Star Crusades Nexus: The Third Trilogy

by Michael G. Thomas

  Naval Cadet’s Handbook

  The small group of officers waited patiently in the briefing room of ANS Endurance. There was a palpable feeling of nerves and tension as they waited. Lieutenant Commander Sanlav Erdeniz watched each of the Alliance officers and the two civilian scientists with interest. All of them looked at the projected image of Admiral Anderson busy chairing the meeting from the other side of the Rift, and they were not enjoying what they heard.

  “So after over a year of field tests, this is all we have to show for it? I was promised the ability to move my ships using this technology within a nine-month timeframe of launching this expedition. In the last three months, you’ve received help from some of our finest scientists.”

  He extended his hand to point to a number of those men and women in uniform. The mood shifted at those few words. Dr. Banner, the leader of project interrupted him.

  “Admiral, with all due respect. This is a science operation, and these military personnel are not what we need to complete the project. Additional support vessels and a secondary team will speed up the testing phase immeasurably.”

  Admiral Anderson didn’t look impressed. As the man responsible for the defense of Alliance holdings in the Orion Nebula, he had been granted complete control over Alliance facilities and its personnel. He was impatient, that was clear, though few realized the actual strain he was under prosecuting the war against the machines. Even so, he signaled for the man to continue.

  “The development of ANS Beagle was based upon the findings from Hyperion that proved workable. Every single Rift system we have created since has been based on this technology. Rift generation stations are massive affairs, something that cost the Alliance trillions of adjusted credits. Our research has proven that miniaturization is possible, and it will lead to smaller, more advanced systems in the future.”

  “Just not yet,” Anderson snapped back.

  He wiped at his eyes, his attention evidently somewhere else.

  “I know you and your crew have work hard at this, but these results…well…they are too little for the resources we’ve put in. Even with additional power siphoned from Beagle, your ship can open a Rift barely big enough for a single cruiser, and it’s unstable.”

  He brought up a video recording that showed the last test where an entire derelict transport entered a Rift, only to emerge as ruptured slag on the other side.

  “I’ve read all your results, and they are troubling. One time in three it collapses in less than fifteen microseconds. The best you’ve managed is a temporary tunnel for three seconds, after which the system suffered a catastrophic feedback loop and killed three researchers, not to mention destroying half the power system on the ship and putting the project back by two months.”

  Erdeniz watched as the Admiral spoke. He’d been working on the system for six weeks now, and although disliked by most of those on board, he was convinced he had a better idea. Every time he’d brought it up, the research teams had knocked him down. He was beginning to doubt the timing, but deep down he knew the science worked.

  This is your chance, your only chance. Speak now or forget this entire project.

  Lieutenant Commander Erdeniz raised his hand to speak.

  “Admiral, I have something…”

  Dr. Banner shook his head with irritation.

  “No, Commander, I am getting tired with your side-projects. You know our policy on the use of this technology for anything other than the original project. Your plans would destroy this ship, and likely anything within a thousand kilometers. It is dangerous and reckless speculation, nothing more. Please keep your ideas at the simulation phase…”

  Admiral Anderson listened to them with interest before eventually interrupting the Doctor.

  “Dr. Banner, what exactly are you talking about? What side-projects is your crew working on?”

  The officers exchanged angry looks, but finally the Doctor answered him.

  “Admiral, we have been sent a number of military scientists to assist in this project. Commander Erdeniz is part of the weapons research program and has been here, along with two others to examine the use of this complex and dangerous technology for military applications. I specifically asked for this to…”

  Lieutenant Commander Erdeniz spoke.

  “Admiral. I was sent here at the request of Terra Nova High Command.”

  The looks from the other scientists ranged from shocked to horrified at what they were hearing.

  “The results from the previous tests proved one thing, to me at least. That this ship and this project had the potential for other uses.”

  He looked to Dr. Banner who was still shaking his head in disapproval.

  “The funding for the project was pulled two months ago. This research is now being covered by the Alliance Navy only.”

  That did seem to get some attention.

  “I was sent here because my analysis of the project showed it could be as useful as a weapon as it could as a method of transportation. In many ways, this system might have more to offer us than any of you have dreamed possible.”

  He stepped out from his position and moved toward the front of the room, not far from the virtual presence of the Admiral.

  “My team has been experimenting with the idea of using the failure of this transport technology to produce something else entirely. Something that might actually be useful to the Alliance, to the Navy, and perhaps in this coming war.”

  Dr. Banner jumped from his seat.

  “War? Why does everything we do have to come back to this damned fight with the machines? Our fleet is more than capable of the task, without resorting to genocidal weaponry.”

  He pointed to those around the table.

  “We, the people behind this project have created something that could transform space travel, and with it our ability to explore, build, and expand our influence in every direction. We could…”

  Admiral Anderson stopped him right in the middle of his rant.

