Dark Fate, Chapter 239

Chapter 239 – Changing Plans

“What’s the news?”

“Well, not news, so much as concerns regarding the future,” Stratton said as she pulled up a table showing production schedules compared to recruitment rates. “As you can see, we have the first of the Repulse-class frigates slated to come out of the yards next month, but with the full activation of the Black Tear, that’s pulling a lot of the new recruits. Our population continues to grow, of course, thanks to the addition of new lands to the Empire, but military recruitment is beginning to reach a stable rate of new recruits across all branches. We do not expect this rate to increase unless we further increase the Empire’s territory.”

“So, the full order of battle that Admiral Jordan proposed is going to turn into more of a stretch goal than an immediate build plan, I take it?” As I spoke, I looked to the man in question. After all, there was a reason why he was the one running my navy. I knew full well I didn’t have the right experience for that kind of job.

Admiral Jordan nodded once. “Unfortunately, your Majesty, that looks to be the case. We can build the ships, but without the bodies to crew them, they would just be hulks sitting in space, daring someone to try and ‘acquire’ them.

“Because of this, we’re recommending that current military build projects focus on filling out and expanding the Ceres Defense Force, partially by combining it with most of the space-based elements of the planned Ganymede Defense Force, with that new force being renamed as Home Fleet. This does not include fighter and small craft squadrons for Costa Rica, Panama, Columbia, and Ganymede, and we would still need to fill out a reduced order of battle for the Third Fleet. While plans for the creation of First and Second fleets remain unchanged, in theory, we believe that they can both be turned towards force projection capabilities, when they are eventually filled out.”

“Will these altered numbers for the Home Fleet and Ganymede Defense Force be able to achieve their operational goals?”

“We believe so, your Majesty. With the increased operational data we’ve gotten thanks to the events the Navy has been involved with so far, we believe that, with the new munitions you just approved, we can use Interceptors to better patrol space, while Hunters and Thunderbolts can provide a more flexible response to trouble than Renegades or the corvettes. Combined with the new frigates, and the eventual deployment of the planned destroyers, this is the projected order of battle for the Home Fleet.” As he spoke, he brought up an image, projecting several ships, with Ceres and the Black Tear at the center.

Home Fleet

Refit Great Horde Superdreadnought – Black Tear of Night’s Folly

Monad-Class Escort Carrier – one ship, one squadron each of Hunters, Interceptors, and Bombers (Renegade pattern)

Decimator-Class Destroyers – three ships

Repulse-Class Frigates – six ships

Oscuns-Class Corvettes (Hellspawn Pattern) – Hellspawn, Stiletto, Firebolt, Revenge, Sesame, Kertch, Halberd, Horcrux, Corvus, Huntress, plus six more ships

Mercy-Class Hospital Ship – one ship

Fighter Squadrons (Station based) – 401st Ceres Hunter Squadron (Rogues), 402nd Ceres Hunter Squadron (Foxes), 502nd Ceres Interceptor Squadron (Demons), 301st Ceres Bomber Squadron (Renegades), 403rd Ceres Hunter Squadron (Rapiers), 404th Ceres Hunter Squadron (Unknowns), 503rd Ceres Interceptor Squadron (Strikers), and 302nd Ceres Bomber Squadron (Thunderbolts)

“With the Black Tear’s armaments, and the new munitions for both the fighters and ships like the Repulse-class, we believe that this force is ample for the defense of the Sol system against anything short of an invasion by one of the major powers from nearer the galactic core. The pulse torpedoes and new munitions are a serious step up from what the forces in our area of the galaxy can wield, according to the System Shop. Also, having a hospital ship in-system, once it is built and staffed, will allow us to provide humanitarian aid, which should help balance the perception of the Empire that some on Earth have.”

“Yes,” I chuckled. “Hospital ships make a better impression on the general public than antimatter explosions. But I will note that no one has started looking at causing trouble in Palestine since we flexed our muscles a bit. Still, your point stands. We will have a hospital ship for situations where people can be saved, and Renegades for when people start thinking that they are beyond consequence.”

“Beyond that,” Stratton cut in before we could get too far off on tangents, “adopting these changes will give us time to get officers with more time in grade, so that, once the Home Fleet and Third Fleet have their full orders of battle, and we begin filling out First and Second Fleets, we will have officers who can be promoted to command of some of the larger ships, while younger officers either fill in behind them, or take command of the smaller ships. And some of the corvettes, especially, can be rotated to other fleets, so that we have veterans to build around.”

“Very well,” I nodded. “That’s a smart plan. When we get to the point of filling out First and Second Fleets, where should we start the build orders?”

Stratton and Jordan shared a glance that spoke volumes of the communication between the two, and then Jordan turned to me. “The fleet carrier, then the battleships, and then the cruisers. Smaller ships can be seconded to the fleet if needed, but the big ships are going to be the core of those fleets, and they’ll need more time to work up to proper readiness compared to the smaller ships, which we’ll already have practice with. Frankly, the only reason you didn’t have more trouble with the Hellspawn when you started out was because you picked an established design ‘off the shelf’, and managed to seize a seasoned crew for it, that already knew that style of ship. And there were still rough edges that needed working out before the pirates showed up. With new ship designs, new crews, and so forth? Giving the core elements more time to find their footing before they get into action is critical to their actual effectiveness.”

“Very well, make it happen. Now, if the space-based assets for the Ganymede Defense Force are going away, what does that leave?”

