Missiles came at Ira. The pilot in the Gordon tumbled his sloop, side boosted, deployed thermal chaff and decoys, spun again. Up ahead, one of the Arat Kur heavies seemed to flare brightly for a moment. A hit, probably by a missile from a drone. Ira felt the urge to cheer—and then the virtual world went blank. The data link was not merely broken but empty, its thin static a poignant epitaph.
Ira was back in Halifax’s CIC, where the now-solemn staff had witnessed the same outcome. Halifax cleared his throat, “Commander Somers, how long until missile launch?”
“Eight seconds, sir.”
Halifax nodded as the emergency klaxon sounded a single, half-duration blast, followed by a strident voice over the intraship. “Secure for engagement. All hands, secure for engagement.”
Halifax pulled his couch’s straps until they were snug, but not tight. His staff did the same. On the adjoining bridge, last orders were given. A moment passed, and then the world tremored slightly.
“Missiles away,” announced Somers. “One minute to outer PDF envelope of Arat Kur lead elements. Estimating—”
There was another bump, this one shorter, sharper, more uneven.
Pennington’s voice was higher than before. “Laser hit on portside hull, sir. Conventional laser. We’ve lost that section of water tankage, but nothing more severe. Almost certainly a drone strike, sir.”
“Thank you, Lieutenant Pennington,” Halifax said. “However, in this engagement, I do not require reports on the ship’s status. If the damage is severe enough to endanger the further function of this CIC, then the bridge crew will inform me. And if the damage is more severe than that, once again, I do not need to be informed about it.”
Pennington was green enough to ask, “Why, sir?”
Halifax sighed. “Because, Lieutenant Pennington, the overwhelming likelihood is that we will already be dead or scrambling for the life pods.”
Commander Somers cleared his throat. “We’re coming into range of their heavies now, sir. Fleet evolution is optimal for engagement profile alpha.”
Halifax studied the holotank. “Send one profile modification, David. Since the Arat Kur are already worried, we’re going to worry them a little more. For all cruisers with UV laser main armament, new weapon settings. All systems are to be set for shortest duration pulse, highest gigajoule setting.”
“Sir, apologies. Regulations require I mention that, at the new rate and magnitude of fire, the lasers will burn out after twenty minutes. Thirty, at most.”
Halifax smiled. “Commander Somers, your knowledge of regulations is peerless. And from the tone of your voice, I suspect you understand why I’m pushing the lasers beyond their design limit, as well.”
“I believe so, sir.” Somers glanced quickly at the plot. “At our current combined rate of closure, the enemy will be passing abeam of us in twelve minutes, sir. At most.”
“Just so. One way or the other, our fight will be over long before we burn out our lasers, even at the overspec settings.” Halifax smiled as the Trafalgar quaked with what was clearly a far more substantial hit. “As I was saying, Commander Somers, pass the order: shortest pulses, maximum joules. And when you send that order, append my compliments, and my reminder that all attacks are to follow the assigned targets list, unless joint fire control links are lost. If that occurs, then captains are to fire at will and for as long as they may.”
Somewhere farther back in the ship, there was a sustained vibration. Possibly thrusters undertaking evasive action, possibly a PDF system swatting aside Arat Kur drones, or possibly the impact of railgun projectiles. Halifax’s staff started and looked around nervously. The admiral simply leaned back in his acceleration couch and exhaled. “And now comes the interesting part.”
Chapter Forty-Five
“Let’s see if the enemy leadership is ready to reassess their situation.” Downing nodded to the radio operator, who was already reaching out to the enemy via the frequency that had been reserved for coordinating the maritime traffic involved in the emergency grain shipments.
Alnduul was still at Richard’s elbow, despite the light bucking as the VTOL encountered a thermal. “Do you conjecture they are ready to negotiate, Downing?”
Richard frowned. “I doubt it, but the time has come to let them know that negotiation is an option.”
“So that they might soon talk with you again?”
Downing smiled. “So that they might soon start arguing with each other. Are the delivery assets for Case Timber Pony in optimal striking distance?”
“Only Riordan is within optimal range of a susceptible target at this time. Our EMP strikes have disabled many of the Arat Kur computer systems that the other assets might have exploited.”
Downing sighed. So. It all came down to Riordan, after all. Odysseus had not only inspired Case Timber Pony, but would likely be the means by which it was executed. “Well, there’s nothing for it. Mr. Rinehart, use the relief coordination frequency to contact the Arat Kur leadership. It’s time we had a chat.”
Darzhee Kut was frankly relieved when the senior communications technician announced, “Esteemed Hu’urs Khraam, I have a representative of the Earth Confederation on our human interface channel. He requests to speak with you.”
“Is it Ching, or another Confederation consul?”
“No, Hu’urs Khraam.”
“Then Urzueth Ragh shall speak with him.”
Urzueth Ragh started, moved over to the communication console. “This is Administrator Urzueth Ragh of the Arat Kur Wholenest. What is the intent of your communication?”
“We wish to determine if you are now willing to renegotiate the terms for your withdrawal.”
Urzueth Ragh looked to Hu’urs Khraam who snapped his claws downward. Urzueth relayed the response. “We have no interest in renegotiation. We will consider a truce and cessation of hostilities, however, if you wish to reconsider accepting our terms.”
“I must point out that your position is grave.”
“We do not agree. At the rate you are losing missiles and now planes, we think it is your position that is quite grave.”
“You obviously had reasonable prewar intelligence on the military stockpiles of this planet. You must know that our current losses are negligible.”
“You may see it so. But we stand by our terms and conditions for withdrawal.”
There was a pause. “Very well, then I have no choice but to issue the following directives. Please look at your sensors.”
Darzhee Kut looked over. The airspace on the islands around Indonesia, in a broad arch from Sumatra to Perth and then up to Bali, was filling with new contacts, so many in number that he could no longer distinguish individual returns. It was like a white wave, already discernibly contracting inward toward Java, albeit more slowly than the rockets had.
“You will note the previously hidden air assault forces that are now converging on your position. We have measured your orbital interdiction capability and know that you cannot stop them all. However, if you attempt orbital interdiction against any of these units, we will launch a nuclear attack directly against your two major compounds in Jakarta and Surabaja.”