Counterstrike (Black Fleet Trilogy, Book 3) by Joshua Dalzelle Page B

decides to go poking around on something that doesn’t concern them. Wolfe, you’re dismissed. Have one of our shuttles take you back to the Ares and then I want the Ninth to make way for the shipyards as well.”
    “Aye aye, sir,” Jackson said enthusiastically before walking off the bridge on Colonel Blake’s heels.
    ****
    “ Ares arriving!” The sound of dozens of boot heels slamming together as the large gathering of crew came to attention greeted Jackson as he walked in through the airlock hatch. He took a moment to look around and sucked in a deep breath of the familiar and unique brand of recycled air that was pumped through his ship.
    “At ease!” he called before walking over to where his XO and a surprise visitor were standing. “Captain Wright … to what do we owe the pleasure?”
    “I wanted to be here to greet you in person, sir,” Celesta Wright smiled. “I was also hoping you’d have time for a face-to-face debrief before the Ninth is called to action.”
    “No time like the present,” Jackson nodded. “Lieutenant Davis, please ask Commander Singh and Major Ortiz to join us in the command deck conference room. Captain Wright, if you’d please come with me.”
    “Aye, sir.” Davis turned on her heel and walked back towards where the large gathering of spacers was beginning to break up.
    “How are things aboard the Icarus , Captain?” Jackson asked as Celesta fell in step behind and to his right.
    “Very good, sir,” she said. “After the Battle of Nuovo Patria the crew has become more cohesive and is starting to trust in themselves and each other. Since then we’ve been running readiness drills around the clock to sharpen response times.”
    “And you took time away from your training regimen just to fly over and see me walk out of a shuttle?” Jackson arched an eyebrow at her.
    “Well—”
    “I’m not asking you to sell out a superior, Captain,” Jackson almost laughed. “As the person who has spent the most time serving closely with me I’m sure Admiral Marcum felt you’d be uniquely qualified to determine my mental state after returning from direct contact with an unknown alien species.”
    “There may have been some conversations to that effect,” Celesta admitted. “Just so you know, sir, I wasn’t entirely comfortable with the idea.”
    “But orders are orders,” Jackson nodded. “I’m not upset, Captain. It’s a prudent step taken by a man who has a lot on his shoulders. I’d have been disappointed had he not taken some sort of steps, although I’m a bit insulted by his lack of subtly.”
    “Yes, sir,” Celesta floundered.
    “We’ll begin serious mission prep within the next few days once the Fleet tech crews get the package opened and inspected,” Jackson went on. “But I’ll be honest … this is not going to be an easy task even with the help of Colonel Blake and his squadron.”
    “How not easy is it going to be, sir?”
    “It’s going to make the first Battle of Xi’an seem like a training flight,” Jackson grimaced as he walked into his office. “And that’s before the hard part begins.”
    ****
    “Is everyone online?” Jackson asked, standing at the head of the table.
    “Yes, sir,” Ensign Hayashi said from the seat to Jackson’s left. “All participants have linked in and are live.”
    “Very well then,” Jackson spoke up, addressing the camera near the back of the room. “Thank you all for joining in on this meeting on such short notice. Originally I planned to have us all meet face to face on the New Sierra Shipyards platform, but time is short and we all have a lot of work to do.
    “By now you’ve all received the technical overview of our mission—”
    “About that, Captain,” Admiral Marcum spoke up. Jackson nodded politely for the admiral to continue. “The most glaring issue we have here could end this mission before it starts. The primary objective is thought to be just over eight thousand lightyears away. As you