Roundtop, an Asteroid Axis system that connected to the Data Disk system via a closed warp point, had seen steady activity since the start of the war against the Terpla’ns and their allies. The single hostile environment settlement was located on a very mineral rich rocky world that was two-thirds the mass of the Axis homeworld. The settlement was established shortly after the end of the Nu’Chut War over twenty-two years earlier. Roundtop’s primary task was in the construction of prefabricated base components and stockpile them for future use, with any excess production directed to other colonies.
 

      When the Allies drove out the Axis from Hamthen space the priorities for Roundtop were changed. While its space station continued to churn out prefabricated base components, a mobile shipyard was brought in, adding to the station a quartet of shipyards, a pair of smaller yards and all the required infrastructure. 6,000 additional colonists were brought in, bringing Roundtop’s population to 178,000. They were needed as the colony’s industrial potential was fully realized, and even then, additional resources had to be brought in. As soon as each shipyard was built it was tasked to construct asteroid forts, backing up the six pre-war Type-5 and three Type-2 bases at the Roundtop/Data Disk warp point. A steady stream of minefield patterns and automated weapon buoys flowed from the colony’s spaceport via shuttles to that warp point, creating a comprehensive minefield that reached out to 6.5 light-seconds while the buoys formed two concentric shells. Two mobile shipyards were brought in to refit the standard bases, leaving when the task was done. One of the new station yards was tasked to refit the first batch of asteroid forts, bringing them up to the Bulwark 3 standard. A tug was dedicated to Roundtop for this purpose. The groundside spaceport was expanded to hold a wing of escort shuttles for defense.

     A task group arrived at Roundtop shortly after the Allies retook the Metalstorm system, quickly followed by the Output system and investment of the Output/Data Disk warp point. A second offensive brought some breathing room for Roundtop, but soon the Allies returned to Output and invested the warp point again. Infrequent pinnace probes by both sides revealed the fixed defenses and mobile units involved, though it was only the latest probe by the Axis, consisting of 40 armed pinnaces with scanner packs, that show the strength of the Allied fleet. To be precise, it was what the Allies wanted to be seen as the assault element was held back at a range where their powered-down ships couldn’t be ferreted out. The Axis did something similar, though it was only for their carriers and associated escorts. It was still sobering for the Axis as the number of conventional Allied warships exceeded theirs by a large margin.  With a firm belief in Providence, and with growing strength both in ships and forts, the Axis defenders knew that each month bought their Navy more time to build up a force that will resume the offensive into abomination space and finally…

     The Terpla’n dreadnaught Captain Avma, along with its two divisionmates and three assault carriers, formed the fifth wave entering Data Disk. What greeted them were the shattered remnants of the close-in defenses, both forts and ships, and multiple pockets of fighters and armed pinnaces engaged with defending fighters and the crippled enemy ships. With transit-addled weapons the Avma fired on a cruiser a light-second out while mine-clearance missiles on external racks and internal launchers fired into a patch of the minefield that was on a direct bearing of the capital missile and fighter bases, six light-second out. The cruiser, assailed by capital force beams from Avma and her two sisters, utterly disintegrated into a debris cloud. Captain Dojan made a hard blink of approval of Avma’s gunnery as he regarding a repeater screen that now showed a stabilized accounting of the battlespace.

     The inner ring of asteroid forts, eleven in number and in groups of 4-4-3, were destroyed or severely damaged. Both rings of weapon buoys were heavily mauled by the armed pinnaces after having dealt with the close-in forts and ships, though scanners showed 22 of the bomb-pumped laser variety were still around. The remaining buoys were of the reusable type; their puny power plants requiring 30 minutes to recharge their weapons and thus were ignored until more immediate threats were dealt with. The outer ring of asteroid forts was just three in number, evenly spaced out at two light-seconds and were confirmed to be fighter bases. What remained of the observed mobile forces were numerous but in various states of ruin with those still armed, even with a single weapon, to shoot at ships or point defense to engage fighters, orbiting the warp point at one light-second range with as much ECM and erratic maneuvering they could manage.

      The first wave, having been comprised of 800-armed pinnaces, 180 small ships, and 5 large assault carriers, had achieved a level of surprise that saw the carriers survive to launch their fighters, though with the usual interpenetration attrition for the smaller units. Waves two and three were assault carriers, arriving at a rate so as not to invoke the interpenetration imp. As for the fourth wave it had three more assault carriers, two Hamthen Typhoon BBs and a Hamthen Tornado DN. It was then that an odd readout on a repeater screen at his command console that caught Dojan’s eye.

     The drivefield frequencies for the Hamthen ships were agreed ahead of time to be on Terpla’n frequencies, to preserve a measure of anonymity, but now they reverted to frequencies used by the Hamthen navy earlier in the war. Admiral Barsus, commanding from the dreadnaught Captain Velkoi, might have something to say about that right then and there, but was rendered mute as the Hamthen ships also broadcasted their national anthem on Axis radio frequencies. Our People, Our World, Our Life, was played over the airwaves on Hamthen Prime during its liberation from the Axis. In some instances, it was broadcasted at a power level that it effectively shut down over the air transmissions of Axis Army formations. The scant reports that managed to be transmitted via the comm chain leading out of the Hamthen home system called it ‘the song from Hell,’ and in no way could the Axis defenders ignore it.

