Hood scanned the room and caught glimpse of each of his Command staff. Sanchez, Greywalker, McGregor, Aldridge and Wells all stood around the central Command Station and nodded in agreement, as did the rest of the Command Deck crew.
Hood toggled the screen on his console, and the image of a star system replaced the Cilik’ti warrior visage. “This is the Cygni system, and it was the destination of the colony ship Magellan. The fourth planet in the system was identified as a near Earth target world, and that is where we should find the first group of colonists. EDF stellar-cartography experts have determined the planet is slightly larger than the size of Earth and has two orbiting moons, so gravity on the planet shouldn’t be an issue. When we arrive, our teams will make contact with the colonists, assess the situation and provide any assistance necessary until Command instructs us to head to our next objective.”
Hood keyed in a new sequence of buttons on his console. Several red icons became visible on the screen in a synchronous orbit around the planet. “To provide the most accurate intelligence on the planet, we will deploy a series of satellites in orbit. These satellites will also provide us with planetary system data and monitor for any hostiles or gravitational displacements that could be construed as a space-fold event.”
Hood turned off the display and began to circle the central Command Station. “Make no mistake people. Utmost vigilance is required. After each jump, we will initiate full deployment of our tactical units and maintain that pattern even after we arrive at Cygni. To use an old phrase, ‘Fasten your seat belts ladies and gentlemen!’ First jump is in two hours. Hood out.”
Hood turned off the comm channel and walked over to Sanchez who was wearing a wide smile. “What did you think, Raf?” Hood said quietly.
“Extemporaneous. Tough. I liked it, and I think it got everyone’s attention,” Sanchez replied. “I think Lieutenant Wells might have a beef with you throwing out the script, but it got the point across.”
“I am sure she’ll get over it. I’ll be in my quarters until it’s time to jump. Comm me if you need anything,” Hood said.
Sanchez nodded and Hood exited the Command Deck, heading down the hall.
EDF Armstrong
Sunday, January 19
Earth Year 2155
10 Minutes to First Jump
The Command Deck of the Armstrong was engrossed in low level conversations at each station as ship personnel ran through final checklists before departure. Like many of the crew, Hood took the opportunity to write a message home to his family. The messages wouldn’t be delivered until they reached Cygni, but Hood encouraged the entire crew to take the time to say something to their loved ones. They may not get a chance again for some time.
Hood stood near his Command Station and watched Sanchez confer with the Weapons Station on the ship weapons stockpile. The overall status screen at his station has separate indicators for each individual major ship function. The Weapons Station status turned green, and Sanchez turned back to Hood and offered a ‘thumbs up.’
A young ensign from the Engineering Section walked over to Hood. “Captain, Mr. Whitaker wanted me to inform you that all fighter bays are now de-pressurized and all gunships are docked and prepared for departure. For some reason, statuses are not being properly reported to the Command Station. The team is working on the problem, and I will keep you updated on any Engineering status until the problem is fixed.”
“Very good, Ensign,” Hood replied and turned to the helmsman station. “Helm, it’s time for us to depart. Move us away from the station one quarter speed.”
Ensign Sparks replied, “Aye, sir. Vectoring away at one quarter speed.” Sparks placed his right hand onto a modified joystick on the right side of his console. A light on the top of the joystick flashed yellow as the system scanned his DNA and synced the neural interface to his saved pattern. Once the sync was complete, the light became a solid green, and a three dimensional sphere appeared on his screen with the Armstrong at its center. Sparks keyed a sequence on his console, and the proposed vector for the ship to follow was displayed in red, leading away from the station.
Everyone on the Command Deck could feel a slight tug as the Armstrong’s engines activated and the ship began to move, but the inertial dampening for the ship minimized the acceleration effect.
Hood watched on his station monitor as the Armstrong moved out of synchronous orbit and entered open space. “Helm, increase speed three quarters. Engineering, lock jump coordinates and begin jump countdown of two minutes on my mark.” Hood waited until the ship speed had increased to his desired level. “Mark.”
A countdown display was now visible on all the Command Station consoles, SPACE-FOLD ACTIVATION IN 02:00.
The Armstrong reached safe distance from the station at the thirty second mark. Hood ordered an all stop to the Helm and after the checking the status board one final time, he gave Sanchez the go ahead to proceed.
Sanchez nodded and keyed the comm system again. “All hands, final jump sequence engaged. Engineering, begin space-fold field expansion. Twenty seconds to jump.”
The Command Deck shuddered as the space-fold drive initiated its jump field and the field began to slowly grow and encompass the entire ship. Sanchez monitored the size of the field and was slightly impressed as it reached ship wide coverage at the ten second mark.
“Final count on my mark. Eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one. Jump!”
The field around the Armstrong surged to a soft blue hue, nearly obscuring the ship from any onlookers. Then, it and the Armstrong disappeared.
Chapter Ten
EDF Armstrong
Proxima System Exterior Zone
Sunday, January 19
Earth Year 2155
“General quarters! General quarters! All hands report to battle stations. General quarters! General quarters!” Commander Sanchez’s voice echoed from speakers all across the ship, and crew members raced to their ready stations.
