“Of course, Commander.”
“Will we leave Lashmere again to try to warn the expeditionary force about the alliance?”
“I intend to ask command for permission to do just that. We can't remain allied with the group who tried to commit genocide against humanity, no matter how long ago.”
“I couldn't agree more, sir. I sure hope everyone there is okay.”
“As do I.”
The two ships began maneuvering on sublight engines less than an hour later and cleared all navigational hazards just a few minutes after the database download was completed. Rampart moved clear and left through a jump ring, and Aeternum vanished into a brilliant flash of light as she transitioned into faster than light travel.
Simmons stood on the bridge of Aeternum, watching the Rampart leave. She turned to the assigned helmsman and said, “Engage faster than light drive now.”
“Aye, ma'am,” the young enlisted woman said.
Simmons felt a gentle shudder, and all the stars displayed on the bridge immediately became brilliant blue.
Since it was only her and a single enlisted crew person on the bridge at a time with another enlisted engineer monitoring the engines from a remote station a few decks above the bridge, she felt relatively safe making inquiries of the computer.
“Computer, describe the primary function of this ship, it's origin and summary of service history.”
“Requested information is extensive. Estimated time for a complete recital is five hours twenty minutes with stated parameters. Shall I continue?”
“No, give a brief summary of requested information only.”
“Acknowledged,” the computer's flat, passionless voice responded. “Date of original commission was sixty-seven hundred twenty-two years ago. Aeternum, originally commissioned as,” a shrieking and screeching sequence of sounds followed, “by,” another, indistinguishable, series of screeches, “as a part of their main fleet. This ship remained in service for one thousand years, the expected lifespan for military vessels of this type. Subsequently, Aeternum was scheduled for decommissioning and mothballing. Aeternum remained in inactive service for one hundred ninety years when it was captured by a race hostile to the original manufacturers, the KKTKL.” Each consonant was an individual syllable, pronounced distinctly. “The KKTKL were unable to decipher ships functions, and they eventually abandoned the ship. After being adrift for three hundred, fifty-four years, it was discovered by a human exploration vessel. Humans proved far more capable of reverse engineering the Aeternum than KKTKL. Aeternum was commissioned into service for the Terran Space Navy and was used as a primary manufacturing and resource extraction vessel for the remaining one hundred, seventy-four years before being left in the Buckman's Star system. Aeternum was retrofitted and used for its primary purpose described in the following summary.
“Primary function of Aeternum is as a self-sustaining materials extractor and manufacturing platform for objects up to five kilometers in diameter. At the time of manufacture, this size represented the pinnacle of manufacturing technology.
“Summary complete. Do you wish to hear a detailed history of service actions?”
“No, sixty-seven hundred years of assignments is probably going to take more time than I have to listen to. Give an overview of the manufacturing process used and materials extraction.”
“Aeternum uses a molecular destabilization process to break down complex materials into their constituent atoms. These atoms are guided using a nano-manufacturing process that assembles any structure less than five kilometers in diameter molecule by molecule.”
Simmons felt her mouth hanging open. A manufacturing process that allowed every molecule to be laid down in exact detail. The implications for materials engineering was astounding. “How are-” She cut off her question when the monitor she was watching showed Cobb on his way to the bridge. She switched the screen to a generic ship's status display. A few seconds later, Theo Cobb walked onto the bridge.
“How is the ship functioning, Lieutenant Simmons?”
“All systems are within design specifications. Faster than light system is performing as expected and all other systems are at standby or minimum power mode. No malfunctions noted.”
Cobb nodded. “Good.” He turned and walked from the bridge. The very brief conversation was no different from any other she'd had with Cobb. He was very sparing with his words. Simmons looked at the closed door for a few seconds more before addressing another question to the computer. “Computer, would you prepare a summary of objects built by Aeternum over its history?”
