with that question. “I’m not sure, but let me think on it.”
Long after he left her that day, that question remained at the forefront of his thoughts. He discussed it carefully with Winston and Roacka.
“Let’s put her in front of the press,” Roacka said, “have her publicly denounce Nadama and Goutain’s aggression.”
Winston said, “She can’t do that because she’d be denouncing her father as well. And it wouldn’t be fair to put her in that position.”
Charlie decided to get Arthur’s advice on the subject, but that would have to wait until his next stop at Andyne-Borregga.
CHAPTER 26
PLATFORM TWELVE
Charlie and Winston met Paul, Roacka, the twins, and Pelletier in Starfall’s security center. Charlie had grown to trust Pelletier as Cesare once had, especially since it was because of Pelletier that he’d gotten Arthur back. Like Cesare, he’d made Pelletier his chief of security, and Pelletier had adopted Starfall’s security center as his command center, though it was, as yet, badly understaffed. Darmczek and Seth were absent, each captaining one of the hunter-killers and making life miserable for the occupation forces in Aagerbanne. But with the exception of those two, he had his most trusted team together.
Nadama’s occupation forces on Aagerbanne had captured a resistance cell, and among the prisoners taken were some Finalsan naval officers there to liaise with the resistance. Interrogation of the Finalsans provided solid proof that Finalsa was actively supporting the resistance. Nadama, Theode, Lucius, and Goutain used that as an excuse to declare war on Finalsa, which did not have the wherewithal to resist the combined forces of the Four Tyrants, a label that had stuck nicely.
Roacka laughed. “Bet old Karlok’s pissing his pants that he’s been overlooked and it ain’t the Five Tyrants.”
All knew that the war with Finalsa would be short, resulting in the annexation of all Finalsan territories, unless they could help slow things down. The other independent states continued to support the Aagerbanni resistance behind the scenes, but were now also providing support to Finalsa, and were demanding support from those duchies that did not support the Four Tyrants.
Roacka summed it up nicely. “We’re a night-with-a-whore and a hungover afternoon away from open warfare throughout the independent states.”
Charlie tried to swallow the uneasy fear that had settled in his stomach. As a naval commander he knew they weren’t ready. “We can’t risk open war yet. The coalition is only just starting to come together, and we can’t fight a war without it. We have tentative agreements, but until we shake the bugs out of working together as a combined naval force, we’re just a bunch of independent ships on the same side. They’ll eat us alive.”
“Maybe we should back the hunter-killers off a bit,” Roger said. “Ever since we cut them loose with orders to torpedo as much of the Four Tyrants’ shipping as possible, there’s been absolute chaos in the shipping lanes through the independent states.”
Roacka shook his head. “I say we keep up the pressure. Even Darmczek admits he was wrong about the hunter-killers.”
Charlie asked, “They’re still a well-kept secret, aren’t they?”
Roger grimaced and admitted, “Ya, by and large. They’re getting resupplied out of Andyne-Borregga, and spacers get shore leave and head to the bars. And spacers talk, and brag, and other spacers listen and see the hunter-killers in dock.”
“Arthur’s been monitoring the situation,” Winston said. “He and Mrs. Toofat have established a network of agents working the bars on Andyne-Borregga. He says the bragging and general talk from the hunter-killer crews is being met by considerable skepticism, especially since the hunter-killers obviously don’t have the firepower of even a small destroyer. And the spacers to whom they’re bragging are our allies anyway.”
“In any case,” Roacka added, “no one has adopted tactics to defend against hunter-killer strategies.”
Charlie knew they couldn’t keep the secret of the hunter-killers forever. “At some point, someone’s going to realize the losses don’t add up, and then they’re going to start looking for answers, and someone else is going to realize it’s the hunter-killers. And that’s when we lose our element of surprise.”
“But knowing it’s the hunter-killers,” Roacka argued, “and figuring out their tactics are two different things. Few beyond this room understand their strategy of engagement. But Roger’s question still remains, lad: do we back the hunter-killers off? I say no.”
“There is another factor, Your Grace,” Winston said. Alone in this small, exclusive group, Charlie had gotten everyone but Winston to drop the formal address; Winston would never yield on that point. “Lord Arthur and Mrs.