[El_Phil]

The next part! Now with added plot and additional back story.

2401.9
The Javelin Batch 2s continued to enter the fleet at a rapid rate with both Grafton and Saintes launched and sent to the frontline. The yards were then given an unexpected break, the final work on 200kT sized hulls had been complete, but the new designs hadn’t been approved for construction.

"So Admiral how do your designers plan to use the extra space on the new ship hulls?" Presidente Marks asked
"We have encountered one major design problem, we can only fit three Hellstorm launchers on board, but that leaves significant spare space in the hull. So we decided to go radical, the R&D boffins have used the sensor scans we’ve gathered along with a bit of ingenuity to reverse engineer our version of the Jraenar heavy missiles. We've designated them the Brimstone class and they pack 50% more warhead than a Hellstorm."
"Any disadvantages?"
"They won't fit on standard rotary launchers, they need a special launcher almost double the size. This means we can fit a twin Hellstorm launcher and a Brimstone tube into these new hull sizes as opposed to three Hellstorm tubes. The designers think, and I agree, that the advantage of having a heavy hitting missile as an option for the captain in addition to the faster Hellstorms will be invaluable."
"Well I don't see any problems with that Admiral, however your other proposal… It's not going to be popular on the council."
"With respect I only need your approval, not that of the council." Admiral Watson replied, carefully avoiding meeting his Presidente's eyes.
"If I have to force it I will, but there's no point unnecessarily aggravating people. Usually."

In Balosnee Captain Delap, with the Admiralty’s agreement, ordered a re-deployment. He would take Javelin to Balosnee VI to recon the planet and attack the colony ship the Jraenar had launched just days ago, while Pegasus would take Javelin’s place in Task Force One. While it was a risk sending Javelin out on her own, it was felt to be worth it to prevent yet another colony being founded.

As expected the proposal for the Leander class frigate passed the council with minimal comment and orders were issued for the Oberon shipyard to lay down the first hull. The Ocelot yard was ordered to start on a Coloniser. With the war going well and the economy stable with no deficits the council seemed to be ending on a good note, however Admiral Watson had not yet made his main proposal
"As you all are aware the fleet has made great progress repelling Jraenar aggression and taking the war to the enemies home systems. However this success has left us with a problem: What to do with the Jraenar colonies. We cannot leave them, as they will contribute to the Jraenar economy and so war effort, indeed we have confirmation that at least one has shipyard capabilities. We don't have the fleet strength to blockade every colony so that leaves us a stark choice: Capture them or destroy them from orbit. I have no intention of ordering the mass murder of civilians, regardless of species, so my staff, working with the Ministry of Defence, has worked out a plan to capture the Jraenar colonies. I would like General Kirkland to continue as this will be as much an army operation as navy."
"Thank you Admiral. Conducting a planetary assault is unlike any problem the Ocelot Army has ever had to face, even opposed beach landings do not come close. As such the ideal solution would be specially trained and equipped units formed specifically for the mission. However time constraints rule this out, our best case estimates have such a unit taking a year to be equipped and trained, assuming no problems in developing orbital assault craft, which is probably unduly optimistic."
Heads around the table turned to Dr Felix who nodded his agreement. Developing from scratch not only a new form of warfare but a new type of craft would inevitably encounter delays and difficulties.
"Therefore the best option we have is to use an existing army unit, deployed by modified ship to surface shuttles from an orbiting transport. With this in mind we would request that the Gold Rover be re-assigned to military duty and that we start work on converting the shuttles immediately." General Kirkland finished
It was vice Presidente Sheldon who asked the question that was buzzing around
"Which army unit or units are you proposing to use?"
"The unit chosen will have to be familiar with the latest generation of powered personal armour and at full operational readiness. Ideally they would also have just completed a full scale exercise to sharpen their skills. With these parameters there is only one choice of unit and we're confident we have made the right choice." Kirkland responded
"And that unit is?" Taunolin bristled
Admiral Watson stared straight ahead and in a flat voice said
"The 3rd Wessex Regiment."
The chill in the room was sudden, several members of the council snapped their heads round to glare at the Admiral.
"Very impressive, I can see you put a great deal of work into this. If there are no objections I think you should get straight onto this." Marks broke the silence in the room
"El Presidente I can't believe.." The trade minister tried to break in
"Can't believe what? If you think you know more than our two most senior and experienced military commanders then I think we could all benefit from your insights." Marks made 'insights' sound like it was a particularly nasty disease.
"Nothing El Presidente."
"Excellent, it's agreed then. A very productive meeting ladies and gentlemen."

