TSN: The Best Laid Plans (Terran Space Navy)

by Paul Phipps

  “The crews for the most part are still on board. We have notified the various Embassies and Consulates that the vessels will be remaining there until the Blockade screen is removed. As soon as the crews are given permission to evacuate, we will do so for them.”

  “So when DO you expect your blockade to be lifted?” Secretary Anderson asked.

  “At present I can say indefinitely. As a matter of practicality, probably in three hundred years or so.” Ansel replied with equanimity.

  “THREE HUNDRED Years or so!” The secretary said in loud amazement.

  “Yes Sir, that’s correct.”

  “Why so long?”

  “Because they were willing to kill everyone on Earth with their Bio-War Weapon. It’s not like they were going to use it as a ‘tool’ to gain a diplomatic advantage or some such. They fully intended on using it.

  That mindset cannot and will not be permitted to continue. We are being quite merciful, they are still alive and their nation has not been ravaged by a war with us. We are just going to let them live their lives the way they want to. In turn the rest of the peoples of this Earth don’t have to worry about or deal with them anymore.” Ansel said looking at the Secretary of Defense steadily.

  Secretary Anderson looked into Commander Ansel Webster’s eyes and what he saw there made him blanch. This was not something he was used to seeing.

  Ansel in turn decided that enough was enough. He looked around at the Joint Chiefs and said. “Admiral Caparelli, Generals I believe that now we need to split into two working groups. Those who are interested in discussing with me how we are going to manage recruitment and basic training for those individuals who wish to join the Terran Space Navy need to meet with me.

  Lt. Commander Johansson will meet with those who are interested in having the TSN design and furnish Air craft or other vehicles for testing. Is that acceptable to you at this time?”

  Secretary Anderson once again spoke, “Until I receive a direct order from the President or the Congress issues a resolution authorizing a ‘Working Agreement’ with the Terran Space Navy. We will do no discussing of recruiting or managing the same.”

  “I see… but you are willing to have the TSN assisting you in designing better equipment for your personnel?”

  “Yes, because you are offering to do that.” The Secretary of Defense said with a slight smile.

  Commander Webster/Comm Mode: “Admiral Webster, something’s up with the U.S. Secretary of defense. He’s very willing to accept information from us. But nothing in return, especially I gather from his demeanor with coordinating recruiting for us.”

  Admiral Webster/ Comm Mode: “Hmmm, I wonder if this is his normal personality coming back out, or something else. I’d like to push this; the entire Homeland Security Department seems to be compromised with Act-Now people. Maybe it’s the same there.

  Technically he’s correct though. What I’d like to do is for you to get out your Truth Verifier and ask him point blank where his loyalties lie, with President Richardson or the President-for-Life.

  But we won’t, at least not at this time, just agree with him congenially. And then find a way to get back to the Companion.”

  Commander Webster/ Comm Mode: “Yes Sir I will do that. Gunnar, did you catch what the Admiral just told me?”

  Lt. Commander Johansson/ Comm Mode: “Yes Commander I did. Let’s get out of here. Something is starting to smell.”

  Ansel smiled back at Secretary Anderson and nodded his head in turn. “You are of course quite correct, Mr. Secretary. You haven’t the authority to authorize such an undertaking. Lt. Commander Johansson will just come back when you are able to.”

  At which point Ansel and Gunnar both stood up and thanked their hosts for allowing them to brief them. At that point they left the Conference Room with the assembled men and women watching them leave knowing ‘something’ had just occurred but not exactly what.

  It wasn’t more than ten minutes later that General Owens was in his own offices that he realized that the TSN had just walked out of the Advanced Fighter Development Group meeting that had been the reason that they were there today.

  He in turn just looked at the ceiling of his office and swore out loud about Politics and Politicians. Now he had to go and explain to a handful of Colonels that they would not be getting the assistance he had been praising and pushing since last week. On the other hand that Single Stage to Orbit Vehicle that Secretary Anderson had asked to be added to the request for assistance from the TSN was now on the back burner again.

  ‘Strange’ he thought, ‘with the capabilities the TSN have demonstrated why a Single Stage to Orbit vehicle? It would be simpler to ask or pay the TSN to insert a satellite into orbit than develop such a vehicle.’

  TSN Auxiliary Louis Pasteur, Niasar Iran Province IUR, 0730L, Tuesday November 17, 2026

  The Louis Pasteur has been flying in near Earth orbit heading for the first site at Niasar where the Head Scientist has released the ‘Shaitan’s Breath’ Bio Weapon. Evana has been on the bridge discussing initial strategy on how to deal with this site with Colonel Hernwell and his four leading Officers.

  The methodology that will be developed here will be used at Ramsheh and any subsequent sites that may be discovered in the future.

  Evana stood up from her position in the Captain’s Chair and stretched mightily. “Ladies and Gentlemen, I’ve been operating now for 26 hours straight. I’m going to get some rest. I suggest you and your team do the same. Unless there is an objection I suggest that we meet at 1300L in Briefing Room 3. Is that satisfactory?”

