Kris Longknife: Defender (30 page)

“Oh, I didn’t talk her out of anything, it was pure horse-trading. My Marines will deliver a truckload of fish offal to her and all her neighbors’ gardens. Nobody gets anything free from your granny.”

“Which leads me wondering if she’s all that different from Ray,” Kris said, taking a bite.

“I will do my best to stay different enough to save you from the Longknife curse,” Jack said as he began to enjoy his own dinner. They ate in quiet ease, content to bask in each other’s company.

Maybe I can become a comfortable old married woman,
Kris thought with as much hope as doubt.

They were almost done when their view window suddenly lost its view.

“What the . . . ?” Jack said, standing.

Kris was on her feet almost as fast. A huge cylinder slowly moved between them and the planet below. On its side was
KAGU MARU
in Standard and Kanji. There was also the Mitsubishi Heavy Space Industry logo. It was easily as big around as Canopus Station. Maybe longer. Once it was fully in view, it began to edge slowly into formation ahead of the station. When it covered the entire front, the thing began to take on spin, first slowly, then faster, until it was matching the rotation of Canopus Station.

Then it began to creep back.

“Somebody’s awfully confident they aren’t going to rupture a hull,” Kris said.

That brought looks of terror from the other diners, and some abandoned their meals to head for the exit.

“Both stations are made of Smart Metal,” Jack said in a raised command voice. “If anything rips, they can have it fixed in seconds.”

The exit slowed.

The hull rang as the two cylinders made contact. Canopus Station lurched backward, but hardly enough to make Kris sway on her feet. “Not bad,” she said in admiration.

“Want to bet your buddy Katsu-san is at the bottom of this?”

“Good Lord, if he came out again, I just might have to send him back,” Kris said.

“Then again, he might be very helpful in respinning ships.”

“Now you’re taking on my nasty role.”

“Whatever,” Jack said with a shrug. “Want to bet the fleet’s in, and you need to see a lot of new officers? Let them see you?”

“Oh, yes. Nelly, send to all the ships, frigates, auxiliaries, and merchants. Officers’ call in two hours. Captains and execs required. Marines, boffins, engineering and weapons and chiefs of the boat may also attend. The location is the
Wasp
’s Forward Lounge. Two-drink limit.”

Kris had been approached by Mother MacCreedy as spokesperson for all the tapshops on station, requesting the two-drink limit. “It will stretch the supply. Besides, we’ve got a foul drink that the Alwans guzzle coming up. Two of them will put any old drunk under the table.”

Kris had signed the order.

Kris did paperwork before the meeting. This time it was the good kind, a promotion list. Kitano went to full commander and was frocked up to commodore. She’d find out why later. All the frigate skippers got full commander. They’d have to do the paperwork to promote their XOs and division heads themselves. The
Wasp
presented Kris an interesting challenge. She solved it in the usual Longknife way.

“Nelly, activate Captain Drago’s reserve commission, bring him out of retirement, and give him a captain’s rank.”

“Kris, I’m not sure I can jump a man from lieutenant to captain in one afternoon.”

“Nelly, he dropped himself from rear admiral to lieutenant in less time. If you have to, ask him how he did it.”

Of course, Nelly found a way. The magnificent Nelly did not ask mere mortals for help.

Two
hours later, the Forward Lounge was going strong. The crews of Kris’s squadron had arrived first and occupied the tables closest to the bar. Apparently Musashi had been first to dock, probably on their own section of the station, and Commodore Miyoshi and his command teams were catching up with the Musashi Navy folks who had come out on the
Wasp
. Commodore Hawkings had set up shop for the newly arrived U.S. contingent against the far wall, and officers from Lorna Do, Savannah, and Wardhaven mixed freely. The Helveticans joined the Musashi Navy in the middle.

The four merchant skippers and their first mates had a table next to the door.

As Kris entered, she took all this in with a glance, even as someone shouted, “Atten-hut. Admiral on deck,” and she got “As you were” out before most people could even start to get to their feet.

The merchantmen didn’t even make an effort. They would be a challenge.

Kris marched to the table in the front Penny had reserved for them. Her shoulder boards showed commander’s stripes. Jack stayed two steps behind Kris. Once at the front of the lounge, Kris turned and let her eyes rove over the young men and women before her. Silence quickly fell.

“Thank you for coming on such short notice,” Kris said, and let chuckles roll around the room at the double meaning of her words.

“Commodore Hawkings, I haven’t gotten a copy of your orders. Can you share them with us?”

The man pointed his wrist at the screen behind Kris and it came to life. “I am ordered to report to you, Admiral, and conform to your orders.”

“Thank you,” Kris said.
Will I for once have a chain of command that isn’t a knot fit only for a kitten to play with?

She turned to Commodore Bethea from Savannah. She stood to attention, and announced, “My orders are the same. We are U.S. Navy, and we follow you.”

Apparently, Grampa Ray was getting more United in his societies than when Kris last passed though. Or maybe they’d just sent her the committed Federalists.

