Nanomachine War series Box Set

by Don Viecelli

  *****

  Doug was sitting in his stateroom on the USS Illinois when he received a vidcall he was not expecting. It was from Jan who said she was nearby. “What are you doing here?” he asked pleasantly surprised by the call.

  “I’m here in with Tumil. We just arrived at Qum on board the Solruku. Jules is with me. Can you come over to visit while we’re here?”

  Doug had so many questions, but decided to wait to ask them until he met with her in person. He made arrangements to take a shuttle over to the Solruku.

  The shuttle landed in the Solruku hangar bay soon after Doug received the call. He hurried to the deck level Jan mentioned over his wristcom using the nearest elevator. Apparently, she was with Tumil on Level 11 where the Research Lab was located. It did not take long to find the room.

  Janice turned to greet him as soon as he walked through the door. They hugged and kissed each other. “I missed you! Where’s Jules?”

  “He’s with my sitter while I work. We still live on board the Solruku until the new dome is built over Haffen City.”

  “New dome? I thought they were going to repair the old one,” Doug responded.

  “The Qumru suggested a new material they use in their dome cities on planets similar to Mars. It’s lighter and stronger than the material we use. It will be much larger and cover the entire city now.”

  Doug thought that would be a good thing. “How long before it’s built?”

  “Another month or so. Then we can all return home.”

  Doug hugged Jan again. “Why are you here? Where’s Tumil?” he asked.

  Just then, Tumil walked through the door. He looked much healthier since the last time Doug saw him in person. They shook hands and the clasped wrists in the Qumru tradition.

  “How have you been, Tumil?”

  “I have been very busy since we last met, Doug. Janice has been helping me on our latest project.”

  Doug ventured a guess. “You’ve both been working on the new nanoweapon. Am I right?”

  “That is correct. The samples given to us by the Synoran people have provided us what we needed to make modifications to the Yoyka nanobot drone weapon they used on our peoples.”

  “What did you do?”

  Jan answered for Tumil. “We used Yoyka DNA markers to make the nanoweapon attack only their race, no others.”

  “We also increased the speed for replication and added a toxin to cause immediate death to all who come into contact with the nanobot drones,” added Tumil.

  Jan pointed to a STM microscope and a quantum computer screen behind Doug. Let me show you what it does now. Jan walked over and used a voice command to turn on the computer and run a recorded program.

  “We tested the nanoweapon on some test mice using their DNA. We used an aerosol version of the weapon. Just a tiny amount of the nanobots was introduced inside the glass enclosure.”

  Doug watched as a black cloud of tiny nanobot drones was sprayed inside the enclosure. The cloud swarmed in the air until it detected the white mouse below. Then the swarm immediately attacked the mouse until it was covered in black. The mouse stiffened as soon as the first nanobot drones landed on its skin. It fell over on the ground and was soon completely covered in nanobot drones. The drones were so tiny they were barely distinguishable from tiny black insects. Soon the body of the mouse seemed to deflate and disappear from sight. In its place the black swarm of nanobot drones doubled in number and floated back off the ground swirling in some sort of dance looking for more prey or a way out of the box. It was horrifying to look at.

  “What are they doing now?” Doug asked watching the screen closely.

  “It’s a phenomenon called murmuration, Boid or Swarm Intelligence—it’s what flocks of some birds do on Earth,” Jan explained. “These nanobots possess swarm robotic intelligence, which is a form of artificial intelligence. The Yoyka used a form of decentralized intelligence to enable the nanobots to locate and attack their victims. It is based on simple, natural biological interaction between nature and the environment.”

  “We took the design to a higher level so we could better control it. This nanoweapon is twice as aggressive, even more deadly, than the Yoyka version. It is also harder to stop with conventional weapons. Once introduced into the atmosphere of a planet, it cannot be stopped unless one uses the right self-destruct quantum link code we provide.” Even so, just to be safe, the nanobot drones cannot survive above the atmosphere without oxygen or in outer space without gravity,” Tumil said finally.

