Blood War 1: Last Stand of the Legion: Rift (29 page)

"I would
," Aijuba said.

The
Rigil Kent and Bernards buildings were not directly in line with one another but at a bit of an angle with Bernards being further away. They were separated by two hundred yards but were connected by the main boulevard Sol Plaza. 

The aliens had rushed the garage as a probe. This was the start of more attacks. If they had somebody in the Emergency Combat Information System then they knew it was in this building. He should have thought of
that earlier. His troops were wrecking the alien's pre-invasion plans. Their main objective must have been Sirius and the Emergency Combat Information System. It was the single biggest source of intelligence and it followed their habit of targeting commanders. He was standing on the bull's-eye. Everything else was secondary to defending this building. Sand needed to pull all his troops into a system of strong points defending this building. This was where they were going to make their stand.

"Aijuba
, this is their primary objective - they know about the ECIS. They will be back. Elias, Yu, Masa and Taro, round up all the combat effectives you can find and set up a defense of the tunnel entrance. Aijuba, contact Pugin upstairs and have him send his reserve platoon down here. Also tell him to consolidate his troops on the first and second floors directly above. They know where we are now. The next attack will be coordinated from the tunnel and across the boulevard from both Rigil Kent and Bernards at the same time. Tell Crabbe in Wolf to push down the tunnel that connects with Rigil Kent and maybe we can put some pressure on them too."

Sand turned and grabbed some more rounds off a downed trooper for the rail he had picked up. The four sergeants and five of the command group ran to establish a fighting position in the tunnel entrance. They pulled civilian cars left behind and turned them on their sides. With two troopers it was easy in their armor. Other
s rolled pieces of concrete toward the entrance. They found an engineer with a quick crete dispenser. He began spraying everything into a solid barrier when one of the troopers monitoring the sensors yelled.

"Aliens
. A lot more of them this time."

Explosions rocked the garage from the tunnel. There were no more troops to man the barricade so Dasan and Aijuba took up position next to the Legionnaires. The trooper had been right
- this assault was much larger. Sand took careful aim and began to fire. He hoped Pugin got that platoon down here soon or they would be overrun.

LYTEN SYSTE
M

RIFT

FLEET HEADQUARTERS

EMERGENCY COMBAT INFORMATION CENTER

Admiral Usiche Raurk sat in the command chair on the raised platform above the operations floor. The lights remained dimmed and all the faces were bathed in the light from the staffs’ displays. General Buchman had ordered a squad of the Legion's light infantry to the ECIC for security. So four Legionnaires now stood with their backs to the wall at each corner of the room. Others lined the corridor and checked all credentials of anyone entering the ECIC. They looked like statues, as they stood motionless with their faceplates down and their rails across their chests. It seemed excessive, given most the Legion's AI was overhead but General Buchman had insisted.

"Admiral"
said Lieutenant Netis the Battle Captain.

"Speak."

"I just received a communication from the Tarawa. They are headed to Rift at full speed. They did have communications problems. They were unaware of the attack. They are awaiting our orders."

A cheer went up in the room but Raurk remained silent. She needed something else
- one more piece to move. One more asset. One more piece of information that would give her what she needed. If she brought the Tarawa in by herself the alien fighters would be all over her before she could land anyone.

"Admiral Raurk
, I have Admiral Lule on the line. She says it's urgent."

"Put her through."

"Admiral Raurk, I just received a message from the Capella. One of their Legionnaires followed a damaged alien fighter back to its launching vessel. This is what he found."

The video of the alien ship filled the screen. Usiche stood as soon as she saw the huge vessel this was their break. She looked over at Captain Kitmura
’s position and he too, was standing. Without thinking he pointed to the screen.

"That's it! That
’s K."

"I would have to agree Captain but what is it?"

"Admiral, I'm sorry. What?" Admiral Lule said.

"Stand by
," Usiche said.

She began to pace. There was something somewhere in the back of her mind. Something she had read decades ago. A history of
the wars on Earth. It was when ships sailed on water instead of in space. Then she had it.

"Kitmura
, do you remember your Earth history. The old water Navy when fighters flew in the atmosphere."

"Of course. What did they call those ships?" Kitmura
asked. .

"Aircraft carriers. The carried all the aircraft for the fleet. They provided protection as well as force projection. That thing is what they used to call an aircraft carrier. All of their fighters are based on that ship. If we can take it out we will expose their fleet. They will have no fighter protection."

Kitmura turned to her, his eyes intense with excitement.

"We just might be able to..." Kitmura did not want to say it out loud.

"Exactly."

The Tarawa and now this. It would now be a matter of timing, if she could manage the timing. She stared at the situation board for a long moment.

"General Buchman, how many Legionnaires do you have that can still fight in the Anchorage?"

Buchman glanced at his screen and did a quick count of the Legion ships that were still reported to be intact and able to fight.

"Seventy-five maybe, Admiral."

Usiche did not answer
- she just continued to pace. The battle could not go on like this; the aliens would eventually wear them down to nothing.

"Lieutenant Netis
, put up the current situation map on the ground above us."

