by T J Bryan
"Yes, as they seem to have found your worlds as well."
...
Jamon System - Hospital Sub Basement Assembly Room - Year 3247. October 1 ET: 23:46
Dr. Auber was displeased. "Abel I don't like this. I don't like this one bit. The ethics of it stink."
Abel replied, "Where in your medical ethics classes was this situation discussed?"
Auber responded, "That's besides the point. This situation should never come up. It's just outrageous."
"Yet you are required to attend the execution and declare the prisoner dead. Is that an ethics violation?"
Auber shook her head. "It's an act of mercy to make sure the prisoner is dead. What if the hangman made a mistake and he was still alive. No, that is different than what you are proposing."
"Freydis we have been friends for years. You understand what will happen if we cannot defend the Commonwealth. And what is happening now with the ongoing battles at Wu simply demonstrate the urgency and desperation of our position. I am not asking you to abandon your ethics, but to simply let us use Arne's empty vessel after he is dead to obtain the equipment we need to save thousands of lives. Our lives. Lives here in the Habitat. Lives in the OCN. Live as Wu station and beyond."
Auber shook her head and then looked Abel straight in the eyes. "Ok. I still object. This is wrong in so many ways, but ..."
Auber trailed off and Abel thought it best now that he had her agreement not to pursue the topic. The execution of Arne Thorgaut for multiple murders was about to begin.
The Sub Basement Assembly room had been chosen because of both its' tall ceiling and its' location. The space was easily secured and although the time of the execution had been announced and was to be broadcast at this late hour, no announcement had been made as to the location. A gallows had been built with noose and trap door. The trap door was activated by one of eight buttons arrayed on a table with eight chairs that stood before the gallows.
The families of victims were offered the opportunity to participate in the execution and often chose not too. When that occurred members of the constabulary were randomly chosen to participate. However for Arne Thorgaut's execution 83 surviving family members asked to participate and eight were chosen in a draw. At the moment of execution the participants all pressed the buttons and one button actuated the drop. No one would know who had actually ended the prisoners life.
Other than the eight participants, Dr. Auber, Abel, and six police officers, no one else was present. The vid camera had been set up to show the execution, but was framed in such a way that it focused on the prisoner at the moment of the drop, but did not follow the body as it fell into the well below.
Arne had been silent during his trial, but as he was forcefully brought to the gallows he was screaming. "I am the Judicar. You cannot do this. You cannot." He kept repeating this over and over as two officers dragged him across the gallows platform and placed the noose about his neck. It was one minute before the designated time for the execution and the buttons were disabled until the very moment arrived. However one participant kept pushing the button over and over again. Hatred for Arne and his terror ran deep.
The appointed time arrived, the door dropped, and Arne fell. His neck broken and his throat crushed. Arne was declared clinically dead by Dr. Auber. The execution was over. Two officers quickly cut the body free, loaded it on to a slider gurney and whisked it away along with Dr. Auber.
Two hours later two doc-box units called 'stasis tubes' arrived at the Old Mining Dock and were loaded onto the freighter Greenland which immediately departed for Wu.
23 days later Greenland docked at Wu Station and transferred her cargo just in time for the arrival of the Theans.
Silvi met the Theans at the dock and once again was astounded at their genetic engineering. Except now Silvi thought of it as genetic mis-engineering. They had been good to their word and 749 small fusion engines were unloaded onto the dock at Wu station. The Theans quickly examined the foodstuffs and wine and accepted the trade.
Silvi had asked one of the doctors on Wu Station why the Theans wanted cadavers as well as genetic material. Clearly saliva or tissue samples should have been more than enough, but the doctor explained that the Theans probably wanted to see the full expression of the genes and that required a body. By full expression she explained that a full dissection was required as well as many tissue destructive tests. Of course she admitted she was only guessing.
