TSN: The Best Laid Plans (Terran Space Navy)

by Paul Phipps

  The minister showed complete surprise at the offer. He was quiet as he thought about it and then asked: “Your offer is more generous than we ever thought possible. May I ask why they need to be removed from the province though?”

  “The process is a radical and frankly a very dangerous one. The plan relies on sealing the entire province under a blockade screen similar to the one that surrounds the Iranian Unified Republic. Then a Nano-machine swarm will be released into the blockaded area. When it is done there will be no radioactive materials remaining. There will also be no buildings, trees, rocks or anything else. The land will be scrubbed down and cleansed completely. It will be essentially flat and sterile.

  Once that is completed we will work with your government to rebuild it in whatever manner you decide. Be aware though, this project will take several decades to be complete and once begun it can’t be stopped until the cleansing is complete.”

  The minister sat back in his chair with a subdued look upon his face. The other members of the agency were varied between shock and disbelief and resigned acceptance of the radicalness of the proposed solution.

  “Can you do just the TEPCO site first and let us examine the results before agreeing to the cleansing of the remainder of the province?” Asked a man of middle age that Evana recognized as a chief disaster coordinator.

  “Yes, we can do that. And it will make a fine demonstration for your government won’t it?”

  After some more discussion it was agreed to pass it on to the Prime Minister with the agency’s enthusiastic approval.

  * * *

  TSN Star Fighter Carrier - Johnny Reb

  Petty Officer Second Class Hiroshi Kurita carefully piloted the Star-fighter he was in command of into the dedicated Star-fighter landing bay for the wing he was a part of. This part of the mission was always touchy for him. A week on patrol and then a full power return designed to fatigue the crew so that they could get used to handling their vessels while very tired was all well and good in theory. But it was really such a pain when the on-board A.I. could handle it all much better than he could even at his freshest.

  He smiled ironically to himself, formerly the senior Captain of the Japanese self-defense forces and here he was complaining just like the young man he used to be once he had graduated from the academy. ‘Ah well, retirement had not agreed with him at all. Doing something, anything was so much better than the small apartment in Hiroshima’ he thought to himself. And now of course his wife had also joined the Terran Space Navy, something she could not do when he had been with the defense force.

  Later that ‘evening’ he and his wife were relaxing in the four room suite that was their quarters on board the Johnny Reb. They were in many ways still adjusting to the fact that neither one of them was old in body any longer. His wife, Keiko, actually had more of an adjustment than he did. She had suffered with diabetes and had lost both legs below the knees to the disease and had been diagnosed with a blood cancer shortly before the news that the Americans had been in contact with a space going navy.

  He had been totally skeptical of it all until he had been asked to go to the JDF headquarters and sit in several advisory meetings to determine the validity of the claims of the U.S. President Richardson and the Terran Space Navy. It had been the Blockade shield that had finally convinced him. A flight to Oman and standing on the shore, then seeing the Companion across the narrow straights from him had been the final strike of the sword. And then when he heard they were seeking qualified recruits… Well a curious Keiko had discovered there was no age limit and with a little wheedling pressure, (very little if the truth be told), on her part he had filled out an application for the two of them to enlist as partners.

  The arrival of the small vessel with a recruiter at their apartment complex had caused a sensation. Boot camp had been both easy and terribly hard as their bodies had been repaired and brought back to the flower of youth. With an explosive grunt that caused his wife of many years to raise a perfect eyebrow in a questioning look, he grimaced and explained his thoughts to her.

  With an understanding smile she asked, “Do you feel under-utilized in what you are currently doing?”

  With a bit of inward reflection he replied, “Yes and no, piloting and being in command of a small section of Star-fighters is not easy, so in that way I feel I am learning new and valuable skills. But my heart, my avocation is more along the lines of higher command with strategy and tactics both a part of my… Chi.”

  “Yes, I remember how you were always pushing that boundary. But you had to in many ways because of your Father and Grand-father’s examples in front of you. I don’t begrudge that, but I also am now proud that we are together doing valuable work.”

  With that as a gentle reminder that they were now a team as well as Husband and Wife he smiled and asked. “So tell me of your time while I was away flying among the planets, cherry blossom?”

  “Very good, you are listening.” She said teasingly, “I have been doing interesting research, we are working on new computing principles and methodologies. The quantum processors we are currently using are amazing, yet for a reason that escapes me we are being tasked to develop different processors and input/output devices that can operate just as quickly. Size and energy requirements and efficiency are being set aside at the moment. As I was told several times those issues can be revisited once the initial work is done.”

  “Are you examining the historical databases that we were told in Basic that Seeker brought with her?”

  “No, for the time being we are being encouraged to explore using our current knowledge and imaginations. You would be surprised at how many dreamers there are in the section. The ideas are flowing like water over the streambeds on Fuji.”

