Ep.#14 - "The Weak and the Innocent" (The Frontiers Saga) Read Free

each new update. “The Jung forces on Sorenson and Stennis have already been defeated. We shall withdraw those forces back to Porto Santo, then we can use their air-support and jump shuttles to facilitate our withdrawal from Kohara.” He pointed to several points on the tactical display. “Have the Aurora target the garrisons here, and here, first. As they come around to the far side, they can then hit the garrisons on the other continents as well.”
    “Collateral losses will be high,” Master Sergeant Jahal warned.
    “It cannot be helped,” the commander noted. “The admiral wishes to preserve what’s left of our ground forces. Once the enemy realizes we are retreating, they will attack with all their forces. We must not allow them such an option. Pounding those targets is the only way to deny them that opportunity.”
    “Captain Scott will not like it,” Master Sergeant Jahal replied.
    “He doesn’t have to.” Commander Telles looked at the tactical display once again, letting out a long sigh as he shook his head. “I was sure we could take Kohara.”
    “We could have,” the master sergeant replied, “if allowed.”
    “No, this cannot be blamed on events a thousand light years away,” Telles insisted. “We knew that we had limited forces coming in. I should have submitted a more aggressive plan.”
    Master Sergeant Jahal raised his brow at the commander’s regrets. “Then why didn’t you?”
    “I let my association with these Terrans cloud my judgment, weaken my resolve. I should have insisted that we destroy all military targets prior to landing, regardless of their concerns for the civilian population. That is how you win wars. This failure was mine.” The commander looked at his friend. “It shall not happen again.”
    “That which other men…” the master sergeant muttered.
    “Precisely.”
    * * *
    “How come you’re not going ape over this?”Commander Ellison asked, finally breaking the relative silence that had enveloped Scout Two’s flight deck for the past forty minutes.
    “Believe me, I want to,” Captain Roselle replied, “but as much as I hate to admit it, the kid didn’t do anything wrong… at least not technically.”
    “Not the response I was expecting.”
    “Maybe I would have taken the shot earlier,” Roselle said. “Maybe as soon as I realized those bastards were targeting the escape pods… I don’t know. Let’s just call it a fucked up situation, and leave it at that.”
    “I think you’re mellowing in your old age,” the commander said.
    “Fuck you.”
    “ Contact, ” the sensor officer called over the captain’s comm-set. “ Just dropped out of FTL. About twenty light minutes behind us. Bearing one seven four, twenty-seven up relative. Same course and speed as before. It’s them, Captain. I’m sure of it. ”
    “Is Scout Three still alongside them?” Captain Roselle asked.
    “ One moment. ”
    “We jumped into this area about five ago,” Commander Ellison said.
    “They’ll see our jump flash in about fifteen minutes,” the captain replied. “Tell me you’re passive, Ensign.”
    “Aye, sir,” the sensor officer affirmed. “Ever since we started the hunt.”
    “Let’s go cold,” Roselle ordered. “Maybe we’ll get lucky and they won’t notice the flash.”
    “Want to make a quick course change?” the commander offered. “Low and slow, so we won’t be detected?”
    “Don’t bother. Once they see our jump flash, they’ll go full active and light up the area with every sensor they’ve got. That’s what I’d do if I had that much fire power.”
    “ I’m picking up Scout Three as well, Captain, ” the sensor officer reported. “ Starboard side, facing the battleship’s aft, maybe one meter away, at the target’s midship. ”
    Captain Roselle looked at his XO. “What are they doing, Ensign?”
    “Nothing, sir, least not that I can… Wait… Range is changing slightly…”
    “To the target?”
    “No, sir. To Scout