     The response had the effect the Hamthen intended. No longer bent on destroying incoming and retiring assault carriers and the occasional small ship, the Axis forces with literal laser focus shifted on the Hamthen trio. As for the sixth wave ships, they comprised three assault carriers and another pair of Typhoons and a Tornado, the latter already with adjusted drive field frequencies and broadcasting the song. The first Tornado had launched its brood of Gar interceptors as it went after a broken fort that powered up its datalink jammer. Capital force beams put the fort down for good, but that left five more crippled forts, and both Dojan and Barsus had to assume those forts still had their jammers. Denied the point defense of its Typhoon partners for precious moments the first Tornado faced the full salvo of three capital missile BS5s. With both ADMs deployed and point defense eager to engage only half of those capital missiles that achieved lock-ons went on to hit, their antimatter warheads removing all passive defenses and inflicted internal damage. Spinal force beams from all six BS5s followed, destroying the first engine room. Due to that distraction, the remaining ships went after the remaining crippled forts and even used their point defense to pick off the last of the one-shot laser buoys.

     Wave seven was comprised of three Humarsh Monitor-class SDs and the last trio of Hamthen ships. Two of the remaining close-in forts activated their jammers, allowing the missile BS5s to finish off the first Tornado. Those two forts were silenced while remaining weapons went after the broken collection of Axis ships, going for those that fired but especially those that were seen to have jammers thanks to down shields and active scanners from the retired third wave carriers. Thanks to the single-mindedness of the Axis bases the Allied ships were able to spare some of their point defense to engage Hatchet fighters. Fighters from the sixth wave carriers and the Hamthen interceptors tore into those Hatchet fighters that dared to remain, leaving a paltry number that faced extinction.

     The eighth wave contained three Cqux and three Veto dreadnaughts, internal launchers and external racks flushing anti-mine missiles into one designated spot of the inner mine shell. With eager energy beams, the Monitors hosed down three cruisers, taking their datalink jammers down. But that left just one, and that was enough for the missile BS5s to deliver a full salvo into the second Tornado that had to depend on its own point defense. Like the first its passive defenses were stripped, but the spinal force beams, instead of contributing, were instead fired upon the three cruisers gutted by energy beam fire. Assisting them were the three fighter asteroid forts, revealing that they also had the long-range weapon. All three were destroyed, thus denying them from being boarded.

     Admiral Barsus winced at the sight of such a callous act, for not one escape pod was observed being ejected from those ships. It may have been a policy created in response to the Hokum capturing and converting Axis ships, destroying them to avoid that fate. But not to even allow the crews the chance to flee beforehand or even letting the scuttling charges have a chance, that was beyond the pale. Then again, it was documented in the Abysaal-019 system that the Axis mothballed ships in place and had the crew commit regulation suicide, an equally heinous act. Barsus put such thoughts aside quickly. The three fighter forts proved they had weapons beyond point defense, and no doubt had jammers as well, and this was the first time they were seen in combat. They will have to be dealt with, especially the one that was in the direct path to the fighter and missiles bases 6 light-seconds out.

     Seeing the Cqux dreadnaughts arrive finally convinced those Hatchet fighters in proximity to the warp point to retire in the direction of the fighter bases, sparing them from being drenched in AFHAWKs. Only 34 Hatchets lived to do so, all comprise of the CAP and crashed-launched squadrons in the opening phase of the battle. Whale armed pinnaces and Shark fighters had also paid a heavy toll, and together they returned to the warp point as they witness the fighter BS5s finally launching their Hatchet fighters, 252 in all, along with six escort shuttles. Fortunately, the ninth wave made transit, consisting of the last six assault carriers, bringing in 270 Shark fighters. The Axis BS5s and fighter forts fired on the second Tornado, destroying it. Now with the crippled Axis ships coming about and attempting painfully slow speed rams Barsus had them destroyed rather than disabling them with the Montior’s energy beams. It was clear that they would be eliminated by their own forces if rendered immobile, and Barsus begrudgingly accepted the loss of potential astrogation data.

     The three Vetos didn’t participate in rendering Axis ships into scrap. They employed their spinal force beams against the fighter fort in line with the distant BS5s. They needed those shields down so tactical scanners could pinpoint the location of the fort’s spinal weapon and remove it with needle beams. The fresh Hatchet wave was 4 light-seconds out as the tenth wave appeared, three Endril Maelstroms and a like number of Perditions. The ninth wave carriers launched their fighters but stayed, offering tempting targets while the Endrili ships fired mine clearance rounds from their sprint launchers. All surviving Shark fighters from the previous waves had gathered at the warp point, along with the Whale armed pinnaces, and it was just as well for an additional 216 fighters were detected 14 light-seconds out along with twelve destroyers. There were other drive fields detected, undoubtedly the Axis carriers, but were moving away at maximum speed along with their escorts, sans the inbound destroyers.

