TSN: The Best Laid Plans (Terran Space Navy)

by Paul Phipps

“No, No I don’t know why. And the longer they just sit there the more it frightens me. In four days we will no longer have enough refined petroleum for our people to use. And we have been importing almost a quarter of the food we require. We will have to resort to rationing today.” The President said in a troubled voice.

  The Foreign Minister and his first Secretary excused themselves and went back to their Ministry. It was going to be a very long day at least until this situation became the new normal.

  Beijing, China, 1200L, Saturday, November 14, 2026

  Uncle Harry had left the Companion three hours earlier and made a slow trip across the IUR at a steady 1000 feet above the ground. Once again they wanted to be seen and he was a shining White that could be seen for miles as they flew towards Afghanistan.

  They delivered their message to the Foreign Minister and President of Afghanistan in the Wardroom of Uncle Harry about the possibility that the ‘Shaitan’s Breath’ vial may be in their country and how it might be traveling. Their warning was received with gratitude and foreboding because it was also pointed out that if there was an outbreak in the country they too would be Sequestered like the IUR, Admiral Webster left no doubt in anyone’s minds that the TSN was serious about this.

  Upon reaching the Airspace controlled by the People’s Republic of China they had an escort of two fighters continuously on their course to Beijing.

  Admiral Webster was polite but unyielding as he told the Air traffic Controller where he was landing and that a representative of the People’s Republic of China be there to meet him.

  “Uncle Harry,’ Admiral Webster said as he looked down at the Crowd of people under them in Tiananmen Square, “Please maneuver so that you are one hundred feet from the steps to the Forbidden City. Then I want you light up the landing space you will need to set down. A nice blood red alternating with white should do. Alternate the colors every five seconds and then speed up the time rate in direct proportion to your downward rate.” He paused and watched for 30 seconds, “Ah good, good, they are getting out of the way. Standard landing procedures then, please.”

  “We are now on the ground, Sir.” Uncle Harry reported five minutes later.

  The Admiral turned to Commander McAndrews and asked, “I don’t see any official party, do you?”

  “No, I don’t either.” She replied. “Maybe we just stepped all over their Protocols?”

  “If so, then I’ll apologize. We don’t have time to wait.” The Admiral said.

  After another five minutes of waiting the crowd outside was losing its wariness of the TSN Scout Ship sitting like a sphinx on the bricks of the square.

  “All right then if that’s the way they want to do it. Uncle Harry we will use the large projector I want a thousand foot image and our IGD’s to act as loudspeakers over the entire City. Please let me know when the IGD’s are in position.” The Admiral then went and drank some water. Mandarin Chinese was not his native language and he always ended up with a parched throat when speaking for very long.

  Ten Minutes later no Officials from the Government Complex had showed up. On the other hand several large vans containing Ministry of Internal Security Riot Troops had arrived and were pushing and directing the growing crowds away from the Uncle Harry.

  “I’m ready for you to start Speaking Sir.” Uncle Harry Reported.

  “Thank you”, Admiral Webster Stood up and moved to a clear space next to a wall.

  “Begin”

  “Wait!” Seeker said, “Here comes someone… Yes it is the Foreign Minister himself. Uncle Harry recall the IGD’s and lower the Ramp.” She finished up authoritatively.

  “Good, I really didn’t want to go over their heads.” said Admiral Webster to Seeker/Commander McAndrews. “

  “Let’s go down and meet him. We need to let them know quickly.” Commander McAndrews said waving her hand toward the Trans-Portal.

  Once they were on the ground and waiting at the foot of Uncle Harry’s ramp, Commander McAndrews spotted a MIS Colonel and marched over to him. As she approached him one of his sergeants saw her coming in their direction and pointed her out to him. He turned and looked surprised to see her.

  “Good morning Colonel” She said in Mandarin, “Do you represent the Ministry in Internal Security”

  He bowed to her and answered back, “I am in command of these policemen,” he said “May I ask who you are?”

  “I am Commander McAndrews of the Terran Space Navy. Please come with me, there needs to be a representative of the Ministry of Internal Security there. The existence of China is at risk.” She then turned and marched back to “Uncle Harry” and the Colonel had no choice at that point but to follow her after telling his Sergeant to get a Major here immediately.

  She reached the Ramp just before the Foreign Minister did and waited for the MIS Colonel to catch up.

  Then Admiral Webster and Commander McAndrews both bowed to the Minister in unison. “Minister we regret that we meet under these conditions.” Admiral Webster said in Mandarin. “This situation has the potential to become a disaster for China. Please come inside and we will show you what we mean.” Then he waved toward the ramp and led the way into Uncle Harry.

  Admiral Webster and Commander McAndrews showed the two Chinese into the conference room that doubled as a Wardroom when there was a crew on board. Commander McAndrews set out tea for everyone and then sat next to Admiral Webster and across the table from the Foreign Minister and The MIS Colonel.

