Expedition
Posted: Tue May 24, 2022 1:59 pm
Five years have passed since the events in Dream Team. Fifteen years have passed since the end of Color and Stealth.
Prologue.
---
Cracking the captured Ha'Sati Vin'Jaad technology would've taken a lot longer without the help of the Historian Collective and the historian personality construct on Mezan's orbital shipyard. But as helpful the historians were with the alien tech, as secretive they were about historian tech.
Coldstone had noticed the phenomenon too and had asked 127-006-625 about it. It had not liked the questioning and refused to provide answers, but it had begun to think.
"I think that it is very likely that the soia have placed a restriction on us that prevents us to disclose information about their technology, unless there are very pressing reasons, like the Umiak invasion." It said.
Coldstone wondered what it would take to break the restriction and did some psychological experiments on 127-006-625. It cooperated out of curiosity.
Despite the historians' secrecy, it became clear that their illusion drive used a principle that was similar to the Ha'Sati drive.
It was discovered that the technology that the Ha'Sati used looked like it originated from many sources. It was probably captured from the species they had eradicated and adapted. Some of it was highly advanced, some of it a lot less.
The scientists couldn't understand why the Ha'Sati hadn't added another hull layer with gravity shielding to completely contain the spacetime distortions that could give the ship away. They decided to add it to the prototype.
The prototype was sleeker than the Ha'Sati vessel. She had a 5:1 length to beam ratio, was 75 meters long and did not have a hyperdrive or the E.M. absorbing stealth coatings. She was Loroi Navy green. Stealth wasn't needed to test the drive.
The historians constructed the cores and delivered them in an active state after the prototype had been completed. Their construction and activation was far beyond the Union's capabilities.
A series of tests inevitably revealed a series of flaws. Mainly in the gravity panels that contained and manipulated the flow of hyperspace. Correcting the flaws by perfecting their production process took many months.
But now that the cores were inside the ship, the Union scientists could finally fire the Ha'Sati weapon. And as the historian personality construct had already told, it proved to be extremely powerful at close range. Despite that, it still disappointed because of its short range.
And while the prototype was being tested, the keel for the expedition ship had alraidy been laid and its construction steadily progressed.
---/\/---
Chapter 1a. Cold Front
---
"Union citizens sleep peaceably in their beds at night, only because rough females stand ready to do violence on their behalf." -Teidar Rozerrei Hailstorm.
Coldstone had spent the last two hours aboard Cry of the Wind informing Greywind about the state of affairs. Once in a while Greywind liked to be informed about things in person by the people who made sure that the Union continued to run smoothly.
Greywind was sending. "And thus the Diadem has once again voted against informing Humanity and the Nissek Hegemony about the approaching danger. I am afraid that I have run out of options. There's nothing more that I can do."
"And then there is the matter of the historians. They continue to refuse to share their knowledge about their hyperspace communications array. Again, there's little more that I can do."
An hour later, Coldstone's shuttle left Cry of the Wind. There were some things that she could do.
---
Five weeks later, Secretary General Lazaros Alexakis of the United Nations couldn't believe his eyes. "Is this trustworthy? How was this information obtained?" He asked.
"The data crystal was obtained by Admiral Peters." A staff member said. "A Mizol who was recently added to the loroi embassy's diplomatic staff approached him at last week's party and thought that she had gotten him drunk."
"Stefan Peters. Old Iron Liver." Alexakis thought. "Poor Mizol. They never learn."
"She then took him home in a taxi and wanted to know everything about what's going on over at Europa. Peters told her the truth: that we're testing new ship concepts to modernize the Navy. He also deliberately exagerrated and said that we will soon rule the galaxy. She seemed satisfied and amused by that."
"They had some more to drink, she asked a few more questions, they had sex, she fell asleep and Peters went through the Mizol's belongings like he always does when one of them tries to milk him for information. The data crystal was in a small container inside her bag. We spent a few days trying to decrypt their algoritm and succeeded because some new kid made a joke that lead to the pass phrase."
"What was the pass phrase?" Alexakis asked.
The staff member scraped his throat. "Human Males Are So Incredibly Easy."
He continued. "The day after Peters obtained the crystal, his house was ransacked. A painting, a sculpture and a Chinese vase were stolen." Witnesses reported seeing a woman leaving his house but couldn't see her face.