  Colonel Hernwell looked at his fellow officers and saw no disagreement. “Yes, that will be fine; we are used to operating on short sleep.”

  Evana laughed at that, “Yes, so are we. In your quarters there is a sleep aid mask and helmet. Two hours usage is the equivalent of a full night’s sleep. It’s there if you want to use it, until later then.” At which point she motioned them to the Trans-portal and made sure they were off of the bridge before she left herself.

  But instead of the Captain’s cabin she found herself back at the Med Center.

  Louis Pasteur/ Comm Mode: “I’m sorry to redirect you but the Med Center informs me that you were to have a post operation checkup yesterday and this is the first opportunity since then. So for my peace of mind, please do that. You can get your needed rest here too.”

  Evana in turn was touched that the A.I. was concerned about her well-being.

  Lt. Commander Thomas/ Comm Mode: “Sure, Henri! Thank you for looking after me. I’ll do just that.”

  About that time she heard someone call her name. She looked around the Med Center reception area she had arrived at and then saw Sergeant Grant walking down the hall toward her. He was wearing Olive Drab exercise shorts and a T-Shirt. His left leg from the hip down was in-cased in a metallic grey exo-skeletal leg that completely enclosed the limb.

  “Good Morning Sergeant Grant. How is the leg re-growth coming along?” Evana asked him with a smile.

  In turn the Sergeant stopped in front of her and said with a beaming smile. “Just wonderful, would you like to see?”

  “Sure would.”

  And with a flip of his right thumb on a recessed switched the exo-leg regenerator went transparent and Evana was able to see the bones of the leg were now all on place and that the musculature, ligaments and the multitude of blood vessels were starting to form in the bio-med gel that filled the rest of the interior cavity.

  “Very interesting! Are you out for a stroll just because, or is it part of the regeneration therapy?” She asked in in curiosity.

  “Both actually, the movement allows the unit to better understand how I walk and to rebuild the leg to match those readings it gets. The Med-Center informs me that by doing this I will reduce the amount of physical therapy time required to get me back in shape fully.”

  “Excellent then, keep up the good work Sergeant. I’ll check on you later today. It’s time for my own appoi
ntment, Take care now!” and with that Evana crossed the room and entered a normal style door to admittance. The Med-Center A.I. immediately spoke-up.

  “Good Morning Captain! You are scheduled for treatment room 125. The Trans-Portal has been pre-programmed for you. Have a good day!”

  And with that Evana was transported to the Treatment room and was shortly immersed in a Bio-MED Gel capsule and was sound asleep.

  * * *

  Evana was re-dressing herself in a newly cleaned Shipsuit as she listened to the Med-Center A.I. discusses what was done while she rested.

  “Your Comm Implant has now finished making all of the required connections and is functioning well within required parameters. Your Calcium and Iron levels have been re-adjusted for you. This appears to be a recurring issue though. I am going to have all food replicators increase the amounts of those two minerals in your diet until we find a good level for you.”

  “Will that change the taste of the food I eat?” Evana asked.

  “The possibility is there, but if you just add items that naturally contain large amounts of those minerals you shouldn’t notice anything different.

  Now we need to arrange an appointment for installation of the Advanced Computational implant that permits the ‘Slowtime’ process to work. I recommend next Saturday. The operation will take approximately six hours with an additional fourteen hours of Gel Cell recuperation to bring you back up to full operating condition.”

  “Ok, let’s pencil that in, pending of course operational needs.” Evana said in return. “Anything else?”

  “Yes, Lt. Johnson and Sergeant Grant have both finished regeneration of the missing limbs and are in the Gymnasium. They wished to speak to you when you were available.”

  “How long until my scheduled meeting with Colonel Hernwell and his team? Evana inquired.

  “Two hours and fifteen minutes approximately.”

  “Fine then, Gymnasium please.” She said as she walked up to the Trans-Portal and appeared in the Gymnasium.

  The Gymnasium was an interesting space. A track for running with various machines for exercising specific portions of the Human Anatomy was the first thing she noticed. She could smell chlorinated water and that indicated to her that there was a swimming pool or maybe just whirlpool baths nearby.

  As she stood there she could hear voices off to her right and near the far wall several hundred feet away she could see the two men working at some exercise machines. Each man it appeared had a hologram of a trainer next to him talking and coaxing him to work or stretch the limbs in different fashions.

  She walked quickly between the rows of exercise machines until she was near enough to the two men to converse but not interfere with their workouts.

  “I hope you gentlemen are not pushing too hard.”

  “No Ma’am” Lt. Johnson replied. “The trainer here is very attentive and strict with us.”

  “That’s good to see, there’s no need in damaging yourselves. Did you want to ask me something?” Evana said with a small smile.

  “Not really,” Sgt. Grant said from the elliptical walker he was using. “I think I speak for both of us in wanting to thank you and your wonderful hospital for giving us back our arm and leg.”

