Federation Reborn 1: Battle Lines (28 page)

Nara Thornby and Matilda's situation bothered him. Thornby was already en route, she'd be an incredible asset in Antigua. He could already envision her here sitting like a spider in the center of the ansible web coordinating the medical efforts of the sector as well as coordinating the training and logistics needed to back the doctors up. Once they got Epsilon Triangula online she could tap them as a resource too.

She didn't know it, but she was the senior most medical officer in the navy. Once she got her feet under her in Antigua he intended to promote her to captain's rank. She was going to have fun putting the administration together. At least she had the lessons she had learned in Pyrax and the template she had created there to work off of he thought.

Matilda was a different story. He could use her, but he had some good people in training already. She had them by date of rank of course … he frowned and then shrugged. He'd deal with it a little later. He knew Jersey wouldn't utilize her services fully. He was still holding a grudge against Matilda and Horatio over circumventing tradition by running marine officer recruits through their end without consulting him.

Speaking of Jersey … he frowned and rubbed his jaw. He'd gotten his hand slapped over slipping up and letting Nara know about Project Destiny, but he'd been right to point out that Irons hadn't put a tight enough lid on the situation. He'd rectified that with a classification cover. But the marines were growing … he couldn't stay a lieutenant colonel for much longer despite the reprimand. He wrote a memo to promote Jersey by the end of the month to full bird.

He checked the notes from Agnosta. There was only one recommendation from Captain Yee. He apparently was joining Sindri and others in recommending they go back to Lemnos and tear the place apart. Either rebuild it as a secret yard or take it apart and ship the components elsewhere.

Honestly, he was of two minds about the situation. On the one hand, he liked it; it would get them advanced industrial hardware to build new ships and equipment. There were also exobytes of files on many subjects in the facilities mammoth computers. Keeping the facility intact was out; there was no way they could keep it supplied. No, it would have to come apart. But on the other hand, there was that damn wraith. There was no telling what it had done to the computers in the facility. He was loath to find out.

And then there was a third problem, only he, Phil, or Amadeus could lead a convoy there. The more people who knew where it was and how to get to it, the more exposed it was. And none of the flag officers could be diverted from their present duties. It would also mean a significant diversion of colliers and personnel to tear the place apart and ship it to where he could use it. No, for now it would keep.

“Admiral, we have the additional supplies and troops loading now. It is going to be crowded on that transport, however,” Sprite reported, taking over the holo emitter on his desk. He blinked away his woolgathering and then grunted.

“It is going to be even more crowded on the other ships as well. I want each to be stuffed to the gills with parts and equipment. Remember, they are at the long end of the supply line,” he warned, looking over to her avatar on his desk.

“True. You could of course send them a couple of industrial replicators and someone to use them,” she said helpfully.

Irons shook his head. “You know I can't and why. We can't spare an officer from the yard. Not without mucking things up here. Besides, even if they did have the replicators on the other end, the best they could do is rework and rebuild old parts, which would mean pulling the part, breaking it down, and then remaking it.”

“A long process true, but if the part is down anyway ….”

“We have a crippled ship.” The admiral frowned again and then shrugged. “Not this trip. Put it in the idea box for the next resupply. Did he say anything about their ETA?”

“He still hasn't released them yet,” Sprite reported. Irons scowled. “Remember, they barely have a toe hold on the ground. He doesn't have a place to put them. There aren't any convenient platforms in space. The tenders are it.”

“Lovely,” Irons sighed. He took a long moment to collect his thoughts then settled himself. “Get
Xavier's
convoy out. Within twenty-four hours. Twelve or less if possible. I want them underway no later than …,” he checked the clock. “Twenty-two hundred hours tomorrow,” he said.

“Aye aye, sir. I'll tell the longshoreman to expedite. Most of the gear is already loaded. Captain Lyon's Recon squads just arrived, and he's already gotten to the convoy on his own initiative."

"Good!"

"They are just adding the last … damn it! Stupid virus …." Sprite worked furiously to handle the Xeno virus as it tried to send packets through the ansible complex. Her recent experience on Lemnos as well as her experience on Epsilon Triangula had taught her how to identify and destroy the virus before it could spread. She opened a port and allowed Protector to lend her a hand though.

The more AI she got inoculated against the Wraith the better to her reasoning. It could still compromise them in theory, and once it did it would have a copy of her inoculation files. That was a troubling thought.

"Got it," Protector said directly to her when they finished cleaning up the mess. It had taken less than a second to handle but an obvious lag to the admiral.

“Problems, Commander?” Irons asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Yes, that damn Xeno virus. Something tried to get through the ansible again. My firewall caught most of it. But it launched a broad spectrum virus attack on a time delay. We're chasing it down and cleaning it up now. Some of it was buffered, some not. For instance two ships getting their orders just got infected. I think I'm going to work out another AI. One in the communications systems. Possibly in the ansible network looking for the little bastard.”

"Be careful about setting that up and then lowering your guard, Commander," Protector told her.

"Yeah, I know, I don't want a repeat of Lemnos."

"True."

“Joy,” Irons said as he rose from his seat. “Keep me posted. I'm going to rack out.”

“Aye aye, Admiral,” Sprite replied. “Night.”

“Night, Sprite.”

---<>---<>---

Governor Randall studied the reports. Things were working well, though he was still having issues with how the economics would work out long term. Many of the worlds were agro worlds: Hidoshi's World, Gaston, Richalu, the list went on and on. Then there were worlds that were crossroads like again, Gaston, but also Triang, Kathy's World, and others. Worlds that had vital exports … he frowned thoughtfully. According to his recent readings, Protodon had some interesting exports: rare food and pelts but also medicinals. He made a note to let his commercial contacts know about that. Once the star system was considered safe, perhaps one of them would want to set up trade? It wouldn't hurt to explore the option, and with regular convoys going to the star system, they needed a return cargo. Trade would be good.

