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orbital bases, there'd be just over six hundred fighters, half of them with
green crews who'd never seen action beyond a flight simulator.
"You know your missions. Blue Three, you're flying Combat Air Patrol over the
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carriers. Blue Two, you're escorting in the Broadswords."
He could see Blue Three was less than amused, getting stuck in a purely
defensive role. Blue Two knew what was going to happen to her but didn't
display a flicker of emotion. The Kilrathi would turn their full fury on the
Broadswords and Sabres, and with less than eighty making up the strike and
eighty escorts, the chances of any of them coming back was nil.
He hesitated for a second.
"Blue One, you have the second strike escort slot. It's going to be grim.
You have to remember what the final objective is, and remember that they're
all volunteers out there."
His nephew looked up at him and forced a smile. Geoff paused and looked over
at the tactical display flickering in the briefing room's holo.
The Kilrathi Fleet was still staying together, coming straight in at a range
of twenty million clicks and closing. Thanks to simple orbital mechanics, Mars
was the closest planet to the jump point, with Earth seventy million clicks
behind it.
The huge colonies on the moons of Saturn and Jupiter were on the far side of
the system. The only settlement areas now being overrun were in the asteroid
belt and had already been abandoned.
"Pilots, man your planes," Geoff said quietly and he saluted first as they
came back to their feet.
The pilots and crews stormed out of the room. The usual banter and bravado was
gone today. They were silent, some obviously frightened, all of them filled
with a grim determination. He felt he could have made a bit more of an
emotional appeal, but knew that was nothing but crap. Every one of them knew
that this was no ordinary battle. If this one was lost the
Kilrathi would be above Earth within hours.
Kevin came past him, helmet tucked under his arm. His nephew slowed, looking
at him out of the corner of his eye.
The hell with protocol, Geoff thought as he stepped forward and put his hands
on Kevin's shoulders.
"I've never been prouder of you, Kev. Now take care of yourself."
Kevin looked at him, his eyes bright.
It's an honor to be with you today, sir," he said, trying to control the
tremor in his voice. Geoff let go of him and the boy followed the stream of
pilots out the door.
"Launch all fighters. Let us finish this hunt."
Prince Thrakhath turned away from the screen, a tingle of excitement coursing
through him as the fighter launch klaxon sounded through the ship.
Before him stood the Baron.
"You do not look thrilled about our impending victory, Baron."
Baron Jukaga merely snarled, looking at the Prince defiantly.
"I have one final little assignment for you, Baron."
"Go on then, what is it?"
And as Thrakhath told him the Baron's eyes went wide with shock and rage.
"It is useless, senseless. The Emperor ordered you to preserve the planet for
the next Sivar."
"There are a hundred other worlds to choose from once this is done. A
squad of Imperial Marines will now escort you to your ship, Baron."
Baron Jukaga looked coldly at the Prince and then spat on the floor.
Prince Thrakhath merely laughed in reply as Baron Jukaga was escorted from the
room.
"My lord, there are significantly more ships than intelligence indicated."
Thrakhath looked back at the main screen and ordered the forward picket ships
to send back enhanced optical scan. He waited for the visuals to be returned,
watching the display of the two fleets being deployed. More and more blips of
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enemy ships were appearing, moving out from behind other ships which had been
masking them. He had his suspicions as to what the new ships were and did not
feel overly worried. One of the advantages of having had an embassy team on
Earth was the ability to conduct reconnaissance. It was made even better by
the fact that their own Foreign Minister had become a traitor. Too bad she was
under arrest.
"They're civilian ships, my lord. Numerous light craft, personal ships, light
business ships of corvette size, shuttle craft, and civilian interplanet
transports."
Thrakhath nodded.
"They're throwing everything in as a screen to waste our weapons on.
Order the outer wave of fighters to ignore them and to concentrate on the
incoming Broadswords and Sabres. Once their offensive capability has been
smashed we can turn our attention to this chaff they throw out and destroy
them."
"We're also detecting Marine assault and landing ships, my lord."
Thrakhath stirred, ordering that this new sighting be highlighted on the main
display. Several hundred of the blips started to blink bright yellow.
What were they up to?
"A diversionary effort, my lord?"
He looked over at his chief tactical officer.
He still had over seventeen hundred fighters at his disposal, almost all of
them already launched and moving towards position. The first offensive strike
wave was already committed, four hundred strike craft moving out past the
outer line of picket ships with four eights of corvettes and light frigates in
escort. Long range Confederation patrols were already moving to intercept, a
pitiful six eights of fighters.
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