This is a companion piece to The Adventures of the Cruiser Rachel. AS always I do not own the Honorverse or Honor Harrington, I just play in the Honorverse and own my OC's and the BWK. Enjoy TCB
Chapter 1: IT Starts.
James Boulden High admiral of the Blue Wolf Kingdom was looking at the screen going over the latest intel that Mid Admiral Burfoot had given him. "Leutenant send a communication to Fleet Admiral Maxi and have him stop by before he departs the system." "Yes sir!" the young officer tells him. Jessie Turns and leaves the office and heads down to the comm. center where he puts in the request.
Alpha's Revenge
Fleet Admiral Vance Maxi II was talking to his father the Alpha. "Father what news do you have pertaining to the incident of the 34th of Green moon?" he asks. "son the ship in question was the Gladius your 3rd cousins ship. He was killed by the Draconis military so I am sending you to the parlay with the dracons your fleet will have 4 SD battle Squadrons, 3 DN Battle Squadrons, 1 Squadron of DF ships, with 20 Cruiser Squadrons for escort and screens, the cruisers are a mix of 5 Battle, 5 heavy, and 10 light cruiser squadrons. All the ships will be Mk. II ships. Also we have a Carrier Squadron on manuvers 2 days from the boarder so they will have orders to join with you. Have a safe trip also I think your uncle will talk with you. Alpha out!" Maxi looks up at the front of his office "Mike get my Dress uniform ready I go to the High Admirals office." "Yes sir." the aid says and goes to do the bidding of his Admiral. The comm message for maxi to meet with Admiral Boulden get to him 30 mins later.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxx934674nvbfgdxxxxxxx To: Prince Vance Maxi II Fleet Admiral BWRN CO 2nd fleet From: High Admirals office. The high admiral request you presence at your convenience to go over info in relation to your up coming mission. Regards High Admiral James Boulden Head of Military Consul Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx93746brtfrefdxxxxxxxxxxx
Maxi changes into his Dress uniform and heads down to his shuttle for the trip to the surface.
Draconis Prime
"The wolfies will respond with a heavy force in regqrds to the blunder that you have caused us admiral." Taltus Dracon leers at the sniveling Admiral in front of him. "I should eat you right now for your incompatance but you have another chance, bring me the head of the enemy commander and you will be forgivin, fail and I will have you for dinner." He snarls out "Yesss my leader." The admiral says as he leaves the office. "Get me all the info you can on the commander that the wolves will send." "at once my admiral." The underling replies.
Wolf's Lair
Fleet Admiral Vance Maxi II Crown Prince of the Blue Wolf Kingdom walks to the aircar for his ride to the admiraldy "James on the way back we will goto OMI and see my dear friend ted before we depart." "yes my prince." The bully wolf like Marine tell's his prince. They enter the aircar and take off. Maxi looking out the window at the assembled cadets (over 2 billion people here and most are cadets. Not on my watch will a ton of parents die needlessly) he tells himself. The aircar turns and arrives at a huge building. Maxi walks in and has his meeting with the Admiral.
"Your Highness welcome." Duke Boulden tells his finest line officer. "Thank you Admiral what can I do for you?" "well Maxi we have a report that the Draconis strike fleet is heading to the border and I want 2nd fleet there to stop them." Boulden tells him. "Well Sir I see that I will recive a huge Fleet replenishment so I will do it." Maxi tells the Admiral. "OK you leve in 4 days and expect to be gone for 6 months, Dismissed." Boulden says Saluting Maxi with the Royal Salute. Maxi leaves the office and heads back to his ship.
Draconis Prime Military Office.
Admiral Draco Magius the head of the military looks at the Intellegance officer. "Well what information do you have for me about the Wolfie commander?" he asks the officer. "Sir the take is that the Wolf Crown Prince Vance Maxi II will take command." the officer trembles."So the wolfs send their best ehh, send for Admiral Lowie Dragon IV at once." he tells the officer. "At once Admiral," the officer says as he leaves the office.