Several hours later, Simmons has gained a solid understanding of how the nano-manufacturing process worked. She left her first watch on the bridge with something else: a list of every classified research facility humans were using to develop advanced medical, military and weapons tech of any kind. She hoped as she headed for her bunk she'd be able to convince the Lashmere Naval Command of the importance of scouting them and retrieving any advanced technology.
The trip back to the Lashmere system passed in deep tedium for Simmons. The watches quickly lost their interest. She'd compiled her report by the end of the second watch, forwarded it to Kri for his input and spent the rest of the time pacing, drumming her fingers and badgering the poor helmsman on her watch, who, by virtue of her rank, was unable to respond in kind.
At each checkpoint, the Rampart was waiting, hanging in space like a wary sheepdog waiting for a stray member of its flock to catch up. At last, the final leg of their trip arrived. Rampart was waiting just outside the Lashmere system.
Simmons was inputting the course for the final leg of the trip when a red icon appeared in the corner of her screen. She tapped it and scrolled through the displayed information. “Oh no! Computer open a channel to Rampart immediately.”
“Rampart is out of range. Faster than light transit has been engaged.”
“How do I shut this down?”
Cobb looked over her shoulder. “Is there a problem, Lieutenant?”
“I don't have time to explain now, agent. Rampart is in danger of being destroyed. Computer shut down the defensive system immediately.”
“Transmitting shut down sequence.” There was a multi-second pause before the computer said, “No response from system defense network. Re-sending shut down sequence. Still no response from system defense network.”
“Lieutenant, I want an explanation.”
“Agent Cobb, when we left the Lashmere system, we had an odd deflection in our course at the edge of our system. We didn't know it at the time, but we were exceptionally lucky. Apparently, the humans who left the colony at Lashmere didn't leave us defenseless. They put in place a defensive system of satellites that make it impossible to transition in or out of the system at a faster than light speed. Something like a huge speed bump completely surrounding the system. The Rampart uses a system unknown to the humans who left us there, but it may force the Rampart into a different course as the transit goes by this speed bump. The Aeternum has the ability to shut the defensive system down remotely, and I've tried to shut it down, but there is no response from the master control satellite or its backup.
“We need to get to Lashmere now. Computer engage faster than light transit maximum speed.”
“Engaging.” Again, a sudden lurching feeling followed by a slight sense of floating before the internal gravity generators compensated for the speed. “ETA to Lashmere system eleven hours seventeen minutes.”
“If the Rampart crosses that defensive barrier at speed, even in the point to point system while it's active, what might happen?” Cobb asked.
“It's unclear. If Aeternum tried it, depending on the multiple of C the ship was moving at, anything from suddenly being thrown out of faster than light travel, probably killing everyone aboard, up to the ship being ripped to pieces by massive tidal forces. For safety, I have ordered Aeternum to drop out of FTL at the edge of the system outside the defensive perimeter. We can transit into the sys
tem on sublight engines.”
“Agreed.”
“Unfortunately, by now the Rampart has either entered Lashmere or is about to. There's nothing we can do to help them.”
“Keep trying to get ahold of them on the faster than light comm system.”
“I am.”
Eleven hours later, Aeternum arrived at the edge of the Lashmere system. Simmons, who had barely left the bridge during that time, watched the stars resolve from brilliant blue points into the yellows, reds and whites she was used to. She said, “Computer, confirm the status of system defense satellites.”
“System defense satellites are still operational,” the computer said. “However, gaps exist in the defense network, most likely due to malfunctioning units. Current approach vector is unprotected.”
Simmons felt a knot of tension loosen in her stomach. “Was this vector clear as Rampart approached?”
“Affirmative.”
“Thank goodness.”
Cobb said, “Engage sublight engines and move us into orbit around Lashmere.”
As the engines came online, Rampart appeared on their sensors. The ship moved in next to them.
Kri said, “We're getting a comm request from Rampart.”
