Command Decisions (Book 3 of The Empire of Bones Saga) (21 page)

“We’ll have a team ready to travel today, if you can give them a ride to your ship.”

“Easily done. I’ll send word to Jared to send a marine pinnace. That will have plenty room. As the representative of the Imperial Throne, I’ll need to take the oaths of the leadership council. We can do that later tonight. Right now, I’d like to see what you remember about Boxer Station and Ninth Fleet.”

The old man leaned back in his chair. “Not much. I’ve never been there. As I recall, it was a major Fleet base. It would’ve been critical in fighting back against the rebels. Is that where the weak flip point leads?”

“Not precisely, but it isn’t too far away.
Courageous
has some basic data on the base, but not much. We know it was big. That’s about it.”

“Perhaps our computer system has more data. With the normal layout of flip points, that base is over a month away. A dozen systems or more. The computers here might not know any more than we do. You’re welcome to try.”

Kelsey closed her eyes and felt for the nearest interface. Since Bell and she were the only implanted persons on the base, she was somewhat surprised to feel one overhead. They must’ve installed it specifically for him to access to the system.

She hadn’t needed to access the computers the last time she was here, so Kelsey was somewhat surprised when the system granted her access without argument.

Welcome to Erorsi Planetary Defense Headquarters, Princess Kelsey Bandar. This unit is ready to assist you.

Kelsey smiled a little. That’s just what she wanted to hear.

Do you have a name?

This unit has answered to various names in the past. Computer will serve.

What does Reginald Bell call you?

He refers to this unit as Uncle Larry. This unit is not certain exactly why.

She snorted. “Uncle Larry? Really?”

Bell laughed. “It would make perfect sense if you’d ever met my Uncle Larry. Feel free to call it whatever you like.”

“I absolutely can’t change that name. You’re stuck with it now.”

Okay, Uncle Larry, I’d like to see what information you have about Boxer Station and Ninth Fleet.

This unit has no data beyond the most basic information, but there may be more available in the

Imperial diplomatic database.

What exactly is the Imperial diplomatic database?

All planetary command and control computer systems have a copy of a very large database available only to members of the Imperial government. That includes planetary rulers and their staff, as well as more restricted data for those higher in the Imperial hierarchy. As an Imperial ambassador plenipotentiary, you have access to the highest classifications of data. As heir secondus to the Imperial Throne, you have need to know for all of that data, even the parts that would not normally be available to an ambassador plenipotentiary, ambassador, or planetary ruler.

Kelsey opened her eyes and looked at Elise. “I can see I should’ve spent more time talking to the computer under your capital. It seems there is a secret database that I can access.”

“That’s just not fair,” the other woman groused. “How can I snoop to my heart’s content without implants?”

“Blame Breckenridge. That’s what I do. Even if you had them, it doesn’t seem like you could access the more secure materials. I have a double edge as an ambassador plenipotentiary of the Terran Empire and from being in line to the Imperial Throne. Though, if there is more restricted data, I’m not that certain it would tell me about it.”

Bell shook his head. “I can’t imagine there would be many secrets restricted only to the emperor and his young heir. What does it know about the base?”

Was Boxer Station operational at the time of your last update, Uncle Larry?

It was, Highness. This unit’s records indicate that the base was a central point of resistance against the rebel incursion. Ninth Fleet was operating at higher than standard strength levels. Circumstances may have changed drastically in the intervening years, however.

Can I access deck plans and other pertinent data for the station? If it still exists, they may prove very useful.

Of course. If you have data storage devices, this unit can copy it for your later perusal.

She smiled at Bell. “If you have some secure data drives, I’d like to save what the computer has about Boxer Station. And anything else there is room for.”

Bell nodded. “I’ll see what I can find.”

“I’ll join you in a few minutes. There are a few more questions I’d like to put to your computer and I’d imagine watching me sit here is pretty boring.”

The old man and Elise rose to their feet. “We’ll be outside talking to the technicians if you need any help.”

She waited for them to leave and returned her attention to the computer. She didn’t even try to shoo the marines out. They’d moved into full ‘protect the princess mode’ and wouldn’t leave her side. It was mildly annoying, but she’d get over it.

Uncle Larry, I need to know about the most secure projects Imperial projects. Particularly any projects involving a key.

A physical key or some other kind?

She shrugged.
I don’t know. I heard Emperor Marcus refer to Lucien having a key. I’m sure it was important, but I don’t have a frame of reference to know exactly what he meant.

This unit will begin a search of the classified archives, Highness. While it does so, there are four projects restricted to the emperor and heirs. Should this unit give you a summary?

Kelsey sent an affirmative and sat back to listen to the deepest secrets of the Old Empire. Odds were that none of them mattered anymore, but she wouldn’t know until she checked. This was going to take a while.

Chapter Twenty-One

Jared made one last walk around the fighter. The sleek black craft’s lines screamed speed. The onboard computer said all systems were green, but he had a manual checklist displayed on his implants. He wasn’t about to take chances on a ship that hadn’t flown in over five hundred years, even if the engineers said they’d replaced all the problematic systems.

He looked at every critical system and checked it against his list. After a seeming eternity, he was in the cockpit. The craft could seat two in a side-by-side configuration, but that wouldn’t be very helpful. The second person normally acted as the gunner/navigator. Lacking someone with implants and the appropriate skills, he’d need to handle those tasks himself.

Eventually, he decided that the little craft was as ready as it would ever be. Time to take it out and see how it performed. He opened an audio link to the bridge. “
Courageous
, this is Gauntlet One. Ready to depart.”

Zia responded promptly. “You are cleared to depart, Gauntlet One. Good hunting.”

“Thanks, Zia. Gauntlet One out.”

He linked his implants into the fighter’s systems and gave the launch crew the high sign. They began sliding back.

