TSN: The Best Laid Plans (Terran Space Navy)

by Paul Phipps

  There was a companionable silence for a bit and then Evana said, “I’m a bit surprised nobody here mentioned the report I submitted to Ariadne today.” She looked around and smiled. “I see… Nobody read it or knows about it.

  I came across another reference to De1t8 today. Colonel Hernwell of the USAMRIID detachment mentioned it in his remarks to his people. It seems that General Duval briefed them that there was a possibility that ‘Shaitan’s Breath’ is also De1t8. And if it is, they too are terrified by it.”

  “Now isn’t that interesting.” Mr. Fuller said with a slight smile. “And in your snooping has anyone come up with a means of how the IUR got their grubby little hands on an American Developed Bio-Weapon?”

  “Nothing concrete yet, But now that we have Edith-Gore Simmons and Dirty Harry and both of their Act-Now Teams in Custody we are going to do Deep-Interrogation on each and every one of them. If fortune is on our side we will know for sure once their Engrams are fully decoded.

  With that being said my working hypothesis is that The President-for-Life escaped to the IUR with the De1t8 Bio-Weapon as his ticket to freedom in the IUR and eventual return to power in the United States when we thought he had died at the Bunker in Maryland.” Admiral Webster told him.

  “So who do you think he is here? The Emir of Smugglers?” Asked Mr. Fuller.

  “I personally don’t think that he is the Emir.” Ansel interjected into the conversation. “That’s too much like actual work and the President-for-Life never exhibited an aptitude for work. His talent was convincing or in some cases inspiring others to do the work for him. He’s probably the guy behind the Emir”

  “That’s true,” Mrs. Fuller, said nodding her head. “I never wanted to believe that myself, but the facts all point that way.”

  “That brings up an interesting question for me Mrs. Fuller. Of all of us here you are the only one who was a supporter of the President-for-Life. How do you feel about it now that we know he is still alive and plotting?” Admiral Webster asked her candidly.

  “You might find it funny but I do think that he had good ideas in the beginning. Many of my friends and co-workers did too. I have to wonder though was I just agreeing to what they were saying so as to avoid conflict or did I really feel the same way too?

  I’m kind of conflicted when I look back and see through the filter of what I know now. I don’t want to believe I was wrong in my beliefs. But my honest and ethical side, tells me I was.

  Now though? Yes, all of the evidence from Dirty Harry and what he did to Mannsfield to ‘Shaitan’s Breath’ tells me that the President-for-Life is one of the world’s greatest dangers. It hits me over and over again; he doesn’t see others as people, only as things or pieces to move around the chessboard of his desires.”

  “Thank you, I appreciate you telling me that.” Admiral Webster told her. He then sat back in his chair and sipped on his drink, once again looking into the distance of a future only he could see.

  “I had an interesting message from General Owens that was passed on by the Epiphany.” Gunnar Johansson spoke up. “He wanted to know when I would be available to discuss the TSN providing Advanced Air Craft Designs to the Air Force for testing.

  I was a bit surprised at two of the design requests. One was for a Single Stage to Orbit vehicle with the capability of landing once and the returning to Orbit again without refueling and the other was a passenger carrying vehicle capable of cruising at two hundred and seventy five thousand feet. He made the effort to let me know that these were both at the top of the Secretary of Defense’s wish list. Interesting don’t you think?” Gunnar finished up with a slight smile.

  Ansel in turn got a very introspective look and then said. “Were there any specific capabilities requested for those two vehicles?”

  “Oh yes, there were. They were to be Radar and visually stealthy and especially they were to NOT have an Artificial Intelligence capability.”

  “I see… The Secretary of Defense of the United States wants us to give them vehicles capable of flying over the top of one of our Blockade Shield Walls. And he wants to make it so we will have a very difficult time tracking them in flight. Is that correct?” Ansel said looking at Gunnar with a slight smile on his face.

  “It looks that way to me, Commander” Gunnar said.

  “And this is the same man that will not cooperate with us on the verbal agreement to set up a recruiting system for the TSN?” Admiral Webster said, then with a frown, “No, we will not do such a thing. It’s not all take and no give. We suggested a partnership, the U.S. Navy agreed to that.

  Please tell General Owens that we regretfully must delay such aid as he requests until the President or the Congress authorizes the ‘Working Arrangement’ that has already been discussed and agreed to.”

  “Yes Sir, I’ll do that.” Gunnar told the Admiral.

  Mr. Fuller stood up carefully and said. “I’m starting to feel tired and the Med-Center specifically told me to return if I did. So Doctor’s orders ladies and gentlemen. I bid you a good evening until the next time we meet.”

  His wife also got up and gave her own good nights and followed him to the Trans-Portal. Once they had left Evana indicated that she was heading back to the Louis Pasteur.

  “How do you like commanding a Hospital Ship?” Ansel asked her before she left.

