Admiral's Fall Read online

  Admiral’s Fall

  (A Spineward Sectors Novel: Book 13)

  by

  Luke Sky Wachter

  Copyright © 2018 by Joshua Wachter

  All rights reserved.

  All characters and events in this book are fictitious. All resemblance to persons living or dead is coincidental. Respect my electronic rights because the money you save today will be the book I can't afford to write for you tomorrow.

  Other Books by Luke Sky Wachter

  SPINEWARD SECTORS NOVEL SERIES

  Admiral Who?

  Admiral's Gambit

  Admiral's Tribulation

  Admiral's Trial

  Admiral's Revenge

  Admiral's Spine

  Admiral Invincible

  Admiral's Challenge

  Admiral's War—Part One

  Admiral's War—Part Two

  Admiral's Nemesis—Part One

  Admiral's Nemesis—Part Two

  RISE OF THE WITCH GUARD NOVEL SERIES

  The Blooding

  The Painting

  The Channeling

  RISE OF THE WITCH GUARD NOVELLAS

  The Boar Knife

  Books by my brother, Caleb Wachter

  SPINEWARD SECTORS: MIDDLETON'S PRIDE

  No Middle Ground

  Up The Middle

  Against The Middle

  McKnight's Mission (A House Divided I)

  Middleton's Prejudice

  Lynch's Legacy (A House Divided II)

  The Middle Road

  A House United (A House Divided III)

  IMPERIUM CICERNUS: THE CHIMERA ADJUSTMENT

  Ure Infectus

  Sic Semper Tyrannis

  SPHEREWORLD SERIES

  Joined at the Hilt: Union

  Joined at the Hilt: Dross

  SHEREWORLD NOVELLSA

  Between White and Grey

  SPINEWARD SECTORS: A TRACTO TALE

  The Forge of Men

  SEEDS OF HUMANITY: THE COBALT HERESY

  Revelation

  Reunion

  COLLABORATIVE WORKS BY LUKE SKY WACHTER & CALEB WACHTER

  SPINEWARD SECTORS NOVELLAS

  Admiral's Lady: Eyes of Ice, Heart of Fire

  Admiral's Lady: Ashes for Ashes, Blood for Blood

  Table of Contents:

  Chapter 1: Mopping Up

  Chapter 2: Featherby in Command

  Chapter 3: The Calm Before the Storm

  Chapter 4: Deceptive Maneuvers

  Chapter 5: Isaak Plots and Schemes

  Chapter 6: Balancing the Scales

  Chapter 7: The Grand Dunce

  Chapter 8: The Stalwart Solution

  Chapter 9: The Battle over Hart’s World

  Chapter 10: Beecher Bounces

  Chapter 11: Manning Victorious

  Chapter 12: A Front Admiral in Retreat

  Chapter 13: The Little Admiral Schemes at Home

  Chapter 14: Stravinsky Reaches the Confederation Fleet Headquarters

  Chapter 15: Triumvir Bellucci Unleashes 5th Fleet

  Chapter 16: Magnus Speaks with Adviser Jerkins Simpers of the Imperial Secretariat

  Chapter 17: Bluetooth’s Big Push

  Chapter 18: Acting Commodore McCruise Appears before the Grand Assembly

  Chapter 19: Bluetooth on a Roll

  Chapter 20: It’s a Spalding!

  Chapter 21: Bluetooth and the Sector Guard!

  Chapter 22: Trouble in Paradise

  Chapter 23: Concern in Gambit

  Chapter 24: Spalding’s Reprisal

  Chapter 25: Worry and Advise on the Home Front

  Chapter 26: A Small Dose of Hot Water

  Chapter 27: Bluetooth’s Momentum

  Chapter 28: The Oncoming Storm

  Chapter 29: The Return of the Reclamation Fleet

  Chapter 30: Bluetooth at Bay

  Chapter 31: Bluetooth’s Bitter Pill

  Chapter 32: Panic in the Assembly

  Chapter 33: Bluetooth in a Bind

  Chapter 34: A Messenger Arrives

  Chapter 35: Isaak’s Rage and the Sector 22 Conspiracy

  Chapter 36: Mobilizing Against Sector 26

  Chapter 37: Imperial Spies Report

  Chapter 38: The Multi-Sector Patrol Fleet Rides Again!

  Chapter 39: Bluetooth on the Rocks

  Chapter 40: MSP Cleaning House

  Chapter 41: Reclaiming the Battle

  Chapter 42: On the Gun Deck

  Chapter 43: The Lucky Clover in the Thick of It

  Chapter 44: Desperate Measures

  Chapter 45: End Maneuvers

  Chapter 46: The Final Confrontation

  Chapter 47: Norfolk in Fury

  Chapter 48: Victory and Sweeping Up

  Chapter 49: The Storm is Here

  Chapter 50: The Assembly Must Recall the MSP!

  Chapter 51: The Old Confederation Returns to the Spine

  Interlude: Movement on Many Fronts

  Chapter 52: Laying Down the Law

  Chapter 53: Defend the Spine!

