“What about the heavy cruiser captains?” Marphissa asked. “Would any of them be acceptable as commanders of the defense at Midway? If we are taking both Midway and Pele to Iwa, then any defensive force here will be built around one or more heavy cruisers.”
Kapitan Mercia’s virtual image finally sat down. None of the others paid attention to that, being used to the way that virtual conferences could involve significantly staggered response times.
“Manticore has Kapitan Diaz,” Bradamont said. “Gryphon has Kapitan Stein, and Kraken has Kapitan Seney. Kapitan-Leytenant Lerner on Basilisk is too junior, and Seney is the least experienced of the full Kapitans. Either Diaz or Stein might be able to handle it.”
“Might be. Why would we have to leave Kapitan Mercia here? We have you, Captain Bradamont. You have ridden Manticore,” Iceni pointed out. “You, Captain, are known to Manticore’s crew, and you know Kapitan Diaz. Would you ride Manticore again, and give him the benefit of your experience at flotilla command if he were assigned to defend this star system?”
Bradamont only paused for a moment before nodding. “Yes, Madam President. Such a task would be fully in keeping with my orders from Admiral Geary.”
Kapitan Mercia’s reply finally arrived. “I will have to consider a list of possible replacements for command of Midway, Madam President, but I am hesitant to recommend assigning a new commanding officer to my ship so soon before what will likely be a major engagement.”
“Not to worry, Kapitan Mercia,” Iceni said, waving away her words. “As you will see before you see this reply, we have resolved that matter. You will remain in command of Midway and Kapitan Kontos in command of Pele.
“How large a force do we leave with Kapitan Diaz?” Iceni continued. “At least two heavy cruisers, surely.”
“Manticore and Basilisk,” Marphissa suggested. “One or two light cruisers, and four Hunter-Killers.”
“Make it two light cruisers,” Bradamont said. “That way Diaz will be able to split his force into two equal formations if necessary to guard against more than one threat vector. And I would suggest Gryphon instead of Basilisk. If Diaz does decide to split his force, the commander of the other group will need to be as experienced as possible.”
Marphissa nodded. “Manticore and Gryphon, then. Light cruisers Osprey and Kite. Hunter-Killers Guide, Vanguard, Picket, and Watch. That is my proposal for a defensive force for Midway, Madam President.”
Iceni looked toward the images of Mercia and Kontos, knowing that only Mercia was close enough to respond in any reasonable time. After a few more minutes, Mercia nodded. “I concur with my Kommodor.”
“Presumably, Kapitan Kontos will have no objections,” Iceni said, drawing grins from Bradamont, Marphissa, and a little while later from Mercia. Kontos had a firmly established reputation as someone who would respond to any order with enthusiasm and a sincere belief in the wisdom of both Iceni and Marphissa. “That means our force at Iwa will consist of Midway, Pele, the heavy cruisers Kraken and Basilisk, light cruisers Falcon, Hawk, and Eagle, and Hunter-Killers Sentry, Sentinel, Scout, Defender, Guardian, Pathfinder, Protector, and Patrol.”
“We will take Imallye with that flotilla,” Marphissa predicted. “And the enigmas if they dare to show their faces.”
“Even if they show up, the enigmas won’t show their faces,” Bradamont pointed out.
“Madam President,” Marphissa asked after wincing at Bradamont’s joke, “have you made any determination regarding the heavy cruiser captured during the latest Syndicate attack?”
“Yes,” Iceni said. “I have already been informed that repairs sufficient to return that heavy cruiser to combat status are unlikely to be concluded in less than a month, so odds are it will not be available to add to our forces during this operation. In any event, I do not intend to fully repair the heavy cruiser.” She paused to let that sink in and watch surprise appear on both Marphissa and Bradamont. “The heavy cruiser will be offered to Taroa. They require a strong unit to protect the battle cruiser under construction there.”
Bradamont smiled. “That is an impressive gift, Madam President, one that will surely convince the Taroans and other star systems of the sincerity of your offers of alliance.”
Iceni shook a reproving finger at Bradamont. “We never use the word alliance to describe our association of star systems, Captain. It has bad connotations everywhere that was touched by the war, and in a century of war no star system was left untouched even if the losses were confined to young men and women sent to battle who never came home.”
Her smile gone, Bradamont nodded. “I understand, Madam President. My apologies.”
“You need not apologize, Captain,” Iceni said. “I am certain that no one in Alliance space ever calls themselves part of a Syndicate. We just need to be careful to avoid using terms that will prejudice those we want to view us with favor.”
“I understand,” Bradamont repeated. “I suppose if I were a politician I would have known how to say things, but if—” She stopped speaking.
Iceni gave her an exaggeratedly inquiring look. “But if?”
“I was unthinkingly repeating a common saying in the Alliance,” Bradamont said.
“I’d like to hear all of it.”
“Very well.” Bradamont finished the sentence she had earlier broken off. “If I were a politician I would have known how to say things, but if I were a politician you wouldn’t be able to believe what I said.”
“You were embarrassed to say that?” Marphissa asked.
“To the president, yes!”
Iceni smiled. “Any president who can’t handle people speaking frankly around her isn’t cut out for the job. I assure you that the vast majority of people who live under or have lived under the Syndicate would agree with that saying.”
“They wouldn’t admit to it out loud,” Marphissa said. “Not if the Syndicate is still in charge where they are. But they all think it.”
“I’ll still watch my words,” Bradamont said with a relieved smile. “Out of respect.”
“Hmmph,” Iceni scoffed. “I’ll remind everyone that Granaile Imallye does not have any love or respect for me, and as a result is threatening this entire star system. Make the necessary arrangements for dividing the mobile forces and preparing them for these operations,” Iceni told Marphissa. “I want every warship going to Iwa to be at maximum combat capability. Captain Bradamont, I am again indebted to you for your assistance. You are authorized effective immediately to communicate directly with Kapitan Diaz and Kapitan Stein to discuss the defensive operations here. I will speak with General Drakon about his planned force so we will know how many of our troop transports to employ on this operation.”
Iceni saw the flicker of reaction in Bradamont’s eyes to her last statement, and knew why. Drakon would almost certainly assign Colonel Rogero to the task of taking the enigma base, meaning that Bradamont would be seeing her lover depart on another extremely risky mission. Iceni nodded silently to Bradamont in recognition of the burden that she and Rogero shared with Iceni and Drakon. Go they must, but some of those who went to Iwa would not come back.