No Way to Start a War (TCOTU, Book 2) (This Corner of the Universe) (8 page)

Durmont
stared thoughtfully at Heskan.  He began a retort and then hesitated as Heskan
sat silently. 
Is he hearing me right now?  Am I finally getting through?

Durmont’s
voice took a softer tone.  “Look, Garrett, maybe I haven’t always made the
popular choice but it’s because I did what my job required me to do.  Look at
this CortRon objectively for a second.  My vice commander, you were Admiral McMurray’s
choice by the way, not mine…”  He trailed off, shrugged and then continued.  “Anyway,
my vice had his last ship destroyed under his command and everyone has heard
the rumors of your brief command before that.  Out of six ships, the squadron
has two functional vessels, two pieces of junk that were obviously rushed off
the assembly line and two
useless
pieces of junk that could only stop a
missile if they sailed directly into one.”  Durmont looked away and said with
desperation, “I deserved better.  Why was I given this mess?”

“Maybe,
Shane,” Heskan took the calculated risk of using Durmont’s first name, “just maybe
you were handed this jumble because the admirals believed you could sort it
out.”  This brought a thoughtful look from Durmont.  “And, sir, I agree with
your assessment of the squadron.  I know Lieutenant Vernay agrees with you as
well because that is what she was trying to say back at Metis.”

“She’s
insubordinate,” Durmont insisted.

“She’s
scared,” Heskan corrected.  “Stacy Vernay knows all too well what we’ll face. 
She’s been in that position before and sat at the station that everyone looks to
when the missiles are coming in.  She knows, better than either of us, the
pressure this squadron is going to face and I think she’s terrified of what’s
going to happen.”

Durmont did not
answer and the two men sat in silence for some time.  After what seemed like an
eternity to Heskan, he heard, “I am too.”

*  *  *

Within
an hour, Heskan sat in
Kite’s
main briefing room, logged in to a special
staff meeting called by Durmont.  “I know each of you have things that need
doing on your ships and I regret calling a meeting at the eleventh hour but we
must have this discussion,” Durmont began.  The expressions of his escort
captains ranged from annoyance to curiosity but all showed surprise by the
squadron commander’s opening statement.

That’s
a good start
,
Heskan thought. 
In all these weeks, they haven’t seen Durmont show any
regard for their time.

Durmont
continued, “After conferencing with my vice commander, there are three items I need
to address.”  Durmont stopped and looked each ship captain in the eye.  “First,
I want to express my confidence in each of you.  I had thought that it goes
without saying that I have complete confidence in your abilities but perhaps
it’s time I said that out loud.”

Heskan
suppressed a smile as he watched Gary’s shocked expression.  After she
recovered, her eyes immediately locked on to Heskan’s.

“This
squadron is lucky to have each of your ships and each of you commanding them,”
Durmont said to finish his first point.  “Second, it’s been made apparent to me
that I may have, inadvertently, closed off conversations too early at times.  I
want you to know that I rely on your insights and suggestions to our strategic
and tactical situations.”

A
little mechanical in the delivery but the sentiment behind it should be clear
, Heskan thought. 

“And
last, in light of our inability to make the Cerberus systems trustworthy, I
want to revisit the use of the standard square formation,” Durmont said.  He
nodded to Heskan and said, “Garrett, will you bring up the formation?”

“Yes,
sir,” Heskan replied quickly and a display on each captain’s briefing screens showed
the standard missile defense formation.

Durmont
looked at the arrangement and thought for a few seconds.  “I think the square
formation gives us the best maneuverability possible but I want to hear the
thoughts of the advocates for a diamond formation again.”

Gary
tentatively raised her hand. 
Poor Kelly
, Heskan thought. 
She’s
nearly speechless and I can’t blame her.  I just hope she doesn’t take the
olive branch Durmont’s extending and break it.

Gary
cleared her throat before stating vaguely, “Well, Commander, some of us believe
while maneuverability is important, there might be other battle factors worth
additional consideration.”

