DusktoDust_Final3 (26 page)

“
Mr. Hastings,
”
Long said to the major.
“
Get on the hook to the commanders. We are now at ALERTCON-TWO. Have them adjust their watches appropriately. I want at least a third of our interceptors in the air at all times. And position the fleet along likely approaches for ships coming from Federation space.

“
Lastly,
”
she turned to the card reader and pulled out the memory card.
“
Take this to the information office. Make as many copies as you need, but they are to be classified Top Secret CEO
”
- Captain
’
s Eyes Only-
“
and get one to every ship in the fleet. That
’
s hand carry only. I don
’
t want this getting out on the net. And send a copy with a tier one courier to fleet command. They need to know what
’
s going on.
”

The major took the card and nodded.
“
Aye, ma
’
am.
”
With that he turned and quickly left.

Commodore Long then turned to David and Letsego.
“
Color sergeant, release these men.
”

Surprise suddenly filled Burleigh
’
s face.
“
Ma
’
am?! Wait! No, you can
’
t let them go. These men are felons. They belong in the brig.
”

“
Right now they belong where they are most useful to me in combating this new threat.
”

“
Ma
’
am, what about the charges?
”

“
I am suspending the charges,
”
she said definitively.

“
But-
”
Burleigh continued to protest.

“
Captain, you
’
re relieved.
”

“
Excuse me? I am your intelligence officer.
”

“
And in the past hour I have been provided ten times as much intelligence by these two men than you have ever given me.
”
Long said gesturing to David and Letsego.
“
Gentlemen, please show the good captain out. He is to wait in his quarters until I say otherwise.
”

His displeasure evident, Burleigh was escorted from the office by the two PK guards. As he passed David, the smuggler gave him an overt grin. He had known the officer less than four hours but was more than happy to see the man put in his place.

With him gone, the color sergeant removed both the prisoners
’
cuffs. His hands free, David was surprised to see Commodore Long extend her hand to him.

“
Captain Carpenter, I know that coming to the Peacekeepers must have not been the first thought you had when you discovered your situation, but I thank you for putting your personal allegiances aside and acting for the greater good.
”
She then turned to Letsego.
“
And staff sergeant, your initiative and quick thinking was what brought this whole situation to light. You both were right to bring this to me.
”

“
Ma
’
am, the whole Federation fleet is on its way here,
”
David said.
“
With all due respect you
’
re gonna to need more than this garrison to defend Prospect.
”

The Commander of the Tango Fleet nodded.
“
I know. I
’
m going to send a message to Corsica requesting reinforcements. But that will take time, time I
’
m not sure we have.
”
That thought spurred her into action.
“
If you
’
ll excuse me I have quite a few things to take care of. Color sergeant, see that they are taken care. I want them to go through a full debrief. You gentlemen are on the front lines now. I want you close at hand when this battle goes down.
”
With that the Commodore was gone.

“
ACTION STATIONS. ACTION STATIONS. ALERT CONDITION TWO IS NOW IN EFFECT. THIS IS NOT A DRILL. ACTION STATIONS. ACTION STATIONS
…”

The giant voice was accompanied by blaring sirens and flashing orange lights, both of which succeeded in rousing Letsego from his deep slumber. His eyes snapped open.

“…
ACTION STATIONS. ACTION STATIONS
…”
the ship
’
s PA system continued to drone.

He had participated in dozens of these drills before. Muscle memory took over. He swiftly swung his legs out of bed and made his way to the wardrobe in his newly assigned stateroom in two long strides. In less than thirty seconds he was dressed in the splotched gray, blue, and black pattern of the Peacekeeper battle dress uniform. He pulled on his boots, strapped a holstered pistol to his leg, and was out the door.

He wiped the sleep from his eyes as he made his way through the corridors of
Defiance
. The past twelve hours had been a marathon of debriefings from a dozen different organizations on the command ship. Letsego was no stranger to intelligence debriefs, but even he had to admit that after the events of the past week he was exhausted. He was elated when the briefings were done and he had been afforded the opportunity to grab a bite to eat and get some sleep.

Some
being the operative word. He checked his watch. Just over four hours. That was how much time he had rested.
Well, some sleep is better than no sleep
.

Carpenter strode up next to him, now dressed in his spacer
’
s clothing.
“
You
’
d think the Federation would be considerate enough to let us get a full night
’
s sleep,
”
he said, echoing Letsego
’
s thoughts.