     As for the Axis defenders they were not dissuaded from their prosecution of the Hamthen ships, going after the third and last Tornado. With all Axis ships in range now destroyed the Tornado received all the spinal force beam hits as well as the missiles, this time the BS5s flushed their external racks which had nuke-armed capital missiles. This Tornado was able to partake of the point defense of its two Typhoon companions, diluting the onslaught thanks to its deployed pair of EDMs.

     The eleventh wave entered, comprising six Tamaya CAs of the minesweeper variant. Concentrated fire from all available ships brought down the shields of the targeted fighter fort, and the energy beams from the Monitors forced that fort to use some of its overload dampeners in burn-out mode to prevent internal damage. Seeing this, the three Vetos fired in sequence, using tactical scanner data that no longer had to contend with raised shields. The first concentrated on dispatching the rest of the operable overload dampeners, with the second able to remove the noisome spinal force beam, the primary beam, and the datalink jammer. The third Veto removed ECM and ECCM instillations along with two of the point defense mounts for good measure. For this the last Tornado was assailed again, losing all passive defenses and taking substantial internal damage. As for the Cqux trio they fired AFHAWKs at the inbound Hatchet wave, now 2 light-seconds out.

     The twelfth and final wave had six Hazen Captain-class fast battleships, and despite being transit-addled they fired upon the second fighter fort as the Vetos turned in place to bring their spinal weapons to bear. While they did this the rest of the allied ships, from lowly escort to massive superdreadnaught, launched EDMs, maximized their ECM and erratic maneuvering, and entered the assailed patch of minefield that lay between them and the distant BS5s. Even the third Tornado participated, for it still had its weapons and tactical sensors. There were enough mine patterns remaining for every allied ship to be attacked at least once with only the larger superdreadnaughts having to face two attacks. Those smaller ships that were scarcely mobile perished, but their contribution wasn’t wasted as the other ships used their applicable beam weapons in wide-angle mode, rendering all the remaining mines as either shorted out or pulverized wreckage.

     As for the first Hatchet wave, it was upon the allied ships involved in the minesweeping. 25 of the 270 were shot down by AFHAWKS prior to the engagement, and due to the rapid closure there was no time to get into the blind spots of the ships. It was then the datalink jammers on the allied ships activated, drastically reducing the effective fire of the Hatchets. Totally dedicated, the Axis fighters singled out the Hamthen battleships while the missile BS5s polished off the remaining Tornado dreadnaught. Despite the impeccable skill of the Shark and Gar pilots enough Hatchet fighters survived to destroy four Typhoons, though they were helped by the spinal force beams of the fighter BS5s and two still-armed asteroid fighter forts. No escort shuttle survived to fire their FRAMs as a Cqux blanketed them with sprint-mode missiles.

     The large allied ships that emerged from the inner shell of mines entered a lane cleared by the Whale armed pinnaces that attacked the inner shell of asteroid forts one light-second out. They were now among the wrecks of the quartet of forts, scanners showing a single pattern of mines just beyond. Admiral Barsus took it as fact that a thin spread of mines, no doubt meant to ground down any armed pinnace wave sent to engage the BS5s, populated the space leading up to the tormentors of the Hamthen ships. The second wave of 216 Hatchet fighters was now 7 light-seconds from the allied ships; they were joined by 12 more launched from two of the three diminutive BS2s. The destroyers were just under 8 light-seconds from the ships and already their fire-control systems were sizing up the last two Typhoons.

     Barsus had his large ships hold station briefly, letting those surviving small ships still with motive power to turn about and transit back to the Data Disk system. The Captains and Vetos had neutralized the second asteroid fighter fort and went about to take down the third. Capital anti-mine missiles were fired up to their maximum range ahead of the advancing ships, neutralizing the expected patterns. With shields already battered by mine patterns the fifth Typhoon received substantial internal damage from the BS5s, but at no point did the transmission of the song falter. It was at this point that Barsus ordered all ships to transit the Hamthen song as well, for he wanted the Axis crews to hear it up to the very end.

     Then an unexpected thing happened. Just 3 light-seconds from the ships the Hatchet fighters launched from the distant carriers dropped their ordnance, turned about and retreated. It was enough for Barsus to message Dojan, commenting that someone on the Axis side performed an executive decision. Dojan heard the slight disappointment in the admiral’s voice, knowing that destroying the fighters here would’ve permitted a long-range fighter strike against the retiring Axis ships without interference. He was thankful that the Hatchets weren’t launched sooner as enough would survive to salvo their antimatter sprint missiles against more allied ships.