Durmont
shook his head but this time it was not out of annoyance.  “Don’t mince words,
Kelly.  You think the square is a big mistake and you’re not alone.  I want to
know why.”

Gary
once again glanced at Heskan who merely smiled in response.  “Well, Captain
Heskan and I think that keeping track of the Hollie fleet locations won’t be
difficult.  Ship sensors are much better than they were a generation ago and with
Avenger’s
recon craft, we should have plenty of warning as to which direction
they’re coming.”

Durmont
interrupted—old habits dying hard.  “You understand, Kelly, that Admiral Hayes
would disagree with you?  In fact, his defensive plan calls for keeping two
fighter squadrons in reserve to ensure we have a combat air patrol to deal with
any surprises.”

It
was Heskan’s turn to interrupt.  “Yes, Commander, but there’s a difference
between keeping a CAP for surprises and keeping the escorts in square formation
for surprises.” 
This would be about the point where Durmont would normally
start ranting
, Heskan thought.

Durmont
opened his mouth but closed it quickly.  He sat there for a few seconds
considering his reply before asking in a calm voice, “And that would be what, Garrett?”

Heskan
refrained from smiling.  Earlier, he had told the squadron commander that
something as simple as using first names could go a long way in showing trust
and opening lines of communication.  He was happy to see Durmont using that
advice.  “If the carriers launched all of their fighters against the Hollies
and then found out there was another fleet out there, it could take them hours
to recall the fighters to meet the new threat.  It makes sense to keep a CAP
near the carriers as insurance.  However, the escorts will never be that far
from the carriers.  We should be able to react quicker than a Hollie force can
surprise us.”

Gary
picked up Heskan’s train of thought and continued, “Exactly.  Commander, you’ll
have at least ten minutes, probably closer to thirty or more with
Avenger’s
early warning birds, to reorient the escorts toward the threat.  With all that
time, doesn’t it make sense to use the formation which gives us the best
missile defense coverage?”

Durmont
paused in consideration, and Heskan spoke again.  “Let’s get a competing point
of view for the commander to hear.  Captain Moore, you’re an advocate for
standard square, what do you think?” 
Durmont really should be asking that
question but I’m worried he won’t think of it.  He’s trying hard not to stifle
our opinions and I bet he’s concerned that asking for an opposing one will be
seen as just that.  As his vice, I can ask the question for him.

Wearing
a dumbfounded expression, Moore blinked twice and looked away.  Finally, she
managed, “I’m not sure what I think.  Standard military doctrine says to use
the square.  There are plenty of examples in past battles where our fleets have
been oriented toward one direction only to be surprised from the other.  Reorienting
a squadron to face a new threat is hard enough in square.  It’s inviting
disaster to try it in a formation like diamond.  The carriers would be in our
way, our point defense batteries can get masked and it will take longer to
maneuver.”

Durmont
shook his head regretfully.  “If we only had more time.  I loathe the thought
of switching everything right now.  The squadron’s been exercising in square
and to change that…”

“That’s
a good point, Commander,” Heskan offered in support.

Durmont
chewed his lip as he thought.  “Admiral Hayes would kill me if I changed formations
so close to battle.”

Yes,
but we might be killing him by using a formation that depends on our frigates
to cover the middle
,
Heskan thought.  “We’re going to make it work however you decide, sir.  I know
we’re just glad that our input is considered.”

“How
would I explain the switch if it fails?” Durmont asked rhetorically.  “Am I
really willing to gamble my career on someone’s hunch?”

Heskan
leaned back in his chair. 
Even if he doesn’t change his mind, at least
we’re making progress.  Let’s just hope it’s not too late.

Five
hours and forty minutes later, both Brevic task groups were in position.  Task Group
3.1, centered on the two carriers with their six escorts, sat 25
lm
away
from the Kale tunnel point and some 56
lm
away from Sponde’s star.  Task Group
2.2, consisting of the twelve heavy missile ships and their six escorts, was
also 25
lm
away from the Kale tunnel point but 10
lm
closer
in-system.

