Maligned Valor: A Young Adult Military Science Fiction Novel by Spriggs Kal

Author:Spriggs, Kal
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Sutek Press
Published: 2024-04-10T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 14: Coming To Understanding

“Squadron left,” Commodore Creed ordered. “Adjust vector, two-eight-two. Engage enemy as they bear.”

The squadron of heavy cruisers shifted at his orders. He had brought them in fast, far faster than the usual destroyers or corvettes of the MCA could manage, with an acceleration of point six of light speed.

Unfortunately, that meant he had come in faster than the sensors from his ships could keep up.

The enemy heavy cruiser squadron swept in from the flanks, split into two half-squadrons in a pincer move designed to cut off his retreat.

It was a maneuver we had trained at the Institute, and Captain Lorr executed it right out of that playbook. Warp missiles volleyed in, followed by fire from two sides as the squadron of heavy cruisers dropped into the kill zone.

I watched as an observer for this run and I listened as Commodore Creed snapped orders to focus fire on one flank of the pincer. Those orders were effective, he scored multiple hits, yet the two formations limited his maneuverability too much. The warp missiles went home and three of his ships staggered out of the formation. Two more vanished under enemy fire.

It was two half-squadrons of six ships against seven total vessels now and weight of fire turned hard against him. Commodore Creed sent the formation hard in on the one flank and they scored several hits, knocking out two of Captain Lorr’s vessels, but Commodore Creed lost three more ships in the process.

At the end of it, he broke away, four ships, all of them with flickering drives from damage, breaking up and away and fleeing in different directions.

Simulation terminated.

“Well, that was… something,” Commodore Creed seemed irritated.

I kept quiet. He really hadn’t done that bad. This scenario had been designed, from the beginning, to highlight the importance of scouting units for heavier ships. I felt it had done that. All the same, the Commodore had done far better than many would have in that same scenario.

Captain Baden ordered us to the after action review and I followed the MCA officers as they went that way. We had a few minutes before the review and there was some milling about in the corridor as officers figured out a pecking order as far as who was going to sit where in the review room.

I waited, not really caring where I sat. I was an Initiate, after all.

Someone bumped into me from the side. “My apologies,” I offered automatically. I’d been looking at the main group of officers and had lost track of others moving through the corridor.

I froze, though as I recognized who I had bumped into.

Lieutenant Colin Chance stood there. Up close, stark against his pale skin, I could make out freckles. His face flushed a bit as he recognized me.

“Armstrong.”

“Lieutenant Chance,” I nodded in reply.

His mouth worked, as if he had to chew on words before he said them. Finally, after what seemed like a short eternity, he spoke, “I don’t have to like you.”

I gave him a nod, “I know, sir.

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