The captain from Lorna Do quickly rose to her feet. “Same here. We are at your command, Your Highness.”

Kris would have preferred Admiral, but she’d answer to whatever got her a fighting fleet.

Now she turned to the hard one. “Commodore Miyoshi, it’s so good to see you again.”

“And very nice it is to see you in better circumstances,” he said. He also pointed his wrist unit at the screen and his orders appeared. “I am to place myself and my command under your orders and serve honorably at your side, Admiral. You will note that my orders were endorsed by the Emperor himself. I know of no naval force that has ever sailed with that kind of an endorsement from the throne.”

“I am honored,” Kris said, giving the commodore a deep bow from the waist that he promptly returned.

Now it was the Helvetican captain’s turn. “It looks to me like everyone’s been drinking from the same beer mug. My orders are identical to yours, Commodore,” he said, raising his wrist and letting the screen show basically the same orders, without the imperial chop.

That settled, Kris asked the obvious question. “How was your voyage out?”

The three commodores glanced around at each other, seemed to toss a coin among them, then Hawkings began. “Not bad. We took a separate route than the king took. We did pass through a system with something going on. Definitely a reactor, but it was planet-bound and nothing hailed or shot at us.”

“Good. Your auxiliaries, will they be staying here?” Kris asked.

“The repair ships, certainly. Having two dockyards should be nice, but having your own repair ship that I command for my division is better. The supply ships? That’s an interesting question. I have no orders there. Do any of you other folks have orders?”

That was met with a lot of head shaking. Commodore Miyoshi seemed to speak for all. “What are your orders, Admiral?”

“They’re Smart Metal, and we’ve found a lot of uses for it,” Kris said, vaguely, then turned to the table with the merchantmen in the rear. “What about you? You’re from the Star Line.”

They took stock among themselves, then an old salt stood. “We were told to unload and head back, immediately.”

“You’ll be going without an escort,” Kris said.

That brought another look around among the skippers. “We can’t sail without an escort,” someone still seated said. “No insurance if we do.”

“Aren’t you going to give us an escort?” the standing salt asked.

“I need all the frigates here with me,” Kris said.

“I told you they was going to get us good,” came from someone.

“I think we ought to make a run for it,” was someone’s input.

“May I point out,” Kris said, softly, “that Star Lines is a wholly owned subsidiary of Nuu Enterprises, and I’m the authorized CEO of said enterprises here on Alwa.”

That was met by groans from the back and quite a few chuckles from the Navies.

“We been had.”

“Yes, I think you have,” Kris admitted. “Please continue off-loading tomorrow. When you’re done, I’d like you to dock your ships in the yard portion of the station. We’re likely going to use you for ore carriers. We want to make our own lasers. We’ve found the ore and are mining it, but we need to ship it from the asteroid belt to the moon here.” That was met with more groans.

“There is, however, one other possibility.” Several heads came up. “I want to dispatch a ship on a dangerous recon mission. We’ll arm the ship, but it’s not intended that you will fight. Just take a peek and run back.”

“Take a peek at what?”

“What we think may be the home planet of the aliens,” Kris said. That brought on louder groans from the merchants and longer chuckles from the Navy types.

When quiet returned, a young woman stood. “I’m pushing the
Altair
, ma’am. Me and mine wouldn’t mind talking a bit more about that scout mission, if you will.”

Kris had to work real hard not to hear some of the comments from the other merchant types. “You can join me at my table for a drink after we finish here,” Kris said.

The woman sat down and pulled her chair a bit away from the other merchant skippers.

“Now, for the fleet. We’ve got warning buoys six jumps out. One of the outer ones has gone silent. We haven’t checked to see if it just broke or if it’s been shot up. I don’t intend to. The fleet that’s here will stand by to fight when, not if, the aliens come at us again. For that fight, we need to reorganize.”

Kris turned to her old squadron mates. “Commodore Kitano, you will command BatRon 1, with two divisions of four frigates each.”

“Aye, aye, Admiral.”

“Commodore Hawkings, you and the Lorna Do contingent will form BatRon 2, with two divisions.”

“Yes, Admiral. Pardon me for asking, ma’am, but we were dispatched as a frigate squadron. Battle squadron?”

“You’re packing 20-inch lasers, Commodore. Our ships may be frigates, but we’re forming battle squadrons. Does that answer your question?”

“Certainly, Admiral.”

“Commodore Bethea, Savannah will form BatRon 3.”

“Glad to, Admiral Longknife.”

“Commodore Miyoshi, you have BatRon 4.”

“Honored to serve with you, Admiral.”

“The Helvetican division will form independent Division 9. If we can knock together some lasers, you may have some of the auxiliaries up-gunned into fighting ships with you.”

Several of the auxiliary skippers looked more than willing to follow that path.

“Captain Drago,” Kris said, and the old sea dog stood, now in a full Navy captain’s uniform. “The
Wasp
and the
Intrepid
will form independent Division 10. I’m aware of the handicap your slower reload rate places on you. You will continue to be my flag, and we will accommodate your ship’s limitations.”