Both
groups were at relative rest with their navigation beacons turned off and ships
at action stations.  Under tight emissions control and outside the widely
accepted 20
lm
detection zone of most ships’ sensors, the fleet admirals knew
both groups would be virtually undetectable by any incoming Hollaran force that
dove out of the Kale tunnel.  Although optical sensors could detect large ships
at distances well over 25
lm
, the sensors had to be looking in precisely
the right location.

Even
knowing where to look
,
Heskan reflected,
we’re having a hard time tracking the tunnel point’s orbiting
defenses.  I don’t envy those people on the fortress and outpost.  They’ve got
no place to hide and no way to move.  They’re basically sitting ducks that
can’t do much more than sell their lives dearly
.

The
scout destroyer that had brought warning of the impending Hollaran invasion
fleet was rapidly approaching the Metis tunnel point, where it would remain and
wait for word of the looming battle.  If the encounter went well, the scout
would once again traverse the system and head back to Kale to act as a picket
ship in that system.  If the battle went poorly, it would dive to Metis and
warn the next Brevic system of imminent attack.

Lieutenant
Vernay looked at the tactical plot of Task Group 3.1’s ships.  “It’s too bad
we’re still in square formation,” she muttered under her breath.

Heskan
shrugged and responded, “At least he listened to us, Stacy.  He thought about
what we said, and ultimately, it is his decision.”  Heskan was also disappointed
with the choice but it was time to follow orders.  “I can’t say I blame him too
much.  It could be a big risk to change things up this late in the game.”

Vernay
gave Heskan a suspicious look while he continued defending CortRon 15’s
commander.  “If I read him right, I bet after this battle, you might be
surprised what formation we sail in the next engagement.”

This
time it was Vernay’s turn to shrug.

Heskan
leaned toward his first officer.  “Besides, I want you to work on a way that Kite
and Aspis can lend more support to the formation’s center but still cover our
assigned sections of the square.  It’s got to be simple to execute and the
maneuver can’t throw off our point defense crews; however, I want an option to better
support the frigates if they need it.”

Vernay
stared at the tactical display as she considered her task.  “That’s a tall
order, Captain.  Weapons officers work on the assumption that each ship in the
formation is going to be at a specific position so they can accurately assign their
ship’s defenses to each incoming missile.  Moving even a couple light-seconds
can change all that and open big holes in our defensive umbrella.”

“That’s
why I’m asking
you
to come up with it, Stacy, and that’s why I’ve given
you a whole hour to do it in,” Heskan quipped.

“Tunnel
disturbance at the Kale tunnel point, Captain!” Truesworth announced.

“Better
work fast, Lieutenant,” Heskan said as he sat upright once again.

Truesworth
recited the list of incoming ships.  “I’m seeing a Hollie dreadnaught, a
command cruiser… no, two command cruisers, two heavy cruisers...”  Inwardly,
Heskan cringed.  The initial force was a large one, more than capable of defeating
the tunnel point’s defense fortress and the smaller outpost. 
Kite’s
sophisticated Hawkeye optical platform provided a view of the brief but vicious
tunnel point battle that had already finished thirty minutes ago.  The bridge
cheered as a Hollaran command cruiser broke in half and a destroyer was damaged
under intense laser fire from the fortress but the celebration was quickly
stifled as the fortress exploded under a bombardment of return fire from the
invasion fleet.  The outpost, alone and vastly overmatched, continued to pump
laser fire into a light cruiser.  The cruiser, battered and bleeding fiery atmosphere,
finally submitted to the hailstorm and winked out in a white ball of expanding plasma. 
The outpost’s last shots damaged a destroyer and heavy cruiser before it was
silenced by the overwhelming firepower of the Hollaran fleet.  No offers of
surrender had been sent by either space station.  Fortress fights against the
Hollarans near tunnel points were “to the last.”