Territory Defense Forces

Fighter Squadrons (Ground based) – eight Hunter squadrons, three Interceptor squadrons, and three bomber squadrons (one Renegade pattern, two Thunderbolts)

Support Squadrons (Ground based) – three Outlaw squadrons (one Transport configuration, one Military Shuttle configuration, one squadron Medevac configuration)

Ground-to-Space defense stations – to be designed

Jordan brought up a new image, showing a chart of seventeen squadrons of fighters and small craft. “So, this is the general pattern we would like to implement for all territorial defense forces moving forward. Ganymede would be one such territory. The moon of Titan or the asteroid Vesta, when colonized, would be territories, as well. Currently, we would be treating the area of Costa Rica, Panama, and Columbia as one territory, though the squadrons involved would be spread out to provide quicker response times in case of trouble.”

I nodded thoughtfully as I looked over the information. “Right, I can see the logic in this. The Transports and Shuttles give massive lift potential for materiel and personnel in the event of a crisis, while having a full squadron of Medevacs means that they can either ferry critical patients to the hospital ship or other medical facilities, or start several emergency medical centers on the ground, depending on what is needed.

“More importantly, if the ‘teeth’ of this defense force is standardized, then we can better prepare if more countries decide to join the Empire. Although, perhaps change one of the interceptor squadrons to another squadron of Thunderbolts? That would give more heavy hitting potential, wouldn’t it?”

“We considered that, your Majesty, but if eight squadrons of Hunters, two of Thunderbolts, and one of Renegades isn’t enough firepower to handle something, then it is far past time to call in the fleet. Meanwhile, the interceptors can do patrol missions and interception on smugglers or other trouble, where Thunderbolts are still primarily ‘fuck this guy in particular’ kind of craft.”

“Fair enough. Speaking of smugglers, once we start having more of a flow of goods, there’s going to be someone trying to do something stupid. Even more so if we expand beyond the Solar System. What then? Assign a version of the Home Fleet to the new system as well?”

“We may end up needing to build naval bases in certain areas, depending on the size and importance of a colony, and how vulnerable it is, yes, sir. However, the designers are working on an idea for a bridge between the two. They’re calling it the Stalwart-class Gunboat. Take a Renegade, double the size, add extra turrets, expand the sensor systems, give it the magnetic grapple from the Transport-variant Outlaw, and increase the crew to twelve. Cheaper in materials, maintenance, and manpower than a corvette, but still has more teeth than a Renegade. They could augment a smaller colony’s defense forces enough for anti-piracy work, though I wouldn’t put them up against a whole Incux invasion fleet.”

“Get me a schematic and report for approval.”

“You’ll have it within the week, your Majesty.”

“Very good. Now, what about these ground-to-space installations? You have designs for me?”

“Designers are still trying to determine the most practical defensive measures, your Majesty. But the goal is to have them be able to engage targets in near-Earth orbit or equivalent.”

“All right. What about Third Fleet? How will it be changing?”

Third Fleet (Special Operations)

Monad-Class Escort Carrier – Mercurial, and two more ships, each with one squadron of Hunters, one squadron of Interceptors, and one squadron of Bombers (Renegade-pattern)

Huntsman-Class Pocket Carrier – six ships, one with one squadron of Interceptors, three with one squadron of Bombers (Thunderbolts), one with one squadron of Ghost reconnaissance craft, and one with one squadron of Hunters

Repulse-Class Frigates – three ships

Oscuns-Class Corvettes (Hellspawn Pattern) – Demon’s Roar, Invader, Promise, Vulture, and twelve more ships

Hellflame-class Q ships – six ships

Maximal-Class Logistics Ships – three ships

Mercy-Class Hospital Ship – one ship

Once again, Admiral Jordan worked his magic with the display, and brought up an image with the Mercurial at the center. Two more Escort Carriers like it, six pocket carriers, three frigates, twelve corvettes, nine ships which looked like heavy freighters, and a hospital ship. It was definitely a much-reduced number from the last time I had looked. Still, my levels told me that Mercurial and her task group were clearly doing something right, so it might be that the special operations fleet didn’t need the much larger force they’d originally been slotted.

“Right, let’s start with the Q ships. How are those coming along?”

Stratton was the one to answer. “They’re built on the same frame as the Maximal-class logistics ships. Actually, if you would permit me to talk about them first, Master?” I nodded, so she continued. “The Maximal-class is designed around a super-heavy freighter model. However, it only has half of the normal internal cargo capacity of a freighter of that category, though it retains the ability to haul external cargo containers. The lost cargo space is traded for fabrication and production work, with modular output arrays. Give a Maximal enough raw materials to work with, and they can produce anything you want, up to and including replacement fighters and munitions. Plus, they are capable of landing on planets.”

“The Hellflame-class, on the other hand, trades two-thirds of the internal cargo space for having military-grade armor and shields, as well as concealed graser turrets in what look like external cargo containers, a gun like the main gun on the CRN’s corvettes running the length of the ship, and ten pulse torpedo launchers on each broadside. Also, a lot of dedicated sensor shielding and spoofing equipment. The Hellflame-class is designed to get where it needs to be quietly, without attracting notice, but once it reveals itself, it can rapidly erase any known ship out of space. However, its size and speed mean that it has limited defense against fighters. Which is where the Huntsman-class comes in.

“The Huntsman-class is a dedicated pocket carrier, but sensors often mis-identify it as a light freighter from a distance. Have one or two of them, along with a couple corvettes, and two or three Hellflames? Well, it looks like a nice, juicy convoy for commerce raiders. Right up until the world falls on their heads.”

“And include a Maximal in the group, and they can basically operate indefinitely out in the field,” I nodded. “All right, that works. Anything else I should know about?”