In Victorian Space
Dominion Task Force (Bogey One)
A strong man could shape the universe to his will.
Bend it, if need be.
Admiral Mello knew this to be true. Task Force One was now twenty hours inside Victorian space and still undetected. They’d reach Cornwall and the precious space stations in another twenty four hours. Every mile increased the chances they would be discovered, but so far there was no reason for the Vickies to be suspicious. They were just another grain convoy from Cape Breton, larger than most, perhaps, but not threatening in the least. They were just plodding along, getting closer and closer to their objective.
“Any word from Admiral Kaeser?”
“Nothing yet, sir. Since he doesn’t know exactly where we are, he can’t reach us by laser, and he probably doesn’t want to risk a courier drone.”
Mello shrugged. He hadn’t really expected anything, not yet. “Anything on the holo?”
Commander Pattin shook her head. “We’ve seen a few freighters, but at some distance, too far away for them to paint us with commercial sensors. We’ve had the usual sensor ghosts, but nothing worth investigating.”
Dominion Task Force One plowed on. Six thousand miles away, the H.M.S. Annapurna found a clear line of sight to one of the Fleet’s communications satellites and beamed its message of warning.
• • • • •
The Fleet ship closest to Bogey Two was a destroyer, the H.M.S. Glasgow, captained by Captain Robert Manforte, known by his crew with affection as Madman Manforte for his daring and boldness during Fleet maneuvers.
“Picking up Bogey Two, Captain,” the Sensors Officer said. “At least fifty ships, maybe more.”
Manforte frowned. Only fifty? The report from Atlas had identified as many as seventy. Had they split up, divided their force?
“Okay, boys and girls,” Manforte said breezily. “Let’s get closer and eyeball these bastards. Pilot, set course for convergence, then kill the engines and we’ll coast right by them.” He smiled wolfishly. “Close enough to tickle them as we go by.”
Two hours later the Glasgow was less than a thousand miles away, coming in from a wide angle so that it would cross under the Dominion fleet. Its passive sensors recorded everything.
On board the Dominion ship Fortitude, Admiral Kaeser watched the holo display with growing incredulity. He had a globe of twenty ships coasting in parallel with the rest of Attack Force Two, acting as a perimeter guard. They had picked up the Vicky destroyer twenty minutes ago and had been plotting its course since then. For a while Admiral Kaeser had hoped that by simply ignoring the destroyer, they could bluff their way though. The Dominion had notified the Victorian Port Authority that it was sending another fleet to reinforce its ships in Tilleke space, and Kaeser had hoped to hide in plain sight.
He sighed. The Vickies were either just curious or they were on to something. No matter.
“No radio emissions from the Vicky destroyer?”
“Nothing yet, Admiral. Still coming in silent.”
Kaeser nodded in satisfaction. The destroyer had not radioed a warning. No doubt the captain intended to fly right past the Dominion Attack Force and then report back to Victoria, covering himself in glory in the process. All balls and no brain, he thought — a common failing of Victorian Fleet captains.
“Very well, then. Execute Rabbit Snare on my command. Make sure the frigates and destroyers watch for the Omega drone; it must not escape. Execute!”
On command, twenty Dominion cruisers fired every laser battery they had at the hapless Glasgow. Dozens upon dozens of one inch, three inch and five inch laser beams smashed the hull of the Victorian destroyer, spearing deep into the inner compartments, blowing apart everything in their path. The Glasgow promptly disintegrated. Incredibly, two Omega drones burst from the growing cloud of debris, only to be shot down by the Dominion frigates and destroyers that had been waiting for them.
Admiral Kaeser looked at the clock. Twenty three more hours to go.
“Carry on,” he ordered.