  “You know, it’s strange, I was always attracted to the Surface Combat side of the Navy. But I really like the Louis Pasteur. It’s exciting and it’s fun too. I think I wouldn’t mind doing it for some time on a more permanent basis.” She told Ansel.

  “Well then, I think I can accommodate that.” Admiral Webster spoke up. “After some discussion between Seeker, Susannah and Ariadne we are going to authorize building a purpose built Hospital Ship along the same size designs of Susannah. If you have other ideas get with the Louis Pasteur and make up some designs. We will see what we can do to make them real.”

  Evana stared at the Admiral in surprise and then he continued. “Do you want to be her Captain, Lt. Commander Thomas?”

  “Yes Sir, I do!” Evana told him emphatically. “And thank you for considering me in the first place.”

  “You’re welcome Evana, Ansel once told me that you should have been the Commanding Officer of a ship a long time ago. So now you are!” He told her with a beaming smile.

  Gunnar proposed a toast and with a happy look on her face Captain Evana Thomas made her departure for the Louis Pasteur.

  TSN Belle, Ramsheh, Iran Province IUR, 1200L, Wednesday November 18, 2026

  Belle was a heavy scout cruiser, five thousand five hundred feet long by three thousand feet wide at the widest point and one thousand feet thick. In general shape the Belle was a flattened and slightly elongated chicken egg visually. She was strangely beautiful too though, she looked sleek and fast… very fast.

  Captain Evana Thomas was sitting in the Captain’s chair of her borrowed vessel. The Belle was on loan from the Susannah. It was thought that a larger vessel than the Scout ship Rover she had used last time might be better in dealing with the leaders of Ramsheh, Iran Province, IUR.

  “Captain Thomas we are about to cross the shield wall.” Belle told her.

  “Thank you Belle, boost up the brightness on your hull please. Once we are at the same landing site I used with Rover please hover at fifty feet. I think this time I will have six of the Samurais with me and one of the Mars Units.”

  “I agree Commander, everything will be ready for you. We are descending at 2000 feet per minute as you specified earlier.” Belle replied promptly.

  “Excellent, have you located the subject of interest and his companions?” Evana inquired.

  “Affirmative Commander, There are three total for pickup plus one Mercedes Van they are using. I have already released the Samurai detailed for their capture. They are to use capacitor darts at the stun level from their stealth profile and then assume a visible posture to retrieve their targets.” Belle told her.

  �
�Very good, have that done as soon as they are in position. No need to wait on us to arrive.” Evana said with a grim smile.

  * * *

  “Ahmad, Jaime, double check your dart-guns. We only have enough Zombie-drug to dart three of them, if there are any more than that and we are going to have to re-group and come up with another plan.” Hasan Faludi formerly known as Captain USN, Jonathon Harris told his men.

  “Yes sir, we’re ready sir. If you don’t mind, I still think that this is unwise. I agree that this is a good use of the Zombie drug. But darting these TSN people in front of all the tribesmen here? I think that’s not very wise. Ahmed and I still aren’t sure what their reaction is going to be. Seriously sir, this could backfire horribly.” Jaime Ramirez told his superior.

  “Yes, you’re right it could. But we still need to get out of here with the package. I already used the decoy and if that damned van hadn’t broken the axle on these Allah-forsaken roads we would have been long gone before that hell-spawned shield-wall went up.” Hasan agreed.

  “We could cache it sir. And ask for asylum since we are not from around here. Then when the Shield-wall goes down in six months or so come back and retrieve it later.” Jaime urged his superior.

  “We could, but the Great Leader specifically wanted this vial brought to him. I will not disappoint him. And you will not either. We both swore to follow him to death and beyond.” Hasan growled with his chin pushed out belligerently.

  * * *

  The IGD that the Rover had left relayed the conversation to Belle who in turn had played it in Real-time for Evana to watch.

  “Now this is interesting.” Evana said drumming her fingers on the armrest of the Captain’s Chair. “How much longer until we are halted, Belle?”

  Belle replied, “Twenty-two minutes at the current rate of Descent, Captain.

  “Hold off on capturing them until they attack my Telefactor. Let’s see what will occur with the tribal leaders when we capture them immediately after they attack me.” Evana stated calmly as she stood up. “I’m going to my sensorium tank now.” And serenely walked off the bridge, only a few minutes later she walked back looking the same as she had only five minutes before.

  * * *

  “Sir, it’s a different ship than we saw last time!” Jaime said excitedly.

  Hasan was peering into the sky without the benefit of the small binoculars that his subordinate was using. “I believe you are correct, does it look to be about the same size? Are there other ships with it?”

  “No Sir, it appears to be by itself. I think it is a bit bigger though, definitely a different shape though. Actually it’s kind of racy in a way.” He finished up admiringly.

  Then they noticed more people showing up at what was now being called the Landing Field and fell silent. Ahmad was the one who did all of the talking when there were others around that might notice and not appreciate a foreign accent.

