SECTION 3
Studying the situation and reviewing both forces and options at his disposal, Ulnar realizes that St. Germaine is the key to the entire sector. If the planet were to fall, the loss of the geofractor complex in the star system would cut his fleet off from Merros and the incoming reinforcements and effectively isolate the Ninth Defense Squadron. Moreover, the military and governmental administration centers and the large planetary population all need to be protected. St. Germaine’s position makes it possible to respond to whatever reports come in regarding alien movements if the Ka’slaq fleet does not choose to concentrate on this vital target.
The admiral issues his orders accordingly, posting the ships of the Ninth Defense Squadron retained under his command, and the vessels of St. Germaine’s permanent garrison as well, in strategic positions to spot alien incursions and report to his own central reserves. The Legion settles down to await further developments.
The worst part of any defensive campaign is the agony of waiting, and the weeks that follow remind Ulnar of the old saying, “Hurry up and wait.” Incoming merchant ships and regular ultrawave messages from the garrison commanders and other authorities on the frontier worlds all bring nothing but routine news. The Ka’slaq threat seems to have vanished as suddenly as it first manifested itself.
Then it happens—the first sign of trouble. The ultrawave signal from Endymion comes in faint and weak, as if the power supplies there are uncertain or a huge high-gravity field is creating interference in the transmission. But despite the fading and surging waves of interference that break up his words, Captain Don Larno of the Audacious gets enough of his message across to tell Ulnar everything he needs to know.
“ . . . to HQ, Endymion garri—HQ . . . alien ships . . . hundred or more . . . from . . . frontier. Garrison out . . . to hold them until . . . forcements. . . . Like a giant planet . . . mobile . . . death ship . . . Cometeers. Repeating: Endymion garrison to . . . spotted alien . . . a hundred . . . coming in from beyond . . . tier. Outnumbered, but we’ll try to hold . . . send reinforcements. Most targets cruiser size, but one is like . . . planetoid, except it’s mobile . . . a death . . . worse than the comet . . . Repeating . . .”
But it repeats no further; after the second version of the message, the power from the Endymion communications station fades out for good.
In the face of this message, Ulnar once again ponders the proper dispositions to meet the Ka’slag threat. Captain Larno said he’d try to hold until reinforcements arrive, but the admiral cannot be sure that Endymion can hold out. The squadron can rush to Larno’s aid, but risks allowing the aliens to penetrate deeper. But if Ulnar continues to wait at St. Germaine and the Ka’slaq choose a different destination, another world may fall while the Legion waits idle. Can Ulnar outguess the invaders and block their attack?
If Ulnar chooses to remain at St. Germaine, go to section 12.
If Ulnar chooses to go to Endymion, go to section 20.
If Ulnar chooses to go to Baal, go to section 18.
If Ulnar orders his ships to travel to S.C. 170, go to section 68.
If Ulnar chooses to go to any other destination, go to section 14.
Ulnar is free to detach ships to strengthen other garrisons, as before. He is also free to take the mobile elements of the St. Germaine garrison with him when he departs, adding those ships to his squadron. Go to section 10 for a review of the garrisons at various worlds, remembering to add any forces already detached from Ulnar’s squadron.
On a piece of scrap paper, note the fact that twenty days have elapsed waiting at St. Germaine.