Wandering Engineer 6: Pirates Bane
Page 57
Appendix and Resources:
First and foremost, my blog again:
http://cyberforge3d.blogspot.com/
Jory created a fan Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/582559128466667/
hHyperspace:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alcubierre_drive
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interstellar_travel
http://dcmusgrove.blogspot.com/2010/12/michio-kaku-discusses-faster-than-light.html
http://io9.com/5963263/how-nasa-will-build-its-very-first-warp-drive
Navigation:
http://io9.com/5914143/how-will-starships-navigate-in-deep-space
Military tech:
http://www.tgdaily.com/hardware-brief/69097-darpa-looks-to-self-destruct-devices
http://www.military-info.com/freebies/murphy.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Railgun
Fusion:
http://science.howstuffworks.com/fusion-reactor4.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inertial_confinement_fusion
http://www.dvice.com/2013-2-22/lockheeds-skunk-works-promises-fusion-power-four-years
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polywell
Tech:
http://www.dvice.com/2013-3-7/manipulable-3d-hologram-created-leap-motion
http://www.dvice.com/archives/2012/01/microsofts-new-1.php
http://www.engadget.com/2013/07/04/cubesat-cat-thruster-propeller-kickstarter/
http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg19526136.400-speedoflight-computing-comes-a-step-closer.html
http://www.dvice.com/2013-6-29/teenager-creates-flashlight-runs-human-body-heat
http://www.dvice.com/2013-4-9/tiny-laser-printed-chipsets-are-intelligent-grains-sand
http://io9.com/a-sneak-peak-inside-google-and-nasas-new-quantum-ai-la-1444007785
http://io9.com/nasa-shows-off-a-prototype-of-its-new-xenon-ion-engine-510277963
Other:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electromagnetic_pulse
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tachyon
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graviton
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mass_spectrometry
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neutrino
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pinnace_(ship%27s_boat)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quantum_gravity
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bastet
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nor%C3%B0ri,_Su%C3%B0ri,_Austri_and_Vestri
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tam_Lin
Galaxies:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:5_Local_Galactic_Group_%28ELitU%29.png
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_nearest_galaxies
http://www.universetoday.com/21914/the-closest-galaxy-to-the-milky-way/
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e0/Satellite_Galaxies.JPG
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Artist%27s_impression_of_the_Milky_Way_(updated_-_annotated).jpg
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sagittarius_Dwarf_Elliptical_Galaxy
Plants in space!
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1122984/
http://www.mnn.com/health/healthy-spaces/stories/best-air-filtering-houseplants-according-to-nasa
http://www.spacegarden.net/downloads/Plants_in_Space.pdf
http://tipnut.com/nifty-food-plants/
http://www.mnn.com/family/pets/questions/what-plants-are-toxic-to-cats
Sneak Peek:
The following is a raw excerpt from Ghosts of the Past
"We can turn the scaffolds you used to repair the Kiev and other ships over to you as a start Admiral. That should give you something to work with to... rebuild your ships. After of course they are repaired. The pirates were not kind to them," Hishina Fu said.
"All right," the Admiral replied, nodding politely. He was cautiously optimistic on how well this would go. This was a good start, he reminded himself not to look too much into it, but not to let them hold back. "I'll need access to more resources and replicators though."
"I believe your last proposal has been debated and approved of Admiral," the station delegate replied.
"A week?"
"You can have as long as you damn well need Admiral," the system Governor said with considerable heat as he glanced at the station rep and then locked eyes with the Admiral. "We need you to get your people on your feet."
"Okay."
Governor Randall studied him for a long moment. "You were right Irons, I know that. Hell, I knew that before you left, I just let my stupid pride get in the way of telling you that. The pirates coming here..." he sighed and ran a hand though his eyes. "Let's just say it woke me up. Woke the people up. Idealism has its place but not in today's universe."
"Thank you Governor," Irons replied simply.
The Governor looked up again. "Don't thank me, I'm just giving you the tools to work yourself into an early grave Admiral," the Governor replied with a snort of laughter. Irons snorted as well. "Hell, I heard about your work ethic. I wish I had people like you on my staff!"
The Admiral smiled. "It's not all me Admiral, I've got some good people."
"I know."
Irons turned to the stationers. "I don't want to disrupt your build schedules..."
"Hell, you leaving screwed them all to hell. Right up until your ship actually left they thought you'd stick around," Taylor Warner said. His wife nodded.
"Did you..."
"Not far Admiral, and of course the damn pirates blew or tore up a lot of what we did," the cyber sighed. "The Yard Dogs are doing their best, but... well, their hands are tied in some areas. I hate to ask, but, we need you..."
"I'll jack in when I get the chance." Irons turned to the Governor. "Which reminds me, we do need to sort you out Governor," Irons replied.
"Oh?"
"Well, my departure prevented me from setting you up with system Governor implant code keys." Randall's eyes went wide in surprise and gratification at that. "I'm available now so if you can clear part of your schedule and if a cyber implant specialist is available we can take care of that."
"What do these keys allow me to do?" Randall asked cautiously, dampening his enthusiasm.
"A lot more than what you can do now!" Taylor snorted with a laugh.
"I can give you a list. Most of it is authorizing construction of civilian grade tech that's on the proscribed list. Also taking control of some networks and other things in the case of a system emergency."
The Governor nodded, but his eyes narrowed at a certain qualifier. "Civilian grade you said."
"That's right. You aren't a military Governor or Senator so I can't give you those keys unfortunately. But the civilian grade keys will allow you to unlock civilian replicators, parts for fusion reactors, that sort of thing."
"Ah."The Governor smiled.
"I wish you'd had that sooner sir," a staffer said.
