They have been ordered to exit warp in stealth mode, and, to then move quickly away from their exit point, as your message insisted.
We know that you are well aware of the massive resources that are needed, and of how long it takes to build even a single StarShip. So, you must also understand that we cannot leave Earth with just the military space station, and a few particle-beam defense modules around Mars.
Therefore, the Repulse and Turpin are remaining here, for Earth’s protection.
Finally, please note that the StarShips, Jefferson, Illustrious, and Derringer, have been instructed to take orders from you, Captain… So, I’m afraid this means you’re back on our payroll, Frank.
As soon as we have anything else, we’ll inform you.
Good luck to you all.
Mertoff, Director (Chairman), Space Federation operations.”
No one said anything, for a few moments.
“Well. It’ll be good to see Illustrious and Derringer again, won’t it, Frank?” Susanna finally said.
“Yes, at least in one way,” he thoughtfully replied.
Susanna read his thoughts. Then wished she hadn't
“Having three more ships must surely help us, shouldn’t it?” He finally asked Charlotte and Cindy.
“Absolutely, Frank,” Cindy reassuringly replied. While Charlotte tried to calm his conflicting thoughts.
She was well aware that Frank thought the three ships would be picked out and destroyed by these Garodens as soon as they arrived.
“Okay, let's take a break,” Frank suggested.
They all took turns in selecting their synthesized foods from the automatic dispenser. Frank, knowing this was the first time that Charlotte and Cindy had used their food vendor, was interested to note that both of them chose exactly the same high protein food as each other.
Chapter 26
A Chance
The Neutron and Michigan, still magnetically locked together, were sitting motionless in space exactly one light year away from where the Michigan had clashed with the alien ship, just moments before.
A short time later, Neutron’s mag-locks disengaged from the Michigan, and Captain Sherman slowly eased his ship away. Then the ship-to-ship linked opened, and an image of Michigan’s Captain Campbell appeared on Sherman’s monitor.
“Well done Captain. That was a brilliant maneuver,” Campbell told him, with admiration sounding in his voice.
“Yes. Pretty nifty, though I say it myself,” Sherman agreed. “By the way, our service droids are already on their way out to see the extent of the external damage to your ship. We’ll wait for their sensor images," he added.
A couple of minutes later, the Neutron started receiving the sensor images of the Michigan’s outer hull.
Sherman and his science officer Bob Barlow stood, studying the pictures of the damage that had been inflicted on the StarShip, as it displayed on their monitors. They discussed it quietly together, for a while. Then Sherman contacted his technicians.
“Pretty extensive damage, Stewart. We won’t be going anywhere soon,” Sherman told them, knowing full well that the link to his science lab was still open.
“First of all, we obviously can’t leave the temporary stealth wing cover on the Michigan. So, can we make a permanent repair to their stealth mosaics?” He asked.
“Give us two minutes, Captain,” Tom replied.
“Ok, we’ve just floated the stealth wing off of the damaged area. Now we can study it in depth. Give us another few minutes, and we’ll come back to you.”
“Will do,” Sherman replied.
“Captain. We're kind of sure there are enough mosaics in the temporary stealth wing, to do the job.”
“Just as well. The Michigan hasn’t got enough mosaics to do the job, anyway, Sherman replied.
“Tom, we need this done in double quick time. So, when can your repair droids get out there to do the job?”
“I’ll let you know when they’re ready to reconfigure the mosaics.”
“Well done, Tom,” Sherman replied. Now for the real problem, he thought to himself. Then called Captain Campbell.
“I see your sequencer is damaged, Campbell.”
“Yes. Your sensors are correct. It was overloaded during the alien’s hit.”
“H’mm, it’s about time our engineering designers located sensitive items away from the outer hull,” Sherman replied, annoyed at their lack of foresight.
“Couldn’t agree with you more,” Campbell replied. “By the way, captain. I gather Frank Richardson preferred to be on first name terms with his crew. So you can call me, Terry, if you want.”
Sherman glanced sideways to look at Captain Campbell’s stats on his display. “That’s short for Terrance, then?”
“Yes, I see you’ve looked me up, eh, Sherman. And what about your name?”
“Chris will do for me.”
Then Stewart called again, interrupting them.
“Captain, our two droids have looked at the Michigan’s damaged area.”
“And?”
“Good news. The hull itself doesn’t seem to be damaged, and we have enough mosaics.”
“Thank goodness for that. Complete the repairs as soon as you can.”
“Yes, Captain,” Stewart replied then paused, apparently studying new data. “We should finish in one hour, max.”
“Thanks, Stewart,” Sherman said, then turned his attention back to Captain Campbell.
“Terry, how long will your engineers take to complete their repair on the sequencer?”
“They reckon thirty-five minutes, tops.”
“Okay. As soon as the repairs are finished, we can get back to the fight,” Sherman ordered.
Campbell wasn’t exactly pleased about Sherman giving the orders. After all, he was only captaining an experimental ship. And, even though it was unique, Sherman shouldn’t be trying to take the lead over the Captain of a StarShip. However, he knew that Sherman was by nature, a gung-ho character. And he had to admit that he was a brilliant tactician and pilot.
