Star Force: Foothold (SF25) Read online

  1

  March 1, 2401

  Epsilon Eridani System

  Corneria

  “Where exactly?” Jason asked, sitting forward in his chair around the holotable.

  “Here,” Greg said, pointing above the table to a particular star on the map that he made pulse blue with a few keystrokes.

  Jason eyed the location between Star Force and lizard territory. “That’s a stretch for us without Hycre transport.”

  “It will shrink over time,” Paul added, “as our engine technology advances. If we can secure a foothold now, and hold it, the supply lines will take care of themselves.”

  Jason shook his head. “Our ships just aren’t fast enough yet. We need to be able to reinforce within months of any assault, and it’ll take that long just to get a courier back with the news of an attack.”

  “Which is why we’re going in loaded for bear,” Greg countered. “We’re planning on limited resupply, initially.”

  “I know, I’m just saying it’s risky.”

  “So is your mission,” Morgan commented.

  Jason glanced over at her on his right. “True, but I’ll have Alliance help and Hycre transport. He’ll have neither.”

  “We have to learn to do this without training wheels eventually,” Greg pointed out.

  “If we swapped,” Paul asked, “what would you do?”

  Jason frowned, then rubbed his chin as he looked at the map. “If I was committed to limited resupply I’d go deeper.”

  “What?” Morgan said, frowning.

  “Either pick somewhere nearby or far away. Middle of the road does no good.”

  “You were just complaining about the middle being too far away.”

  “I don’t like not having a steady jumpship supply chain…but if you’re going to work without it, you might as well go full bore.”

  Paul looked back at the map of the local region of the galaxy. Most of the Alliance territory was on the far side of the table, coreward on the map, with bits of grey neutral areas in between at spots, then a large mass of lizard-controlled systems heading out rimward. The map wasn’t flat, and the glob of lizard territories looked like a giant tumor with tendrils sticking out in all directions. Two of those were reaching in the general direction of Star Force, but with a scattering of dots that were lizard expansion claims…such as Epsilon Eridani would have been had they not held it during the first incursion years ago.

  Those dots were typically tests of the local regions to see what kind of resistance they’d draw, with annexation to follow if there wasn’t much pushback. Those areas that did encounter heavy resistance were either put on hold or targeted for greater attacks. Epsilon Eridani had been somewhere in between with the lizards mounting additional assaults that the Hycre had helped to thwart, then the enemy seemed to temporarily abandon the idea and focus their resources elsewhere.

  Star Force knew that once the lizards drew down in conflicts in other areas that they’d be back to continue their work, but in general the Human territories were in the backwater of the larger conflict…which gave them an advantage if they were bold enough to try and use it.

  Which they were. The war against the lizards, and now the Nestafar, was going to involve Star Force attacking from two fronts. One would be Jason taking an armada, carried by specially designed Hycre jump cradles, off to the more populated Alliance territories where they would assist in fending off assaults currently ongoing. They would be roving battle units, hopping from system to system as necessary, starting with the Nestafar incursion into Calavari space.

  Paul’s mission was exactly the opposite. They were going to pick a system and bury themselves in it, building Star Force infrastructure and essentially establishing a fortress from which they would be able to fight out of, traveling to the surrounding systems and hitting the lizards there…all within range of Star Force’s jumpships so they wouldn’t have to keep asking the Hycre for rides.

  It was a bold move, and one that was likely to draw significant reaction, but any troops they could pull away from the rest of the Alliance would reduce the threat in other combat areas…and if the lizards didn’t respond Star Force could annex a new chunk of territory and take back a few small worlds the enemy already possessed. Either way, it would cause the lizards trouble, but beyond that Paul’s mission had a much greater significance.

  The dragon’s warning about possible betrayal by other allies had not gone unheeded, nor had its recommendation to absorb the Calavari. In addition to messing with the lizards, Paul’s mission was intended to carve out a region of space into which the Alliance could fall back if the war did not go well. Star Force intended to fortify one world first, hold it, and strike back at the lizards to get a feel for how they were going to react…then if they didn’t respond too strongly they were going to move into the region and start claiming uninhabited star systems or incorporating the natives into a much larger empire, into which the Calavari and others could retreat to find sanctuary in.

  The ‘expansion’ plan also created a territorial buffer between the enemy and Earth, which was an additional bonus. Epsilon Eridani had become the command center for Star Force’s military, but the bulk of their population and industry was still in Sol, safely tucked away from the interstellar community in what Star Force had tagged as a ‘private’ system. Keeping it off the radar was the plan, and Corneria was believed by many other races to actually be the Humans’ homeworld.

  Paul sighed, then highlighted a different system. “If you want to go big, then here’s the spot to do it.”

  “No way,” Morgan said, shaking her head. “That’s right next door to three of their systems.”

  “On the map it may look intimidating,” Greg differed, “but they don’t have much there. Easy pickings if we wanted to take them out and free what’s left of the natives.”

  “Freeing natives means holding planets,” Morgan argued, “and spreading out your forces.”

