The Inception: The Augmented Human Rebellion - Book 1 (7 page)

The surprise works to Danion’s benefit, since his thought processes are
at least 100 times faster, than Captain Nemo’s. Danion charges straight
at the Captain’s vessel, with energy weapons raging.

Captain Nemo sees that he is at a disadvantage, and tries to run away
from the fight, so that he can use other weapons, from a distance.

Danion is having none of that. He stays right with Captain Nemo’s
vessel and continues his barrage of laser and plasma cannon fire. Danion
locks onto the Captain’s ship with a tractor beam and holds it in place, while
he pours plasma fire onto the ships sensors, and laser canon fire onto the
Engineering section. The laser cannon fire quickly drills through the
shields, and then through the armored hull.

Captain Nemo’s vessel explodes and the game is over. The whole
battle took less than 15 minutes.

The spectators roar and moan – not because their favorite has won or
lost, but because they won or lost their ‘bet’.

Captain Nemo congratulates Danion and the final event is scheduled for
the next evening. The Captain is heartened to observe Danion’s ‘children’
- Darius, and Delphi - as they press in close to their ‘father’ in the ‘mind
link’ – apparently in an Artificial Intelligence (AI) version of a ‘hug’.

***

Captain Nemo doesn’t take defeat very well. He spends the time
between simulated battles conjuring up new strategies and tactics. Danion
has some inherent advantages, which Captain Nemo must mitigate. For one,
the AI never gets tired. Danion could easily keep the battle going until
the human opponent falls asleep.

For another, Danion has a clear advantage when the vessels are within
energy weapons range. That is what caused the Captain’s defeat in the
previous game. But neither can Captain Nemo allow the battle to stay at
long distances, because Danion can outlast him.

Captain Nemo needs some tricky advantage in order to surprise the
AI. He runs through various scenarios, in his mind, but can’t think of
anything that will give him the advantage ‘in close’. Then, as the time
for the game draws near, the Captain has an ‘Ah-Ha moment’.

***

It is time, for the final game in the ‘best 2 out of 3’ matchup between
Captain Nemo and his Artificial Intelligence friend, Danion. The winner
will have ‘bragging rights’ for some time to come – and respect from the crews
of the Augmented Human fleet. Both participants covet that respect.

The simulator has chosen an initial starting distance, which is in the
mid-range for a typical space battle. The ships emerge from Faster Than
Light (FTL) space with a separation of 3,000,000 klicks.

Both vessels immediately initiate laser canon fire in the hopes of
damaging the opponent’s vessel, before it has completely emerged.

That didn’t happen, because the simulator has given them identical
vessels, and has made sure that the starting distance was far enough apart, so
that there would be time to raise the shields, before missiles could
arrive. Both vessels suffer a little cosmetic damage from the lasers, but
nothing more.

After that, there is the usual ‘feeling out’ of the opponent, and the
search for a weakness. This process is routine for the two ‘Captains’,
and results in an even match after 3 hours of play.

Captain Nemo knows that he can’t let the match go much longer, because he
will wear down and Danion will not. He must force the battle to end
quickly or he will lose. He makes his move.

Danion is surprised to see the Captain closing the distance between the
two vessels. Danion has a advantage ‘close in’, which won him the victory
in the previous game. Danion has a feeling of foreboding, because he knows that
the Captain must have a ‘new trick up his sleeve’.

The game proceeds along the lines of the last game, causing Danion’s
premonition of ill tidings to be reinforced – Captain Nemo has a surprise for
Danion, and Danion knows that it won’t be a pleasant surprise.

They are in close again and the vessels are assaulting each other with
energy weapons in an effort to wear down the shields, in a critical area.
Each vessel is targeting the Engineering section and the vessels are evenly
matched.

Then Captain Nemo uses his ‘trick’. He begins to rotate his vessel,
while still targeting Danion’s Engineering section.

It takes a few moments before Danion figures out what the Captain is
trying to do. Rotating the vessel will spread the energy weapons’ heat
over different parts of the hull. That will enable the shields, in the
Engineering section, to recover.

That realization comes too late, because Captain Nemo waited to use the
trick until right before his and Danions shields, in the Engineering sections,
were about to fail.

By the time Danion realizes his predicament, his shields have failed, and
a hull breach has opened. Captain Nemo stops his ships rotation, moves in
closer, and locks on with his tractor beam, in order to halt Danion’s belated
attempt to flee. Danion’s vessel explodes as the FTL drive is breached.

