12. Hobbitrup

12. Hobbitrup


The Serco expert, Major Timisoara went first, walking up to a model of Serco space to illustrate his points.


"Sir, we have what looks like a crushing defeat of the Skycommand forces in Deneb with the complete annihilation of the rapid response force including the SMV Nemesis. The Serco forces have regrouped in Geira Rutilus with everything they have in the area, which is actually much less than we had thought available. A large force looks to be assembling around Sol II with several capitol ships and a lot of Prometheus's. The border defences has been upped to DEFCON 2 with all Monitor class turrets manned and active. Also, we have Strike Forces launching in all systems from Geira Rutilus towards Helios, chasing a Marauder that has its IFF turned off but managed to escape seemingly functional to grey space. We do not have any information as to whom, why or what the Marauder was hunted for but we are investigating. Conclusion, the Serco Defence Forces are preparing for invasion and may have been compromised by an inside traitor that has escaped."


The Serco expert returned to his seat and sat down. Fletholm squinted at the map before nodding to the Itani expert.


"Sir, we have several indications that the Itani is about to launch a full scale assault on the Deneb/Geira Rutilus wormhole perhaps with the intent to destroy the Serco command nexus on the GR side of the wormhole. He have three Heavy Assault Cruisers, the IDV Pride of Eo, the IDV Sword of Eo and the IDV Sola gathering around the barracks station in Deneb along more than hundred and fifty heavy fighters and bombers, seven Trident class frigates and around thirty Atlas class troop transports. On top of that, the Jallik border has been striped of the reserve contingent of heavy bombers, nine squadrons in all and there are some indications that they are also moving to Deneb. However, we have run the simulations and there is no way that it would be enough to destroy the station as long as the fighter cover and the Monitor class mobile defensive turrets are still intact. To sum it up, we have no clue what is happening."


"Hmm, I see. Timi, if the Serco forces are chasing a traitor, especially an Itani traitor, why didn't that person leave to Deneb? As I recall, the wormhole is less than 3000 metres away."


"Ah, yes Sir. You are probably right. We'll look into it further Sir."


"Right, but apart from that is looks like something has upset the MAD doctrine."


The MAD doctrine, or the Mutually Assured Destruction was the not-quite agreed upon doctrine that allowed the Itani-Serco conflict to huddle along as a mere border skirmish instead of escalating to full scale war. Neither side used nuclear weapons, neither side killed the other sides rescue pods, nor did any side allow the conflict to escalate to civilian targets aside from the odd convoy now and again. It was also the doctrine that allowed UIT to work both sides at the same time, profiting on both sides while keeping the war out of the core systems. If something had upset the balance it could mean the end of the UIT as they knew it.


"Sir, I think I have an idea as to what it is."


"Go Eggert, let's see if you have come up with something plausible."


Fletholm started massaging his temples, he could feel the usual headache and nausea associated with crisis-long nights already presenting themselves like a crew of over hyped cheerleaders; irresistible and not really caring whether he had asked for it or not.


"You remember the phantom Valkyrie?" Fletholm nodded and Eggert continued. "We have looked through our data and it looks like the phantom Valkyrie was taken along the Itani battle line to Deneb where it was used in combat. I have reason to believe that it was actually instrumental in stripping the SMV Nemesis of its fighter defences, thus leaving her open to attack and destruction. That the Serco managed to damage the IDV Sword of Eo so badly is actually a bit baffling to us, at that time only a frigate and a single Serco fighter remained but somehow the frigate managed to skirt the fighter cover and while firing all guns forward rammed the SoE right below the primary command nexus, effectively crippling the ship and taking it out of the battle for at least six months. How the Serco managed to avoid the fighters is anybody's guess. That is beside the point really. It seems that the phantom Valkyrie can freely engage a complete battle force flight of fighters and come out of it unscathed. That means that we can expect the phantom Valkyrie can engage the wormhole defences and take them out alone."