  “We’re going to spread out anyway,” Rafa interjected, sitting next to Paul along with the 9 other trailblazers that were being deployed into the war zones. “Paul can sit on the target world and build while we go hunting.”

  “How much more time does that put on our supply lines?” Sara asked.

  “A month and a half, on top of the 3 already,” Morgan answered.

  “9 month round trip…assuming you can keep the connecting systems secure.”

  Jason looked over at the blonde Archon. “If you pack right, you won’t need them for a while.”

  “We have to make sure we can hold what we take, otherwise this whole operation could turn into a nightmare…and it takes time to build up that kind of infrastructure.”

  “Which I can do,” Paul promised.

  Sara eyed him icily. “If the lizards give you enough time.”

  “They’ve got bigger fish to deal with,” he said, looking at Jason. “And I’m sure you’ll keep them distracted.”

  “See, I told you so,” Jason said to the group.

  “You two agreeing is nothing new,” Greg commented. “But you’re right. Secure a forward stronghold and we can pick up the systems in between later with ease.”

  Morgan still shook her head. “You’re overreaching. This might work, but it totally depends on how much of a response they throw at us. Do you really want to risk that?”

  “Do you want to switch with me?” Jason asked her.

  “Frankly, yes.”

  “Done deal.”

  “Wait a minute…”

  “No, Paul, this will work,” Morgan said, nodding at Jason. “I don’t like to get pinned down to holding territory, and if he really thinks you guys can do this then we should swap.”

  “Any
one else want to trade?” Greg asked, half sarcastic/half serious.

  “I don’t know, Morgan,” Paul said deadpan. “I’m not sure if you’re qualified to cause as much havoc as Jason is.”

  The highest ranking ranger smiled. “I’m sure I’ll be able to manage.”

  Rafa leaned back in his chair with a wry smile on his face. “Why do I get the feeling we just lost Legolas and picked up Pippin?”

  Morgan couldn’t help but laugh at that, and looked over at Jason…then busted out laughing again.

  “Funny,” Jason said, not amused.

  “Do we have a fallback plan?” Sara asked as Morgan was finally able to get it under control.

  “Initially, no,” Paul admitted, “but we’ll be taking more than one system after we get the first nice and cozy. If we lose one, we’ll have the others to fall back to.”

  “But we’ll have a window of vulnerability in the beginning?”

  “We’ll have most of our fleet in one spot, so I wouldn’t exactly call that vulnerable.”

  “We’ll be on our own,” Greg added, “but we can handle it. You know we can.”

  “I think we can,” Sara clarified, “but I don’t want to lose half our people if I’m wrong.”

  “If we have to we can ask the Hycre,” Rafa said. “That’s our real backup plan.”

  “I’d prefer we didn’t,” Greg agreed. “We’re not always going to be able to depend upon them.”

  “They do want a couple of systems though,” Paul added. “They’re a bit out of the way, but they’ve told me they’re willing to establish outposts there immediately after we secure our beachhead.”

  Jason frowned. “When did that happen?”

  “This morning.”

  “Which systems?” Greg asked.

  Paul worked the hologram controls and highlighted the targets…one was an uninhabited system, the other was tagged as under lizard control, one of their expeditionary claims.

  “I suppose they want us to take it for them, too?” Sara asked.

  “They know we’re not going to leave a lizard outpost within proximity of our supply lines, so they asked that when we take it out that they be able to move in and hold it.”

  “Paul,” Morgan said warily, “that’s nowhere near either of the systems we’re considering.”

  “I know…it’ll have to be a side mission.”

  “I’ll take care of it,” Sam offered. “I’ll catch up with the rest of you after the Hycre take possession.”

  “Wait,” Sara said, holding up a hand. “We’re going to kick the lizards off a world then not keep it?”

  “That’s what I’m going to be doing the next few years,” Morgan pointed out.

  “No, I mean the Hycre are going to occupy the gas giants in the system,” she said, enlarging the icon to show the entire system highlighted above the main map. “The lizards are on a terrestrial planet where the Hycre can’t really get at them. If we take them out and just leave it’s possible they could come back and bee line it for the atmosphere before the Hycre can take them out, land ground troops, and start this thing all over again.”

  “No,” Paul said emphatically. “I’ve had several long talks with the Hycre and they don’t have a problem keeping lizards off planets in systems they have a presence in. Their warships can go in atmosphere and bust up any ground forces the lizards land…it’s when those troops have a chance to dig in that they have trouble. They can’t pry them out very well, but they can keep them from sprouting new colonies. Once Sam clears the planet and the Hycre settle into the system they’ll own it…short of a major assault.”

  “Well that makes me feel a little better,” Sara admitted. “I was starting to think we were their personal ground pounders.”

  “How much is losing Sam, temporarily, going to slow us down?” Rafa asked.

  “First stage is building,” Paul explained, given that he was unofficially in charge of the entire operation. “None of the construction crews go with Sam, we take them all with us and start setting up shop immediately, so there’s no disadvantage there. We’ll just be one battle group short for a while.”

  “We’re going in with overkill,” Jason reminded them, “so it shouldn’t be a problem.”