     Meanwhile the ships moved on, advancing as fast as the lane before them was being cleared of tissue-thin mine patterns. The BS5s fired their spinal force beams on the fifth Typhoon, furthering its demise while missiles pummeled the sixth. The twelve Axis destroyers were now 2 light seconds from the Allies; six of them finished off the fifth Typhoon with the others tearing into the sixth. Aside from capital launchers still firing mine clearance rounds every ship opened on the audacious tin cans. Dojan’s datagroup obliterated one destroyer while the Cqux trio claimed two more. What the ships couldn’t finish the fighters and armed pinnaces did, for Barsus had released them to engage the destroyers. The two Hatchet squadrons launched from the BS2s had stayed with the destroyers, engaging and taking down armed pinnaces at the expense of their destruction. Whatever petty fulfillment the Axis crews had in destroying the Hamthen ships must’ve been worth the cost in losing twelve perfectly good destroyers.

     Barsus issued new orders, having the Shark fighters, Whale armed pinnaces, and Hamthen Gar interceptors come about and destroy the recharging weapon buoys surrounding the warp point. Closing to just 3 light-seconds out from the BS5s the allied ships gave their full attention to one of them. Joining them were the Vetos and the Captains, moving up after having sterilized the Axis fighter forts of their offensive weapons. The fifth Typhoon died but not before its force beams, the most protected components on the ship, inflicted their damage on the selected base. The sixth Typhoon did its damage as well before becoming an immobilized wreck, but vengeance was at hand. It fired again, just as the other ships were a little over 2 light-seconds from the first BS5, one of the capital missile types, and did its final damage before it was finished by force beam fire. A Humarsh Monitor was then the recipient of the capital missile barrage and follow-on force beam fire from the fighter BS5s. But that was the final chorus of optimum firepower as the missile BS5 lost its shields and the energy beams from the Monitors and the approaching Captains shorted out launchers. The Cqux trio treated a second missile BS5 to a double dose of standard missiles volleys, and whatever shields it had left were quickly taken down by others.

     A final burst of speed brought the ships to 1.5 light-second range, with one Monitor taking the single pattern of mines before it in stride. The Axis bases had their last hurrah of coordinated fire before all of them lost their shields to sprint-mode antimatter missiles, plasma bolts and force beams. The assailed Monitor lost its armor and sustained internal damage. Energy beams from it and its two partners neutered the first missile BS5 while the six Captains worked over the other two. What the energy beams couldn’t touch the Vetos did with their needle beams. Like hot needles lancing boils the BS5s were neutralized, and the BS2 trio were treated to capital missile and force beam fire until they were pulverized.

     Barsus took in the now quiet battlespace. Thanks to Axis fanaticism there were no ships to board for their databases, and the databases on the neutered asteroid forts and BS5s wouldn’t have astrogation data beyond this system. Thus, Barsus decided not to board them for information that can be gained for no cost by surveying Roundtop and dispatching recon pinnaces to ferret out Axis instillations. With that the bases and forts were obliterated, taking the 34 rearming Hatchet fighters in a fighter BS5 as well, and damaged ships were sent back to the fleet train repair ships in the Data Disk system. He also reflected on how fixated the defenders were on destroying Hamthen ships and passing up far more tempting targets like the (albeit empty) assault carriers that accompanied the regular warships in their trek to the BS5s. But at some point, prudence stepped in and the Axis carrier strike was recalled. Barsus wanted to send in a strike against them and their escorts, but he, too, felt it was prudent to survey and secure Roundtop before advancing.

     Over 50% of the Shark fighters used in the assault were lost, and of the 800 Whale armed pinnaces only 41 remained, killed either in the mass transit, minefield attrition, and enemy action. The small ships used in the mass transit to dilute buoy and weapon fire had losses over 63%. The only bright spot was that the 54 Hamthen Gars were intact, and provisions were made for them to be based on Terpla’n pinnace tenders should the need arise. Those Gars were now the only Hamthen representation in the task force. A squadron of six Microburst battlecruisers were detached two months before the assault, and the reason given was that they were being reassigned to Admiral Jki’s task force in Gymnasium at the request of Hamthen President Skuu. Barsus could only hope it was decision based on necessity and not a political one as Skuu was something of a firebrand that wanted prove his nation could contribute meaningfully to the war effort. If losing three dreadnaughts and six battleships, and undoubtedly aided by blatant bravado, in one assault wasn’t considered a meaningful contribution then Barsus didn’t know what would count.

     As for Dojan he was busy with recovery efforts of Hamthen lifepods and those lucky pinnace crews that managed to eject. The only Axis lifepods that were considered for recovery were those that came from dreadnaughts and battleships. While little in the way of military intelligence could be gleaned from prisoners, their behavior and other incidental mannerisms could offer insight into the current social and mental health of the Axis as a whole. Taking in the casualty figures made Dojan feel phantom pain of his missing pair of back legs. While armed pinnaces and small ships specifically built for mass transit assaults have proven their worth it came with heavy loss of lives. Not for the last time he groused in private with other captains on the subject, wondering if the newfangled warp-capable missile pod technology that the abacus and slide-rule crowd kept hinting about would ever see deployment. The Asteroid Axis was becoming more astute in creating more effective defenses. It can only get worse as allied forces drive deeper into Axis space. Given time, systems with suitable asteroids would make those forts present in Roundtop and Gymnasium pale in comparison. Dojan doubted very much that those future potential defenders won’t be distracted by ships playing a specific song again.

