Kosiev smiled at Tag and said, It would be nice if I could repay them for the Moscow. I owe them.
Have the engineers found the asteroids for the fortresses, Admiral?
The first four have already been boosted out of orbit, and the mining engineers are already blasting the surface to install the layer of power cells. They should be hollowed out and environment controls and weapons installed by the time they make Earth orbit in three weeks. The second four are having the black hole generators and drives installed as we speak. They will arrive two weeks later. Incidentally, Ive never seen power cells as large as the ones being installed. If we can charge them, they should pack quite a punch.
My understanding is that each of their Coronado shields should cover 15 percent of the Earths surface and overlap each other when fully installed. Every day in direct sunshine will add 18 percent to the charging load. They should reach full charge and start storage within eight days of coming online. Most of our ship-making capability has been delayed to produce the power cells in time for installation. When the Melbourne moved that comet, it led to the idea of their creation. If we can protect the planet, we should have enough ships released to take the war to the Alliance.
Prepare your ships, Admiral. Ill talk with the director and general staff, but I think they will go along with my plan. Once the platforms are in orbit and functional, the rest of the fleet would be at our disposal. Now that they know our capabilities, I dont see any reason to hold the prisoners on Europa. They should add to the fun, especially after watching their ship self-destruct with their lifeboats. Lets just say were returning some of their citizens and oh, by the way, let us help you remove all your weapons of war. This has been a long time coming, Admiral. The fun is just starting.
What about the Alliance?
Well deal with them when we have to. Its going to take time for them to organize another attack. By the end of the next month our shipyards will have two hundred ships to replace the 150 you lost. I dont think they can produce the two thousand they lost quite as quickly. Ultimately, time is our best friend. Lets hope the Alliance gives us enough. Either way, the Cainth are going to see us again, and this time we will decide their future.
Kosiev smiled, looked out of his viewport at the unblinking stars, and knew for the first time that he was going to go and visit some of those outside of the limit. Tag was right: the fun was just beginning.