VanDread: Third Time A Charm
by "Aje RavenStar" <whinebucket@comcast.net>
[This was quickly put together a year or so ago, hasn't been edited properly. Please forgive tense and other inconsistencies].
VanDread: Third Time A Charm
Hibiki Tokai and Dita Liebely are at home with their five children (twin boy and girl, girl, girl, boy), a lovely back country setting, the place he shared with Grandfather next to it. They farm and generally live a laid back life, until BC calls with the news, "Earth's back. We need you."
The oldest boy, happening to be close enough to listen in, interrupts her. "They're already here. We'll discuss it when you visit. Tokai out." He cut the connection.
"Travis!" Dita scolds.
"They're here," Travis repeated. "Tylor, will you go inform Grandpa and Aunt Magno and have them join us?" His twin, the oldest daughter nods and runs off. "Mother, Dad, there is really nothing more to say until our guests arrive. There should be ten of them, maybe twelve. Plus us, Aunt and Grandfather. I need to think on the situation until they arrive." Dita and Hibiki shrugged to each other, and she took the youngest three and headed for the kitchen to get things ready. Magno and Grandfather arrive a few minutes later, Tylor went to assist her mother while Magno and Grandfather get the word from Hibiki and listen carefully to Travis.
BC arrives, escorted by Bart Garsus. They bring along Parfet Balblair and Duelo McFile, Meia Gisborn and Gascogne Rheingau, and Jura Basil Elden and Barnette Orangello. All greet each other briefly, then assemble at table, the adults joined by Travis and Tylor (the three youngest Meiane, Juarne, and Parlo).
BC confirms she has Travis and Tylor's names correct, then asks the lad, "What did you mean, they're already here?"
"He meant exactly that," her former captain, Magno, informs her. "I take it Mejare patrols have discovered a large fleet of Earth ships headed toward us or just outside our space, right?"
BC nods.
"But there have been a number of small probes that have been thrown against both Mejare and Taraak in the last twelve to six years, haven't there?" Grandpa asked knowingly. "I know there have here, through connections. Confirm for Mejare, please." Meia nodded.
"And the common view is that they've all been destroyed by weapons or entering atmosphere and failed to accomplish whatever it was they were intended to, since no signals going back were ever detected?" Magno asked knowingly.
"Yes, Captain," BC admits.
"That fits, then, Travis," Magna nodded. "Tell everyone your conjectures."
"Thank you, Aunt," Travis said. "Commander, I told you over the link that they were already here, without knowing that bit of info - most correctly not publicized. I have studied battle strategy and history, Earth's mostly. A common tactic on Earth is something called 'fifth column', where enemy agents are planted within the target, their mission being to influence public opinion against self defense measures, sabotage, anything that will weaken the enemy's ability or willingness to defend themselves. In the case of our two planets, this would be an extremely effective tactic. Put such a force into place, then draw all the military force you can away by dangling a fleet within range, destroy what you can of those, and cut off their retreat by taking the home base over while they're away. Mere fleet against fleet attacks haven't succeeded for them; even machines like they are will have realized it is time for a change in tactics."
"But they're mostly machines!" Dita exclaimed. "How could they find anyone to plant here and pass for human? Our type of human?"
"From the years of Harvest," Duelo nodded. "Which shows us a means to detect them, possibly."
"Checking DNA against available records of missing or taken," Tylor contributed. "Or for any trace of colony population data match."
"So how do we proceed?" Bart asked.
"What has the enemy fleet done since detection?" Travis asked.
"Maintained a holding pattern," Jura reported.
"Waiting for additional forces possibly, quietly establishing secure and undetectable communication channels with the fifth columnists certainly," Tylor said. "Plus, their plan is not to attack us, but to draw us out to attack them. They'll wait for some time to see if there is evidence they've been detected. If no response is made after a suitable period, they'll somehow arrange for themselves to be 'discovered'. A brief sortie against some moderately populated outpost or station. Can't be too small, but can't be so large as to cause panic."
"So how do we proceed?" BC asked.
