by James Rosone
Now that Operation Pegasus had been approved, the Professor continued. The next piece of technology I want to discuss with you is this…
The Professor pulled out a small spool of cabling and passed it to the group. “I would like to draw your attention to this material. This substance is 20 times stronger than steel or any other matter known to man. It is also the material that is going to make the space elevator a reality. If we are able to establish a platform base in high earth orbit, then we can establish a space lift. This elevator will enable us to move great amounts of material to and from Earth; it would be the cornerstone of a permanent base.”
Before going down the rabbit hole the space elevator would be, the President wanted to get back to the new fighter design and low orbit aircraft. “Professor, the space elevator concept is amazing, and I want you to continue to pursue it. However, we have a war we need to win now, so please discuss the EmDrive technology again and how we are going to incorporate it into our current military equipment?” directed the President.
“As you wish Mr. President. Once we had sufficient supplies of Tritium4, we would begin to replace our jet propulsion engines with EmDrive Propulsion. The EmDrive propulsion uses no fuel and runs purely on hydrogen fuel or water. We simply divert more power from the reactor to increase the speed, and likewise decrease the amount of power drawn from the reactor in order to slow it down. This is a propulsion system that will work in the atmosphere, in orbit and in space.
“The idea of fighter aircraft being able to incorporate this technology sounds incredible; how soon we can get a working prototype going?” the President asked warmly.
“The technology is complex, but something that we have the capability to build. I’d like to be optimistic and say we can have it completed in a couple of months, but it may be closer to a year. It really depends on how much of our resources and manpower is put in to it,” said the Professor.
Monty broke into the conversation saying, “Mr. President, the Boeing plant (the one Vice President Kern was visiting when he was nearly assassinated), it could be used. It’s a new plant, and has increased security.”
“Get with the manufacturers and find out if that plant can work. We need to get a working prototype built immediately, and that might be best done at our Skunkworks facility in Nevada. Once the bugs are identified then we can get it into full production,” the President directed.
Eric Clarke, the Secretary of Defense, provided counsel on this subject. “The key to getting this aircraft into production, Mr. President, is going to be not making the structure of it more complicated than it needs to be. We should look at developing two versions: one, a pure drone, and the other a manned aircraft. See which one works the best, and then go in that direction.”
“Make it happen Eric…Please, continue Professor,” asserted the President, not wanting to get too far off course from the presentation.
Trying to remain patient, Rickenbacker continued, “There are a couple more inventions I would like to go over with you as well. Two are something we can use now to help us win the war, and the other is something that will enable the U.S. to not just reach for the stars, but to conquer them.”
General Branson interjected, saying, “Let’s focus on the first couple that can be used immediately; we need to win this war before we can think of anything that could be used in the private sector or to dominate space.” Branson did his best not to come off as abrupt or disrespectful.
“Yes General. The first is, as of two days ago, we successfully tested our first limitless energy reactor. It is essentially cold fusion. This is the Angelic power source I mentioned earlier.”
“That is incredible,” the Secretary of Defense said, knowing that if this type of technology were miniaturized, it could completely change the battlefield.
“Right now the device is about the size of a reactor used in a nuclear powered plant, except that this apparatus could power not just a city, but an entire state. We believe we could build a version about three times as large and power a full quarter of the entire country. But this is only half the story. This new technology also gives us the ability to build a fully functional plasma laser. Not only that, we can miniaturize the weapon to fit on the new aircraft we are going to build,” said the Professor with excitement in his eyes and voice. “The things we will be able to do with this new technology is truly amazing.”
The men in the room all generally agreed that this was a stupendous step forward, and that the project should continue to be advanced.
General Branson changed the topic. “What about the cybernetics and this new Raptor Combat suit I’ve heard about?”
Rickenbacker seemed a bit alarmed that General Branson knew anything about the cybernetics or Raptor suit. Those were closely guarded secrets. “I was going to mention those next, but since you have brought them up…the Raptor combat suit is similar to the exoskeleton combat suit our Special Forces and the Chinese and Russians are currently using. The difference between the Raptor and the current models the Reds are using is that our version also incorporates a suite of cybernetic implants. These grafts give the user a host of new capabilities the exoskeleton suits never could hope to achieve.”
“Let’s start with the suit itself. The ensemble encases the operator in an environmental and bullet proof shell. Each suit is fitted to their operator, so it is nice and snug like a diver’s suit. It has its own filtration system that allows the operator to regulate their body temperature, in case they are operating in the heat of the Middle East, or in the tundra and mountains of Alaska. It can also operate in a chemical or WMD environment. It has radiation shielding, which will also make the suit perfect for space operations down the road. In the meantime, one could wear the suit and move through a radiation hot zone and survive just fine.”