  “As you know by now we have declared War upon the Iranian Unified Republic. You also know our stated reason. We now believe that we did not act fast enough. There has been at least one shipment of this horrible weapon. And to make matters worse the people who shipped it now have no idea where it is at. At best it is still within the borders of the IUR that we have now sealed. At worst… we have some intelligence that indicates that “Martyrs in Waiting” to use the Grand Ayatollahs own words are to be the recipients. We think the ones that were to receive this shipment reside in China. Who they are, and where they are to be located at, we don’t know.”

  The Foreign Minister took the information being given to him in silence, but his face and eyes began to look haunted. After Admiral Webster had said his initial piece, he nodded his head slowly and began to speak. “Our Ambassador to the United Nations sits on the Security Council as one of the Permanent seats. He sent a complete report of your” he paused and delicately said, “meeting with the IUR Ambassador and the shameful way that the Indonesian Chairman treated you.

  I would have you know that once your barrier was erected and all physical access to the IUR was lost, those two were most terrified that you would return again and demand their heads or possibly other portions of their anatomies.”

  He then gave a soft laugh, “I was most amused at hearing that. But this…This dreadful information you bring fills me with fear. Will you do the same to China if this Bio-weapon is here?”

  “Yes, we must, if the Bio-weapon has been released. If it does not come here then we will do nothing. Yes, we also know that China also has these weapons. But you are sane; you have small quantities and are searching for cures and vaccines to protect your people. Those in the IUR are not. They are blinded by their fanaticism and would kill the whole world to achieve a prophecy.” Admiral Webster told him candidly.

  “What do you want us to do?” The foreign Minister asked.

  “Do? It is your decision to make. If you ask for help we will do what we can to assist. Otherwise we will do nothing more than what we have already done; you have been warned of a danger to your people that will turn your country into a wasteland if it is here and released.”

  The foreign Minister turned to the Colonel and told him to have the Minister for Internal Security brought to the Politburo Conference room immediately.

  “Thank you for your warning; we will immediately attempt to find these ‘Martyrs in Waiting’. It is to be hoped that we act in time. How may we contact you in the future?” Th
e minister then continued.

  Commander McAndrews produced a small portfolio that had the requested information and more. Then they escorted the two Chinese off of the Uncle Harry.

  The Foreign Minister and the Police Colonel stood side by side as they watched the landing legs merge into the Uncle Harry and then lift straight up and then headed to the South South-West to India, They had a warning to deliver there too.

  They looked at each other in silence then each nodded decisively, there was work to be done without a delay.

  TSN Companion, 0900L Saturday, November 14, 2026

  If you could see the Companion from high above it there would become almost obvious that the Great vessel was now split in half visually. The Blockade Screen was now bisecting the Companion from bow to Stern. One half was within the area being blockaded and the other half was now on the outside.

  There are three News Helicopters on the after Flight Deck near the Stern. The news crews are out and have set up their Cameras as they face forward toward the Superstructure over a mile away from them.

  Ansel is watching from the Bridge as they are animatedly talking to their cameras. He turned to Evana who was doing much better than the night before.

  “I would have liked to have had you along for this but the Med Center still refuses to release you for duty. And it is important at this stage to do exactly as the Med Center directs. That implant is still growing millions of new connections throughout your brain and body. You should be ready for light duty tomorrow and full duty by late Monday.”

  “I know but it still makes me feel a little useless. But on the other hand it’s only a few days. I would have been out of commission for months on board the George H.W. Bush.

  I’ll just sit here and monitor things. Their Navy sent out a submarine last night and it should be here soon. I’m thinking about having it pulled from the water and setting it in the Grand Plaza in Tehran. That would send a nice non-violent message to them. Don’t you think?” She said serenely.

  “I like it. Go ahead and do it if they get within a mile of us.” Ansel directed. “I’m off to Rover now. I’ll have him send you a feed so you can see what is happening. Have a fun day!”

  “You too!” Evana called back.

  Ansel transferred to the Upper hanger deck and started to walk over to where Rover was sitting on an elevator platform. As he was walking along the deck he stopped dead in his tracks.

  Ariadne/Comm Mode: “Ansel! It’s a trap.”

  Ansel/Comm Mode: “What’s a trap, the News Crews?”

  Ariadne/Comm Mode: “Yes, or at least part of them, the Cameraman for the Al-Jazeera News Reporter and the Sound Man for Omani Channel 5 live-news. Both of them are chanting ‘Allah Akbar’ softly and their vital signs are increasing as they are psyching themselves up.”

  Ansel/Comm Mode: “Can any of the Gatling Lasers on the Superstructure hit them if need be?”

  Ariadne/Comm Mode: “Yes, four can do so with high Accuracy.”

