Eagle (Jacob Hull) Read online

  Jacob was on the edge of a glib response when his communication stub chirped. He looked at Smithson, who gave a small nod of permission. Then he touched the stub. “Admiral Hull. What is it?”

  “This is Captain Martino, sir. We have an incoming transmission from the Kay. The message header indicated you were the recipient.”

  Jacob blinked in surprise, and then a creeping sense of unease swept over him. Kay was Isaac’s ship. It was also supposed to be on patrol near the edge of the Union, very near the Frontier. Near, in point of fact, to Tiredel and San Marcos. “Was there anything else in the header, Captain? Any indication of the content?”

  “No, Sir.” Martino paused again. “The cruiser is showing damage, Sir. They’ve seen action.”

  “Understood, Captain. I’ll take the message in my office.” Jacob looked over at Smithson, who was waiting with an arch expression. “It looks like things are already on the move, High Seat.”

  Smithson grew grim. “You think the Odurans are already coming?”

  Jacob shrugged, and then stood. “We shall see.”

  Chapter Six

  The Eagle’s main briefing room, like so much of the rest of the flagship, was large and well-equipped. It was designed to facilitate tactical demonstrations and strategic planning between the commanders of a large task force. For that end, the room was built as a large circle with rows of seats rising to the edges of the room. At the center was a gigantic projection unit that reminded Jacob of the simulation room where High Admiral Nivrosky had forced him to practice hopeless situations.

  The similarity was not particularly helpful for Jacob’s mood.

  “The enemy ships entered the system here, near the edge of Tiredel’s main orbit. By their course, I assume they meant to close with some of the merchantmen traveling through the system and interdict some of the relief supplies for the settlers there.” Isaac’s voice showed very little of his former cheer. He stood, lean and tall, near the projection unit. As the projection continued to display the Kay’s recording of the Tiredel system, Isaac continued his recitation in the same hard voice.

  “At the moment of their arrival, the Odurans were unaware of our presence. The Kay and our escorts had come into the system to make some minor repairs before returning to our patrol assignment, and we had been orbiting behind the habitable planet. Our recon satellites alerted us to the Oduran incursion, and we were careful to stay under cover while they advanced.”

  In the projection, Isaac’s cruiser maintained position, along with the quartet of frigates Jacob had assigned to the same patrol area. The Odurans, on the other hand, continued their course without a hint of alarm. It was a substantial force for a scouting mission; there were at least three destroyers, two frigates, and seven corvettes. Jacob watched them swing onto an intercept with a small convoy of bulky merchantmen, closing rapidly despite the civilians’ attempts to evade.

  Isaac continued while the projection played out above. “I instructed Hammond, Estrella, Garbon, and Wirek to riftjump with us into combat range with the enemy squadron. We performed this jump just as the enemy began to deploy for an intercept with the convoy, who I ordered to remain in close formation to offer the Odurans a clear target.”

  That sentence earned Isaac a sharp look from the other officers in the room; the idea of using civilians as bait was not something a responsible Celostian commanding officer would approve. Isaac seemed entirely ignorant of those stares, but Jacob’s discomfort grew acute as his former friend continued in the same impassive voice.

  “Our jump was made without problems. We came out of it just in front of the main body of their squadron.”

  In the projection, Kay and the other Celostian craft popped out of existence around Tiredel and appeared directly in front of the approaching Oduran craft. Jacob’s breath caught; Isaac’s ships were arranged at nearly point blank range. Isaac tapped a control on the projection unit and the image froze.

  “At this point, the enemy was caught off guard.” Isaac paused when one of the other officers in the room snorted. Jacob had to restrain a similar reaction; apparently his friend had developed a talent for understatement along the way. Then Isaac gestured to the enemy formation. “They obviously didn't expect our presence in the system. Given the scheduled nature of Captain Kimonov’s withdrawal for resupply, the slight gap between their departure and return, and my squadron’s unexpected need for repairs, I anticipate this operation indicates enemy intelligence has found some source of information on our deployment schedules.”

