July 778 UC Heinnesen
Free Planets Alliance Officer Academy
The library in the Officer Academy was large, spacious and had enough books to keep even the most advent of military bookworms satisfied for years. With two main floors with rows upon rows of bookshelves filled with books. Books that covered all manner of military strategy and tactics with subjects from the most absurd to the most grounded, there were even reprinted copies of books I recognized from my first life. The library was open to all the Cadets of the Academy, and it was often used by those cadets to study and prepare for exams and to learn of the past. Though it was also frequently used as a place for students to gather or hang out.
I was making use of the library today preparing for the final exam. Where I would be pitted against one of the other top Cadets from my class in a simulated naval battle. But I was not there to study strategy, though I had made use of the plentiful books and history contained within them to help me learn more about the extensive history of humanity.
How was I preparing for the final exam? By having a mock battle with one of my classmates who was close to the person I knew I would be pitted against. Our final exam consisted of a normal written exam, a series of question-and-answer exams, as well as a simulated battle against your peers. So far, I have secured myself a place in the top ten of our class of one-hundred and I had every intention of rising to the very top.
Patrick O'Neil was a good soldier and a good person to base the general thought process and action of any given person in the Alliance Navy. He was neither good nor bad, he was neither exceptionally good in strategy, but neither was he lacking. In my second life, he would have made a good Lieutenant Commander or Major. In this world in which there has been a war going on for the last 150 years though. With the casualty rates we have been sustaining against the Galactic Empire? He would likely make it to the rank of Captain and no further. Unless he broke out of his box and showed promise than he might be able to retire as a Commodore.
"Say Patrick," I say speaking to him as he enters in a command into the tabletop sized battle simulation. "Have you put any thought into what you plan to do once the war is over?" I asked him as the simulation plays out his command and I watch his line of ships approach mine and open fire.
"Celebrate, retire, start a family. If we somehow win in our lifetimes." he said with a shrug of his shoulders. "What about you Tanya?" He asks, looking up to me.
"I plan on starting my own business." I state and enter my own command into the simulator. "There is going to be an influx of soldiers into the job market. Who're going to need a job and while things are stretched thin right now. I do not believe it will be able to handle the tens of millions of soldiers who will suddenly be out of a job. Having so many unemployed soldiers reliant upon the government to subsidize their living is a recipe for disaster." I say as the little simulation carried out my commands and showed my units break into two groups. One that was engaging his fleet and a second smaller group which was flying above his units.
"That is more thought out than my own ideas of what to do." He admits with a look of surprise on his face. "What's still, we still need to win the war to begin with." He points out and enters his own set of commands, ignoring the smaller group of ships flying above his own units as his begin to form into a spear. "And the only way to win is if we can capture Iserlohn and invade the Empire.
"True, but it never hurts to plan ahead." I remind him. "As for Iserlohn, no fortress is impenetrable. There are always ways to get around it, neutralize it or remove it from the Empire's control." I say as I enter in more commands into the table simulation. With him forming a spear it was clear he intended to rush my center. It was so obvious and predictable as that was what the Officers Academy taught everyone. Break through the enemy's center and stab out their hearts and victory is all but assured to be yours.
"And how do you propose capturing Iserlohn?" He asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Who said anything about capturing it? Though capturing it would also be beneficial as well in ensuring that we can bring the war to an end and not have to worry about the Empire attempting to invade us again." I was looking up from the simulation to talk to him.
Iserlohn was as close to impenetrable a fortress as one could ever hope. As it had facilities built into it to allow the fortress to live on its own, cut off from the rest of the Empire if need be. While we could besiege the fortress and never let anyone in or out of it. The people inside the fortress could just wait inside for eternity or however long it took us to run out of supplies or the Empire to send reinforcements. While the mighty Thor Hammer would ensure that nobody would be crazy enough to approach the fortress for fear of being blasted to pieces.
"One way of removing Iserlohn would be to sabotage the station's primary weapon. Sneak a group of elite soldiers into the station and have them target and destroy the machinery that makes the Thor Hammer work. Once it's disabled, have a combined fleet approach the station. Besieging the station and getting close enough to send in troop transports to invade and capture the station in full."
"That way the fortress is now yours and given time. Once the Thor Hammer is repaired. It can be used against the Empire to prevent them from ever invading the Alliance." I tell him as I enter in another command into the simulation and have my main units begin to separate for his spear thrust into my line. While above his formation the smaller group closed in and began to deploy fighters that rushed down into his formation.
"When you say it like that it sounds easy." He frowns. "But if it were so easy to take Iserlohn out like that. Why hasn't anyone else done so?"
"Because it is extremely risky and sending in infiltrators like that is a one tricky pony. You can only get away with it once. If your saboteurs are caught by the Empire, they will be sure to prevent any future saboteurs getting anywhere close to Iserlohn. And if you do go through with this plan you need to have fleets on standby to besiege the station and wait for the stations primary weapon to be disabled. Which by the way you would have no way of knowing that it was disabled and would need to rely upon a level of competence in your saboteurs that they could do their job without ever contacting you. Of course, this is only my entry level idea on how to subvert and capture the Fortress."
"Right, you did say that was one idea. What were the rest?" he asked as his formation continued to carry out its forward thrust into the middle of my battle line. Though I was already moving out of the way while a good number of his had disabled engines and were unable to keep up with the rapidly advancing formation.
"Another option was to fill the entire area around Iserlohn with Seffle Particles with a cloaked vessel. Then when the area in sufficiently saturated. Ignite them all and watch the station go out in one big explosion." As I say this, he gives me a look as if I had somehow grown a second head.
