by Saxon Andrew
“I have.”
“What’s your opinion of them?”
The Chancellor smiled slightly, “I guess if one must be invaded, then these aliens aren’t the worst that could come. It appears they’re very much like the original colony traders that came here and basically stole our crops.”
“I also saw the similarity. We were wrong to do that, and I guess it’s far too late to say I’m sorry for the way we treated you.”
“It is. And offering it now looks like you’re only saying it to get our help.”
“I do want your help, John, but I am sorry for what’s happened. This alien invasion has made me realize that humanity should not be adversaries. We are brothers and should never be a threat to each other.”
“We’ve always felt that way, Ed. That’s why we accepted what your traders did. We abandoned the colonies early on and we should have never done that. Both of us are at fault and it’s time we put that behind us and work together.”
“So, knowing what we now know, how do you want to handle these invasions?”
“I believe we need to put off removing them until I can get all of my warships updated with new technology we’ve developed. That is several years away,” the Chancellor responded.
“I can accept that. However, if they start bombarding the colonies they’ve invaded…”
“We won’t delay, Ed! We’ll act immediately.”
“Thank you, John. There is one thing I need you to do.”
“What is that?”
“Keep this new information to yourself and not tell anyone about it.”
“Why?” The Chancellor asked.
“You are aware that the colonies were headed to ruin, aren’t you?” John hesitated and then nodded. “You didn’t need to attack us, John. We would have fallen into civil war in less than eighty or ninety years.”
“Our data suggested it would take more than three hundred years before that happened!”
“Your data isn’t complete, John. The growth of the population in the colonies has grown at a faster rate than we anticipated. If this invasion hadn’t taken place, the dangerous effects would have started to appear within a decade. As it stands, I’m spreading disinformation that millions are dying every day on the invaded colonies. The fear in the remaining colonies is palatable and billions are doing all they can to move to a habitable planet in the Andromeda Galaxy. The mass exodus of our populations has delayed the ultimate fall of the colonies for more than a hundred years. I need for the exodus to continue and if this knowledge gets out that the aliens aren’t that dangerous, it would slow it down. I need this fear to continue.”
“What about the assassins, Ed.”
“That’s an issue that will have to be handled, eventually. At the moment, they are the only thing standing between the colonies and a massive alien invasion.”
“John, are you aware that millions of your citizens are asking for asylum on Earth.”
“I am. Do you have room for them?”
“I don’t want those that used assassins, Ed. The only way to avoid that is to not allow anyone to immigrate.”
“John, can I count on you to defend all of humanity?”
“Of course.”
“Don’t answer lightly, John! I’m going to do something that will hurt the colonies, but I believe it’s the right thing to do. But doing it depends on your agreement to defend all mankind from attack.”
“Ed, Earth will never attack a planet with humans on it.”
“Do you give me your sacred word on that?!”
“I do but I won’t always be in this position.”
“Will you get a law passed that guarantees it and can’t be revoked, John?”
“What are you considering, Ed?”
“I’m going to start transferring all of our best scientists, engineers, and physicists to Earth using the cruise line; I will insure that no assassins are on those cruises. Sending our best and brightest to Earth will make your planet the most powerful planet of all those inhabited by humanity.”
“Why would you do this?”
“Because the home of humanity should be the place that protects the species. I do caution you to never extend the life spans of humanity on Earth longer than a hundred years; that would only lead to destruction if you do. You see how extended lives has worked out for us!”
“But if the science is available to do it…”
“Only allow people willing to go out and colonize another world to have it done!”
John stared at Ed on the monitor and said softly, “I can see you’ve done all you can to keep humanity safe. That’s why you allowed the existence of the Assassin’s Guild.”
“It was the only way to delay the fall.”
“I’ll get the law passed and I’ll keep this information confidential. You have my promise that Earth will be humanity’s defender,” John said with conviction.
“Thank you, John. I’ll be sending the first shipment of our best immediately.”
The monitor went dark and the Chancellor pressed a button on his desk, “Greta, call for a special session immediately!”
“What reason do I give for the session, Sir.”
“Survival,” the Chancellor answered. He sat back and sighed heavily. He didn’t know where this was leading but he knew it had to be for the betterment of the species. It was up to him to make sure it happened.
• • •
The Commander looked at his message panel, then looked up at the AL, “Did you receive this message from the Prince Royal?”
“I did.”
“What do you glean from it?”
“He’s ordered the landing forces at all five colonies that have been invaded to be moved back into their ships. Once on board, they will be given a choice of accepting hazard-duty-pay or be shipped back.” The AL looked up from his monitor, “Troops on higher hazard-duty-pay do not receive death benefits. The Prince is cutting his losses. He’s sending the Elite Division to join the invasions.” The Commander’s expression showed he didn’t like that decision. The AL nodded, “Commander, I’m reasonably certain the Commander of the Elite Division will assume overall command of the invasions.”
“The Elite Division are known for their brutality,” the Commander stated.”
