by S. H. Jucha
“We’ll need the SADEs for designs, Hector,” Ellie requested.
“I’ve delegated Lydia to organize the suggestions,” Hector replied.
“They’re accumulating now,” Lydia commented. “The community is comparing them to make further refinements to those considered most feasible. The final versions will vary in pulse duration and power, which, in turn, will affect the vessel’s size and build time.”
“That’s great for the weapon’s design,” Adrianna said, “but that doesn’t help us with delivery. We saw the extent of antimissile walls that battleship fleets put up. A single EMP vessel or even several of them won’t get close enough to the lead enemy ship.”
The table’s holo-vid lit, driven by Descartes. “The approach might be easier than you imagine,” he said. “We’ve ample evidence that the majority of federacy fleets prefer to approach a system on the ecliptic. Furthermore, they expect to encounter another fleet on the same plane, which is why most of their armament is focused forward.”
The holo-vid displayed a fleet of nine battleships in the typical wedge formation. They shrunk to yellow dots. A set of blue dots appeared above and below the enemy fleet.
“Tridents could approach the lead battleship from ninety degrees off its trajectory. I’d recommend vectors from slightly behind the lead battleship, approaching the ship from its weakest defensive angles,” Descartes explained. “Our warships could impart significant velocity to the EMP vessels before they launch them.”
“The launch of the EMP vessels would have the Tridents’ velocity, but with banisher grav engines, they’d be unable to charge their power cells until they entered the system’s gravitational field,” Étienne objected. “That would limit their evasion capability.”
“There is that consideration,” Descartes acknowledged.
“If we use standard drive engines, the banisher shells won’t be suitable,” Lydia pointed out.
“I like the concept of an EMP burst weapon, and I like Descartes’s approach using multiple Tridents to launch from above and below the lead ship,” Ellie stated. “Now, we need to make it work within a vessel that we can construct efficiently, economically, and in number.”
“Perhaps, we’re being overly demanding of our design,” Hector said. “Instead of attempting to construct the perfect weapon, it might prove useful to build enough prototypes to use in the engagements of the next two federacy fleets. Then we can evaluate our prototypes to determine the soundness of our strategy.”
“Which part of our strategy concerns you, Hector?” Ellie asked. “Do you have doubts about the EMP burst’s effectiveness or our ability to deliver it close enough to the lead ship?”
“Both,” Hector replied. “Therefore, I suggest we use banisher shells with their grav engines. The Tridents can impart their velocity before release. When an EMP vessel nears the system’s gravitational forces, it will be capable of extensive maneuvering and evasion. We’ll program it to cycle and fire its EMP burst before it can be destroyed by the fleet’s antimissile launches.”
“That just gave me an idea,” Étienne said enthusiastically. “SADEs can time the Tridents to attack in sequence.”
“Yes,” Alain declared, anticipating his twin’s plan. “As an EMP vessel encounters the fleet’s defensive missiles, they can fire. That will turn the enemy’s nearby armament into errant bombs.”
“I like that,” Ellie said, smiling. “A staggered series of EMP pulses will clear the way for later vessels to get closer to the lead ship. Lydia, finalize the best proposals around these factors. We’ll meet when you’re ready.”
“Will now be appropriate, Admiral?” Lydia replied, with a serene smile.
Laughing, Ellie said, “Most appropriate.”
The holo-vid displayed a cutaway of a banisher shell.
“This first design lacks any significant defect in our requirements, but by doing so it achieves average results in all categories,” Lydia said.
3: Méridien
The Freedom completed its transit to Méridien space, arriving far outside the system. Cordelia prepared to make the final transit to the Confederation’s home world. The city-ship would enter the planet’s space within hours after that.
A small group was seated in the owner’s suite. Well, most were seated. Z and Miranda wore their Cedric and Frederica avatars. Due to the size and mass of these versions, the SADEs had locked the avatars in standing positions.
Alex had requested Z and Miranda inhabit their typical SADE styles, but he’d been politely ignored. To his annoyance, no one was interested in hearing his objections.
“Who first?” Julien asked Alex.
“We go in quietly and say hello to Gino Diamanté,” Alex replied. “The overt purpose of my visit is to update the Confederation Council Leader on the exploits of Olawale at Sol. This will entail information about the technology transfer. He’ll also be told about the Earthers’ search for a third colony ship, the Honora Belle.
“That would seem most appropriate communications for Ser Diamanté,” Julien commented.
“We can expect Gino to invite other Leaders to attend the briefing,” Renée surmised.
“You’re expecting Shannon Brixton to be among the attendees,” Tatia said, understanding Alex’s ploy.
“It’s certainly possible,” Alex allowed. “But, if she isn’t present at the outset of the briefing, I’m sure we’ll meet her at the evening’s festivities, which Gino will surely host.”
“Why the subtleties?” Tatia asked.
