The Broken Peace

The crew of the Queen Berenice scrambled as reports of the fighting on Meteora poured into the command bridge. Admiral Cloudsley read each in turn, trying to gain a picture of the situation planetside. As he finished one report, two more came in about fighting in a different city. 

"Sir, we've deployed the last standing battalion. They are on their way now, but more requests for troops are coming in."

"What do we have left," asked Cloudsley.

"We have a handful of squads that were in rest and refit," the young officer replied.

"Get them reorganized and down to the surface. Also, mobilize our security forces."

"Sir?"

"Was I unclear, Lieutenant? All security forces prepare to deploy planetside. Once that is done, all non-essential personnel will be armed and deployed to low-risk areas around the planet." Cloudsley asked the comm station, "Have we established contact with Starbase Thespidon?"

"No response yet, Admiral," said the comms officer.

"Keep trying. I also need to speak with Ambassador Marquette."

First Officer Deanna Grimes approached the admiral. "Sir, may I have a word with you?"

"One moment," Cloudsley replied as he read another situation report. "Helm, I will be in my ready room if needed. Grimes with me."

The officers entered Cloudsley's ready room. "What is it, Grimes?"

"Sir, with all due respect, I do not see the wisdom in sending untrained personnel planetside."

"Each crewman goes through basic training, Grimes."

"Yes, sir, but that was a long time ago for most of us."

"We will send our personnel to the most secure areas so we can redeploy our more experienced forces. It will only be a temporary assignment. The remaining crew will have to perform double duty as needed."

"I will, of course, comply with your orders, Admiral, but I must say again, I believe this course is unwise."

"Your concern is so noted, Grimes. Now carry out my orders."

"Yes, sir. I will also assign myself to lead one of our details planetside."

"Belay that. Cazalas is planetside. I don't need you both down there. You will stay and complete the deployment assignments. I want to see them in an hour."

"Yes, sir," Grimes said. She saluted and left the ready room, leaving Cloudsley alone. He sat at his desk and viewed two new reports on his datapad. Requests for reinforcements came in from various parts of Meteora. Cloudsley wondered how the MLA could pull off such an operation with their limited ability.

"Admiral," came the voice of the comms officer.

"Yes?"

"Admiral Lamacus commands you to contact him."

"Route the communication through my ready room."

"Yes, Admiral Cloudsley."

Moments later, the visage of Admiral Lamacus appeared. "Report, Admiral Cloudsley."

"Sir, the situation on Meteora has deteriorated rapidly. Within the last twenty-four hours, the MLA staged a major offensive across the planet. Every major city has fallen under attack. Our forces are stretched thin and to the breaking point in some areas. Without reinforcements, we will lose control of most of the planet."

"I have dispatched reinforcements to Meteora; they should arrive in three days," replied Lamacus.

"How many?"

"Three hundred thousand troops, including armored vehicles."

"Sir, how could you have mustered such a force so quickly?"

"That is unimportant, Admiral Cloudsley. You need to know that I will be en route to Meteora in a few hours with my fleet."

"Sir?"

"Was my transmission scrambled? I said, I will depart for Meteora, and when I arrive, I will assume command."

"Then the Queen Berenice should prepare to depart?"

"No. You will remain on station around Meteora. My flagship, the Pronoia, and her escorts will remain on the blindside of Meteora."

"I don't understand. Why keep the fleet so far back?"

"You will see when the time comes. For now, it is sufficient for you to know that the fleet will remain hidden."

"Yes, Admiral. Will there be anything else?"

"Not until my arrival. Do what you must to stabilize the situation. Soon, the crisis on Meteora will end, and our supremacy will be demonstrated for all to see. Lamacus out."

The visage of the Admiral faded, leaving Cloudsley to wonder what Lamacus had in mind. Cloudsley knew from his days in the Naval Academy that Lamacus was ambitious with a flair for drama. What Lamacus said troubled him. How could he be so confident that the crisis would end with the new troop deployments? Another question that bothered him was why Admiral Lamacus took command of the fleet around Meteora. Something did not feel right to Cloudsley, but he had little time to dwell on his doubts.

He left his ready room, finding First Officer Grimes near the helm. "Grimes, once you finish the personnel reshuffling, we must prepare to receive Admiral Lamacus."

"Admiral Lamacus? Begging your pardon, but why is he coming here?"

"He's bringing 300,000 troops and his fleet with him. Beyond that, I can not say."

"Why so many ships? Meteora has no navy remaining."

"Perhaps it's a warning to the Spartiartes. Whatever the reason, begin preparations to receive him."

"Yes, Admiral Cloudsley."

Cloudsley returned to his duties, monitoring the ship's data and the reports from Meteora. He was thankful that incoming reports from the planet slowed over the last couple of hours. During the lull, Cloudsley considered having his meal brought to him. "Sir, Ambassador Marquette is on the line for you."

Pushing aside the thought of dinner, Cloudsley ordered the officer to relay the transmission to his ready room. He returned once again as the visage of Marquette appeared. "Ambassador, I need a status report."

"We've begun our assault on the Consulate, but the MLA fighters inside have barricaded themselves in the upper floor. Cazalas has secured the bottom floor and is preparing his assault on the second floor. Our forces have blunted the initial attacks, and we are holding our own for now. Several key positions around the planet have been overrun, but for now, we are holding. Once we secure the Consulate, we'll use it as a staging ground and retake Gelenion. Once that's accomplished, we can hold out for reinforcements."

"Reinforcements are already on the way," Cloudsley responded.

"What? How is that possible?" asked Marquette.

"I was hoping you could tell me. I received a transmission from Admiral Lamacus informing me he was departing for Meteora with 300,000 troops and a fleet of ships."

"That's not possible. It would take months to assemble a force that size. Did the Assembly approve this move?"

"You are the ambassador; isn't that something you should know?"

Marquette mulled the question over for a moment. It was strange he was not told that more troops were headed for Meteora. "Admiral, this is the first I've heard of such a move. Whatever Lamacus is doing, I assure you I am not involved."

"Then who has the authority to authorize such a large deployment of resources?"

"No one. The Archon is commander in chief, but even he has limits on his authority."

"Well, whoever ordered this move had some insights into the serious nature of the crisis on Meteora."

"Yes, a lot of foresight indeed. Unfortunately, we don't have the luxury of time to figure it out right now. What have you been able to scrape together for the time being?"

"I've ordered all non-essential personnel to be armed and deployed to low-security areas to replace those needed elsewhere. We will assume defensive positions in most locations while we await the arrival of Admiral Lamacus."

"Agreed. For now, the Consulate is our main focus of attack, then the remainder of the city."