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The Hokum - Chapter 4
On the southeastern portion of the second largest continent of Crimson Expanse was an area known as the Scrublands. There were no permanent settlements, only hunting lodges. While they did fulfill that role these lodges were built and placed in such a way that they could be used as camouflaged bunkers. More than a handful of wild game wandered so close to such hidden lodges that they were bagged with ease. The same can be said about unwary sweep teams, and follow-up teams failed to pick up the attacker’s trail. Region General Ronon, commander of the Hokum ISA Expeditionary Corps on Crimson Expanse, was inclined to leave the Scrublands alone. It wasn’t a region noted for major Comensal activity, and combat of same was quite low. All that changed when intelligence had definite data showing that the hunting lodges were being used for ammunition manufacturing and as command and control assets. A veteran battalion of line infantry was selected as it came out of the rest and regeneration schedule. Made to appear as a reserve for forces in a region next to the Scrublands, this battalion left 100 of its number behind while the rest broke up into companies, each tasked to take out an identified lodge. It took the better part of two weeks before the companies reached their objectives, and most of the movement was done at night. As vegetation went the Catchthorn bush was the most common in the Scrublands. Found where the water table was shallow these bushes, taller than the average Comensal and Hokum, served as natural game blinds as the grazing animals had to pass them to reach the inevitable creek or small pond. Nestled in one such bush was a sentry, shrouded in a camouflage cloak and surveying her surroundings with passive detection goggles. Not for the last time she ached to fire at scrub deer that came within a meter of her position, and it occurred so often that the deer appeared to know that she was there and didn’t consider her a threat. The same couldn’t be said of the squad of Hokum troops that kept the area under surveillance. It was the scrub deer that piqued their interest, and with discreet sensors they found a steady source of carbon dioxide once the deer moved on. Patience was rewarded when a camo-cloaked Comensal came to relieve the sentry. This happened every third day, and on the twelfth day the order was given to take out the sentry. With a combination of molasses slowness and swift sprints a Hokum Vara 1st class reached the bush concealing the sentry. In a moment of complete concentration the trooper moved in and quickly grappled the completely surprised Comensal. Looking at her attacker, the bonehead had been expecting her relief which was just two minutes away. Now she had one of the Vara’s back arms wrapped around her waist with the front two taking an arm each. The remaining back hand clamped on the throat. Unable to cry out the last thing she felt was her windpipe collapsed from a memory-plastic combat glove fueled by adrenalin. Dropping the body like a bag of putrid meat, the Vara adjusted his camouflage cloak and waited for the second Comensal to appear. This one too was dispatched in the same manner, and with the way cleared the rest of the squad moved out to a new position. It didn’t matter that they moved somewhat noisily as the enemy wouldn’t respond fast enough in any event. Another squad located the concealed hunting lodge, and all it took was old fashion eyeballs. A pair of Scrubland hawks orbited a particular spot that was otherwise a nondescript brush covered lump of ground. The intelligence section of the Expeditionary Corps learned that this particular species was attracted to the smell of deer meat, especially if it was cooked. With thermal imagining and chemical sniffing lasers the concealed vent was located. Now that the Comensal inside the lodge were distracted by the first squad the second one sent a burst transmission to an orbiting troopship. In under a minute one of the hundreds of one-shot kinetic bombardment satellites orbiting the planet at any one time adjusted its orientation and fired. Other concealed squads watched as the drive coil, accelerated to 0.1c, impacted the ground with the force of a war god’s hammer. Anyone in that lodge was dead as all the concealed viewports were blown open and belched hellacious amounts of debris and fire. So too were the doors and emergency escape hatches, and more often than not were accompanied by the bodies of those Comensal waiting next to them. The impact also caused camo-cloaks to fluctuate, and allowed the Hokum to locate hidden Comensal outside of the lodge as well as mortar pits and automatic weapon nests. In no time 50mm mortar rounds landed on those now-exposed positions and with the need of secrecy gone the Hokum troops loaded and activated their gauss rifles. Fleeing boneheads were picked off like so many drones in a live-fire exercise. It was over before anyone broke out into sweat. A field intelligence squad came and inspected the ruined lodge. Communication gear was identified as well as two rooms that had been used to store huge amounts of pipe rifle ammunition. Two safes and a handful of plaspaper hardcopies and data drives were recovered. As for the other companies involved they bagged two more lodges that morning. That left the fourth, and for that one another tactic was tried. Instead of destroying it outright it was decided to capture it. For days beforehand a single Hokum trooper made his way to the exhaust vent, and once there only waited for the word to come over his comm. That done he pulled out three grenades, twisted the tops off each one, and dropped them down the vent. Instead of exploding the grenades released globs of a thick substance that fell further down the vent. Making contact with the filters and interacting with them the substance turned into that most of insidious of Asteroid Axis weapons – black smoke. Being heavier than air, this black smoke sought its own level and got drawn into the lodge itself with help of the ventilation system. Arrogant as they were, the Comensal never considered that the weapon would be used against them, and in any event the lodges didn’t take black smoke into consideration when they were built. Soon the inhabitants were choking as their lungs were coated on the inside by a slick, oily residue. The lodge commander activated the self destruct, knowing that even the most committed among his personnel would respond to instinct to get fresh air and run out of the structure and thus provide the enemy a way to get in. Even so enough materials that survived for field intelligence to gather, and the Scrublands operation was considered the most successful for the entire month on Crimson Expanse. On Hokum Prime there was a meeting being held at the Presidio, the administrative headquarters for all of the Imperium’s armed forces. Attending was Emperor Valsur, and he listened as Bemus, Imperator of the Army, came to the conclusion of his report. “It has been three months since our Commonwealth allies landed troops on Bedrock Prime, my Lord. As of yet the Comensal population hasn’t broken out into a universal rebellion like all the other occupied planets and lunar colonies. There’s no accounting why they’re acting so, unless they were specifically ordered by their leaders to wait. With that extra time the Commonwealth Space Army has entrenched itself on Bedrock and is ready to smother any uprising.” “Such casualties involved will be stupefying, considering that 100 million Comensal live on Bedrock,” Valsur observed. “Bemus, inform me when our allies report that Bedrock goes into revolt. It’s a key factor in regards to long-term policy on the Asteroid Axis.” “Yes, my Lord.” Valsur made a note on the data pad he had on him. “Conovus, your report.” The Imperator of the Navy stood up and directed the attention of the attendees to the holoimager built into the ornate, centuries-old handcrafted hardwood conference table. “With our allies in control of Bedrock the fortification of the Crimson Expanse chain has been rationalized.” He highlighted one icon of the aforementioned warp chain. “Tire Iron will be guarded by the Expeditionary Fleet and will only have mines and buoys at the Tire Iron/Bedrock warp point. Same goes for Abyssal-018 with its warp connection to Tire Iron. Should the Axis reclaim Bedrock our increasing stock of bases will best serve at the Crimson Expanse/Abyssal-018 and Solid State/Fallowed Field warp points. Light fortifications will go in to cover the Cain/Laser Burn and Com-9/Com-23 warp points” “Excuse me, I.N.” said the Minister of Arms, “but do you intend to fortify the Fallowed Field/Tire Iron warp point?” “Only with automated weapons, Minister. There are only so many fortifications that we can afford to build and allocate. We took into account that any probable Axis counter-offensive would have enough assault assets to enter Fallowed Field as a matter of course.” “But Fallowed Field has three inhabited planets, albeit with a grand total of some 50,000,” said Arms. “I have seen reports that the system’s inhabitants had grown tired of seeing their spaceports destroyed and have, most likely, been stockpiling resources. Resources that would go a long way to resupply their liberating fleet.” Conovus folded his back pair of arms in front of him in a sign of resoluteness. “Once that stockpile runs out the long-term support from that system is minor. Indeed, the enemy will also be compelled to defend the system anew, and most of its production will go into the construction of those defenses instead of supporting the advancing fleet. As for the defense of Solid State we’ll have the help of our allies. Remember, Solid State is only three transits out from Metal Storm, the system from which the Axis launched its invasion of Hamthen space. A CSF task group can arrive when requested should the Axis retake Tire Iron.” Valsur stroked his fine-fur covered chin with his front left hand. “I.N., what is the worst case scenario regarding a counter offensive launched by the Axis down the Crimson Expanse warp chain?” “My Lord, the staffs agree that the most dangerous scenario is one where the Axis breaks into Solid State and then immediately sets out to secure the BRB-1 system and fortifies the warp point leading to Abyssal-019 and in turn connects to Metal Storm. While blocking allied reinforcement from that route the Axis can then reclaim the Blood Pride system and its population. Along with that system they will recover Redwire and Ampere, giving them multiple routes into those systems we conquered earlier in the war. If they gain control of Stone Wash, Com-12 and Com-7 the Expeditionary Fleet will be cut off from supply.” The Minister of Arms made a harrumph. “As far as supply is concerned, is that the reason why you tasked most of the Opera repair ships for the assembly of prefabricated base components? Those were meant to pick up the slack in converting, repairing and refitting Axis ships on-site without having them make the trip back to Whel.” Arms had a point. The half-hearted assaults conducted by the Axis in Abyssal-018 and Tire Iron had left a considerable number of hulls to be processed. Indeed, there were still unconverted captured hulls in Cain, a system adjacent to Crimson Expanse, and in several other systems including Fallowed Field. The 14 Opera class ships were the largest yet built by the Imperium, and each had six machine shops, yet cost as much as a heavy cruiser. For the money they were the most efficient in terms of capability to cost. They could’ve made short work of the hulls yet to be converted, but by the same token they can put together prefabricated base components together like nobody’s business. “Yes, Arms. That is the reason since my request to construct