The Icarian Legacy Collected Edition: Brave Souls - First Strike (Volume 3)

by Kocho Trajchevski

  A smile appeared on his face as he remembered the ships AI. He didn’t have a chance to meet her yet but he knew he would salute her if he ever got to see her. The AI gave huge amounts of data in all areas when she first contacted NASA. As it is normal in the politician’s lives and in a world that is controlled by large corporations most of those information’s were hidden from the public. When she noticed that, and with full support from the people that were present on the ships she made all those information’s available on the world net. That hit the powerful corporations that planned to continue to control the world prices hard. Many of their secrets long hidden away came to the surface, this especially was true for the medical industry were many drugs for diseases that were known remained hidden for the benefit and the profit of the pharmaceutical companies. Many politicians were forced to resign because of that scandal and the pharmaceutical companies paid huge fines, some even lost their licenses. The world changed overnight after that.

  He looked at the clock. Just as he did that a women came to him.

  “Mr. Le Blanc the president is ready for you.”

  He smiled and nodded with his head.

  She smiled back and showed him to the president’s office. He went inside and noticed the president waiting for him.

  “Mr. Le Blanc. Hope you didn’t wait long.”

  Le Blanc smiled. He was in fact. He waited for almost an hour but considering where he was and the time it was not something strange.

  “No Mr. President. Thank you for seeing me.”

  Carter smiled at the return comment.

  He showed the middle aged man to one of the couches and sat on the opposite side.

  “You don’t have to be nice Anthony. I know that you waited for almost an hour.”

  “No need sir. Considering the times we live in the simple fact that I can be here is a miracle in itself.”

  Carter smiled at the response. He already knew everything there was to know about him. And from what he read he already knew that he liked the man. He was one of those adventurers that didn’t fear the take a risk, his own mining company being the biggest proof for that. He was one of those that fought for a long time to advance the space program in a sense with his proposals and materials about space mining. And as his advisors told him his proposals the plans that he presented in the papers he sent to NASA and the major mining companies, and the companies that were planning the next space missions were one of the best. He was a born miner with a diploma in geology and excellent knowledge in both physics and chemistry. That coupled with his knowledge of mathematics and the love for astronomy gave him an excellent background and a unique perspective about the prospect of space mining. His plans were detailed and incorporated in the reports of NASA and in the future plans for space exploration.

  That was one of the reasons that he was here now. With the increasing needs for rare materials and nickel, iron, titanium, tungsten and a lot of other materials and with the four mining ships in the fleet that were waiting for a crew in orbit around Sedna and just one that was already mining one asteroid with a crew that came from various mining companies and NASA a new kind of industry was starting to emerge. And his knowledge, long time advocating and struggling for it Le Blanc was the perfect man for the job.

  The biggest problem with space mining was the high risk that every miner would have to take. It was done in zero G and in vacuum at least until the asteroid is mined enough for a small base to be built inside it. One of the plans that Le Blanc proposed and that was accepted was of mining with the help of mirrors and with the input from the AI’s they were already being produced. But it would take years for enough mirrors to be produced for that option to become available. That was on option that remained for the future. So for now the other, harder and more dangerous method was the one to be taken.

  “Mr. Le Blanc you know of the mining operations in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter.”

  A smile appeared on Le Blanc’s face.

  “Yes Mr. President. I’m happy that we finally started exploring that option. If you don’t mind me saying we should have done it a long time ago. And I’m happy that some of my ideas have merit.”

  “Yes Anthony they do. And that is why you are here.”

  “Sorry Sir?”

  The president rose from his chair and went to the window.

  “Several years ago you sent some files to NASA about several options about how to mine asteroids. Several of those plans were accepted as you are well aware and are now being used and implemented on the first asteroid we started mining. But we need more…The import is minor now and we need a lot more material, especially with the new ships that are planned.”

  Le Blanc looked at the president with eyes that showed experience.

  “And you need a man who has experience in mining and is willing to take the risk.”

  The president turned.

  “Yes. The risk is great, especially considering that we have no experience in that field. There have already been seven deaths from accidents and I believe there will be more. The government’s and almost every major company in the world are busy with the world transforming and our economy going on a war footing. Several major companies are also contending for this job. They will get three of the mining ships. That leaves the one that NASA is controlling and one more. I want your company together with several smaller ones that you are working with to take that risk. It is a risky proposal and it will require a huge investment, investment that we cannot cover. The government will cover fifty percent of the initial expenses the rest is up to you and your partners.”

