Nanomachine War series Box Set

by Don Viecelli

  Anahta ordered the pilot to enter orbit around Yoykan. The entire planet was shrouded in hundreds of black, swirling clouds; each cloud made up of millions of micro-sized nanobot drones that were now killing everyone on the surface of the planet. He briefly considered making one last attempt to escape when he reached the far side of the planet.

  The sun broke out on the far side of Yoykan when Rahta finally opened his eyes and stared out the front windows of the shuttle. He no longer knew what was happening to him on board the shuttle. In his mind he was returning home to his palace to plan his next military operation, which would enslave another hapless race on some newly conquered planet. Suddenly, the shuttle shook violently from a half a dozen nuclear explosions that drained the shield and blew out all controls including power to the engine. Everyone inside was knocked nearly unconscious from the explosions. Rahta’s eyes were fully open as he realized at last where he was and what was happening to his shuttle. Anahta was knocked unconscious in the seat beside his. Rahta watched in horror as the shuttle began to tumble out of control downward into the Yoykan atmosphere.

  Cracks appeared in the null as the shuttle descended. Air began to escape the cabin. The shuttle had been designed to survive almost any type of crash. Rahta thought for a moment he would survive this. Even if he died, he had one more option to defeat death. He had all the Qumru Onutu equipment he needed on board the shuttle to be reborn. The only problem was the Onutu regeneration chamber had been damaged in the attack. There was a large crack in the glass top. It was no longer air tight.

  Rahta screamed at the top of his lungs when the shuttle made a hard landing on Yoykan; still in one piece as it was designed to do. He continued to scream as the black Nanoboid drones began to seep into the shuttle and attack his entire body at once. He could feel the Nanoboids eating away his flesh even before the deadly toxins released by the Nanoboids reached his brain to kill him. By the time the shuttle lights powered down, all the controls shut off, and the speaker announced it was safe to get off the shuttle, there were no longer any bodies left to find. Emperor Rahta was no more. The entire shuttle disappeared under a dark, black cloud of Nanoboids looking for more victims to attack.

  Chapter 64

  Earth

  President Mary Woodley Anderson entered the National Security Council meeting in the Situation Room followed by Allison Conley. The room was filled to capacity as usual; even more so today. She said hello to everyone who stood up to greet her and sat down at the head of the table. She opened her comtablet and convened the meeting.

  It was an important day; one the world had been anxiously waiting for. “The war with the Yoykan Empire has ended. We won!”

  Everyone in the room clapped loudly, slapping each other on their backs and expressing their relief at the good news. Mary continued without smiling, “Our Galactic Military Alliance defeated the Yoyka Imperial fleet in Yoykan space yesterday. The Yoykan Empire is no longer a threat. Emperor Rahta and his leaders have all been killed! All the people on their home planet, Yoykan, have been wiped from existence. We used our latest Nanoboid Weapon to kill everyone on the plane; over ten billion Yoykans. It is not a proud day in our history, but it was necessary.

  “We lost a lot of good people as well. I will let General Bradstone fill everyone in on the details. General.”

  “Thank you, Madam President. I am still receiving reports from High Leader Altek and others from the space battle. The Military Alliance forces that attacked Yoykan solar system included two hundred thirty warships equipped with 100 Zoltu fighters each, led by High Leader Altek. The Yoyka warship fleet totaled two hundred fifty warships including 110 Spitka fighters each, led by Emperor Rahta and his senior military leader, High Commander Anahta.

  “The space battle was one of most destructive battles we have ever fought. Our forces attacked Yoyka’s second home world system called Tekoy a few days before attacking Yoykan. We easily defeated the Tekoy fleet of three hundred warships using our new Orca drone weapons and captured Tekoy. Our losses were less than a third of Yoyka’s.

  “A few days later Altek led our forces to attack the Yoykan solar system. Over seventy-five percent of the Yoyka fleet was destroyed along with most of their Spitka fighters. The Yoyka lost over one hundred one thousand soldiers at Yoykan alone with a similar loss at Tekoy. Our Alliance forces lost fifty percent of our fleet, which totals just over forty-three thousand soldiers.

