Read Online The Last Charge (The Nameless War Trilogy Book 3) by Edmond Barrett - Free Book Online
Authors: Edmond Barrett
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to use existing production lines, the engineers have modified the basic Mk Thirteen Emergency Message Drone. The jump drives have been removed and space used for a basic sensor package and a warhead. The navigation software had to be completely replaced – the original package was designed to avoid running into things as its first priority.”
“And the role they are intended for?” Lewis replied, turning back to the two men. “The profile I’m looking at doesn’t seem fast enough for anti-ship purposes.”
“Sir,” the Commodore said. “These torpedoes aren’t intended to function as a standard missile. They haven’t the acceleration to close like a missile, but they are capable of accelerating for hours.”
“Endurance rather than sprint capacity,” Lewis said.
“The role envisioned by Planetary Defence was to fire off several hundred torpedoes in the opening stages of an engagement, to flank and hem in an opposing force.”
“A blocker, rather than a striker,” Lewis murmured. “A semi-mobile minefield.”
“Yes, sir,” Tsukioka replied. “The ones with the extra casings, that’s primarily fuel. They can accelerate for up to three days. The torpedoes probably won’t land many hits, but they carry too much punch to be ignored. However, the rushed development has caused problems.”
“Oh?”
“A thirty percent failure rate is projected. We have three hundred torpedoes, which are tied into the Planetary Defence Grid. Production means we’re adding another four a day to the available units.”
“Could they be tied into our ships?”
“Sir?”
“These torpedoes, they match the physical dimensions of the Mk Thirteen. The next battle will be fought inside this solar system. We will have no requirement for message drones.”
Tsukioka glanced towards one of the developers.
“Yes, sir, I believe so.”
“It gives us another card to play,” Lewis said as mentally he started to slot the new weapons into his plans.
30th November 2067
Lewis lay on his bunk on Warspite staring up at the deckhead, his mind drifting from one possible deployment to another. The great battleship was now out of dock and holding in a high Earth orbit with the rest of the fleet. Nothing new was coming to mind and nothing they’d already considered would stand even the smallest chance of success. All options were on the table, from fielding untested weapon systems to using untried tactics that would have seen a first year cadet kicked out of officer training for even suggesting during peacetime. None of it would work – the Nameless simply possessed all the advantages. If there was an answer to their dilemma, Lewis couldn’t see it. His eyes started to flicker shut as he drifted off.
The main alarm went off with a banshee like scream. Lewis was up and out of the bunk instantly, simultaneously trying to ram his intercom earpiece into place.
“Bridge, report!” he shouted.
“Sir, an alien ship has just jumped in!”
Christ, I thought I had a few more weeks , Lewis thought desperately as he reached for his survival suit. We aren’t ready! Then the officer on the other end of the link said what Lewis did not expect.
“Sir, it’s not the Nameless. It’s... Aèllr?”
The voice on the other end sounded confused. Lewis didn’t reply; he was out of his cabin and heading for the bridge.
“Report!” he barked as he stepped onto the bridge.
“It’s confirmed – contact is an Aèllr Province class heavy cruiser,” called out a bridge office. “It’s one light second beyond the Red Line and at rest relative. Engines are at standby, her gun turrets are trained fore and aft, they are not powered up.”
“The fleet is coming online. We have tactical uplink from all squadrons,” added Captain Sheehan, his chief of staff.
Lewis stepped towards the bridge’s main holo. The red blip for the Aèllr was blinking slowly, but beside it was a second blip, this one green.
“What’s that?” he
“And the role they are intended for?” Lewis replied, turning back to the two men. “The profile I’m looking at doesn’t seem fast enough for anti-ship purposes.”
“Sir,” the Commodore said. “These torpedoes aren’t intended to function as a standard missile. They haven’t the acceleration to close like a missile, but they are capable of accelerating for hours.”
“Endurance rather than sprint capacity,” Lewis said.
“The role envisioned by Planetary Defence was to fire off several hundred torpedoes in the opening stages of an engagement, to flank and hem in an opposing force.”
“A blocker, rather than a striker,” Lewis murmured. “A semi-mobile minefield.”
“Yes, sir,” Tsukioka replied. “The ones with the extra casings, that’s primarily fuel. They can accelerate for up to three days. The torpedoes probably won’t land many hits, but they carry too much punch to be ignored. However, the rushed development has caused problems.”
“Oh?”
“A thirty percent failure rate is projected. We have three hundred torpedoes, which are tied into the Planetary Defence Grid. Production means we’re adding another four a day to the available units.”
“Could they be tied into our ships?”
“Sir?”
“These torpedoes, they match the physical dimensions of the Mk Thirteen. The next battle will be fought inside this solar system. We will have no requirement for message drones.”
Tsukioka glanced towards one of the developers.
“Yes, sir, I believe so.”
“It gives us another card to play,” Lewis said as mentally he started to slot the new weapons into his plans.
30th November 2067
Lewis lay on his bunk on Warspite staring up at the deckhead, his mind drifting from one possible deployment to another. The great battleship was now out of dock and holding in a high Earth orbit with the rest of the fleet. Nothing new was coming to mind and nothing they’d already considered would stand even the smallest chance of success. All options were on the table, from fielding untested weapon systems to using untried tactics that would have seen a first year cadet kicked out of officer training for even suggesting during peacetime. None of it would work – the Nameless simply possessed all the advantages. If there was an answer to their dilemma, Lewis couldn’t see it. His eyes started to flicker shut as he drifted off.
The main alarm went off with a banshee like scream. Lewis was up and out of the bunk instantly, simultaneously trying to ram his intercom earpiece into place.
“Bridge, report!” he shouted.
“Sir, an alien ship has just jumped in!”
Christ, I thought I had a few more weeks , Lewis thought desperately as he reached for his survival suit. We aren’t ready! Then the officer on the other end of the link said what Lewis did not expect.
“Sir, it’s not the Nameless. It’s... Aèllr?”
The voice on the other end sounded confused. Lewis didn’t reply; he was out of his cabin and heading for the bridge.
“Report!” he barked as he stepped onto the bridge.
“It’s confirmed – contact is an Aèllr Province class heavy cruiser,” called out a bridge office. “It’s one light second beyond the Red Line and at rest relative. Engines are at standby, her gun turrets are trained fore and aft, they are not powered up.”
“The fleet is coming online. We have tactical uplink from all squadrons,” added Captain Sheehan, his chief of staff.
Lewis stepped towards the bridge’s main holo. The red blip for the Aèllr was blinking slowly, but beside it was a second blip, this one green.
“What’s that?” he
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