  “You are both welcome, I’m happy that we could do it.”

  “There are lots more like us you know. Will you be helping them out too?” Lt. Johnson asked.

  “That’s a pretty good question, Lieutenant. I want to, but you do know that to most of the world we are a complete unknown. And unknowns are automatically scary and something to be suspicious about. Sealing the nation of the IUR behind a blockade shield also fans those suspicions.

  So we are going to go slow. It’s going to take people like you to spread the word that we are not Bug-Eyed-Monsters. So to answer your question, we can and will help out individuals who ask us for help. But we will not attempt to force that assistance on anyone. We believe in each individual and Nation-state to choose how and where they want their destiny to go.”

  “Thank you Ma’am for that information and we will do just that. If I were you I would expect a lot of people to be asking for that help. Which brings up a question that the Sergeant Grant and I have. Just how does someone like us join the Terran Space Navy?”

  Evana smiled at the question and then started in on the history of the Terran Space Navy. The website they could go to when they returned to active duty for more information. As she was finishing up she said. “There are a lot of positives about joining the TSN but there are some serious negatives too. If after going over all of the information on our website and are still interested and you meet the initial qualifications. Put me down as a reference. I’ll come and give you the in-person briefing on those.

  Then we will see if the TSN and you are a potential match, ok?” She finished up.

  Both of the men nodded their heads and thanked her for the time she had spent with them. As Evana was leaving she said to the Louis Pasteur. Lt. Commander Thomas/ Comm Mode: “Henri do I have time for a meal before I meet with Colonel Hernwell?”

  Louis Pasteur/ Comm Mode: “You are scheduled to be there in 33 minutes. Make your order and I’ll have it ready as soon as you are in the Cabin”

  * * *

  As soon as Evana came through the Trans-Portal to Briefing Room 3 the Louis Pasteur announced “Attention, Captain on Deck!” All of the chatting personnel immediately came to attention and waited. Evana in turn said clearly, “As you were!” and continued to the front of the room where a lectern had been placed, one of the standard isolation duty Telefactors was off to the left of the Lectern in an at-ease posture.

  “Good Afternoon, welcome to the Iranian Unified Republic. Currently we are two hundred and twenty five thousand feet. We will be remaining at this altitude for the remainder of the mission unless circumstances change.

  I notice that most of you are wondering about my little friend here?” She said giving a wave of her left hand toward the Telefactor.

  “This is a standard isolation duty Telefactor. Each of you will be assigned one of these to use in a hazardous condition area like the Bio-contaminated zone below us. They are extremely easy to use. May I have a volunteer to demonstrate that?” she said looking around the room. A young woman wearing sergeant stripes stood up and raised her hand.

  Evana smiled at her and said, “Thank you Sergeant?”

  “Sergeant Helen Thomas, Captain.” The Sergeant answered.

  “Thank you Sergeant Thomas. It’s good to see another Thomas leading the way.” She said with a broad smile. “Please come up here.”

  Once the Sergeant reached the front of the room Evana picked up the bundle of silvery gray cloth that was on a display table nearby. “Sergeant Thomas this is a one size fits all Telefactor Control Suit. Please get dressed in it. You will notice that it is quite a few sizes too large for you. Once you put it on it will self-adjust to fit you like a second skin. You may use the area behind the privacy screen over there. When you are dressed please come back here.”

  Evana turned to the rest of the attentive audience. “Once the Sergeant is dressed she will place this helmet on her head and enter the sensorium tank at the back of the room. It will take a few minutes for the proper connection protocols to form the first time. Once they are, the Sergeant will be in full control of the Telefactor like it was her own body.

  With these Telefactors you will be able to accomplish all of your tasks on the surface below us. A laboratory will be established down there and all work on the ‘Shaitan’s Breath’ Bio-War organism will be done in its currently contaminated environment. This will keep the Louis Pasteur ‘clean’.

  There are some limitations of course to this technology. You will be limited to around six hours for a session. This will vary slightly by individual as we determine your tolerance for this technology. You will be limited to two sessions in a twenty four hour period for the same reason. Do any of you have a problem with this or the method of working in i
solation that we are providing you?” She finished up and then looked around.

  No one had a question or comment for her. At that point she nodded her head decisively and looked over to see if Sergeant Thomas was finished getting dressed.

  The young woman was just finishing stretching and feeling the suit contract around her. Then she walked out from behind the curtain. She looked like she was nude with only a covering of paint on.

  “How does the suit feel Sergeant Thomas?” Evana asked her.

  “It’s a little bit strange, it’s as though I am not wearing anything. It fits like a second skin.” The Sergeant replied seriously.

  “Very good, that’s what it is supposed to feel like. Please go to the back of the room place both of your hands on the Amber colored panel. The sensorium tank will come to the vertical position. Then you need to place this helmet on your head. Your air supply will come from it so you won’t drown in the suspension gel.