II
My First Taste of Battle
1 June 2432
Graduation from ITNA
Having worked hard for the last four years, I earned top honors for my graduating class. I was the class commander and a proper military man. I had endured all of the hazing during my freshman year with all the stoicism that would have made a Spartan proud. However, unlike my classmates, I refused to participate when they themselves hazed the freshmen. Even though I was opposed to the hazing, I did not speak out against it. No one at the Academy knew why. The reason I didn’t speak against it is because I understood the necessity for it. I didn’t like it because I believed it degraded the cadet, both the freshmen and the upperclassmen. But, I understood that only the best and most prepared cadets were the ones that the ITN needed, the ones most prepared for the hardships of military life. I was lucky in that I had lived my entire life as the son of a military man and I had seen the hardships that they endure.
Even though I was opposed to the hazing, I was more into practical jokes and nobody, but nobody, was immune from them. I had such a reputation that, even when I was utterly innocent, I was still accused of numerous practical jokes. My reputation even reached the ears of Admiral Yamashita who was, at that time, the commanding officer of the ITN's education and training branch.
As I stood on the graduation stage at the ITN Academy, I awaited my turn to receive my diploma. I was a little embarrassed when all of my accomplishments, including my practical jokes, were described to the audience, even the school's commandant laughed when the jokes against him were described. I never did figure out how they learned who pulled those jokes.
After the graduation service, Ensign-Cadet William H. Watson met with his family. My father, now retired, Lieutenant General James Watson and my brother, 19-year-old Edward, a cadet at the ITN Academy himself, smiled at me and shook my hand. My mother and sisters, Andrea and Shannon, hugged me. As if on cue, Admiral Jeremy Yamashita who had stood in the background waiting for the family to exhaust themselves, stepped forward.
When his turn came, Admiral Yamashita shook my hand. “Congratulations, William. You are now officially an Ensign in the Interstellar Terran Navy. Not to change the subject, but, I understand you had an interesting encounter a few weeks ago.”
“Yes, sir. Several friends and I were visiting Orange Park and we met a Khorcha.”
“Really? Did he approach you or vice versa?”
“He approached us. But, he singled me out.”
Somewhat concerned, Admiral Yamashita asked, “What did he say to you?”
“Let me see. He said, 'How do you do, Cadet Watson? You will be graduating soon. I understand you are going to train as a fighter pilot.' I was more than a little shocked that he knew me and that I was going to graduate from the Academy soon. More importantly, I was surprised that he knew my future training.”
Admiral Yamashita said, “I’m not surprised, William. Ever since your exploits when you were 16, I’ve kept an eye on the Khorcha; I believe they’ve kept an eye on you as well. How did you answer his statement?”
“I said, ‘I’m not certain what my future training will be. What makes you believe that I’m going to be a fighter pilot?”
Smiling, Admiral Yamashita asked, “What was his reaction?”
“If you can believe it, sir, she looked shocked.”
“She?”
“Yes, sir. The Khorcha was a female. She stood almost as tall as I am. I studied the Khorcha in high school and what I read said that the female Khorcha are taller than the males and are almost 185 cm tall. What should I do, sir?”
“Nothing, William. It just tells me that, as I suspected, they’re keeping a close eye on you. So, we’ll give them something to worry about.”
“What is that, sir?”
“You’re going to fighter pilot training at Tonojen. You’re being assigned to the TSS Jutland. That will be your ship of assignment during your training. It's an old ship. As a matter of fact, it's one of the original battle carriers. You leave in thirty days. So, enjoy your leave. You may not be able to return home for a long time.”
“Yes, sir. Thank you, sir.”
**********
Thirty days later, I, Ensign William Henry Watson, reported to the ITN teleporter building at San Diego ITNB, CA for teleportation to the transport heading to the Tonojen star system. It would take about six weeks to traverse the forty light-years to Tonojen. Since this was a military transport, I was subjected to daily drills to keep me mentally and physically prepared for my pilot training. However, I spent a good amount of my spare time in the ship's weight room, jogging track, and fencing room. Despite the training, I didn't forget about the fairer sex. I spent plenty of quality time with them.
Even though I played down my actions from six years earlier, the women seemed to know all about me. Some were more than a little happy to be seen with a pilot who had “thumbed his nose at IAA regulations”; others tolerated what I did just to spend some time with me. These told me outright that they thought I was an idiot for risking my life like I did but, at the same time, they found the fact that I had done it intriguing and wanted to learn more about me.
