Against All Odds (14 page)

Looking at Admiral Margolan, she said, "I'm sure Brian and Keith are aware of this, but I don't know if you've been apprised of the situation in Region Two, Chet. This information is classified secret and should not be mentioned outside this room." Taking a breath, she said, "We have unsubstantiated information the Tsgardi have invaded Region Two with the apparent intent of seizing part of our new territory."

"Unsubstantiated?" Admiral Margolan repeated in a questioning voice.

"The report comes from the Viceroy of Milor. He claims to have received an urgent plea for help from someone on the planet Ekoqulith. As yet we do not have any confirmation through Space Command official channels that the Tsgardi Kingdom is involved, nor even confirmation by Space Command personnel that the planet was attacked. This action, if there was an action, might have even been initiated by the Raiders using Tsgardi mercenaries in the guise of Tsgardi military troops. At this time we just don't know the full situation."

"Given the distance to Region Two," Admiral Holt said, "there appears to be little likelihood we'll be dramatically affected here."

"Perhaps not dramatically, but a new invasion threat may pull some of your patrol forces away. And if Region Two heats up substantially, you may find it a little more difficult to get new supplies and personnel. A war anywhere in our territory will affect everyone in Space Command."

"How do you intend to proceed, Jen?" Admiral Kanes asked.

"At the earliest opportunity we'll have to send a ship to Ekoqulith and determine for ourselves just what has happened there, unless the Tsgardi Kingdom issues a declaration of war before then or something else occurs to confirm their invasion."

"There's been no declaration of hostilities?" Admiral Margolan asked.

"None, which might cause some to construe the Tsgardi government isn't behind it. I don't share that opinion, but in the absence of a formal declaration we can treat all attacks as piracy."

"Because the treatment of pirates can be different than the treatment of prisoners of war?" Admiral Holt asked.

"Exactly. We can use a slightly heavier hand when interrogating pirates because our conduct isn't governed by a myriad of past military treaties."

"You'll still have to observe Galactic Alliance law," Admiral Margolan warned.

"Of course, but Region Two is still under Martial Law. As Military Governor, I have a slightly freer hand than I would otherwise have. I won't break the laws, but I might have to bend a few if we're to nip this thing before it gets out of hand, assuming it isn't already out of hand."

"What can I do to help you, Jen?" Admiral Holt asked.

"You've already done it by giving us Keith and the people he's selected to bring along."

"I wish I was going with you," Admiral Holt said. "It would be a grand way to finish out my career. Chet and I are both nearing the point where we'll be recalled to Earth to serve our remaining years in the service."

"I'd love to have you with us, Brian. As the new headquarters develops, I know the same pseudo-political bureaucratic infrastructure found in headquarters everywhere since militaries were first formed will develop. I've managed to avoid much of it until now because I've always been posted at the remotest regions of Galactic Alliance space in situations with a high turnover in personnel, but I know those days are over. I'm going to find myself right in the center of something I'm ill-prepared to handle. I don't fear the Tsgardi half as much as I fear becoming embroiled in politics. Your years of fighting in the political trenches would be invaluable."

"I thought you might want me for my good looks and keen sense of humor," Admiral Holt said, chuckling.

"That's naturally an important part of it," Jenetta retorted with a smile.

"What about the rumors of other possible involved parties, Jen?" Admiral Kanes asked. "Anything new?"

"Everything we know has been included in your briefings. The general feeling is the Tsgardi are far too obtuse to organize something like this. They were afraid of Milori might and it makes sense they should be afraid of us on the same reason. If they have really invaded our territory, somebody has to be prodding them. Your job will be to determine exactly who is holding the stick so we can prepare to meet them. Upon reaching Quesann and assuming your new position, all agents and contacts in Region Two will report to your section so we won't have to wait for intel to be collected at Earth and filtered back to us. But we don't have anywhere near the number of information gatherers we need. We may not be sure who's involved until they're knocking at the front door."

The discussion turned to lighter matters after that and discussions of past battles and tactics. They had finished their deserts and were enjoying their coffee when Admiral Holt's aide entered and whispered something to him.

After the aide had delivered the message and left, Admiral Holt said, "All of Keith's people are aboard the Colorado, as are his spacechests. You can leave whenever you're ready, Jen."

"Thank you, Brian," Jenetta said as she stood up. "As much as I hate to eat and run, I am a bit anxious to get underway."

The other officers rose as she did.

"I understand completely," Admiral Holt said. "I'd be just as concerned if trouble started while I was away from my command. I'm glad you could join us for dinner tonight and I hope you'll be able to avoid a new conflict. We'd all like to see a period of peace and stability now that the Milori have been dealt with."

"Yes, but I believe another very serious fight is coming our way. We weren't prepared to take immediate control of an area anywhere near as large as Region Two and everyone knows it. I suppose it was just wishful thinking that everyone would behave until we could establish our full presence there. Let's hope a little saber-rattling will send the Tsgardi scurrying back across their border."

"Just before the Battle for Higgins," Admiral Holt said, "Larry Gavin predicted that one day we would clash violently with the Uthlaro. Keep one eye on that border, Jen. That may be where the real trouble is brewing."

* * *

The Colorado arrived at Stewart Space Command Base some sixteen days later. Neither the Bellona nor the Chiron where in port, so Jenetta's sisters would either have to wait at Stewart until the ships returned or transportation to them could be arranged. If not for the urgency of the situation, Jenetta would take them directly to their ships, but she didn't want to waste the extra day— or days— necessary to locate both ships and deliver the two officers. She wished now she hadn't promised Thad she would stay for dinner when she returned, but a promise was a promise and she knew that the captains in port were anxious to hear firsthand about the final days of the Milori Empire.

