Hunter Legacy 12: Hero in Darkness Page 7

  "How many was that?"

  "A lot," said Dick quickly, getting a chuckle.

  "One hundred and twenty six," said Jane, "without Redoubt, and that doesn’t include Gunbus, Camel, Excalibur, Gorilla, and Nightshade."

  "Welcome to Redoubt," said Janet, Redoubt's Jane clone.

  "We need temporary accommodations Janet, while I figure out where everyone goes from here. Can you arrange to move George to a suite on the station without waking him up?"

  "We can but try."

  I turned to face everyone.

  "Moving time. Ask Janet where you're moving to. The station was extensively changed after we moved the last of the civilians out. We left in some suites, officer accommodation, and pilot's quarters, but I couldn’t tell you off hand where they are. The rest of the station is all combat oriented now, and what isn’t has basic living space for refugees. We can fit about five thousand in if we have to, but it's very basic."

  There was movement towards the door.

  "Try not to wake George up," I added, getting some laughs.

  I waited until they'd all left, and turned to Jane. Angel jumped off the console and jumped up onto my lap, where I started idly patting her. The view was no longer to her liking, given it now showed the side of the station. Jane turned the HUD and navmap off, and now it showed nothing at all.

  "Ship captains and senior unit commanders meeting at one please Jane. Corvette captains and above, regardless of rank, and Major and above for squadrons and units. If Admiral Hallington gets here in time, issue the same invitation. Also include all of Admiral Bentley's people."

  "Confirmed."

  "Do you still have that combat droid avatar around?"

  "Yes, but I left it on BigMother."

  "Give it Colonel Insignia, and have you co-ordinate the salvage effort. Get the combat droids out on the asteroid surface looking for salvageable weapons or anything else floating around free."

  "They already have been. We recovered a lot of weapons, and also some combat suits. How much do you want taken off the ship?"

  "Pretty well everything not bolted down. And some stuff which is, like the care units and doc droids. Strip her of everything we can use, or might need spares for."

  "And after?"

  "Have your avatar take the asteroid to the Treasure Chest Shipyard. See if you can get the Battleship out. If so, try and dock it where Unassailable has been all this time. If necessary it can be permanently attached. If the underside has just been embedded in the asteroid without it being damaged, then fuse the topside to the underneath of BigMother, and see if that will give her some structural integrity. It doesn’t have to look pretty, just allow us to use her as a well-protected Carrier again. Most of the topside will need to be replaced, but hopefully some of those guns and launchers can be salvaged. It would be nice to have her back with the fleet by the time we get there."

  "Confirmed."

  Jeeves came in at that point, with a cat cage on a grav sled.

  "Your parents are awaiting you in your suite my Lord."

  "Thanks Jeeves. I'll head there now."

  I picked Angel up, and pushed her into the cage. Jeeves headed straight out.

  "Where do you want me?" asked Jane.

  I looked at her. She smiled back.

  "Unless you have something better to do, you can be my aide for the day. Set up the meeting in wherever is the best place on the station."

  "Main Briefing Room."

  "Will it fit everyone?"

  "Oh yes," she laughed.

  She waved me out.

  Sixteen

  I might have known I’d have a full suite, bigger than my one on BigMother. And the team would each have their own suite. But I shouldn’t have been surprised. I had this habit of suggesting things to AI's and just letting them do what they liked. They obviously liked big and grand. I looked up the station specs, and found there were also visiting Flag Officer's suites, which included rooms for aides. I'd told them to prepare the station for another war. A mobile palace hadn't been my expectation. But all the same, I was delighted with the changes. These also included multiple Ready Rooms off the CCC. One was for the commanding Admiral, me; another for the station CO, and yet another for the ranking Marine.

  As it turned out, I could have bunked all the SAS troops here, but they were going to be more use on the Cruisers. They would be the first to be falling back, and they would all have tasks to do behind the lines. The station initially was needed for its firepower at the jump point. Later on it might take a more rear position.

  I spent an hour with my parents. This time Mum broke down and there were major tears. Dad was more stoic, but I could see he'd had a hard time coping with me being gone so soon after the invasion started. Dad had tried so hard to leave Mum behind on Hunter's Haven, but she'd been adamant. If Galactica was going to war, taking her husband with it, then so was she. If they were going down, they were going down together. I waited for the shiver to tell me it might happen, but it didn’t happen. I’d take any good sign I could get.

  Susan Bentley wanted to talk to me as soon as possible, so I told them they could stay here if they wanted, while waiting for the meeting. Aline came in with her stuff, as I was walking out the door. It shouldn't have taken her an hour to move, but as it turns out, BA had had them all in the training ranges before they started moving their stuff. I should have joined them, but on the other hand, I was limping pretty badly once again. Give it a few days. Assuming we had them.

  Susan came to attention when I walked into my Ready Room, and I waved her down.

  "Nice to see you again sir. I hear you had a little fun?"

  "Just a little. I'll tell everyone about it at the meeting."

  "Marshall Bigglesworth's complements sir, and his apologies for not sending ships. Repulse is in getting another major overhaul. We bought back Warspite from the Sci-Fi sector, and she's in being done over as well. Since I didn’t even have a ship, he detached me and sent me to you. Where do you want me?"

