The Far Field: A Military Science Fiction Epic (Seedlings Book 1)

by Richard Sosa

  Iris agreed. “They are, but that doesn’t make them less valuable. Just don’t ever take one into your house, like a pet, it’ll never leave.”

  “Dask get over it. We have the plan with their help,” Megs chided.

  “I think we’re ready to share the plan with everyone. I have all my teams on COM and the geeks will get this out to everyone, they will also help one on one if the pilots get stuck on any part of the training protocol.” Rik said.

  Dask gathered his handwritten notes and said to Iris. “Can you record please?”

  Iris pulled Rik’s recorder and turned on the COM and pointed it at Dask. Dask peered directly into the recorder. “Listen up people. This is the defense plan. Further details for each area are with your field commanders, unit commanders, or neighborhood centers so check in on the link. We will be dividing the forces into the following groups, exosphere attack, chase and engage from space to the planet atmosphere, and Aoife ground defense,” Dask shuffled his papers and looked at the second page for a long time. Everyone watched Dask manage physical paper, unfamiliar to most people on the planet, then he continued, “Our ground forces are stationary and mobile with platform cannon and mobile infantry units. Everybody, beginning immediately, this is your check time to get into position. All pilots, there are three waves to meet them in deep space. We think they will ignore our satellite and communication technology. The first six Wings of Raptor fighters will take the battle to them. If they don’t succeed in space, we’ll know early whether we are going to be able to put up a fight that is worth a damn. Good hunting people, Dask out.”

  He indicated he was ready, and she turned the recorder away from the General and said. “General, your image and words will be saved forever in Rik’s cloud storage.”

  Meg stood while Iris recorded her. Megs read her notes carefully. “According to Rik’s historical details the enemy will start with the large populations first and we expect invasions here in EppDaRaa, Sanbrana, and Trec as their first targets. We must slow them down significantly and maybe hurt them, so they can’t finish the job elsewhere where resources are limited or strategically difficult to deploy. We moved supplies, scientific and military support into areas less populated as reserves. All medical and science teams are assigned to a marine unit, you are expected to pull your weight. She indicated to turn off the recorder. Iris turned the recorder on Rik and signaled to him.

  Rik cleared his throat, “The Orbs will move over the ground to level the surface. Let’s use the correct terminology from Lares, the ‘Orbs’ are called the Capital Ships. They contain all the elements to harrow. They plow in one direction far outside the city and others plow in the opposite direction to surround the city. The droid machines move through the center and disrupt defenses to ultimately surround their prey. We will draw the droids in and destroy them. The plowing levels the surface and terminates at major water connections cutting off human-made connectors like roadways. They have a set routine when they harrow and they’re not expecting any real fight. Our defense rings are going to make them think this was just another easy job.”

  Dask asked Rik. “How's our timing?”

  “If this damn thing is working,” he pointed at his locator unit, “close. They’re in our planetary solars system somewhere.”

  “O.K., we’ll run the final tests and start the training. Push the retrofitting schedule hard for the Flyers. The modified warning technology in the outposts is up and running since last night. I hope it all works,” Karl said.

  Megs pointed at Karl, “Karl, get those damn new rockets to work in space,” then she smiled at him.

  Rik sideways glanced at Meg. “This is a team effort, it’s not on one person. We need to make sure they don't get through to Aoife and land, if they land then it's over for us.”

  “I borrowed and modified locator technology that Iris stole from spaceman here and built a functional beacon application. This is going to help us track the inflight of the Orbs through our atmosphere,” Megs said as she reached into a production crate and held up the prototype, “this beacon will attach itself to the invading ship. It sends a signal that allows us to sight in our Flyer and cannon firepower toward it. But we don’t know if this thing can withstand atmospheric re-entry,” Megs met everyone’s eye, “my team still needs to test. If we get the time, we can fine-tune the lead controls.”

  “How does this work?” Rik asked.

  Meg looked over to Dask and he kicked at a bolt on the floor sending it sliding to the corner. “This isn’t ideal. We are going to place clusters groups in a cannon and shoot them at the incoming Orbs. The cluster explodes and disburses the beacons.”

