Caleb says, "Commander White, don’t bring that ship into the hangar bay. Bring it off ten thousand meters to port, then stop, and go E.V.A. I want you to try and see, or feel if there is something on your ship." Damn it must be a minefield, I was afraid of this.
Jackson concerned says, "I’ll go take Templar out, and bring him back."
Caleb says, "Keep a good distance from his ship just in case there are other mines following in tow."
White opens the cockpit and uses his suit thrusters to push himself back to Cavalier.
He grabs the wing, and begins looking around the ship, as he pulls himself around, he cannot see anything. He starts to feel around where he heard the noise, and his hand, then vanishes into a cloaking field. He pulls it back, and then pushes himself back to the cockpit.
White calls out, "I have something attached to the base of my ship, and it is cloaked."
Caleb says, "White put the ship on remote control, and use your suit's thrusters to get as far away from Cavalier as you can."
Caleb turns to Bach, asking, "Any ideas why that mine didn’t detonate?"
Bach replies, "From what I can conclude the mine must be programmed to detonate when it comes into contact with a much larger object. Perhaps it is set to act like a Trojan horse, similar to your Earth's ancient mythology."
Paladin says, "This is plausible, the T-Challa used a similar tactic when they have faced other races."
Jackson is listening in on the com in Templar, as he heads towards White he asks, "If we detonate Cavalier will the explosion cause the mine to explode too?"
Paladin replies, "Yes, Colonel, they use very unstable antimatter containment systems."
White calls out on his com, asking, "Colonel, I’m approaching you at your four o’clock, can you see me?"
Jackson replies, "I have you on my sensors Reggie. I’ll move Templar towards you and open the transport pods doors."
White reaches Templar, and then enters through the pod doors.
"I’m in sir.” White says.
Cooley, shocked, says, "Admiral, I’m picking up a T-Challa transmission from Cavalier."
Caleb looks over surprised and says, "Jam it now."
Bach levitates over to Cooley’s station, and looks at the transmission says, "It appears to be a data stream. They must be sending back data on your technology."
Cooley says, "I am not sure how much information got out before I jammed it."
Paladin replies, "Doubtful that any relevant information could have been transmitted in the time before you jammed its transmission. However, I was able to access the mines central processor as it began transmitting. They are indeed programmed to do as Bach suggested. Attach to smaller ships until brought into close proximity to a larger ship, or fleet."
Caleb says, "Paladin, cloak Cavalier and keep her ten thousand kilometers off our port side." Gonna have to improvise.
Caleb continues, "Klaus, turn us about and head towards the pursuing ships."
Paladin announces, "Colonel Jackson has landed. Cavalier is now cloaked and maintaining distance as ordered."
Later in the day, Bach and the command staff meet in Caleb’s ready room.
Caleb starts off, saying, "I’m going to use our last trick to get us through this minefield. My plan is to use Cavalier as a cloaked torpedo, and destroy one of those Dreadnoughts. Then we use the explosion to appear that we ourselves have been destroyed, by cloaking during the detonation. Hopefully, and with a lot of luck, we can sneak through the minefield, directly behind the T-Challa fleet."
Jackson sits back in his chair and says, "That’s a pretty risky move. We'll have to get in pretty close to those ships, and they could just blast us to bits before we get in that close."
Caleb responds, "We will draw one of them out. We’ll use the jammer to entice one of them using the one word that will cause them to go into a rage."
Cooley says, "Gantu’am."
Caleb smiling says, "Yes, but I want you to focus it on one of the Dreadnoughts while jamming the rest."
Cooley asks, "I think I can do that Admiral, but may I have Professor Onatof help me adjust the device? We are out of range of jamming their communications as of now. All I can do is jam the mine attached to Cavalier from transmitting."
"Of course my child.” Onatof replies, "I will help you, I have been getting schooled by our Mr. Bach here. It would be nice to be able to do something without the lecture."
Bach confused states, "Professor Onatof, you asked for my help."
"Yes Mr. Bach," Onatof replies, "It is my way to beat myself for my own humility. I mean no disrespect."