Wolf's Lair
Marshel Dame Candice Maddison Duchess Red Den, Mid Admiral Sir Ted Burfoot Duke Black Den, Low Admiral Sir Scott Evans Duke White Den, walk down the hall to Burfoot's office. "Never since our Beloved Apa Maximtrz have we face the Dracons, Scott what are the Navy numbers?" Scott answers,"well we are at full strength with 3,000 ships, and over 3 billion Sailors to Crew them. Scott looks at Candice "the Marines have 600 Golf class Marine Assult ships ready and 4 Billion troops ready." Candice Says as she looks back at Ted. Ted looks at his pad, "We are now at a defacto state of war with the hedgomy." he states the two officers speechless.
System 7363 CL234 Grovel 1 week prior
Commander Tompson guides his Light Cruiser to the end of the gravity well "ok deploy the sAT platfoms, and put us in stealth." Commander Tompson bellows to the crew. "At once sir!" the crew replies. the CL moves and deploys 6 MK II RESAT platforms as a ship drops out of H-space and arrives in N-Space "Sir Draconis Raiders lone Battle cruiser inbound!" the tactical officer tells her capitan. 'MAX SHields, and bring up the missle tubes 1-6 standered, 7-12 Counter missle tubes, what type of BC is it guns?" Tompson turns aand looks at the young officer. "Sir the BC matches the Ruby Class 700k tons it out weighs us by a factor of 4 at least we are 140k tons to their 700k." she replies and looks at her commander. "Lay fire plan XF6 and send a dispatch boat to Base 45 and tell them that the dracons have come." topson says as the Battle stations call blasts out of the speakers.
The Light Cruiser excellerates to a speed of 4 gravities and it turn and fires 3 loads of 6 missles each at the incomming Battle Cruiser. "Roll and fire all weapons guns." the Dracon Commander replies. and 72 missles fire back at the light cruiser. The 18 missles of the Wolf Light Criuser fired at the hull of the battle cruiser, 14 missles are destroyed by Point Defence, and counter missles, 4 hit the hull and cause 200 deaths and destroys 3 missle tubes and a LIDAR. The 72 Draconis Missles plow through the counter defence of the light cruiser and the hit 500,000 kms and send X-ray radiation through the Cruiser like Chain Saws, 3 beams of radiation hit the bridge and Tompson sees the tactical party cut in half and in his final moments he curses the Dracons for everbeing made. The Light Cruiser Blows up with all hands, and the Draconis Battle Cruiser leaves the system and head to meet up with his fleet. the Dispatch boat reaches Base 45 in 2 days with the rest of the Kingdom finding out 3 days later. the Alpha IS very ticked off.
Chapter 2
Alpha Vance Maxi Jr, Alpha Maximtrz looked at the report that had arrived from Base 45. "Ulses send copy of this letter to High Admiral Boulden." he tells one of his Valets. "At once my alpha." he tells the Alpha as he bows. Vance heads to is room and looks up at the line of pictures of the past Alpha Maximtrz's going back 6 Generations. "Well fathers I have a war coming and we will need all the help and guidance you can give Me." he tells the pictures. Vance than lays down in his bed while the letter arrives in Duke Boulden's room. Draconis Prime
"Master, the navy is ready to attack the wolfs, they stand at the ready." The underling tells Admiral Lowie Dragon IV. "Excellent you are relived." He says with a wave of his hand. The underling leaves and Admiral Dragon looks at the orders he has received. "Commander Send word to the task group commander to be ready at 1800 hours for a full briefing." he tells the commander standing in his office.
Red Den
General 2nd class Sir Cameron Gentas Earl White Grove looked out at his assembled Division. Troops 5 days ago the Draconis Navy attacked and destroyed a Wolf Light Cruiser with all hands we are setting up to have our division and the rest in our Corps form up and get ready to attack and garrison the Draconis Planets. You troops are the vanguard of the Force so look alive and watch you back as well as your comrades. For the Alpha and may his family Reign Forever!" He speaks to the assembled troops. The Marines go wild at the last and take up the chant for the Alpha and his family. A shady person looks out through a telephoto screen and counts the troops assembled. He leaves and makes a report to his higher ups.
