History, Politics And Current Affairs

== The Bridge at Angry River #09

I took a breath, crawled towards the nearer ditch, followed it back until I reached some of the convoy's twice-shocked survivors.

"Who are you ?" the nearest Line challenged. Though not the correct form, I'd not complain.

"Line Two, Farrall," I responded. "Your Ranks ?"

He called quietly, waved. Within moments, a Line Two, a Line Three, an Eng Three, then the Line Four converged. As aurora danced above us, they peered at me in some confusion.

"Line Two, Farrall, Second Squad," I reported. "Sitrep: Active sniper, medium weapon. Has not shot at retreating, injured or body recovery efforts, but returns fire with lethal effect."

"Your Ranks, Two ?" The Line Four asked me.

"Dead, Four. Sniper," I replied, waving towards body row and bridge. "Staff Two, Gennes, is evaluating the situation."

Their faces showed a mix of relief and horror, glad some-one, any-one was taking command, shocked our only Staff was so 'junior'. He'd need all the help I could give. I asked, "Eng Three, if this light-show is from an orbital anti-matter breach, could you estimate clearance time for interference to Comms ?"

"Negative, Line Two. Perhaps a Comms Eng ?" He glanced towards the wrecked Command Carrier, shook his head. "If... If this was a tactical or regional EMP strike, I would expect effects fade with the aurora."

"Which seems to be dimming," I agreed. "Thank you, Eng Three."

Given I seemed to know what I was doing, the Line Ranks made no comment.

"Four," I continued, "our Staff Two will need a Sitrep: Counts of Effectives and triaged, salvage of medical supplies, shelter..."

He nodded, glanced to his subordinates, said, "Carry on."

They went, obviously glad of coherent orders. The Eng Three's teams were already busy, so he stayed. There was no sign of the Agent.

"Two," the Line Four ventured, after peering along our body-row, "what happened to the Staff Four and his Agent ?"

"Sniper, Four." He studied my stiff face. I added a little detail. "Medium weapon of unknown type. One-shot hard-kills beyond expected range. No muzzle blast or other indication by day. There may be a thermal flare at night."

His muzzle twitched. There was no love lost between Line, Staff and Agents. None. Perhaps he knew which Staff Four had been sent ? And that Staff's likely response to our situation at the bridge ? Under the circumstances, it was surely safer not to pry. Very carefully, he said, "Clearly, the sniper identified the Staff Four and Agent as priority targets."

"Four, the Staff Two, serving as their Long Gevvy gunner, wore BDUs, so easily mistaken for Line." I thought for a moment, added, "He delivered half a drum of suppressive fire before the Gevvy was hit."

Though not the whole truth, it sufficed. And, such uncommon Staff competence clearly improved Gennes' standing in this Line Four's opinion. It earned a thoughtful nod, then a long look at me. "You are 'career' enlist ?"

"Yes, Four."

"Eight-plus annuals, clean record ?"

"Yes, Four."

The Line Four looked up and North to the retreating, fading aurora, then South and higher to the fading glow. He sighed, whispered, "If this was an Other incursion, their city-killers and beam weapons would have struck by now. No, like that 'medium' weapon and those pop-up missiles, this is new...

"Line Two, Farrall, I am giving you a 'Field Commission' to Line Three."

"Urrr... Thank you, Line !"

"Witnessed, Eng Three ?"

"Witnessed, Line Four."

"So, Line Three, Farrall, please survive to have it reviewed and confirmed ?"

"Urrr... Thank you, Line !"

"Now, get back to your Staff Two, and help him wring some sense from all this..."

Here's to sticky seasons and bloody wars.

IIRC, a 'Field Commission' was generally purchased like a 'regular' promotion, but in others' blood...

== The Bridge at Angry River #10

I retreated, my wits spinning. I'd made 'Three' ? Such a 'Field Commision' usually needed 'sponsorship' or, yes, a brutal battle with many losses. Staff Two Gennes was still leaning against our boulder, watching the sky. I reported, "Sitrep, Staff: Lines and Engs are collating resource. Agent status unknown. Line Four has given me a brevet to Three."

Gennes' eyes lit. He said, "Well done ! And the way the aurora is fading, our comms should soon--"

His Comm-unit chimed oddly, as did the Four's, the Threes' and both Gevvys'. Before Gennes could fit his ear-piece, their speakers woke. An unfamiliar, rough accent grated, "Attention all Imperial forces on Kaaal-2 ! Attention all Imperial forces on Kaaal-2 !

"I am Captain Wu, commanding 'Katana', Convention Alliance 'Paladin-Sword' Composite Light Cruiser.

"You have lost 'First Fleet' and 'Second Fleet'. You have lost the 'high ground'.

