The Landfall Campaign (The Nameless War) Read Online Free PDF Page A

troops, ” Fengzi countered.
    “ Only if they come under attack. Consider also that if we start running in convoys, that by itself could provoke Nameless, ” Lewis replied. “ If there is one thing we can say for certain, it is that the Nameless aren ’ t afraid of a battle of attrition. ”
    “ There ’ s no way we ’ re going to win with retreats and holding actions! ” Fengzi responded angrily. “ Sooner or later we are going to have to take the offensive. ”
    “ If it ’ s sooner it ’ s likely to end badly, ” Lewis shot back, “ We have no reserves. Until we do, any offensive action is likely to class as a form of racial suicide! ”
    “ Would the two of you stop! ” Wingate cut them both off. “ The last thing I need is the fleet ’ s two most senior field officers getting into a round of mud slinging, ” he snapped at them before turning back the Secretary. “ Daniel whatever else, we will not be the ones to open a second front. If the Nameless move on Landfall, then I accept, politically we have to support it as best we can without compromising the defence of Earth. ”
    Callahan thoughtfully stared up at the ceiling. “ Alright, ” he eventually said. “ I guess I can probably sell that to the international community. Unfortunately we are somewhat hostage to circumstance on two of the shelters in that we don ’ t have any say in the way they ’ re run. Douglas Base, what ’ s the commander there like? ”
    “ A clerk, ” Lewis replied sourly.
    “ That isn ’ t a fair appraisal, ” Fengzi objected.
    “ No, I suppose it isn ’ t, ” Lewis replied with ill grace after a moment.
    “ The commander there is Rear Admiral Alfred Eulenburg. He ’ s a good administrator, that ’ s why he ’ s there, ” Wingate said. “ But he doesn ’ t have much in the way of field experience. There is however a very experienced marine officer present. Eulenburg will defer to him if the question of ground combat arises. ”
    “ Well hopefully the Nameless won ’ t approach the planet and it won ’ t come up, ” Callahan said.
    “ I sincerely hope so, because Landfall could become our Verdun, ” Lewis said quietly before leaving the room.
     
    “ Cody, can I have a private word? ” Callahan called from down the corridor as Wingate headed for the lift.
    “ Certainly Daniel, ” Wingate replied turning around, “ perhaps in my office? ”
    “ Perhaps in mine? ” Callahan replied.
    “ How about we split the difference, it might be a bit early for lunch but I ’ m hungry. ”
    “ Sounds fair. ”
    A short while later the two of them were seated in the officer ’ s restaurant. Aside from the serving staff there was no one else there. Only once the waiter served the coffee and withdrew, did Wingate speak.
    “ Alright Daniel, we ’ ve had a meeting lasting several hours, followed by a full and frank exchange of opinions between my two most senior field officers. What ’ s left to cover? ”
    Callahan sat back in his chair and fiddled with his teaspoon for a moment.
    “ We are facing a threat Cody, ” Wingate opened his mouth to reply, “ and I ’ m not talking about the Nameless. ”
    “ Political? ”
    “ Everything is politics Cody, but yes, questions are being raised about the competence of the fleet, not the competence of individuals but the general competence. ”
    “ Who by? ”
    “ Well, Admiral Lewis is right about the usual suspects in the Pentagon and the American Congress, but if it was just them you and I wouldn ’ t be having this conversation. There are mutterings coming from people who normally have very little to say about anything further up than high orbit. ”
    “ Would this be to do with President Clifton ’ s comment about complacency? ”
    “ Yes, ” Callahan replied. “ You know probably better than I that the American Government has never been entirely happy about not being allowed a military space fleet of their own, beyond those two drop carriers of