“We have to launch now Alex.” Kara stated as she swiped the holo-tank to the wire frame of the ripple missile.

Alex nodded as he rubbed his chin, “I really hoped we’d get more than eight of them built by now.”

Kara tapped on the launch icon in the holo and looked over to Alex, “It took significantly longer to engineer than we thought, but if we wait for more to come out of the auto factories we risk them not reaching a significant percentage of light speed in the right direction.”

Sighing Alex watched the holo as eight dots left mercury orbit on a trajectory around the sun and back towards the mine field. “Twenty eight days until earliest detection of the fleet, how fast will they be going at that point?”

Kara’s eyes blazed blue for a moment as she did the complex calculations, “.69c by that time, up to .73 one week later. However, if they wait several weeks our torpedoes will go past the mine field and be wasted.”

“Nice. Is Monty still manufacturing them?” Alex asked.

Kara checked the holo-tank, “Yes, she will have ten more by next week, and twelve additional the week after. These weapons are very complex, and much larger than our normal ship torpedoes, we were forced to upscale them to the 480cm variant used in battleships and carriers rather than our smaller 240cm models. They are more like a miniature starship than a torpedo.”

Wow, if Kara said they were complex then he might get a headache just looking at the schematics. “So we can launch them a week apart and no matter what we’ll have a nasty surprise for our visitors. How has Kelly been doing on the whole disinformation front? I’ve been busy with John on the long range stealth probe and with Admiral Nar’Vala’s fleet simulations and haven’t been keeping up on that front.” John asked.

Kara swiped at the holo-tank, bringing up the latest transmissions back and forth from the fleet to the planet. “It seems the Howron fleet has been demanding intel on the Humans and were getting rather frustrated with the Redeemers for lack of progress. Kelly has capitalized on this by informing them that they have an informant in the ministry of secrets who lost a sister to the Imperial crackdown on the New Beginnings group that the Redeemers had clandestinely setup.”

Alex chuckled, “Oh, that’s good. Are they buying it?”

“They seem to be, she has fed them quite a bit of made up information, as well as gathered some info in return. It seems the Humans in this universe are calling their government the New Human Republic, and they believe they are facing a destroyer of their manufacture.” Kara stated.

Alex studied the back and forth traffic log, “There is quite a bit of text traffic going through all of a sudden, Kelly doesn’t think this will tip them off?”

Kelly popped into the common VR and studied the buffet table for a snack as she answered, “I don’t believe so. As you can see, I only sent back responses to their questions, which is how they expect lesser races to act. They initiated the conversations, I simply fed them what they wanted to hear.”

“Speaking of which, care to give us a debrief on everything you’ve gotten out of the Redeemer high council? You’ve had them for three weeks now, after all.” Alex asked raising an eyebrow.

Kelly settled on a cupcake and stated, “You should probably call for an all hands on deck, everyone needs to be informed.”

Alex nodded and sent out the request, several mils passed as the rest of the group popped into the VR around the now expanded and curved buffet table. “Thank you all for coming, I know you’re all busy but Kelly has some news on the information gathering front.”

Waving a hand to Kelly he stepped over to Kara and put his arm around her shoulder waiting for Kelly to begin. “As you all know we captured about half of the Redeemer high council during our raid of their island complex. After getting them all fitted with neural inhibitors it was only a matter of finding the right questions to ask, and cross referencing those questions with the rather large pool of prisoners.”

Kelly continued, “After some interrogations and going back over the logs in the Ulraar communications device we have a good location as to where Human space is located.” She swiped the holo-tank and brought up a star chart of the immediate sector. “As you can see, we are on the edge of one of this galaxies many arms. The New Human Republic is here.” She stated as she moved the holo-tank image across a bright section of space to to a tiny pinprick of light.

She then expanded the image to show three stars in a cluster inside a nebula. “These three stars are deep inside a nebula that is heavily irradiated from a pulsar nearby. The Howron cannot pass through the nebula, all attempts has lead the the death of the ship and the crew, the Ulraar have managed to breach Human space but have been repelled with massive losses every time.”

Swiping back to the logs she continued. “The Ulraar have joined the Howron fleet in hopes of capturing Human technology. They are convinced that we are a Human destroyer sent to disrupt trade and cause chaos in this part of space to force both navies to commit resources here. It appears the adamantine in our planets’ crust is considered a very valuable resource.”

Pointing to sections of the log Kelly spoke, “The last real transmission from the Redeemer group stated the newspapers were reporting their assassination attempt with the Empress had apparently partially succeeded, and that she was wounded, however they were concerned that their operative had not checked in. We updated them with a report that the operative was mortally wounded during her escape and was forced to use her last resort to avoid capture. They have ordered the Redeemers to step up pressure to remove the Empress.”

