by Dennis Young
THE EARTHFLEET SAGA
Volume Two
By
Dennis Young
© All story material Dennis Young 2019
No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping, or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author(s), except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.
This is a work of fiction. All characters, names, incidents, organizations, and dialogue in this book are either the products of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author(s).
ISBN-13:9781796996111
Printed in the United States of America.
First published March 2019
THE EARTHFLEET SAGA
Volume Two
THE EARTHFLEET SAGA TIMELINE
The year is 2554 (Old Calendar). Earth continues its recovery from the most devastating wars ever waged. Half the planet is uninhabitable. The other half is overrun with refugees, those ill from effects of fission and fusion weapon use, and diseases that followed. The human population has been reduced by nearly sixty percent. Radiation levels worldwide range from dangerous to lethal.
Infertility and birth mutations have increased infant mortality to thirty-eight percent. Crop growth has been cut in half. Sea life has suffered at a reduced, but undetermined, rate. Beaches all over the world have been littered with dead sea life for nearly a hundred years. Land fauna and flora have suffered drastic losses.
Somehow, in the western North American continent, in what was once called disparagingly the “Left Coast”, a pocket of survivors is building a new future. Having commandeered the three remaining space stations orbiting Earth, the main Lunar military establishment, and partnered with the two friendly Martian colony strongholds, Earth Alliance arises. With the best and brightest, in the space of only fifty years following the war, they began to deal with the devastation and desolation that was left.
The job is far from finished. In fact, it is only now beginning. Earth, the Cradle of Mankind, is all but done. And with the resources of the Moon, Mars, and the Allied Asteroid Belt States, Earth Alliance is now looking beyond Earth. Beyond the Solar System. Beyond that very desolation and destruction.
Earth Alliance is looking to the Stars.
In the late 2300’s, the Millennium Project and the Outward Presence Movement began. Generational ships, needing decades to cross the abyss of Space to the closest habitable planets, moved at less than the speed of light. Some never made their destinations, succumbing to the hazards of Space, or of humans confined too long in a limited, struggling, artificial environment. Yet some succeeded.
In the early 2400’s, the greatest breakthrough in spaceflight was made, and the Lightspeed Barrier was breached. Ships built for sublight travel were quickly modified. New ships were designed and built. Launchings occurred once per year, on the day that became known simply as Naissance. Problems with artificial gravity, environmental systems, and weapons for defense were branched off from the discoveries made by HyperLight Systems.
But as with every advance in Mankind’s history, a price was extracted. Humans were, after all, still humans. And while many colonies flourished, others did not. Some became ill-managed. Others simply decided their best course of action was piracy. Several became openly hostile toward Mother Earth. Because politics, as always, never died. It only hid for a while. Waiting. Watching. Planning.
Earthfleet arose, and grew in size and power. A dream for many decades, it became a force within the Earth Alliance, a loose alliance of planets colonized by humans. Again, politics came into play, but this time, with the strength of Earthfleet behind it. It was a benevolent ruling system for the most part, but with teeth. And to this day, still is.
And as Earthfleet probed the outer reaches of unexplored territory, new races were found; alien races, unlike anything Earth had ever seen. The adage was, “Little Green Men existed, but they were neither little, nor green.”
There are five known alien species. Three are xenophobic, adversarial, and, in two cases, openly hostile. Skirmishes have occurred, though to this time, hostilities have been short-lived, if deadly. For nearly a hundred years Earthfleet has dealt with these challenges.
But as with any advancing and expanding culture, confrontations have become more frequent. Disagreements over territories (planets and other resources) have required skillful negotiations in many cases, and the application of the “Big Stick” in others.
Such are the ships of Earthfleet. While exploration of the galaxy is always the First Directive, the vessels are nonetheless more than capable of defending themselves and Earth Alliance interests.
It is an interesting time to be alive… in the Olde Earth Chinese sense. And sometimes very, very dangerous.
PORT IN A STORM
Starship Agincourt
By
Dennis Young
Prologue
They were not human, but like humans, they were a curious people. When they found the planet, they first investigated indigenous life and, finding no intelligence above that of lower animals, established a small base.
Once confirmed the planet was habitable, they took time and effort to construct an orbital station, staffed by qualified volunteers who thought it a wondrous experience. After all, the planet was beautiful, with great oceans and tall mountains, obviously in its young maturity; what humans would have called a “Goldilocks”
world.
Soon enough, they had amassed data, recorded information, sampled, measured, inspected, and analyzed to the extent they could. Then they departed with their treasures, returning home to the welcomes of their families and friends.
But the station remained, running on auxiliary power, monitoring and continuing to gather anything meaningful or interesting.
Time passed. No one returned. And so, the station followed protocol, shutting down all but the most essential of operations. Life support slowly ceased. Temperatures within the station dropped to barely above the freezing point of water. The station shut down its sensing equipment. The only thing left was the sleep-mode generators, self-initiating meteor-repair systems, motion sensor alarms, and passive scanners.