"But there are three million civilians on board that station! As well as two million soldiers! You would be killing an entire colony worth of people if you do that!" He all but shouts and garners several angry glares and a reminder from the nearby librarian to lower his voice. Though now there were people looking at us. You don't just casually mention destroying a colony and not gain some attention.
"I said it was an option. Plus killing so many people in such a way would light a fire in everyone within the Empire from civilian to noble. They would seek retribution and come at us in all their might. For one large final invasion that would see the Emperor himself be drawn out from Odin."
I abhorred wasting life and war was the surest way to waste life. And it seemed that Patrick was also of the same mind as he paled a little bit, which was a good sign that he did not have the same battle drive that seemed to fill everyone else of our generation.
…..
"Good lord, she would destroy Iserlohn and kill millions just to lure out the Emperor and the Empire in one massive battle? Just so that she can crush them both. What kind of crazed person is she?" Patrick thought to himself.
…..
At this point I entered my next set of commands into the tabletop simulator and had my line fully separate for his formation to break through. But at the same time, I had my ships begin to disable more of his while they were deep in my line. While now the fighters began to pick his ships apart.
"There is also one more thing to consider if you remove the Iserlohn Fortress." I say to continue the conversation.
"What is that?" He asked.
"The Galactic Empire finished building Iserlohn back in 766 UC. So, they've had twelve years to build their military and reinforce their side of the Iserlohn Corridor. I shudder to think just how large their military force will have grown by now after having twelve years to build up without us invading them or raiding their supply and logistics line."
"It generally takes us four months to build a new Battleship which is about a third of the time it takes to build a Flagship. It takes only a half that to build a new Cruiser and a half that again to build a Destroyer. Now imagine what the size of the Empires military would be like with those same construction times to work with as we do."
And unlike us the Empire is not exactly experiencing a manpower deficiency or even close to an economic crisis. They can afford to man their ships with full crews if they need or want to.
"I think I would rather just focus on the game here then try and contemplate just how many Imperials are awaiting us on the other side of Iserlohn." He muttered, turning his attention back to the game we were playing. Which was nearly finished as we both took turns back and forth. Ultimately, I won as his fleet was picked apart and lost momentum inside my own battle line. Where it was chewed up and picked apart by my fighter craft until it was eventually destroyed.
With our battle over I smiled and thanked him for the game. The conversation we had was good, but it was just the cover for what I really wanted out of this meeting.
My rival in class, Piett was another good commander but unlike Patrick. He was far more capable and learned faster as well. He was also a skilled tactician. But he had a weakness which I was exploiting.
Most of his planning hinged on knowing his enemy's favored tactics and devising ways to counter and foil their plans.
It was no secret that I favored Carriers in my planning and Piett would be planning to counter them already. But after my talk with Patrick, one of his close friends. While our conversation was interesting for sure, he would pick up my tactic against Patrick and likely extrapolate that as me practicing in preparation to face him.
It also helped that Patrick was not the only person in our class who was close friends with Piett that I had done this play against. From Pietts point of view, I was building up and refining my strategy to the point where I could meet and defeat him in our battle coming up.
However, this was all a ruse. If there was one thing, I learned from all my lives thus far. It was that Operational Security was imperative. It was not enough to know what your enemy was capable of. You also needed to know what they were planning. I only got so far in my second life because I had knowledge of certain events that would happen in the future. I did my best to plan for them and counter them before they happened, earning me a great deal of fame and infamy in equal measure.
In this my third life, I had no such advantage such as future sight. Nor did I have magic. The only advantage I had was two lives worth of knowledge and experience and most of my knowledge was out of date. Meaning I needed to rely more on my experience and these days relying upon my experience was starting to reach its utmost limits.
It was profoundly frustrating that after being involved in two world wars in my previous life surviving through both and being able to retire and live out the rest of my life relatively peacefully. That I was finding teenagers who were at least, in theory, capable of matching me in a strategic sense.
There were still other ways in which I could use my experience, both on and off the battlefield. Right now, I was purposefully feeding Piett false information. Telling him about my step by step plan on how I was going to fight and defeat him. By feeding him information through my matches with his close friends.
It was my belief that by giving him my play book through these interactions. He would come up with the perfect counter to it. Since that was what he did. He took the information he was given on his enemies and came up with counters to them and then executed those plans and won.
"It would just be so terrible if I was feeding him information that was wrong." I thought to myself and smiled as I looked at the tabletop simulation in which I had beaten Patrick at.
…..
Five days later.
"Today's match is between Cadet Tanya Vielfraß and Cadet Firmus Piett. This match will determine the finalists of this year's class." Announced the instructor as I entered the simulation bridge.
The bridge itself was built to scale for that of a Battleship, though I would have preferred that of a Carrier. Still, I will work with what I was given and what I was given was my personal choice for a fleet of 10,000 vessels. The smallest number of vessels in any numbered fleet within the Alliance Navy. For the training fleet I made sure to include Carriers in my formation. While most Battleships and Cruisers were able to carry a limited number of fighter craft. The numbers they carried paled in comparison to those of a Carrier.
Squad = 12 Ships
1 – Carrier
64 Fighters (per Carrier)
4 – Battleships
12 Fighters (per Battleship)
4 – Cruisers
4 Fighters (per Cruiser)
3 – Destroyers
Squadron = 400 Ships
1 Command Battleship with 3 Destroyers
33 – Carriers
132 – Battleships
132 – Cruisers
99 – Destroyers
Subfleet = 2,000 Ships = 5 Squadrons
Fleet = 10,000 Ships = 5 Subfleets
As nice as it was to have a lot of large numbers to represent my fleet. Numbers alone would not help me secure victory. I needed experienced crew, which the simulation did not provide. It just used statistics and averages to calculate and play out any simulation. If numbers would not help me and I lacked the manpower to make up for an even playing field between me and my opponent. I would need to rely on strategy and preying on my opponent's biases. Which is where my plan for the last few days comes into effect.
