The Solarian Celebration: Book 3 of the Alliance Conflict (20 page)

Colin checked the time.  They had assembled the barrier in 1 minute and 59 seconds.  Colin rejoined the Advranki engineers.  The other crewmembers disassembled the barrier and rolled it back against the wall.  The pilots exited their fighters.

Colin said, “We would like to test the barrier by actually launching a squadron of fighters, but the station won’t give us authorization.”

Kolvak looked left.  That direction led to outer space.  He then looked right.  The
Sunflower’s
hangar bay was still docked to the space station. 

If the barrier didn’t work, the blast of heat from takeoff would certainly incinerate everything in the hangar bay and more than likely everything in the space station’s hangar bay.  Kolvak thought that actually testing the contraption was a bad idea.  Docked against a space station, it became a terrible idea. 

Kolvak replied, “Yes, it is a shame that you were denied.  I will talk to the station commander on your behalf and see if I can change his mind.”  Kolvak smiled politely.

Kolvak technically wasn’t lying.  He planned to talk to the station commander.  He imagined his conversation might go something like this: 

Kolvak, “The crazy Humans want to launch 40 fighters while still attached to the station.  What do you think?” 

Commander, “No, that is a terrible idea.  Let’s not do that, at all, ever.” 

Kolvak, “Yes, I agree, thank you.”  

…………………

Prued’mo stretched mightily, grabbed her luggage, and slowly exited the combination passenger / cargo ship.  Her muscles ached from sitting in a small chair in a small cabin for the last 12 hours.  In her opinion the passenger portion of the combination left quite a lot to be desired. 

She stepped into the corridor and looked around.  The ship had docked in slip u-9A.  This placed her in the upper section of the Spindle Station.  She stepped onto the moving sidewalk and started walking toward the main portion of the station.

The station is roughly shaped like a two sided top.  The middle section is spherical and there are long, thin docking ports (spindles) sticking out of the top and bottom.  The center, spherical section is the living, manufacturing, and commerce area.  There is a hydroponic ring around the center of the station.

She passed the transport hold.  She had heard that this was the section of the station that had been damaged in the ruthless attack.  However, it was fully repaired now.  In fact she couldn’t even tell that it had ever been damaged.  She thought that they had done a masterful job of repairing the station.

She got a hotel room for the night and booked passage to Hiricula the following afternoon.  She spent the day walking around the station and performing what few tourist activities existed. 

The next morning she took a guided tour of the maintenance bay and even performed a spacewalk.  She made a pointed effort to use palm pads to open doors and to user her account to buy a few souvenirs.  There would be ample evidence of Prued’mo’s mini-vacation should anyone check later.

That afternoon she went to the bay where the ship bound for Hiricula was docked.  This ship was also a combination freighter / passenger liner.  She got there early and was one of the first people to board the ship. 

Once inside, she went directly to the passenger area.  She pressed her palm firmly against the reader to open the door.  She walked in and sat in her assigned seat.  She pressed her palm on the reader and ordered a gungberry juice.

Prued’mo sipped her drink and waited until someone else entered.  She quickly stood up and exited before the door could close.  She walked off of the ship and back into the station; being extra careful not to touch any palm pads.  She waited patiently until the ship left without her.

She returned to the center of the station.  “Okay”, she silently mouthed, “The easy part is over.  Now it is time to escape.”

Her initial assessment had been correct.  After the battle, many citizens had chosen to return to Hiricula or relocate to some other space station.  Apparently, being this close to Alliance space had some negative consequences attached to it such as getting blown to pieces.

As a result, she found a land-lord that would sub-let an apartment to her for a low price with no lease and no questions.  The original lessee had paid in full for six months and had just left the station forever.  Fortunately, this section of apartments used an old style chip card to open and close the doors.  She wasn’t required to press her palm against the door to open it.

Prued’mo entered and noted that there was still food in the pantry and some decorations on the walls.  She could un-fuse them and refuse some new ones that better fit her personality, but she didn’t bother.  They were already hanging; that was good enough for her.

She spent the next 4 days locked in her apartment.  Literally, she locked the door and didn’t leave – for four days.  She didn’t even peek her head out of the door.  She couldn’t, even if she had wanted to, because the door was locked.  She could have unlocked it to peer out, but as previously mentioned, she didn’t.

