by Gary Caplan
“Good to see you, Robert. I’m glad I could help,” O’Brien said.
O’Brien had joined the service later in life, but because he and Robert Sheppard had similar backgrounds, they got along. Both had some Irish in them, though Robert Sheppard had considerably less; one of his great grandparents was originally from the Emerald Isle.
Sheppard was about to begin to introduce the Karratin Duke, but O’Brien turned to Garfield and said, “It’s been a long time, Professor.” O’Brien looked up at Sheppard. “Bob, I had a very interesting engineering class in hyperspace drive design with then-Professor Garfield.”
Garfield said, “I am glad I was able to teach at your Alliance of Worlds Academy off and on for a few decades; after all, I got to meet interesting students like yourselves.”
“Right, one of the perks of a very long life span,” Sheppard said affectionately.
“That and some cellular regeneration,” Garfield rejoined. “Why don’t we start; it’s possible I might be called away if something develops that requires my direct attention.”
They would have to take the magrail to the space docks where the ships were being refitted. Sheppard had planned to visit each starship before deciding which one to select. The senior staff knew Sheppard liked to command ships that had been at least partially constructed by Earthling or Terran agencies and usually had an Earthbased name so they offered him three to choose from. The options were the Constellation-class dreadnaught Sagittarius, the Legendary- class battlecriuser Osiris, and the Pegasus-class battlecruiser Phoenix. Sheppard had been given a choice of starship as a fleet captain, slightly over five years ago. Then, it was the Heroic-class heavy cruiser Endeavor. Now he still wanted to command from a ship that would be on or near the action or actual front line rather than on a warbase or command carrier in a central area issuing commands.
The three walked out of the officer housing complex building Sheppard was assigned for the duration of his stay at Star One, and passed several other Alliance of Worlds naval support buildings en route to the magrail system that would take them to one of the many dry dock facilities. While chatting with Garfield and O’Brien, Sheppard mused about his previous tours of duty. He had been assigned to six starships in his career so far, including the Battlecarrier H’jum’pta, the command ship of then-Fleet Captain Peregrine’s task group. Sheppard initially served as a lieutenant commander while defending one of the Varlon border zones.
While walking, Sheppard brushed with his fingers the two star clusters of his new rank and thought briefly how the ranking structure from Earth and the other founding civilizations came together to create the current myriad military rankings.
Meanwhile, O’Brien and Garfield were discussing principles of translight and hyperdrive mechanics. Garfield looked over at Sheppard and said, “You are worrying about the potential responsibility for guiding several more task forces than is usual for your present rank. I know that Commodore Brandon Avery has hinted about it, Robert; however, that is still higher echelon’s decision. There is the possibility that with the deaths of Vice Admiral Balngal and Commodore Veshnat in the Corvin sector, there will be few senior officers left to transfer into the Sixth Fleet.”
“Do you have any other insights?” asked Sheppard.
“Insights, only that by the end of the month we will stop the sabotage, and again Robert, you need not worry that you may have to command a few more task forces than you expected; as yet, the Alliance of Worlds’ personnel resources command group is still deciding on suitable commanding officers. Even if you have to, I believe you could.”
Sheppard nodded silent thanks; he continued to be amazed at just what Garfield was aware of. He was, indeed, somewhat anxious about his own future and the disposition of the Sixth Fleet, of which he was now part.
Eventually, they arrived at docking bay eight, one of the twelve space docks that made up part of the encircling hub of Star One. Each dock was six kilometers wide and three kilometers tall. Docking bay eight currently housed the Sagittarius, a Constellation-class dreadnaught, along with a few other ships. She was an impressive ship, at 4,600 meters long. Sheppard recalled that the Alliance of Worlds standard meter was fairly close to an Earth meter.
Sheppard and the others had obtained secured infopads with the latest data on the ship. O’Brien, who possessed an imbedded commlink unit, securely downloaded several of the specifications to his memory.
