By then, the top brass of the Imperial and Commonwealth forces had reached an understanding. The Earth side handed over the route information Major Horatio Wayne had collected to the Empire. The Empire, of course, reciprocated, saying that while this kind of flanking pincer maneuver might go disastrously wrong, it could also win them a decisive victory. They hoped to share the opportunity with their "allies," and invited the Commonwealth to send a fleet to join the operation.
By rights, the Commonwealth should have assigned Vice Admiral Picard to lead the Tenth Fleet on this mission. But for reasons known only to the Earth side, the final proposal was for the Thirteenth Fleet, commanded by Major General Bonaparte—no, Marklov—to take part in the joint operation.
It was a small patrol fleet that had only been established two years earlier. Though it had earned plenty of battle honors, its size was limited, and its main purpose was to deal with pirates.
More importantly, the fleet had just finished patrolling a supply route and was still undergoing repairs at New Lüshun. It would take another week to reach the area.
More, more importantly, ordinary Imperial soldiers might not have thought much of it, but the well-informed high command would naturally think of the Far Shore Nebula as soon as they saw this little fleet—and its flagship...
Even Brunhild, who prided herself on her magnanimity and poise, couldn't help feeling sick. "Those Earthlings really do have a gift for provoking people!"
"I don't think General Connery meant it that way. He probably just didn't want to hand the credit to Vice Admiral Picard's Tenth Fleet," the chief of staff offered a different assessment.
It had to be admitted that Ostanah Barr's guess was quite perceptive. It also had to be admitted that the