  Doug believed them. “So you are the ones bringing us the weapon to use against the Yoyka.”

  “It has been added to our missile systems in place of nuclear warheads. Once the missiles reach the lower atmosphere at one thousand feet, it explodes and releases the nanobot drones. Jan and I have been calling it the Nanoboid Weapon. One missile can kill up to one thousand Yoykans in one hour. Doubling every hour, more than one million Yoykans will die within eleven hours. More missiles will increase the death rate exponentially.” Tumil said this with no sadness in his voice.

  Doug was speechless for a moment. This nanoweapon—Nanoboid— was truly a weapon of mass destruction; worse than anything known to man until now. He looked at both of them with concern. “I’m sorry you had to develop this weapon. I know it was a horrible thing to do knowing it would be used against real people. But, remember this. The Yoyka brought it upon themselves. They have done terrible things to other races. They have already killed trillions of people and enslaved even more races. They will continue to do this unless we stop them. The people of Yoykan will die for their sins, but the planet and all other species on it will not be destroyed by your weapon. It will serve as a final warning for any other race in the future that tries to do what the Yoyka have done. I can live with that.

  The demonstration was over. Doug left the room with Jan to see Jules. Doug wanted to hug both of them one more time before he returned to his ship. As they walked he received a coded message on his wristcom from Vice Leader Di. The attack on Yoykan had just been ordered. Doug needed to prepare for the attack. They were leaving for the Yoykan solar system in eight hours.

  Chapter 56

  Rahta

  Emperor Rahta was angry at everyone sitting at the table in the War Room located deep inside the Imperial Palace on Yoykan. Rahta called an emergency meeting of his top military commanders the moment he heard about the defeat of his Imperial Fleet at Tekoy. He tried to calm himself down before continuing to speak.

  “This is the worst military defeat in the entire history of our Empire! We have never lost one of our home worlds before; not even close! It’s a disgrace! I need answers now!”

  High Commander Anahta knew his life was on the line. It was his recommendation to fake the attack on Holtu and instead return to Tekoy solar system to catch the Holtu fleet by surprise. It did not work out as expected. “It should have worked, Imperial Leader. Our trap at Tekoy should have been successful. We underestimated the ability of the new weapon they used against us.”

  Rahta’s face and voice was filled with disgust. “Do we even know what it is?”

  “Yes, Imperial Leader! It is a camouflaged drone that carries five nuclear missiles with fifty megaton warheads each; enough explosive power to drain a warship’s energy shield allowing more missile strikes to destroy the ship,” Anahta replied carefully. “The information was brought to us by one of our warships that escaped the battle, Imperial Leader,” he added.

  “How can we defeat it?” Rahta demanded.

  “It will be difficult, Imperial Leader. The only way now is to maintain constant movement to avoid the weapon during battle.”

  “Can we make our own weapon?”

  “We have begun development, Imperial Leader, but time is limited. The Holtu are certain to attack our solar system soon. It may be possible to enhance our scanner detection system to find and destroy the weapon before it gets too close to our warships.”

  “Something must be done im
mediately or we face defeat! Do you understand what I am saying?”

  Anahta nodded his head in affirmative. He was thankful he was still alive. “Yes, Imperial Leader. We will do everything possible to make this happen.”

  “We must plan our defense strategy to protect Yoykan. We must bring all our military forces home to protect our Empire. Tell me how this will happen.” Rahta waited for Anahta to answer.

  Anahta started with the current status of their military space force. “The Holtu Allies have attacked twelve of our slave worlds and freed the inhabitants before we could stop them. They knew exactly how many warships were stationed in each solar system and attacked with a larger fleet of warships each time. The enslaved races were saved from our nanomachines by a new nano-agent that somehow prevented our quantum termination codes from working. We did, however, terminate two races on Synor and Qoria with our newest nanoweapon; the nanobot drones. We will use this new weapon on the Holtu Alliance home worlds once we defeat their space fleet. Then we will take back our lost slave worlds.

