by Tom Holloway
The Cyclone is a huge military starship, thirty-four billion tons in Earth’s gravity. It’s easy to see from a long way off. On Earth it’s normally in camouflage mode, using technology similar to very sophisticated chameleon stealth craft. No one can see it by sight or radar, nor by heat signature. It’s invisible, or almost. If we are in blue skies, it’s a sky-blue color. However, I still have to be careful at low altitudes, as it is now. With the sun above the ship, it will cast a large shadow on the surface, similar to a large cloud. It helps if it’s a cloudy day. I also have to be careful because the ground will sometimes rumble like a small earthquake. Sometimes concrete roads will crack, or many small splinters develop in concrete. It happens mostly when the Cyclone is below a five-hundred-foot elevation, due to the air displacement and the massive pressure from the weight of the ship; even though the antigravity buoyancy compensators float the ship, some massive pressure points are created.
If people on the ground could see the Cyclone, they would see a long, sleek spaceship, mostly a slender silver cylinder, with brilliant reflections in the sunlight, with a flat underside, a ship that is aerodynamically perfect with a long, slender nose. It is massive at 26,628 feet long, which is over five miles. The main hull is 10,766 feet wide, or a little over two miles, without the side wingspans. The sternly slanted wings spread out another 1,466 feet at the rear adding almost a half a mile to the width, 733 feet each side, port and starboard. The sleek back tailfin is 520 feet tall, on top the hull height of 4,460 feet, thus a total height of 4,980 feet, close to a mile. It has a wide flatness on the underside, with an additional 480-foot lip as a flat platform extending out from the body of the ship and circling around the entire bottom of the hull.
It has the overall look of a silver killer whale with a long, slender nose, although it would be a gigantic one. The exterior color of the ship is a bright-silver sheen, with a blinding polished brightness, enough to look like a mirror. However, sunlight rays cause massive sparkling in dazzling colors. It is always changing as it has no single color, more like a rainbow of colors with blues, yellows, greens, and reds, all depending on the angle of the sunlight’s reflection, and it blinds the viewer at moments, like a star in the galaxy.
As starships go, the Cyclone is extremely sleek, even more so with the wide, sharp, thin spade-spear at the front end, which is pointing forward and extends a long way out, a graduated 1,944-foot extension, adding to the overall length. This wide front nose is what makes it look long and sleek. The nose is just 3,266 feet wide, much more narrow than the ship’s main body as it is an additional 7,500 feet wider equaling a total width of 10,766 feet; it also has an extra 60-foot lip extension on each side.
The ship is shapely, as it is also much thinner in height in its front because of the long, pointed, slender nose. It adds additional sleekness because it is graduated forward, like a wide, thick nose. Like the Saber it will disintegrate anything it hits, even big things. Nothing will bend it. It is harder than any diamond, unbreakable. It is designed to shatter anything it hits. The total length is over five miles without the engine rocket thrusters. The very back of the ship, the stern, is more squared off, with twenty massive black funnel rockets protruding out another 2,592 feet, about half a mile. It is impossible to overlook, impressive to see, truly awesome when powered up, creating fire as hot as a star. The nuclear hydrogen fusion blasts out fire streams thousands of miles long.
The Cyclone is extraordinary, more than awe inspiring in comparison to anything in the known universe. It looks like it was built yesterday, yet it is very old, actually ancient; I’m not sure how old, maybe millions of years. When you’re immortal, time is not so critical. The ship has evolved over centuries, becoming better: stronger, smarter, and wiser. What more can be said about it? In simple terms it can do everything. It is the ultimate technology. It took many thousands of years to develop, made from materials from a hundred worlds. Its real name is an alien name, long and impossible for me to pronounce. I’ve renamed it Cyclone. It is a wonderful name, although Gabriel laughs when he hears me say it.
The Cyclone’s propulsion comes from three main energy sources. Using a combination of these driving forces, the starship propels itself forward in stages, creating an aggregate speed, building up to millions of miles per hour. The first thrust comes from a hot nuclear hydrogen fusion similar to the nuclear chemistry in the Earth’s sun, and then, adding to the acceleration, the second stage hits. The plasma burners kick on, thrusting forward with millions more horsepower, resulting in light speed. Finally, as the dark-matter or negative-gravity drives take over, the ship breaks through the speed-of-light barrier.
The starship then can travel many times faster than light, and at these top speeds it is bending space and time with dark or negative energy. This energy is plentiful in the universe although invisible, as no light escapes; it pulls in light, the gravity is so powerful, and thus it is black. The intensity is colossal. We use this, or we use the magnetic repulsive power force or the polar reverse of the massive forces of this gravity, changing the equilibrium, thus creating the massive power to distort or to bend the fabric of space. The strength of this black undulation forces a ripple, which opens a corridor for the starship to plunge through at unbelievable speed.
The negative energy comes from the fusion of antimatter particles. The atoms are so explosive; they actually create an infinite energy source, unlimited power. The same energy is used for both propulsion and weapons execution. A military ship using it can unleash a fury of punishment to offenders; even erase planets, all because of the effective use of this unlimited energy. In addition to using the universe’s gravity fields then combining with the repulsive nature of our negative magnetic polarization, we have extreme antigravity power capability.
