by Ken Pence
A small explosive shaped charge was placed on each occupied capsule should the sleepers somehow be awakened by any signal. The Earthers debated what would cause these to wake up and it was decided that any takeover attempt would trigger a countdown of a few days when these Allung would be awakened and attempt to retake the ship. They had enough explosives in storage to destroy the ship if need be. It was obvious that these beings would not be easy to defeat as they had a never-say-die attitude. LeiLei admired the Brotherhood for their tenacity but the humans were not so easily enamored. All the modules were removed with no loss of power or connections and moved to a concrete bunker deep in New Mexico. Every bit of their bodies was scanned and the hidden weapons and tools in their pouches were replaced with a translated phrase in Trade saying toys are not allowed. Someone thought that would be funny.
The ship was emptied of all personnel and heartbeat scanners were deployed on the hull. They detected no being alive on the ship. The third capsule’s occupant had either left the ship already or had never been there. Admiral Kyger was alerted to the danger and the security around the ship and the nearby Enclosure was strengthened. The hidden compartments near the hull of the Sesstra were a puzzle to the Earth scientists. They were not like any other technology on the ship. They traced the wiring to separate sets of control surfaces in engineering and the bridge. Xilatoi had never heard of any devices or hidden compartments though he did say that ship’s personnel would disappear a month or so and then reappear. He never had known the cause and had never heard the Allung talk about it.
The unknown Allung weapons were removed and moved to the Enclosure. They assumed they were weapons. The power supply was readily apparent but the design was like nothing anyone had seen. It wasn’t until Lee Post saw the devices that any clue to their operation could be determined.
Lee Post had been asked to come and see if he knew anything about these devices. He looked at it, examined it from several angles and then said, “This looks like a smaller version of the rings on a Ylee ship. I am unfamiliar with its function.”
The techs and scientists nearly fell over themselves comparing the devices to the Ylee ship photo. They called in Shiv, Tod, Joel, Steve, Andrew, Susan – hell, anyone they could find to look at it and they all agreed that it looked like a smaller version of the Ylee design, complete with focusing ring. The focusing ring was only a semi-circle on these devices however. When Lee was asked about Ylee weaponry he stated that the Ylee did not like to fight and would run away if they could. He also said they had destabilized stars and destroyed solar systems of implacable enemies. That little tidbit got our hearts a thumping but he could not give any details about how it could be accomplished. The discussions got heated.
Tod closed off the arguments that ensued. “Look. This is important or the Allung never would have had it hidden on their ship. They covered this up and their pouches for a hundred years. They obviously don’t give out information very easily. I think we have to try these things out. The brackets they are on aren’t built to withstand a huge backlash. The bays they were in were not armored for radiation or heat. They would not use something that would destroy their own ship or the explosives we found would have already been set up to destroy their ship with a self destruct. They don’t seem the type to take their own lives unless it takes others with them.”
“I’m with Tod on this. We have specifications on the devices and it’s nothing we can’t duplicate – fabrication would be easy but we don’t know what it does,” Steve said. “We need to find out soon. We don’t know when more Brotherhood ships will arrive. It has been four days outside since the Sesstra landed. Let’s try it.”
***
The test was to be conducted in the desert west of the Enclosure. Both devices were on hand along with portable power supplies and sensor equipment strategically positioned around the test site.
“All clear,” Tod yelled. “Testing in ten, nine…two, one…engaging,” he yelled. The sensors showed absolutely nothing except on a small display Shiv had brought.
“Nothing here,” Tod said, “Shutting down.”
Shiv walked over to Tod and showed him the reading. “You think we should try them both then? We should measure the diameter of the fields generated,” Tod said and Shiv moved her torso in agreement.
They set both devices on stands high off the sand and spaced the same distance apart as they had been on the ship. They were soon ready to test again. “All clear,” Tod yelled, “In three. Three, two, one, engaging.”
Shiv moved rapidly with her device and then got a hand instrument and walked forward. She moved from one side to the other while the device was supposedly operating. She turned to Tod and said, “You may shut it down now.”
Steve said, “I’m disappointed that it didn’t do anything. We can’t even light a candle with this thing.”
Shiv came close and said, “We need to talk in private. I think I know what this does and Tod does also. The test was unsuccessful if anyone asks.”
Tod yelled to the crew, “Let’s pack it up people. We need to head back and decide what to do next.”
The personnel seemed dispirited as they went about their disassembly tasks. Tod went over to Steve and Shiv. “We can meet on board the Junior, Shiv, you think this is it too?”
“Yes Tod. This is it.”
***
The ride back was quiet. Tod put in calls to all the original crew of the Junior – hesitated just a second and called Brad Kyger and asked him to meet them within the Enclosure.
Desiree and Joel had put together a light meal and coffee and encouraged arrivals to help themselves, as late arrivals here were often hours late with the time differential. They started exactly at the prescribed time and Brad and his staff were only fifty minutes late, which counted as on time inside the Enclosure.
