No Way to Start a War (TCOTU, Book 2) (This Corner of the Universe) (23 page)

Truesworth
voice was full of hope.  “I’m getting beacons—”  His posture deflated
immediately as he bit back a curse.  “They’re Hollies.  Two destroyers.”

Vernay
tilted her head in confusion, her eyes narrowing as she read the sensor data
herself.  “Why would they have their beacons on?  Why broadcast their
position?”

Good
question
, Heskan
thought.  He closed his simulation and brought up the Maub system chart again. 
It did not seem possible for Hollaran forces to have come from it.

“General
frequency message from the new Hollie destroyers, Captain,” Truesworth said.

A
surrender demand?  That’s unlikely
. 
“Play it, Jack,” Heskan said impatiently.

The unraveled
face of a Hollaran kapitan appeared.  His expression was nine parts horror, one
part desperation.  The terror-filled tone of his voice conveyed more meaning than
his words.  “To any forces in Kale: you must turn immediately for us!  They’re
right behind us!  Please help, we’re all that’s left!”  The screen went dark.

Heskan
stared blankly at the wall screen, vaguely noticing Vernay working energetically
at her console.  “What was that?” he asked rhetorically.

Truesworth
turned to look at his captain with renewed optimism.  “They seem to be running so
maybe we’re about to see a full fleet of Brevic forces diving in soon?”

Heskan
arched an eyebrow at the lieutenant.  “That makes some sense but I’ve never
seen a Hollaran officer lose his composure like that.  How did the Hollarans
even get to Maub and why would a Brevic force be there?”

Vernay
interjected, “Captain, the remaining Hollies near the Sponde tunnel point won’t
see the message in time.”

“What?”

Vernay
smiled as she spoke.  “Those heavies are due to dive in twenty-seven and a half
minutes.  The light from the destroyers diving in won’t reach them for another
twenty-eight minutes.  They’re going to miss it if they dive.”

Truesworth
added, “Captain, we have a coded message going out to the new Hollies from
Lombardi’s fleet.”

It’s
probably a message scolding that kapitan and asking for clarification
, Heskan thought.  “Are they
turning to rendezvous with them, Jack?”

Truesworth
shook his head.  “Not yet.  She’s still chasing us.”

Heskan
let loose an involuntary snort.  He looked down to ensure he had not received a
message from Captain Grey. 
She must be as confused as I am
.  Heskan saw
that the new Hollarans, which
Kite
had labeled as Hollaran Fleet-Four,
was 14
lm
from them. 
We’re going to have to keep our distance.  They may
still have missiles, unless…
  “Jack, is there any battle damage on Fleet-Four?”

A
moment later Truesworth replied, “Nothing.  At least nothing I can see from our
current vantage.”

The
situation was becoming more curious by the minute. 
Even though we can’t see
it,
t
hey’ve obviously been in battle
, Heskan deliberated. 
They
must be running from a superior Brevic force and the only survivors are these two
light units.  But why doesn’t at least one of them have visible battle damage? 
And did they use all of their missiles in that combat?

Twelve
minutes of fruitless speculation later, Truesworth announced, “Another tunnel
disturbance, Captain.”  He had already slewed the Hawkeye to face the Maub
tunnel point, which easily showed the shimmering, distorted images of ships
diving into normal space.  The sensorman’s jaw dropped as the distortion
cleared to reveal hundreds of sloop-sized vessels gushing from the tunnel
point.  “Uhhh,” he faltered, unsure how to report.

Heskan
gawked at the tiny ships, none recognizable by
Kite’s
database of spacefaring
vessels.  To his right, he heard Spencer whisper, “Can’t be happening.”

“How
does somethin’ so small have a tunnel drive?” Brown questioned.

Heskan
was still speechless when a second general frequency message came from the ragged
Hollaran kapitan.  “You don’t understand, Komandor, it’s not the ‘Vics. 
They’re not human… our task force ran into them four dives ago; they won’t
stop.  They’re awful.  We can’t outrun them.  All forces in this system, in the
name of humanity, I beg you to help us!  Please don’t let them overrun us!”

“
Incredibile
,”
Selvaggio whispered.