Fletholm had been massaging his temples slowly with his eyes closed; now he opened them and looked at Eggert.


"'Scuse me?"


"Yes Sir, I believe that the Itani forces can with no difficulty engage and kill the entire Serco defensive force on the Geira Rutilus side of the wormhole with that single Valkyrie. None of the Monitor class gun turrets have shields neither does the fighters. I am not sure how the Valkyrie would fare against the heavier ships that have shield generators but at the moment the Itani heavies outnumber the Serco by two to one. If the fighters have been taken out it is more like five to one in comparative power. Sir, the balance has been grossly upset by that thing."


Fletholm nodded slowly while string into the table. He could feel his pet ulcer wake up in malevolent glee and expectation of the soon to be misery it would cause him. He grabbed the bottle of anti-acid and put it on the table, mentally noting to buy a whole crate of these. It sounded like it would be necessary.


"Gents, that is all. As much information as you can possible get me please, now leave me. I have several calls to make."


###


The Serco high command was a silent as always, the communication taking place in an entirely different forum. The virtual reality where the commanders lived most of their time ensured almost instantaneous and fail proof communications across large distances making it possible for the Serco commanders to actually be in their designated ships and still have a common command nexus. They had discussed the scenarios many times already, they had war gamed the different options and arrived at a conclusion. If they could not contain the IDF at the GR wormhole, they would have to resort to escalation through targeting Eo. The transfer of several very old and very large nuclear warheads had been transferred to a group of six heavily modified Atlas' from the Serco Death Squad Penal Legion. The group would have to run the gauntlet along with a fighter/bomber cover but it would only take one that got through to smash into the surface of Eo to make the Itani to break off. Or as some scenarios indicated, press the attack. The best thing was a tilting of the balance, back to how it used to be. Right now the High Command had no clue as to how this could be re-established but the Diplomatic Corps was working on it with all resources. Operation URANUS was launched with the target still to be decided.


###


The almost still cold body that lay in the bed was much like that belonging to a dead person, and Yarina shuddered slightly at what she was about to do. Undressing to her underwear, she slipped under the covers and pressed her body against Taerow's, embracing him and ignoring the coldness of his body that leached her body warmth. She started singing a nursery rhyme in a low soft melodic voice while rubbing his chest with her left arm. It only took about a minute before she started shaking with cold, but she could sense that something was happening. He took a deep breath and opened his eyes, like a drowning man being brought back to life. The confusion on his face was partly waking in the medical ward and mostly waking with Yarina wrapped around him.


"Don't you get any ideas Ut. But welcome back to the land of the living."


He grinned, it was too late about the ideas; he was a man after all and they popped into his head like starbursts during a meteor shower. How could he not? He closed his eyes again and relished in the sensation of having her against him.


"How long time was I out?"


"Nine hours and dying slowly. We had no idea what to do to you until I tried this."


He swallowed dryly but made sure he didn't move his muscles apart from that. He seriously did not want to accidentally give the impression that he wanted her to leave. He never wanted her to leave, he could stay here forever and never again use the Omega, never again be confined to his own head with only the sounds of nails sliding down glass, the incoherent screeching and babbling of utter fear emanating from his own voice, never again be confined to the darkness of...


He awoke to Yarina's alarmed voice.


"You are slipping away again. Stay with me Ut, stay with me until we can get the psychologists down here and help you."


Ne noted that she had left his side and that there were a lot of people in the room. A familiar face appeared in front of him, Raewon.


"Good to have you back son. The doctors here need to do some tests on you, but you'll be back in no time. We are moving back to Tellus as we speak. Dammit son, you gave us a real fright there. We thought we had lost you for a second there. Well, we'll leave you in the hands of the doctors, get better soon, you hear?"


He saw the scientists walk out of the room with Yarina as the last one. She turned, as she was about to exit as if to say something but didn't, looked down and waved a small wave before leaving. He was left to the medical staff.