asteroid forts in Crimson Expanse and Solid State have been turned down.” “A necessary refusal,” said the Minister of Revenue. “The cost of prefabricated base components is considerable, and we can’t fund both at the same time. Priorities had to be made.” Arms folded both sets of arms in front of him. “So they have.” His eye went from the Minister of Revenue to the Minister of Industry. “All that funding for an increase in industry capacity would’ve gone a long way to building those asteroid forts. For the record, they are less expensive to build compared to bases of similar capabilities.” “We need to enhance our industrial base,” said Industry, the knuckles of his front pair of hands rapping the table’s surface. “It’s a sensible long-term investment, especially since this war has all the signs of being a long one.” “Yes,” Arms sneered. “You’re milking it for all it’s worth. All our inhabited planets have already had their industrial base expanded, even taking into account the overall increase in our science and technical capability. Now you’re extending it to mineral rich lunar and asteroid colonies and mining outposts. Tell me, will all the other colonies and outposts get the gift of largess as well? You’re finally fulfilling the election promise to your constituents back home, eh?” “As well as you, Arms,” Industry shot back. “This new capacity will feed your growing fleets and armies as well. Isn’t that what you said to your constituents as well?” Valsur raised all four hands up and out. “You’re not here to replay a typical council session for the Army and Navy Imperators. Conovus, please continue.” “As you wish, Emperor.” The chief naval officer changed the holoimager to project a representation of the Com-23 system. “Our force in this system, under the command of Admiral Calixto, is being reinforced. All three captured enemy mobile shipyards have been converted to our use and are now working on the remaining ships. She’ll get 40% of the current block of reinforcements. Meanwhile, here,” Conovus changed the display to that of the Geode system, “Lord Admiral Jocelin is getting 40% with the remainder going to Lord Admiral Janus. With the Expeditionary Fleet on the defense for now it will be up to Jocelin’s Frontier Fleet to resume the offensive. Calixto will hold until a sufficient probe force is built up in Com-23.” Valsur nodded approval. “Good. All those reinforcements have the new upgrades. On my order 90% of the mobile yards and repair ships in the Imperium proper will be sent forward to upgrade our ships in the field without having to travel all the way back to the Whel system. Those mobile yards remaining here will upgrade the defense force ships without tying up construction slips.” “Every new slip that is added is being devoted to construction in one form or another,” said Industry. “With the new munitions coming on-line in the near future we will have a distinct edge with which to bludgeon the Axis to death.” After much internal thought Bemus decided to broach the subject that everyone was thinking about but not the will to speak it out loud. “On the subject of death, My Lord, there is the issue of what we’ll do with the Expeditionary Corps should the Axis break back into Tire Iron. The build-up of our ground forces took months, and it would take months to extricate them. We could do it in a pinch, using pinnaces and pinnace liners to supplement the Troubadours, but that would mean leaving most of the Army’s heavy equipment behind. That equipment will have to be destroyed to prevent it from being used by the Comensal inhabitants.” Valsur steepled his front pair of hands. “If we move them out early, only to end up repulsing the Axis from Crimson Expanse, we’ll have a harder time of it reestablishing ourselves on the planet. If we wait until the last moment then we’ll have to re-equip the Army at considerable time and expense, especially in the light of Naval needs.” He looked at each minister in turn, having more than a fair idea of what was going on in their minds. Bemus and Conovus were clearly expecting a decision one way or another. “We’ll cross that bridge when we come to, gentlemen. That is my decision.” “As you command, Emperor,” said Bemus, bowing respectfully. Com-30, inbetween the Iron Sky and Imperium-occupied Geode systems, had a surveillance force detached from Lord Admiral Jocelin’s Frontier Fleet. One task for the ships involved was to interdict the occasional flood of courier drones that came from one of Com-30’s warp points. With the nav buoys knocked out only a fraction of the drones were able to maintain course, and those that survived the minefield and the attentions of the watching ships, fighters and pinnaces generally made it to the warp point leading to the Iron Sky system. Probes to the other side of the warp point ended in failure, and that meant a significant Axis force was there to guard it. So it was a waiting game for everyone. That changed when a solitary Axis Stalwart-class cruiser emerged from the warp point. It scanned it surroundings and transited out before the assigned automated weapons control ship could enable the laser buoys. Likewise the 9 F1 Spear fighters and Garrocha armed pinnace on the CAP, orbiting at a distance of 3 LS, didn’t reach action stations. Nothing followed the Axis ship, and twelve hours later the watch force stood down. Though brief, the scan was detailed enough. A minefield, comprised of 294 patterns, surrounded the warp point. As for being 6 patterns short it was simple to explain as the massed courier drone incursions had gradually ground down the minefield. 120 buoys were present, and the apparent control ship was 8 light-seconds out. From the drive and shield frequencies the ship was an Axis Command Detonator, clearly captured by the Hokum months earlier in Binary Code system and adapted for their use. It was an affront to Axis honor and sensibility that one of their own ships would be used against them. That alone was enough for the Axis commander to plan for an attack. In regards to other Hokum units there was one CL and two DD-sized ships, orbiting at 6 LS distant. Taking a gamble, the commander decided to launch his assault 18 hours after the probe instead of waiting two to five days as usual. An hour after breakfast the next day saw the first units of the Axis assault enter Com-30. What appeared to be six regular pinnaces popped in and stayed on the warp point, firing their point defense mounts at the shell of buoys. The CAP moved in, out of range for now as their main purpose was to shoot down drones. Six more pinnaces entered, and the four Hokum ships still hadn’t reached action stations. Cleared for action, three Spears of the CAP entered point-blank range and received a rude shock. All six pinnaces from the first wave stepped up their power output, revealing them to be of the armed variety. While all three Spears missed with their lasers the pinnaces didn’t miss them and even took down six buoys. The third wave was made up of six more armed pinnaces, making the total 18, and the rest of the CAP got their fire-control online. They stood 0.25 LS from their enemy yet only managed to bag one, and for that they were shot down in their entirety. Both DDs, a Greyhound and a Podium, became active but held back launching their broods of Spears and Garrochas. The Hokum commander on the CVS had the Spears armed with gun packs in addition to the pair of lasers they carried. It made no sense to throw them in against the growing number of pinnaces at this point. On his order the three ships moved to join the Command Detonator. Just two more armed pinnaces and four regular ones arrived in the fifth wave. At the end of the third minute of the battle 108 buoys had been shot down. One pinnace darted through the warp point, and with that the Hokum commander had his small force move off at maximum cruiser speed. One minute later two DNs and four fleet carrier hulls emerged and fired off capital mine-clearance rounds from their external racks into one patch of the minefield, destroying 9 patterns. Three of the carrier hulls were just that, launching 15 squadrons of Hatchet fighters. Next to join were three more DNs and three BCs, and they proved to have internal capital launchers to supplement their external loads. 23 patterns were dispatched, followed by 9 more. With the patch so weakened the two DN and one BCA minesweepers made their move, despite the likelihood that the remaining patterns were set to maximum engagement parameters. Both Grim Reapers and the Wave Rider lost nearly half of their respective armor, but the way was clear into Com-23 for the Axis task group. The four Hokum ships, 27 Spears and 3 Garrochas were doomed, yet there was never the thought of surrendering. Ultimately they took down 44 fighters before the wrecked hulk of the Command Detonator vaporized upon the detonation of its remaining stock of FRAMs. While purposefully moving towards the Geode warp point the task group had some of its ships peel off to conduct specific duties. One of these attracted the attention of a Fast Walker scout. It could’ve been run down by the F1 Hatchets, but was left alone. The ship in question, a freighter hull that was scarcely larger than that of an escort, was reinstating the chain of com and scanner buoys from the entry to the Iron Sky warp points. While the third buoy was being deployed the Fast Walker made a high-speed pass of the ship. No shields impeded the sensors of the little scout, and found that nearly half of the freighter’s mass was devoted to a pair of shuttle bays. One moment those bays were occupied, and the next they weren’t as four shuttles leapt out of them like hungry prairie cats. The range was mere 0.75 LS and so the scout captain thought he was safe. However the scanner techs told him the shuttles were 50% more massive and had lit up the ship with fire control lasers and radar. That could only suggest they carried offensive ordnance, and that was proven when each shuttle fired a pair of laser packs. Only one hit, prompting the captain to detune his engines to get out of range. With one last chance the shuttles fired again, obtaining four hits that utterly destroyed the ship, thus marking the first ship kill for the Axis Stiletto escort shuttle in the war. The Empresario and Podium at the Com-30/Iron Sky warp point abandoned their position upon hearing the entry of the Axis task group. Moving at full cruiser speed they would’ve made it to the Geode warp point but one Axis formation surged ahead of the dreadnaughts and intercepted. It was comprised of one fleet carrier hull and two undersized battlecruiser hulls. The distance between the two forces was one light-minute with the Axis force trailing behind. Instead of detuning engines the Axis force launched a strike of twelve Hatchets and twelve Stilettos. It took an hour to close on the two Hokum ships. At the right moment the Podium launched its quartet of Garrocha armed pinnaces, each carrying a close attack missile, a laser and two gun packs. They met their enemy one light-second short of the ships, targeting the Hatchets and knocking out three before turning into brief incandescent miniature suns themselves. As for the Stilettos each had one laser pack, hosing the hull of the Empresario to delouse it of external ordnance racks. Long-range point defense fire failed to knock out any fighters. No further losses were incurred on the Axis strike until they reached point-blank range. Both ships went to maximum engine modulation to supplement their ECM generation and faced each other to cover their partner’s blind spot. Only one more Hatchet was shot down after all was said and done. Both ships were pummeled by lasers and FRAMs alike until nothing remained. Duty discharged, the Axis strike returned to their ships and made way for the Com-31 warp point. From there it was their task to patrol the Com-31 system for any Hokum ships, and a network of scanner buoys was deployed like what was done in Com-30. With Iron Sky no longer isolated the Axis task group now had a source of supply. Once the warp point leading to Geode was properly invested this part of Operation Restoration, the AFC’s plan to resume the offensive in enemy space, could continue. Chapter 4.25 On Crimson Expanse a major ISA operation was underway in the foothills of the Heroes mountain range, located 500 kilometers west of the planet’s capital city of Blood Valor. A significant number of Comensal had turned the tunnels of the mining complexes in the region into bastions, and from those bastions they have attacked ISA bases and convoys. One of the units involved in the operation was Company B of the 31st Tactical Armor Regiment. Of the three Mongoose platoons held in reserve the one with Loaded Vice was the most experience. Waiting for an expected breakout of Comensal after their tunnels were being burned and collapsed there was little to do other than listen to chatter over the combat frequencies. 