  Jacob’s eyebrows shot up, and a murmur of incredulity swept through the room. Isaac, without any hint of emotion, had just implied the Oduran League had access to high-level security information. Most commanders would have made such accusations with pointed fingers and yells. By comparison, Isaac didn’t even pause before he continued in those same iron-bound tones.

  “My ships began the engagement by—”

  “Pardon, Captain Bellworth.” The interruption came from an officer sitting on the second row of seats. Jacob recognized him as Captain Sitati, a known partisan of Admiral Yeseti. “You just mentioned a possible security breach in terms of our ship deployments. Do you have any other evidence of that possibility?”

  Isaac turned to consider the man. The silence was sharp, though Isaac’s expression remained entirely void of emotion. After the discomfort caused by the pause had grown acute, Isaac responded. “I do not have any evidence I would choose to present at this time, Captain.”

  Sitati’s nostrils flared, and he spoke in stiff, angry tones. “You made an entirely unfounded accusation involving my department, and you would choose to do so without evidence?”

  “I did not say I did not have evidence, Captain. Simply that I do not choose to reveal any at this time.” Isaac’s tone showed no hint of retreat. “However, the implication of the events here is clear. Unless, of course, you are willing to accept a rather large number of coincidences.”

  The outrage on Sitati’s features was clear, despite the low lighting. “You have secret evidence then? It is your duty as an officer of the Celostian Navy to—”

  “I understand clearly my responsibilities, Captain Sitati.” Isaac’s voice took on a dark, lethal tone Jacob had never heard from his friend before. “You will not question my execution of them, nor do you have the authority to reprimand me. I suggest you remember if you take it upon yourself to lecture me, you do so at your own risk.”

  For a moment, Sitati’s face grew stricken and pale. Then his rage returned in full force. “I will not be threatened by some thuggish junior captain! You will apologize this—”

  “Captains.” Jacob kept his voice even, trying hard not to show any sign of the frustration burning within him. Sitati jumped in surprise and stared at him; Isaac swiveled his head and watched him with a cold expression. “We are not here to debate intelligence issues or exchange insults. The purpose of this briefing was to learn about the engagement that occurred in Tiredel’s proximity. If there are any complaints of impropriety or speculations about intelligence leaks, they can be addressed afterwards. Am I understood?”

  Sitati nodded stiffly before settling back in his seat. Isaac simply stared for a moment, and then turned back to the projection unit. He touched the control, and the images began to move again.

  “We fired just after leaving jump. Kay had left the riftjump within range for our plasma lance, so I ordered the central destroyer targeted while my missile teams engaged the other two destroyers. The frigates elected to strike at their opposite numbers and overwhelm them before the Odurans could organize themselves.”

  The events played out in the projection with terrifying speed. A blinding stream of superheated gas speared Isaac’s first target, gutting the Oduran destroyer before the enemy could fire a shot. Both of the remaining ships managed to lash out with one reflexive broadside with their railguns, and then Kay’s missile bays belched projectiles into space. Neither of the remaining destroyers managed to make much
more than a frantic, swerving course change before the missiles detonated on their hulls, reducing them to shattered wrecks.

  Isaac’s fellow Celostian warships made similar, sudden strikes, concentrating their fire on the smaller Oduran craft. One Hatchet-class ship spun away, crippled by multiple railgun strikes on its flank. The other tumbled through space in a useless, uncontrolled spin before it exploded in a gush of plasma released by a failing fusion reactor.

  The sudden, massive casualties had thrown the Oduran squadron into chaos. Firing frantically, the nine Oduran corvettes swung out and away from the Celostian ships. Any chance of them attacking the merchantmen had now vanished; their maneuvers were now clearly an attempt to escape the trap.

  A certain satisfaction crept into Isaac’s voice as he continued. “With their formation disrupted, I gave the order to eliminate the remaining targets.” In the projection, the frigates peeled off on pursuit vectors for the enemy while the Kay came about and started to chase after the largest batch of corvettes, a group of three ships that had wheeled around together. “The remainder of the engagement resulted in four of those corvettes being destroyed, while the balance of them fled the system in disarray.”