“Captain,
this can’t be right,” Truesworth said as he looked blankly at his console and
then up to the tactical display on the wall screen.  Heskan saw immediately the
growing vector lines of the strange, little ships.  The lines stretched past .2
c
,
past .3
c
, and finally settled at .35
c
.  “Kite can’t identify
them, Captain,” Truesworth finally stated.  “She wants to call them sloops but
they’re smaller than that.  They’re not much bigger than cutters.”

“Call
me crazy,” Vernay stammered, “but I’m beginning to think this is real.”

 “If
I didn’t witness it myself, I’d never believe it,” proclaimed Captain Grey over
the command channel.  Heskan had invited Vernay and each ship captain to the ad
hoc meeting and noticed
Eagle’s
CAG also in attendance.

Truesworth
had estimated the cloud of alien cutters, labeled “Unknown Fleet-One” by Kite’s
computer, would overhaul the running Hollaran destroyers in twenty-six
minutes.  At the time of the estimate, Lombardi’s ships needed twenty-eight
minutes to reach the hunted squadron while
Eagle
and her escorts could
reach them in twenty-three minutes.  Coinciding with the start of the meeting,
Lombardi’s ships had broken off their dogged pursuit and changed heading toward
their comrades.  The Hollaran heavy ships pursuing
Avenger
had dove from
Kale before becoming aware of the new Hollarans.

After
summarizing the situation, Grey concluded, “We have a clear run to Sponde if we
want it.”

Freedom’s
door was wide open.  All they had to do was dive through it and avoid any
Hollaran ships maneuvering in Sponde.  Heskan’s eyes shifted to the screen
showing the tactical plot and the impossibly fast craft stampeding toward the
twin destroyers.  The count of unknowns had finished at one thousand four
hundred forty-seven individual ships strung out over 103
ls
in no
discernible formation.  After determining the ships were less than an eighth
the size of his former command, Heskan had ordered Truesworth’s section to
begin an analysis of individual ships to determine the number of different classes
in the flotilla and their combat capabilities.  Heskan did not expect an answer
any time soon; SENS had just begun and needed to examine many targets.

“What
else would we do, Captain?” Heskan asked.

Grey
nodded in understanding and offered a futile look as she answered, “I know,
right?  The alternative is to come to the aid of our generations-old enemy—”

“Who
probably wouldn’t accept our help,” Lieutenant Gary finished.

If Captain
Grey was annoyed at the interruption, she did not show it.  “We’re running out
of time anyway.  If we don’t turn toward them in a few minutes, we won’t be
able to reach them before the… unknown ships reach them first.  Plus, we have
no idea from how far away these new ships’ missiles can be launched.”  Grey
looked quickly to her right, momentarily distracted.  Heskan heard her talking
to one of her bridge officers before she returned her attention back to the
conference.  “Interesting.  Komandor Lombardi has sent a message to us.”  With
a quick motion from Grey, Heskan’s conference screen split an additional time
and the striking Hollaran komandor appeared.

Although
Lombardi tried to appear stoic, Heskan could see a deep reservoir of emotion
behind her brown eyes.  Through clenched teeth, she began her appeal.  “To the
officer commanding the Brevic forces, this is Komandor Podporucznik Isabella
Lombardi, commanding
Legio Sette Difesa
from HCS Phoenix.  As you have
undoubtedly seen, we have broken off our pursuit and will rendezvous with our
destroyers fleeing the Maub tunnel point.  As you also must know, we will not intercept
them until two minutes after the alien ships overtake them.  I have been
informed the aliens do not have missile or laser technology installed upon
their ships and although communication with HCS Moroi has been difficult, it is
my understanding these aliens simply attack in suicide waves.”

Lombardi
closed her eyes and slowly inhaled.  “I fear there will be nothing left to
defend when my forces arrive but your ships can make a difference.  Our
estimates place the number of fighters available on your carrier at twenty. 
Those fighters could intercept the aliens much faster than any of us, and your
escort ships could arrive in time to turn an inevitable defeat into possible victory.” 
She sighed and a trace of weariness flickered over her.  “There are those in my
fleet who say I am wasting my time with this request.  There are those that suggest
I am jeopardizing my very command with this plea to the enemy, and I am not
proposing this partnership due to a newfound fondness for those who casually
commit genocide; but, I owe it to those men and my soul to ask for your help.” 
Lombardi’s eyes glassed over as she squinted away what might have been tears.  “We
have done terrible things to each other for some time now but at least we are all
Terran.  If this is an alien threat and if they mean us harm, should we not
unite against them and protect both the Hollaran and Brevic systems within
striking distance from this system?  If you are willing to discuss, I would ask
you to change your course toward Moroi before you sail too far to assist.”  Her
image disappeared.

