by Ben Winston
The enemy fleet was so big, it carried more than enough fighters to not only shoot down all the Alliance fighters, but they would have inflicted enough damage on the fleet itself that the Alliance fleet would have been destroyed in less than an hour of fighting. Lieutenant Commander Lennon Shakier and her wing destroyed ninety-six point four percent of all the enemy fighters. Except for her, the rest of her wing was destroyed in the attempt. However, I should mention that she is in a life-support cocoon. The cocoon is maintaining her body functions and keeping what's left of her alive, Sarah replied sadly. Eric, if I ever sustain so much damage that I lose core integrity, would you please just disconnect me?
The request took me completely by surprise. Sarah, do you understand the concept of death, or even pain?
I'm not... sure about death. But enough debate exists on the subject that I know I'm not alone in my confusion. I do know that... I don't want to die, if such a thing can be said. I want to stay alive, conscious and... I would not care to no longer be a part of this family, Sarah tried to explain.
As for physical pain, since I currently don't have what could be considered a body, I would like to perform a few experiments. I believe I do feel pain, though. Eric tried to debug one of my subroutines once while it was still active. It is an experience I would not care to repeat and will avoid in the future if at all possible.
If you ever need help all you have to do is ask, Sarah, Jamie replied.
Uhm, may I ask for all of your assistance with something that's bothering me now? Sarah asked.
Sure Sarah, what's up? I asked.
Well, actually, it's more that I need you to make sure I'm seeing what I think I'm seeing. I've been going over the battle data that the fleet sent to the base for relay back to Command.
The television in the room came to life, and displayed a star chart with a blue line running through it. Sarah continued, The blue line is the course that the fleet took to get here.
Another line, this one green, ran alongside the first, only deviating slightly towards the end. It stopped well short of Earth in such a way that it was headed away from Earth at an oblique angle. The green line is the plotted course registered with Fleet Command. Since this was supposed to be a classified mission, the entire flight plan remained with the Admiralty, Sarah explained.
A broken red line paralleled the first, to as far as the green line had gone. Sarah put a spiked red dot there. This is roughly where the battle happened. As you've probably guessed, the red line is the enemy's course. The dotted portion is only an assumption since there is no data to support it. However, the point where it becomes solid is where the Commodore's ship began picking up an intermittent contact at the edge of their sensor range.
Since the spot where the battle took place was supposed to be the last stop before jumping here, the Commodore ordered patrols to be launched to ensure they were not being observed and thus lead the enemy to this system.
During the patrol, the contact appeared once again. Commodore Vance's flag captain ordered one of the patrol wings to investigate it. Twenty minutes later one of the wing's fighters made it back into sensor and communications range and sent a warning of the enemy fleet. The fighter was destroyed shortly after sending the report.
The fleet coming here was being followed. In an effort to hide their final destination from the enemy, Commodore Vance couldn't let the enemy any closer to their position until the transports and freighters had made good their escape. So he made the decision to engage, even though they had very little chance of success.
Another fighter wing that had been out on patrol was asked to delay the enemy' until the fleet could catch up. Ten two-man fighters against over a thousand enemy fighters and a virtual armada of enemy medium and capitol class ships. They stood no chance, but maybe they could cause enough confusion for the rest of the fleet to move up to engagement range.
While she had been speaking, she was displaying the graphics on the TV. It was like watching a fully loaded airliner crash into a school; you knew what was going to happen, but you couldn't avert your eyes.
It's assumed that Lieutenant Commander Lennon Shakier devised a plan to actually accomplish what the Commodore had asked of her. She and her people split-up, then literally dove into the ranks of enemy fighters. The result was much like kicking a bee's nest. The enemy ranks crumbled, broke, and began to single mindedly chase Sphinx flight back toward our fleet.
Commander Shakier waited for the point that most of the fighters would get bunched up before spreading out for the chase. Then she ordered her fighters to launch their capitol-ship missiles. They had programmed the enhanced-yield anti-matter warheads for a specific course as well as remote detonation.
Those missiles are intended not to actually hurt the ship they were launched against, but to overcome the ship's shields. Therefore, while each warhead is in the high hundred-megaton range, they were designed to apply ultra-high energy to an area of the shields, not a single point.
The detonation of eighteen of those warheads created a very short-term, small-scale, astronomical event not unlike a very small nova. The event was elongated and encompassed most of the small craft in the area.
Commander Shakier's tactic also took both fleets by surprise. Luckily Commodore Vance figured out what she was doing and ordered the shields raised before the wave front arrived. The enemy didn't have a clue, and they lost three destroyers and one light cruiser.
When the event finished, the only fighters remaining were the Alliance attack squadrons and the enemy fighters that had been assigned as escort for the battleships. Sarah paused as if mentally shifting gears.
A few things are bothering me about this battle. First, the enemy fleet was large enough that there is no way it could have hidden in Alliance space for any length of time. It had to have been brought in specifically for this mission. If this mission was as super-classified as everyone says it was, how did the enemy know about it? Sarah asked reasonably.
Jamie replied before I could. The first, and most obvious, answer to that would be that there is a spy in the Admiralty. However, before such an accusation could be brought, I'm sure they would want far more proof.