“This ship is equipped with the Mark IV engine system, which allows galactic traverse in approximately six months,” stated O’ Brien. “This hull design, like Star One’s and most of the other starship class designs, has an improved carbon nanotube alloy imbedded and interlaced with the reinforced titanium alloy in both the outer and inner hulls.”
Sheppard nodded, looking at the data on the infopad and noting that the hull defenses in each of his selected ships were similar. He also liked the fact that sixteen wings of starfighters were part of the complement, as well as several larger transport and multi-configurable ships, from fifty to two hundred tons displacement. These larger transport types included the one-hundred-ton Guardian- and fiftyton Sentinel-class heavy attack fighters. The Constellation-class type of starship was sometimes called a heavy battlecarrier, as the configuration could be modeled to have up to an additional four starfighter squadron wing complements, for a total of twenty squadrons. The Sagittarius had many nine-hundred-gigajoule main energy disruptors and particle cannons, a large space marine brigade contingent, and even a few science stations which Garfield commented should be present on all ships bridges. The Sagittarius had an honorable history. Vice Admiral Azethau of the Zal had been in command before the accident that critically injured him and his crew. The ship had been refitted and had systems upgraded.
“Let’s check out the propulsion room first, and then we can examine the matter antimatter power generators,” said O’Brien.
During a short general tour, Sheppard made a few notes from the secure infopad, which he could later transfer to his commlink device. The Sagittarius had begun a refit and would be ready for duty in two months, as new ship construction was given priority. Sheppard noted that it was going to be a somewhat slower sublight vessel; even with the new engine system, its mass and size made it less maneuverable than the Endeavor. Along the way, Garfield mentioned that if it had a Karratin norpic generator, it would maneuver like a vessel two classes smaller.
“Maneuver like a cruiser, you mean,” remarked O’Brien.
“Unfortunately,” Garfield said, “my people have not exchanged that particular technology with the Alliance of Worlds.”
“But the Varlon have something like a norpic generator, don’t they?” asked Sheppard.
“Yes, they do; that’s how their ships are able to maneuver like smaller ships and can strike multiple targets,” Garfield replied.
Sheppard walked onto the bridge of the Sagittarius. It was large perhaps a little too large for his comfort level. It was efficient and had a few redundant stations, and if any section of the bridge were damaged, force fields would encase a safe section to transfer control to until the secondary bridge took over. The force field damage control system was standard on all Alliance of Worlds spaceships.
The three went to visit star dock nine, where the Legendary-class battlecruiser Osiris was housed. The Pegasus-class ship the Phoenix was in star dock five, and since the Phoenix was on the way back to Sheppard’s quarters, they decided to visit it last.
The Osiris was an impressive ship; it had been refit with Mark IV engines three years earlier and also had the improved hull design. The Legendary-class was more maneuverable than the larger Constellation- or Galaxy-class dreadnaughts. The Osiris had already completed one ten-year patrol of the far reaches of Alliance of Worlds space with a somewhat slower drive, the Mark IIIb, which took about one year to get across the galaxy.
O’Brien recalled that the Estrians and Karratins had given over some of their older technology more than a century ago—the tran
slight drive called the Mark II by the Alliance was part of that technology grant. The earlier drives like the Mark II—or second-generation drive—took around ten years to cross the galaxy. Before the Hegemony grant the first series of purely Alliance drive systems was called the Mark One drive. That hyper drive system, like most translight drives, could be powered by either matter-antimatter power systems or zero-point energy systems. It was originally produced by shared founding member technologies. The Mark One was slow by the present standards, taking fifty or so years for galactic crossing, depending on what additional systems were installed.
During the inspection process, O’Brien and Garfield discussed various engineering topics. Both O’Brien and Sheppard appreciated that Garfield, despite all his accomplishments, never talked down to them and gave them ample time to speak.
