Midshipman Henry Gallant in Space

by H. Peter Alesso

CHAPTER 5

  MOCK COMBAT

  The hours in a day were never enough. Each watch, report, and exam seemed like an organized disruption to Gallant’s desire for food and sleep. Each irreverent “Attention Midshipman Gallant” that blared over his head, called him away to some new obligation. A week after re-qualifying, Gallant joined the other midshipmen in an advanced flight training session conducted by Lieutenant Mather.

  Mather was going to review the ship’s computer systems in detail in preparation for a mock combat session. While many of the midshipmen were already up to date on the ship’s AI systems, it was an opportunity for Gallant to catch-up.

  Mather stood at the head of the compartment at a lectern facing several rows of chairs. He began describing the Repulse’s computer system, “It’s a marvel of Twenty-second Century technology. It provides three levels of operation for each and every important department on board including: navigation, engineering, weapons, environmental, and communications. The first level is the centralized Artificial Intelligence (AI) system. It performs what we call ‘strong-AI.’ Then, the second level includes system operations of individual departments with their own ‘weak-AI.’ They require more human interaction in order to coordinate systems. Finally, the last level is direct human manual control.”

  “Officers, this is the strong-AI system nicknamed GridScape.” A three dimensional humanoid holograph form appeared before Mather. “The avatar image is changeable,” he flipped through a few before settling on a base form. “I prefer this nondescript image for my lectures. GridScape is a wireless grid computer network consisting of over one million parallel central processors performing a billion-billion operations per second. It helps to control operations throughout the ship and its fighter support within a limited range. It coordinates overall control with our technically trained crew. Of course, it has redundant connectivity for reliability; both direct wiring, as well as wireless connections. GridScape is fully capable of independent automatic operation for most routine operations and many emergency responses that the ship may be required to perform.”

  Sandy Barrington stood up and asked, “What happens when there’s battle damage, sir?”

  “In the event the strong-AI system is damaged, the weak-AI computer systems take over local functional operation. Of course, every device can be switched to manual operation as required. Also, all crew members have their comm pins. They can connect to local resources that in turn can connect to the centralized AI,” said Mather.

  Neumann stood and asked, “How independent is the AI, sir?”

  “The goal of creating independent intelligent computers remains elusive. We have systems that can understand human language, solve problems, and navigate through space. However, intelligent robotics can never be totally relied upon. People still argue about whether it is possible for computers to think. Of course, our AI units ‘think’ in a limited fashion, but they can only function within their prescribed range. In my opinion, there is already a contest between the future development of AI and advances in genetic engineering.”

  He continued, “Of course, success may come easier for the genetically enhanced, but it’s not certain. The laws of chance still create accidents. Genetic engineering combines the best of your parents’ DNA while removing harmful genes. It means that we no longer fear inherited diseases. In addition, it can turn on helpful genes that promote neuron development and stimulation.”

  There were a few awkward glances toward Gallant, who was the odd man out in terms of genetic engineering.

  Mather returned to his topic, “Once targets are designated, AI can control Repulse’s main battery consisting of lasers and missiles, but our squadron of a dozen fighters flies independently for close-in support. Today, we will be conducting advanced fighter mock combat training to illustrate this point.”

  Mather paused for a moment, and then said, “Officers, in today's mock combat, you will be divided into a blue team defending Repulse from an attacking red team. Please note; your fighter may register simulated battle damage.”

  Mather provided assignments as Captain Caine slipped quietly into the back of the compartment and sat down. In the first mock combat exercise, pilots Gallant and Gregory were paired off as blue team against red team pilots, Neumann and Chui. Gallant and Neumann were selected as team leaders and the designated combat area was set, along with a time limit.

  Gallant’s conflicting emotions ran the gauntlet between confidence and anxiety, in confronting his first head-to-head competition with his shipmates.

