Crimson Worlds Collection II Page 17

  Chapter 15

  Conference Room

  AS Lexington

  Outer reaches of Alpha 327 System

  Cain walked swiftly to the briefing room, his dress uniform for once a model of crisp perfection. His shuttle had just docked a few minutes earlier. He knew he was the last one to arrive, so he’d come right to the conference room, without making any stops. His staff would see to his baggage. He thought what an odd journey his life had been, and he wondered if he’d ever get used to things like having a staff. Certainly life was simpler when he had less rank and fewer perks. He wondered, was I happier then?

  He was deep in thought as he strode down the corridor, and he barely noticed at first that he had reached the door. The two Marine guards flanking the entryway snapped to attention when they saw him. They had that awed look in their eyes. Cain knew it was admiration, but he still hated it. He wanted to take them aside and tell them the truth…that he’d gotten these stars and medals sending thousands of wide-eyed young recruits like them to horrible deaths. But he just nodded and shook himself out of his self-indulgent musings.

  He walked through the door and stopped just inside, stiffening to attention and raising his arm to salute. He had two platinum stars on each collar, but the rank gathered in the room was almost overwhelming.

  “Let’s skip the formalities, Erik.” Holm’s voice was the same as ever, though there was something else there, possibly a little more fatigue. “We don’t have any junior officers here to perform for.”

  “Yes, sir.” Cain smiled. “It’s good to see you, general.” It had been half a year since the two had been together.

  “It’s good to see you too, Erik.” Holm sighed softly. “I wish the circumstances were less dire, but then we never seem to get that, do we?”

  “No sir.” Cain smiled darkly. He glanced around the table. Admirals Garret and Compton were seated next to each other. Garret was at the head of the table with Holm to his left and Compton to his right. “Admiral Garret, Admiral Compton.” Cain nodded as he spoke, thinking it was an informal way to greet two fleet admirals.

  “Erik.” Garret nodded back with a warm smile. The two had known each other by reputation for years, but they’d formed a friendship after Cain led the team that rescued Garret from Gavin Stark’s prison. “It’s good to see you as always.”

  Compton nodded as well. “That goes for me too, Erik. I know things have been rough out on the Rim. You and Admiral West have borne the brunt of it so far, I’m afraid.” Compton and Cain had been part of the cabal of officers that effected Garret’s release and intervened for the rebelling colonists. Since then they hadn’t seen much of each other, but the trust and mutual respect remained.

  Colonel Sparks sat next to General Holm. The Corps’ chief science officer and engineer nodded as well, and Cain returned the gesture. Erik was anxious to see what Sparks had to say. His people had sent back a lot of video and other evidence…including some actual bits and pieces of the enemy combatants. They’d paid heavily for it all, and Cain hoped Sparks and his team got good use out of it. If the Alliance was going to win this war, his people were going to need some help from the boys in the labcoats.

  As Cain walked to his seat he noticed two other men sitting at the opposite end of the table. One he recognized immediately. “Mr. Vance, I’m surprised to see you. I hope you’ve been well.” Roderick Vance was the head of Martian Security. He’d helped Cain in the mission to rescue Admiral Garret, and later he’d provided clandestine assistance to the rebellions.

  “Indeed I am well, General Cain.” His face was unreadable, as always. “I wish better circumstances had renewed our acquaintance.” He gestured toward the man at his left. “Allow me to introduce Friederich Hofstader. Mr. Hofstader is the leading physicist in the CEL.”

  Cain was impressed. He was no scientist, but he knew that the leading physicist in the CEL was probably the top expert in the world. The Central European League was considerably ahead of the other powers in researching antimatter and sub-atomic particles, though the Alliance arguably had bragging rights on uncovering the mysteries of the warp gates. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Hofstader.” Cain had no idea what a CEL scientist was doing at the meeting – and with Roderick Vance, no less - but he figured he’d find out soon enough.

  “Thank you, General Cain. I assure you, your reputation has reached us in Neu-Brandenburg. It is an honor to meet you.” Hofstader was tall and thin, with sandy blond hair partially mixed with gray.

