Junkyard Dogs series Omnibus

by Phillip Nolte

  The Greyhound maneuvered her way into the Scrapyard some four hours later. The crew met with an overjoyed Kresge shortly after. The commander asked for and received a full accounting of all their activities. After relating a more detailed account of events in the Heard's World system, the Greyhound's crew was, in turn, briefed about the Istanbul arming project. The arrival of several additional qualified engineers, those recently returned with the Greyhound, meant that the work could be completed a little more quickly. Harris, Hawkins, Carlisle and Talbot were immediately put to work on the project.

  Later in the day, with all of the connections finally prepared, the ones on board the Istanbul and all of those out in the cloud of wrecked ships, the time had come to put the Scrapyard arming plan into action. The process of charging the various emplacements turned out to be far more tedious and time consuming than expected, as a great deal of precise and difficult maneuvering was required to get the big diplomatic ship into position close enough to connect to the various beam emplacements. "Close" being the operative word as a distance of less than fifty meters between the Istanbul and the wrecks of similar sized ships was required to make the weapons connections. This represented an operating distance between very large ships that was far closer than most of their personnel had ever attempted by several orders of magnitude. The Scrapyard workers, returned with the Greyhound, and their experience working with big ships at close quarters was most welcome.

  For the very delicate maneuvers required to align the Istanbul with the assortment of wrecks containing emplacements that were to be charged, the Scrapyard Defenders utilized the Rover I with Harris, their most experienced operator, at the controls. The Rover II, piloted by Carlisle, was put into service to handle the terminal end of the cable and to perform the even more delicate maneuvers necessary for making the final connections. The magnetic grapplers on the Rover II proved invaluable to this part of the charging operation. Once the charging cable had been connected, a small but knowledgeable crew was needed to man the weapons control console and monitor the progress of the charging procedure.

  The modern and somewhat underworked power plant of the Istanbul, originally intended for just such duty, had the potential to charge the capacitors for the main batteries on the old cruisers very quickly, a time normally measured in seconds. Because of the unknown and untested condition of the old emplacements and the makeshift connections, Kresge ordered the teams to proceed deliberately and carefully, to avoid overloading and damaging any of the ancient components on the various wrecks or, God forbid, on the Istanbul herself and potentially injuring some of their own personnel in the process.

  The Scrapyard defense team had rigged charging pigtails on six double-projector turrets representing the main batteries on five of the old cruisers. Because of all the ship and utility sled maneuvers required and the necessary safety protocols, the time required to make the connections and the time required to carefully charge the capacitor banks, the teams discovered that two to two-and-a-half hours were required to charge each of the gun emplacements.

  After they had finished with the emplacements on one of the chosen wrecks, the Istanbul herself needed to be repositioned, a procedure that required the utmost care due to the size of the diplomatic ship and the close confines of the Scrapyard. It was a little over a day before all of the emplacements they had picked out were charged and ready to fire. It was hard, demanding and tedious work, requiring some very delicate maneuvers involving a rather large ship.

  When they had finally charged up all of the chosen weapons, Talbot had the inspiration to suggest that they leave the Istanbul connected to the Ajax, the last of the cruiser wrecks that they would be charging guns on, and one that was located in a cluster of five other cruisers that looked like a perfect hiding place for the Istanbul. As the only Houston Class cruiser in the Scrapyard, the Ajax was among the most advanced designs in the entire Scrapyard inventory. The ship not only had the most powerful weapons of any of the cruisers available, she also had two functioning twin-mount main batteries, one fore and one aft, for a total of four guns. It had taken some extra time to rig a "Y" connector within the wreck so both emplacements could be charged simultaneously but, unlike the other emplacements they had charged up, these could be fired and recharged as long as the cable and the beam emplacements themselves remained intact. By tweaking the settings on the Istanbul's shields, they were able to extend her shield envelope enough to provide partial protection for both of the emplacements. The extra firepower gained by this arrangement was deemed to be well worth the time invested.

  The final placement that the defenders chose for the Istanbul, relative to the Ajax, had the added advantage of partially shielding the Istanbul with the Ajax, within a row of several other cruiser wrecks, thus providing a modicum of extra protection, at least from some firing angles. The other gun emplacements, scattered at various locations throughout the wreckage cloud, would only be capable of firing a single pulse per gun but that did give the defenders the capacity to fire eight single pulses from the remote emplacements and multiple pulses from the turrets that the Istanbul remained attached to.

  Due to the stationary nature of all of the ships with charged emplacements, there would only be a limited zone of fire available to any of the guns, so the defenders would either have to wait until the enemy wandered into the kill zone or figure out some way to lure them into it. The fact that none of the remote emplacements would be protected by powered shields meant that a single impact, even from the main battery of a destroyer, would likely be enough to neutralize any of the weapons that were hit. On the other hand, all of the weapons they had charged up were thought to be at least twice as powerful as anything that the enemy was known to possess. Each pulse fired had the potential to heavily stress the shields and possibly even cause major damage to any enemy ship they could manage to hit with it. While still far from an ideal situation, at least the Istanbul and the scrapyard defenders had the means to put up a fight.

  It was very much looking as though they would have to.

