Jethro Goes to War (Wandering Engineer Jethro's tale) (37 page)

“
And that
still leaves the dreadnaught and any other large capital ships to
deal with. You don't count on a lucky shot or your enemy to be
stupid. That only works in the movies. Real life you have to keep in
mind the enemy is mortal, knows it, and is doing his or her best to
stay alive and kill you.”

“
Ouch.”

“
But you said
the Fleet Admiral wouldn't do that,” a midshipman said.

“
And he's
still not here though,” another said sighing. “Tactical
or strategic withdrawal?”

“
Exactly. Let
me put this into perspective before we break for lunch. If I had a
choice of any admiral from the war, I would choose Fleet Admiral
Irons anytime. Over any one. Even Nelson, Jackson, T'paul, Oxnard, or
any of the others. He's that good,” Firefly said quietly.

“
But what
about his defensive mindfulness? His tendency to well, turtle?”

“
I believe you
have seen his combat record. He may start on the defensive, but he
knows the importance of a good offense. He knows that it is next to
impossible to win on the defensive. He knows that the longer he
waits, the harder and more expensive it will be to break them. The
best he can do is attrive the enemy's forces and force them to hunt
elsewhere while we built the weapon for the knock out punch. Which
was one of his intentions no doubt.”

“
The problem
with being on the defensive is the enemy decides the time and place
to attack. But we needs a weapon that will get through the enemy's
defenses. So he divided his efforts into setting up pockets of
stability on his trip here, sowing seeds for future growth. Once here
he set up a hardened system of industry to make the tools we will
need.”

“
And now that
that is all thrown away with his leaving?” a marine growled.
Valenko shot him a look.

“
Who says it
is thrown away? We're still here right?” Valenko rumbled.

“
Correct,”
Firefly responded. “And we can continue on. Most likely Fleet
Admiral Irons will set up in another system. One similar to us that
he can forge into another industrial center. He has an incredible
knack for that. Once he does he will no doubt make contact with us.
Once that happens we will be able to coordinate efforts to end the
pirates and continue operations.”

“
Oh.”

“
Don't worry.
When we get things back on track we will take the fight to Horath. On
that you have my word.”

“
I'm for
that,” Valenko growled. A few others nodded or growled in
agreement.

“
Wait, what
about Prometheus? The fleet factory ship the yard was building? I
heard scuttlebutt that he was going to go out on it right?” a
young midshipman asked.

“
It was part
of his plan. To go out with Firefly along Destiny's route and help
the local populations build up their industry while setting up
additional bases for us to use. Beyond that I can't go into the plan.
It may still be activated at a later date.”

“
But that
still brings back my point. While we're dithering, it gives them
time. Time we may not have in the long run,” the midshipman who
had brought the point up earlier said doggedly.

“
Best is the
enemy of good,” the red haired middy who had brought up the
subject before said. He smiled, happy that he had found the quote.

“
Correct
midshipman. Voltaire. Terran, D
ictionnaire
Philosophique
circa
1764. It is usually quoted as 'The perfect is the enemy of the good.'
“ Firefly said.

“
And that
means?” a midshiman asked blinking in confusion.

“
It means that
the best solution may end up being less  effective than a
solution that is almost as good but not perfect. Sometimes we have to
shoot from the hip with what we have. You don't want to give the
other side to much time to prepare. So sometimes you have to go with
what you've got. I believe you organics say whatever works?”
Firefly asked.

“
Oh.”

“
But if you go
in blind, then you're in serious trouble.” Valenko nodded.
“Which is why the Fleet Admiral was laying the ground work just
in case.”

“
Exactly. The
Fleet Admiral was taking the long view, preparing for a prolonged
campaign. By setting the ground work here, and in other systems he
was setting up not only the eventual defeat of the Horath pirates but
a new Renaissance of civilization that will grow in the quadrant from
the ashes of the old.”

“
I love the
idea. But it still leaves Horath dictating the time and place to
strike,” the red haired middy said with a grimace.

“
Which is a
problem. One wiser, higher ranked people are concerned about. Let
them focus on that. We have other issues to deal with. I believe that
is the lunch bell. I will see you tomorrow or in your next class.”

Jethro tore into his
steak, chewing thoughtfully as he tried to digest. Oh, not just the
food, but the classes he was taking. And now he was informed he had
to do guard duty shifts as well. He was going to have to hold up a
wall in the evenings all too soon.

“
Why the do
the grunts need implants?” a voice said loudly in the galley.
Letanga wrinkled his nose but kept eating. Jethro looked up and then
shook his head.

“
Seriously,”
a hand smacked onto the panther's shoulder. “Why do you need
them?”

“
Because we
need to use equipment like you?” Jethro asked. “Besides,
we get to see further, and take more damage,” he said brushing
the hand off.

“
That's true.
Leave it alone Kenderson.”

“
Hell no. I'm
just getting warmed up,” the crewman said with a grin. He was
big, broad shouldered and built tough. Letanga looked up, gave a
disinterested sniff and then went back to tearing into his steak.

“
Why do you
need implants?” Jethro asked, trying to turn the tables. “Sure
you need to jack in, but all the data can be seen on a holo or LCD
anyway right?”

“
So?”

“
So why do you
need enhancements?” Shiku growled. “I need them to see
what I need to see but you?”

“
Let it go
man,” another crewman urged.