Silvi ordered the two stasis tubes to be brought forward and the Theans took them aboard their ship, but within an hour returned the stasis tubes empty of their contents. Then the Theans departed after informing Captain Smilot of their intention to return in four months for additional trade opportunities.
Several hours later Greenland, escorted by the SAR Róta began the journey home. In her hold she held 749 small fusion engines capable of powering 'K' class missiles. She also carried Nomi's experimental devices. In her supercargo she carried Nomi Ketill, Aelia, and John Beckley on the return voyage to the habitat.
Chapter Eighty Six
Jamon System - Collegium, Admiral's Office - Year 3247. October 1 ET: 13:21
"Emmitt, given these recurring attacks and the appearance of Megra at Cranmore we may need to entirely rethink our strategy."
"Yes Abel, a rethink is in order, but I am not sure our actual strategy will change. Withdrawing from Wu and its' trade routes dooms us in the long run. It will put us exactly into the same isolated and dangerous position we were in when we were dependent on a single freighter and a single food source. So, lets think this through but act with caution."
"These dispatches from Helen about Megra capabilities and their history are very interesting. What they reveal to me is that our one advantage with the Megra and their anti-matter torpedoes is the sand casters. Greayson really was on to a most effective defensive weapon against anti-matter torpedoes and if used well clearly a powerful offensive weapon as well. The idea of destroying the Megra ship as it fired a torpedo with a caster while the torpedo was well within the kill zone of the launching ship seems to have made them reluctant to use their single offensive weapon. They don't seem to have missiles, or rail guns or other offensive munitions. As for short range weapons, for defence or offence, that remains to be seen, but we now know of their two great weaknesses; single reliance on torpedoes and their connecting shaft system for sphere separation."
"Yes," said Emmitt. "But the more strategic picture is daunting. Megra are clearly entering human space and attacking the few remaining human settlements in their quest for empire. Wu and Nelots may be key to the overall defence of our area, but not a strong position for the protection of human space; even if we had the ships and crews which clearly we do not."
Abel thought a moment longer, "Emmitt I think the key to all this is at Dong Son. I think Toni Hamilton is right and we need to send someone out there to learn more."
"Your thinking of attacking the Dong Son entry point?"
"No, it's only intelligence I am after at this point. We simply do not know enough. Now the New Horizons intelligence is a god send, but even New Horizons didn't know about Dong Son and they have been on the defence for so long they really know next to nothing outside their system."
"Abel, we need to support New Horizons. That captain of theirs reports that the entire Megra fleet attacking their homeworld is about nine ships. We know that four of our SAR's well led can take one on. A Destructor if flown well might be a match, and a Crusher clearly might have a slight advantage."
Abel laughed. "Lets see Emmitt you said 'well led' once, 'might' twice and then the word 'slight'."
Abel decided to change the subject to munitions. "How are those mines developing?"
"As you know the tests went well and we were able to both reduced the size a bit and increase the fission explosive power. They are quite small and should be hard to detect, but in a crowded system like Wu in some places they might simply be impossible to detect. So we added an encrypted r
esponder. A tiny thing, but when pinged it will tell you where it is and if necessary turn it off. Mapping mines is space can be difficult so the ping locator will help our ships a lot. The encryption ensures the enemy won't be able to call them out."
"And the fabricators guild? How many can they manufacture?"
"We have already built about 600, and I think we can make about 100 or so every week at current production levels. We could well make more, but I advise we wait until we have actual experience with them before increasing production."
"Is detonation by impact or proximity?"
"Detonation is by proximity. With our weaker fission explosives the kill zone is about a kilometre, but they will do damage at up to three or four. The idea is to salt them close together and as one goes off it will trigger others. Sam Olderhausr calls it a fission bloom."
Abel agreed. "And the engines for the missiles brokered by the Theans?."
"Exactly as specified. The are clearly copies of the real Greayson engines with only minor differences. We will have shells and warheads for all 750 finished within the month. Guidance systems we simply lack and have no real way of manufacturing the complex algorithmic engines needed for tracking at speed. We need to find a system that makes advanced computer systems that can be adopted to our needs."
