Counterstrike (Black Fleet Trilogy, Book 3) by Joshua Dalzelle Page A
Authors: Joshua Dalzelle
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into the DeLonges System,” Blake said. “We’ll arrive first, make contact with Admiral Marcum, and then the freighter will hop in two hours behind us.”
“That works,” Jackson nodded. “Hopefully things are more or less in the same state of fucked up as they were when we left.”
“See … I knew there was an optimist in there somewhere,” Blake smiled and engaged the ship’s FTL drive.
Chapter 11
“I gotta tell you, Wolfe … I’m not entirely sure how comfortable everyone is going to be with all the alliances you’ve taken upon yourself to build.” Admiral Marcum leaned back in his seat.
“I wouldn’t exactly call this an alliance, Admiral,” Jackson said. “The Vruahn are offering some material and logistical support, but any military cooperation is still being limited to Colonel Blake’s squadron.” They were aboard the Amsterdam and waiting for the Vruahn freighter, which was now overdue by twenty minutes. Marcum had insisted they dock with his flagship despite Jackson’s protests that he wanted to return to the Ares .
“How have things been here? Any new political upheaval?”
“Nothing much more than when you left a week ago,” Marcum shrugged. “We don’t have instantaneous communications like your new friends, so a lot of planets will have gotten the news from the com drones not too long ago. I’m sure we’ll start getting some movement one way or another within the next few days.”
“I’d imagine President McKellar will have to reassert his authority somehow,” Jackson said. “And soon.”
“You’re not wrong there,” Marcum nodded. “It’s been quiet on that front since you left. That’s not necessarily a good thing. McKellar isn’t one to give up power so easily and certainly not for something as petty as the survival of the species.”
Jackson resisted the urge to roll his eyes at his superior’s joke and instead looked over at the wall display that was currently showing the DeLonges System and updated data on all the ships in it. He quickly found the Ninth Squadron and the Ares , his spirits buoyed by the little blue dot representing his ship flying in formation with her sister ships. He was also impressed by the order Marcum had asserted on the chaos he’d left behind. All the ships were now flying in formations and organized by type, all ready to be quickly redeployed into strike packages once they finalized their plans.
“Has Fourth Fleet come over yet or are they still staying loyal to New America?” Jackson asked as he noticed a lot of the dots around New Sierra and DeLonges were red.
“About half and half,” Marcum said. “But the commander of the shipyards has turned over control to us, as well as the superintendent of the weapons depot. Both gave up without us having to deploy any NOVA teams. Those were the two assets we absolutely needed to secure. I’m not going to lose any stomach lining over a few captains that feel more loyalty to their political connections than to their oaths as officers. Yes?”
Jackson turned and saw a junior enlisted spacer had just walked into the room and snapped to attention.
“The alien freighter has arrived in the system, sir.”
“Very good. You’re dismissed,” Marcum stood up. “Come on, Wolfe. Let’s go greet our guests and then you can quit dancing around and get back to your ship.”
“Yes, sir.”
As it turned out, the freighter crew didn’t think much of their hospitality. After completely ignoring their overtures to speak directly, a plain text message came in saying the cargo had been deposited in orbit over the eighth planet before the ship vanished from their sensors.
“Don’t take it too personally, Admiral,” Blake said. “I’ve worked with them for decades and they barely talk to me.”
“Whatever,” Marcum growled. “Have your squadron get out there and grab the package, Colonel. Bring it back to the shipyards before any of the COs out here gets stupid and
“That works,” Jackson nodded. “Hopefully things are more or less in the same state of fucked up as they were when we left.”
“See … I knew there was an optimist in there somewhere,” Blake smiled and engaged the ship’s FTL drive.
Chapter 11
“I gotta tell you, Wolfe … I’m not entirely sure how comfortable everyone is going to be with all the alliances you’ve taken upon yourself to build.” Admiral Marcum leaned back in his seat.
“I wouldn’t exactly call this an alliance, Admiral,” Jackson said. “The Vruahn are offering some material and logistical support, but any military cooperation is still being limited to Colonel Blake’s squadron.” They were aboard the Amsterdam and waiting for the Vruahn freighter, which was now overdue by twenty minutes. Marcum had insisted they dock with his flagship despite Jackson’s protests that he wanted to return to the Ares .
“How have things been here? Any new political upheaval?”
“Nothing much more than when you left a week ago,” Marcum shrugged. “We don’t have instantaneous communications like your new friends, so a lot of planets will have gotten the news from the com drones not too long ago. I’m sure we’ll start getting some movement one way or another within the next few days.”
“I’d imagine President McKellar will have to reassert his authority somehow,” Jackson said. “And soon.”
“You’re not wrong there,” Marcum nodded. “It’s been quiet on that front since you left. That’s not necessarily a good thing. McKellar isn’t one to give up power so easily and certainly not for something as petty as the survival of the species.”
Jackson resisted the urge to roll his eyes at his superior’s joke and instead looked over at the wall display that was currently showing the DeLonges System and updated data on all the ships in it. He quickly found the Ninth Squadron and the Ares , his spirits buoyed by the little blue dot representing his ship flying in formation with her sister ships. He was also impressed by the order Marcum had asserted on the chaos he’d left behind. All the ships were now flying in formations and organized by type, all ready to be quickly redeployed into strike packages once they finalized their plans.
“Has Fourth Fleet come over yet or are they still staying loyal to New America?” Jackson asked as he noticed a lot of the dots around New Sierra and DeLonges were red.
“About half and half,” Marcum said. “But the commander of the shipyards has turned over control to us, as well as the superintendent of the weapons depot. Both gave up without us having to deploy any NOVA teams. Those were the two assets we absolutely needed to secure. I’m not going to lose any stomach lining over a few captains that feel more loyalty to their political connections than to their oaths as officers. Yes?”
Jackson turned and saw a junior enlisted spacer had just walked into the room and snapped to attention.
“The alien freighter has arrived in the system, sir.”
“Very good. You’re dismissed,” Marcum stood up. “Come on, Wolfe. Let’s go greet our guests and then you can quit dancing around and get back to your ship.”
“Yes, sir.”
As it turned out, the freighter crew didn’t think much of their hospitality. After completely ignoring their overtures to speak directly, a plain text message came in saying the cargo had been deposited in orbit over the eighth planet before the ship vanished from their sensors.
“Don’t take it too personally, Admiral,” Blake said. “I’ve worked with them for decades and they barely talk to me.”
“Whatever,” Marcum growled. “Have your squadron get out there and grab the package, Colonel. Bring it back to the shipyards before any of the COs out here gets stupid and
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