Sherman was about to start working on a ‘what if’ scenario, based on what he had seen of the Garoden ship’s capabilities. When he glanced his screen and saw Terry had a puzzled expression on his face.
“What’s up, Terry? You look as if there’s something else bothering you.”
“Well, our sensors registered the alien’s particle beam as it hit your screen… Yet, the beam didn’t penetrate.”
He paused for a moment, then asked. “So, what’s different about your shield?”
“I’m not sure. All I know is that it’s been modified by Stewart. It’s just one of his experiments. He knows all about force-field structuring, so you’ll need to talk to him,” Sherman replied.
Then Sherman called Stewart, and his face appeared on the screen, next to Terry’s.
“Double-passed,” Stewart said.
“What do you mean?” Terry asked.
“Well, all of our ships protective screens have a double field density and operate on the same oscillating frequency. However, our experimental shield also alternates between pos and neg.
You would think that the plus and minus energies would cancel each other out. Which they do, of course. But this leaves a strange particle behind that seems to repel other particles. No matter how high the incoming particle beam’s energy level is.
Don’t ask me how, Stewart. However, although we’ve seen that it works on a single particle beam. We haven’t had time to experiment with multiple particle beams. Or with an Antimatter weapon.” Stewart told him then stopped…, letting his words hang.
“Well, your protective screen certainly outperforms ours. Can you modify our screen, Stewart?”
“I guess so… But we don’t have enough time right now. Give us a month or so, maybe.”
“That’s out, then,” Terry gloomily replied.
“Well, not necessarily so,” Stewart said, smiling broadly. “Your technicians should be able to install it
in your primary field-generator exciter system themselves. What do you think?”
“I reckon, if you think so, then they ought to be able to do it.”
“OK. We’ll send an upgrade package across to you, right now. Complete with instructions.”
“Wow, that’s good news, thanks.”
Sherman sat back in his seat, watching as his screen, showed the repair droids removing small sections of mosaics from the Neutron’s temporary stealth wing, then putting them in place on the Michigan’s hull. With rapidly flickering lights dazzling him as the sections were welded into place.
Satisfied that everything seemed to be going well, he turned his attention back to his tactical pad and his, what if? Scenarios. Almost sure, that Terry would be busy doing the same.
In less than an hour, he thought to himself, we have to be ready to re-join the other ships. And, to have somehow found a way of making a difference. He shivered at the thought of what would happen if they hadn’t.
Then he wondered if the Andromeda, and the Argonaut, would both still be in one piece?
Or, would the Garoden fleet arrive before them, and his and Terry’s ships jump straight into the midst of theirs?
Come to that. Why had the humans been left on their own?
Chapter 27
Supervisor Javon
Temporal Anchor 2725.
Supervisor Javon stood, peering out at the stars through the enormous, one-way atom glass window of Delta’s forward Operational Centre.
He knew he was going to be relieved by yet another Supervisor in four months’ time. And, yes, he did need a rest. His reflection in the atom glass window told him that.
He noticed that even though his bronzed, wrinkle-free face and hairless head made him look healthier than he really was. His steel blue eyes seemed more sunken than usual.
Thank goodness for my white shroud, he thought, having looked at his reflection again, seeing that it covered his frail body.
However, he was calm now. Knowing that his team had, at last, detected the exact point the Temporal timeline correction needed to be made, to ensure the survival of the human race.
He felt a presence approaching, as Platos, his senior Temporal Predictor entered the room. And, with a few gliding steps was standing next to him.
Both stood watching the myriad stars they could see through the window. Neither of them needing to use spoken words.
Then Platos directed his thoughts, to Javon. ‘As predicted, the Timeline has moved again, Supervisor Javon. But it is dangerously close to collapse.’
‘We know that, Platos. Your recommendations to correct the divergence, have been approved, and the work is being done.’
‘Yes. But it’s difficult to see the final result. A new variable has entered the equation,’ Platos informed him.
‘You mean, with the Solverons?’
‘The lack of them, Supervisor Javon.’
‘Clarify?’ Javon ordered.
‘Even though the survival pod that the humans found was at the correct time point. It has, unfortunately, brought the other player in earlier than predicted,’ Platos informed him.
‘So, are you saying that the Temporal change cannot be corrected?’
‘No. I’m saying there’s something amiss with the original prediction by Supervisor Traning’s team,’ Platos informed him, but Javon sensed Platos’s indecision.
‘And, with your calculations,’ he mentally replied. Criticizing Platos. ‘Your team had better revisit Traning’s original mathematical interpretation of events,’ he ordered.
‘We are, Supervisor Javon. My team is already analyzing the initial correction that had been predicted as necessary to bring about the required timeline adjustment.’
‘Very well.’
Both men continued to watch the stars for a few minutes before Platos, Delta’s senior Temporal Predictor left.
Supervisor Javon was worried. He was well aware that Platos’s team was putting Delta’s Temporal field operators in even more danger than before.
