by T J Bryan
For the second test Emmitt had chosen a small almost solid nickel asteroid. Two weeks prior they had shot a sand caster at the asteroid and measured its' impact. The shot had begun at almost one million kilometres out to give the sand caster all the time it needed to reach 60% of SOL. Upon examination the face of the asteroid had been heavily scoured and although the asteroid was huge it had been altered in its' orbit by the impact of sand particles travelling at that speed. Now they prepared to launch a sand caster missile modified with diamond dust.
For the second test they had instrumented the asteroid with laser communications and electro magnetic and radiation sources. A small plasma discharge device was placed on the asteroid as well. It was timed to provide plasma bursts about the time the sand caster load arrived.
From one million kilometres out they fired the modified sand caster now labelled 'Dust Catcher One'. Eight seconds later, the dust catcher one, travelling at 180,000 kilometres a second burst its' canister and once again the asteroid was rocked in its' orbit and scowered across its' surface. Upon review the instrumentation revealed that the laser beam had been entirely fragmented and made useless by the passage of the highly refractive dust, and that even radio frequency and vid transmission had been attenuated significantly. The magnetic properties of the asteroid remained unharmed, however 3% of the asteroid's surface facing the impact had been scrubbed away and turned into metallic dust. More importantly the plasma discharge had been scattered and diminished.
Abel turned to Captain Menendez, "Well done Captain Menendez. Well done."
Abel then addressed Emmitt, "Emmitt find out what caused that jam with the probes, but put those probes into production immediately. I would like to see at least two hundred in stock by the time Silvi or Farn returns. We should also begin to use them in our training missions as soon as possible. We won't know about the utility of the 'dust catchers' until we actually use them in combat and I am reluctant to modify too many of the sand casters we have in supply, but lets take ten of those things and make the shift to diamond dust. Farn and Silvi can take a few out with them on their next voyage."
Emmitt nodded in agreement.
Abel found standing on the deck of the Eir comforting and he realized that his desk bound job was really getting to be too far removed from the actual work of the OCN; that of flying and potentially fighting starships. He took a quick look at his schedule on the inter-tab and saw he had two open days, or days with meetings that could be postponed. "Captain Menendez, can you take us out to the Monitor Esjan with your best speed. I think a surprise inspection might be appreciated by the crew of the monitor. Emmitt laughed and Captain Menendez breathed a sigh of relief sensing the lessening of tension among the crew.
Abel and Emmitt had slept in the two recovery bunks of the doc-box and a day later they approached the truncated bulk of the Monitor Esjan. Esjan was the forward half of a nearly destroyed Greayson Dreadnaught. The aft portion, which had been breached and to a great extent ripped off the keel, had been carefully removed by the Fabricators Guild and plate steel had been plasma welded across the rear of the ship to ensure atmospheric integrity. Most of her engines were trashed in battle, but a few remained operational and 16 new replacements had been added which brought her engine complement to 30, More than enough to power the living quarters and weapons systems of the stationary monitor.
As they approached the Esjan Abel finally got a feel for her enormous size. Esjan was a two kilometres in length and 630 meters wide in her current configuration. Before her modifications she had supported 256 fusion engines and her length had been almost three kilometres. Her flight crew like all Grayson ships had been small at 38, but she had supercargo for 200 and marine barracks for 1,200. However much of that space had been removed in the modifications needed for conversion to a monitor. Her crew now stood at eight as she simply hung in the void just outside the entry portal to the Jamon System. Anyone entering the system through the portal would enter at dead slow and face over 300 launch tubes each containing 'K' class missiles. Additionally her 180 centimetre bore plasma cannons, of which there were 16, could easily melt anything within range and the range was precisely calculated to meet at the mouth of the entry portal. As a dreadnaught her armour was immense and as long as her nose was pointed toward the portal she was impervious to most attacks. If anyone was foolish enough to try using an anti-matter ship killer torpedo on the Esjan they would die together with the monitor as she floated within eight kilometres of the portal. The kill zone of anti-matter torpedoes was simply to large to use in a close quarters attack.