“The
Wasp
is a very good ship, Admiral.”

“I know very well that it is, Captain,” Kris said, then turned back to the fleet in general. “Tomorrow, at 0900, the battle fleet will sortie for a speed run to the nearest gas giant. We will proceed through the asteroid belt and use them for target practice. No asteroids larger than one meter will be targeted. We don’t want to spoil any miner’s claim. We will launch pinnaces and refuel from the gas giant. Any questions?”

There were none.

“Then, all hands, as Viceroy of Alwa, let me thank you for coming to the aid of both the colonials and natives of this planet. Know that we are in for a fight, but that there is every prospect that we will be the victors in it. Now, enjoy your first night on Canopus Station, and yes, we have a policy restricting you to two drinks. Sorry, but the resources of the planet beneath us are being pushed to their limits to support us. I appreciate the agricultural gear you brought, but must point out that it may be several months before a new crop comes in.”

Kris paused to see how this sank in. From the looks she got, their logistics problem was not a surprise. She’d have to check in with the commodores after the meeting to see just how well supplied they were. “Again, thank you, and please enjoy our hospitality.”

The room broke out in talk. As Kris expected, the four commodores quickly gravitated to her table. All were young, clearly advanced ahead of their time. The war would show if they truly merited the honors. No surprise, their supply ships were loaded. All expected to be self-supporting for the next three months. That took a load off Kris.

It was newly promoted Commodore Kitano who caused Kris to cancel the next day’s sortie. She asked if the other frigates had been modified to permit high-speed jinking? That brought blank stares. She and Captain Drago explained the need for dodging and the required mods they had made to their ships. Instead of drills, the next day would need to be devoted to bringing the new frigates up to Alwa fighting standards. Both Kitano and Drago promised to share expertise with the newcomers.

All the time this conversation was going on, Kris kept catching the skipper of the cargo ship
Altair
waiting close but not too close. Only after the commodores moved off to share schematics of changes and schedule visits by chief technicians, did the young skipper and the two women who worked for her settle down at Kris’s table.

“An all-woman crew, Captain?” Kris asked.

“No, just most of the officers willing to serve with me,” the woman skipper answered.

Kris introduced Penny to Jade O’dell. “Penny is my intelligence officer and will be nominally in command of the frigate
Endeavor
.”

“You already have a ship?”

“No, but when your ship is respun, it will be a frigate with six 18-inch lasers.”

“Nobody said anything about fighting,” her engineering officer said.

“Three guns will point aft and three forward. With the bastards we’re dealing with, you don’t want to just have running as your only option though I’d prefer it.”

“Okay. I got engineering, but I don’t have anyone trained with guns,” O’dell said.

“The Canopus Station manager wanted to have some protection. He mounted the smaller lasers from the
Wasp
and hired Alwans to fire them. I plan to borrow both.”

“Reprogramming my ship into a warship,” O’dell mused. “Mounting guns manned by aliens. Any more surprises?”

“The boffins are standing in line to go with you. Half the scientists want to get a look at the alien world. They all figure they can extract the real meaning of the place.”

“So we’ll have a mob of eggheads,” the first mate said.

“No,” Penny said. “You will have only as many as I and Professor Labao say go. Fifty, a hundred at most.”

“Passengers,” the chief engineer said, and made it sound like a dirty word.

“Many have sailed with me,” Kris said, “and I can vouch that they are housebroken. If they don’t behave themselves, Penny here will activate their reserve commission and make them toe the mark in uniform.”

“And us?” the captain asked.

“Penny and I are used to having a contractor commanding our ship, the
Wasp
. Penny will make the call where you go and when you run. Any problem with that?”

“How many years you been with this Longknife?” the engineer asked.

“Over five, and I’m still alive and kicking,” Penny said.

“Sounds good enough. We’ll get a chance to do something important. See the galaxy. Have a story to tell and shame those prissy boys. Win all around,” O’dell said.

Kris watched them go. On lesser things great victories had turned.

Then she turned to her next problem. Making sure that the other merchant skippers didn’t try to make a run for it with their cargo still aboard.

“Not a problem, Kris,” Nelly said. “I checked. Their tanks are as bone dry as you can get. One jump. Not a bit more. Oh, and their ships have two reactors and aren’t programmed to spin off a pinnace. I checked.”

“So, they have to stay. Good planning on someone’s part.” Which left her wondering whose. Just how twisted was Grampa Ray’s mind? Or had he just delegated that to someone like Commodore Hawkings?

She glanced around and spotted Jack talking to several other Marines. Their eyes met, and Jack quickly finished up what he’d been doing.

“You ready to head home?” he asked as he joined her.

“All meetinged out.”

“Hope you saved something. I moved my gear into your quarters and let Drago have my space back.”

“There has to be some advantage to being all the way across the galaxy from people who make silly regs.”

“I’ll set up a Marine command center tomorrow. Could I borrow one of your screens?”

“Half of what I have is yours.”

“One screen will do. I’ll do my Marine work there.”

“But you’re sleeping beside me?”