Alpha One - Chris Burton [89]
Hoskins realized the position was hopeless. His jump ship staff needed rest and they needed to get back up to capacity before they could exercise an effective battle strategy.
“CAG, shut down the jump ship operation for twelve hours. Bring in the six ships on sorties. Get all the ships repaired and let me know when your capability has reached a sustainable level. Make sure all crew and engineers, including you, have adequate rest before you reopen the hangar…and get those exit tunnels sealed up A.S.A.P.”
“You are doing a great job Obeya,” He added informally. “Please get some rest. I need you at your best.”
He spent so little time with her over the last few weeks. He had not shared a bed with her for over ten days and he ached to feel the warmth of her body against his. “Join me for dinner in my quarters at seven, Lieutenant Temsouri. We need to discuss our strategy going forward.” Good, he thought, a rare opportunity and one he didn’t want to miss.
* * * *
The Betanica Sect high priestess commanded the legion of Sect vessels accompanying the Sentinel Fleet. They had not participated in the fighting, avoiding the majority of Alpha’s continuous sorties and the sub-space attack by embedding themselves within the main body of the vessels which protected General Yoshi’s flagship. They remained passive throughout the battle. The High Priestess listened to an Earth secure communications the Sentinels intercepted from Alpha.
Alpha fleet refused the comm link as they maintained radio silence. The message originated from outside the Ionian system and was sent to all transmission sub-stations within its reach. It was easy to break the source code and intercept Earth communications. Sometimes in battle this was a better source of strategic information than even that of an enemy fleet. On this occasion, this was definitely the case.
The broadcast took the form of an information update, advising the status of the battle and other Earth issues. The message was clear, Alpha and an organization called Nexus planned to open the two wormholes in the Tri-Star system.
The High Priestess knew this time would come. She knew there were factions on Earth with vested interest in opening the wormholes and thus the Void Hole which would ultimately give the Kryl access to this galaxy. These factions were varied; they were not just political or economic in their justification. There were some who wanted the Void opened because they wanted the Kryl to come through. These factions now created the right environment, both politically and economically to facilitate their aim. The Sentinel Fleet must be successful. She would demand General Yoshi assume a more dominant position. The Sentinel Fleet must win the battle.
That wouldn’t prevent the humans from opening the wormholes. Although there were Sentinel patrol forces in the region, if Alpha elected to assist Nexus with additional military support, it would be difficult for Sentinel Patrols to prevent the holes from being opened. She had no choice. She must prevent the opening of the wormholes, and this was the main justification for the presence of the Sect Legion in the first place.
She had no choice but to send the Legion into the Tri-Star System to destroy the threat from Alpha and Nexus. Having determined the facts and made up her mind, she stood up and walked to her chair. She summoned her inner circle of senior Sect ministers and gave her orders. The legion would depart the Sentinel Fleet and head directly to the Tri-Star Region.
* * * *
Admiral Koenig briefed Shenke to watch the Sect vessels in particular. It was clear their presence was more to do with the Tri-Star region than combat operations in the middle of the Ionian system. Their sudden departure, with a clear heading taking