by Paul Phipps
“Thank you for those insights Johnny.” Gunnar Johansson said with a wry grin, “You’re quite correct you know. I just didn’t take them into account when I started to design some planes for the U.S. Air Force.”
“Mind you, Gunnar”, Johnny Reb’s deep southern drawl came through clearly, “What I do know really only comes from reading and perusing the various media that are available to all of the citizens of the United States.
But if all of those sources are accurate then just giving the Air Force fantastically ‘super airplanes’ will be a horrible mistake. We will end up destroying a huge portion of the remaining industry left over from the Second Civil War. We will also start the beginning of wide spread dislike and distaste for the Terran Space Navy. And most importantly we will damage or at worst destroy the exceptionalism and can-do attitude that still remains here.”
“That may be Johnny, but even I can see that you are most probably accurate in your analysis.” Gunnar said as he sat back from the console he was sitting at. “So…. Any ideas on what I in particular and the TSN in general should do with these requests?”
“Yes, I have some ideas. Volunteer nothing; let our guests come to us with their ideas and visions. Also request that the current Airplane manufacturers be included in these talks. Once we have a good idea of what they are looking for in assistance from us, then we can offer the assistance that they ask for within reason and not give them knowledge that is too advanced.” Johnny Reb answered solemnly.
As Johnny Reb was speaking to Gunnar, Fleet Admiral Webster entered via the Trans-Portal into the compartment. He kept silent but sat down at a table behind Gunnar and watched and listened to the discussion.
Gunnar rotated his chair to face the Admiral and asked, “When you gave the Epiphany and all of the F-47N’s to the Navy I didn’t see this sort of reticence. Why?”
“The Epiphany and her aircraft are a totally contained facility. Any personnel assigned to her will be on a volunteer basis. They know that they are being considered for enlistment into the Terran Space Navy. Anything they see and use will influence how they see the TSN. On the other hand any items we provide for the Air Force or Army will be in a more open setting.
This has advantages and disadvantages. Our technology will get seen more and possibly used more by the sort of people we want to have enlist with us. The bad side is that by existing it is sometimes seen as an ‘In Your Face’ thing by insecure people. What it means for us is a major balancing and juggling act.”
Gunnar sat back and thought for a bit, then nodded his head. “All right, I can see that. But you have more to say don’t you?”
“I suppose so. I want you to consider what just happened today with Ansel. It was only through our superior technology and frankly, massive numbers of ships and IGD’s that he and the Fuller’s weren’t harmed or killed. Once our capabilities become more widely known among our enemies and potential enemies the sort of counter operation we did today will be very hard to accomplish in the future.
Therefore keeping our capabilities and technology to ourselves or allowing others to know about them brings us back to that balancing act I just mentioned.”
Gunnar stood up at that point and paced a bit, his face worked as he thought through the various ramifications. On the other hand Admiral Webster sat back and just watched quietly.
Finally Gunnar sat down at the table with the Admiral and said. “You and Johnny are both correct. You mentioned it in the past that the TSN’s technology was dangerous not only on a physical basis but a societal one too.
I was just using our capabilities to show off; it was a bit of an ego thing to envision all of the things I wanted to see in a fighter after flying them for sixteen years.”
“I never said you couldn’t or even shouldn’t build a fighting plane with all the features you wanted. I just think we need to hold such things back until they are needed by the situation we are in.” Johnny Reb told Gunnar. “After discussing it with Companion I believe they would be a near perfect fit for that vessel’s duties and current mission.”
“So tell me what you’ve designed, Gunnar.” Admiral Webster asked.
“Actually, I didn’t design anything. I gave Harrison the chief fabricator a list of desired characteristics for an advanced in-atmospheric Aircraft that did not use any outer space specific equipment. Some of the characteristics were the ability to gather or create fuel from the atmosphere being flown through. That would extend the operating time and range of the Aircraft.
No top speed was requested but the ability for Vertical Take-off and Landing was desirable but short take-off and Landing were the minimum acceptable. Munitions were not specified. Command capsule was to be placed as close to the center of gravity as possible. That would aid in pilot survivability with heavy G maneuvers. Up to a four person crew was to be an option for training and certain types of missions requiring specialist roles. The Option of Full A.I. assistance or even unmanned flight and combat were desirable.
Radar and visual stealth were mandatory but no TSN exclusive technology was to be used to achieve that.
The capability of the ‘wild weasel’ role as well as the ground attack or ground troop support role was highly desired.”
“And what did Harrison and his fellow designers come up with?” Asked Admiral Webster.
“Johnny, please display an ‘Air Shark’ for the Admiral.” Gunnar asked.