“
We don
’
t know it
’
s the Federation,
”
he commented.

“
Well, this damn sure isn
’
t a drill. Who else do you think rates this kind of welcoming?
”

Letsego did the math. Baoshi was where the Federation Fleet was based, and that was at least two days away at cruiser speeds.
“
We left the Belt thirty five hours ago. They cannot have traveled from Baoshi to Prospect in that time.
”

“
That
’
s if you
’
re making the assumption that their fleet was at Baoshi when we left the Belt.
”

The two of them headed for the combat operations center. Commodore Long had left them orders to report to her there once they were rested. Letsego didn
’
t know what exactly qualified as well rested, but he assumed the COC was where she would be at this point.

The main door was guarded by two Peacekeepers.
“
I
’
m sorry, staff sergeant. Only essential personnel in the COC right now,
”
said the sergeant.

Letsego attempted to step around him.
“
The commodore directed us to come here, sergeant. Now let us through.
”

The sergeant looked at him strangely.
“
The commodore?
”
he said skeptically.
“
Staff sergeant, we
’
re in condition two right now. The directive is for all personnel to report to their sections. The commodore is busy right now.
”

Letsego gritted his teeth.
“
Listen, sergeant. For your own sake I recommend you get on your comm unit and double check. Tell them Staff Sergeant Letsego and Captain Carpenter are here.
”

The sergeant was still doubtful, but slowly he turned and nodded to the other Peacekeeper. The junior man pulled out his comm handset. Thirty seconds later the COC door hissed opened.

“
You
’
re cleared to enter gentlemen.
”

Letsego gave the sergeant a nod and hustled in.

The COC was a large room with vid screens covering the upper walls and ceiling. All of the feeds showed different views of the space around
Defiance
. Along the perimeter of the room sat Peacekeepers at consoles gathering, processing, and delivering battlespace information.

“
Put that up on the main screen.
”
Commodore Long was standing at the center of the room, her hands clasped behind her back.
“
Zoom in
…
ok. How many ships is that?
”

“
Seven, ma
’
am,
”
a captain said from his console.
“
That makes twenty three total.
”

Letsego and Carpenter approached the commander.

“
Nice of you to join us gentlemen,
”
she said, not taking her eyes off of the screen.
“
I was hoping you would show up. Six ships dropped into our sector ten minutes ago. Since then there have been two more waves and I
’
m guessing more on their way.
”

“
Federation ships, ma
’
am?
”
Letsego asked.

“
Mostly, but a handful have markings we can
’
t identify.
”

Carpenter cut in.
“
Black Crescent?
”

Long nodded.
“
Probably. None of them are advancing. They are just waiting at the far edge of our sensor range.
”
She turned to Major Hastings, who was leaning over a specialists console.
“
Is that still holding true?
”

“
Yes, ma
’
am. No movement. And they still aren
’
t responding to our hails.
”

“
Have Astro and Epsilon groups move into blocking positions in sectors twenty three through fifty. Bravo group stays in reserve.
”

“
Aye, ma
’
am.
”

A console alarm went off.
“
Ma
’
am,
”
the sensor officer reported,
“
five more ships just dropped. They
’
re moving into formation with the others.
”

“
Very well.
”

Letsego observed the action on the screen with amazed terror.
“
How did they get here so quickly?
”
he asked to no one in particular.

“
I don
’
t know,
”
Long replied.
“
If this turns into a shooting war I want you both here. You
’
ve seen firsthand what this weaponry can do. Maybe we can spot it before it
’
s employed.
”

“
He
’
s the intelligence operative,
”
Carpenter said.
“
I
’
m just a lowly smuggler.
”

“
Nevertheless, both of your expertise will be useful before the battle is over.
”
She spoke with confidence that this confrontation was going to turn into the Battle of Prospect.