-xxx-xxx-x-x
The following has been observed at the wolf's Red Den, 3rd Corps of the BWRM is assembling and will be in a position to attack the border planets in 3 weeks recommend that the frontier fleets go on maximum alert. Agent 546D
-xxx-xxx-x-x
The message gets sent up to a fast Courier boat in orbit the Draconis boat leaves Red Den at a fast speed and heads to the prime planet before the Wolf Navy found out that they used a bogus clearance.
Orbit around Wolf's Den Alpha's Revenge SD-547
Captain 1st class Candice Micheals looks out at the assembled fleet "XO have all the Commanders met here for a briefing at 0600 and set the 3rd watch I am heading to my cabin alert me if anything comes in." She tells a tall bulky officer. "Aye My Lady as you order." He replies. Candice rolls her eyes at the my lady part. (Man you would have thought I would be used to the title by now. But since I got promoted to captain 1st class and received the Countess of Thors's Place.) She thinks to herself. As she walks to the fast lift car. "Deck 3." She tells the operator. The car runs down the length of the ship and down 2 decks before arriving at the Midship Row and looking out at the 12 Midshipmen and woman of the current academy class. "Ladies, Gentlemen I am Captain 1st class Candice Micheals and I am Commander of this ship. Some of the history of this ship is that it is the 2nd Fleet Flagship with Prince Vance Maxi II as it's commander. You will be shown around by the XO or Second officer. We have 2 Battalions of marines onboard and they also have their own 3rd LTs. Please no relationships on your middie cruise as we are in a defacto state of war we will more than likely issue you your rank a few weeks into the cruise. Obey the Bosun and the Gunny as they have more authority than anyone beside the Xo or higher. They have the wisdom and knowledge use it and you will one day achieve Flag rank. The Prince will arrive at 0400 present yourselves in the boat bay at 0330 and watch the ceremony." She tells the assembled officers to be.
Wolf's Den: Duke of Clearance Bistro.
Prince maxi enters the Bistro and sits down at a table the members of the princes Own taking place up around the Room. A server approaches and bows. "My Prince welcome to our establishment and the Sheep Pie is the special today." The server humbly tells the Prince. "Ok 1 special and 1 glass of the Royal Wine. " Maxi tells the server as the server bows and rushes to fill the order. Maxi scans the room noting the people and classifying the possible threats. The server returns with the food and drink Maxi begins to eat when an explosion happens outside blowing glass and killing 30 people. The princes own rush and cover Maxi and rush him out the back and into his aircar. The MPs descend on the Bistro and search for clues they find part of a detonator scans find it to be of Draconis make. The report sparks Alpha Maximtrz's rage and he declares that the Kingdom and the Draconis are at war and that the entire Kingdom is now considered Mobilized and to report to their Units and ships. The Kingdom is heading to war.
Draconis Prime
"Ok commanders we are heading to the Wolf Kingdom and take them over the Strike force will attack the kingdom in 8 weeks we have that much time to plan and execute a plan any questions?" Admiral Dragon IV asks his assembled commanders there are none and the meeting breaks up and they head for their own ships. Dragon heads to his cabin where he establishes a connection to his assassin "Have you made the hit yet?" he asks the foul looking creature in his screen. "Not yet sir but I have placed a bomb near the bistro that the prince will be visiting this should be fool proof and with the prince dead the kingdom will be unprepared to fight the Draconis Navy. S 435 out." The screen goes black and the Admiral contemplates what his next move will be.
Chapter 3
Orbit Wolf's Den
The Shuttle launches from the pad and heads towrds the orbiting Ship. The Boat bay officer sees the shuttle and it is covered by marine Attack Craft "Bridge this is the Boat bay, the Prince is enroute ETA 40 mins." the .tells Captain Micheals. The captian presses a button summoning the Side Party to the bay and She gets up out of her seat and heads to the lift and takes it to the bay.
"OK what happened there people?" a slightly shaken Prince asks his elite unit. the Major in command looks at him "My prince we have failed you that blast was intended for you and we have failed to intercept the threat." Vance looks at the Major, "It wasn't your fault and now we are at war the Fleet is mobilizing and weneed everyone in top form." he tells the Marine who Brightens up after his pep talk.
