by Don Foxe
“And in return?” Hosny asks.
“We ask you allow Admiral Patterson and Captain Cooper to devise a plan to free Fell from the tyranny of the Mischene, and the horror of the Zenge, in a manner that will not place your own planet at jeopardy. We request, if their plan is acceptable and you agree Earth will remain secure during the implementation, that you fully support it.”
Tasha interjected, “Human’s most wonderful assets are your innovative thinking, and adventurous nature. The Fellen will trade their innovations in communications for your innovations in war. For your intervention, in an attempt to free Fell, whether it is successful, or not, free Fellen will pledge to align with Earth against any who would attack your planet.”
Prince Yauni stood to add, “Rys, has already signed trade and alliance pacts with Earth. We offer assistance in this endeavor. If Fell is freed, it sends a message to other worlds. The Zenge, and their masters, can be defeated. Such an action would demonstrate Earth represents the strongest force in the galaxy. Rys would take pride in standing with such a force for good.”
“Dr. Trent, you are this planet’s foremost scientist,” Hosny said. “Are the communications advancements the Fellen offer worth the trade?”
“Instant communications across trillions of miles of space, and the ability to communicate with ships in space-fold?” he asked, rhetorically. “That reality against the potential Admiral Patterson and Captain Cooper can devise a plan of action to save an entire planet, while not endangering Earth? I would take that trade one-hundred out of one-hundred times, Governor Hosny.”
“Admiral Patterson, your thoughts please?” he asked of the uniformed woman, sitting attentive in the second row, beside her famous Captain.
Patterson, not a tall woman, but when she rose, in full uniform, ribbons and decorations proclaiming her service to Can-Am, and the UEC, she commanded the room the way she would command the bridge of any ship in the fleet.
“If Storm and Sparks offered nothing to trade in return for our help freeing their planet, I would still petition this board, and the entire planet on their behalf,” she said. “I am career military. I have served my entire adult life. As such, I have also been a student of history. While Earth’s history is only a tiny sample of galactic history, our experiences, our evolution due to our history, bring us to this place in time. This is a time when Earth stands at the tipping point upon which history turns.”
She stopped for a moment before quoting, "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." She looked each board member in the eye, then said, “Edmund Burke spoke those words in the Eighteenth Century. His words proven true too many times in our short history. We cannot deny their truth in this case, at this time. If the UEC accepts the Fellen offer, Space Fleet will create a strategy to repel the invaders on Fell, but present nothing that would leave our solar system under-defended, and Earth vulnerable to attack.
“Captain Cooper acted to protect the Star Gazer. The UEC rushed to the aid of Prince Yauni’s planet. Humanitarian acts in the best traditions of mankind. We are already at war. Sooner or later, we will be forced to advance the battle to the enemy, or the conflict will land on our doorstep.
“Accept the trade. Let us take the fight to them, and let them know they have stepped into the lion’s den, and this lion bites.” Finished, she retook her seat.
“Captain Cooper, your thoughts?” Hosny asked.
Cooper stood, also in full uniform. He looked to the Board, and said, “What she said,” and sat down.
“If you will excuse us, we need to discuss the proceedings in private,” Hosny told the attentive assembly.
The eight petitioners exited the chamber. A UEC Army captain escorted them to the officers’ mess. Here they could have drinks, order something to eat if they liked, and await the decision of the Board.
They congregated at an oversized table, each ordering a drink from an obviously star-struck waiter. Manny, who said nothing before the Board, looked at Coop, raised his glass, and toasted, “What she said!”
The others took the cue to release the tension, and as one, toasted the Admiral with “What she said!”
Patterson raised her own glass, and echoed, “What I said.”
“Whatever the outcome,” Sparks said to the group, “I want to thank you. Storm has discovered incredible friends.”
“What do you think they will decide?” Storm asked Coop.
“Politics and politicians,” Coop said. “I have no clue how a politician comes to a decision. We sit, we wait, and we hope. Right now, that’s all we can do.”