2nd Class Sergeant Furdex, Loaded Vice’s commander, looked at his main screen and wondered out loud. “You know, the puzzle masters back at Divisional say these mines were created by that AI race the boneheads killed off. If those thinking machines had more leeway in their programming they would’ve realized that it’s more practical and less invasive to the environment if they did most of their mining on asteroids.” “Well, Sarge, there was a built-in expectation from those AIs for direction given by their masters,” said 1st Class Vara Licus, the comm and sensors operator, over the vehicle’s voice net. “In their absence they had a directive to rationalize expenditure of resources to fall back upon. Having all those mines here on the planet eliminates the need to shuttle them down. This planet is rather mineral rich, so perhaps it was logical from their viewpoint to do all their mining here.” “Still wasteful, even for machines.” It was 3rd Class Sergeant Pendex, talking from the driver’s post at the front of the hull. “They could’ve done so much more had those restrictions not be hard-wired into them.” Furdex chuckled. “Then we would be fighting walking refrigerators instead of boneheads. On the other hand I would rather fight self-thinking machines than flesh-and-blood any day, Five Gods willing.” “Whoa, whoa!” exclaimed Licus. “Sarge, there’s a lot of noise on the tac net coming from the front line units. Regimental HQ is compiling the feeds and accessing the Eagle Eyes.” Furdex checked the chinstrap of his helmet, wiping away imaginary sweat. “Is is the breakout?” “I’m itchin’ to use those rockets on our hardpoints,” said 1st Class Vara Spuran, Loaded Vice’s gunner. “They’re accidents waiting to happen if they’re sniped while we’re carrying them.” With his back hands manipulating the views of two screens Furdex secured the hatch above him with both front hands. “Pendex, get ready to move at Piton Corsun’s word. Engage environmental protection systems now.” “Affirmative, Sarge.” “We’re linked with Regimental HQ,” Licus announced. “The fire control plan is downloaded.” “Moving! The Piton is having the platoon moved five klicks west, Sarge.” Furdex read the data scrawl on his primary monitor. No less than 200 Comensal were seen bolting from the mines in a desperate bid to escape collapsing tunnel walls and asphyxiation after the latest round of ‘blast and burn’ tactics from the combat engineer companies. There were still plenty of hidden automated weapons planted by the boneheads earlier, however, as a platoon of infantry found out when several anti-personnel mines were command detonated in a ravine, inflicting substantial casualties. Four minutes later the Mongooses came to a halt, line abreast in a field of hardy, drought-resistant ferns. Each had five bombardment rockets mounted on hardpoints set at 30 degree angles on either side of the hulls. With Eagle Eye UAVs lasing the targets all forty rockets arced up into the cloudless sky. On the way back down they discharged hundreds of anti-personnel bomblets. With fifty percent overlap only those escaping at the very edge of the blast zone had a chance of survival. Licus hunched over her comm station panel. “HQ is squawking again, Sarge. But it’s directed to Division HQ. There’s a high-value target near those big mine pilings six kilometers away.” Furdex rubbed his chin. “Division? Then it’ll be encoded. What’s so important here that Regimental had to call upstairs?” “One moment. I’ll get a peek at what they’re sending.” Master of her craft, Licus knew how to access the Eagle Eyes as needed. After a moment a split image appeared on the comm tech’s panel. “Huh. Looks like a group of nondescript boneheads to me, Sarge.” “Certainly does. They’re running so fast over the field of pilings that their hoods are down to see better.” The Mongoose commander snapped his fingers. “Oh ho, you forget to secure the feed, Licus. Now Piton Corsun…” “This is Hard Boiled to Loaded Vice,” said the voice over the 3rd Platoon’s frequency, directly into Furdex’s ears. It belonged to Piton Corsun, the platoon leader. “I want to thank you for the feed you’ve been sending to me. I’m sure it’s a glitch on Regimental’s end that had enabled you to get an exclusive Eagle Eye feed.” “You’re welcome, Piton,” Furdex said, crossing fingers on all four hands. “I’m a little bit further up on the chain in regards to privileged information, Furdex. As such I know something about that group of boneheads we’re watching. They’re in my database. A majority of them were present at the scene of the Cragside Massacre.” An involuntary shiver was felt by all in the vehicle. A month earlier an exceedingly rare event took place 200 kilometers to the southeast. A group of Comensal surrendered to a platoon of ISA infantry. Looking worn, ragging, and wounded it certainly looked like they had no more fight in them. They even complied with throwing their weapons away and taking off their camo cloaks. With backup behind them the platoon went in to secure their prisoners when hidden confederates open fired. It was short and incredible intense exchange, made all the more confusing when smoke shells bathed the area with thick, black smoke with only the sound of laughing Comensal competing with the gunfire and explosions. When it cleared the platoon had sustained 80% casualties with one squad completely missing. A week later the bodies were found in a cave in the Cragside Valley. Stripped of their clothes and gear, the 12 Hokum were beheaded and had their limbs chopped off, torsos splayed open as if part of a dissection class at medical school. In their mouths were found unit badges ripped from the combat utility vests they wore over their armor. As the word spread there was an unspoken agreement amongst the troops of the Expeditionary Corps. The general order regarding the taking of Comensal prisoners was that no unnecessary risk was to be made to secure said prisoners. As far as the troops were concerned that became no risk was to made to get prisoners. So it came to pass in after-action reports had no prisoners listed for a number of perfectly reasonable and justified reasons. They had the enemy to thank for making their decision so sinfully easy to make. “Platoon,” Corsun said over the line-of-sight laser com link, “it seems that an area in the front line is lacking some vehicular support. We will advance to the designated spot.” A red dot appeared on the primary screens of all four Mongooses. “A fire plan for 50 mike-mike will be sent presently. Move with a purpose, people.” “That’s taking the initiative, Piton,” said Furdex. “Driver, push that pedal to the firewall.” “Okay, Sarge!” said Pendex with great relish. The Mongoose accelerated with jerk, the whine of the motors only getting slightly more noticeable. On his 180 panorama screen Pendex saw what appeared to be a ridge six kilometers ahead, covered with marker icons of the accounted for Comensal. The ridge was actually composed of pilings, reaching a height of 30 meters and stretching for nearly a kilometer in length. No other ISA unit was in the immediate area, and with the Eagle Eyes having expended their ordnance only the kinetic strike option remained. However, with the Mongooses so close now there was no way such a strike would be authorized. Furdex already figured that Corsun was making up a perfectly acceptable reason for why the platoon wasn’t responding to calls from HQ. The drive coils for the 30mm railgun did have tendency to interfere with the communications gear, especially when set to maximum power. First to fire, however, was the 50mm mortar in the bow of the Loaded Vice. Along with Hard Boiled, Road Toad 3, and Double Dipper a hailstorm of mortar shells fell on the pilings ridge. Those not caught in the blast radius of the shells were treated to avalanches of rock. Dozens were knocked down and painfully rolled down to the bottom. Short, staccato bursts from turret mounted 7mm railguns relieved these enemies the burden of living. Swerving hard left, Pendex smiled harshly at what his sensors showed him. A cluster of boneheads was running back towards their mine entrance. 500 meters might as well have been 500 kilometers for the Loaded Vice was among them. Two boneheads bounced off the front of the vehicle like balls against a wall, impacting the ground and then in turn got ran over. Spuran alternately fired 30mm and 7mm railgun rounds, sending bodies and bits of bodies flying downrange. From above it appeared like an invisible godchild was playing with his toys, moving the armored vehicle over knots of enemy figurines. Ferns as well as bodies were grounded into the dirt, with Road Toad 3 actually making several complete turns called ‘donuts’, staining the ground with Comensal guts and blood. Those still with pipe rifles and rocket launchers did put up what resistance they could, only to end up being shot when rising up from the ferns to fire their weapons. Others went into complete denial, closing their camo cloaks and hunkering down. This only turned them into big speedbumps for the Mongooses. “We’re almost out of boneheads,” Furdex barked over the internal comm. “There’s two… make that one left! Spuran! There’s one at the top of the pilings! Get’em before Corun takes credit!” The gunner, about to swing the turret and use the 30mm, thought of using something else. “Pendex, point our snout towards the rocks!” Loaded Vice squealed as it turned to the right and stopped in a jerk. Spuran worked the targeting crosshairs over the Comensal and fired an incendiary 50mm mortar round, impacting squarely on the torso. So in addition to flying the Comensal was blown in two and on fire. The body parts fell down on the far side of the pilings. “Great shot, Spuran,” said Pendex. “That’s one for the scrap book.” “Thanks, but I was aiming for the head.” Com-23 remained quite in the three months since the defeat of the Axis force originally slated for Battlement. Admiral Calixto was glad that her command was being reinforced, and with the captured mobile shipyards converting and refitting previously captured Axis ships on the spot instead of sending them back to Whel will mean more forces on hand. The other two warp points in Com-23 were watched by sensor buoys with special emphasis on the one that eventually lead to the Bandstand system. There wasn’t nearly enough ships to guard one warp point effectively, so Calixto settled on her previous strategy of letting the enemy come to her, and then judge if battle was a viable option. The AFC announced its return to Com-23 on the same day it reclaimed Com-30. A pinnace came in, scanned the immediate area, and then transited back out. A minute later four pinnaces transited in, and while one