Six weeks after leaving Terra, the transport arrived at Tonojen and I boarded a shuttle, along with fifteen other new Ensigns headed for the TSS Jutland. I reported to my new commanding officer, Commander Greg Jennings. After meeting with the new Ensign pilots, Commander Jennings held a private meeting with me.
“Ensign Watson,” Commander Jennings said, in an authoritative voice, “I’ve heard of you. I was on Terra the day you thumbed your nose at the IAA regulations concerning altitude restrictions on civilian pilots. I also know that, for some reason, Admiral Yamashita stopped the IAA from permanently suspending your pilot's license. But, let me tell you something, Ensign, you are a nobody to me. Do you understand me?”
“Yes, sir!”
“We have regulations in the ITN that are necessary to prevent hot dogs like you from getting someone killed, especially themselves. So, if you think you can thumb your nose at the ITN's regulations, you better think again. Do you understand, Ensign?”
“Yes, sir!”
“I’ll be watching you very closely, Ensign. Very closely. I’ll be waiting for you to screw up and, when you do, I’ll be there to bust your butt right out of the ITN. I don’t care who you have for friends. Got it?”
“Yes, sir!”
“Good. Now, report to Deck 175, Compartment 5344. I want you on the hanger deck at 0520 tomorrow morning to start your fighter training.”
“Yes, sir!”
“Dismissed, Ensign.”
With a sharp salute and about-face, I left the Commander's office. I knew that, like my father, I wasn’t going to pull the wool over his eyes, not that I ever intended to attempt to do that. I found my way to Deck 175, Compartment 5344. When I arrived, he found several nervous Ensigns debating who would sleep where and which locker was whose. Thanks to having a General for a father, my leadership training took over and I assigned each Ensign a bunk and locker. Because of my confidence, nobody questioned my decisions and even accepted me as a de-facto compartment commander.
**********
The next morning, I reported to the hanger deck as I had been ordered to do and met with my trainer, Lt. Commander Erich Conried. Lt. Commander Conried was more tolerant of my adolescent actions. But, he was still tough on me.
“Ensign, what you did when you were sixteen shows a willingness to take chances to achieve a goal. However, you also have to put limitations on your desires and think about your teammates and everyone on board this ship is your teammate. Now, today we’re going to train in the cockpit of the trainer you’ll be using for the next six months. You won’t be flying this ship for a week no matter how well you learn what I’m teaching you. I want you to understand each and every switch, button, valve, lever, and vent. I want you to be able to do what’s necessary to perform an action without thinking. When you achieve this goal, then, and only then, will I allow you to take the ship out for flight training. Since the trainer is designed almost identically to the starfighter, when you start your flight training, you’ll be learning the nuances of a starfighter. When you learn those nuances, then, and only then, will you start your live-fire training on simulated targets. Do not expect to start your live-fire training for up to nine months. Nobody has ever started live-fire training in less than six months. Do you have any questions?”
“Yes, sir. I don't want to sound arrogant, but would you be willing to make a wager as to how quickly I’ll start live fire training?”
Shocked by my seeming arrogance, Commander Conried smiled and said, “Of course, what do you wish to wager? By the way, you aren’t the first to make such a wager with me and I have never had to pay. So, tell me about your wager.”
“Okay, sir. How about this? If I start live-fire training in less than six months from today, you have to announce to the whole ship that I’m the best fighter pilot you’ve ever trained.”
“And if you lose?”
“I’ll duck walk the entire length of the retrieval hanger bay in front of as large of a crowd as you want to gather.”
“Boy, you got a bet. I hope you can duck walk well because the retrieval hanger is almost a full three kilometers in length and I’m sure I could get over 5,000 people to watch you. Now, get your ass into that cockpit so I can start your training.”
“Yes, sir!”
**********
21 November 2432
The Surprise Attack
“Ladies and gentlemen assigned to the TSS Jutland.” Lt. Commander Conried was on the bridge using the ship's speaker system. “Three months and eight days ago, I met an arrogant Ensign by the name of William H. Watson. He made a wager with me that he would start live-fire training in less than six months. My part of the bet was to announce to the whole ship that he was the best fighter pilot I’ve ever trained if he succeeded. Well, ladies and gentlemen, today Ensign William Henry Watson is to start his live-fire training; therefore, he is the best fighter pilot I’ve ever trained. I’m not ashamed to admit this because, during his flight training, he showed me maneuvers I’d only read about, maneuvers that I didn’t believe could be performed in zero gravity. But, thanks to this arrogant Ensign, I now know that I was wrong. That is all.”