Heskan
watched his subdued bridge crew absorb the aftermath of the battle. 
It’s now
real for everyone,
he thought.
  The whole ship undoubtedly watched the
battle and each crewmember understands that the war we’ve talked so much about
and practiced for is right here.
 Heskan saw Lieutenant Spencer seemed
especially affected. 
That’s probably the first live battle he’s ever witnessed. 
I remember how the bridge of Anelace looked after the first engagement with
that lone pirate ketch
.

“Jack,
One-MC, please,” Heskan stated and his sensors officer opened the ship-wide main
channel.  “This is the captain.  Each of you has no doubt just witnessed the
heroic actions of the defense stations at the tunnel point.  It falls upon us
to avenge them and I sail into battle knowing that there is no finer crew in
the Republic than those aboard Kite.  We’ve trained thoroughly and we have the
best equipment and tactics of any Brevic fleet that’s ever cruised into
combat.  Heskan out.”

Inspiring? 
Doubtful
, Heskan
thought. 
However, Stacy once told me that these little speeches on Anelace
helped coalesce the crew during some of the battle’s low points.  I guess a
ship’s crew always likes to hear an optimistic captain during the dark times.

“Jack,
what kind and how many?”

Truesworth
cleared his throat.  “Twenty-seven ships so far with more diving in.  At
present, they have one battleship, two dreadnaughts, three command cruisers,
five heavy cruisers, six light cruisers, five destroyers and five frigates.” 
He zoomed the Hawkeye optics to focus on one of the dreadnaughts.  “The defense
stations killed a command cruiser, a heavy cruiser, one light cruiser and a
destroyer before they went.  It looks like this dreadnaught took some damage
along with another heavy cruiser and destroyer.”

The
stations took their toll but was it worth the price of so many lives?
Heskan wondered.

“Still
no word from Commander Durmont,” Vernay noted.

“No
news is good news, Stacy,” Heskan responded.  “We stick with the plan until we
hear differently.”

Vernay
looked at Lieutenant Selvaggio.  “Diane, prepare to shadow the enemy fleet on a
parallel course in-system.  The Hollie ships are still reorganizing but it
won’t be too long before they make way for Pan.”  The consensus in the planning
meetings had been that upon finding no opposing Brevic fleet near the tunnel
point, the Hollaran ships would move against the system’s single habitable
planet.  By threatening the population center, the Hollarans could force any
Brevic fleet in the system to make itself known or risk letting the enemy into weapons
range of the planet to possibly lay waste to it with fusion missiles.

“Well,
hello,” Truesworth said proudly.  “I’ve found a Hollie carrier diving out of
the tunnel point, Captain.  Six escorts with it.”  Truesworth immediately
oriented the Hawkeye to the massive ship.

“Wow,”
admired Vernay.  A monster, it was even larger than
Avenger
.  The ship’s
orientation prevented
Kite
from seeing the carrier’s launch decks but
the two flat recovery decks situated on the top of the ship were easily
identifiable.  The basic design looked a lot like the Brevic Vindicator class
heavy carrier.

I
guess Brevic ship designers must have cheated a little when coming up with our
carrier plans.  Oh well, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery
.  “Big bastard,” Heskan said.

“Easy
to hit?” Spencer offered hopefully.

“Captain,”
Truesworth announced, “they’re forming up and sailing in-system.  Their course
is for Pan at point two-C.  Bulwark is setting a new course.”

“Maintain
formation, Diane,” Vernay ordered, “parallel course and speed.”

“Aye,
aye, ma’am,” Selvaggio responded.

The
game of cat and mouse began as the Hollaran attack fleet sailed toward Pan with
the two, hidden Brevic task groups matching the aggressor’s pace off its
starboard flank.

Fifteen
minutes later, Truesworth announced, “Task Group Two-Two has altered course toward
the Hollie fleet, sir.”

