Free Empire in Crisis by Dietmar Wehr

this point about the
battlecruiser squadron that was assigned to defend TD39?”
     
    “Nothing for certain, My Emperor; however, if
the 736th was on schedule, it would have arrived at that star system within a
few minutes of the transmission of the last message.”
     
    DeChastelaine cursed the fact that he wasn’t as
well versed in the nuances of defensive strategy as the admiral who should be
deciding what to do now but was unavailable because he was doing God knows
what!
     
    “What do you recommend, Admiral?”
     
    “Ah, I don’t know if I should…”
     
    When it was obvious that he wasn’t going to
finish the sentence, DeChastelaine jumped in. “God damn it, Admiral, you’re the
senior ranking officer present, and the Empire’s under assault! Now tell me
what you think our best response should be or resign your post and get me
whoever’s next in the chain of command!”
     
    “Ah, well…if that alien fleet pushes straight
on, they’ll find another starbase six wormholes further back. We should move
the 107th fleet forward to protect that starbase. If we issue the orders
quickly, they may be able to get there in time. I would also recommend that
Rift fleets surrounding TD39 send recon squadrons laterally to determine what
that alien fleet is doing. I’d have to check the data to be able to identify which
fleets and where they are, My Emperor.”
     
    “That’s better, Admiral. Now that I have some
idea of what we should do, I want you to pass on MY orders for the 107th to
move forward as quickly as its individual squadrons can move. Put all the Rift
fleets on alert. Have the fleets around TD39 commence recon operations. Am I
correct that there are no other fleets between the 107th and the Capital
System?”
     
    “That’s correct, My Emperor.”
     
    “In that case, I want Capital Fleet to go on
high alert status. All leaves are cancelled. You tell Capital Fleet
Commander…no, I’ll do that myself. Do you have any other recommendations for
me, Admiral?”
     
    “Ah, not at this time, My Emperor. Admiral
Hiakawa may not like these orders.”
     
    DeChastelaine resisted the temptation to tell the
DCSFO what Haikawa could do with himself. Instead, he took a deep breath and
replied when he had calmed down. “If Admiral Hiakawa has different
recommendations that make more sense, I’ll be glad to amend my orders, but
until I change them, my orders stand regardless of what Hiakawa likes or
doesn’t like. Is that clearly understood, Admiral?”
     
    “Yes, My Emperor.”
     
    “Good, you may break the connection and carry
out my orders now.”
     
    When the DCSFO was gone, DeChastelaine told the
Palace Communications Center to open a channel to Capital Fleet’s flagship. As
expected, the 4-star admiral commanding the fleet was asleep, and it took
almost ten minutes before someone got him awake and in front of a video unit.
     
    “My Emperor! This is most irregular. The chain
of command—“
     
    “I don’t have time for this chain of command
foolishness, Admiral,” said DeChastelaine. “Everyone between me and you is
either asleep or is carrying out my orders. A Rift starbase has been attacked,
and we have to assume from the lack of communications that it’s been destroyed
along with the 736th and 305th squadrons that were tasked with defending it.
I’ve already given orders for the 107th Fleet to move forward to protect the
next starbase in the enemy’s path of advance. Since that path of advance
potentially leads here, I want Capital Fleet on full alert and able to move at
a moment’s notice. All leaves are to be cancelled. How quickly can you get the
Fleet up to that state of readiness, Admiral?”
     
    “Ah, well ah…I don’t know off hand—“
     
    “That answer is not acceptable, Admiral. You
should know. Get to the Flag Bridge and find out. When you know the answer,
contact the Palace. I’ll be waiting for your call, and I’ll be keeping track of
how long I have to wait for