When he arrived in the hanger deck, Lt. Commander Conried found me in the cockpit of the trainer. “Good morning, William. I see you’re ready to start your training. Well, let me get on board and we’ll head out. Don't you wish to brag about your success?”
“No, sir. It’s the sign of a boorish person to brag about a victory. Plus, I was only showing you my abilities to prove that I was as good as I’d claimed.”
As Commander Conried buckled into his seat, I commenced the engine ignition sequence. After receiving the go-ahead from Commander Conried, I fired off the repulsors and started taxiing to the launch tube. When the fighter arrived at the launch tube, the ship's computer took over the launch sequencing and ordered the trainer to slowly retract its landing struts as the launch tube's floor slowly moved upward to seal the launch tube. When the launch tube was completely sealed, it was decompressed. As the launch tube was decompressing, the decompression light on the control panel of the trainer flashed yellow slowly becoming a flashing red. When the light became steady red, indicating a total lack of atmosphere surrounding the trainer, the outer door of the launch tube opened and I gave the trainer full throttle and, in 0.1 seconds, the trainer shot out of the side of the Jutland like a cannonball. The destination of the training flight was Zotaben, Tonojen's twelfth and last planet.
“Damn, Ensign. Do you have to launch like that? I swear I believe my eyeballs are going to come out of the back of my head every time you do that.”
I laughed lightly at Commander Conried's consternation. “I’m sorry, sir. You know how much I enjoy flying, especially in zero-g.”
**********
As we flew toward Zotaben, I said, “Commander, I had the strangest dream last night.”
“Really?” He said, without thinking, while studying the instruments in his cockpit. “What about?”
“I was on a planet I’ve never seen before.”
“Ensign, you’re in the ITN now. You’re going to be visiting a lot of planets you’ve never seen before.”
“I understand that, sir. But, this planet is almost totally undeveloped. It’s covered by a worldwide forest of trees that are humongous. I mean these trees in my dream are an average of ten meters in diameter.”
“You mean ten meters around.”
“No sir. I mean in diameter.”
Chuckling, Erich said, “You sure do have a strange imagination, Ensign.”
“If you think that’s strange, all the foliage on the plants was a shade of red. As a matter of fact, it seemed to me that the plant life of the entire planet was a chromatic opposite of Terra.”
“Son, you shouldn't say things like that to your trainer. I could easily use it as a way to remove you from fighter training, you know.”
“I know, sir. But, I believe you know me as well as anyone else and better than most. Because of this, I believe you’ll keep what I just revealed under wraps until I complete my training because you understand that I’m as clear-headed as anyone else in the ITN.”
“You know me too well, Ensign. You’re so good we can’t afford to drop you over a simple dream.”
“That's not all, sir. There was a woman in the dream as well.”
I could imagine Commander Conried rolling his eyes as he said, “Now, why doesn't that surprise me. You’re one of the more notorious skirt chasers on the Jutland.”
“This woman was different. She was about 165 cm tall and weighed about 55 kg. She had long bluish-blond hair and yellow-in-blue eyes. Her skin looked like the color of a lion’s fur; I believe it’s known as lion yellow. Her lips were slightly darker than her skin and she had straight snow-white teeth. Her nose and mouth looked normal for her face and body. She was wearing a one-piece leather dress that started just below her arms and ended about halfway down her thighs. The dress had open sides that were held together by a leather string. She had relatively small breasts; I think they might have been as big as B cups. Her thighs and calves were very shapely and strong looking, but not overly muscular. Her feet were small, perhaps no longer than twenty centimeters. She wore brown sandals that were held to her feet and lower calves by leather straps similar to the way Roman sandals were held on.”
“Now I know you have a strange imagination, Ensign. But, I wouldn't worry about it. After all, it was just a dream and we know about dreams.”
“The strangest part of the dream is that I couldn't see myself in the dream and the woman was talking to me. She called me by name, but it wasn't my name. It was another name.”
In a semi-disinterested voice, Commander Conried said, “Really? What did she call you?”
“She called me something that sounded like Mvila or Mvilu. I don't know how it would be spelled, either m-v-i-l-a or m-v-i-l-u. All I know is, she said, 'I am waiting for you, Mvilu. Please hurry to me. I will be waiting for you to come to me.' Then she faded away in a gray fog. I wonder what that means.”
“It means you had best not let anyone else know about your dreams.”
“Yes, sir. I agree wholeheartedly.”
