TSN: The Best Laid Plans (Terran Space Navy)

by Paul Phipps

  “Right now, Comanche has a pallet of one hundred ready for delivery. Here… This briefcase is part of it. Place the helmet inside it after each session and plug in the power cord to recharge everything for your next session.” Ansel demonstrated where the cord was at and how to place the helmet in the briefcase.

  “Please e-mail me a report each week that you are testing it. If it passes your people, we will begin distributing immediately. Also once your company’s testing is complete these helmets are yours. Once they’ve been configured for an individual it’s theirs permanently.”

  TSN Auxiliary Louis Pasteur, Tel Aviv, Israel, Friday December 4, 2026

  “Thank you for giving me a few minutes of your time Dr. Davis” Evana told the surprisingly young Doctor in his office at the Tel Aviv University Hospital where the Doctor was both a practicing Neuro-Surgeon and a medical researcher.

  “No, it is yourself who does me the Honor Captain Thomas.” He told her as he guided her into the inner office set back behind his ‘Consultation Room’. “Would you like some tea, or maybe coffee?”

  “I think that tea would be best, Doctor.” She said gratefully as she nestled into the comfortable leather armchair for guests.

  After preparing Evana and himself tea the Doctor sat himself behind the Desk and leaned back in contemplation. “I must congratulate you and thank you for all of the humanitarian work you and your marvelous ship have been doing. We have sent two terminal cases ourselves and they have already arrived back fully healed and one of them was a man who had his lower body blown off by another of those damnable rockets they keep shooting at us!

  How do you do it?” He asked eagerly.

  Evana thought for a moment and then said, “I think you are talking about Jakob, I liked him and he has a wonderful personality. So what did we do? We put him into suspended animation, then using cellular regenerators and Nanite reconstructors we rebuilt him.

  It was an interesting case and we learned quite a bit from it. Jakob almost wasn’t healable in that fashion, we might have had to grow a full body clone and done an engram transfer from the terminal body to the clone body.

  Dr. Davis was silent in awe as he contemplated that. “You can do such things? He said in a hoarse voice.

  “Yes, Dr. Davis, it is the method that was used to create the first AI’s on the Gho L’Gamesh when it was nearly destroyed in its original analogue universe.” Evana told him, “We use a very similar technique when we do a ‘Deep interrogation’ on a prisoner. Only with those recordings we have to decode them to make them understandable to an outside observer. It’s like watching a long movie in many ways.”

  “Amazing…” He said softly as he tried to comprehend what she had told him. After a minute or so he shook himself and said briskly. “In your request to talk to me, you said you needed help in a very unusual case. How is it that I can possible help you if you can do such miracles already?”

  Evana smiled at him and held up her hand in a placating manner. “Dr. Davis I need your word on the confidentiality of what I need to tell you.”

  He snorted at her and said, “You have it!”

  Evana nodded her head gravely and pulled out of her briefcase a device she put on the table in front of her. “This is a jammer, we can’t be recorded when I turn it on. And with a wave of her hand over the device a spherical shield appeared around them. To an outside observer it looked just like a giant gray ball had just appeared.

  “Impressive!’ Dr. Davis said looking around them. “Now shall we get on with it?”

  “Yes, let’s.” Evana said with a smile. “I have two prisoners on-board the Louis Pasteur, they attacked me and tried to inject me with a drug we and they call the Zombie Drug. The effect of the drug is total loss of volition. Whatever the drugged person is told to do, they will do. And I mean ANYTHING.

  Now once we had them in custody we examined them and attempted to do an Engram recording so that we could do a Deep Interrogation analysis on them. The upshot is that their Engrams are un-readable! They can’t be decoded and we’ve never run into that before.

  So we did a cell by cell examination of them and we came up with some very disturbing data. Each of them has what appears to be an Artificial Gland that is secreting a chemical compound that is very similar to the Zombie drug but with different results. The amazing thing is they still apparently have volition and self-determination.

  Also this chemical compound has completely supplanted all of the normal Neuro-transmitters in their brains.” And at that she finished and looked expectantly at the Doctor seated behind his desk.

  “I see… At least I think I see why you came to me. But can’t your amazing Doctors do something on their own?” He asked quietly.

  “The TSN AI’s are amazing people and are extremely capable. But with that being said, the amount of intuition they possess is minimal. So Humans are still vital and highly desired as partners for the TSN AI’s.”

  “So what do you want from me?” Dr. Davis asked expectantly.

  “I want to offer you a consultant contract for minimum of thirty days on-board the Louis Pasteur. We need your insights and intuition. Also this is not an exaggeration; the fate of this world may literally rest in finding out why and how these men have these Artificial Glands.” Evana finished in a determined manner.

  “I agree, I need to come and help you.’ He said just as determinedly, “But what of my patients here? They need me too.”