“If for some reason, the armor is penetrated and the person inside is shot, or shrapnel rips a hole in it and the operator is injured, the suit will self-seal up to an inch-wide hole. It will also fill the person’s wound with an antibiotic gel that will both stop the bleeding until the injury can be properly addressed, and numb the area so the operator can continue to focus on the job at hand without getting distracted by the pain. The suit also has several self-injections it can apply. One is adrenaline--it has up to five adrenaline shots that can be applied and refilled. It also has up to two morphine shots--one to relieve the pain, and a second one is available in case help is a long way off or if the operator is too injured and wants to self-terminate.” The Professor showed some videos of the suit in action.
“The suit provides the person inside with the ability to lift up to 5x their body weight, run up to 35mph, and jump as high as 30 feet. The suit weighs 250 lbs., and uses a variety of new polymers and nanofiber technology, which gives it flexibility, speed and makes it lightweight. The power for the suit is geothermal, so the body heat and movement of the operator actually regenerates the power for the suit.” Professor Rickenbacker was almost giddy with excitement. “This new type of geothermal energy is going to have a host of new civilian applications once the war is over.”
Not wanting to miss something, General Branson asked, “Where do the cybernetics come into play?”
“Ah yes. Well, there are two versions of the suit. The standard issue, which uses no cybernetics, and then the advanced version, which incorporates them. The standard issue can do everything we just talked about and all of the other functions that you see on the display. The enhanced suit that incorporates the cybernetics enables the operator to integrate their mind into the operating system of the suit and the targeting system. Essentially it allows an operator to see and engage targets faster than someone could without a cybernetic implant. The implant connects at the base of the skull and interfaces with the neurons in the brain that allow a person to process images and threats.”
“The implant also allows the operator to push the limits of the suit to the max. Instead of being able to run 35mph, someone using the implants could e
asily hit 50 or 60 mph. They can do this because their body becomes completely fused with the suit for the duration that they are connected. We’ve tested it, and the results are amazing. However, not everyone is able to integrate with the cybernetic implant. Some people’s bodies reject it, others are simply not able to control it. So in this regard, the cybernetic implants are still a little while off from full implementation.”
Eric Clarke, the Secretary of Defense, saw the Raptor suit as a means of being able to even the odds for the American forces, particularly in regards to the troops in Alaska, who would soon be facing an Army of nearly five million, and who knew how many of them would be equipped with the Chinese and Russian exoskeleton suits.
“How soon can we get the standard Raptor suit into production and begin training our troops on them?” asked the Secretary of Defense, eager to get a new technology operational quickly.
Rickenbacker handed a tablet to Eric with the full specs needed to build the Raptor and a training program for how to use it. “This should help; it’s fully ready to be fielded now. We’ve actually been working on this project in one form or another for nearly three decades. The exoskeleton the Special Forces have been using was second generation. This is now the fifth generation of that same technology. Where the first two generations were not a fully enclosed system, this is, and that is why this system is going to be so much farther advanced compared to anything the Chinese or Russians have.”
“You can begin building them immediately, but they will take time. You can construct most of it using 3D printers, but training a soldier on how to use it is going to be the challenge. There is no way around that particular problem,” Rickenbacker explained.
Knowing they had been in the meeting for nearly five hours, the President indicated to the group that their session was coming to an end. “Professor Rickenbacker, you have given us a lot of food for thought, and certainly provided us with some new technologies to look at. When we get back to the White House, I am going to start bringing others into the loop on the Raptor combat suit, the EmDrive propulsion system and the F41. We need to get these three pieces of technology into the war immediately. I want you to be available when the time comes to answer questions by some of the engineers from the major producers in the country if they have questions,” the President directed.
Rickenbacker agreed and then the men parted company.
Saving Samson
Day 145
26 April 2041
Tel Aviv
Third Army Headquarters
The Russian offensive had finally been stopped, just south of the city of Haifa at the Carmel Mountain National Park and stretching to just north of Nazareth to the Sea of Galilee. The fighting was nearly constant and intense up until that point; all sides had lost tens of thousands of soldiers a day during the fighting. The Israelis were beginning to consider more drastic measures to defeat the Russians. The Israelis had made the decision that if the Russians broke through their last line of defense and reached Megiddo National Park, they would activate their Samson protocol, the use of nuclear weapons. Just as the Biblical character for which this protocol was named had garnered his last bit of super-human might to push out the columns of a Philistine building and collapse it upon all inside, this maneuver of last resort would destroy the enemy, but possibly also themselves in the process.
The Israelis knew that with modern day laser defense systems, ballistic missiles would have no chance of hitting their targets. So instead of conventional mines, the IDF had buried dozens of cobalt-laden nuclear devices along the Israeli border and several key points inside of Israel. If it appeared that the country was lost, then they could detonate these devices and forever eradiate the land. They also had their Jericho bombs, which were smaller nuclear devices in the 1 kiloton to 10 kiloton range. These bombs were buried all across Israel and could be detonated on enemy forces as the IDF continued to fall back.
General Gardner was aware of the protocols and the bombs in play; he had argued for time and patience with the Israeli government to not use such weapons. Entreating them, he pleaded, “The Americans are here in force and are not going to leave; we have time…we could grind the Russians and IR down. The US has already nuked the IR hard, so there is no reason to destroy the Holy Land with nuclear bombs as well.”
