Fall of Icarus (41 page)

“We’re glad to have you as well,” the Captain responded.
 
“Tell us, what have you found during your inspections of the weapons bays?”

Scyant shrugged.
 
Yen was very familiar with the motion.
 
When used during meetings, it was a polite way of buying time as you figured out how to express your displeasure with the current system.
 
“I think that my predecessor did an admirable job keeping the system functioning.”

“But?” Captain Hodge probed, knowing Scyant was withholding the rest of her sentence intentionally.

Scyant laughed.
 
“But I think we could do more.
 
I have a few ideas that I’m implementing that should streamline the reloading process.
 
My men are working on it now and, if everything works out, it should trim a few seconds off the downtime between volleys.”

“Excellent work,” the Captain said appreciatively.
 
Captain Hodge turned to Yen, who was next in line for briefing.
 
“Squadron Commander Xiao.
 
How goes the inspection of the new ships?”

Yen smiled.
 
“The repair work was excellent.
 
You’d hardly know most of the ships were damaged.
 
In light of our new battle tactics and the fact that we’ll be using relatively untested technology, right now we’re doing a reassessment of our strategies.
 
Flying in rigid formations will not be as effective when each ship is carrying its own warp generator.”

“And how are the pilots taking the changes you’re implementing?”

Yen shrugged.
 
“It’s a different leader, with different ideas.
 
I obviously have a much different style than did Commander Riddell, but I think the pilots are taking the changes in stride.
 
There have been complaints, but nothing beyond what I would expect after a change in leadership.”

Merric interrupted the conversation.
 
“Have you had a chance to fully examine the warp generators that were installed?
 
Are you confident that you and your Squadron will even
be
able to use them appropriately?”

Yen refused to take Merric’s obvious bait.
 
He remained calm as he continued.
 
“As I stated, Eminent Merric, we are just getting used to a change in leadership.
 
Over the next few days, we’ll be taking a little more time to examine all the subtle nuances of the warp generator and how its system feeds into the
Cair
and
Duun
engines.
 
The last thing anyone wants is a pilot accidentally warping himself into a star because he hit the wrong button.”

His joked evoked a round of laughter from the Officers and Warrants.
 
“Speaking of new ideas,” Yen continued, “I would like to introduce my new second in command, Warrant Morven.
 
She is a
Duun
pilot who served on board the
Vindicator
.
 
As a battle tested pilot, I’m glad to have her expertise.”

“I’m glad to have you here,” Captain Hodge said, “even if just to keep your Squadron Commander in check.”
 
The Captain let the laughter die before continuing with her brief.
 
“As much as I am interested in updates on the ship, I know that’s not the real reason you’re all eagerly sitting around this table today.
 
We’ve received the full telemetry from the High Council, explaining our mission in greater detail.”

On cue, the lights dimmed around them and a trap door opened in the middle of the briefing table.
 
A flicker of light erupted from within as the holographic projector created a blue and green world hovering a few feet above the table.
 
Around the planet, spaced nearly an inch apart and encompassing the full expanse of the space above the planet, small triangles hovered menacingly.
 
Yen knew as well as anyone at the table what those triangles represented.

“Our mission on Earth is truly three-fold, broken down into individual phases,” the Captain explained.
 
“Phase one consists of disabling the satellite network around Earth.
 
So long as that network is still operational, the Fleet does not stand a chance of gaining access to Earth.
 
For that, we will lean on you, Commander, and your Squadron.
 
The plan is that you and your Squadron will warp using the provided coordinates.
 
That warp should place you between the planet’s atmosphere and the satellite grid.”

On the hologram, dozens of small blue dots appeared, hovering dangerously behind the triangles.
 
Immediately, the dots began spreading over the Earth’s surface.

“Once you arrive behind the satellites, you’ll need to sufficiently disable their grid so that the Fleet can make its approach.
 
Destroying a single satellite will not be enough to bring down the entire network.
 
The satellites are interlaced in their signals, meaning that a single satellite being destroyed will only cause a brief delay as the system circumnavigates the destroyed nodule.
 
If you want to take out the whole hemisphere of satellites, you’ll need to take out a series of satellites, positioned seemingly randomly around Earth.
 
These specific nodules,” she gestured at the hologram as the blue dots destroyed twenty or more satellites, “contain the rerouting software that protects their whole grid.
 
Bring those down and the entire system will suffer a catastrophic failure.”

Yen furrowed his brow.
 
“Excuse me, ma’am,” he said softly.
 
“Are we sure that this will work?”

“What do you mean, Commander?”

“It just seems odd to have so much information about the Terran defenses.
 
I’m used to going into missions where I question how we’ll escape, much less exactly where to strike to disable every possible defense they have.”

“This is information directly from the High Council,” Merric interceded.
 
“Why would you assume their information to be wrong?”

“Excuse my skepticism,” Yen replied angrily.
 