  The three corvettes dove on the Kay, firing wildly as they closed. Jacob watched them, knowing those ships must have believed trying to gain distance would only make them targets for the cruiser’s missile armament. For two of the corvettes, the result was the same; the Kay’s massive railgun armament pelted one of them with enough fire to breach its hull, while the second fell to a slash from the plasma lance. The third battered the cruiser’s armor, damaging the Kay’s communication suite, before escaping with a flash of its dark energy sails.

  With the Odurans gone, the projection came to another halt. Then it faded from the air while the room’s main lighting came up to replace the ethereal glow of the hologram. Issac turned, his face still hard. “Are there any questions about the battle?”

  Jacob glanced at Sitati, but the officer remained in his seat. He’d obviously made all the noise he intended to make today, though Jacob suspected the man would have official complaints lodged within minutes of leaving the briefing room.

  Others, however, were not so content. A woman with red hair and a normally cheery expression rose from her seat. “Captain Bellworth, were there any transmissions sent to the Oduran squadron before combat began? Did you make any attempt to ascertain their purpose in the system?”

  Isaac studied her for a moment. “No, Captain Birshaw. The tactical situation did not allow the chance for it.”

  Birshaw grimaced. “Then are we sure this was actually a raid? For all we know, we could have just destroyed a peace envoy of some kind.”

  Jacob opened his mouth, but Isaac gave him no chance to break in. “The possibility of that seems remote, Captain. The Odurans’ approach was clearly meant to intercept the convoy, instead of approaching the planet itself. They made no attempt to contact the civil authorities, nor any attempt to identify themselves as anything but a hostile squadron. There wasn’t even any demand for surrender sent to the merchantmen, which may indicate they were there to destroy, and not capture, those vessels.”

  Birshaw shook her head stubbornly. “Yet we have no conclusive proof this wasn’t some kind of peace offering. By refusing to contact them, you may have prevented the possibility of making peace with the League.”

  Jacob spoke evenly before Isaac could launch into his own defense again. “Captain Birshaw, Captain Bellworth’s assessment of the situation is correct. We’ve already been receiving reports of raids along the border, and this squadron appears to match the profile of an attack squadron.”

  She met his gaze across the room. “Those raids could be the work of other factions. As Banks and his group have proved, the leadership of the League could be reaching out to us without our knowledge. Otherwise we would not have been so blessed by their presence at Tiredel in the first place.” The tone of her words indicated she clearly did not appreciate the opportunity to have welcomed their former enemies in, whatever their newfound attitudes toward the Union.

  Isaac spoke again, drawing their attention back to him. “The discussion is pointless, Captain. Conversations with the prisoners recovered after the battle indicate the enemy squadron was in fact meant to raid our border.” A rustle ran through the room, and Birshaw glared daggers at Isaac, though he continued without any noticeable discomfort. “Their orders were to scout Union systems for weak points and possible footholds, and then report back to the League on our military strength. The only result in declaring my presence in Tiredel would have been to warn them, possibly allowing the Odurans to defeat us and reach the convoy to destroy it.”

  He paused and met Birshaw’s gaze with a deliberate, unyielding stare. “Of course, that would have resulted in fewer Oathbound on Tiredel due to starvation or worse on the planet, and there are some who would have been satisfied with that result. In my opinion, however, anyone who endorses a plan that results in dead Celostian Navy personnel, starving refugees, and more operational Oduran raiders is a damn fool.”

  The murmur that swept the room was close to a whispered roar, and Birshaw rocked back on her feet as if she’d been physically struck. She hadn't been ready for such a strong retort, nor was she likely to find an adequate response, but Jacob decided not to give the briefing a chance to descend into anarchy quite yet. He spoke before the murmurs had fully subsided, raising his voice to be heard over the hushed voices.

