leaves one more out on patrol.”
“At least the cruisers are all still in relatively the same positions,” Commander Willard said.
“It would be nice to know what, if anything, still resides within the battle platform’s three main bays,” Lieutenant Telles added.
“I’m betting nothing,” Jessica said.
Both men looked at her.
“Why would you have anything parked inside?” Jessica said in defense, noticing their quizzical looks.
“Resupply, refueling, repairs,” Lieutenant Telles said. “Shall I go on?”
“They’ve got to have that kind of stuff down to a science. In and out quick, you know? I mean, a ship can’t defend itself when it’s inside one of those bays.”
“It does not need to,” Lieutenant Telles pointed out. “The platform is more than capable…”
“No captain would want to be cooped up inside a hangar bay for any longer than they had to be,” Jessica insisted, interrupting Telles. “Besides, the more firepower you have out in the open, the more you have to defend yourself with.”
“Perhaps,” Lieutenant Telles admitted. “But those bays are large enough to hold at least one cruiser each. A sudden addition of three cruisers to the Jung fleet could turn the tide.”
“As could another twelve frigates,” Commander Willard added.
This time it was Telles and Jessica who looked at Commander Willard.
“A tight fit, I grant you, but there is enough room in there for four frigates each.” Commander Willard looked at them both, noticing their expressions. “Hey, I’m just trying to think of all possible scenarios.”
“Well, we won’t know for sure until we poke them with a stick,” Jessica said.
Lieutenant Telles raised an eyebrow. “Interesting expression… and quite accurate.”
Commander Willard looked at his colleagues. “Then we’re agreed?”
“Agreed,” Lieutenant Telles said with a nod.
“Let’s do it,” Jessica added.
Commander Willard tapped his comm-set to open the mic. “Captain, XO.”
“ Go ahead, Lieutenant, ” Captain Scott answered over Commander Willard’s comm-set.
“Changes to the positions of all targets are minimal. Only minor adjustments to the battle plan are required. It shouldn’t be any problem, sir.”
“ Then we’re go? ”
“Yes, sir. Combat recommends we go.”
“ Very well, ” Nathan answered.
Commander Willard looked at Jessica and Telles again. “Here we go.”
* * *
“Sir,” the general’s aide called from the doorway to the general’s office.
General Bacca continued to stare at the barren-looking moon and the gas giant behind it, both of them hovering just outside the massive porthole behind his desk. He knew that they were merely images of what was outside the massive battle platform, conveyed by one of the hundreds of external cameras. After all, despite the fact that his office was located along the most outboard section of the platform, there were still at least ten meters of hull layers and mechanical spaces between the air in his office and the cold, dark void of space that lay outside.
“General?” the aide called again.
“What is it?” the general finally answered.
“A patrol on the far side of Coralis reported a jump flash. The size of the flash and energy signature are nearly identical to the one that was detected jumping around Earth during the Aurora’s attack.”
“Interesting,” the general said. “Then they are aware that this station is here.”
“As well as the rest of the task group,” the aide added.
The general’s eyes darted back and forth as he thought. “They plan to attack, and soon.”
“Surely they would not be so foolish.”
“The presence of this scout confirms my suspicions that the Aurora has defeated the Ton-Tori.”
“Impossible!” the aide exclaimed. “Even with jump drives, it would take a fleet of ships, maybe even an entire armada, to defeat a battle platform.”
“We said the same of our fleet back in Sol,” General Bacca
“At least the cruisers are all still in relatively the same positions,” Commander Willard said.
“It would be nice to know what, if anything, still resides within the battle platform’s three main bays,” Lieutenant Telles added.
“I’m betting nothing,” Jessica said.
Both men looked at her.
“Why would you have anything parked inside?” Jessica said in defense, noticing their quizzical looks.
“Resupply, refueling, repairs,” Lieutenant Telles said. “Shall I go on?”
“They’ve got to have that kind of stuff down to a science. In and out quick, you know? I mean, a ship can’t defend itself when it’s inside one of those bays.”
“It does not need to,” Lieutenant Telles pointed out. “The platform is more than capable…”
“No captain would want to be cooped up inside a hangar bay for any longer than they had to be,” Jessica insisted, interrupting Telles. “Besides, the more firepower you have out in the open, the more you have to defend yourself with.”
“Perhaps,” Lieutenant Telles admitted. “But those bays are large enough to hold at least one cruiser each. A sudden addition of three cruisers to the Jung fleet could turn the tide.”
“As could another twelve frigates,” Commander Willard added.
This time it was Telles and Jessica who looked at Commander Willard.
“A tight fit, I grant you, but there is enough room in there for four frigates each.” Commander Willard looked at them both, noticing their expressions. “Hey, I’m just trying to think of all possible scenarios.”
“Well, we won’t know for sure until we poke them with a stick,” Jessica said.
Lieutenant Telles raised an eyebrow. “Interesting expression… and quite accurate.”
Commander Willard looked at his colleagues. “Then we’re agreed?”
“Agreed,” Lieutenant Telles said with a nod.
“Let’s do it,” Jessica added.
Commander Willard tapped his comm-set to open the mic. “Captain, XO.”
“ Go ahead, Lieutenant, ” Captain Scott answered over Commander Willard’s comm-set.
“Changes to the positions of all targets are minimal. Only minor adjustments to the battle plan are required. It shouldn’t be any problem, sir.”
“ Then we’re go? ”
“Yes, sir. Combat recommends we go.”
“ Very well, ” Nathan answered.
Commander Willard looked at Jessica and Telles again. “Here we go.”
* * *
“Sir,” the general’s aide called from the doorway to the general’s office.
General Bacca continued to stare at the barren-looking moon and the gas giant behind it, both of them hovering just outside the massive porthole behind his desk. He knew that they were merely images of what was outside the massive battle platform, conveyed by one of the hundreds of external cameras. After all, despite the fact that his office was located along the most outboard section of the platform, there were still at least ten meters of hull layers and mechanical spaces between the air in his office and the cold, dark void of space that lay outside.
“General?” the aide called again.
“What is it?” the general finally answered.
“A patrol on the far side of Coralis reported a jump flash. The size of the flash and energy signature are nearly identical to the one that was detected jumping around Earth during the Aurora’s attack.”
“Interesting,” the general said. “Then they are aware that this station is here.”
“As well as the rest of the task group,” the aide added.
The general’s eyes darted back and forth as he thought. “They plan to attack, and soon.”
“Surely they would not be so foolish.”
“The presence of this scout confirms my suspicions that the Aurora has defeated the Ton-Tori.”
“Impossible!” the aide exclaimed. “Even with jump drives, it would take a fleet of ships, maybe even an entire armada, to defeat a battle platform.”
“We said the same of our fleet back in Sol,” General Bacca
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