Abel had early in the stationing of the Esjan decided that every trainee crew of the OCN would serve two or three rotations on the Esjan as part of their training. He was reluctant to assign a dedicated crew to the ship out of fear of complacency and sloth that inevitably occurred with naval forces assigned to a stationary and almost entirely inactive monitor. Best to rotate crews through the ship as part of orientation and training than to leave a crew there to stagnate in boredom and inactivity. Abel was particularly keen on having all trainee captains spend time on the monitor and although they were rotated together with trainee crews, they ended up spending far more time on the monitor that most crew members. A training crew might see three or four one week tours on the Esjan, but a trainee captain was likely to see more than two dozen.
The fabricators at Emmitt's direction had added a docking platform on to the rear of the Esjan and Captain Menendez brought the Eir gently into the dock. Abel noticed two slightly modified runabouts from the Singleton race were tied up to the monitor. We really need better ships for inspection of incoming the thought. Moments later Abel boarded the enormous Esjan and climbed the multiple gangways and ladders to the bridge and crew quarters. The evolving protocols of the OCN would have required that the Admiral of the Fleet be welcomed aboard with honors, but Esjan had only a crew of eight and they knew that leaving their stations for formalities would be strongly disapproved of by the Admiral.
As Abel entered the bridge followed by Emmitt Wong he was greeted by Ingmar Havard the Captain Trainee of the Esjan. Ingmar and crew were clearly surprised at Abel's sudden visit. Abel made a quick inspection of the bridge and crew quarters and found everything satisfactory. Upon returning to the bridge Abel complemented Ingmar on his duties on the Esjan and as Abel so often did he called for a common late evening snack with those of the crew who could be relieved of watch duties. Emmitt, Abel, Ingmar and three crew members sat about the mess table drinking coffee and tea and munching on a few snacks. As usual Abel noticed that the crew were allowing their drinks to cool untouched and the snacks to be ignored as they sat in awe of the Admiral and the Chief of Naval Development. Abel hated the reticence of crew to become familiar with him, but he knew that with his position such things were to be expected. Abel for the first time as head of the OCN found himself struggling to remember the names of the three crew members who sat across the table from him. I'm getting old Abel thought, but realized that as the OCN grew he would no longer be able to remember every crew member. The OCN was now at almost 600 and within months might well reach 1,000. Far too many names to remember and this Abel thought was unforgivable, but inevitable.
Abel was about to ask the crewman who sat closest to him about conditions on the Esjan when the monitor claxon sounded. "Incoming. We have incoming. This is not a drill. This is not a drill. A ship is entering Jamon Space. All crew to stations. I repeat all crew to stations."
Abel stood as the three crewmembers raced back to the bridge. Cautiously Abel and Emmitt followed the crew members to the bridge. Captain Havard was standing and concentrating on the vid display. He turned and looked at Abel and Emmitt and then returned his look to the status display. Abel thought well done. He and Emmitt were superfluous to any action by Esjan and the captain understood his responsibility and duties regardless of the fact that the Admiral was on board.
Captain Havard declared, "Challenge the ship Mr. Binford."
Abel noted that the captain had not called for battle stations, but he knew that every crewmember was ready for any needed action. However it was comforting to Abel that the Captain had not assumed that the entering ship was a dangerous foe.
The defence specialist Binford replied, "I have an incoming message from a ship called Wu Ascending. I will put it on speaker."
Moments later the speaker came to life, "Hello Jamon. This is the liner Wu Ascending requesting permission to enter the Jamon System. Again, this is the liner Wu Ascending requesting permission to enter the Jamon System. This is captain Smilot of the Wu Ascending."
Captain Havard asked Mr. Binford to scan the incoming ship and Binford replied that it was indeed a liner and that it was unarmed and un-armoured.