“They don’t cause massive loss of life, but they do alienate the local inhabitants. I’ll report this to the Law Enforcer.”
“It’s been reported in the past and the Elite Division is still being used.” The Commander replied. This wasn’t a good development.
Chapter Five
Jee watched Dr. Meservey inspecting the nose of a missile as a pulse cannon’s barrel was extended into the small precision opening. It moved slightly, and Charles said, “HOLD IT RIGHT THERE!” He took a flat card and held it up against the barrel and missile’s frame. “Just tap it slightly,” he said to the engineer pushing the pulse cannon. “BE GENTLE!” The engineer tapped the pulse cannon with a rubber mallet and Charles shouted, “THAT’S IT!!” He held the card against the barrel and smiled, “Anchor it in place!” Charles stood up and walked to the rear of the missile, “Start running the electrical conduits to the pulse cannon.”
He turned to another engineer and raised his eyebrows. The engineer working in the rear of the missile quickly said, “The generator and gravity unit are anchored in place, but the high-capacity-battery is still not connected, though it has been anchored in place.”
“How long will the battery operate, Doctor?” Jee asked.
“Call me Charlie. The battery will power the gravity unit on the generator for thirty minutes. If the missile hasn’t hit a target by then, the software will cause it to self-destruct to prevent it falling into enemy hands, or claws, or flippers; whatever they use to manipulate things.”
“What about the brain of the missile, Charlie?”
“It’s being programed at the table over there.”
“Do you mind if I go watch?”
“Not at all.”
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Jee walked away from the missile and joined two scientists studying a large screen, which displayed the programming written into the missile. Jee smiled and one of them waved him to an empty chair. He heard one scientist saying, “This software is designed to only lock on a ship in normal space.”
The second shrugged, “It would be a waste to fire a missile at a ship inside a phase field. This is the first missile that will be armed to take out a phase field. Do you have the frequencies used by a phase field?”
“I do. We’ll replace the current frequencies with phase frequencies.”
Jee quickly asked, “What if a ship isn’t inside a phase field?” The two scientists turned to Jee and stared at him. Jee raised his shoulders, “I mean, isn’t it possible that the missile might need to be fired at a ship without a phase field?”
One of the scientists held out his hand, “I’m James and this is Murdock. We were told this missile would be used against ships inside a phase field.”
“I’m going to be on the ship using them and it’s quite possible that we might have to face off against a ship outside of a phase field,” Jee replied. The two scientists looked at each other and Jee quickly added, “Wouldn’t it be possible to allow the missile to scan the target and use that scan to determine its attack profile? If it detects phase field frequencies, it will follow one program and another if it detects the target in normal space?”
“That would require two subroutines and we don’t have the time to write both,” Murdock answered.
Jee raised his hands in front of him, “You already have one of them to attack ships out of a phase field. All you need do is program in the pulse cannon firing as it approaches the target.”
James looked at Murdoch, “The lad does make a good point. We can set the software to use the scanner’s information to choose which subroutine to follow.” James turned to Jee, “You sound like you know a lot about writing code.”
“Not really. I know a little but nowhere near as much as you.” Jee paused and thought, “It just occurred to me that you might not need to use the missile to make the determination.”
James stared at Jee and with a furrowed brow and said, “Go on.”
“You can allow the ship to make the determination. It could include both of the programs needed in the launch codes when the missile is launched.”
James turned to Murdock, “That would be easier and remove the need for the missile to use its scanner to determine the attack profile.” James turned to Jee, “Those are good suggestions. If you think of anything else, let us know.”
Jee smiled and nodded. He had to be careful. Jan escaped having to stay behind but if Ka suspected he knew as much as he did about software, she could stop him from going with Tal. He already saw several changes that had to be made in the missile’s software and wasn’t sure how he was going to pull off making them without being caught doing it. And forty missiles were going to be hand built. He didn’t see any way he could modify all of them. He smiled as he heard James said to Murdock, “At least we’ll only have to do this once. The board is going to be duplicated for the other missiles.”
Murdock nodded, “Let’s get moving.”
• • •
Two weeks later, Jee was typing in code for the engineers. James watched him and said, “You’re pretty good at this.”
“I learned how to type code in my first class. I don’t understand what it means but I can type it in accurately. I’m surprised that your system sends the code wirelessly.”
“It’s much faster and not subject to spikes in electrical currents.” James replied. “Keep up the good work. I’m going to help Murdock with an issue.”
Jee nodded and continued to enter the software. After James walked away, Jee quickly typed in a line of code not included in the software and then continued typing. The trial of the software was scheduled in two days and he had to be ready.
• • •
The day of the trial had Dr. Meier, Ka, Tal, Duncan, and General Lein were present. James gave a presentation on the software and then turned it over to Murdock. “I’m going to send various signals to the software simulating an attack on an enemy warship. The response of the software will appear on the main monitor.” James began sending data to the missile’s computer and the results were outstanding.
At the end, Tal asked, “I notice that the missile is programed to either attack an enemy warship inside or outside a phase field; what happens if a ship inside a phase field exits it before the missile launches?”
