by Tobias Roote
“Cool!” Kelly said as she noted the new data coming off her screen. “You have drives this powerful?” her eyes had widened in surprise as she noticed the thrust monitors showing over twice the power of any other vessel in the fleet. “..and those shields...” she whistled impressively at the indications of feathering, an oscillation that maintained the shield’s harmony that she thought they were just getting to grips with in the labs, yet here it was working.
“Most of this is pattern technology that isn’t yet fully available to Earth. Pod has manufactured the tech using nanites and provides us with a working model that we then have to learn how to build ourselves without resorting to reverse engineering. For the most part, it’s good enough to know there is a solution, which we can then work on developing,” Lang said, bringing her up to speed with their working arrangements with Pod.
“Why can’t we just copy the plans and produce the technology in bulk, surely it would help in the fight against the Nubl?” she queried, frustrated at not being able to get her hands on the science now.
“It’s against the rules set down by Zirkos. We can use it if we can develop the science behind it. This ensures we don’t annihilate ourselves by blindly using technology we don’t understand,” Zeke interjected.
“This is why we can’t have the D-jump technology in a form that we can reverse engineer. It would be dangerous for all concerned,” Lang offered by way of explaining the policy.
“So, you’re saying that Pod understands how all of this tech works, then?” Kelly responded.
“Err’m... Pod not so much understands it, but limits the use to that which it was provided access to by its ‘Maker’. It has simply added us to the limited accessibility it retains,” Zeke explained carefully. It had always been a ‘bone of contention’ that embargoes on release of technology existed at all. Zirkos was treating humanity like children, but not restricting its use for his own purposes. The fact that Pod creatively interpreted the programmed instructions was a testament to its growing sentience and affinity with Zeke. He couldn’t exactly say this to the others, but Pod had no more idea as to ‘how’ or ‘why’ it worked than they did.
As they made their way back to the station after the test, Zeke decided he would work harder on Pod to release specifications to the D-field. It was an important piece of technology for humanity to utilise.
***
The opportunity for Cebrel to escape arrived. A sense of something adrift had brought him out of standby and the warrior, still encased in the nanite mesh, analysed his system logs to identify the cause. It took him a while before he saw the recorded electrical spike close by and visually searched for the source.
He didn’t immediately realise what it was until a faint metallic sound was picked up by his auditory sensors. Something metallic and tiny was hitting the deck. Then, more until it quickly became a cascade of tiny impact sounds.
Looking down he discovered the reason. The nanites had reached their lifespan power limits and, drained of energy, were releasing their hold on him and falling to the floor. He watched as the decking he rested on absorbed the metal dust leaving no trace behind. Interesting, he thought, an organic decking, or was it something else entirely?
He pulled as his left arm was released. He grabbed at the now brittle bonds that held him, and watched as they disintegrated under his fingers, falling to the deck. Activating his optical zoom, he magnified a section of the floor beneath him, and was amazed to see the whole deck consisted of more nanites. Different to the ones that had bound him, these looked to be multi-purpose ones similar to the nanites in his system. He tried to pick some up, but they reacted by weaving more tightly together.
Cebrel stood. His own nanites had repaired the minor damage he had suffered in the battle and he was now fully operational. He looked for a door or some form of exit tube but there was nothing visible. This didn’t deter him. Moving to the nearest wall, he began to view the surface microscopically as he searched for something that would indicate a hidden power source within the surface of his prison walls.
A few hours later he had what he wanted. He instructed his nanites to release tiny tendrils of thin wire that consisted of nanites much like the ones used by the ship. He gently laid the sensitive wires against the walls and they began to search out the frequencies of the communication network that bound them together. He would not be able to change their programming, but he had an idea that he might be able to emulate them and gain access to the conduit behind the wall.
As the wires picked up the operating frequencies and emulated them, they sank slowly into the wall as the ship’s nanites accepted them as part of the chain, incorporating the slender foreigners into their ranks. It was a painfully slow process, but one that was rewarded when the wires still attached to Cebrel’s hand came into contact with cables within the wall and began to provide him with electronic feedback.
