said sourly. "It's been contaminated by false information, presumably put there by the enemy, and it's of no use whatsoever."

"On the contrary," Gaius said, "why would the enemy send reams of false information? Why not simply deliver us a plain and simple trap?"

"You tell us!" Gerenthe said a little derisively, but Gaius also noted a sign of strain, or even nervousness in his voice.

"Because they never thought of it," Gaius shrugged, "until some of the Plotkynn began sending information."

"So?"

"So the first stuff we received is more likely to be true," Gaius shrugged. "Now, if we look carefully at that, what we see is the enemy split and sent fleets to the two gas giants."

"Even if they did," Gerenthe said, "so what? If they've split, let's wipe out the first half, and worry about the second half later."

"What we see is presumably the fleet, or part of it, that went to the second gas giant," Gaius said simply. "We see it because as it happens the line we've arrived on leaves that part of their fleet too far away to be effective at anything covert. Accordingly, they've shown at least part of themselves. Remember, the inner gas giant is on our approach side of the solar system."

"You feel that if we set off and attack the fleet we see, the second enemy fleet would be able to leave and fly to Ulse?" the Prime Delegate asked.

"Perhaps," Gaius said, "and perhaps they could attack the rear of our fleet that goes after the other half."

"Well, we've got to do something," Gerenthe said.

"Why?" Gaius asked curiously.

"Well, they've offered a challenge," Gerenthe said in a tone that suggested he thought it was obvious. "They've sent a message, saying if we were any good, we'd go and clean them out."

"Be like another Roman General," Gaius laughed. "Send back a message saying, if they were any good, they'd make us."

"And what good'd that do? We've still got to face them."

"It'd help if we could find them all first," Gaius pointed out.

"In my view they've clearly separated their forces," Gerenthe said, "and irrespective of why, we have to deal with them sooner or later, and since that spot's no worse than this one, I think we should take them."

"And you don't?" the Prime Delegate turned towards Gaius.

"I think we need to find the rest of the enemy," Gaius said simply. "If half of their fleet, or less, is hidden around the near gas giant, and if we can find them fast enough, we can clean them out first."

"If they're there!" Gerenthe snorted. "Why not deal with the ships we can see?"

"Because the ones we can see are irrelevant to those close to this gas giant," Gaius replied. "They can't get here fast enough to join a battle."

"Look!" Gerenthe said emphatically, "I can't command if I can't take advantage of an enemy slip, and you can't assure me this isn't one, can you!" he said, turning to Gaius.

"No," Gaius said flatly, "any more than you can assure me it is one."

"Then it seems I have to adjudicate," the Prime Delegate said. "The reserve position is that the fleets can divide. The problem is, you, Marshall Gerenthe, seem to want to fight in the outer regions, which was adjudicated as Marshall Claudius' sphere of control."

"If that's the only problem," Gaius shrugged, "I shall waive that right. A commander must have the option he favours."

"Then it is settled," the arbitrator said. "I hereby give Marshall Gerenthe the right to launch at the ships he can see, using whatever tactics he wishes, unfettered from interference from Marshall Claudius. You, Marshall Claudius, have the right to take whatever action you wish against enemy ships hidden about the local gas giant, using whatever tactics you wish, unfettered from interference from Marshall Gerenthe. Do you both agree?"

Both did. As Gaius remarked later, this was not an optimal way of fighting, but it was better than being demoted and leaving everything in Gerenthe's hands. The more he saw of Gerenthe, the more he was inclined to agree with the assessment of a recently promoted Commodore.

"Marshall Claudius. There is a further problem," the Prime Delegate announced.

"Which is?"

"The Ulsian Great Council is unhappy about your wife fighting in the same zone as you. They feel you may not devote your full attention to −"

"I understand," Gaius interrupted. "I don't agree, but I understand. Vipsania may join Gerenthe's fleet."

"She will be made a Commodore and lead fifty ships," the Prime Delegate said, as if to sweeten the blow.

"She has to agree to that," Gaius said, "although I rather feel she will."

"You agree, Marshall Gerenthe?"

"I don't seem to have much choice," Gerenthe grumbled. "Perhaps I can return the favour and give Admiral Claudius one of my officers."

"Marshall Claudius," the adjudicator interrupted firmly.

"I prefer not to," Gaius replied. "I've just made two field promotions, so if anything I have too many senior officers. In any case, Vipsania was not a senior officer. I shall stay with whom I have."

Gaius watched as Gerenthe seemed uncertain as to what to say next. He was clearly unhappy about something, but in the end he said nothing. Accordingly, the first basic decision had been reached, almost without proper thought. Because there were two equivalent commanders who seemed to be incapable of agreeing and working jointly, the two fleets would divide, and each would control their own sphere of influence.

