How will he structure his attack?”
“If he waits, he’ll have time to study and duplicate the tactics used by us here. If he chooses to move quickly, he’ll have to stick with present tactics. It takes time to train fleets.”
“But those tactics didn’t work.”
“They would have if he had the resources to overwhelm us. He will next time, if they’re available.”
“They’re available,” M’Coda spoke up from across the room. He turned from the corner he’d ended up facing as he’d worked through possibilities in his mind, his head pointed toward Chandrajuski. “You won’t be on the side lines this time, Admiral. You’re going to get your opportunity to fight. He’ll bring the Chessori, but as a separate fleet. Most of his fleet will consist of pure, unadulterated Empire crews untouched by Chessori. Those are his real resources, and from our perspective they are truly unlimited.”
“Let me throw you one more curve ball, Admiral,” Trexler added. “We’ve focused so much on training my men that we’ve neglected to train yours. They know how to function as squadrons, but do they know how to function as a fleet?”
Chandrajuski’s eyes blinked slowly. His great chest swelled, then deflated. “Have I failed my Queen?”
“No, you have not. We’re all learning as we go, but it’s time to revise our plan. We must be swift, and we must be right. We don’t have a moment to lose.”
Reba didn’t even get to say goodbye to Val. A fast fighter came aboard her cruiser, picked her up, and headed to Earth with orders from Chandrajuski: Buskin was to bring all of his capital ships to Aldebaran I. Earth would be left only with fighters, but it would only be for a short time. Reba would accompany Buskins crews to Aldebaran I, teaching them the new tactics on the way.
Val took a fast fighter to Parsons’ World. Training there was over. Facilities were to be shut down, and all available ships and crews were to proceed to Aldebaran I. Mike would have to decide how many resources should remain behind to protect the planet and the Queen. Admiral Jons was to transfer as much of his manufacturing operations to Earth as he could, if he had not already done so in the months the fleet had been gone. Serge would have a big say in what resources he was prepared to part with.
Korban was stripped of all capital ships, with the exception of two frigates. It was a terrible decision to have to make, but Chandrajuski was adamant. Korban would have to pull in ships from his districts to restore his fleet, and he was loaned a fast fighter to do so. Too, he was to pull as many capital ships from his districts as possible and send them to Aldebaran I. Colonel Waverly grudgingly left behind a platoon of fifty men to guard against a return of the Chessori, and he would do his best to send raw recruits from Earth to bolster the tiny force. It would be a grim, worrisome time for Korban and his men.
Waverly and his senior staff boarded a fast frigate and headed to Aldebaran I. It was time for Seeton to make his move there, and it would be best if he did so prior to the main battle out in space. Until he made his move, Chandrajuski’s forces could not enter the system. If they did, any hope of surprise for Waverly’s men would be lost.
Seventeen slow cruisers left Orion III on their long voyage to Aldebaran I. Chandrajuski and M’Coda went with them. During the voyage, they were to develop modifications to the AI’s that would divert power from nonessential systems to the shields, and they would develop whatever new tactics would be used against the Rebels.
Chapter Twenty-four
Trexler waited a full month at Orion III with the five fast squadrons, just in case of a counter-attack, but at the end of that month he lost patience and departed, leaving one extra fast fighter behind that could quickly call for help if needed.
Waverly’s men had used the time to rest and recuperate from wounds under the incredible medical care available from Empire physicians. Trexler carried nearly 800 Raiders, all battle hardened and experienced survivors of the fighting that had taken place at Orion
III.
Four of the five squadrons stopped one jump short of the Aldebaran system. Surprise was a key element of Waverly’s tactics, and the arrival of a small fleet would create far too much attention at the governor’s office. Trexler’s own heavy squadron dropped from hyper on the outskirts of Aldebaran I and reverted to normal speed, then reported in to ground controllers. They were cleared in routinely: they were, after all, originally Seeton’s ships and purportedly just returning from assignment in an outlying district.
Seven other squadrons were scattered here and there throughout the system in no discernable pattern. He studied the designators on his display and was surprised to discover that these ships were well known to him. He tight beamed the closest squadron. In short order, one of his senior Terran admirals, a full fleet admiral, came on the line.
“Hi, Ray.”
“Sam, I take it you’re in charge here, at least of the Terran forces. How goes it?”
“Quiet, though there’s a tremendous amount of Chessori traffic, and it’s been increasing.”
“Hmm. Are all of you updated?”
“Some. All have at least the quick fix.”
Trexler considered. Before leaving Parsons World months earlier, they had discussed an abbreviated program that would quickly provide micro jumping capability and stronger shields without the time consuming retrofit to stronger weapons. The program must have been put into effect.
“Okay. I’m sending a shuttle over with orders and some new information for you to consider. I have a delivery to make on the ground, then I’ll head back this way and we can get together to discuss things.”
The orders he sent to Sam Taylor included a description of the new tactics of super squadrons discovered at Orion III. The tactics might or might not come into play here at Aldebaran I, but he wanted the squadrons to be familiar with the process. They couldn’t openly practice the maneuvers, but they could practice them in the simulators aboard the cruisers. Sam was directed to pick up Chandrajuski as soon as he arrived: Chandrajuski would need to transfer his flag to a fast ship. The ground battle would likely begin within a few days of them all getting situated.
Sam Taylor’s shuttle brought encouraging word. Reba and Buskin had just arrived and were waiting one short jump away with 53 cruisers sent from Earth. It was all the cruisers Buskin had. Gunners had been drafted, primarily from navy ships from a number of different countries. All were new to space, but they had received training during the voyage. Buskin had left all his frigates, fighters, and Great Cats on Earth. One conversion facility was up and running, Serge’s technicians were training local electricians and craftsmen, and to date, seven frigates there had been converted to fast ships. He had not managed to convert any of the cruisers. One fast frigate was stationed on the outskirts of Earth’s system, its purpose to quickly bring a call for help if needed.
Trexler considered the plan with pursed lips – Buskin had been ordered to send all capital ships, and frigates were classed as capital ships. He probably had 60 or 70 frigates, and they could shift the balance here. Why had he held them back? And he had sent none of the Great Cats, which meant the ships he sent would not be as capable as needed.
He knew Buskin fairly well, and what he’d done just didn’t make sense. Buskin knew the battle at Aldebaran I would demand all the Queen’s forces, including the Great Cats. Trexler dispatched one of his own fast fighters to Earth with clarification orders: Buskin was to send the frigates and the Great Cats.
Sam’s message also informed him that all the ships stationed at Parsons’ World were on the way to Aldebaran I, and there were a lot of them. Veswicki’s contacts with other sector commanders had netted 78
