Midshipman Henry Gallant in Space (The Henry Gallant Saga) (11 page)

“Aye, aye, sir,” said Kelsey.

Gallant watched Kelsey slide into a casual proficiency, as she reviewed the virtual screen displaying the configuration for the lattice. He let his mind wander while the bridge crew busily set up for the maneuver. She was working with the AI to calculate how to reposition
Repulse.

Gallant followed her math, accustomed to doing the calculations in his head.

The goal of the long range lattice radar sweeps was to scan the outer planets on a regular basis. They presented minimal planet, or moon, shadows for alien ships to hide behind. Captain Caine had dispersed Jupiter Fleet’s six battle cruises and their fighters to ensure that coverage areas were comprehensive and overlapping.

Captain Caine observed the preparations and checked to see that they would execute on the prearranged schedule. When he was satisfied, he said, “Midshipman Mitchel, commence scan at time 16:30.” He waited expectantly.

“Yes, sir,” she replied.

Gallant observed, as Kelsey’s agile mind reevaluated and cross-checked the parameters. Then she broadcast over the fighter channel, “All fighters form lattice formation gamma-seven.” She turned to the helmsman and ordered, “Come right to bearing 122 degrees, azimuth up 010 degrees, velocity 0.001c, course 120, time 16:30.” This placed
Repulse
in the exact center of the lattice formation.

Her astrogation was ‘spot on’ and the exercise proceeded successfully, but the sweep revealed no new sightings. Some bulk information was added to the disposition of ships around Saturn, but the details were poor, given the distance.

A few minutes later, Gallant heard Chief Howard’s voice booming over the ship’s intercom, “Captain, I’m receiving the long range radar results from the rest of the fleet. I am forwarding the data to the bridge.”

“Very well,” responded the captain, as he scrambled over to the radar station to see for himself. Gallant craned his neck to catch a peek at a nearby science station. Each of the five battle cruisers sent their data from their long range scans. It was up to
Repulse
to perform the integrated the analysis.

As Gallant observed the operation, he was reminded of one of Caine’s favorite alliterative sayings:
‘Proper planning; prevents poor performance.’

Captain Caine’s search plan was to optimize his limited Jupiter Fleet radar antennas by using strategically placed arrays along the Jupiter orbit. The fleet radar (radio detection and ranging) used radio frequency electromagnetic waves, supplemented with the optical telescope signals. Each radar system consisted of four main parts - a transmitter, an antenna, a receiver, and a display. The optical equivalent of radar, called
lidar
(light detection and ranging), used light waves. The fleet’s pulse radars sent radio waves in short bursts, or pulses. The distance to a target was determined by the time it took for the signal to reach the target and for the echo to return. Even at the speed of light this took a significant amount of time.

Gallant recalled form his academy classes that because radio wavelengths are longer than visible light, radio telescopes were necessarily larger in order to achieve the equivalent resolution of the optical telescopes. As part of his training check-off requirements he recently learned that many of Jupiter Fleet’s directional antenna arrays used wavelengths between 3 and 30 meters (10 - 100 MHz). Other radio telescopes operating at wavelengths shorter than 30 cm (above 1 GHz) used antenna of 3 to 90 meters in diameter.

To produce a high quality image over vast distances required the integration of a large number of different telescopes at various separations. The projected separation between two telescopes, as seen from the radio source, formed the baseline. The telescopes arranged in an array created a process called very long baseline interferometry (VLBI). Interferometry increased the total signal collected which increased the resolution by aperture synthesis. This technology superposed the signal waves from many sources. In principle, when the waves coincided with the same phase, they added together, while two waves of opposite phases, cancelled each other.

Caine’s plan spread his ships and their antennas, out into as wide an area as possible. The dispersed battle cruisers, destroyers and fighters scanned outward toward Saturn to produce a huge collective array system that could superimpose their results.