Bach says, "I find your race very odd, but extremely amusing."
Onatof announces, "Mr. Bach has helped me create personnel cloaking devices. They should be operational within a week."
Jackson curious, asks, "How do they work?"
Bach responds, "They operate on a belt device. They will shield the user from all forms of cybernetic and visual senses, anything except for a direct sensor scan and of course physical contact. However, we can only keep them powered for a few hours. I’m hoping we can adjust them to last for at least twenty-four hours."
Caleb curious, asks, "How many of these devices do you have now?" This has possibilities.
Onatof replies, "Five prototypes so far."
Caleb stands up, and asks, "Bach, can you look at the shields with Val. I currently have him trying to increase their power."
Bach says, "Val has spoken to me already and I have given him all the knowledge I have on the shields of this ship. I will see what I can do to help him further."
Val reluctantly says, "I have found a way to increase the shield's power. I am having trouble getting the emitters to handle the power surge, and maintaining that power for any significant time as well. Also Cale, we won’t be able to power the weapons at the same time when we boost the shields."
Jackson asks, "Kitanna, how long until we are in weapons range of the incoming fleet, and did you get the data on that big ship yet?"
Kitanna replies, "We will be in weapons range in thirty-nine hours, and regarding the ship. Paladin has classified it as a Super Dreadnought."
Jackson, concerned, asks, "Paladin what can you tell us about it."
Paladin responds, showing a holoimage of the incoming Super Dreadnought, explaining, "It is massive in size, it has more than enough firepower to obliterate us. However, it is very slow, and its shields are no more powerful than regular Dreadnoughts. My scans show that it’s extremely underpowered."
Dr. Qui Shi arrives late, with Carla in tow. She sits down very tired.
Qui Shi annoyed, says, "Sorry for being late. Your daughter is very difficult as of lately."
Caleb looks at his daughter with a stern glance. Carla looks up and then tilts her head down. She walks slowly to her room.
Caleb says, "I’m sorry Doctor, it will not happen again. She will respect your authority as if it was my own.” She is able to shield her thoughts from me. Even better than before, and soon I will not be able to scan her mind at all. Not without her permission
Qui Shi annoyed, says, "Caleb, she is a small child and her fourth birthday is only a week away. She has no one to play with, and the changes to her body and her psyche are just starting to develop. I can’t imagine what she is feeling."
Caleb replies, "Doctor trust me, I know, I can hear my daughter’s thoughts every moment of every hour. I’m trying my best to deal with her needs."
Bach asks, "I can help if you want Caleb, I find your daughter very amusing. Her thoughts are very pure."
Caleb smiles and says, "Bach, she thinks you’re a beach ball. I’m afraid she might throw you around the ship."
Bach replies, "I’m quite capable of protecting myself from your daughter."
Shi Reies laughs, "The Little Flower is already showing her strength. She was able to knock me over just the other day."
Bach says, "Her transformation is happening more natural than
your own Caleb. As she grows older, she will become stronger than any human, even you."
Jackson says, "This is all great, and everything, and I’m sure we all feel undefeatable now with all our victories, but I think we should focus on these incoming T-Challa ships?"
Caleb snickers answering, "You're right Colonel, what would you like to add?"
Jackson inquiries, "We have less than two days, until we are in combat range, and in that time those ships will drop from hyperspace four times for a period of four to five minutes. Is that correct?"
"Yes.” Caleb answers, with a puzzled look.
"How long do you plan on sneaking behind one of their ships?” Jackson asks,
Caleb replies, "Just through the minefield Jacks, why do you have another idea?” Ok Jackson, what’s on your mind?
Jackson stands up and asks, "Anders how big is the two hundred megaton warhead secured on an anti-grav pad?"
Anders thinks for a moment, then says, "The combination of both is about four square meters."
Jackson then directs his question to Onatof, "Professor how big an area can those personnel cloak devices cover?"
Bach interrupts, "Colonel, I know where you’re heading with this, and I find your plan extremely disturbing."