Until…
One
Battle Stations
“Duty Log, Captain Noah Westermann, 022617.02. EAS Agincourt is in trouble. While investigating a newly-discovered dwarf pulsar, a magnetic storm erupted, damaging our sensor network and hyperlight drive. Numerous casualties were taken, and sickbay is currently operating on auxiliary power to handle the most severe of cases.
If that weren’t enough, as the ship headed at flank sublight speed to the singularity border, we were attacked by two Qoearc Tak’nar-class scouts. With our tactical sensors inoperative and targeting computers offline, we took substantial damage before countermeasures could be initiated. Fortunately, we evaded them long enough to get away from the star’s gravitational effects and engage hyperlight drive. We’re currently running at 120c, the best we can manage, but have no idea if the Qoearc are following, if they’ve sustained damage as has Agincourt, or exactly what the tactical situation is. Right now, we’re flying blind in a general heading only guessed at when we went Over-c. Needless to say, the situation is serious.”
* * *
The Command Bridge of EAS Agincourt…
>
“Tactical, report!” Captain Noah Westermann shot a glance aside to the Science station as his Arneci Tac-Officer swore quietly in her native tongue.
“Nothing, sir, the board is dead. Tech is still chasing gremlins in the system.”
Westermann caught her muttering the words karskat tezha and nearly laughed, even in their current situation. Arneci were “earthy” he had always known, but Thevoss Sh'zaoqoq’s curses bordered on obscene when she was stressed.
“Belay that, Commander. Just the facts.”
“Sorry sir. Sensors are intermittent at best, but no sign of the Qoearc I can detect.”
“Sciences?”
Lieutenant Commander Xiaoli’s face was impassive as she scanned her readouts. “Confirmed, Captain, we are clear for approximately thirty light-minutes.”
“Engineering, status.”
“We’re draining the tanks, sir. The Chief reports nothing left to give.”
Westermann sat back for a moment, then turned to the Comm station. “Report, Lieutenant Skovok.”
“No subspace or RF chatter, encrypted or clear, sir.” The comm-officer gave a quick nod to Westermann before turning back to his panel.
Westermann blew a breath. “Secure from Battle Stations, go to Standby Alert. Helm, reduce speed to 100c.” He punched the intercom button on his command seat arm. “Engineering, Bridge. I need a quick estimate on repairs to the hyperlight drive and environmental systems. Those are the priorities, then weapons. I need your report in fifteen minutes, Commander Ch'virrorh.” He clicked off and looked again to Tactical. “Look sharp. Navigation, status.”
“Clear ahead, sir, as far as I can tell. Maybe…”
Westermann waited patiently as Lieutenant Butler ran a quick diagnostic.
“Something ahead, but hard to tell exactly… not a ship, though, too large.”
“On viewer.”
“Viewscreen is down, sir.” Butler looked to Tactical. “Commander Thevoss, can you confirm anything at all?”
Westermann held his comment, waiting.
“Confirmed, Captain, likely a planet, perhaps two light years distant. About seven days travel at current speed.”
Westermann hit the intercom again. “Auxiliary Control, Bridge. Lori, get up here as fast as you can. Leave your second in command there.” He broke the circuit before receiving an answer. “Keep an eye on things,” he said to Butler.
Westermann rose, headed for the lift. “Commander Xiaoli, take the conn until XO Hamilton arrives. I’m going to Sickbay for a bit. Tactical, work with Nav to set a course for the planet and keep a watch for Qoearc or anything else. Get as much information on that planet as you can and set up a conference for the next shift.”
A chorus of “aye sir” met his ears just before the lift doors closed.
* * *
Sickbay had calmed from chaos to merely frantic. Dr. Hoshi Kamisori, the Chief Medical Officer, gave a cursory glance to Westermann as he entered, then went back to tending patients. The captain stood aside as medical staff hurried between beds and chairs that had been hastily set around the perimeter of the room for the less-serious cases.
Burns from electrical shortages, broken bones caused when the ship’s compensators blipped as the magnetic storm hit, and three serious cases of concussion streamed across the wall charts as Westermann watched. He waited until Kamisori had a moment, then motioned her aside. “Can I get thirty seconds, Doctor? Just give me a summary.”
She motioned around. “I have ten cases confined to their quarters and two nurses attending them. The rest are all right here. What you see is what you get.”
“There was no warning of the storm, Doctor. This is no one’s fault.”
Kamisori gave him a look. “I’ve heard said we were too close to the pulsar. Is that true?”
Westermann held his words for a long moment. “We were within accepted parameters. Anything else?”
“No.” She turned away as Westermann shook his head and took his exit, heading for Engineering.
The corridors were dimly lit, only emergency lighting at low levels to conserve power. Security guards in pairs were stationed at each lift entrance, two of which held the doors open as Westermann approached. He entered and hit the intercom button. “Engineering.” The lift moved downward smoothly. Westermann stared blankly at the walls, wondering how this could have happened and why he had made such poor decisions in their doing.
