by T J Bryan
Silvi was eating breakfast in the upper mess just off the bridge of the New Kára . The bridge shift change had occurred earlier and the mess itself was quiet. There had been no word from Eir and that both pleased Silvi and worried her. No news is good news she thought, that is unless there has been disaster at Cranmore and more disaster yet to come. Silvi had confidence in Fanny Menendez but she was green as a captain and untried in battle. Silvi laughed to herself as she thought that she herself was not that experienced either. Its' only been what? Three years and a few months since she offered to take Quark out to the forbidden zone to take a second look at the ghost fleet with Abel and Helen.
Silvi had moved the flag of Second fleet to the Crusher New Kára and Toni Hamilton the area commander had combined the fleets into one with Silvi in charge. Silvi fell into a kind of warm reverie when her vid-com chimed. "Incoming. From the Happy Landing portal. It is the New Hildr and Mist. Their transponders are on."
Silvi thought a moment about Farn and her trip to Narlanda. It seemed to Silvi that Farn was a bit early, but she was glad that their voyage was complete. Then again, if attacked by Dumbbells another Destructor and SAR would be a real benefit.
Silvi walked to the bridge and found Captain Ana Njall sitting in her chair. Silvi said nothing and pulled down a jump seat from the bulkhead behind the captain and sat down.
Ana spoke. "I want a full scan on New Hildr and Mist. Let's not take any chances. And what is the time lag for comms?"
Lennie Karrlson responded, "About six minutes from the Happy Landing entry portal. We should be receiving an update soon."
Silvi looked about the bridge and at her brother Lennie. How he had changed she thought, but then again she realized they had all changed and the war with the Dumbbells was about to change them even more.
The weapons station was manned by Quadi Dio whom Silvi had transferred from Ragnarök.
Quadi spoke, "Incoming. Unknown ship type from Nelots entry. Signature unknown. Not a Dumbbell, I repeat not a Dumbbell."
Silvi spoke, "Defence, call out Captain Marx on Sigrún and Randgríð with Captain Waltis. Have them intercept the incoming ship. Also inform all stations of our action. Notify Commodore Hamilton of our reconfiguration." Silvi and Toni Hamilton had agreed on a series of plans for different contingencies and this was one.
"Aye aye, Sir" responded Dante Aanenson who was stationed at defence.
Silvi suddenly realized that she could not instantly remember Dante's name. Crew changes and the enormous growth of the OCN had begun to make remembering everyone's name a challenge. However she knew that such a lapse in a Commodore was unforgivable.
Silvi looked toward Captain Njall. "Captain we stay on station here at the Severan entry."
"Message from New Hildr. It's from Farn Mayer in encrypted text."
"Please read it Mr. Aanenson," replied Njall.
"The message reads; 'Mission accomplished. New edition obtained. All is well'."
Silvi stood. "Send a message to Commodore Mayer. Have New Hildr proceed to Wu station and prepare to dock as indicated in our planning session. Mist is to proceed to the Holgata Station. I will move to Wu station to debrief Commodore Mayer. Please notify Commodore Rebbah and to meet us there. Area Commander Hamilton will remain at Holgata Station to manage overall defence."
As Silvi prepared to enter the runabout for a transfer to the SAR Brynhildr and on to Wu Station she paused and asked the pilot, "Any news from Nelots? Has Marx or Waltis anything to report?"
The pilot looked quickly at his status board. "Nothing at this time. They got underway only moments ago. Any hail from Nelots at this distance will take a good ten minutes."
Silvi nodded and sat in the uncomfortable and unpadded steel seat and pulled down her restraint hard, and then pulled again. A few minutes later they entered the main hatch of Brynhildr. Captain Thoranson greeted Silvi as the hold repressurized.
Thoranson spoke first. "The entry from Nelots is a ship calling itself the De Magnete out of the New Horizons system. She says her intent is peaceful and that she has been damaged in a fight with something the mysterious Megra. She was directed here by Eir. The description sounds like a Dumbbell. Apparently Eir has taken on the Dumbbell or Megra to allow the De Magnete to escape from Cranmore. The last De Magnete saw Eir she was entering Girots and taking up station at the entry portal from Cranmore."