“
No way, these
jar heads need to be put in their place man. Like now.”

“
Sure. You
think you can do that?” Jethro asked, smiling a nasty smile.
His bared teeth made the other swabbies blanch a little. Of course it
could have been the bits of blood and dripping blood on them that did
it. He held up a hand paw and then flexed each claw in turn.

“
Tell me, did
you run the course?” Shiku asked, darting a warning look to
Jethro.

“
What that?
Kids play,” the guy said in disgust.

“
Which one?”
The fox asked, sitting back.

“
There was
more than one?” Kenderson asked looking around.

“
Sure. Did
yours have snipers, bombs, and traps?”

“
Ah... no.”

“
Oh. So you
got the baby course. The one we got the first day of training,”
Letanga growled a laugh. “We ran that for a week before we
passed it to the next level. It got boring.”

“
When you can
run the crucible then you can do our job. So I tell you what. You do
your job, we'll do ours,” Tungulria growled from a nearby
table. His eyes locked onto the big spacer.

“
Yeah, sure,”
the spacer said, suddenly backing off. Letanga growled a laugh,
flicked his ears, and then yawned, stretching and flexing. He was
making a show of it Jethro realized. His claws bit into the table
top. He kneaded it a little, making everyone in the room wince a
little at the sound of claws on metal. “We done?” he
asked. The others nodded.

“
Lets go then,
we've got a test this afternoon.” They got up and left. Jethro
was the last out. His ears flicked as he glanced back to see the
spacers tracing their fingers over the claw marks. “Damn man,
in almost a centimeter. Don't piss them off Kenderson. You do, you
are on your own man, I ain't no one's scratching post. Last thing I
need is for one of them to tear my throat out 'cause you put your
damn fool foot in your mouth. Leave 'em be man. Just leave 'em be.”

“
Yeah,”
Kenderson said a little shaky. “I think I'll do that.”
Jethro snorted softly as he followed the others down the corridor.

“
This all?”
Jethro asked, looking around the eight person group. Sergei was with
him, as was Hurranna. They were turning into a trio. He was hoping
more along the lines of the three musketeers over the three stooges.

“
Yup, looks
like it,” Hurranna said counting. “Eight. Most they do in
a fitting.” She nodded, touching the access panel. The door to
the morgue opened. “I'm curious how they can do this. I thought
the system was locked out? No more suits built?”

“
Not
everything apparently.” Jethro replied with a shrug.

“
Apparently
not,” Sergei said with a shrug. “How'd your training go?”

“
It was...
Different,” Jethro said as the hatch opened.

“
A lot of VR
and class work like the rest of us you mean?” Hurranna asked.

“
Something
like that,” Jethro admitted.

“
Well? What'ya
standing around out there for? Get in here!” A snippy voice
called. Shrugging they filed in.

The burly man turned
in time to catch the first two people in, the two heavy worlders
Miles and Asazi. He nodded. He started to scowl when Hurranna
followed, then Jethro, and the Veraxin Chirby, and then the neo chimp
Betty. But his eyes went wide and he backed up and started to swear
as first Sergei, then Ox came in.

“
Oh no, Oh
hell no!” he said holding his hands to his head. “What
the hell was the major thinking?”

“
Problem?”
Jethro asked, giving the armorer an amused look.

“
Yeah, I'll
say problem. Big problem. Big ass problem.” He shook his head.
“Damn, damn, damn,” he muttered. He half sat half fell
onto the stool behind him. They winced at the scraping sound it made.

“
Yeah, we get
that a lot,” Sergei said with a snort. He gave Ox an amused
look and then stage whispered. “Think we should tell him you’re
the runt of your family?”

“
I think you
just did,” Ox rumbled a laugh.

“
Oh hell,”
the armorer turned to the Veraxin. “Someone must really not
like me today.”

“
Think of it
as a challenge,” Jethro said with a tight lipped smile and
amused ear flick.

“
Yeah,”
the armorer snorted. “Challenge right,” he grimaced. “The
good news is we've got a lot of humanoid armor. Most of it was left
over from the old war,” he grimaced. “You're heavy's
right?”

Miles and Asazi
nodded.

“
Yeah, thought
so. Yeah, you're covered. Got two I can fit you for. The chimp.”
He grimaced and then looked up. Jethro realized he was accessing his
HUD. That still took a little getting used to.

“
Yeah,”
the armorer said slowly after a moment. “Got that too. One.
It's got a missing left arm and leg though. We'll have to replicate
it. Got two actually, the other's got a missing power core. I suppose
we can cannibalize one suit to get the other working, but since
you're about the same size as the girl kitty...”

“
Won,t work,”
Hurranna said shaking her head.

“
Huh?”
The armorer asked, looking confused. “Why not?”

“
We tend to
move on all fours. Also my legs and feet are longer than hers. When I
walk upright I walk on the balls of my feet. Also, her arms are
longer than mine.” She pointed out the differences, modeling
her own body. The simian smiled a closed lipped smile and stretched
her short leg out like a runway model would, then made a muscle with
one arm.

“
Crap,”
the armor grimaced. “Okay that's out. I thought we had Neo cat
and Veraxin armor in the database but apparently just the maintenance
manuals, not the specs. Rob Peter to pay Paul it is then. You’re
going to have to be a fab' job. As are the rest of you lot. From
scratch.” He looked at the other cats, the Tauren, then the
Veraxin.