Authors: Thomas DePrima
"Thank you," Jenetta said. "Their addition to my fleet will make a considerable difference."
"We've also reviewed the construction schedule at the yard," Admiral Plimley said. "We've decided it would be unwise to halt construction at any of the docks so new scout-destroyers could be constructed. The ships currently under construction are needed just as urgently. But we've almost completed construction of new docks intended for the retrofit of older ships so their speeds can be improved. Rather than begin those retrofit operations when projected, those docks will be used for the construction of scout-destroyers. We estimate that once we're in full production mode we can produce ten scout-destroyers every six months. Within a year's time you'll have an additional twenty scout-destroyers. Combined with the five new ships you'll receive now and the eight already assigned to your fleet, you'll have a force of thirty-three DS ships capable of Light-9375."
"Although it's not even half what you say you need to decisively defeat the Tsgardi," Admiral Platt commented, "it might be enough to halt their fleet's progression until additional ships can be completed and delivered."
"I think I can safely say," Jenetta said, "that the thirty-three ships will allow me to harass the Tsgardi enough to make them rethink their position. We know very little about their battle tactics, since the Milori kept them bottled up in their own territory, but we've had enough contact with Tsgardi mercenaries to suspect they prefer a massed assault. If I can get them to divide into smaller battle groups, we can take them on a group at a time and reduce their numbers significantly. Three hundred Tsgardi warships is not an insurmountable force once I have the ships you're promising."
"We've also moved ahead with staffing plans of Region Two Headquarters," Admiral Moore said. "Admiral Poole of Griffiths Space Command Base has been designated as the base commander of Quesann. Admiral Kanes will assume command of Intelligence in Region Two and Admiral Buckner will head up your Supply & Logistics Section. Poole, Buckner, and additional Region Two headquarters senior personnel will arrive with the first new transports. Admiral Kanes is ready immediately and you may pick him up from Higgins on your return trip."
"In light of this new development, would you prefer I postpone my visits to the two Academies?" Jenetta asked of the Board rather than anyone specifically.
Admiral Hillaire, as Director of the Academies, was the first to respond. "Since you don't yet have the resources to commence action against the Tsgardi, I don't think an extra week is going to make any difference. Does anyone disagree?"
"I don't," Admiral Bradlee said. "Even if the ships currently underway to Region Two had already arrived, there's little Admiral Carver could do to prepare for the confrontation. And it will take most of the ships assigned to Region Two almost two years to reach the Tsgardi border from Quesann."
"I expect the Tsgardi to be halfway to Quesann by then," Jenetta said, "if they continue their move into Region Two. We're the only force that can stop, or even slow, their progress. I have to wonder if they've been planning this ever since the Milori first invaded us. They may have been just biding their time until the Milori were too weakened to resist their attacks."
"I think you're giving them too much credit, Jen," Admiral Platt said. "By all assessments their intelligence is limited. Having such a long-range plan would seem inconsistent with the norm."
"Then they either came up with this plan when they realized the Milori wouldn't be able to stop them," Admiral Bradlee said, "or someone else has instigated this invasion."
"To what end, Roger?" Admiral Plimley asked.
"Possibly to distract us from our patrol activities, which might indicate the Raiders are behind it after all, or perhaps someone else who has designs on our territory and wants us to move most of our resources towards the Tsgardi border?"
"I can believe the Raiders having a hand in this," Admiral Burke said, "but it doesn't seem likely anyone else would be involved."
"Why not?" Admiral Woo asked.
"We just destroyed one of the most powerful militaries in this quadrant and, thanks to the brilliant tactics and leadership of Admiral Carver, our forces are still completely intact. In fact, we're far stronger militarily than we've ever been. Who would be so foolish as to attack us now?"
"It would have to be someone who doesn't fear our military capability," Admiral Ahmed said. "We know little of the Ruwalch Confederacy, except for the rumors of their technological ability. Since their nation is located on the far border of Region Two, we've never had direct contact with them."
"Our new speed capability offers us the opportunity to travel further for diplomatic missions than we ever considered feasible before," Admiral Ressler said. "Once this matter with the Tsgardi is settled, we must consider establishing formal diplomatic relations with our new neighbors."
"The Uthlaro might very well be involved," Admiral Burke offered. "We know they're very closely aligned with the Raiders. Perhaps they're in this together and are using the Tsgardi as pawns to distract us."
"And we can't forget our neighbors here in Region One," Admiral Platt said. "Just because they've never threatened our borders before doesn't mean that they're not involved. New threats in Region Two would have us concentrating more of our resources that way, instead of behind us."
"The Clidepp Empire is in total disarray," Admiral Bradlee said. "Their central government is crumbling under its own weight. They're ripe for a coup d'état by rebels and are hardly in a position to attack us to gain territory. And the Aguspod aren't organized well enough to even consider such an attack. Their forces have all been devoted to fighting the Raiders, just as ours were until the Milori attacked us."
"Yes, but look how we responded to the attack from the Milori," Admiral Hillaire said. "Our forces were immediately re-tasked from police functions to war response. The Aguspod could just as easily change the focus of their forces."
"We seem to be in agreement that the Tsgardi would not have entered into this action by themselves," Admiral Moore said. "Therefore our Intelligence Service has their work cut out for them. Roger, find out who's behind this operation so we can adequately prepare for the next phase of their plan."
~ March 31
st
, 2282 ~
Jenetta was able to relax and enjoy the remainder of her two-week vacation after her second meeting with the Admiralty Board, although it was difficult to keep her mind free from thoughts about her command knowing an invasion was currently taking place in Region Two.
