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Day 305/2541
Chancellor Belloc looked annoyed when he put down the data tablet and regarded Frank Shaw. The Industry & Trade Secretary suppressed the urge to sigh. He had a hunch that this conversation wasn’t going to be pleasant.
“I don’t understand this sudden 180 degree change in strategy, Frank. You’ve been pounding the table all along saying that we have to capture the big freighters in order to establish a meaningful volume of trade between SSU planets, and now you’re telling me that strategy was a mistake? Your staff has had over three years to identify the economic challenges the Union would face and figure out ways of overcoming them. How could they get it so wrong?”
Now Shaw did sigh. The Chancellor was reacting exactly the same way that he, himself, had reacted a week ago when one of his analysts had presented that same report. It had taken Shaw a whole day to finally understand what the new situation was. He doubted if the Chancellor would be that patient.
“Do you remember us discussing the economic implications of creating the Union three years ago, Nathan?” asked Shaw. When it was just the two of them, he could refer to the Chancellor by his first name. Belloc nodded. “Back then I told you that the proposed Union had to switch from a single, large hub-and-spoke model, with Earth in the center, to a fish-net model where the developed Union planets would each trade with one or two other Union planets. I also said at the time that this assumption was based on very preliminary computer studies, using extremely limited data on the economic strengths and weaknesses of other planets we thought might join the Union. As you know, my department’s top priority has been to gather the volume of data necessary to get reliable results, using it to create a sophisticated multi-planet economic model. Getting that data hasn’t been easy. Our requests for it from other planetary governments only reached them after detouring to Earth first. That detour took months, and getting the information back also had to detour to Earth before heading back here. That’s the penalty of having 96% of all shipping capacity controlled by Earth-based shipping companies using their single hub-and-spoke model. Anything going from A to B has to be shipped to Earth first and vice versa. The delay and extra cost of trading between each other out here was one of the main reasons we felt we had to set up the Union in the first place.
“Once we had enough data, my people were finally able to begin designing computer algorithms to analyze that data and generate useful insights into it. They finally completed that project a few weeks ago. Our initial studies were all predicated on using the large 250-300-meter diameter freighters that the big shipping companies tend to use. After all, the logic seemed to be obvious. A 300-meter diameter freighter has 27 times the internal volume of a 100-meter diameter freighter. That’s why spherical spaceships are the preferred shape. A sphere maximizes internal volume for a given size. What we failed to realize was that the reasons why the Earth-based shipping companies use large ships has to do mainly with operating efficiency and only secondarily with the nuances of the single hub-and-spoke model. When you’ve got one hub, ie. Earth, and hundreds of spokes, which are all the other planets, then it makes sense to have large ships you can send out to each planet twice a year. That low frequency of visits means that there’ll be a lot of cargo and/or lots of passengers waiting to be carried on each trip. Therefore you can fill up a large ship. The operating efficiency comes from the fact that you don’t need a crew 27 times larger to operate a ship that has 27 times as much capacity.
“Well that’s all nice and fine for shipping companies, but those aren’t our priorities. We’re more concerned with bringing down the cost of trading with each other by having ships travel directly between Union planets. All other things being equal, that means shorter distances, and THAT means more frequent trips. So even if you’re going to use large ships, you’ll still need more of them, and they won’t have anywhere close to a full cargo for each trip. We understood that, but since our shipping companies would be owned by planetary governments, we wouldn’t care if half-empty ships resulted in only modest profits or even losses. The indirect economic benefits of the direct trade would more than offset any out-of-pocket losses, and that doesn’t even take into consideration the benefit of shifting military equipment quickly to where it’s needed.
“It was that assumption of using lots of large ships that was the flaw in our logic, but it took the computer analysis to point that flaw out to us. No matter what we do, either with capturing freighters or building them, we can’t acquire enough of the big freighters fast enough to exploit the Union’s economic and industrial potential anywhere close to the max. Those big ships just take too long to build. That’s why the report is now recommending shifting our shipbuilding strategy to building much smaller freighters in the 50-80-meter diameter range. That’s small enough that we can use modular construction techniques to almost mass-produce them. What they lack in cargo capacity, they can make up for with multiple trips, AND since these small freighters can also act as couriers, an indirect benefit will be faster communications between all members of the Union. We’ll even be able to deploy some of them to trade with nearby FED planets too. In fact, a couple of my analysts are of the opinion that demonstrating the practicality of direct trading links with small freighters might just be an excellent way of getting more planets into the Union and away from the Federation.” Shaw was puzzled by Belloc’s sudden change of expression. It almost looked as if the Chancellor had just had an ‘aha’ moment.