  “We lost two hundred warships and thousands of Spitka fighters at Tekoy. However, we also destroyed fifty Holtu warships and hundreds of Zoltu fighters in the battle. Our spy probes in the Qum solar system have reported the Holtu space fleet has two hundred thirty or so warships. We have two hundred warships protecting Yoykan with fifty more on the way. Our home world defenses are strong with three orbiting space defense platforms. We have Spitka fighter bases on six of our planets and several moons ready to strike. I have ordered all missile bases enlarged and doubled the number of missiles available.”

  Anahta brought up a hologram of the entire solar system with all warship locations, military bases and missile platform defense systems highlighted in different symbols and colors. He continued, “We are ready for anything the Holtu can attack us with. They will not be able to defeat us, Imperial Leader.”

  Rahta studied the hologram intently looking for any weakness in defenses. It looked as strong and impenetrable as any defense of their home world could be. Still, he felt threatened for the first time in his royal life. “This better work or you all will die!” he finally said looking around the table at his military leaders.

  Rahta was not including himself, for he had one option left that could save him, thanks to the Qumru—Onutu. Only he, High Commander Anahta and a few scientists knew about it and Rahta was determined to keep it a secret for now.

  Rahta stood up and dismissed everyone except Anahta. “Prepare my shuttle. I wish to go to my Imperial Dreadnaught immediately. Time was running out. Everyone knew the Holtu fleet would attack soon, but no one believed the Holtu could defeat them. No race was stronger than the Yoykan Empire; Rahta was utterly convinced.

  Chapter 57

  Battle Plans

  High Leader Altek called his last strategy meeting on board the Iconda as it orbited the planet Qum. All his senior leaders were present. Before he started the meeting, there was one order of business to conclude. General William Bradstone was at the meeting in person for the first time since the Battle For Holtu. He stood up at the table. He had two promotions to hand out before the big battle. Both promotions were approved by the UN Secretary General and the US President.

  “Commodore Douglas Martin, please step forward.” The general waited for Doug to walk forward. “UN Secretary General Alejandro Garcia Lopez and US President Mary Woodley Anderson have approved your appointment to Admiral of the USS Illinois. Congratulations Admiral Martin!”

  Doug shook General Bradstone’s hand and returned to his seat. General Bradstone called up the second person. “Commodore Susan Potter, please step forward. UN Secretary General Alejandro Garcia Lopez and US President Mary Woodley Anderson have approved your appointment to Admiral of the USS Washington. Congratulations Admiral Potter!”

  Bradstone waited for the applause to die down before continuing the presentation. “Admiral Martin and Admiral Potter have long deserved these promotions for the courage and leadership qualities they have shown in the face of battle. These promotions are warranted considering the recent additions to our UN Space Strike Force.” This was General Bradstone’s way of leveling the UN military playing field since the five new UN Security Council members all appointed their own Admirals in command of new UN built warships. “That is all the promotions I have for today. High Leader Altek, the meeting is all yours.”

  Altek wasted no time and turned on the hologram that displayed the entire Yoykan solar system for everyone to view. “The Yoyka defenses are highlighted in red and yellow colors. Yoykan is the forth planet orbiting the sun. It is heavily defended by three missile defense space platforms guarded by fifty warships, five of which are dreadnaught class size.

  “The Yoyka warship fleet numbers around two hundred fifty. They are scattered around every one of the system’s twelve planets. There are also numerous Spitka fighter bases located on at least six planets and moons close to Yoykan. We have two hundred thirty warships.

  “As you can plainly see, the battles to come will be long and difficult. It will not be easy to defeat all the Yoykan space forces in one single battle.”

  One of the UN Admirals at the table raised his hand. It was Admiral Aleksei Popov from the Russia Federation. His hair was grey, but the rest of his features were youthful in appearance. He spoke heavy accented English. “How do you propose we proceed to defeat this enemy?”