Chuckles from around the table broke out, as she went on with the debriefing, “We also informed them of our mole within the ministry of secrets. This made up agent lost a sister in the latest attack on the New Beginnings group and is offering information to their contacts in the parliament. One of the first demands the Howrons made from this new information was the location of the Human ship, and any information about it.”

Looking about the table she grinned, “This was just the demand we hoped for, after stating we would reach out to our contact and report back any information immediately.” Then with another swipe of the holo she spoke, “Our current plan is to tell them the Humans have a small base that was brought in with a freighter that they resupply from. We will also state that the Humans are complaining that they are running dangerously low on torpedoes after the fight in the Arlerus system, what you refer to as the Lynx system, and that is as far as we have gotten.”

“So with any luck we can steer the fleet directly into the mine field?” Izzy asked.

Nodding Kelly replied, “That’s the plan. If it works, how much of the fleet would be destroyed Alex?”

Alex walked over to the holo-tank and pulled information from his strategy corner to the main holo-display above the buffet table. “I’ve run about two hundred thousand models based on where in the field they may potentially land. Ranges of destruction vary depending on how deep in they land of course, but we’re looking at near total destruction of the fleet if they come out of FTL in the center of the field. If they come out on one of the outer edges, as low as fifty percent destroyed, although the remaining will be heavily damaged.”

“Do we stand a chance against fifty percent of their forces?” Valarie asked, obviously worried.

This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

Alex swiped at the holo-tank, bringing up a wire frame of the new ripple torpedo, “Monty has eight of the new ripple torpedoes completed, Kara launched them just before I called this meeting, if we plug these eight torpedoes into the models with the worst outcomes we get… The Ulraar cruiser and three of the frigates as survivors of both attacks.”

“So we’ll outnumber them by this point?” Riven asked.

Alex nodded, but then replied, “We will, but if the cruiser survives it has those fighter ships at it’s disposal, and they have shown they can reach anywhere in the system, as evidenced by them hunting down our probes in Lynx. That complicates things considerably. The Missive will have to take on the cruiser, between our weapons and our rail gun we should get the upper hand, I hope.”

John nodded, “The rest of us will be on any survivors, how far along are we on the Aldburg?”

Alex relinquished the holo-tank to Kara, who checked shipyard one, “Pass/Fail scheduled in three days, she was built on the updates you and Erin came up with from your vessels teething problems, so I hope all goes well.”

“Shouldn’t you and Alex start working on backups to clone?” Erin asked.

Alex turned to Kara who rubbed her arms, “Yes, we should. I don’t know why we’re so hesitant, but it has to be done at this point. Putting it off doesn’t do them any good in preparing for what is to come.”

Alex sighed heavily, “We’ll get started after this briefing, anything else we need to all be informed about?”

There were looks around the table when Kelly spoke up, “While most of the dissidents on my planet have settled down, the removal of the Redeemers will not be the end of conflict with my people. Losing this fight could very well mean our extinction, and the general population knows this thanks to New Beginnings propaganda. I will try to keep our population in line and watch for any potential problems, just remember, this is fight you cannot lose.”

______________________________________

“Crap, I’m not Alex anymore!” He stated as he looked at his serial number, HIC002, manufacturing location: Alandra. Sighing he opened a channel to Alex, and after a few mils a window appeared with Alex and John sitting at what appeared to be a… pub? “I hate you both.”

Alex and John both chuckled, “I guess that will be the traditional greeting.” John said as he raised his beer glass. “Care to join us?”

An invitation prompt appeared before him and he pressed it, finding himself in what appeared to be an old English pub from Terra. “Where did this come from?” He asked.

“It appears that John is a Charles Dickens fan, he read some book called Little Dorrit, and this is the pub described in the book.” Alex stated, taking another pull of his beer.

John watched as he slid into the chair beside him. “So what should we call you?”

“I think I’ll go by Luke, now how about a beer?” He requested.

With a flourish a menu appeared in front of Luke, who after a moment poked at it and a tall glass of beer appeared on the table in front of him. “Kind of a big place for just the three of us.” He said as he sipped at the beer, noticing it was quite good.”

John shrugged, “I built the template around the real George Inn in London on Terra, mostly from old drawings and photos. Besides, I doubt it will be empty for long.”

“I’m missing the better part of a day, I take it Kara was squeamish about cloning again?” He asked with a raised eyebrow to Alex.

“Got it in one.” He stated taking a drink. “After some cheering on from the girls she finally got the process done with some help from Erin. Speaking of which, Kara, we’re ready here.”

Kara appeared with a woman who could have been her twin sister. She still wore the original uniform, and sported the same haircut Kara had so many years ago. Luke was smitten from the first sight, just like he remembered Alex was almost twenty nine years ago.

Kara did the introductions, “Luke, this is Ally.”

