Federation Reborn 2: Pirate Rage (55 page)

“We'll need a couple skull sessions to plan the details,” Kinja warned.

“I know. We need to get everyone on the same page. Call an emergency meeting. This can't wait damn it.”

“Understood.”

He glanced at Yao. “You still here? Get me those plans Yao—ASAP.”

“Got it. I've got the link. It's in your inbox,” the birdman said smoothly.

“You … I forgot you're better at implants than I am,” Sindri growled. “Okay then,” he drawled. “I'm not thrilled about starting a new line. I wanted to stick to the capital ship line. We'll go over it. Maybe I can convince the admiral to stick to our current carrier production lines while we get this one up to speed in parallel to the ones we've already got.”

“But we don't have the resources do we?”

“It's a problem. If we don't, well, then we don't. We'll have to adapt. It'll suck to have to shift around with the capital line, but we'll get it done.”

“Understood,” Kinja said. “Oh, you sent me the plans too?” Her eyes widened. “Good.” she nodded once as her eyes scanned the invisible set of documents and plans. “I'll get a copy of the logistics. See if we can pull up a list of common parts. That will get things rolling there.”

“Go,” Sindri said, waving a meaty hand. “I've got work to do and so do you. Do yours in your own office,” he growled.

“Right,” Kinja replied absently. Yao gave her a push to the door, clearly amused at her distracted state. They walked out.

Sindri watched them go, propping his head up with one hand. He snorted once then went over the plans himself. “This is going to be a pain in the ass,” he muttered.

---<>))))

“I think I found out the hole we've been missing,” Commander Lake mused, looking up from her tablet.

“Oh?”

“The implants.”

“What about them?” Fletcher asked.

“Remember how the enemy has been using them? How did they get them? What about the self-destructs? What about the security features? How come some of their stuff is being reproduced?”

“We've determined they've bootstrapped their industry,” Monty replied. “Look up a guy name Leonardo Vinatelli. From Antigua,” he said absently.

“I saw that. It's not the only reason though,” Lake said, sitting up eagerly. “I've been concerned over how they've achieved what they've recently done—unlocking the admiral's presents to Pyrax, the whole bit.”

“You're thinking sleepers? Coerced?” Monty asked.

She nodded. “But there is more,” she said, holding up a finger. “Remember how the admirals were complaining about the promotion list being too fast? During the war people were pushed up far faster. Some went from enlisted to captain's rank in months!”

Monty nodded slowly. “I see where this is going.”

“To some degree, yes. But not everyone got the implant codes, which was why we ended up in the dark ages for so long. But …,” she pointed to a data file she had just finished reading. “Commander Sprite found data files on the updates to the Federation laws including changes to promotions and the handling of the keys,” she said, pointing to a highlighted section of text. Monty scanned it and grunted. “So, what they did was the surviving old Federation government held a rump vote to allow the accelerated promotions and key transfers under emergency wartime conditions. Those conditions
never expired
,” she said with a mirthless smile. “But, they were out of contact with large sections of the Federation so they didn't get to everyone, just to those they had nominal control and contact with.”

“Control?”

“Side subject. Really a couple of stories I read a while back about various star systems trying to survive the war once the Federation broke down,” Lake said, waving a dismissive hand. “If you want to read them …”

Monty shook his head. “Maybe later. Send the links to my inbox anyway. What else?”

“Don't you see? The
El Dorado
ship was new construction! They had to pull their best and brightest off to keep the war grinding on. Many had died, many continued to die daily. It was a meat grinder! So, they set these people up with the keys and such.”

“And then the star system they were in got attacked and they ran for it?” Fletcher asked.

“Something like that.”

Monty nodded. “It's supposition, but it's a plausible scenario I suppose. Just not one I'm liking. Write it up. Make sure you have the usual warnings about supposition but link any facts you can find to it. You can submit it at the next meeting.”

“Me, sir?”

“You. You found it, Lake, your baby.”

“I … um, yes, sir,” she replied with a nod.

“I think they did coerce some of these people, most likely humans only, into helping them. It explains the work-arounds and the sudden jump in their tech,” Monty mused. “Fletcher, find a couple hands to look into the New Andres incident again. Dredge up anything that was found there.
Firefly
dumped their copy to Gaston, right?” Fletcher nodded. “If we don't have a copy of the raw intel, get Teague to send us a copy on the next courier or convoy.”

“Aye, sir.”

Monty nodded once and glanced at his internal clock. The flag meeting was just about to start. He wasn't sure how well it was going to go over. Probably not well.

---<>))))

“So, you now want to go in fast?” Amadeus asked. “That's what I've been after all along. Why the change of heart?” The Neochimp admiral asked.

“
El Dorado
. We have to take the threat for real. We've managed to process some of our mountains of intel and got something back we don't like. It's been supported by multiple sources, so we've got to do something.”

“Now?” Phillip asked. “John, you know it's not a good idea to go off half-cocked. Look what happened in Protodon. No offense Amadeus, but that could have been ugly or even more ugly than it was. And the ground …,” his voice cut out.

“I agree. The marines didn't hold up their end. That's also on me. We didn't give them the support or time to prep like we should have. But that's not what I'm proposing here. I'm saying we go in fast with fleet elements
only
—quick and dirty. Punch out their ships and as well as the fleet base they have been building in Nuevo Madrid. Wreck anything artificial in the star system, then hyper out. Hit and hype.”

“A recon raid?” Amadeus asked.

“No, I want everything in space turned into splinters. No ships left, nothing for them to rebuild with. No satellites in orbit. We'll stop short of kinetic strikes on the planet. If possible we'll avoid it all together.”

“That's a tall order. We know those two battle cruisers went in there to lick their wounds, Admiral,” Phillip said cautiously. “We also have a limited view of what is in the star system, and it's dated.”

