Read Online Kelly Blake 3: Where the Stars Are Few and Far Between by Rodney Smith - Free Book Online
Authors: Rodney Smith
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nose cannons. He had seen these demonstrated at Shepard. They were quite deadly. On narrow beam, they bored holes through plate armor. At wide beam they disintegrated entire fighter-sized ships or similar sized chunks of larger ships. It had weapons pods for 50 offensive missiles and 100 defensive missiles. He thought 50 offensive missiles might be too many. They might convince a captain that he was badder than he really was. Of course, he was the captain, so he might be able to keep that under control. The 100 defensive missiles might not be enough, even though they were the new SM120s that networked with other missiles in a salvo, assigned individual targets, and were more effective at taking out massed multiple missile salvoes.
The Orion’s top speed was listed at FTL power 7. That was fast. The K’Rang Empire was estimated to be over 1,000 light years in depth. This ship could make that journey in a couple of weeks – engineers theorized it could go faster. It had four new engines, similar to the diomede engines on the Vigilant, but scaled up. They employed the same propulsion methods, but with something extra that gave it the increased speed. He’d have to get an engineer to explain it to him.
It had a mini-ring for resupply. What a decisive advantage – ships could stay on station indefinitely. Crew could be replaced. Wounded crew could be wheeled from the ship to a hospital in home space within minutes of injury. Weapons could be resupplied during a battle. The possibilities were endless.
Kelly looked out a port to see them entering the atmosphere. He would soon be meeting his new ship.
* * * * *
Tammy suited up for her upcoming mission. They would have the F-53's again today, but Tammy’s ships would be loaded differently from past missions. Their winglet weapon mounts would be loaded. The first two squadrons would go in with missiles programed for individual ships, launch then peel away. Tammy’s squadron would come in high and launch their internal missiles. The F-53's would support the other two squadrons. The 112th would be unescorted getting back to the ring. It could make for an interesting day.
While George Duke taxied the ship in line with the other ships waiting to reach the take off position, she pondered the delineation between Fighter Force and Fleet Aviation. Years back, when the Earth Government was formed before the great migration, there were numerous national air forces, naval aviation forces, army aviation and paramilitary aviation forces that had to be melded into common units. The United States of America was the last remaining superpower, albeit much reduced from its heyday, and its military was chosen as the model for the Earth Armed Forces. The Fighter Force, modeled on the US Air Force and Naval Air Forces, was given authority over all single and dual seat fighters, attack craft and support craft, whether planet-based or carrier-based. The US Air Force rank and unit structure was followed. As humans expanded to other planets, planetary air and air defense forces were set up independent of Fighter Force, but all Galactic Republic carrier-capable, single and dual seat fighters, attack craft, and special mission ships belonged exclusively to Fighter Force.
A separate organization, originally called Fleet Support Aviation, was allocated all medium and heavy transport and support ships not capable of landing on carriers. US Naval rank and unit structure was followed. Its designation as Fleet Aviation came in the Defense Reorganization Act of 2250. There were no heavy or medium attack ships at the time and as these were a recent Fleet idea, Fleet Aviation claimed them because they couldn’t land on carriers. Fighter Force deemed them unworthy and did not object.
Tammy’s ship finally lined up for take off and was given permission by the tower. She took over from her co-pilot, applied power, and her ship smoothly lifted into the air, despite its heavy load. She formed up her
The Orion’s top speed was listed at FTL power 7. That was fast. The K’Rang Empire was estimated to be over 1,000 light years in depth. This ship could make that journey in a couple of weeks – engineers theorized it could go faster. It had four new engines, similar to the diomede engines on the Vigilant, but scaled up. They employed the same propulsion methods, but with something extra that gave it the increased speed. He’d have to get an engineer to explain it to him.
It had a mini-ring for resupply. What a decisive advantage – ships could stay on station indefinitely. Crew could be replaced. Wounded crew could be wheeled from the ship to a hospital in home space within minutes of injury. Weapons could be resupplied during a battle. The possibilities were endless.
Kelly looked out a port to see them entering the atmosphere. He would soon be meeting his new ship.
* * * * *
Tammy suited up for her upcoming mission. They would have the F-53's again today, but Tammy’s ships would be loaded differently from past missions. Their winglet weapon mounts would be loaded. The first two squadrons would go in with missiles programed for individual ships, launch then peel away. Tammy’s squadron would come in high and launch their internal missiles. The F-53's would support the other two squadrons. The 112th would be unescorted getting back to the ring. It could make for an interesting day.
While George Duke taxied the ship in line with the other ships waiting to reach the take off position, she pondered the delineation between Fighter Force and Fleet Aviation. Years back, when the Earth Government was formed before the great migration, there were numerous national air forces, naval aviation forces, army aviation and paramilitary aviation forces that had to be melded into common units. The United States of America was the last remaining superpower, albeit much reduced from its heyday, and its military was chosen as the model for the Earth Armed Forces. The Fighter Force, modeled on the US Air Force and Naval Air Forces, was given authority over all single and dual seat fighters, attack craft and support craft, whether planet-based or carrier-based. The US Air Force rank and unit structure was followed. As humans expanded to other planets, planetary air and air defense forces were set up independent of Fighter Force, but all Galactic Republic carrier-capable, single and dual seat fighters, attack craft, and special mission ships belonged exclusively to Fighter Force.
A separate organization, originally called Fleet Support Aviation, was allocated all medium and heavy transport and support ships not capable of landing on carriers. US Naval rank and unit structure was followed. Its designation as Fleet Aviation came in the Defense Reorganization Act of 2250. There were no heavy or medium attack ships at the time and as these were a recent Fleet idea, Fleet Aviation claimed them because they couldn’t land on carriers. Fighter Force deemed them unworthy and did not object.
Tammy’s ship finally lined up for take off and was given permission by the tower. She took over from her co-pilot, applied power, and her ship smoothly lifted into the air, despite its heavy load. She formed up her
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