  “And the other system the Hycre want?” Sara continued. “Why haven’t they taken it already?”

  “That I don’t know,” Paul said, distractedly tapping on the tabletop. “They may have plans of their own to fortify the region, which I think they have, but they’re not telling me everything. They simply requested permission to annex those systems after we move further out. My first guess was they want to establish themselves there without having to devote a significant warfleet to hold it…but there may be more to it than that.”

  Rafa stared up at the two systems, now sitting side by side in holo over top of the main map. “Were there any Hycre on Daka when the dragon was there?”

  “No there weren’t,” Morgan answered.

  “I wonder which group he would have put the them in.”

  Jason’s eyes narrowed. “What are you thinking?”

  “I’m wondering if they’re helping us or using us.”

  “It’s been all help so far,” Paul pointed out.

  “A bit of naval brotherhood there?” Rafa joked. “No, I agree they’ve been more than helpful thus far, but the warning about our allies not being trustworthy bothers me…and I wonder why he thought the Calavari could be trusted.”

  “That’s been bugging me too,” Morgan admitted. “There were Bsidd and Kvash on Daka, and the dragon didn’t think they were trustworthy…though how much stock we can put in his assessment is suspect as well, but it does get me wondering.”

  “Which is why we have to make our play here,” Paul insisted. “We have to stake out our territory and start calling the shots, work with the people we know we can trust, and chart our own destiny. I don’t begrudge the other races for banding together to oppose the lizards, but let’s face it, if there wasn’t a common threat some of them would be at each other’s throats right now. They’re not real allies, which is what I think the dragon was warning us about.”

  “And why would he even bother doing that?” Sara asked.

  “Kara said he wants us to hurt the V’kit’no’sat if we can,” Paul noted. “For that reason I think we can trust what he told us. From his point of view we’re too unimportant to talk to, let alone sabotage.”

  “Revenge has a way of making allies as well,” Rafa pithily summarized.

  “Well said,” Morgan acknowledged.

  “Remember,” Greg reminded them, “we’re playing a different game than the Alliance. We’ve got the V’kit’no’sat database…all of it now. The more we technologically advance the more of it we’ll be able to use. Time is on our side, and the lizards’ advantage over us is almost gone. They have their areas of strength, and now we have ours…and ours are growing. We’ve got an ace in the hole and we need to play like it. If we wait and let the lizards grab up more systems before we move we squander an opportunity. This mission is bold, dangerous, and…well, right up our alley. We know the V’kit’no’sat aren’t out here, so the time to tiptoe around is over. We hit, and we hit hard from here on out.”

  “I don’t disagree,” Sara said, “but the lizards have shown themselves to be adaptable. I don’t think we should push quite as far as we think we can, and keep a little in reserve for when they pull out their bag of tricks.”

  Greg smiled. “We will, because we’re sending the hothead out to beat them up elsewhere,” he said, thumbing at Morgan.

  “Hey,” she said, mock offended. “Don’t hate just because I’m good.”

  “We’ve got the Admiral planning it out,” Jason added, looking at Sara. “He won’t overcook it.”

  “I know he won’t…I just don’t want to have to hold back once we engage. We’re not good when we hesitate...and you’re terrible at any speed other than all out.”

  “Not true,” he argued
, “but I do like the sound of that.”

  “We can do this,” Paul said evenly and bringing the conversation back around to the finer details. “And if the lizards don’t take us seriously we can hurt them in a big way…down the road. None of us is reckless…no matter how much we like to think we are,” he said, eyeing Jason. “I’m nervous about this too, but not because I think we can’t handle it, but because it’s a step forward that we have to run out of. There’s no going back after this. We’re going to make ourselves a huge target, and to quote our enemy, we either dominate or will be dominated.”

  “Annihilated, actually,” Morgan corrected him.

  “Same thing,” Greg commented, “and I agree with Paul. We can hide out here and play a supportive role in the Alliance, or we can step to the forefront and start playing with the big boys.”

  “I’m glad you didn’t say ‘table,’” Jason commented. “The kiddie table was always more fun than hanging out with the adults.”

  “Thanks for killing the metaphor,” Greg said, rolling his eyes. “You guys know what I mean. We can play this either way, but I favor the ‘hit now’ version. Are we agreed? Or do we need to consider other options…there are more than two, by the way.”

  The Archons glanced around at each other, but it was clear they were all onboard.

  “Don’t look at me,” Morgan said. “I’m not going with you.”

  “Let’s do this,” Sara said, more enthusiasm in her voice than before. “We need a warmup for the V’kit’no’sat anyway.”

  “We need more than that,” Paul noted, the sight of the dragon shedding its armor flashing to mind.

  “We do need an evac route to the rim,” Rafa added. “Might as well start working on it now, before the V’kit’no’sat show up.”

  “That too,” Jason agreed. “We can’t sit home forever.”

  “Better we fight them out there than here,” Sam said, “or at Sol.”

  “Alright, we’re agreed,” Greg said. “Now for system picking…we’ve got a lot of choices and a lot of potential targets. Paul, work your magic on the map and the rest of us will try to pick it to pieces.”