The Shuttle settles into the boat bay 40 mins later and Vance Maxi leaves and walks down the ramp to the Wolf National Anthem playing over the loud speakers. "CROWN PRINCE VANCE MAXI II ARRIVING!" the bouson bellows into the speaker system. and the Side party Salutes as does Michaels "Welcome Home Sir." She says as Vance returns the Salute and walks towrds her. "A pleasure to be back Captian, also we may be sailing with Mid Admiral Burfoot, and Low Admiral Evans." he tells a suprised Michaels "Sir where will we house them as the flag quarters are in use by yourself?" Michaels asks. "Well I happen to have 2 Rooms avaible next to mine my marine escorts have agreed to sleep in marine county for the duration of the cruise if needed. he replies as theyenter the lift for the 5 min ride to the flag Bridge.
Duke Bouldens office
"But Sir we are needed here not with the fleet." Mid Admiral Burfoot tells his superior. Duke Boulden looks at his 2 Flag Officers "We need experianced officers at this front and this comes down as Alpha's orders and you know what the penalty for disobaying that kind of order right." he asks the officers. "Yes sir we do know." Low Admiral Evans tells Duke Boulden, (Yeah just what we don't need a Alpha's mast.) Mid Admiral Burfoot thinks with a shudder. Mid Admiral Burfoot and Low Admiral Evans Salute and head out of Duke Bouldens office and head to the Cantean for a bite to eat.
Draconis Prime Orbit.
Admiral Dragon IV looks at his tac plot on his flag bridge "Captain have all ships assume transit formation and prepare us to move out to system 647 for the Meeting with the rest of our Strike Fleet." Dragon tells his Flag Captain. "Aye Sir." the Captain replies and turns to her crew and repeats the order. the 1st Division of the Strike Fleet moves out at 3 gravities and hits H-space 90 mins later.
"MY Leader the Fleet is away and the attack has failed. the underling tells the Draconis Secret Order Commander. the Commander Snarls and pounces on the underling and proceeds to eat the underling one piece at a time. "I told you that I would eat you if you failed me again." The commander tells the remains. the Commander than turns to head up to the Presidental Suite.
Marine Academy Red Den.
Cadet 3rd rank Cassie James Howiter leads her squad on a training run in the Simulator. "Ok guys lets beat the scores fron Alpha Team." she tells her squad. they start the mission and advance 20 mins into the mission when the screen goes black and the alarm goes off. "ALL CADETS REPORT TO THE STAGING AREA AND DRAW YOUR WEAPONS AND GEAR!" Cassie looks at her squad all have stunded looks on there face. (there has never been that kind of call ever in the academy for over 300 years.) "Lets go guys fall in and quick time to the staging area, Forward March!" she yells out as she and her squad rush to the staging area and drw their weapons and armour. Cassie looks around and sees all the cadets in the academy as well as the Duchess herself, Marshel Maddison Duchess Red Den. "Cadets as of 1300 all cadets are hereby givin field commisions as 2nd LT's. You will form up with your New Divisions and join the fleet. as you may have heard we are at war and time counts. you will have a chance for garrison, MP, Ground Assault, and Ship Duties. May the Forture of the Pack go with you. Cadets Attention! Royal Salute!" the Duchess and every Cadet Salutes as the Alpha's Call is played following a retiring of the Flags. the cadets desperse but Cassie has some lingering thoughts in her mind. (well now my whole family will fight, I just hope I live so I can carry on the family line.
2nd fleet Flag operations
"Sir Flash orders from the palace. we are to depart ASAP for the Draconis border. Intercept and destroy the Draconis Invasion fleet that is rumoured to be in the area, attack and destroy all Draconis ships you encounter. the Grace of the Pack with you. Signed by the Alpha. Sir Fleet is formed and ready to move out on your signal." the Communication officer tells Vance. "Very well general signal all ships to set course for base 45, ETA 2 Days." Vance tells his Captian. "By your Command Prince Admiral. She responds as the SD comes to life and starts her movement towards the Gravity Well limit for the H-band Translation.
(For those who are wondering about the Alpha's mast it is as such: Like a Captians Mast the offending party is brout to the Alpha where he weigths the evidence. if the party is guilty than the guilty are taken to a arena and thrown to the Wolves.)