  “Petty Officer Kurita, report to the Captain’s Cabin at your earliest convenience.” The public Address system in the room announced.

  “Excuse me, Johnny.” Asked Keiko, “But which Petty officer Kurita is to report to the Captain?”

  The voice on the P.A. changed slightly with a more mature timbre to it. “Pardon me, Keiko, Petty Officer Hiroshi Kurita is requested to report to Captain Johansson at his earliest convenience.

  I’m instructing the Sub A.I. to be more specific next time on his pages.”

  “Thank you Johnny.” Hiroshi said as he stood up quickly and with a quick check of his uniforms’ cleanliness headed for the Trans-portal.

  Captain Johansson was standing next to his desk as Hiroshi appeared at the trans-portal. He waited until the young looking man saluted him and then returned the salute. With a gesture he indicated that the petty officer was to sit in the chair beside the desk.

  With a quick glance Hiroshi was surprised to see that the Captain’s cabin was actually smaller than the suite that he and Keiko shared. It did follow the same layout plan he noticed though. There were several pictures on the wall of American jet fighters and a large hologram of an unfamiliar looking TSN vessel was off to right side of the room as he looked at it. All in all, it appeared that Captain Johansson lived a minimalist lifestyle.

  He did as the Captain directed and sat down in the chair and assumed an attention stance while sitting, back straight and only using the first four inches of the seat to support him. He then awaited the Captain’s desires.

  Gunnar on the other hand grinned inwardly as he watched Petty Officer Kurita give a quick analyzing glance around the cabin and assumed a cadets stance in the chair he had been directed to. He looked the young man over and using his Comm link once again perused the file on the man. With a nod of satisfaction he turned his full attention on him.

  “At ease Petty Officer Kurita.”

  As the man in the chair next to his desk visibly relaxed Gunnar asked if he would like to have some tea. With a surprised widening of the eyes Kurita indicated that he would. After personally working the food replicator and serving both of them green tea, Gunnar got down to the subject of Kurita’s requested presence in the cabin.

 
“I have been looking over the records of your last patrol. It appears that it was as uneventful as we expected. However the records don’t say how you personally felt about it. Therefore I am investigating that.” Gunnar then paused, waiting to see if the man in front of him would say anything. After a minute of uncomfortable silence that kept building up. He heard:

  “Captain, the patrol was a normal one as I understand these to be. It was only my first one as a flight lead and my orders appeared to be quite strict as to what was to be done with very little leeway for individual changes or initiative other than if something unusual was discovered by us on our sensors.”

  “Hiroshi, excuse me, do you mind if I call you Hiroshi?” Gunnar asked.

  “No Sir, it is acceptable.”

  “Very good then. Hiroshi, you are an adequate pilot although you tend to be mechanical in your use of the controls and integration with the A.I. of a Star-fighter. This was noted in Basic Training as well, after examining your flight records and discussing this with the Johnny Reb, I believe that being a fighter jock is not really what you are cut out for. Would you agree or not?”

  Hiroshi thought furiously and decided the truth rather than typical Japanese self-effacement was best in the current circumstance. “Yes sir, I agree. I like to fly, but I am an uninspired yet adequate pilot of the fighters and other smaller vessels. Piloting is interesting but really not what I would choose to do if I had other more interesting opportunities presented to me.”

  “Yes, that’s what I and your instructors thought. Don’t be ashamed that that is so. All members of the TSN need to know how to pilot our vessels. Some of us are more suited to other things though and you are one of them.” Gunnar said with authority and then pressed on. “Now then, looking at your personal history prior to joining the TSN I see that you had the opportunity not just once but twice!, of guiding the construction and on through to the sea trials of two of the Japanese Self Defense Force’s destroyers including I see, one of the Hyuga class helicopter destroyers.

  How did you find that work to be as a fit for you?”

  “Captain, I actually enjoyed those experiences. The opportunity rarely comes up as you know and to shepherd such a project through to completion and in one case to be the first commanding officer was extremely rewarding.”

  “I can see that, Hiroshi. And I think that the TSN would be very foolish in not utilizing that talent of yours. So please come over here with me and tell me what you see.” Gunnar then arose from his desk and led Hiroshi Kurita over to the hologram of the unusual TSN vessel.

  Hiroshi was quiet as he nodded his head as he looked it over. There was some head scratching as if he didn’t understand what he was looking at finally he said. “What are you looking for from me? A description of the vessel or a superficial analysis of the projected design?”

  “Please do both, tell me what you see and then tell me your first-glance analysis of what you see before you.” Gunnar directed.

  “Hai! What I see is what appears to be a unique design that is radically different from the current TSN design philosophy of purpose built designs that are either Carriers or bases for smaller vessels that actually do the fighting or scouting and other specialized roles.

  I see what appear to be twelve four gun turrets in groupings of three turrets fore and aft, top and bottom. The turrets are in a triangular formation rather than an in-line formation as you would see on a wet-navy cruiser or battleship.