"Any idea of where we might obtain those."
"Quadi Dio, who now serves on Silvi's flag, says the place to find that kind of capability is Moschus. Its out on a knot line from Sargon at about three months. Return from Moschus to Wu is quite fast at eight days."
"What do we know of Moschus?"
"The EG has a good description and Quadi visited several times on trade missions. Seems Hypsistos, her home world, is not entirely rustic. They needed computer systems for management of their hydrodynamics and water systems. Quadi says if anyone has what we need for sale it is going to be Moschus." Emmitt paused a moment to consult his inter-tab. "Moschus is rather lightly populated in human terms but has an enormous droid population. Quadi says the Humans think they run the place, but in reality they have an AI that really runs the humans. Humans live in idyllic rural enclaves or villages and droids do all the work. The planet is temperate and the life style simple but elegant. At least Quadi says so. Moschus has a remnant of the old Epigoni Republic technology and they still have the ability to manufacture orbital stations and starships. But their designs are very old and simply obsolete in our age. Structurally their builds are solid, but outclassed by developments in the last three thousand years."
"Are humans involved in the building of stations?"
"No. Its all droids and AI. The humans don't like to venture into space it seems to disturb their appreciation of the finer things of life. Or at least that's what Quadi says."
Abel stood and walked to the window of his first floor office. Construction was underway for increased classroom space and a new wing to the student barracks. Students from Wu numbered over 200 with another 80 expected in weeks. In addition 10 students had arrived via Wu from New Carthago to study agronomy and food science. The Conclave of Bizon has requested training in civil engineering for another dozen or so students. With alliances came obligations and one of those was to provide Collegium education to those who needed it.
"Emmitt as I see it we have more pressing objectives than we have resources. But let me lay them out for discussion. First, we need to support New Horizons in some way. Second, we need intelligence on Megra from Dong Son. Third, we must hold Wu and its' knot lines to our other allies. Then we need munitions and for that we need trade with those who make the elements we require. Also we need to protect Jamon because eventually the Megra will discover where we are and that we are the source of their misery. Assuming those aliens understand misery."
Abel talked off the top of his head about both strategic and tactical needs pressing in on the Commonwealth Alliance and the war with Megra. Emmitt let him talk without interruption but carefully paid attention to his ideas. However Emmitt was separating Abel's points into those that were strategic and those that were tactical. There was a big difference.
"Emmitt you have been very quiet. I'd like to hear your thoughts."
"Well strategically we need to hit Megra hard and on the offense. This fighting on their terms and in battle locations of their choosing may well doom our efforts. As long as they think they are safe they will send resources into human space to wage war. If we hit them in an offensive action, in their home systems, wherever they are, they may well pull back resources to defend their home. As it is today they have a free hand."
Abel nodded his head and Emmitt continued.
"Now to hit them on offense we need intelligence. How many ships do they have? Is Dong Son their only entry point to human space? Where is their home world? Can we even get there and back if we attack them? These are all tactical issues that we must resolve before we can initiate any real strategic defense of human space."
"What do we do about New Horizons?"
Emmitt thought a moment. "In one sense I wish they had not shown up, but they are here and we can hardly refuse them some help. I would propose we show the flag at New Horizons. I am fearful that we might commit sufficient resources to take on 9 Megra dumbbell ships. Doing so risks stripping Wu of her defensive fleet and exposing our system. I think we might send one destructor and a SAR to assist New Horizons and gather more intelligence. Then again we might send a task force on a raid to New Horizons, hit them hard, take out a few ships, and then skedaddle. That might get the Megra to reduce their efforts in New Horizons. Then again we might loose ships and perhaps the soul of our navy. On the other hand if they have more ships they might just increase the attack on New Horizons. In either event if something is not done soon New Horizons will clearly be lost."