"Expand Taraak scouting of our immediate space to make sure there isn't a second fleet or group heading for us from some other direction," Travis said. "Then set up a permanent parameter on the edge of that sphere to keep watch. It is not likely they'll attack both planets at once, but we can't forget that Taraak seems to have also got its share of fifth columnists. All those really have to do is influence things to keep us from coming to Mejare's aid. It will be to our advantage to let them think they've done so, while we use those forces elsewhere. More on that in a bit. Another thing that must come first is each of you in or taking a position of authority in this defensive action must carefully consider everyone who has joined your staff, or even that you've met, in the last twelve years, and research them. Even if it was someone you knew years before, that just came back into your life recently. It might not be that person after all."
"A reasonable time and use for paranoia, I agree," Gascogne nodded.
"Meanwhile, we must build up both fleets, particularly Mejare's, since that's where the brunt of the apparent attack is aimed at," Tylor said. "Aunt Magna will have to return there, but for planet bound duty."
"Leading the effort to detect, identify, and thwart the aims of the fifth columnists there," Magna nodded. "Freeing up the younger folk for front line duties. It's logical I would return to Mejare when facing a medical crisis, because what would men doctors know about how to treat a woman's complaint? As long as an enemy agent doesn't examine me too closely and learn that thanks to doctors on both planets, I'm healthier than I've been in years. It's also more natural for an old woman like me to not only not participate in battle, but not to even be asked to help. You understand, BC, Meia, Gascogne, Jura, and Barnette? I will be there and available, but to be effective I must be ignored, or even snubbed. Contact must be done indirectly and discretely."
"Yes, Captain," all four nodded.
"No, I think they should be there to greet you and make a show of getting you settled back at home when you arrive," Travis suggested. "And from that point, have no direct contact with you - birthday messages and that sort of normal thing, but no face to face. Let it be rumored that you returned there to die, and they met you on arrival to say their goodbyes. They want to leave it at that, not deal with it again."
"And this may get your foot in the door with the fifth column," Tylor continued at a nod from her brother.
"I see," Magna smiled. "Brilliant!"
"I don't follow," Jura complained.
"What could a group like that offer a pain-wracked, dying old woman like me?" Magna asked. "I'd be a prize for them, after all, with my reputation and connections."
"Her choice of fresh body parts," Bart responded. "Subtle and brilliant. So, who will be handling the same group here on Taraak? Grandpa, I guess."
"So it would appear, on the surface," Grandpa laughed. "But I'll be a red herring, I suspect."
"A what?" BC blinked.
"Earth slang," Travis explained. "A misdirection. Since Mom and Dad will be with one or another of the battle groups, Tylor and I will be remaining here to look after the farm and property while they are gone. Far as anyone not here right now knows or needs to know, that is our only duty. Who would imagine that two youngsters like us would have ability or enough time to deal with something really complex, such as ferreting out, monitoring and negating an internal enemy?"
"And minding your brother and sisters," Dita said.
"Mom, Dad, the other three are all still young enough to need you, and will not understand why they can't be with you," Tylor said sadly. "I don't want them to leave the safer place this will be, but they need to be with you. Children - not many, but still - were on the Nirvana before. And you'll be more settled if some of us are around."
"And they are too young to be reasonably expected to handle managing a place like this, while we're just barely old enough," Travis added. "Dad, you can take some comfort in knowing that if one of our family groups comes to harm, the other will be safe. Just in care."
"There is that," Hibiki nodded.
"Hibiki, Dita, what have you been feeding these children?" Barnette asked, paling.
"Responsibility, and questioning everything, but also how to recognize and accept applicable information as the answers to such questions," Grandpa told him. "Even when the best available answer doesn't sit well."
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"So we've plans to deploy forces against the enemy fleet, and the fifth columnists on both planets," BC said. "What else?"
"We're not done planning that first," Travis said. "Parfet, you are the Nirvana's engineer, right?"
"Yes," Parfet nodded.