Onatof answers, "You would need two of those cloaking devices to conceal it Colonel."
Caleb, realizing the Colonels plan, asks, "Bach, how long until you can increase the power duration of the personnel cloaking devices?"
Bach answers, "I feel I should discontinue my help in this endeavor. I cannot be part of such violence."
Onatof says, "I’m quite confident that I can complete the power modification to last for some seventy-two hours in the next five to six days, with or without, Mister Bach’s help."
Caleb looks to Bach and says privately to him, "Bach, I know your races philosophy better than anyone in this room save you, but the T-Challa don’t share that way of your life. You created Paladin knowing the only option for Paladin to protect other civilizations from the T-Challa was for Paladin to use violence. You couldn’t bring yourself to complete it, so you sent Paladin to your home world, where your friend Enoch did finish it, and was banished for modifying Paladin to be used as a weapon of war."
Bach annoyed, asks, "You have a point in that statement?"
Caleb answers, "Indirectly, or directly, you are part of the cycle of violence. You have done so knowing the possibilities, and I think you as well as your civilization, have allowed all of this to occur to try and right a mistake. A mistake they made by unleashing the T-Challa on the universe."
Bach replies, "Don’t assume to understand my thinking, or that of my race Caleb. You have no idea the pain my race has suffered watching the T-Challa’s devastating march across this galaxy."
Caleb answers, "You’re wrong. You put that thinking into Paladin, and Paladin is part of me. It is why we’re trying to save your civilization."
Bach says, "What my race feels can’t be explained in human terms.” Bach pauses, saying, "I will help keep your people alive Caleb, but I will not actively participate in causing the death of another, including a T-Challa."
Caleb looks to Klaus, and says, "You’re going to have some very intense flying to do in the next few weeks."
Klaus stands up and says, "I welcome the challenge Admiral."
The meeting adjourns and Caleb goes to his daughter, as he holds her high up in his arms.
Qui Shi stays by the lift, watching while the rest leave. She turns to Caleb and states, "Caleb, she still will not speak."
"No Doctor, she does speak, but only to me.” Caleb answers Qui Shi. He thinks to himself. Nevertheless, even she won’t tell me why she will not speak aloud.
Qui Shi asks, "Why will she not speak to anyone else?"
Caleb perplexed replies, "She will not tell me why Doctor, I can tell you that she has been able to block my ability from time to time to communicate with her, more so every day as she continues to become more connected with her symbiot, regardless of why it’s happening. She is better than she was."
Caleb goes to his room with Carla, as Qui Shi watches shaking her head. She stares wondering to herself, if Caleb really understands the choice, he has made for his daughter. If he is truly aware of the weight, he has placed on her.
The following day, Caleb meets with Val, and Bach, in the engine room, with Carla in tow.
"Hello Cale, hello Little Flower.” Val says,
Carla then takes her Uncles hand and touches it to her forehead, a symbol of respect to her Uncle.
Caleb smiles, asking, "What news, have you with the shield modifications."
Bach replies, "We have come up with a pulse system so not to overload the shield emitter system. Unfortunately, Paladin can’t maintain the shields and keep power to the weapons. Not even power to the torpedo loaders."
Caleb smirks sarcastically, saying, "If you could cry about it Bach I’m sure you would."
Bach answers, "I understand that is meant as humor Caleb, but if I could find another way I would. There just isn’t enough power to do both."
Val states, “We can still fire torpedoes previously charged, but we can’t reload, or charge additional torpedoes.
Caleb smiles, and begins to walk away when Val states, “Cale, I solved the problem with the mobile cloaking belts."
"Really, how did you do that?” Caleb asks,
Val replies, "I used a portable power cells, which each belt can carry six lasting three hours each, and they can be recharged quickly. However, they have to be swapped out, which gives a moment of possible detection."
Caleb asks, "Well, that doesn’t help keep the nuke cloaked Val?"
Val humbly replies, "I fixed that too, I hooked those two cloaking devices directly to the anti-grav pads power source. That will keep it powered for ninety-two hours."