  Every bit as important, the Istanbul could still run if the situation turned really bad…

  Chapter 49.

  UTFN Reclamation Center, onboard Imperial Diplomatic ship Istanbul, December 13, 2598.

  Faiza and Amanda were excited to have Faiza's tutor/bodyguard back but would not allow that distraction to interfere with their normal course of study. They had left word with Shawndra that they wished to talk to Carlisle as soon as she became available. They had been studying quietly for several hours the following morning before Carlisle joined them in their chambers. As was the case since they had discovered the usefulness of the systems, both girls were wearing the cranial net accessory for their wrist computers. Using the cranial nets, they were able to communicate with each other without Carlisle being able to hear them.

  "She still looks kind of tired," said Faiza, over the net. "Do you think this is a bad time to tell her about our little secret?"

  "I don't know of anyone who is more interested in these wrist computers than she is," replied Amanda. "I think we should tell her as soon as we can."

  Carlisle sat down on the edge of one of the beds.

  "Doctor Carlisle?" asked Amanda. "Thank you for coming. Have you got a few minutes? We have something really important to show you."

  Carlisle lifted her head and stretched, drawing her shoulders back before executing an impressive yawn. "I wish I could just sleep the rest of the day." she said, "Can't be helped. What is it you want to show me?"

  "It's something new we found out about the wrist computers," said Amanda. "We thought you'd be interested. Have you tried out the cranial net that came with your new unit?"

  "No, I thought about it a few times but something always came up and I never actually got around to it."

  "Well...we were practicing with them just a few days ago and found out something totally unexpected. We'd like to show you, but first you'll need to put on the net and use it for a whil
e."

  "That shouldn't be a problem," said Carlisle, "I've got to review a bunch of background information before a meeting with the diplomats later this morning. It'll take at least a couple of hours. I suppose I'll need to put the net on?"

  Carlisle returned to her quarters, which were just a across the corridor, and retrieved the cranial net that had come with her new device. She was back within two minutes. The two younger women eagerly gathered around her and helped to get it properly fitted. Satisfied that net was properly adjusted, Faiza activated it by pressing the small flat disc at Carlisle's temple.

  "Now you need to work at the computer just like you would normally," said Faiza. "Just relax and don't think about it. Stay in here with us while you do your studying and let's talk again in an hour or so."

  Carlisle moved her head side to side and then rocked it backwards and forwards, experimenting with the fit. "This net is really comfortable. I felt a slight tingle when you first put it on me but then it went away. Is that normal?"

  "Yes, that's the same thing we felt," replied Faiza.

  The two younger women went back to work perusing ship architecture, which was one of the subjects they allotted at least two hours a day for study. Carlisle began going over her files on diplomatic matters again. Before long, in spite of the complexity of the material, she became totally engrossed and completely lost track of time. Faiza, a smile on her face, broke into Carlisle's reverie.

  "Tamara?"

  Carlisle mentally disengaged herself from the display she was studying. "Yes, what is it?"

  "You need to think about something that you're pretty familiar working with on your computer." Faiza thought for a moment, "See if you can bring up one of the schematics on the Greyhound without talking out loud or using the Cyberdex input. Just think the command."

  Carlisle did so and was surprised and delighted to see the hologram appear in the air in front of her. It flickered once or twice before settling into a steady projection. In her excitement, she lost concentration and the holo disappeared. After a few seconds of renewed concentration, the holo reappeared.

  "Is this what you've been talking about?" asked Carlisle. "This is fantastic!"

  "There is more," sent Amanda, over the cranial link.

  "Yes, much more," added Faiza.

  Carlisle's jaw dropped. "Neither of you spoke out loud? You just sent your thoughts to me over this net?"

  "Yes, we did," sent Amanda, "Now you try it."

  "I'm not sure...that I know how," came her reply, half out loud and half over the net.

  Carlisle was astounded all over again.

  "This is amazing! Imagine what we can do with this!" sent Carlisle. She switched over to normal conversation. "Are these nets supposed to work this way?" she asked.

  "We don't really know," replied Amanda. "It just kind of happened."

  "I can't believe that this is normal," mused Carlisle. "Were you doing anything else?"

  "Well, we did some experimenting with a truthseer practice sensor," said Faiza.

  "I'll bet that's what did it," said Carlisle. "Truthseer net plus learning software and the combined power of both wrist computers. I wonder what adding a third computer will do? Do you know what the range is?"

  "We got as far apart as we could on the Istanbul and it still worked," said Faiza. "The wrist computers are supposed to have a range of more than a hundred kilometers. We're assuming that this capability extends at least that far."

  "We need to find out," said Carlisle. She thought for a moment. "I know! I have to go out into the Scrapyard later today. That'll be a distance of several kilometers. I'll try to contact you while I'm out there. Have you told anyone else yet?"

  "There hasn't been a good opportunity," said Faiza. "Mother and Father and the Commander are always so busy. We've just been working with the technology to get better at it."

  "Let's keep it to ourselves for a bit longer," said Carlisle, "but I really think we can use this!" she added silently.

  "When do you go to your meeting?" asked Amanda.

