The burden of command, p.34
The Burden of Command, page 34
part #14 of Empire Rising Series
“Jonathan!” His father said, not remotely concerned about protocol. “You have no idea how good it is to see you. To hold you.”
For a second, Jonathan’s body tightened. A flicker of embarrassment ran through him. Everyone was watching. Yet as his father’s hug tightened, the weight of the last months began to lift. Memories flooded through his mind. The first time he had killed other humans by firing on them with Resolute’s weapons. The pirate he had killed with his own plasma pistol to save Becca. The strain from weeks of vainly searching for the pirate ship, and then pursuing the Karacknid freighter. The final battle with the Flex-aor and unknown alien species’ freighters. Then, the laborious task of trying to get Python home, only to encounter a Flex-aor warfleet. All of the pressure that had been building and building upon him started to lift. He had made it back. He had brought warning about the Flex-aor fleet. And now, his dad was here. Letting himself go, Jonathan enjoyed the feeling of being in his father’s strong arms. He didn’t break the hug until James did.
“Let me get a look at you,” James said as he held his son at arm’s length. He couldn’t help but grin. “You look a sight. If some of the Admirals back at the Admiralty could see you, you’d never get a new assignment again.”
“Yes Admiral, I must apologize for our appearances,” Jonathan said, more formally than he had intended. “When we captured Python back at the pirate asteroid base, we didn’t exactly have time to transfer all our belongings across.”
James slapped him on the shoulder and pulled him into another quick hug. “There is no need to apologize! I’m just overjoyed to have you back safe and sound. We ran into Resolute on the way here. Captain Domingo told me everything she knew. We thought you had been lost. No one had seen sight nor sign of you for months.”
Jonathan found himself apologizing again. “I’m sorry. I never meant for us to get so far from Resolute. It was just one thing after another. We thought we were doing the right thing.” With his father in front of him, Jonathan started to second-guess everything that had happened.
James shook his head. “That’s not it at all. You don’t get it. I read your report in full. I’m proud of you. But until your ship arrived, we feared the worst. I thought I had lost you.”
For the briefest of seconds, Jonathan saw his father’s composure slip. He’d never seen his father look scared before. Nor had he seen the strain and weight of responsibility that was mixed in with the fear. It shocked him to his core. His father had always been a rock. The hero of the Gayla campaign. Jonathan had never thought of his father as someone struggling with his decisions or being weighed down by the burden of leading the Empire. But now you know what it’s like, Jonathan realized. At least, you’ve had the smallest of tastes of it. As his father’s composed look returned, a new sense of pride swelled within Jonathan. He had always respected his father growing up, it had been impossible not to; he had been surrounded by so many great men and woman who showed his father the utmost respect, it had just naturally been passed on to him. But now, he looked at his father with fresh eyes. “I’m sorry to have worried you like that,” he said before hugging his father for the third time. When they parted, James was grinning at him. “What is it?”
“You’re starting to sound like me when your mother is around,” James said through his grin. “Always apologizing, and for no good reason at that! You did good. Encountering that Karacknid freighter when you did was a stroke of great fortune. Destroying it even more so. I shudder to think what the Flex-aor would do if armed with Karacknid weapons. And the other alien ship... I have no idea who they are, but at least now we know about them.” Jonathan’s eyes fell. He couldn’t handle the look of pride in his father’s face. It didn’t feel earned.
James reached out and raised Jonathan’s chin with a finger. “Don’t,” he said. “Don’t downplay what you achieved,” James continued, answering his son’s unspoken question. “You’ve always done it. Maybe I’m partly to blame, I always wanted to keep you grounded. But not this time. You deserve the praise you’re going to get.” Jonathan nodded, but his expression didn’t change, praise or no, that wasn’t what was on his mind. “Aahh,” James said as his expression changed as well. “Chennai… I understand. That will live with you for the rest of your life. I’m afraid I cannot take the memories from you. But you must accept it was not your fault. There was nothing you could do. That is the price those who would lead have to pay. We will always feel responsible.”