Captain Nemo praises Danion for a great effort. The human won this
time, but the Artificial Intelligence has learned the tactic about rotating the
vessel, in order to spread the heat energy over the entire hull.

Captain Nemo’s ‘trick’ will never help him again, against Danion or his
offspring, because the AIs are 100 times better at targeting while rotating, as
compared to a humanoid. Captain Nemo should remember this victory,
because there won’t be many more against AH Navy Artificial Intelligences.

The tactic gives such an advantage to the AIs, that it becomes Standard
Operating Procedure for the AH Navy, in real space battles. The tactic,
of rotating the ship in order to spread the heat energy, combined with the
tactic, of putting the AIs in charge of targeting while rotating, will give the
AH Navy a tactical advantage, until enemy fleets adopt the same procedure.

The ‘strong suit’, in the Augmented Human Navy’s battle strategy, becomes
‘close in’ energy weapons assaults, with targeting controlled by the ship’s AI.

***

Time for Action

“Ships entering Parin space.”

Captain Guilles is onboard the Freedom, for a dinner date with Captain
Nemo - which will now have to wait. She boards the Nemesis and Danion
takes her to the Liberty. Then Danion returns to his ‘cargo hold’ station
aboard the ‘Freedom’.

Captain Nemo is headed for the Command Deck, of the Freedom within
seconds of the notification, and questions his AI as he is still running. “What
do you have, Darius?”

“Four vessels, sir. They emerged from FTL outside of the system,
and are making their way toward Parin. They are moving slowly –
‘proceeding with caution’ I would guess.”

“Probably a good guess. Can you identify the type of vessel, and
tell me where they emerged from FTL?”

“Captain, we are too far away to identify the vessel type. The
vessels emerged near the location, where the previous Verm vessels emerged.”

“Good answer, Darius. That probably means that they are Verm.
Call all hands to security level 4, and prepare the ship for battle. We
will be moving, as soon as Captain Guilles is prepared. Are you in
continuous contact with your father and sister?”

“Yes sir. The Nemesis has returned to the Freedom, and Captain Guilles
is on the Command Deck of the Liberty,” responds the AI.

“Good response – you guessed the purpose of my question. We will
wait for her call.” The Captain can’t help but be amazed at the rate at
which the young AIs are maturing. It seems like each day they gain about
a year of maturity. They reasoned and behaved like they were teenagers
just a week ago. Now they feel like young adults - and just in time for
battle.

Security Level 4 is one step below Battle Stations. The augmented
humans will be dressed in combat armor with heavy weapons at the ready.
Danion will have the Nemesis ready for battle. And the verm POW’s and
extrucian crew members will be ready to assist, as directed, and to put out
fires, as necessary. Even in this advanced age of naval warfare, fire is
still one of the most dreaded threats, and firefighting is one of the most
practiced skills.

“Captain Guilles to Captain Nemo,” announces the comm.

“Nemo here.”

“The Liberty is ready for action, sir. We are at security level 4
and ready for travel,” reports Captain Guilles.

“Good. Let the augmented humans control the maneuvers, so that they
can get some practice. Also, let’s both have our POW verm commanders join
us on the Command Decks, so that we can garner their insights. Prepare to
take a short FTL hop to a position, which my Navigation will forward to
you. I want us to emerge in the same location where these Verm vessels
emerged. Prepare for FTL on my mark.”

“Navigation do you have those coordinates?” he asks.

“Aye sir. Coordinates are ready and have been forwarded to the
Liberty,” responds Navigation.

“Helm. Prepare to engage,” says Captain Nemo.

“Ready here,” reports Captain Guilles.

“Engage,” says Captain Nemo. Both vessels enter FTL space bound for
Parin. The trip is completed in less than 10 minutes and both ships
emerge at the desired coordinates. “Not bad for starters,” thinks the
Captain. “We will need to tighten up, on our timing, but it is OK for
beginners. The Augmented Human Navy (AH Navy) is in the neighborhood and is
ready for battle.”

***

Parin Solar System

Commander Farn, the POW verm liaison, enters the Command Deck and salutes
Captain Nemo who returns the salute.
Salutes are not required on
the Command Deck but Captain Nemo recognizes that the verm POW is making a
point of declaring his submission to the Captain, and his loyalty to this
Augmented Human organization.
“Welcome Commander. We count 4
vessels which have entered the Parin system. They are about 7 million
klicks ahead of us, and approaching Parin at a cautious’ speed. Put the
images on screen,” the Captain orders.