  Rik was unsure. “What happens if they attach to Flyers.”

  “My people are such good shots, don’t worry about it,” Iris quickly added unconcerned.

  “What?”

  Dask held up his hand. “She’s messing with you. We will shoot a lot of these into the air and there’s no guarantee. If they attach to a Flyer the beacon signal should shut down. We’ve tested that.”

  Iris added, “The 7’s can lock on to the active signal and bring the Orbs, I mean the Capital Ships, down high up or even as they came out of space,” Iris turned to Dask, “Sir if the CS’s get to the ground permission to breach their ship and engage them.”

  Karl looked up. “No, that’s a damn bad idea. Why the hell are you people fixated on that idea? You need to attack the CS’s in space. We have untested rockets, but we believe this material can penetrate the CS shell if they get into our atmosphere. Right now, the rockets with this technology will only work with atmosphere propellant so it’s a surface defense only. I think we can mount them on Flyers and wait for the CS’s to be on the ground. No need to use ground forces.” Karl glanced at Iris.

  Rabid walked over to the group holding a thick steel-like circular rod. “This is the enhanced metal compound. It’s called Beleck Five Eight Nine and this material is the piercing compound that we think will penetrate the attacker's shell. It took an entire team of students from the community college shop to forge this thing. Once we got the compound and blast ratios perfected, we put this into production last night. We can form it with a led metal to set the point and this bastard will open the route through the shell surface and an explosive charge will finish things once it penetrates. The explosive has the G-987 Compound, like this metal. This should ensure we can hand them their asses before the day is out.”

  Dask grabbed the rod from Ra and inspected it and balanced the weight in his arms. “You made an armor-piercing projectile?” He looked at Ra with a new level of respect.

  Rabid smiled at the material like a proud father. “Until we develop this weapon for space, this is only a heavy surface side weapon that we have along with cannons and tanks. Karl and I need more time to design something that will work in space. We figured on dirt side this is the led material and once I put an explosive in it and then put this bad boy on a solid-fuel rocket, it’s going to jack ‘em’ up.” He grabbed the rod back out of Dask hands appreciating the weight and pointed it like an arrow, “This should do a number on the ones that land. I think I can put a 75 Ten Erip-lite explosive on this thing, and it will blow the CS apart from the inside. The new compound burns a thousand times hotter than magnesium.”

  “Wait. And kill every soldier within shock wave distance? Define this weapon’s utilization and deployment before we go out there throwing it everywhere,” Megs cautioned.

  “Sad to say this Doctor, but if the CS’s are on the ground and if they have their ground forces deployed then you will have very limited time to deploy anything. I’d say have this thing ready and use it the first chance you can. Don’t allow them to deploy the machines,” Rik said, “use all your resources to kill these things fast. You won’t have a second chance.”

  Ra rubbed his chin and smiled kindly at Karl. “That’s the challenge, right old man? We are still working on this, so we won’t have time to test it. We don’t even know for sure if
it will work. I think the best delivery system is by air, on a Flyer.

  “I agree,” Dask added, “we may have technical issues with cannon mounts during a firefight. On a Flyer, we can move further afield with longer distances and not be tied to the terrain. I can get the Flyers to cover any pilot that has this weapon,”

  Dask turned to Rik. “Can we use the training routine to teach Flyers how to protect the Flyers deploying these weapons?”

  “Yes, we use the same configuration. The CS’s won’t expect anything different and we have the weapon hidden in the square. A Raptor can leave the square like we planned to fire the weapon or be a decoy. We can change it up.”

  Ra looked at the group. “Great plans but first Karl and I need to get this damn thing to work. It’s heavy maybe use a bigger Flyer. I am taking the usual engineers and we are working through the night.”

  Iris glared at Ra and then at Karl with disdain. “Ra, ask for double credits for the night work.”

  “Seriously,” Ra said, “if I don’t do this Dask will kill me.”