She spent the four days (locked in her apartment) performing the most difficult surgery that she had ever attempted.  She started by removing the items that she had borrowed from the hospital.  She had a bottle of acid, a high powered magnifying glass, her trusty laser scalpel, the numbing medicine, the congealing agent, and a 3D printed image of the Hiriculan newborn baby’s left hand.

She started by taking a detailed picture of her left hand.  She captured the lines on her palms and her finger prints.  She doubted that she would ever go through the trouble to reverse her upcoming surgery, but she thought it prudent to at least have the ability to do so should she ever need to do so.

She then acid washed her left hand.  The acid removed several layers of her skin.  It didn’t break through her epidermis, but it was extremely painful.  She forced herself not to scream.  Prued’mo then used the magnifying glass to verify that her palm lines and finger prints were gone.

Next, she took the laser scalpel and carefully cut the baby’s palm pattern into her left hand.  It was an extremely tedious process.  She displayed the baby’s hand on the monitor and worked on her hand underneath the magnifying glass.  She had to stop quite often to rest and numb the pain.  However, 4 days later she had effectively cut a new pattern into her hand and fingers.

Not just any pattern and certainly not a random pattern.  The Hiriculan government recorded every palm print in a massive database the moment a new baby was born.  Since every pattern is unique, this allows the owner of the hand to be recognized anytime s/he touches a palm reader.  The whole system is designed for personal efficiency.

If Prued’mo had cut a random pattern into her hand, she would have been flagged and detained her the moment she tried to use it.  However, the baby’s hand should fool the system for a while; as long as the mother didn’t use the infant’s hand to open a door on Neto.

Most mothers don’t, so Prued’mo felt relatively safe.  She figured that the surgery had given her at least six months of anonymity and freedom. 

Next, she found a job.  There were only a few jobs on the station that she was qualified to perform.  The first, obviously, was doctor.  She could easily pass the interview questions, but she knew that her fake identity would not pass the scrutiny of a background check.

That left botany.  The station couldn’t grow enough food to be self-sustaining, so it was constantly getting food shipments from Neto, Hiricula, and occasionally even the Alliance.  So, she applied for and became a food inspector.  The interview process wasn’t nearly as rigorous as a doctor and they didn’t bother to perform a background check.

Russ looked at the communication screen in amazement.  He said, “Captain, we just received new orders from the admiralty.”

Jim stood up.  He wasn’t sure why he stood, so he sat back down.  He changed his mind and stood up again.  He figured that he should be standing when he received important orders.  Somehow, it seemed more dramatic.

Jim said, “Are they marked secret or anything?”

Russ looked at the communication.  He wasn’t exactly sure what the code meant.  Learning how to pilot the cruiser was easy.  However, learning the various communication codes and procedures was not nearly as straightforward as it seemed. 

Russ answered, “No idea.  I think it is marked urgent though.”

Jim now felt silly standing.  He wanted to sit back down, but didn’t want to vacillate in front of Russ and Becky.  Jim said, “Play the new orders.”

…The Alliance Navy department of clandestine affairs has reason to believe that a spy or possible Hiriculan defector is hiding on the observation platform in Opron.  It is believed that this being possesses information about the Neto.  Specifically, information that proves that Hiriculans have systematically engaged in selective breeding on a global scale. 

“Nice background, but what does it have to do with us?” Becky asked.

“Good question,” Jim responded and casually sat back down.  He hoped no one noticed.

…The
Sunflower
is ordered to proceed forthwith if not immediately to Opron, retrieve said asset, and return without delay to the Conron Naval Depot and Shipyard…

Jim said, “Computer, we already have orders to wait in Conron until Admiral Solear returns, then to proceed for permanent assignment in Waylon.  Which one are we supposed to follow?”

…Both orders are legitimate and are from equal ranking admirals.  However, this new order carries a higher level of urgency…

Jim said, “Meaning that we need to follow the order with the higher priority.”

Becky nodded affirmatively and Russ said, “So it would seem.”

Jim said, “Plot a course to Opron.”

Russ replied, “Straight through the system in real-time or jump around the outskirts?”

Jim said, “Let’s test the jump drive system.  Plot a course around the system.”

Russ entered a solution of three jumps that skirted the gravity well of the system.  He then ran a simulation to see if the computer approved of the course.  The simulation beeped negatively.  Russ double checked the coordinates and discovered that he had basically programmed the ship to jump in a triangle instead of an arc. 

