Generals Help Themselves

A battered fleet slips into harbor at four o’clock, but the admiral—known simply as the Old Man—feels the weight of a collapsing war. He blames the political brass for ignoring his daring Plan K, a scheme that poured every penny into fast, computer‑guided P‑boats that now lie shattered on Venus. Frustrated and vilified, he wrestles with the hopelessness that has gripped the Federation, wondering how he can rekindle a flicker of resistance.

In a sudden, decisive move, he orders Commander Morgan to assume control of Base Q, the asteroid housing a vital energy converter that fuels the entire fleet. The commander, already under suspicion for past defiance, is thrust into a high‑stakes mission that could tip the balance against the encroaching Combine. As political machinations swirl and the treaty talks loom, the Old Man’s gamble sets the stage for a tense clash of strategy, loyalty, and survival.