A Faded Star (30 page)

 “I presume you've been using the computer on the
Aeternum to run simulations based on the observed crab ship capabilities?”
Coffee nodded. “Well, I think the order of battle should be sufficient to
defeat the crabs then. We have only a single system to defend, so our tactical
choices are made much more simple as a result. We can see the crabs coming with
our long range sensor network, and when we know they've committed to attacking
us, we can be prepared to meet them with an equivalent force. I do have some
thoughts on how to get maximum firepower as efficiently as possible.

 “We presume the alliance is unlikely to attack us
based on our observations, and the need to evacuate the system is, in my
opinion, remote. While I'm sure that, once built, the behemoth ships would be
tremendously powerful and probably capable of defending the system
single-handedly, they also represent an incredibly huge consumption of
resources. As I understand it, the alliance has been scavenging for resources
as fast as they can get their hands on them.”

 “That's true, Commodore. Apparently, they've been
fortifying their primary systems, like Xalcek, in preparation for an all-out
assault by the crabs.”

 “Then there is probably an upper limit on how much we
can build even with the incredible performance offered by these manufacturing
rings.”

 “We've addressed this shortcoming as well. Buckman's
star has sufficient resources to build the fleet. We've created a plan to build
a small fleet of tugs and smaller resource gathering rings to draw needed raw
materials from the asteroids in the system. Those ships are already being
built. The resource gatherers can demolecularize the asteroids into raw, pure
alloys in standardized shapes for transport back to the Lashmere system. Once
the task is complete, the ships themselves can be reclaimed for the resources
used in their construction, as we'll have no need for such a large fleet of
tugs and salvage ships.”

 “How big are the manufacturing rings going to be?”

 “We plan on using the support ship design for the raw
materials processing at Buckman's Star. The tugs will be retrofitted for troop
and civilian transport once their duty as cargo haulers is complete.”

 “Sounds like you've covered all the high points,
Admiral. If we can set up a sufficiently robust supply line from Buckman's
star, we should be able to build the fleet we need. Do you think we have
sufficient time to get it done, sir?”

 “The crabs seem fixated on the alliance for the time
being, and the alliance hasn't demonstrated any ability to launch an attack
against us. We feel we have enough time to get at least the majority of our
planned fleet built before the crabs turn their attention to us. That's also
with the presumption they're aware of us at all.”

 “I think if we build this fleet, they won't be able to
miss it, sir. They probably have a good idea already.”

 “Unfortunately, that conclusion is probably correct.
One thing that hasn't been widely disseminated with the rest of Captain
Erickson's reports is that the crabs captured an unknown number of our people
at L262. At least seventeen life pods were picked up by the crabs.”

 Stokes started forward in his chair. “Admiral Drogue
and Captain Hanlon could be alive, sir. Have we got any plans to find out what
the crabs have done with their prisoners?”

 “One of the primary uses of the stealth corvettes will
be to infiltrate the crab fleet and run scans of their ships to find out of
there are any humans being held aboard. I don't plan to leave anyone in their
custody if we can find a way to get them out. Until we locate any prisoners the
crabs are holding, we can't make any more plans than that. I assure you that
we'll do everything in our power to get any prisoners back.”

 “Good.” Stokes felt a sense of relief. Until he'd
found that Hanlon had been lost at the battle of L262, he hadn't realized just
how much he'd missed his former executive officer. “I hope they're all alive.”

 “So do I, Commodore. That brings me to my final point
of business with you. With the loss of Admiral Drogue and the promotions of
captains Brand and Misato to admiral rank, the board of admirals and counselor
of war have granted you flag rank. When you leave this room, I expect you to
put these on.” Coffee held out a small box. Stokes took it and found the gold
stars of admiral rank inside. “You will also be reassigned. The first
battleship produced, and a second, backup battleship will be modified as fleet
command and control ships with enhanced communications and auxiliary battle
computers. You'll be placed in command of the first one. The board of admirals
has unanimously voted to place you in command of the combined Lashmere fleet.
Congratulations, Admiral Stokes.”