He readjusted the last set of coordinates and tried the simulation again.  This time it beeped affirmatively.  Russ said, “I think we are good to go.”

Jim wanted desperately to say “Engage warp drive” but managed to keep the witticism to himself.  Instead, he simply said, “Let’s go.”

Russ placed the pilot cap on his head and let the information flow into his mind.  He easily found yellow and attached the color to a corresponding color in his brain.  He quickly attached the other colors. 

The flow of information was much easier to trace in a cruiser than a fighter.  However, there was much less information and control selections.  Unlike a fighter, one could not fly a cruiser in full manual mode.

Russ detached the power connectors, unhooked the safety couplings, and gently guided the cruiser away from the space station.  The maneuver was very smooth and precise.  Russ activated the force fields on both sides of the flight deck and increased the speed to .0002 light. 

When they were far enough away from the space station, Jim decided to test the new launch barrier.  They moved all but 4 of the fighters on the flight deck as far to one side as possible.  Then they put both barriers in place.  Next, 4 members of Alpha squadron carefully ignited their fighters. 

Kip personally verified that everything was attached correctly and everything that could possibly be moved out of the way had been moved out of the way.  The 4 pilots slowly ignited their plasma reactors and carefully launched.  The barrier worked.  It contained the blast from the fighters.  The crew removed the barrier and the fighters landed back in the hangar.

Both Jim, Russ, and Colin watched the entire event from the bridge.  They hollered and high-fived each other when the trial was successful.  Jim said, “Increase speed to 0.7 light and jump when ready.”

When they were in their pre-determined position a safe distance away from the station, Russ deactivated the flight deck force fields.  He then engaged the steel doors that covered the flight deck during interstellar flight.  He confirmed that were closed and activated the hyper drive.  The
Sunflower
began the first of three micro jumps around the Conron system.

When the three jumps were completed, Russ gracefully guided the
Sunflower
to the entry point of the Conron – Opron hyperspace lane.  He perfectly aligned the ship and verified that they were traveling at exactly .07 light.  Russ then contacted traffic control.

Jim said, “Requesting permission to jump to Opron.  Authority code 229.33.17.”  Jim wasn’t sure whether or not he was required to announce the authority code.  He decided to err on the side of full disclosure.

“Traffic control here.  You are clear to jump.  Please use the coordinates that have been forwarded to you.”

Russ entered the coordinates, double checked them this time, ran a simulation, and indicated that they were clear to jump.

Jim thanked traffic control and ordered Russ to begin the 8 hour jump to Opron.

……………………..

Kolvak was on the bottom level inspecting the ion cannon’s tertiary collector when he thought that he heard the power generator hum.  He stood still and tried to determine whether the ship was moving.  If it was, he couldn’t tell. 

A few minutes later he again heard the power generator hum.  This time though he felt what amounted to a large surge.  Kolvak said, “Shole, Colin, did you feel that?”

Shole replied, “The ion cannon’s reserve energy definitely activated.”

Kolvak grabbed his communication pad and said, “Computer, did we just jump into hyperspace?”

…Yes…

Kolvak expected a more detailed answer, but clearly the computer apparently believed that it had adequately answered his query.  Kolvak said, “Computer, show the intended route on my com pad.”

Shole looked at the course and replied, “It looks like we are going to make a series of 3 micro jumps in the rough shape of a triangle.  We will end right back at the space station.”

Kolvak said, “Did the bridge crew give any reason for the jumps?”  He realized that he forgot to say computer.  He waited for a moment, but the computer didn’t answer.  Neither Colin nor Shole answered either. 

  Kolvak said, “Computer, did the bridge crew mention why we are jumping?”

…The captain said that he wanted to test the hyper drive…

Shole looked at the route and said, “We won’t be gone for very long; the plotted course will only take 1 hour of hyper time.”

“Good,” Kolvak replied.  “That will give us plenty of time to finish inspecting the ion cannon and verify that the bit translator is working properly.”

……………………..

It took about a day for the
Sunflower’s
departure to be noticed.  It took about 2 hours after that for the fecal matter to contact the rapidly spinning blades of a rotating device.  Like most major problems, there is generally a primary root cause and several secondary contributing causes. 

The key, of course, is to find the true root cause so that one can take appropriate corrective action.  If one fails to successfully identify the root cause then the action taken may not prevent the issue from reoccurring.  Further, the secondary causes also have to be addressed in order to correctly resolve the issue.

