Read Online Carinae Sector: 02 - Admiral's Fury - Part 3 - Fleet Action by David Buck - Free Book Online Page B

direct approach and is many hours away from reaching Earth. We shall conserve missiles by only using our energy weapons to destroy the colony in about an hour’s time. However you are saying there is a threat from the large number of smaller ships in orbit around the asteroid?’
    The lieutenant answered that this was the case and Captain Neanres could see his point after looking over the new information. For a moment the captain considered the courage of the humans defending the mining colony. He then issued a series of orders as he brought the image of Ceres up to full magnification on the view screen.
    ‘Both missile ships are to fall back and the designated rear guard of six ships will protect them at all costs. The remaining frigates will all slow but remain between the asteroid and our missile ships. We will do this slowly and by the book using only energy weapons.’
    The Jerecab formation slowed even as the mining craft defending Ceres formed up across their path. Neanres knew that he had plenty of time to destroy both mining colonies, as they were currently only one hundred million kilometres from one another in their different orbits. By habit he then checked the transfer of from Vesta inwards towards Earth. The captain knew that his approach vector would be different from the rest of the armada, but he felt that this would give his forces an additional advantage.
    The lieutenant called out across the bridge as the view screen came alive for several seconds showing a human male, obviously an important civilian. The image was erased as Neanres gave a curt wave and the communications officer dropped the link.
    ‘Captain that is the fourth attempt in the last half an hour by the humans attempting to talk to us, surely they would have decided it is much too late for that!’
    Neanres scrubbed his long whiskers in thought for several moments before he offered a pithy opinion.
    ‘Possibly the confusion amongst the humans on who is actually in charge of their planet’s defences will work in our favour. Ultimately we will decide the issue for them when we take first their lives and then their planet from them.’
    Neanres noted that they were now closing on the smaller human ships and he focussed his attention onto the coming battle.
     
     
                                                                         ***
     
    Admiral Mary Neilson fought off tiredness as her remaining destroyers passed the orbit of Mars and began to decelerate for their arrival in orbit around the moon. The only bright spot for her current watch had been when she had earlier promoted John Griggs to the rank of commander.
    Commander Griggs spoke calmly across the bridge to advise that Earth had sent another message, and Mary found herself looking at Chancellor Schmidt. She was soon finding it hard to remain calm as the chancellor now upbraided her about the recent battle at Neptune.
    ‘Admiral, your fleet has suffered further losses at Neptune and I still question your decisions. Also both Ceres and Vesta lie directly in the path of the invaders and you are not defending these colonies. We are attempting to contact the Jerecab directly to end this pointless war, but they are not answering our requests.’
    Mary knew that the chancellor had still been unsuccessful in getting her removed from her command. However she knew that he would keep trying even if it was now the least of her problems. She answered him with a lengthy but polite reply, even though she wanted to blast the senior politician for his stupidity and meddling.
    ‘Chancellor we have slowed the onslaught of the armada and done so without risk to the majority of our ships. Every hour gained is an additional hour in which other races can intervene and stop the Jerecab. Both Ceres and Vesta will be left to their own devices as they cannot be defended without risking the fleet. Both their colony administrators have