The Tactical Officer puts the magnified images on the front
view-screen. “Verm vessels,” says Commander Farn. “Three light
cruisers, and one heavy cruiser. They should have noticed our presence by
now.”

“Any recommendations?” asks the Captain.

“They are here looking for these ships, and when they find out what has
happened, they will first destroy these ships, and then Parin. If you
want to protect Parin you must destroy them,” answers the Commander.

“Any recommendations?” repeats the Captain.

“Yes,” answers the Commander. “Bring the Verm deck crews up here, and
pretend that these ships are still under Verm Navy control. That way we
can get close to them and initiate a surprise attack.”

“My thoughts exactly,” says the Captain. “Get your deck crew up
here. Comm get me Captain Guilles.”

“She’s on right now, Captain.”

“Guilles here Captain. I heard the conversation, through Darius and
Delphi. I have my verm deck crew on the way.”

“Excellent, Captain,” responds Captain Nemo. “Let’s put Darius and
Delphi in control of our ships, during the time when we humans are
‘off-screen’. Once the POW’s get here, we will retire to the Command
Conference Rooms, on both vessels, and plan our battle. See you
there. Nemo out.”

“The Verm vessels have turned around, and are approaching us at a
‘cautious’ speed, sir,” reports the Freedom’s AI.

The Verm POW’s are entering the Command Deck, and the humans file, into the
Command Conference Room. “The Verm vessels are headed our way, Commander.
Put on a good show, and get us as close as possible. When it’s time to
attack, say ‘
about time’
. That will be our signal to begin our
attack,” says the Captain, as he is leaving.

“We will do our best, sir. And be sure to deal with the heavy
cruiser, first. That will be the most difficult part.”

“We will plan on it,” answers the Captain.

***

Command Conference Room – both vessels

“Well, now,” Captain Nemo begins. “We plan to get in
close and launch a surprise attack. The Verm heavy cruiser will be our
first target. By the way, are you present Danion?”

“Here sir. And don’t forget about me. I can fight, also.”

“I won’t forget you Danion, but right now I need everyone’s advice.
Listen up, and let me know if you have any good ideas.”

“Aye sir.”

The Captain continues: “I have always thought it best to target one
vulnerable spot, and concentrate my firepower there. It may be possible
for both of our ships to target the same point, which will multiply the
effectiveness of the weapons. My choice, for a vulnerable spot, is the
Engineering section. Even, if you only damage it enough so that the ship
can’t maneuver, you still have greatly diminished the ships capabilities.”

“So, in the beginning, both ships will try to target the Engineering
section of the heavy cruiser. If that target is not available to you,
then target the Engineering section of another Verm vessel. Hit them with
everything that you have.”

“Also, try to hide behind the ship, which you are attacking, so that you
are hidden from the other enemy vessels. Make it your practice to hide
behind any vessel that has been disabled.”

“And remember, that energy weapons are most effective when you are in
close, but don’t forget your rail guns and missiles. Most ships won’t be
expecting a projectile attack, in close. Even if it doesn’t damage them,
the attack may confuse them.”

“Let’s coordinate our attacks, whenever possible. They outnumber
us, but if we are able to separate one of them from the pack, then both of us
should attack the straggler.”

“That is it. Anyone else have anything? …..No? … OK.”

“The AIs are in charge at the beginning of the battle. It will be a
few minutes before we are close enough for a surprise attack. Listen for
the ‘
about time
’ signal from Commander Farn, and then give the enemy
everything that you have. Darius, are you and Delphi ready?”

“Aye sir.”

“Aye sir.”

“And remember,” says the Captain, “Try to take out the heavy cruiser
first. Both ships target the Engineering section. If that is not
possible, then choose another ship to target. Go get them, kids.”

“Aye sir.”

“Aye sir.”

“Danion, you must be a proud parent,” adds the Captain.

“Oh, I am sir. And very nervous. This ‘parent thing’ is not
as easy as it looks,” says the AI.

“They will make you proud,” the Captain assures.

***

The plans are made, and the ships are coming closer to the 4 Verm
warships. Commander Farn is having a conversation with an admiral aboard
the heavy cruiser. Only Commander Farn’s side of the dialog is audible in
the conference room, but that is enough to get the gist of the conversation.

……….. ……… ……… “Aye aye Sir. I know we could have done better sir,
but it seemed wise at the time. There were a number of Darinx warships in
the system, and it seemed right, to me, that we should hide and ‘run silent’,
so that we wouldn’t be captured or destroyed. We couldn’t even risk
sending an information probe,” says Commander Farn.