James looked at Murdock and then turned to Tal, “Sir, we didn’t have enough time to program the missile to change attack profiles. We’ll work on that from this point forward, but the missiles for your vessel had a deadline of six weeks to be ready.”
Tal nodded, “I guess we’ll just have to do with what we have to work with. Thank you for your hard work. I’m impressed.”
Dr. Meier nodded, “Are you ready to send the boards and chips to be duplicated?”
“If they meet your approval, we are, Doctor.”
Meier looked around, “Does anyone have something to add before we start the duplication?” Jee saw Jan staring at him with a concerned expression and he shook his head slightly. She looked away and he put his hand in his pocket. Dr. Meier smiled, “You have approval to duplicate the system and install it in the other missiles.”
The group started clapping and Jee pressed a button on a wireless sender in his pocket. He stood up and before Murdock could press the duplicate button, he said, “I’d like to say a few words.” Everyone turned to him, including Murdock. “From the moment I arrived I was greeted by these two-fine-scientists with open arms and made to feel at home. They’ve put up with my stupid questions and answered them with professionalism and genuine compassion. I know I asked some stupid things about what they were doing. But they made me feel special and I can’t express how thankful I am for all they taught me…”
Jan listened to Jee and wondered what was going on. After a few minutes, she realized he was delaying. Jee was running down on things to say and Jan quickly interrupted, “While we’re being appreciative, I want to thank those that took the time to teach me how to operate a modern warship’s scanner…”
Jee looked over at her and took a deep breath. Jan picked up on what was going on. He felt a vibration in his pocket and knew the new software for the missiles had finished downloading. He had worked on it four hours every night to get it done and he was suffering from a lack of sleep. But now the software James and Murdock wrote had been replaced. Jee nodded to Jan and she smiled, “I’m getting long winded. Thank you for all you’ve done for both of us.” The gathering clapped, as Murdock pressed the duplicate button. Ka stared at Jan and Jee and wondered what they were up to. She wished she had her daughter’s ability to see if someone was being honest…but she didn’t. She looked at Tal and could see he was also suspicious. Getting out of Jee and Jan what was up was not going to happen; they wouldn’t give it up. She’d have to leave it up to Tal to figure it out. The next day, Tal, Jee, and Jan left to train on their new ship. The missiles would arrive the following day and Jee hoped his subterfuge wouldn’t be discovered before they shipped out.
• • •
The three arrived at the underground construction facility in the Sahara Desert and Duncan greeted them. Tal smiled as Duncan walked up and said, “We had to construct them here, Tal. The aliens have another warship out at Neptune and the Chancellor didn’t want to risk them discovering these ships being built.”
“That’s good planning, Duncan. I see you have two additional ships nearly completed.”
“I do, and the crew of the second one to be finished will watch you go over your ship’s systems. They’ll then work with the third crew after you leave.”
Tal heard over his shoulder, “It’s good to see you again, General!” Tal turned and saw Captain Ward and two other sailors walking toward him. Greg smiled, “I insisted Admiral Montana teach me about tha
t joy stick and he chose me to pilot the second ship.”
“Call me, Tal, Greg. It’s good to have you on the team.”
“What is the team going to do, Sir.”
Tal quickly glanced at Duncan and he said, “You are in overall command of the three-Epy-Class-Warships. I trust you will use them effectively.”
Tal turned to Greg, “We’re going out to convince the Aliens that there are thousands of these ships in the Large Magellanic Cloud. We have to convince them that an alien civilization is out there scouting their civilization.”
Greg’s expression didn’t change, “That sounds interesting.” He turned and pointed to the woman standing beside him, “This is Commander Margaret Orlando and she was the commander of the weapon crews on my Alpha.”
“Call me, Mo,” the woman requested.
Greg pointed to the man standing behind him, “This is Commander Jose Hernandez, and he was in command of the ship’s scanner team.”
The man smiled, “Call me, Joe.”
Tal smiled, “This is Jee and Jan.”
Jee quickly spoke up, “My name is Jeremy Stevens-Albritton. However, you can call me Jee.”
Jan smiled, “My name is Janet Stevens-Albritton and Jee is my brother. You can call me Jan.”
Tal’s head tilted, and Jan turned to him, “Our father’s name was Ste which was shorted from Stevens. Albritton is my mother’s name.”
Tal’s eyes moistened slightly, and he smiled, “Your parents are the finest people I’ve ever had the privilege of knowing.” He turned to Greg, “Let’s go to my ship and start going over the systems.” He looked at Duncan and said over the subvocal communicator, “Did you record the introductions?”
“I did, Tal.”
“Please send a copy to Ka. I think she’ll appreciate it…a lot!”
Duncan nodded as he felt the loss of Sha and Ste all over again.
• • •
Ka was sitting at her desk in the lab when she heard subvocally, “Ka.”
“Yes, Duncan.”
“Tal requested I send you a recording from the construction site. It will arrive on your computer momentarily.”