Search & Destroy_Mechanized Warfare on a Galactic Scale by CH Gideon & Caleb Wachter & Craig Martelle

Author:CH Gideon & Caleb Wachter & Craig Martelle [Gideon, CH & Wachter, Caleb & Martelle, Craig]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: LMBPN Publishing
Published: 2019-06-23T04:00:00+00:00

12

Second-Wave Silica

“Wormhole emergence,” Sensors reported, snapping Podsy’s mind back to full attention after he had drifted off for a power nap in his grav-couch on the bridge. During Condition One or Condition Two, it was acceptable for key bridge officers to remain in their couches for short naps in the event the ship needed to execute emergency maneuvers. Everyone else was confined to quarters when off-duty; no one would have looked unfavorably on an XO doing the same, but it would have taken the Master at Arms to pull Podsy off the bridge. “I’m reading multiple warships arriving through the Nexus-side wormhole gate,” the stander continued before adding in alarm, “They’re Jemmin.”

“Confirm that,” General Moon commanded.

“Confirmed.” Tactical nodded grimly. “And there’s a Gatecrasher with them.”

“A Gatecrasher broke through the Vorr blockade?” Podsy said skeptically. “That’s…impossible. Vorr forces have a stranglehold on the Nexus, and there hasn’t been a single Gatecrasher recorded entering the Nexus System in over two weeks.”

“Then they must not have broken through.” Moon grimaced.

“The Jemmin were let through by the Vorr?” Tactical blurted in disbelief before his attention snagged on something at his terminal. “This Gatecrasher is on file. It appeared in the Nexus eighteen days ago, when it engaged and destroyed a Vorr fleet before withdrawing to Jemmin space. It’s severely damaged and is accelerating at just under forty gees. The rest of the Jemmin warships are assuming a cloud formation centered on it. I’m reading eighty, eight-zero, Jemmin cruisers, General.”

“Incoming message from Admiral Wallace,” Comm declared.

“Put it on,” Moon intoned, straightening in his chair. Podsy did likewise after securing his harness.

“This is Admiral Wallace to the fleet,” the stone-faced admiral began. “I’m ordering all warships nonessential to the ground mission to form up on the flag and proceed to an intercept position of the Jemmin fleet. We break orbit immediately and proceed at flank speed to Rally Point Foxtrot, where we will intercept and destroy the enemy.”

A virtual map of the star system appeared, with Rally Point Foxtrot showing as a strobing yellow sphere midway between AK-091 and the Nexus-side wormhole gate.

“Get me a secure line with him,” Moon demanded.

“Negative, General,” Comm reported tersely. “Marcus Aurelius is refusing our request for direct link.”

Before Comm could work through what sounded like a bureaucratic obstacle, a second transmission joined the first.

“This is Rear Admiral Corbyn,” the paunchy officer declared, using his authority to attach his transmission to Admiral Wallace’s so that the entire fleet would hear his message. “The Martin Luther requests permission to remain in orbit to support the ground operation.”

“New contacts!” Sensors reported in a taut voice as Corbyn spoke. “Arh’Kel warships emerging from the far-side wormhole. Two…four…eight fireships detected. They’re moving toward the planet at high speed. ETA two hours.”

Wallace’s eyes snapped toward something off-pickup, which in all likelihood was a sensor update regarding the newly-arrived Arh’Kel warships. The hint of a sneer creased Wallace’s lips as he nodded officiously. “Permission granted, Admiral Corbyn.”

The line went dead, erasing the admirals’ images and leaving the

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