“As far as planning goes,” said the plans officer, “we continue to be handicapped by a lack of information. We really don’t know where we’re going, what we’ll see there, or what we hope to accomplish moving forward. We have reviewed all of the information that exists in the data banks on how to fight this ship, both with and without its air wing, but without knowing what the threat is going to be, it is hard to plan for it.” He shrugged. “We’ll be ready to get to work as soon as information starts coming in.”
The communications and information technology officer was next. “We have developed and practiced our communications plans with the air wing,” she briefed. “We have procedures for both radio comms, implant comms and for any situations where all of our comms have failed. The only comms we won’t have are with Earth; once we leave the system, we will be out of communications with home until we get back to this system.”
“From a training perspective,” said the training officer, “the crew is ready to go. We have completed all of the simulations required to reinforce the knowledge downloaded by implant. Once we get away from Earth, we need to do some live firing of the weapons systems to make sure that everyone knows what they’re doing.” The operations officer nodded his head; he wanted to have a live fire exercise as soon as possible to check out the systems. Combat was a bad time to find out that something didn’t work. The training officer continued, “I will leave the air wing training and platoon training to Lieutenant Commander Hobbs, as he oversaw that.”
The special projects officer was next. Among other things, she ran the replicator. “We are currently working on making additional space suits,” she said. “We will have enough replicated for the whole crew prior to our departure.”
“Good,” commented Captain Deutch. “This isn’t the Titanic. If something happens, I want everyone to be protected. We’ve got more than just cold water to worry about.”
The special projects officer nodded and continued, “After we finish the suits, we will begin working on spare parts for the Viper space fighters, in case any of them get damaged.”
Calvin nodded. “Thanks,” he said.
The civil affairs officer was next. It was his duty to interact with any government or non-government civilian organizations they came in contact with, as well as to deal with the civilian populace. He was also the liaison with the ambassador. “We are all set. The ambassador and his staff are visiting with all of the nations’ presidents and prime ministers. They will be boarding the week prior to our departure.”
“We’re as ready as we’re going to be,” said the ship’s surgeon. “I’m still working out what my duties are in conjunction with the medibot, but I think we have all of the equipment and pharmaceuticals that we’ll need for the voyage.”
Captain Deutch looked at Calvin. “That just leaves your units,” he said.
Calvin looked around the table. He’d been so busy trying to get both units ready to deploy that he hadn’t made it to many of the commanding officer’s previous meetings, and many of the department heads were strangers to him. He’d have plenty of time to get to know them on deployment, he decided. “The squadron is all set,” he said, looking at Bullseye who nodded. “We have practiced a variety of formations, from single-ship operations to full squadron strikes. All of our pilots are also trained to fly the shuttles whenever they are needed.” Prior to a deployment, a squadron would normally be evaluated by a host of commands and agencies, who would delve into administrative and training records to make sure all of the ‘Ts’ were crossed and the ‘Is’ dotted. Then they would have to show the inspectors that they were ready by performing a variety of missions. That wasn’t going to happen with this deployment; Calvin was the sole arbiter of the squadron’s readiness.
“We did have one suggestion from Captain Park Ji-hun, one of our pilots from South Korea. In some of the maneuvers that we’ve been practicing, he thought that it would be handy if we were to bring along a load of mines. With the right design, we could make these fairly cheaply and easily with the replicator. If all you need is five kilograms of antimatter to make a 215 megaton explosion, then the mines wouldn’t have to be very big or take up much space, but they would be a very good force-multiplier if we needed them.”
“If we can make the mines easily and cheaply,” replied Captain Deutch, “and if it doesn’t affect our production schedule too badly, then go ahead and make some of them. Let me know how it turns out.”
“Yes sir,” said Calvin. “As far as the platoon goes, it is also ready to go. All of our gear is loaded, and we have practiced all of the types of missions that we expect to be required to perform. We are practiced on land, in the air, under the water and in space. We are current with all of our weapons, both our new alien technology and our legacy armaments. We have all of the ammunition we will need and the raw materials to make more if needed.”
Calvin looked Captain Deutch in the eyes. “We’re ready to go,” he said.
Captain Deutch looked at the ceiling. “Solomon, do you have anything pertinent to add to the discussion?”
“I am in as good a shape as I think I can be,” said the ship’s AI. “I agree that it would be prudent to do some weapons testing at the earliest opportunity. My weapons have not been fired in a very long time. Aside from that, I see no reason not to deploy as planned.”
“All right,” said Deutch, “it looks like we are on track for our scheduled deployment date.” He stood up so that he could look around the room at all of the officers and chiefs, not just the ones sitting at the head table. “Obviously, we have never done this before. The human race has never done this before. Most of us, however, have deployed previously. I want all of you to use every last bit of your experience to get the ship ready to go. If you think we might need something and there’s room, bring it. If you think we might need something and there’s no room for it, make room. If you can’t make room, tell your chain of command. I want to know if we’re going to leave behind something that we might need.” He looked around again. “There’s no calling for help and there’s no pulling into a port for supplies or to get something that we forgot. It’s just us.”
