Battlecruiser Alamo - 7 - Battlecruiser Alamo: Sacred Honor Read Free Page B

that we can buy ourselves some breathing room.”
     “Against odds of five, six to one,” Zebrova said, shaking her head.
     “We’ve got the Cabal database, though. Not full access, but a lot of new information. Not to mention our analysis of their ships from our prior encounters . Your job, the three of you, is to come up with some dirty tricks. Anything you can think of to shorten those odds.”
     Caine nodded, “Presuming that we jump in, prepared for battle, ready to face that fleet, and through everything at them.” 
     Quinn mused, “We could probably mount some additional missiles on the outer hull. Batches in the elevator airlocks, for that matter. Not really design spec, and it’ll just about run down our parts...we’re really going to only have one shot at this, sir. And even then, the odds won’t be promising.”
     “Right now the odds aren’t good either,” Marshall replied. “The deeper we get into Cabal territory, the greater the risks we face. If we knock out this fleet now, take it off the table, then we give ourselves breathing room.”
     “Besides,” Caine mused, “If they are planning a strike against the Confederation, that’s the fleet they are most likely to use. Blunt that sword now, and they can’t use it against us.”
     “Which gives the boys back home more time to get their forces ready for action.”
     “We’re not officially at war,” Zebrova said, frowning, but Cooper broke in.
     “Tell that to my mates. But you’ll have to shout very loud, ma’am.”
     “Cooper,” Marshall said, sharply. “No-one questions that. The Cabal have launched attacks against us, intelligence operations against us...there isn’t any formal declaration of war, but they aren’t exactly in a position to make demands against the Confederation if they want to complain.”
     “We came out here to gather intelligence…”
     “And have found ourselves with somewhat more significant opportunities. The information the Admiralty wanted was intended to help us fight a war more effectively, should it come. Far better to prevent that war from taking place at all.”
     “Have we completely written off Hercules, then?” Caine said. “We still don’t know what happened back there.”
     “Orlova would have followed us if she could. Hercules was badly damaged, and surrounded. I’m acting on the assumption that she,” he said, sighing, “surrendered when Alamo left the system. If this goes wrong, we’ll probably all end up getting dumped on Discovery together .”
     “Would you do that?” Zebrova asked. “If all hope truly was lost?”
     “The crew comes first, Lieutenant. Always.”
     “That doesn’t answer my question.”
     “It’s as much of a n answer as you are going to get. Now, I need the three of you to start your preparations for this, but do it quietly. Cost no object, use of ordinance no object, and feel free to throw the safety regulations out of the nearest airlock. I’m counting on your devious minds to come up with something good for us. Don’t let me down.”
     The three officers looked at each other, and Quinn nodded, “Alamo will be ready for anything you need her to do, sir. I think I have some ideas.”
     “I don’t need to tell you not to let anyone else on board know about this until it is too late to matter . Cooper, while I want that saboteur identified…”
     “You don’t what our traitor caught until he’s had a chance to send his last message.” The finality of Cooper’s tone chilled Marshall. “Got it, sir.”
     “Any more questions?” he asked.
     Zebrova looked at him, then said, “I think this is a mistake, sir. If I may speak freely.”
     “By all means.”
     “Sir, we’re going to charge headlong into an enemy fleet. The odds of Alamo surviving are not promising. Our best course is to try and sneak past the bottleneck, then attempt to break out into open space.”
     Caine shook her head,