"Kaaal's guard-ship, a small Corvette, intercepted your 'First Fleet' near 'Kaaal-3', warned that this system is under Alliance protection. Your Fleet Commander rejected directions to leave, demanded the guard-ship's unconditional surrender. When refused, he ordered the guard-ship destroyed. Evading all four pursuing Escorts' fire, the nimble Corvette carried 'First Alert' to the inner system, then went for help.

"With my colleagues, Captain McDonald commanding 'Claymore', and Captain Johnson commanding 'Broadsword', we intercepted 'Second Fleet' during their Kaaal-4 swing-by. The Fleet Commander rejected our request that he leave, demanded we surrender unconditionally. When refused, he ordered us destroyed.

"Our attack broke 'Second Fleet'. The Convoy Commander accepted our terms for honourable surrender, took aboard the few Fleet survivors, mostly from crippled Escorts. 'Claymore' and 'Broadsword' are escorting the convoy to Kaaal-2's 'Leading Lagrange' as your ships' anti-matter fuel is unwelcome nearer...

"Your 'First Fleet' Commander would not admit the loss of 'Second Fleet'. He refused my request for his departure or surrender, demanded mine. Then he threatened to fire on Kaaal-2 settlements, ordered heavy weapons charged and launchers armed.

"To prevent such atrocity, I destroyed 'First Fleet'. The three detached Light Escorts in high-angle guard orbits are combat ineffective, badly damaged by radiation.

"Terms and conditions for your honourable surrender are being transmitted to the Landers at North and South Ports. You have until local dawn to accept.

"Please, choose wisely..."

Admit defeat

Aaaand i think the pucker factor just broke the scale for our friends hanging out there. Looking very much forward to seeing where this is going, splendid little tale.

== The Bridge at Angry River #11

After a long breath, Staff Two Gennes husked, "A 'Convention Alliance' ? There were whispers, nothing more, that they came from beyond Sylvan space, forced the Others' sudden retreat to core systems..."

"Staff," I replied formally, "Unless it is a bluff, and these three 'Light Cruisers' are bigger than our Battle-ships--"

"It would still be L-14s and repeaters against militia armed with BoRat spears and crude muzzle-loaders..." He nodded at my expression. "Several Imperial 'Liberations' met such. Official accounts dismiss the slaughter as suppression of local banditry..."

Our sad eyes met. Yes, today, the studded club was certainly in the other hand...

Again, the comm-units chimed in unison, this time with the usual ring. "Attention all Imperial forces on Kaaal-2: I am Staff Five, Gento, at North Port, now highest ranking in the Kaaal system. After conferring with Staff, Line and Eng, here and at South Port, I have determined that our situation is lost.

"The terms and conditions of our surrender are generous, much better than Imperials would offer--"

"No ! No !!" Shrieks from the back of the convoy cut across our comm-units. Silhouetted against the sunset, the Agent scrambled into the trailing Gevvy, screaming, "Cowards ! Traitors ! Death before dishonour !!"

He grabbed for the roll-bar's pintle-mount repeater. He worked the handle to charge it. He looked set to mow down Lines and Engs who'd stood from their road-side ditches, rake those still sheltering.

CRACK !

He flew backwards off the intact Gevvy, dark blood spraying from his snout and his body-armour's joints.

The Line Four stared that way for a while, then turned, studied the loom of the ridge beyond the pale bridge. After a while, he walked towards us. Staff Two Gennes stood unsteadily, looking like a falsely accused citizen reprieved at the last moment. After a shaky breath, the Line Four said, "Staff, our tactical position is untenable. I must recommend we surrender on terms."

"Logical, Line. Carry on."

"Staff !" After a surprised nod, the Four turned to me, added, "Three, you described that weapon as delivering 'one-shot hard-kills beyond expected range'. I will use this wording in my report, and credit you with the excellent assessment."

"Thank you, Four !"

"Ancestors !!" His snout twitched. "As a young Line, I was rated 'Long Gun', now a rare speciality. Yet, at my best, I would have struggled to make that timely shot. It took the Agent like a Zinkle from the shell, spared us further loss..."

== The Bridge at Angry River #12

I was again 'pulling pints' for a still-thirsty crew of Galk fluorite miners in South Port's 'Blue Star Tavern' when a familiar voice called, "And two for us !"

"Gennes ?" I hardly recognised him in smart casuals. "You're looking well !"

"Also you, Farrall..." He looked to the official Barista, a tall Xiin, who was mixing 'Bird-Tails' for three gossiping Langas, bid, "A talk ?"