“
Very
dated,” Amadeus grunted. He'd been trying to tease out intel for some time without much luck. Captain Montgomery had given him fresh details but all of it dated.

“Which is why we're going to short jump a scout in first. The scout will get a look into the star system, then return to hyper to rendezvous with the incoming task force to upload the intelligence they've gathered. We'll send the force in, punch everything out, then hyper out. Don't bother with the planet.”

“I see,” Phillip said. “Quick and dirty like you said. But a head-on attack could get ugly. I like the short jump; the intelligence would come in handy. At the very least, it'll let the task force avoid any traps around a jump point.”

“True,” Amadeus said. “But we'll be leaving Protodon high and dry if I scrape everything up for this, Admiral. Those same battle cruisers or another force could move in, passing us in hyper without us knowing it.”

“It is a risk. We've got several task forces in movement now to Protodon though,” Phillip mused.

“I'm not just opening the front up on Nuevo Madrid,” Admiral Irons stated. “I want the B100 omega force to move on Destria. Hit the orbitals, then hype out. Same deal. We won't wait on the
Chester Puller
force to finish assembling.”

“Okay,” Jersey said frowning. “It will allow me to concentrate more forces for Protodon I suppose.”

“You know it's going to alert the people on the planets, right?” Jersey asked quietly. “Surprise will be gone for my marines. They'll have plenty of time to dig in, and it will get ugly when they eventually do have to go in.”

“Which is why we're going to a full-court press on an invasion force as a follow-up force but
only
when we're ready,” Admiral Irons stated. “That includes full air and orbital support.”

“My people will certainly appreciate that, Admiral,” Jersey replied dryly.

“They'll need a carrier or two to support that, Admiral,” Phillip warned.

“I know. We'll cross that bridge in a bit. I've got fresh thoughts there.” He frowned then shrugged. “Amadeus, I don't want you to go toe-to-toe with the enemy battle cruiser division in Nuevo Madrid if at all possible. Hit and hype. We can't afford to have your ships laid up for weeks.”

“I understand. I'm not sure I agree with leaving them behind in our rear though,” Amadeus warned. “They are raiders after all. They can go in after our fleet train if I go deeper.”

“If they can coordinate. But they'd also need support, and they won't have it. The raid might force them back into the empire,” Phil said.

“True.
Might
,” Amadeus said, with emphasis on the qualifier despite the limits on his transmitter.

“True.”

“Dividing our forces on two or more fronts, plus the defense on the line … it's tricky, Admiral. We could invite defeat in detail,” Jersey warned. “Throw the Marine forces into the mix, plus logistics …”

“Don't forget security for the logistics forces,” Phillip reminded them. “I've also got that blocking force in B452C to deal with. You've got
America
sailing south to check on Centennial to relieve them and ET. I've got my own convoy assembling to go into ET. We're already tapped out on the reserves. This is going to get tricky.”

“And we've still got other pirates behind our lines to deal with, Epsilon Triangula for one, plus any leakers that are out there. Singletons in between star systems. Then there is that fifth element on the planets to deal with,” Jersey reminded them.

“Also something we're working on.
Firefly
is en route back to Pyrax now. Jones has already refueled and has headed south to go pirate hunting. They will hopefully flush out any remaining pirates … if they don't accidentally pass them in hyper.”

“Or miss them if the pirates hide,” Amadeus reminded him.

“True,” Phil said.

“So, you are saying go in, punch out Nuevo Madrid, then head down to Dead Drop? There is supposed to be a base there as well as in Garth. SNHH isn't much to look at …,” Amadeus said, checking the map again.

“Someone's been doing his homework,” Phillip teased.

“Of course I have. Every day I drool over this. Right now I'm rubbing my hands in glee,” he said. The other senior officers chuckled. His tone changed after the brief spat of levity ebbed. “The problem is we have little intel of those systems. Limited
dated
intel,” the Neochimp went on, ignoring the jibe. “Resistance will stiffen when we get in deeper. I don't think we'll be able to punch out Horath itself. Not with what I've got and not even with the
Bismark
division and what we've got in the pipeline. No way.”

“You're going to be out of contact too,” Phillip warned. “You can't take an ansible with you, which means you'll need dispatch boats. A lot of them. They'll have to turn around in Protodon.”

“Stage through Protodon as planned, but move the plan up. I'm not sure if this will work but I'm willing to give it a shot. Time table?” Amadeus asked.

Admiral Irons frowned thoughtfully as he rubbed his chin. Amadeus's doubt … his verbal acknowledgment of doubt was telling. They had way too many fires on hand. They needed to start stamping them out. But he also had to get in there, dig in, hit them hard, and punch them out if possible. If
El Dorado
was fully operational, it will get ugly. They wouldn't be able to move the battle planetoid, only antimatter could get her underway … a massive supply, but if she had on board stores and a shipyard … techs like the intelligence said …

“They will get alarmed when we do this too. It'll be like stirring up a hornet's nest. Don't be afraid to fall back if you have to, Amadeus,” Phil cautioned. “Don't let your pride get you into the kill box.”

“Teach your mother to suck eggs,” the Neochimp growled. “I …”

“Enough,” Admiral Irons stated, interrupting him. “He is right. If it is too much, to hell with your pride, withdraw. Fight a fighting retreat, attrition them if you can. But conserve your forces, Amadeus, they will be needed. Not just the ships, but the crews of those ships. We'll need them badly.”

“I know. I don't want to lose a ship to be sent back for repairs.”

“Well, the good news is, I'm sending you the
Maine
division early. They will be sailing within twenty hours,” the admiral said, checking the ops board. “That should help you out once you've got them integrated.”