CHAPTER 14
MERCHANT SHIP’S ESCORT
As Gallant decoded the communication traffic over the next few hours, calls for fleet protection for the asteroid belt and Jupiter’s moons were frantically crossing his desk. The UP merchant fleet was in panic.
Several thousand cargo ships routinely transited between Earth and the neighboring planets. Another thousand ships moved to and fro in the asteroid belt. In addition, dozens of cargo ships were occupied with trade around Jupiter’s moons.
Earth’s twenty billion citizens along with the additional billion citizens scattered across Mars, Venus, and smaller satellites were dependent on interplanetary trade. It supplied an efficient commerce for powering their modern civilization. Each planet and colony contributed its own unique assets - as did the resource-rich asteroids and Jupiter moons.
Many of Earth’s minerals such as antimony, silver, indium, gold, copper, platinum, and cobalt had been nearing depletion by the year 2100. Mineral mining now required special equipment to extract and process material. By using self-replicating machines, miners were able to reduce much of the inherently redundant effort. These machines were used to construct the more complex automation factories for strip and shaft mining. Most asteroid orbits were between Mars and Jupiter including the four largest; Ceres, Vesta, Pallas, and Hygiea. Miners extracted carbon, silicate, or metal from these asteroids. Cargo shipments of minerals moved according to schedules that were meticulously planned to optimize fuel utilization and keep the cost-benefit ratio low.
In the past, the alien ships had been content to merely observe merchant ships, but there was new concern that the appearance of a large alien fleet might be signaling a change. An action message arrived in communications, and Gallant carried the communique by hand directly to Captain Caine. “Action message, Captain,” said Gallant, knocking and then entering the open hatch to the captain’s cabin.
Captain Caine was sitting beside Commander Eddington going over the ship’s general quarter’s bill. Both men froze for a second at the mention of an action message. Caine swung around in his chair to face Gallant and said, “Read it, aloud.”
Gallant read, “In accordance with Jupiter Fleet’s general instructions and emergency procedures, NNR Inc. demands immediate escort for our merchant ship convoy from Jupiter to Mars Station.” He paused and then added, “It’s signed by both G. Neumann, President NNR Inc., and Senator W. Graham.” Gallant recognized Midshipman Anton Neumann's father, Gerald Neumann as the owner of the principle commercial shipyard and largest merchant fleet in the United Planets. He also recognized Senator Graham as the leader of the Senate of the UP Congress.
“They didn’t waste much time,” said the XO, taking out a handkerchief and wiping his perspiring brow. He leaned back in his chair and the cushion almost moaned from his bulk.
“Gallant, pull up the text of the Fleet General Instructions and Emergency Procedures,” ordered Caine.
Gallant typed into his tablet and then tapped an icon to send the information to the main viewer screen over the captain’s desk. The captain and XO skimmed through it quickly.
“The provisions relevant to requests for emergency convoy escort are fairly clear,” said the XO.
“Nevertheless, there is broad discretionary leeway as to when, where and how many escorts, we must provide. There is even wiggle room in describing what constitutes hazardous circumstance,” responded Caine.
“Captain, that demand comes from Gerald Neumann, himself. Senator Graham’s co-signature is merely to add emphasis that he expects immediate compliance,” said the XO, offering what he considered his well-informed opinion.
“Gallant, pull up the classified fleet orders we just received from Mars Fleet Headquarters,” ordered Caine.
As communications officer, Gallant had organized and prepared the necessary documents for just this request. He had the orders displayed in seconds.
“Hmm ..., Here it clearly states, ‘You are to defend Jupiter Station and the Ganymede support base at all cost.’ See ‘AT ALL COST’. There is no mincing of words there. That means with every ship and resource at my disposal,” Caine seemed to wait a moment to let that sink in.
“NNR would argue that you should defend the station with every ship at your disposal, after you dispatch an escort for their merchantmen,” said the XO, playing devil's advocate.
“They might say that, but any officer worthy of the name would keep his force united in the face of the enemy,” said Caine.
“Captain, I suggest we convene a videoconference with Rook, Minford, and Waller to make them aware of the situation,” said the XO, referring to Captains Rook of the Renown, Minford of the Remarkable, and Waller of the Retribution.
Caine said, “Which situation are you referring to, the alien fleet, or the merchantmen convoy?”
The XO said, “Both. You could tell them what our objectives are and your plan of action. Perhaps, they can make some helpful suggestions.”
Caine grunted, as if he already knew how helpful their suggestions would be. He said, “Mr. Gallant set up a videoconference with the captains of Renown, Remarkable, and Retribution. I want it running in this room in thirty minutes. I want Chief Howard monitoring it from the communications shack, but I want you to remain here during the conference, in case of any signal interruptions.”