**********
When we were about a quarter of the way to Zotaben, we picked up a distress signal from Tonojen Naval Yard. “Mayday. Mayday.” The message started. “Tonojen Naval Yard is under attack. Repeat, Tonojen Naval Yard is under attack. There are over one hundred capital ships and over 5,000 fighter and attack craft attacking us. The insignia on the ships and the fighter and attack craft indicate that they are from the Empires of Yavkognia and Khorcha. Repeat, the insignia on the ships and the fighter and attack craft indicate that they are from the Empires of Yavkognia and Khorcha. We are attempting to defend ourselves but we are outnumbered and outmatched. All ships in this quadrant of space should be forewarned and stay away. Repeat, all ships in this quadrant...” The message ended. Without giving it a second thought, I turned my trainer around and returned to the Naval Yard.
“Ensign Watson, what in the name of Hell are you doing? Didn’t you hear the announcement? They’re under attack from a vastly superior force. We’re only one ship. What do you think we can do? You’re not trained in live fire. You’re not ready to take on well-trained pilots from the Yavkognian and Khorchan Empires.”
“Sir, with all due respect, shut the Hell up. Those are our shipmates and fellow ITN members. I’m not, repeat not, going to turn my back on them. I don't give a damn if I get killed. I’m going to do whatever I can do to try to prevent the destruction of our navy. It’s all that stands between Terra and the Yavkognians and Khorcha. Besides, on my first day here, I was reminded that everyone on the Jutland is a teammate and friend and I have to do what I can to help and protect them.”
“I think you’re crazy, but, you’re the pilot and, since this craft only has one set of controls, I can't overrule you. So, if I can't stop you, then by all means, get your ass in gear and do whatever you can. I’ll give you whatever assistance I can.”
In less than fifteen minutes, Lt. Commander Conried and I arrived at the Naval
Yard. Upon arrival, I picked out the closest craft and attacked. The enemy pilot, who wasn’t expecting any opposition, was caught off guard and, since his shields were set for a frontal attack, disappeared in a cloud of vapor before he even knew I was within a parsec of him.
Immediately after dispatching the first fighter craft, I spotted a Khorchan frigate within torpedo range. I quickly calculated trajectory, relative speed, angle of attack, and released a torpedo. Thirty seconds later it impacted into the side of the frigate just forward of the engines. After the torpedo exploded, the engines flared sun white-hot for fifteen seconds then died out completely. Almost immediately after the engines died, I could see explosions occurring throughout the ship until, three minutes after the torpedo was released, a severe explosion just forward of amidships broke the ship in two. Numerous other explosions continued throughout the ship until it became thousands, if not millions, of small pieces of the ship. The fighter trainer was equipped with four torpedoes. During the course of the battle, I released two of the torpedoes at a Yavkognian battleship and my remaining torpedo at another Khorchan frigate. Both of these ships were destroyed by the ensuing explosions.
In a matter of ten minutes after my arrival, fourteen of their fighter and attack craft had fallen to my guns. During the course of the battle, a Khorchan craft got on my tail. Commander Conried was yelling into the comlink about the situation. I tried every trick I could think of to shake the pilot to no avail. However as I attempted to shake the other ship, I managed to get myself on the tail of other enemy ships and would send each of them to meet their ancestors. Despite the enemy craft on my tail, I felt like I was at a turkey shoot. Everywhere I turned was an enemy ship that soon fell to my guns. Finally, I pulled a ten g Split S turn and lost the other craft. I also got myself on my fourteenth and final ship that day.
Finally, ten minutes after Lt. Commander Conried and I arrived at the scene of the battle, the rest of the enemy craft returned to their carriers and the armada left. After the attack, Lt. Commander Conried and I flew around the Naval Yard and surveyed the damage. Three battle carriers, five dreadnoughts, ten battle cruisers, ten heavy cruisers, fifteen light cruisers, twenty destroyers, and seven frigates were damaged beyond repair. Even more, ships were damaged, but repairable. Among the battle carriers damaged beyond repair was the Jutland. The Jutland lost 99% of its personnel, including the entire fighter pilot corps of the ship with the exception of Lt. Commander Conried and me. Commander Jennings was also lost. He never got to see how hard I fought to save the ship and my friends.
I opened the mike on his headset, “This is Ensign William H. Watson of the TSS Jutland. Commander Erich Conried and I are in the fighter trainer craft flying through the base. Our home ship has been destroyed. We need a place to land. Is there any ship that that is capable of landing our craft?”
A voice came over my headset. “Ensign Watson, this is Captain Gonzalez of the heavy cruiser TSS Thermopylae. We sustained minimal damage. Therefore, we can accept your craft. However, our hanger bay is too small for a standard landing. Please power down your engines and we shall land you using our tractor beams.”