  Jaime noticed finally that there were no sounds coming from the descending ship. And it kept getting larger and Larger and LARGER. Finally, it stopped and hovered in eerie silence only three hundred and fifty feet or so above them. The brilliant ship suddenly toned down the light streaming from it and a large hatch opened in the port wing and a single bronze colored vessel fell rapidly and then moved to hover in front of the assembled leaders of the Town and local tribes.

  ‘Damn-it! I’ve seen one of these before! He racked his brain, where, where, where.’ He thought to himself.

  The MARS, (Marine Assault/Reconnaissance/Search and rescue), unit brought itself closer to the ground and a ramp lowered to the ground. Evana and two of her Samurai Guard Units behind her marched down and across to the Tribal leaders. There she waited for the Leaders to speak to her.

  For several minutes the two groups just stood there looking at each other, finally the man who called himself the Mayor nodded his long bearded head as if in acknowledgement of a point to Evana. He then stepped forward and said.

  “You are here at the hour and place you said you would be.”

  “Yes I am, I am ready to hear the decision of the leaders of your people.” Evana spoke with no trace of aggression.

  “Most of us want to just be left alone to live our lives in peace, to tend to our flocks and farms. Those who live in the town know that we need assistance from the outside. Food, Electricity and other things like medical supplies.

  With that knowledge tempered by our other desires we have decided to accept your offer of Food, Water, Electricity and other needful things. In return we will insure that each and every one of us will be examined by your machines to search for this horrible disease.”

  Evana was surprised that they were going to be reasonable. It was the most beneficial of the three options she had given them. But still she just didn’t think of these people as being very logical.

  Evana nodded her head once to signify that she understood. “I would like to meet with you and your advisors to determine exactly what you need and desire at this time. I also need to have your Doctors tell me where the best locations are for the placement of our Scanner-Arches.

  Once we are done in this endeavor we will leave you alone in peace.”

  With Evana’s words being heard and understood by the Mayor, he in turn nodded his head and turned to one of the older men and said. “Erect the tent. We will converse here.”

  Thirty minutes later a large tent was erected on the field and cushions, rugs and very low tables were brought in for the participants.

  After much discussion with Evana mostly sitting and making mental notes of what was being discussed she came to appreciate the thought that had gone into the decision she had been given. Once everyone that had desired to speak and had had their point of view acknowledged she in turn began to speak.

  “The Terran Space Navy has only one demand, you have agreed to it. We in turn agree to your demands, your businesses will continue to supply the people of and around Ramsheh with the things they need and desire. You will pay us for Rice, Beans and other things as you did before to those not from here. We will take the money in return for Fresh Water, Electricity and Petrol and fuel for your vehicles and Farm Machinery.

  If special parts or items are required we will bring them in from outside of the shield. We will provide Radio, TV and telephone communication to those outside of the Shield.

  Captain Atwi, we will provide you communications to your superiors so that you may explain what has happened here.

  If there is no disease found within six months of this date the Shield will be removed and you will once again be a part of the Iranian Unified Republic.

  Is this acceptable? Is this what you desire?” She said as she looked around at the men inside the tent.

  The Mayor of Ramsheh polled the others with his eyes. There were no dissenters. He in turn looked at Evana and said to her. “Captain Thomas of the Terran Space Navy this is acceptable to us.” He stood up and so did Evana. He walked to her and spit in his right hand. She in turn raised one eyebrow and did the same and then they shook hands to seal the deal.

  While Evana and the men had been discussing the terms of agreement, the Belle had been placing the Scanner-arches it had on board at the sites that were agreed to by the Doctors and the Tribal Leaders.

  Belle also had received a communication from Dr. Galen the Women’s General Practitioner asking to talk to Evana in person before she left Ramsheh.

  * * *

  “Ok, this is it.” Hasan told his men. “Keep it on a low profile now.”

  Hasan and his two compatriots had held back at the rear of the group of men exiting the tent and watched as some men would stop and others just nodded their heads to her as they left. After almost forty five minutes they were finally the last ones in the tent and now it was their turn to talk to Evana.

  “Honored Captain,” Hasan began while bowing deeply, “we are in need of your assistance.” He began his spiel.

  Evana looked at him closely and then said, “How may th
e Terran Space Navy assist you?” she inquired with a direct tone of voice.

  “We are not from here, we were trapped behind your mighty wall when you erected it. Is it possible to place us on the other side so that we may continue our journey?” Hasan said with a slightly wheedling tone.

  “No, I cannot do that. The best I can offer is to evacuate you to the moon. You will still have to stay there the required six months or so that we may determine that you are not infected. But at least it won’t be here.” Evana told them.

  Hasan nodded his head and his face had a sad expression on it as he turned to Jaime on his right. Then he whipped around and shot Evana right in the throat with his dart filled with the Zombie drug.