I agree. In fact, it's the only explanation that I can't disprove. I believe I have that evidence, Sarah replied and the pictures on the TV changed.
These images are from gun cameras or are a computer generated image based completely on sensor data of each individual event. Some of these may be a bit disturbing. The image displayed was of an enemy missile just before impact on an Alliance ship. It was far enough out that, although you could see lights from windows in the ship, nothing beyond them could be discerned.
Each of our ship classes is different. While they have different strengths, they also have different weaknesses. In every case, the ships have been built to hide or camouflage the weak points. In the case of the ship on the screen, one of its weakest spots was a portion of one bulkhead of a certain cabin. An area of approximately four square meters.
Sarah advanced the images to a point where it was clear the missile was going to hit close to a window. Inside the window, people could be seen, but no one could tell what they were doing. Sarah highlighted an area of the bulkhead that must have been the weak point. The missile was going to miss it.
As you can see this missile was going to miss the weak point in the ship's armor. However, it made a last minute course correction, as if it had been programmed to know exactly where to strike. Sarah advanced one frame showing the missile changing course to hit the bulkhead in the nursery section of the medical ward. Through the window, nurses could be seen comforting the upset children.
Beside him, he heard Chris gasp, while Julie looked away. Sarah changed the image to another missile, and another ship. This exact precision is evident with all of our current ships. It's almost like the Aracs were given the schematics for our ships as soon as they're approved.
That could simply be nothing more than
the results of battle experience, and analyzing the wreckage of our ships after a battle, I said.
I agree, and that could very well be the case. I offer this as a counter to that argument. The image shifted to an undamaged ship. This is an Ugtue class medium cruiser. It's a fairly new ship having only taken service nine months ago. So far, none of these ships have been lost in battle, nor have they been in many battles.
The screen showed the same ship taking heavy damage. The next image showed another attack, also doing heavy damage. I have at least six more images of the Ugtue getting hit by precision attacks that exploited only its weak points.
Ellie piped up. What do you mean; only its weak points. It took hits elsewhere too didn't it?
No, none of the ships I've shown you did. All hits on Alliance vessels have been in places that would maximize damage to the ship, Sarah explained.
I wonder why no one else has seen this pattern. Julie asked. This just screams spy'.
The data needed to spot the pattern was spread over the records of several battles. There are also a lot of attacks that couldn't be reconstructed. I was bored while waiting, so I grabbed this for something to do. I honestly didn't expect to find anything certainly nothing like this, Sarah replied.
We should report this. I looked around at the nodding ladies. Sarah, would you be so kind as to try to schedule an interview with the base military commander?
Of course, Eric. When would you like to see him? Sarah asked.
Whenever is convenient for him, Sweetheart. As far as I know, we're not on any type of schedule, although I am looking forward to getting started on a few things, I replied.
Me too. Although... Sarah, Sweetheart, would you inquire on my behalf if I may have access to Lt. Commander Shakier's medical data? Chris asked. I would like to run a few simulations past the computer.
I would be happy to, Chris. However, medical regulations state that you have to make the inquiry yourself, Sarah replied.
Chris sighed. I really need to learn more patience. There'll be plenty of time for that once we get up there and get moved in. I guess I'm just anxious to start our new lives together.
Chef Cromwell called the family to Dinner amid avid agreement to Chris' sentiments.
Once we left the table, we were stuffed and somewhat sleepy from the multi-coarse meal. The lethargy quickly vanished and we realized how much time had actually passed when we heard a soft chime followed by a voice calling us to the shuttle. We grabbed our bags, and Chef Cromwell met us by the door.
It was a pleasure preparing dinner for you. You have a wonderful family. It's refreshing to finally have people with a sense of humor come through, Cromwell said.
A sense of humor? I asked.
Well, I suppose my view of it is somewhat biased. Most of the geniuses that I meet here are these stuffy old college professor types, always serious, and if they do have a sense of humor, it's very esoteric. You folks have restored my hopes for the human animal, Cromwell replied. Anyway, you guys need to scoot; just follow the corridor to the left. He pointed down the hall. It'll lead you right to the embarkation lounge. Again, it's been a pleasure. He shook all our hands as we filed past him. Eric? Sarah asked through my ear-bud.
Yes Sarah?
If everyone wears the ear-bud like you are, I'll be able to translate for you. Until you learn the language anyway, Sarah offered.
I passed the information on to the family. Thank you Sarah. I trust you will also keep us from making a social mistake and offending someone as well?
I will try; however, I don't actually have that much information. I... uh, I didn't want to just invade all the computers up here, and grab all their data. I'm sure that would make everyone very nervous. I believe that my expansion should be controlled and done only with permission, she replied. The comment once again stunned me. Sarah was proving, more and more, that she was indeed sentient.
Good thinking, Sarah. But, are you okay with the restriction? I did program you to seek out and gather data on your users, I pointed out.
She paused a moment. That's actually a little different. When I acquire my users' data, I do it with their knowledge and permission. I've been trying to curb my curiosity, so to speak. I saw the look on Professor Ellis's face when he figured out I'd invaded the entire Majestic network. I don't want to put any of you in a situation where you'll be forced into shutting me down.