“Yes, I think I see the problem,” said Belloc. “The need for shipping capacity between all members of the Union will grow exponentially as the number of member planets grows, correct?”
Shaw blinked in surprise. To gain that profound insight just on the basis of the report and Shaw’s brief explanation was an impressive accomplishment.
“Ah, yes, that’s an excellent way of describing the situation in a nutshell, and given that the Union is expanding as fast as formal applications for membership can reach us, the challenge of integrating the economies of new planets would only get more and more difficult if we continue to build a relatively small number of large freighters.”
Belloc nodded. “Okay then, I’ll approve the recommended switch in building priority. Does it make sense to finish the large hulls that we’ve already started?”
“Only if they can be completed in less time than building a smaller ship from scratch. I’ve already checked. There are two that fit that criteria. The others should be either scrapped or converted to military design if possible.”
“Well, we need all the warships we can get our hands on, so let’s pursue that option as much as possible. And speaking of warships, now that we don’t want large freighters anymore, does that mean that we can redeploy our current fleet of cruisers to something other than commerce raiding?”
Shaw took his time answering. “I can’t speak to the short-term military implications of doing that, but from the point of view of conducting economic warfare, denying the FEDs the use of freighters they already have by destroying them instead of capturing them, would slow down their military buildup, and that has to be worth our consideration.”
Belloc nodded even as his thoughts returned again to the desirability of using a super-Oracle type of device to analyze the hundreds of variables that would affect that kind of decision. The Union’s head start could rapidly evaporate if they didn’t get a handle on these sorts of complex problems before it was too late.
“I understand. I’ll inform SecDef Sorensen that her cruisers are to begin destroying FED freighters instead of capturing them. I’m sure she’ll approve of that move. I want to now switch the topic to the FED’s Oracle and Majestic initiatives. I presume you’ve read my memo?”
“Yes. If Lieutenant Murphy’s information is accurate, then I agree that we should try to duplicate that technology as fast as possible. It would help if we could get our hands on the technical specs of their Oracle prototype. I don’t suppose that’s possible though.”
Belloc smiled. “As a matter of fact, your report has just made it possible. Murphy wants us to set up a courier system using commercial shipping between Earth and a planet that’s technically still in the Federation but willing to trade with the SSU. While simple in theory, the practical details are the problem. When we were still aiming to use large freighters, it would have been difficult, not to mention suspicious looking, to assign one of those valuable ships to a regular run between Sparta and a sympathetic Federation planet. The actual volume of trade would be unlikely to warrant using a ship that size. If anyone noticed that, they’d wonder why we’d be so stupid as to waste a perfectly good freighter that way. It wouldn’t take long before the FEDs would conclude that the freighter’s main cargo was information. However, if we use a small freighter, then the trade volume relative to the ship size won’t look so suspicious. There’s also the urgency. The tech data on Oracle is on Earth now, but when they move their field operations to the Franklin system, our agent will be cut off. We have to get the courier set up before we lose contact with that agent. Being able to build smaller ships faster will help us do that.”
Shaw thought for a moment. “Picking a planet that’s still technically part of the Federation but is willing to trade with us will be tricky. We could spend years asking around until we find one that’ll co-operate. I’ll get my staff to begin work on coming up with a list of candidates. One thing though, I’ve consulted some people on Sparta who are the closest thing to computer design and manufacturing experts that we have. They tell me that having the specs on Oracle might only be the start of what we need to do. Oracle may involve a completely new concept in computer design. You know that Sparta doesn’t yet have the capability to build our own computers. We’ve always had to import them from Earth, one of many reasons to secede. Creating an internal capability can be done, but it’ll take time, and catching up to an experimental technology might take years. I just wanted you to be aware of that, Nathan.”
“We can’t let it take years, Frank. Oracle is just the foot in the door. This Majestic project of theirs is supposedly an order of magnitude more capable. If we have our own Oracle and the FEDs have Majestic, we’ll still be badly outmatched. If we can’t catch up to them on computers, then we need to investigate other force equalizers. Have your people do some brainstorming. I’ll tell SecDef to do the same thing from the military point of view.”
“Okay, Nathan. Was there anything else?” Belloc shook his head. “In that case I’ll be on my way. I’ll see you at tomorrow’s Cabinet meeting.”