  “As President Anderson reported, we used our latest Nanoboid Weapon on Yoykan, which was approved beforehand by all Galactic Military Alliance leaders. A death sentence was decided to serve justice on the Yoykan Empire and the Yoykan people as the penalty for their past actions against twelve other alien races. The second Yoyka home world of Tekoy was spared. The people on Tekoy will not be allowed to explore beyond their solar system for two generations. They will make reparations to the Galactic Military Alliance for the next one hundred years based on a percentage of their resources.

  “One of the reasons we finally defeated the Yoykan Empire and prevented Emperor Rahta from escaping during the space battle was the arrival of several Rebel Leaders with two hundred warships. These Rebel Leaders have decided to join our Military Alliance. Negotiations are under way. An Alliance meeting will be held at Holtu soon.

  “That is all I have to report, Madam President.” General Bradstone closed his comtablet and turned the meeting back over to Mary.

  “Thank you, General. UN Secretary General Alejandro Garcia Lopez has called a UN Security Council meeting for this week to discuss future plans for the UN Space Defense Group and the expansion of the UN Space Strike Force and UN Space Marines. The galaxy will continue to need policing for the foreseeable future. We must always be on guard against any race we encounter like the Yoyka that threatens us.”

  Mary brought up the subject of Onutu Technology. “We are building the first of five Onutu regeneration centers in our country. Many more are slated to be built in other countries over the coming months. The goal is to be able to handle the demand for this revolutionary new and very disruptive technology. There is already substantial resistance to its use in many parts of the world coming from various government leaders, religious leaders and conservative groups. It will take many years of study to see its final impact on the human race. I have invited several Qumru leaders and scientists to visit Earth and help us to learn from their experiences.”

  There were several questions raised around the table on this subject. Mary did the best she could to allieve any concerns. She knew this was going to be a hot button in the next election.

  The UN Security Council meeting went on for another forty minutes. The pressure to survive as a species was lessened for world leaders now. President Anderson felt some relief, but she knew things could change in an instant. One thing she was sure of; Earth would not be caught off guard again like they were when the Yoyka first attacked them with nanomachines. The real threat now was what these new nanoweapons could do in the future, especially if they merged with AI and took on a life of their own. The thought of what these new nanoweapons could do to people still haunted her thoughts after what she agreed to do to the people on Yoykan. Apparently, the pressure and stress of leadership would never completely disappear.

  Chapter 65

  Mars Reunion

  The dream was reminiscent of a movie. At first it was just still images of one’s life; individual memories of when you were a child being held by loving parents, when you walked for the first time, when you were entering elementary school, then teenage years, high school and college. Suddenly the images turned into moving pictures of starting a career, marrying a spouse and having your own children. It was so real; you knew it was more than a dream. It was real life!

  Doug opened his eyes. Everything was cloudy. He could not see past the swirling mist of gray. Then, finally, the mist began to clear. He could see a clear cover begin to open above his head. He felt cool air blowing over him. He moved his arms and hands and reached
for handles on each side of whatever he was lying in and pulled himself to a sitting position. The cobwebs causing the confusion in his mind began to disappear. He heard a voice and turned towards the sound.

  “Admiral Martin, you are awake at last!”

  Doug cleared his head and starred at the person standing to the side of him. It took a moment to remember his name. “Tumil? Is that you?”

  “Yes, it is I, Tumil. Do you know where you are?”

  Doug shook his head and looked around the room. It seemed familiar, but he could not place it. “No, I don’t recognize it.”

  “You are on the Solruku. We are in the Medical Research lab. You are sitting in one of our Onutu regeneration chambers. We have brought you back from the dead.”

  Doug threw his head back and shouted out a loud, disbelieving laugh. He noticed Tumil only smiled at him. Doug realized Tumil was not kidding.