stayed on the warp point the other three did a comprehensive sweep of the immediate 15 light-second area, destroying three scanner buoys. More distant buoys reported a total of 22 Axis hulls. It was going to take a scout to get a close read on the drive fields for a general notion on the type of ships involved. The Axis did give some help in that manner for all went at maximum tactical speed of a cruiser, making a beeline for the second warp point. With the distance involved the trip would take almost seven days. A Fast Walker scout, on the direct route between Com-23’s first two warp points, waited until the ships were 16 light-seconds away before engaging its drive. In one minute the scout had its readings, coming about and retreating. The enemy formation was composed of 12 BCs, 6 CA freighters, 2 DDs and two apparent fleet carrier hulls. Four of the BC hulls were undersized and were of an unknown class. Four other BC hulls were bulky, signifying that they were freighters. Staying 12 LS ahead and maintain speed, the scout performed the role of an unneeded guide. At the halfway point there was a change. One carrier hulled-ship and two undersized BCs broke off and slowed to .05c on a heading that was 90 degrees from the base course of the rest of the ships. The scout stayed with the main group, though the crew wondered what that trio of ships was going to do. For the next five days the Axis ships followed a random search pattern, changing course and speed often but generally in a counter-clockwise movement around the white dwarf component. The carrier hulled ship appeared to be just that, for it always had four fighters deployed in an arc ahead of the ship. Two buoys were found this way, and this proved crucial for one was a comm buoy. Just an hour after lunch on the sixth day the group changed course again and moved at full speed for two hours. For this they were rewarded with a sensor contact that appeared 72 light-minutes out. They were on reciprocal courses, and would encounter each other in 16 hours at current speeds. At the six and ten hour marks the contact split in two with both moving at .05c. With those choices the Axis commander stayed with the contact that continued to close for the first split and then the one that broke away on the second. At the 12 light-minute mark sensor resolution was such that four contacts were determined to exist. Crews were sent to general quarters as combat range would be reached in less than three hours. At the 20 light-second mark the Axis trio launched broods of fighters and small craft, their speed only slightly faster than the ships for the moment. The Hokum waited until two minutes later before launching their fighters and coming about, reducing the closure rate to 1.5 LS per minute. The CVS increased its speed to full and detuned its engines shortly thereafter. Tactical scanners listed the number of Hatchet fighters as 12 and small craft 32. Further refinement revealed the Hatchets having the same energy signature as their Hokum F1 Spear counterparts. As for the small craft 20 of them were tagged as armed pinnaces for their power output was noticeably high, signifying that fire control and internal gun mounts were active. For the 12 remaining craft they were unknown in the database. Larger than shuttles and smaller than pinnaces their capabilities won’t be known until combat ensues. The range continued to drop; the Hokum planned for their 18 Spears to engage the enemy strike when it was one light-second out from the ships. They just kept out of range of the armed pinnaces’ point defense mounts, only to be treated to the armament of the 12 unknown oversized shuttles. Of the Spears five were shot down by what were tentatively identified as counter-missiles used by improved point defense systems. That information was assessed and passed along a tight-beam communications laser aimed at a buoy 8 light-minutes distant. In turn the message was relayed to another comm buoy, and then to another. Regardless of what happens at least Admiral Calixto would know about it. The three Hokum ships - two FT8 freighters and a Type B frigate - targeted the Axis armed pinnaces while the Spears took on the Hatchets at point blank range. Four fighters were knocked out with a combination of gun packs and proximity-fused close attack missiles. The intact Hatchet squadron fired a full salvo of 18 stand-off missiles with 14 locking onto the frigate. Withholding some point defense the frigate destroyed 10 missiles, losing shields and nearly all of its armor. Shifting gears, the other intact Spear squadron took on a like number of armed pinnaces, taking down five. Only the needle beam on the frigate eliminated a pinnace, its death proving like the five before it that it had FRAMs on its external racks. The mystery shuttles provided that their point defense mounts was just as effective as the ship variety at point blank range. All the Spears where knocked down, and what lasers packs remained fired on the frigate, wrecking up to the first engine room past the shuttle bay. The Hatchets broke away, leaving the shuttles and armed pinnaces to attack the Hokum trio. Generation maximum ECM, the frigate fired as a singleton, taking down three armed pinnaces. Return fire crippled the ship, and was avenged when one of the FT8 splashed four pinnaces. An impressive achievement for an auxiliary, and on that note both FT8 were destroyed as anti-matter and lasers pierced defenses and collapsed the weak interiors. The carrier-hulled Axis ship had a HET laser and fired on the frigate, destroying the last engine for the range wasn’t close enough for a one-shot kill. The defiant ship fired two courier drones set a maximum speed and leveled its needle beam on the big Axis ship, scoring a solitary hit on its shields. Instead of destroying the insolent craft the Axis ships launched their shuttles for a boarding action. Three shuttles latched on and disgorged boarding parties. In no time what remained of the crew was killed. Finding no intact computers the Axis commander had the ship destroyed. While satisfied with the performance of the Stiletto escort shuttle and Machete armed pinnace, despite the losses of the latter, the Axis commander still had no inkling of where the Hokum were hiding in the system. Now moving at cruising speed rather ran risk having engines burn out the trio of ships resumed its random search pattern. The other three Hokum ships that had broken off – the Imperial Wave carrier, Red Seal freighter, and Hostel transport – remained at full speed for two days before stepping down to cruising levels. It would be two months of following a seemingly random pattern of their own that the ships would reach the spot where the mobile yards sat. Admiral Calixto regarded the loss of the two freighters as only a temporary, yet regrettable, setback. With the comm buoy destroyed earlier there was no way to inform the ships of the Axis presence until it was too late. It wasn’t the time to take a risk and have the freighters come directly to her ships. Had the enemy learned of the actual strength of the Hokum presence then they would’ve been tempted to send another, much larger force to finally secure Com-23. Thankfully enough resources were on hand, as well as irregular runs of cargo pinnaces, to finish the conversion of all captured Axis ships and repair just enough systems so as to allow them to travel back to Whel to be refitted. Calixto had been looking forward having those captured warships augment her command, but news from home promised to make up for the shortfall. New construction, including some with the latest refits and more importantly new ordnance, was on the way. With those forces in hand it was possible to go on a limited offensive. Thanks to the information provided by the Commonwealth allies the direction of that offensive was clear. Both the Imperium and the Commonwealth decided to share information on Axis systems that supported populations. One of these was Battlement, currently under siege by the Valhallan Royal Fleet. Already known from captured data, Battlement was three transits out from Com-23. So far all Axis ships encountered have been coming from Bandstand, just two transits away. The military hulled convoy that blazed its way across Com-23 at full speed clearly was meant to support Axis forces in Battlement. Calixto send a tight-beam communication to a comm buoy right next to the Com-23/Com-9 warp point, passing the information up the chain to headquarters. The appearance of Axis armed pinnaces and antimatter ordnance, not to mention an altogether new type of small craft, was deemed important enough to send immediately. In the meantime plans were drawn up to fortify the warp point that lead up to Bandstand. Also given attention was the new group of Axis ships and the three Fleet Tracker scouts left over from the battle three months ago. Calixto wanted these ships neutralized so they wouldn’t spy and interfere with her planned build up. Until then it was the all-too-familiar waiting game. Within the security of the Comensal colonial enclave on Elotoshani Prime was System Admiral Wanfel, head of the AFC’s Eloto branch of the Science Development Bureau. He was in his den, enjoying the sunrise as it poured into the room as he ate breakfast alone. His wife was still on the colony world of Open Campus and will only arrive once the house under construction on this planet was completed. There was nothing really preventing her from coming now as the old house was being used by the eldest daughter. Wanfel, being old fashion, didn’t want any interference, however unintentional and well-meaning, until the new house was ready to accept occupants. A report scrawled across the screen on the table where Wanfel sat. It concerned the progress of the new combined shuttle bay system, and so far the handful of pinnace tenders so refitted had performed well in operational exercises. Once in widespread service the AFC will have a 20% advantage in carrying small craft, especially armed pinnaces. Along with other weapons being fielded by the fleet it those damned Aboms will have to play expensive catch-up. With a level of warranted smugness Wanfel read the report of the first use of fighter life support packs in actual combat conditions. It was in the Battlement system, and a fleet crewed by those red-skinned Valhallan aboms had set out to reduce the system defenses. A small Abom detachment, upon seeing the large number of F0 Hatchets congregated about the moons of the system’s second gas giant, elected to move away. They believed they had the required time and distance, but the packs ruined that belief. Even with the belated application of engine detuning the fighters continued to close. The enemy sustained damage that would otherwise not been possible though it resulted in the loss of all the fighters involved. Even with the life support packs the Hatchets had to go beyond the point of no return, and with FRAMs fired those Hatchets that remained conducted ramming attacks, dying nonetheless if successful or not. Though he despised the Eloto aboms Wanfel had to admit they came through with something original this time. Now much larger and farther-reaching fighter strikes were possible, enabling the defenders of Battlement to stymie the Abom fleet until reinforcements arrived. Out of curiosity the System Admiral ran a simulation of the aforementioned battle that used F1 Hatchets equipped with one life support pack and two FRAMs each instead of F0 Hatchets with one pack and one FRAM each. It was while in-between bites of breakfast roll that the simulation crashed. Wanfel tried to restart it, only to experience the frustration of ancient computer users as insistent error messages appeared, saying that the central database had become corrupted. Wanfel sighed and finished his breakfast. He