The screen came up, and Commodore Stokes' face appeared. “Agent Cobb. I've spent the time waiting for you to arrive speaking with Lashmere Space Command. You are hereby directed to turn over command of the Aeternum to Commander Kri immediately. Your mission has been successful, Aeternum has arrived in the Lashmere system, and the admirals would like to see the ship under naval control. I'm transmitting a copy of your orders, countersigned by the counselor of war.”
Cobb knew when he'd been outmaneuvered. He'd underestimated Stokes from the start, believing him to be an old warhorse on his way out. His ability to piece together bits of information around him and reach the correct conclusion was remarkable. Somehow, before Cobb had even made it to Aeternum, Stokes had known, or at least suspected, he wasn't who he was pretending to be. He looked back up at the screen, Stokes' face staring at him expectantly.
“Confirm receipt of orders, Commander Kri.”
“Confirmed,” Kri said.
“Computer, transfer command of Aeternum to Commander Halford Kri, Lashmere Space Navy. Authorization sequence seven alpha theta nine nine two blue commit.”
“Transfer of command complete. Aeternum now under command of Commander Halford Kri.”
Cobb stood and walked from the bridge. When he approached the cabin he'd been using, he considered the seriousness of the situation. His failure to maintain security of classified information combined with his failure to retain command and turn the ship over to Lashmere Intelligence was likely to earn him censure from his superiors. He packed his bag and walked to the small craft bay. He intended to at least bring one of the shuttles to intelligence headquarters for analysis.
Stokes watched the main plot shift from the view of the Aeternum bridge back to the tactical overlay of the Lashmere system. “I have to admit, that was rather satisfying, Mister Patho.”
Patho allowed himself a grin. “It sure looked good from here, sir.”
“Time to space dock?”
“Just over two hours, sir.”
“Since the Aeternum won't fit inside any of the existing docks, I want you to send a message ahead. We're going to maneuver the Aeternum to the east side of the docks until an airlock can be rigged to mate up on one side of the ring. That way we won't have to run crew in and out via shuttlecraft.”
“Aye, sir.”
The space dock ran 'east' to 'west' with the most open area for larger ships on the east end. Command and control along with all the shops and materials support for ship construction and overhaul were in a central structure halfway along the series of docks.
“Sir, we have a message coming in from Naval Command. We're being ordered to take a shuttle to the surface as soon as we're in a stable make orbit. We are to leave a competent officer in charge to make dock with Rampart. We are also to bring Agent Cobb, Mister Kri, Miss Simmons and Doctor Stapeley.”
Very well. Prepare pinnace one for launch and shuttle two to take Lieutenant Jensen over to Aeternum to maintain watch stations until command sends up a crew and to bring Agent Cobb, Commander Kri and Lieutenant Simmons to command. Lieutenant Brooks will remain in command here; have her work out a watch rotation with the other division officers while we're on the surface. Forward the orders to Aeternum.”
“Aye, sir,” Patho said, working at his console to carry out Stokes' orders.
Maneuvering to the space dock was completed without mishap, and Stokes boarded his pinnace to the surface to meet up with the officers who'd been on the Aeternum. The shuttles landed within a few minutes of each other. Stokes noticed Cobb had flown one of the shuttles he'd seen in the boat bay of the Aeternum.
The two sets of officers were met on the landing grid by a very polished officer who walked to Commodore Stokes and saluted sharply. His Karn accent came as a slight surprise to Stokes as he spoke. “Commodore, I am Lieutenant Barnes. Admiral Vesper has assigned me to liaise with you and your officers while you are at headquarters. A guest suite has been assigned to you and your crew while you wait. A meeting is scheduled for fourteen hundred hours. This should give you plenty of time to freshen up before meeting with the admirals.
Less than an hour later, with everyone showered and changed into their dress uniforms, they assembled in an expansive conference room. The room was already occupied by Admiral Vesper, Admiral Blackwood, a slender and stern looking middle aged woman, who was the admiral in charge of the space dock facility, and Fleet Admiral Coffee, the highest ranking military officer on Lashmere. Admiral Coffee was a huge man who clearly spent as much time in the gym as possible. He had heavy slabs of muscle covering an already large frame. Everyone entered and stood to attention excepting Agent Cobb, who merely stood with an expectant look on his face.