  “The TSN will bring any patient that needs your services to the Louis Pasteur. We will provide all transportation, no fees will be charged for any treatment and we will bring them back home.” Evana told him.

  “Yes, I can live with that.” He said in satisfaction. “Come with me now! We need to talk to administration and tell them what is to occur.”

  Evana turned off the jamming device and the shielding screen disappeared around them. In the room were three men with pistols out covering the two of them.

  Evana had only tried the slow-time capabilities of her latest implant a couple of times. But she activated it and sprang into action. The three men were moving as though they were stuck in time. She quickly removed the guns from each of them and then placed them against the wall in a sitting position.

  She moved back to her original position and time…. became normal again.

  “I don’t know who you are,” She told them in her command voice, “but if you move a single inch I will personally break your arms and legs.”

  One of them moved to jump her. Once again she went into slow-time and broke both of his arms and shattered his knees. And moved back once again to her position by the desk …. Time was normal once again. Only this time she felt her body complaining about the massive exertion she had just put on it.

  “I told you what I would do, NOW who are you! And why are you in this office!” She snapped in anger.

  The man whose arms and legs she had just broken started to whimper as he found himself in massive pain. The other two stayed still and as Evana continued to stare at them. Dr. Davis got on the telephone and called for Hospital Security to come to his office on the double and to bring a gurney for an injured prisoner.

  It was only a few minutes later that Hospital Security showed up, fully armed with Automatic Weapons and Body Armor.

  After determining what the situation was from the Doctors point of view, the Hospital security chief who had arrived shortly after the Security team took over. The three men continued their silence and didn’t resist when they were arrested.

  Evana also maintained her silence but informed Henri, what had occurred.

  Louis Pasteur/Comm Mode: “Captain, I am now Enroute to your location. Please stay there in the room you are in until I arrive. I will bring you aboard personally. The MARS unit you took is now in Guard mode and will do whatever is necessary to protect you.”

  Captain Thomas/ Comm Mode: “Thank you Henri, I think that’s a good idea. I used up too much energy going into slow-time twice with only
a minute or so between each session. I’m going to need a rejuvenation in the Med–Center I think.”

  Louis Pasteur/ Comm Mode: “I have notified Israeli Air Traffic Control of my destination, I will be there in seven more minutes

  Evana raised her hand and with that simple gesture all of the men in the room stopped what they were doing.

  “These three men are coming with me.” She said in a flat no-nonsense voice. “My ship will be here momentarily and they are going for a nice little ride.” She finished up with a wolfish grin at the three who were now starting to turn white under their tans.

  The Chief of Hospital Security started to argue with Evana until one of his men bumped him with an elbow. Then he pointed out to him the MARS unit now hovering outside the window of Dr. Davis’s office. He knew something that was completely beyond his experience was occurring. As he stared out the window it started to get dark outside, very dark.

  Evana smiled at that and invited him to go take a look for himself. He gingerly moved to the window and looked up at the sky above. Suddenly there was the smell of urine as he backed up in fear. He turned very, very slowly to Evana and told his men that they were to do whatever she told them to.

  “Dr. Davis if you insist on talking to your administration about our consulting contract I won’t disagree. I would appreciate if you took a couple of my bodyguards with you. I have no idea who these three are or who they work for. But I will find out and when I do somebody is in for a world of hurt.”

  “I think I should inform them of our arrangements in person, but considering what has just occurred I would be grateful to you for a bodyguard or two.” The Doctor told her gratefully.

  There was a grinding noise at the window and a large circular hole approximately eight feet in diameter appeared. Evana could see that a large platform was being added to the side of the building she was in. The MARS unit slid over it and the ramp lowered down. A squad of ten Samurai Self Defense Units came trotting down it and through the hole in the exterior wall.

  “Reporting for duty Captain Thomas!” The Lead Samurai announced with a precision salute.

  “Thank you Sergeant,” she told him, “Take these three over there into custody. One of them is severely injured with broken bones. Tell the med-center to heal him up and do a deep-interrogation on all of them.

  Also please detail two of your men to bodyguard Dr. Davis here. He needs to do a few things here in the Hospital before coming aboard the Louis Pasteur.”

  In the distance through the door of Dr. Davis’s office there came the sound of running boots and the clack of guns being cocked. The Hospital Security Chief looked startled and looked in surprise at Evana.

  “These are not my men! Something is happening but I don’t know what.” His voice was firm and he settled down quickly,

  The Samurai’s from the MARS unit who weren’t previously detailed pushed their way through the Hospital Security team and took up positions to cover the area. Heavy screens were now visibly being generated by the Samurai’s.

  Evana was looking a bit disgruntled, “This is my first time to Israel so I’m not up to speed on what is normal or not normal around here. So tell me, is this normal?” She finished up looking at all of the men around her.

  Dr. Davis smiled wanly, “Well… yes and no, we’ve been under attack one way or another for over Eighty years. That means we are very used to weapons and having to use them to defend ourselves. The Hospital on the other hand is a very hard target for terrorists because of our Security forces.