 Stokes stared at the golden stars for a long moment
before looking up into Coffee's eyes. “Thank you, sir. I'm honored to be
assigned such an important duty. Who is being assigned to Rampart?”

 “We're not sure the Rampart will be continuing with us
once the fleet is built. It's an obsolete design. It requires far too many crew
members to handle it, and its systems are unable to adapt as well as the newer
designs taken from the Aeternum's database. For now, Rampart is being assigned
to Captain Erickson. System defense will be the primary duty of both Rampart
and Rook until the first wave of assault cruisers and battleships are
completed.”

 “That reminds me, sir. I have an idea before we got
sidetracked. The build time for even the smallest ships is still several days
with a one kilometer ring, correct?”

 “That's true,” Coffee said.

 “We could place a number of automated defensive
platforms around the system capable of launching drones and the new torpedoes.
I'd wager they can be built much more quickly than ships and might provide the
system with much needed defenses if the crabs decide to attack before we're
ready.”

 That's a good idea, Admiral. I'll propose it. I want
to apologize for not planning a promotion ceremony for you, but we are too
busy. Please complete a turnover with Captain Erickson tomorrow. Your
battleship is planned for construction over the next seven days. Aeternum is
building it. You can stay on the shipyard until it's complete.”

 “What are we naming it, sir?”

 “I thought I'd leave that up to you.”

 “I'd better come up with a good name, then, sir.”
Stokes thought for a long moment while Coffee watched him expectantly. “How
about we call it the Victorious?”

 “That sounds like a great name. I'll pass the order to
the construction crew. Your command staff is going to be shaken up quite a bit,
I'm afraid. Commander Kri is being given command of one of the assault
cruisers, and many of your other officers are being promoted and placed in
positions as either executive officers or commanding officers of corvettes or
destroyers. You're going to have to train some pretty green men and women to
their positions.”

 “I understand, sir. You can count on me to get it
done.”

 “Excellent. I'll let you return to your duties. Word
of your promotion will be made public knowledge in a few minutes. I look
forward to seeing you organize our fleet into an efficient order of battle.”

 “Thank you, sir. I won't let you down.” The men shook
hands and Stokes departed for Rampart.

 The next several days were busy but routine. Stokes
changed command with Captain Erickson. He spent a remarkable amount of time
standing in the observation gallery, watching the Victorious being built. The
glacial growth of the ship at the center of the Aeternum was fascinating. Each
night he went to bed and came back in the morning, to see a dozen or more
meters of hull added. The armored flanks started coming in on the third day and
by the end of the sixth day, the ship looked complete with only interior
fittings, liquids, and consumables being fabricated. Humans couldn't enter the
ship until the manufacturing process was complete. The construction process was
fairly hazardous with literally trillions of nanites flying through the ship,
dragging raw materials and electromagnetic containment conduits appearing and
disappearing at need.

 The afternoon of the seventh day after relinquishing
command of Rampart, Stokes was alerted that Victorious was completed. He
boarded a private shuttle and was the first man to enter his new ship. The boat
bay was a cavernous area that occupied a bulge below and behind the bow of the
ship. Inside were three drop ships, six pinnaces and a handful of shuttles in
varying configurations. As his shuttle docked, Stokes saw another, much larger
shuttle coming in just behind him.

 The shuttle made hard seal with an open dock and
Stokes stepped into the brilliantly illuminated corridor. Casting about, he
tapped his wrist comp to provide him a map to the bridge. As he entered the
first lift, he heard voices behind him. He knew his bridge crew was right
behind him. He quickened his pace to get to the bridge first. As he entered, he
saw the bridge was about the same size as the one on Rampart. Initially, he was
surprised by this, but then he remembered how small the crew was for a ship
this massive. The layout was far different, however. A large display wrapped
around the front quarter of the elliptical room. The space just behind the
screen was open with the command chair, executive officer chair and observer chairs
arrayed neatly in the center. They had an unobstructed view of the main plot.
Auxiliary displays flanked the command chairs. Scientific stations lined the
rear bulkhead. Ships handling, helm and auxiliary functions were located on the
port side, and tactical and navigation were on the starboard. The colors of the
bridge were far different from Rampart as well. Rampart had been painted mostly
gray and black with primarily red lighting from the consoles. The Victorious
was white with muted blue and green illumination.