got into his uniform and left for the R&D building. Corrupted databases were an exceedingly rare event, but back-ups were kept like any good researcher would do. The office was informed, Wanfel fully expecting to restart the simulation as soon as he got behind his desk. It was going to be too fine a day to have it marred by a simple computer crash. Chapter 4.50 The ISA Frontier Fleet, already consolidated at the Geode/Com-30 warp point, waited for an impending Axis attack. Keeping the minefields and buoy parks around the warp point company was the combat area patrol, composed of 16 squadrons of F1 Spears, 15 Garrocha and 9 regular pinnaces. Orbiting at 1.5 LS distance, just outside plasma gun range, were 18 Type A frigates. Lord Admiral Jocelin held the rest of his fleet 6 light-seconds out from the warp point, thus keeping any snooping pinnace in ignorance of the fleet’s true strength. It had been five days since the Axis reclaimed Com-30, and all of the Fast Walker scouts in the system had been unable to send definite reports on the strength of the enemy fleet. Each scout had been intercepted either by escort or corvette-hulled vessels and then chased away by F1 Hatchets that had extended range. Jocelin was ready to bet his back arms that the boneheads had developed and deployed life support packs for their fighters. Such technology had just been perfected in the Imperium and the first examples were even now en-route to his fleet. That the enemy most likely had them now showed they were on technical parity with the ISA if not the Commonwealth. As for the scouts they were now isolated in Com-30, their drones unable to break past the invested Axis forces. As for the fleet, Jocelin was stronger now than three months previous. Of the 21battlecruisers only three were of the new Broadside class and six more were undersized Foreguards. 18 Interior cruisers were joined by three Lancers, conversions of captured Axis light cruisers. All 27 Type 2 destroyers had be refitted with multiplex tracking systems, improving their flexibility. In regarding carriers there were two CV and 18 CVS hulls present with a total of 66 Spear squadrons. Given the importance to hold the warp point Jocelin had all three armed pinnace tenders brought forward along with the Balcony. Those Garrochas and regular pinnaces not part of the CAP were tasked with point defense the fleet in the radius of the jammers provided by the five CAEs, the Rodeo Clown and Union Animal minesweepers. 3 Taggers rounded out the formation, leaving all the auxiliaries and remaining warships in orbit of Geode Prime’s moon. The three Interior cruisers in the Smelter system, two transits out Geode’s third warp point, had been given the recall message. Only two undersized corvette-hulled freighters were destroyed during the brief tour of the system, and since there were only outposts the Axis inhabitants could only produce refined minerals. It was a three week journey at cruising speed for the cruisers to rejoin the fleet, and if the Axis was willing to wait one more after that then Frontier Fleet would be even further reinforced from Whel. Unaware of Jocelin’s wishes the Axis force in Com-30 made its move. On the sixth day they made their entrance with a mass transit of ships and armed pinnaces followed by five DN-hulled ships, the last of which was clearly using engine tuners. Of the 12 frigates, 108 corvettes, 84 escorts and 18 explorers that entered 8, 46, 26 and 6 interpenetrated respectively. 6 of the 36 armed pinnaces similarly were immolated. All the ships emerged facing the 18 Type A frigates, orbiting the warp point in a counter-clockwise manner 1.5 LS distant in an arbitrary northwest position. As yet unseen was the rest of the Frontier Fleet, 6 LS behind the Axis ships and orbiting in a counter-clockwise manner as well, perfectly tucked in the blindspots of their enemy. The leading DN fired first, three of its thirteen CAMs hitting, spreading their antimatter fury across the targeted Type A frigate. Three HET lasers and a capital force beam followed, completely destroying the small ship. Those Spears and Garrochas of the CAP able to arm weapons in this opening exchange did what damage they could, aided by long-range missile fire from the active ships of the fleet. The Type A frigates spurred into action fired their needle beams into the shield-down DNs, lancing magazines, ECCM, long-range scanners and overload dampeners. Only three small Axis ships were destroyed outright, but one of the two assault carriers lost all of its hanger bays. Had the fighters in those bays been armed with FRAMs then the whole ship would’ve gone up in a massive fireball. That it hadn’t indicated the embarked fighters were primed for dogfighting. 9 of the 30 Axis armed pinnaces were shot down by the CAP Garrochas and regular pinnaces while the small Axis ships fired mine clearance rounds from external racks as well as internal launchers. Only twelve patterns were blotted out along with seven buoys. For the Hokum they thanked the Five Gods as all three Empresarios came active and fired 300 of 360 one-shot laser buoys. Only 6 of the 138 Axis ships received no hits at all, and those already hit by the fleet were further harmed. Any amount of damage done at this point mattered, for 103 of the 138 ships started erratic maneuvers and pumped up ECM to maximum, entering the northwest mine patch just as the second wave started to transit. This included the heavily damaged DN(V) for in no way was it able to get out of the system in time. Set to maximum engagement parameters, the mines swamped the Axis formation. 27 ships were destroyed with 35 more rendered engineless. Jocelin could only shake his head. For the massive investment in expendable small ships only 42 of the 120 mine patterns in the selected mine patch were eliminated in this opening exchange. Once again overt aggression was a trait the Axis had to express at every opportunity and was perhaps their greatest weakness. Of the ships that stayed on the warp point 2 of the 24 escorts transited back to Com-30, undoubtedly equipped with tactical scanners. The six corvettes that stayed put assisted the five Hatchet squadrons launched from the other DN(V) by turning on their jammers, messing up the datalinks of the remaining armed CAP squadrons but in the process made them priority targets for the Hokum. As for the 12 remaining Type As they moved 0.25 LS further away from the warp point, putting them out of reach of the plasma-armed Axis corvettes. Having accepted this, those ships seemed content with blasting away at buoy weapons while the gun-armed ships focused on the mines with clearance charges. The second wave of ships were composed of three apparent DN(V)s and three BBs of an unknown class, but not for long. Facing arbitrary northwest the first BB fired external clearance charges into the minefield and dual pairs of spinal force and capital energy beams at one Type A, stripping it of passives and doing internal damage via massive electrical overloads. Only transit effects limited damage from the other two BBs on the remaining frigates. With ECCM gear sniped by needle beams earlier the three Axis DNs missed quite a bit, only savaging two Type As nearly to the point of death. Exploiting their advantage the 30 Hatchet fighters obliterated 28 Spears for the loss of only six of their own from the Garrochas. For splitting the fire, and doing worthy damage to the newcomer ships, the Garrochas only bagged three Machetes while losing 13 of their own, leaving just two. The nine regular pinnaces failed to score a single kill. Three untouched Spear squadrons got their fire control on-line and blasted the passives of the three DN(V)s. Long range missile fire from the fleet only took out a few of the immobilized ships in the minefield, and further damaged a new DN(V)s, destroying all of its bays. Again this was taken as proof that the embarked fighters were armed for dogfighting. With cool calculation Jocelin fired 50 of his remaining laser buoys, followed by 60 of the force beam variety, to ‘delouse’ the immediate area around the warp point of crippled Axis ships. Only 64 small ships remained, but nearly one-third of those were Dispersions atop the warp point. As for the remainder the minefield would expend fewer patterns to destroy them, and the energy beam buoys had far fewer targets to engage. Two Dispersions, one toothless jammer corvette, two first-wave DNs and the surviving DN(V) transited back to Com-30, passing the incoming third wave. None of the second wave DN(V)s made it out for they had sustained enough damage so that they were coming about at reduced speed. Ten more Hatchet squadrons were launched, all intent to secure the immediate area of the warp point. All the CAP fighters and pinnaces that had remained were blotted out, but not before one final Spear squadron belched its load of FRAMs into a Soar DN(V), breaking shields and sorely testing the armor. For the other Hatchets and Machetes they savaged one buoy park, leaving just three known automated weapons that hadn’t fired yet. Back in the minefield the remaining small ships, 39 in all and regardless if they were moving or not, were beset by a fresh attack from the automated weapons. None remained, naturally, but their death reduced the patch to a little over 56 patterns. For the BB trio and the newcomer SD they fired their spinal weapons and energy beams at the Type-As, reducing their number to 9 with one made into a shorted-out hulk. The little ships took revenge by lancing the overload dampeners and ECM suites of the second-wave Soars, making them all the more vulnerable to energy beam buoys. The National Reach DN concentrated on the mine patch and the temporary debilitated Hero fired and missed the buoy weapon it was targeting. Deliberate missile fire destroyed 9 Dispersions, leaving 28 ships on the warp point. To further ‘delouse’ the enemy Jocelin had 84 force beam buoys fired, 3 for each ship. One formerly noxious jammer corvette and two of the escorts were destroyed as a result. Next came 100 energy buoys, doing the most harm to the Soars while only destroying one corvette. One second-wave Soar only needed a harsh look for it to be destroyed. Hangers intact, 15 more Hatchet squadrons from the third-wave Soars leapt into the void and held station over the warp point. Heading back to Com-30 was the last first-wave Prestige, two second wave and two third wave Soars and one Dispersion. Incoming were three National Reach missile DNs and three Hero BCs. With the abom fleet incoming the spinal beam armed ships started to come about to bring their weapons to bear. As for the noisome Type-As the 18 remaining Machetes braved the mines and charged, only losing one of them in the process and three more from point defense fire. Of the 18 that started the battle only two Type-As remained, one with just its weapon operable and another that was burned out by energy beams. In dying defiance the frigate used its needle beam to further slow the remaining third-wave Soar. At 5 LS range the Frontier Fleet, sans carriers but covered by 47 Spear squadrons, fired on the Axis ships with their capital force beams as well as missile launchers. The rest of the Dispersions, jammer corvettes, and the broken second-wave Soar were swept away with the rest of the second and third wave ships getting shields pounded down and some with armor being scrapped. For all that only one Foreguard cruiser sustained shield damage. With the Machetes certainly coming back to finish them off Jocelin had the rest of the buoys fired in sequence against the 13 Axis ships – 7 force, 36 energy and 4 one-shot lasers. What was gained from this was seeing that two of the BBs, Cannonade class ships, had to burn out an overload dampener each to prevent internal damage. For that involuntary admission they