"Well, he wasn't the Governor at the time I left if I recall correctly," Irons replied dryly.
"True."
"The truss extruder..." Irons turned to the station cybers.
"Was destroyed but it's a simple thing so I've ordered another. I'm... ah, it's just been bumped up the priority list. Imagine that," Taylor said, giving another stationer an amused look.
"With that out and some materials we'll get started on the basic yard works. I can parse out everything I need and we can work on the build schedule. Set it up to allow you to continue to meet any of your commitments."
"Admiral, we need new reactors the pirates..."
"I don't know your station status. But if you need reactors we... I can make myself available. That is if the Governor isn't available," the Admiral said nodding politely to the Governor.
"So, I'll have these... for how long? Will they be in when I'm out of office? Will I have to have them removed?" the Governor asked.
"You and the lieutenant Governor can have them sir," Sprite replied from the AI interface. They turned to her. "In the case of an accident befalling
you the lieutenant Governor's will become active. Until then they will be dormant. If you lose office the codes will deactivate when you leave office. They will be placed in inactive archives in case you resume office... or if after ten years you do not they will over write themselves."
"It seems a waste."
"Unfortunately that's how the system was set up. Certain civilians, those in major corporations had similar set ups."
"The system needs work," a staffer said.
"The system can't be changed now, it takes a 23rds majority of the congress to do that."
"A goal I understand you are working towards," the Governor said, nodding to Irons.
"Reestablishing the government is a major goal, yes sir," Irons replied.
"Good."
"Can I designate someone to build stuff? Keep the keys? How do we handle succession?" the Governor asked.
"I can send you the unclassified files sir with a FAQ," Sprite said kindly. She was on her best behavior Irons noted in approval. He nodded as did the Governor.
"I believe you can appoint a minister of various departments including manufacturing and industry. If memory serves you can only give him or her temporary access keys that will function for a short period of time. And they are limited to what they can build as well."
Sprite rolled her virtual eyes. "Oh very well. If you are insistent on pursuing this further... you can give temporary code keys to a number of appointees. Each has to pass the system congress for approval. Each key is good for one year and the higher key codes can only function with your approval."
"In other words a minister could initialize oh, say a fusion injector for your fusion reactor but you would have to approve it before the replicator would turn on and replicate the parts."
"Oh. So what good is that then?"
"Well, you don't have to be in the same room to give approval. You can do so over an encrypted link."
The Governor nodded as that idea sunk in. "Ah. I see."
"Right. So unless you want to be chained to replicators 24/7 or have one in your office... or put your office here on the station then that might be a good idea."
"You said they have to be approved by the assembly?" The head staffer asked. Irons nodded.
"Each person has to be vetted by intelligence services and pass Federation testing but I'll handle that on my end," the Admiral replied.
"Oh great."
"It's fine. I've come to realize my own mortality and that it is better that more people have keys... or at least some keys."
"True," Sprite reluctantly admitted.
"Admiral, the scaffolds have been cleared and I've got two tugs ready to tow them to where you want."
"Leave them there for now. If you could assign the tugs to tow the Maine to one of the scaffolds?"
"The Maine?"
"The Maine," Irons replied with a curt nod. "She needs some work and if we can keep her fusion reactor online then we can tap her replicators. I've made good on some of her repairs but not all. What the replicators on board can't handle yours can... and hers can build parts for the new yard and the other ships."
"All right."
"As soon as I can get her sorted out I want her on station near the B459c Warp point. We'll cycle through one of the other ships and shift some of the forces to guard the Triang warp point. Once we do that I'll feel a little more secure."
"Interesting," the Governor said. "But it is your department," he said surprising the cybers and his staffers. "Just as long as we do not have a repeat of that attack."
"I can't guarantee that now sir, but give me the resources and people I need and in time I will be able to do so," Irons replied.
"They will be yours Admiral. It's time we ended these scum once and for all," the Governor growled. Irons nodded.
"Mayweather said you build ships in Pyrax?" The Governor asked. Irons nodded confirmation. The Governor smiled, clearly happy about that confirmation. "How soon do you think you can do that here?"
The Admiral sat back a bit in the chair. "Once we get the basic repairs on the ships sorted out we will focus on building the infrastructure and munition factory satellite. Once we've got them going I'd say less than six standard weeks we'll start laying our first hulls."
"That soon?" a staffer exclaimed in surprise.
"Well, one the first ships will be small gunships and escorts, sublight ships designed to swarm an enemy at the warp point. They are easier to build than say a larger ship like a cruiser," Sprite replied with a slight hint of frost in her voice. "That is if we get enough support and no shenanigans," she said dryly, eying the Cybers.
Fu spread his virtual hands. "You'll get no argument from me Commander. I'm all for it."
That sudden change made both Sprite and the Admiral blink. Irons glanced at Fu's wife. She merely smiled demurringly.
"I know. But not all of your fellows share your pragmatism shall we say," Irons said, keeping his own enthusiasm in check. This was going too well! His instincts said. There had to be catch somewhere!
"Some of our fellows have... retired. A few died when the pirates attacked. I guess you can say things have changed. We will do everything we can to make certain that attack doesn't happen again," Fu replied, looking aged.
"See that you do," Sprite growled.
Governor Randall got up. Everyone followed hastily. "Gentlemen, ladies, I thank you. Please let me know what you need from me and my office. Admiral, I'll push any bill you need through the assembly, just let me know. And please let me and Lt Governor Mitrian know when to schedule the implant procedures."
"I will sir," Irons replied, shaking the man's outstretched hand without hesitation.
"See that you do." The Governor nodded and left.
...*...*...*...*...
Hopefully you'll see the rest in 2014!