Seventeen slow cruisers left Orion III on their long voyage to Aldebaran I. Chandrajuski and M’Coda went with them. During the voyage, they were to develop modifications to the AI’s that would divert power from nonessential systems to the shields, and they would develop whatever new tactics would be used against the Rebels.
Chapter Twenty-four
Trexler waited a full month at Orion III with the five fast squadrons, just in case of a counter-attack, but at the end of that month he lost patience and departed, leaving one extra fast fighter behind that could quickly call for help if needed.
Waverly’s men had used the time to rest and recuperate from wounds under the incredible medical care available from Empire physicians. Trexler carried nearly 800 Raiders, all battle hardened and experienced survivors of the fighting that had taken place at Orion
III.
Four of the five squadrons stopped one jump short of the Aldebaran system. Surprise was a key element of Waverly’s tactics, and the arrival of a small fleet would create far too much attention at the governor’s office. Trexler’s own heavy squadron dropped from hyper on the outskirts of Aldebaran I and reverted to normal speed, then reported in to ground controllers. They were cleared in routinely: they were, after all, originally Seeton’s ships and purportedly just returning from assignment in an outlying district.
Seven other squadrons were scattered here and there throughout the system in no discernable pattern. He studied the designators on his display and was surprised to discover that these ships were well known to him. He tight beamed the closest squadron. In short order, one of his senior Terran admirals, a full fleet admiral, came on the line.
“Hi, Ray.”
“Sam, I take it you’re in charge here, at least of the Terran forces. How goes it?”
“Quiet, though there’s a tremendous amount of Chessori traffic, and it’s been increasing.”
“Hmm. Are all of you updated?”
“Some. All have at least the quick fix.”
Trexler considered. Before leaving Parsons World months earlier, they had discussed an abbreviated program that would quickly provide micro jumping capability and stronger shields without the time consuming retrofit to stronger weapons. The program must have been put into effect.
“Okay. I’m sending a shuttle over with orders and some new information for you to consider. I have a delivery to make on the ground, then I’ll head back this way and we can get together to discuss things.”
The orders he sent to Sam Taylor included a description of the new tactics of super squadrons discovered at Orion III. The tactics might or might not come into play here at Aldebaran I, but he wanted the squadrons to be familiar with the process. They couldn’t openly practice the maneuvers, but they could practice them in the simulators aboard the cruisers. Sam was directed to pick up Chandrajuski as soon as he arrived: Chandrajuski would need to transfer his flag to a fast ship. The ground battle would likely begin within a few days of them all getting situated.
Sam Taylor’s shuttle brought encouraging word. Reba and Buskin had just arrived and were waiting one short jump away with 53 cruisers sent from Earth. It was all the cruisers Buskin had. Gunners had been drafted, primarily from navy ships from a number of different countries. All were new to space, but they had received training during the voyage. Buskin had left all his frigates, fighters, and Great Cats on Earth. One conversion facility was up and running, Serge’s technicians were training local electricians and craftsmen, and to date, seven frigates there had been converted to fast ships. He had not managed to convert any of the cruisers. One fast frigate was stationed on the outskirts of Earth’s system, its purpose to quickly bring a call for help if needed.
Trexler considered the plan with pursed lips – Buskin had been ordered to send all capital ships, and frigates were classed as capital ships. He probably had 60 or 70 frigates, and they could shift the balance here. Why had he held them back? And he had sent none of the Great Cats, which meant the ships he sent would not be as capable as needed.
He knew Buskin fairly well, and what he’d done just didn’t make sense. Buskin knew the battle at Aldebaran I would demand all the Queen’s forces, including the Great Cats. Trexler dispatched one of his own fast fighters to Earth with clarification orders: Buskin was to send the frigates and the Great Cats.
Sam’s message also informed him that all the ships stationed at Parsons’ World were on the way to Aldebaran I, and there were a lot of them. Veswicki’s contacts with other sector commanders had netted 78 squadrons, an impressive number garnered from far flung districts that, so far as they knew, had not raised any eyebrows among the Rebels. Of those, 27 had received the quick upgrade and were already in position one jump outside the system. The rest would arrive soon. Only five of the fast squadrons were manned with Terrans. There were simply no more Terrans to be had at the moment. Serge had agreed to provide his own protection for Parsons’ World, and Trexler suspected his traders were up to the task.
He considered the five fast squadrons manned by Terrans. If all five had come, that meant that Ellie’s squadron was among them. Where was she, and how well protected was she? He didn’t know.
He did the math: 160 cruisers, and 68 of them manned by Terran crews, most of them untested in battle. He called Sam Taylor. “This is going to be a real management problem.”
“It is. I’ve been giving it a lot of thought, and we’ve been running simulations. I wish we could speak freely, but we can’t yet.”
“No. Not yet. As soon as I make my drop-off, I’ll join you. Until then, you’re in charge out here.”
“The big boss will be here soon.”
“Sam, he’ll need time. You’ve had what… weeks to think about this? We’re going to lean heavily on you.”
“Initial action scenarios are the most critical, and I’m prepared. Once things get heated up, it’s all going to be on the fly. There’s no way to plan for that, and I’m not trying.”
“You’re right. Let me be blunt. How are we going to distinguish the ships manned by Chessori.”
“Our special ships are going to get a hard work-out. They’ll be first-in.”
They stared at each other. “They can’t be wrong,” Trexler stated softly, thinking about what would happen to Empire crews if they tried to take on the Chessori. They’d be sitting ducks, with no chance of fighting back.
“There will be mistakes. We’re going to take losses, Ray. That’s the nature of the beast.”
Trexler nodded. “Do me a favor. Get creative.”
“Aye, aye, sir. We’ll start with a clean sheet of paper and see what we come up with.”
“Start with this: park the fighters. Reassign the Terran pilots and gunners to cruisers. If you have enough, spread them out among the frigates. We learned a few things at Orion III. Capital ships are the key. Think about it, Stu, and we’ll talk more when I join you.”
Two frigates, stuffed to the gills with Reba’s Raiders, landed on Aldebaran I while the rest of the squadron remained in a stationary orbit far above the port.
Seeton had made arrangements for Waverly’s men. They were to disembark from the two frigates over a period of many hours so as not to arouse suspicion. Trexler was first off, and he made his way to Seeton’s headquarters, escorted by three sergeants and a lieutenant, all wearing side arms but without assault weapons. Carrying assault weapons would, again, have been completely out of the ordinary. His escort waited outside the Sector Headquarters building while he went in.