Junkyard Dogs series Omnibus

by Phillip Nolte

  The two young women looked at one another and back at Kresge before shaking their heads.

  "Fine," said Kresge. "I'll need you to get started on this new project immediately. By the way, good work so far, both of you. Go on, get to it!"

  The two apprentice weapons engineers reported to Captain Nassar who handed them off to Lieutenant Commander Raghib, chief engineer for the Istanbul. Faiza knew the engineer fairly well but Amanda needed to be introduced. With Raghib leading, the trio went down into the inner workings of the ship. Using their cranial nets, they each maintained a constant interface with their wrist computers and with each other. They continuously compared the specifications of the Cairo against those of the Istanbul as they performed their inspection and discovered that there were a fair number of differences between the two ships, even though they had started out with identical templates.

  "The original design to route power to the forward 'A' and 'B' main battery turrets on this ship was to run one of the cables on the port side and the other one to starboard," said Raghib. He opened a hinged inspection cover to show the two young women a cable about a half meter in thickness that disappeared into the forward bulkhead of the section they were in.

  "I've looked this setup over hundreds of times" he continued. "The main power cables for the beam weapons are here, but I don't think the port side one is connected to anything. You know, of course, that the role of this ship was changed during construction."

  "Yes, they were almost finished building her when they decided to convert her into a diplomatic vessel," said Faiza. "It makes sense, by then it would have been way too much trouble to remove the cables, so they just left them in place. You say the port cable is not connected to anything. What about the starboard one?"

  "Ah now, that is a different kettle of fish," replied the engineer. "The starboard cable is connected to many, many different things.

  "This part of the setup looks a lot like the Cairo," said Amanda. "The schematic indicates that the power cables for the 'A' and 'B' turrets on the Cairo are about a half meter in thickness, just like this one. Can we look at the power plant itself to see what they did to the Istanbul that was different?"

  "By all means," replied Raghib. The trio proceeded aft through two large compartments, both of them packed with machinery, before stopping in the main power plant control room. At Raghib's request, one of the technicians opened a hatch that led rearward through the aft bulkhead of the control room. The trio went through the hatch into the engine room. A loud and deep-pitched hum filled the compartment. The group found themselves standing directly in front of the power plant. Amanda once again consulted her wrist computer schematics.

  "Near as I can tell, the port cable should be connected to the power plant right about here," said the young redhead, raising her voice so she could be heard over the noise and pointing to the area in question. A half-meter thick cable was routed rearward through the bulkhead but it was not connected to the power plant. Instead, the end of the cable was covered with a blunt-ended cap, neatly clamped in place. A similar-sized opening into the power plant, where the cable presumably was supposed to have connected, was covered with a flat plate that had been bolted in place. Across the chamber, which ran the entire width of the ship, an identical cable disappeared into the starboard side of the power plant.

  "I assume that the connections for the cable are behind that plate," said Raghib, nearly shouting as well. "The power plant was installed very early in the construction process and it would have taken a major re-engineering effort to remove those connections. We will not know for sure until we remove that cover but I would be almost certain that the connections are still in place and could be utilized if we wished to do so."

  "Commander Kresge was wondering about mounting some of the secondary weapons from a light cruiser on the Istanbul," said Amanda. "Do you know if any of the secondary cables are still in place?"

  "Definitely. If we go up a couple of decks, I can show you," said Raghib.

  On their way to the check on the secondary cables, the trio passed through an area that was used by the small Marine contingent that served on board the Istanbul. Several men in Meridian Imperial Marine uniforms were relaxing in the compartment.

  On one wall of the compartment was an enclosed booth about two meters long, two meters high and a meter deep, with a sloped, transparent front panel. Through the panel, Amanda could see that the booth contained six pulse rifles and an equal number of pulse pistols. The rifles were racked neatly, butt end of the stock downward, and the projector end pointing upwards. Between each rifle was a small cradle that held a pulse pistol tilted nose downward with the pistol grip pointed towards the observers. Each of the weapons was connected to a module in the booth by an electrical cable about a centimeter in diameter. The cable plugged into the bottom of the handle of each of the pistols and into a receptacle on the side of each of the rifles. "What's this," asked Amanda.

  "That is a weapons charging station," replied Raghib. "We have several of them on board."

  "Cool," said Amanda. "I always wondered how you got those hand weapons charged up."

  The three of them went up a couple of decks where Raghib opened another sealed hatch and showed them into a small storeroom. Overhead, running along the inward side of the ceiling of the small room, were four cables, each about ten centimeters in diameter.

  "Those are some of the secondary weapons cables up there," said Raghib. "But in this case, the engineers made full use of them. Power for many of the staterooms and kitchens associated with the passenger role of this ship are connected to these cables, as well as the Ambassador's special communications suite with the stage II Whitney communications console. The starboard main battery cable is connected to the big ballroom and the special kitchen it needs. I can't tell you how many other things onboard this ship would probably not function if we decided to divert power from any of these cables for weapons."

  "So, what are your thoughts on the feasibility of this project?" asked Amanda.