Weapons crew members strapped into their station chairs in pockets throughout the ship as large hoods were lowered over them to form an enclosed chamber. As the gunnery systems powered up, each chamber illuminated with a HUD that provided each gunner with an immersive environment that detailed their field of fire.
The ship shuddered as each of the four attached gunships separated in synchronized sequence from their docking clamps and moved toward their flanking positions two kilometers from the ship on each side, as well as above and below.
Fighters started to stream out of the Armstrong’s docking bays. Secured in his cockpit, Lieutenant Harrison Krieg banked his fighter toward the aft of the Armstrong after his Stingray fighter was hurtled out of the depressurized bay by the launch catapult. Closing in on his rendezvous point, he looked back to make sure the rest of Rook Squadron launched safely. He had confidence in his squadron’s training, but combat jumps made the best of pilots twitchy. He caught sight of the last of his squadron and signaled them to form on his wing.
On the Armstrong’s Command Deck, Hood monitored the ship’s combat readiness status at his station. Once all the fighter squadrons had launched, and the gunships had reached their optimum deployment range, Hood stood from his chair and moved to the front of his station. “Helm, change course to one four zero by six two by four one. Increase speed to half.”
“Aye, sir. Adjusting course and speed to match,” Lieutenant Sparks answered. The helm directional controls on the Armstrong were all based on spatial vectoring utilizing a three dimensional sphere for a grid. Directional vectors were calculated based on the axis presented in all three directions on a grid scale that ranged from minus one hundred and eighty to a positive one hundred eighty. As the Armstrong moved, its gunship and fighter screen adjusted their own vectors to compensate and maintained their distance and defensive pattern.
The external EDF control zone outside of the Proxim
a system was a common training ground for EDF ships over the last eight months and just happened to be in the Armstrong’s mission path to the Cygni system. In support of training exercises, older derelict ships and smaller target beacons were regularly brought to the area, and the EDF military had restricted this zone from any non-military traffic. Hood had used this area many times in his previous commands. It made the perfect testing ground for his new ship and crew.
The control zone currently contained two derelict EDF cruisers, an old transport and several smaller beacons. Hood’s course brought the Armstrong on a tangential vector to the test targets, which were spaced at varying distances and were close to the optimal ranges for the Armstrong’s weapons. “Tactical, I need weapon solutions on primary and secondary cruisers. Vector in Raptor squadron Delta for assault on the transport.”
Lieutenant Aldridge was already working on the targets, and her station beeped when firing solutions for the two cruisers were acquired. “Sir, we have solutions on the cruisers, and Delta squadron has begun their run on the transport.”
Hood watched his screen as Reaper and her squadron of Raptor bombers successfully dropped several small yield anti-ship bombs on the transport. A series of explosions erupted on the hull of the transport, and she broke apart as the Raptors flew past on their return to the Armstrong.
“Transport destroyed, sir,” Aldridge stated. “All pilots report hits on the vessel and are vectoring home.”
“Excellent. Have all port rail guns target and fire on primary cruiser. Get solutions on smaller beacons and launch torpedoes,” Hood said as he resumed his seat.
Rail guns had become the weapon of choice for the EDF in space combat. Without the need for an explosive reaction, the rail guns could accelerate their payloads to astonishing velocities in the vacuum of space. However, recoil and design of the shell still played a factor in accuracy and better penetration against heavy armor. After many trials, new rail guns were placed on turrets built to handle the extreme recoil generated by the linear motors and unlike the simple slugs used in early versions, sleek designs of both solid and heavily jacketed varieties were created. Special focused barrels were constructed to keep the rounds true and focused as they left the highly charged magnetic fields of the rail. The barrels did limit the range of the weapons slightly, but dividends were paid in full for their improvement to rail gun accuracy.
In only took a matter of seconds for the Armstrong’s rail guns to reduce the primary target to scrap and her torpedoes triggered explosions at the smaller beacons similar to bursts of a distant pulsar.
Satisfied with the results Hood instructed Aldridge to hold fire gave a new order to the Helm. The Armstrong rolled to her starboard and accelerated to maximum speed, nearly leaving her escorts behind. Sanchez looked at the monitor and noticed the slip in formation. “She sure has legs, doesn’t she, Captain.”
Hood smiled and replied, “That she does, Commander. That she does.” He pressed a few buttons on his console and turned back to the Tactical Station. “Assign secondary cruiser to the particle cannon and charge for firing.”
Lieutenant Aldridge pressed two buttons on her left and brought the canon online. She assigned the target to canon and waited for Hood’s order.
Hood saw the canon charge capacity go green on his terminal screen. “Fire on secondary cruiser,” he ordered.
Aldridge activated the cannon from her station, and a slight droning noise could be heard on the Command Deck as the cannon firing sequence started. Moments later, a great rushing noise, almost like a raging river, could be heard in the ship near the particle cannon emplacement as a streak of blue energy erupted from the cannon’s barrel. The energy raced across the distance between the Armstrong and its intended target. It struck the derelict cruiser amidships with a near blinding explosion.