Nevertheless, if the plan worked, then the humans would have a chance to survive.
Chapter 28
Carnage
Frank looked at the icons on his screen, watching for any ship movements. He knew that Hector, on the Argonaut, would be doing the same.
At least, everyone on his ship had eaten. Now, Susanna, Charlotte, and Cindy were, as he was, mentally gearing up for the two Solveron ships that were expected to arrive within the next few minutes.
Frank, suddenly sensed Savron’s excitement as his two Solveron ships dropped into Normal space, just six kilometers away.
“Frank,” Commander Savron called, his voice seeming to rattle around the control room.
“Nice to see you, Savron,” Frank said.
“Me too, Savron,” Hector was heard to say over the open ship-to-ship tight-beam comms link.
“Hello, Hector,” Savron answered, as his live image appeared on Frank’s display.
“Nice placement, Savron,” Frank remarked, pleased to be meeting his friend again, and trying to add a little humor.
“Yeah, pretty good, Frank. As you Earth people say.”
“Ah, Susanna, and..,” Savron started to say. Then, looking puzzled stared at Charlotte and Cindy’s images on his screen.
“What’s the matter?” Susanna asked realizing Savron had been taken aback at seeing the two girls.
“Err…”
“Their names are Charlotte…, and Cindy,” Frank helpfully told him.
“Oh, yes, of course,” Savron said. Then, feeling slightly embarrassed, stopped speaking.
“Your translation system seems a lot smoother than ours, Savron.” Frank calmly remarked. While at the same time trying to steer Savron’s attention away from the female duo, so that he could get him to reveal his plan, if he had one.
‘Savron’s implants were telling him something different from what he actually saw, Frank’ Charlotte said, mentally answering Frank’s question before he asked it.
“It’s alright Savron, they’re both on our side,” Frank reassured him.
Then, Charlotte felt for Savron’s mind and found it.
“Uh. What was I going to say?” Savron almost stuttered, feeling strange for a second. While Frank, knowing why Savron had forgotten, couldn’t help smiling.
“Oh yes, I remember. Captain Helvron’s ship has a newly modified attack-sphere, Frank. He’s been ordered to try out its anti-disruptor field against this alien’s seemingly impenetrable field.”
“Good idea, Savron. You can’t afford to lose another major ship.”
“Agreed, but I must warn you that we have strict orders,” he said, then stopped briefly.
“Frank. Tell your two females not to tamper with me again.”
“Sorry, Savron,” Charlotte apologized. “We forgot that your mental awareness is much higher than the Crillons.”
“No offence taken,” he replied, then continued.
“As I was about to say. If the modified anti-disruptor field on Captain Helvron’s new attack-sphere works, then we have a real chance of disrupting the alien’s ships.”
“And if it doesn’t?”
“Then, we’ve been ordered to stay out of it, and return to Solvera immediately.”
Frank was shocked. “That’s a bit harsh, Savron, to say the least,” he stated, unsettled by Savron’s comment.
“Well, I suppose you’d better get on with it, then,” he finally told him. “The rest of their ships will be here pretty soon.”
“Agreed. Our sensors show that the two Garoden warships are now eight hundred and sixty-five million kilometers out, and stationary. Is that correct?”
“Yes, and luckily for Captain Sitrea, they’ve moved far enough away for him to prepare to start tracking their wormhole threads.”
“Yes, we received his message saying he would start as soon as he was sure of the timing. Sitrea’s a very brave Solveron, Frank.”
“Indeed… Now, Sav
ron. Can you tell me why none of your ships have any stealth capability?”
“I suspect that your two somewhat different females know that,” Savron suggested.
Frank thought that was an interesting statement, for him to make. Then decided that Savron was right. Even though he didn’t know why they probably did.
“Perhaps. Even so, I don’t see the reason. So, my friend, why no stealth?” Frank asked again. Giving more force to his question this time. While wondering, why he’d never had a straight answer from any Solveron technician.
“Our disrupter-field does exactly what it says. It disrupts everything, including our stealth mosaics, Frank.
But, unlike the Garoden ships, the Andromeda doesn’t have a disruptor field. So that’s probably why the Garoden ships Stealth is less efficient than yours.” Then Frank saw Savron tilt his head to listen to someone who was out of vision.
“Forty minutes,” Charlotte cautioned as Captain Helvron’s Solveron ship started to move out towards the two Garoden ships.
Frank looked at Sitrea’s icon on his screen. Then panicked, as he realized Sitrea’s ship was still sitting there, just behind Dpav5. But luckily, out of sight of the two alien ships.
He was about to ask why. Then remembered that Sitrea couldn’t do anything about tracing the wormhole threads until the rest of the Garoden’s ships had dropped into normal space and moved off their exit points.
Helvron’s ship finally stopped eighty kilometers from the closest Garoden ship and well outside its perceived force field perimeter.
The Garoden War. (SpaceFed StarShips Series) Book 6. An action-packed follow-on story that sees the Earth's Space Navy in action.: ‘Into the Fire.’ Page 16