Emmitt was about to continue but there was a knock on Abel's door. Bennet Nolo opened the door and there stood Dilli Ketill looking very dishevelled and very nervous.
Abel stood, "Dilli please come in. It's so good that you are here. Isn't that so Emmitt?"
Emmitt stood and smiled and made a motion for Dilli to sit at Abel's desk. "Dilli, would you like some tea?" The many tea stains on Dilli's frequently unwashed shirt revealed the answer.
"Please Sir. Sugar no. Tea just."
Abel has not spoken to Dilli in months although he had seen Dilli crossing the Collegium courtyard on many occasions hustling to his many teaching assignments in the Department of Astrogation. Dilli was little changed from the interview Abel had had with him three years ago, but he did seem a bit more self assured, even if still lacking social graces.
Emmitt brought a pot of hot water, a tea caddy, and three cups to the desk. As Emmitt sprinkled tea leaves into the pot Abel looked carefully at Dilli. Abel knew if he did not start the conversation they may well sit there for an hour before Dilli gathered up the courage to speak.
"Dilli, what brings you to visit us. And how is your sister doing since her return from the stars?"
Abel found Dilli's eyes focused out the window behind him. The usual Dilli, Abel thought.
Dilli wriggled about in his chair a moment and then straightened up and looked directly at Abel. "It's Nomi' idea."
Normally Abel would wait for the conversation to continue but with Dilli you had to pull his words from him.
"Ah, so Nomi has an idea?"
"Yes." Dilli responded.
"Can you explain her idea?"
"No."
"No you can't explain, or no, you won't explain?" asked Abel knowing not to take offense at Dilli who was famous for direct honesty.
"No. I can't explain. I hardly understand. Too theoretical."
"Ah, so you can't explain because its complex and I lack the maths or background to understand?"
"Yes."
Abel drew a breath. "But you have some understanding don't you Dilli?"
"Yes. Almost."
"Ok Dilli. Please think hard. Tell me Nomi's idea in as simple terms as your can. Think of Emmitt and myself
as children. How would you describe Nomi's idea to a small child?"
Abel could see Dilli thinking very hard. Two minutes went by and Dilli said nothing. He was looking out the window again but then he stared directly at Abel.
"Bomb."
Abel was surprised. "Bomb?" he asked,
Dilli replied, "Yes. Gravity Bomb."
...
Wu System - SAR Eir - Year 3247. October 4 ET: 15:01
Eir entered Wu after the short 11 day flight from Cranmore. Captain Marx on Sigrún had relieved her of picket duty and Fanny Menendez was anxious to deliver her report and let everyone know that both Eir and Sigrún were still intact. Fanny knew that Toni Hamilton and Silvi would be most interested in a detailed description of the incident at Cranmore.
Shortly after docking at Wu station Silvi and Helen began a review of Eir's actions. Farn had decided not to attend because she was concerned that too many ranking officers in the room might prevent Fanny from speaking freely and she knew that there was some question about Fanny's decision not to run on first sight of the Megra. Although as Farn thought about it she knew that she would have done exactly the same thing. Orders were to be followed to the letter, unless they were not to be followed by exigencies.
The review ended at 21:37 and everyone was exhausted. Helen had been brutal about not following orders, and Fanny had defended herself as best she could, but in her heart she knew that what she had done in covering the escape of De Magnete was correct. Silvi had questioned Fanny's battle tactics within the Cranmore system and then again about her set up for a back door attack at Girots should the Dumbbell ship enter. As the review ended Fanny knew she was going to be stripped of her Captain's rank.
"Thank you Captain Menendez." Said Helen. "You did well and you have made us proud."
Fanny was stunned.
"Yes Captain Menendez," said Silvi. "I would have done the same thing myself. Now we have extremely valuable information about the Megra and I cannot thank you enough for enabling the De Magnete to escape and provide the intelligence."