Luke stood up a bit too quickly and knocked his chair over as he awkwardly put out his hand to Ally, who smiled sheepishly. “Hello Luke, nice to meet you again for the first time.”

Kara settled in next to Alex who put his arm around her shoulder and kissed her on the forehead as she looked over the menu. Luke picked up his chair and offered Ally the one beside him as she also checked the menu. Over the next hour the rest of the crew slowly popped into the pub and the table expanded in size to accommodate them.

Alex sighed in contentment, looking around to all the people who made up his life now. Sure having John and now Luke around was a bit weird, as was Erin and Ally, who both looked so much like Kara, but for now, life was good.

_____________________________________

Admiral Nar’Vala crossed her long legs as she sat back in her chair and sipped at her coffee, staring across the bridge. She had now gotten used to the fish bowl view that allowed them to see space in every direction. She had three ships under her direct command, IAV Rivendell, IAV Isengard, and IAV Valmar. (Although the last one was also called Valimar in the works of Tolkien that Alex had provided her with.)

While these three ships were far more advanced than anything she could have ever dreamed of her world having, it was pitifully few compared to what the Howron and now the Ulraar were bringing to bear against her and her people. Riven had briefed them in agonizing detail about the current plan, and while sound, any battle carried large amounts of risk.

The ships were operating well, Riven stated it was due to these ships being older and the technology far better understood than some of the newest Human vessels. It was amazing to think that as far advanced as the Howron were to the Alandrans, the Humans here were at least that much more advanced than the Howron. She hoped it would be enough, she and her crew had trained daily, at first just the Rivendell, but as other ships were completed with fleet operations in mind.

She really had only one option at this point, command her three ships as a small strike unit, keeping them together for overlapping point defense. The Missive of Dissent, IAV Eriador, and IAV Aldburg would be under Human command, although Alex confirmed that after the conflict they would transfer them to her, once crews were brought up to the star ports and given the long nap.

She looked down to the leather bound book on her desk, an ancient Human text provided by Riven. The Art of War, by Sun Tzu was a masterpiece of military doctrine. Although ancient, it was still being taught in Human military colleges well over a thousand years after it was originally penned. It still amazed her that the Humans would not only give them the means to fight their oppressors in the form of these amazing vessels, but would also impart so much knowledge upon them.

As Captain of the Imperial guard she had trained since childhood, and upon reaching the rank of Captain she thought she knew all there was to war and combat. Looking down to the book on the table she now understood she would always be a student. The long nap gave her so much instinctual knowledge, now she struggled to put her past knowledge to good effect on board a ship of the stars.

The time chimed as shift change started. Each crew member was relieved of duty by rank with now practiced ease. The crew were coming along nicely, even Riven seemed pleased that they triumphed in almost all simulations these days. Why did she still feel inadequate?

Sighing to herself she picked up her coffee mug and revered tome and made her way to the saloon. The rest of the first shift crew were already there, the after shift debriefing was a tradition she did not mind, even if many of the crew wanted only to be off duty. She refilled her coffee cup and found an empty seat next to Captain Jan’Inar.

Riven appeared in her usual blue shimmer, but this time her uniform was different, rather than the Imperial white she normally wore to compliment the crew of the ship, she now boasted something more akin to armor. Not armor like would have been worn four centuries ago on Alandran, but it was as if that armor had been upgraded by Human technology.

Her appearance caused the room to instantly quiet, she obviously had everyones attention. Looking around to the first shift crew she began. “As of one hour ago, long range sensors detected the enemy fleet. Twenty four Howron ships accompanied by five Ulraar vessels, they will arrive in system in nine days.”

Any sense of routine or boredom was now gone, this was a sobering announcement, it meant the fleet must have left the Arlerus system immediately after destroying all the probes. Riven continued, “Spy-Mistress Kel’Taraan has given the fleet the location of our fictional base of operations, and Kara and Erin have deployed a decoy in the center of the mine field that will fool active sensors into believing a very large mass to be in that location.”

Putting her arms behind her back she started pacing back and forth, “The ripple torpedoes launched three weeks ago by Kara will be in range to intercept the fleet in nine days, meaning whatever survives this attack will be up to our two strike teams to deal with.”

The room went silent as everyone contemplated the information, Nar’Vala was the first to speak, “This is why we’re here ladies, the Empire depends on us to stop this threat, we’ve done all we can to prepare for this fight, we need to take the next few days simulations seriously, they will be the last time we will get to prepare for our enemy.”

After a few questions from the crew to Riven the shift was dismissed, all left but Admiral Nar’Vala. Riven looked down to the sitting Admiral who sipped at her coffee as the rest of her crew left the room. After the last ensign left, Nar’vala pressed on the panel and the door slid shut with a swoosh. “Are you scared Riven?”

Riven smiled down to Nar’Vala, “No, but in nine days, the enemy fleet will be.”