"Even if we are operating independently," Gerenthe resumed, "we need some idea of what each other's up to, for coordination purposes."

"I'm not quite sure why," Gaius grumbled. He saw the frown from the Prime Delegate, so he felt he should add an explanation. "You're setting off to the other planet. I'm staying. We won't get in each other's road."

"I may wish to set off in stages," Gerenthe said.

"Why?" Gaius said, without thinking.

"I might send part of my fleet ahead to draw the enemy away from the distant planet," Gerenthe said.

"I suppose you might," Gaius said, his voice showing a total lack of enthusiasm for the tactic. He had an even stronger feeling of unease, but he could not put his finger on the cause. Was it really because he so disliked Gerenthe?

"You don't approve?" Gerenthe asked sourly.

"It's not that I do or don't approve," Gaius said irritably. "Our orders are clear, and we do not interfere in each other's battles. Your tactics are basically your business. It's just that I don't see the relevance to me."

"It's reasonably clear," Gerenthe said. "Suppose the enemy here see what's going on and can signal. If your forces were to set off in that direction with my first ships, the enemy would think it was the major attack."

"So?"

"When so many fewer arrive, they'll be in doubt."

"So?"

"They'll be wondering where the rest of the ships are," Gerenthe explained, as if to a child.

"Why?" Gaius countered. "Surely with all the empty space they can see, they'll make the correct conclusion?"

"We could have an improved camouflage." Gerenthe huffed.

"But they'll still attack who they can see," Gaius shook is head, "and bearing in mind the rest of your fleet is following and will be clearly visible before the fighting starts, I don't see the point."

"I can't help that!" Gerenthe snorted. "The point is, are you going to be cooperative, or not?"

"What exactly do you want me to do?" Gaius sighed.

"Take your ships out with the first squadrons," Gerenthe said, "then when you're out of sight, turn around and loop in behind and on the sunny side of the gas giant. You'll come into view of the moons at whatever velocity you choose, and the enemy there will have negligible warning before you're onto them. Then you can do what you like."

Gaius stared at Gerenthe with something of distaste. As far as 'sneaky strategy' was concerned, this was really bordering on the amateurish. Still, he could see the Prime Delegate was still frowning, and it was true that he could not think of any really good reason to adopt some other plan. If Gerenthe seemed to think it would help him, even if Gaius couldn't see how, that in itself was not reason to reject the request. And it was true that coming in from the 'wrong' side, even if it did not provide surprise, was unlikely to lead to a disaster. "If that's what you want," Gaius shrugged, "in the absence of any contraindications I'll cooperate."

Gerenthe seemed pleased with himself, Gaius noted. That in itself was disturbing. If this was what Gerenthe saw as a triumph, this could be a strange joint command. The fact that the two commanders had agreed on a course of action seemed to please the Prime Delegate, however, and as Gaius thought to himself, that was not a bad outcome.

Chapter 43

Gaius invited Vipsania to the Actium for meals, and also to give her what ideas he could convey on battle tactics. He also instructed Marcellus to ensure that everything he knew about battle was to be conveyed to Vipsania's ship.

"I'm sorry about this," he started to explain.

"I know, it's not your fault," Vipsania said. "I'm just concerned though at why I've been given this promotion. I don't really know anything about battles or how to command."

"Regarding the latter, why don't you sit in on the meetings I am having with my commanders?"

"Gerenthe won't like that," she said with a wan smile on her face.

"Gerenthe won't know," Gaius snorted, "and anyway, it is quite natural for me to want to help my wife."

"He may not see it that way, and the Ulsians . . ."

"Therein lies your real problem," Gaius said. "A number of Ulsians may be unhappy about having you in command of them. I'll prime you up with some questions to ask at the meetings, and I want you to see how I deal with this problem of morale."

Gaius knew morale was a problem. Word of the unsatisfactory way of reaching the tactical decision had travelled like fire throughout the force. Gaius knew he had a substantial morale problem to address first. He called the commanders of each ship under his command to a meeting on one of the giant transporters, and he invited Vipsania as well. This, he knew, was a risky measure, because if the enemy could inadvertently launch a surprise attack, they would lose then and there. However, as there were long-range sensors in place he should receive adequate warning of any enemy activity. The risk was worth it, because Gaius knew that unless he could reverse the feeling of doom, the war was as good as lost anyway.

Gaius looked at his audience, which could best be described as grim but polite. It was then that he realized he had another problem: he had never really come to grips with Ulsian humour. He could not rouse the spirits that way. He took a breath, and began his address.