In this one case, the politicians reached the appropriate conclusion. The Board agreed to recommend to the UE Council to accept the offer. Everyone in-the-know, realized the Board of Governors represented the real power within the Council. A recommendation equalled an order. Following a short celebration, the Admiral and Cooper departed for Fleet headquarters in Toronto. Trent and Hernandez headed for research and development laboratories in Indiana. The UEC provided Yauni a shuttle to New Zealand, where he would prepare his people for their return to Rys.
Sparks, Storm, and Tasha returned to the 109. Kennedy downloaded the research and data regarding the tachyon communications systems, and relayed it to Manny Hernandez.
In an operations and tactical planning studio at Space Fleet’s Headquarters in Toronto, Patterson and Cooper began determining mission parameters.
“You already had a plan,” Patterson said to Coop, “or you wouldn’t have gone through that whole tit for tat show with the Board of Governors. Now the performance is over, and your surrogates wowed the audience. What’s up your sleeve?”
“Access to Kennedy or Roosevelt is out of the question,” Cooper said. “No way they allow those two ships out of the solar system while the Mischene and Zenge rampage through the galaxy. The completed battleships remain a year away. If you double up on shifts, perhaps eight months until completion, but the UEC will still refuse their use.”
“We have Angel 7, Demon, and Demon 2,” Patterson said. “Three ships, and nine people are not going to liberate Fell.”
“Angel 1 was a beautiful ship,” Coop said. “She hangs in a museum in Tampa, Florida. Numbers two and three were stripped down, and recycled. But four, five, and six sit in an underground hangar in Nevada. In less than a month we can retro-fit them with the latest tech, add a railgun, and a tachyon cannon. Then we possess four Angel-class fighters with space-fold capability, high-tech weapons and the ability to communicate while in space-fold, or across space instantly. With Demon 1 and 2, we can deploy a full fighter squadron.”
“We now control six ships and eighteen crew members,” Patterson replied. “You have no hard intel on the number of ships or enemy troop strength currently on Fell. Based on your little excursion to Fell, when you were supposedly in the Quentle system, you estimated more than a half-million Zenge soldiers on the surface. Troops supported by motherships, mini-motherships, and Mischene battlecruisers surrounding the planet. Any number of shuttle ships, launches, low atmosphere fighters. A count of forty-eight Parrian cargo ships, some of which may or may not have refitted weapons. That was then. By the time we mount a counter-invasion, those numbers could change dramatically. We may outclass them, but numbers do not lie.”
“We also use the Star Gazer, and our own Parrian cargo ship,” Cooper said. “We can take on the ships surrounding the planet. What we lack in numbers, we make up for in tech, speed, and experience. When we obtain air superiority, we then deploy a counter-incursion force on the surface. With the Star Gazer and the Parrian cargo hauler, we carry enough munitions, armaments, and supplies to turn the Fellen resistance into a billion soldiers.”
“You would pit civilian Fellen against a trained Zenge army, led by capable Mischene officers?” Patterson asked.
“I would. The Fellen are innate warriors. The rest of the galaxy does not try to cheat them because they kick ass. They do not represent an average civilian
population. But we will not set a ship on the surface until, and unless we can take out the Mischene air support. When we do put boots on the ground, they will be Space Marines, UEC Rangers, Special Ops teams and the Space Rangers.”
Coop added, “Rys will also provide ships and personnel, but we cannot expect approval to fit them with space-fold, or the tachyon-based communications tech. Without those improvements, coordination would prove tricky.”
“The plan involves the UEC signing off on refitting retired test ships. Then finding people to crew them. People who can fly like crazy, and shoot worth a damn. We devise a mission plan where those six ships engage a full battle group of alien warships. If you survive that, a ginormous Osperantue cruise ship lands on the surface, filled with Earth’s best and brightest fighters. Besides directly confronting the Zenge forces, they will also contact, recruit, arm, train and lead a native population against a highly trained, highly motivated army of religious fanatics who would rather die than surrender.”