…………………………………………………… “Aye sir. My FTL propulsion system is
intermittent, and we haven’t been able to fix it. The other ship stayed
with us, for protection.” …….…………………….. “Aye sir. I know sir.
But perhaps we can get some of your maintenance people to look at it.
…………… ………… “Aye Sir. Which vessel?” ………………. “Aye sir. We’ll
be right there” …………………

…….. And in due time, Commander Farn says: “It’s
about time
.”

***

As soon as the words ‘
about time
’ leave Commander Farn’s mouth,
the AIs aboard the two Augmented Human warships open fire, on the Engineering
section of the heavy cruiser. The only words still coming through the
comm link, from the Verm admiral, are curse words, and those get cut off in
mid-sentence.

The humans rush onto the Command Deck and take their positions, as the
POW’s leave the area. The Captain will have to thank them for a job ‘well
done’, later - when things calm down.

Both the Freedom and Liberty are still being controlled by
the AIs, Darius and Delphi. Captain Nemo leaves them in control, until
the AIs have disabled the Engineering section of the heavy cruiser.

At that point, Captain Nemo says: “Darius and Delphi. Great
Job. Give control to the humans, for a while,” – and they do.

The heavy cruiser is ‘dead in the water’. The ship is firing
weapons but can’t maneuver. The Freedom and Liberty hide behind two of
the Verm light cruisers, and began firing at those targets. The Verm
ships are overwhelmed by the unexpected assault. Light from energy
weapons illuminates local space, as the Verm vessels try to defend themselves,
with a lumbering response.

Then Captain Guilles remembers what Captain Nemo had said about
projectile weapons, and she instructs Delphi to target the enemy sensors with
plasma canon fire. While the plasma canon fire partially blinds the Verm
ship’s defensive systems, Captain Guilles orders her Tactical Officer, to
launch missiles and rail gun projectiles.

One of the missiles gets through the enemy ship’s defensive systems, and
there is an explosion aboard the Verm warship. That explosion triggers
other explosions as munitions ignite, and before long the explosions reach the
FTL drive. When the FTL drive explodes, the warship ceases to exist as an
entity. The ship has transitioned into widely scattered, particle-sized
debris, and noxious gases.

Liberty’s hiding place is now gone, so Captain Guilles orders the Helm
Officer to get them behind one of the other Verm light cruisers. Both of
the remaining cruisers are attacking the Freedom. Fortunately, those
attacks are largely ineffective because they lack coordination. The
Freedom is ‘holding her own’ and is concentrating her fire on the Engineering
section of one of the ships.

When the Liberty gets into position behind the other cruiser - where she
is safe from attack by the heavy cruiser - Captain Guilles orders her Tactical
Officer to target the same engineering section that the Freedom is attacking.

That is more than the defensive systems aboard the enemy cruiser can
handle. The shields in the Engineering section gradually wear down, and
the heat from the plasma cannon begins to melt the armored hull. Soon
there is a breach in the hull, followed by fire in the engine room. Soon
that ship is also ‘dead in the water’.

Next, both the Freedom and the Liberty turn their fire on the engine room
of the remaining Verm light cruiser. That cruiser should have moved
closer to the heavy cruiser, where it could have gotten protection.
Instead, the ship’s crew panics and tries to run. As the battle moves off
into space, the heavy cruiser’s energy weapons are ineffective.

The Verm Admiral’s heavy cruiser then begins launching missiles
and rail gun projectiles. The Freedom and Liberty maneuver into position
behind the verm cruiser, so that the missile and rail gun projectiles are now
targeting the Verm cruiser, instead of the human ships. The cruiser isn’t
at all prepared to defend itself from projectile attacks at the stern, and
energy weapons attacks at its bow. The missiles get through the Verm
ship’s defenses, and that skirmish is over. The last cruiser explodes and
disappears – destroyed by ‘friendly fire’.

Now there are two ‘dead in the water’ enemy vessels. Both are
firing at the Augmented Human Navy vessels, so the Freedom and Liberty move to
hide behind the light cruiser, and then close the distance, to the antagonists.

The Verm Commander, aboard the Verm light cruiser, understands
that the two attacking vessels can destroy it at any time but they
haven’t. He realizes that the captured vessels want to use his ship
to hide behind. An undeclared truce takes place, between the Verm light
cruiser and the 2 human’s cruisers, with the tacit understanding that: “If you
don’t fire at us, we won’t fire at you.”