Confrontation: Aliens and Humans. Allies and Enemies. (Space Fleet Sagas) Read online

  “You’re talking about bigotry, and religious bias, Pam,” Coop said. “Those same stupid intolerant views created the conditions leading to the formation of the United Earth Council. We fought to erase borders. Diversity without divisiveness became our strength.”

  “I’m talking about human nature,” Pam replied. “There are a lot of people afraid of what the future represents. I’m telling you there are people who desperately hold on to the past. And I am telling you they have sympathizers in powerful positions.

  “The 109’s success . . . your crew’s successful completion of this first intergalactic action, can prevent those people from turning back the clock. We require a successful mission, Captain.” She signed off.

  “Great,” the captain of the SFPT-109 said aloud. “I actually wanted this position.”

  CHAPTER 5

  The Communications and Tactical Conference Room (C-TAC), connected to the bridge via pocket-door. Super High Definition (SHD) video receivers dominated the front of the room. Screen displays operated by touch or voice command. Consoles provided access to ship systems. The center of the room accommodated a conference table with seating for twelve.

  Captain Cooper explained C-TAC’s function, and the history behind separate tactical centers to Judge Tasha Korr.

  “Naval warships once used Combat Information Centers, CICs, also known as Operation Rooms. A CIC organized and processed information into a form more convenient and usable by the ship’s commander. Communications, and data received over multiple channels, were funneled to CIC. Analysts organized, evaluated, weighted and provided timely information flow to the battle command staff.”

  Coop waited for Korr to ask questions. She grasped the concepts quickly, and remained silent. He continued. “Space-bound warships now employ Operations and Tactical stations, or Communications and Tactical stations. These stations, integrated on the ship’s bridge, provide instant data to the officer at the console, who analyses and presents pertinent information to the ship’s commander. Advances in systems, and specially trained operators, reduced the need for an entirely separate operations group.”

  Coop pulled a chair out for Korr. She accepted, and slid gracefully onto the seat. “If a conflict ever involves too many variables, or the quantity of communications proves too much for one person to assimilate, analyze, and present, then C-TAC becomes viable. Otherwise, it’s a fancy place to hold meetings.”

  Captain Cooper took the end chair, furthest from the SHD screens. Yauni, on his right, and Genna to his left. To Yauni’s right were Col. Gregory, Commander Tony Camden (PT-109’s Chief Engineer), and last, Dr. Hiro Kimura.

  Next to Genna sat Sky, then Storm, and finally Tasha Korr.

  Dr. Nathan Trent, Space Fleet’s civilian Head of Sciences, joined them on the SHD. Trent and Mara Galletti, an exolinguist, deciphered the Martian codes decades before. Those codes allowed human’s to reverse engineer the marvels responsible for more efficient space travel. The original sources of information, an alien space craft, and its technology-laden hangar, were discovered on Mars half-a-century prior to the launch of the 109. Breakthroughs included space-fold arrays, which allowed ships to travel through the solar system, and well beyond, at incredible speeds.

  The camera turned, and Fleet Admiral Pamela Patterson’s image filled the screen. The meeting, she instructed Coop to organize, called to order.

  From her office on EMS2, she informed them, “The SFPT-99 will launch in two weeks. Two weeks thereafter, the 109 will be tasked to travel to the planet Rys.”

  Everyone at the table knew the ultimate test for the PT-109 involved exiting the solar system, crossing open space, to arrive at a star system trillions of miles distant. For the aliens aboard, traveling between stars presented nothing unique. For the humans, it represented the first such trip in Earth’s history.

  Patterson continued. “If Rys remains free of the Zenge, you will make contact. This is why Yauni Catacta, and Tasha Korr are on board the 109. It is Yauni’s home-world, and Judge Korr is known there. They know who best to contact. We have requested their help arranging a meeting with the authorities. The purpose for making contact is to offer the people of Rys a recently developed crystal-laser powered weapon. A weapon to help defend their planet from Zenge invaders. Dr. Trent.”

