Rust Bucket (21 page)

      Each ship's pilots responded that they understood.

      "All right, all ships on line. Forward." The line of warships lined up to one side of my ship. When they looked more or less even, I yelled into the microphone, "Charge!"

      That time I was almost pleased when all ten ships suddenly leaped out into space to tear into the pretend enemy in front of us. We practiced over and over for several hours giving every pilot a chance to experience the freedom of being able to jump the gun over receipt of my orders and the captain's repetition of them.

      I didn't bother taking the ships back to port. I communicated with Headquarters and received clearance to take my patrol out to our sector and left a little early. Along the way, we practiced some maneuvers since we had left port early. Most of the maneuvers were ragged at first, but with practice, the crews of each ship improved.

***

When we got to the border, there was a lone enemy scout in range. We lined up and I gave the charge command to the ships. It was still ragged, but very effective nonetheless when all ten ships charged at the one scout who started blabbering over his communications to his headquarters. Too late, he tried to escape. He was torn to shreds by the firing weapons from ten ships. I don't think I ever saw a ship torn into so many pieces as that one scout. Whatever salvage rights might have existed for that ship weren't worth using because the pieces were so small.

***

A day later, a large squadron of enemy ships showed up to challenge us as we moved along our patrol area in a file. I gave the command for a turn towards them so that we presented a single line of ships beside each other with our noses pointed at the enemy. Then I yelled charge at the other ships. As we charged, I watched to see how many of the ships responded to what they were supposed to do.

      At first, it looked like all ten ships were charging, but the raggedness of our line made it possible for me to count them a moment later. Only nine of my ships were charging at the twenty ships I figured were ahead of us. There wasn't any time to determine what the tenth ship was doing. We were charging at full speed towards the enemy. Every gunner who could see the enemy was firing whether in range or not.

      Aboard my own ship, the new Mark IV quads got hits first long before any of the other weapons had any effect. The Mark IV quads on some of the other ships were also making hits. Our behavior, together with the longer ranging weapons, forcefully changed the enemy's collective mind about offering battle. They suddenly retreated leaving two disabled ships behind to be completely destroyed by all our weapons when they got into range of all our weapons a few moments later.

      When the enemy retreated, I sounded the recall and stopped the charge. Then I looked about for my tenth ship and communicated with it. I said, "Captain Bleyer, you will move your ship next to mine for the rest of this patrol. If your ship fails to charge the next time I give the order, one of my gunners will sizzle your tail for you. I do not appreciate a ship not taking part in the fighting. I have given specific instructions for each ship's captain to use individual initiative to fight the enemy, not to avoid fighting. There is a difference. You and I shall talk more in private when our patrol is over."

***

We patrolled our sector for a week without further opposition or challenge before we returned to our port. When all ten ships were back on the surface of the planet in port, I observed the behavior of all the officers and crews. Nine ships' crews and officers had caught the enthusiasm for winning that I was trying to impart. They were only disappointed at not being permitted to chase and complete destroy the enemy squadron we met head on. The crew and officers of the tenth ship, that of Captain Bleyer, looked ashamed of their conduct from that one engagement. I called all the ships' crews and officers together for a debriefing.

      I stated, "Most of you did real well. Some of you still need improvement. One individual, however, disappointed me. He and I will talk about this in private. But for the rest of you. I want you to understand that these tactics we are using are nothing new. They've merely been forgotten for a long time. You all saw for yourselves that the larger enemy force retreated when they saw our mere nine ships charging at them with everything blazing away. That's how we will defeat them and end this war. Not one of the enemy tried to challenge us when they saw how purposeful of intention we were. Be aware that our enemy is not dumb or committed to only one way of behavior. He will try to change his tactics in order to win. We will not let him win. He doesn't know yet of our ability to move independently when the time comes to do so. Turn in your combat videos and enjoy your shore leave. You earned it. Captain Bleyer, if you will accompany me. We have business to discuss. I want your officers and pilots in attendance as well."

      I walked off with ten men and women following me. I entered into a building where debriefings were normally held. I waited until the group following me was fully inside and the door closed before I lashed into him. I said to his face, "Captain, if you so much as ever even think of retreating again, I will have you court-martialed for cowardice! I would have understood you running away if your ship had five enemy warships picking on it alone. In such a case, I wouldn't blame you at all. Such was not the case. Now I want you to look around at your other officers and the pilots to see how much shame they have in their faces for their ship's conduct. It's evident to me how they feel. First Officer, if Captain Bleyer does not comply with his orders the next time, you are to take over immediately. The pilots are to ignore his commands and follow yours. Is that understood?"

      They were a little hesitant in answering, so I repeated, "Is that understood?" with a little more emphasis.

      The second time, they answered with a little more emphasis of their own.

      I continued my bullying, saying, "Understand this. This war shouldn't have lasted longer than three months. Our Navy outnumbered the enemy initially by three to one. Our Navy squandered away half of its initial advantage because ships didn't respond to the situation in a positive manner by attacking forcefully against the enemy. From now on, our squadron will do nothing less than attack in a forceful manner against the enemy. In order to do that, I need the complete cooperation of every ship in the squadron. I will accept nothing less than that. You are all dismissed."

***

The patrol wasn't an outright success in my opinion, but to Headquarters, the combat videos told a different story. They were impressed to see the combat videos from nine ships charging at the enemy who outnumbered us. They were impressed with the three destroyed ships we accomplished without a loss. They were impressed with the way we caused eighteen enemy ships to retreat from our smaller number. They were impressed enough that they asked my squadron to cut its shore leave in half and return to space.

