Ep.#15 - "That Which Other Men Cannot Do" (The Frontiers Saga) by Ryk Brown Page B

systems within four months.”
    “The Celestia won’t be fully operational for another month,” Cameron reminded the admiral. “The Jar-Benakh and the Aurora for at least two. The frigates more like six. Not to mention the training of their crews.”
    “We’ll have enough KKVs to strike the first system by the time the Celestia is fully operational,” Admiral Dumar said. “You’ll also have four Super Falcons and at least as many Cobra gunships, either of which could probably deal with the frigates on their own. Same as before. Strike the battle platform and battleship with JKKVs, then go in and clean up the rest.”
    “It’s not the same as before, Admiral,” Cameron disagreed. “Those ships aren’t going to be cruising lazily along as if nothing is wrong. They’re going to be randomly changing course and speed, and they’re going to have all their shields at full strength, every minute of every day.”
    “None of which matters, as long as at least a few jump KKVs hit them,” the admiral replied.
    “And if they don’t?”
    “Then you abort the attack. Since they are already on alert, you’ve lost nothing by the attempt, except a few JKKVs.”
    “And then what?” President Scott wondered. “After you extend the Jung-free zone out to thirty light years, what next? Forty? Fifty?”
    “If need be, yes,” Admiral Dumar replied.
    “The Jung will not sit idly by while you destroy their ships, one battle group at a time,” Commander Telles said. “Nor will they increase their defenses, or double up the number of ships in each group. Instead, they will assemble a vast fleet and send it toward Earth, with the intention of destroying it once and for all.”
    “And what would you suggest, Commander?” President Scott wondered.
    “You must strike them in the heart. You must strike their homeworld.”
    “You’re not suggesting that we glass the Jung homeworld?” the president wondered.
    “Not at all,” Commander Telles replied, “as I know none of you would be willing to resort to such measures. Besides, it would likely escalate the conflict considerably. However, you could attack their fleet. Destroying a substantial portion of the Jung homeworld’s defenses, and with only a handful of ships, would send a strong message to the Jung. If their leaders are subject to the same kind of public pressures as most world governments, they may rethink their plans of conquest.”
    “There’s only one problem with that plan,” Jessica said. “We still don’t know where the Jung homeworld is located.”
    “Then you must find it,” Commander Telles insisted. “In the meantime, the admiral’s plan to expand the Jung-free zone is sound, as it increases the amount of time that you have available to increase your forces.”
    “Some will side with Galiardi,” President Scott warned. “They’ll argue that we are provoking the Jung, forcing an escalation in the conflict.”
    “It is only a matter of time before the Jung either capture a jump drive, obtain usable scans of one, or simply develop one of their own,” Commander Telles pointed out. “To believe otherwise would be foolish.”
    “Recent events would support the commander’s assertions,” Admiral Dumar agreed. “If the Jung do develop a jump drive, it will take them several years to install working prototypes in even a few ships. Removing Jung assets from nearby systems, and perhaps even the entire Sol sector, will not stop them from coming. However, it may give them cause to reconsider their plans. We can build weapons, we can build ships, and we can train crews. But not without time. The only way to acquire that time is to continue expanding the Jung-free zone as much as possible.”
    “We have already killed hundreds of thousands of Jung troops and ship crews,” President Scott said. “When I consider that fact, I start to wonder if Galiardi isn’t right.”
    “He probably is,” Commander Telles replied. “But that is not the point.