In a holo display at the console behind Gunnar an airplane was displayed. It was a little hard to see as the surfaces kept the eye from focusing on it clearly as the skin of the aircraft kept blending in with the background. Then it stabilized as the surface skin was colorized and it was shown as a large aircraft around two hundred feet in length by one hundred twenty five in width. It looked vaguely like a flattened SR-71 only there were no visible air intakes for the engines. It was smooth to sight with no hard angular surfaces. There was a large ring near the rear that appeared to serve as the rudder.
“Well, it’s pretty, I’ll give it that.” Admiral Webster said. “Does it meet your requirements?”
“Very much so, Admiral. It uses a Hydrogen/Oxygen Hybrid Engine system that provides the efficiency of a Jet engine and the simplicity of a Rocket Engine. Johnny told me that the original design was one used on at least four of the Earth Analogues that the Gho L’Gamesh explored. It is capable of a minimum ground speed of 50 miles per hour. It does have VTOL or STOL capability. The Max ground speed is Mach 3 at mean sea level and Mach 14 at a cruising altitude of one hundred twenty five thousand feet. It can go sub-orbital giving it a hop range of thirty-five hundred miles.
Using an on-board fuel creation system means it can stay aloft virtually indefinitely. That’s also the reason it’s so large, that fuel creation system takes up a lot of room and it’s not particularly efficient. It also has a very neat trick in that the aircraft does its own maintenance and can self-repair itself given the availability of the right materials.
Munitions are all TSN derived. Mostly the Rail-guns like we used on the F-47N’s and a Gatling Laser similar to but smaller than the ones used by the Companion and The Epiphany.”
“Very, very nice, Gunnar. Harrison and his fellows are to be congratulated for such a nice design.” Admiral Webster said. “But I can also see Johnny Reb’s concerns.
Let’s keep this design to ourselves and remove the cumbersome fuel creation system. Instead put in one of our more efficient systems. And see if that changes the physical dimensions by much.”
“Yes, sir, I’ll pass that on to them.” Johnny Reb said. “Now that we have a good idea of what we can produce using our own ideas let’s just see what our Air Force guests come up with later today.”
“Gunnar, do you know where Evana got off to?” Asked Admiral Webster after a short pause.
“Yes Sir, she is on the Susannah right now going over our preparations for picking up the U.S. Army Bio-warfare team from Fort Detrick.”
“Good to hear that she is on t
hat. Well, that’s my next stop then. I’ll see you later when we go to the Pentagon once I have a good time for our arrival.” The Admiral said and then went back through the trans-portal.
TSN MFOB, Mobile Forward Operations Base, Susannah 0910 EST, Monday November 16, 2026
Fleet Admiral Webster and Evana Thomas are in a meeting room on board the Susannah. Several holographic displays are in operation and a five foot tall humanoid android is standing alongside one of the walls. The Android is naked with a golden cast to its skin. There are no sex characteristics on display.
“I apologize that I will not have much time to devote to talking with you about your assignment to liaison with the U.S. Army’s Bio-Warfare people.” Admiral Webster told her.
“I fully understand, Sir.” Evana said in return. “Commander Webster went over what he expects in detail last night and again this morning. I believe I have met his requirements.”
“I agree, you are very professional and I am very grateful you are here to take care of this one for us. Now before I get called away to the White House. What is that?” he said pointing to the Android.
“I had Susannah whip me up a bunch of these. These are going to be the standard isolation duty Telefactors we are going to have the Bio-Warfare people use while in the hot zones. After much thought and discussion with Susannah and Ariadne we want them to use our Telefactor technology. We just don’t want them to know how advanced it really is.
It might be an ace in the hole that saves the life or lives of our people if we have to enter another situation like Commander Webster did this last weekend.”
“I see, so you are giving them access to something that is obviously artificial. Is the interface also downgraded to match?” He inquired.
“Yes it is. The sensorium tanks are time limited to six hour sessions with no more than 12 hours in a single day. We want them to leave with the impression that this is useful technology but highly limited. We also are limiting the range the Telefactor can go from a TSN vessel or signal repeater unit.”
“Excellent! And have you checked out the…”
Seeker/ Comm Mode: “Admiral Webster, I have just finished talking to the White House. President Richardson will be able to see you for a half an hour at 1000 EST. Which means you need to leave now to get there on time.”
Admiral Webster/ Comm Mode: “Thank you for getting me the appointment. I’m leaving ASAP.”
“Ms. Thomas, Seeker has just let me know I need to go now. I’ll get back to you later on. Maybe tomorrow at breakfast with the others.”
“Yes Sir, that sounds good. Take care and good luck with the President.” She replied as he was already heading for the Trans-portal.
“Well… talk about a flying visit.” Susannah remarked.
“He’s a busy man. I hope you A.I.’s are prepared for anything if he runs into trouble there at the White House. I’m a bit worried that the Act-Now faction has compromised the Secret Service.” Evana told Susannah candidly.
