Battle Station by B. V. Larson Page B

hadn’t known who was in charge. By wasting time arguing, they’d given me the time I’d needed to return.
    “It doesn’t matter,” I said. “Let’s review the current situation. We have another large force on the other side of this ring. They are neutral I’d say for now, but will possibly become friendly in the future. I count the Crustaceans as a plus. Even if they don’t help us in this system, they should operate as a buffer between us and any new Macro invasion force coming from that direction.”
    “Sir, if I may interject,” Captain Sloan said.
    “Go for it, Captain.”
    “If the lobsters are out there playing interference for us, maybe the best course of action would be to place a sentry ship on their side of the ring.”
    I nodded. “I’ve made arrangements to do just that, promising aid if the Macros come against them in force.”
    “Another alliance sir?” asked Miklos. “Alliances have a way of dragging nations into other people’s wars.”
    “Their war is our war, Miklos. This is all about the machines against the biotics—the living against mechanized death. But still, I appreciate your input.”
    Miklos leaned back in his chair, nodding. In truth, I did appreciate his input. He had a more introspective view on events than most of my staff. He knew more history, and looked into things more deeply than Sloan, who was essentially a frontline fighter with the survival instincts of a city rat.
    “I want to put something to rest, here,” I said. “I don’t want another chaotic command mess of the kind I overheard on the channel when I returned to this system. In a ground combat situation, when my input is unavailable, Captain Sloan is in charge. In Fleet situations and for matters of overall command, my second is Captain Miklos. This military unit should be seen as apart from the rest of Star Force for now. We are a task force on a mission, we have our orders from Star Force, and we are executing them at a remote site as we see fit. Is that clear for everyone?”
    Captain Sloan didn’t even bat an eye. I could tell he didn’t care who was in charge, he just wanted things settled. I liked that about him. He wasn’t ambitious—except in the matter of his personal survival. Miklos frowned and nodded more slowly and thoughtfully. He was a thinker. As far as I could tell, he wasn’t thrilled to be my second-in-command. He knew what a burden that might become. But he accepted my arrangements without complaint.
    I liked supporting officers who didn’t complain. I smiled and left that baggage behind me.
    “Let’s press on, then,” I said. The first order of business is the liberation of this system from the Macros—all the Macros. The Centaurs are trapped in their satellites without access to the ground. We are going to provide that access. Rather than using the presence of the Crustacean’s Nano fleet to cover our retreat, I’m going to use them to cover our attack. We are going to retake the surface of every world in the system. By doing so, we will gain a set of invaluable Nano factories as a gift from the Centaurs. We can use those systems to set up further defenses and fortify this system on a permanent basis.”
    There were murmurs of agreement, with reservations. I could see questions in their eyes—some registered mild shock.
    Finally, Kwon voiced everyone’s concern. He’d kept quiet throughout the meeting up until now. “A new ground campaign, Colonel? With so few marines?”
    I turned to him and smiled. “I think we’ll have enough troops, Kwon. The Centaurs will make up the bulk of our forces. I’m envisioning every Star Force marine with a full company of armed Centaurs at his back.”
    Kwon looked comically alarmed. “Excuse me, sir. I would not trust these creatures behind me.”
    It was my turn to appear surprised. “You don’t trust them? You’ve met them in battle and heard their speeches. They are an honorable people, Kwon.”
    “Of course, sir! It is not