Two hours later and he was beginning to feel the way the ship wiring was laid out. He selected one particular cable for his attention, his concentration now total. Had someone entered the room behind him right now, he would have been oblivious. All other signals were ignored as Cebrel made contact with the ship’s vitals and began to learn his way around its complex systems.
- 8 -
Engage the Enemy
“Coming up on the last vector before approach to bogey. Standard formation,” Jimmi called out. They had drifted apart to cover a wider span of space, the distance between them helping the AIs triangulate. Now, it was necessary for them to pull closer together in the usual ‘V’ formation.
They had been out in space for ten days and periodically came across trails that indicated recent visits from out of system. They had so far been unable to catch anything in-system. Jimmi felt their luck was about to change and excitement mounted. These new ships needed a proper workout to iron out any kinks in the weapon systems. Vasha didn’t think there were any, but Jimmi was still nervous and would probably remain so until the first engagement.
“Reaver One?”
“Yes, Reaver Two.”
“I’m picking up multiple targets on the extreme range of my sensors.”
“Roger, Reaver Two - let’s have radio silence - switch to communion,” Jimmi instructed. They called the AI-chat ‘communion’ because it brought them all into one virtual room, as if they were together.
Jimmi: Targets on screen.
Vasha: Detecting four possible targets, Shadowships type one. They’re on a course direct to Alpha Station.
Jimmi: Let’s try three separate attacks and test our birds against theirs. Log all engagements, Bendigo.
Bendigo: They are altering course. They may have detected us.
Tango: No matter. Targets selected.
The screen in front of Jimmi showed three of the four ships had been locked into the computer’s targeting systems. It was completely undetectable and the enemy shouldn’t even be aware they were under target lock until the Reavers were ready to begin the attack.
Jimmi: Targets breaking. Follow your lock and watch the fourth, don’t let the other bogey out of your sights.
Flapjack: Increasing thruster speed to compensate for their shift.
Tango: They’re turning again. They must have detected us. Crap! They are quick.
Jimmi: Keep cool everyone. We have a surprise for them. Let’s go deliver it.
Vasha: Approaching nullifier range... NOW!
Jimmi: Activate nullifiers.
Vasha: Activated.
Flapjack: Mine’s sneaking right. Following.
Tango: Splitting left Reaver One, you’re on your own. Good hunting.
Jimmi: Watch your backs out there.
Vasha: Our target is turning and accelerating towards us. It will be in plasma range in three seconds.
Jimmi: Target locked, FIRE!
Two white-hot bolts shot from the underside of the stub wings that were there purely to space out the armaments and keep heat residue away from the fuselage. The
nullifiers did their work, as the plasma bolts slammed into the Shadowship’s hull, a streak of hot plasma coated the impact area and the ship began to break up, no longer a threat.
Jimmi: Vasha, target the fourth bogey, it’s going after Reaver Two.
As soon as the other ship detected Jimmi changing direction, it broke off its intended attack on Reaver two and swung round to target him, its circuit bringing it around and behind them.
Vasha: Bogey is coming up on our tail. Starboard side.
Jimmi: Correcting our shift. Applying retro-thrust to port side. Reducing speed and aligning on target.
Vasha: Target locked. Nullifier active.
Jimmi: Fire lasers.
The lasers took apart the approaching ship effectively. The new technology meant that these Shadowships were no longer a threat to Earth. If these were the only threat, then Earth would have nothing to worry about. However, they had benefit of historical data from the Jenari that showed the Nubl always followed up with big advances in power and numbers. Earth just hadn’t experienced it yet. They knew that these patrols were designed to flush out and attempt to assess new threats as early as possible. They wouldn’t send their best ships until just before the invasion.
Vasha: Target is damaged. Beware possible collision.
