Jack Campbell - The Lost Fleet - Courageous

“This is Colossus. What are your intentions, Captain Geary? Shouldn’t there be a fleet conference as soon as possible? There are critical command issues to address.”

“This is Conqueror. Concur with Colossus.”

“Thank you for your input,” Geary replied. “There’s no time for a conference. We’re leaving this star system.” He paused just long enough for everyone to hear that and wonder what he meant. “All ships in the Alliance fleet, this is Captain Geary. We’re not going to retreat even one more kilometer. This fleet has unfinished business at Lakota. We’re going to jump back toward Lakota, and when we get there, we’re going to kick in the teeth of any Syndic flotilla present there and then see how many of the crew members of Indefatigable, Audacious, Defiant, Paladin, Renown, and the other ships we left back there can be recovered, and then this fleet will continue on its way back to Alliance space no matter what the Syndics throw at us.“

He took another deep breath, wondering what everyone was thinking right now. “We’ll go through jump right like this to save time and ensure we surprise the Syndics. On exit at Lakota, all ships are to turn starboard immediately eight zero degrees and be ready for combat. We won’t be leaving Lakota again until we’ve given the Syndics a lesson they’ll never forget on how the Alliance fleet can fight.” And maybe provide a lesson about how hard humanity could be to defeat for the unknown aliens as well. Even if they had spies all over this fleet, those spies wouldn’t have much chance to tip off their bosses with the fleet going right back into jump. The battle would be a little more even this time without the aliens helping the Syndics.

“Yes, sir!” Desjani was grinning and thrusting one fist high in the air. The watch-standers Geary could see on the bridge of Dauntless were yelling and punching each other’s arms. He could hear a low roar that he gradually realized was the sound of the crew of Dauntless cheering their lungs out.

Geary looked back and saw Victoria Rione staring around as if she had suddenly found herself in an insane asylum. “Captain Geary,” Rione protested in a strangled voice, “your fleet is low on ammunition, low on fuel cells, and has many damaged ships. And you’re taking it back to Lakota?”

“That’s right,” Geary stated. “We can’t stand and fight here, we can’t run and get away, so we’re attacking.”

Rione looked from Geary to the celebrating crew members of Dauntless, her expression horrified. “But that’s madness! What if there’s a superior Syndic force still awaiting us at Lakota?”

“I guess that’ll be too bad for them,” Geary replied, knowing that whatever he said would somehow find its way around the fleet. It wasn’t a moment for caution or reflection or doubt. I need to lead this fleet. May the living stars grant that I’m not leading it to destruction, but if so, we’re going to die fighting, not running. Desjani was smiling proudly at him as the ships of the Alliance fleet reached the jump point again. Another fleet officer, and a very good one, she understood something that Rione probably never could. “All ships,” Geary transmitted, “I’ll see you in Lakota.

“Jump now.”