  The camera returned to Trent. “Weapons engineers adapted designs found in the Martian records to create a cannon capable of launching a faster-than-light particle burst. The FTL tachyon-burst is effective against molecular-based force shields. This includes the electro-magnetic shields used by the Zenge. Based on data obtained during their attack on the Star Gazer, and the successful offense devised by Captain Cooper, we created a weapon that initially negates a force field upon contact. The force delivered by the FTL burst will cause significant damage, as well. Equally important, the interruption of an enemy force field allows other armament to penetrate the weakened barrier. It provides an effective range greater than other current surface-to-space weapons.”

  “The downsides?” Coop asked. With any weapon system, came drawbacks. Knowing those potential pitfalls persistently proved as essential as understanding its capabilities.

  “The tachyon particles must entangle before a burst is delivered,” Trent responded. “The larger the weapon, the more time required to coalesce the sub-atomic particles into a usable amount. Planet-defense sized cannon require thirty-minutes after firing a load, before the following load can be prepared. That’s why it is crucial to employ multiple systems. They should not fire simultaneously, unless absolutely necessary.

  “Smaller systems, like those for spaceships, use smaller loads, and need less time to recycle. The cannons for the PT class, and those for the new Destroyer class ships require fifteen minutes. Fighters need ten minutes. The cannons for ships, and fighters also have smaller effective ranges. Approximately 200,000 miles for full effect.”

  Trent took a moment before continuing. “If a tachyon weapon is charged, but not fired within thirty-minutes of attaining energy capacity, the particles become unstable. Maintaining cohesion can continue for no more than thirty minutes.”

  “And then?” Coop asked.

  “And then, the system self-destructs,” Trent replied. “The weapon will blow, and the bigger the cannon, the bigger the blast. On the ground, you will lose everything and everybody within a mile of the blast center. On a ship, or platform, it creates a breach capable of destroy everything. Total devastation due to the force of the blast, or the resulting implosions.” The scientist paused, allowing the vision of annihilation to create an impression.

  “If you find yourself with a loaded weapon, and no target, I suggest you fire the load into an open region of space. Otherwise, you must bleed the system, releasing the tachyon particles slowly. Bleeding, and then recharging will take six-hours minimum. It doesn’t matter the size of the system. Trying to speed the release could result in an explosion.”

  Trent completed his presentation with, “The energy required to fire a tachyon burst comes from a crystal. Our problem is, we have a limited supply of crystals.”

  “That brings us back to the importance of Rys,” Patterson interjected, taking back the SHD. “If we persuade the Lisza Kaugh to provide Earth with more crystals, we will have the resources to operate more space-fold arrays. Then we build more ships, and more tachyon cannons. We will, in return, provide the technology they can apply to build their own additional cannons. Weapons to defend their planet.”

  “If the Zenge are already there?” Cooper asked.

  “Then you have three choices, Captain,” Patterson said. “If you determine you are under-prepared, unable to reach the authorities on Rys, or facing superior forces, then you leave. If you can confront the enemy with a high degree of certainty of defeating them, then engage. Option three is covertly reach the planet, and collect crystals without confronting the Zenge. This is not a suicide mission.”

  “Since there is the potential for confrontation,” Trent spea
king again, “we are bringing the 109 back to Earth. Our technicians will refit her with a tachyon cannon. Laser weapons appeared the least effective in your previous battle. We will replace your ship’s bottom-mounted laser with a tachyon system. We will also provide your Chief Engineer with the supplies needed to construct a half-dozen surface-based tachyon weapons systems. These surface-to-space cannons are capable of firing bursts effective to half-a-million miles. The only thing needed to complete the weapons are crystals, cut to the proper size and shape.”

  “You want my people to provide crystals for future ships, and weapons. In return, you will provide the technology to defend our planet?” Yauni asked.

  “Yes, and more,” Patterson replied. “We want Rys to align itself with Earth, as the first to join a mutual defense pact. We are gifting your people the equipment, and the technology to build the weapon systems. We would appreciate, in return, they provide Earth with raw crystals. Additional crystals will allow us to build more ships. Those ships represent home defense, and the capability to reach other star systems. The additional assets will allow Earth to help defend planets, like Rys, and give us the ability to confront, and defeat the Zenge.”