“Shiv, you begin,” Tod said.
Shiv turned to the display, “This is where we found the devices through the keen observation of LeiLei and Joel. We think we know what these devices are and their intended use. We do not know where they got the information for these devices but they are a formidable weapon.”
“Wait,” Joel interrupted. “The test today was a total waste and the devices did not do anything.”
“They functioned as designed,” Shiv said and Joel looked ready to interrupt again.
“Let her finish please,” Tod said, “Save the questions and comments ‘til later.”
“These devices at the front of an Allung ship are designed to create a field just before the ship jumps to 700+ lights. They fly their ship through enemy ships.”
“What?” Brad exclaimed. “How did you come to that conclusion?”
Tod stepped up beside Shiv. “It was the formulas Lee Post gave us. The Allung navigation system cuts off momentarily when they jump to speed faster than 700 times the speed of light because there is a flash that must be bothersome to them,” Tod paused. “They know that already. We detected a transient event at that threshold speed when we were testing. We, however, dissected the image of the transient flash and found it was superimposed layers of stellar images roughly along the heading of the ship. It got clearer as we transitioned at higher and higher speeds. The test today showed that their two devices projected a field in front of their hull.”
“Their devices are too small and positioned wrong to allow their ships to jump,” Shiv said, “So they must have had another use in mind.”
Tod continued, “The formulas suggest that if they were moving the field at 700+ lights, then whatever impinged on that field would be instantly transported light years away. Their field would not enclose an entire enemy ship so only the portion of the enemy ship would be transitioned. The shearing effect is worse at 700 lights so that is what they would do. They would position their ship to ram enemy ships. The enemy ships would be torn apart and no one would realize what they had done. They obviously wouldn’t want to use the technique unless as a last ditch effort.”
“So h
ow can we use this device?” Brad asked.
“We could use it just as they do or we can make larger rings that encompass our entire ship,” Tod said.
“The Ylee Drive,” Susan said.
“Yes, but just like we figured out what was happening from seeing images of the Ylee ship – we have to disguise or hide our jump rings. It won’t be long before the Allung figure it out. They have had all the pieces of the puzzle for years but never were pressed enough to need more. I suggest we do both. If we can project a field further from our hull, we could use the effect more offensively. We could even program the computer to turn and reengage multiple ships in small micro-spurts.”
Brad didn’t like being away from Fran. They had spent way too much apart time within this Enclosure. He got up with his entourage and went over to Tod, Andrew, and Shiv. “Do what you have to set up a prototype of the full system on the Junior and have people reinstall that system on the Sesstra – we’ll need to rename that boat. See what you can do to enhance the range of those fields. Work with Lee Post more on those formulas maybe. I’ll get you any materials you need. Have you found any indication of a third Allung?”
“No sir, nothing. I’m hoping there wasn’t a third one but they are tenacious if nothing else,” Andrew said.
The Prototype
Joel was the one who actually figured out a design for retractable rings with a suggestion from Lee Post. He and Susan figured out a way they could manipulate the rings hydraulically. They tested extending and retracting the aft rings first and they worked flawlessly. The fore rings would bind and it took grinding and strenuous application of a sledgehammer before they too worked perfectly. Tod, Shiv, and Steve monitored the ground testing of the fields generated by the rings. The first test had the Odin Junior in dry dock with extended rings. Sensors around the hull identified field intensity at multiple points around the hull for different power settings. Many tests were run with different settings until the computer model matched the actual field values. It would be different in space but close enough for initial settings.
It had been five days since the Junior had landed in the Enclosure but 300 days within the time distortion field. The teams had worked tirelessly to install the beefed up lasers and enhanced shearing weapon. Lee Post had proved helpful by suggesting a control simplification that really improved efficiency. When Andrew asked other personnel if Lee Post had helped them, they would reply that he had on a few occasions. Adding up all the suggestions indicated he had improved efficiencies an order of magnitude from life support to navigation. Andrew tracked Lee down.
“You have been giving suggestions, “Andrew stated to Lee, but he did not reply. The silence went on for several seconds. “Thank you for those suggestions. The tasks would not have been completed as well without you,” Andrew said.
“You are welcome,” Lee Post said. “I thought of your first utterance as a rhetorical statement and not as a question. I still miss nuances using your language. I will try harder.”
“The fact that you understand what you just said is verification that you are fluent in our language,” Andrew said.
“I have several millennia of recorded experience and it is hard not to share it. I try not to overwhelm coworkers with suggestions but try to lead them to the answer themselves,” Lee Post said.
“That is what the finest leaders do – I consider you an exemplar of your species,” Andrew said.
“You consider my kind a species?” Lee asked.
“Yes. You think and you could create others of your kind if you wished. You recognize that you are alive. My people consider you a sentient species. Does that shock you?” Andrew said.
“The Ylee never recognized us as sentient and we do not know what happened to them,” Lee said looking off as if in the distance – thinking in a very human expression.