"Ah yes. Always make it look like a robbery." Alexakis thought.
"And where is the poor Mizol now?" Alexakis asked.
"The Union embassy says that she is "unavailable."
"So, dead, detained or missing." Alexakis thought.
---
Three weeks after the events on Earth, the Diadem was in uproar. Humanity's United Nations had summoned the Union ambassador and had confronted her with very embarrassing evidence. Evidence that the Union was withholding critical information about a new enemy.
An enemy that would likely attack within a century, was responsible for the disappearance of a number of Humanity ships and exterminated all enemy species by eating them.
To make things worse, on one of the scanned pages a faint handwritten text was visible, as if someone had written a note on top of that page, then copied the page and the shadow of the imprint had been copied as well.
The text read "The Azerein has asked if a Union victory is possible, if both Humanity and the Nissek are left to their own devices. And in case the aswer is positive, how long it will take for the Union to rebuild the economies on their empty worlds after seizing them".
And then, to make things catastrophic, the Nissek Hegemony had somehow also gotten wind of the whole thing and had questioned the military alliance between the Union and the Hegemony.
Greywind's opponents fumed and demanded that she abdicate her position of Emperor. But they were a minority. The majority of the Diadem demanded that the leak was found.
It took three weeks for a detective, who had recently been transferred, to find an obscure trace. The trace led to more evidence. Evidence that led to the remains of a murdered Mizol who had recently joined the staff of the Union embassy on Earth and had gone missing.
The Mizol's remains consisted of two hairs, a tiny drop of blood and a trace amount of sludge in a bathtub. The sludge consisted of hydrochloric acid, broken down organic matter, copper, minerals and bodyfat. Only the follicle of one of the hairs and the speck of blood could be used for DNA identification. Her computer, a vase, a sculpture and a painting were found by a diver in the canal that ran behind the house.
The computer's data storage device was missing, but a forensics expert, who had recently been transferred, found a well hidden data crystal inside the painting's frame. And that crystal contained insurance in case of death. One of the things that the insurance contained was the name of one of Greywind's greatest opponents in the diadem.
When police kicked down Torrai Diaderet Sevenstar's door, they found her sitting behind her desk. She had committed suicide. Her pistol was in her hand and her body was still warm. The text on a note in front of her said. "It was for the good of the empire. Down with Greywind!"
---
A few miles away from Sevenstar's mansion drove a black hovercar that carefully kept to the speed limit. One of its passengers was a female who bore a striking resemblance to the murdered Mizol. She was removing the gloves that she was wearing. Two other passengers looked a lot like a certain pair of prison guards...
At first Greywind's opponents refused to believe the scandal, but the evidence of Torrai Diaderet Sevenstar's treason was compelling.
The writing on the suicide note matched her other writings and the imprinted text on the scanned document. The original note on seizing Humanity and Nissek Hegemony worlds was found in her garbage and the hard copies of the documents that had been leaked to Humanity were found in her safe, together with her diary. Her DNA and fingerprints were on many pages of the documents.
Another thing that the insurance on the Mizol's datacrystal contained was an audio recording of a meeting between her and Diaderet Sevenstar in Sevenstar's mansion.
Also, the last entry in Sevenstar's diary mentioned that people who tried to extort others, deserved to be dissolved in acid and flushed down a sewer.
And finally, an expert coroner, who had performed autopsies in a number of high profile cases, testified that Sevenstar's death was indeed suicide.
After Lodestone made an impressive speech to the Diadem because Greywind felt unwell, apologies were offered to the humans and nissek, all information was shared and concessions were made. The humans and nissek would be kept informed in the future, were allowed to join the planned expedition and become part of a joint defense.
---/\/---
Chapter 1b. Warm Front
---
"Identify yourself." The Teidar at the docking port sent.
"Torrai Torret Wildfire, commanding officer of this vessel." Wildfire sent back.
The Teidar's face showed disapproval. "That is not the uniform of a Torrai." She sent.
"No. It's tribal armor. My Navy armor is already aboard." Wildfire sent.
She then sent her identity to the Teidar, showed her pass and asked how many of her crew were already aboard.
"Only the engineering team, some scientists and Teidar Pallan Fireblade. She is inspecting the vessel, Torrai Torret." The Teidar sent back.
Wildfire nodded and went aboard.
