Free Storm' Fury: The Shenkar War by Seth Libby

Sukita, what is the situation?” Dvares asked as he entered the bridge.
    “Outpost 238 is under attack from Shenkar forces. President Lecroix had invoked a priority one directive and has ordered all forces to sector 22. He wants to fold the entire defense force to help them,” explained Kimino.
    “Who the bloody hell is President Lecroix?” asked Dvares.
    Under different circumstances Kimino would have broken out into fits of laughter at the captain’s question. She didn’t think the captain ignorant; it was more that the President of France, was such an insignificant part of the Council of Earth that no one remembered his name most of the time.
    “He is the President of France sir.”
    “That irritating fellow? Yes I remember him now, spoke with him once and that was enough to leave a sour taste in my mouth.”
    Kimino couldn’t help but like Captain James Dvares. Captain Dvares had previous servred with the British navy and was now entering his twenty sixth year in the military. At the age of forty five, he was one of the oldest captains of the new military. He wasn’t full of himself like some of the other captains of the new Earth Defense Force. When it came to regulations he was pretty relaxed for a military man and had learned to value the opinion of those with experience.
    “Tell me commander, what is your opinion on this matter?” Dvares asked.
    “I think the Shenkar are up to something. Why would they give away their fleet numbers on such a minor attack? I believe they are looking to draw the fleet away from Earth and her massive defense platforms to make the odds more even. Either way I feel we shouldn’t make any moves without contacting Fleet Admiral Saunders or Admiral Kelvin,” explained Kimino.
    “Did you advise these recommendations to Mr. Lecroix?”
    “Yes sir.”
    Captain Dvares thought for several moments before he turned to his communications officer.
    “Open me a channel to the fleet.”
                  The communications officer’s hands moved about his console for several seconds before he spoke again. While he did this the captain retrieved a communication headset and donned it.
                  “Sir, I have the fleet for you.”
                  “Attention all defense forces; this is Captain Dvares of the Okinawa . Recently we have been ordered to respond to an attack on Outpost 238 by Shenkar forces. It is in my opinion we wait for orders from fleet headquarters before taking any such action.”
                  It looked as if Captain Dvares was about to say more the President of France’s voice cut across the fleet net.
                  “Men and woman are dying and you wish to debate this? I for one wish to rescue them before the Shenkar murder them or…..”
                  But Captain Dvares wasn’t intimidated by the President of France. He in turn cut into whatever the President had wished to say.
                  “Do I need remind you all that no one councilman can invoke a priority one directive unless under dire circumstances.”
                  “I would say this qualifies for dire circumstances. Anyone who doesn’t join us will be subject to inquiry and most definitely having charges brought against them.”
                  Captain Dvares, emitting a disgusted noise in his throat, pulled the commset from his head and tossed it onto his nearby command chair.
                  “Fool!” he muttered angrily.
                  Kimino studied the tactical display, only two thirds of the fleet was moving to the rendezvous coordinates. Six battlecruisers, twenty five various types of cruisers and ten destroyer class warships had either stopped moving to the coordinates or hadn’t moved at all.
                  “Captain, only two thirds of the fleet is moving to the coordinates,” Kimino said.