“Aye, aye, sir,” said Gallant, hustling back to the communications shack to make the arrangements.
When he returned thirty minutes later, he said, “The videoconference is ready, Captain.” He tapped the captain’s view display screen and individual images of the three captains appeared. He added, “The one-way time delay is four minutes to Renown, seven minutes to Remarkable, and fifteen minutes to Retribution.”
Caine began, “Gentlemen, I sent the recall message to bring you back to Jupiter Station because we have a radar contact. It could be a fleet of one to two hundred alien ships heading here. Mars Fleet orders are to defend Jupiter Station and the colonies at all costs. In addition, we have a request to provide convoy escorts. My plan is to gather our four battle cruisers and seven destroyers with our combined forty-eight fighters to defend Jupiter Station. I intend to deploy of our fighters primarily in a defensive role to destroy incoming missiles. I intend to attack the aliens if they threaten the colonies; otherwise, I will wait for them to make the first move. I will order the marines to deploy to defend Jupiter Station, the Ganymede Research Lab, and the Ganymede capital, Kendra.”
Gallant was thrilled at the opportunity this conference afforded him. He would be privy to the private thinking of the senior officers and the latest intelligence within United Planets. He sat quietly, monitoring the communication setup, as well as the conversations.
Caine, the XO, and Gallant waited for a reaction from the other commanding officers after the intervening time delay. Their conversation was somewhat disjointed due to the various time delays between ships, but they were able to make the conference work. The conversations may have proceeded in slow motion, but the ideas were quick and aggressive.
Rook said, “Finally, an opportunity to engage the aliens in a serious contest where they wouldn’t just fire a few shots and run away. But why wait for them at Jupiter Station? Once our ships assemble, we should charge forward and send them back to the outer planets where they belong, with a clear lesson they wouldn’t forget.”
Minford said, “We must consider the political consequence of our disposition. We need to reassure the population of colonists that they will be protected, and guarantee the mine owners and merchants, that their goods and services will not be left to the vagaries of the enemy. We should evacuate the essential members of the civilian population and include them with the convoy. Of course, providing substantial escort for the convoy is undeniable. They are the life blood of our supply chain. The President of NNR and Senator Graham would not look kindly on...Well, you know. Besides what if the aliens are only making a feint toward Jupiter Station? With their speed advantage, they could go ri
ght past this fleet. They could head for Mars, blasting every defenseless merchantman on the way, leaving us miles behind in a stern chase.”
Gallant was surprised at the difference of opinions and he suspected there were hidden agendas.
Caine said, “We will accept battle at the time and place of our choosing, not theirs! And that place is here, at Jupiter Station. We have our orders to protect the citizens and facilities here in Jupiter orbit. Mars Fleet can take care of itself. We will not make special arrangements for political leaders to flee the area. Nor will we divert a substantial portion of our force to escort merchantmen—not when hundreds of thousands of women and children colonists remain at the mercy of the Titans. The colonists will evacuate their dwellings and go to their underground shelters, trusting the marines for protection. I hope to make use of Jupiter Station’s missile battery and the research lab’s Faser cannon. They will come as a surprise to our opponents. We will defend the area and drive off any threats with a united force.”
Waller said, “We must prevent any threat to the Ganymede population and defeat the Titans. I believe Captain Caine’s plan is the best one to accomplish this.”
Gallant agreed that Caine’s approach was the best but remained quiet.
Rook said, “We don’t know how powerful the enemy force is. We have very little information about how well-trained they are. We have no idea if they have AI systems, or how such systems would operate in battle. How they think may be as important as how many ships they have.”
Caine said, “If we can gather intelligence on their AI capabilities, or their tactical thinking, we will, but we must consider those as secondary issues.”
The videoconference ended with agreement when Minford said, “Together, we can succeed to meet all our obligations. But we must act united.”
After all the communication’s channels had been shut-off, Captain Caine drew a deep breath and exhaled slowly. His gaze fell on Gallant and he said, “Are there any related orders available for review? Any other options provided in discretionary instructions?”
“No orders exactly, sir. But you once asked me to seek deeper implications than may appear on the surface.”
“Did I?”
“Yes sir. When I first arrived aboard.”
“Yes. So?”
Gallant took that as license to add his own interpretation. “In this case, failure to successfully defend Jupiter Station could prove disastrous for the entire United Planets. And weakening the fleet to provide escorts for merchantmen, no matter how valuable or well-connected they may be, may not be defensible after the fact, sir.”
“What do you think, about that, XO?” asked Caine.
“I think Mr. Gallant should return to the communication shack."