Of course, if I solely relied on one tactic to see me to victory today I would make a poor strategist.
Electronic Warfare, Electronic Counter Measures, Electronic Counter Counter Measures and Spoofing were all technologies that the Alliance Navy and the Galactic Empire had and employed. Yet were rarely ever covered in our classes either due to scarcity of the technology or to some supposed unsaid gentleman's agreement not to use the technology while fighting. Either way, the Officers Academy did teach courses in the use and deployment of these technologies but never the actual tactics and strategy behind them. Instead, the Academy focused on teaching the students to 'break through' the enemies line and pick them apart.
I often wondered if that was on purpose. To filter out the truly competent officers who would rise in the ranks to lead the few numbered fleets in the Alliance Navy. From the average and below average who would only ever rise to Commodore or Captain respectively. It made sense in a way to me. Everyone wanted to be an Admiral in command of one of the numbered fleets and take the fight to the Empire. Not everyone was cut out for doing so and with the dangerous straits that the Free Planets Alliance found itself in. It could not afford to spend its numbered fleets so carelessly as the Empire could with its named fleets.
I was using all the tools at my disposal to seize victory today. I was not going to be second or last fiddle to anyone.
As the simulated battleship bridge came to life. I began issuing orders.
"Have Squadrons E and W begin jamming and electronic warfare operations. Once they are operational have Squadron BT increase their emissions signature to that of a Carrier and have them fly over and behind the enemy, while the rest of our capital ships enact emission reduction and concealment. Have the rest of the fleet continue advancing towards the enemy's battle line and hold position five light minutes away. And make sure everyone has their shields up to maximum."
I was not the only person on the simulation being tested today. There were other Cadets who were being tested for officer positions to fill out other roles on a ship. While I was running the overall show and making command level decisions. There were other cadets who manned the Fire Control, Datalink, Communications, Radar, Damage Control, Flight Deck, and many other necessary positions on the bridge. It was as close to a real bridge as could be simulated and I was relying upon my fellow cadets to carry out my orders.
As things progressed, I watched both the large screen as it simulated both our fleets approaching one another with Piett closing the range to be within firing range of my main battleline with his numerous battleships. He decided to forgo any use of Carriers and relied on his Battleships and their Destroyer Escorts. I could see part of his plan. He sought to counter my tendency for fighter craft by first destroying my fleet and the Carriers with powerful alpha strikes. While using the destroyers primarily for protection against my fighters.
For all a great planner as Piett could be. Devising ways to counter people once he knew their general strategy and play book. He very rarely diversified his fleet compositions. Relying more on his Battleships and their heavy armor and numerous guns to carry out his plans. It was simple and obvious like a cudgel to the face. But he wielded that cudgel less like a blunt instrument that one would expect and instead a lance to overwhelm his enemies who thought is obvious and blunt planning was easily countered.
The display showed his fleet approaching mine as a cylinder, much like one would find on a steam roller. With the intent of rolling over my fleet, his destroyers formed a rolling protective shell over his battleships. As their shields received damage the ship would float down and behind the formation to let their shields recharge and eventually come over the top and back to the front again. Inside the protective shell of destroyers his battleships were doing much the same.
It was an effective formation for rolling over one's foes and flattening them beneath you while you roll through their formation.
When he noticed my Squadron flying over his own Fleet his forces began to slow down until it came to a stop only a couple of light seconds from my own battle line. His destroyers tracked the Squadron which to him should now look like the bulk of my Carriers were now flying over and around his formation to eventually be behind him.
"Have BT Squadron activate decoy's and launch fighters. They are not to engage the enemy." I instruct and wait for Piett to take the bait.
The simulation saw a bloom of 'fighters' launch from my 'Carriers' that were now behind him and were waiting for him to engage my battleline. So that they could attack him from the rear. With his destroyers now no longer providing protection for his Battleships. I put my plan into action.
"Launch all fighters, have them target the engines on the Battleships! Our Cruisers are to begin picking off destroyers while our Battleships coordinate with the Carriers and start picking off disabled Battleships. BT Squadron will continue to hold position until we fully engage the enemy. Then they will dive into the formation and destroy their Flagship!" I started barking out orders rapid fire and quickly the battle that had been an even match that leaned in Pietts favor began to turn into mine. As Piett began the slow process of turning his ships back around to face me. Only to have his fleet be picked apart by my fighters while the rest of my fleet began to destroy his wholesale.
The battle ended ten minutes later when my distraction squadron dived into his formation that was now weakened, found his flagship, and destroyed it. Winning the final exam.
I went on to graduate at the top of the class as a full Lieutenant. I only had a single day to myself before I received my deployment orders. Being the pilot of Spartanian and in charge of a Battleships squadron of fighters. How I ended up being a starfighter pilot still confuses me even to this day. But I guess if you want to be a commander of a Carrier you must suffer the life of a pilot as well.
…..
792 UC Arlesheim Starzone
"Where did those shots come from!?" I demand as damage alarms echo across the bridge as we scramble to get our shields up and locate the unfortunate Imperial Fleet that decided to reveal themselves.
"Incoming enemy fire from the Asteroids, ma'am! All ships are still raising shield and moving into formation." Came the response.
"Bring the fleet around and begin jamming operations. And get me data on that fleet and the asteroid belt they decided that they want to be their graves." I issued out orders.
I watched as the tactical map in front began to take shape. Showing my fleet of 12,000 ships turning around to face an asteroid belt which we had been passing by while conducting a training exercise.