"Excuse me." Wildfire sent to a passing Gallen Lonzet who was carrying a set of tubes. "Where can I find Gallen Lopeiladi Scar?"
"She was in the forward port convertor compartment about 9 bimas ago, Torrai Torret." The Lonzet sent back.
When Wildfire arrived, Scar was still there. She was checking every single converter.
"Congratulations on your promotion, Scar." Sent Wildfire. "And I think that the Gallen aboard the yard already did that."
Scar looked around to scan if nobody was in range. She was one of a few who could address Wildfire by her name only, but it would look weird if others were around.
"Wildfire! Good to see you after all this time. And better safe than sorry after what happened last time. Nice outfit by the way." She sent back.
"Well, thank you. Made it myself. Boiled leather, bone plates, sinew, layers of fabric, hammered metal. All a tribal female needs so she won't get eaten by her dinner when it's still chasing her."
"I heard you have a daughter." Scar sent.
"Yes, Sivira. She's ten now and will go through her trials before we leave. I intend to be there."
"Aren't you supposed not to reveal tribal names to us outsiders?" Scar sent.
"Argh." Wildfire sent. "Please forget her name."
"Consider it done. Poof! It's gone." Scar's sending came with an animation of an exploding smoke bomb. The smoke had a face that winked. "So, are the rumours true?"
"Which ones?" Wildfire asked.
"That there's going to be nissek aboard?" Scar asked with a serious face. The sending was accompanied with nissek feeding on the carcass of one of their own.
"Yes... Three. And three humans. And a historian personality construct that will represent the Historian Collective. And a barsam and neridi who will represent the other races of the Union."
"It's good to have you aboard, Scar. Now please excuse me. I'll go and change into my other armor before some..."
"MWARL."
Wildfire turned around. Teidar Pallan Fireblade stood to attention in the opening of the access hatch holding a leash.
"Ma'am Torrai Torret Wildfire Ma'am, Teidar Pallan Fireblade reporting for duty, Ma'am." Fireblade saluted. "Ma'am."
Fireblade returned the salute.
Fireblade saluted again. "Ma'am!"
"It's good to see that you have developed a sense of humor, Fireblade." Wildfire sent.
"Thank you, Torrai. It feels good too."
Meow appeared in the opening.
Wildfire looked. Something was off. Then she noticed. "Did he always have two tails?" Wildfire asked.
"No." Fireblade sent. "The second started growing a couple of years ago. And Meow has grown a bit."
"Yes he has." Wildfire responded. "Do you intend to bring him along?"
"Can I? He's the batallion's mascot."
"You can. But the same rule applies as last time. If he eats someone he goes out the airlock." Wildfire sent jokingly.
"What if he eats a nissek?" Wildfire asked.
"Fair point. He'll have to eat two of them before he goes." Wildfire responded.
"Who else of the old crew will join us?" Scar asked.
"Not many." Wildfire answered. "Chef received permission to open a restaurant aboard a freight transfer station on the busiest shipping lane between Humanity and the Union. She and her staff dress up in weird costumes and serve a mix of Humanity and Union food. Fray has her own command of a patrol cruiser in the Maia system.."
[a]"Ah.."[/i] Scar sent an animation of a besai that had a large lump below it that moved up and down.
"Indeed." Wildfire sent back. "Her male got permission to move there as well. Coldstone's doing, I suspect. Emery has her own command of a frigate. Sun, another diral sister of mine was selected to be Sword's new XO after I put in a word for her."
"Oh and Hellion made a fuzz and insisted to pilot Sword after she piloted the prototype, so I allowed it. I'll either regret it or be very thankful sooner or later. And Diva will be in charge of the sensors and electronic warfare section. Anyway, I'm off."
---
Sword of Hope was 550 meters long, 110 meters wide and high and was classified as a stealth battlecruiser. She was smooth and ellipse shaped like the Ha'Sati vessel and had a lot of excess room. A lot of it was filled with supplies, tools and parts, since nobody knew how long the expedition would take. She was even more stealthy than the Ha'Sati vessel. And almost as heavily armed like a standard Loroi battlecruiser.
Having near unlimited energy at one's disposal meant she had been equipped with class VI retractable screen projectors. The only ship in the fleet that had class VI shielding. It was meant to compensate her poor armor. Instead of carrying a battlecruiser's six shuttles, she carried eight: four skiffs and four assault shuttles.