Sands
AI still held the Port and the ground around Fleet Headquarters but their numbers were dwindling by the minute. If she could just reinforce them while she also attacked the alien fleet. Maybe, just maybe. She turned to her communication display.

"Admiral Lule
, I now officially cancel your previous orders and order you and all the ships with you to immediately sortie to coordinates of the carrier and destroy it. It holds all of the aliens' fighter force; destroy it and we destroy their defensive cover for their fleet and their offensive capabilities. No matter what, that ship must be destroyed. Once you have accomplished that you will turn and attack the alien fleet."

Usiche could see the meaning of what she was asking on Tamara's face.

"Aye, aye ma'am. I have the Capella and Bernards at half an AU out in a missile trap. I will link up with them and attack as soon as possible."

"Negative, Admiral you will order those
on the Capella and the Bernards to attack immediately we do not have the time for you to link up with them."

Usiche knew what she was asking. Those two destroyers would not stand a chance against all of the alien fighters but
she had no choice the sooner the attack began the better. She had no idea how much longer Sand could hold the landing force off. It was now or never. In addition, if the two destroyers were able to surprise the Xotoli and cause confusion and damage the carrier before Lule arrived with the bulk of her force she, would stand a much better chance with her Task Force.

"Aye, aye Admiral."

"Admiral, while you are attacking their carrier and fleet, we will be reinforcing the ground troops."

"If I may ask
, with what?"

"The Tarawa. Her comm was down and she just made contact. So while you attack them from space we will attack them on land. You
’re the hammer, we'll try and   be the anvil."

Usiche saw the look on Tamara's face change
. She was not just being asked to sacrifice her command to gain time but to push the aliens out of the system. If it worked they might just carry it off.

"Aye, aye Admiral."

"Good luck Admiral. This is ECIC out," Usiche said.

"Good luck to all of us Admiral. This is the
Pereus out."

"General Buchman
, coordinate with the Tarawa on her estimated time of arrival and see how many fighters you can put into the air to escort her in for the landings."

"Yes Admiral."

"Lieutenant Netis, get me Colonel Sand."

Usiche paced until they were finally able to get through the combat communications to Sand. When he came up on the screen
, Usiche was startled by the way he looked. His hair was plastered to his head with sweat. He was pale, making his tattoo service cascade stand out even more starkly. He looked as if he had been up a week all ready. His armor was covered in blood. She could see troopers moving behind him, firing their rails.

"Admiral
," Sand said.

His voice was strong and calm despite his appearance and the battle going on around him.

"Colonel, we just had communication with the Tarawa. She is inbound and as soon as we get an expected ETA I will have you advised."

Sand suddenly did not look nearly as tired as he had just moments ago.

"That is very good news."

"Sand
, I am going to try to push the aliens out of here with a single coordinated attack. I want to hit them everywhere all at once, both in space and on Rift. Our remaining naval vessels will attack their fleet. General Buchman will provide escorts for the Tarawa to land the troops. I want you to use those troops to attack the aliens at the same time. I want them to feel it in space and on the ground."

Colonel Sand was
quiet for a moment as he considered the options. There were explosions in the background but Sand did not even flinch.

"Admiral
, I think we can pull it off for you. I need two companies at the Port they are holding on by a thread up there, and the rest here."

"Very well. Good luck Colonel. General Buchman will coordinate the landings with you."

There - it was done. Usiche was throwing all of her chips on the table. It was a decision that would go down in history as one of the most brilliant moves ever or it would be their end. She had no other choices. She would lose Rift by sitting still and continuing this battle of attrition. No, she had to take the chance; it was their only option. She sat back down in her command chair as the ECIC erupted into action as orders were being communicated and the detailed coordination began.

Ordering men and women into harm
’s way was difficult but sending those two destroyers after that carrier meant almost certain destruction for both of them put that decision on a whole new level. Remembering the aircraft carriers reminded Usiche of an ancient battle fought on the oceans of Earth. A small group of destroyers had thrown themselves at a naval force overwhelmingly more powerful than themselves. The destroyers had thrown the enemy into disarray and convinced them a much larger force was attacking it. The small destroyers stand had become a example in seamanship and courage to this day. It was the second of the world wars on Earth. They called the sailors on those ships Tin Can Sailors because the destroyers had so little armor. The courage it took for those ancient sailors to attack had to be extraordinary. She had just ordered two of her ships into just such a battle. Usiche closed her eyes and rubbed her temples. She could only hope that their sacrifice would be worth it. Without opening her eyes she said,

"Lt. Netis
, which two destroyers are on the missile trap stations?"

"The Capella and Bernards."

Ririsa Grogen and An Lung - two of the best young captains in the fleet. If anyone could accomplish the mission and save their ships it was those two, but she knew she was kidding herself. If either survived it would be a miracle.  When Usiche finally opened her eyes she found Captain Kitmura standing looking at her. He came to attention and nodded curtly. He knew what she had just ordered and the price that would be paid by the men and women on those ships. He was acknowledging the weight of the decision and of her command. Usiche simply nodded and turned back to her displays. She had rolled the dice; now it was up to the good men and women under her command. All she could do was wait.