Hood watched the display with great surprise as the sheer force of the blast nearly disintegrated the aft section of the cruiser and sent the remaining section spinning out of the target zone.
Sanchez moved forward from the central Command Station and looked out the main viewport at the display. “That’s unbelievable. I’ve never seen that kind of firepower.” He turned back to Hood and smiled, “That is one righteous cannon, sir.”
The lighting and station screens began to dim around the Command Deck, and Hood’s console became unresponsive. The power brownout lasted nearly ten seconds. Once his station’s power returned, Hood immediately opened a comm channel to the Chief Engineer.
“Mr. Whitaker, what just happened?” Hood asked.
Whitaker’s voice was calm but uncertain in response. “The particle cannon capacitor recharge system is a bit sensitive at the moment, Captain.”
“Sensitive?”
“In a sense, Captain. The cannon requires an immense amount of power, and our current setup for recharge of the firing capacitor puts a stern demand on the circuits feeding it. The resulting strain caused some brief power fluctuations around the ship,” Whitaker explained.
“I see. I take it you have a solution?”
“Of course,” Whitaker said almost with an air of arrogance.
“Would you care to enlighten us, Mr. Whitaker?” Hood replied curtly.
There was a brief silence on the comm then quick rustling sounds and some mumbling between Whitaker and one of his staff could be heard before Whitaker continued. “After a quick analysis of the issue, I’m going to reroute some of the power feeds for the cannon and tie them in with some of the larger backup circuits for the engines and the space-fold drive. That will provide us plenty of power for the cannon recharge and eliminate the system interruptions.”
“Very well, Mr. Whitaker. You can start those modifications once we have tested your new defensive shield. Are you ready?”
“Give me one minute, Captain, and I’ll fire it up,” Whitaker responded and the sound of metal crashed in the background before the comm channel ended.
Hood smiled and shook his head as he looked over at Lieutenant Wells. “Lieutenant, contact Wolfhound and sync him with Tactical. I need him to prepare for an attack test run on the Armstrong.”
“Yes, sir.” She looked at her station, paused, and looked back at Hood. “Uh, you want him to fire on us, sir?” she asked hesitantly.
“Yes, Lieutenant, that’s exactly what I want him to do. Inform him I want a cannon pass on my mark,” Hood explained.
Nervously, Wells nodded, held her communication headset next her left ear and opened a channel to Krieg’s fighter. She conveyed Hood’s instructions and Krieg moved his fighter into position.
Hood watched his console as Krieg’s fighter reached his assigned staging point, and a flashing indicator alerted him to the activation of Whitaker’s new shield. He changed his console window to view a new display that showed the status for the shield. The shield system, since it was an essential hybrid of the space-fold drive, engulfed the ship in a similar fashion and barely extended past the forward and rear points of the Armstrong. Hood looked away from his console to the main viewport and watched for any indication of the new defensive system. It took a few seconds, but Hood was able to identify a slight fluctuation in the shield and could now recognize its slight blue hue.
At Hood’s command, Wolfhound opened fire with his Stingray’s cannons on the Armstrong. The cannon shells streaked like small darts of light toward the huge ship, and the new defensive shield flashed bright blue at impact points when the shells collided with it.
Hood watched a camera feed from a nearby gunnery station of the incoming rounds. The rounds passed through the shield and gently floated toward the Armstrong. Their inertia stolen from them, the rounds bounced harmlessly off the hull.
Slightly shocked by what had just happened, Hood looked over at Sanchez. “Damage assessment?”
“No damage, Captain. The rounds didn’t even dislodge an armor pla
te,” the XO replied with a slight grin.
Hood immediately opened a comm channel to Engineering. “Mr. Whitaker, I take it you were watching the same feed we were. Explain what just happened.”
There was a silence on the channel for a few moments then Hood heard Whitaker clear his throat. “The shield is a part of the space-fold system and is based on gravimetric principles. It reacts by stealing the effective kinetic energy of incoming projectiles. The projectile’s velocity is not completely nullified, but as you can see, the effect renders them harmless.”
“I didn’t even recognize a power fluctuation or weakening in shield strength. Shouldn’t we have noticed that?” Hood asked.
“Actually, no. The shield distributes the stolen energy into its own system and reinforces itself from the impact. However, a large sustained barrage from multiple sources could overwhelm the system,” Whitaker explained.
Hood cut off the Chief Engineer mid-sentence, “Thank you, Mr. Whitaker. I think we understand the technology better now.” He turned back to Aldridge. “Lieutenant, have Wolfhound make another pass. This time I want him to use a high explosive missile, pidium grade.”
“Yes, sir,” the Tactical Officer replied and relayed the information back to Krieg in his Stingray.
Hood noticed many surprised looks around the Command Deck. Simple cannon fire was one thing, but a pidium grade missile was something else. Hood put on a confident smile. If this system was going to be viable, it needed an aggressive test. It was worth the risk.
The Epherium Chronicles: Embrace Page 13