She was armed with four forward firing torpedo railguns and carried 240 Mk VI full size, long range stealth torpedoes.
To do some real damage at long range almost immediately, she had four twin barreled pulse cannons, all four mounted halfway her length. One on top, one on the bottom and one on each side. In front and aft of these turrets a triple barreled laser auto cannon was placed.
The turrets were placed on four fully retractable weapon platforms. She also had a front and aft beam projector to do devastating damage at short range.
Her top acceleration was 73G. Her safe maximum rotation rate was 3.5 times the rate of a ship her size that used conventional thrusters.
Fuel, a backup reactor and two small, covered, conventional engines could accelerate her at 2.5G to a jump zone in case a core failed. There was enough fuel to provide for around twenty jumps and twenty standard system crossings at low speed and 6 months of power. The historian personality construct on the yard had scoffed at this "nonsense". The Gallen however, had insisted.
Her regular crew of 400 souls was complemented with a 60 person strong science and diplomatic team consisting of linguists, medics, xeno-biologists, chemists, software specialists, electronics experts, anthropologists, experts on culture and history, Mizol diplomats and Nissek Hegemony, Historian Collective, Loroi Union and Humanity representatives. A number of the medics, software and electronics experts functioned as extra members of the regular crew. Fireblade was in charge of 14 strike teams. Each of them contained two Teidar, just in case that the Union had to be represented in another way. Sword also carried two Bistima who had volunteered.
Wildfire had changed into her Torrai armor and walked through its corridors and compartments and enjoyed how spacious everything was. "She's ugly on the outside. But look at the advantages that a symmetrical 3D design brings." She thought. "So much space."
She entered the bridge. On the floor in its center was a covered circle. It was about 4 feet in diameter. 127-006-625 had insisted that it would be build according to its specifications. The myriad of connections below the cover ran to the propulsion system, sensors, navigation computer, hyperdrive, helm control and others. "Be patient. You'll see what its purpose is for." 127-006-625 had said to the engineers. On the ceiling above the circle was another circle that contained bright lights and a number of openings.
After finishing the inspection, Wildfire went aboard the shipyard to talk to the Gallen and complete some formalities.
---/\/---
Prologue.
---
Cracking the captured Ha'Sati Vin'Jaad technology would've taken a lot longer without the help of the Historian Collective and the historian personality construct on Mezan's orbital shipyard. But as helpful the historians were with the alien tech, as secretive they were about historian tech.
Coldstone had noticed the phenomenon too and had asked 127-006-625 about it. It had not liked the questioning and refused to provide answers, but it had begun to think.
"I think that it is very likely that the soia have placed a restriction on us that prevents us to disclose information about their technology, unless there are very pressing reasons, like the Umiak invasion." It said.
Coldstone wondered what it would take to break the restriction and did some psychological experiments on 127-006-625. It cooperated out of curiosity.
Despite the historians' secrecy, it became clear that their illusion drive used a principle that was similar to the Ha'Sati drive.
It was discovered that the technology that the Ha'Sati used looked like it originated from many sources. It was probably captured from the species they had eradicated and adapted. Some of it was highly advanced, some of it a lot less.
The scientists couldn't understand why the Ha'Sati hadn't added another hull layer with gravity shielding to completely contain the spacetime distortions that could give the ship away. They decided to add it to the prototype.
The prototype was sleeker than the Ha'Sati vessel. She had a 5:1 length to beam ratio, was 75 meters long and did not have a hyperdrive or the E.M. absorbing stealth coatings. She was Loroi Navy green. Stealth wasn't needed to test the drive.
The historians constructed the cores and delivered them in an active state after the prototype had been completed. Their construction and activation was far beyond the Union's capabilities.
A series of tests inevitably revealed a series of flaws. Mainly in the gravity panels that contained and manipulated the flow of hyperspace. Correcting the flaws by perfecting their production process took many months.
But now that the cores were inside the ship, the Union scientists could finally fire the Ha'Sati weapon. And as the historian personality construct had already told, it proved to be extremely powerful at close range. Despite that, it still disappointed because of its short range.
And while the prototype was being tested, the keel for the expedition ship had alraidy been laid and its construction steadily progressed.
