Chapter 5
Admiral Sethton was in conference with the Commodore and Captains of the attack force. Everyone was gathered in Rising Dragon's main conference room. As with everything on the Battlesphere, it too was huge. Commodore Arthur Bridger was sitting to the admiral's right and Captain Paula Colter was at the admiral's left. The remaining captains were seated first come first serve along the two sides of the long conference table.
"So far long range scouts and two more stealth recon ships have confirmed HMS Whisper's records. We also have new information that a fleet, or at least a large group of ships are being assembled. We can only believe that it is the beginning of an invasion force. Several stealth satellites have been dropped in key alien systems, so we will have current up to date information once we download from them.
"The emperor wants these aliens dealt with firmly and quickly. This is the plan as given to me by the admiralty. We are several generations ahead of them in technology. However these beings take slaves, and use brute force to over power those whose tech base seems to be better than theirs. Ladies and gentleman, lets get to it." The admiral said.
Admiral Sethton activated the huge wall stereo tank. He quickly outlined the approach and attack lines. For over four hours the admiral briefed his force commanders on the operation. He fielded questions and had answers for most. Stewards brought lunch to the group. They ate as they worked.
Finally everything was done. All questions answered. As the commanders left to return to their ships, the admiral asked Captain Colter and the Commodore to remain for a moment.
"Paula. I am giving you a heads up on something. Your Executive Officer is being promoted to captain, and you will be getting a new Exec. named Mathew Braxton. Commander Braxton is on the short list for captain himself." Admiral Sethton said, watching Paula Colter closely.
Paula Colter frowned. "Isn't it kind of short notice? A new man being placed into the XO slot this close to combat, especially with a new type of ship is a bit unusual, isn't it sir? Everyone here has trained up on the new tactics that this ship employs." She finished
"I am sure he will do fine. Arthur? We are promoting Captain David Haskel to Senior Captain, and he will be commanding the ships that you detach to guard the supply ships. Paula's XO is going to replace Captain Haskel as commander of the cruiser HMS Wraith. Captain Haskel will remain aboard Wraith and use it as his flag ship for the detached force. Any questions?" Admiral Sethton said in such a way as to suggest no questions should be forthcoming. Unsurprisingly, there were none.
"Well, they say no battle plan survives first contact with the enemy, but we haven't even made contact yet." Chuckled the Commodore.
"I think I know this Commander Braxton. Didn't he take retirement at half pay a few years back? Also, isn't he the father of the marine that's been in the news so much recently?" Commodore Bridger asked.
"Yes and yes. The Feruthe apparently did us a favor by releasing their battle sensor record. Apparently it opened a whole can of worms. Imp. Sec. is still working on it, but it appears that Marine Lt. Braxton had stumbled onto a young Lord Everett's black marketing operation. General Corman, who was a Lt. Colonel back then, was firmly in the young lord's pocket. The emperor was not at all amused." Admiral Sethton finished grimly.
The shuttle docked in the huge shuttle bay of HMS Dragon Rising. Finally the radio squawked the all clear to disembark, and Commander Mathew Braxton was the first out. He went through the time honored tradition of saluting the flag and asking permission to come aboard.
Permission was granted and a guide escorted the commander through corridors. Shortly they came to a tram and sat on it. The guide punched in a destination, and they were off.
"We will be on the tram for only a couple minutes sir. It travels at 50 kilometers an hour. Once we reach our destination, we will transfer to the express elevator that will take us to the command deck. Ah, here we are sir, lets just transfer to the elevator across the corridor if you please." The Lt. Jg said.
They went into the elevator and the Lt. Jg once again punched in their destination. "Please be seated sir. This is an elevator that travels vertically and horizontally. Most elevators just travel vertically, but this is one of the few that can traverse both vertical and horizontal.
"Here we are sir. I will be handing you off to a marine for the rest of the trip. And may I be one of the first to welcome you to the, 'Dragon', sir." The Jg stated.
