The flotilla resembled a school of disparate predatory sea creatures moving in unison. Instead of the standard Syndicate box formation, Marphissa had arranged the flotilla in a flattened sphere. In the center were the whalelike shapes of the two troop transports. Just above them moved the battleship Midway, even larger than the transports, shaped like an immense, fat shark. Ahead of and below the transports the battle cruiser Pele swam through space, also sharklike but leaner and more lithe than the battleship. Ranked behind the largest ships were the two heavy cruisers, Basilisk and Kraken, dwarfed by the battle cruiser and battleship but still lethal-looking as they protected the rear of the flotilla.
Three light cruisers ranged ahead like barracudas, small by comparison to the major warships but long and slender and dangerous-looking. Ranged all around the formation were seven Hunter-Killers, sized and shaped like deadly young offspring of the light cruisers.
President Gwen Iceni sat in the fleet command seat on the bridge of Midway, smiling as she viewed the spectacle on her display. “I have been part of Syndicate flotillas much larger than this,” she commented to Kapitan Mercia, “but I have never been as impressed as I am by these warships.”
She looked around the bridge. “I haven’t been back here since we captured this ship from the Syndicate at Kane. Have you been told of Kapitan Kontos’s stand inside the bridge citadel on this ship?”
“I have heard of it,” Mercia said. “Not from Kontos himself. He dismissed that action as not worth discussing.”
“That doesn’t surprise me. It was an heroic stand, the sort of thing anyone could boast about, but Kontos seems to have no ego. I didn’t think that was possible in a man.” Iceni ran her right hand down the arm of her seat. “I have been very fortunate in the quality of those men and women who have chosen to accept my orders.”
“Good fortune had little to do with it,” Mercia said. “We follow you because you have given us all good reason to do so. I cannot believe that Imallye’s commanders are so well-motivated.”
“I wish we knew more about them,” Iceni said. “We have agents out, but the distances and the time lags are such that we have heard little back from any of the agents in the short time we had before having to act.” She rested her elbows on the arms of her seat, clasping her hands together and placing her chin on them as she gazed at her display. “We did get a report from Moorea that came by a roundabout means. Apparently, Imallye isn’t instituting any big changes where she takes control. She just changes the titles. Her representative is installed as star system CEO in all but name and uses the existing Syndicate infrastructure.”
“I can see that working in the short term,” Mercia said. “The citizens would be waiting to see if anything changed for them. But once they figure out that it’s the same game with different bosses, and without the entire Syndicate backing those bosses, they’ll push back. You know how they can do that.”
“Oh, yes, I know how they can do that,” Iceni agreed, smiling crookedly. “Theft, slowdowns, diversions, so-called mistakes, so-called accidents, and many more tricks and games. The citizens can make the system grind almost to a halt without ever overtly going on strike.” She looked over at Mercia. “That’s one thing the Syndicate succeeded at. Teaching workers how to sabotage a system in ways that can’t be pinpointed or proven.”
“Those of us who realized that always knew the importance of respecting our workers,” Mercia commented. “But we always seemed to be working for idiots who thought threats and punishment would fix any problem.”
“We’ve come such a long way,” Iceni said, letting the irony sound in her voice. “Here we are going to Iwa to fix our problems with massive amounts of firepower.”
“That’s not a path you chose.”
“No.” Iceni glanced at Mercia again. “We’ll have to ensure that Imallye knows I am aboard Midway. Once Imallye knows that, she will focus her efforts on destroying this ship.”
“I look forward to it,” Mercia replied with her own small smile.
Iceni looked at the image of the planet Midway, realizing that she had not left this star system since the expedition that had resulted in the capture of this battleship. A lot had happened since then. “Someday… no, right now… Midway Star System must be as a battleship itself, a fortress that all attacks break upon, and that protects those inside it. What I have risked all to create must not be lost.”
“It will not be, if the citizens have any say in the matter,” Mercia replied.
“Did I say that out loud?” Iceni asked, embarrassed.
Fortunately, she was saved from any further comment by the appearance of Kommodor Marphissa’s image before her. Marphissa was in the fleet command seat aboard Pele, looking perfectly at home there despite the responsibilities that seat implied.
Marphissa saluted. “Madam President, I request permission to take the flotilla out of orbit and begin the transit to the jump point for Iwa.”
Returning the salute, Iceni nodded. “Permission is granted, Kommodor. One more thing. You will command this flotilla. That is not my function here. From this point forward, you are to issue all commands that you deem needed without first requesting permission from me.”
“Yes, Madam President,” Marphissa said. “Does that include the order to jump for Iwa?”
“That includes all orders, Kommodor. Just ensure that I receive a copy of them so I am aware of what is happening.” Iceni smiled at her. “You have my confidence. You are more than welcome to ask my opinion if time permits, but do not hesitate to command this flotilla as you see fit.”
“Yes, Madam President. I understand and will comply.” With a return smile she could not quite suppress, Marphissa’s image vanished.
Iceni tapped a control, and a moment later the image of Colonel Rogero appeared. “Yes, Madam President.”
“Are you as fully prepared as possible, Colonel?”
“Yes.” Rogero gestured with one hand as if casting a die. “There are a number of uncertainties remaining, but we will confront them and deal with them.”
“I want it clearly understood, Colonel,” Iceni emphasized, “that if you confront something that appears to be beyond your soldiers’ abilities to deal with, that you inform me so we can make any necessary alterations in our plans. I want that enigma facility captured if at all possible. But if it becomes clear that that is impossible, if our planned tactics do not work as hoped, then I will not hesitate to order the withdrawal of your forces and the bombardment of that base with a rock big enough to split the planet. You are not to destroy your brigade attempting to achieve the unachievable.”
“I understand and will comply, Madam President.” Rogero saluted. “And, thank you. If the task can be done by human effort, the men and women in my brigade will succeed. General Drakon asked me to ensure that you knew that two of the soldiers rescued from Iwa are with my brigade. They were insistent on going back to Iwa to fight the aliens who killed their comrades.”
Iceni sought for words, then simply nodded. “I hope those two don’t expect to find peace inside themselves by seeking vengeance.”
Rogero smiled slightly. “But are you not seeking Vengeance, Madam President?”