No Way to Start a War (TCOTU, Book 2) (This Corner of the Universe) Read Online Free PDF

you were.”
    Heskan
had just reseated himself when Durmont opened the meeting.  “Our timetable has
been moved up.  CortRon Fifteen will sail for Titan tomorrow at oh-eight
hundred.  We’re to rendezvous with Avenger and Eagle no later than 0815.995 and
I want to make sure we’re early.  Questions?”
    Moore
spoke first.  “What combat formation will we be using, Commander?”
    Durmont
looked at the table screen and he was silent for several seconds.  “We’ll most
likely be starting in standard square.  It’s the recommended formation for
missile defense and it will allow our frigates to support each other in the
middle.”
    Heskan
tried not to notice Moore’s smug look before he spoke.  “Commander, I agree
with you completely that the frigates are going to need all the support they
can get.  I’m not even sure why they were attached to us when they’re so weak
in point defense.  With that in mind, do you think the four dedicated escort
ships can best protect Avenger and Eagle isolated from each other and so far
from the center?”  Not to mention protect ourselves.  The Hollie missiles
aren’t particular on what they target and destroying a task group’s escorts is usually
very bad news for the capital ships shortly afterwards.
    “That
question has been asked by every junior officer in missile defense squadrons
for the last hundred years, Lieutenant.  The answer is the standard square is the
formation that gives us the best defensive coverage and I’m not going against a
century of naval theory.”  Durmont brought his fist down lightly on the table
as if it were a judge’s gavel.  “I’ll take the top forward position, Moore will
have the top rear spot, Gary will have the lower forward, you will take the
lower rear and we’ll put the frigates in the center of the square.  It’s the method
used for missile defense because it’s the best and safest formation.”
    Heskan
responded, “Yes, sir.”  I’m not done discussing this with Durmont, but as
his vice, I owe him support in front of the rest of his officers.
    Durmont
nodded his approval.  “Good.  When we get to Titan, the commander of Task Group
Three-One, Rear Admiral Mitchell Hayes, will have a meeting that we’ll both
have to attend, Lieutenant.  They call him ‘Hurricane Hayes’ and I expect you
to be on your best behavior.  Naturally, I am CortRon Fifteen’s voice so you
won’t have to worry about speaking but I will need you to carry some of my
briefing materials.  I mostly expect you to just L-and-L.”  Heskan had gleaned over
the past weeks that while “L-and-L” stood for “Listen and Learn,” it actually
meant something more akin to “Shut up and color” to Durmont.
    The
meeting moved on to the topic of the squadron’s first exercise.  Because of the
expedited departure from Anthe, the exercise would be watered down even more than
originally planned, giving the whole production very little value for the
effort involved.
    We
should just cancel it, thought
Heskan .  There’s no benefit doing it with just our four ships.  In fact,
conducting an exercise without the two frigates might do more harm than good.  Besides,
we’ll be exercising enough once Task Group Three-One forms and those maneuvers will
be of real value.   He listened to Durmont’s expectations for ten minutes
while trying to decide if he should suggest abandoning the exercise.  Just cooperate
and graduate, Garrett.  Shane will take the suggestion to cancel as a personal
attack.  Heskan resigned himself to silence but then thought back to a
promise he had made.  What did I say?  That’s right, “I’ll never mask my
concerns from a superior officer again.”
    Durmont
lectured on about the script of his exercise.  “So the surprise force I have
planned to attack our squadron at Point Charlie will really show us how well we
can split our point defenses, I should think.  And when things look their
darkest, I’ll order the