"Permission granted Wu Ascending. Please stand by and prepare to be boarded for inspection. This is Captain Havard of the OCN Monitor Esjan. Do you copy Wu Ascending?"
"Aye, Captain Havard. We copy and will comply. Wu Ascending out."
Chapter Sixty
Himmer System - Mist - Year 3246. October 8 ET: 11:12
The Mist entered the Himmer system quietly and as usual Farn held the ship back from descending into the system until she was certain that she was alone. After six hours of careful scanning she had Pilot Sal Paris take them into high orbit above the primary planet. They orbited Himmer six times as defence specialist Molly Motts scanned the planet.
"Mr. Motts. What can you tell me about Himmer?"
Molly turned toward the captain. "No energy signature at all Captain Mayers. The two continents named Gillot and Stern I have labelled 'G' and 'S' on the display. Gillot, the southern island, has six lengthy riverine canyons labelled G1 through G6. The canyons of both continents run north south across the entire continent. The more northern island Stern, has five riverine canyons labelled S1 through S5. The riverine systems are deep canyons through which large rivers flow. They often descend a thousand meters or more from the parched and arid plane above. I can detect no energy sources in any of those systems. I have compared weather patterns, snow pack, river flow, with EG records and all seems normal. We need to go lower to get a better idea of what's on the surface."
Farn replied, "Any weapons systems on the planet or here above?"
"Negative" replied Molly.
"Mr. Paris take us into a lower orbit please."
Three hours later Molly Motts had completed her second series of scans of Gillot and Stern. "I have scanned G1 through G6 very closely. S1 through S5 I will need another pass before I can conclude anything definitive. But we do have information on G1 through 5. G1 seems to be entirely devoid of life. I can see the outlines of old agricultural terraces lining the canyon walls, but they seem abandoned even as the river seems to flow as recorded in the past. Canyon G2 has some terraces still under cultivation but no more that 10% of what was recorded in the EG. G3 however seems to be fully functional and I have detected hot spots throughout the 800 kilometre river system. By hot spots, I mean sources of heat. Like fires, home fires, cooking locations, and such. Nothing high energy like a fission engine or even hot enough to drive a steam engine. Just low level human habitation cook fires. But on G4 I can see an enormous fire. It's in a location that the EG states was a major city on Himmer; the city of Alathor. It looks to me as if the city itself is on fire. It's not a heat signature from a thousand cook stoves, it's the signature of a thousand houses burning. G5 and G6 looks just like the record. Fully functional and highly productive on an agricultural basis."
"Mr. Motts can you get me a better scan of that city? Alathor? How about a close up of the grounds of the city and its' surrounding region. I want to know why the city is burning?"
"Aye, aye. Sir."
After another two hours Farn had a good understanding of what was obviously the Siege of Alathor by a neighbour. The scans revealed a siege in progress. One Farn recognized out of the old history stories found in the EG. The walled city of Alathor was surrounded by siege engines. Catapults, ballistas, and battering rams surrounded the city. External siege walls had been built surrounding the walled city which to Farn meant that the siege had gone on for some time. Those siege walls probably took more than a year to build in order to starve the city into submission. But submission was clearly not the intent of the city as it burned. Sieges often started with the intent of occupying a city, but in this case a city burned to the ground was of little use to the victor. This was a siege for total destruction and domination.
Detailed scans revealed an army surrounding Alathor of approximately 30,000. Given what Farn had read about city sieges in the EG any besieging army should have exceeded the population of Alathor by three to one. Attempting to take a city with a strong defensive position and high sturdy walls like Alathor would require that the besiegers had significant superiority in numbers; three to one was what the EG said was needed.
Farn looked closely at the scan of the besieging army. She could see the city was surrounded by troops on foot, but also by racing chariots, pulled by four legged animals, which continually passed about the city walls. Alathor was situated on a flat section of land that was surrounded on two sides by the meandering river. On two sides the siege was waged, and from Farn's perspective the city was about to fall.