Receiving hish nod, I filled two tankards, carried them to the empty side-table Gennes had claimed. One of the fluorite miners grumbled something rude about 'Imps'. A team-mate shushed him, whispering, "They're Farrall and Gennes from 'Angry River'-- Yes, them !! Are you feeling lucky ??"

"A Barista ?" Gennes mused. "Really ?"

"I'm employed as 'Bouncer'," I admitted. "But, since I threw a few brawlers across the side-walk, most look at me, blink, 'Make Nice'. So I 'Pull Pints', too. You ?"

"Trainee 'Civil Engineer' ! Urr, the North Port yard with those spare bridge spans ? I'm working for them, doing a 'Distance Learning' course to supplement my three Annuals...

"Yard's also taken on most of the Combat Engs and their surviving Crawlers."

"I'm saving to 'buy in' to a farmstead just North of the Karst Plateau, where Summers are cooler." I said. "I can't go back to Central. My family disowned me to protect themselves."

"As did mine," Gennes admitted. "Central is in turmoil. I've had some news, but it is, urrr, 'incomplete'. Fleet lost eights of annuals of ship-building and training. Line was hurt, but Intel and Planning Staff were humbled. Many took their own lives before 'Black Tabs' arrived.

"And the Imperial Families ? Many 'Minor' branches supported this 'Liberation', expected to claim vast new estates, increase their influence. Instead, it bit them on their muzzles. Lots of blame, with brutal, bloody shifts of alignment, 'Black Tabs' busy, busy, busy..."

"Urrr...Your brother ? His Imperial Lady ?"

"Safe enough. Gelnes is now the estate heir, as Gells had a 'Hunting Accident'. His current Missie caught him with her very willing younger sister, ran him through with his best BoRat spear."

"Ancestors !"

"So, Gelnes was recalled from 'Central'. When news broke of the Fleet debacle, the Lady's Family sent her to stay with him. They're both happy, there's a youngling on the way..."

"Urr ! That's nice !"

"I do not know if you heard, but no Agents went back to Central on the Settler Convoy. None."

"Urrr ?"

"They all met with 'accidents'--"

"Urrr ??"

"I know one threatened Engs working the cable-ferry. They tested his body-armour's flotation capacity, declared it 'inadequate'. But, before the Agent could drown, a large water-predator bit him in two--"

"Ancestors !"

"I'm told three Agents tried to prevent Staff Five, Gento's surrender. 'Black Tabs' are very good at killing the unarmed, but were no match for Gento's alert body-guards..."

"Ancestors..."

"The Convention Alliance claimed half of those causeway vehicles for study, North Port militia took the rest. Like the Engs, some Lines also decided to stay." He shook his head. "I watched the new bridge spans installed-- Ancestors ! Have you seen a Convention 'Rock Tug' ?"

"Urr, no..."

"A 'Trojan-Class', 'Cahoots' stands bigger than a Combat Lander ! Two rings of five globes, joined by wide tubes ! Eight-eights of paces beam, twice that long ! Usually hauls six vast cans of purified ore at a time from the 'Libration Land' mines on face-locked Kaaal-1-- Something else Intel missed !

"Half of North Port came to watch. Tug floated down, touched one globe to the beach, opened hatch, lowered ramp. Two female Hoomins and their three Younglings walked to a long ground car, were driven into the city.

"Tug closed, rose, hovered over the nearest broken span, lowered active grapples. They found cast-in lifting points. As the crowd cheered, tug carried that section ashore then, one by one, the other broken parts. Grappled first new span. Guided the last hand-width by 'banks-men', placed it on abutments' repaired mounts. The crowd cheered loudly. The second. The crowd cheered louder.

"Tug floated down, touched one globe to the beach, opened hatch, lowered ramp. The ground car came back. The two female Hoomins and three Younglings carried boxes and bags of shopping aboard. The Younglings waved from the hatch. The crowd cheered again. The tug closed, rose..."

"Ancestors..."

"Tug 'Cahoots' had already lifted the laden Combat, Armour and Line Landers to orbit as the Convention Alliance wanted them for study. Tucked them into a 'medium' cargo bay of 'Athens' when that 'City-Class' ship came through...

"Ancestors, that ship was twice the length of a Convoy Carrier, yet faster than a Heavy Escort !"

I'd seen those pics, found dust in my eyes. I sipped my ale, thought to ask, "The bridge at 'Angry River' ?"

"Bluff." Gennes pulled a face. "Just paint. But the box-section's hidden demo charge was the same as those in the much bigger North Port spans--"

"Ancestors !" I gasped. "That would have blown us half-way to orbit !"

"True." He took a long swig of ale, added, "So their simple bluff saved replacing it..."

They chose wisely

Nice story Nik!