were going to get pounded on force beams while missiles were targeted on the National Reaches. Three Axis BBs and a like number of CAs joined their brethren atop the warp point. As for the last Soar from the third wave it had sustained more damage. Even though it achieved its exit vector there simply wasn’t enough motive power to carry through, all thanks to energy beam damage. There was no doubt that it was going to return to Com-30 a barely mobile wreck. At a range of 4.75 LS the Hokum concentrated on maximizing damage on the spinal force beam-armed ships with the National Reaches being a secondary objective. Most of the ships flushed their external racks of laser-tipped capital missiles, destroying those racks on Axis ships that still held EDMs. For their part the Axis badly mauled a Foreguard cruiser. As before three more BBs and three CAs emerged from the warp point, all turning not only to face the approaching Hokum but also to achieve their exit vector. The last Soar past them as it finally transited back to Com-30, streaming air as well as debris. Now at 2.5 LS range the needle beams on the Type 2 DDs and converted Axis ships could do their voodoo on the internals of their enemy. A National Reach from the third wave lost its magazines, capital point defense and expensive improved multiplex targeting system. Jocelin believed in standard Axis behavior and was rewarded when, instead of targeting his BCs went after the three Lancer CLs. One was obliterated and another half-dead, along with the picked-on Foreguard, its remaining internals fired by energy beam fire and polished off by a single capital missile hit. In compensation all four National Reach DNs had their magazine lanced, along with four Hero BCs losing their ECCM gear and some HET lasers. So damaged the Heroes would be at heavy disadvantage when the Hokum ships went to full ECM, and they did. 40 of the 47 Spear squadrons, already 0.5 LS ahead of the fleet and loaded with FRAMs, moved to point blank range of the Axis force on the warp point. They were passed by 15 squadrons of Hatchets, leaving 15 more behind to savage the incoming strike. Showing some prudence, the Axis commander had all four National Reaches and two Heroes transit back to Com-30. While the Hokum fleet crawled four of the number moved ahead. Each one was an anti-fighter escort, a mix of CA and BC hulls, and they moved just enough so that their jammers held sway over the warp point. It was fair play, for the three CAs of the sixth wave and the sole SD had jammers as well. Knowing they were doomed, with their fire greatly degraded by the defensive maneuvering and ECM, the Axis ships only shifted a portion of their fire to the jamming ships. The Lancers and Taggers were still the primary targets for the Axis ire. For Jocelin it was easier, for only the shields on the Axis CAEs had to be breached, allowing the Type 2s to lance the jammers with needle beams. As for the big SD, already with breached armor, it was going to be smashed into powder. The only surprise came as one of the Axis CAEs launched a squadron of fighters to reinforce the defense. In terms of the overall battle it was just a footnote, even though six Spears were brought about those latecomers. Still, even though they operated as singletons the Axis crews and pilots put up a stiff fight. The Lancers and Taggers were destroyed, along with a Foreguard, Deflector 2, 2 Type 2s, and 42 Spear fighters. For that only 42 Hatchets out of 186 that survived launch remained, and only one practically dead BB from the fifth wave and a Stout from the seventh and last wave transited out to safety. Of the 15 Machetes one died in the minefield with four more interpenetrating back in Com-30. Expecting a suicide attack on the surviving CAE that jammed Axis datalinks it came as a surprise the Hatchets chose their five stranded ships instead. Only 20 Hatchets emerged from the five fresh debris clouds, and instead of attacking the Spears these doomed, dedicated pilots fired into the buoy parks right up to the end. For all the effort expended the Axis could claim the expenditure of all 360 of the one-shot laser variety and leaving only 154 (180) force and 101 (180) energy buoys. The northwest mine patch was done to just one pattern plus change out of 120. Jocelin, having witnessed the use of armed pinnaces by the Axis, thanked the Five Gods that he initially held back his fleet from the warp point. Any closer would’ve invited a mass transit of pinnaces. Further reflection lead the Admiral to consider the possibility that this attack, as expensive as it was for the Axis in terms of small ships and crews, may have been nothing more than a heavily armed reconnaissance in force. Then he considered what remained of his fixed defenses. Mine patterns could be redistributed, along with the remaining buoys, but with laser buoys gone any fresh assault will have to augment the CAP with the firepower of his fleet at a much closer range. Even 100 transit-addled armed pinnaces could wreak havoc with his ships, especially the Type 2s. Eighteen hours later whatever revised defense plans Jocelin had went out the airlock. Word came from the ISN fleet base in Whel. An Axis fleet successfully returned to Bedrock, smashing CSF fortifications and causing those mobile units in the system to flee. On his own admission the surviving senior CSF admiral in Bedrock said that the defenses at the Circuit Run/Bedrock warp point won’t be able to resist a determined assault. Once Circuit Run falls the Axis could go to Laser Burn and then to Cain, effectively cutting off Crimson Expanse and Lord Admiral Janus’ Expeditionary Fleet. Jocelin’s orders were to fall back to Cain and guard the Cain/Laser Burn warp point. Of the 601 remaining mine patterns 300 were to be picked up, along with 64 force and 41 energy beam buoys, to reinforce the defenses in Cain. Two Empresarios, one Deflector, and eight Imperial Waves were to stay behind in Geode until the rest of the fleet cleared the system. They were to bloody the nose of any fresh Axis warp assault during their wait. As for the three Interiors coming back from Smelter, Jocelin gave new orders. They were to transit Com-27, Geode, Binary Code, and Laser Burn at full speed in order to reach Cain. In this instance it was better to have three ships on the defense with burned out engines than lose them in the dark to Axis forces or running out of supplies in Com-28, a trackless void with only a warp point to its name. As for the two Type A frigates there wasn’t time to repair their systems and were scuttled on the spot. Regarding the captured and converted small station over Geode 3-B it was going to be destroyed. Instead of a nuke the station’s thrusters were programmed to fire in separate directions at full power. The crew watched from departing pinnaces as the station began to buckle from the stress, support girders breaking and bending like a massive windstorm was at work. What resulted was that the weak-hulled construct lost internal reinforcement, literally having a broken spine as it fell out of its orbit, eventually coming to a crash landing on the moon’s surface. Now freed from Hokum oversight, the Axis colonists began the laborious process of building a new station. It wasn’t long before they received help in their endeavor. Inside the Comensal colonial enclave on Elotoshani Prime the morning tranquility was about to be shattered. Instead of calm orderliness System Admiral Wanfel found barely constrained chaos at the Science Development Bureau building. He sought out and immediately found his adjutant, Prime Commander Konset. “What is going on, Commander?” “A sharp, twisting knife in the gut, Admiral,” said the charged up Commander. “Everything appeared normal just fifteen minutes ago. Then the databases began to crash and the firewalls are down. Every attempt to reestablish them has met with failure. Our security software is only slowing this attack. We’re now in the process of physically removing the datacores and isolating them in casks.” Wanfel saw for himself several technicians rolling several large, lead-lined casks towards one of the datacore archive rooms. “Even the archives, Konset?” “Even those, Admiral. Until we can secure all the wireless networks we don’t dare let those cores have access to them.” Wanfel walked briskly to his office with Konset in tow. Only a blinking action light drew his attention to the screen on his desk. A priority message awaited his attention. It was a log of messages that the SDB received from the space communications network. One of them had the seal of the First Leader. After authenticating his identification Wanfel read the message, hands clenching into fists. “Have you seen this?” the senior asked of his junior. “Yes sir, just as I got the first reports of irregularities. We’re the only two that have seen it. Clearly it has to be a master forgery.” “Yes, Konset, it has to be, for in no way could a First Leader order the erasure of all R&D datacores,” Wanfel seethed. It was worse than that for the message didn’t tell the two officers to destroy the data, but informed them. An override program had came along with the message, and with codes supposedly only known by the First Leader began the process that had sent the SDB on its frantic effort to save what it can. A malicious thought occurred to Wanfel. He left his office with Konset in tow, making for the ASP monitoring room. He went up to the security’s manager office so that he could look out from the bay window at the huge screen that dominated the workstation space below. Subdivided to display locations near or inside the conclave Wanfel had the manager change the views. Now he witnessed the activity in twelve Elotoshani laboratories across the planet. He did not like what he saw. “It looks like the Aboms are celebrating,” said Konset. “They’re not permitted to do that in the labs.” Indeed the Eloto scientists, technicians, and their assistants were not only drinking vintage liquor but also what had to been food cooked right in their own labs, undoubtedly smuggled in over a period of days if not longer. Wanfel’s eye went from view to view, his fingers plucking at the fine hair at the divide between two boney segments of his chin. “What are they looking at?” The security manager had his workers find out. “Admiral,” he finally said, “they’re looking at raw data streams of our efforts to stop the database collapse.” A twitch and a jerk by Wanfel pulled out some of the hair he had been plucking at, the pain bringing his mind into focus. “Those blasphemous abominations! Desecrating not only our work but also Providence by their mere existence!” He looked at Konset and the security manager. “The First Leader will give the proper orders on what to do to this abomination race. For now we can dispense punishment to those aboms disobeying our rules.” He swept his hand in front of him, like he was wiping the big screen clean. “I take full responsibility. I want all twelve of those labs gassed now. All other Eloto R&D establishments are to be evacuated and razed to the ground. Not even their basements will remain.” “Immediately, Admiral,” and with that Konset left to fulfill those actions assigned to him. As for the security manager he pulled out a key he kept around his neck on a chain and inserted it into a lock he had on his desk. He turned it and then entered a password on his work terminal. Within twenty seconds of issuing the electronic commands all twelve labs were locked down with the ventilation systems pumping in black smoke. Wanfel watched, eager to see the Eloto writhing on the floor as the interior of their lungs were coated by slick, oily residue. After a full two minutes nothing happened, aside from the Eloto not eating or drinking anymore. Wanfel was perplexed, ordering that the black smoke be increased. Two