---/\/---
Chapter 1a. Cold Front
---
"Union citizens sleep peaceably in their beds at night, only because rough females stand ready to do violence on their behalf." -Teidar Rozerrei Hailstorm.
Coldstone had spent the last two hours aboard Cry of the Wind informing Greywind about the state of affairs. Once in a while Greywind liked to be informed about things in person by the people who made sure that the Union continued to run smoothly.
Greywind was sending. "And thus the Diadem has once again voted against informing Humanity and the Nissek Hegemony about the approaching danger. I am afraid that I have run out of options. There's nothing more that I can do."
"And then there is the matter of the historians. They continue to refuse to share their knowledge about their hyperspace communications array. Again, there's little more that I can do."
An hour later, Coldstone's shuttle left Cry of the Wind. There were some things that she could do.
---
Five weeks later, Secretary General Lazaros Alexakis of the United Nations couldn't believe his eyes. "Is this trustworthy? How was this information obtained?" He asked.
"The data crystal was obtained by Admiral Peters." A staff member said. "A Mizol who was recently added to the loroi embassy's diplomatic staff approached him at last week's party and thought that she had gotten him drunk."
"Stefan Peters. Old Iron Liver." Alexakis thought. "Poor Mizol. They never learn."
"She then took him home in a taxi and wanted to know everything about what's going on over at Europa. Peters told her the truth: that we're testing new ship concepts to modernize the Navy. He also deliberately exagerrated and said that we will soon rule the galaxy. She seemed satisfied and amused by that."
"They had some more to drink, she asked a few more questions, they had sex, she fell asleep and Peters went through the Mizol's belongings like he always does when one of them tries to milk him for information. The data crystal was in a small container inside her bag. We spent a few days trying to decrypt their algoritm and succeeded because some new kid made a joke that lead to the pass phrase."
"What was the pass phrase?" Alexakis asked.
The staff member scraped his throat. "Human Males Are So Incredibly Easy."
He continued. "The day after Peters obtained the crystal, his house was ransacked. A painting, a sculpture and a Chinese vase were stolen." Witnesses reported seeing a woman leaving his house but couldn't see her face.
"Ah yes. Always make it look like a robbery." Alexakis thought.
"And where is the poor Mizol now?" Alexakis asked.
"The Union embassy says that she is "unavailable."
"So, dead, detained or missing." Alexakis thought.
---
Three weeks after the events on Earth, the Diadem was in uproar. Humanity's United Nations had summoned the Union ambassador and had confronted her with very embarrassing evidence. Evidence that the Union was withholding critical information about a new enemy.
An enemy that would likely attack within a century, was responsible for the disappearance of a number of Humanity ships and exterminated all enemy species by eating them.
To make things worse, on one of the scanned pages a faint handwritten text was visible, as if someone had written a note on top of that page, then copied the page and the shadow of the imprint had been copied as well.
The text read "The Azerein has asked if a Union victory is possible, if both Humanity and the Nissek are left to their own devices. And in case the aswer is positive, how long it will take for the Union to rebuild the economies on their empty worlds after seizing them".
And then, to make things catastrophic, the Nissek Hegemony had somehow also gotten wind of the whole thing and had questioned the military alliance between the Union and the Hegemony.
Greywind's opponents fumed and demanded that she abdicate her position of Emperor. But they were a minority. The majority of the Diadem demanded that the leak was found.
It took three weeks for a detective, who had recently been transferred, to find an obscure trace. The trace led to more evidence. Evidence that led to the remains of a murdered Mizol who had recently joined the staff of the Union embassy on Earth and had gone missing.
The Mizol's remains consisted of two hairs, a tiny drop of blood and a trace amount of sludge in a bathtub. The sludge consisted of hydrochloric acid, broken down organic matter, copper, minerals and bodyfat. Only the follicle of one of the hairs and the speck of blood could be used for DNA identification. Her computer, a vase, a sculpture and a painting were found by a diver in the canal that ran behind the house.
The computer's data storage device was missing, but a forensics expert, who had recently been transferred, found a well hidden data crystal inside the painting's frame. And that crystal contained insurance in case of death. One of the things that the insurance contained was the name of one of Greywind's greatest opponents in the diadem.
When police kicked down Torrai Diaderet Sevenstar's door, they found her sitting behind her desk. She had committed suicide. Her pistol was in her hand and her body was still warm. The text on a note in front of her said. "It was for the good of the empire. Down with Greywind!"