  The vessel itself reminds me of an American football that has been mostly flattened. The front of the vessel also has a Hammerhead that is faired into it, it’s quite striking actually. I see in the fore of the hammerhead three dimpled openings that could be the exit ports for a heavy weapon, possibly a rail-gun or a plasma torpedo launcher.

  There is a superstructure on both the top and bottom of the vessel with the one on the bottom appearing to be mostly a long range sensor platform and the upper one have duplicate sensors as well as livable spaces. On a wet-navy vessel I would say that is where the bridge would be rather than deep in the interior like most TSN vessels have.

  I can’t really see if this vessel has launching tubes for fighters or hanger bays. If it does they are not readily apparent to me.

  As for what it is designed to do? It is obviously a fighting vessel and is intended for that role primarily. It could be readily used as a warning to our potential enemies or allies for that matter. I can’t tell how big it is. It does seem to be designed to operate in an atmosphere due to the attempts at streamlining. It also has some disadvantages with what should have been inherent stealth characteristics. There are too many surfaces that would give a good radar return.” And with that quick analysis over he turned to Gunnar and waited for him to say something.

  “Very good Hiroshi, very good indeed, she is indeed a radical departure from our usual designs. In fact she is so radical that there are many technologies that we are going to have to develop from scratch rather than adapt or use outright from our historical database that the Gho’ L’Gamesh provided Seeker before he left the Solar System.” Gunnar indicated that they should return to the desk area.

  “You could say that she is a space going Battleship. The current design has her at the length of 21 miles by ten miles wide more or less. The guns in the turrets are two meter Rail-guns. The ammunition for them is currently in the R&D phase but should be a combination of Guided self-powered Missiles, Solid Shot, Capacitor-Dart styles, High Explosives or Nuclear tipped.

  She does have Carrier capabilities with the emphasis on Close Space Support rather than long-range attack, defense for the vessel rather than offense you see. She is being designed to function as a flagship and the core of a fleet which will include our current Star-Fighter Carriers and associated cruiser types.”

  Gunnar then paused and drank some of his cooled tea, “What do you think so far?”

  “It’s an ambitious project, do you have an idea of what sort of opponent it is being designed for?”

  Gunnar nodded his head in appreciation of the question. “At the moment, I know of no opponents that she is specifically designed to fight against. In some ways she is an experiment in design and function. I can tell you this though; her design is the result of numerous requests by your fellow countrymen within the TSN.”

  Hiroshi gave a little jerk as he heard that and then a slight smile appeared upon his face, “Space Battleship Yamato?” He asked quietly.

  With a nod and an answering grin Gunnar said, “Yes, Hiroshi, Space Battleship Yamato.” At that point Gunnar sat back and spread his hands wide as in encompassing a concept, “The Anime version of the Space Battleship Yamato although potent and powerful in its Anime universe really wasn’t in ours. The design was very limited and couldn’t utilize most of our current technologies. So we took the concept and scaled it up until it did.

  The idea of turrets bothered many of the designers and fabricators. Although very useful in a wet-navy they seem to be a point of hull weakness in space. That is until they too were scaled up in size and power. Bigger guns means the ammunition can be bigger. That means that missiles can be shot in any direction without having to reorient the ship for the optimum angle to fire them out of a fixed tube. That in turn permits a much higher launch velocity. This as you might imagine can be of great use.”

  Gunnar paused and sipped his tea once again. He watched Hiroshi carefully and then said. “I have a proposition for you.” And waited for the young looking man across from him to rise to the bait.

  “Yes, Captain Johansson?”

  “I want you to consider taking on the task of shepherding this battleship through to her final design and construction for the Terran Space Navy.”

  Hiroshi was surprised and yet at the same time wasn’t. “Captain I would consider it an honor to do so.”

  “It is an honor Hiroshi, more so than you might realize right now. First off we need to get you more up to speed in the TSN, therefore you will be my assistant for the next few wee
ks as we both learn about each other’s strengths and weaknesses. You are also going to be given the rank of Commander for now. Once you assume command of this project you will be made a Captain.”

  “Thank you sir, may I ask about my wife? Will she be able to accompany me on this tour.”

  “Yes, of course she can. We do NOT split up married couples unless they request that to happen.”

  “And this vessel, does it have a name assigned to her?”

  “Yes she does Hiroshi… Musashi.” Gunnar told him simply. He was a bit surprised at the moisture that appeared in the young man’s eyes. But then in hindsight he should not have.

  “Musashi… A very good name indeed. My Great-grandfather would have approved.”

  “I think he would have too, Hiroshi. Oh in case I didn’t mention it earlier. Unless you do not wish it, we, that is, the TSN High Command, would like you to consider becoming her Captain once she assumes her place in the fleet.”