minutes after that there was still no sign of the four-legged freaks dying. It was becoming hard to see them, but the infrared view showed them quite well and kicking. “Hey, Wanfel,” came an Eloto voice speaking perfectly fluent Comensal from one of the observed labs. “The condemned in both our societies are allowed an uninterrupted meal before facing death. Now why don’t you be so kind and send some of your groundpounders in here with some fresh fried meat and wine? Your black smoke has ruined the flavor of our food and drink.” “I’ll show you fresh fried, you impudent wretch!” Wanfel yelled aloud, startling everyone in earshot. “Burn them!” The security manager sent fresh commands. Troops stationed at each lab opened murder holes located in the ceilings and shoved flamethrower nozzles through them. After twenty minutes of firing the order was given to stop for there was no one left in the labs to kill. “Collect and incinerate their remains,” said the Admiral, his bloodlust and frustration sated… for now. “I want the senior abom R&D directors interrogated. They somehow found a way to neutralize our black smoke. They’re going to tell us the secret, or watch their families die right in front of them, one by one.” Chapter 4.75 First Leader Grandous looked critically at the three government officials in his ornate office. The first was Director-General Qeron of the Anti-Abomination Security Police (ASP). Befitting of the position he held this Comensal expressed no emotion on his boney face. Not so for Executive Director Canso of the Science Coordination Office. She showed her restlessness by tugging on the fine strands of purple hair that grew out of the merging points of bone plates on her chin. That left the representative from the AFC Strategic Planning Office, Prime Commander Arnken. He waited with rapt attention that would do a fleet academy cadet proud. Grandous fixed his gaze on Qeron while rolling a most officious pen in his fingers. An artifact passed on from one First Leader to the next, this pen was used to sign executive orders including promotions… and executions. “So, have there been any more incidents on Eletoshani Prime?” “No major incidents after the destruction of the Southwestern University, First Leader,” said Qeron. “Abom casualties are estimated at 5,000. We’re still searching for the remaining senior science associates. All Abom science centers associated with our R&D establishment on the planet have been closed down with all employees and their families moved to detention camps. Interrogations are ongoing. 1,000 additional ASP officers are en-route to Eletoshani Prime to assist in the management of the camps. First Leader, it will be advantageous to send more troops to the planet to safeguard the enclave against any mass insurrection.” “I am of the mind to exterminate that race for their treachery, Qeron. However, we can’t divert the resources and troops to make it a proper job of it. Operation Restoration has priority. The simple expedient of an antimatter bombardment will make the following cleanup an expense we can’t afford while the war is ongoing. As much as I hate to say it, we need their industrial production for as long as possible.” His eyes moved to Canso. “How much harm was done to our R&D database?” Canso found it in herself not to sound flustered. “The computer virus was most insidious, First Leader. Even civilian research databases have been comprised. We’re looking at a complete rebuild of thousands of databases. Until that’s done all projects are at a standstill.” “Can’t we use the archive storage to get back on track?” Grandous asked. “Surely not all of them have been corrupted.” “First Leader, given the planning that the Abom Eletoshani invested in their computer virus we can’t even trust the archives. We could spend months on development of new systems and general research only to find out that base values and calculations were wrong. Fixing hidden flaws and defects will squander months of effort.” Grandous narrowed his eyes ever so slightly while handling his pen, making it look as if he was about to write. “Either risk working with data that may be flawed or start from scratch. Is that what you’re saying, Canso?” “First Leader, you only need look at the long development time for the armed pinnace and escort shuttle programs for proof of Eleto sabotage. Even with the funding of those priority projects there were setbacks and intrinsic flaws that had to be corrected at great expense of materials and time. I speak for the other senior members of the SCO. Starting fresh will eliminate any lingering contamination from the Eleto.” Canso wondered where she found the conviction and sincerity for her reply. She was thankful that she didn’t faint from the intimidation she felt while in the First Leader’s presence. The look on Grandous’ face betrayed nothing as he pulled a sheet of plaspaper from a small stack on his desk and affixed his signature to it. “As it happens I agree with you. The extraneous expense of using Eleto science will come to an end, as well as the mental enhancement project. Our predecessors showed how improvement to the race was achieved. All we have learned from those Eleto abominations was just how devious they can be. All Eleto test subjects are to be destroyed immediately and all scientists assigned to the project reassigned to more promising lines of research.” “As you command, First Leader,” said a relieved Canso. Grandous’ eye was softer on Arnken. “Prime Commander, any evidence of new technologies being used by the CSF and its allies?” Arnken sat up straighter in his chair. “Just one, First Leader. The Aboms developed a new lasing module for their long-range and standard missiles. For the larger missiles it’s twice as efficient compared the ones we use. More important, this new efficiency allows for standard missile to be outfitted with lasing modules, giving them the same damage potential of our current lasing warheads for our capital missiles. One Abom base was captured during the assault to recover Bedrock, and we secured several standard missiles with the lasing heads for study.” “Good. Hopefully it won’t be too much of a reach to duplicate the technology.” Grandous pulled another sheet of plaspaper from a stack on his desk and signed it. “I authorize the development of the new lasing technology with the allocation of sufficient funds for all associated departments. Unfortunately we cannot devote more funds like we had done for antimatter technology. War production and expansion of the fleet take priority.” He handed the sheet to Arnken. “When practical, capture of enemy ships and facilities is to be conducted for the purpose of intelligence gathering. Especially in regards to newly observed technology.” Arnken took the sheet and carefully folded it, placing it in his uniform’s interior jacket pocket. “As you command, First Leader.” Grandous gave the first sheet he signed to Canso. “This is a list of researchers that have, in my opinion, been too Eleto in their thinking, too eager to accept what they had to offer. These researchers are to be demoted and placed in positions where they have no influence on official policy. If they prove to be too independent and willful,” he make eye contact with Qeron and Canso in turn, “they’ll be tried as enemies of the people and executed.” Canso felt a slight chill go down her spine. There were a few she knew off hand that matched the words Gandous used. It would be a blow to morale if the ASP became involved. What was unspoken but clearly said was for the SCO to clean its own house to the First Leader’s satisfaction without outside intervention. “As you command, First Leader. The changes will be made immediately.” In the Geode system all was still quite since the repulse of the Axis assault four days earlier. Six squadrons of Spear fighters orbited the warp point, rotated with fresh squadrons every 90 minutes. The detachment from Lord Admiral Jocelin’s Frontier Fleet – 8 CVS, 1 CAE, and 2 mine warfare ships – could only wait for the next attack or the order to break off and rejoin their retiring brethren. As it was the fleet, moving at .1c, was halfway of the way to the Binary Code warp point with the support group, previously at Geode-3-B, even closer to leaving. Much time was given to speculation if the Axis had shot its bolt and was waiting for reinforcements. After the expenditure of so many small assault ships it seemed unnatural for the Axis not to follow through with another attempt. Now that they’ve demonstrated possession of armed pinnaces it would make sense for a follow-up wave made up of such craft. Late on the fourth day all speculation came to an end. Six Axis battleships of class not seen before emerged from the warp point, all turning as soon as they emerged to achieve an exit vector. All fired mine-clearance charges from external racks, taking out seven patterns from one particular patch, and three weapon buoys were shot down by transit-addled improved point defense mounts. Three of the six Spear squadrons got their weapons on-line and fired full loads of FRAMs, taking out the shields and nearly half the armor on three battleships. The detachment, only four light-seconds from the warp point, only managed to get two Imperial Wave carriers active. Both Empresarios failed to arm the buoys, and thus the three damaged battleships transited back to Com-30. In their place came three National Powers and three Wave Riders. They carried mine clearance charges as well, firing them even as the other three CAP squadrons maneuvered into position with six more, crashed launched half a minute earlier, closed in. Due to the range the three remaining BBs from the first wave fired their stabilized HET lasers at an Empresario, scouring nearly half of its armor away. Also displayed was the use of jammers on all three ships, making the fighters fire as singletons. Two CAP squadrons dispersed their fire, hitting all nine ships in turn with one extra for each National Power. One Empresario became active, priming and firing 45 force and 30 energy beam weapon buoys. All the second wave ships lost shields and sustained light internal damage with the first wave battleship trio taking the hits in stride, shields still holding. At this point the Hokum detachment had moved to 5 light-second range while the third wave, comprised of six Stalwart cruisers, made its appearance. The six fresh Spear squadrons attacked, practically denuding the first-wave battleship trio of armor and making inroads on the shields and armor of the second and third wave ships. Just one CAP squadron remained with unfired weapons. The rest of the unused buoy weapons, 36 force and 22 energy, were released and fired on the 15 ships. More armor and internal systems were lost, but not on the first wave battleships for they had overload dampeners to take the energy beam hits. The detachment kept moving away, leaving the last CAP squadron to greet the light cruisers of the fourth wave. As for the jamming battleship trio it transited back to Com-30 and thus did not participate as the second and third wave ships entered the targeted minefield patch. All three National Powers and Wave Riders took three patterns each with the Stalwarts taking two. Predictably the mainline battleships took internal damage, and had the Empresarios set the mines to maximum saturation there would’ve been six less ships in the Axis navy. The Stalwarts still had some armor and the Wave Riders, while slowed from energy beam hits, withstood what was dished out. With nothing better to shoot at the CAP squadron fired on the Stalwarts as singletons. While this didn’t have the gratification of destroying a whole ship it did make for a more expensive repair bill, taking them out of the fight for at least a month. Since they were in the blind spot of the ships in question, as well as the Wave Riders, not one Spear fighter was lost in the whole engagement. Moving at full speed the detachment would leave the system in eight days. Engine damage was guaranteed, but speed had to be maintained even in the neighboring Binary Code system. Only in Laser Burn could the detachment, let alone the Frontier Fleet, slow down to such cruising speed that their abused engines would allow. Even now light minefields were being set up around two of Laser Burn’s warp points. One group of ships that didn’t have to worry about engine burnout was the Balcony and three Legion armed pinnace carriers. Based on battleship-sized freighter hulls, the Legions still had 45 Garrochas embarked with the Balcony having 25 regular pinnaces. Currently 12 days shy of the warp point the Legions would be joined and then surpassed by the detachment in 4 days’ time. However the AFC had other plans. The Fast Walker scout assigned to the detachment trailed 4 light-minutes behind. Detecting an enemy drive field signature the scout turned about and investigated. It was revealed to be a cluster of nine ships, comprised of three fleet carrier hulls and six heavy cruiser hulls. Having done its duty the scout went to full speed to rejoin its larger brethren. Also moving at full speed the Axis ships would intercept the Legions roughly halfway towards the Geode/Binary Code warp point. The detachment commander contacted Jocelin via the still-intact comm buoy chain, asking and receiving permission to defend the Legions. Had there been significant Spear losses it was likely Jocelin would’ve declined. 