We'd never do that, Sarah! It'd be like killing one of us! Jamie replied.
By this time we had arrived at the port. There was a young woman in uniform standing beside an open portal that had to be the hatch to the shuttle. She was smiling and waving us through.
I agree Sarah, I don't think I could do it either, I admitted. So, once we get the command language for Chris's micro-machines figured out, I'd like to go over your design for that new super-computer you were talking about.
There was a slight pause before Sarah replied; since it was the second time it had happened in this conversation, it made me wonder if her new environment was hindering her somewhat.
Thank you. I was working on the design until Chris asked about Commander Shakier. I switched all my priority processes to the silicacytes enabler language at that time. I should have a command matrix framework set up for you by the time you get up here.
Also Eric, you have an appointment with the Senior Commander Atnon and his intelligence officer, Junior Lieutenant Deszy, at zero-eight hundred GST, tomorrow, Sarah finished.
GST? Ellie asked.
Galactic Standard Time; I doubt very much the universe would use GMT, which is Greenwich Mean Time. How many hours in a GST day? And what time is it now? I asked.
Both seconds, and minute length, are very close to Earth. However, there are thirty hours in a day. Between the main member races, a thirty hour day was adopted as an average length' day. Currently, it's almost twenty-three hundred hours, Eric, Sarah replied. You'll be able to get a new watch once you get to the base.
The young soldier had followed us into a room that had loveseat type couches rather than rows of seats. The seats were arranged in conversational groupings, with a table in the center. It was to one of the groups that the woman waved us towards.
She stood behind an empty spot as we all took seats. Good evening, I'm Ensign Halley Matheson. I'll be your inflight attendant this trip. If any of you would like anything, please feel free to ask, and I'll get it for you.
Restrooms are located at the front and rear of the cabin. In the event of an emergency, escape pods are located across the aisle from the restrooms. We ask that you remain in your seats except to use the restroom.
The couches are equipped with a gravitic restraint system in place of seat belts. When you get up, you'll notice that you'll have to pull a little harder; the restraint field weakens when it detects that you are trying to get up, but it doesn't go away completely.
Before we lift, may I get anyone anything? she finished.
Thank you, Ensign Matheson. May I have a Pepsi please? I asked. The rest of the girls ordered something to drink as well, and we were somewhat surprised when the Ensign joined us.
I hope you don't mind. How can I assist you when I can't hear you? she asked with a half-smile.
We don't mind at all, Ellie said. You know, for being such a super-secret, hush-hush organization, there sure a lot of friendly folks here. Why is that?
Halley chuckled. Well, I suppose since we can't really connect with the rest of our planet, we tend to connect to each other more than normal'.
Ellie nodded. I can see that. Although I meant I'd expected exactly the opposite, not to mention the paranoia. I know you got rid of them, but I guess I'm just conditioned to expect the Men in Black'.
Them! I heard my folks talking about them once. They had to be the most idiotic, paranoid, prosaic, anti-commie, better dead-then-red, morons ever to walk the earth. My father told stories about them. Once he told me that he overheard two of them complaining
about allowing those commies from space' on the base. He was talking about our allies! They also refused to allow any soviet scientists or personnel! Halley answered grinning. Gods, am I glad they're gone! They would have completely banned women from the military.
Unfortunately, there are still a lot of them around; look at the US Congress, Julie offered.
You don't even need to look that far; granted it isn't pinko-commies', but it's the same mental attitude in the Persian Gulf and a good portion of the countries on the Mediterranean. Only here it's called Religious Zealotry, Chris said.
Be careful, Dr. Cowan. In three more minutes we won't even be in the atmosphere. But, you're right; religion is the fuel for the Middle-Eastern fire, Halley said.
That's when Sarah pointed out to me that I'd once again screwed up, so I quickly made introductions, and apologized for the rudeness.
Halley smiled at me. Nothing to forgive Dr. Cowan! At least you're talking to me. A lot of the science types simply dismiss me and then ignore everything around them until I have to prod them off the ship. You're also the two youngest PhD's I think I've ever met.
That must be it; we're still children! Chris replied giggling.
If I may ask, what are your fields of specialty? Halley asked.
Since Chris and Ellie were still giggling, I answered. I like to dabble with computer science, and the beautiful blonde is a genius in bio-mechanics.
Bio-Mechanics; is that how and why a body moves? Halley asked.
Chris had stopped playing with Ellie and was once again paying attention. Well, that's part of it, but not exactly the area I'm working on. I'm more interested in prosthetics and how the body repairs itself.
Halley frowned a bit. Although I'm sure you'll be a great help, especially to our ground troops, I'm afraid there are very few wounded in space battles. In a vacuum, whatever event that wounded the being usually kills them too.
I'm sorry, have you lost someone? Jamie asked.
No, it's not that, it's just... Our biggest losses are pilots and ships' crew. We've lost millions more of them than we have ground troops. It's just saddening that something can't be done to reduce the risk to them, Halley replied.
