Free Frontiers Saga 12: Rise of the Alliance by Ryk Brown Page A

Bacca reminded him.
    “But still, one ship. General, I find it difficult to believe that a single ship, no matter how quickly it may be able to jump about space, could defeat so many Jung ships all by herself.”
    “Her captain was most clever in his tactics, and most bold.”
    “I have read the dossier on Captain Roberts. He appeared a good and able captain, but by no means a brilliant tactician.”
    “Captain Roberts no longer commands the Aurora. She is commanded by Captain Nathan Scott.”
    “The son of the politician?” the admiral laughed. “He was nothing more than an ensign less than a year ago.”
    “Rank does not create aptitude, Admiral. One either has it, or they do not. Believe me, this young captain has it.”
    “Wasn’t his older brother your spy?”
    “Your clearance is indeed high, Admiral,” General Bacca stated. “I’m afraid you are correct. His brother Eli was the one who provided us with the timing and location of the Aurora’s first test of the STS, as well as other critical intelligence. In fact, without him, we could not have captured the Earth to begin with.” General Bacca sighed. “I suspect, however, that he may have been somewhat duplicitous.”
    “As spies often are.”
    The admiral appeared unconcerned, which worried General Bacca.
    “No matter, General,” the admiral boasted. “The Ton-Tori will deal with the Aurora, and will take back the Earth as well.”
    “The Ton-Tori? She has gone to Earth?” General Bacca was genuinely surprised by the admiral’s statement. “But what of the reinforcement fleet?”
    “It is too early for us to have received word,” the admiral admitted. “However, if this ship is as formidable as you claim, they have likely fallen to her guns as well. Again, it is of no matter. There is no way that a single ship can destroy a battle platform.”
    General Bacca looked at the admiral. The elderly man seemed quite confident, as he should. The battle platforms were more than twenty kilometers in diameter and nearly as tall at their central sections. They boasted more than one hundred guns, each of them more massive than those carried by the largest Jung battleships. They were heavily armed and shielded, combat-ready space stations, complete with enclosed ship docks that could hold half a dozen frigates and even a few cruisers if need be. Yet the achievements of Captain Scott defied belief as well, which was what worried the general. “Admiral, every ship has its weakness, even one as powerful as this battle platform. One most only find it.”
    “Then I wish your good captain luck,” the admiral laughed. “General, our shields are capable of protecting us against impact by the most massive of projectiles. Our own rail guns could not penetrate our multi-layered shields. You have nothing to worry about. If the Aurora and her captain are foolish enough to attack one of our battle platforms, they will quickly realize the folly of their efforts and run away—or better yet, stay and be destroyed.”
    General Bacca sighed. “You say the Ton-Tori is already on her way to Earth?”
    “In fact, she may have already arrived. There is really no way for us to know if she made the entire journey at top speed. I imagine we shall hear of her victory soon enough, however.”
    General Bacca looked out across the control room below. It was indeed the largest such room he had ever seen, as was the platform itself. It was his first time aboard such a platform, and it was indeed as impressive as he had heard. They had flown past two frigates parked within one of the platform’s three massive docks during their arrival. The very size of the platform alone could scare away a single ship, even the Aurora.
    General Bacca sighed. “I hope you are correct, Admiral.”
    “I promise you, my dear General, you have nothing to fear.”
    * * *
    “Report,” Nathan requested as he stepped out of his ready room and onto the Aurora’s bridge.
    “It’sa Takaran