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Authors: Raymond L. Weil
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fleet. If you wish, I can have those ships
at New Tellus in forty-eight of your hours.”
“What about
adding Humans to your crews?” Governor Malleck asked.
“We are not an
overly aggressive race,” Tureen responded with a heavy sigh. “It was extremely distasteful
for our crews to fight at New Tellus, though they realized it was a necessity.
Our battlecruisers, in order to function at full capacity, need a crew of four
hundred. We can furnish fifty Altons to crew each ship and we would like you to
furnish the rest. The commanding officer will be an Alton, but we would like
the executive officer to be a Human.”
“It will be
necessary to modify the ships for Human crews,” Hedon said between pursed lips.
“That might take a while.”
“The twenty
ships I am speaking of have already been modified to handle Human crews,”
Tureen replied. “Once they arrive at New Tellus I propose that you have some of
your own construction engineers go on board the ships and see if anything else
is required.”
“Will there be
any problems mixing the crews?” Governor Malleck asked his eyes focusing sharply
on Tureen. They couldn’t afford to have an incident between the Human crew and
the Alton crew.
“No,” Tureen
replied without hesitation. “Our people will serve primarily as advisors. Your
people will be responsible for the ship during combat operations. We have
carefully chosen these crews; they are some of the more aggressive members of
the Alton race.”
The door
suddenly opened and an ashen faced Rear Admiral Kalen stepped in. “Sorry to
interrupt, but we just received a message from Fleet Admiral Johnson. A light
cruiser has just jumped into the New Tellus system. It’s from Careth and they
want to know where the relief fleet is. The commander says the system is facing
a fleet of over five hundred Hocklyn warships and ten AIs and they have already
thrown back two attacks.”
“Ten AIs,”
Governor Malleck mumbled with sudden concern in his eyes. “They can’t stand up
to that many AIs.” Malleck felt his stomach churn. It was unimaginable to let
the Special Five die. He knew with a sinking feeling that Ceres would once
again have to disobey the Federation Senate.
“This is
Admiral Strong we’re talking about,” Hedon responded as he stood up. “I
wouldn’t count him out just yet. What worries me is what happens if the Hocklyns
and AIs throw even more ships at him. I don’t think we can wait four more weeks
to launch the relief fleet. I’m returning immediately to New Tellus to speak
with Admiral Johnson. I told Jeremy I would return and I’ll be damned if I will
let him die at Careth!”
“My fleet will
be going with you,” added Admiral Telleck, standing and looking at over Governor
Malleck, who nodded in agreement. “We’re nearly through with the Alton upgrades and can be ready to depart by the end of the week.”
“Then be ready.
I’m going to save Admiral Strong with or without the approval of the Federation
Senate.”
Governor
Malleck watched as Hedon strolled purposefully from the conference room. Admiral
Kalen stayed behind with a grim look upon his face. “What about the Federation
Senate? We have already gone around them several times in the past. This will
not be well received when they hear what we have done.”
“Ambassador
Tureen, the Federation Senate wants us to hold off another four weeks before we
launch the relief fleet,” Governor Malleck informed him in a serious voice.
“Would you be willing to speak with President Kincaid and promise to help
preserve Federation security if he will launch the fleet sooner?”
Tureen was
silent as he contemplated his answer. “It would be unfortunate if Careth was to
fall to the Hocklyns and the AIs. If we can fortify Careth, it would make an
ideal advance base to continue the attack against the Hocklyns and eventually
the AIs in the galactic center. I'll speak to President Kincaid.”
“I firmly
believe that President
at New Tellus in forty-eight of your hours.”
“What about
adding Humans to your crews?” Governor Malleck asked.
“We are not an
overly aggressive race,” Tureen responded with a heavy sigh. “It was extremely distasteful
for our crews to fight at New Tellus, though they realized it was a necessity.
Our battlecruisers, in order to function at full capacity, need a crew of four
hundred. We can furnish fifty Altons to crew each ship and we would like you to
furnish the rest. The commanding officer will be an Alton, but we would like
the executive officer to be a Human.”
“It will be
necessary to modify the ships for Human crews,” Hedon said between pursed lips.
“That might take a while.”
“The twenty
ships I am speaking of have already been modified to handle Human crews,”
Tureen replied. “Once they arrive at New Tellus I propose that you have some of
your own construction engineers go on board the ships and see if anything else
is required.”
“Will there be
any problems mixing the crews?” Governor Malleck asked his eyes focusing sharply
on Tureen. They couldn’t afford to have an incident between the Human crew and
the Alton crew.
“No,” Tureen
replied without hesitation. “Our people will serve primarily as advisors. Your
people will be responsible for the ship during combat operations. We have
carefully chosen these crews; they are some of the more aggressive members of
the Alton race.”
The door
suddenly opened and an ashen faced Rear Admiral Kalen stepped in. “Sorry to
interrupt, but we just received a message from Fleet Admiral Johnson. A light
cruiser has just jumped into the New Tellus system. It’s from Careth and they
want to know where the relief fleet is. The commander says the system is facing
a fleet of over five hundred Hocklyn warships and ten AIs and they have already
thrown back two attacks.”
“Ten AIs,”
Governor Malleck mumbled with sudden concern in his eyes. “They can’t stand up
to that many AIs.” Malleck felt his stomach churn. It was unimaginable to let
the Special Five die. He knew with a sinking feeling that Ceres would once
again have to disobey the Federation Senate.
“This is
Admiral Strong we’re talking about,” Hedon responded as he stood up. “I
wouldn’t count him out just yet. What worries me is what happens if the Hocklyns
and AIs throw even more ships at him. I don’t think we can wait four more weeks
to launch the relief fleet. I’m returning immediately to New Tellus to speak
with Admiral Johnson. I told Jeremy I would return and I’ll be damned if I will
let him die at Careth!”
“My fleet will
be going with you,” added Admiral Telleck, standing and looking at over Governor
Malleck, who nodded in agreement. “We’re nearly through with the Alton upgrades and can be ready to depart by the end of the week.”
“Then be ready.
I’m going to save Admiral Strong with or without the approval of the Federation
Senate.”
Governor
Malleck watched as Hedon strolled purposefully from the conference room. Admiral
Kalen stayed behind with a grim look upon his face. “What about the Federation
Senate? We have already gone around them several times in the past. This will
not be well received when they hear what we have done.”
“Ambassador
Tureen, the Federation Senate wants us to hold off another four weeks before we
launch the relief fleet,” Governor Malleck informed him in a serious voice.
“Would you be willing to speak with President Kincaid and promise to help
preserve Federation security if he will launch the fleet sooner?”
Tureen was
silent as he contemplated his answer. “It would be unfortunate if Careth was to
fall to the Hocklyns and the AIs. If we can fortify Careth, it would make an
ideal advance base to continue the attack against the Hocklyns and eventually
the AIs in the galactic center. I'll speak to President Kincaid.”
“I firmly
believe that President
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