  Chapter 54: The Sacrifice

  Chapter 55: The PR Campaign

  Chapter 56: The Public Celebrates

  Chapter 57: The Failed Tyrant

  Chapter 58: Coming to a Decision

  Chapter 59: Going to the Assembly?

  Chapter 60: Admiral’s Fall

  Chapter 61: Admiral’s Fall II

  Chapter 62: Isaak’s Rage

  Chapter 63: Returning Home in Exile

  Chapter 64: Dropping off Our Pride

  Epilogue: The Last Man Standing

  Chapter 1: Mopping Up

  We may have won the war but the battle had yet to reach its final resolution.

  This realization left me momentarily dumbfounded but I got over it quickly.

  “How long until the last major contingent of the Confederation jumps out of this star system?” I asked my Navigator.

  “Depending on hyper drive charge rates, we’re looking at anything from a half hour to an hour from now, Admiral,” my Navigator said helplessly.

  I looked back at the main screen where the Bug Spheroid remained centered, surrounded by the surviving Imperial and Confederations ships that were unable to maneuver or were still trying to stave off Bug boarders.

  “Give me a count of Bugs and Glorious Fleet ships still listed as hostiles,” I instructed as a series of orbital turrets and pop-up missile launchers went active, opening fire on every remaining Bug ship in their range.

  “I’m still reading around twenty Battleships in various states that have refused to surrender. The majority of them are Imperials. As for Bugs, it looks like everything of significant size has been destroyed except for the Spheroid. All that are left are around eighty Scouts and Scout Marauders,” reported Tactical.

  “It doesn’t seem like those Bugs are going to last long,” I commented as the turrets and missiles started to wipe out the remaining Bugs.

  “Determine if they’re not contacting us because of genuine battle damage or because they’re feeling intractable. If they refuse to speak, redirect a few of our turrets and open fire until they do. After you’ve figured that out, contact Spalding and inform him we’re going to need another demonstration,” I said coolly, “I think after losing a few more heavies they’ll find a path to reason.”

  With their forces broken by the minefield, and the Imperial Command Carrier out of action, the Imperial and Old Confederation forces had no way of putting up an effective resistance to the Lucky Clover.

  Despite the turrets the Clover fired twice more and, two broken Battleships later, the remainder of the Glorious Fleet was ready to surrender. It would have been one thing to lead a death defying charge into the teeth of the Super Battleship.
But it was another to sit there in a ship with broken engines and scream defiance until the Clover got around to annihilating you and your crew with one well-placed shot.

  No sooner had we taken their parole and thus in effect promised to protect them from the Bugs while they were in our theoretical custody than the Spheroid decided to make its presence known.

  Appearing agitated by the minefield blast, and showing enormous gaping wounds on its skin-slash-hull, the Bug Mothership finally decided to stop munching on the hull of the Command Carrier. Releasing the Mighty Punisher in a way that almost seemed like it was spitting it out, the giant, moon-sized, Bug Spheroid floated away.

  Minutes after letting go of the broken Command Carrier its mouth started writhing.

  “That can’t be good,” said Commander Snyder.

  “Don’t jinx it,” Lisa Steiner, my Chief of Staff, muttered superstitiously.

  As if words of prophetic wisdom had just been spoken, the puckered, battle-damaged ‘maw’ of the Bug Spheroid once again opened and…out slid a pair of Heavy Harvesters.

  “You’ve got to be kidding me,” I said with a flash of anger. The battle might be over by the agreement of all human parties in this mess, but apparently the Bugs disagreed.

  “I’m sorry, Sir. But the sensor readout is accurate,” said Commander Snyder.

  “That’s fine,” I cut her off and turned to Comm, “tell the Commander he is to switch his targets. We need to whittle down that Spheroid sooner rather than later. Let’s see what a couple of HPC rounds do to it.”

  The Comm. Officer nodded and relayed my message. He listened and then turned back to me. “Commander Spalding asks to speak with you.”

  “Put him on,” I said, blinking with surprise.

  “Terrance Spalding here, and it’s good to see you, Sir,” the old Engineer said happily.

  “Good to see you in one piece, Commander,” I nodded, letting loose a smile before turning serious again, “we’re going to need some help with that Spheroid, as you can see she’s still sending out combatants. I’d like the Clover to put a few rounds in her.”

  Spalding laid a finger alongside his nose.

  “That won’t be necessary, Sir,” he winked, “why don’t you let me focus on trimming down Harvesters until those runners from Glorious Fleet are gone? After that we can turn that Bug Moon into hash on command. The Droids put a few, let’s call surprises, inside the Moonlet of Mayhem. One transmission and boom! It’s gone,” he said, slapping his hands together with a crack.

  “Spalding, you’re a wonder,” I said with fervent appreciation. “However I’m not sure we can wait that long. We’ve already taken paroles and that moon’s already proven to be surprisingly mobile for something of its size.”

  “Not a problem, Sir,” the old Engineer said seriously, “I’ll get the Droids and see what we can do.”

  “Then I’ll leave the matter in your capable hands,” I said.

  Several minutes later, our sensors registered a small seismic episode that shook the hull of the Spheroid just enough that our sensors could register.