Silvi knew she needed to talk to Toni Hamilton, but she needed to act and act fast.
"Order Captain Marx on Sigrún to immediately return to his previous station. Randgríð with Captain Waltis is to escort our visitor to Wu Station and to exercise extreme caution in doing so. Assume the ship is friendly but be prepared for hostility. I will notify Commodore Hamilton of developments at Cranmore and she can send a message to Abel."
Silvi raced to the bridge of Brynhildr as the SAR proceeded at best speed to Wu Station two hours away. Moments later Silvi had updated Toni Hamilton on the status of the visitor De Magnete. Toni then ordered Mist to assume picket duty at the Nelots entry and for New Hildr to approach Wu Station for additional protection should the De Magnete prove less than honorable.
Two hours later Silvi disembarked Brynhildr and entered Wu Station to be greeted by Captain Smilot. Brynhildr then departed and took up a protective position below Wu Station and some 400,000 kilometres away.
"How long before De Magnete arrives at Wu Station," Silvi asked as both Silvi and Smilot walked to the command center located in the monitor section of the station.
"Seven hours. De Magnete seems damaged. We have scanned and there is a plasma leak from one of her engines. She seems stable, but with fusion engines one must take care. I have suggested to the Captain of De Magnete that he stop about one million kilometres out for inspection by our Revenue Cutter and then we will use one of the tractor trucks to tow her in so they may shut down the offending engine. He has agreed. That will add about two hours to their docking. If all goes well, and of course it never does, they should be at the dock by about 22:00.
Silvi looked at the wall clock of the command center of Wu Station. The time read 10:23. "If New Hildr were to dock from her current position how long would it take?"
Smilot looked at the status display that covered one wall before responding. "About two hours. You want Farn to join us?"
"If Farn disembarks here how long for New Hildr to resume its' protective station?"
Smilot smiled. "More than enough time. By the time New Hildr is back on station the revenue cutter will just have begun it's inspection."
"Good, lets have Farn join us."
Two hours later Captain Smilot, Silvi, and Helen Rebbah awaited the arrival of Commodore Farn Mayer. The Destructor New Hildr slowly approached the station dock, docked, and a few minutes later Farn appeared. Silvi was once again struck by how they had all changed. And now Silvi saw changes in Farn Mayer as well. Farn was still very young and her self confidence had always been great, but now there was something else in her demeanour and her presence. Silvi found herself searching for the right word and found it; 'commanding'. Farn was becoming a commanding presence without any guile or artifice. Abel had been right to see something remarkable in Farn and now Silvi could see it as well.
"Welcome Commodore Mayer," said Smilot as she stepped forward and saluted Farn. Farn returned the salute, but Silvi simply stepped forward to shake Farn's hand but found herself giving Farn a hug instead. Helen just smiled and nodded.
Two hours later Farn had finished her narrative of the voyage to Narlanda. Clearly the voyage had met its objective in establishing a relationship with the Athenaeum as well as obtaining the latest edition of the Encyclopaedia Gallectica.
The incoming De Magnete was only an hour away so the four adjourned to the receiving dock to await the arrival of the New Horizons Armada ship De Magnete.
As they stood on the dock Silvi turned to Farn. "And how is Nomi?"
Farn thought before replying. "Much the same, but in some way different. Expos
ure to Narlanda has affected her in ways I would not thought possible. Everyone she meets now is not 'stupid.' Don't get me wrong she still thinks almost everyone is stupid, but meeting some of the Narlanda editors and academics has opened her mind to possibilities not previously possible. On the other hand she remains quite fragile physically and mentally. She has become quite fond of Narlanda's representative to Jamon, a young woman named Aelia."
"Oh," replied Silvi. Silvi could see that Helen had taken an interest in their discussion.