     Five days later Roundtop Prime was located, and the initial recon pinnace was shooed away by no fewer than a dozen escort shuttles. Even so it was clear there was settlement present, based on energy emissions. Orbiting Roundtop Prime was a space station and at least one asteroid fort. The task force moved in, finding said space station had a mass of nearly six battleships, and no less than four asteroid forts and a planetside space port. While a paltry 12 Hatchet fighters were launched, they were joined by 134 escort shuttles. 420 Shark fighters engaged them, each one equipped with an ECM pack in a bid to lessen casualties. As the furball ensued the task force commenced a SBM bombardment at 8 light-second range, focusing on the space station first. There was no return fire, and when the station fell Barsus moved his ships in a vector that would put them at the extreme range of spinal force beam fire. He was rewarded when the four asteroid forts each fired one beam, missing each time.

The ships pulled out of range and resumed firing SBMs; this time equipped with lasing warheads. Only 33 Sharks were shot down, being recalled and rearmed with stand-off missiles also equipped with lasing warheads. Joining them was a small contingent of improved Whale armed pinnaces, loaded with the same missiles. Barsus was relieved that no anti-fighter missiles greeted the strike wave, and all craft fired their ordnance just outside the reach of capital point defense. Only when stocks of SBMs were exhausted did the ships close in to capital missile range, but by then only asteroid forts remained. It was clear three of the forts were under construction and only had a fraction of their point defense systems installed. All the forts were destroyed with ships having only sustained minor shield damage. The planetside spaceport was destroyed by a fighter strike, and the task force held station over the planet while the survey squadron performed its task in finding Roundtop’s other warp points. Resources were drawn from the fleet train freighters, fighters and armed pinnaces uncrated and prepped for use, and what was left was conjecture on what was waiting for the next warp assault.

With the breach into Axis space that saw the liberation of the Eletoshani system there came a change in fleet organization. The allied Combined Fleet reverted to its First Field Fleet designation, and Task Forces 11 and 12 were ready to venture into the next system connected to Gymnasium. An exploratory probe revealed no obstacles that prevented entry. Admiral Jki, now back aboard her command ship, the battleship Coral Sea, was studying a readout in the CIC when Commander Linus, the Hokum liaison officer, entered. Jki motioned him to come over. “Good morning, Commander. Eager to hear some good news?”

     Linus had the better part of a year learning Terpla’n body language and mannerisms. After four weeks undergoing surgery to address complications from a previous injury Jki appeared to be in good health. The tension around her eyes had considerably lessened and her posture (as far as an upright pillar with six legs went) showed no slack. His ear for spoken Terpla’n picked up the nuance that Jki was in a good mood, so he replied in the same manner. “Yes, Admiral. Good news after breakfast always helps with digestion.”

     “I couldn’t agree more, Commander. With reinforcements enroute we can commence our advance presently. Surveying in the connecting system has located one warp point so far, and we have plenty of mines and automated weapon buoys to cover any additional ones we mind find.”

     “I daresay, Admiral, that manufacturers of those particular weapons are going to break their arms patting themselves on their backs for earning a steady profit.”

     Jki blinked. “A Hokum expression I take it. Technically, Terpla’ns don’t have backs. If we did, then that expression would be regarding the diplomatic efforts with the Eleto. Our new Inna allies have helped the Commonwealth in securing a trade treaty, and a military defense treaty is forthcoming.”

     “Good news, indeed, Admiral. Though I think the Eleto, just like your Hamthen allies, would assert their right to active military participation.”

     For her part Jki had taken to study Hokum mannerisms. She noticed Linus was rubbing his thumbs and forefingers of his back pair of hands, a gesture that was to invoke the Five Gods for good luck. “That remains to be seen, Commander, though given their zeal in removing the Comensal presence on Evergreen I don’t doubt they’ll follow through and build ships. Something you’ll have a chance to look at first-hand, hopefully soon.” The perplexed look on Linus’ face was easy for Jki to notice. “Though we have no actual warp chain information, there are mentions in captured Axis military texts and even some personal diaries that Gymnasium was the last system conquered before the fall of the Eletoshani homeworld. It’s only a matter of when another warp chain connection to the Porch System is found. I’ve been authorized to say that you’ll be receiving official word from your government soon, making you a point of contact with the Eleto government until a fully vetted ambassadorial team can be sent. Congratulations.”

     Linus made a slight nod of acknowledgment. “Thank you, Admiral. Despite their justified hatred of the Comensal, I hope they will look past my bipedal form in constructing a relationship with the Imperium.”

     “They had a few months of having Tzelan scientists in their midst, Commander. I’m sure the Eleto are working out their subconscious revulsion of bipeds exclusively on the Comensal.”

It was two months after the fall of the Comensal enclave, and seven months after the arrival of the 3^rd Field Fleet in the Eletoshani system. The location was on the outskirts of the city of Millstand on the Eletoshani homeworld. Showing great zeal, the Eleto have continued expanding the spaceport placed there to the point where it could build multiple (small) ships at once. People moved back into the underpopulated city, and even new housing and required infrastructure were being built to accommodate them.