"Thank you Lt. I appreciate your services as guide. Hopefully I will be able to find my own way around soon." Grinned commander Braxton. The Lt. Jg grinned back and disappeared as the doors closed leaving commander Braxton turning to face a marine SFC.
Commander Braxton returned the marine Sgts salute and they were off again. "Confused sir?" The marine asked.
"Just a bit." Braxton replied with a grin.
"Takes a little getting used to, but it makes sense after a while. The exact equator of the ship is deck 0. Everything above the equator is N1 N2 and so on. Below deck 0 is S1 S2 and so forth. The core of the ship has Engineering, CIC, The Flag Bridge, FTL transmitter, and so forth. If you are at the outer most part of the ship and want to go to say, engineering, you would go inward. To go to one of the outer cargo bays, you would go outward. Corridors are marked as either radius which means they go in circular directions, or the I&O corridors which go inward and outward.
"Of course, nothing is really grouped close together. By saying core, I mean everything that is in close proximity to the core. There are no less than 6 fusion reactors that run everything for the Dragon... Each one is capable of supplying power to the entire ship in an emergency. Here we are. Captains briefing room. Welcome aboard sir." The marine saluted Braxton and left.
Mark entered the briefing room and spotted the Captain sitting at her desk. He moved to stand before her and her desk and saluted. "Commander Mathew Braxton reporting as ordered ma'am."
The captain had risen and returned the salute. "Welcome aboard His Majesty's Ship Dragon Rising, Commander.
"I hope you are a quick study commander. You have a lot of ground to catch up on. The Dragon is not like any ship you have ever served on, and she fights differently, and some commands will be strange or unusual. You need to know these by heart." Captain Colter said and went on at some length.
Captain Colter was impressed with her new XO. He had already studied the command structure of the ship and knew who all the bridge officers were as well as all department heads. He was conversant with all the latest technology that had gone into the ship. All in all she could not wish for a better XO. She only wished he had been with them from the start and worked up with the crew.
NOTE
The Shas'vsaz home world has a 29 hour rotation to it's day. So time scale is similar. All time is measured by the home world. The Shas'vsaz are descended from lizard like beings and their home world is warmer than most humans like.
Lord Rashva'ss was pleased. His ships repairs were nearly complete, and ships were arriving and massing under his leadership. Great Lord Sassvor had entrusted him, Lord Rashva'ss, to lead the attack fleet and bring new slaves and technology to the Shas'vsaz.
It had been long since new technology had been brought to the race. The scouts had reported several worlds that had orbital ships and stations that looked like a good place to start. They would begin with one of the Alien lesser worlds that had been identified, and capture as many of the ships and aliens as possible to be incorporated into the Shas'vsaz.
"Lord Rashva'ss, a new squadron of ships have arrived from Clan Vasta." His aid reported.
"Excellent. 5 ships added to our fleet, and still more on the way. What does that bring the count to?" Lord Rashva'ss asked.
"One hundred and five attack ships. Twenty supply and support and troop transports as of the new arrival, my Lord." The aid responded.
"What kind of ships did the Clan Vasta send?" Asked Lord Rashva'ss
"All are the greater ships of attack, my Lord." The aid replied.
"Excellent. I am pleased. We should be ready for phase one with in the week." Lord Rashva'ss said gloating.
Stealth satellite 19 had been dropped by HMS Whisper during it's recon. Slowly and silently the satellite made it's way in system gathering information on all ship activity. It also listened with electronic ears to everything that was not natural in the electronic spectrum. It's on board computer took note of a build up of ships of various sizes. It noted the operation of a shipyard, and the arrival of ships.
Satellite 19 powered up it's FTL transmitter and sent a data burst
in the direction of it's home worlds. The burst was detected and
several ships were sent out to investigate. As one of the investigating
ships came into close proximity of satellite 19, a sub routine in it's
programming ran and it self destructed, taking an enemy ship, the size
cruiser with it. This represented the third open act of hostility
between the Shas'vsaz and the Empire.