For one use it gives the starship the flotation to counter gravity, for floating weightless above Earth or another planet. Also, when it is needed, the ship’s power beams will neutralize the force of gravity on other objects. Using it against enemy ground troops and equipment leaves them without gravity, making them helpless. They are weightless and eventually float off the planet. We can tow objects with it, too, easily pulling them to us. It also works to use this same drive energy for extreme weapons, as it can be a planet killer, causing a planet to implode into itself. At this point the extreme power of it is difficult to handle. Once it’s created you have to do something with it. If you let the tiger out of the cage, you have to be careful it doesn’t eat you. We use it carefully.
In addition, the most critical use is using the drive as an energy source; we have enough power to supply the Cyclone for centuries or maybe give a world a thousand times the population of Earth an energy supply without interruption, as in forever. I am always impressed when I give out these numbers. It amazes me!
In addition to propulsion and extreme weapons, we need a power source for all general weapons execution plus communication strength. The operation modules and the intelligence processors need large amounts of energy. This ship is the command fleet starship. It uses massive amounts of energy to send and receive many assortments of communications from all over the universe.
I am the captain of this ship, and I am also the supreme admiral in command of all the starship fleets. All are led by admirals I have picked. Most of them are my synthetic clones and are loyal to me—a natural-bred bonding, part of their DNA. Part of this command staff is on Titan I, our official military base of operations, where Gabriel keeps an office, as I do.
It is our operations command base. I am there only when I have to be, way too many meetings, and always issues and problems.
The fleets are composed of many kinds of starships. At the top of the list are the massive World Starship Titans. At least that’s what I call them. They are huge spheres several hundred miles in diameter. They have cities inside, everything you would need, yet are set up for military missions. They are the manufacturers and service industries used to supply the army and starships; many workers p
roduce everything needed by the fleets. They are also troop ships, with millions of soldiers, mostly my synthetic clones, and more weapons.
These ships are supported by starship cruisers I call Eagles, and there are many thousands of them spread throughout the universe. They are Cyclone size or bigger and equipped about the same. They are protected by Tiger Threes, which I also named; Three means it’s a third-generation fighter rocket. These Tiger Threes are like the Saber although not quite as fast or as heavily armed and smaller. Each Eagle cruiser carries three Tiger Threes in its hold.
I am proud of my ship, the Cyclone, as it does it all. One special feature of this ship is that it is alive in every sense of the word. It is a being; although it’s a nonorganic life form, it is a being with an identity. The Cyclone is really my life partner, as it thinks in parallel with me. It knows what I know, feels my emotions, processes information for me, lives a life with it’s own emotions, and has centuries of fond memories. It is more like an ancient beast with an old soul. I hear its many stories and have had many long philosophical conversations with it during long voyages. And, luckily for me, the Cyclone has intelligence way beyond me, actually thousands of times beyond me and beyond most of the beings we deal with in this universe. The Cyclone considers me an extension of itself, and I think the opposite: the Cyclone is an extension of me. We have a good laugh at our unique relationship.
To my surprise, according to the Cyclone, starship technology has been around for a long time, millions of years. The Cyclone is a military starship, thus it has no issues with funding; nothing was left out when it was created and rebuilt many times over the centuries, evolving over the years. It is priceless in Earth dollars. Maybe it could be built now for a million trillion US dollars. Talk about sticker shock!
Monetary values are used throughout the universe. The Consortium pays a stipend to be used off ship or as personal savings. My crew and I are paid salaries. The Consortium, however, unlike Earth, does not use currency or money. Units of value are used, established by the aggregate worth of all the wealth of the members of the Consortium. The use of this money is done with a cyber scorecard. Values change constantly, kind of like a stock exchange. There is no paper currency anywhere in the Consortium’s jurisdiction. Your bank account balance floats up and down, updated when the values are looked up at the time of the transaction. It is all done through a financial system tied to your unique brain-wave frequency. It is totally accurate, and fraud is impossible. Extractions of funds are immediate, as is investment tracking. When you make a purchase, it is charged to your individual brain frequency, like an account number. No two frequencies are alike. The Consortium’s financial centers process the transactions. Revenue is done the same way, just reversed. It works over most of the universe. I am blessed. I have as much as I need, more than I deserve.
The Cyclone, unfortunately, has all the issues of a living being that are caused by intellect and emotion: opinions, prejudices, principles, biases, philosophical thought processes, character strength, anger, personality, charm, love, jealousy, fear, loyalty, and a sense of purpose. It also has been my dear friend for many years. We are more than kindred spirits. We are linked mentally and psychologically, the ultimate team. We know each other more than well. The Cyclone has done much for me by teaching me, by guiding me, by advising me, and by helping me complete my missions. The Cyclone has saved my life many times during military ventures that went wrong. Unfortunately our lives have been lonely ones, yet the Cyclone has helped make it bearable. Our missions and purpose are one, and we have shared the losses and the victories.