  “But you will not demand Rys provide you with crystals to gain the weapons?” Korr asked, seeking clarification.

  “Precisely. Your responsibility, Judge Korr, is convincing the authorities on Rys an alliance built on trust will benefit everyone. Strengthening an alliance with trade can follow, but the security of our worlds must come before commerce.”

  “How much time needed for the tachyon cannon install on Kennedy?” Coop asked.

  Trent answered: “Three or four days. We need to remove the laser cannon before installing your new tachyon cannon.”

  “We return, and everybody gets shore-leave. Then back in the saddle, test the cannon, along with other weapons, and systems while awaiting the FDR to complete trials. Afterward, we head for Rys,” Coop said.

  “Succinct and correct,” the Admiral replied. “Yauni, and Dr. Karen Ordon [the astrophysicist], along with a team from Dr. Trent’s astro-mapping center, have determined Rys location relative to Earth. It’s 4.3 thousand parsecs [4.3kpc], near the constellation of Sagittarius. It will take the 109 four-days, four-hours to escape the solar system, and another four days to the Rys system.”

  “What about the other world’s under attack? Osperantue, Fell, and the Aster system?” Cooper asked.

  “Your priorities are to retrieve crystals, and return them to Earth,” the Admiral told him, and the others at the table. “Once we secure those, we can begin installing defenses, and build more ships capable of space-fold. The additional crystals will power the assets needed to mount a viable response to the Zenge.” She left the promise to confront the Zenge unsaid.

  “I know you have crew members from those worlds, and they, understandably, want to act quickly to save as many of their people as possible, but the 109 is one ship, Captain. Estimates place the Zenge fleet upward to potentially one-thousand ships. We require numbers to respond to such a threat. Anyone who is not on board with this mission, as stated, can remain on Earth. Is that clear?”

  A chorus of “Yes, Ma’am’s” answered. Coop noted neither Sky nor Storm responded, but neither did they raise objections.

  “Captain Cooper, make all haste returning to EMS2. Engineers are on stand-by,” Patterson said, closing the connection.

  CHAPTER 6

  Inspections, drills, reviews and repeats kept everyone busy. All aboard accepted the importance of preparation. They understood the need to work together seamlessly in the face of a common threat. To a person they hated the entire experience. The mix of aliens and humans operating as teams grew more natural with each passing test. That different species were equally tired, bored, and bitching brought them closer.

  The other potentially awkward aspect of the John F. Kennedy’s blended personnel stemmed from her secondary mission. The 109’s commission included they explore distant worlds, and make contact with other species. Journeys meant spending weeks, months, and possibly years away from Earth. Humans, aliens, males, and females housed in close-quarters for extended periods. Emotions would fray, and others would bloom. Contentious interactions anticipated, including arguments, fights, and affairs.

  Coop tested the systems. He reviewed every practice and drill, but there was no way to test the limits of people until they encountered a real trial. The vetting process for the original crew involved a year of examining records, and interviewing personnel. That time and effort provided him with insight into the military members now under his command.

  The scientists selected received his approval, but Hiro was the only one he knew. The aliens added last, by his request, reduced Space Fleet’s vetting process to weeks instead of months. No one had experience checking backgrounds on people from another part of the galaxy.

  Final approval for inclusion eventually fell to Captain Cooper’s authority.

  Sky and Storm, aliens designated as civilian contractors, received permission to join the 109 for their technical abilities, not their personal involvement with Cooper. They proved their value as capable specialists during the Zenge conflict.

  The cousins shared assigned quarters, but spent a majority of their time in Coop’s cabin. The relationship was no secret. The entire planet watched delayed video of the battle at the edge of the system, and the three became celebrities.

  A human, and aliens romantically linked, and able to work together professionally might help human crew members accept aliens aboard ship as part of life in outer space. Or they could see him as biased. Or blinded.