Jonathan nodded. “The burden of command,” he said as he met his father’s eyes. “I think I’m finally beginning to understand what you have meant all these years.”
James couldn’t help but grin again as he slapped Jonathan on the shoulder. “You’re just starting on that journey son. Just wait until you command a battlecruiser with a crew of one thousand. Or a fleet of eight hundred thousand. You’re still learning, I think. But we’ll get you there.”
“I think I’ve had my fill of that kind of experience,” Jonathan replied. “I be happy to return to Resolute and get back to my old duties. I didn’t see her with the fleet?”
“No, you certainly didn’t,” James said. “When Captain Domingo realized who you truly were, she begged me to send her to look for you again. We dispatched several ships to scour space around the last system you were seen in. I imagine she’s driving herself crazy trying to find the Imperial prince she lost. She will box your ears when she finds out you beat her back to Imperial space safe and sound.”
Jonathan found himself nodding seriously. That was one reunion he wasn’t looking forward to. “I fear she will. Maybe you could put a good word in for us?”
James shook his head. “No chance, that will be between you and her. But I wouldn’t worry too much about that yet. We have a few problems to deal with before you’re going to see her again.”
Jonathan had almost forgotten. “Right, the Flex-aor. We were so focused on getting a warning to New Delhi, we didn’t think about what would come after. What are we going to do?”
“Now, we prepare New Delhi’s defenses for the battle of her life.” James answered. “They outnumber us heavily. Davenport’s staff will debrief you now, we need to understand their capabilities as best we can. They’ve had thirty years to prepare for this.”
“Of course,” Jonathan said, “we will help in any way we can.”
James smiled. “I’m glad to hear you say that.” Reaching into his tunic, James pulled out a datapad. He activated its small holo display to show an image of an Imperial destroyer. “For once you have been debriefed, Admiral Davenport and I have another job for you. She is Achilles. She just came out of her construction yard three weeks ago. Former governor Varma’s people completed her space trials as best they could and added her to their fleet. We’ve taken her back now. She is in need of a Captain.” James paused and glanced over Jonathan’s shoulders. “And a crew. Admiral Davenport has already decided. She is yours once we’ve finished debriefing you.”
Jonathan’s mouth fell open. For weeks now, he had been dreaming of getting back to Resolute and a life with far less stress. The prospect of taking command of a full Imperial destroyer terrified him. Yet his mind went to the Flex-aor fleet. It was coming for New Delhi. Achilles would be needed to fight them off. He turned and glanced at Lydia, Becca, Onoda, and McKay. They all nodded at him encouragingly. “We are honored,” he said as he turned back to his father. “We will not let you down.”
Chapter 29
The Battle of New Delhi was small by the standards of the time, yet that made it no less significant.
-Excerpt from Empire Ascendant 3015 AD.
IS Oblivion, 12th December 2508 AD, (two days later).
As James expected, the Flex-aor wasted no time advancing on New Delhi. Just two days after Jonathan arrived in Neptune, the first Flex-aor scout ships showed up. They did little more than remain on the edge of the system observing Home Fleet as it readied New Delhi’s defenses. They also quickly fled when James dispatched a squadron of destroyers to engage them. Yet despite only remaining in the system for a couple of hours, their arrival hardened everyone’s resolve. There could be no doubt now, the fleet that had wiped out Chennai had set its sights on New Delhi. For the two days before the Flex-aor scouts arrived, and for another after, James barely slept more than four or five hours. A hundred different things had to be prepared. Whilst James did trust Davenport, and the command staff she had put together, he still felt he needed to have as much oversight of the preparations as he could. The vast majority of the Lieutenants and Captains in his fleet had never seen battle before. Only Davenport and several of the more senior squadron commanders had fought in the Karacknid War. It was only when Davenport finally confronted him and warned him that he was burning himself out that James finally relented and retired to his quarters for a proper sleep. That was why, after collapsing into a deep sleep of more than ten hours, James’ steward had to shake him awake when his COM unit failed to wake him.
