Altis-5: Book #2 of the Sleeper Series

by J. Alexander Black

  We did not detect a signal leaving the ship to warn the survey crew of our presence but that would not be surprising. I’m sure they would not risk our intercepting a signal that would alert us of their presence. The survey crew was about to move away to remain undetected and would have done so if not for Mrs. Wrights keen eyes.”

  “How will we know if the Kaedians are aware of the Brigade’s presence?” asked James. He and his team would be the ones to interpret whatever appeared on the search screens. They had data on the configuration of all known Kaedian vessels so the systems should identify the targets but could not interpret their state of readiness.

  “They will approach the planet in a line astern formation as do most vessels with Carvorite propulsions systems. They normally travel this way to take advantage of the concentrated particles ejected from the exhaust of the ship in front. If they are aware of the Brigade they will approach in line abreast to concentrate their fire power.”

  Andrew paused waiting for other questions.

  “Do the Kaedians have the ability to shroud?” Again, the question came from James.

  “Latest information indicates they do not but that may have changed, which search system do you have?”

  James referred to his own documents. “The Karnat.”

  “Okay. As you know, light travels in a straight line. When a vessel is shrouded, it causes both light and pulse beams to bend around it making it invisible. The Karnat system has the ability to detect this anomaly and alert you. Especially if it detects many such anomalies that are moving. So, you will know something is there but not what. However, we can reasonably deduce that if you detect something it will not be friendly. Sorry that is the best we can do with current technology.”

  “Thank you,” said James, taking notes.

  “If on the other hand the Kaedians are aware of the Battalion’s presence one of two things could occur; they will redirect the fleet to look for easier targets or they will attack us. Our latest intelligence tells us that the latter is most likely to happen. Since their defeat at the Battle for Earth, the Kaedians seemed to have grown a pair, as you Earthers say, and are thirsting for revenge. As I said, I believe they will come straight in line abreast and launch missiles as soon as they are in range. While we are busy with the combat ships, they will bring in the transports from the opposite side of the planet. When they discover the village, they will take advantage of the cover provided by the forest west of the village to land, discharge the troops and attack. There will be no finesse, no fancy strategies; they’ll throw everything they have at us again and again until they destroy us.” Andrew paused but there were no questions. “As far as defensive strategies, I would set up the search equipment and all of the missiles on two of the moons. we must use the Moon-based missiles first as they will have a longer range than the Kaedian ship borne missiles. I would recommend an aggressive offense strategy. As soon as they are spotted, I would launch fifty at them first with four aimed at the transports to keep them from landing. I would launch a second wave immediately after the first. I would shroud the Jaguars and deploy them to either side of the Kaedian fleet. I would line up the Barques facing the incoming fleet with screens on full. If any Kaedians are left and decide to launch we should fire missiles from the Barques to take out the oncoming missiles not the Kaedian ships. That job is for the Jaguars. I would keep two Jaguars observing the transports just in case.”

  “I like the strategy with a couple of suggestions.” It was Frulé. “I recommend we use Barques to handle the transports. We will need the maneuverability of all the Jaguars should it come down to a dogfight. Secondly, we should make sure the back door is open to allow the Kaedians to back away if they decide the odds are too high. If we corner them they will certainly fight.”

  Tom looked at the group. “Are there any other comments?”

  “Just one, Colonel,” said the Commodore. “When I heard about the Kaedian fleet I felt obliged to apprise my superiors and the Colonial Minister so I sent off a message. It may arrive in time to do some good. I hope so.”

  “Thank you, Commodore, let’s hope it arrives in time.” The Colonel turned to the group. “Here’s the way I see it. Our first priority is the installation of the Karnat search system, Professor Wright, I will need location recommendations from you ASAP. Second, set up the Moon-based missiles. Colonel Frulé I leave it up to you to use all the assets you need. We will pull the Jaguar patrols inside the Altean system. Work on the base will cease for now. Sara until the other priorities are complete you will only have six Barques to ferry supplies for the continued development of the village. I believe the dependents will be safer on the surface. For that reason, I want all village buildings and supplies moved to the surface to include computers and communications gear. If there is time we will move all the dependents personal storage down. Kris, I would like you to devise a defense for the village should it come to that. Mr. Blaque would you work with Kris; your experience would be invaluable?”