For the first time in years, she actually appeared in public wearing something other than a uniform when she consented to wear a dress purchased by Eliza and Christa during their first shopping trip. It delighted Annette, who had despaired of ever again personally seeing her oldest daughter in anything but a military uniform. The sisters looked like three average, vivacious young women out for a shopping trip with an older woman who might be their grandmother. But if they'd hoped they'd be less conspicuous if Jenetta wasn't wearing the four stars on her shoulders, they were disappointed.
It had already been widely reported in the media that she was staying on the Potomac base and newsies, hoping to get an exclusive interview, followed her around whenever she appeared in public. Her pets kept them a dozen meters away and then it was simply a matter of tuning them out until they understood they were being ignored and stood zero chance of baiting her into giving them a response. But they continued to follow her while shooting a never ending stream of pictures and videos. An advertising company got the phone number at the house and continued to call, requesting that Jenetta appear in a series of commercials for a client's products. Media show production people also kept pestering her to appear on their shows. Jenetta finally had all calls screened through the base communications center.
* * *
At the beginning of her third week on Earth, Jenetta piloted the Colorado's shuttle to the Northern Hemisphere Space Academy for the visit Admiral Hillaire arranged. Accompanied only by Lt. Commander Ashraf and her cats, she was enjoying the flight so much that she was tempted to prolong it by making a quick side trip somewhere— anywhere. But people were waiting, so she put her personal desires aside and touched down on the assigned pad at the designated time.
The school superintendent and many of the Academy's senior officers met Jenetta at the shuttle pad and they came stiffly to attention as she descended the ramp. A full-dress band played loudly in the background making it difficult to hear the names of the officers as they were introduced. Like many officers who had never met Admiral Carver, Rear Admiral (Lower) Josef Ponte held some resentment towards her rapid climb to the third— some say the second— most powerful position in Space Command and he felt a little awkward greeting a senior officer who looked as young as his students. His own climb had been steady but hardly meteoric. At times, it had seemed agonizingly slow as he advanced on the career path he had plotted for himself. At sixty-eight years of age, he had lately begun to wonder if he would ever get a second star. He hid his uneasiness behind an amiable smile.
"Admiral Carver," he said after the introductions and brief ceremony was over, "I can't tell you how honored we are to have you visit NHSA to address the cadet corps."
"It's my pleasure, Admiral. It's my first trip back since I graduated in '56 and I've been looking forward to it."
"It's hard to believe you graduated almost twenty-six years ago, Admiral. If you changed your uniform you wouldn't look out of place mingling with the corps of cadets."
"Yes," she said, smiling agreeably, "but I assure you I did graduate in '56. Admiral Stinson was the superintendent back then."
"I remember him well. He was an instructor when I attended NHSA from '28 to '32."
"Where were you posted after graduation?"
"To Supreme Headquarters. Unlike yourself, I didn't make the cut for the group that went into space. I worked on Admiral Bendzet's staff until he retired, then managed to get a teaching position here at the school. I taught Alien Anatomy from '60 until '68, when I was appointed Assistant Superintendent. I became Superintendent three years ago."
"Congratulations on your appointment, Admiral. Only Space Command's finest are charged with shaping the minds of our future generations of officers. And only the finest of that group become superintendents of our academies."
Admiral Ponte blushed slightly at receiving such praise from an officer whom he regarded with jealousy. "Thank you, Admiral." Looking down at Jenetta's pets, he said, "These must be the cats I've heard so much about."
"They've been with me for a little over eleven years now. They've become an integral part of my life, almost like children."
Admiral Ponte nodded, thinking back to the stories he'd heard about the animals and how they were always instantly ready to protect their mistress. 'Children' wasn't the term he would use to describe a pair of animals ready to kill in a fraction of a second. "Would you care for a quick tour of the school, Admiral? I'm sure there have been many changes since you were here last."
"I'd love a tour."
As part of the Academy's expansion program, new dormitories had replaced the smaller buildings and additional classroom buildings had been constructed. Wherever they went, cadets jumped rigidly to attention until they had passed. On a five-meter raised balcony in the center of the student dining facility, Jenetta enjoyed lunch with Admiral Ponte and the school's senior officers while a couple of thousand cadets ate their meal beneath the always watchful eyes of the school administration. Afterward, the tour continued until it was time for the assembly.
Jenetta sat on the stage while Admiral Ponte introduced her, although no introduction was really necessary. She received a standing ovation as she walked to the podium, so she just smiled until the students finished their greeting and retook their seats.
"Good afternoon," Jenetta began, "I'm pleased to have this opportunity to speak to you today and I promise I won't keep you too long. I'm sure you're all anxious to get back to your classes in Quantum Mechanics, Spatial Binomials, and Astronavigation." Like students everywhere, the cadets always appreciated an occasional short break in the afternoon from the rigors of intense academic instruction and a chuckle passed quickly around the hall.
"You're extremely lucky to have been born when you were. The galaxy is opening up to us like never before and you have a unique opportunity to share in the exploration activities and adventures that still lie ahead of us. With the sudden demise of the Milori Empire…" Jenetta had to pause as the entire cadet corps rose to their feet, applauding and cheering for almost thirty seconds.
As the cheering died down and the students returned to their seats, she smiled and said, "I agree with that sentiment completely." Returning to her prepared speech, she continued. "With the sudden demise of the Milori Empire and the Galactic Alliance Council's decision to annex their former territories, we face numerous challenges and hurdles, the extent of which we're only beginning to realize. It will take us years just to get our ships in place to begin patrolling the new territory, and perhaps decades to merge the inhabited planets there with the Galactic Alliance family of member worlds.