“So are we, that’s why the Admiral is using a Telefactor of his own today. What did you think of it?” Susannah said with a slight snigger in the tone of her voice.
“That was a Telefactor? Impressive, I’ve never seen one in person, just used my own when dealing with those people in Ramsheh.” Evana said with admiration.
“Are you ready for your tour of the Louis Pasteur? Susannah asked.
“Did you pick that name or did the A.I. in charge of your carried vessel?”
“Actually he did. Once he was notified of the mission he was assigned to. He did a study of this Earth’s medical history. He re-designed the interior to accommodate a three hundred bed hospital, ten Surgical Suites a fifty bed Emergency room.
His Research and Bio-War laboratory uses multiple Earth’s medical and diagnostic tools. After reviewing his actions I believe we will be ready to accomplish this mission in ship-shape and Bristol fashion.” Susannah said with some pride.
Evana was also impressed with the initiative she was seeing with the AI’s. Then she had a brainstorm of an idea.
“Susannah, I have an idea that I think you and the other A.I.’s should seriously consider.”
“Oh? And what is it?”
“I think you should design and build a hospital ship.” Evana told her.
“A hospital ship? Isn’t that what the Louis Pasteur is now?” Susannah said confusedly.
“Yes, he is. But what I am thinking is one on the scale of yourself. We, that is the TSN, could show up at the next large scale disaster and provide our services to the injured population. The United States used to do that a lot before the Second Civil War.
It was expensive but the goodwill that was earned was worth it. The TSN could do the same thing. I don’t think we should go further than that. Just medical aid and search and rescue of the survivors.”
“Let me think about this one. I like the concept but I need to study it for a while. Let’s talk about it later today or tomorrow.” Susannah told her.
“Sounds good to me.” Evana said over her shoulder as she headed for the transfer-patch. “Louis Pasteur Please.”
TSN Auxiliary Louis Pasteur, 0930 EST, Monday November 16, 2026
Lt. Commander Evana is on the Bridge of the Louis Pasteur. There she has been discussing the broad aspects of the mission with the Louis Pasteur.
“I think that about covers all that I know about Ramsheh and the Niasar sites.” She said.
“Do you plan on staying aboard for the duration of this mission?” The Louis Pasteur asked her.
“I’m not really sure about that, probably I will be here a great deal of the time. You do know that I am one of the few humans in the TSN and that means I am a bit stretched out doing multiple jobs. But unless something really important comes up I believe I will be here with you.”
“Good, I would like that. I feel that I need to work with humans more to get a better idea of what we each can do.”
“Do you have a nickname or a usename?” Evana inquired.
“No I don’t, would you like to give me one?” The Louis Pasteur asked her with a little eagerness in his voice.
“Sure, how about Henri,” She said with a smile, “You can even use a French accent when speaking to the people we are bringing on-board. It will give you more of an individualized identity after a while also.”
“I like it. Thank you Commander Thomas.” Henri told her with a slight French accent.
“In private like this, just call me Evana.”
“Thank you Evana. Now would you like to go and make a call on the U.S. Army?” Henri asked her.
“Sounds good to me!”
Fort Detrick, Maryland, 0945 EST, Monday November 16, 2026
“Directory assistance, Fort Detrick, Maryland. How may I help you?” Came the well trained voice of the Base telephone Operator.
“Good Morning, I am Lt. Commander Thomas of the Terran Space Navy, please connect me to General Duval’s office.” Evana spoke clearly and carefully from the bridge of the Louis Pasteur.
“Please wait while I transfer your call, Ma’am.”
“Pleasantly professional, I really appreciate that rather than one of those damn phone trees.” Evana told Henri.
“What is a phone tree?” Henri asked quizzically.
“It’s a programming sequence to ‘assist’ someone calling a general use telephone number to connect them to a person who might be able to help them. Personally I think that they are designed to frustrate a caller into hanging up.” Evana stated with a growl.
* * *
Base Theatre – Fort Detrick.
Commanding General Thomas Duval is at the podium looking out over the men and women of the First Rapid Medical Response Team of U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases. He has been in an on-going briefing with his personnel since 0730 EST about the situation as he knows it in the Blockaded Iranian Unified Republic.
“I also want to give each and every one of you a hearty congratul
ation for the fine work you have done in coming from a total peacetime posture to an immediate deployment into a hostile situation. Well done indeed.”
As he was finishing his statement a cell phone rang out disturbing the meeting and the Colonel in command of the Rapid Response team jerked his head around giving a glaring scowl for the person who had disobeyed orders and had brought a cell phone into a secure briefing area. That is until he realized it was his own cell phone.
He gave a sheepish look as he rolled his eyes to the ceiling and pulled it out of his pocket to see who was calling. He gave a look and then gave a second look with wide eyes. The identification screen identified the call as coming from the TSN Louis Pasteur.