  “Please call me Andrew,” said Blaque. “I would be happy to work with Kris.”

  He looked over to Kris who nodded. He then turned to the Commodore and raised an eyebrow at him. Querrion spread out his hands and shrugged his shoulders in a gesture of resignation.

  Blaque continued, “As you know the Orion is carrying a crate of hand-held weapons, which we will bring to the village, what you may not be aware of is included in that crate are four large mobile Bartole Arms Limited (BAL) Particle Weapons similar to what you would call a tank. I do not have the authorization to use them but under the circumstances….” He shrugged his shoulders as his voice trailed off.

  “They will come in handy,” said Kris. “Perhaps we can train a couple of Seabee’s to operate them.”

  “That will not be necessary,” interrupted Sara. “While we appreciate and enthusiastically accept Kris and Andrew’s assistance in setting up the defense of the village, the actual manning, if you will excuse the term, will be done by us.” She looked at the men in the group fully prepared to defend her statement. Since her husband had been killed in the Battle for Earth, the village and its wellbeing had totally consumed her. “It is our village and we have the right to defend it.” Andrew looked hard at Sara. Now there is a woman I need to get to know better, he thought.

  “No problem,” said Kris. He considered himself a bit old fashioned when it came to his opinions on women in combat but he also knew that skill and resolve would win out over brawn any day. Besides he knew this particular group of women had proved themselves to be strong, determined and courageous.

  “I want us ready in one month. Any questions?” Tom knew there would be many in the coming weeks but for now there would be none. “Well then, good luck everyone.”

  The group stood and began to leave the office. Colonel Frulé walked over to Professor Wright and put his hand on his shoulder. “Please collect your associates and meet me back here in ten minutes, we have some planning to do.” He turned to Marcie

  “Where can I find Sande?” he asked.

  “She’s in the ship’s medical facility.”

  “Thanks,” said Françoise and left. Kris and Andrew came over to Sara.

  “Want some Muska?” she asked. “We have a lot to talk about.”

  Fifteen minutes later James and his SETI Engineers Bill Clark and Joshua Barnes walked into Tom’s office to find Françoise and Sande discussing a chart on Tom’s desk.

  “We can come back later if we are early,” he said.

  “No, no, you are right on time please come over here and look at this. You all know Sande, right?” They nodded. “This is a chart showing the orbits of Altis-5’s three moons. We were discussing where to locate the Karnat search system.”

  James came over to the chart and said, “Notice that the two outer moons share the same orbit almost directly opposite each other. The system’s search initiators can be divided. If we place one on each of these moons we will have a 360-degree view. The control facility
can be co-located within the Brigade Command Center either here on Orion or on the surface. The problem is we don’t have enough time to train crews to set up the equipment on the moons. They cannot be pre-assembled on Orion and transported to the moons. They are quite complicated and require some very precise adjustments.”

  “That is why Sande is here,” said Françoise. “You three are about to get a crash course in Moon walking.”

  20

  Durack And Krabb

  Fleet Commander Vakken Durack received the Captain of the Cruiser, Denue, in his day cabin. He had read the message that preceded the ship’s arrival. He was uninterested in the surveyor’s detailed report because he wanted more information on the Hevinian vessel.

  Second Officer Pata Eldron slapped his chest as he entered. This traditional Kaedian salute was to show the straight fingers as a symbol of loyalty and pride and to show respect for a senior. Durack scrutinized Eldron looking for any signs of imperfection in his manner or uniform. Once satisfied he indicated a chair.

  “Sit, Captain,” he said gruffly.

  “Yes, Sir,” replied the Captain. He sat bolt upright, staring straight ahead, his cap placed squarely in his lap with the peak facing forward. There was no informality in the Kaedian forces even between senior officers.