"Yes," replied Farn. "When Nomi was given a copy of the new edition of the EG she was overjoyed and immediately began searching for new scientific data on gravity, but the amount of data was so massive that it was useless to her. Aelia helped her find what she wanted. Somehow the Athenaeum has categorized all known knowledge into sections, categories, sub-categories, and sub-sub, and on and on. Aelia simply asks Nomi a series of specific questions about what she is looking for. Two or three questions might suffice, but often it is dozens and dozens of questions. Each question goes deeper and deeper into the categorical index and eventually Aelia gives Nomi what she seeks. I don't think Aelia understands the material she is providing, but she does know how to find it."
Farn stopped for a moment as the unusual ship De Magnete came into view.
"John," she continued, "John Beckley, our librarian, says it takes a lifetime of training to understand the index and the categorization of knowledge. He informs me that there is a whole group within the Athenaeum that exists to recognize new types of knowledge and to establish categories for them or to simply update existing categories to incorporate new information. John says just think of the index as a knowledge tree with enormous roots and a billion branches. John says the index is one of the greatest intellectual achievements of mankind."
Helen interjected. "So Aelia has become Nomi's friend?"
Farn laughed. "Yes, that's one way to describe it. But is a hairbrush a friend? I guess a book can be a friend."
Helen and Silvi looked confused. Farn responded, "I have come to love Nomi like a sister, but I don't really think I am her friend. I don't think Nomi can have friends. In some way both Aelia and I are tools. Useful tools, perhaps absolutely necessary tools, but hardly friends. However Aelia has developed true affection for Nomi and Nomi seems very happy to have Aelia as a 'friend'." Farn had lifted her hands and made the quotation sign with her fingers.
Six fully armored OCN Marines arrived on the dock and took up positions at the hatch. They were there to be a welcoming party, but as with all first encounters at Wu Station, they were fully armed and ready for both a warm welcome or even a cold one.
Moments later the telltale above the passenger hatch turned green and the hatch slid open.
The Captain of the De Magnete and two others stepped forward.
The crew of De Magnete were rather short and stocky by Jamon standards and Silvi assumed their planet had a high gravity coefficient. The most unusual aspect of the three was an enormous head of very curly brown hair and skin covered with what Silvi knew as freckles. There legs with quite stout, their torsos a bit short, and their arms rather long, but they were clearly human and nothing about their appearance shocked any one on the dock.
One man stepped forward wearing a tight fitting jump suit covered by a rather flouncy and very long brown shirt.
"I am the Executive Operator of the New Horizons Navy pursuit ship De Magnete. My name is Sohail. Thank you for your offer of protection."
Captain Smilot replied, "I am Captain Smilot of Wu station. Welcome. If you come in peace we shall do whatever in our power to offer you protection from our mutual enemies." Smilot turned and then introduced Silvi, Farn, and Helen.
Sohail then introduced his two companions, one named Nawabi who seemed to be second in command and another named Dhami who's role was not explained.
Smilot bowed slightly and said, "Please follow me to our conference room just off the dock so we may begin to learn from one another.
Chapter Eighty Five
Wu System - Wu Station Conference Room - Year 3247. September 29 ET: 03:21
Smilot began by describing the renaissance of Wu Station from The Dark. She omitted the facts of the rather grim past of occupancy by pirates and the resulting slavery and simply glossed over those events. Smilot described the burgeoning trade relations Wu had established and that because of Wu Station's success she had become a target of dark forces. Several times Smilot stressed and stressed again the close alliance with the Jamon System and the partnership they had established with the OCN.
Helen then described the Jamon System briefly and then the OCN in some detail. Like Smilot she left a lot out and did so deliberately. She simply said that the OCN had been established to roll back The Dark and bring light and knowledge back to human space. To that end they had established a navy and had faced and defeated many enemies who favored remaining in the Dark. Helen included the Megra in that description. One critical factor Helen left out was the origin of the OCN's fleet. To reveal that would reveal the great weakness of the OCN in that they could not manufacture warships or even provide substantial repairs to those ships when damaged.
"Tell us about New Horizons please Executive Operator Sohail? Your arrival in our system is a great surprise but a welcome one."