"Admiral, the Empire fleet is firing sporadically and without coordination." Ilia points out to me as the information begins to filter in.
"They're being jammed so it would make sense that they are unable to coordinate their targeting and firing solutions." I reasoned.
"This is more than just reduced capabilities from our jamming, look." She said and pulled up the display showing how the Empire's ships were firing at anything that moved. That was not like the Empire. Normally they were more organized than this.
"Close the distance with the enemy." I issued a command.
"Are we going to break through their line to cause them to flee?" Ilia asks.
"No, we're going right into their formation to take advantage of whatever is happening to them to destroy them."
Ilia looked at me and then back to the display and began giving the order to close the distance. It was a gamble to close in on the Empire as the closer we were the easier it would be to target and shoot us. Add on that they outnumbered us with a fleet of 14,000 ships. But I believed in my pilots. I trained them and all my crews extensively.
I still remember my first time as a fighter pilot fresh out of Officer Academy and how exhilarating it had been. Both to be able to fly again, as well as how dangerous things were as you needed to have a hair trigger reaction to be able to survive fighting the Empire. But I somehow managed to graduate from a pilot to a captain of a carrier at some point and now here I was a Vice Admiral.
I still made sure to get into the seat of my fighter every so often and put my pilots through the most strenuous of testing I could manage. But outside of actual combat it would be difficult to say just how effective they were.
I was proud to see that my pilots proved themselves to be exceptional as whatever was affecting the Empire in targeting our main ships. Was also affecting their point defenses and their own fighters. Which was worrying me as we began to close the distance between our fleets.
"We are within visual range of the Asteroid belt Admiral." Ilia updated me.
"Ilia what is the composition of those Asteroid?" I asked her as I wondered if I was being led into a trap.
"Mostly rock and several trace elements used in producing high explosives." She pointed out.
I felt and heard myself inhaling sharply as she informed me what the Asteroids were made of. The Empire was fighting from inside of an actual naturally formed minefield.
"Order the fleet to hold at minimum a safe distance from the Asteroid Belt. Recall our fighters. I don't know if the Empire has realized just what they are hiding inside of. But I don't want to be within range of it when a stray shot sets of a chain reaction."
She nods and goes to carry out my orders as I look at the display. That was too close. I almost brought my entire fleet into a trap that would have seen us all destroyed with one stray shot. Which gave me an idea, as I waited for our fighters to return, I watched as the Empire's own pursue them. We shot them down of course, but they still came into our own formation and began firing at us causing more damage.
When my fighters were safely within the range of my fleet and the point defenses, we would be able to fight them off easily enough. Now I had all my units out of the death trap. I made my move.
"All ships. Change of targets. Focus fire on the asteroids near their formation. Start with those furthest away from us and work closer. The Empire wanted to lure us into a suicide trap. Well, we are going to spring it on them instead. Open fire!"
I watched as the tactical map showed as my ships began to change target and open fire. Large blooming explosions began to engulf swaths of the asteroid belt. But more importantly the Empires fleet as well. I smiled to myself as I witnessed a fleet of 14,000 thousand swiftly being destroyed by their own trap.
When the Empire began to get smart to the idea of fleeing. I had my fighters chase down those that were out of range of the asteroids. Crippling most of them and destroying a few others leaving them as sitting ducks for my battle line.
I was expecting the Empire to surrender at some point. But they never attempted to surrender. Several minutes later when the battle ended. We had destroyed a fleet of greater numbers and reduced them to a barely functional squadron of mixed ships. With no sign of the admiral in charge of their fleet.
It was not until several days later I learned what happened.
"Excuse me Admiral. I looked over the logs from the captured enemy ships. It looked like the Empire's Vice Admiral Michael Sigismund von Keyserling attempted to surrender. But due to our jamming, they were unable to get through and surrender to us before they were destroyed." She told me.
Oh no.
"When did they try to contact us to surrender?" I asked wanting to know just how exactly I screwed up.
"When we had destroyed roughly 60% of their fleet with our bombardment of the Asteroids and using them against the Empire."
This was going to be a court martial for sure when I returned to command. I was going to be tried for war crimes for not answering a hail from a surrendering adversary and killing them.
…A few days later…
"So how is the Reaper of Arlesheim?" Piett asked as he sat across from me as we talked in one of the many Admiralty Lounges on El Facil.
I was nursing a headache as I looked over the paper in front of me while my coffee sat next to it.
El Facil News
"Reaper of Arlesheim"
Vice Admiral Tanya Vielfraß Reaps a High Toll on the Empire!
Read the main article on the front of the paper. "Shut up Piett." I groaned as I started rubbing my temples.
"For a training exercise. I would say that went rather well. Aside from not accepting the enemies surrender signal." He joked.
"I will hurt you Piett." I warned him as I looked him in the eyes. "I was expecting to be punished for what I did. Instead, I'm being hailed as some anti-Hero who will happily crush the Empire to the last man." I say and shake my head.
"Who is going to surrender to me when I gain a reputation for ignoring signals to surrender and instead continue to kick them when they are down?" How am I supposed to be viewed as a positive figure in the military when everyone is afraid of me? Fear only gets you so far. Sooner or later that fear will turn into hate and then you will be in trouble.
"I guess you will just have to work on that then?" He shrugs. "So how has it been now that you are a Vice Admiral. Doing well? I investigated the reports of the 3rd Fleet when I heard you were assigned to be in charge of it. Undersized, understaffed, in disrepair and crewed by some of the unruliest crew in the Alliance Navy. Due to be dissolved later this year. Yet only a few months after you take over you turn it into a well-oiled well-organized machine capable of destroying an entire empire fleet on its own even when outnumbered."