Farn was at a loss as what her responsibilities were in this situation. Abel had cautioned not to become involved in local disputes unless slavery or piracy were paramount. But here she could see a city in flames and what she considered a merciless army about to lay waste to what remained of the city.
She needed to act quickly and she did.
"Mr. Motts can you give us a minor 'K' class explosion high about Alathor. Just enough to attract the attention of everyone on the ground, but not enough to cause any real harm. I would like to get the attention of the combatants."
"Aye, aye, Sir. One star burst coming up."
Moments later the sky above Alathor burst into a brilliant white and blinding light which lasted almost an entire minute. Anyone unfortunate enough to look up would be blinded for a few moments. The detonation was clearly enough to get everyone's attention.
"Mr. Paris, I want you to buzz the city with emphasis on its' surrounding besieging army. Just make sure we are seen and that everyone knows we are here and mean business."
"Yes Sir," replied Sal as he took the Mist lower and into a dive toward Alathor.
Pilot Paris steadied the helm to ensure they broke the sound barrier and send pulses of deadening booms onto the ground. As Farn viewed the land she could see that the armies of both sides had simply stopped fighting. Fear of the skies had overcome fear of those facing them. In Farn's mind she had decided to become a 'God' and to put an end to this madness.
Farn had spotted an thin strip of land in the river midway between Alathor and the besieging army. It was simply a sandspit and might not support the full weight of a SAR, but she told Pilot Paris to put the Mist down on the tiny island in the river. Farn thought about Abel's admonition that 'Captains do not leave the ship' but in this case she had no alternative. As the ship landed into the soft sand she and two others of the crew armed themselves with plasma pistolas and set out from the main hatch. Farn wished she had a few marines, but she did not, and this was a war she was determined to end.
Both the besieging army and the city defenders seemed stunned by the arrival of the Mist, but the city defenders were the first to respond. As Farn stood upon the damp sand the city gate opened for a moment and three armoured men approached. Their armour was of steel and bronze, and old fashioned, and Farn knew that a single blast from her plasma pistola would reduce them to slag. Farn advanced to meet them leaving the two crew behind. She advance no more than fifteen meters and stopped and awaited the city emissaries to arrive. The armoured men struggled a bit in the shallow waters separating the sand spit from the city, but soon they arrived.
They came no nearer that three meters. Farn smiled and beckoned them to come closer.
They came closer but
one man was in the lead. As he approached Farn he raised his helmet. The man was well into his seventies. His face scarred and worn by years of battle and his hair a silvery white. "You are from the stars?" he asked. "From our ancestors?"
Farn stood tall and responded, "Yes, we are your ancestors. From the stars. We have come to put an end to this madness."
All three armoured men fell to their knees and genuflected. Farn heard them mutter some ancient prayer or chant. Then they rose.
"You shall kill the infidels. Kill them all with fire and ruin. We beseech you. Do what the word of God requires. Kill them all."
Farn did not respond but realized that she might well have put herself and the OCN into the middle of a senseless religious war. But a war that must be ended.
Moments later six chariots arrived on the far side of the river. Two men dismounted but the others remained alert. Farn could see two men to a chariot and one was the driver and the second an archer. Farn knew little about archery, but she did know that they might well be within the range of skilled archers. The two men, were without armour, but wore leather harnesses and breeches. They had both bows and long swords and as did the emissaries of the city, their bodies were covered with wounds and scars evidencing years of warfare.
Soon they forded the shallows of the river and approached Farn from the far side. Farn looked carefully at the two and motioned her two Mist crewmembers to fall back and cover both sets of representatives from a distance. Farn well understood the necessity of plasma cross fire as did her crew.
Farn motioned to the city representatives to stay put and turned to face the besieging army emissaries. One man came forward while the other paused and remained behind. "I am Pitta, representative of his Highness the Olo of Himmer, Ruler of the World, Slayer of Dragons, Keeper of the Knife of Lonolo and Precept of Vininnor. To whom do I owe the honor of the stars?"