  Holm looked over at Cain. “How is Jim Teller?”

  Erik’s expression turned grim. “I think we salvaged enough of him for Sarah’s people to grow back the rest.” He paused, sighing softly. “He’s got a rough recovery ahead of him, but I think he’ll make it. He’s in medical stasis now…he really needs the facilities on Armstrong.”

  A sad look crept across Holm’s face. He’d seen too many good men and women chopped up on the battlefield. How many, he wondered, can one man endure? “He’s a good man. A tough man. He’ll pull through.”

  “I want to give him his star when he gets out of the hospital.” Cain stared over at Holm. “He’s earned it.”

  “I already approved it, Erik.”

  Cain forced a tiny smile. “Thank you, sir.”

  Garret stood at the end of the table and cleared his throat. “Well now that we are all here, I’d like to get started.” He paused for a few seconds until Cain sat down. “We all know we are facing a crisis the likes of which we’ve never seen. None of us have all of the information, however, which is why I called this strategy meeting. When we leave here, each of us will be fully apprised regarding our combined analysis of the situation.” He looked at Erik. “General Cain, let’s begin with a report from the front.”

  Cain had just taken his seat, but he put his hands on the arms of the chair and hoisted himself back up. His eyes paused on Vance and Hofstader for a few seconds. He wasn’t accustomed to giving military briefings with foreign nationals in the room, but he figured Admiral Garret knew what he was doing. “Thank you, admiral.” He glanced around the table. “As you already know, we mounted a significant defense on the planet Cornwall in the Zeta Bootis system. We committed most of 1st Brigade to the battle, under the command of Colonel Teller.” Cain glanced briefly at Holm. “Admiral West positioned her fleet in the adjacent XR-3 system, hoping to take advantage of the warp gate positioning to ambush the enemy armada.”

  Garret interrupted. “According to Admiral West’s report, that was your idea, Erik.” He let out a brief chuckle. “Am I going to have to give you a set of navy stars to go with those gaudy Marine things?”

  Cain started to reply, but Holm beat him to it. “Don’t go poaching my people Augustus.” He glanced over at Cain. “Besides, you have no idea how much of a pain in the ass he can be.”

  Cain smiled and looked at Garret. “I appreciate the offer, sir, but I’ll always be a Marine, I’m afraid.” He paused for few seconds then continued, “Seriously, sir. Admiral West and I may have worked on the plan together, but she executed it…and brilliantly, if I may presume to judge naval tactics.”

  “You may. I’ve only had time to partially review her report, but it appears our good Admiral West pulled off somewhat of a tactical masterpiece.” Garret nodded for Cain to continue.

  “Colonel Teller’s forces were very hard-pressed, but he was able to engage in a series of fighting withdrawals, taking advantage of the terrain.” Cain’s voice was becoming grimmer as he spoke…he’d seen the full casualty reports. “His tactics were perfect.” He paused, looking down at the table for a few seconds. “Unfortunately, he was badly wounded during the final stages of the battle. We are hopeful he will survive, but he faces a long recovery.”

  Cain was restless, and he was having a hard time standing still. The endless parade of dead and mangled friends had worn him down. For the first time, he wasn’t sure he could face it again…he didn’t know how he’d send another group of his brothers
and sisters into the meatgrinder. One thing he did know…if he sent another force into battle, he was going with them.

  “Admiral West’s forces took the enemy fleet utterly by surprise, and she was able to win a complete victory…though not without cost. Third Fleet suffered considerable losses, and Cambrai was damaged.” Cain glanced at Compton and Garret. “She feels she can conduct field repairs and keep the ship in the line.” Cambrai was West’s only capital ship…without her, Third Fleet would be a bad joke as a fighting force.

  “Admiral West is being reinforced, Erik.” It was Compton this time, but Cain knew he spoke for Garret. The two of them had been friends since their days in the Academy. “She’s getting two more capital ships, including Princeton.” Princeton was one of the newest ships in the fleet, a Yorktown class battleship with more firepower than West’s entire force.