"They could do it as a tax," he murmured to himself as he studied the Encyclopedia Galactica entry. Certainly not metals, they were metal poor since they let their asteroid belt be picked over so thoroughly.

Senka was a drain; he could see it. Oh, there were markets there, but they had little to export except … his eyebrow twitched. Metals. Hmm … so if Senka sent metals in trade, and Protodon food … he could see some trade happening there. Yes indeed.

"Did you say something, dear?" his wife asked as she came in. He looked up and paused as his wife let her red silk robe open daringly low.

"Um …."

She came over and leaned over to kiss him. "So articulate," she said teasingly. He nodded dumbly as she grinned at him. The tablet slid out of his fingers as she climbed into his lap.

"So, what are you working on?"

"Nothing important anymore," he said. "Nothing that can't wait."

"Good answer," she said huskily, kissing him once more.

---<>---<>---

April scowled when she heard John had decided to rack out in his apartment in the navy yard instead of coming home to her. On the one hand, she could understand it. It was secure, and he didn't have to commute. On the other she missed him, and damn it, how was she supposed to do her job if she couldn't
get
to the man? She scowled.

What kind of bodyguard could she be anyway? She was a reporter, a media person. Someone who wasn't cut out for being a guard. She was an information person, a spy. Go with that she thought with a flip of her hair. A spy and a damn good one. She wasn't a shooter, nor was she a killer though she'd been tempted a few times. Most of them lately when she'd had to compete with others for the admiral's time and attention she thought darkly.

John she reminded herself. John. The leagues didn't even want her to spy on him, just protect him. Let them know his itinerary but don't betray any confidences and keep an eye out for anyone attempting to harm or betray him.

Which was tough to do when she couldn't be at his side! She threw herself at the bed and clenched at the duvet in frustration. She'd bought a new outfit and everything … she sighed. Well, she'd just have to save it for later, right? She shook her head. Definitely. He wasn't coming. She had to accept that. Maybe call him? Give him some nice phone sex? Get him juiced up so he would come by on the weekend?

She grinned coyly. Now that was a nice thought. It'd be fun too, she could …. She looked at the night stand where she kept her toys and then away. No, tempting but she wasn't in the mood anymore. Not without him. It was the frustration; it had put her out of it.

Getting him all worked up would be fun though. Just get him all hot and bothered with her suggestive husky voice … she simpered a bit, tracing a fingernail down her throat. She could do it; it'd be fun. But not tonight she reminded herself. Save it for another time. He'd promised to be by on the weekend so, maybe Friday night? Or Thursday? Get him warmed up then? That idea made her smile widen slightly. She stretched luxuriously and then sent a mental signal to shut the lights off. She turned over and pulled the duvet over her shapely legs.

After all, tomorrow would be another day.

Chapter 15

Admiral White reluctantly sent back the tanker, medium and large colliers to Pyrax to reload. They went unescorted since the star systems in between Antigua and Protodon were considered secure. They had an eight-week, one-way journey but would pass
Xavier
and her group somewhere in transit.

They held the few dozen Horathian prisoners his search and rescue teams had recovered from the space battle and wreckage. All of them were sullen and uncommunicative; most had been injured in various ways during the battle. They were fortunate to have survived at all.

The ships also carried copies of the raw intel his people had gathered from the wreckage. He'd sent back as much of the computer wreckage as possible. Hopefully someone in intel in Antigua could tease more tidbits out than his people could.

The returning ships to Pyrax carried Lieutenant Meia with them. Meia was not happy about leaving her command but had no choice. Admiral White was not happy about losing her and her leadership in the fighter squadrons. But Admiral Irons’ orders had been strict. The young woman was to be transferred to a new wing working up in Antigua.

The courier took 3.5 weeks to get to Kathy's World, transiting the 11.5 light years in the high octaves of delta band. When they exited hyper, they transmitted their message to the inner system and the waiting ships and then prepared to do a turnaround.

They received a confirmation of their transmission as well a status update a half hour before departure. The Veraxin lieutenant junior grade wanted to inquire more about the news, especially about the bit about the recent battle in the star system, but his orders were clear. He returned his ship to Protodon 7.2 weeks after her initial departure.

“What do you mean they had a battle?” Admiral White demanded.

“Just what I'm saying, sir. The convoy transmitted a SITREP and prepared ETA. Apparently they ran into a pair of destroyers in the star system when they arrived. The escort fought them off.”

“And that's it?”

“You can read the report for yourself, Admiral.”

“A bit short on details,” the admiral said, shaking his head. “But no casualties.”

“No, sir. Not among the convoy. But they did lose a corvette and a frigate was damaged.”

“So damaged she is remaining behind in Kathy's World. Damn it.”

“I feel for her crew, sir. They are trapped there. We're the cork in the bottle, but if we get pulled ….”

“They will be stuck with no way out. Yes, I know. So we have to be careful we don't get yanked out, which means we need more ships,” the admiral said. He waved the tablet to Jojo to get her attention.

“Yes, sir?”

“Transmit this SITREP and our daily report to Antigua command. Flag the news about the battle in Kathy's World for Admiral Irons to read. I'll jot out an email as well.”

“Aye aye, sir,” she replied, making a note of his orders. “Will there be anything else?”