“
Very well, ma
’
am,
”
Letsego said.
“
We
’
ll be here if you need us.
”

The communications officer cut in.
“
Ma
’
am, we
’
ve got an incoming transmission from the Federation.
”

“
Put it up on the screen,
”
she directed. Soon, the image of a man in a maroon uniform with a pencil thin mustache filled the display. Long spoke first.
“
This is Commodore Andrea Long, Acting Commander of the Tango Fleet. Who am I speaking with?
”

The man spoke with a subtle Siberian accent.
“
I am Fleet Admiral Akim Hashemi, Commander of the Asiatic Federation
’
s First and Sixth Fleet. I am acting on behalf of Prime Minister Chen.
”

“
Admiral, you are hereby advised that you are entering UNEC space with what looks to be hostile warships. Either vacate the sector or I will be required to remove you by force.
”

A thin smile crept across Akim
’
s face.
“
Commodore, you are in no position to give orders here. Your fleet is no match for the firepower I can bring to bear.
”
Commodore Long
’
s face betrayed nothing.
“
Here is my proposal. The Federation has found it necessary to secure Prospect for interests of national security. Prime Minister Chen wishes to do so with no bloodshed. But if you choose to resist us, we will have no choice but to destroy you.

“
Yield now. If you do, I promise none of your people will be harmed. All Peacekeepers currently planetside will be allowed to depart the planet with your fleet, along with any civilians that so choose.
”

“
Prospect is governed under the authority of the PDP,
”
Long countered.
“
No sovereign nation may control territory on it.
”

“
The Federation no longer recognizes the legitimacy of the PDP.
”
The admiral sighed.
“
You have heard my terms, commodore. What is your decision?
”

Commodore Long didn
’
t hesitate.
“
Admiral, if the Federation wishes to seize Prospect, they are welcome to try. But the Peacekeepers will not stand idly by and watch.
”
She nodded to communications officer.
“
Kill it.
”
Instantly the transmission cut out.

Major Hastings tried to reason with her.
“
Ma
’
am, there is no way we can hold them off. Their fleet is too large.
”

“
We have to try, Mr. Hastings. That is our responsibility. Set up an All Fleet broadcast.
”

With reservation, the man nodded. The communications officer produced a handset.
“
You
’
re live, commodore.
”

She took the device and keyed it on.
“
Peacekeepers of Tango Fleet,
”
her voice boomed through the COC, and all the other Peacekeeper vessels.
“
This is Commodore Long. If you have not heard yet, the Federation fleet just dropped into our sector. The Federation wishes to take Prospect. They have given me the choice of surrender. The choice to turn the Rock over to them and withdraw all forces. For the sake of the Peacekeepers and humanity I cannot do that. Prospect is more than we ever thought it was, and I am willing to give my life to keep it out of Federation control.

“
I know I am asking much of all of you, and undoubtedly all of some of you. Why should you defend this mound of dust at the ass end of the galaxy? I cannot tell you that. But I can tell you that a victory here will ensure safety for your children and your children
’
s children for years to come. A defeat threatens to tear apart everything the Peacekeepers have ever built. We cannot fail. I will not let us fail.
Ad Astra Per Aspera
. God speed. Prepare for battle.
”

The atmosphere was electric in the COC. Letsego watched the Peacekeepers all around him turned back to their stations, intent on the task at hand. It was silent. The calm before the storm. Commodore Long let out a deep breath.

“
Staff sergeant, do you believe in luck?
”
she asked him.

Letsego shook his head.
“
No, ma
’
am.
”

“
That
’
s too bad. We could use some right about now.
”

The next impact sent David flying across the COC, sliding into a power console. As he pulled himself up the console sparked. He winced but wasn
’
t surprised.
Defiance
was starting to come apart at the seams.

“
Ma
’
am, topside shields are critical,
”
an officer reported.

“
Roll us over. Get our belly between us and those interdictors.
”
Commodore Long stood ridged at her post, unfazed by the chaos around her.

All things considered, Tango Fleet was holding its own. No Titan weapons had been brought to bear yet. Maybe Mr. Black had been lying. Maybe there were no alien weapons designed for space combat. The Federation and Crescent fleet was now eight warships lighter, the destroyed or disable hulks now floating through space. And for that the Peacekeepers had only sacrificed three ships. Despite the small victory, they were still outnumbered three to one.

David marched back to his place behind the con. This time he braced himself more carefully.

“
Deploy the reserve fighters,
”
Long continued to direct.
“
I want them to neutralize those interdictors.
”

“
Ma
’
am,
”
Hastings reported.
“
Incoming call from the
Aurora
.
”

“
Patch me through.
”
She walked to a comm station and picked up the handset.
“
How are you doing, Colonel Beal?
”