Attendance at the dinner was limited to officers holding the rank of Captain or above and still the dining room was filled to capacity. The continuing expansion of Stewart had resulted in a greater number of senior officers than had been posted there when Jenetta was the Base Commander. Not all the captains present for the meal held ship commands, but even the officers who only piloted a desk each day were anxious to hear Jenetta give her accounts of the attacks on the Milori home world, ship docks, and outposts. The dinner also gave Jenetta an opportunity to renew friendships with some of the officers who had served under her during her years at Stewart.

Being four-hundred-fifty light years closer to Quesann and still not having received any calamitous news from Region Two had taken the edge off Jenetta's worries sufficiently for her to relax somewhat and enjoy her evening with old friends and fellow officers. She had already shared parting goodbyes with her sisters. Frequent messages in the months ahead would sustain them until they met again.

Just after midnight, the Colorado backed slowly away from the airlock, turned ninety degrees to larboard, then started gliding slowly forward. Once clear of the hollowed-out asteroid that housed the base, the course to Quesann was laid in and the ship accelerated away so quickly it seemed to vanish. Speeding through the cosmos at Light-9375, the ship would travel slightly more than twenty-five light-years each Earth day, reaching Quesann in just thirty-two days.

* * *

Seven days out of Stewart, Jenetta summoned Admiral Kanes to her briefing room.

"You wanted to see me Jen?" he said as the door closed behind him.

"Yes, Keith. I've received a message from Admiral Sprague I think you should hear right away. I posted Vince to a former Milori space station we've designated as Coleman Space Command base. It's located approximately a hundred light years from our border with the Tsgardi Kingdom. Care for a cup of coffee first."

"I'm fine," he said taking a seat.

Jenetta pressed the play button and the message displayed on the wall monitor. An image of an agitated Admiral Sprague filled the screen.

"Jen, we've completed the evacuation of Coleman and are proceeding at Light-9375 to Quesann. Our Distant DeTect network picked up a large force of ships heading towards the base at Light-225, so we assumed them to be Tsgardi warships and evacuated as per your orders. All ordnance had already been moved back aboard the Themis and our last act was to disable key systems in ways not easy to find even by Space Command engineers. The Tsgardi may occupy this base, but it'll take them a lifetime to get it functional. When we retake it, it will only require a few days to re-enable the systems we've incapacitated.

"I'll brief you fully when I see you at Quesann.

"Vincent Sprague, Rear Admiral, Upper, Base Commander of Coleman Space Command Base, aboard the Themis."

"Here's my reply," Jenetta said, tapping another key on her com console.

The image on the screen changed to one of Jenetta and her voice could be heard saying, "Hi Vince, you've taken the correct action. Two ships are inadequate to repel a large Tsgardi force determined to take, or destroy, a station.

"I regret we were unable to support you better at this time and I promise we'll restore your command as soon as an acceptable risk level is achieved.

"The Colorado is just days from the border with Region Two and we expect to arrive at Quesann in twenty-five days. I'll see you then. I'm relieved that everyone in your command is safe.

"Jenetta Carver, Admiral, Commander of the Second Fleet and Military Governor of Region Two, aboard the Colorado. Message complete."

"The message from Vince is fourteen days old," Jenetta said to Keith. "It was routed through Quesann. I've also sent messages to Admirals Mendez and Colsey to evacuate their bases and proceed to Quesann with all haste, assuming they haven't already done so. We know the Tsgardi aren't in this alone, so there's no telling where the next attack will occur."

Jenetta took a sip from her coffee mug while Keith Kanes thought. It was he who broke the silence with, "I can't see where you had any other option. Until we know what's going on or we get reinforcements, you had to consolidate your forces for the protection of Headquarters. You certainly couldn't have pulled the ships away from the space stations while they were still occupied by our people."

"I may have been a bit premature when I rushed to occupy the bases without adequate warship protection."

"We all expected this region to sink into a quagmire of lawlessness until a strong military presence could be reestablished. We thought that for the foreseeable future our only worry was piracy. You were taking the proper steps to reassert control. No one expected an invasion by forces from outside the region."

"I should have anticipated it," Jenetta said.

"You're Jenetta Carver, not Jesus Christ, even if you do share the same initials. Don't beat yourself up over this, Jen. Save it for the enemy."

~ May 26
^th
, 2282 ~

Jenetta was on the bridge of the Colorado twenty-five days later as it entered orbit around Quesann. The Battleship Themis, with the Scout-Destroyer Amazon securely nestled beneath it in the special docking collar, was in orbit, as was the Scout-Destroyer Yangtze. Both bases along the Uthlaro border had been evacuated without incident and the Boreas and the Hyperion were expected to arrive within days.

"Admiral, you're receiving a com message from Admiral Sprague," the com operator said.

"Forward it to my briefing room," Jenetta said as she rose from her chair and walked to her office on the larboard side of the bridge."

"Aye, Admiral," the chief petty officer at the com station said before she disappeared into the briefing room.

Jenetta raised the com panel screen as she sat down at her desk and a head-and-shoulders image of Admiral Vincent Sprague appeared.

"Good morning and welcome back to Quesann, Jen," Admiral Sprague said.

"Good morning, Vince," Jenetta said.

"I hope you had a pleasant vacation."

"It was very pleasant— until I received word about the attack on Ekoqulith." Scowling slightly, she said, "I'm going to vent my displeasure for interrupting my first vacation in twelve years when we find out who was responsible for that attack."

"I understand. I'm equally upset about having to evacuate my command."

"Have your people settled in, Vince?"