"From what we've heard from the time you tangled with them on your trip home, at one point the enemy created a kind of 'clone' of the Nirvana, right?" Travis asked. Parfet nodded. "You need to see if you can find a way to ask the Nirvana or the Paksis Pragma to do so also. The resulting vessel will be flagship of the Mejare fleet."
"Staffed by who, and who will be on the original Nirvana, where?" Jura asked.
"Nirvana II will be captained by BC, with Bart as second in command and navigator," Tylor said. "You'll have to find a new doctor, engineer, supply chief and squad commanders."
"Paiway, maybe, for doctor, now she's fully certified," BC mused. "Last I heard of that Misty Cornwell, she was studying engineering, and she is one of the few such who know anything about the Nirvana. Ezra, maybe, for supply chief. Squad commanders will take a bit more thought. Are you sure I can't have Jura and Barnette - oh. I think I see the plan. We're going to use the enemy's tactic. A two-pronged attack, inside and outside. And since there's only one Hibiki, he and the others get the main, tougher target."
"Exactly," Travis nodded. "The report that Taraak's fleet will not be sent to Mejare's aid, but held close to home in case of direct attack, is not just to make the enemy think things will be easier than it is. Anymore than the increased defensive sphere and apparent increase in scouting activities shows where its fleet is. Most of it, like a good portion of Mejare's fleet, is going to be remotely operated drones. The intent is to keep them satisfied they know where the Taraak fleet is, and that it will remain idle."
"Then where will the original Nirvana be, with whom?"
"With Meia in command, Jura, Barnette, and Mom as the squad commanders -, " Travis began.
"No," his sister interrupted. "Meia cannot be captain, and take part in battle. Sorry, Commander, but it will have to be Barnette as captain."
"Correction noted," her brother nodded. "With Barnette as captain, Meia, Jura, and Mom as squad commanders, Duelo as ship's doctor, Parfet as engineer, Gascogne as logistic coordinator, and other staff and personnel to be decided, the original Nirvana will lead what we will call the Taraak fleet - mostly built and staffed by this planet, as BC's fleet will be built and staffed by Mejare - secretly traveling to attack the source of the problem, the main enemy. Earth itself."
"Because until that is dealt with, we will keep being attacked," BC nodded. "That being the main enemy, Hibiki, his Vanguard, and the three Dreads and their pilots who can combine with him have to be in that fleet. It is a bonus that Jura's partner Barnette will also be along and captain, as she is an expert on old Earth weapons technology. None of us know anything about what they have now, but her knowledge will guide her in figuring out whatever it is, what it can do, and how to counter it better and quicker than anyone else I could name. And I accept that the more experienced engineer and doctor should go along with that fleet. Doesn't mean I have to like it."
"BC," Magna said. Her former second turned to her. "You're forgetting the situation. When we tangled with these enemies before, we were far from home, right dead in the middle of it, without time to prepare and without choice of personnel. Your command does not have that limitation. Travis, how much time, minimum, do you think we have before the enemy provokes notice and need to attack?"
"Six months, minimum, a year at most," the youngster said. "And everyone missed one other point. Gascogne reprogrammed an Earth ship once. That knowledge makes her far more vital to the fleet attacking to Earth than the Mejare defense fleet."
Gascogne startled, but nodded thoughtfully.
"Cloning the Nirvana won't be done overnight, but hopefully not more than a month," Magna said. "Plenty of time to fill the holes in both crews, let the experienced hands train the new ones in what they know about engineering, navigation and other matters, and even find you at least one new VanDread pairing just of your own."
"There is that," BC acknowledged, cheering up. "This has been a better situation analysis and planning session than any I've held yet. Travis, Tylor, thank you. I hope you'll be available when we need help?"
"Of course," Travis nodded, exchanging a look at his sister. "Regular communication from your Nirvana and us is desirable. If intercepted, the enemy will infer that the frequency of such means our parents are on your ship. Who else would need such frequent communication with us?"
"That means - regular communication from our Nirvana is not desirable?" Dita guessed sadly. Tylor nodded.