  Iris turned around and Dask who had a very stern expression. “That’s right,” he said, “I hate gamers,” he stared at Ra, “that goes double for you.” Then he smiled slightly. Iris was unsure and then smiled as well but looked cautiously over at Rik and raised her eyebrow.

  Karl glanced at Iris for a brief second. “We can get this rocket moving through with the rest of the production by the morning after mister Rabid gets the final product mathematically tested. We can’t test it here because of its explosive power,” he turned to Ra, “once you’re at stage four can you take your research off-site? Use the old hangar Forty-eight, it’s empty. I don’t want an accident taking out the rest of our research and weapons here. Take a coat its cold in there, son.” Both men nod to the group and they walk away in a deep discussion.

  “I think all this will work,” Dask spoke out loud to reassure himself, “but I don’t know.”

  “It has to. I still want to take the war to them in space,” Rik said and regarded the group in turn, “the Raptor Flyers can power through a re-entry at high speed and follow anything getting through to the surface. If we can light up those CS’s once they reach oxygen, it helps our chances,” Rik said and he thought for a second, the Raptors have rocket mounts, what’s the deal with that, he frowned.

  “The rockets deployed on the Flyer are hydrogen-powered, fitted for space, but they are carrying an active neutron payload. They don’t have the distance in space we hoped so you need to be close in to use them. We don’t have any data they will work against this enemy,” Dask said.

  “Gods, now I understand. Without the twisted light technology, you people were defenseless. That’s why the surface technology is further along. I get it,” Rik said while running his hand through his hair.

  Iris watched Ra and Karl walk away for a long moment and then reported an update from her IARI. “Dask, mobile ground forces and cannons are ready and now positions are staged, and we can take the ground fight anywhere. The other cities are set up as well. We'll hold them at any point they land,” she winked at Rik, “we know, we know, they can't land or else it’s all over we get it.”

  Rik frowned. “Clean up duty? I am beginning to think it’s—”

  “Infantry and cannons. It’s the best work on the damn planet because I get to blow the shit out of things.”

  Dask smirked. “You thought your girlfriend was going to be mopping floors, didn’t you? Cannons will take the fight out of them before they get here and then the 7’s will finish the fight. Citizens will go to bunkers deep underground for safety and there will be an early warning system in space. It's all come together. You did that Rik.”

  Megs chimed in while reading her devise, “Things are progressing now at a renewed pace. We just received confirmation that the early warning system is on-line and is now continuously scanning all grids. There are still lots of alignment and communication issues that need to be fixed but it’s ‘all systems go’. We don’t know if the telemetry data streaming in from our array will attract the attention of the enemy. Ra can speak to the technology platform stability it keeps blinking out. Ra is leading the team that will be stationed at outposts seven or eight. I am I reading that right?”

  Rik ran his hand through his air and caught himself, stop doing that, he thought, “No this isn’t just me. Everyone here made this happen.”

  Iris was immediately interested, “What? Wait. In space? No. Ra’s a Tech not military. You can’t ask him to do this.”

  “I said the same. I want him out of harm’s way. He’s too valuable to put in any dangerous situation. Karl agrees with me and when he finds out that Ra is leaving tonight, he’s going to have a meltdown. Just so you all know, the stupid kid volunteered. He said he wants to see his ‘baby’ through this. He said his programming needs his touch. I couldn’t dissuade him. I tried,” Dask said.

  “Please get him back here, order him, send me up there in his place. I can do what he does I know his work. Damn, I’ll drag his ass back here by his shitty ponytail. Rik, say something,” Iris pleaded.

  Rik responded. “We all have to do our part. He’s going to be fine. The CS’s will ignore any technology we have because they will assume, we don’t have anything worth a shit. That will be to our and his advantage. We’ll spring on them and hit them so hard they’ll not recover easily. They may even decide to pass us up. Besides he's going to be assigned a standby Flyer if he needs to get out of the situation. If the Orbs, try to destroy—”

  “You’re no help damn you. What do you mean ‘destroy’? Shit. I wish someone had told me this was happening. Ra is like my brother he’s the only real friend I have. The idea that he might be in danger in any way is just not acceptable to me.”