“Any questions?” Captain Deutch asked. Seeing none, he said, “That’s it then. Let’s finish getting her ready to go.”
* * * * *
Chapter Eleven
CO’s Conference Room, TSS Vella Gulf, ‘Dark Side’ of the Moon, February 25, 2019
“We leave within a month,” said Captain Deutch. “Don’t you think it’s time to tell us how the star drive works? I think that would be kind of handy information to have.” Captain Deutch had invited the Psiclopes to the weekly staff meeting, and they had joined him in the CO’s conference room along with the rest of his staff. He had been trying to get this information from the Psiclopes for several months, but they had always put him off. Calvin finally advised him to put them on the spot in front of others; it was the only thing that had worked for him.
“I’m sorry,” said Arges, “but your minds are not ready to understand it.”
“What do you mean, ‘not ready to understand it?’” asked the executive officer, Captain Lorena Griffin.
Arges shook his head. “I mean that you have neither the technology, the mathematics, nor the physics to understand it. Your minds will have to expand significantly before you will be able to understand stargate technology.”
“Well, how about this?” the XO asked. “Does the ship go faster than light, or does it go through something like a wormhole?”
“The star drive uses wormholes, which are black holes linked through a process that you wouldn’t understand,” said Arges. “If you enter the first one at the correct angle, you will exit the other one at the same speed.”
“So,” said Captain Deutch, “the stargates are wormholes between two black holes?”
“Correct,” agreed Arges.
“And if we enter one going the right direction, we emerge out of the other one?” asked Deutch.
“Where are we when we are in between the two black holes?” asked Deutch.
“I’m sorry,” said Arges, “but you wouldn’t understand it. It involves math that hasn’t been downloaded to your implants and six dimensional space.”
“What a minute,” said Deutch. “I thought there were only five dimensions.”
“See?” asked Arges. “That’s what I’m talking about. You wouldn’t understand.”
“OK,” said Deutch, “if that’s the case, I doubt I’d want to understand. What can you tell us about these black holes?”
“Every system that we know about contains at least one black hole stargate,” said Arges, “and most systems have two stargates in them, that allow you to pass through. About one in five have multiple stargates. These are nexus systems. These are key systems to hold as they give a civilization mobility and trade advantages over neighboring civilizations.”
“How many stargates are there in this system?” asked Calvin.
“There are two that we know of,” said Steropes.
“What do you mean, ‘that you know of?’” asked Calvin
“They’re very hard to find,” replied Steropes. “Sara and the University of Washington are working on some ideas that may result in a better method of finding them, but for now, we have to do it the slow, laborious way.”
“How slow and laborious?” asked the CO.
“In most cases,” answered Arges, “it will take us between five days and a week once we enter a new star system for our magnetic anomaly detectors to ascertain the location of any stargates and another day or two to resolve the required transit direction for employing them. That time will not be wasted, as we will use it to gather data on the rest of the system. Hopefully, on the next trip we will be able to trim down the amount of time required for stargate detection.”
“Can you at least tell us something about the systems that we are going to be traveling through?” asked Deutch.
“Unfortunately, no,” replied Steropes. “Apparently, the Drakuls didn’t update the ephemeris or take notes on the systems they passed through on their way here. The ship’s ephemeris is blank. We have no information on the systems through which we will be traveling.”
“Wonderful,” replied Deutch. “Got any other good news for me?”
“No I don’t,” replied Arges, missing the sarcasm. “Unfortunately, the last Eldive on the Vella Gulf was able to wipe out the navigational data before he was killed by the Drakuls. We don’t know anything about the star systems going up the other chain, either.”
Deutch sighed. “Why do I even bother asking?”
TSS Vella Gulf, Dark Side of the Moon, DATE
“When is Irina scheduled to get her implants?” asked Calvin.
“Tomorrow,” replied Night. “You still think this is a good idea?”
“I think it’s a horrible idea,” answered Calvin, “fraught with danger and the possibility for everything to go catastrophically wrong.”
“So why do it?” Night asked.
“What do you know about geography?” Calvin asked in reply.
“I know a little bit,” said Night. “I can also now download anything I need from the internet by way of my implants.”
Calvin smiled. “OK then, when it comes to natural resources, what country has more than any other? What country also has the second largest deposits of rare earth minerals after China, whom we currently don’t get along with? Third largest gold deposits? Most natural gas? Any guesses? Oh, yeah, they also have the fifth largest military, too.”
“Without researching it, I’m going to go out on a limb and guess Russia,” Night replied.
“Correct on all counts,” agreed Calvin. “They’ve got lots of resources, which we need, and a big military to help counter-balance China, which we might still need at some point. Besides, they consider themselves a world power and get all pissy if you don’t invite them to the party. Then they make everything harder by throwing up road blocks everywhere they can. It doesn’t take a student of history to see all the times they’ve done that over the last forty or so years.”
“Well, that’s certainly true,” said Night.