As they continued the hyper drive inspection tour, O’Brien commented that a team of Alliance of Worlds engineers had halved standard galactic crossing time by creating the Mark IV translight hyperdrive; to cross one hundred thousand light-years now took six months instead of one year.
Sheppard said, “That same translight drive system was first put into use just over ten years ago for a small fleet of twelve prototype ships that were sent to the Magellanic Cloud galaxy.”
“That’s right, that exploratory fleet was commanded by Fleet Captain St. John, aboard the Heroic-class heavy cruiser Indefatigable,” replied O’Brien.
Before completing the starship inspection, Garfield said, “By the way, Fleet Captain St. John’s task force recently re-entered the edge of Alliance of Worlds space at the galactic periphery. According to deepspace sensors, it is heading toward Star One and will arrive within the month.”
The group of three finished their inspection of the starship and then proceeded to the next.
The Osiris was less than two and a half kilometers in length and had twelve squadron wings of fighters. Its generally powerful main weapons, including particle cannons and energy disruptor systems, rated at eight hundred gigajoules. It had an impressive anti-starfighter defense system, as did most of the large ships, including the Sagittarius.
Sheppard liked the Osirus’s five full starfighter hangars, including a reserve decompression backup hangar. He had spent a good deal of time as a starfighter pilot and commander on the H’jum’pta, and he still liked to get some starfighter piloting time. The Osiris had a similar velocity and was almost as massive as the Sagittarius and was capable of acceleration buildup to 0.5C normal space velocities for planetary system movement.
The last ship they visited was the battlecruiser Phoenix, a newly constructed vessel with no previous captain. Phoenix and several other Pegasus-class ships were fitted with a newer spinal mount weapon, called the Nova cannon by some. This Nova weapon system covered three-quarters of the ship’s length and took a great deal of power and reduced active power from other weapons and engine systems. The Nova weapon system was powerful enough to destroy a large asteroid in a single discharge. The only other drawback was that it needed at least a minute to recharge with a firing of ten discharges without refueling the generators.
The main disruptors and particle cannons were rated at six to seven hundred gigajoules each. Those weapons were reasonable, considering that the more powerful spinal-mounted Nova weapon system was designed to channel enough energy to cause critical systems damage to even a Varlon battlecruiser in one discharge. The Nova cannon had been rated at fifteen hundred terra joules energy, including particle impact forces. It was the Alliance’s most powerful weapon.
This Phoenix was somewhat more maneuverable than the previous ships Sheppard had visited and was somewhat smaller—less than two kilometers in length. Like other Pegasus-class ships of similar design, she had six fighter wings and two expanded, multi-dividable fighter hangars. There was even a seventh reserve squadron of starfighters.
Sheppard considered the advice given to him by Garfield and O’Brien, the inspection tours, and the data. He was leaning toward a ship that was maneuverable like the Osiris or the Phoenix, but he was not a fleet captain anymore and might have to keep himself safer on a ship with newer up to date systems. He would sleep on the decision; after all, he had a few days until he reported his decision.
That evening, back in his quarters, Sheppard dreamed about starships and had a vision—something he had on occasion since developing certain metaphysical abilities as a Star Knight. He saw an unusual alien like none he had previously encountered, yet it was vaguely familiar. He saw a great nova of energy and a vast presence and then ships reassembling themselves in space, with a starship, the Phoenix, emerging from a brilliant light, no longer in pieces but whole.
Sheppard woke with a start; his psyche was clearer after meditation and sleep. He sensed something was wrong, and then a few moments later he felt a vibration and what was most certainly an explosion in the distance. Sheppard went to the window of his quarters and saw a fire in the distance that was in the process of being extinguished.
Just then, he felt a reassuring telepathic communication from Garfield. I have located one of the biomorphic androids as the cause of this incident, Garfield communicated. We have a small trap set, and soon we will apprehend one of the andro-synths.