* * *
Lori Hamilton, First Officer of Agincourt, stepped onto the Bridge to nods and smiles around. Even Skovok at the Comm station nearly showed a smile, and the mood of the Bridge quickly became less formal.
Hamilton seated herself in the command chair. “Alright ladies and gentlemen, tell me what you’ve got.”
“Tactical is slowly responding, sensors are at ninety percent.”
“Engineering has hyperlight capability to 120c, full sublight and thrusters.”
“Environmental steady, all systems nominal.”
“Sciences confirms the planet, now one-point-eight five light years distant. Sensors are mostly clear.”
Hamilton raised an eyebrow at Xiaoli’s comment. “Mostly? Can you be a bit more specific?”
“Eighty percent, Commander. Apologies.”
“Don’t worry about it, but the captain will insist on accuracy, you know that. Comm?”
“Clear channels, Commander.”
Nav, Conn?”
“Helm is answering fully.” Nijah Maddani looked over her shoulder. “Good to see you, Commander. We heard it was a bit anxious in AC.” She adjusted her hijab and turned back to the controls.
“Nav clear.” Butler turned his boyish smile to Hamilton. “I’m working with Commander Sh'zaoqoq to get a better look at the planet.”
Hamilton’s eyes narrowed. “How old are you, Mister Butler?”
“Twenty-five, Commander.”
“And already a full Lieutenant.” She grinned. “Hot-shot, are you?”
Butler blushed as Maddani chuckled under her breath. “They call me ‘Skip’, Commander. I came on board at Fleet Base Twelve about two months ago.”
Hamilton nodded. “Carry on, Skip.” She straightened in the command chair. “Alright, listen up. We’ve had a bad situation, but the ship is secure. No one died and no one is to blame. The universe tends toward perverseness, so let’s take this as a lesson. We’ve got a job to do and on top of that, we may have discovered a new planet. So let’s see what we have.”
The Bridge crew busied themselves as Hamilton took a moment to order tea from the Mess, then sat back, watching the main screens begin to come back to life.
“Commander, I’m picking up ship signatures aft.” Xiaoli at Sciences turned to her panel, then back to the scanner. “Three… no, four. Three smaller, one large.”
“Distance?”
“They’re not following that my instruments can tell. They’re still in the vicinity of the star we left and appear to be remaining in the system.”
“Confirmed, Commander,” said Sh'zaoqoq at Tactical. “Sensors indicate low power levels on all vessels. Three appear to be scouts as the ones that attacked us, the third may be as large as a cruiser.” She turned to Hamilton. “Typical Qoearc heavy recon squadron.”
“At least as large as a Cotak Class,” added Xiaoli. “Possibly larger.”
Hamilton let go a heavy breath. “So we’re at least, what, a day away at max hyperlight?”
“Zero point eight eight standard days at Hyperlight Eight.” Xiaoli turned to the command chair. “Accurately.”
“Keep an eye on them. If they start to move, let me know immediately. I assume our neutrino trail is still detectable, right?”
“Correct, for at least another standard day.”
“They’ll be hot on our trail then. My guess is, they took damage like we did, but no telling how long it will take them to get going. Qoearc ships are notoriously light on shielding from storms like the one we encountered.”
A steward
arrived with tea and Hamilton sipped as she looked around the Bridge. There was little discernable damage other than blank screens and flickering displays. The Bridge crew had stood nearly two full watches, and now that Battle Stations had been cancelled, relief could be provided.
“Comm, alert the second shift. Let’s get all of you some food and rest. As soon as your relief arrives, give them updates and stand down until your next duty is scheduled.”
The crew breathed a collective sigh of relief.
I know the captain has a lot on his mind, and is probably chastising himself for what happened, but dammit, he’s got to start being a bit more aware that this crew isn’t a machine… the way he thinks he is.
Relief officers began to arrive in ones and twos. Hamilton watched as updates were given and status of each station posted. She nodded to each of the prime Bridge officers as the filed into the lift, then turned to face the screens again.
“Alright, ladies and gentlemen, let’s see what we have…”
* * *
Abol Ch'virrorh straightened as Westermann entered the main engineering complex. Arneci, and bonded mate to Tactical Officer Thevoss Sh'zaoqoq, Ch'virrorh was typical of his Race; somewhat squat in appearance, dark-skinned, nearly hairless, and possessing of eyes having irises and “whites” so dark, they could hardly be discerned from his pupils. Westermann knew those eyes could almost literally see electrical wave patterns, making Ch’virrorh an excellent Chief Engineer; he could see things in the systems that humans could not. Westermann held Ch’virrorh as a real treasure to Agincourt; and a good friend.
“Captain, environmental systems are operating at ninety percent nominal. Hyperlight core is stable, but we are running a second diagnostic due to aberrant readings in the first.”
Westermann nodded, passing a glance around the engineering deck, noting orderly activity. If nothing else, Ch’virrorh was as thorough in his duties as the captain tried to be in his.
