To Hell and Back (The Han Wars Series Book 4) by Chuck Grossart

Author:Chuck Grossart [Grossart, Chuck]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Chuck Grossart
Published: 2021-03-08T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 32

Communications Center

Second Fleet Headquarters, Fletcher Point

Genora II (Second Fleet AOR)

ADM Riker Jameson knew something had changed as soon as he received the call from the communications center. They’d received a quantum comm ping from Luna Point, and the data tag said it was from the First Fleet commander, ADM Joshua Holder. Jameson informed ADM McClusky, and they met at the communications center. MCPO Tinsdale was there, too, as he’d become Jameson’s most trusted QC operator. If the admiral was going to use the quantum comms, Tinsdale was on call to support.

The simple fact that Luna had made a QC ping meant the Han had ceased their jamming, and Jameson had no idea why. Did First Fleet somehow beat all the odds and kick the Grand Fleet out of the Sol system? Had Turgenev received his message and withdrawn back toward Han space as Jameson hoped? There was no telling. Hopefully, Holder would have some answers.

Jameson was also surprised that Luna was still there, to be honest.

“All right, Master Chief, go ahead and open the channel,” Jameson said.

“Aye, Admiral,” Tinsdale replied.

“This ought to be interesting,” ADM McClusky said.

“I’m not entirely sure what to expect,” Jameson replied.

“That’s standard procedure when it comes to Josh Holder,” McClusky said.

Neither man was a fan of the First Fleet commander, and both knew he’d been nothing more than a political appointee when he took charge of First Fleet. Holder hadn’t earned the position, rather he’d jumped several more qualified officers because Ellison liked how Holder parroted his own outlook on the Republic. McClusky hadn’t been able to stop it, one of the many actions he’d found himself unable to influence as Ellison strengthened his base throughout First Fleet. Every dictator throughout history had their own “Praetorian Guard,” and Ellison had picked Josh Holder to lead his. McClusky had just been in the way.

MCPO Tinsdale gave both admirals a thumbs up. “This is Admiral Joshua Holder. To whom am I speaking?”

“This is Riker Jameson, Josh,” Jameson replied. “I also have Admiral McClusky here with me.”

There was a moment of silence on the other end, just as Jameson figured there would be. There was normally a slight delay with the QCs, but this was longer than usual. Holder was probably shocked that McClusky had surfaced back at Fletcher Point—as well he should be, in Jameson’s opinion.

“Have you received the surrender message?” Holder said.

So there it was. Turgenev had forced Ellison to surrender. “Negative,” Jameson said. “We haven’t received it yet.”

“Complete, and unconditional,” Holder continued. “The president has ordered all Republic military forces to stand-down and cease-fire.”

“What’s your status, Josh? This is McClusky.”

“I will direct all of my comments to Admiral Jameson, if you don’t mind,” Holder replied, after another slight delay. “My position was not attacked—after they blew through the Thor system and destroyed my fleet, they bypassed Luna Point and hit Earth.”

“What’s the damage?” Jameson asked.

“First Fleet is no longer combat effective,” Holder said. “I lost both carriers, both battleships, and as far as we can tell, four of my six fast attacks.

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