  From that point onward, the Spheroid didn’t move again.

  After that, it was a simple matter of cleaning up the battlefield. We sent Lancers over to help our beleaguered former enemies, those that we could reach in time anyway, and put prize crews aboard those ships that were still somewhat functional.

  In total only a couple dozen undamaged ships actually surrendered. The rest had some form of battle damage.

  All in all, a good day's work.

  Chapter 2: Featherby in Command

  “How long until the next point transfer, Fritters?” Featherby asked, looking up from his data slate where he was rapidly filling out yet another report on the debacle that was supposed to have been the Glorious Fleet’s finest hour.

  “The CSS Potempkin reports it needs more time to repair a bad crack in the hyper dish, sir. They’re requesting an additional twenty four hours to make the needed repairs now that we’re safely out of range of any New Confederation retribution,” said the Chief of Staff.

  “Unacceptable,” Featherby said instantly, “we’re only two jumps away from the nearest ComStat buoy,” the he frowned, “and you know how much I hate it when you use that term, ‘New Confederation.’ It gives these Spineward Sectors locals entirely too much legitimacy.”

  “Sorry, Sir. You know I only strive for accuracy and since that’s what they call themselves, sometimes I slip. I’ll try to do better,” said Fritters.

  “They are nothing more than a regional power that’s still coalescing. I realize that it may seem like a minor matter but it is exactly from seemingly insignificant things like this that larger problems grow,” the Front Admiral scolded.

  “Of course, sir,” Fritters said blank faced, “however, that aside, you can’t mean to leave CSS Potempkin behind. If anything happened to her…” Fritters trailed off.

  “I think we’re long past the point of no return when it comes to ships lost in action. The task force we’re assigned to has lost ships both before and after I assumed command, to say nothing of the fleet as a whole,” said Featherby.

  “You managed to save one hundred and twenty six ships from that disaster. That has to count for something,” said Fritters.

  “If they’re looking to pin it on me then there’s nothing you or I can do, my friend,” Featherby said wearily.

  “I don’t want to accept that...but you’re probably right,” Fritters said bitterly.

  “You know I’m right. This was a disaster of unmitigated proportions. An Imperial flotilla was defeated and a fleet of one thousand ships routed. A Confederation fleet. Do you know the last time a Confederation fleet retreated in the face of the enemy?” asked Featherby.

  “I would assume not since the last war,” said Fritters.

  “Individual ships may have been outnumbered and thus forced to temporarily withdraw, but a full fleet? Never,” said the Front Admiral, “which is why it is absolutely imperative we are the first to get to an FTL buoy and transmit a report home.”

  Fritters worried his lower lip. “Are you sure they won’t decide on a 'kill the messenger' situation? I worry that getting to the front of the line isn’t necessarily the best course,” said Fritters.

  “If we don’t get the truth out there it will be buried,” said Front Admiral Featherby, “this could be our only chance.”

  “At least this way we have the opportunity to shape the narrative. I just worry the Fleet of today isn’t the same as it was when we had a strong Admiralty,” Fritters said worriedly.

  “We still have allies in the Grand Assembly, but regardless there is only so far I can bend in the name of expediency. At a certain point I must be what my life and my training has created in me and let the chips fall where they may,” said the Front Admiral.

  “I’m with you, Willard. I just hope you’re right,” said Fritter.

  “Not more than me, my friend,” sighed Featherby.

  The two shared a look of mutual understanding, then Fritters straightened.

  “What do you intend to do with the Potempkin?” he asked finally.

  Featherby frowned. “I agree that leaving them isn’t a very viable solution. If anything happened their deaths would be on me. That wouldn’t be an issue if this were a combat operation, but I’m not willing to put good men in harm's way in the name of politics. I see no solution but to temporarily transfer my flag to the fastest ship in our task force and proceed with this mission. The rest of the force will just have to catch up later,” the Front Admiral said finally.

  “What if other survivors of the Glorious Fleet of Liberation are already there, or arrive at the same time we do?” his Chief of Staff asked delicately.

  “You’re right. We should prepare an alternate rendezvous,” said the Front Admiral.

  “That brings up other potential issues,” said Commodore Fritters with a long face.

  “At a certain point I have to show confidence in
my officers and captains, or how am I any better than Admirals like Beecher?” said Front Admiral Featherby.

  Two hours later, Featherby transferred his flag.

  Chapter 3: The Calm Before the Storm

  “Point transfer successful,” Navigation reported promptly as soon as the Baselard arrived in the star system.

  “Initiating breakout protocol,” reported the Helm.

  “Activate the long range array and prepare for upload,” ordered Front Admiral Willard Featherby.

  “Depending on the size of the sump, that could be problematic, Sir,” advised the Comm. Officer.

  Front Admiral Featherby shot the Comm. Officer a hard look.

  He looked back at the Admiral helplessly.

  “This is a Destroyer, Sir. Our array isn’t as sturdy as something built into the hull of a larger vessel like a Cruiser or Battleship,” he explained, “if we try to activate the array, then we could encounter serious link problems depending on the number and intensity of gravity wells in the sump with us.”