***

The next patrol didn't resolve any of the problems since we were completely unopposed in our sector for the week we spent in space. We returned back to port, disappointed only in not having anything to show for all our time in space. Otherwise, there was no lack of pride in the squadron. Every man and woman was beginning to realize that we were becoming the best squadron in the entire Navy.

Our squadron's practice at scrambling to take off from port paid off sooner than I thought it would. I had reasoned that it was only a matter of time before the enemy tried to bombard our planet much as my ship had attacked their home planet before. They managed to break through the squadron patrolling the border. Four ships made it through and hot footed it to Beulah to launch an attack on Headquarters.

      Communications discipline was being relearned throughout the Navy once again. Now the problem was that some ships were forgetting to send vital information when it was needed. They were trying to avoid giving away their position, even when their position was already known because they were in direct combat. Such was the case with the four enemy ships when they broke through the squadron at the border.

      The first warning we had was when Headquarters sent the scramble alarm, that my squadron used before, just as soon as the planet's sensors picked up the four hostile ships approaching. Since I hadn't asked for a scramble drill, I knew that it was the real thing and that it was up to my squadron to actually defend the planet.

      As the crews of my squadron raced towards their ships, I hollered, "This is not a drill! This is a real attack on Beulah!" They seemed to run harder and faster for their ships when they heard me holler that. My ship took off first. The sensor operators quickly picked up the locations of the four enemy ships. We didn't wait for the rest of the squadron to arrive. We charged immediately at the four oncoming ships.

      While I let my pilots and Captain handle my ship, I then turned my attention to the other ships of the squadron. A few seemed hesitant and unsure of what to do. I took the communications system and hollered back at them, "Captains, use individual initiative!" A few moments later, I was pleased to see two ships leap out in our direction to take up battle with the enemy. Then slowly, and one by one, the rest of the ships' commanders realized that was part of what they had trained for and that we outnumbered the enemy if we were all together.

      By that time, my ship was already engaged with the four enemy ships and scoring hits with its longer ranging Mark IV quads. By the time our other weapons were in range, the other two ships to first respond were also scoring hits with their own Mark IV quads. The enemy was the one who was then hesitant and ready to flee. We didn't give them the chance to flee as enough of my squadron finally arrived to totally destroy the four hostile ships, thus ending the crisis.

***

I drilled the squadron for an hour before we returned to the port where we were met by a cheering Headquarters' staff along with various ground personnel. I called all my ships' personnel together and gave them a quick debriefing before I let them get besieged by the crowd of people wanting to congratulate them on their efforts.

      I was able to smile proudly as I told them, "You did a good job of getting into space quickly. Some of you continued that fine performance by responding immediately to the crisis by attacking forcefully and aggressively. You may not have noticed it, but the enemy wasn't prepared for us to respond in so aggressive a manner. Because we responded together, they didn't have a chance to even get away. This won't be the last time they try this. If you use the tactics we're learning right now to our full advantage, then I can assure you that you will be giving yourselves the best chance for survival and helping to shorten the war significantly. That's all for now. Dismissed!"

      Most of the men and women from the ships cheered themselves over their performance. They knew they did a good job and were happy to have all the attention the ground personnel were giving them a few moments later. I let them enjoy their celebration and reported to Headquarters where the Fleet Admiral was waiting, apparently for me.

      He said, "My boy, come in and sit down. Light up if you want! Your squadron did a superb job out there last night!"

      I replied, "Thank you, Admiral. Most of them did a good job. A few need more practice and confidence. It could have been real bad if there were more of the enemy present than there was."

      "Regardless, you're inspiring other squadrons to do better. Fewer of them are retreating than before. Of course, we're losing more ships, but we're also destroying enemy ships in the process. How soon do you think your squadron will be ready to attempt an attack on their home planet?" he asked.

      I said, "Truthfully, two months, Admiral."

      He looked at me, as if to study my face, before saying, "I'll give you one month to get them ready. You'll have full authority to move personnel around as you see fit. No questions asked by Headquarters and no one here will end-run you. Have you made any progress with Captain Bleyer?"

      I answered, "Not enough. He's still the weak link. His ship was the last to respond to the attack. They didn't even get close enough to use their Mark IV quads before the enemy was destroyed."

      "I see. Are you considering taking disciplinary action then?" he asked.

      I replied, "No sir. He hasn't done enough in my book to warrant disciplinary action of that severity. The only thing I afraid of is that he'll get his crew killed before he actually does."

      He said calmly, "Then you should consider replacing him."

      I said, "I am. Right now isn't the time to do that. What I'm thinking of doing is transferring him to my ship and putting my ship's captain in charge of his ship."

      "Do you think you can trust him with your ship?" he asked.

      I answered truthfully, "No, but at least I won't feel guilty about not doing something for the men and women aboard his current ship. If he still manages to screw up, at least I'll know about it immediately and can take some action."

      "Fine. Do what you think best and good luck. Will you join me in a celebration drink?" he asked.

      "Yes sir. I'm honored," I said as I went ahead and lit up a cigarette before accepting a drink from the admiral.

***

My squadron adopted the name of the Mad Dogs Squadron. It was more inspiring than being called the 21st Squadron. I continued to drill them with scrambles into space and battle stations and charges in space. We practiced our formations until we could move quickly as a formation. Then I gave them scenarios where they were slowly forced to think about how to recognize an opportunity and take the initiative for the good of the squadron. I wasn't fooling myself that they would all be successful when they tried it for real. I could only hope that we would become so fearful to the enemy that he would be the one making mistakes that would make it easier for my squadron to capitalize on, whether we were acting together or on individual initiative.