  I wouldn’t be too surprised if these men coming toward us are some of the State Counter Terrorist units.”

  The Hospital Security Chief then added, “But I wouldn’t be too surprised either is they weren’t.”

  “I see…” Evana said slowly as she realized her body’s reserve of energy was almost gone, “Its damned if you do and damned if you don’t. In that case I offer the safety of my vehicle to everyone while the Samurai’s sort out who is involved here.”

  ‘Yes, I think that’s a good idea. “Dr. Davis said energetically, “After you, Captain Thomas.” and waved his hand toward the waiting MARS unit.

  Five minutes later everyone was inside the MARS unit and Evana was eating a high energy snack and a stimulative protein shake to get some energy back into her. The Ramp had closed up and the remaining five Samurai’s were waiting outside of the Doctor’s office in the Consultations Room were preparing for the worst.

  Evana had configured the screens in the command module of the MARS Unit to display what each of the five Samurai’s were seeing. The door leading to the outside corridor blew inward with a burst of white light and smoke. Two men jumped through and were immediately shot with Capacitor Darts from the Samurai’s Rail Gun pistols. Two more followed and the same thing occurred.

  A mirror peeked around the side of door and Evana could see eyes going wide open behind a polycarbonate face shield.

  The Hospital Security Chief still smelling of urine was watching from behind Evana and started to chuckle. “I believe that those are official state authorized counter-terror troops. Captain Thomas.”

  “They do seem to be pretty well equipped.” She agreed, “Let’s see what they do next.”

  The MARS Unit spoke up then to Evana, “Captain, sensors indicate six men on the roof above us. They appear prepared to rappel down to this landing stage.”

  “Thank you, please lift yourself up to their level. I want to talk to one of them.” Evana directed.

  “Excuse me gentlemen,” Evana’s voice came over the exterior loudspeaker. “But I’m starting to get very pissed at you. So one of you better start talking to me about what the hell you think you are doing!”

  The six men in turn stared at the bright copper/bronze shape that was hanging in the open air in front of them. The vast bulk of the Louis Pasteur overhung them all keeping the bright sunlight down so that it was like twilight.

  One of them stood up and peeled off his helmet and put his hands on his hips and said. “We are trying to rescue a Dr. Davis from a Terrorist kidnap squad. And YOU are interfering with us!”

  At that announcement, Evana just started to giggle and then to laugh all of which was broadcast over the loudspeakers. “I see that Israel has its communications just as messed up as America. Dr. Davis is with us and we are protecting him from a Hit Squad. Please stand still, I am going to lower the ramp and you may come aboard. You better put those weapons on safe too!”

  A few hours later, apologies made, damages fixed and contracts signed as well as a brief tour of the Louis Pasteur’s facilities by the Tel Aviv University Hospital Staff and they were on their way back to Ramsheh.

  And with three men whose identities still weren’t known.

  Admirals Staff Meeting, December 8, 2026

  “Lt. Commander Johansson, why don’t you go first this time.” Admiral Webster said to his staff.

  “Thank you Sir, It’s been a good week for the Terran Space Navy, too good actually. I don’t know about the rest of you but I certainly didn’t do the math when we offered to sell the oil we make at the Oil Production and Garbage Recycling facilities.

  We are servicing on average of 20 supertankers per day per Facility. That’s an income of twenty-four billion dollars a day with no out-go. Johnny Reb and I calculate in less than a month we will have more ready cash than any other Company or Government. This is NOT a good thing! Money can be likened to an oxidizer for the rocket engine of the economy. We need to keep this money moving or the world economy will suffer.

  We have a few ideas on how to do that, but to keep from affecting other people’s ideas we want to hold on them and present all ideas at the same time.”

  “I understand your concerns, Gunnar. Ok, everyone! I want at least two ideas from each of you by next Tuesday on ways to utilize this money so that we don’t cause a World Economic meltdown.” Admiral Webster directed. “Anything else for us, Gunnar?”

  “Yes Sir, three more items. Gen
eral Owens passed on another request from the Secretary of Defense for us to supply advanced Aircraft designs. I told him the same thing. Not until Congress authorizes a working agreement with the TSN.

  Second, our IGD’s have detected efforts by the Current Libyan and Egyptian Governments to try to sabotage or destroy our Facility in the Mediterranean. I’m of the mind to let them go ahead and discover that it’s a futile gesture.

  Third, I have been talking to Captain Keppler of the Epiphany, he has four aviators that are very interested in joining the TSN. Jane the Epiphany’s Command A.I. has examined them and thinks they will make good recruits. With your permission I will go and interview them myself and let them know what they are getting themselves into.

  Admiral Webster and the others had been listening closely to what Gunnar Johansson was telling them. Each was nodding at the various points that were being made.