     Dr. Dunn, head Tzelan scientist of the 3^rd Field Fleet, was given a tour of the spaceport and the city along with Crajen Major Crosscut and Inna scientist Kunus. The trio witnessed the launch of a frigate-sized freighter, bound for a three-week shakedown cruise before joining its predecessor conducting trade with the Inna. There were one pair each of destroyers and frigates in various stages of completion along with a battleship-sized freighter where work had just started a month earlier, its skeletal frame 10% complete. The trio took this display as an affirmation of the Eleto’s desire to actively participate in the war, though they were thankful there were no grandiose proclamations made by their hosts.

     Crosscut, Dunn and Kunus were in an annex to the spaceport administration building. The room they were in was tailored to accommodate Dunn’s physiology in that the doorways were tall enough for his frame and there was species-specific seating for all three. They were waiting for an Eleto delegation to arrive. Crosscut talked to break the monotony; his words translated into Terpla’n via the communicator he had below his notional mouth. “It made sense the higher ups made me the acting ambassador, though why they haven’t sent a proper ambassadorial contingent is a sign of bureaucratic inertia.”

     Dunn massaged his wool-covered chin. “Not so much as inertia, Crosscut, but in standard operating practice. They’ll wait until the diplomatic situation has stabilized and then move in, taking all the credit. Also, they prefer to inherit an environment free of major problems.”

     Kunus shifted in his chair. “Why would it make sense for you to be acting ambassador, Major Crosscut?”

     The Crajen inspected his left crusher claw with his right hand. “Before they reactivated my reserve status, I was a patent lawyer by profession, part of the Civil Law branch of the Civil Service Guild. So, arguing for my client’s benefit is a skill that is applicable to diplomacy. I must say both you and Dunn have provided a fair share of help and insight in negotiating.”

    “We’re scientists, me and Dunn,” replied Kunus. “Attention to details and observation are part and parcel to our profession.”

     Dunn made a thoughtful hum. “We have a lesser need of dedicated lawyers in Tzel society as, being philosophical in nature, we can reason out differences without becoming intractable.”

     Crosscut’s claws clicked. “Then I envy you, Dunn. It is my belief that lawyers everywhere have at least one common trait, resulting from the nature of our profession, and applicable to diplomacy as well.”

     “What is that, Major?”

     “A developed distrust of language, Mr. Dunn.”

     An Eleto functionary entered the room, informing them that the representative arrived. He arrived alone, and it was no other than Nisecu Lake, a major leader in what was the Eleto resistance during the Axis occupation. Kunus had learned that Lake was shaping to be a leading member of the new Eleto government, perhaps defense minister or even the head of the governmental cabinet. Lake’s four eyestalks took in the three visitors like it was the first time, despite meeting them on several occasions previously. A medical patch was on his left front arm, and he winced as he placed the briefcase he was carrying onto a table suitable for his height.

     "Greetings, Mr. Lake,” said Kunus, the most amenable and diplomatic of the trio, “it is pleasant to see you again.”

     The Eleto make his race’s version of a nod of acknowledgement, the front two eyestalks dipping noticeably. “Good afternoon, Gentlemen,” Lake said. “I’ve returned from Evergreen last night after spending 10 days there. I had reclaimed my family’s home and orchards and dispatched those bonehead squatters that desecrated it. All the original structures had been razed in the intervening years, leaving nothing but the foundations for them to build their own offensive dwellings and wineries. Oddly enough, they left the wine cellar of the original home, the home I grew up in, intact, and there were even some bottles left after forty-five years. It is my hope that, after the war is over, you three can partake in toast with a glass of my family’s wine.” He then motioned the arm with the wound. “I even earned this little keepsake from a bonehead that tried to impale me with pruning shears. It is for later but sufficient to say he died in an embarrassing way.”

     Compared to Kunus, Crosscut was more diplomatically blunt. “Your government has been inscrutable when it comes to the subject of a defensive military treaty. To become an active military partner will take years, and before you cut in, the Hamthen enjoy a larger and more extensive industrial base and infrastructure to support a meaningful number of frontline ships. They were able to engage the Axis even when they were on the backfoot.”

     “Yes, all true my Crajen friend.” Lake’s translated voice replicated his inflection perfectly for he spoke like a righteous lawyer, something that Crosscut respected. “My government is concerned that our systems conquered by the Axis and then liberated by your governments, including the Hokum, will be retained and kept as war prizes. That is why, at great expense I must say, we’re doing everything at once, even reestablishing our mining colony the Porch system among other things. Having even one warship in each of our systems that comprised the original Academy will assert our rightful claims of ownership.”

     Dunn spoke next, and it was clear he had given the subject Lake spoke of some deep thought. “Your concern is valid, Mr. Lake. But regarding what Crosscut has said, I’m afraid I must agree with him. With the engines of this war favoring the Commonwealth and its allies any military representation on the Eleto’s part will be symbolic.”