Since the Yavkognians and Khorcha had already left, I felt it was safe to power down my engines and did so. After a few seconds, I said, “Engines powered down, Thermopylae. You may engage your tractor beam at your convenience.”
After landing, Lt. Commander Conried and I appeared before Captain Gonzalez and made our report.
**********
25 November 2433
Four days after the battle, I was summoned to the office of Admiral Giuseppe Bertolli. Upon entering the outer office, I reported to his orderly, who then informed the Admiral. “Send him in.” The Admiral replied.
When I entered the office, Admiral Bertolli said, “Come in, Lieutenant.”
After entering the office, I snapped to attention, saluted the Admiral, and said, “SIR! Ensign William Henry Watson reporting as ordered!” A short pause later, I continued with, “Sir, did you say, Lieutenant?”
“Yes, I did, son.”
“I'm afraid I don't understand, sir.”
The Admiral produced a stack of papers and started reading out loud. “Ensign Watson, for meritorious service above and beyond the call of duty on the morning of 21 November 2433, you are hereby awarded the Meritorious Service Award. For destroying fourteen enemy fighters and attack craft in ten minutes of fighting on the previously mentioned date, you are hereby awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. For a willingness to attack a vastly superior force of enemy fighter and attack craft on the previously mentioned date, you are hereby awarded the Silver Star. For a willingness to sacrifice your life above and beyond the call of duty for the protection of the Naval Yard at Tonojen on the previously mentioned date, you are hereby awarded the Terran Interstellar Republic Medal of Honor. As a result of all of these actions you are hereby officially and permanently promoted to the rank of Lieutenant, Junior Grade.”
“Sir, while I appreciate the honors, I do not believe I deserve them. I was only doing my duty as a Naval Fighter Pilot. How did you know about these things, sir? Did Captain Gonzalez inform you?”
I heard a familiar voice behind me saying, “Not Captain Gonzalez, Lieutenant.”
Turning to a figure standing just behind me, I said, “Commander?”
Commander Conried stepped forward. Smiling at me, he said, “I informed the Admiral, Lieutenant. I also informed him that I berated you the whole time about the foolhardiness of your actions. Most importantly, I informed him of my admiration for your actions during the battle.”
A voice on the intercom interrupted the meeting. “Sir, I believe you should listen to the radio.”
The Admiral turned on the radio and the voice of President Koshuvala could be heard. “Ladies and Gentlemen of the Terran Interstellar Congress, several days ago a combined force from the Empires of Khorcha and Yavkognia attacked the Interstellar Terran Naval Base at Tonojen. These forces damaged beyond repair over seventy ships. They also inflicted repairable damage to over one hundred ships. The loss of life was in the tens of thousands. As a matter of fact, one ship, the TSS Jutland, lost 99% of its personnel which, with one exception, included our entire newly graduated fighter pilot corps. Our military, such as it is, is fighting a losing battle against vastly superior forces of these empires. While you debate the necessity for a formal declaration of war against Khorcha and Yavkognia, our brave soldiers and sailors are fighting for their lives. Therefore, as a result of these heinous actions by the Empires of Yavkognia and Khorcha, I am asking for a formal declaration of war against these Empires.”
Admiral Bertolli turned to everyone in his office and said, “We’re going to war and we aren’t ready. I hope we can hold them off until we can completely retool our military. I’ve heard that each of the Empires has attacked Terran outposts along their respective borders.”
Turning to me, he added, “Lieutenant, Admiral Yamashita sounded relieved when I told him you were alive. He also sounded proud when I told him the reports I had concerning your actions at Tonojen. I don't know how you know Admiral Yamashita, but that doesn't matter. He has informed me that you are to be stationed aboard the battle carrier TSS Trafalgar. It’s currently docked at Thorson's Star. It’ll take ten days to reach the ITN base there. The transport that’ll take you to the Trafalgar will be leaving in two days. I suggest you take a couple of day's leave and enjoy yourself. I doubt very seriously you’ll be able to take leave for a very long time. Any questions, Lieutenant?”
“Yes, sir. What about Commander Conried?”
“He’s being reassigned as well. He’ll be stationed aboard the TSS Philippine Sea.”
“Thank you, sir. I truly believe the Navy needs pilots like him to help defend the Republic. After all, he trained me to be the fighter pilot I am.”
“I agree wholeheartedly, Lieutenant. Dismissed.”
I saluted smartly, did an about-face and exited Admiral Gonzalez's office.