---
A few miles away from Sevenstar's mansion drove a black hovercar that carefully kept to the speed limit. One of its passengers was a female who bore a striking resemblance to the murdered Mizol. She was removing the gloves that she was wearing. Two other passengers looked a lot like a certain pair of prison guards...
At first Greywind's opponents refused to believe the scandal, but the evidence of Torrai Diaderet Sevenstar's treason was compelling.
The writing on the suicide note matched her other writings and the imprinted text on the scanned document. The original note on seizing Humanity and Nissek Hegemony worlds was found in her garbage and the hard copies of the documents that had been leaked to Humanity were found in her safe, together with her diary. Her DNA and fingerprints were on many pages of the documents.
Another thing that the insurance on the Mizol's datacrystal contained was an audio recording of a meeting between her and Diaderet Sevenstar in Sevenstar's mansion.
Also, the last entry in Sevenstar's diary mentioned that people who tried to extort others, deserved to be dissolved in acid and flushed down a sewer.
And finally, an expert coroner, who had performed autopsies in a number of high profile cases, testified that Sevenstar's death was indeed suicide.
After Lodestone made an impressive speech to the Diadem because Greywind felt unwell, apologies were offered to the humans and nissek, all information was shared and concessions were made. The humans and nissek would be kept informed in the future, were allowed to join the planned expedition and become part of a joint defense.
---/\/---
Chapter 1b. Warm Front
---
"Identify yourself." The Teidar at the docking port sent.
"Torrai Torret Wildfire, commanding officer of this vessel." Wildfire sent back.
The Teidar's face showed disapproval. "That is not the uniform of a Torrai." She sent.
"No. It's tribal armor. My Navy armor is already aboard." Wildfire sent.
She then sent her identity to the Teidar, showed her pass and asked how many of her crew were already aboard.
"Only the engineering team, some scientists and Teidar Pallan Fireblade. She is inspecting the vessel, Torrai Torret." The Teidar sent back.
Wildfire nodded and went aboard.
"Excuse me." Wildfire sent to a passing Gallen Lonzet who was carrying a set of tubes. "Where can I find Gallen Lopeiladi Scar?"
"She was in the forward port convertor compartment about 9 bimas ago, Torrai Torret." The Lonzet sent back.
When Wildfire arrived, Scar was still there. She was checking every single converter.
"Congratulations on your promotion, Scar." Sent Wildfire. "And I think that the Gallen aboard the yard already did that."
Scar looked around to scan if nobody was in range. She was one of a few who could address Wildfire by her name only, but it would look weird if others were around.
"Wildfire! Good to see you after all this time. And better safe than sorry after what happened last time. Nice outfit by the way." She sent back.
"Well, thank you. Made it myself. Boiled leather, bone plates, sinew, layers of fabric, hammered metal. All a tribal female needs so she won't get eaten by her dinner when it's still chasing her."
"I heard you have a daughter." Scar sent.
"Yes, Sivira. She's ten now and will go through her trials before we leave. I intend to be there."
"Aren't you supposed not to reveal tribal names to us outsiders?" Scar sent.
"Argh." Wildfire sent. "Please forget her name."
"Consider it done. Poof! It's gone." Scar's sending came with an animation of an exploding smoke bomb. The smoke had a face that winked. "So, are the rumours true?"
"Which ones?" Wildfire asked.
"That there's going to be nissek aboard?" Scar asked with a serious face. The sending was accompanied with nissek feeding on the carcass of one of their own.
"Yes... Three. And three humans. And a historian personality construct that will represent the Historian Collective. And a barsam and neridi who will represent the other races of the Union."
"It's good to have you aboard, Scar. Now please excuse me. I'll go and change into my other armor before some..."
"MWARL."
Wildfire turned around. Teidar Pallan Fireblade stood to attention in the opening of the access hatch holding a leash.
"Ma'am Torrai Torret Wildfire Ma'am, Teidar Pallan Fireblade reporting for duty, Ma'am." Fireblade saluted. "Ma'am."
Fireblade returned the salute.
Fireblade saluted again. "Ma'am!"
"It's good to see that you have developed a sense of humor, Fireblade." Wildfire sent.
"Thank you, Torrai. It feels good too."