"It took a lot of hard work to get us here." I say with pride in the men and women in my command. It was no lie that it took a lot of hard work. But they quickly proved to be every bit as reliable as my old command when I had commanded the 203rd Carrier Squadron. Technically I was still in charge of them as I had brought them with me as I moved to different fleet commands. But now I had more than a single squadron of 400 ships to focus on. Now I had 12,000 to look over and command.
"But considering the rewards from all that hard work and training. I would say it is well worth it."
"Even your new title?" He asked, smirking.
I glared at him as he brought it up again. "I am not some 'Reaper' I am a Vice Admiral of the Free Planets Alliance Navy. I refuse to acknowledge the title that the press has given me." I say and glance down at the paper and shake my head. 'Reaper of Arlesheim' what foolish a name to be given and one that sounded exceedingly terrible. A name that only someone childish would think of.
"It's going to stick with you. So better get used to it. Things like this don't go away because you say so. You got to do other things instead. Maybe save a planet from the Empire?"
"If we do our jobs right, we won't have to save any planets from the Empire, Piett. Also has anyone told you your name is to a character from an old movie from ancient Terra?" I asked.
"Only you Tanya. You're the only one in our entire class who has any interest in ancient movies and shows."
"Someone has to remember and enjoy the classics. Did you know that Humanity used to think that we would be fighting in ships that were kilometers long and capable of cracking the crust of a planet? Or that we would find aliens and form some galactic federation and unite peacefully?"
"No, I did not." He shook his head.
"How long do you have before you must return to Vice Admiral Alexandre Bewcock's fleet? And when are you getting that promotion to Vice Admiral at last? I would have thought you would get that promotion before me."
"I leave later today as for that promotion. Not all of us are so unlucky to be constantly assigned to the front lines for four years at a time. Who did you anger to be constantly assigned to the front?"
I wanted to say a certain Being-X, but I have not seen nor heard from them since my last life. When they told me that they would give me a third life without their influence. Meaning I could not attribute my poor luck to them. "I guess someone saw how good I am and decided I do better on the front lines than in the rear? Though I am hoping I get promoted to an Admiral soon. That way I can assign myself somewhere else. I know for certain I would gladly post myself somewhere closer to Headquarters, so I won't be shot at every other month."
At that time, I received a call from Ilia. "One moment, yes Ilia?"
"Admiral, we have received new orders from Headquarters. We are to return to Heinessen for repairs and resupply."
"I see, I will be on the bridge momentarily thank you Ilia." I say and end the call. "It appears I am being given an early reprieve from my latest four-year deployment and allowed to return home for few months." I tell Piett as I stand up.
"Well enjoy your time off. I'll make sure nothing happens out here while you're back on Heinessen watching old movies." He jokes.
…..
794 UC Tiamat Starzone
What was I thinking?! I had all but shouted at Fleet Admiral Lobos and called him an idiot to his face in front of the command staff on Heinessen before making for Tiamat. The Empire was going to be invading us soon and he thought only a couple of ships should be spared to defend shipping supplies to the front.
Now I was out here escorting a fleet of civilians with a reduced 3rd Fleet having only 5,400 vessels under my command consisting of Cruisers and Destroyers and only a handful of capital ships for support. Most of my fleet was still at Heinessen undergoing repairs and resupply after fending off a feint from the Empire a month ago.
I was halfway certain I would be punished when I encountered the next Alliance Fleet. But all assets were either hunkering down waiting for the Empire or deployed to the front to receive the Empire.
"Admiral," Ilia announces getting my attention as I had been busy looking over the incoming reports from the front and the Empire Invasion Fleet that was gathering at Iserlohn that our scouts were spying on. "Forward patrols have intercepted and destroyed several Empire raiding fleets. The route to the Tiamat Starzone is clear."
"Thank Lieutenant. Inform the civilians and tell them to keep to the formation as we make the final jump to the Alliance staging area."
"Yes, admiral." She saluted and went to work.
5,400 Ships, escorting a supply convoy of approximately 200 was over kill in most situations. However, since Lobos decided that the Navy could not spare ships to escort the civilians through dangerous areas. No one else was willing to risk going against his orders. But only an idiot refuses to guard their supply line. I had originally started this trip with only half the number of civilians. But I came across another supply convoy under the command of Captain Fegan, he had been a part of the escort detail for them when the rest of his companions abandoned the supply convoy.
Seeing safety in numbers. Captain Fegan of the Grand Canal requested to join my fleet. Even though I told him we were likely going to be in trouble with Alliance Headquarters when the orders for my arrest eventually caught up to us. Not that that seemed to deter him at all. With an additional cruiser and another 100 civillian ships we made the rest of the journey to Tiamat and what would be the staging site for the defense of Tiamat against the Empire.
Returning my attention to the reports, I looked at what the Empire was sending our way. Two fleets, one under the command of Fleet Admiral Gregor von Mückenberger and a second under the command of Vice Admiral Reinhard von Müsel with a total of 35,400 ships between them. This was not going to be an invasion we could easily ignore or turn away. Both from the number of vessels under their command and because of the men in question. One was a Fleet Admiral with several years of being an Admiral in service to the Empire. While the other was a young Vice Admiral who had rocketed up the ranks at a pace that was simply stunning and from the reports. Rubbed several nobles within the Imperial Court wrong, especially since the emperor seemed to favor his sister. They likely assumed that he was receiving preferential treatment from the emperor just because of his sister. Completely missing just how dangerous he was.
I hoped whatever response we could muster would be up for the task. For now, I would simply focus on ensuring our supply lines were secure. You could not be arrested for insulting a superior officer if you were not in one place, right?