  “What will be my role in this?”

  “Your company will have complete control. The mining ships will be yours and you will pay them in the long run. How long it will be decided later if we survive this. But I need you answer as fast as possible. You are the right man for the job and it is yours if you like it.”

  Le Blanc rose and approached the window. He looked outside at the sky and then to his president.

  “Even as a kid i always dreamed about the stars. What you are offering me is making sure that that dream comes true.”

  As the president looked at him a huge grin appeared on the miner’s face.

  “My answer is yes Mr. President. Hell yea.”

  As he heard his last words the president smiled as well. It was a joyful smile, a rare one since the attack.

  “Very well Mr. Le Blanc. You will get what you need from my secretary. She will give you all the information’s you need.”

  Le Blanc got the hint and took the president’s hand. After that he turned and exited the room and as he did he noticed the several men in uniform that waited outside. He nodded and went towards the woman that was waiting for him.

  Carter looked through the window of his office. It was a beautiful night with a cloudless sky over Washington. He smiled as he noticed the now expanded space station circling high above. The station now held two more ships that were being built up there. But these ships were very different from the Deadalus. They were warships that together with the ones being built on Earth would try to stop the invasion at its tracks.

  He hoped that they will too.

  “The Federal government has approved the operation Valhalla Mr. President. Four ships from the fleet will be launched as soon as their crew and passengers are assembled.”

  Carter turned towards the man who spoke those words. The man was his oldest friend and at the same time he was the commander of the newly formed EFA (earth federation army). And looking at his face it was not an easy job. Just keeping and managing an army the size the US had was difficult enough. The EFA had far more man, massive military formations that needed to be incorporated in to one unified body. That was almost impossible. Given time Carter knew that it would succeed. But time was something they didn’t have. So soon after the forming everyone decided that the national armies should stay that. Instead of incorporating them all each country contributed some of its military
units in to what was now becoming the real EFA. That made it easier to incorporate them and train them as one cohesive army that could react everywhere in cooperation with the national armies. It also made Taylor’s job a lot easier.

  Together with them were also two admirals, admirals Johnson and Simonson and one captain, captain Jennings.

  They were here because they were involved in the first conflict, the battle with the Dacarian scout fleet, and because they were planned to take command of the fleet that was now being built. The decision was understandable. They had firsthand experience in fighting them and with ships that were by a large margin weaker than the ones they would have a chance to command. As for Jennings he was here because he was the man who commanded the first mission to another star, three stars in fact.

  And he was also going to be a part of Valhalla as he was the commander of the ship that was going to transfer people and equipment to Eden. That was the name of one of the three habitable worlds in Alpha Centaury, the world they all agreed was a real paradise, a planet that just like Earth was placed at the perfect place to allow life to flourish. It had no native civilization, and it was almost as big as Earth with a strong magnetic field that helped it to stave of the radiation from the two stars that it orbited. In fact it only orbited around Alpha Centaury but to an outside observer it would have seemed that it orbited both Alpha and Beta. It had six continents and vast deep oceans and inland seas and lakes and rivers. Large mountains the highest over ten miles were scattered on all continents and vast jungles and forests could be seen everywhere. The examinations of the soil and the fauna and flora gave stunning results about the similarity with Earth. Earth animals and plants could survive on that lush world with ease. That made the colonization of Eden a priority. It was decided that one hundred thousand colonists should be relocated to that world with hope that by keeping a low profile and not announcing their technology and no space transmissions of any kind they would remain hidden even in case Earth falls. The colonists were now being chosen.

  But that was a concern that was for another time and with other people.

  “That is in the hands of the Federation. Let us hope they will have the same success captain Jennings had in his mission. Congratulations captain. Hope it felt good.”

  He presidents comment brought a smile on Jennings face. He relaxed a bit.

  “Thank you Sir. It did.”

  The president smiled back and sat down on his chair. He looked at the four officers in the room with him.

  “I’m glad it did. It might be the brightest thing we will see in a long time. But that is not the reason we are here.”

  “Yes sir.” - The comment came from Admiral Johnson. The president just nodded and continued.

  “Gentlemen three months ago we sent captain Jennings and his crew with the Deadalus filled with hope. They managed to give us that and much more. As you are well aware besides the two ships that are now being built in space fifteen other smaller ones are being constructed in several countries down here on Earth. But we all know that they might not be enough. We need more, we must have more. How does the Nautilus project go? The report says that it will be ready for a test in three weeks.”

