The Prodigals: The Tri-Cluster Confederation by Mike Watson

Author:Mike Watson [Watson, Mike]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-04-27T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 45 Opening Shots

Rendezvous Fleetbase, Rendezvous System, 22 Sixthmonth, 3206

"Course change!" The call rang out in the fleetbase's CIC.

"Update and plot the new course," Admiral Roger Blankenship ordered. The red track of the inbound Essie fleet shifted in the CIC's holosphere. Instead of continuing directly across the ecliptic toward the fleetbase, the new course took them above the ecliptic before changing, heading to Rendezvous. That course would take the Essies much closer to Wibley Station.

"Cunningham updated?" Blankenship asked.

"Yes, sir," Fen answered. "He's connected to our subspace linknet."

Blankenship drummed his fingers on the arm of his command chair. Decision time. The admiral made a quick search of the current op-plans. This one will do. He stood and said, "Activate Op-plan Sigma-14-Green. Let's go, Captain Fitzgerald. Time to board ship."

A new icon appeared in the holosphere, catching Blankenship's eye. He looked at Fen for identification.

"That's the last shuttle from Wibley, sir," Fen said, answering the admiral's unspoken query. "Docking in half an hour."

"Good. That's the one with Tolliver and that AI, isn't it?"

"Yes, sir. But I don't think they'll be able to board before we depart."

"Too bad. It'd be a good experience for him—both of them."

"They can link in with us, just not be present."

"Set it up. The Essies are still hours out. Tolliver'll have time to get quarters, eat, and clean up before we engage the enemy."

"Aye, sir." Fen hesitated. "Sir, shouldn't you remain here? You are the Port Admiral now."

"I'm also in command of Task Group 42, Captain Fitzgerald. I can do no less than be with the task group, as could you not be on the bridge of the Bainbridge."

"Aye, aye, Admiral," Fen said and followed Blankenship out of the CIC.

***

"Admiral on the flag bridge!" the call rang out.

"As you were," Blankenship said and crossed the flag bridge to his armored command chair. He jumped twice to settle his battlesuit before sitting down. He hadn't worn it enough to be comfortable, but he did prefer the new 'suit over the older skinsuits and armored coveralls the Confederate navy used before adopting the House-designed battlesuits. As he strapped himself into his command chair, he watched Fen, captain of the Bainbridge, doing the same thing in the ship's bridge.

"Status of the fleet?" Blankenship asked his flag captain.

"All ships report ready for departure," Fen reported.

"Execute."

"Aye, aye, sir."

The Bainbridge, with the other battlecruisers and heavy cruisers, undocked and inched out of their slips on the exterior of the fleetbase. The task group's smaller ships, the light cruisers and destroyers, were docked inside the fleetbase in slips next to the shipyard. They emerged to join the larger ships through the fleetbase's gaping yard-doors.

"Form the group, Fen. When ready, proceed with Op-Plan Sigma-14-Green."

What was that old quote, the admiral thought? Then he remembered that it was from Horatio Nelson at the Battle of Trafalgar. "In case Signals can neither be seen nor perfectly understood, no captain can do very wrong if he places his ship alongside that of the enemy." Well, I needn't fear missed signals, or, after the months of training, a captain misunderstanding the battle plans.

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