  “I understand your concerns, Dr. Really I do, but the project has proven something of a failure. The technology is just not mature enough for the role we envisioned for it.”

  He nodded toward Sanlav.

  “Let the man speak, Dr. Banner. Sanlav Erdeniz, you’re the man that designed the Sanlav projectile, are you not?”

  “Yes, Sir, but that was a long time ago. We’ve moved on from railguns since then.”

  Anderson smiled.

  “Very true, but there are still plenty of ships in the fleet using them. I remember using those rounds for the first time. Short-ranged, but they didn’t cause considerable damage. We used one once on Crusader to stop a suicide attack on the ship. Your projectiles tore the vessel to pieces instead of punching it with holes.”

  He tugged on his tunic and nodded to the Commander.

  “We need that kind of outside of the box thinking, Commander.”

  He shook his head in frustration at the rest of them.

  “I know you are all focused on your primary fields of research, but let me be clear here. I needed this technology to move my ships in and out of combat as quickly as possible. Trade, exploration, and the rest is wonderful, but in peacetime. Right now we’re facing the greatest threat to our survival in our history, and if we can use this offensively, then it at the very least warrants investigation.”

  Then he looked to the Erdeniz.

  “So, you’ve been thinking of a way to use a failed Rift generator science ship in some kind of offensive capacity? Engineers on Prometheus tried something similar two years ago. It just lost us an entire frigate and to no benefit. You think you can do better?”

  The Commander nodded.

  “Yes, Admiral, I think I can. If my calculations are correct, with some fine-tuning a ship like this one could create a transitional Rift for a fraction of a second by focusing our emitters. It would allow us to position a Rift within a short distance of the ship for a small moment of time.”

  “What? This is n
onsense,” said one of the civilian doctors.

  The man in the traditional lab coat moved from his chair and approached the spectral form of Anderson.

  “We discussed the use of this technology over a decade ago. Our technology is barely able to create a Rift in the first place. That, coupled with the equipment to collapse one as quickly as we build it, makes the system useless.”

  He turned and looked at Lieutenant Commander Erdeniz.

  “Our research brief was to test this equipment’s ability to move a ship through space using nothing but Rift technology and maneuvering thrusters. You want to bastardize it into some form of genocidal weapon?”

  Erdeniz shook his head furiously.

  “There are no genocidal weapons.”

  He then looked to the Admiral.

  “Only the people who use them against the wrong targets.”

  That seemed to pique the interest of Admiral Anderson.

  “I see. Send me the latest on your research, Commander. In the meantime, I want this project put on hold. We have bigger problems, and this ship is on the wrong side of the border. Return to this station for debriefing.”

  He made to turn away but then stopped.

  “You are dismissed.”

  The officers and scientists stood up and made for the door.

  “Not you, Commander. Stay where you are.”

  The rest left the room, and the last to go was Dr. Banner. He threw Erdeniz a withering glace and then yanked the door shut firmly behind him. Admiral Anderson waited a little longer before speaking.

  “Tell me more about this idea of yours. How quickly could it be put into use?”

  * * *

  The strengths and weaknesses of the ships on all sides became apparent as the space battle continued. Most of the ships stayed at long-range to make better use of their powerful ranged guns and missile systems, whereas the agile ships of the Khreenk moved in amongst the Biomanta attack cruisers. Crusader capital ships blasted the Ark while Liberty class destroyers provided air and missile defense, or bombarded the enemy with volleys of gunfire and missiles.

  “The Cardiff and Plymouth are abandoning ship. ANS Valor has sustained heavy damage, but she’s still in action. The Crusaders are taking one hell of a beating, but the destroyers are holding back most of the anti-ship gunfire, Sir,” said Commander Keegan.

  He pointed at the imagery around the Biomech forces.

  “That Ark is putting out fire like I’ve never seen before. It’s more like attacking an Alliance naval station than a mobile station or ship.”

  Admiral Pezal nodded but said nothing. The reports of damage and losses had stunned him to silence, yet he was still as calm and collected as when he’d ordered the initial attack. Imagery on the mainscreen confirmed that the two Liberty class destroyers were now burning from within. Small flashes of different colors indicated the massive internal damage they had sustained during the massed rush toward the Biomech Ark.

  “Status of their forces?”

  “The Ark has sustained substantial damage to its dorsal superstructure. Multiple breaches and two of the launch decks are out of action. Those destroyers are impressive. I just wish we had a few more. Commodore Hampel is doing good work with them. His escorts have managed to hold down most of the fire from the Ark, as well as strafing the gun positions on its hull.”

  Admiral Pezal tried to smile, to offer something positive and encouraging, but he failed. He had to agree about the Liberty ships though, much to his surprise. On paper, he’d been less than impressed. They had been constructed mainly in civilian shipyards and built using their equipment and methodologies. The hulls seemed well built, but the crews were small, and the modular weapon systems barely out of testing and antiquated by the standards of the day. Prior to the battle, he’d had doubts they would be able to stand up to much punishment, or even to add much to the battle.