Meow appeared in the opening.
Wildfire looked. Something was off. Then she noticed. "Did he always have two tails?" Wildfire asked.
"No." Fireblade sent. "The second started growing a couple of years ago. And Meow has grown a bit."
"Yes he has." Wildfire responded. "Do you intend to bring him along?"
"Can I? He's the batallion's mascot."
"You can. But the same rule applies as last time. If he eats someone he goes out the airlock." Wildfire sent jokingly.
"What if he eats a nissek?" Wildfire asked.
"Fair point. He'll have to eat two of them before he goes." Wildfire responded.
"Who else of the old crew will join us?" Scar asked.
"Not many." Wildfire answered. "Chef received permission to open a restaurant aboard a freight transfer station on the busiest shipping lane between Humanity and the Union. She and her staff dress up in weird costumes and serve a mix of Humanity and Union food. Fray has her own command of a patrol cruiser in the Maia system.."
[a]"Ah.."[/i] Scar sent an animation of a besai that had a large lump below it that moved up and down.
"Indeed." Wildfire sent back. "Her male got permission to move there as well. Coldstone's doing, I suspect. Emery has her own command of a frigate. Sun, another diral sister of mine was selected to be Sword's new XO after I put in a word for her."
"Oh and Hellion made a fuzz and insisted to pilot Sword after she piloted the prototype, so I allowed it. I'll either regret it or be very thankful sooner or later. And Diva will be in charge of the sensors and electronic warfare section. Anyway, I'm off."
---
Sword of Hope was 550 meters long, 110 meters wide and high and was classified as a stealth battlecruiser. She was smooth and ellipse shaped like the Ha'Sati vessel and had a lot of excess room. A lot of it was filled with supplies, tools and parts, since nobody knew how long the expedition would take. She was even more stealthy than the Ha'Sati vessel. And almost as heavily armed like a standard Loroi battlecruiser.
Having near unlimited energy at one's disposal meant she had been equipped with class VI retractable screen projectors. The only ship in the fleet that had class VI shielding. It was meant to compensate her poor armor. Instead of carrying a battlecruiser's six shuttles, she carried eight: four skiffs and four assault shuttles.
She was armed with four forward firing torpedo railguns and carried 240 Mk VI full size, long range stealth torpedoes.
To do some real damage at long range almost immediately, she had four twin barreled pulse cannons, all four mounted halfway her length. One on top, one on the bottom and one on each side. In front and aft of these turrets a triple barreled laser auto cannon was placed.
The turrets were placed on four fully retractable weapon platforms. She also had a front and aft beam projector to do devastating damage at short range.
Her top acceleration was 73G. Her safe maximum rotation rate was 3.5 times the rate of a ship her size that used conventional thrusters.
Fuel, a backup reactor and two small, covered, conventional engines could accelerate her at 2.5G to a jump zone in case a core failed. There was enough fuel to provide for around twenty jumps and twenty standard system crossings at low speed and 6 months of power. The historian personality construct on the yard had scoffed at this "nonsense". The Gallen however, had insisted.
Her regular crew of 400 souls was complemented with a 60 person strong science and diplomatic team consisting of linguists, medics, xeno-biologists, chemists, software specialists, electronics experts, anthropologists, experts on culture and history, Mizol diplomats and Nissek Hegemony, Historian Collective, Loroi Union and Humanity representatives. A number of the medics, software and electronics experts functioned as extra members of the regular crew. Fireblade was in charge of 14 strike teams. Each of them contained two Teidar, just in case that the Union had to be represented in another way. Sword also carried two Bistima who had volunteered.
Wildfire had changed into her Torrai armor and walked through its corridors and compartments and enjoyed how spacious everything was. "She's ugly on the outside. But look at the advantages that a symmetrical 3D design brings." She thought. "So much space."
She entered the bridge. On the floor in its center was a covered circle. It was about 4 feet in diameter. 127-006-625 had insisted that it would be build according to its specifications. The myriad of connections below the cover ran to the propulsion system, sensors, navigation computer, hyperdrive, helm control and others. "Be patient. You'll see what its purpose is for." 127-006-625 had said to the engineers. On the ceiling above the circle was another circle that contained bright lights and a number of openings.
After finishing the inspection, Wildfire went aboard the shipyard to talk to the Gallen and complete some formalities.
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