Jared wore an armored flight suit. It was similar to unpowered armor in many ways and it had a helmet to provide pressure in case of a hull breach.

Once everyone was clear, he looked at the standard launch profile. The ship had a launch field to get the fighter clear and then the fighter went to full power. Good enough. He sent the command to launch.

The acceleration slammed him back into his couch and snatched his breath away. The fighter blasted out of the ship at several times the maximum acceleration of the marine pinnaces. Without his grav drive online, he had nothing to counter it.

He brought his drives on at full power and leapt away from the battlecruiser like a frightened racerbeast. The G-forces instantly subsided. The fighter reacted to his course adjustment better than any ship he’d ever flown. The drives continued to blast him forward at better acceleration than
Courageous
could manage.

An incoming signal pinged for his attention. He saw Graves sitting on the bridge of
Courageous
when he accepted it. “Damn, Jared. That little thing is really hauling. I don’t think we could catch it. It’s almost like a missile.”

“Not quite that fast, but it sure does feel that way. I’d imagine a dogfight would be one hell of a thing to see. How am I showing up on the scanners?”

“Bright and clear, but Zia says that you’re becoming a little harder to pinpoint the further away you get.”

He cut his acceleration down to almost nothing, activated the stealth field, and changed course. “Now?”

“We still have you, but you just became really hard to pinpoint. If we hadn’t already had a lock on you, we might have lost you. The communications link is also helping us, too.”

“We’ll see about that. Turn scanner control over to operations and lock the bridge out of the loop. I’ll slip back around to see if you can spot me. Transfer the scanner controls back to the bridge in one hour. And no peeking at the history.”

“Aye, sir. Good luck.
Courageous
out.”

He boosted his speed back up to max and took off at right angles to his previous course. He kept up that pace for almost an hour before he cut his acceleration. He’d built up an amazing amount of speed.

It took quite a while longer to cut his speed than he’d allowed for and it was several hours before he was back in the area near
Courageous
. The bigger ship’s active scans were clearly visible to his senses. They scan strength was still safely below detection level. Quite a bit below. He added another notch to his acceleration and inched closer to the battlecruiser.

The scanner strength increased as he entered missile range, but it was still manageable. He let off the acceleration in stages as he closed with his command. For the closest approach, he killed his grav drives entirely, relying on ballistic flight to bring him in.

Part of him was disappointed when they spotted him. He knew the exact moment because the strength of the incoming scans rose dramatically. He hit the acceleration and drove toward the ship with a corkscrew course, turning on his jammers. He also fired his two missiles.

Not real missiles, of course. Just simulated ones.
Courageous
was able to take them down short of the hull, but not by much. His systems registered simulated missile launches from
Courageous
.

The prudent thing to do at this point would be to cut his acceleration and change course. With a wicked grin, he went to max and shot toward
Courageous
at an alarming rate. Almost a missile in his own right.

“Gauntlet One, change course and cut speed!” Zia said.

Jared ignored her and took the agile fighter right down the battlecruiser’s upper superstructure. He was past them in a blurred moment and sent his fighter into a roll.

“Gauntlet One, the captain takes a dim view of hot-dogging like that,” Graves said in a dry voice. “You almost gave us a heart attack.”

“I got carried away,” Jared said with a grin. “Let’s hope the captain understands.”

“We’ll see how he reacts the next time it happens, since he just set a new tradition in motion.”

That was, unfortunately, probably true. He’d have to think these things through a little better next time. “I got closer than I’d expected, but not as close as I have to get to make this work. The stunner has a very limited range.”

“We were looking for you and we have better scanners than Breckenridge has at his command. I think you would have slipped right up on him. We almost didn’t see you in time. Which, by the way, Zia finds completely unacceptable. She’ll be working on improving things before this happens again.”

“As I would expect,” Jared said. “She
is
the best tactical officer in Fleet. We don’t want anyone pulling the same crap on us. Another plus will be the fact that Breckenridge won’t be looking for a stealthed ship in his wake. I’ll have to make a pass at him in the same system. If I line it up right, I might be able to stun all three of those ships before they know we flipped in behind them.”

“Sir, I have a suggestion going forward,” Zia said. “You either hung out in our general area for a while, or you came in from a long way off at a slow speed, only really boosting at the last moment. I’m assuming the latter. Is that correct?”

Jared sent her the data on his course. “Correct. I went way out. Once I cut acceleration, it took me a while to get back in the general area while keeping my acceleration below the detection threshold. This thing is fast.”

“Then next time, why don’t you make that work for you? Come in at a high rate of speed on a terminal velocity. They probably won’t know you’re there until you fire. The window of detection is a lot shorter. Your hull material and stealth field will probably keep their eyes off you. If they do spot you, they might think you’re some kind of scanner ghost.”

He considered that. “Maybe. The stunner isn’t that rapid fire, though. I’d have one shot at that speed.”

“True, but we have three fighters. Surely at that speed you and the princess could take out the cruiser and one of the destroyers.”

“Kelsey doesn’t have the skill to fly one.”

“Then slave her fighter to yours. She’d only have to fire the weapons. It’s just an idea.”

Jared brought the fighter back around. “We’ll do this again. Same rules. I’ll run out and come back at speed. You tell me if you spot me.”

That experiment was much more exciting.
Courageous
spotted him very late and he was on top of them before they reacted. They killed him, of course, but he hit them with his missiles. He almost made it close enough to stun them. He could see how a swarm of fighters might make life interesting for a ship like his.

It would still be a suicide run, though. Maybe in the heat of battle they could zip in, strike, and escape again. There had to have been a compelling tactical advantage to them or the Old Empire would never have built them. He’d need to do more in depth study of the subject as time allowed. Until he had more people capable of flying them, they were only interesting toys with limited utility.