 Stokes sat in the command chair and said, “This is
Admiral Stokes. I am in command of the ship. Ship designation: Victorious.
Confirm.”

 The computer considered the statements for a couple of
seconds before saying “Command confirmed. Victorious is under the command of
Admiral Stokes.”

 Stokes leaned back in the command chair and had just
enough time to begin to look relaxed when the port lift opened. Four
individuals entered the bridge.

 The first was a somewhat frumpy looking woman of middling
height with light brown hair and vividly blue eyes. She wore stars indicating
she was a lieutenant. She stepped forward first and said, “Sir, my name is
Lieutenant Elise Woodard. I'm your assigned science officer.” She fidgeted
slightly with the hem of her uniform tunic and then went on, “It's a pleasure
to meet you, Admiral.”

 Stokes nodded. “Welcome aboard, Lieutenant. Computer,
recognize Lieutenant Elise Woodard as assigned science department head.
Confirm.”

 “Confirmed,” the computer said.

 Woodard stepped back, and a tall man stepped up behind
her. He was slender with hair so pale it almost appeared white, and his eyes
were dark brown. His skin was as pale as his hair, making his eyes stand out
among his features. His wide lips curved into a smile as he spoke. “Sir, I'm
Commander Jason Bendel. I'm your assigned executive officer.”

 “Welcome aboard, Commander,” Stokes said. He repeated
the ritual with the computer.

 The next man to step up was as dark of feature as
Bendel was pale. When he spoke, his words came out so fast it was almost hard
to understand him. “Sir, my name is Lieutenant Commander Ira Lokin. I'm your
assigned tactical officer.”

 Stokes smiled at the man's obviously nervous demeanor.
Both he and Woodard seemed pretty young for both their ranks and their
assignments. Stokes said, “Welcome aboard, Commander.”

 The last person in line was a tall and obviously fit
woman. She wore the stripes of a senior chief petty officer. She stepped
forward and saluted smartly. Stokes returned the courtesy, and the woman spoke,
“Sir, I'm Senior Chief Nielson. I'm your senior enlisted crew assigned.”

 “Welcome aboard, chief.” Stoked stood and addressed
his assembled crew, “We expect most of the crew to be assigned in the next
several hours. Take your stations and begin reactor startup as soon as we have
sufficient personnel on the ship. When the full crew compliment has arrived,
we'll maneuver down space dock to an open berth. Exec, comm the space dock comm
center and request an assignment. The sooner we clear Aeternum, the sooner they
can start on the next battleship.”

 The crew sprang into action. Their unfamiliarity with
the ship and its operation made their efforts awkward and almost comical at
times, the comm request being routed to multiple incorrect locations before the
shipyard responded.

 Two hours passed, waiting for additional crew
arrivals. As the last assigned personnel arrived, Stokes ordered the ship to
engage maneuvering thrusters to move clear of Aeternum. “Begin test of the
active sensor system and integrate communications with the system sensor net,
Miss Woodard,” Stokes ordered.

 “Aye, sir,” Woodard said. Her treble voice sounded
almost panicked as she tapped at her console with a look of concentration
pinching her features. After a moment, she said, “Integration complete, sir.
The sensor system is coming online now. Internal diagnostic complete. System
reports one hundred percent functionality.”

 “Very well, Miss Woodard. ETA to our assigned berth,
exec?”

 “Ten minutes, sir. We've been assigned the first open
berth past the manufacturing rings.”

 “Very well. Put the Aeternum on the main plot.” The
massive display came on and showed the ship in breathtaking detail. At least
ten tugs were pulling massive blocks of raw materials into the center of
Aeternum for the next ship in the construction queue. “I'm glad to see the
resource gathering effort is in full swing already. Hopefully, we can keep up
the build rate until the fleet's done.”