  "In a little over an hour," said Carlisle. "In fact, I'd better start getting ready right about now. In the meantime, I need more practice with this cranial net. How about if I try to contact you sometime between ten and ten thirty? They usually take a break at around ten o'clock."

  "Sounds good," sent Amanda.

  "I'm onboard," added Faiza.

  "Roger that!" sent back Carlisle.

  All three of the women smiled excitedly at one another.

  ***

  Carlisle sat through one of the more interesting meetings with the diplomats, though she was eagerly awaiting the opportunity to work some more with the newly discovered wrist computer capability. The Ambassador, with help from Lieutenant Harvick, spoke as straightforwardly as he could, informing a room full of normally unruly people that he and Commander Kresge had every reason to expect an attack on the Scrapyard sometime in the next few days. The diplomats greeted the information with a hushed silence and with relative calm, most of them having come to grips with the reality of the situation they found themselves in.

  The Ambassador had further explained that all the tedious maneuvers they had put ship through on the previous day had been necessary for the defense of the Scrapyard. He also assured them that the Istanbul was equipped with very heavy shielding and that the plan was to run if things got really bad. He then handled the inevitable questions.

  The morning break came more quickly than Carlisle had expected it to. She slipped out of the room and into one of the opulent lavatories. With so few women in attendance at the meeting, she had the facility completely to herself. She fished the cranial net out of her handbag and, looking in the mirror, got it properly fitted over her head. She pressed the activation disc at her temple and waited for the ten seconds or so required for the net to become fully integrated with her brain and the wrist computer.

  "Amanda? Faiza?" she attempted to send. "Can you read me?"

  There was a short pause...

  "Loud and clear," sent back Amanda.

  "Likewise," sent Faiza.

  "I'll be going back into the meeting in just a few minutes," sent Carlisle. "You know that Sondia and I were in contact over the wristcomp network while we were more than a hundred kilometers apart during the terrorist attack on the New Ceylon station just a few weeks ago. I'll bet this will work almost anywhere in the Scrapyard. We can definitely use this! We need to work with it some more but we should tell Commander Kresge and Ambassador Saladin before too much longer."

  "We'll all be on the Greyhound later today," sent Faiza. "Maybe we could demonstrate for them then?"

  "That's a good idea," Carlisle replied. "I'll tell Kresge that we have something important to show them."

  Carlisle left the net on and went back to the assembly room. After the meeting reconvened, she practiced with her new-found ability by sending short summaries of what was being discussed to the two younger women every few minutes. Much of the discussion centered around what the diplomats were to do to remain as safe as possible during the expected battle for the Scrapyard. The atmosphere in the room was serious and subdued. Finally, at twelve o'clock, the meeting adjourned. The diplomats began filing out. Harvick and Talbot, who had discovered that they had a number of common interests, struck up a conversation and left with the main group. Carlisle remained seated until the chamber was almost empty before going to the front of the room to talk to Kresge and the Ambassador.

  "Dr. Carlisle," said the Ambassador, "what did you think of the briefing?"

  "It certainly could have gone worse, Excellency," she replied.

  "I agree," said Kresge, "these people can actually be quite cooperative when they want to be."

  "While I have the two of you together, would it be possible for you to meet with Amanda, Faiza and me for a few minutes this afternoon? We have something we need to show you."

  Kresge looked at the Ambassador, who nodded in the affirmative. "I don't think that s
hould be a problem," said the Ambassador. "What is it about?"

  "They found some important information while they were doing their research and shared it with me before they told anyone else." Seeing Kresge's puzzled look, she added, "It will all make sense when we demonstrate."

  "I can't wait," said Kresge.

  The three of them headed to the grand ballroom to join the rest of the diplomats for lunch.

  ***

  An hour and a half later, the three wrist computer conspirators met with Kresge, Ambassador Saladin, Harris and Murdock in the front cargo hold of the Greyhound.

  "Okay, what is it you three wanted to show us?" said Kresge.

  "We found something while we were doing research on the Scrapyard," said Faiza. "Amanda and I decided to practice with the cranial nets that came with our wrist computers and while we were studying we... I think it's best if we just show you. We've set up a little demonstration. Amanda, if you would go to the far end of the hold with Father."

  Amanda and the Ambassador went to the very front of the hold, putting them about ten meters from Kresge and Faiza.

  "Cover your ears, and close your eyes, Amanda." The redheaded girl did so. Now whisper something in my ear, Commander."

  Kresge thought for a moment and came up with, "Mary had a little lamb."

  Faiza sent the phrase to Amanda via cranial net.

  "Mary had a little lamb," said Amanda.

  There was a moment of shocked silence.

  "How did you do that," asked Kresge.

  "We found that we can communicate with each other through our wrist computers using these cranial nets. It's almost like telepathy!"

  "How long have you been able to do this?" asked the Ambassador.

  "It's only been a few days," said Amanda. "We finally talked Dr. Carlisle into putting on her net this morning. She was able to do the same thing within just an hour or so."

  "Do you have any idea how it works?" asked the Ambassador.

  "We aren't really sure," replied Amanda. "The two units that Dr. Carlisle and Faiza have are prototypes and mine is one of the early units of a new model run."