BeyHop Chpt 41

Beyond Hope

- Chapter 41 - When you see me running…

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It wasn’t just the Clans who wound up having an existential crises in response to the confirmation that it was Helena Cameron. The Word of Blake and many elements of Comstar that had not been as purged as Focht had claimed had their own debates. The answer to those was quite unfortunate.

Jane Cameron
Musings on the Jihad
Tharkad Publishing 3084

Naval Engagement in Orbit

High Planetary Orbit
KCGS Elizabeth Cameron, M5 Casper Drone Destroyer
Kowloon, Federated Commonwealth
3061

Jane (Cameron) Drillson watched through sensor arrays as the construction of the Beta Site progressed. Arthur's revised design for the high-energy laboratory was, in her admittedly military estimation, an expression of both simplicity, and grandiose overdesign.

Bianh was with her 'oldest girls' on the bridge, supervision for the construction battalions at work on the tiny moon down below. "Phoebe? What's interesting?"

Modified M5 Casper Destroyer, KCGS Elizabeth Cameron

Phoebe turned and signed <mass indicators say this is a heavy rock in an unusual orbit, she's nearly twice as dense as Snark IV was, the anchor footings will be more stable, maybe enough to prevent the resonance effect that broke Eros and Snark…see?>

"I see it. You're right." it was speaking-but it was also text. Sophie's reading speed almost made up for being born without many of the structures humans use to hear, aside from the external ears, and some malformed tiny bones.

Lenore was wading through the text with her usual difficulty. The Dyslexia and Dysnumeria therapies were helping her, but she was still well below her age group in both reading, and mathematics. Jane adjusted the displays to show a less cluttered flow of information that would let the muscular sister keep up-mostly-with what was being picked up.

"What's that?" Lenore pointed at a stray data point. "That's not normal, not like the others…"

"You're right." Jane coordinated with the Sithers team.

Something had been added to the mass, and they found it.

A bomb. Someone had planted a bomb on one of the prefabricated segments. Jane dispatched an Atomjack to examine the 'stray' bomb. The read back was an anti-shipping nuke, fifteen kilotons and the only reason Lenny spotted it, was that the thrust rates and velocity were not the same as the others…by the tiniest of fractions.

“Your attention to detail is improving, Lenore.” Jane smiled.

"Thanks…is it serious?" Lenore asked, reminding Jane that she wasn't 'in the loop' with the actual personnel working the site.

“Thanks to you, it will not be.” Jane nodded.

"Cool." Lenore seemed to crank up her attention to the readouts, looking for anything else 'weird or wrong'.

The report from the field team indicated the bomb had been placed, and armed with a timer, but sometime between the construction at Snark V, and here, something had disrupted or burnt out the laser triggers. A hand-torch cut to vent the hydrogen disarmed it entirely, and they were removing it without incident.

"Well, I think we're early for Elizabeth's prediction…" Bianh suggested, "but not by much. Instead of after the war, someone's trying to start the fragmentation early."

“Indeed.” Jane walked her remote over to Bianh.

"Conyers, Lawson, I want a stem-to-stern search of this ship, if they're going to blow up a lab that isn't finished, they're sure as god going to try and kill the AI." Bianh ordered, "and I would be most displeased to be a widow at my age. GO."

Jane hugged Bianh and let her hands wander to Bianh’s midsection carrying their child.

"Jane, focus outside, I doubt this is their only play out here where witnesses can be silenced." Bianh was in 'combat mind'.

“On it.” Jane also suddenly became much more serious in tone and posture. "Huh, radar looks funny." Lenore spotted an anomaly that Jane's software-designed by the Star League, with Star League standards and Star League training, discounted as normal signal noise.

"Helmets." Bianh ordered, "sound all hands depressurize for combat, Jane. if it's nothing it's still good practice, but that does look odd."

“Agreed. Setting course for Spider Moon. We should get the children off just to be safe.”

"Not with my workers light-years away from home and not while we have guns." Bianh argued, "Girls, emergency procedures, get the young ones to sick bay NOW."

Lenny was already in motion, gathering the younger kids and herding them to the one section of the ship that would maintain pressure no-matter-what. (short of actual physical destruction of most of the structure.)

This also freed Jane somewhat. "Dear?"

"Yes?" Bianh asked.

"Get your superb ass to sick bay with our baby. I need to run the full sensor suite..and that's not good for children in the womb."

“Give them hell for us.” Bianh told her.

“They’ll beg for hell by the time I’m done with them.” Jane responded with a smile.

Jane waited for her wife to make it into the protected sickbay section, with the rest of the on-board crew and passengers, then lit up with her full strength sensors and ECCM suites for the first time since 2780.

The reward, was a little surprising. Comstar and Word of Blake both claimed missing assets with the mutual accusation of the others holding out on contracts.

The ship revealed was an Impavido running no transponder codes, but also running a reasonable amount of ECM and stealthing for a crewed vessel.