“The dear man is giving Leader Brixton an opportunity,” Miranda said. “He’ll casually approach the subject. She can either enter into a serious discussion, or she can make the mistake of dismissing him outright.”
“If she chooses to be obstinate, Alex has a legitimate complaint for Leader Diamanté and the Council,” Z finished.
“On what grounds?” Tatia asked.
“Omnia Ships has entered into a broad and sweeping agreement with the Council for defense of the Confederation,” Renée explained. “It entitles him to a favored position in contractual negotiations with a House. If Leader Brixton refuses to enter into discussions, she’s abrogating that understanding in the eyes of the Council.”
“No wonder I never used to win at cards,” Tatia groused. “I prefer my opponents to come at me in ships. It’s easier to understand their intentions.”
Midday meal was served soon after the meeting concluded. Not much later, the city-ship exited its final transit above Méridien.
Alex could hear the trepidation in Gino’s thoughts. Based on the past few decades, the Council Leader could be envisaging any number of disasters for Alex’s fleets.
The next day, at the appointed hour, a city-ship traveler set down in the seldom-used street that fronted the House Diamanté compound.
The settings of the ancient Houses were repeated across the planet. Buildings crowded nearly every meter of the planet’s surface. Food production and transport, among other services, were carried out underground.
Before the surface had been consumed, the burgeoning Houses had built elegant walled compounds. Three-story houses, with several floors underground, sat in the middle of well-manicured, expansive gardens. Streets surrounded the compound
on all sides, allowing starlight to reach the gardens during the day, and Council regulations kept the nearby buildings at modest heights.
While nearly every Méridien owned or leased an apartment, the Leaders, their immediate family members, and the household staff enjoyed a lifestyle reminiscent of ancient Earth’s privileged few.
The Diamanté compound gates, which were rarely used, although they were lovingly maintained, were wide open. Typically, people entered and exited the house via a lower level, which connected the compound by tunnel with the ultra-high-speed transport network.
House Diamanté security personnel, who wore stun guns, waited beside the gates. Their eyes opened wide, when unexpectedly they witnessed the huge avatars of Z and Miranda exit the ship first. The SADEs’ avatars weren’t unknown. They just weren’t expected to attend a Leader’s social engagement.
Deliberately, the SADEs let the weight of their heavy avatars strike the street with considerable force. The resounding thuds transmitted through the ground, and the security personnel felt the vibrations in their legs.
The SADEs separated and waited. Then Alex and Renée exited the craft and took their places between the SADEs. Tatia and Julien followed and stood behind their co-leaders.
Cordelia had chosen to remain aboard ship. She considered her place was on the Freedom’s bridge.
Renée shuddered.
Alex and his companions followed the stone path that led from the front gate, wandered through the gardens, and arrived at the generous front veranda.
Alerted by security, Gino Diamanté and his partner, Leader Katrina Pasko, stepped out of the house to welcome the guests.
“Sers, it’s good to see you again,” Gino announced graciously.
The exchange of pleasantries was cordial and sincere. Then everyone walked through the generous and elegant door into a broad, lavishly decorated salon. Staff was serving drinks and dainty delicacies to the guests, of which there were many.
Julien’s ID app identified that Winston was in the room. He made his excuses to the hosts and sought out the ex-Council SADE.
The Omnians quickly assessed who was in the room. Notably, Alex detected Bartosz Rolek and Emilio Torres, who were close associates of Gino and Katrina. He also identified Darse Lemoyne and Lawrence Teressi. Not only were they antagonists of Gino, they possessed a great deal of hatred for Alex and Omnians, in general.
Then there was Shannon Brixton. She’d come, as Alex had expected. Without professing it to his companions, he’d been certain she wouldn’t miss the opportunity.
Alex, Renée, and Tatia engaged in polite conversation with Gino, Katrina, Bartosz, and Emilio.
Then Miranda warned the Omnians of the approach of Darse and Lawrence. She sent,
The Méridien Leaders made room in the circle for Darse and Lawrence.
“We hear you have good news, for once,” Lawrence Teressi stated perfunctorily.
“Greetings, Sers,” Alex said good-naturedly.
“Was this disgusting exhibition necessary?” Darse asked, indicating the massive avatars of Z and Miranda.
“You win, Alex,” Tatia swiftly interjected, displaying a pretense of disappointment. “I’ve transferred the credits to your account.”
“What did you win, Alex?” Katrina asked curiously. She’d hoped to turn the conversation away from Darse’s tactless question.
Tatia quickly replied, “Alex bet that either of these sers would make a disparaging remark with their first words. I thought it impossible that Méridien Leaders could be that rude. So, I took the bet.” She stared evenly at Darse and Lawrence.
The Leaders’ faces reddened in embarrassment. The chuckles of others made the moment worse. But it was the smiles on the SADEs that burnt deepest.