Sohail who had been sitting stood. "We are at war with the Megra. They have attacked our outer planets and now threaten our mother world. They are powerful, too powerful, but we have managed to keep them away. That is until recently when they assaulted our orbiting fortresses with a flotilla of those ships, the ones you call Dumbbells. Our war has gone on for almost 10 years and during that time we have been entirely on the defence. Defence is no way to win a war. We need help. That is why we left New Horizons seeking contact with others who might be able to bring some aid. We never expected to find such a large navy of such powerful ships as yours."
Silvi interjected, "Please Executive Operator Sohail, we wish to hear about the Megra in great detail. We are under attack by the same enemy and we have no real knowledge of the Megra, however before you provide this information can you tell us about the origin of New Horizons and the nature of your system. The Encyclopaedia Gallectica contains little information about your system."
Sohail looked shocked. "You have access to the great Encyclopaedia?"
Farn responded, "Yes, and we have the latest edition from Narlanda which we received only four months ago."
Sohail became intensely focused on Farn. "You have copy?"
"Yes," Farn replied. "It is our mission in driving back The Dark to provide copies of the EG to all we meet and who may benefit from the work of the Athenaeum of Narlanda."
Sohail broke into a large smile. He turned to his two compatriots who seemed overjoyed at the prospect of a copy of the EG.
"But first Executive Operator Sohail please tell us of your system and its' origin?"
"Ah yes," He replied.
Sohail spoke for almost twenty minutes and no one interrupted. New Horizons was founded by refugees from three different systems fleeing the twenty third year of the Great War. Helen recognized the names of the three systems and knew that they had been entirely destroyed in the war, but by which side no one seemed to know, nor did the crew of the De Magnete. The refugees had commandeered a group of luxury liners and freighters and transported almost 230,000 souls to the most distant habitable system they could locate and that was New Horizons. New Horizons was an unusual system in that it had a trinary gathering of three white dwarf suns, suspended in an intense field of gas and dust, as well as six gas giants on highly distorted elliptical orbits.. Two planets had proved habitable but terraforming had been required and had taken almost 80 years to complete. During that time the colony almost died from starvation, disease, and dangerous native flora and fauna, However they survived and now the system supported almost 100 million people on both planets and out among the other planets and moons of the system.
"And your warsh
ips?" Asked Silvi anxious to learn more about New Horizons Armada.
Silvi and Farn could see some reticence on Sohail's part to describe his warships in any detail, but soon Sohail began to realize that if he was to obtain any help at all he needed to be frank with the OCN officers.
"My ship, the De Magnete is a pursuit ship. It was once one of 40. Our role was to explore, suppress piracy, and to maintain order within our system. Alas we now have less than five left. We have larger warships as well. We once had very many and they were very powerful. Or at least we thought so until the Megra arrived with those massive attack bombs which kill so many ships. Now most of our great warships are dust. Our defence now lies in our fortress moons. The Megra at first targeted our Armada and avoided the fortresses and the Mother and Daughter planets. Now they seek to bombard the Mother world and only our fortresses can protect us. But their attacks are constant and our fortresses are weakened. We need help. You must help us."
"And your weapons systems? What do you use to fight the Megra," asked Helen.
"We have mighty plasma ordnance but they are useless at the distance Megra attack with their enormous bombs. Our best defence is the rail gun. Our ships have many and the distance to damage is very long, very long. But Megra fire those bombs forward of their travel and our bombards have no effect. We have no missiles as we have seen with Eir in Cranmore. Perhaps you can supply us with those missiles?"
Farn interjected, "Tell us about the Megra. Who are they? From where do they come?"
Sohail took a deep breath. "Megra were once subjects of Hitti. Some call them artisan slaves. They made things for Hitti masters. But Hitti declined in civil wars and Megra were abandoned. A thousand years or more passed and Megra grew strong with Hitti knowledge. Megra wanted empire and attacked old Hitti space. But some Hitti kingdoms were still strong and Megra made no advance on Hitti space even though Hitti was fragmented. Now we think Hitti is united and has turned against Megra."
Silvi spoke, "So they came looking for empire and found your world?"