After finishing her review, Patterson sat motionless, looking at Cooper.
“That pretty much sums up the big picture,” Coop said. “We still need to work out the little details.”
Patterson actually laughed out loud, tears running from her eyes. “Damn, Coop. I don’t know if the plan this plan is insane, you are crazy, or I’m just plain nuts for going along with it.”
“Do we present it to the UEC?” Coop asked.
“Sure, the broad strokes,” Patterson said. “We’ll have to make sure they realize only volunteers are asked to join the mission, otherwise they’ll nix it from the get go. If we can get them to let us start putting pieces together . . . “
“It will take on a life of its own,” Cooper completed her thought.
“These events normally do. Hell, every major battle ever won started out as a bad idea,” Patterson said. “Just don’t mention Hannibal, elephants, or mountains,” she warned him.
“The Spanish Armada, the Light Brigade, Or Custer,” Coop added.
CHAPTER 39
The UEC, with the Board of Governors’ consent, allowed the refitting of the older Angel space ships, while they reviewed the other aspects of the mission stratagem.
Angels four, five, and six received modern versions of their sub-light engines. Their crystal-laser arrays improved, enabling an Angel-series ship to match the sub-light speeds of the newer Demon class star fighters.
Demon and Demon 2 constituted the only fighters capable of launching torpedoes or mini-missiles. All six ships received an up-fit of the latest railgun design, including ceramic-Martian alloy composition. The updated railgun offered a smaller footprint, and would store concealed in the forward, lower section of the ship. When needed, it would deploy on a 360-degree swivel. The heat generated by the weapon dissipated by the cold air of space.
Engineers redesigned a portion of the rear cargo bay, and segmented the storage area to accommodate a compact version of the tachyon cannon. Activated, the cannon would elevate and slide forward. The firing position placed it behind the cockpit canopy. A swivel provided the ability to target anything above the ship’s sight lines.
The original Angel design did not include armament. Mission-specific improvements added four laser cannons, embedded in the flying wing design. Two forward facing, and two covering the rear.
Underneath the ships, technicians attached a cylindrical tube, one-foot in diameter, and twenty-feet in length. Looking from beneath the airframe, it appeared made of wire-mesh. The tube represented the avant-garde Hernandez - ASparquila Tachyon Communications Housing (HATCH). The HATCH contained the communications transmitter, and data catch (receiver). The transmitter performed as a rifle, firing information on a tachyon particle stream. The transmitter aimed the tachyon ‘rifle,’ and fired a tachyon stream at any other address in the universe. A specific address assigned each HATCH catch allowed the system to receive audio, video, and digital media embedded within the tachyon particles.
Critical surface, and orbital platform command and communication centers received Solid-State Tachyon Operations and Retrieval Monitor (STORM) displays. These solid material displays contained a captured tachyon particle to imprint information for transmission, or download distortion-free data received. Space Fleet incorporated STORM displays, built and married to HATCH units, to both PT boats, EMS2, MSD, the Martian habitat and one more at the Martian hangar.
The light cutters from Rys instructed gem cutters on Mars how to take larger crystals and shatter them into sizes easier to manipulate. They demonstrated the proper cuts, and polishing to produce crystal power emitters. The smallest crystals, shaped shards, were usable in small devises, like the translator/communicator bracelets now manufactured in Vietnam. Slightly larger crystals provided the power source for the STORM-HATCH systems.
“We’ve been at this for two months,” Cooper said to Manny, as they sat for a late dinner.
“And in two months we created a squadron of space fighters,” Manny replied. “Space Wing; Angel Team 1.”
“SWAT,” Coop said. “HQ cannot get enough acronyms.”
“Hey, they started with Space Wing Earth Retaliation Squadron. SWINGERS,” Manny told him. “The ships are as ready as possible. What are your plans regarding crews?”