Impavido Class Destroyer

I see you. The newly built Terran, despite being built in the Free World’s League it was clearly developed by the Word of Blake, ship lit engines, her crew reacting fully ten seconds slower than a comparable, experienced SLDF crew would have.

"All hands secure for hard maneuvers." This was still not going to be an easy fight.

Jane began comparing what her sensors told her about the vessel versus what the official warbook entry supplied to the SLDF claimed.

Naughty, naughty. But I’m not surprised.

Jane calculated the likely weapon compliment and watched the acceleration readout climb.

It has a thrust advantage on me. Firepower is good enough that if I were a standard M5 I’d probably lose this engagement. But thankfully my self-destruct was pulled with armor and AMS put in its place. But this could still get rather uncomfortable.

The enemy slowed just long enough to launch eighteen Aerospace Fighters.

This just got more complicated.

As soon as the range registered 900km Jane let her Extreme range weapons fly. She didn’t target the ship with her missiles, that would be a waste. No, her missiles were going for the Fighters.

Only her bow quartet of Naval Lasers found limited purchase thanks to SLDF Bracket Firing algorithms.

The return Naval Lasers of the new vessel failed to find their mark at this range.

But now, the thrust advantage of the enemy vessel meant they were closer.

An RF sequence emitted from the enemy vessel, and Jane recognized the self-destruct activation code.

Okay, so now I KNOW you had archive access…on Terra. And now I’m really angry.

Jane calculated the next barrage from her nose batteries. Keeping her nose to the enemy like she was doing meant the range was closing very rapidly now but it was clear this was her best bet to get hits on target.

Not needing quite as wide a barrage pattern Jane was able to inflict more damage to the enemy vessel but as the Naval Autocannon shells of each vessel passed each other the Impavido adjusted its facing to present fresh armor.

Jane’s missiles were doing their job of keeping the enemy ASF busy.

The armor plate of both vessels did it’s job.

Now to end you.

Jane did her own roll to put fresh armor and guns on the target and as the angles adjusted she fired each bay as it unmasked.

The gunnery of each vessel was now rather accurate at this range.

Jane knew she would need a lot of yard time as she knew despite her best efforts a lot of enemy shells would be hitting her armor plate now.

But that was better than what the Impavido was now in for.

The Impavido was no longer thrusting. The entire port side had been ripped open by Jane’s broadside.

As the Blakist fighters realized they didn’t have a ride home anymore they clearly started angling for suicide attacks.

She was cycling her missiles as fast as she could and using whatever she had to break up the attacks. Six made it through despite her efforts.

Two launched antishipping missiles, Jane assumed they were nuclear tipped but her AMS was sufficient to the task of keeping her from confirming the hard way.

The impacts on her hull were enough she had to course correct.

Between her improved armor and running depressurized she had survived the fight but the damage readouts still indicated she’d need lots and lots of yard time.

“All hands, we are standing down. Begin damage control checks.” Jane announced.

The Impavido was still largely intact but it was no longer combat capable.

Jane did not want to risk finding out she was wrong by going back to finish the job.

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Flash of Light

Iron Hills - Kowloon, Federated Commonwealth
3061

Moshe was facing away, when the flash happened.

Helena and Elizabeth were already in the shadow of the Iron Hills and 70 kilometers away.

Pol Nguyen wasn't. Neither were 250,000 citizens of Hue's western, riverside district.

It will take six months to finish putting the fires out.

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Urgency to Leave

Helena Drillson (Cameron)'s Office - Kowloon, Federated Commonwealth
3059

>>“Yardies say Jane’s going to need a minimum of three months in the yards to repair her battle damage. Marines were able to pull 24 survivors off the Blakist vessel. The others either died in the firefights or committed suicide. Interrogations are underway but we’re not hopeful about learning anything useful from them.”<< Bianh reported.

"A quarter million of my citizens are dead." Elizabeth said, "you lost Moshe And Pol, and a quarter million civilians are dead. Bianh, did Jane's consciousness survive?"

>>“Yes. The damage was to her outer sections only. It’s still quite extensive. The suicide attacks in particular did a real number on several of her systems.”<<

"We found three more in the Warship gantries." Liz continued. "Someone tried to put us out of business and the closest thing I have to a clue is some movement called 'Sixth of June' and a warning from a Blakist who couldn't handle the plan happening-I doubt we can count on consciences next time. We need to be in front of this."

>>“With how much traffic is coming through the system due to our being a major hub for the Star League, our security situation is going to be quite difficult.”<<

"Bianh, put Jane on. You're her wife and you can listen, but put her on the comm." Liz was in Duchess mode, and that was an order.

>>“Elizabeth.”<< Jane’s voice came over the comm.

"Jane, your sister is angry-when she's not being frantic…but she's otherwise externally undamaged and Jakob's still in one piece and they're still together…but Helena's in a mood and it's nastier than MINE."