  As the midshipmen boarded their two-man fighters, Kelsey Mitchel was assigned as Gallant’s astrogator. She went about her preflight checks professionally, hardly acknowledged him. He wasn’t sure if her presence made him even more nervous.

  One-by-one, the Eagle fighters were launched and they took their starting positions.

  Gallant pulled on his man-machine neuron interface headgear and began to concentrate. The dozens of silicon probes touched his skin at key points. They picked up the sensitive wave patterns emanating from his thoughts and used the onboard AI to process them. The AI would translate his thoughts into commands for flying the Eagle. The manual stick and physical control buttons were still present in the cockpit. They provided speed and thrust direction controls, but only as a backup. Thought control was faster.

  He felt a whole new world open up to him. He could visualize ship controls and equipment, as well as radar and optical scans that reached beyond his craft. As he spatially oriented himself, he ‘felt’ the controls for operating his fighter's propulsion and weapons. By merely visualizing the relative direction he wished to go, he could move his ship. In addition, he could interface with GridScape while he remained in the vicinity of Repulse. Also, he could mentally sense the emotional levels of his astrogator, Kelsey, and his teammate, Gregory. He felt a sense of relaxed confidence coming from both of them.

  He realized that a genetically enhanced midshipman like Neumann had an advantage over him. In past exercises on Mars, Gallant had been able to successfully interface with the neuron headgear, but he had not been able to maintain a high intensity of concentration for sustained periods. As a result, he would have to carefully pick his moments of maximum effort, relying on tactics that offered him brief moments of respite.

  Gallant looked out his Eagle's canopy at the void of space before him. There was a sense of peace that captured his imagination. Suddenly, he felt exhilarated, ready for the coming challenge.

  When all the ships were in the starting position, Mather signaled for the exercise to begin.

  To the surprised of all observers, Gallant started the exercise by ordering blue team to move at full speed away from the Repulse and away from red team. This maneuver allowed blue team to climb higher in the gravity well, giving Gallant a tactical ‘altitude’ advantage.

  Gallant could sense Gregory’s uncertainty about the maneuver, but he was sure that Neumann would let his ego cloud his better judgment and accept Gallant’s gambit.

  As Gallant anticipated, Neumann led red team in hot pursuit instead of directly attacking the exposed Repulse.

  By drawing the red team away of its primary target, Gallant hoped to gain both superior maneuvering position and more time for Repulse to move out of the designated combat area. On the other hand, Gallant's extra distance meant he could no longer coordinate fire support from the Repulse through GridScape. Also, if blue team was knocked out of action, Neumann would then have an unobstructed attack on Repulse. Clearly, Gallant's plan was a double-edged sword.

  A few minutes later, Gallant reversed blue team’s course and dove on the pursuers. He concentrated all his team’s firepower on red team’s propulsion plants. By the time he passed the enemy ships, red team had sustained significant damage to both their propulsion systems. It looked like his plan was paying off.

  Gallant felt a surge of excitement, “Blue team, bank hard left, and concentrate fire on lead fighter.”

  Gregory mimicked Galla
nt’s maneuvers, as the two of them darted at their opposition.

  Neumann maneuvered his ship so adeptly that he avoided the worst of the laser blasts, and he was able to score numerous counterblows. Gallant was now forced to engage in a slugging match with his opponents who were clearly outstanding pilots.

  In the dogfight that followed, Neumann and Chui consistently outflew blue team. As the time limit approached, Gregory repeatedly tried to cover Gallant, but Gallant’s fighter was finally designated destroyed and Gregory’s crippled.

  Red team was finally able to turn and catch up with Repulse which had made a dash for the safety of the combat area boundaries.

  By the end of the time limit, Repulse was able to flee the combat area with relatively few laser hits amounting to minor damage.

  While the contest was close, the loss of Gallant’s fighter tipped the scales to a red team victory.

  After the training team returned, Captain Caine’s only comment was “Most surprising, Mr. Gallant.”