LYTEN SYSTEM

REFERENCE POINT 109.703

BATTLESHIP

COMBAT INFORMATION CENTER

Rear Admiral Tamara Lule leaned back in her chair and stared at the situation board as if waiting for the numbers to change so the Capella and Bernards would have a better chance of surviving but nothing changed. As Raurk said their attacking first might just give Lule and the rest of her Task Force a chance at surprise. She only hoped the Xotoli were not as good as she thought.

If she could not depend on the Xotoli to be unprepared she had to plan her attack so she used her forces for maximum effect. As she stared at the screen the plan slowly began to form in her mind. Not very fancy
, just a hammer blow with everything they had before they  closed in and went  for the kill. Then the fleet would have to wheel about and make all due speed toward the main alien fleet before they could react to the destruction of the carrier.

She had given the ship back to Lieutenant Commander Silvera and moved to the Combat Information Center where she should be in a battle of this size. It felt good to be at the helm of a battleship but that was not her place.

              "Commander Brodsky, come to the plotting board."

Tamara stood as Ing
uar Brodsky came to stand next to her. Inguar ran Tamara's CIC and was her tactical sounding board. He had proven himself in a number of simulations and had commanded his own ship in combat.

The plotting board was  simply a reflection of the situation board but you could move the ships on the screen and plot courses and times without disrupting the situation board. The board showed the Capella and Bernards making all due speed toward the location of the alien carrier. The
Pereus and the rest of the Task Force was at least an hour behind them. So they had maybe an hour and a half before the engagement began.

"Ingar
, I want to launch the Legionnaires all at once. They will form a division line abreast. Once they are formed up and with scouts out and searching for our friend, they will provide us with a screen should enough of the aliens’ fighters survive to give us a problem. Next, our destroyers provide another screen and they will still be in position to fire their torpedoes if their fighters don't find us. Then the cruisers will be our last line of defense to protect the battleships. That way should all else fail the battleships should be able to close into gun range."

Ing
uar stared at the board for a long moment.

"I can't think of changes to suggest."

"Good. Now the attack. Let's assume we achieve complete surprise and they don't know we're here until it is too late. The Legionnaires will have their scouts out. Once any of the scouts gets a firing solution they will network it with all of the other legionnaires and fire as one. I intend to have the Legionnaires set their torpedoes on the alien fighters profile, so they will ignore any other targets. I also want the torpedoes networked and set on 'seek nearest' and 'check with me' so we won't have multiple torpedoes going after a single fighter. That way we should be able to destroy the maximum number of fighters with our first torpedo spread. The destroyer and cruisers will set their weapons systems for the carrier profile. No, 'seek nearest' or 'check with me' coordination needed - just nail the biggest target out there. Once the cruisers and battleships are within range, we will go in with our guns."

Ing
uar thought for a moment then said,

"What about the Swift Boats?"

"I was going to keep them with us for some fighter cover if the Legionnaires don't cripple the carriers’ fighters."

"If I may suggest
something? The Legionnaires are not going to get them all, no matter what. They simply have us by the numbers. I would launch the Swift Boats and put them between the Legionnaires and the main body. We could arm the Swift Boats with Long Lances. When they get their first solution on the carrier, they fire at the carrier. We would strike the carrier and its fighters with three different waves of weapons. We would have hit the carrier with as many of our weapons as we could before we closed in for the guns run."

Tamara thought for a long second
; it was a better plan because the Swift Boats were more than capable of providing a second blow to the aliens. It was a blow that might just help when they closed for the guns run.

"Excellent. What about after they fire their torpedoes?"

"They break into Wolf Packs and follow the Legionnaires into the fight."

"And when we wheel about and take on the aliens
’ main force?"

"The same tactics."

"Yes, I agree. Make sure the Legionnaires and Swift Boats know we are going in for another attack and save some ordinance left for the main fleet. I want you to work the computers and come with the optimum solution for positions in the column. I want as many of the battleships and cruisers as we can, to be able to target at the same time."

"Ma'am."

Tamara looked over at Inguar; the light from the plotting table illuminated his face. It was all very familiar. This was such a strange reality; she was still adjusting to the fact they were in a fight for their lives with aliens, because at times it almost seemed like one of the many wargames they had been through. The lighting only reinforced the feeling; she and Inguar had stood at this very table numerous times during those games. No this was as real as it gets, images of the anchorage under attack flashed through her mind.

"You know
, we just might live through the day after all," Tamara said.

"With all due respect Admiral
, I wouldn't put money on it."

The
y laughed together then Tamara said,

"Get things in motion Commander
. We don't have much time to arm and launch the Legionnaires and Swift Boats."

"Aye, aye Admiral."

She watched Inguar began to bark orders to organize the attack. It was a good plan as plans go. Hit them with everything you got and go in for a close-in finishing attack. Raurk's idea was really their only option. She knew the part she and her task force played in the whole plan. Much of it would ride on how hard they could hit the aliens.