Onslaught
© 2021 by Walter Reimer


Thumbnail art by  rabbi-tom


“The Fleet’s objective is Novaya Zastava,” Varan told her officers. The Terran words had required a bit of practice, but they were understandable enough. The assembly glanced at each other while gesturing their approval and acknowledgement. Their captain had just come from a command briefing by the admiral in charge of the force that included the Bōank. With the force currently in hyperspace, the meeting had been done entirely encrypted communications. “The Fleet will engage Confederacy forces at the base in the system, as well as destroy defense stations preparatory to elements of the 24th Army Battle Group conducting landing maneuvers.”

The Weapons Division commander said, “All weapons and defense systems are ready, Gartabin.” The other division heads, Engineering, Operations and the like, offered their readiness reports. When the last one had spoken, Varan smiled.

“Thank you, all of you,” she said. “We should be within range of Point Mu Station within a cycle.” Her expression grew serious. “Take your stations, please.” She stepped aside and waited as the officers filed out, and after the last one had left the conference room Varan headed for the command center.

“Captain,” the Duty Officer said as he stood when she entered the compartment. “Sensors is reporting an armed transport at forty-one, sixteen, twenty-six, on approach vector.”

“Armed transport?” Varan looked at the display on her seat’s repeater screens. “Terran?”

“Yes, Ma’am. Ship’s ID says that it’s the Glory, owned by the Panjatjara Syndicate.”

“Understood.” That had been part of the briefing. Since Point Mu wasn’t a planet, it had scouting ships nearly half a Terran light-year away in order to give ample warning. “Has the flagship informed them?”

The Duty Officer chuckled. “Yes, Ma’am. They know who we are and where we’re headed. However, I must quote their admiral.” She flicked an ear and he added, “His response came through while you were briefing the staff.”

“Aka. What did he say?”

“He said, ‘We were told you were coming, but don’t be surprised if one of the boys takes a shot at you.’” Varan blinked, and the kam smiled. “He did say that his forces had been on alert for a Confed attack for quite some time.”

Varan gestured her understanding. “If one of them do try to fire on us, warn the Weaponeers to be gentle with them.” She and the Duty Officer chuckled and the vir studied her repeater screen again.

The admiral had revealed the overall strategy that the High Admiral, the Fleet Commander, and the Sovereign had agreed upon. Twelve reinforced fleets were entering the Terran Core from twelve different directions, reminiscent of a difficult variant of harēch.

Varan had played it before, of course. Nearly all officers who aspired to command rank did so, to develop strategic thinking skills.

Thinking of that game brought to mind the module that Meredith had sent her. Watching her own mage character reduced to drooling imbecility before being cooked and eaten irritated her. The golden palomino mare was very likely correct, though; there would be some spell, talisman or device capable of overcoming the elephants. It just needed to be found.

Solving that game would likely take less effort than the all-out invasion of Confederate space.


***


One cycle later the order came from the flagship, directing the fleet to turn and form a defensive-exploratory formation. Bōank and the other cruisers formed a second line of defense between the destroyers and the battleships as the fleet advanced.