  “I was really dead?” He began to remember more of what Tumil had just said. The word “Onutu” was something he remembered. Memories came flooding back to consciousness. His past life opened like chapters in a book and he remembered who he was, what he did for a living and—he remembered his wife and child!

  “Where is Jan? Jules?” he burst out suddenly.

  “They are here waiting to see you, Doug. Let me help you out of the chamber to get dressed. Your body needs a little more time to be able to stand and walk again.”

  Tumil helped Doug get out of the Onutu chamber and walk slowly to the dressing room. Doug put on some fresh clothes and slippers. He looked at himself in the mirror. He looked younger somehow. His face and skin was smoother than he remembered. He had a full head of dark brown hair. He remembered a small scar on his right hand under the thumb. It was gone now. It became obvious to him that this was a new body. It looked like him, but it was different—newer; healthier somehow. His mind seemed the same. He felt like himself. It was miraculous! He was happy to be alive.

  Tumil helped Doug walk out of the dressing room into another part of the lab. There was a sitting room next to the lab where the Onutu regeneration chambers were located. Doug noticed for the first time how busy the area was. It was filled with other Qumru and human medical people helping others recover in the same manner as Doug.

  “I’m not the only one, am I?” Doug said to Tumil.

  “No, we are very busy. There are a lot of military people we must regenerate bodies for.”

  The memories of the war finally took hold of Doug’s mind. Flashbacks of what happened hit like a brick of stones. Doug remembered everything that happened to him, except for one large detail. “How did I die?”

  Tumil stood in front of Doug and shook his head back and forth. “You will remember everything except for the last two minutes of your life. We have the memories stored in our quantum computers and you will have access to them in time. But for now, it is better you do not relive them until you are stronger and have time to accept what happened to your body and mind.”

  The door to the sitting room opened and Janice, holding their son Jules, rushed in straight to Doug. Jan had tears in her eyes, but Doug somehow knew they were tears of happiness, not sadness. They hugged each other tightly and kissed several times before a word was spoken.

  Doug spoke first. “I dreamed of you and Jules just before I woke up. It’s so good to be here!”

  Jan smiled through her tears. Jules looked confused and was about to cry. “We’ve been waiting for you for days. I can’t believe this is happening!” She kissed Doug again and hugged him tightly.

  Tumil walked with them to the door. “You must rest for a few days, Admiral. Then you all can go home.”

  “Home?” Doug said looking surprised.

  “Yes, home. The new dome over Haffen City is finished. Everyone is returning home now,” Jan added.

  Doug smiled at last. Home—he had almost forgotten they had a home on Mars. It would be good to spend time with his family in their own house. The memories of war were too dominant in his mind right now. He needed time to clear his head and decide where to go from here.

  Doug and Jan returned to their home with Jules in Haffen City one week later. Leaving the Solruku in a passenger shuttle gave them the opportunity to see the new dome from the air before landing at the Haffen City Spaceport. It was like nothing seen before.

  “The Qumru showed us how to build the dome using new material. It looks like glass, but much stronger and lighter. You can’t even see the support structure holding it up,” Jan described as they looked out the window.

  “It’s so big!” Doug replied, genuinely impressed with the size of the dome.

  “It covers the whole city now; almost three miles in diameter and over a thousand feet high. It has its own weather effects now. It rains like on Earth!”

  The shuttle landed without incident. All fifty passengers got off and took their carry on bags with them. Doug held Jules as they entered the main terminal and found transportation to their home. When they opened the front door to enter the house, a loud applause was heard with several people inside the home laughing, shouting their names and saying, “Hello; Welcome home!”

  Doug turned to Jan in surprise, “Did you know about this?”

  “I thought it would be nice to see some of your friends when you got home,” Jan said holding the door open for Doug and Jules to enter.