Heskan
nodded; this was expected.  “Diane, be ready for a course change.  The carriers
are going to start cheating toward the Hollies soon.”  The Brevic main missile
force had begun its opening maneuver by angling toward the Hollaran fleet to close
the 25
lm
distance between them.  Heskan’s own fleet, 10
lm
farther
out-system from the heavy hitters, was also slightly veering toward the enemy
but with a slower closure rate.  The goal was to allow the enemy to detect the
missile fleet but remain unaware of the carriers in the system. 
This
shouldn’t be too difficult
, Heskan thought. 
So long as we stay at least
twenty light-minutes away, the chances of the Hollies seeing us are pretty
slim.  Plus, once they see the missile boats, most of their attention will
focus on them
. 
The beauty is they probably don’t even realize we have
carriers in Sponde since they’ve only just begun to show up on the front
.

Time
crawled by as Heskan watched the tactical plot update with expected positions
of each fleet.  The plot was a myriad of solid blips representing known
contacts and semi-translucent uncertainty zones.  The light from the Hollaran
fleet that
Kite
was seeing was over twenty minutes old and the escort
destroyer’s hard-working sensor crew constantly updated a 5
lm
uncertainty zone where the Hollaran fleet could have traveled during that time. 
Currently, the tactical display showed the carriers were 22
lm
from the
Hollaran fleet with the Brevic missile fleet crossing the 20
lm
threshold.

Vernay
looked up from her chair arm display and said, “The Hollies should see Task Group
Two-Two in about twenty minutes now.  When will we start launching our
fighters?”

“I’d think in the
next five minutes or so.  Even if we launch a bit early, the fighters can stay
with the task group to wait for the right time to move out,” Heskan replied. 
“I’d assume it’s better to get them into space early and have them wait a
little than to be late.”

*  *  *

Ensign
Gables walked toward her F-3 Pup alongside her wingman, Ensign Robert Lane.  The
New Londoner cheerfully proclaimed, “I’m thrilled we get the early show, Denise. 
I rather expected the CAG to keep Eagle’s fighters as the combat air patrol. 
It’s lovely that we get in on the action.”

Gables
was surprised as well.  When C-flight was briefed, she had expected the six
fighter squadrons on
Avenger
to be used as the attack force with the two
squadrons on
Eagle
held as a reserve to deal with any unexpected
complications.  A rivalry had developed between the two carriers with
Avenger’s
pilots displaying some arrogance over their posting on the larger ship
.  Avenger’s
pilots may look down on us just because we’re on a light carrier but that
doesn’t mean we’re any less important… or skilled
, Gables thought
defensively.  To her delight, the briefing had proved her right and carrier
leadership had decided that the first fighter strike force would be comprised
of four
Avenger
squadrons and both of
Eagle’s
.

The
ensigns arrived at their fighter stalls and Gables saw her ground crew busily
working through their pre-flight checklist on the Pup.  Gables turned to Lane
and said, “Don’t get too excited out there and forget your training.  Remember
that you’re my wingman and I’m counting on you to watch my back.”

“Quite
so, Denise.”  He smiled and walked toward his craft.

Gables
took the last steps to her own fighter and nodded to her crew chief.  “My bus
all fixed, Dave?”

Petty
Officer Rhodes was too busy inspecting the Pup’s rear thrusters to salute.  This
did not surprise Gables as protocol in the hangar was generally lax.  “Yes, ma’am,”
he answered.  “It took some doing but she’s ready to fly.  It would be nice if
you brought her home in one piece today.”

Gables smiled as she
climbed into the cockpit.  “I’ll do my best.” 
Actually
, she thought,
I’ll
probably bring it home in one piece or not at all
.  Once settled, Gables
felt her Pup shudder as it began the auto-taxi sequence to her squadron’s
launch deck.  She chattered nervously to herself as she ran down her launch
checklist.  It took twice as long as normal.  Once finished with the list, she
glanced at the launch queue and found that she was third in line.  With nothing
to do but wait, she listened to the talk over C-flight’s frequency and tried
not to notice how badly her hands were shaking.