“But it’s not the High Council or you that is warping into the heart of enemy territory!”

“Gentlemen,” Captain Hodge said sternly before the conversation could get out of hand.
 
“Commander, I understand your concerns, but Eminent Merric is correct.
 
We have no reason to doubt the High Council’s information.
 
We must have faith in their ability to lead us to victory.”

Yen frowned.
 
It seemed easy for everyone to spout rhetoric about trusting the High Council, but none of them were placing their lives on the line.
 
To his surprise, Yen felt a reassuring hand on his arm.
 
Looking over, he saw his concern vividly expressed on Iana’s face as well.

“Phase two will commence once the satellite grid has been disabled,” Captain Hodge continued as though the interruption had never occurred.
 
“The Terran Empire relied heavily on its political infrastructure for guidance, both in the civilian and military sectors.
 
If we can disable these political hubs throughout their world, we can cripple their ground forces before the battle even begins.
 
Once the satellites are down, the Fleet will advance at top speed.
 
Even accelerating like we will, it will still take us nearly two hours to reach Earth.
 
During that time, it will be up to the
Duun
fighters to bomb these targets.”

On the hologram, a series of red concentric circles appeared, spread evenly across the major continents.
 
“These are not just political sites.
 
These are also launching points for low orbit aircraft.
 
We need these eliminated before we will be able to land a ground force.

“The final phase of this invasion will be the ground assault itself.
 
Many of our ground forces will be on board the
Cair
transports that will warp in initially.
 
The support teams will be on the Cruisers but, again, there will be a delay before their arrival.
 
The immediate ground forces will be required to gain and hold key positions across the planet, many of which coincide with the initial bombing areas.”

Overlapping green circles appeared
,
many of which mirrored the previous red concentric circles.
 
“These will not be easy engagements.
 
However, the Terrans have been lulled into a false sense of security over the past century.
 
They have placed their major forces throughout known space and left only a small contingent to protect Earth itself.
 
They rely too heavily on the satellites to protect them.
 
We will exploit that weakness.

“Which brings me to my final point,” Captain Hodge said, sighing.
 
“I need a leader for the ground forces.
 
This Officer must be intelligent, cunning, and have years of combat experience.
 
I actually have a number of Officers that meet
that criteria
on board right now.
 
However, there is only one that seems like a natural selection for the assignment.
 
The ground force commander will be--”

Merric smiled broadly from across the table.
 
Yen shrunk from that malicious smile.
 
Merric outranked Yen and had nearly the same number of years in the Infantry.
 
But the thought of spending an entire conflict fighting side by side with and taking orders from Merric turned Yen’s stomach.

“--Commander Xiao,” Captain Hodge concluded.

Yen sat in stupefied silence.
 
His look of surprise hardly matched the combined look of horrific defeat and stunned disbelief that was painted across Merric’s face.
 
His
confidents
smile was gone, though he still bared his teeth in a feral snarl.

“Commander Xiao?” the Captain prodded as the silence stretched on.

“I’m… I’m sorry, ma’am,” Yen finally stammered.
 
“Thank you for this…”

“This is ridiculous!” Merric yelled, interrupting Yen in mid sentence.
 
“To hell with this!
 
I am better qualified, I am senior in rank, and I deserve this, damn it!”

“Merric,” Captain Hodge said sternly, “please calm yourself.”

“Calm myself?” Merric demanded, pointing wildly in Yen’s direction.
 
“Are you serious?
 
This poor excuse for a soldier gets promoted first to Squadron Commander and not even a week later is now in charge of the entire ground force!
 
That is
my
job!”

“You forget yourself, Eminent Merric!” Hodge yelled as she quickly stood, her voice losing its melodic tone as it took on a screeching minor key.
 
“And you will excuse yourself from this meeting before I find a reason to make you a Magistrate again!”

Merric scowled as he locked gazes with Captain Hodge.
 
Growling softly, he turned back toward Yen, hate filling his eyes.
 
“This isn’t over, Yen.”

“Leave now, Merric!” the Captain ordered.

Turning on his heel, Merric stormed past the rest of the stunned crowd and disappeared through the doorway.
 
Breathing heavily, Captain Hodge sat back down and, reaching behind her, smoothed the ruffled feathers of her wings.

“I’m sorry about that,” she said musically, her composure restored.
 
“Believe me when I tell you all that every aspect of this mission has been examined in great detail.
 
Eminent Merric was actually correct when he said that he had seniority and should have, by regulation, assumed command of the ground forces.
 
Under different circumstances, I would have gladly obliged him.
 
He is not only an intelligent Officer, but he is well versed in combat.
 
However, I am already putting Commander Xiao at great personal risk as he leads his Squadron against the Earth defenses.
 
I will not put another of my senior Officers in harm’s way just to satisfy one man’s inflated sense of self-worth.”