James groaned when he felt a hand gripping his shoulder. He groaned again as his body was moved back and forth against his will. “What is it?” He mumbled as he cracked open his eyes. “Fox! What are you doing?” Before Fox could answer, James got a good look at his face. Concern was written across his steward’s features. Seeing it brought James’ mind back to the present. The Flex-aor, they are here! He was sure. “Never mind,” he said quickly as he pushed himself up into a sitting position. “The Flex-aor fleet has been sighted, I presume.” Fox nodded. “Very well. Get me my dress uniform. This is a day to be seen.”
“Right away Admiral,” Fox replied as he moved back and quickly scurried over to one of James’ wardrobes.
James stood and stretched. Then glanced at a chronometer. He was shocked to see how long he had slept for. Yet I needed it, he told himself as he examined his body and mind. He felt fresh. Given the challenge that he was about to face, the sleep was just what he needed. Quickly, he stepped into his bathroom, freshened up, and came back into the bedroom. Fox already had his uniform ready. With his steward’s help, he donned his uniform and left his quarters.
When he stepped onto Oblivion’s bridge, James could sense the tension in the air. A quick glance at the holo display told him why. Eight hundred contacts dominated the visuals. They were right on the edge of the system, but their noses were pointed directly at New Delhi. James cleared his throat. Every eye turned to him. He paused for a second as they studied him. With ease, James exuded charm and confidence. Partly, it was a well-practiced act. The sight of so many ships did cause him a great deal of concern. Yet a part of him welcomed the challenge. It had been too long since he had faced down an enemy fleet. For two decades, he had helped forge the technological and tactical capabilities of the Imperial Fleet. Now, the fruits of his labor were finally going to be tested for real. “It has been many years since the Imperial Fleet has had to face a serious enemy,” he said to Oblivion’s bridge officers, knowing that his words would end up being passed on to the rest of Oblivion’s crew and on throughout the fleet. “But now once again, our species finds itself being threatened by enemies who would destroy us if they could.” Turning, James faced a secondary holo display showing New Delhi. “A billion of our people live on that planet. We are all that stands between them and death. I expect that every one of you shall do your duty for the Empire. If that is the case, then we will win this day.” Pausing again, James surveyed Oblivion’s bridge crew. He gave them a nod of approval. “Carry on,” he said before moving over to his command chair. He couldn’t help but give Davenport a wink as he passed her. She flashed him a smile in return. “Status update?” He asked as soon as he sat down.
“We have eight hundred and sixteen Flex-aor contacts confirmed Admiral,” Davenport’s sensor officer snapped at once. “The first scouts dropped out of shift space approximately four minutes ago. Their larger warships have been jumping in since. The main bulk of their force is forming up now into a defensive posture, whilst several squadrons of frigates are proceeding into the system. It looks like they are searching for any surprises.”
James nodded to the sensor officer. “A wise precaution.” For a moment, he wondered what else the Karacknids might have shared with the Flex-aor. It was possible Tanaka-lan, or whoever was trying to work with the Flex-aor, might have shared details of James’ Gayla campaign. The Flex-aor commander he was facing might just be aware of some of James’ tricks. With a shake of his head, James dismissed that possibility. Many of the battles he had fought against the Karacknids had ended in defeat for the bloodthirsty aliens. He rather doubted they would be willing to share those details with anyone. Which means they are just being cautious, James concluded. For a few moments, he silently studied the holo display. The main Flex-aor fleet hadn’t moved from the end of the shift passage it had jumped out of yet. It had formed up into a tight ball with all of its capital ships protected behind frigates, destroyers, and cruisers. Carefully, he studied the Flex-aor capital ships. He shook his head slightly when he saw no sign of a flagship or queenship. The last time the Flex-aor had attacked, the UN fleets had quickly learned that taking out a Flex-aor flagship or even better, killing one of their Queens, often fragmented their forces. Yet only the largest Flex-aor fleets had been commanded by such leaders. Which means that it may be no Queen managed to escape the blockade we put on their worlds, James thought. Though he would have liked to be able to target the fleet’s commander, if no Queen had escaped thirty years ago, it meant the fleet in front of him was likely all the forces the Flex-aor had.