  Personnel under alien supervision appeared to accept their superiors as qualified, and knowledgable. The humans selected for the crew commonly expressed a desire to venture into the galaxy. It made sense these same people more apt to accept aliens as equals. The SFPT-109, John F. Kennedy became an experiment in human-alien evolution.

  An integrated crew on sorties into far off solar systems could only help. Space flight and cross-species encounters were nothing novel for the survivors from the Star Gazer. If the mixed crew performed above expectations, Space Fleet would take a giant step toward building bridges between Earth and the other worlds in the galaxy. If they screwed up, it would cause one ginormous step backward.

  “Thinking deep thoughts?” Sky asked. They shared the Captain’s office. Coop behind his desk, and Sky curled on a modest sofa, reading a Harry Potter novel. She was on number three or four, hooked after Genna suggested the tales of magic during a weekend visit to Earth.

  Sky illustrated beauty by any standard. Her deep auburn hair framed an oval face. Her golden colored eyes, shaped, and similar to a cat’s. If angered, or excited, her eyes grew darker, the gold bleeding into darker burnt oranges. Her skin acted the same way. At the moment it was a light blue, meaning she was content. If her blood pressure rose, her coloring darkened. She was like a mood ring. Five-foot-ten, 135-pounds of extraordinary strength, and agility. Sky was buxom, but firm, round through the hips, yet still slender. When she uncurled, and walked toward him, she moved with grace. Her footfalls light and balanced.

  “Thinking about the interaction between humans and the aliens,” he replied. She walked around the desk, stepped over his legs, sat on the edge of the desk, and faced him.

  “You mean like the interaction I’m about to start?” she asked.

  “Not exactly, though it may come up,” he replied.

  She pulled the gray sweater over her head. “It’s definitely coming up,” she assured him. She leaned forward, her breasts entirely in his face, reached down, and pulled his sweater off. Then unbuttoned the shirt beneath the pullover. She was pulling it out of his pants, when the door to his cabin opened, and Storm walked in.

  “Thank goodness,” Storm said. She continued toward them, pulling the skin-tight black top off as she neared. Slightly shorter, and curvier than Sky, her breasts were bigger, rounder, and bounced as she walked. “I was goin
g to see if anyone wanted to go to the gym for a workout, but this is a much better option.”

  He had never thought to find out if his office was sound proofed. Guess they were about to discover the answer.

  CHAPTER 7

  Genna and Tista shared tea and a table in the mess. Tista describing her first official trip assisting her mother, when they encountered the Zenge.

  “My Mother was mediating a dispute between two traders. The meeting held aboard her ship, Peaceful Returns. We received only a brief warning from the captain about a wormhole arrival. The Zenge exited with twenty ships. They attacked, taking control of the undefended multi-gate site quickly. Peaceful Returns was surrounded, then boarded. Ventierran do not operate armed space ships, nor do we carry, or allow weapons on board.”

  Too-slender for the borrowed clothing, the dark-olive complexion of the alien did not hide the deep-set sorrow that spread from her black eyes, shadowing her pretty features. She sipped chamomile tea. The light apple scent carried only as far as the two women seated at the corner table. The combination of the tea’s herbs, scent, and warmth calmed her.

  Genna knew a little of the story. Tista, her mother, eighteen crew members, including delegation assistants, four Pagora, and five Parrian, the two species involved in the dispute, thrown into hastily constructed cells on the Parrian’s cargo ship. She survived the succeeding six months as a captive. Freed by Space Fleet Marine’s during the Battle for the Star Gazer.

  “I watched twelve fellow Ventierran, two Pagora, and the five Parrian taken away. Everyone knew why they were removed, but no one wanted to admit their fate, or discuss our own.”

  The Zenge species, a lizard-like race of omnivores, fed on captives. At least some of the Zenge did. No one knew if eating the enemy was species-wide. No one knew a great deal regarding Zenge habits. They attacked worlds. They killed millions, if not billions of normally peaceful people. No one, alien or human, knew why.