“Omnians,” Lawrence muttered in disgust. Then Darse and he left the circle to disappear deep into the salon.
“Her wits and sharp tongue compare to the way she fights a fleet,” Renée remarked, proud of the way Tatia had leapt to the defense of the SADEs.
“Alex, some of us have missed you and your companions,” Katrina said, grinning. “It’s been much too dull around here.”
“You’re welcome to join our fleet when it sails,” Tatia quipped.
“Yes, well, there’s entertaining conversation, and then there’s the threat of death,” Emilio interjected. “We’ve a preference for the former.”
Following Katrina’s directions, servers stood slightly to the side of Alex and Tatia, allowing the heavy worlders to partake in the conversation and consume from the trays held out for them.
When the Omnians had plenty of opportunity to eat and drink, Gino assembled his guests, who found seats in the salon.
Alex made his way to one side of the room to face the majority of the plush couches and chairs. He started with the directives he’d issued to Olawale Wombo. Then he listed the salient points from Olawale’s messages.
“Has Ser Wombo expressed satisfaction with the stability of the Sol Enclave?” Bartosz queried.
“Olawale is an ex-Earther, and he was a senior administrator for United Earth, the previous government that attempted to co-opt our colonies,” Alex replied. “If anyone might know whether to trust this new organization, it would be him. Apparently, he felt safe enough to transition much of our technology to the Earthers.”
“Did that include Tridents and travelers?” Gino asked.
“It did,” Alex replied.
“Are you gifting your lease prices to Sol, while you charge the Confederation?” Darse challenged.
Alex stared quietly at Darse.
When Alex received Renée’s caution, he resisted the temptation to teach Darse a lesson in manners. Instead, he replied, as evenly as he could, “No one is being gifted. Everyone is treated equally. That’s a practice I highly recommend the Confederation adopt.”
Alex’s comments hit several marks on the Confederation’s list of poor historical practices, such as those about Independents, SADEs, and business competition. A few attendees shifted uncomfortably in their seats.
“Earthers continue to wonder about the fates of their colony ships,” Alex continued. “While at Sol, the SADEs resurrected ancient digital records of one of the colony ships, the Honora Belle. This ship’s voyage should be of interest to us. It sailed in a completely opposite direction from our colony ships.”
“Has Ser Wombo’s expedition located the Honora Belle?” Katrina asked.
“Not as of Olawale’s last message,” Alex replied,” but I’m expecting an update soon. It’s been months since the last communication.”
“Did your Omnians learn how many colony ships Sol launched?” Bartosz asked.
“According to Olawale, the Earthers believe it was five in total,” Alex said. “The SADEs were unable to recover data on the final two.”
“Does Ser Wombo have a prediction about the Earthers’ future?” Gino asked.
“Actually, he does,” Alex replied enthusiastically. “He believes Earthers are anxious to prove that they deserve to be embraced by the colonies. Alliances with us would promote trade, build financial exchange systems, and encourage technology transfer.”
“All things that would provide Sol greater stability,” Katrina commented.
“Precisely,” Alex replied.
During Alex’s presentation, he’d kept an eye on Shannon Brixton. Sh
e’d sat quietly at the rear of the salon. However, her eyes weren’t on him. Occasionally, they sought out Julien, but they focused substantially on Miranda and Z.
Alex could imagine her thoughts. She was probably resurrecting the age-old argument of genetics versus experience in determining the outcome of adult personalities. In this case, her House had supplied the genetics of the SADEs in the form of base algorithms. But despite decades or centuries in their boxes, these three SADEs, like many of those who surrounded Alex, had developed highly unique personalities.
You’re wondering, Ser Brixton, if it’s a matter of SADEs being mobile or whether it’s operating in my sphere of influence, Alex thought.
Shannon was busying contemplating Miranda and Z’s avatars, when she noticed Alex looking at her. His barest smile said he’d caught her observing the Omnian SADEs. She found that irritating, but she refused to give him satisfaction by showing any reaction.
“Sers, we’ve received a report from Olawale Wombo,” Alex announced. “With your indulgence, we’ll play the message.”
Julien unpacked his portable holo-vid for the audience, and at Alex’s signal, Olawale’s report unfolded.
When the message ended, Lawrence remarked, “Perhaps, Omnians should have left well enough alone. You helped Sol with their search, and you’ve uncovered another great danger.”
Gino stood and held out a hand to belay Alex’s response. Then he turned to face Darse and Lawrence. “Leaders Lemoyne and Teressi, I sought to include you in this gathering to keep you involved in these discussions. Yet, rather than behave respectfully to my guests, you’ve continually expressed uncalled-for remarks. I’ll remind you that this is House Diamanté, not the Council chambers. You might as well know now that at the next Council meeting, I plan to call for your censure and request the Council vote to expel you from representation. If my motion is accepted, your Houses will be forced to select new Leaders.”