Terl decided that history didnt matter if you had no future so he left the boxes of treaties and crowd control behind and ran to the lift to take him to the top of the building. He was fighting to control his fear and he wondered if this is what the Humans felt when his fleet had arrived to destroy their home planet 290 cycles ago. He boarded a military shuttle and accelerated at maximum speed out of the atmosphere to join the fleet waiting for the Humans to arrive.
Tag and Danielle entered the bridge of the Washington. Kosiev looked up and then back and forth between them, Im sorry Mrs. Gardner but I didnt see your name on the ships manifest. Perhaps my purser is not as efficient as I thought.
Call me Danielle, Admiral. I hitched a ride in about an hour ago. Have you received any announcements?
Yes I have, Mrs. Gardner, and this is a warship and we must follow the courtesy of titles especially to one in your new position. Kosiev looked at Tag with raised eyebrows.
Admiral, I just found out about this and I told you that I value her opinion. It appears I am not alone in that department. Are we ready to jump?
Kosiev might have thought that Danielle would leave before the jump but now he knew that both leaders of humanity were going to be on his ship. He was going to have a private talk with Captain Mikado about making sure these two were not placed in harms way in the upcoming battle. Yes sir, we are. Our countdown is holding at 5 minutes waiting on any last instructions you might want to offer.
Tag looked at Danielle and she decided that she might as well earn her pay or show just how dumb she really is. Admiral, what is your plan on emergence into the Cainth system?
Well determine their fleet positions and move in to destroy their fleet. After the fleet is done, well move on the planet.
Tag, do you agree with this plan?
Tag looked at her, You have a problem with it? What are you thinking? I think they deserve it after all of their attacks on us.
I think our history is replete with examples of what happens when we are the aggressor. I know, they attacked us but they did it at the Alliances request. Im sure that no one had to twist their arms, all four of them, to make them do it but if their ship numbers are low enough for us to be sure we can defeat their fleet, then I say let them make the first move and see if we can open a dialogue.
Admiral, how many ships would they have to have to endanger the fleet? Tag asked.
Kosiev looked at both of them and was finding it hard to believe what he was hearing. Have you forgotten the civilians killed at Rosss planet or the ships and marines weve lost in battle? We should attack immediately and not give them the chance to get organized.
Tag looked at Kosiev and said, No Admiral, I havent forgotten. How many marines did the Cainth lose? Wasnt it six for every one of ours? Weve lost two hundred ships and their crews. They have lost 2000 ships with most of them having 4 times the number of crewmen on board. At what point does a lesson finally sink in, Admiral? Is there a possibility that even the Cainth have learned something? If they attack first, then all bets are off and we will destroy them, make no mistake about that, but if they want to open a dialogue, I want to see what they have to say.
Kosiev felt his ire go up then thought about what he was feeling and felt shame. He could feel the need for vengeance rushing thru him for what happened to the Moscow and the Ross colonists but he knew that if he followed that path then this war would never end. He looked at the Gardners and nodded, Im sorry. Both of you are right and once again Im glad youre here to prevent me from making an unnecessary mistake. They would have to have more than 1,200 ships to pose a problem.
Perhaps thats why youre here, Danielle, Tag said. I wouldnt have given a second thought to going in and kicking some Cainth grump. Move the countdown up, Admiral, and lets see what awaits us. Oh yeah, are the backup ships ready just in case?
Yes they are and their star drives are already lit and ready to go. We also have the prisoners from the Ross conflict loaded up on transports ready to jump in on our signal. Kosiev pushed a button on his console and said on the fleets general frequency, In a moment we will be jumping into the Cainth home system. The fleet will hold its position relative to the Washington and only move in formation as the Washington moves forward. You do not have permission to fire until we give the order. All ships report in on receipt of this order.
Tag and Danielle looked out the view port and saw the two rows of white warships glowing inside their screens lined up on each side of the Washington with one small ship above and one below the larger empire ships. The fleet was hanging in space with the giant planet Jupiter as a backdrop and they looked beautiful. Tag knew the capabilities of those ships but he still worried about losing more sailors. He was also worried about Danielles safety. Danielle sensed his unease and reached out and took his hand. He looked at her and she smiled, Little steps in big places. Well be fine.
The console showed 199 red lights. Lt. Kelly reported, All ships acknowledge order, Sir.
Kosiev said, In ten seconds initiate jump.
The jump officer counted it down, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, execute.
Tag looked at Danielle and held her hand tighter as the universe turned around them.
Admiral Dorg and Terl were aboard his flag ship War Weapon as they watched the Human fleet move in from the outer system. The bright white Human ships were moving in formation and their screens were glowing brightly white. Both of them were seeing those nightmare battleships approach and knew there were more of those Battleships here than in the last battle. Terl shook his head, They do build a beautiful ship, these Humans. What is your plan?
Dorg stared at his display and said, Im not going to attack them; Im going to make them come to me.
Then what are you going to do, Admiral?
Dorg looked up from his display with a look of determination on his face, Ill try to kill as many of their ships as I can. When its hopeless Ill order the survivors to jump to the colonies. I am not running this time and leave our people undefended, Clan leader.
Terl looked at him and said, I never thought you would. Well face them together.
The Human fleet continued to move forward until it loomed larger and larger still. Then the fleet reached five segs in front of their positions slowed and then stopped. What are they doing, Admiral? Terl asked.
I dont know. Would you like to ask them, Clan Leader?
Suddenly they heard a human voice over a standard Alliance Frequency speaking in standard Alliance. Well, what do we do now?
Dorg and Terl looked at each other then hurriedly Terl hit a button on his chair and said, Would you consider possibly talking about what happens next?
Danielle and Tag looked at each other and Kosiev couldnt believe his ears. Tag pressed his com button again, We will talk with the person that has the authority to speak for your entire race. I would also request whoever is leader of your armed services also be present. We will move one of our ships between our lines with a blue and green strobe, and we will meet you there in fifteen dregs. Tag cut the channel.
Terl and Dorg looked at each other again and Dorg said, Do you trust them? They could kill us both and our fleet would have no leadership.
Terl raised his shoulders to show his irony, Admiral, do you think you or I being here or not will make any difference in the outcome if they attack? Dorg shrugged and shook his head. Ready a shuttle just big enough for the two of us: I want to go on board one of those remarkable ships and see what it looks like inside.