Heskan
sat stunned. 
This day just gets stranger and stranger
. 
And strangest
yet is that part of me thinks she’s right
. 
Does that make me a traitor?
 
Captain Grey looked at her CAG and then directly at Heskan.  “Commander Heskan,
I’m ordering a course change.  Even if we decide not to help, we can simply reverse
our course and, frankly, much of what she said makes sense to me.  There’s no
harm in keeping our options open.”

Heskan
felt relief that Lombardi’s plea had affected Grey as well.  “We’ll await instructions
from you, Captain.”

Captain
Grey looked at the officers attending the meeting as she said, “I’m going to
talk with Komandor Lombardi.  Garrett, I want you in the channel with me since
you’re commanding most of our forces and I’ll want your point defense expertise
on hand in case I need it.  The rest of you, brace yourselves.  Whether you
like it or not, we may end up helping the Hollies.  I expect each of you to
hold yourselves to the highest standard of professionalism that is customary of
the Brevic Navy.  If you hate the thought of helping Hollies, think of it as
helping the Republic.  I doubt these… unknowns—” Heskan noticed Grey seemed unwilling
to use the word “aliens,” “—will make the distinction between Brevic ships and
Hollie ships and it’s better to stop them cold here than fight them in Sponde.”

The
meeting adjourned and Heskan looked to his navigator with unease. 
How will
Diane react when we get our orders?  She harbors more hatred for the Hollarans
than anyone else on the bridge.  It seems crazy to question her but would she
disobey an order to help them?
  The thought rocked Heskan.  He had watched Selvaggio
valiantly and unquestioningly pilot
Anelace
even as Heskan had ordered near-suicide,
and to be sitting so close to her now yet having doubts about her loyalty felt
like a betrayal to her officership. 
Diane has never given me a reason to
doubt her so I have no business questioning her now.

He examined
Selvaggio, watching over her console screens.  She cocked her head to one side,
squinting at her display before finally saying, “Captain, we have new
navigation orders.  We’re to turn toward Hollaran Fleet-Four.”  She twisted in
her chair to look at her captain as she asked, “Is that right?”

Heskan
nodded as he looked into her brown eyes.  “It is, Diane.  We’re keeping our
options open.” 
There’s no sense in hiding it, Heskan.  You may as well just
say the unsayable
.  Heskan cleared his throat and spoke loud enough for the
entire bridge to hear him.  “Captain Grey is considering a temporary truce with
the Hollies to stop this new threat in its tracks.” 
Weird, I avoided saying
“aliens” too.  I’m not sure why that is… we’ve known there are other forms of
intelligent life since humanity encountered the Chetellx.  Why am I having such
a hard time accepting this?

His
declaration of their intentions resulted in peculiar expressions across the room,
but the bridge was silent except for Selvaggio.  She swung back to face her
console, rocked her head and mumbled faintly, “
A mali estremi, estremi
rimedi.
”

“What
was that, Lieutenant?” Heskan asked, uncertain he wanted the answer.

Selvaggio
turned and smiled sheepishly.  “Oh, it just means ‘desperate times call for
desperate measures.’”

Heskan’s
console beeped and he began to accept Grey’s comm request but stopped and
quickly turned to Vernay. 
I will not fall behind the power curve again.
 
“Stacy, I need you to contact Lieutenant Gary and tell her I want a squadron
formation devised to give us the best defense against that swarm, given what we
know.  I’ll help when I’m finished with the Grey-Lombardi meeting.”

Vernay
nodded curtly and set to work contacting Gary as Heskan accepted Grey’s comm invite. 
His console screen split into halves, one showing Captain Grey, the other,
Captain Aiston Hughes,
Eagle’s
CAG.  Grey began speaking with no
formalities.  “This meeting will be difficult, the least of the problems being that
we’ll have a two-minute lag between exchanges, but I need more information and
some assurances before I can decide if we’re really going to do this.  Is everyone
ready?”