  Doug looked around the room. He recognized Doctor Chang-Woo Mun, Doctor James Colbert, UN Security Director Gwen Rollins and even the new UN Deputy Secretary Isabella Lopez Ruiz on Mars. It was good to see old friends and finally share some good times for a change. They ate and drank and swapped war stories until late at night when Jan said it was time for everyone to go home. She and Doug needed some quality time alone tonight—and besides, Jules needed his sleep. Everyone promised to stay in touch and let the happy couple kick them out of their home.

  Chapter 66

  Epilogue

  Doug spent the next two weeks on military leave. His time with Jan and Jules felt precious after all he had been though. Finally, he had to report back to duty, but he did not have a warship to command. Vice Leader Altek called him up to the Iconda. He left early in the morning after kissing Jan and Jules goodbye and caught a shuttle sent down by Altek. When Doug made his way to Altek’s stateroom and entered, he realized something important was up.

  Doug immediately stood at attention. He saluted the officers in the room. First he saluted General Bradstone, then High Leader Altek, Vice leader Di, Admiral Susan Potter and finally, surprised by the appearance, Fleet Admiral Jason Weston.

  General Bradstone spoke first. “Welcome, back Admiral Martin. It’s nice to see you in good health.” He smiled at the remark; everyone understanding the true meaning.”

  “It’s nice to be back, General!” Doug responded.

  “At ease, Admiral. The reason for this visit is twofold. First, you have been assigned a new warship, the USS Lincoln. It will be ready for space trials in two days. Congratulations, Admiral Martin! You deserve this. Bradstone shook his hand.

  “Second, you have been awarded the UN Space Force Navy Cross for your recent action at the Battle of Yoykan. Your extraordinary heroism and valor in combat is so noted. I congratulate you again, Admiral Martin.”

  Bradstone pinned the medal on Doug’s uniform and everyone in the room saluted him again.

  “One more thing. The President of the United States will present you with the US Medal of Honor at a White House ceremony next month. You and your family will attend the ceremony. Congratulations a third time, Admiral Martin.”

  Finally, General Bradstone smiled broadly at Doug and shook his hand. There were fresh hors d'oeuvres on the conference room table and various types of drinks for those who wanted one.

  As they gathered around the table, Doug had a chance to talk with Fleet Admiral Weston and Admiral Potter. “It’s good to see you again, James. I want you to know I did everything I could to save the USS Illinois for your return.”

  J
ason grabbed one of Doug’s arms and smiled. “You did something I don’t know if I could have done. You gave your life to prevent Rahta from escaping and continuing the war in some other solar system. It was a very brave thing to do, Doug.”

  Doug shook his head. “Believe me; I never planned to do it. I just couldn’t let that monster escape after all the crimes he did.”

  “You were fortunate you had the Onutu nano-treatment. Otherwise, we wouldn’t be standing here talking to each other.”

  Doug took a sip of his drink. “I wasn’t thinking of Onutu at all. I don’t know what I was thinking at that moment. The memory is missing. I hope I was thinking of my family.”

  Admiral Potter interrupted to say, “Congratulations on your medal, Doug. I want to say thank you for what you did for me and my crew at Yoykan. It saved our lives.”

  Doug knew she was referring to the order for her ship to get behind his ship during the attack on the two Yoyka warships before his ship was destroyed.

  “It gave us enough time for the Zoltu fighters to reach us and open up the escape path. We all saw what happened after that. It was very brave, Doug.” She shook his hand with both of hers.

  Doug did not know what to say. He remembered what happened during that attack, but not what happened when his ship was destroyed in the collision with Emperor Rahta’s Imperial Dreadnaught, the Yoykan Malee Tre. All he remembered was he was trying to ram the dreadnaught just before the self-destruct command blew. In some respects that was a good thing; at least for now. Tumil had told him memories of how a person died during wartime conditions many times cause extreme anxiety and post traumatic stress disorder. He did not have any of those symptoms now.

  Vice Leader Di walked up to Jason and Doug. He shook Doug’s hand. “I will need your services as soon as you get your new warship, USS Lincoln, ready for duty.”

  “Certainly, Vice Leader. It shouldn’t take me long to shake down the ship and crew. Where will we be going?”