  “I believe we’ve heard enough, Captain Bellworth.” Jacob paused when Isaac returned his attention to him. Birshaw and the rest of the room did as well, leaving their murmured conversations to subside. He thought over his options now, considering what to say to end the meeting. Birshaw, for all her faults, was a member of the Independent party, and a close friend to Admiral Siddiqui. Yet all the same, as he met Isaac’s gaze, he knew his friend was correct. Jacob would have made the same call, and Isaac wasn’t going to be punished for being right.

  “It is clear the Odurans are resuming their raiding tactics, especially around the area of Tiredel.” Jacob ignored the small stir of protest from Birshaw and the grumble of resentment from Sitati’s area of the room as well. He continued. “In response to escalation, we will be deploying the Eagle on an extended patrol of the region, starting with the system of Tiredel itself. My hope is to prevent further raids through deterring them, even if they bring heavier forces into play.”

  He stopped when another officer, a partisan of Admiral Borgens if Jacob remembered correctly, raised his hand. “Yes, Captain Oororai?”

  “Are you certain moving the Eagle to the conflict area will counter these raids? The flagship is not designed for smaller engagements or extended patrol. The Oduran League could very well see this move as a threat to their territory.”

  Birshaw muttered, across the room from Jacob but still audible. “Not just the Oduran League.”

  Jacob kept his attention on Oororai; he would deal with Birshaw later. “You’re correct; the Eagle was not meant for border patrols or pirate interdiction. A dreadnaught would stop any attempt at a larger raid on the supplies heading for Tiredel, however, which would be a serious concern now. We cannot afford for the Odurans to capture that much material.” Then he smiled. “And if I were trying to avoid threatening the Oduran League, I wouldn’t have taken this job. Honestly, I hope we keep them up worrying late at night.”

  A chuckle ran through the room, and even Oororai looked mildly amused. Birshaw’s face darkened, however. She opened her mouth to speak, but Jacob cut her off with a gesture. “Eagle’s deployment was not a debate. I will be sending out a list of escorts that will accompany us to Tiredel. You’re dismissed.”

  He tried not to sound too cold as he spoke, but some amount of Jacob’s feeling leaked through into his tone. Birshaw stopped abruptly, and then stood with an angry jerk. She stormed out of the room with Sitati just behind her. Others followed at a more sedate pace, and the briefing room e
mptied until Jacob and Isaac were left alone.

  Jacob waited until the last of them closed the hatch and sighed. He scrubbed his hands over his face and then glanced back at where the projection of Isaac’s battle had hovered in the air. It was already starting; the Odurans were recovering their balance. If they were already beginning their commerce raids and probing attacks, then they were far more prepared than the Intelligence section had estimated. How much longer would it be before they came in force? Would the Navy be able to turn aside an actual assault group, or would the Odurans simply crush them under weight of numbers?

  Then Jacob turned his attention back to Isaac, who was still standing with stiff formality at the center of the room. He stood up and walked down to the floor where Isaac and the projector were waiting, studying Isaac’s upright stance and impassive expression. No hint of joviality remained in Isaac’s face. It was as if grief over Laurie’s death had wiped every trace of that part of his friend away.

  Silence stretched between them for a moment, and then Jacob spoke. “It is good to see you again, Isaac.”

  Isaac’s expression flickered slightly before his features closed down again. “Thank you, Admiral Hull. It is good to see you as well.”

  Jacob winced at the use of his rank and last name; Isaac had used a similar manner to express his anger aboard Wolfhound. Nevertheless, he pressed forward. “Congratulations on your recent promotions; the way you directed your squadron during battle proves you deserved it.”

  A hint of satisfaction crept into Isaac’s face again, and he glanced up at where the battle had been displayed. “Thank you, Sir. I am glad I was able to prove myself.”

  “I am very happy Captain Irving recognized level of skill in you.” Jacob watched his friend closely and saw the satisfaction in Isaac’s expression deepen. “Given his differences in political philosophy, I was surprised you received such a definite endorsement from him before his resignation.”

  Isaac smiled, a curling of the lips that expressed very little good humor. The satisfaction in his expression almost seemed cruel. He said nothing.