The enemy ship had divided into three parts and two were coming directly at them. It would be impossible to avoid both pieces of wreckage and the shields couldn’t handle such a massive impact. He felt the strain as the ship surged forward. Strapped into the cockpit and padded against massive acceleration, he nonetheless felt the pressure on his lungs and eyeballs as it temporarily disabled him, crushing his ribcage and pressing him deep into the pile of the chair. He released a breath to reduce the pain, then couldn’t breathe in again for a few seconds.
Jimmi: Wow! What was that?
Vasha: I boosted thrusters and plasma bolted the wreckage. Our shields would have been damaged. No time for approval.
Jimmi: Action approved. You can definitely have my babies.
Vasha: I thought we had resolved this.
Jimmi: Nope! It’s in the small print.
Tango: Bogey destroyed. Nice work, Reaver one. You get to paint two bogeys on your tail.
Jimmi: Yes, I saw yours on the visuals. Clean kill.
Flapjack: I screwed mine up. I used too much plasma and the bogey just disintegrated into star dust.
Bendigo: All action sequences logged, compressed and transmitted to Earth, as per standing regs.
Jimmi: Excellent. What did we think, too easy?
Vasha: They’re using type one Shadowships which means they don’t want us to know they have developed new designs, or don’t want us to see what they are doing.
Jimmi: Yes, I thought it was too easy. Our new ships were specifically designed to overcome the ones we just destroyed. Their new ships when they come will be much harder to kill.
Flapjack: I suspect when this patrol doesn’t return, they will send something more powerful.
Tango: Can we drop a drone here?
Bendigo: Affirmative.
Mango: We should resume patrol. Our next location is on your visuals. Plotting course.
Jimmi: Engage drives thrusters.
Vasha: Engaged.
Bendigo: Engaged.
Mango: Engaged.
Three more incursions were uncovered, each with two ships only. They were all dealt with summarily using their plasma bolts and nullifiers. Whilst the other two pilots got a little blasé about the ease of shooting, Jimmi wasn’t so sure it wasn’t proving just a bit too easy.
He was reclining in his bunk. It made a change from the pilot seat which, despite being designed for long sessions, palled after a while and he frequently felt the need to stretch out.
Mentally pulling up the sensor logs of the recent altercations, he began a detailed search. His new-found ability to utilise Vasha’s vast intellectual capacity whilst connected inside the ship meant he could look for a needle in a haystack - and find it. Which was just as well, because that was what he was looking for. Some hours later he was still pondering and looking for something that wasn’t there.
He was almost at the point of thinking his hunch was wrong when he discovered something that set his heart racing.
Jimmi: Vasha connect me with the others.
Vasha: Connected.
Jimmi: Do not react to this, or do anything to indicate you are aware of what I’m about to tell you.
Tango: Tell us what?
Jimmi: We’re being followed.
Bendigo: We have detected nothing on all of our scans.
Vasha: Jimmi is correct. I am viewing his research now. We have three large anomalies tracking us at varying distances.
Jimmi: They must have a new cloaking device.
Flapjack: Which means the ships we have been shooting up are decoys.
Jimmi: Precisely my thinking. Assessing our capability, no doubt. I would guess they are setting us up for either a kill zone, or capture. I favour the latter.
Vasha: You are aware of the consequences of such occurring.
Jimmi: Yes, we understand. That hasn’t happened yet. We have surprise on our side now.
Vasha: I concur. What is your intention.
Jimmi: I do have a plan.
As Jimmi explained his idea to the others he commanded the ships to increase speed and draw closer together. After an hour he felt they were running at sufficient speed to carry out his plan of attack. He watched the anomalies which were now clearly highlighted by Vasha’s sensors which had tuned out everything except the hidden ships.
They knew two things. Firstly, they were larger than Shadowships and secondly they were fast. They were keeping up with the Reavers without any apparent difficulty. Time to begin, he decided.
Jimmi: Squadron, form tight formation. Prepare to merge on my command.