Many more ships under my command are much larger and more advanced, yet the Cyclone is the most versatile vehicle, the ultimate law-enforcement tool, the killer of killers.
In this business it is difficult to take prisoners, difficult to house them, as space is limited on board. Death is kinder. Only when the offense is truly forgivable, and if it is reparable and we have means to do it, do we take prisoners. Once the law (called commandments) we enforce has been broken within our jurisdiction, after the proper identification and culpability of all parties are finalized, then there is a somewhat quick resolution. Sometimes the penalties require financial payments by a government. Other times individuals face rehab time. We also back up and help local world police units, as no civilization in the Consortium has a military army or military fleet. We provide those services and resolutions. Sometimes we punish the police groups that are in violation of Consortium laws.
Unfortunately there are penalties and some court sentences that end with tragic results. We cannot foresee all outcomes that might eventually take place. We try to be quick, efficient, and relentless to fix any issues. Many depend on us. Regrettably we sometimes do screw up, and I’m not sure I want to think about it, much less talk about our mistakes. The remorse causes too much pain. It is all for the price of free will, a common philosophy throughout the universe. Part of having intelligence is the desire to make your own fate on your life’s road. All beings feel it is their right to make their own choices, thus we have free will. We all need help, may God protect us, or “Calabra,” which means: “May the divine light embrace and guide you!”
Chapter 7
Drones
The best weapons are not the huge ones or large armies of troops or even the lethal Tiger fighter starships. It is the little ones you can’t see—they are tiny and the most dangerous. You never see them coming. They are the drones. These are the most effective tactical weapons in the universe, the most deadly weapons I carry. They are intelligent, very sophisticated, small or even tiny self-contained satellite robots. I have many millions of them, all kinds, designed to fit various missions. Our drone technology is much more advanced than Earth’s current technology or nanotechnology. The current use on Earth is minimal. Drones are part of everything in my world; they do everything. Some are very small, like molecules, and then there are bigger ones. Some are like basketballs, some may be as big as cars or the size of buildings. Many are shaped like little satellites or could be any shape that works for a specific purpose. Some are the size of human cells and can do surgery inside your body with no guidance or repair organic body parts, even change out parts, limbs, or destroy any disease, or maybe inject chemicals that heal or enhance performance.
Drones also do most of the physical repairs on the Cyclone, even equipment or wiring or internal parts of anything organic or nonorganic. The massive Titan starships are all built by thousands of huge skilled drones in outer space with no gravity. These ships being built are hundreds of miles long. They are the created by builder drones, belonging to a specific guild, owned by the drones.
Many drones can think independently, with a specific mission; or, as partners following specific directions from a host, sometimes on critical assigned missions. They can also become permanent microcomputer data processors hosted in the brains of beings, nurtured by the host. Or they can be just temporary ones, as for example, to help in teaching and translating languages. Some of these little drones are part synthetic and part organic, thus able to repair themselves with regeneration of cells like a living organism, using DNA codes. Others have limited lives, just one job, as do the military drones, used like missiles programmed for specific targets, a dead shot every time. These are the killer-type drones, similar to the ones I use, although mine are more advanced.
Yet, the drones I use most of the time I call my reconnaissance slips. They are very small satellites and can look like silver marbles used by kids. Each looks harmless. At smaller size, when camouflaged, they are almost invisible. They can shrink to be much smaller than the head of a pin. If needed, they can shrink down to the size of a big molecule, or the opposite—they can expand to the size of a football. Yet most of the time, they stay about the size of small diamonds or little round marbles. The permanent cell size drones are different, as created by other cell-sized drones, as in mostly cloning themselves. They are so small only similar drones can build them. All dr
ones belong to the Consortium Drone Manufactures Union; follow specific guidelines and rules, strictly enforced by the Consortium.
When in normal mode, a slip shines like a bright sparkling light, sort of like a flying ember from a campfire. It is quick, darting back and forth, always moving with intent and purpose. It is impossible to see when it shrinks to the size of a molecule, and then it is used as needed, depending on the mission. It can travel much faster than sound and goes anywhere it’s directed, even through concrete walls. It is very versatile. And the good news for me is that I have millions of them. The best part is I can carry and store millions of them in a very small space, not like troops that take huge resources to transport and maintain.
As these drones have small computers or artificial brains, as they have intelligence, of various capacities, depending on the level of independent thinking needed, and are skilled in reporting back to an operator, giving visual surveillance activity. They can repair their own wounds, as they regenerate like organic cells, working off their own genetic code. They can also be used as the ultimate computer virus, molecule-size robots going directly into a hard drive, without an outsource software download. They can infiltrate any software system anywhere and plant programs or viruses and are impossible to detect. They are almost physically indestructible.
The other slips I have are military, as they have weapon capability and can be used like missile drones when fitted for target destruction. They can also enter organic brains of any species like parasites and collect data (memories, experiences, deeds) or enter the bloodstream. They can mentally influence the host by probing or releasing chemicals into the brain in specific spots, allowing for some mind control on a limited basis. I also insert them into other beings for communication when language is a problem, as they will provide telepathic brain-to-brain thought transfer.