…..
A few months later…
I stood on the bridge of the Serebryakov looking at the tactical map. The Alliance had finally mobilized having sent out Vice Admiral Holland, Vice Admiral Bewcock and Vice Admiral Ulanhu so together it was the 11th the 5th and the 10th Fleets being sent out now with Pastolle and Moore from the 4th and 6th Fleets respectively to follow as soon as more funding was cleared by the National Defense Committee.
Roughly 48,000 ships and five fleets were to be deployed to meet the Empire and beat them back. That should be plenty to hold the line.
Yet the extra funding had not been cleared yet. Meaning both Pastolle and Moore were not yet deployed so in actuality there were 33,600 ships currently there waiting to meet the Empire.
And who should be there to oversee the deployment of the Alliance Fleet in defense of Tiamat? Why none other than Fleet Admiral Lobos himself. Likely out here looking to take credit for defeating the Empire while sitting in the rear. Though I will at least commend him for coming this far out and putting himself in danger. But also, probably out here looking for me for a court martial for insulting him in front of command staff.
Well for now, we were one jump away from the fighting. If the Empire decided to mobilize before the other two fleets arrived. I will respond and come in to assist. But if the Empire did not act before the 4th and 6th arrived. I would leave for Heinessen and whatever court martial is waiting for me there.
"Admiral Tanya! We just received word that the Alliance has engaged the enemy!" My communications officer alerted me.
I stood up and looked at the forward screen tactical layout. The odds were not in the Alliances favor. But they appeared to be holding their own yet how long would that last for?
"Message to all ships. The Alliance engaged the Empire. We will be mobilizing immediately. This means we will be entering an ongoing combat zone. So be prepared to receive incoming fire from the Imperials upon reversion into the system." I announce to the whole fleet.
"We are not going into this to be Heroes. That is for people who care for platitudes and honors. We are going into this to aid our allies and ensure that the Empire does not go any further. We earned our keep at Arlesheim. We do not need to prove ourselves beyond our current duty."
"All stations, align to Tiamat Starzone and ready for battle!" I shout and as one my less than half a fleet begins to align to the sector where the Alliance and Empire are fighting.
…..
Chaos absolute chaos. Well, it was chaos within the Empires ranks as the 11th Fleet and Holland were mucking around inside their front lines and pursuing a second retreating and yet untouched Imperial fleet. Across from the Empire were both the 5th and the 10th Fleets just sitting back watching as the 11th Fleet and Holland ran wild.
It was not long before I received a hail from Vice Admiral Bewcock. "Vice Admiral Tanya. It's a surprise to see you out here."
"Greetings Vice Admiral Bewcock. Why is Vice Admiral Holland busy chasing the Empire without your support?" I asked him.
"Something about bucking trends and starting new strategies." Bewcock said shaking his head. "The man is convinced he is the second coming of Ashby and believes his own hype. I and Vice Admiral Ulanhu are planning to go in and rescue him when the Empire springs whatever trap they have. To both spare his fleet and to hopefully curb his recklessness."
I stared at my fellow Vice Admiral in stunned silence at the casualness he was expressing towards one of our allies. Hollands self-importance and belief in his own hype was well known. But he at least had shown a promise in being able to think differently from established tactical strategies. Of just lining up and exchanging fire.
"Sir, with all due respect. If you wait to respond. It may be too late to do anything to save him." I point out as I look at the tactical display. "The Empire has an Admiral who is a cut above the rest that we have seen. And if they are the one in charge of that fleet that Holland is intent on chasing. Then we do not have time to waste. We should go in now and rescue him."
"Are you sure? That Admiral is quite young."
"I was quite young when I made Vice Admiral and was given command of the 3rd Fleet months before I turned 31. He is young and only in his 20's. You tell me he does not have at least that spark of genius needed to outwit someone such as Holland."
Bewcock frowned and considered my words and then nodded as he came to a decision. "We are going to move forwards to engage the Empire. Tanya go around the Empire's line and intercept Holland and convince him to pull back. Failing that rescue the 11th Fleet and get them back safely to our lines."
"Yes, Vice Admiral." I nod and end the conversation.
"We have our orders. Best possible speed to move around the Empires front lines. Vice Admiral Bewcock and Ulanhu will engage the Empire's front line. We're going to rescue Vice Admiral Holland and the 11th." I call out and begin to hear my orders being carried out while my ship moves. While my crew and fleet carry out my orders, I can't help but breathe a sigh of relief. Bewcock while surprised to see me. Did not seem angry or upset that I was here without orders. He was even willing to speak with and converse with me. Perhaps that is a good sign?
Regardless I can only watch as the battle continues to play out. Holland's 11th Fleet emerges behind the Empires front line and is still chasing the retreating fleet. At this point we've reached the side of the Empires main battle line while Bewcock and Ulanhu have begun engaging them to keep them focused on the threat in front of them and not the threat behind them.
…..
11th Fleet
"Sir, message from Vice Admiral Bewcock.: You've gained enough from the battle, so retreat before you chase them too far!"
"Ridiculous! That old man is just jealous. My victory is simply to brilliant." Holland shouted in disgust.
5th Fleet
"There's a reply from Holland!: There are few signs of the enemy before us. We're going to continue on, separate the enemy, and then wipe them out!"
"Hail them again.: Before you invite a full-on counterattack from the enemy, you should retreat while you still have energy to spare, so we can put the whole of our forces back in order." Bewcock cautioned.
11th Fleet
Holland grabbed the paper out of his communications officers' hands and tore it to pieces. "Send reply!: Pioneers are always misunderstood. I will no longer argue about temporary disagreements and noncooperation. I will advance for the sake of my eternal victory, and in the future, I shall not recognize your acquaintance!" He said with anger at the old man who was holding him back from victory and glory.
