“We face the cusp of a new conflict. The Tri-Star Federation and the UCP armistice treaty expired. You have trained and trained for a combat. I have hoped we would never have to test your skills, but now the Mokarran are slaughtering their own citizens on Summersun. These are not revolutionists; these are innocents who have done nothing to provoke such action. People with no means to defend themselves die at the hands of tyrants.”
He handpicked his bridge crew not only for their nearly perfect Academy scores but for belonging to species decimated by the Mokarran war machine. When one stacks the deck, it is easier to bluff. The virgin warriors before him are driven by revenge against the monsters who decimated their home worlds. Most have lost family directly from Mokarran-induced slaughter.
“I have no orders. The UCP Senate and our five vice-presidential admirals are not yet aware of this slaughter to even contemplate a ruling.”
He adjusts his posture to stiffen his back and raise his shoulders. “I have yet to report this attack, just having learned of it myself. Once I report it and the UCP Command rules an action, I am bound by my oath to follow orders. I will follow my orders no matter what my personal beliefs are. My duty as a UCP soldier ranks first in my heart.” He glances over the faces of each of the bridge crew. He has them ready to pounce on the hook.
“I offer you…any of you who feel they must receive the approval of the UCP Command to report to your quarters with no disciplinary action or retribution placed on your record.”
No movement.
“Without orders I am going to defend those who cannot defend themselves. My actions will undoubtedly be the conception to a war with the Mokarran unauthorized by the UCP Command. I remind all of you of your oath to the UCP. You must relieve me of my command if you believe wholeheartedly that my actions make me unfit for duty.”
Kantian notes all of them have swallowed the hook. They want to exact revenge. They want do what they have been training to do and protect the innocent. With the backing of his crew and their survival of the battle, he may only be dismissed from his command and avoid prison if Easter has calculated incorrectly.
“Course, Captain?” the helm officer requests.
Now to keep his crew alive.
“Prep for a hyperspace jump. The Mokarran won’t be expecting us to intercede. There have been large numbers of dropships bringing in Mecat Lancers recently to resupply.”
“Covenant, Sir.”
“Civil unrest attracts mercenaries, but so does hunger. Rumors of Mokarran burning crops have been circulating. Even more than credits, mercenaries want food.”
“They want to be paid if they do engage in conflict.”
“Not our problem. Our concern is those citizens who have no means to protect themselves. I want a hyperspace jump point inside the solar system. I want us just outside the planet’s gravity well.”
“I will need time to calculate a precise action, Sir.”
“We need surprise to achieve victory. Silence all outgoing communications. Have all Tri-Wing fighters fully prepped, and once in hyperspace, ready all pilots. Preprogram the launch bay doors to open once we have fully metalized back into reality. All fighters will disembark and target the nearest Mokarran battle cruiser. Bring our main guns online and fire all weapons. In those few confusing seconds. I want to cripple communications. Broadcast on all frequencies that the UCP has arrived to assist. Stir up anyone on the surface who opposes the Mokarran. After their initial run on the cruiser, the fighters should break off the attack and engage any Mokarran Tri-Wings.”
“Sir, the Mokarran have a history of eliminating civilians during battle.”
“I’m fully aware of said tactics.” Kantian’s confidence wanes for a full second. “We need to deploy our marines where they accomplish the most good. I won’t just launch landing craft. For boots on the ground to be effective, they must go where they’ll be most effective. Indicial fighting will reveal where to deploy them. I won’t waste the lives of my crew.” Even if I need a UCP present on the surface to lay claim.
The bridge returns to life with everyone initiating their part to follow Kantian’s plan. They want a victory over the Mokarran. They need to save Summersun families because no one could save theirs.
“Sir.”
“Yes, Lieutenant?”
“If I could suggest. The slaughter of civilians in the capital city would be a prime location to send in a wave of marines. It could spark the mercenaries into action and let the people on the surface know we are here to help. Plus the launching of troop transports once we exit hyperspace will give the Mokarran less of an opportunity to target the craft.”
“You have a strong assessment of tactics, Lieutenant. How many transports would you suggest?”
“I would launch all we have. This will be your only second the Mokarran won’t be expecting. Once we open fire, we will have no more chances for surprise.”
“I calculated the chances of sending transport craft to the surfaces as eight out of ten chance of failure once we engage the enemy,” Dar’Jeryd confirms.
“My tactics may require some marines to infiltrate the battle cruiser or defend this ship in case they infiltrate us. We have no support, nor will any reinforcements be arriving. We’re on our own, and even if the mercenaries pick our side, they won’t be backing us up.” Kantian mashes his temple with his forefinger. “Your observation is a correct one. Troops not launched in opening second may not make it to the surface. Are we sure the capital city will be their most effective landing point? Inspiration is prized, but establishing a beachhead would be valuable.”
“The Mokarran are densest in the capital.”
“Launch eighty percent of the fully loaded transports. I want the rest to remain on high alert to repel any boarders.”
“You won’t have the force to penetrate the battle cruiser, Sir.”
“We’ll have to duke it out with the main cannons and weaken those