He continued to watch his sensors as the two wingmen came in close using the AIs precision controls to ensure they didn’t physically collide. The Reavers were cloaked which meant they might be partially hidden, or not hidden at all depending on the level of the technology being used on the new Nubl ships. Without a doubt, the enemy were now able to track them.
Jimmi: All ships, harmonise shields. Vasha, take navigation and thrusters. Bendigo, take targeting. Mango, take nullifiers. Pilots, take your best shots. Prepare to merge on my command.
Jimmi: MERGE.
He felt the slight nudges, as one after the other, the specially modified stub wings overlapped and merged. Reinforced sections ensured that the resulting torque wouldn’t tear them apart. The ability of the AIs to combine their control meant there would be no miscalculation when six thrusters worked together to provide direction and speed. Miscalculation of even the slightest percentage would tear their ships apart and probably disable them. The AIs had to be perfectly synchronised, and for that reason the three sets of drives were always put under one single AIs control.
Even so, thought Jimmi, this was going to be one helluva ride.
Jimmi: Vasha, navigate a course to take in the nearest anomaly and follow through with a secondary target if the first target folds. The rest of you - we have six lasers, plasma bolts and nullifiers. It might take all of them to take out one target. Until we know more, assume they will hold out and be prepared for counter-attack.
Vasha: Course locked in. Prepare yourselves for a hard turn.
Jimmi: ENGAGE.
As Vasha accelerated, the force on the pilots took its toll. The human body is a frail thing when under such forces and the AIs knew they had to protect them at all costs. Monitoring inside the cockpit ensured that they could sense the level of bodily distress and Vasha remained aware of their condition throughout the manoeuvring.
That didn’t help Jimmi much though. He felt the impact like a sledgehammer effect as he was driven back into the cushioned seat. He couldn’t move his head. His lungs, which he had wisely only half-filled, would no longer work. He had trouble holding
onto the oxygen he had inhaled just before Vasha had put them into a full-powered turn.
Then, almost as soon as Jimmi decided it would be more comfortable if he passed out, it was suddenly gone and he was breathing normally again. His head ached.
Vasha: Coming up on first anomaly.
Mango: Nullifier in range... NOW! Activated.
Bendigo: Unable to target-lock. Fire when ready.
Jimmi: Firing lasers.
Flapjack: I’ve got the plasma’s - firing now.
Tango: Lasers rotating and firing.
The combined assault on what appeared to be empty space proved it to be a deception. A ball of plasma and laser fire hit a cloaked shield and continued to drive into the resistance, pushing for a weakness. The outline of a large ship was revealed, the cloak wavering from the onslaught.
Bendigo: Enemy shield weakening. Two seconds before we have to break off attack.
Vasha: Preparing to retro-thrust - starboard. Maintain attack I will keep us on target as we fly past.
Jimmi: Understood. Lasers at 80%
As the retro-thrust took effect, Jimmi felt the gravitational pressure shift to his left and the discomfort returned, although not quite as bad. It was more awkward because the padding didn’t work quite so well on these manoeuvres. He managed to keep his finger on the trigger, but now alternated between plasma and laser to give time to recharge.
Then the ship appeared in front, its shield and cloak gone, now relying purely on its armour plating.
Bendigo: Incoming. Twenty eight seconds to impact.
The two other anomalies had uncloaked and were now engaging the merged Reavers. The only thing saving them at present was the nearest enemy was still out of range and could only use missiles. Closer in, and they would be dealing with lasers, or whatever weaponry they maintained.
The target ship was now firing its lasers. The combined Reaver shield glowed, harmonisation ensuring that all three ships were triple-covered by its protection. Jimmi couldn’t see anything visually, but he detected the enemy ship losing power as they continued to fire combined laser and plasma bolts.
When Jimmi calculated they were at the limit of their stay and expected Vasha to pull them out, the other ship stopped firing and the Reavers’ lasers punched through armour while plasma bolts lit up the interior as it burned everything away inside the ship.