“Elie and Mags have Demon 1. I was considering assigning Folly as the com-tac,” Coop said. “She’s proven she can handle the job. Angel 7 will consist of Sky, Storm, and me.”
“Of course,” Manny replied, enjoying a cheeseburger. “You will be leaving the PT-109 without a captain.”
“I’m suggesting Genna sit the chair. She’s young, and not exactly military, but she is essentially an extension of the ship, and the crew trusts her.”
Manny made no comment. He was unfamiliar with Space Fleet protocols relative to an avatar assuming command of a fleet ship.
“Angel 4 will have Rachelle Paré, pilot, Jon-Jon in the second seat, and Lt. Dominczyk as com-tac. Angel 5 will need a pilot. ENS Leigh can handle the second seat. I’ll need to arrange a promotion for her. Then move Lt. Nasser to com-tac. I’ll need a full crew for Angel 6. I’m studying profiles now. I should complete assignments for the open spots within the week.
“Noa Tal has her crew for Demon 2, and they volunteered to join us,” Coop said. “It does leave the SF PT-99 without a fighter.”
“Speaking of the 99, what are your plans for Sam Harrington?” Manny asked. “I can’t see him sitting this one out on the Roosevelt, while every other Space Ranger is off kicking ass.”
“Patterson keeps Sam close. With me not in command of the 109, she needs the only other PT-class captain remaining in the system,” Coop admitted. “He isn’t the only Space Ranger not joining the mission. Benny Claflin is assuming command of security for both platforms and the Martian facilities.”
“You’ll have to replace a lot of important positions on the Kennedy,” Manny said. “You’re tapping a lot of talent.”
“I need to siphon even more,” Coop said. “I’ll expect Anton to command ground units, and any Space Marines willing to volunteer, which will mean all of them. I’ll assign Kebede to handle communications between the air group and the ground forces. I want Hiro to lead special operations.
“I’ll also need a crew for the Star Gazer, which means Commander Cornitsch and Lt. Commander Sonoritsch reassigned to their previous ship. Most, if not all, of the Osperantue on the 109 and 99 crews will want to join them. We can fill in with civilian techs and engineers qualified on her systems.”
“I have a Pagoran engineer aboard the 109, Kaifer Hollisvey. He can help with the Parrian cargo ship,” Coop said.
Manny finished his dinner, and stood to shake Coop’s hand. “It has been one interesting adventure. I look forward to what may come,” Manny said. “I wish you luck, Coop, not only in getting the final approval of the UEC, but the mission itself.”
“Thanks, Manny. We only made it this far because of you, Nathan, and your teams. Your support will represent a
major reason we succeed,” Coop replied, honestly.
CHAPTER 40
Fleet Admiral Patterson sat behind her desk in Toronto. Captain Cooper sat on the other side.
“The UEC approved the basic mission plan,” Patterson said. “The fact you delivered six capable fighters, with real-time interstellar communications, and volunteer crews in three months proved quite impressive.
“The Star Gazer is repaired and ready for space flight, thanks to the engineers on MSD, with assistance from two thousand Osperantue volunteers. The ship is now equipped with a space-fold array, STORM-HATCH system, and two tachyon-plasma cannons. Her availability increased their estimation of success for the mission. The Parrian cargo vessel’s refits are complete. Weapons and small arms transported by the Star Gazer and the cargo hauler will supply enough Fellen resistance fighters to carry the battle to the Zenge.” The Admiral set her data pad aside. She was aware of the facts.
“Seven of nine Space Rangers have volunteered for the mission. The other two ordered to remain on station, or they would have joined as well. Space Fleet requested every UEC military branch, as well as affiliated military and para-military groups pass along our request for volunteers. We informed them we needed 50,000 combat specialists for a counter-insertion mission. We requested another 50,000 support personnel. We told them to explain the job could last months, on a planet trillions of miles from Earth. The mission’s objective; to save an alien species, from an alien invasion force numbering nearly a half-million soldiers. We received a quarter-million positive responses,” she said. Pride echoed in her voice.