OMEGA Allegiance by Stephen Arseneault Page B

for the enemy as well.
    "Down on the planet, the fighting is sometimes hand-to-hand. The enemy battle-suits do a good job of defending against our blasters, and our battle-suits against their laser weapons. It's not unusual for both sides to expend their powerpacks just blasting back and forth at one another with little effect. After that it's hand-to-hand. I noticed troops on one of the last transports carrying a bludgeon weapon. It's about time. They keep it strapped to the back of their suits. From what I hear, when the fighting gets to that point, our side doesn't always do very well.
    "The Humans do OK. I've seen a couple other species that could hold their own in hand-to-hand also. Most species are smaller than I am, and much smaller than you. I would bet your people would clean house under that scenario."
    I set a steaming cup down in front of the Captain. "Have you found there are strategies or tactics that work well during a space fight?"
    The Captain sipped. "Ahh! That is good. Thank you, Mr. Beutcher."
    The Captain sipped again. "Just good flying and weapons aim is all I can say. Every battle, even though orders are put in place beforehand, devolves into complete chaos on both sides. After an initial maneuver, which is generally ineffective on both sides, it's every man for themselves. For a while I had a somewhat successful strategy of pairing up with two other captains that I knew and trusted. We kept each other alive for a long time. I lost them both in the last battle before I took on the ship capture venture."
    I sat my cup on the table before sitting down. "We are completely unpracticed at war, Captain. We've been training for a month, trying to figure out strategies that might help should we get into battle. I can't say I am confident in what we've come up with."
    Jack Carson waved his hand as he shook his head. "All you have to do is get past that first wave of missiles they fire at you. After that it's a free-for-all. Your gunners have to be precise and your defense personnel have to take out any remaining missiles they fire. If you can spot the missiles just as they drop from light speed, you have a second or two to take them out. We believe their guidance system only functions below that speed, so they slow before they lock in on you."
    I sighed. "We don't have strictly defensive personnel, Captain. What can you recommend?"
    The Captain thought for a moment. "Our destroyers are equipped with hundreds of small ion cannons. We primarily use them to fight off the missiles, as they usually don't do critical damage to a bigger ship. Tell me you have a number of these cannons."
    I shook my head. "Each of these ships has a single heavy ion cannon. We believe them to be close to an order of magnitude more powerful than what has been sent out to Andromeda before. Of the smaller cannons, each ship has about a dozen."
    The Captain winced as he looked down at his cup. "Hmm, yeah, I think you are gonna get hammered by that first volley of missiles. We have a hundred skilled gunners firing at everything coming our way and we still lose about 10 percent of our ships before engaging with the enemy. I like the sound of that heavy cannon. Will those be on new ships coming through?"
    I sipped and replied, "I can't say. The Orwallians have complete control of all ion amplifiers at the moment. We acquired these straight from them, but I don't think they are providing any to the Saltons, especially since the rebellion."
    The Captain looked up. "Orwall rebelled? When did that happen?"
    I nodded. "They and two of their neighbors. Adicus followed with them. That's why Harden Salton attacked and forced them into conscription. I don't think they can do that with Orwall because they need the ion amplifiers and blaster tips that Orwall makes. As one of the original members of the AMP, they have pledged to never divulge the amplifier's secrets. Now, for two thousand years no one has needed them, so they are the only suppliers."
    The