Admiral Vesper stood and said, “Please be seated, everyone. Agent Cobb, you have been invited here at the request of Lashmere Intelligence. First I would like Commodore Stokes to provide us with a brief on the overall mission. If you would, Commodore?”
Stokes stood and began his brief. “Upon arrival to Buckman's Star, we began by searching out the location of the origin signal...” Stokes' voice carried on, giving an overview of events as they had developed and bringing them to the point both ships departed the Buckman's Star system.
Admiral Coffee spoke next. “Commodore, why did you assign such a small crew to Aeternum?”
“My thinking was that with Agent Cobb in command and considering the age of the ship, there was a component of uncertainty. While I wanted officers capable of completing as much research and information gathering while aboard, I didn't want to risk a large number of individuals in case something went wrong.”
Coffee said, “I understand. Agent Cobb, why did you choose to take command of Aeternum by using the classified codes obtained from the origin tablet? We've heard Commodore Stokes' conclusions, but I want to hear your reasoning.”
“Admiral, my concern was mainly with the experience Lieutenant Commander Patho has obtained thus far in his naval career. When it became obvious Commodore Stokes intended to place a man with no experience and who is already quite young for his rank in a position of ultimate authority over what, to my judgment, must be regarded as the most important piece of military technology the people of Lashmere have in their possession, I felt the need to prevent it. I also would like to take the opportunity to apologize to Commodore Stokes for acting in what he felt was an arbitrary manner. It was not my intention to undermine his authority in any way.”
“I just want to be clear, Mister Cobb. Your action was taken out of concern for the safe return of the Aeternum to Lashmere. It had nothing to do with Commander Patho having grown up as a Karn citizen?”
“Absolutely not, Admiral.” Silence stretched for a moment after Cobb gave his answer.
Vesper spoke
into the pause, “And how much command experience do you have, agent?”
If Cobb was uncomfortable with the pointed question, he gave no sign. “None, sir. That notwithstanding, I felt more qualified to take control of Aeternum than to leave it in Mister Patho's hands. I'm ten years older than he is, and I've spent a significant amount of my time with intelligence aboard various naval ships.”
Patho resisted the urge to fidget. The attention being focused on him just made him feel even more like an outsider at the table. It was nice, having another Karn wearing lieutenant stars in the room. He knew the man slightly. He'd been one semester behind him at the academy. He wondered how he'd achieved his rank so quickly as most of his graduating class was recently achieving the rank of lieutenant, junior grade.
Coffee said, “I would like the technical briefing on the Aeternum.”
Stokes said, “Certainly, Admiral. Commander Kri has a prepared briefing for you. Proceed, commander.”
Kri stood, tapping at his tablet to activate the briefing room screens. A schematic of Aeternum appeared. “The Aeternum has a diameter of five kilometers, a length of one kilometer and a displacement of approximately two point seven-five cubic kilometers. There are seven pods arranged along the outer edge of the ship that extend another three hundred meters fore and aft.” Kri tapped at his tablet again, the view changed and added a variety of verbiage around the hull. “The ship is equipped with primarily defensive weapons and minimal hull armor. Light based weapons will be completely ineffectual against the hull due to its reflective qualities, but particle weapons will penetrate the material relatively easily.
“The ship is designed as a forward based manufacturing vessel and materials extractor. Most of the space in the seven pods are set aside for storage of rare atoms and alloys. The central pod, which the ship refers to as pod zero, houses living quarters, operations areas and the control room for the manufacturing center.
“The way the ship manufactures objects is equally innovative. Ships or other structures are assembled molecule by molecule by nanotechnology. Materials are guided into staging locations based on the design being assembled and then taken by nano machines or nanites into their final location.”
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