     “We will not be bystanders in this war, and the Comensal will regret their mistakes now and in the Hell we’ll make for them in the afterlife,” Lake said with unwavering conviction. “No mistake, we cannot give enough praise for the assistance your governments have provided to date and hopefully to a mutually beneficial future. We will participate in battles that will lead into the malevolent heart of the Axis. Even if it’s just squadrons of destroyers and frigates, we will stand side-by-side with our allies, who, I may add, had already suffered losses to civilians greater than our own.”

     Before either Dunn or Crosscut could talk Kunus raised a pair of forestalling hands. “Pace, good friends. I’ve spoken informally, but in good faith, with representatives of Mr. Lake’s government. I believe Mr. Lake was only emphasizing the seriousness of his people’s determination to actively participate in this war. He is under instruction to offer a pledge that will result in the signing of a proactive military treaty if the Commonwealth is amenable. If the Commonwealth accepts, it is very likely the Hokum will accept as well.”

     “A pledge, yes, an accurate term,” Lake conceded, silently amazed in the ease that Kunus earned trust, wondering if it was trait inherent in his people. He then took on the visage of a student defending his thesis in front of a review board. “Under the express instructions of my government I am to offer, upon acceptance of a proactive military treaty with the Commonwealth and its allies, and the acknowledgement of pre-war Academy territory, the astrogation database of the Academy. This will shorten the war by months, isolate Axis-occupied systems, and hasten the demise of the Axis.”

     Both Dunn and Crosscut gave their races’ version of astonishment at Kunus. They knew the Inna had an innate way with words but in this case Kunus might have served better as a diplomat instead of a scientist. “A silver tongue to go with golden words,” Dunn said, using an Innan phrase. “You were talking with more than just Eleto scientists over the past few weeks.”

     “Everyone wants to talk to me, even more so than you and Major Crosscut,” Kunus said with humility. “Yes, Mr. Lake, the Inna do have a way with words and persuasion, which is why our government and society works as well as it does. It will be bold of me to say the offer will be accepted, both in expediency and in genuine good faith, given the good company that Dunn and Crosscut represent.”

     “Ah, it is good you include your friends. It bodes well for the future.” Lake opened his briefcase and drew out a wine bottle and a brace of memory plastic cups. “We will still toast at war’s end, but for this instance we will toast for having reached an historical understanding. For what we have been informed, your respective races are at least tolerate of alcohol.” He looked at Crosscut. “I have accounted for you, Major. I’ll put a sponge in your cup.”

     Crosscut made a chuckle that the translator did its best to render. “A good host always knows the needs of his guests, Mr. Lake.”

For the better part of two years the isolated Axis bases guarding the Bedrock/Tire Iron warp point waited silently. With their attending minefields and buoy parks the defenders stood firm for an attack that likely would never come. Time was doing the abominations’ work after all. With maintenance stockpiles gone the bases began losing operative systems, the defenders elected to keep offensive weapons, magazines and fighter bays active above all else. So, it came down in the 19^th month the 24 bases and 6 asteroid forts have lost over half of their shield generators, point defense mounts, and even ECM generators. It was worse for the 3 small type-2 bases; in keeping their automated weapon control systems online they were but one harsh glance for destruction. Minefields and buoy parks also lost strength, and the thin shoals of mines that radiated out from the warp point and the distant fighter and missile bases were gone, power reserves spent and unable to keep station.

     Despite the increasing decrepitude of their equipment and hulls the Axis crews had maintained morale, even with rationing of food, water and power. It was a testament to their adherence to duty that only a very few broke under the strain, and only then in the past two months. They kept the weapons and fighters operational, a fine testament to training and duty, only yearning to at least fire once in anger before joining Providence. Then on the 20^th day of the 19^th month they got visitors. On occasion abomination sensor contacts would approach the bases only the turn back well before any fighter strike, even with life support packs, could catch up.

     This time was different. Twelve drivefield contacts were closing in. Six were identified as Terpla’n by their drivefield signatures. As for the other six, they were Hamthen. On top of that radio transmissions came from those six ships. It was Hamthen martial music, mixed with recordings taken from the liberation of Hamthen Prime. It was of Comensal tank crews, both treaded and tripod, screaming in horror as hyper napalm applied to the exterior of their vehicles cooked them like meat in ovens. Despite this attempt to instill dread the Axis crews only concluded the aboms were tired of waiting for nature to run its course and destroy the bases now. With 630 F1 Hatchet fighters and 84 Stiletto escort shuttles those ships had to be all carriers filled to the brim with fighters. Otherwise they were engaging in a fool’s errand. In twelve hours the issue will be decided if they continue their course. One hour later it didn’t matter.

     The one routine the Axis defenders kept consistently was a combat area patrol around the warp point. 26 Hatchet squadrons and 21 Stilettos orbited the warp point at one light-second distance. Midway through their deployment they saw the first Terpla’n warp-capable missile pod attack of the war. 1800 pods emerged from the Tire Iron warp point like a shoal of angry grey trout, taking interpenetration losses in stride as the wave moved into a section of the primary minefield, taking further losses. From their explosions it was clear they carried antimatter, and they moved further into the defenses, suffering no further losses from mines as that thin shell, meant for armed pinnaces, had long since succumbed to a lack of maintenance.

