Penn-3

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==Chapter 3 - Pennants==
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===Task Force in Pearl===
Kowloon Republic Coast Guard Ship Fatiama (Pinto class Corvette)
Uninhabited System, 2 jumps short of Kentares
February, 2797
"Open our formation, and all gunners link for bracketing fire," Anh ordered. "Unless he's stupid, he's got nuclear strike packages on those fighters, just like he did with the missiles."
"Ma'am?"
"You heard me, open up the formation. We're buying time, that means we're going to make them have to kill us all one-at-a-time."
Her display showed it fully in glorious two dimensional displays covering vertical and horizontal, because the better equipment was already in short supply.
 McKenna, Lola 1, Lola II, Essex 1, Essex 1, Titan, Titan, Triumph, Pentagon, Pentagon, Triumph…
She almost didn't have to rely on their transponder codes to name the SLDF vessels, or the lend-lease ex-Terran vessels.
Her own formation was weaker: two Pintos, four Trackers, a pair of Bonaventures. Not a crushing advantage in any fleet action, but she was covering half a dozen Merchant class JumpShips with a mix of Dictator, Lion, and other ground force assault dropships.
And two Titans that friends from the Ninetieth slipped her.
Not enough, not even with the standard-core JumpShips burning for all they were worth for the outer system.
"Detach the Gloria and the Mary Deen to screen between us and the transport group." she ordered, sending both of the Tracker class Surveillance ships to stand between the Regiment, and what was coming to kill them.
Dammit, Kaneda… she sighed. "You ever regret your life choices?" her XO asked.
"Every damn day." Dammit. You know we're right this time… You should be on my side! "Every damn day."
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===Holding Enemies in High Regards===
McKenna Class Battleship, DCA Miyamoto Musashi
"Tai-Sho! Should we NOT allow them to at least try to surrender?" his flag-captain, Tai-Sa Minmei Shirakahi asked. "You said you know them-"
Kaneda sighed, "I knew them during the war, and if their commander is who she must be, I have known her since before the Coup." He gave Tai-Sa Minmei a weary look. "She will not surrender… But you can ask. You can even ask me to ask for you, but I know her answer."
"I do not understand."
"Anh Cu'ong was a better spacer than I was, at the Academy. And a sharper tactician I have never met, when it comes to space battle." he lied, then leavened it with a truth. "She was separated from the SLDF just a few years prior to the coup, but she was ahead of me. If she had not been separated, this vessel might have been hers when the Star League folded in on itself."
"But you knew her during the war? If she was out-"
"She led a unit of Ralliers, Tai-Sa Minmei," he told her. "Scrubs with stolen or salvaged equipment. Rebels against the Rim Worlds who wanted vengeance for their homeworld's treatment… Still, it could save some time, and warriors of the Dragon, to at least make the effort."
"Comms officer, Hail the enemy squadron!!"
"Hai, Tai-sa!!"
It would be bitter, he knew. I wish I could take it back…
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===The Past - Reflections and Regrets===
"...fleet group in the Taurian sector, you knew this was coming." Lt. Commander Kaneda Toshiro stood on the bridge deck, and Commander Anh Cu'ong nodded. "I knew," she told him. "Hell, anyone with half a brain knew it was coming."
The SLS William Kirk, Lola III class, thrummed under their feet at one gravity steady for the jump point.
It's 2751, and the mission is anti-terrorism in the Taurian Territorial State.
It's a bit bitter too. First Lord Simon Cameron's death hangs like a pall in the CIC, but the daily business of the Star League Defense Force must go on.
"How's your head?" she asked him.
"Better than yesterday." The day before yesterday, Anh Cu'ong was the XO. Yesterday, she got frocked so that Captain Deane could catch a space-available transport back to Terra to pick up his Admiral's tabs and a new command aboard SLS Luxor.
They'd partied at the SLDF Officer's club, celebrating the dual promotions.
This morning came with orders to deploy in a series cruise through the Taurian territorial state, a show-the-flag escorting a convoy of replacements for several smaller garrisons inside the Concordat's space.
Garrisons with live ammunition and combat troops instead of the usual Military Police detachments.
"You ought to be on that boat with Deane," she commented idly. "You're good enough, Kaneda."
"I have my own ideas about my career's trajectory, Captain," he said.
Everyone sort of knew. The two of them had been sent out here, to watch the territorials, because they were still considered somewhat unreliable for more prominent assignments aboard newer ships.
Deane was actually a year junior to them both out of the academy, and his own previous presence had come due to being the black sheep of a 'mechwarrior family on New Earth.
But he'd surged ahead, once they were there, and he'd been moved for political reasons to the Luxor.
"Nav, let me see those calcs." Anh said it casually, she'd spent months straightening out the navigation and engineering departments, removing or relieving officers who were too compromised, or too unskilled, as ship's XO. And her reward had been command.
And Kaneda was fine with it. His best friend, as commanding officer, himself as another style of Executive Officer, one more 'toned down' and less likely to furiously relieve a subordinate. A more 'book' sort, to let the crew 'cool off'.
"You scheduled the drills?" she asked.
"I have scheduled drills, yes," he said placidly.
"Good."
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===When Former Comrades Converse===
Present Day
"It's been a minute, Toshiro." Anh regarded her opponent in the holotank. "I seem to recall you telling me you chose the Star League over the Combine. Now here you are, one of Jinjiro's Admirals."
<<"Things changed. YOU saw it, We fought the war and then they abandoned it," he answered.>>
"Yes, they did. Did they tell you why we're here, Toshiro?" she inquired. "Did you know? Do you remember it, what we all swore?"
<<"I… I remember, Anh… But things are-">>
"They can finally forget Elbar!!" she barked. "Because someone did something worse!!"
<<"Your word is good, then.">>
"Wish yours was," she confirmed. "I can't trust your offer, Kaneda Toshiro. We're going to have to do this the hard way. I suppose I may forgive you, if I live through this, eventually."
<<"I… am sorry, Anh.">>
"So am I. Give my regards to your family, Toshiro-kun."
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