I'm trying to visualise the protagonists, lizardmen-like?

== The Bridge at Angry River #13 of 13

"Urrr..." I peered at my last thumb-width of ale, dared ask, "Did you hear about the bridge defenders and their weapons ?"

"Only that they were Militia..."

"Urrr." I took a breath, said, "Staff Five Gento confirmed my 'Three' and gave me a commendation. The Convention Alliance Liaison team and local Militia respected both, invited me to talk about 'Angry River'. Why we did what we did. What went right, what went wrong...

"They did not expect to hold the bridge, just delay us for a day-cycle while evacuees dispersed from Eastham. They said there's enough caves and tunnels in the karst scarp to swallow an army..."

"So Line Squads would just vanish..."

"Like Crawlers into deep mud," I agreed. "Those 'Shoof' missiles ? Locally made from plans supplied by the Convention Alliance Liaison team. Kept in storage, placed using powered post-holers between 'First Fleet' passing Kaaal-3 and reaching orbit..."

"Fast work !"

"It was. They would not say how many, or how North Port and South Port had 'eyes on'. But they did admit the 'Angry River' bridge was only held by three Militia Cadets--"

"Urrr ? Cadets ? Just three Cadets broke us ??"

"Yes, but they are Hoomin Younglings. Trained by the Convention Alliance Liason team..."

"Urrr..."

"Oldest, their 'Support Shooter', had a 'Light BiGun'. Like our 'L-14-S' PDW but 'Full Charge', not 'Kick plus Base-Burn'. He also had the 'Control App' for their 'Shoof' missiles and bridge demo...

"His two sisters each had a 'Crab Gun'..."

"Urrr ??"

"The Convention Alliance does crazy, crazy things with Drive Fields. Turn a Gevvy's inside-out, you can re-purpose it as a 'High Pressure Pump'. Move gas, water, mud, sand, stones, molten rock, even plasma along a pipe. Or launch a metal dart very, very fast--"

"Recoil ? The 'kick' ??"

"Solved by a few components and sensors: 'Crab Guns' have 'augmented' sights, a three-round magazine. They go weightless for mobility, hold targets like a stabilised Heavy Repeater, swallow their own recoil. Even give ideal spin." I grinned at Gennes' appalled expression. "Locals use them on lone 'Night Crabs' that lose mid-Winter mating duels, come out of the swamp hurt and angry..."

"A 'Night Crab' ? I've heard the name, but..."

"There's one on display in the 'Visitors Centre'," I waved across the street. "Has a long 'formal' name."

"Urrr ? That armoured monster ?" Gennes' eyes went wide. "It was big as a Long Gevvy ! Claws and jaws like power-shears !"

"And charge as fast as a ground-car," I warned. "Take a lot of stopping. But I'm told they're a 'Seasonal Delicacy'..."

"Urrr... I need another drink !"

"So do I," I said, waving to Xiin. "This is on my tab..."

I've been asked to explain 'Composite Light Cruiser'.

For 'reasons' such as build and ferry convenience, the hull of an Aerospace 'Corvette' is same diameter and length as a 'City Class' star-ship's modular fuel tanks, transit cans, ore 'barges' etc. A Corvette is MilSpec. A 'Trojan Class' rock-tug, two rings of five spheres joined by chubby tubes, may have an absurd Power/Weight rating, grapple & haul up to six 'cans' and mount a pair of twin-laser ice-slicer turrets, but is inherently civilian. When the Other trouble erupted, some-one dug out contingency plans to 'twin' two tugs' makings to four rings joined by chubby tubes, graft a corvette into their centre, make a 'Composite Frigate'.

The tug part could grapple up to ten ferry tanks, transit cans / hangars, ordnance dispensers etc, now had four twin-laser ice-slicer turrets. There was sufficient gap between tug and corvette for five axial pairs of 'rail-guns' and five axial lasers, all double-ended...

Next iteration of rock-tugs was the 'Paladin', approx 2½ the size of a 'Trojan', intended to haul the bigger tanks etc for planned 'Capital Class' star-ships. Twinning those around an Aerospace 'Frigate' gave a 'Composite Light Cruiser'...

There are 'proper' Light Cruisers a-building, plus the next up-size of tugs to give 'Composite Heavy Cruisers'.
Happens the Convention's development of 'Stand-off Weaponry', met in 'Battle-Group Blues', may have deferred need for CHCs...

But, there's still the matter of taking the fight into the Others' core systems: For that task, requiring proverbial 'Bigger Hammer', the Convention must skip a couple of generations, build a fleet of 'Pleiades' super-tugs using 'City Class' star-ships' Power Sections and modular truss spines...

Smart movie