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Authors: Michael McClain
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welcome to stay,” Jonathan said.
“Come on let’s get this over with,” Marc said. He turned and walked
towards the entrance to the underground Auditorium.
The small group followed close
behind as Jonathan contacted Atlanta.
{ Atlanta, what’s the status of
the incoming battle fleet? }
{ The battle fleet is nearly in
range of my sensors. Estimated time of arrival is thirty hours. In four hours,
I will be able to scan them. }
{ All right, have the drones
start loading the supplies on the cargo ships. Let me know if anything changes
with that fleet. }
{ Yes, Sir. }
{ Thanks. Andie, what is your
status? }
{ Well, with Bill’s help we
have gotten all seventeen crew-members scanned and inoculated with nanites. Two
of them had cancer, but the nanites have already neutralized those cells. They should
be fine. The three with cracked ribs are healthy enough to move around now,
thanks to the nanites. We have two nurses and one doctor, they are already
studying and learning what they can, as fast as they can. Seven of them have
decided they want to continue being grunts, and they’re learning whatever
sailors need to know. One of them was the mechanic; he’s in engineering, right
now. Three are cooks. They are in the Main Galley, looking through it. The last
three were bridge officers. I have no idea what to do with them, so I am
waiting for you to come back. }
{ Nice. Let the cooks know we
will be inbound with food, shortly. As far as the three bridge officers, have
Atlanta log them as Ensigns and then Bill can take them to the Command Room.
Have him figure out where their specialty lies, or what they’re interested in,
and have them start learning about it. Log the grunts Ensigns also until we
find a place for them. Log the
engineer as a Chief Engineering Aide. The rest you can be assigned the rank of
Ensign too. }
{ Okay, that sounds good. }
Jonathan stepped into the
Auditorium and was stunned, there were at least a hundred and fifty people
seated in the room. A low roar filled the room as many people held
conversations.
{ I have to go convert some
people now. We’ll be back in less than two hours. }
{ Be careful. }
{ I will be. Oh, Andie? Have
Atlanta lock down the weapons and armor. We don’t need anyone getting any
bright ideas while there are only two of you there. }
{ Already done. }
{ Good girl, Jonathan out. }
He cut the link in his head as
they all stepped up onto the large stage. The room suddenly got very quiet as
all eyes turned to them. Suddenly, Jonathan was very nervous. Their future
might hinge on these people … Earth’s future might hang on these people.
Atlanta had told them the base had defenses, and ground to space weaponry. Now
they just needed people to help hold the base, and get it ready for what was
coming their way. If the Invaru fleet was small, the four ground-based Polaron
Cannons should be able to hold them off, and from what he read about the
cannons, they were nasty.
The cannons worked by distorting
the magnetic fields in a target. It basically twisted any metal; which, over
time, weakened the area. It would eventually rip chunks out of the targets. It
also piggybacked high-density particles, which attacked the shields of a target
and then its very structure. The particle end of the weapon would punch a hole
through fifteen feet of neutronium composite, one of the strongest metals
known.
The idea was that the particle
part of the cannon knocked the shields out and then punctured the hull. Then
the magnetic distortion could reach the insides of a ship. It was a very
effective weapon in ship-to-ship combat. Even the fighters they had, used a lighter
version of the weapon.
Jonathan took another look out
over the people as Mike stepped up to the podium to speak. He tugged at his
armor, which suddenly felt too tight. Terri noticed him fidgeting and leaned
against her brother.
“Relax, it will be okay,” Terri
whispered.
“Easy for you to say,” Jonathan
whispered
“Come on let’s get this over with,” Marc said. He turned and walked
towards the entrance to the underground Auditorium.
The small group followed close
behind as Jonathan contacted Atlanta.
{ Atlanta, what’s the status of
the incoming battle fleet? }
{ The battle fleet is nearly in
range of my sensors. Estimated time of arrival is thirty hours. In four hours,
I will be able to scan them. }
{ All right, have the drones
start loading the supplies on the cargo ships. Let me know if anything changes
with that fleet. }
{ Yes, Sir. }
{ Thanks. Andie, what is your
status? }
{ Well, with Bill’s help we
have gotten all seventeen crew-members scanned and inoculated with nanites. Two
of them had cancer, but the nanites have already neutralized those cells. They should
be fine. The three with cracked ribs are healthy enough to move around now,
thanks to the nanites. We have two nurses and one doctor, they are already
studying and learning what they can, as fast as they can. Seven of them have
decided they want to continue being grunts, and they’re learning whatever
sailors need to know. One of them was the mechanic; he’s in engineering, right
now. Three are cooks. They are in the Main Galley, looking through it. The last
three were bridge officers. I have no idea what to do with them, so I am
waiting for you to come back. }
{ Nice. Let the cooks know we
will be inbound with food, shortly. As far as the three bridge officers, have
Atlanta log them as Ensigns and then Bill can take them to the Command Room.
Have him figure out where their specialty lies, or what they’re interested in,
and have them start learning about it. Log the grunts Ensigns also until we
find a place for them. Log the
engineer as a Chief Engineering Aide. The rest you can be assigned the rank of
Ensign too. }
{ Okay, that sounds good. }
Jonathan stepped into the
Auditorium and was stunned, there were at least a hundred and fifty people
seated in the room. A low roar filled the room as many people held
conversations.
{ I have to go convert some
people now. We’ll be back in less than two hours. }
{ Be careful. }
{ I will be. Oh, Andie? Have
Atlanta lock down the weapons and armor. We don’t need anyone getting any
bright ideas while there are only two of you there. }
{ Already done. }
{ Good girl, Jonathan out. }
He cut the link in his head as
they all stepped up onto the large stage. The room suddenly got very quiet as
all eyes turned to them. Suddenly, Jonathan was very nervous. Their future
might hinge on these people … Earth’s future might hang on these people.
Atlanta had told them the base had defenses, and ground to space weaponry. Now
they just needed people to help hold the base, and get it ready for what was
coming their way. If the Invaru fleet was small, the four ground-based Polaron
Cannons should be able to hold them off, and from what he read about the
cannons, they were nasty.
The cannons worked by distorting
the magnetic fields in a target. It basically twisted any metal; which, over
time, weakened the area. It would eventually rip chunks out of the targets. It
also piggybacked high-density particles, which attacked the shields of a target
and then its very structure. The particle end of the weapon would punch a hole
through fifteen feet of neutronium composite, one of the strongest metals
known.
The idea was that the particle
part of the cannon knocked the shields out and then punctured the hull. Then
the magnetic distortion could reach the insides of a ship. It was a very
effective weapon in ship-to-ship combat. Even the fighters they had, used a lighter
version of the weapon.
Jonathan took another look out
over the people as Mike stepped up to the podium to speak. He tugged at his
armor, which suddenly felt too tight. Terri noticed him fidgeting and leaned
against her brother.
“Relax, it will be okay,” Terri
whispered.
“Easy for you to say,” Jonathan
whispered
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