  “Yes sir. Four submarines are entering the final process now, two of ours, one Russian and one British. The Los Angeles class that we plan to conduct the tests on will be ready in three weeks. It will give us the chance to test how much armor will be needed for a ship to be able to stay in the battle even without shielding.”

  “Let us hope that the tests will prove to be good. Time is running out and we need those ships. The engines will be ready in ten months and we need to have the hulls for them. And we will gentlemen. Even If the armor proves that it can’t last long we might have to use them. That invasion has to be stopped there.”

  As he said those words he pointed outward towards the sky.

  “We have to stop them up there. Those ships must not reach Earth, no matter the price.”

  None of the officers answered that.

  They all knew what their superior meant, and they all felt the same. They knew their mission and they knew that every soldier that served under them, every soldier that in that moment that was approaching will find himself facing that threat will feel the same. They knew that they might be required to die but at that thought all they felt was pride that they might be asked to do that…

  Several minutes later they all excited the office. Carter was still looking outside, his view sometimes turning toward a picture on his desk. The picture was from his two children. He knew what he was asking form his men, what every leader in the world, was asking from the soldiers and the fleet that was now being built. But that was so that humanity has a chance, a future so that all the children in the world could live free.

  He took the picture in his hands.

  It was for them, for them…

  18 July 2018 12:30 hours

  Battleship Argus Earth Orbit

  Admiral Johnson stood on the bridge on the Argus and watched as the USS Los Angeles disengaged from the hull of the Demetrion. As it did the cruiser slowly moved away. The submarine looked a lot different from the way it looked several months earlier. It was larger and its hull was a lot stronger. The places where the weapons were supposed to be placed could be seen easily.

  The submarine was the product of the project Nautilus project that was the brainchild of Adam Archer a young engineer who proposed the idea that with redesign and some changes the submarines could be turned into spaceships. His proposal, a proposal that in the past would have been met with laughs, was taken seriously by everyone considering the impending danger and the immediate need for ships. Johnson knew that the proposal wasn’t something that was exactly new. Both the navy and NASA looked at that idea several times earlier. But until now no one thought about actually trying to produce a starship.

  Adam got assigned as one of the heads of the project that was named Nautilus. He was here now along with several members of his team, and a lot of officers. The commanding officers of the Los Angeles were here also. They all knew that they were about to watch their submarine, their home die but they brushed those thoughts aside. What was now important was will the armor that was installed on the submarine be enough.

  Johnson looked at the report in his hands. The specs of the submarine were there.

  The armor was the same as the one used in the ships that were now being built on Earth and in the slips. It was in a smaller quantity and density in order to conserve the structural integrity of the submarines.

  Steps were taken in order to strengthen that integrity as well with additions and some changes in the submarines as well. A smile appeared on his face as he read that last word. The Los Angeles now was anything but a submarine. With the amount of armor she had she was by far the strongest ship ever constructed on Earth.

  Five meters of steel plates covered the entire submarine. Over them a layer of titanium plates with a thickness of forty centimeters. And the final amount of armor was represented by the combination of ceramics, carbon nanotubes, and titanium diboride and boron nitrides. The composite armor was the most advanced armor that was known to men and that could be produced. The first outer defense of the ship was consisted of thirty centimeters thick armor plates that had an electric current going through them. That was the electric armor, the most advanced armor currently used in the modern military, and a type of armor that everyone hoped would be capable of standing against the energy weapons of the enemy ships. It was a derivation of the famous star trek series a form of polarization of the outer hull of the ship. The US, Russia, Britain, China and several other advanced countries used it and developed it in secret but the attack and the coming invasion forced many of this countries and black projects out in the open. Some thanks to the interference of the AI’s who easily hacked Earth computer systems and revealed in public many facts that everyone wanted to remain hidden. The electric armor was upgraded thanks to the information’s the AI’s
shared with humanity. Johnson smiled at that thought. That was the word Anaya used when she sent the information’s on the net. The AI didn’t care about what some high placed humans thought about things that had to be kept secret. Medical cures and formulas that the pharmaceutical companies never admitted having were now on the open market. The world was changing and empires were shattering and in that process slowly humanity was uniting, becoming a unified civilization.

  He turned and saw that everyone was watching outside. As they did they could notice the cruiser taking a position in the distance, preparing just as the Argus to fire.

  He couldn’t see it but he knew that both the Argus and the Demetrion were preparing to fire. The Los Angeles didn’t have crew on board, only a small copy of Anaya that had control over the ship.