  "On Dauntless. I'll probably take Relentless myself, until I know if BigMother is salvageable."

  "She's that badly damaged?" she said shocked.

  "Jane thinks her back may be broken. The Battleship we faced got off a single broadside, with only her topside guns, but we didn’t have the shields left to take it. I got stupid, and it cost the whole Marine setup at the top of the ship. The damage was extensive, and knowing we were going to crash, I rolled her onto her back to protect the five ships underneath. But the impact must have been too much for her. The frame was pretty old after all."

  "Damn. I'm sorry to hear that. I know how much you loved that ship. If it was Repulse, I’d be gutted."

  "We will see. Jane's going to try and salvage the Battleship, and see if one ship can be made out of both."

  "Fingers crossed for you. Do you have specs for Dauntless?"

  "Janet or Jane will give them to you. Dauntless is Battleship sized, but Dreadnaught spec'd. Three three-gun turrets in four places, giving you eighteen gun salvos front and rear, or twenty seven gun broadsides in any direction to the sides. Jane will teach you a rolling technique, which has the remaining nine guns firing only seconds later. Plus Cruiser and Destroyer guns, Mosquitos and the normal launchers, and a good share of capital ship missile launchers. The new central section is basically all power generators, shields and engines. Firepower of around three Battleships."

  "Wow. And you have two of these?"

  "Yes. More or less identical. There are smaller ships made up in the same cross style. After the meeting, we'll discuss how to deploy the fleet with O'Neil."

  "Is he still on John Wayne?"

  "I can't get him to leave. I offered him Dauntless, and he wouldn’t go there. Said he wasn’t qualified for a Dreadnaught post. He seems to think he's risen to the level of his incompetence now."

  Susan laughed.

  "We'll do something like put all the Pocket Battleships under his command, while you command everythi
ng else."

  "Do you want me to join Hunter Security?"

  "Are you allowed to?"

  She laughed again.

  "What do you think? The boss would never send me to another fleet, without a proper secondment. He told me to ask, and gave me orders to accept if you offered."

  "I'm offering. Rear Admiral rank, and Captain of Dauntless. Also, depending on how things go, you might find yourself commander of this station instead, doing a Rear Admiral's proper job. In any case, the CO's Ready Room next door is yours, anytime you're on-station. Annabelle will use the third one when she's here."

  "And my people?"

  "Also accepted into Hunter Security at whatever rank they are now, or our equivalent. What did you bring?"

  She knew what I meant. I was asking about skill sets, not who they were.

  "We heard you were putting three person crews on ships run by your AI. Captain, XO and 2nd. So I brought twelve of each."

  "Jane will tell you which ships need crews. Mainly Super Destroyers and Super Corvettes, but there are also two Super-Cruisers. I used the crews I had down this end of the spine for some of the bigger ships, and all the ones my father brought with him were divided up across the three Explorer ships. We did recruit a few people, but I'm still well short."

  "I have two captains with Cruiser experience."

  "Good, give them Courageous and Undaunted. The former is a strange shape based around a triangular center hull, but she's close to two Cruisers worth of firepower. The latter is the same shape as Dauntless, but she's half Missile Cruiser. I think I'm giving Lacey Crusader. Like it or not, I want him driving a bigger ship, even if he flies it like a fighter. He'll still head the fighters, and he'll command the two Escort Carriers from his Destroyer. Both ships have captains who need oversight, same as one of the Marine Cruiser captain's will. He might need a hand with that."

  "No problems. Where do you see him going?"

  "I'm building a custom designed Carrier for him. He came up with a lot of the specs himself, but is unaware of what he's actually created. Unfortunately, it isn’t finished yet, and won't be for a while yet."

  "How big?"

  "It'll dwarf Repulse."

  "Holy hell!"

  "So I hope anyway."

  We laughed.

  "Assign your people anyway you want. Jane controls all the ships. Each has an avatar already. The captain just has to accept command on the Bridge, and let Jane know the crew. Have the Captains here for the meeting at one."

  "Aye sir."

  "Who has command of the SAS?"

  "Major General Aidan Hobbs still has the command."

  "Get him to come see me at his earliest convenience."

  She nodded, saluted, and walked next door to her office.

  Annabelle walked straight in, and sat.

  "General?"

  "Admiral?"

  She was grinning.

  "What can I do you for?"

  "Are you replacing me?"

  "Hell no. Why would you say that?"

  "I heard Aidan Hobbs arrived. He's way senior to me."

  "General Hobbs is on his way," said Janet.

  "Hobbs will need an office, Janet. Not the Ready Room next door. But something just as good, if you have it."

  "I have just the thing for him."

  "How are the troops?" I asked Annabelle.

  "In reasonable spirits. Against all the odds, we survived. We went in at the shit end as usual, we kicked some alien butt, got our own kicked in return, and bugged out taking their most important asset with us. I'd call that a win, in spite of bruises, losing a team member, and a much loved ship."

  I winced. I couldn’t help it. The loss of BigMother was an open wound. But I got a grip.