5th Fleet
Bewcock took in the message from the angry younger Vice Admiral. Why did the younger generation have to be filled with such fiery tempered people? "I see! Pioneers are always called madmen. However, not all madmen are pioneers. Give one more recommendation to retreat. If he refuses to retreat, he'll be court-martialed for mutiny!" He instructed his communications officer as he desperately hoped Holland would listen to him.
11th Fleet
BOOM
Holland slammed his hand on the command console in front of him as he received the latest message from the cowardly old fool hiding in the rear. He had had enough. "As if I'd care! In the first place, I'm the one who devised this plan! Marshal Lobos left it up to me to carry it out! Who is it that has truly brought about this victory?! Let a court-martial make it clear who represented true justice!"
"Sir…"
"Cut off all further communications! They're nothing but an annoyance." He ordered his communications officer and then turned his eyes forward. He was not looking at the enemy before him as he held a large grin on his face. All he could see was his victory, his glorious march to destroy Iserlohn and then the Empire too!
…..
Reinhard watched as the battle unfolded with Mückenberger being forced to play to the tune of the foolish Alliance Admiral who was running amok in his own lines without a care for his allies. It was all a tiring show and watching fools play out their play. It only convinced him that the Empire was full of fools and nobody here was worth picking up to pull into his own ranks.
But then something unexpected happened. A fourth fleet entered the battle zone or rather half a fleet. That was interesting to see. But he supposed they were merely just stragglers. The last trailing bit that got left behind. To slow to react to the call to battle and too late to join in the battle unfolding. The Alliance had the same issue with incompetents that the Empire had.
Still, it looked like the Alliance had come to a decision with the appearance of this half fleet. The main body of the Alliance was moving forwards to engage Mückenberger while the half fleet was aiming to move around. Likely to come to the aide of their ally that was almost done playing with Mückenberger and starting to come for him.
"It would seem it is time to finish this game." He said to Kircheis and waited a little longer for the Alliance fleet to fully leave Mückenbergers before he pulled the blinds off the enemy's eyes and crushed them.
…..
Bewcock had kept me appraised of the back and forth between him and Holland. It seemed as if Holland had fully gone off the deep end and was going to damn himself and his fleet. Meaning it was now fully on me to pull him out of the trap he had so willingly walked himself into.
"Ma'am! The enemy has stopped retreating!" My tactical officer warned me. Even though I could clearly see that with my own two eyes.
Reinhard was about to spring his trap. Holland had escaped the Imperial front line and had chased after Reinhard believing he was winning. But the fact of the matter was, he was walking into a trap. The only thing Holland had going for him was that the enemy behind him would soon be too busy engaging Bewcock and Ulanhu to engage him from the rear.
It was then as we were about to link up with the 11th that Reinhard sprung his trap and opened fire on the 11th Fleet and on Vice Admiral Holland. While he did not have the Thor Hammer with him. Reinhard's single volley took out most of Hollands center.
A second volley took out even more of his center. In mere minutes Reinhard had reduced the 11th from 11,300 to 6,780 destroying 30% of Hollands fleet in the time it took me to link with the 11th Fleet.
"Contact Holland! Tell him to pull back immediately!" I shouted.
"Admiral, Vice Admiral Holland has been critically injured! The Empire only just barely missed his flagship. They still sustained heavy damage and are requesting reinforcements!" My communications officer informed me.
"That careless idiot. Tell them to make sure he survives. I will not be blamed for the death of an ally or have anyone suggest I purposefully took my time in coming to his aide. As for the rest of the 11th Fleet. Have them enter our Datalink. From here on the 11th Fleet is now a part of the 3rd Fleet."
I then call up Commodore Gale Lowell and Commodore Bruno Carbone. "The 11th Fleet is severely damaged and will be added to our Datanet momentarily. I will be commanding them. Use our Fleets resources and punch a hole through the enemy's frontline from the rear. Put the pressure on them and squeeze them until they are forced to break off and flee."
"Yes Admiral!" "Yes Ma'am!"
They both saluted and began to issue their orders. "11th Fleet, listen up. We are going to be going through the enemy's main battle line." I tell them as I watch my 3rd Fleet begin to split into five separate parts and begin to converge on the enemy from the rear. I watched as Reinhard let us leave.
Those five parts began to snake their way forwards reaching out like fingers or claws, with me and 11th Fleet acting as the hand that connected them. "I know you are shaken from the loss of Holland and so many allies. But we need to push forwards and head back to Vice Admirals Bewcock and Ulanhu. But we are not going to retreat in a disorderly manner. Form up close to each other. With the more badly damaged ships in the center and the more intact ships on the outside. Carriers, Battleships, Cruisers, deploy your fighters. When we enter the enemies battle line. Have the fighters target the enemy's engines, to prevent them from chasing us. Meanwhile have your broadsides ready to shoot anyone that even looks at us funny." I instruct the survivors of the 11th Fleet.
It was a shame we did not have any of our electronic warfare ships with us. They would have proven invaluable right now and making this push easier. But we had to leave them behind at Heinessen. The Empire had begun to target my cruisers that were designed for EW, ECM, and ECCM. Though I had not yet encountered any of theirs just yet. I was sure they had them hidden somewhere and had not brought them out.
I watched my tactical display continue to update and show as my two fleets began to come together. With the 11th Fleet now looking almost serpentine or spear like. While my 3rd Fleet stretched out, reaching for the Empire. Giving the tactical impression of a five head serpent. That began to spit out fire as we closed in on the Empire. With most of their focus on Bewcock and Ulanhu, having all the extra incoming fire served to cause more chaos amongst the Empires ranks and finally broke them causing the Empire's front line to begin to flee.
