The Landfall Campaign (The Nameless War) (5 page)

Callahan thoughtfully stared up at the ceiling.
“
Alright,
”
he eventually said.
“
I guess I can probably sell that to the international community. Unfortunately we are somewhat hostage to circumstance on two of the shelters in that we don
’
t have any say in the way they
’
re run. Douglas Base, what
’
s the commander there like?
”

“
A clerk,
”
Lewis replied sourly.

“
That isn
’
t a fair appraisal,
”
Fengzi objected.

“
No, I suppose it isn
’
t,
”
Lewis replied with ill grace after a moment.

“
The commander there is Rear Admiral Alfred Eulenburg. He
’
s a good administrator, that
’
s why he
’
s there,
”
Wingate said.
“
But he doesn
’
t have much in the way of field experience. There is however a very experienced marine officer present. Eulenburg will defer to him if the question of ground combat arises.
”

“
Well hopefully the Nameless won
’
t approach the planet and it won
’
t come up,
”
Callahan said.

“
I sincerely hope so, because Landfall could become our Verdun,
”
Lewis said quietly before leaving the room.

“
Cody, can I have a private word?
”
Callahan called from down the corridor as Wingate headed for the lift.

“
Certainly Daniel,
”
Wingate replied turning around,
“
perhaps in my office?
”

“
Perhaps in mine?
”
Callahan replied.

“
How about we split the difference, it might be a bit early for lunch but I
’
m hungry.
”

“
Sounds fair.
”

A short while later the two of them were seated in the officer
’
s restaurant. Aside from the serving staff there was no one else there. Only once the waiter served the coffee and withdrew, did Wingate speak.

“
Alright Daniel, we
’
ve had a meeting lasting several hours, followed by a full and frank exchange of opinions between my two most senior field officers. What
’
s left to cover?
”

Callahan sat back in his chair and fiddled with his teaspoon for a moment.

“
We are facing a threat Cody,
”
Wingate opened his mouth to reply,
“
and I
’
m not talking about the Nameless.
”

“
Political?
”

“
Everything is politics Cody, but yes, questions are being raised about the competence of the fleet, not the competence of individuals but the general competence.
”

“
Who by?
”

“
Well, Admiral Lewis is right about the usual suspects in the Pentagon and the American Congress, but if it was just them you and I wouldn
’
t be having this conversation. There are mutterings coming from people who normally have very little to say about anything further up than high orbit.
”

“
Would this be to do with President Clifton
’
s comment about complacency?
”

“
Yes,
”
Callahan replied.
“
You know probably better than I that the American Government has never been entirely happy about not being allowed a military space fleet of their own, beyond those two drop carriers of theirs.
”

“
True but those in Congress who shout loudest for an American space fleet, tend to be the most reluctant to actually pay for it.
”
 

“
Yes, but things might be changing Cody. Those who believe that America should have a significant military presence are gaining adherents.
”

“
But the Chinese
…”

“
They
’
re talking to the Chinese and while Beijing isn
’
t saying yes, it isn
’
t saying no either. The Europeans are happy enough with the status quo, but it is the Americans and the Chinese that really matter.
”

“
I see,
”
Wingate replied as he stared into the middle distance.

“
At the moment it
’
s just talk. But if the half million Americans on Landfall are lost through the ineptitude of what many in the States regard as a foreign military, then we will face a tipping point. The American Government will start to build their own ships. They may even withdraw from Battle Fleet completely. Either way, without the complete support of their economy, it will be the beginning of the end for Battle Fleet.
”

“
I see,
”
Wingate replied in a more dismayed voice.
“
While we
’
re at it is there any more bad news?
”

“
Questions are also being asked about the attitude of Admiral Lewis.
”

Wingate put his cup down so sharply that coffee slopped over the side.

“
Are we talking about the Paul Lewis who just managed to turn aside a direct assault on Earth?
”

“
It
’
s not quite that simple Cody.
”

“
It never is. For God
’
s sake, do these
…”
He trailed off and rubbed his eyes tiredly.
“
Lay it on me Daniel.
”

“
We both know that Lewis has never been the most diplomatic officer, or upbeat and frankly he rubs a lot of Americans - present company accepted - up the wrong way.
”

Wingate acknowledged the point with a grimace.