  “Why did you not attack and destroy the Hevinian Supply Ship? You clearly had superior fire power.”

  He glared directly into the Captain’s eyes with a look that would have unnerved most men. Second Officer Eldron was made of sterner stuff having served for most of his life starting as a raw recruit, and working his way up. He was used to the tactics of superior officers to the point where he found it amusing, not that he would ever let that show. Disrespect was dealt with harshly.

  “My orders were clear, Sir. I was to return immediately to the fleet after receiving the final report from the survey team. I determined this was just a small supply ship on the way to make a delivery. It will have completed its mission and be on its way before the fleet arrives. Rather than destroy it, it seemed more prudent for us to let them make their delivery then take advantage of whatever they left when we arrived.”

  “Did you make a close observation of the ship?”

  The Commander was standing behind looking down on the Captain.

  “Yes, Sir. The ship was one of the small constellation class supply vessels common in the Hevinian fleet.”

  The Captain hesitated -- sometimes it was not good to volunteer information; then he decided to proceed.

  “We did observe some unusual activity around the vessel.”

  Durack came around from behind and sat looking directly at Eldron across his desk.

  “What kind of unusual activity? Speak up Eldron.” Durack was irritated, he had read Eldron’s report and this piece of information was not in it.

  “First there was a single Bark that came at us at high speed as if to attack us then it suddenly veered away. Nine other Barks left the ship and began circling in a tight defensive formation.”

  “What?” Durack’s heart was racing fueled by an instant adrenaline dump; his instincts on full alert. “You were unable to ascertain the name of the ship?”

  “That is correct, Sir. We recorded the discharge patterns of the Carvorite engine but we had no record on file. I gave the report to the Fleet Engineer before reporting to you.”

  Durack mentally accessed the ship’s Information System. The report from the Engineer had been logged just seconds ago. He reviewed it quickly. “Yes!” He slammed his fist on his desk. “You are mine.” There was a knock on the door and the ViceCommander walked in.

  “What do you want?” barked Durack, annoyed at the interruption.

  “I just read the Engineers report. Are they sure it’s the Orion?”

  “No doubt about it. It’s the Orion.”

  Durack turned to Eldron an evil looking grin formed on his face. “It seems you made the right choice.”

  Eldron’s heart sank. He understood what was going on in the Commander’s mind. The Kaedian Military Command had ordered a Krammar on the Orion; she was to be destroyed at all costs and the Commander who destroyed her would be instantly promoted and the crew well rewarded. Because Eldron had chosen not to engage the Orion, Durack and his crew would reap the rewards instead of him.

  “Return to your ship Captain and await orders,” said Durack.

  “Yes, Sir.”

  Eldron stood, slapped his chest, and left. Durack turned to his Vice-Commander, First Officer Lankir Krabb, a political appointee, rare in the Kaedian forces, had arrived with his orders just before the fleet departed. When he reported, Durack was unimpressed by the thin man with a haughty attitude in an ill-fitting uniform. Durack would have sent him packing back to whatever political hack had sponsored him but his orders required him to depart that day. Besides Krabb’s orders were signed by a high-ranking Kaedian official so he had accepted him.

  If Durack’s opinion of him was not good in the beginning, it had deteriorated completely since. Krabb’s degradation of junior officers and total lack of regard for crewmembers had had made him unpopular within the entire command almost immediately.

  “Barks moving in a tight defensive formation is indicative of a military presence; with our forces active in this sectant it’s possible the Orion brought a military escort with it.”

  He displayed a holomap between them then ordered up an illumination of a course between Kryton and Earth.

  “The Orion will arrive at Kryton at least a month ahead of us. Normally it takes at least a month to unload and distribute its cargo depending on the type. Again, with our known activities in this sector they may be dropping off the military units to establish a base. If we go directly through the asteroid field ahead of us, we should get there before the Orion departs. Ten Barks are not a threat to us.”

  Durack thought for a moment.