“So, we can either get them to play with us and be really helpful, or we can alienate them and drive them away. If we drive them away, they’ll probably try to form their own world government with China and anyone else that will join them, just to spite us. Who knows? We’re not as well liked as we once were; they might even get more countries to go along with them than we have with us. I wonder if the Psiclopes would have to switch allegiance to them if that happened...boy, wouldn’t that just absolutely suck?”
Night looked like he had just swallowed something bad. “Yeah, that would suck.”
“So our only real option is to include them, right?” asked Calvin.
“When you put it that way,” replied Night, “we don’t really have much of a choice, do we?”
“No,” said Calvin, “we don’t.”
Pier 7, Naval Station Norfolk, March 13, 2019
“OK Jamal, take good care of Austin.” Turning to the other twin, the Ranger Company’s XO, First Lieutenant Odysseus Bollinger, said, “Austin, take good care of Jamal.”
Both of them chorused, “We will, sir!” and saluted him.
He returned their salutes and then turned to walk off as they boarded the ship. Having overheard his former XO, Top decided he just had to know and stopped the officer. “How do you tell them apart, XO? You are the only one who can do it, and you never get them wrong.”
“Bugs you, does it?” asked the XO, smiling. “You’re such a good judge of people, Master Sergeant. How is it that you can’t tell them apart?”
“To tell you the truth sir, it bugs the ever-living crap out of me,” answered Top.
“OK,” said the XO, “I’ll tell you, if you promise to keep it just between us. Deal?”
“Absolutely sir. Deal!” agreed Top.
“OK,” the XO repeated, “the secret is that the twins aren’t just identical. They’re mirror image twins.”
“What the hell does that mean sir?” asked Top.
“A set of mirror image twins are identical twins that are created when the fertilized egg splits late, between days 9-12; if it split any later, they might be born conjoined. Mirror image twins are genetically identical, including the same DNA, but they have small mirror image differences. With the Gordons, they have two different size feet; with each of them the opposite foot is larger. They each buy a set of different size shoes and trade one to the other.”
“So you look at their feet?” asked Top
“Naw, that would be too hard. Besides, it’s only a half size different, and I can’t tell that.” The XO shrugged and smiled. “I know; I tried.”
“So, how do you do it?” Top growled, starting to lose his patience.
“It’s actually very easy,” said the XO, giving in. “They are opposite handed; Jamal is left-handed, and Austin is right. When they talk, they always point and gesture with their dominant hand; if one is pointing with his left hand, it’s Jamal. You can’t tell them that you know that, though, or they’ll disguise it. They’ve practiced all their life to imitate each other and can do it when they think about it. They can even write with their off hands if they have to. I understand it took almost a year before they mastered that. Watch them when they stand next to each other; they look like a mirror of each other.”
“Wow XO, you’ve got some outstanding powers of observation,” exclaimed Top. “No one else has ever caught on to that.”
“Or, maybe there’s another explanation…” the XO said, allowing his voice to trail off.
“Uncle!” said Top, “Just tell me already!”
“You’re going about it all wrong,” said the XO. “There was an easier way to figure it out.” He paused, grinning. “I asked their mom.”
“Gah!” exclaimed Top. “Why didn’t I think of that? It seem
s too easy!”
The XO shook his head. “Actually, it wasn’t easy. She made me beg and plead. Finally, she made me promise to give her status updates on them, because they never write or call. I promised to do that, and she told me the secret. Of course, since I’m not going on the mission, you’ll have to do it for me. Would you do that? She’s really a very nice woman, despite how her sons act.”
“Yes sir,” agreed Top, “I’ll write her about the mission...when I can.”
“Good,” answered the XO. “In that case, I’ll give you a freebie. Their surfer-dude accent is faked.”
“It is?” asked the first sergeant.
The XO nodded. “Yep, it’s all a big put on. They’re actually from Wisconsin; they just do it to annoy people.”
“That’s too funny!” exclaimed Top, and they both started laughing.
“Why haven’t you ever said anything?” asked Top, once they had stopped.
“Isn’t it more fun to be in on the joke?” asked the XO.
USS Vella Gulf, Naval Station Norfolk, March 13, 2019
The USS Vella Gulf departed Pier 7 at Naval Station Norfolk on its final deployment. A sense of nostalgia filled the air. Captain Deutch looked at his executive officer, Captain Lorena Griffin, “In some ways, I’m almost sorry that we won’t be taking this ship on her last deployment. She deserves one more cruise before getting decommissioned.”
It wasn’t long before the ship was passing the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel (HRBT), where several news crews had parked to get their digital recordings of the ship’s last transit. The executive officer nodded toward the TV crews. “It appears our departure is being well noted.”
“Good,” said the Captain Deutch. “Let them see us leaving.”
The ship passed the HRBT and the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel and was out into the Atlantic Ocean. Captain Deutch had the helmsman take the ship far enough out that they couldn’t be seen from the beach and then found an open area away from other ships.
Theogony 1: Janissaries Page 18
