Solaria's Fist (The Iron Suns Book 2) by K.D. Karnik

Author:K.D. Karnik [Karnik, K.D.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: K.D. Karnik
Published: 2020-11-19T00:00:00+00:00

“I encountered a few starships of the Lyon Fleet on my shakedown cruise,” Preetam told him one day, as they ran over the reports from the most recent simulation-exercises and Skanda flew through Blue Space. “Those starships were on their own shakedown cruises, it appears. I had a pleasant conversation with them, and it appears the Lyon military still harbors their old jealousy of us Asiatics. One of the captains even said something like ‘there is no love lost between New Paris and the Federation.’”

Shiv looked up. “I hadn’t thought of that, Captain. Likely because it can’t matter much. Do you seriously think the iciness they universally display against us will have an effect if we go to war together against the New Egyptians?”

“I don’t know,” Preetam said. “I do know that we can’t trust them fully, even if we consider them more like rivals. And even if not a major effect, it might have some tangible implications.” He leaned forward. “What if they get too serious about war-games? What if there are some ‘accidental’ misfires?”

Shiv laughed. “The rivalry isn’t institutional. As long as it isn’t, I can handle whatever slurs our people throw at each other.” Preetam didn’t look satisfied. “Well, Captain, I think you have too few things to think about. There’s a way we’ll figure out how much this Lyon-Hind ‘jealousy’ will affect us before the games start.”

“I’m intrigued, sir,” Preetam said dryly. “I haven’t participated in any games before, and I’m wondering right now if the dynamics between our two militaries have anything to do with our first war games being against each other.”

“Dissect this report for me,” Shiv interrupted, pointing at the display. “I need to know how efficient this gunship formation was during our exercises. And now ... look. It is customary, among the Europics, for the guest military to be invited for a dinner aboard one of the host’s most prized vessels or space stations or whatever, before the war games would commence. Admiral Bernard's flagship is WECS Gloire, and if we were like just another allied force, he would be the first to greet us in a booming voice when we enter communications range in the Lyon System. He should also, in that greeting, invite us to a dinner aboard the Gloire or Moody Station. If he doesn’t, I will consider what you say.”

Preetam nodded, starting to scroll through the display, reading the post-exercise report. “This seems good, sir. The gunships had excellent maneuverability ... I’d like for the Marines to do an exercise practicing to force-board a battleship while having the support of twenty gunships, no more.”

“Those Marines would die long before they got to a single hatch,” Shiv said. “Nevertheless, I’ll talk to Colonel Nautiyal.”

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