  That’s good news, Erik thought. Two more battlegroups would make a huge impact on Third Fleet’s preparedness, even with the recent losses. “I’m very glad to hear that, sir. I’m sure she’s going to need them.”

  “Yes, I’m sure she will.” Garret this time, his expression grim. “I wish I could send her more, but we’ve got huge problems on our other borders.”

  Cain had heard that the CAC and Caliphate had mobilized, but he didn’t think he should go off on a tangent. Garret would address it, he was sure. “Admiral West’s victory gave us temporary control of the space around Cornwall. Her intervention came just in time to save Colonel Teller’s survivors, and she was able to evacuate them under fire and escape from the system before enemy naval reinforcements could arrive.”

  “How bad were 1st Brigade’s losses, Erik?” Holm asked, but he didn’t sound like he really wanted to know.

  Cain knew he should have included the casualty figures in his report without being asked, but he didn’t want to think about it, much less discuss it. “Colonel Teller’s forces suffered 2,695 casualties out of 4,411 engaged…61%.”

  The room was silent for a minute, as everyone present considered what Teller’s Marines had been through. All for an unimportant world they had no real hope to hold. But the Corps had to get a measure of the enemy’s ground capabilities, and the job had fallen to Teller and his people. They were Marines; they did what they had to do.

  Cain broke the silence, mostly because he wanted to distract himself from thinking of Teller’s casualties. “We were very successful, however, in collecting data on the enemy ground forces…including a considerable amount of debris from destroyed enemy combatants.”

  “Yes, we’ve already begun inspecting it all, General. It is fascinating.” Sparks scientific enthusiasm got the better of him. Normally, he’d have never spoken out in a room full of such high-ranking officers.

  “Is it fascinating, colonel?” Cain was pissed, and it was obvious from his tone. “Did you have to wipe the blood of our people off it all before it became fascinating?”

  “Erik…” It was Holm. He felt the same way Cain did, but he knew Spark’s comment came from dedication to his work, not indifference to the suffering of the Marines in the field. Sparks had spent his entire adult life designing equipment to make Marines safer in battle. “I’m sure Colonel Sparks meant no disrespect to Colonel Teller and his people.”

  Sparks looked at Cain, a panic-stricken expression on his face. “General Holm is right, sir. I meant no offense. It’s only that the sooner we can understand this technology the sooner we can get your people the weapons and equipment you need for this fight.” Sparks’ voice was tentative and cracking, but he managed to get it all out.

  The anger drained from Cain’s face. “I’m sorry, Tom. I know how much you’ve contributed over the years.” His eyes locked on Sparks’ as he spoke. “We’re all on edge…that’s all.” Cain knew he was more than just on edge, but this wasn’t the time or place to discuss it.

  “Thank you, sir. I truly meant no disrespect.” Sparks nodded…then he stayed quiet and sat very still.

  Cain looked out at the assembled officers. “That’s about it. We’re doing everything we can to fortify Farpoint. We’ve got a lot to work with there…the base, the orbital facilities. I don’t know if we can hold it or not, but we can give them a hell of a fight.” He paused to see if anyone had questions, but no one said anything. “It is possible the enemy could bypass Farpoint, but extremely unlikely. It’s a long way around, and it would leave the forces at Farpoint in their rear.” He glanced at Holm, then Garret. “Militarily, both Admiral West and I agree that an attack on Farpoint is almost a certainty.”

  Garret took a deep breath. “I agree, Erik. Elias, Terrance, and I already discussed it. We’re 100% behind your decisions.” He leaned back in his chair. “Do you have any other observations you want to add before we move on?”

  Cain stood silently for a few seconds, thinking. Finally, he looked back at Garret and said, “Yes, admiral.” He paused again, putting his thoughts together. “Admiral West and I had a conversation about the enemy’s pacing.” He hesitated again. “I mean the time between campaigns. It seems slow to us, sir.”

