“We have to break into the system first,” Charles said, after a long moment. “And if we do that, we have to assault the planetary defences too…”
“They won’t have time to install anything heavier than a handful of automated platforms,” Ivan said, confidently. He shrugged, an exaggerated gesture that seemed to make up for his frozen features. “We know the risks, Major, and we know we have to break into the system first. Should that fail, we will consider alternatives. But, for the moment, this is our best option.”
“I will consult with the Captain,” Charles said, flatly. “He will have the final say… unless you wish to insert your shuttle into the system on your own?”
“Maybe as a last resort,” Ivan said. He looked down at the plan, then passed Charles a copy. “I would advise you not to share it with anyone, but I don’t think it matters here.”
Charles snorted. Three months ago, the concept of having Russian SF forces on Ark Royal would have been utterly absurd. Even though the carrier was in the reserves, the Admiralty would have had kittens at the thought… unless they decided to sell the carrier. But that would have alienated a pressure group that would have brought an immense political storm down on their heads. Now… working with the Russians — and a handful of smaller navies — might mean the difference between victory and defeat.
“I’ll show it to the Captain alone,” he said. “He will have the final say, as I said.”
He understood Ivan’s impatience to act. New Russia and millions of Russian civilians were under enemy occupation — if, of course, they were still alive. The aliens could have butchered them all by now. If Charles could feel the urge to hurry up and get stuck into an enemy that had casually wiped out two British carriers and thousands of crewmen, Ivan would feel far worse. But they had to be careful. Ark Royal was effectively irreplaceable. Did the enemy realise that was true?
“Good,” Ivan growled. He didn't look happy, but at least he'd conceded the point. “See to it, please.”
Charles nodded, then checked the terminal. Two days to the tramline that would lead them directly to New Russia. Two days… to lay their plans and hope, desperately, that the aliens weren't in position to intercept them. And if it went wrong…
We’ll have to fight our way out, he thought. There was no way he was surrendering his men to enemy POW camps… assuming, of course, the aliens didn’t simply execute surrendered prisoners on sight. At least Ark Royal had some experience at fighting her way out of enemy traps.
He shook his head. Surrender, it seemed, wasn't really an option.
Chapter Twenty
“Kiev is in position, sir.”
Ted nodded, one eye glancing down at the status display. The entire ship was at battlestations, every gun charged and ready to engage enemy targets, every starfighter ready to launch at a moment’s notice. Ahead of them, the invisible gravimetric tramline shimmered on the display, waiting for them to trigger the Puller Drive and be catapulted into the New Russia System.
“Order her to jump in five minutes,” he said. The Russian frigate had requested — demanded — the right to make the first jump into enemy-held territory. Ted had his doubts, but someone had to take the risk and jump. “And then recheck our stealth systems.”
He scowled at the thought, pushing down the mad impulse that called for a drink. Ark Royal had been carefully rigged for silent running, but compared to the alien stealth systems humanity’s systems were a sick joke. All it would take was a brief failure and the aliens would know precisely where they were. The moment they launched starfighters, he knew, they might as well surrender all attempts to remain hidden. And the aliens might just, if they caught a tiny break, track them from a distance without tipping their hand.
“All systems are operational,” Farley said. The tactical officer sounded grimly professional, without the doubts that afflicted his commanding officer. “They won’t see us coming.”
“Let us hope not,” Ted grunted. He looked over at the screen showing Fitzwilliam’s face. “XO?”
“All decks report ready, sir,” the XO said. He sounded rather less confident than Farley. They’d been through as many possible scenarios as they could, but it was impossible to escape the simple fact that the aliens knew they were coming. It was quite possible that they’d rigged a proper ambush at New Russia, just waiting for Ark Royal to stick her head in the noose. “We’re as ready as we will ever be.”
Ted smiled, rather sadistically. “And the reporters?”
“In the secondary bridge, under supervision,” Fitzwilliam assured him. “They’re terrified, sir.”
Good to hear it, Ted thought. The reporters were pests in human form — if, of course, reporters could be considered human. At least the experienced ones knew better than to assume that they weren't going into danger. The doctor had even told him that three of the reporters had requested sleeping pills, just to help them rest at nights. Clearly, the inexperienced reporters should have spent more time considering the implications of a deep-strike mission before it was too late to refuse the assignment.
He pushed the thought aside as the counter reached zero. Kiev vanished from the display, flickering out of one star system and into another. The usable section of the tramline was entire light-hours long — it was unlikely that the aliens had managed to mass their ships in the right position to catch the flotilla as soon as it arrived — but he had to be wary. It was quite possible that the aliens had made some accurate guesses about where his ships intended to arrive and positioned themselves accordingly.
What if the frigate never returned? They’d discussed all of the possibilities, finally coming to the conclusion that they would need to back off and seek another tramline into the New Russia System. It would be inconvenient, to say the least; they’d be risking another encounter with alien starships, all the while drawing no closer to completing their mission. Maybe, if that happened, they would be better off withdrawing and returning to Earth…
There was a ping from the console as the frigate snapped back into existence.
Ted let out a sigh of relief, then leaned forward. “Get me a full data download,” he said, addressing Farley. “Now!”
He watched as the data scrolled up on his screen. Kiev was one of the most modern starships in the Russian Navy — and, with her mission set in stone, various other powers had contributed their own sensor systems for her part of the operation. As far as she could tell, there were no alien starships within sensor range — or, for that matter, any human signals coming from New Russia. The only detectable signals seemed to be alien; they’d been recorded for analysis, but so far the automated systems couldn't make head or tails of them.
Not too surprising, Ted thought. The Royal Navy encrypted radio transmissions as a matter of course — they preferred laser communicators, which were effectively beyond interception — and there was no reason to assume the aliens thought differently. Even if they didn't, they still spoke an alien tongue that wouldn't be anything like English. Deciphering their language will take years.