     Dumbfounded, the CAP didn’t even bother to move after them initially, but the few bases and asteroid forts that reach action stations in those opening moments crashed launched additional Hatchets and Stilettos. What weapons in range and could be fired against them were, achieving a notable number of kills. All well and good, but that still left over 1200 pods, and at 2.5 light-second range from the type-5s and 6s and 4.5 light-seconds from the type-2s the pods, fully recovered and stabilized, fired over 3600 antimatter armed SBMs.

     The bases did what their reduced active defenses allowed. With each targeted base under attack at the same time the electronic brains managing those defenses elected, without prompting or instruction from their organic crews, to cover their own hulls and not come to the aid of their datalinked partners. Despite that, and even with all EDMs deployed, it wasn’t close enough to make a difference. Those Hatchets and Stilettos that crashed launched, as well as the CAP, watched 6 type-5, 6 type-6, and the 3 type-2 bases die in overlapping antimatter fireballs. No distress calls, no life pods, only wreckage remained.

     Nothing else came through the warp point. It was fair to say the crews of the remaining bases and asteroid forts wanted a conventional assault to finish what this devilish new weapon had started. When two hours passed the Hatchet pilots had to abandon their craft, soon followed by the deployed Stilettos as there was no room for them to land. With no fighters and only 51 Stilettos to project power beyond standard missile and spinal force beam range the defenders figured the approaching ships were most likely a mix of capital missile units and carriers. Once the Stilettos were gone the bases could be bombarded at leisure, and once they died a shorter route between Hamthen and Bedrock would be reopened.

     Stoic and resolute to a fault, the remaining Axis forces waited. When the range dropped to 10 light-seconds the defenders launched their remaining Stilettos. What faced them were six Hamthen battlecruisers, four apparent Terpla’n carriers, each massing the same as a battleship, and two Terpla’n battlecruisers. Launching from those carriers were 144 Shark fighters. Boring straight in, the Stilettos seemed to welcome the AFHAWKs fired at them with some of the small craft able to shoot down those missiles targeting them while others disappeared in kiloton-range explosions.

     The abomination formation turned and moved away, kiting in a manner that slowed the Stilettos’ advance while continuing to be swatted first by AFHAWKs and then by capital point defense mounts. Only at one light-second range were the Sharks released, each carrying an ECM pod to enhance survival. To their credit the Stilettos did bag five Sharks and even scored light armor damage on a carrier as each Stilettos carried laser packs. For the Allied crews all they saw were doomed crews doing the only thing they could do, and when the last Stiletto was shot down the Sharks returned to their carriers to be rearmed.

     Moving to just outside the reach of spinal force beam fire the Hamthen battlecruisers fired SBM equipped with first-generation lasing warheads. The second-generation version had now become fleet standard and could’ve been used here. It was decided beforehand for this operation that a stockpile of the original model, instead of being regulated for scrapping, would be used. While it could be seen as making practical use of weapons already made there was a subconscious element involved. It would take longer to destroy the bases, true, but it would further the torment of the Axis crews, a fact the Hamthen fully approved.

     The first targets were the 9 type-3 bases. Joining the battlecruisers in the bombardment were the new carriers and their attending escorts, each armed with a pair of capital launchers. The Sharks contributed, carrying full loads of stand-off missiles and attacking one BS3 at a time until it was destroyed. No Sharks were lost despite the BS3 crews best efforts with their HET lasers. Munitions were not a problem as scheduled flights of shuttles from pre-staged freighters arrived to replenish depleted magazines. That left the six Bulwark 3 asteroid forts. While the first fort was pelted by the ships the Sharks, now equipped with stand-off missiles with lasing warheads, went around to each fort in turn, stripping their armor and external ordnance racks.

     Limited by the need to resupply with missiles, it was the fifth day when just one fort remained. The allied ships turned and headed for it at the best speed allowed by maximum ECM and erratic maneuvering. Only now were the defenders able to fire their one long-range weapon, picking one battlecruiser as its focus of attention and hate. Capital missiles with antimatter warheads were now fired by the battlecruisers while the carriers and escorts fired theirs equipped with first generation lasing warheads. Though puny, those lasing hits helped as they took out more point defense mounts while the remaining shields were pounded flat. It was like a prolonged fireworks show as the fort, framed by antimatter explosions and clouds of debris scattering off its surface, died defiantly. Aside from the minor armor damage done to one carrier and the loss of five Sharks the Axis did no lasting damage.

The allied ships moved in and were now joined by a battlecruiser-hulled freighter filled with mine-clearance rounds. The Hamthen battlecruisers blew a lane through the minefields surrounding the warp point. Fighters dealt with the remaining weapon buoys. One Hamthen BC made transit into Tire Iron and transmitted a message to the the waiting Commonwealth and Hokum ships. A second path to Bedrock, Gymnasium and beyond was now open.