  Ansel/Comm Mode: “That’s good. I feel better then. I want two Samurai Self Defense Units to go up the Elevator in Masked Mode before Rover and I go up. Have them positioned to shoot or slice the hands and weapons out of their hands if they attempt to attack. Have Evana assist you, she might spot something that we don’t have the experience yet to see.”

  Ariadne/Comm Mode: “So you are going out to be bait?”

  Ansel/Comm Mode: “Only partial bait. If we know what’s going to occur the tables are turned on them and the element of surprise is on our side. I want them captured alive if possible. We need to see if they were sent or if they are working on their own initiative.”

  Ariadne/Comm Mode: “The Samurai are ready to go; as soon as I open the deck Hatch they will exit and get into position. Then I will activate the elevator to send you and Rover up.”

  Ansel/Comm Mode: “I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

  Ansel then continued to walk forward and he nodded in relief at the two Samurai Self Defense Units. They looked like an Anime version of a Samurai robot. The idea was deliberately taken from thousands of hours of Anime that was available for viewing. Anybody seeing them would recognize them instantly for what they were.

  Then the overhead high above them dropped down about four feet and moved off to the side The Samurais blurred and then they were gone from sight.

  Ansel walked around Rover until he was in front of it and facing where the Camera crews would be.

  “Ok, let’s get this show on the road.” Ansel said out loud.

  The elevator lifted up to be flush with the deck. Ansel stood in an at ease position and looked down the deck toward the three News Crews and the reporters who were animatedly describing for their viewers exactly what their viewers could see for themselves.

  He waited 15 seconds and then relaxed his posture and walked down the deck toward them. He was within ten feet of the reporter in the center of the group; it appeared to be FOX/CNN, when the two suspected Jihadi’s acted. The Cameraman pulled a pistol out of his Camera and the Soundman pulled up a Sub-Machine gun from the pile of Sound Equipment.

  Ansel was keeping an eye on the two and when he saw them move he also saw that the remaining members of the news crews were oblivious that anything was happening out of the ordinary. Then he took another step forward at his normal pace and the two screamed ‘Allah Akbar!’

  Then they were screaming something totally different as their hands and the weapons they had been holding were on the metal flight deck. The two Samurai’s blurred into sight and the gleaming force blades that they held were obviously the reason that the two men were without hands. Then they each reached out and picked up one of the Jihadi’s with one arm and with the other picked up the hands and weapons.

  The two remaining cameramen swiveled their cameras to record what was happening and followed the Samurai units as they marched to the Superstructure in the distance each with a screaming man held high off of the deck as they walked swiftly along.

  Ansel maintained a calm expression and watched the three reporters while they attempted to regain their composure. After a few minutes passed and they were standing there looking at Ansel in a mixture of fear and awe he started to speak.

  “I do hope that they were long-time employees. Because if they weren’t I would really expect your networks to institute better screening of new employees.” He said with a calm and bored expression on his face.

  He then continued to speak before the reporter’s had a chance to start asking questions. “Your networks have each contacted the TSN with a request for an interview. These are the ground rules:

  You will be recorded by the TSN and the raw footage of your interview with me will be made available on our Web Site.

  The location of the interview will be at our discretion.

  You will all three conduct the interview in unison. Only one Camera Crew will do the recording and all three networks will share the video recording.

  I will be giving an initial briefing to all of you. No questions will be permitted during the briefing.

  The briefing must be presented in its entirety to your viewers.

  If you renege on any of these ground rules you personally and your network that you represent will be banned from any further interviews or TSN on-site visits.” He paused and then said. “Permanently” in a totally flat voice.

  Ansel then waited for them to say something. Once again the three reporters were stunned. An interviewee making conditions? Rules about the Interview… They were the ones who made the rules and could make or break Worldwide Opinion. They would be recorded and raw video to be made available to the public—how dare he…!

  Their inner thoughts were clear to anyone who knew how to read facial expressions. But finally the Al-Jazeera reporter a petite woman with beautiful eyes and a Hijab scarf over her head asked a question.

  “Sir, where do you plan on doing this interview at? We had assumed it would be here on your flight deck.”

  “Th
at was not a bad assumption, but no, we will not be doing it here. Instead we are taking you to the facility we have constructed to hold Foreign Nationals to be repatriated from the IUR.” Ansel told her with some warmth in his voice.

  “Where is this facility located?” She asked.

  Ansel smiled at her persistence, and then asked. “Do you agree with the interview conditions?”

  She looked troubled and then replied. “For myself… Yes, but I must communicate with my superiors. I am not authorized to make agreements for Al-Jazeera.”

  “Thank you for your honesty and candor.” He waved to the news helicopter. “Please contact them now.”

  Then he looked at the other two reporters and also indicated that they should make their own calls. And while the reporters and their producers were making their calls he looked at the remaining technical people and made a quick decision. “The Camera Crew for FOX/CNN will be the authorized film crew. The rest of you may pack up your equipment now.”