When Shaw was gone, Belloc leaned back in his chair and thought about Murphy. Now that it looked as though they could actually make a courier arrangement work, somebody had to be put in charge of setting up the contact to Murphy’s partner and running the operation. Murphy couldn’t be the courier himself, but he could definitely supervise the whole operation. Belloc made a mental note to call Murphy back to his office to tell him the news.
* * *
Chenko dropped the data tablet on the desk in front of him and leaned back in his chair.
“That tablet contains the debriefing reports of the officers aboard Kursk, Commodore Stacker.” He paused as he watched the man stand at attention in front of his desk. “They paint a very disturbing but consistent picture of what happened at Sparta. I’ve also read your report, which paints a very different picture. I have to say, Stacker, that I’m astonished you would have the gall to try to blame your own incompetence on Kursk’s CO. Do you not realize that your command to abort the emergency hyper-jump, which was broadcast to every ship in the squadron, was recorded by the two ships that managed to jump away in time? Stevens attempted to do the right thing by trying to jump away when the incoming missiles were detected. There is NO military justification for staying and letting your ships get hit and damaged. None whatsoever!” He paused again.
“May I sit down, Admiral?” asked Stacker. He flinched when he saw Chenko’s face contort with rage.
“NO, you may NOT sit down. God damn you! Stacker, you’ve put me in an awkward position, and I don’t like it! If it were up to me, you’d be facing a court-martial for a variety of charges including criminal negligence causing death. The only thing stopping me is that no flag officer in Federation Navy history has ever been court-martialed for something like that. It would be a very public and sensational trial that the media would have a field day with. And because of that, the Council is reluctant to give their stamp of approval. They want the whole affair to go away as quietly as possible, no doubt because a court-martial would bring to light their responsibility for putting you in charge of that mission. I’ve been...convinced to offer you a compromise. If you’re willing to resign from the Navy right now, no further action will be taken against you. It’s a lot better than you deserve, considering the dead and wounded plus the loss of six cruisers that you’re responsible for, but there it is. I need an answer right now. Yes or no?”
Stacker felt a wave of relief come over him. That pompous ass was right. It had been stupid of him to try to deflect the blame to Stevens with so many witnesses who would back Stevens up. A court-martial would find him guilty, and he’d be disgraced in front of the entire Federation. Being allowed to resign was a Godsend.
“I agree,” said Stacker. He heard Chenko curse under his breath.
“I was hoping you’d try to brazen your way through a court-martial. I’d get a lot of satisfaction seeing you disgraced,” said Chenko.
“I’m glad I could disappoint you,” said Stacker.
Chenko picked up a different tablet, gave it a quick glance to make sure it was the right one, and then put it in front of Stacker.
“I took the liberty of having your resignation letter drafted up for you. All you have to do is approve it with your thumbprint and it’ll be official.”
Stacker took a deep breath, picked up the tablet and pressed his right thumb against the screen.
Chenko held his hand out for the tablet. When Stacker gave it to him, he said, “You no longer have the right to wear that uniform. I’ll give you fifteen minutes to change into civilian clothes. If you’re still wearing it after that, my security people have orders to take it off you by force and throw you out onto the public sidewalk naked. Now get out of my sight.”
Stacker turned and quickly walked out of the Navy Chief’s Office. As he headed for the main entrance, he began to smile. His Navy career might be dead, but there were other ways to profit from a long war, and he was certain that this was going to be a long war. The media would be looking for people with military experience to explain the war to the public, for which they paid well, and when he wasn’t doing that, he’d be busy writing a book about his brilliant military career and his struggle to overcome the incompetence of the entrenched officers who were losing this war. By the time he was done, Admiral Chenko would be the one in disgrace.
The End of Rumors of Glory.
Author’s Final Comments:
If you’ve enjoyed this introductory novella, I would ask that you take two minutes to post a review. They really do help. The next book in the System States Rebellion series will be titled Rumors of Honor. If you haven’t already joined my mailing list, you can do so now by clicking here.
In terms of what you can expect in Rumors of Honor, not only will there be more space battles but there’ll also be action on the ground for all you fans of Space Marine-type of action. Both sides in this conflict have now realized that this war will be a long and hard fight. Attitudes will harden. Honorable men and women will be faced with less than honorable choices.
For those of you who have not yet read my Synchronicity War series (and the stand alone companion ebook, The Retro War), you’ll find a ton of space battles with some mind-blowing plot twists along the way.
Long Live Space Opera!
Dietmar Arthur Wehr