  Rik stepped in to say something, but Megs put her hand on his shoulder. “Iris, Ra is not a child and not ‘stupid,’” she looked over at Dask, “I understand your emotions. I have two sons, both pilots. I don’t even know what grid they will be at when the fighting gets started. The fact is we are all in danger now.”

  Karl walked fast toward the group anger crossed his face. “I just found out that Ra is leaving for the Orbital tonight. Why the hell didn’t anyone stop him? Gods, I am surrounded by incompetents,” he shook his head in disgust, “anyway, it's done but get him back as soon as possible. I don’t know if our platforms will remain stable and I need him here.”

  Everyone stared at him blankly. “You finally found someone you give a shit about? Why are you here? You need to stop attaching yourself to Ra’s coattails. Why don’t you get the hell out of here old man?” Iris said.

  Karl diverted his gaze from Iris. “This was my work also.”

  She glared at him. “You don’t care about Ra, he’s not your friend, so stop pretending like you give a damn because you’re incapable of giving a damn about anything. I’ve seen how you work. When this over you’ll be a rich old man and Ra will be dead. Everything you touch dies.”

  Karl ignored her and addressed everyone. “The pilot training server is working for now. I don't know how long so don't waste time. This program will be training your pilots on how to destroy the CS’s with our twisted light energy weapon. We need lead Flyers to pull everyone’s shot into theirs until the computer learns how to do it. I wish Rabid was here helping to keep the system running.”

  Iris continued to glare at Karl. Rik regarded both in turn and then said to all. “Make sure my pilots can follow and direct their canon's energy at the same single point. The training module shows them how to line up in orbit to maximize our advantage. They need to focus on navigation and follow each other.”

  Iris was surprised. “Your pilots, what’s that all about?”

  “He’s commissioned now. He had a rank in his army but now he can fly for us as well, so he has a temporary rank of Captain,” Dask added quickly.

  Iris changed her glare to Rik. “Do I need to salute you?”

  Rik quickly put up his hands in de
fense. “No. You don’t need to treat me any differently. It’s like a guest badge or a temporary parking permit. This is just a temporary situation until the invasion is over. It’s because I have the training protocol nothing more. Are you O.K. with that?”

  “I don’t care about your temporary parking permit, whatever the hell that is, don’t even think about being a jerk to me and start ordering me around. Gods, first Ra is hanging around with ass wipe Karl here and now you’re up Dask’s you know what and you get to be a Captain?”

  “Iris, nothing has changed,” Rik promised.

  Dask smiled to himself. “You two get sorted but not on my time. We need to jump on this work. Time is wasting,” he pointed to the wall monitor and said, “all the pilots must form and split up continuously in a combat scenario. That’s going to be difficult to execute in any situation let alone while being shot at. They will have to fly to assigned levels and then re-form. Attack repeatedly using this protocol and do it no matter how much return fire they face. We’re asking a lot of them.”

  “In addition to all these plans, once in space, the Flyers must fire on a single point from a lead discharge established by a Flyer passing under them, all the while moving at 238 plus grav-magons. If we can't do that then there’s no use being in space. I need our best pilots in the Raptors.” Rik said.

  Iris looked over at Dask. “Good thing you don’t have me up there right? So much rides on their success.”

  “Everyone will be ready. You’ll be ready this time,” Dask said as he tapped a small button tied to his thumb to activate his COM communication unit. “This is Lieutenant General Dask, all pilots are directly ordered to begin training protocol Practice, EF RIK Beta, immediately. You have twelve trems to come up to speed.”

  Karl walked away but said over his shoulder, “We don’t have much time.”

  Rik noticed Iris was watching Karl with open animosity, so he re-directed. “Iris, Karl and I modified an app for the pulse cannons to focus the energy in the same way as the weapons on the Flyers. This creates a signature beam that bounces instantly to pull the ground fire to the target. The beacons will help the lasers lock in on the CS’s and then the leading fire will pull all the other lasers to it. Fire control is important. If any ‘Orbs’ get through, you’ll have your hands full. ‘7’s’ are so important.”