>>“That is all I can hope for at the moment. Helena’s going to need someone to stay on her for the next few weeks, to keep her from doing something rash. My remotes are rather busy at the moment.”<<

"You mean like requisitioning the Golden Lake, dragging Jakob along, to go kill some people?" Liz asked, "Don't worry, I talked her down from that…but, here's your assignment from me, your host and friend: recover. I've had to meet with the Star League council, even Sun-Tzu thinks this move was outlandishly brazen, we've got half the intel agencies in the Inner Sphere looking for this 'Sixth of June's' leadership."

>>“My core did not suffer any damage. But I will be taking some time. My children do need me right now. They’re stronger than they seem but they are still shaken by this and I must tend to them.”<<

"You've been using the Spider Moon house, yeah?"

>>“Yes. It is close enough I can run my remotes there full time.”<< Jane responded.

"Your sister is coming for a visit, with your nephew. Set the table."

>>“Good. I should be able to keep her from back tracking into something rash while she is here.”<<

"Keep her there, keep her busy." Liz said. "Keep in mind something else; this wasn't just sabotage and assassination, it was an act of terrorism. Do you know what a Terrorist deals in?"

>>“Fear. Uncertainty.”<<

"That's right. Fear, it's right there in the name. We're not going to change anything more than what we need to to deal with the damage, deaths and fires." Elizabeth's expression was hard.

>>“Indeed and this was also clearly a message. That Kowloon itself was also a target. We have gone against the ‘Sixth of June’s’ interpretations of Blake’s teachings and the Mother Doctrine. We should expect them to continue targeting the citizenry as well as you two in particular.”<<

"Yeah, we're scaring people, and you know what? We're gong to keep doing it. Underline that in your mind, Jane. not one jot will change. I've already read in the Star League Council, Helena's on leave of absence to deal with the shock, they stuck me in her job until she's on her proverbial feet and ready to resume her taskings. This also means you're getting extra yard crews, I want you running combat sims and evaluations at the Spider Moon campus and vetting command candidates, especially those who will be handling nuclear release options. They got those warheads somewhere, and someone had to know how to rig and arm them. I want you to give the absolute anal exam on every single person who comes through the Spider Moon program until you're ready to put to sea under your own power, am I clear, Captain Cameron?"

>>“Crystal.”<<

"Good, tell your wife I noticed she's shorting surface time again, she can do it at Spider Moon, or I'll send her to help fight fires in the Golden Lake Valley. Given her planetophobia, I think doing it with her family is going to be the choice she favors. See to it."

>>“I’ll make it clear. After all she has our unborn child to think of too.”<<

"Good….if Admiral Wells shows up angry? It's because of me. Don't worry about it."

>>“I’ll have the St. John’s Wort tea ready. Should help calm her down.”<<

"Good, I'm going to need her out at Base Delta in three months, on the crimson road, with Two Squadron. Mission is to 'Kill everything that isn't us' ."

>>“I’ll do what I can.”<< Jane told her

>>"What's the play ma'am? That's a major shift."<< Bianh was back.

"We're being distracted by domestic affairs, so the Clans are opportunists. So we make that opportunity hurt them. I'm amping up the tempo some, we're sending out the remaining completed destroyers with, or without, full complements, and with full nuclear release."

>>“There is a significant anti-Clan sentiment reported by LIC in the Word of Blake but we should still do what we can to beef up security along the Crimson Road as well.”<<

"I know, which is why I need Wells escorting those refugees." Liz said. "We can't trust the Comstar or Word of Blake contingent not to have 'accidents' if the only witnesses are Clanners."

>>“They may also start making plays for the stations themselves. They may find destroying them is just as useful as keeping them for themselves.”<<

"Also why I want Grace Wells out there. Victor trusts Beresick and Focht, I'm still undecided, but I know goddam well that Gracie Wells has the bones and stones to do what's right, and she's sharp enough to do it. You'll be taking over station at Alpha by the time the refugees are arriving there, as group commander taking over for Gracie. When you get there, assert your authority immediately and undeniably."

>>“Will do.”<<

"Okay, everyone's got their orders. I'm signing off, I have to go argue with Theodore's people about some operational discipline issues in the Huntress occupation forces."

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Interstellar News Report

"...Elizabeth Ngo-Steiner-Davion's brief tour as Naval Minister for the Star League is mainly notable for how it contrasted with Helena Cameron's first and subsequent tours in the same role. Where Helena was accepted as a Strategist and Logisitician, the expectation was that Kowloon's Duchess would be a Technocrat, and the various governments of the Star League braced for such behaviors.

Duchess Elizabeth Ngo-Steiner-Davion

What they got, was Duchess Headshot, Elizabeth's other, pre-married life reputation for ruthlessness in the face of casual corruption and misconduct. Under Duchess Ngo's term as the fill-in for Lady Helena, forty three flag rank officers were relieved for cause, including twelve decorated commanders in what amounted to an audit-driven bloodbath that saw nearly one thousand arrests in a six month period, for issues ranging from procurement issues to the 'leaking' of Star League military equipment and resources onto the black markets, to criminal conduct of a personal nature uncovered in what the press roundly called 'The Crimson Purge Scandals'.

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