He walked through the door and stopped just inside, stiffening to attention and raising his arm to salute. He had two platinum stars on each collar, but the rank gathered in the room was almost overwhelming.
“Let’s skip the formalities, Erik.” Holm’s voice was the same as ever, though there was something else there, possibly a little more fatigue. “We don’t have any junior officers here to perform for.”
“Yes, sir.” Cain smiled. “It’s good to see you, general.” It had been half a year since the two had been together.
“It’s good to see you too, Erik.” Holm sighed softly. “I wish the circumstances were less dire, but then we never seem to get that, do we?”
“No sir.” Cain smiled darkly. He glanced around the table. Admirals Garret and Compton were seated next to each other. Garret was at the head of the table with Holm to his left and Compton to his right. “Admiral Garret, Admiral Compton.” Cain nodded as he spoke, thinking it was an informal way to greet two fleet admirals.
“Erik.” Garret nodded back with a warm smile. The two had known each other by reputation for years, but they’d formed a friendship after Cain led the team that rescued Garret from Gavin Stark’s prison. “It’s good to see you as always.”
Compton nodded as well. “That goes for me too, Erik. I know things have been rough out on the Rim. You and Admiral West have borne the brunt of it so far, I’m afraid.” Compton and Cain had been part of the cabal of officers that effected Garret’s release and intervened for the rebelling colonists. Since then they hadn’t seen much of each other, but the trust and mutual respect remained.
Colonel Sparks sat next to General Holm. The Corps’ chief science officer and engineer nodded as well, and Cain returned the gesture. Erik was anxious to see what Sparks had to say. His people had sent back a lot of video and other evidence…including some actual bits and pieces of the enemy combatants. They’d paid heavily for it all, and Cain hoped Sparks and his team got good use out of it. If the Alliance was going to win this war, his people were going to need some help from the boys in the labcoats.
As Cain walked to his seat he noticed two other men sitting at the opposite end of the table. One he recognized immediately. “Mr. Vance, I’m surprised to see you. I hope you’ve been well.” Roderick Vance was the head of Martian Security. He’d helped Cain in the mission to rescue Admiral Garret, and later he’d provided clandestine assistance to the rebellions.
“Indeed I am well, General Cain.” His face was unreadable, as always. “I wish better circumstances had renewed our acquaintance.” He gestured toward the man at his left. “Allow me to introduce Friederich Hofstader. Mr. Hofstader is the leading physicist in the CEL.”
Cain was impressed. He was no scientist, but he knew that the leading physicist in the CEL was probably the top expert in the world. The Central European League was considerably ahead of the other powers in researching antimatter and sub-atomic particles, though the Alliance arguably had bragging rights on uncovering the mysteries of the warp gates. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Hofstader.” Cain had no idea what a CEL scientist was doing at the meeting – and with Roderick Vance, no less - but he figured he’d find out soon enough.
“Thank you, General Cain. I assure you, your reputation has reached us in Neu-Brandenburg. It is an honor to meet you.” Hofstader was tall and thin, with sandy blond hair partially mixed with gray.
Holm looked over at Cain. “How is Jim Teller?”
Erik’s expression turned grim. “I think we salvaged enough of him for Sarah’s people to grow back the rest.” He paused, sighing softly. “He’s got a rough recovery ahead of him, but I think he’ll make it. He’s in medical stasis now…he really needs the facilities on Armstrong.”
A sad look crept across Holm’s face. He’d seen too many good men and women chopped up on the battlefield. How many, he wondered, can one man endure? “He’s a good man. A tough man. He’ll pull through.”
“I want to give him his star when he gets out of the hospital.” Cain stared over at Holm. “He’s earned it.”
“I already approved it, Erik.”
Cain forced a tiny smile. “Thank you, sir.”
Garret stood at the end of the table and cleared his throat. “Well now that we are all here, I’d like to get started.” He paused for a few seconds until Cain sat down. “We all know we are facing a crisis the likes of which we’ve never seen. None of us have all of the information, however, which is why I called this strategy meeting. When we leave here, each of us will be fully apprised regarding our combined analysis of the situation.” He looked at Erik. “General Cain, let’s begin with a report from the front.”
Cain had just taken his seat, but he put his hands on the arms of the chair and hoisted himself back up. His eyes paused on Vance and Hofstader for a few seconds. He wasn’t accustomed to giving military briefings with foreign nationals in the room, but he figured Admiral Garret knew what he was doing. “Thank you, admiral.” He glanced around the table. “As you already know, we mounted a significant defense on the planet Cornwall in the Zeta Bootis system. We committed most of 1 st Brigade to the battle, under the command of Colonel Teller.” Cain glanced briefly at Holm. “Admiral West positioned her fleet in the adjacent XR-3 system, hoping to take advantage of the warp gate positioning to ambush the enemy armada.”
Garret interrupted. “According to Admiral West’s report, that was your idea, Erik.” He let out a brief chuckle. “Am I going to have to give you a set of navy stars to go with those gaudy Marine things?”
Cain started to reply, but Holm beat him to it. “Don’t go poaching my people Augustus.” He glanced over at Cain. “Besides, you have no idea how much of a pain in the ass he can be.”
Cain smiled and looked at Garret. “I appreciate the offer, sir, but I’ll always be a Marine, I’m afraid.” He paused for few seconds then continued, “Seriously, sir. Admiral West and I may have worked on the plan together, but she executed it…and brilliantly, if I may presume to judge naval tactics.”
“You may. I’ve only had time to partially review her report, but it appears our good Admiral West pulled off somewhat of a tactical masterpiece.” Garret nodded for Cain to continue.
“Colonel Teller’s forces were very hard-pressed, but he was able to engage in a series of fighting withdrawals, taking advantage of the terrain.” Cain’s voice was becoming grimmer as he spoke…he’d seen the full casualty reports. “His tactics were perfect.” He paused, looking down at the table for a few seconds. “Unfortunately, he was badly wounded during the final stages of the battle. We are hopeful he will survive, but he faces a long recovery.”
Cain was restless, and he was having a hard time standing still. The endless parade of dead and mangled friends had worn him down. For the first time, he wasn’t sure he could face it again…he didn’t know how he’d send another group of his brothers and sisters into the meatgrinder. One thing he did know…if he sent another force into battle, he was going with them.
“Admiral West’s forces took the enemy fleet utterly by surprise, and she was able to win a complete victory…though not without cost. Third Fleet suffered considerable losses, and Cambrai was damaged.” Cain glanced at Compton and Garret. “She feels she can conduct field repairs and keep the ship in the line.” Cambrai was West’s only capital ship…without her, Third Fleet would be a bad joke as a fighting force.
“Admiral West is being reinforced, Erik.” It was Compton this time, but Cain knew he spoke for Garret. The two of them had been friends since their days in the Academy. “She’s getting two more capital ships, including Princeton.” Princeton was one of the newest ships in the fleet, a Yorktown class battleship with more firepower than West’s entire force.