The disorganized retreat of the Empire gave the 11th Fleet the needed breathing room to push towards friendly lines. While my 3rd Fleet continued to harass and chase them down, they returned to me once the 11th was safe back behind the 5th and 10th.
Before I left the battle zone, I received a message from Bewcock.
"Vice Admiral Bewcock." I greeted him with a salute. "I have rescued Vice Admiral Holland and the 11th Fleet. Or what I could rescue of them." I say looking over the numbers. Even after my rescue. The 11th fleet still lost a significant number of ships. It had lost a further 1,780 ships, making it a half sized Numbered Fleet. Meanwhile my own fleet did not get out of this without its own scars and losses. My underling's brilliant plan had cost me a few of my own ships. But it was because of their teamwork that they finally broke the enemy and forced them to run.
"You did a great job, Tanya." He congratulated me. "I am certain that the 11th Fleet will be grateful you saved them as well as Holland when he recovers."
At the mention of Holland, I frowned. Before today I was willing to overlook his boasts and claims. Today he had cost the Alliance the lives of almost a million men and women and lost 4,520 ships. All in the pursuit of greater glory and fame. "Admiral, I believe it is prudent that Vice Admiral Holland be censured and subjected to not only a Court-Marshal but a full investigation by the Navy itself. And pending the investigation and Court-Marshal, he should be demoted in rank and sent somewhere far from the front so that he does not do something like this ever again." I tell him firmly and without remorse. I might have been more forgiving if he had listened to Bewcock. But his refusal to do so and even outright being fine with disobeying orders and then costing the lives of nearly a million soldiers and thousands of ships. Was unforgivable.
"That is quite the statement to make Vice Admiral." He said with a serious tone.
"You heard as well as I did Vice Admiral. He disregarded your orders and openly accepted the fact he was disobeying orders with the threat of a Court-Marshal. Add in he has wasted Alliance resources in the shape of manpower and ships and his apparent self-importance. The man is a recipe for only further disaster if he is kept in place."
"Then would it not make sense to have him removed from the military all together?" Bewcock asks.
"Yes, but we need people with his skills, and he also has a media presence. Removing him from the military will only hurt us in the eye of the people." I reason, though I agree with Bewcock as Hollands screw up will be remembered as that, 'Hollands screw up'. In both my first and second life. Disgruntled people always made a stir and people with a media presence who were disgruntled always made the most annoying disturbances that were hard to ignore or convince people not to believe in. To an extent that still held true in my third life as well, while most of the disgruntled complaints were rather muted, they were there and slowly growing. It would only be a matter of time before they reached a tipping point. It would not do to add another weight to that scale to tip fully into a direction the Alliance could not afford.
"Very well, I will pass on your recommendation to Fleet Admiral Lobos." Bewcock nodded after a moment of thought. "However, I wanted to talk with you before you return to Heinessen."
Ah, it seemed like he did remember that I had left headquarters after calling Lobos an idiot. Hm, I guess I should also throw in deploying my fleet without instructions or orders from headquarters as well. Well, I guess I was going to be getting my own Court-Marshall when I get home now too.
"Fleet Admiral Lobos wanted you censured for what you had said in the middle of headquarters as well as having both 4th and 6th Fleets sent to capture you and bring you in for deploying with your fleet without orders from the Command Staff or the National Defense Committees approval."
I thought as much, it seemed I had really done it now.
"Fleet Admiral Sithole fought on your behalf. While you will still be censured. He argued that you had deployed to the front to secure shipping around the front lines. And there was plenty of proof of you doing just that. He also suggested that since you had decided to take the initiative into your own hands. That you would be called upon to help should our fight with the Empire prove to be difficult."
What was he getting at here?
"That is good and all. But I supposed I should expect a court-marshal and a cell when I get home?" I floated.
To which Bewcock shook his head no. "No such thing. Though you can expect to be censured by headquarters and Fleet Admiral Sithole on behalf of Lobos. You will also receive a notice against doing anything like this again in the future."
That did not sound too bad. It was far better than I had hoped for sure. But after hearing from Bewcock what I could expect to receive when I got home. I let myself relax.
"Thank you Bewcock." I say and salute him once more.
"You're welcome, Vice Admiral. Just don't do anything such as what you did ever again." He smiled and returned my salute and ended the call.
With my duty on the front line finished. I led both the 3rd and 11th Fleet back home. On our way back we encountered the 4th and 6th Fleets with Pastolle and Moore. They gave me new orders indicating that I was being summoned back to Heinessen and that I was to make no detours or else I would have been considered going rouge. They then left to join Bewcock and Ulanhu at Tiamat to pursue the Empire down the Iserlohn Corridor to system of the self-same station for which this whole corridor was named for.
When we arrived in orbit around Heinessen I could not help but sense a tension in the air as my section of 3rd Fleet were directed to dock with the rest of my fleet for repairs and resupply. While the 11th was given their own separate docking bays. Shortly after I received a summons to speak to Fleet Admiral Sidney Sithole.
Where I was given a very pointed verbal dressing down for my words and deploying my fleet without instructions. As well as a very implicit threat that if I stepped out of line again. There would be grave consequences for my actions that would affect not only myself and my career but also the Alliance itself.
It seemed my actions had roused some portion of the Alliance Navy to push for a more active role. That what had been the norm for the Alliance for the last several decades was no longer enough and something needed to be done.
In short, I had inadvertently caused a deal of unrest within the Navy that needed an outlet. An outlet I had no idea would be coming much sooner than I or likely anyone had been expecting.