144 Spears, 45 Garrochas, and 25 pinnaces formed a potent defense, and any damage that would slow the Axis drive to reclaim their territory would be welcomed. Fatefully the combatants drew closer and closer in the intervening four days. The Hokum carriers pulled away from the slower freighter-hulled ships so that they were just outside SBM range when contact was made. Not one missile came from the Axis formation for two minutes, and nor did any fighter or small craft belch from catapults and launch bays. The detachment commander had his fighters and pinnaces launched at this point when the unexpected happened. Slowing their overtake of the pinnace carriers, the Axis ships highlighted one of them with fire control radars with two carrier hulls and three cruisers opening up with spinal force beams at a range of 7.5 light-seconds. Two beams hit, reducing the selected Legion’s shielding by 50%. The Spears, Garrochas and regular pinnaces came about, adjusting speeds so as to form a coherent force. Retaining their slow overtake the Axis ships fired again, this time scoring four hits that brought down the shields and impacted the armor of the Legion. With the closure rate factored in and reduction of speed the Hokum strike wave stayed out of point defense range while the Axis scored six more hits on the ship in the interim, nearly breaching the armor. Unwavering and committed the Axis ships kept to their course, rewarding the Hokum strike with fighters of their own. 72 Hatchets were catapulted into space, and backing them up was the jamming provided by an escort cruiser. Combat at point-blank range centered on the ships with those Spears and Garrochas in the blind spot of one target were defensively engaged by another. The Axis ships had laser-armed SBMs on their external racks, and with their certain demise about to happen they used them on the assailed Legion. With one final salvo of spinal force beam fire added in the ship’s large shuttle bays were destroyed. Paying the price for their arrogance and overconfidence the Axis force was destroyed completely. Going down with them were 65 Spears and 2 Garrochas. Jocelin, reading the reports sent from the detachment, was tempted to think it was another example of blinding aggression on the part of the Axis. Having witnessed the number of Spears on the CAP it should’ve been clear to the Axis that there were far more fighters involved. A modicum of patience would have seen the detachment leave without incurring combat. Then he considered his fighter losses. In total the Frontier Fleet lost 147 Spear fighters from an initial 396. With engine damage already sustained in the desperate bid to reach the Cain system before the Axis it would take months just to bring up Frontier Fleet back to strength, let alone refit it a timely manner. The mobile yards and repair ships were still busy converting and repairing captured Axis ships from the Battle of Cain, and the two repair ships that came with the fleet would be immediately tasked with uncrating fighters to replenish empty hanger bays. Still, there was some good news. The fleet’s pair of Oxgoad tugs was on hand to tow those ships unable to maintain a sustained speed of .05c. Moreover the 9 Leash tugs, originally used to tow the Type A defense frigates, were more than capable of pulling pairs of engine-denuded destroyers at cruising speed. All that remained was figuring out how fast the Axis was willing to go in their bid to reclaim lost territory. It seemed unlikely now that the forces in Geode would engage in a ‘hot pursuit’ after being handed a harsh defeat. As for Bedrock the Axis could go through Tire Iron, taking on Janus’ Expeditionary Fleet, in a gambit to recover Fallowed Field and Crimson Expanse. Or, in Jocelin’s mind, take a more practical route of going through Circuit Run, Laser Burn, Cain and then into Crimson Expanse. Liberating another world so soon could only embolden the Axis to push even harder. Jocelin hoped that by going so fast the Axis would trip over their boney feet and give the Imperium the break it needed for a counterattack. Region General Ronon took in a lungful of night air and followed it with a half-cup of lukewarm coffee. The command post for the ISA Expeditionary Corps had relocated to an island in the equatorial zone of Crimson Expanse. Defense from Comensal sappers was greatly enhanced. Combined with the great dislike for high humidity and fear of a slew of predatory sea animals that populated the tropics made the island one of few safe zones where a Hokum can get a full night’s rest. Ronon, however, couldn’t allow himself that luxury. Back inside Ronon felt the relief of air conditioning yet the smell of sweat persisted. Banks of consoles were manned by technicians, each responding to a request or issuing orders to units both on the ground and in orbit. The lighting was low, kept company by the murmur of overlapping voices. Ronon look and listened at a few consoles before heading for an interior office. Once there he found Professor Alba and Novillero Phes, his Chief of Intelligence, going over some notes. “If you’re looking for coffee,” said Alba without turning, “I took the privilege of tenure and took the last cup.” “You could have at least cleaned the pot, tenure or not,” chided Ronon. “The politics of coffee is the same in university as it is in the army. Phes, has there been any noticeable changes to Comensal activity for the past two weeks?” “Yes, for those groups we’ve been able to follow,” said the officer, holding pads in three of his four hands. “The modified Eagle Eye and Talon drones are performing night time harassment raids, dropping a mix of butterfly mines and noisemakers on Comensal camps and trails. With less sleep and deepening fatigue they’re making hasty and poorly thought-out actions. At least three platoon-sized groups have been wiped out in situations that could’ve been easily avoided. No counter-measures have been reported yet, but it’s guaranteed they’ll seek the cover of thick forested areas to hide from the drones.” “To hide from our eyes they’re willing to face teeth. The planet is far from tame, Novillero. There’s all sort of beasts waiting for the colonists in those forests.” Ronon then focused on Alba. “Professor, you believe this will make the Comensal colonists break down?” The short, fine fur on the top of Alba’s head was decidedly more grey now, the product of less sleep and relentless thinking. “Despite their proclamations of hardiness and living in the wild there have been signs of deprivation appearing among the colonists. They’re running out of whatever rations they’ve squirreled away. Living off the land isn’t providing nearly enough for their nutritional needs. Native fish and fruits don’t have the caloric density for the time spent collecting them. Combine a lack of sleep, force to seek shelter in claustrophobia-inducing forests filled with predatory wildlife, and slow starvation you have all the fixings for doubt and self-examination. If the groups were subjecting with this treatment results in defections and submission then we should apply it on a larger scale.” “I would agree with you, Alba. But I just received news from Tire Iron, and it’s weighing heavily on my mind.” “Tire Iron? Surely our allies…” “It’s not general knowledge. Five Gods know what will happen when it does.” Ronon pulled a chair and sat across from Alba. “As part of my inner circle you should know. The Axis started a major counteroffensive and ejected Commonwealth forces from Bedrock. Combined to what happened in Geode we’re now threatened from two directions. If we lose control of both Tire Iron and Cain the Expeditionary Corps will be trapped on this planet.” “Do you have the authority to call for an evacuation?” Alba asked briskly. “If they break into Cain our most direct route back to Whel will be cut.” “It’s out of my hands, Alba. Only the Imperator of the Army can make that call, and even then the Emperor has the final say.” Alba shook her head, her back pair of hands involuntarily making the gesture of denial. “If we stay, then I can guarantee that the Axis will bring in as many troops it will take to destroy us. Their history is replete with stories of ground campaigns that had no restraint whatsoever. They would blanket entire continents with their ‘black smoke’ if it would help their cause. Plus their penchant of collecting trophies…” “I wouldn’t worry, Professor,” said Phes. “Emperor Valsur values our lives far more than holding onto potentially untenable real estate. We can pull out our troops relatively quickly.” Ronon laced the fingers of his front hands. “That is true, Novillero. It will mean abandoning and destroying all of our heavy equipment and vehicles. The Troubadours don’t have the speed to run. We will have to use pinnaces and Hostel personnel transports. It all boils down as to which route the Axis will apply its strongest effort. If through Tire Iron then we have the time to evacuate. If it’s Cain then it will be a much longer route, if it all.” “There’s another factor, General,” Alba asserted. “People being people, word of the Axis recovery of Bedrock will filter through the ranks. In turn, the Comensal colonists will learn about it as well, either through intercepted in-the-clear radio chatter, captured datapads and computers, and… prisoner interrogations. Should they believe the evidence they’ve collected then the colonists will redouble their efforts.” “We’ll make them more concerned about staying alive than conducting attacks against us.” Ronon stood up and consulted an interactive map on the wall. “For starters we’ll initiate a campaign that will burn out all the fields of wild wheat near known enclaves of colonists. In conjunction with the harassment tactics we’ll reduce them to a diet of eating raw ferns, roots, and tree bark. If the Five Gods give us a poor pair of pairs by having the Axis recover the planet then we’ll leave them with colonists that will be unfit for labor for months.” “I hope we get the results we’re seeking, General,” said Alba guardedly. “However, I cringe to think what a broken, starved Comensal turns out to look like after all this. We may end up wishing we had bombed the planet to oblivion." 12/12/11 updated 10/15/12 |