"Onatof must be pleased.” Caleb states.
Val smiles, stating, "No Cale, not really, he was rather annoyed that I figured it out first."
Bach says, "Onatof is incredibly brilliant for a human, but I believe he thinks too hard."
Caleb content leaves floating for a few moments with his daughter, and then goes back to walking up the gangway, back towards the Bridge.
Bach asks, "Val, you seem to be very brilliant in your own right, yet you seem very doubtful of your own abilities. I try to shield private thoughts around you humans, but it is at times quite difficult, unfortunately when I transferred my knowledge to your mind on the power systems, I inadvertently picked up some of your thoughts on the shield modifications. You had most of the system already figured out. In your own right for a human that is great accomplishment."
Val humbly replies, "Cale has always said that about me too, I appreciate the compliment, thank you."
On the hangar deck, Shi Reies and Benton prepare to spar with a huge audience in attendance.
Shi Reies says, "My brother, I hope I don’t hurt you too much today."
"Ok big man, today I’m going to take you down like the little girl did last week.” Benton laughingly replies.
The two men wrestle each other around the deck, slamming each other to the deck. The crowd cheers wildly, creating so much noise that it catches Caleb’s attention.
He stops and turns, heading to the hangar deck where the crowd is so absorbed in the wrestling match that no one pays any attention to Caleb as he enters the bay.
White is screaming, "Come on Benton, I have a week’s salary bet on you!"
Cooley, giggles, "Easiest money I’ll ever get. Kick his butt Shi Reies!"
Carla, who is in her father’s arms looks up and sees Benton holding Shi Reies in a headlock, she screams a shriek so loud it is disorienting. She quickly jumps from her father’s arms, racing through the crowd to the match.
The crowd turns seeing Caleb, who is temporarily dazed by his daughter’s scream, so much so, he is barely able to react.
Carla runs out through the crowd, grabbing Benton’s hand and t
hrowing him to the deck some ten feet as if he was a mere rag doll.
Benton screams aloud, "WHOOA!” Benton goes soaring wildly through the air, landing hard across the hangar deck.
Shi Reies quickly grabs Carla, saying, "No, Little Flower, we were only playing, it’s ok. My goodness she is so fast that I barely saw her move."
Benton slowly rises, holding his arm, asking under his breath, "Damn that hurt. Where the hell did she come from?"
Caleb rushes to Benton and looks to him, saying, "Sorry Gabe, she shocked me when she screamed like that, as loud as it was in public, it was louder still in my head. Are you ok?"
Benton replies, "Yeah, I’ll be ok, I think my arm might be a little twisted though."
Caleb grabs Benton’s arm, and then both men glow blue for a moment.
"Nope, it was broken," Caleb, says. He is one tough Marine that was broken in three places. Carla needs to learn control of her powers.
Benton, now feeling great stands, saying, "Wow, you really need to put a bell on her. So we all know when to run and hide."
Shi Reies brings Carla over laughing hard.
Caleb looks at her angrily. Carla tucks her head down crying.
"Carla is sorry, Colonel Benton. She doesn’t understand her strength yet.” Caleb says,
Carla slowly walks to her father, and they leave the hangar deck.
Benton smiles and says, "Ok, ok, I know I’m going to never live this down."
"No my brother, I can assure you that you will not.” Shi Reies says. "And when I get the holoimage of this I will plaster its image all over the ship."
Benton replies, smiling, "We’ll finish this another time when your muscle is gone tough guy. Damn, I can’t believe I got my ass handed to me by a three-year-old. Well, a super powered three-year-old, I gotta have some excuse."
Cooley, laughing says, "She’ll be four in three days’ tough guy. Does that help your pride too?"
White, counting out his money to Cooley asks, "I don’t think that we should honor this bet, there was outside interference."
Cooley replies "Whine later, pay now."
Fourteen minutes later, Qui Shi intercepts Caleb and Carla in the gangway near med-bay.
The Ocoda Chronicles Book 1 Paladin Page 21
