still they resist. Perhaps when we reduce their society to a smoking ruin they will understand the futility of attempting to stand against the empire.”
“Yes, no doubt,” Roth said. “What are the projections, Admiral Heller?”
“Projections are difficult to estimate when dealing with such an intractable adversary, Viceroy.” He cleared his throat and gestured to the younger officer to his right. “Admiral Braun is leading the operation and has had first-hand experience against the enemy forces.”
Braun sat erect, his hands steady, his eyes clear.
“If we’re lucky,” Braun began, “we might get away with forty percent casualties, Viceroy.”
“If we’re lucky, Admiral Braun?” Viceroy Roth’s predatory expression intensified.
“The Talgarnos have, since the end of the war, adopted a fanatically xenophobic posture.”
Unlike Heller, this young admiral maintained eye contact with the viceroy, even daring a quick glance at the emperor.
“They have one of the best modern navies in the north, with experienced crews and solid leadership. Their pathological hatred of outsiders equates our entreaties to a form of societal violation. This is no ordinary enemy, Viceroy. In short, Sir, we can beat them, but it will cost us. Considering the extremism of the enemy mindset, I believe a casualty figure of forty percent to be a conservative estimate.”
“Have you fought them before, Admiral Braun?” the emperor asked.
“Yes, Majesty.” Braun waited until the emperor motioned him to continue. “I accompanied a destroyer squadron on a recon sortie to within a half light year of the Talgarno outer marker. Within an hour of egression we were attacked by six small, hyper-capable patrol craft. We tore them to pieces but they kept coming at us. One of them broke through our defense envelope and rammed the destroyer Oldenburg. She survived but will be in dry dock for three months.” Braun shook his head, betraying his admiration. “Damnedest thing I’ve ever seen.” He dared to stare directly at the emperor. “That is the type of insane tenacity we will face when we go to Talgarno, Majesty.”
“Thank you for a very complete report, Admiral Braun,” Roth said. “Now to move on. Admiral Kneymeyer, I trust the situation on the western front has improved since our last meeting.”
The rest of the meeting went as all meetings went: some good news and some bad news; those who were obviously competent, like Braun, and others who followed the imperative of high-echelon maneuvering, by first covering their asses before devoting time to actually getting on with the job. Draeger hoped Braun would learn how to deal with this sort of dangerous verbal warfare much better in the future. He was a good line officer, and it would be a pity to lose him because he could not adjust to how the political game worked.
Two hours later, with all the reports and excuses having been tabled, the meeting broke up. Only the three most powerful men in the empire remained at the table. More than anyone else, these three men had steered the empire from the great abyss and begun its rebirth, from a shattered society into the most powerful entity in northern Tunguska.
A waiter served coffee before being dismissed. The emperor took a sip of the fresh, hot brew.
“Where the devil did you get Athenian coffee?”
Viceroy Roth nodded toward Draeger, who shrugged. “I wouldn’t be much of an intelligence officer if I couldn’t track down some decent coffee for my emperor.”
“Should we ask how you acquired Kastorian coffee?” Roth asked. The steely glint had fled from his eyes, which now sparkled with mischief.
“No,” Draeger said.
The three men exchanged relaxed smiles rarely seen outside of their own company.
“I like that young admiral,” Thaddeus said. “Braun, isn’t it?” The other men nodded. “It’s refreshing to see such spirit and confidence.” Thaddeus sat for several seconds, pondering. “We used to
“Yes, no doubt,” Roth said. “What are the projections, Admiral Heller?”
“Projections are difficult to estimate when dealing with such an intractable adversary, Viceroy.” He cleared his throat and gestured to the younger officer to his right. “Admiral Braun is leading the operation and has had first-hand experience against the enemy forces.”
Braun sat erect, his hands steady, his eyes clear.
“If we’re lucky,” Braun began, “we might get away with forty percent casualties, Viceroy.”
“If we’re lucky, Admiral Braun?” Viceroy Roth’s predatory expression intensified.
“The Talgarnos have, since the end of the war, adopted a fanatically xenophobic posture.”
Unlike Heller, this young admiral maintained eye contact with the viceroy, even daring a quick glance at the emperor.
“They have one of the best modern navies in the north, with experienced crews and solid leadership. Their pathological hatred of outsiders equates our entreaties to a form of societal violation. This is no ordinary enemy, Viceroy. In short, Sir, we can beat them, but it will cost us. Considering the extremism of the enemy mindset, I believe a casualty figure of forty percent to be a conservative estimate.”
“Have you fought them before, Admiral Braun?” the emperor asked.
“Yes, Majesty.” Braun waited until the emperor motioned him to continue. “I accompanied a destroyer squadron on a recon sortie to within a half light year of the Talgarno outer marker. Within an hour of egression we were attacked by six small, hyper-capable patrol craft. We tore them to pieces but they kept coming at us. One of them broke through our defense envelope and rammed the destroyer Oldenburg. She survived but will be in dry dock for three months.” Braun shook his head, betraying his admiration. “Damnedest thing I’ve ever seen.” He dared to stare directly at the emperor. “That is the type of insane tenacity we will face when we go to Talgarno, Majesty.”
“Thank you for a very complete report, Admiral Braun,” Roth said. “Now to move on. Admiral Kneymeyer, I trust the situation on the western front has improved since our last meeting.”
The rest of the meeting went as all meetings went: some good news and some bad news; those who were obviously competent, like Braun, and others who followed the imperative of high-echelon maneuvering, by first covering their asses before devoting time to actually getting on with the job. Draeger hoped Braun would learn how to deal with this sort of dangerous verbal warfare much better in the future. He was a good line officer, and it would be a pity to lose him because he could not adjust to how the political game worked.
Two hours later, with all the reports and excuses having been tabled, the meeting broke up. Only the three most powerful men in the empire remained at the table. More than anyone else, these three men had steered the empire from the great abyss and begun its rebirth, from a shattered society into the most powerful entity in northern Tunguska.
A waiter served coffee before being dismissed. The emperor took a sip of the fresh, hot brew.
“Where the devil did you get Athenian coffee?”
Viceroy Roth nodded toward Draeger, who shrugged. “I wouldn’t be much of an intelligence officer if I couldn’t track down some decent coffee for my emperor.”
“Should we ask how you acquired Kastorian coffee?” Roth asked. The steely glint had fled from his eyes, which now sparkled with mischief.
“No,” Draeger said.
The three men exchanged relaxed smiles rarely seen outside of their own company.
“I like that young admiral,” Thaddeus said. “Braun, isn’t it?” The other men nodded. “It’s refreshing to see such spirit and confidence.” Thaddeus sat for several seconds, pondering. “We used to
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