  “The plan to colonize the planet will change. I want the colonists to hold back until we secure the planet. The troop carriers will detach from the fleet today. They will take a wide course around this asteroid field and proceed shrouded to Kryton. At maximum speed, they will arrive as we begin our attack. Their job will be to locate whatever base the Hevinians have set up, deploy the ground forces, and eradicate it while the rest of the fleet concentrates on the Orion. I want it captured if possible, but if not then we destroy it. Send out the new Cleb Class Scout ship ahead of the fleet. I want to know where the Orion is but to only report if the Orion leaves orbit. Tell him to keep shrouded I don’t want him detected.”

  The Cleb Class Scout ships were the newest addition to the Kaedian arsenal, designed specifically for speed, stealth, and observation. The entire outer skin of the ship was composed of fifteen layers of zeophyte, a carbon-based energy-absorbing compound. The layers of zeophyte decreased in thickness from the inside to out and were separated and bonded together by blue Kura-ruba, a tree resin subjected to natural molecular polymerization resulting from high pressures and temperatures produced over thousands of years. Although Kura-ruba has been used in various forms for thousands of years on various planets throughout the known universe, its ability to absorb particle beams was only discovered recently. By combining the two, Kaedian scientists discovered a new compound that was strong enough to contain an oxygen atmosphere within a vacuum and had the ability to absorb energy including particle beams. The resin within the layering provided a conduit for the particle energy routing it through the skin and releasing it on the opposite side thus

  preventing bounce back. The resin and zeophyte were compressed together in a single-mold so there were no seams or joints that could cause a detectable distortion in a search beam. The internal components such as the Carvorite engine, the weapon bay, the BIoChemical Observation & Recording Equipment (BICORE) system, and the cockpit were constructed within a single frame on rails that slid into the molded blue outer body. The one disadvantage of the single-mold outer layer was the pilot had to enter the cockpit before the
frame entered the outer body. Once he was in there was no way out until the frame was removed.

  The Cleb carried one offensive weapon stored inside the nose. The only way to detonate it was to ram into whatever object being destroyed and was only used as an absolute last resort. The Cleb was capable of twice-light speed and was undetectable by current technology. It required a very special and dedicated pilot. Despite the possibility of a suicide mission, the competition to pilot the Cleb was intense and only the most dedicated pilots qualified as, unlike most spacecraft, this one was manually controlled. The rewards were great, the pilots were highly respected by the military and treated as gods by the Kaedian people and there were only fifty of them.

  Almost as an afterthought Durack said, “Assign the Denue to remain with the colonists as escort.”

  “As you wish, Sir,” smiled Krabb.

  He knew Captain Eldron would not like the order but that was fine with him, he did not like leapers, Officers who started as crewmembers and worked their way up instead of achieving their rank through influence and money as he had done and he often expressed that opinion to others.

  “You will take personal command of the ground assault,” said Durack, and the Vice-Commander’s smile vanished.

  “But as Vice-Commander my position is with the fleet, Sir,” he almost choked.

  “Are you refusing an order?” snapped Durack.

  “N… n… no, Sir.”

  “Good,” Durack smiled at him and placed his hand on his shoulder. “There will be minimal resistance and you will have combat experienced officers with you. Just listen to them.” He removed his hand. “You are dismissed.”

  Durack turned away smiling to himself. He knew all of his ground combat officers were leapers as he was and would enjoy taking good care of him. There was a knock on his door.

  “Come in,” said Durack. The door opened and the Commander of the ground forces stepped in. “Ah! Oti Rutgar. Thank you for being so prompt. I am detaching the troop transports in four hours. I know the Orion has brought a military detachment, what I don’t know is if the Hevinians have established a base. As you will arrive before we exit the meteorite field, I want you to approach the planet shrouded from the opposite direction. First, establish communications with the survey team. If that is not possible, do whatever is needed to discover if a base has been established. If there is, plan your assault to coincide with our attack. At some point, the Orion will know of our presence and recall any fighter assets on the ground to defend her. I do not anticipate any problems but if we are attacked before we close in on the Orion initiate your assault. I assume you are aware that Fleet Vice-Commander Krabb will be commanding?”