The best way to solve a problem is to begin with a clear problem statement.  Admiral Wertak, the admiral in charge of the Conron fleet and therefore technically the
Sunflower
, stated it as such, “How was a cruiser full of Humans allowed to leave the Conron system?”

His entire staff, the senior captain from traffic control, and the commander of the Conron Shipyard were present and were attempting to assist the admiral with his root cause investigation.

Traffic captain replied, “Well, the ship had valid orders to leave the system, so we let them leave.”

One of the best techniques for finding the root cause of an issue is to ask ‘why’ five times.  Another is to ask ‘why did it occur’ and ‘why wasn’t it detected’.

“Why,” Admiral Wertak asked.

“Why what?” the traffic captain asked.  “Why did we let them leave or why did they have valid orders?”

Wertak said, “Let’s start with the latter and circle back to the former if necessary.”

Wertak’s chief of staff answered, “That is a funny story actually.  You really won’t believe what happened.” 

Wertak responded, “What was supposed to happen was that we were specifically ordered to babysit a bunch of Humans for a couple of weeks.  What happened was they took a warship and left. Further, no one noticed they were missing for over a day.”

Wertak paused for effect and added, “I doubt the story is any funnier than that.”

Wertak’s chief of staff ignored Wertak’s comment and said, “A warship has many basic statuses.  However, they can be broken down into two main classes; the ship is either Off-Line or On-Line.  Off-Line implies that it is receiving maintenance or waiting for crew or under construction or whatever.”

The chief looked around the room for agreement.  Everyone nodded in agreement and acknowledgement.  This was fairly basic. 

Chief continued, “The on-line status can be broken into three main sub-categories.

              On-Duty – ready for assignment or action.

              On-Station – assigned to guard or patrol a system.

              On-Mission – assigned to a particular task or mission.”

Wertak said, “And the funny part is?”

Chief said, “Well, as you know our fleet here in Conron was recently increased from 7 to 18 ships.  All 18 were ordered to the status of On-Station.”

“Why,” asked Admiral Wertak.

Chief responded, “It was the logical designation since all of the ships were assigned to guard the Conron system.”

Wertak responded, “That makes sense.”  He actually remembered telling the computer to set all of the ships under his command to that designation.

Chief responded, “That seems to be the cause of our little issue.”

“Opportunity,” said the traffic captain.

Wertak and everyone else in the room looked at him and said, “What?”

The traffic coordinator said, “We shouldn’t call it an issue or a problem, we should refer to it as an opportunity.  This is an opportunity for continuous improvement.”

“Why was that an issue?” asked Admiral Wertak, completely ignoring the traffic coordinator’s suggested opportunity for nomenclature improvement.

Chief responded, “This order wasn’t directed to the
Sunflower
; it was a generic order directed to any available ship.  In general, orders such as these are automatically assigned to a ship based on classification and availability.”

Everyone nodded in agreement.   Again, this was fairly basic.

Chief continued, “By setting the entire Conron fleet to the status of On-Station, a generic order sent by the admiralty could not be automatically assigned to a ship and would therefore be routed to you for review and eventual assignment.”

Wertak nodded and responded, “That is exactly what should have happened.  I should have gotten the order and personally assigned a ship to the mission.”

Chief said, “Well, the computer bypassed you and assigned it directly to the
Sunflower
.”

“Why,” asked Admiral Wertak.

Chief responded, “When the engineers finished their repairs on the
Sunflower
, the Humans set the ship’s status to On-Duty instead of On-Station or even On-Mission.  As a result…”

Wertak over spoke him and said, “The order bypassed me and went directly to the
Sunflower
because they used the wrong status and were the only ship in the system that the order could get automatically assigned to.”

And so the root cause of the issue / opportunity was determined after only four whys.  It was unfortunate that Admiral Wertak didn’t ask the fifth why.  Specifically, he neglected to ask why the admiralty sent the important assignment as a general order.  An order of this importance should have been sent directly to Admiral Wertak.

As a result, Admiral Wertak failed to find the true root cause of the issue – that a highly ranked traitor recognized that the
Sunflower’s
status was set incorrectly and purposefully sent the general message to lure the
Sunflower
to Opron. 

Again, failing to identify the true root cause of an issue can lead to its reoccurrence.  Which begs another unasked question; how many times has this particular, opportunistic individual sent the
Sunflower
on a mission?