Renown
,
Remarkable
,
Retribution
,
Dauntless
,
Devastator
and seven destroyers were deployed with
Repulse
along Jupiter's orbit.
Renown
,
Remarkable
, and
Retribution
, were each fifty million miles apart on the clockwise side of Jupiter’s orbit.
Dauntless
and
Devastator
were each fifty million miles apart on the counter clockwise side from Jupiter. Each of Jupiter Fleet’s six battle cruisers were positioned so when their collective radar scans could be analyzed accurately while covering the largest possible sector from Jupiter extending toward the outer planets. Together the scans could look toward Saturn and Uranus and catch any large formation of ships at ranges of several hundred million miles.

In addition, Caine collected supplemental information from his search drones. Their input was integrated with the radar reports. The drones set an early estimate of ship activity at Saturn, and then the collective radar scans were intended to monitor any large ship formations coming toward Jupiter.

While this offered some assurance that Jupiter could not be approached from the direction of the outer planets without detection, Neptune and Uranus were on the other side of the sun and completely outside the radar search area. Also, if the Titans traveled along the Saturn orbit for several months, they could then turn and travel sunward beyond Jupiter Fleet’s detection range.

The Weapon’s Department head, Lieutenant Stahl, and Operation’s Department head, Lieutenant Mather, were on the bridge reviewing the results. As each battle cruiser reported its findings,
Repulse
's CIC analyzed the results. The results showed no significant ship activity coming from Saturn.

Lieutenant Stahl said, “There are no large formations coming from the outer planets. The Titan’s seem to be content to stay in their own backyard.”

“Maybe,” said Caine.

Lieutenant Mather said, “There are still a lot of Titan destroyers patrolling the asteroid belt that might interfere with mining operations or interdict shipping.”

“They haven’t done so yet,” said Caine thoughtfully. Nevertheless, after deliberating with Stahl and Mather, Caine considered the possibility more seriously.

Captain Caine said directly to his communication officer, “Midshipman Gallant, draft an order for
Devastator
and
Dauntless
. They’re to move into the shallows of the asteroid belt. Once there they are to evaluate alien ships near the mining settlements.”

“Aye, aye, sir,” said Gallant. He began thinking not only about how he would word the orders in preparation for transmission, but what impact moving two battle cruisers such a distance away would mean to the fleet.

Several weeks later, Gallant went to the captain’s cabin and reported, “Junior Officer of the Deck, sir. The Officer of the Deck sends his respects and reports a distant radar contact approaching Jupiter at high speed.”

Captain Caine had just sat down to a very special breakfast, given to him from the Ganymede laboratory as a present for the glowing report on their performance that he had filed with Mars Fleet. It consisted of a cup of strong steaming hot coffee, two real eggs over-easy, crisp bacon, and toast with strawberry jam. A delicious aroma was wafting about the compartment.

From the captain's longing glances at his breakfast and the frown on his face, Gallant couldn’t quite tell if he was more concerned about a possible enemy invasion fleet or the forfeiture of his morning repast. Gallant couldn't help wondering, whether, perhaps, this day held some special personal meaning to Caine.

“Thank you,” replied Caine, as he pulled away from the table. He briefly checked his local computer readout before following Gallant.

Caine finished buttoning his jacket as he opened the stateroom hatch. He had just enough time to acknowledge the salute of the marine guard stationed there.

Taking two stairs at a time, he bounded up the ladder toward the bridge.

“Report,” said Caine, as he reached his destination.

“Captain, we have a contact at a distance of three hundred million miles moving at 0.002c on a flight trajectory directly toward Jupiter Station. It must be a very large formation of hundreds of alien ships to register this significantly. ETA is ten days,” responded the OOD.

Caine considered the distance to the aliens. They could be coming from any of the moons of Saturn. The sixty-two moons of Saturn ranged from tiny moonlets, less than a kilometer across, to enormous Titan. The rings of Saturn were made up of objects, ranging in size from microscopic to hundreds of meters. Of course, they could have started even further out. Uranus has twenty-seven moons and Neptune thirteen, including its largest, Triton.

Caine said, “Mr. Gallant, signal Mars Fleet Command and inform them of a possible major attack to Jupiter Station in ten days.”

On returning to the bridge as JOOD, Gallant resumed manning the communication station. In response to the captain’s order, he broadcasted the message. Then, they waited as the signal went outward at the speed of light. Mars station was four hundred eighty million miles away and it took eighty-six minutes for a response.