  "Well, I certainly think we can try to arm the ship but it looks like the builders made full use of the starboard side main battery power cable and those intended for the secondary weapons as well. It's almost as if you'll have to use the port side cable originally intended for the 'A' turret of the main battery if you want to use anything. Trying to make use of any of the other cables would mean a lot of refitting and a lot of inconvenience. Besides, I don't think we have the time."

  "We'll be sure to include that in our report to Commander Kresge and to my father," said Faiza. "Anything else you think we need to see?"

  "I think that's about it," replied the chief engineer.

  "Thank's Raghib," said Faiza. "You've been a great help."

  The engineer smiled and gave them a slight bow. "It's been a pleasure working with you," he replied.

  The two young women headed back to the bridge to report to Kresge.

  Chapter 40.

  Catskill-Soroyan star system, near the Piedmont asteroid mining facility, December 11, 2598.

  Strike Leader Sarkis, in command of two of the Sheik of Barsoom's destroyers and an additional four support vessels, paced the bridge of the Minotaur impatiently as his flagship docked near the Piedmont Mining Station. Sarkis and his destroyer group had fully expected to find that the invasion force that the Sheik had been forced to leave behind had taken over the remote mining colony and had met little resistance while doing so.

  After transfer to the station via the Minotaur's small cutter, the Strike Leader was ushered through several corridors towards the former Security command center of the facility. All around him was the aftermath of some hellacious fighting. There were burn marks on the walls and hatch doors hanging askew. The loyal troops of the abandoned force give him the group's special salute as he passed them but all of them seemed somewhat subdued. Finally the Strike Leader and his small entourage arrived in the command center. The acting leader of the abandoned force came to attention an
d greeted him as he came into the compartment.

  "Strike Leader Sarkis," said Corporal Tahan, the highest ranking of the terrorists that had managed to remain alive and uncaptured on the Piedmont Station, "Words cannot express how happy we are to see you! We have been confined to the airlock area of this confounded station for the last several days."

  Sarkis looked around. "Is this area secure?"

  "I think so, Strike Leader, as soon as your ships came into the system all of the security forces disappeared. I expect that they fear the weapons on your ships with good reason. We presume that they have retreated into the interior of the asteroid below. If that is so, they will be very difficult to find and all but impossible to root out."

  "It appears that these enemy soldiers put up a good resistance."

  "I respectfully point out that these were not soldiers, Strike Leader, but merely civilian security. As hard as these people fight, I would hate to go up against their soldiers!"

  "I had heard rumors of how formidable Spacers could be," said Sarkis.

  "They are true, Strike Leader."

  "Tell me more about the battle for this facility," said the Strike Leader.

  "The plan to, ah...liberate the Tunisian destroyer went well until some of her crew managed to scuttle the weapons. While we were boarding the station, there was a standoff between the destroyer and two of the mining ships. With the destroyer disarmed, the mining ships had no trouble driving her off. Then with no warning and no mercy they demonstrated the power of their mining lasers by destroying our other shuttle, killing everyone on board. These Spacers are ruthless, cold-hearted killers, Strike Leader!"

  "Easy, Tahan. Where are those ships now?"

  "The mining ships departed a couple of days ago along with a NITrans cargo ship but we do not know where they were headed."

  "So you and your men were stranded, what happened then?"

  "The security forces met us as we came through the airlock and they fought like demons. After the Sheik destroyed the communications suite, they locked the entire facility down and did everything they could to resist us. Then they began to pick our numbers off one by one. After Touma was captured, we decided to stay together and defend rather than try to continue our attack."

  "Is there anything of value here?"

  "I confess that I do not know," replied Tahan. "There is supposed to be a secure storeroom down inside the asteroid stocked with all sorts of treasures, if you believe the information we got. It was to be one of our objectives. We simply could not get anywhere near that storeroom; the station residents have total control of that area."

  "That is unfortunate, Tahan. How are they equipped for weapons?"

  "As you would expect, Strike Leader, they were not heavily armed but they seem to have enough pulse weapons so that each of the security people had at least one. I have no idea what awaits us down inside the asteroid."

  "Why would they have had such weapons here?"

  "I couldn't say, Strike Leader, but I am not surprised. These are a very warlike people. I think a better question is why they did not have more of them. I think perhaps we were fortunate to catch them by surprise but how can you know anything about these Spacers? They are the spawn of Satan!"

  "I was told your group had a portable assault cannon?" said the Strike Leader.

  "Yes, Strike Leader, we used it in the initial battle to gain a foothold on the station. We might still be in the cursed airlock itself if we hadn't used it. We had to use extreme caution because the weapon is powerful enough to punch holes in the outer walls of the station."

  "Thank you, Corporal," said Sarkis. "I think I am beginning to understand the situation here."

  The Strike Leader came to a decision just a few moments later. "We have wasted enough time on this worthless enterprise," he said. "Get your men rounded up. We are leaving immediately! This system is no longer suitable to be our master rendezvous point."