As the meeting wound down Sheldon walked over to Marks.
"What on earth was all that about, when the Admiral mention the unit I thought some of the council were going to kill him!"
"Well it goes back a couple of years to how I got this job in the first place."
Sheldon's heart jumped. So it involved about how Marks' became Presidente. It had been bothering her since… well it had happened.
"It is however a long story, get these orders all implemented and I'll tell you this evening."

Javelin closed in on Balosnee VI and the Jraenar colony ship in orbit. Despite Popov's best efforts the Jraenar captain refused to surrender, indeed he tried to ram the Javelin. Not that Captain Delap minded, civilian or military, it didn't matter he just wanted to kill some Jraenar and so Javelin did, with ruthless precision.

"The council's problem with the 3rd Wessex goes right back to the last big army re-organisation under my father. Essentially the Wessex has always had it's own particular oath, not to council, parliament or even the office of El Presidente. Their oath is to the people of Ocelots and the values and traditions of the Regiment, which when you think about it is a hell of a loophole. However a posting to the Wessex is one of the prime assignments in the military so trying to get it changed would mean facing down most of the General Staff, most of them have served in or with the 3rd."
Marks explained
"That doesn’t explain the reaction today." Sheldon replied
"True, but the fact that they backed my bid to replace my father and that several members of the council backed other candidates does."
Sheldon was shell-shocked. Why had this most elite of military units backed a non-military man for the Presidency when Admiral Bosnitch had been in the running. Navy army rivalry couldn't be that bad could it?
"With the greatest respect, why did they back you not Bosnitch?"
"Admiral Bosnitch was a political creature, not a military man. Most of his career was out in logistics, administration or other desk jobs. More than that he was a reckless loose cannon on his few actual commands. A man like that heading the entire military? That terrified most of the armed forces." Marks replied with a smile
"But what about the Breves rebellion? He was a hero!" Sheldon retorted
"To the public maybe, but to the forces. They knew the real story, not the spin put on it by Bosnitch after the event. Breves started as little more than a few farmers annoyed that the local council hadn't installed a much promised irrigation system, then a drought hit and things escalated. The farmers went in force to the council hall, the local police tried to stop them but they forced their way inside to confront the councillors. One thing lead to another and suddenly it's become a hostage situation as some of the farmers had brought along their shotguns. What was needed was a police perimeter and a negotiator to talk them down and get a solution, unfortunately what Breves got was vice-Admiral Bosnitch who was commander of the local sector. Seeing a chance to get some publicity and make a name for himself he took two marine battalions and air support down to the town hall, for a bunch of annoyed farmers! But to give Bosnitch his credit he did spin it well, rebels threatening the rule of law, military coming to the aid of overrun civil authority all that jazz. Very well done, so well that my father was forced to promote him up to full Admiral just to keep a closer eye on him and keep him out of trouble."
"What?! If what you say is true then he should have been in front of a court martial or something." Sheldon exploded
"Ahh but to do that would mean admitting that the Ministry of Defence, and by extension El Presidente, didn't have full control of the military. As a way to spread panic and alarm admitting that military units can do whatever they want free of government control is fairly high up the list."
"But Bosnitch could do whatever he wanted, you just told me as much!"
Marks sighed, he'd had high hopes for Sheldon. Then sometimes he wondered if she'd learnt anything.
"There's an old saying 'The truth should be heard on all occasions, but spoken as events dictate'. Does that make things any clearer?"
Enlightenment spread across Sheldon's face. Then just as suddenly was replaced by confusion.
"So I can see why the military wouldn't back Bosnitch, but why you not vice-Presidente Rogers?"
"Rogers had been against the space programme as a waste of resources and wanted the army cut back as there were no threats to justify it's existence. My father had kept him in check, indeed he was the main force behind the space programme and the increases in the defence budget. That breads a lot of loyalty, so as he'd named me as his successor the forces supported me."
"But how did you beat Rogers?" Sheldon asked
"That is a story for another time." Marks replied with a grin