  “What do you read into that, Erik?” Garret had been thinking the same thing, but he wanted Cain’s read on it.

  “It could be anything, sir. We just don’t have the data to develop an informed theory.” Cain paused. He knew Garret wanted a better answer than that. “But if I had to guess, sir, I’d say they have some kind of logistics issue.” He paused again then added, “If this is one of the other Powers, maybe they have a long route back to their own space.”

  “I agree with you, Erik.” Garret had come to the same conclusion. For some reason it was taking the enemy a long time to resupply and move on to the next target. That was the one real piece of good news they had.

  Cain moved to sit down, but he stopped and straightened himself. “There is one more thing.” Everyone looked up, waiting for him to finish. “As you know, it appears that the enemy…their ground forces at least…are entirely composed of automated units. Robots.”

  “Yes, the evidence from the fighting on Cornwall seems to confirm that.” Holm wasn’t sure where Cain was going. “Beyond the obvious concerns about the technology employed, do you think this is tactically relevant?”

  Cain looked uncomfortable. “Sir…” He hesitated, clearly not wanting to finish what he’d started. “Sir, I spoke with a number of officers who were engaged on Cornwall.” He stopped again.

  “Yes, Erik?” Holm coaxed him to continue.

  “Well, it’s just this…and I mean no disrespect to Teller’s people…my people. But they were shaken up.”

  “Of course they were shaken up.” Compton had a confused look on his face. “After what they’d been through? Anyone would be a wreck.”

  “Cain looked over at Compton then back at Holm. “Yes, that’s true…but this was something…different. The battle robots are so hard to kill…and they are completely relentless. They just keep coming…they don’t break, they don’t feel fear. My people are just plain scared of these things. I mean beyond the normal fear of combat.” He paused again. He hated suggesting his Marines couldn’t face the Devil himself and laugh in his face, but he felt this was important. “This enemy is getting in my peoples’ heads like nothing I’ve ever seen before.” Another uncomfortable pause. “I’m concerned about the long term morale effects in this war.”

  Holm stood up slowly. “Thank you, Erik. I know everyone here appreciates your insight.” He knew how hard it was for Erik to say what he had said. In 20 years, Holm had never known Cain to admit his people might not be able to take on any enemy. “I want to review the overall strategic situation, but first I think Colonel Sparks should update us all on the current status of research into the new technologies we are facing.” He turned to face Sparks. “Colonel, if you would.”

  Sparks jumped to his feet. He was the junior man in the room by far, and his faux pas with Cain had only increased his tension. “Yes, General Holm.” He paused for an instant and cleared his t
hroat. “As all of you know, our forces in the field have been fighting against an enemy with significantly more advanced technology than we currently possess. Our operating theory has been that one of the Powers has achieved some sort of broad-based breakthrough, though it is almost certain there is some other factor at work. The technology we have seen appears to be centuries ahead of us based on normal rates of advancement. Whatever Power is behind this, they must have found something…an artifact or something similar…that allowed them to leapfrog us. I’m afraid my people don’t have any more insight in this area.”

  He took a step back from the table and slid his chair aside. “We have, however, done considerable work in categorizing the enemy capabilities and developing possible systems and weapons to at least partially counter the disparity our forces face.” He scooped a small controller off the table and hit a button. The large viewscreen along the wall activated.

  “As you can see, we have listed several basic areas that constitute the bulk of the of the enemy’s advantage over our forces. First, they appear to have developed the ability to produce and deploy antimatter in useful quantities. This allows them to build warheads considerably more powerful than our largest thermonuclear weapons, with a lower mass and, consequently, better maneuverability.” He punched a button on the controller and the screen switched to a series of tables comparing energy output from fusion and antimatter explosions. “The advantage of more powerful explosions in ship to ship missile combat are obvious. With their generally superior targeting capabilities, the enemy is able to get its more powerful warheads closer to our vessels, putting us at a very significant disadvantage in a missile duel. Additionally, it appears that some of their missiles utilize antimatter fueled drives, allowing them to achieve thrust level far in advance of our own weapons.”