  "At once Strike Leader!" Tahan gave his leader a stiff salute and, unable to disguise the relief he felt, turned on his heel and left the room.

  Strike Leader Sarkis strode over to the view port and surveyed the motley assortment of mining craft and other battered machinery that the stranded group of invaders had inherited when they had finally been given possession of the station. His expression, reflected in the transparent material of the viewport, was troubled. Matters were going fairly well in most ways, he thought, though it nagged him that the fighting over this all but insignificant facility had been so costly and that several ships had escaped. The escapees could be a nuisance by warning other potential targets. He shrugged it off; things were going well enough. Nearly time to move on to the next phase of their plans. Unfortunately, according to the latest reports, that accursed Ambassador Saladin had escaped another attempt to capture or kill him.

  Information from their informant on board the Istanbul had allowed them to organize an attack on the Santana Nexus. No, they hadn't been able to get the confounded ambassador, yet, but the latest news from his informant had let Sarkis know where Saladin was likely to be for the near future: New Ceylon. The Strike Leader and the Sheik and ever growing forces would find him there. The Strike Leader's reflection smiled back at him grimly. This time the Ambassador would not escape!

  Chapter 41.

  Onboard UTFN Auxiliary Ship Greyhound, somewhere in the Heard's World star system, December 11, 2598.

  For the umpteenth time, F.C. Talbot inspected the capacitor system on the Bofors pulse beam weapons system that he and his companions had installed on the Greyhound. As he did so his brow furrowed in thought; there was something about the capacitor system, something basic, that was nagging at him though whatever it was remained tantalizingly just beyond his mental grasp. His fellow engineer, Angus Hawkins, was inspecting the other end of the capacitor stack. Hawkins looked to be every bit as frustrated.

  Their ship was in a dangerous situation and the beam weapons they had installed were sorely needed. Why they were having so much trouble with something as basic as getting the capacitor system for the weapon to charge up was baffling. Though the power demands were near the upper limits of what their powerplant could deliver, their calculations indicated that they should have adequate power to charge the capacitors. Alarmingly, however, their single attempt to charge the capacitor banks had succeeding in doing nothing but cutting power to the entire ship. If the crew hadn't responded in time, the emergency overrides, designed to protect the power systems of the ship, would have shut down main power completely. Indeed, the full shutdown sequence had actually been initiated. Another thirty seconds or so and they would have had to allow the power plant and several other key components to cool down completely before initiating a restart, a process that could have taken several hours. If they were, in fact, likely to face an enemy, they could not afford a similar occurrence.

  "Dr. Carlisle?" Hawkins called out to Carlisle, "Could you be comin' down with your schematics again, lass? We be needin' another look."

  Carlisle came down from the turret control room into the capacitor chamber on the lowest level of the beam weapon emplacement. Talbot joined her and Hawkins in the narrow space between the two capacitor banks. Dressed in a working coverall, Harris squeezed down into the lower confines of the turret as well. Carlisle brought up a holo schematic in the air between the entire group. They all scrutinized it intently yet again. Carlisle frowned in thought while she stared at the display.

  "Secondary battery...rapid capacitor recharge...major power demand..." she spoke out loud as she studied the schematic, "these were designed to be charged by the power plant of a heavy cruiser. Granted, we don't have that much power, yet our information indicates we should be able get these systems charged up with this power plant. What in the hell are we missing?" she asked.

  "Might there be some way to be reducin' the power demand?" asked Hawkins.

  "Reduce the power demand!" exclaimed Talbot, excitedly. "That's it Hawk! That's what I've been trying to figure out
. Here look at this," he said as he pointed out a detail on the schematic. "Each of these banks is actually made of four individual capacitor sub-modules. Our calculations are fine, but they're based on the power required to charge a single sub-module. Now that I look over the schematics again, the problem is obvious."

  "Whatever you've got, we'd like to hear it," said Harris.

  "Okay," Talbot began, "These Bofors units were one of the first variable-power beam weapons ever developed. The designers figured out that they could regulate the amount of energy in each pulse by altering the number of sub-modules they channeled in to power the individual pulses.

  "I think I'm following you, Frank," said Harris. "Correct me if I'm wrong, but for each weapon you could fire four pulses from single sub-modules or two more powerful pulses by combining the output of two modules. Or you could do three modules for a very strong pulse and one weaker pulse from the remaining module. Most powerful of all would be all four modules channeled at one time. Is that about right?"

  "Essentially, yes," replied Talbot. "Now, what if the computer for this emplacement reverted to the system default settings of the battlecruiser we removed it from when we powered it back up."

  "That makes sense," said Harris. "We never told it to do anything differently."

  "The donor ship would have been part of the group that engaged the Opposition battlecruisers," Talbot continued. "Against another battlecruiser, they would have almost certainly been operating these beam weapons at full power."

  "That means they would have been discharging all four capacitors for every pulse they fired," said Carlisle.

  "Exactly," said Talbot, "And, if that is indeed what happened, the computer will have reset to charge all four of these depleted sub-modules simultaneously, and would have attempted to do so for both weapons!"