Thinking back on his dreams, which were at times precognitive, Sheppard realized he would take the United Galactic Starship Phoenix as his flagship. As a commodore he knew he would need a fleet captain for the routine command of the starship and act as task force commander now that he was wearing the second star cluster of a fleet officer and would be in command of probably four fleet captains who each commanded a task force.
C HAP TE R 9
AT QUALEN'S RESTAURANT
Sheppard was thinking about the last few crew members for his ship, while heading to Qualen’s, the upscale food dispensary not far from the Alliance’s Academy on Star One. He was heading out for dinner with his friend Brandon Avery.
As the magtrain traversed the distance between his interim quarters and the restaurant, he went over in his mind the duty assignment coded to him from command. The Sixth Fleet was to be part of the mission to determine the intent and threat of the allies the Varlon had acquired. As one of the pivotal officers in the Sixth Fleet, it would also be his primary mission.
There was only one admiral given to the Sixth as replacement command, due to the shortage of senior personnel, and a few officers were either not accepting or delaying promotion to ranks of commodore and above, due to fear.
Sheppard arrived at his station stop and walked toward Qualen’s. He had a strange feeling, as if he were being watched. He looked around carefully; a Star Knight who did not pay attention to his extrasensory perceptions was considered remiss. The sensation was brief. It could have been from passing someone with ill intentions of some form or another, or it could have been something more ominous. Sheppard thought he should have paid more attention to Garfield’s Star Knight
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discipline instruction back in his academy days; then he would be able to focus properly and resolve the sensation. Waiting at the front of the restaurant was Commodore Brandon Avery, talking to an extremely pretty lieutenant commander of Asian descent. When he noticed Sheppard, he said good-bye to the lady, who smiled and said they could meet later and then left.
Sheppard approached his friend. “Well, you’re a bit late,” Brandon said. “I thought I might have a different companion for dinner, Bob.”
“There was a good deal of traffic on the magtrain system,” replied Sheppard. “You know, people coming and going. I was considering the last few staff for the Phoenix. I realize several will be assigned to me, but I do have the option to fill a few positions, and I’ve decided on several crew members.”
“That’s good that at least you get to choose a few,” said Brandon.
The restaurant’s steward took them to a table, where they looked at a menu screen and touch-selected their orders.
When they had ordered, Brandon asked, “Any
crew members I may know?”
“Yes I believe you know Doctor Elijah Grey. I recently saw his name on an available duty list and decided to call him. He has been a captain and has earned duty selection privileges. He said he would join my crew, and he will be chief medical officer. As he has command training, he will also be able to take bridge duty if necessary. In addition, I will be partly responsible for a brigade of cloned space marines, and the good doctor and his staff will make sure they remain safe and healthy in cryo-stasis until we can deploy in the Rhendal sector, or wherever the mission takes me.”
“Yes, I remember Grey,” Brandon said. “He was one of the crew doctors when we served under then-Fleet Captain Peregrine, although you stayed on that tour longer than I did. I’m glad you’re so far along, because I’ve heard you’re to ship out by end of next month, even including training time. The more seasoned your crew, the less you will need to oversee things.”
The appetizers they ordered arrived and were served by an aesthetically pleasing humanoid serving android.
“I have been allowed to select a few key staff, and I’m going to get the best I can,” Sheppard said. “It’s been over a month since I was promoted, and this month’s board meeting would have been bland compared to last month—with one exception. After the board meeting, Grand Admiral Pendragon called me to a short meeting with Admirals Braddock and Taylor, and I was told I may be given brevet rank to vice admiral. Oh, and by the way, Commodore Corund is eligible for promotion to vice admiral, but is wrapped up in legal problems from a non-aligned world, and I am informed It will be several months at least before he is allowed to leave.”
“Who did they decide would be fleet admiral?” asked Brandon as their meals arrived. The food looked and smelled good. Both enjoyed some fish that had been farmed on the aquaculture facility on Star One.