“
He doesn
’
t sugar-coat things either and believe me if you think he is negative about Washington, you haven
’
t heard him get started about the government in London.
”

“
Granted.
”
Callahan continued,
“
Before Alpha Centauri he told the Council to be ready to write off entire cities. Now he
’
s pretty much told them he
’
s prepared to sit in Earth orbit and let Landfall burn.
”

“
That
’
s a very simplified version of events.
”

“
Perhaps, but there is also his open admission that Alpha Centauri nearly went catastrophically wrong.
”

“
Nearly being the operative word, Daniel. Decisions made in the field, particularly ones based on incomplete or faulty intelligence, are hardly likely to be perfect. Paul wanted the late Rear Admiral Brian to receive the credit she was due. But it was his decision to attempt to force contact before they got to Earth.
”

“
It was risky.
”

“
No one ever disputed that fact, but at the time our options seemed to be pretty limited. Yet, even with the befit of hindsight, if the Home Fleet had stayed in orbit, it would probably still have been beaten. We lucked out Daniel, that
’
s the unsavoury truth. So realistically Paul Lewis
’
s reluctance to charge on out there is a pretty rational response.
”

Callahan leaned back his chair and took a sip of coffee before replying.

“
I
’
m not arguing with you on any particular point Cody. I
’
m just asking if he could perhaps be given another posting,
”
he suggested.
“
Something less in the political eye.
”

“
Unless you
’
re suggesting giving him my job, there is no position we can put him in that isn
’
t going to look exactly like the demotion it is. Paul is never going to win any popularity contests but he is respected. It will be a body blow to the Home Fleet
’
s morale if a commander that led them successfully, is removed for reasons that are blatantly political.
”

The waiter returned with their orders and both men went silent until he
’
d gone again.

“
I would never suggest that we should be anything other than beholden to the civilian authorities, Daniel, but we can
’
t fight a war if we
’
re having to constantly look over our shoulder.
”

“
I hear what you are saying Cody, but if we
’
re to be realistic, I think you
’
re going to have to,
”
Callahan replied after a few minutes of pushing his food round the plate.
“
It all depends on what happens at Landfall.
”

Chapter Three

The Day Before the Storm

Landfall Colony, 22
nd
July 2066 (one day before the destruction of Baden Base)

The New Andalusia mountain chain had been named by the first Spanish explorers to arrive on Landfall. They had founded Spain
’
s first colony where the mountains ran for six hundred kilometres east to west. There, near the centre of the range was Mount Hurtado, taller by a few hundred metres than those around, its slopes were gentle, flattening out onto a plateau more than five kilometres wide.

It was the home of an establishment that was nothing to do with the Spanish colony.

Alice Peats looked up as something buzzed past her ear. A small creature was perched on a branch staring down at her with beady little eyes. Its four wings were folded back into a ridge that almost looked like a shark’s fin. It dropped down onto the ground and started pecking at the crumbs from her lunch. She watched it for a moment with a slight smile on her lips before returning to her reading. After a few moments she felt something tugging the bottom of her trousers. It was the bird creature, investigating her clothes.

“
Shoo. Shoo you little devil,
”
she said flapping her hands at it. The bird creature took off with a squawk, landing on a nearby branch and scolding at her in a high-pitched voice.

“
You have no fear of humans, do you?
”
she asked it. The bird gave another squawk and flew away.
“
At least not yet anyway,
”
she added, half to herself. Her wristwatch gave a beep and she let out a regretful sigh before getting to her feet. Her holiday was over. Tomorrow she’d be returning to the Battle Fleet cruiser
Harbinger
, serving as the ship’s civilian language specialist. After the
Mississippi
incident the fleet had decided to send out a ship to find, and if possible, make contact with the Nameless.

Nearly six months of searching hadn’t found the Nameless. Instead however on their first trip out they discovered something unexpected and extremely disturbing. The world of another alien race, one that on account of their shape, they called the Centaurs. What the Centaurs called themselves was anyone’s guess, and might well remain that way forever.

Their world was a lush and fertile place, uncannily Earth-like from orbit, apart from the purple fauna. But they themselves were no longer there to appreciate it. As part of the landing party that had explored that world, Alice had seen the homes, businesses, shops and places of learning of the Centaurs.