Read Online Synchronicity War Part 1, The by Dietmar Wehr - Free Book Online
Authors: Dietmar Wehr
Tags: Science-Fiction, adventure, Space Opera, Military, Time travel, Science Fiction & Fantasy, alien invasion, Galactic Empire, Space Fleet
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your time.
Keep yourself available, and my staff will contact you in due course. You’re
dismissed.”
Shiloh saluted and was starting to leave when Howard called
to him, “By the way, Commander, I’m curious. What was it that made you think to
deploy those recon drones in that way?”
Shiloh knew he had to answer quickly, but he didn’t want to
tell the Admiral about his vision. “The thought just seemed to pop into my
head, Sir.”
“Well, it’s a good thing it did.”
“Yes, Sir.”
When Shiloh arrived back at the underground garage to catch
a ride to the hotel, Johansen was waiting for him. On the way back, he told her
what the Admiral had told him. She congratulated him on his pending appointment
as Squadron Leader. After riding in silence for a few minutes, she turned to
Shiloh.
“Do you think we’ll be able to beat these aliens?”
“I think we have a chance, but only if our politicians get
their heads out of these asses and make the tough decisions in a timely manner.
What worries me is that they’ll debate, delay and try to make do with half
measures. We can’t afford that. I’m pretty sure Admiral Howard understands that,
too. Let’s hope he can convince the Oversight Committee, and that they can
convince the rest of the Planetary Assembly.”
Johansen was quiet for a few seconds, then said, “What do we
do if they can’t or won’t?”
Shiloh looked at her with a grim expression on his face. “Then
we do whatever we have to do.”
Johansen nodded her agreement.
Back at the hotel, Shiloh briefed the rest of his officers
before they and Johansen left on their shore leave. After saying their goodbyes
and agreeing to meet again in two weeks, Shiloh found himself as the only guest
of the hotel that night. The next morning, however, the hotel staff informed
him that the Support Group and attached frigates under Cmdr. Omar had arrived
in orbit around the moon as per standard procedure, and that the hotel had been
alerted that the officers of those ships would be checking in later that day.
He also received a message that the Oversight Committee would be meeting with
Admiral Howard the following day at ten a.m., and that Shiloh was ordered to be
at the HQ conference room no later than 0930 hrs. Shiloh didn’t see how that
left enough time for Howard to meet with Omar and his officers before the
meeting with the Oversight Committee. Later, to his surprise, a Space Force
limo flying a flag with three stars pulled up to the hotel entrance, and
Admiral Howard stepped out. Shiloh went to greet him at the hotel lobby.
“Ah, Commander. How nice of you to greet me. Commander Omar
and his people aren’t here yet, I take it?”
“No, Sir. Not yet.”
Howard looked around. “Well then, they’ll be here shortly.
There won’t be time for me to attend their debriefing sessions tomorrow, since
you and I will be in front of the Oversight Committee, so I’m going to set a
precedent and have an informal debriefing with Omar and his senior officers
here as soon as they arrive. This is what I want you to do, Commander. You wait
here in the lobby. I’ll tell the hotel staff what kind of arrangements I want
for this meeting. When Omar and his people get here, you inform him that the
Chief of Operations wants to see him, the other three frigate COs and their XOs,
along with the Support Group Leader, immediately. The hotel staff will take
care of their belongings. The rest of the group can do as they please for the
rest of today. My staff will make sure that everyone knows where they have to
be tomorrow, but you’ll have to make sure that they know what they have to do
tonight. I’m certain they’ll all be tired and hungry. Food will be provided
during the debriefing. As for their fatigue, well, they’ll just have to hang in
there a little longer. Any questions, Commander?”
“No, Sir.”
“Very well. I’ll make sure that you’re
Keep yourself available, and my staff will contact you in due course. You’re
dismissed.”
Shiloh saluted and was starting to leave when Howard called
to him, “By the way, Commander, I’m curious. What was it that made you think to
deploy those recon drones in that way?”
Shiloh knew he had to answer quickly, but he didn’t want to
tell the Admiral about his vision. “The thought just seemed to pop into my
head, Sir.”
“Well, it’s a good thing it did.”
“Yes, Sir.”
When Shiloh arrived back at the underground garage to catch
a ride to the hotel, Johansen was waiting for him. On the way back, he told her
what the Admiral had told him. She congratulated him on his pending appointment
as Squadron Leader. After riding in silence for a few minutes, she turned to
Shiloh.
“Do you think we’ll be able to beat these aliens?”
“I think we have a chance, but only if our politicians get
their heads out of these asses and make the tough decisions in a timely manner.
What worries me is that they’ll debate, delay and try to make do with half
measures. We can’t afford that. I’m pretty sure Admiral Howard understands that,
too. Let’s hope he can convince the Oversight Committee, and that they can
convince the rest of the Planetary Assembly.”
Johansen was quiet for a few seconds, then said, “What do we
do if they can’t or won’t?”
Shiloh looked at her with a grim expression on his face. “Then
we do whatever we have to do.”
Johansen nodded her agreement.
Back at the hotel, Shiloh briefed the rest of his officers
before they and Johansen left on their shore leave. After saying their goodbyes
and agreeing to meet again in two weeks, Shiloh found himself as the only guest
of the hotel that night. The next morning, however, the hotel staff informed
him that the Support Group and attached frigates under Cmdr. Omar had arrived
in orbit around the moon as per standard procedure, and that the hotel had been
alerted that the officers of those ships would be checking in later that day.
He also received a message that the Oversight Committee would be meeting with
Admiral Howard the following day at ten a.m., and that Shiloh was ordered to be
at the HQ conference room no later than 0930 hrs. Shiloh didn’t see how that
left enough time for Howard to meet with Omar and his officers before the
meeting with the Oversight Committee. Later, to his surprise, a Space Force
limo flying a flag with three stars pulled up to the hotel entrance, and
Admiral Howard stepped out. Shiloh went to greet him at the hotel lobby.
“Ah, Commander. How nice of you to greet me. Commander Omar
and his people aren’t here yet, I take it?”
“No, Sir. Not yet.”
Howard looked around. “Well then, they’ll be here shortly.
There won’t be time for me to attend their debriefing sessions tomorrow, since
you and I will be in front of the Oversight Committee, so I’m going to set a
precedent and have an informal debriefing with Omar and his senior officers
here as soon as they arrive. This is what I want you to do, Commander. You wait
here in the lobby. I’ll tell the hotel staff what kind of arrangements I want
for this meeting. When Omar and his people get here, you inform him that the
Chief of Operations wants to see him, the other three frigate COs and their XOs,
along with the Support Group Leader, immediately. The hotel staff will take
care of their belongings. The rest of the group can do as they please for the
rest of today. My staff will make sure that everyone knows where they have to
be tomorrow, but you’ll have to make sure that they know what they have to do
tonight. I’m certain they’ll all be tired and hungry. Food will be provided
during the debriefing. As for their fatigue, well, they’ll just have to hang in
there a little longer. Any questions, Commander?”
“No, Sir.”
“Very well. I’ll make sure that you’re
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