"
Repulse
, this is Mars Fleet Command. Mars Fleet is being placed on alert, but it will remain to defend Mars. You are to collect all available units in your area and defend Jupiter Station at all costs.”

The captain shrugged, "I was expecting that; even if they could send help at flank speed - 0.002c, Mars Fleet reinforcements wouldn't reach Jupiter for sixteen days."

Then he ordered, “Send a general recall to all ships between Mars and Jupiter. Tell them to rendezvous with
Repulse
at best possible speed."

Caine leaned closer to Gallant and asked, "What’s your best estimate for how many ships can respond in time?”

Gallant made a few quick motions over his computer panel, to locate the last known positions of certain ships. He said, “
Renown
and
Remarkable
.” Then he hesitated before adding, “Possibly
Retribution
along with six or seven destroyers.”

“That’s all?”

“Yes sir.”

Caine nodded, but made no further reply as he reviewed the fleet’s battle characteristics and assessed its strength.

Gallant was lost in his own thoughts. He wondered what four battle cruisers and some destroyers could do, to defend this post.

Repulse
,
Renown
,
Retribution
, and
Remarkable
were all ships of the
Repulse
class. They resembled a supersized nuclear submarine. Their armament included eight bow missile tubes and four aft missile tubes, ten short range plasma weapons, forty laser guns deployed amidships, and armor belts and force shields, with electronic warfare decoys and sensors.

Each sixty foot section of the hull had been constructed on Earth and then launched into orbit where it was assembled piece by piece in a shipyard orbiting the Earth. The construction had taken several years and a great deal of money and resources.

The missiles were both fire and forget (which had their own AI controls for target search and selection) as well as remote guidance including laser target painting. The missiles had a maximum speed of 0.1c and were equipped with their own sensors and decoys.

The hangar deck of each battle cruiser carried a dozen Eagle fighters for launch from amidships, each with a maximum velocity of 0.01c.

The UP destroyers looked like a smaller version of a battle cruiser. Each included four bow missile launchers and two mid-ship launchers. The missiles launched by a destroyer were only one-fourth the explosive power of a battle cruisers missile. The destroyers had six lasers, but no plasma weapons and no fighters.

Previous confrontations with the Titans had involved only one or two alien ships. Usually, they exchanged missiles or laser fire; some ships were damaged, but little information was learned. The coming encounter was going to be on a considerably different scale.

Gallant looked up as Caine surveyed the bridge. The
Repulse
was a powerful ship and worthy of the pride the captain was showing in his command. She had already won her spurs through a number of previous skirmishes with the aliens. Caine's face showed a mixture of faith in his ship and concern for her mission, but Gallant was troubled that there were just too many unknowns.

As Gallant decoded the communication traffic over the next few hours, calls for fleet protection for the asteroid belt and Jupiter’s moons were frantically crossing his desk. The UP merchant fleet was in panic.

Several thousand cargo ships routinely transited between Earth and the neighboring planets. Another thousand ships moved to and fro in the asteroid belt. In addition, dozens of cargo ships were occupied with trade around Jupiter’s moons.

Earth’s twenty billion citizens along with the additional billion citizens scattered across Mars, Venus, and smaller satellites were dependent on interplanetary trade. It supplied an efficient commerce for powering their modern civilization. Each planet and colony contributed its own unique assets – as did the resource-rich asteroids and Jupiter moons.

Many of Earth’s minerals such as antimony, silver, indium, gold, copper, platinum, and cobalt had been nearing depletion by the year 2100. Minerals were now being mined that required special equipment to extract and process. By using self-replicating machines, miners were able to reduce much of the inherently redundant effort. These machines were used to construct the more complex automation factories for strip and shaft mining. Most asteroid orbits were between Mars and Jupiter including the four largest; Ceres, Vesta, Pallas, and Hygiea. Miners extracted carbon, silicate, or metal from these asteroids. Cargo shipments of minerals moved according to schedules that were meticulously planned to optimize fuel utilization and keep the cost-benefit ratio low.