Free Star Force: Ghostblade (SF67) by Aer-ki Jyr Page B

as he was reading a vertical holographic
display.
    “Just trying to size them up with an eye towards where
they might be in the present.”
    “The others have gone already. Figured you would have
been first in line.”
    “Clan Saber is pretty set, so we won’t be heavily contending
the territorial allotments. Why are you still here?”
    “Same reason you are. Trying to find another angle.”
    “Any luck?”
    “I’m giving all my current people immunity to whatever
standards we use, so there’s not going to be a turnover period,” Jason said
casually. “The younglings will start being shipped out to Mainline colonies as soon as the message I sent arrives, so I’ve got time to ponder.”
    “What about the race for the six systems?”
    “You know as well as I that our Clans are more even
than others. We don’t stand a chance of earning a major slot, so I’ve chosen
not to waste resources overly prepping. I thought you might, given your naval
dominance.”
    “I’m working a different angle.”
    “Care to share?” Jason asked, sitting down on the
bench next to Paul’s.
    “Territory defense only works if we can gain an
advantage on the ground, otherwise it becomes a death trap. We can’t put down
roots where the V’kit’no’sat can see them.”
    “You thinking of moving your Clan rimward ?”
    “Even that’s not good enough. We can’t just hide, we
have to strike and be on the move at all times. I keep running scenarios
through my head and the only way I can see that Clan Saber can have a chance of
effectively combating the V’kit’no’sat is to stay mobile and never fight a
defensive battle. We have to be rogues, pirates even, as far as they’re
concerned.”
    “Rebels against the Empire?” Jason floated.
    “Davis is right to worry about the masses. Until we
can build planetary defenses sufficient to hold out against a modest fleet
we’re sitting ducks. I don’t want the Sabers being sitting ducks. If we’re
playing defense we can’t be protecting others. We have to be free to move. A
Jedi has no attachments for a reason, and I’m seriously considering applying
that principle to my entire Clan.”
    “Like Canderous?”
    “Yes.”
    “That’s going to set you back so far you’ll be worse
off than the Snowstorms.”
    Paul smiled.
    “Alright spill,” Jason insisted.
    “Think Starcraft . The Terran structures built on the ground could fly if
necessary to evacuate so you didn’t have to leave them behind to get
destroyed.”
    Jason stared blankly at the holographic text and
diagrams for a moment, remembering back to the ancient game and realizing the
genius in it. “Incredibly difficult to create, because you’d be starting from
scratch, but you’d still be utilizing and living on the surface whereas
Canderous does not. If your position is compromised you could evacuate in short
order, then put down your infrastructure at another location and almost
instantaneously have full production resume. Downside would be size. You’d have
to have everything small and exchange mega facilities for hundreds of smaller
ones, but it is theoretically viable.”
    “Far more than viable.”
    Jason frowned. “What are you seeing that I’m not?”
    “It would make my Clan very hard to kill so long as we
have forewarning. Everything would be naval. I’d build the structures into
starships rather than mobile sedas. Quick to move, easy to replace if lost.
Focus on a smaller fleet rather than having big chess pieces. The necessary few
we could keep in deep space and safely anonymous. The problem is we’d become
very, very small and give up the industrial base we’ve established. Against the
lizards or even the Voku we’re better off proceeding as we are, but the
V’kit’no’sat are so far ahead of us that this is the only way I can think of to
give us a chance at survival. We have to be able to run and poke, no full-on
engagements. No even fights. We have to be ghosts operating out of view