Ultimately, the IDF commanders heard what Gardner had to say, and he had won the argument, at least for the moment.
General Gardner called this new meeting of his division commanders to hear some ideas from them on how they could push the Russians back. “Generals, as you know, I have called you together to hear some of your thoughts for how we can dislodge the Russian positions. I am handing the floor to you, so please, let’s begin,” the General directed.
Major General Kennedy, the 3rd Infantry Division commander, was the first to speak. “General, I appreciate the opportunity to share some ideas. As you know, the Russians have dug in pretty good at this point. They made their lunges as far as they could, and then settled in while they consolidated for the next attack. I believe we need to find a way to get in their rear area and threaten their supply lines. Once their forces are drawn away to deal with their tail, we can launch our own counter-offensive across the entirety of Israel. We would hit the IR near Amman, the Chinese in the south and the Russians in the north. Then we could throw the entire Axis off balance with an airborne assault.” Kennedy had prepared a holographic map of his strategy, and displayed it for the room to view as he spoke.
After twenty minutes of discussing the idea, General Gardner said, “I like the thought, but I am not sure we have enough airpower right now to support that. Plus, the MiG40s are still causing a lot of problems for us. The JF35s are just now starting to take them on with the new radars. I’m concerned that if we sent airborne troops in to attack their supply lines, we might lose a number of transports before they even get over their drop zones. Do you have any ideas on how we make this work without losing a lot of aircraft to the MiGs?”
Kennedy thought for a moment before responding. “Sir, historically, during the invasion of Normandy and other airborne operations, we lost aircraft and men. Despite those casualties, we still managed to land a large enough force that we were able to cause significant problems. Perhaps if we used the Razorbacks to do the insertion (instead of cargo transports) we might be able to reduce our losses, at least in the higher risk areas. If we swarm the skies with drones and then the Marines joined in to conduct an amphibious assault, we could bring enough force to make a difference.”
Major General Lance Peeler, the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force commander, liked the idea. He put in his own two cents, “Sir, my Marines could make a landing north and south of Beirut, and capture the city and the highway leading to Chtaura inside Lebanon. This would place a 60,000 man blocking force in their rear area. If the 101st Airborne is able to land all around the Beirut area, that would cause enough of a distraction that my Marines might be able to capture the area with minimal casualties. Once 82nd Airborne captures Chtaura, then we have them cut off. That places 100,000 troops at their rear that are equipped with armor support.”
Before agreeing to move forward with this plan, General Gardner clarified, “Essentially, we’d be launching our own version of MacArthur’s Battle of Inchon, where he landed forces behind the Chinese and North Koreans to recapture Seoul and cut them off from their supply lines. Does everyone like this plan, or does someone else have another they would like us to consider?” He looked around the room for any dissent.
Major General Twitty, the 1st Armored Division Commander, spoke up; “I like the plan. If the Russians feel they are going to be cut off from their supply lines and encircled, they will pull back and perhaps we could even get them to fall back to Damascus. My only concern is that if we do this, we need to see it through to the end no matter how many casualties we take, and we may take a lot. This would be our one big chance to crush the Russians in the Middle East and knock the others out of the war a
s well.” He slammed his fist on the table for emphasis.
“Very well then. We will move forward with this plan and staff it through the chain of command. I will consult with the IDF and ensure they shift forces around to fill in the gaps as we advance. We will go for broke gentlemen. Make sure your commanders know that this is it; there will be no second chances. We are either going to win and finish them off, or this war is going to drag on a lot longer. We may even lose Israel if we take too many casualties and are defeated. I want you all to hit them hard and win. Dismissed!”
With that said, the group broke up and the various generals went back to their divisional commands to begin preparations. The invasion and offensive operations would take place in six days, which was not a lot of time considering all of the moving parts. Fortunately, the Navy had complete control of the waters in this area and had the amphibious assault ships needed already in port. The vessels were only moving about 55 miles up the coast to drop off the Marines, so it was not a long jaunt by any means. It was fortunate in this case that Israel was a small country geographically; it meant that shifting forces and aircraft around would not be nearly as big of a challenge if they were carrying out the same type of attack in Europe or Asia.
*******
Major Lee looked at his company commanders as they stood in a circle under the helicopter flight deck of one of the many Marine assault ships off the coast of Lebanon. Sensing a momentous occasion on the horizon, he began to address them about the battalion’s assignment for the invasion. “Lieutenant Thornton, Alpha and Bravo Company are going to air assault in and secure the Beirut International Airport. You are the OIC for the airport operation. I want your Company to take the terminal, tower and the main section of the airport. Bravo Company is going to secure the southern end of the airport, which is where the Russians are encamped. Charley and Delta Companies are going to air assault in to the Golf Club of Lebanon, just north of your position, and secure it for a medical battalion that will arrive in the seaborne invasion group. The Brigade is going to set up their headquarters at your location once you have the airport secured.”