Further out from the ball of capital ships, about forty frigates were patrolling back and forth, their active sensors blaring as they filled space with electromagnetic energy. An additional six groups of six frigates were moving into the system. Spread out forming a cone formation, they were actively searching what would presumably be the main fleet’s course towards New Delhi. James wished he had mines or some other kind of surprise waiting for the Flex-aor; sadly the enemy scouts weren’t going to find anything. All of the Imperial fleet’s advanced defensive weaponry where stationed along the frontline facing the Karacknid Empire.
The only thing he had opposing the Flex-aor fleet was Home Fleet itself. Currently, James had Home Fleet sitting just one light hour from the shift passage, blocking the Flex-aor fleet’s line of advance. In the previous war, the Flex-aor’s massive advantage in missile range had meant every siege battle had been fought as James had his ships stationed now. Back then, stationing a defensive fleet in orbit of the planet an Admiral wished to protect had essentially been a death sentence. The Flex-aor had been able to stay outside the missile range of the defenders and bombard the planet’s defenses into debris. Now, James was far more confident both his mark VII and VIII missiles could out-range the Flex-aor. Yet he wasn’t certain, so he wanted to make sure before he fell back to New Delhi. Plus, putting his ships where they were was hopefully exactly what the Flex-aor commander would have expected. James wanted his opponent to continue thinking things would play out as they had in the past for as long as possible. “It seems they have begun as we anticipated,” James said as he turned to Davenport. “What do you think?”
“We start with Plan Three,” Davenport suggested. “Our destroyers should have no problems with their targets. At least, if they do, then we’ll know we are going to be in even more danger than we fear.”
James nodded. “Plan Three it is. Send out the orders.”
Moments later, from the one hundred and eighty-seven contacts that surrounded Oblivion, four divisions of destroyers lit up their engines and moved towards the Flex-aor fleet. An uneasy feeling assaulted James’ stomach. Achilles was in one of the divisions. She was at the rear of the line, and facing six Flex-aor frigates was far less of a risk than what every ship in the fleet would soon be facing. Nevertheless, he couldn’t help but feel concern for his son. He had just got him back and already, Jonathan was heading into danger once again. Stay safe, he thought towards his son as the battle for New Delhi began. And look out for him, James added as his mind turned to the Commodore commanding the destroyer division. Now, everyone in Home Fleet knew who Jonathan really was. James suspected Jonathan wasn’t enjoying that in the least; for his part, James hoped it meant the other destroyer Captains in Jonathan’s division would go above and beyond to protect him.
*
Achilles “Two of the Flex-aor frigate squadrons are moving to intercept us,” Lydia reported from her position manning Achilles’ sensor console.
Jonathan smiled at his acting Second Lieutenant, “It seems we’re going to get to put our new ship to the test. Any orders from Commodore McMillan?”
“None yet Captain,” Lieutenant Rutherford replied from the COM station.
“All weapon systems are fully functional,” First Lieutenant Samantha Cortez added. “She is as ready as she is going to be.”
“Of that, I have no doubts,” Jonathan said as he turned to his second-in-command. Initially, when he had read Cortez’s personnel file, he had been concerned by her transfer. She had been Second Lieutenant on board the battlecruiser Zeus. She also had five years’ seniority over him in the Navy. By all rights, she deserved command of Achilles. Jonathan had feared she would resent his position. Yet over the last three days, she had thrown herself into getting the newly-constructed destroyer fully operational. In the live fire drills and fleet maneuvers his father had carried out as Home Fleet had prepared for the Flex-aor, Achilles had performed admirably. Jonathan was very aware that most of that was down to Cortez.