  Altek looked to General Bradstone and then back to Popov before answering the question. “We do not have the advantage of superior fire power to defeat the Yoyka in a single large space battle, but we do have the advantage of superior weapons capabilities. It has been suggested that we follow a similar battle strategy you humans have used in many of your wars where the common enemy was larger than the attacking forces. We will strike the enemy at several locations at once; then retreat quickly before their warships can counter attack. We will use this tactic to reduce the number of enemy warships until we can strike the heart of their defenses.”

  Admiral Popov looked unconvinced by this strategy. “Are you saying our warships will engage superior forces one at a time?”

  “Not at all Admiral. We plan to send our Zoltu fighters using their cloaking energy shields to hide them. Each fighter will carry a complement of KEMs, nuclear missiles and one Orca drone weapon, which will also be cloaked and carry five, fifty megaton nuclear missiles. The Zoltu fighters will fire their missiles and Orcas at any warship in range and destroy them if possible.”

  Admiral Chenguang Liu from China spoke up; her bright blue eyes sparkling with excitement at this idea. “How will the fighters enter the solar system undetected?”

  Altek pointed at the hologram. “Our warships will carry the fighters to the edge of the Yoykan solar system far enough away to prevent detection from hyperspace exit. We will release the Zoltu fighters and let them travel the rest of the way cloaked from detection. Once they reach Yoykan space, they will travel at sublight speeds towards their targets and fire their missiles. The KEM missiles will be released first, then the Orca drones. The Orcas will be able to maneuver at the enemy warships before striking. Once the enemy energy shields are weakened the Zoltu fighters will fire their remaining nuclear missiles to destroy the warships.

  “The first attacks will occur near the outer planets of the solar system. Then some of the cloaked Zoltus will attack warships near the center of the solar system. It will appear as if we are attacking all over causing confusion and chaos. The Yoyka will not know where we will strike next.

  “Once the fighters are finished they will enter hyperspace and return to their ships. They will rearm and prepare for the next phase of our strategy.” Altek pointed to the hologram and highlighted where the majority of enemy warships were located. “Our intention is to draw the Yoyka fleet away from Yoykan during the next phase of our attack. Groups 1 and 3 of our space fleet will exit hyperspace here and engage the enemy. This will make the Yoyka try to outflank us and draw more warships to attack us. On
ce this occurs, Groups 2 and 4 will exit hyperspace behind the enemy. It will be an all out attack and a fight to the finish.”

  “What about Yoykan? What are our plans to destroy the planet?” Admiral Victor Couture from France asked with a high voice. He had a thin face with dark hair, brown eyes and pointed chin with a bushy mustache.

  Altek pauses at this point. He did not look surprised at the question; only hesitant to answer. “This will require a dangerous mission for two of our warships. We will ask for volunteers after this meeting since it is likely the warships and crews will not make it safely through the Yoyka defenses once their mission is completed. We plan to use our latest nanoweapon to destroy the planet and all the Yoyka who live there!”

  Altek continued, “We are calling it the Nanoboid Missile or NM. It is based on the same nanotechnology the Yoyka have used against us. It is a killer swarm nanobot drone weapon much more powerful than what the Yoyka designed; and it is entirely controlled by us. Once the weapon is exploded in the atmosphere of Yoykan, the tiny drones will descend to the ground searching out all Yoyka life forms based on their DNA. The drones will attack, kill and replicate until they cover the entire planet and all Yoyka people are consumed by the nanobots.”

  Complete silence descended on the room. Everyone looked at each other trying to comprehend what was going to happen to billions of Yoykans before the war ended.

  Finally, Admiral, Oliver Jones from the UK spoke up. His posture was ramrod straight as he sat in his chair. Only his head moved as he asked without showing any emotion, “How many NMs will be needed to do the job?”

  “The two warships will be equipped with fifty Nanoboid Missiles each. The missiles will be targeted to explode over every major city and military installation on Yoykan. It is expected to take up to ten days to wipe out all Yoykans who live on the planet.”