“Do you have any paper, and something to write with?” he asked Chandrajuski. “I’d like to make notes on this that we can review later.”
Chandrajuski spoke with his gaze never leaving Trexler. “Ship, record.”
“Okay, I guess that’ll have to do,” Trexler said, “though I sort of prefer paper and pen for this.” He held his arms out wide. “We have a lot of experience with major conflicts on Earth. Time and time again, two items stand out that have the most impact on winning or losing. First: supplies and resources. Second: mistakes at the highest levels of command. Compared to the Rebels, who can draw ships and crews from all over this vast Empire of yours, we’re exceedingly short on resources.”
M’Coda’s upper hands began a new, refreshing preening. “Their Chessori resources are probably limited.”
“What if they’re not?”
M’Coda’s upper hands paused for a moment, then resumed, moving faster.
Trexler turned to Chandrajuski. “Mistake one?”
Chandrajuski’s eyes blinked once, but he remained silent.
Trexler leaned back in the couch again. “It just so happens that I agree with you that the Chessori resource could be limited, but it might not be. Now for an observation: you and the Rebels all think alike to a large extent. You’ve attended the same schools and seminars, probably sat side by side with some of them. You’re likely to approach fighting with similar ideas and tactics, yes?”
Chandrajuski nodded his head but said nothing, so Trexler continued. “I think it likely that we have an advantage in this area, because the Rebels have, we believe, focused on getting their Chessori counterparts up to speed, and they’ve relied on the scree instead of developing tactics. We, on the other hand, have focused intense effort on how best to duke it out with them. Agreed?”
“Agreed, Ray.”
“I wish I knew who was running the show for them, because this next concept is critical. They just lost a major battle, and they lost horribly. They ran with their tails between their legs. When those ships get home in a couple of months, the top commander, or commanders, are going to be embarrassed. And, these commanders are new to their jobs and trying to prove themselves. A wise commander might choose to sit back and think about what happened, dissect the battle and come up with changes to his operations, then implement those changes, which would take a while.
“Depending on the character and stability of the commander, though, he could just as easily fly into a rage and decide to attack us right away. He’d have to use the same or similar tactics that we just saw here, but if he committed overwhelming resources to the next battle, it might produce a better outcome for him. Do you see where I’m going with this?”
M’Coda turned from Trexler to pace the room in thought. Chandrajuski, likewise, stared at him, but his thoughts were not on Trexler. They were on the words Trexler had spoken.
After a time, Chandrajuski said, “Juster, the Queen’s brother, commands the Rebel fleets. I know him well. He is clever, decisive, and thoughtful. I believe he will choose his next course with careful calculation. Juster reports to Struthers, the old First Knight. I know him less well, but to his credit, he planned and executed the coup masterfully. I think he, too, will resort to cold calculation.”
“Okay. Let me throw one more item into the pot. We feel the pressure of time only as it relates to stopping them or slowing them down. They, on the other hand, feel the pressure of time as it relates to accomplishing. They’re under pressure to act, to convince the rest of the Empire that they are not only in charge, but that they are successfully in charge. How will that weigh in their deliberations?”
“The pressure on them will be fierce,” Chandrajuski answered.
He thought for a time, then said, “The issue comes back to whether the Chessori supporters are limited in number. Certainly, the Rebel ability to train Chessori is unlimited, but how well have the Chessori taken to the training? I believe their whole species has come to rely on the scree, and I suspect they do not feel the need to learn tactics. Certainly, we saw no great tactics here. You or I would have prosecuted the attack from their perspective much differently.”
“I agree completely with that observation. Regardless of the training given the Chessori, they do not appear to have soaked it up. So, back to the issue of a Rebel response. What would you do if you were in Juster’s shoes?”
“I am in Juster’s shoes, and you’ve reminded me that I have to take politics into consideration, and at a level I am unaccustomed to. Sector politics are much, much different that Empire politics. I would give even odds on Juster waiting or acting immediately. When I factor in the pressure on him from Struthers, who is himself under intense pressure to convince the Empire, I would lean towards Juster moving with some swiftness.”
“Let’s take it one step further,” Trexler encouraged. “We’re fairly confident he’s going to come to Aldebaran I. How will he structure his attack?”
“If he waits, he’ll have time to study and duplicate the tactics used by us here. If he chooses to move quickly, he’ll have to stick with present tactics. It takes time to train fleets.”
“But those tactics didn’t work.”
“They would have if he had the resources to overwhelm us. He will next time, if they’re available.”
“They’re available,” M’Coda spoke up from across the room. He turned from the corner he’d ended up facing as he’d worked through possibilities in his mind, his head pointed toward Chandrajuski. “You won’t be on the side lines this time, Admiral. You’re going to get your opportunity to fight. He’ll bring the Chessori, but as a separate fleet. Most of his fleet will consist of pure, unadulterated Empire crews untouched by Chessori. Those are his real resources, and from our perspective they are truly unlimited.”
“Let me throw you one more curve ball, Admiral,” Trexler added. “We’ve focused so much on training my men that we’ve neglected to train yours. They know how to function as squadrons, but do they know how to function as a fleet?”
Chandrajuski’s eyes blinked slowly. His great chest swelled, then deflated. “Have I failed my Queen?”
“No, you have not. We’re all learning as we go, but it’s time to revise our plan. We must be swift, and we must be right. We don’t have a moment to lose.”
Reba didn’t even get to say goodbye to Val. A fast fighter came aboard her cruiser, picked her up, and headed to Earth with orders from Chandrajuski: Buskin was to bring all of his capital ships to Aldebaran I. Earth would be left only with fighters, but it would only be for a short time. Reba would accompany Buskins crews to Aldebaran I, teaching them the new tactics on the way.
Val took a fast fighter to Parsons’ World. Training there was over. Facilities were to be shut down, and all available ships and crews were to proceed to Aldebaran I. Mike would have to decide how many resources should remain behind to protect the planet and the Queen. Admiral Jons was to transfer as much of his manufacturing operations to Earth as he could, if he had not already done so in the months the fleet had been gone. Serge would have a big say in what resources he was prepared to part with.
Korban was stripped of all capital ships, with the exception of two frigates. It was a terrible decision to have to make, but Chandrajuski was adamant. Korban would have to pull in ships from his districts to restore his fleet, and he was loaned a fast fighter to do so. Too, he was to pull as many capital ships from his districts as possible and send them to Aldebaran I. Colonel Waverly grudgingly left behind a platoon of fifty men to guard against a return of the Chessori, and he would do his best to send raw recruits from Earth to bolster the tiny force. It would be a grim, worrisome time for Korban and his men.
Waverly and his senior staff boarded a fast frigate and headed to Aldebaran I. It was time for Seeton to make his move there, and it would be best if he did so prior to the main battle out in space. Until he made his move, Chandrajuski’s forces could not enter the system. If they did, any hope of surprise for Waverly’s men would be lost.