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

become
overwhelmed during the final maneuvers of the mock combat.  The rest of the
squadron had emerged unscathed but Heskan thought this was largely because the simulation
overestimated their capabilities, the loophole he and Vernay had purposefully
exploited.  Further, his firsthand experience of the point defense capability
of a small ship under an aggressive missile attack gave him grave doubts about any
help the frigates might be against real enemies.
    “Kite
has reached the tunnel point, Captain,” Selvaggio said, shattering the quiet on
the bridge.
    “Diane,”
Heskan said as he brought his thoughts back to the present, “generate the
tunnel effect upon receipt of Bulwark’s signal.”
    “Aye,
sir, we are holding formation,” she replied, quickly wiping sweat from her brow. 
Station-keeping in a formation was taxing, thankless work.
    Heskan
saw the message coming through the command channel and spoke before Truesworth
could call attention to it.  “Jack, put it on screen.”
    Durmont’s
image appeared and Heskan felt himself cringe involuntarily.  I have to do
better to mask my dislike for him.  It’s not good for the squadron if word gets
out how much genuine friction there is between us.
    “Attention,
CortRon Fifteen, this is your commander.  We will dive at fifteen-thirty-three,
sharp.  Look lively and I want proper station-keeping as we sail in-system toward
Titan.  Remember, you’re always on parade.  Durmont out.”
    At
precisely 15:33 each of the four ships of CortRon 15 generated the effect permitting
them entrance into tunnel space.  The ships made their speed .1 c and
dove into the Type-B tunnel.  Through a twist in physics, the squadron both entered
and exited the tunnel point simultaneously.  As they passed momentarily through
t-space and dove out, both carbon and silicon sensory systems balked at normal space
reasserting itself.
    After
the queasiness passed, Truesworth announced, “Captain, we are now in the Titan
system.  All four ships have completed the dive, sir.  The Anthe tunnel point
buoy is green and we have clearance to proceed in-system as far as the outer
markers.”
    Heskan
looked at the system plot displayed on the bridge’s main wall screen. 
“Acknowledged.  Diane, stay on station with the flag ship.”
    Lieutenant
Selvaggio replied, “Aye, sir, follow the leader.”
    The
system plot swarmed with activity.  Titan’s G6V yellow star was very similar to
the Terran system’s sun.  Two of the six planets orbiting the star were
inhabitable with the closer of the two being downright friendly to human life. 
Past a wide asteroid belt rich in minerals, a third planet’s environment
permitted domed cities to exist.  Several moons orbiting Titan’s twin gas
giants were also suitable for self-contained outposts.  Farther out from the planets,
Titan hosted eight Type-A tunnel points and four of the precious Type-B tunnel
points.  All of these factors combined to make Titan the heart of the Brevic
Republic’s northern sector and the second most important core system in the
entire republic, behind Bree itself.
    In
addition to the permanent fixtures of the system, Kite’s wall screen displayed
several hundred ship beacons, their destinations varying widely by ship type. 
Freighters transiting the system, local merchants carrying goods between
planets, ore extractors moving back and forth near the asteroid belt and dozens
of system defense ships policing the traffic lanes in an attempt to maintain
order nearly overloaded the system plot with information.
    Heskan
watched Selvaggio bring Kite up to .2 c to begin her journey past
two enormous citadel defense fortresses at the Anthe tunnel point and toward
Titan’s domed city world, Titan-3.  High above that frozen planet orbited the
naval shipyards of Titan and the heavy carrier, Avenger .  The light
carrier, Eagle , was due to dive into Titan in just a few hours, accompanied
by the task group’s logistical