“We wish to find them and what happened to them also. The fact that they did not see you as sentient seems is a gap in their consciousness. We may be able to find out if we survive the Allung and the new drive works out.”
“Thank you,” Lee said quietly and Andrew was touched by his response.
***
The Junior had been stocked with food and personnel. You could hardly move except in the gym or galley. Twenty Elite ERF troops had been stationed on board and many had already processed the Allung language cylinders. Most were specialists in multiple disciplines. More and more young Earthers had been applying for the ERF and these were the crème of the crop. The confiscated Sesstra was being upgraded as fast as they could in normal time but it would take several more weeks. Other Earth Regulatory Force ships would be moved into the Enclosure for retrofitting and it was estimated that one ship could be completed in three normal days to start. Retrofittings could be completed in just two days later, as they became more competent with the standard design.
The Junior was to try to avoid battle whenever possible but the task was to learn how to control the new drive – if it didn’t kill them right from the start. To say there was tension on board was too mild. Long discussions had gone on about bringing all the talent with them in an untried vessel but it was finally decided they would try with the best. Andrew was in command but Susan was now over the drives with Joel. Tod was promoted to first officer with Desiree as weapons officer, supported by Lieutenant Tidwell over the ERF troops. Steve Cutcher was over communications with Ling, and Fran was over the environmental sections. Shiv, LeiLei, Xilotoi, and Lee Post were advisors.
The Junior shot up to orbital altitude as soon as the enclosure was shut down momentarily. This allowed the Odin Junior to achieve orbit and the next ERF vessel to move to dry dock for retrofitting. Two ERF vessels were in orbit to accompany the Odin Junior to the testing area. The Junior moved rapidly using conventional drives to near the asteroid belt.
“Battle stations,” announced Andrew. There was entirely too much fumbling around. People bumped into each other in the corridors. It was a cluster. “We’ll be trying that a lot in the future,” Andrew said to Tod, “and at odd hours. Make sure all know what they are to do and where they are to go. Make sure they understand the chain of command.”
“Aye sir,” Tod said, embarrassed by the poor performance.
“Let’s try those new lasers. Designate some targets and see about our output, accuracy and heat effect,” Andrew said to Desiree.
“Targets designated sir. Lasers are ready,” she said.
“How did you do that so fast?” he asked.
“Tod and Steve wrote some targeting algorithms that should make our lasers awesome,” Desiree said.
“Try as many asteroids as you can get in one minute. Fire,” he said.
“Firing,” Desiree said, and the lasers fired continually for one minute and then all was quiet.
“And?” Andrew said.
“Our shields showed minimal heating at the frequencies we were using and we had 80% hits on our targets,” Desiree said.
“Eighty percent isn’t great when no one is shooting back and we’re relatively stationary,” Andrew said.
“Number four turret was misaligned and produced all the misses…Adjusting now. Ready Captain,” she said.
“Number four turret only. One minute only. Fire,” he said.
“Firing,” she said and the whine crack of the powerful laser had their ears ringing when it stopped.
“And?” he queried.
“One hundred percent are hits now, Captain. Shield heating is nominal – less than with our older ones and eighty percent increase in power output. We beat the Allung units output by thirty percent,” she said.
“Okay. Contact our escorts, the Odin and the Kitty Hawk and let them know. Ask them to release the first shielded target drone…Weapons…Standby,” Andrew commanded.
“Tracking,” Desiree said.
“Fire singly with 30% less than max until it penetrates. Fire,” he directed.
“Firing,” she said and started counting.
“How long until
penetration with a single laser with Allung output?” he asked.
“Twelve seconds, sir,” she answered.
“Try with two at that setting until penetration and then three at that setting. Fire,” he ordered.
“Firing,” she said and read off the results. “Four seconds with two and only two seconds with three at near the same point.”
“Cut through the shield as fast as you can to disable the target drone. Fire,” he said.
“Firing,” Desiree said and the target flared and rapidly disintegrated.
“I just wanted to disable it…fine…the stuff works. Steve. You and Tod – grab anyone else you need and write a defensive protocol for our ship so it automatically reacts to weapons fire. Shiv – do what you did with our suits software. I want the ship to sense an attack and turn away from hits to minimize damage. Tie in to the lasers and have them automatically adjust targeting as the ship maneuvers if you can,” he said. “Notify the Kitty Hawk that we want the heavily shielded target drone now. Prep a dud penetrator.”
The penetrators were small missiles with an incredible range. They flew at 0.25 light and would track a target’s projected position and then impact the shield. The shield stops forward momentum of the penetrator and the shield frequency matching kicked in until the missile merged with the enemy shield, penetrated that shield, and exploded. The Junior had two recessed pods that held twenty missiles that could be individually targeted. The target drone came into view and the penetrator sped away. Before the crew could say holy cow, it had impacted the side of the drone…luckily with inert payload for the drone.