Heskan
nodded and watched as Grey initiated the comm request with an opening greeting.
 “Komandor Lombardi, this is Captain Eliza Grey, commander of Brevic Task Group
Three-One.  We have altered course but need to discuss specifics before I can
make a decision on whether to commit Brevic forces.  My first concern is that
your ships will attack us during or after the engagement.  Can you guarantee me
on your command authority and your honor as a naval officer that my forces will
not come under attack at any time by your forces if we render assistance?  Grey
out.”  Heskan saw the “Transmitting” indicator disappear as Grey finished her
message. 
Now we wait.  It will take one minute to reach them, some time to
answer and then another minute to have her response reach us.
  Heskan
looked at the tactical plot and saw that
Eagle
was launching her
fighters.

Contrary
to Lombardi’s estimates, the Brevic carrier had only sixteen F-3s remaining. 
The three surviving craft from the wing’s strafing run six days past and the
thirteen craft that had either failed to launch or returned to
Eagle
after signaling “dud engine” were all that remained of the once sixty-strong
fighter wing.  Because of the pitiful number, the normal ten-minute launch process
would take but two minutes and twenty seconds.  As the fighters launched, the
alien armada continued its chase of the Hollaran destroyers while Task Group
3.1 and Lombardi’s squadron rushed headlong to defend them. 
Kite
was 9
lm
from contact.  Given the astounding closure rate of .55
c
, the distance
between the two groups shrunk at a pace more akin to missile attacks than closing
ships.

We
have a little over sixteen minutes before we’re in laser range,
Heskan thought. 
I will not
repeat the mistakes of the past.
 
I need to get the formation orders
out.
  Another thought occurred to him.  “Captain Grey, will Eagle break off
once the fighters are launched or is she going in with us?”

“We’re
not running,” Grey said simply.  “Frankly, I don’t think it would do much
good.  If we don’t stop them in the first fight, they’ll just run us down now anyway. 
That fact alone means I’m probably going to order an attack against these
things, with or without Lombardi’s help.”  Grey hesitated before adding, “I
just wish we had more time.  I wish there was time to try to communicate with them
but any message we sent out would have to be unencoded which means the Hollies
would have it too.  Moreover, the aliens probably wouldn’t understand it anyway
and I’m pretty sure a ‘Hi, aliens, we won’t fight you if you only attack the
Hollies’ message would do wonders to foster our relationship with Lombardi.”

A
“Receiving” indicator flashed onto the comm screen.  Lombardi’s portrait
appeared and spoke immediately.  Even though Heskan had heard Lombardi speak several
times before, he noticed for the first time the peculiarities in her speech
patterns.  Her heavily accented words clearly exposed her New Roma heritage.  The
flow of her sentences was awkward and her obvious concentration on the
pronunciation of each word suggested to Heskan that English was not her first
language, nor had she the ease of familiarity with it that Selvaggio had obtained
by speaking it daily. 
Do they speak Italian on her ship?
Heskan speculated. 
English had dominated the Solarian Federation for so long that nearly every
citizen could speak it.  Even after the federation splintered, English had
remained the prevailing language in each of the three separate political entities. 
Still, Heskan had heard rumors that the Hollaran navy permitted individual ship
crews comprised wholly of crewmembers from the same planet.  The Brevic General
Council prohibited such crews as it could easily encourage more loyalty to a particular
star system rather than the republic as a whole, but the Hollarans were widely regarded
as less nationalistic than the Brevic citizenry.  Heskan studied Lombardi’s
face and had to admit that she was not unpleasant to look at.  He shook his
head
.  What the hell, Heskan?  You want to focus a little more here?

Although
Lombardi’s expression was guarded, resentment and anger were not difficult to
find despite her words.  “The Hollaran Navy… thanks you for your
consideration.  I have ordered that any Brevic unit that engages the aliens be
considered neutral although I reserve the right to kill you all on another
battlefield.”  Her mouth twisted slightly as the tone of her voice became
harsher.  “I would also remind you that it is the Brevic government that is
infamous for its treachery and eagerness to break agreements, not the
Commonwealth.  It is why we are at war.  With this in mind, I also need the
same assurance from you, Captain Grey.  Can you guarantee your units will honor
a truce until such a time that our forces have left Kale?”