Read Online Retribution: The Augmented Human Rebellion - Book 2 by Terry Lefler - Free Book Online
Authors: Terry Lefler
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convoy of Verm Navy transports began their journey 3 jumps ago.
Now they are spread out over a 400,000 klick spherical volume. Some of
the verm convoy
ships see the trap, and begin to run from the Sweetwater Fleet. The
fleeing ships launch SOS probes as they go.
Most convoy ships realize that they are trapped and remain in position,
rather than risk the Darinx Fleets’ wrath – everyone in Verm space now knows
about the Sweetwater Fleet.
Admiral Meyers quickly begins broadcasting that the crews who don’t
resist will not be harmed, and will be left with a working ship, which has a
functional FTL drive. 34 verm convoy vessels are captured. One ship is set aside for the verm crews, so that they
can get back to civilization. The fact that the Sweetwater Fleet keeps
its promises will help in future surrender situations.
The Admiral has not been slack in her duties during the weeks of
wait-time, as this operation was planned and implemented. She foresaw the
need for crews for some captured verm ships, and asked for volunteers to train as crewmembers. However, her
level of expectation was not high enough. She has 15 crews trained well
enough to fly the ships. The remainder of the captured vessels will be
controlled remotely by Sweetwater Fleet AIs ,
while in real space, and will be on auto-pilot for the FTL portions of the
journey.
When she has her ducks in a row, Admiral Meyers says “Engage” and the
expanded Sweetwater Fleet, with 25 Darinx warships and 33 captured verm transports, launches
into FTL space. After two more jumps they will be at the meeting place
for Shiela .
Melissa Meyers is hoping to see her daughter/friend Artificial Intelligence
awaiting their arrival.
***
The Deep Space Meeting Place
And Shiela is
there, waiting for the Fleet. She says hello to the Admiral and then
voices her surprise at the number of captured ships.
Upon seeing Shiela’s ship and hearing her voice, the Admiral feels such a release of tension that
she briefly melts down, and tears flow down her cheeks. It’s not the kind
of reaction that a Command Deck Crew expects from an Admiral, but they will
have to get over it. Melissa didn’t realize how much she has grown to
love her little AI.
But the AI is not so little anymore. Shiela has matured and has a baby, who is also not so little. Melissa has missed
much of the childhood of her first grandchild, but she doesn’t intend to miss
any more. Admiral Meyers moves to the Verm battleship and makes it the
Flagship for the Sweetwater Fleet. She promotes Tactical Officer Inchurito to Captain of
the Compton. Shiela’s baby will be the AI on the Compton, as soon as her mother is willing to let her
go.
And we need some names. Shiela’s baby needs a name – that will be Shiela’s job. And the new battleship needs a name. Admiral Meyers decides to
let the Sweetwater crews pick the name. The selection will be done in a
democratic way. The Darinx Navy would not approve of democracy seeping into the military organization, but they aren’t here right now.
Admiral Meyers allows each sailor to suggest 2 names.
Next the sailors pick their favorite two names from the list. Then
Virgil, the AI from the Wilheist ,
cuts the list of names in half by dropping the least favorite names. That
process continues until there is only 1 name left. Retribution is
the captured battleship’s name. The Admiral begins nesting to get
the big ship ready for Shiela ,
her Artificial Intelligence daughter , and for her granddaughter AI named???
Shiela is
having trouble picking the child’s name. She wants her daughter to have
the perfect name – one which reflects who she is as a personality, and a name
which will call the child to a higher purpose. Shiela considers lots of names and tries them
out. None of the names fit, until Shiela gets to Honesty . There, that fits. The child’s name is Honesty .
***
Retribution needs a crew
Now they are spread out over a 400,000 klick spherical volume. Some of
the verm convoy
ships see the trap, and begin to run from the Sweetwater Fleet. The
fleeing ships launch SOS probes as they go.
Most convoy ships realize that they are trapped and remain in position,
rather than risk the Darinx Fleets’ wrath – everyone in Verm space now knows
about the Sweetwater Fleet.
Admiral Meyers quickly begins broadcasting that the crews who don’t
resist will not be harmed, and will be left with a working ship, which has a
functional FTL drive. 34 verm convoy vessels are captured. One ship is set aside for the verm crews, so that they
can get back to civilization. The fact that the Sweetwater Fleet keeps
its promises will help in future surrender situations.
The Admiral has not been slack in her duties during the weeks of
wait-time, as this operation was planned and implemented. She foresaw the
need for crews for some captured verm ships, and asked for volunteers to train as crewmembers. However, her
level of expectation was not high enough. She has 15 crews trained well
enough to fly the ships. The remainder of the captured vessels will be
controlled remotely by Sweetwater Fleet AIs ,
while in real space, and will be on auto-pilot for the FTL portions of the
journey.
When she has her ducks in a row, Admiral Meyers says “Engage” and the
expanded Sweetwater Fleet, with 25 Darinx warships and 33 captured verm transports, launches
into FTL space. After two more jumps they will be at the meeting place
for Shiela .
Melissa Meyers is hoping to see her daughter/friend Artificial Intelligence
awaiting their arrival.
***
The Deep Space Meeting Place
And Shiela is
there, waiting for the Fleet. She says hello to the Admiral and then
voices her surprise at the number of captured ships.
Upon seeing Shiela’s ship and hearing her voice, the Admiral feels such a release of tension that
she briefly melts down, and tears flow down her cheeks. It’s not the kind
of reaction that a Command Deck Crew expects from an Admiral, but they will
have to get over it. Melissa didn’t realize how much she has grown to
love her little AI.
But the AI is not so little anymore. Shiela has matured and has a baby, who is also not so little. Melissa has missed
much of the childhood of her first grandchild, but she doesn’t intend to miss
any more. Admiral Meyers moves to the Verm battleship and makes it the
Flagship for the Sweetwater Fleet. She promotes Tactical Officer Inchurito to Captain of
the Compton. Shiela’s baby will be the AI on the Compton, as soon as her mother is willing to let her
go.
And we need some names. Shiela’s baby needs a name – that will be Shiela’s job. And the new battleship needs a name. Admiral Meyers decides to
let the Sweetwater crews pick the name. The selection will be done in a
democratic way. The Darinx Navy would not approve of democracy seeping into the military organization, but they aren’t here right now.
Admiral Meyers allows each sailor to suggest 2 names.
Next the sailors pick their favorite two names from the list. Then
Virgil, the AI from the Wilheist ,
cuts the list of names in half by dropping the least favorite names. That
process continues until there is only 1 name left. Retribution is
the captured battleship’s name. The Admiral begins nesting to get
the big ship ready for Shiela ,
her Artificial Intelligence daughter , and for her granddaughter AI named???
Shiela is
having trouble picking the child’s name. She wants her daughter to have
the perfect name – one which reflects who she is as a personality, and a name
which will call the child to a higher purpose. Shiela considers lots of names and tries them
out. None of the names fit, until Shiela gets to Honesty . There, that fits. The child’s name is Honesty .
***
Retribution needs a crew
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