  The evidence before him was exactly the opposite of what he’d expected. The Liberty class destroyers were putting out almost as much power as a fully-fledged cruiser from fifty years earlier, but all in a package that was only fifty percent larger than a frigate.

  “Good, that is something. The damage inflicted by the missile destroyers is especially impressive. What about the Khreenk fleet?”

  “All their ships are deployed and fully operational.”

  Admiral Pezal looked at the tactical display and the list of forces on both sides. The Biomech numbers still outnumbered his own, and so far, the only ships lost on his side were Helion and Alliance. He brought down his fist onto the side of his seat. The damage indicators on the Ark certainly suggested they were doing something right, yet the enemy’s entire battle fleet remained in action, and the Khreenk seemed to have avoided the worst of it so far.

  “They need to do something. What in the name of hell is going on out there? We need those Biomantas brought down, and fast.”

  The tactical officer caught his eye and pointed to the map on the right of the mainscreen.

  “Admiral. The Khreenk ships have split up and are attacking them ship-to-ship.”

  He looked at the screen and watched as a pair of Khreenk Corsairs separated and moved in close to two of the Biomanta assault cruisers. Although smaller than the Biomechanical ships, they were faster, and their bewildering array and variety of weaponry bombarded the enemy with a constant shower of explosions. Even so, there were few in the way of losses on either side, and that worried him.

  “I see.”

  He watched as the computer system overlaid the beams from the particle emitters as bright blue lines traveling at the speed of light toward the Khreenk ships, yet somehow missed. Three of the attack cruisers actually broke off their pursuit of an Alliance Liberty class destroyer to try and turn their gunfire on the Khreenk instead. One beam struck the engines of a stray Corsair, but the collective fire of two Alliance destroyers then hit the Biomanta.

  “How are the Khreenk not being hit?” he demanded, after watching five separate ships move directly past the Khreenk.

  Commander Keegan shrugged.

  “They refused to divulge information on their specific capabilities or defenses. They are doing an excellent job at distracting the Biomech ships though. By hitting them and avoiding damage, they must have had their threat level raised by their commanders,” he replied.

  “Perhaps. That would mean their ships would task more resources on their destruction. This could give us a chance. I just wish we had some of that technology on our own ships.”

  He made a mental note to push that idea up the chain of command, assuming they managed to come out of this fight in something like one piece.

  “Admiral, I might have some ideas on that,” said Commander D'Vani, the ship’s engineer.

  He brought up a series of images that showed the beam attacks on the Corsairs and froze two of them.

  “Our sensors are picking up distortions around the ships, Sir, right at the time of the impact.”

  “I don’t follow,” said Admiral Pezal.

  There was irritation in his stressed tone, and he turned his eyes back to the tactical display. The Alliance and Helion ships had now moved into position on three sides of the Ark. More data was flooding in, but most of it was unnecessary now. He knew the vessel’s capabilities, and so far had been unable to identify any substantial weaknesses.

  “I want every ounce of firepower kept on that thing!”

  More fire from the fleet pounded the Ark, and even more of its outer structure was torn off. After so much bombardment, the Ark looked heavily damaged, but Admiral Pezal knew that what counted was what they had done to its interior.

  “What is their status now?”

  “Massive breaches in the hull. They are venting substantial gasses toward the rear,” replied Lieutenant Powalk.

  “Gases? Interesting, have we ruptured a fuel or power unit?”

  “Perhaps, Sir. It isn’t easy to tell.”

  He started to speak and then stopped himself as o
ne of the Crusader warships vanished in a bright fireball. A shattered Biomanta appeared as it smashed through its hull and then also exploded in a terrifying blast that must have vaporized any living thing in range.

  “Who was that?” said the Admiral, barely able to speak.

  “ANS Leopard, Sir. She took a direct impact to her flank.”

  He shook his head and noticed that both his executive officer and chief engineer were trying to get his attention.

  “What?”

  “The Khreenk, Sir,” started Commander D'Vani.

  “They are using some kind of shifting technology to project a copy of themselves within a short distance. It looks like a kind of jamming system, and it is making hitting them with the particle beams almost impossible.”

  “Fair enough. That should keep them busy, for now. I suggest...”

  Commander Keegan pointed to the mainscreen.

  “Admiral, she’s launching more ships.”

  All three of them looked at the dozens of light cruiser sized vessels being pushed out of the Ark. One by one they launched from the many hangars and launch bays built deep inside the fortress.

  “Three-dozen Sawfish class assault transports. Plus fighters!” said Lieutenant Powalk.

  The ships showed up as multi-colored vessels, each brightly colored and carrying the iconography of something resembling Echidna, but with this design adopting a fusion of creature and machine. Thick plating and studs ran down the undersides and flanks, and they bristled with weapon turrets.