  "When you put it that way, I'd say it was Humans One, Darkness Zero."

  She held up a hand, and we high fived.

  Seventeen

  A man appeared at the doorway.

  "Major General Hobbs, reporting as ordered, Sar!"

  He saluted me, and I waved him to a chair. He hesitated, nodded towards Annabelle, marched in, and sat.

  "How are your troops settling in General?"

  "Aiden sir. And they are much relieved to be back in decent barracks, sir."

  "In here, it's Jon."

  "Yes sir, ah Jon. Annabelle?"

  "Yes Aiden, nice to see you again."

  Hobbs had put himself under Annabelle's orders during the British Coup, well over a year ago now. She'd been a one star at the time, while he'd had his second star for several years. But then, it had been about trust, and the local troops were compromised.

  I looked at Annabelle. She tried to stare me down, but was grinning.

  "I'm not putting you under Aiden's command, even though he is senior. We're actually short of a flag officer considering we have three ships for Marines, and only two Generals. So I'm leaving Aiden in command of both ships with SAS on board, and you Annabelle in charge of Fearless and our mixed command of Mercs, Australian Marines and Infantry. As I see it, we have two separate forces capable of three separate engagements at any time. So it makes sense to have a General commanding both forces. At some time in the future, I can see us adding a three star above you both, hopefully Vonda Wellington, once she gets released from Midgard."

  They both nodded.

  "You can choose where you want to ride. Annabelle, I'd like Team One with me on Relentless. I'll dock Custer to her, to use as an assault ship. You can ride with me, have command of Custer, both, ride with George on Fearless, or command from here."

  "I'll ride with you Jon. Jack can ride with George. I'd like to keep Team Two with us as well."

  "Allocate your teams as you see fit. Custer will take three as you know, but won't be able to hanger the new Cobra's. They won't fit. Aiden, same basic choice for you. You can command from here, or ride with either Homer or Bonko."

  "What's a Bonko?"

  Annabelle and I chuckled.

  "Bonko was a Merc, who tried to infiltrate the pirates. The Americans took him apart and claimed they were satisfied he was a Merc still. He had a Cruiser named Bonko's Club, which I upgraded a few months back. He now works for me, is now a Fleet Captain, and has a single team of Mercs under a Major. His team will fall under your command now, since I can't really take them off his own ship. BA put them through the courses back on Haven, and said they might look rough, but she'd trust her back with them. The ship has its own training facilities, so I suggest you subtly test them, and determine how best to use them."

  "Ah. Now a few comments make a bit more sense."

  We chuckled again.

  "Did you bring a couple of good Colonels?"

  "I did as it happens."

  "Give each one the command of the troops on each ship. I expect the ships will go different ways on different missions, so each will command on the ground wherever they are. You can ride with whichever you like, or command from here. But this station will be staying on the lines or just behind, where the troops will likely be a system or two further behind most of the time. Up to you."

  "I'll talk it out with my Colonels. Do we wear Hunter uniform, or SAS?"

  "Do you all have the latest belt suits?"

  "No. We never needed them before, and the highers in the British Army argued against using them. The argument is still ongoing, mainly because Marshall Bigglesworth won't give up."

  "Jane?"

  "Yes Master?"

  "Suit belts for the entire SAS contingent. ASAP. Have all their uniforms and insignia scanned and distributed at the same time."

  "Confirmed."

  "Now you do," I said to Aiden. "I don’t care what the viewpoint is at any level of the ranks. The suits save lives. You can wear them as a belt on hair-trigger, but they will be worn. And once on, they don’t come off for any reason, including showering and sleeping. We use them as a uniform, which saves a bit of clothing bulk, and eliminates wear and tear. If anyone objects, point out we are in a war, and grossly ou
tnumbered. Their ship could be destroyed unexpectedly at any moment, and the suit will keep them alive long enough to be picked up. The same on the ground. The suit will protect them against anything which would have otherwise killed them. They may come out with bruises, but they'll be alive, and fight again. I'll say more about this at the meeting this afternoon. For those who want to wear them instead of clothes like we do, they can still wear standard SAS uniform, and Jane will scan in the Dress uniforms as well. No-one will be able to tell the difference. I would understand the reluctance to wear Hunter, since the SAS has its own prestige value. Each unit can choose if they want, but I suspect you'll all be wearing SAS."

  "Yes sir."

  "If you get any real hard cases who think it's sissy to wear a belt, tell them the belts we wear now are the equivalent of wearing a combat suit, without the bulk. And besides, if they come anywhere near me and I think they're not wearing a belt, I might shoot them to find out. It won't be a stunner either."

  The three of us chuckled.

  "Yes Sir!"

  "After the meeting, I suggest you get your Colonels together with Annabelle and Jack O'Neill. If the troops all work together, Jack commands on the ground, and you two can sort out responsibilities between you, without actually pulling rank. If you do have any conflict between you, bring it to me before it becomes an issue."

  They both nodded.

  "You both get Flag Officer suites here, which includes accommodation for aides. Annabelle, I suggest you go back to using Alison as your aide, and I use Jane. Aiden, what rank is your aide?"

  "Lieutenant Colonel."