The Synchronicity War Part 2 (22 page)

“I’ll be in the Officers’ Mess if I’m
needed.”

The next test jump was successful. Shiloh
ordered Reforger to jump to Alpha Centauri. That jump and the
necessary deceleration took almost a whole day. The test itself
would take almost 55 hours due to the fact that the test vehicle
had to accelerate to a modest velocity, then jump to Sol, then
decelerate to zero, then turn around 180 degrees, then accelerate
back up to the necessary velocity, then jump back and then
decelerate to zero once again. When 56 hours had gone by since the
start of the test, without any sign of the test vehicle’s
transponder signal, Shiloh became convinced the jump drive had
failed but he decided to wait 4 more hours just to be sure. After
60 hours and still no transponder, Shiloh called the Bridge and
ordered the ship back to the position in the Sol system, where the
test vehicle theoretically should be, if it was still there. That
took another 26 hours.

When Reforger arrived at the point in space
where the test vehicle should have entered jumpspace, they detected
its transponder signal. Telemetry indicated that all systems except
for the jump drive were operating normally. The drive unit itself
was unresponsive. Shiloh ordered the test vehicle brought back to
the ship for a careful inspection. 12 hours later, he had the
answer. When the test vehicle arrived at Sol, the jump drive was
still operational but just barely. The cumulative strain of pushing
that much mass into jumpspace over longer and longer distances,
which required higher power levels, had caused metal fatigue in
some components of the inner mechanism. When the return jump
attempt was made, the surge of power shorted out those components
and the jump failed. As a result of precautions taken for just that
kind of failure, the Astrogation sub-system decelerated the vehicle
and brought it back to the vicinity of where it had emerged from
the first jump. Rollin’s report was quite comprehensive. While a
message drone jump drive would work for one, maybe two interstellar
jumps, it would eventually fail. In order to prevent that, the jump
drive had to be scaled up to a larger size, in order to be able to
handle the necessary power surges. That larger version would take
months to build. If the 2nd crack at Zebra19 was to go ahead
quickly, the jump-capable fighter would have to have a 2nd jump
drive. Shiloh checked and found out that Rollins was in the Crew
Mess presumably having something to eat. He found him there and sat
down opposite him.

“I read your report. Very detailed. I especially
liked your recommendation for building a larger version but we need
something else sooner rather than later. I’m thinking that if the
fighter carried two jump drives, then it would definitely be able
to make at least two jumps.” He was about to go on when he saw
Rollins shake his head.

“Sorry, Commander. There’s not enough room for
two of those drone drives inside the Manned Pilot Module.” Shiloh
sighed and said,

“We have to find a way. You’re off duty now,
right?”

“Yes, Sir.”

“After you finish eating, would you come with me
to the Hangar Bay so that the two of us can take a close look
inside the MPM?” Rollins nodded.

“Sure, Commander. I’m always up for a
challenge.”

“Good man! Tell you what. I’ll head there now
and you follow as soon as you’re finished here.”

“You got a deal, Commander.” Shiloh thanked him
and made his way to the Hangar Bay. It was tiny compared to
Defiant’s and right now only contained two personnel shuttles and
one CFP. Using the gantry next to the fighter, Shiloh climbed up to
stand on top of it and looked at the midsection where the MPM was.
He was expecting to see the round hatch leading into the module’s
rear section but instead saw a much larger square and very
makeshift cover plate. Yes, of course. The drone jump drive was too
big to fit down the round hatch, which was just big enough for one
human. They had to cut a larger opening and then put a cover over
it after the drive was installed. He tried to lift the cover with
his hands but it wouldn’t budge. As he pondered how to get it open,
Rollins entered the bay and yelled out.

“It’s attached magnetically, Commander! Hold on
and I’ll shut the magnets off for you!” Rollins disappeared under
the wing of the fighter and seconds later Shiloh heard.

“Okay, try moving it now, Sir.” Shiloh did and
was rewarded with a moving piece of metal that still wasn’t all
that easy to move aside. The compartment inside was lit and Shiloh
immediately saw why Rollins was convinced that two drives wouldn’t
fit. While the drive itself wasn’t all that big, it was just big
enough to take up more than half the width, more than half the
length and by the looks of it, more than half the height of the
internal space of the MPM. He heard Rollins climb up the gantry and
squat down beside him. Something about the setup was nagging at
Shiloh. The compartment was about 3 meters long and about 2 meters
wide. The drive itself had dimensions of roughly the same
proportions in terms of length versus width and had been installed
with the same orientation, thereby maximizing the room on all sides
for the technicians to work in.

“How long is the drive lengthwise?”

“1.88 meters, Sir.”

“And how wide is the compartment?” Rollins
smiled sadly and shook his head again.

“I know what you’re thinking, Sir. Turning the
drive unit sideways and then doing the same with a 2nd unit. No can
do, Sir. The compartment is only 1.7 meters wide on the deck.” An
idea occurred to Shiloh.

“Is it wider at some other point?”

“Well, ya…yes, Sir. You see over to the right?
That’s where the pilot’s bunk is along that right wall. When you
get above the level of the bunk, the width is 1.95 meters from the
top of the bunk all the way up to the upper deck.”

“And is that high enough for the drive unit?”
Rollin’s eyes went wide.

“Son of a…sorry, Sir. I never considered that. I
don’t know off hand but I’ll tell you in a few seconds.” Without
waiting for Shiloh’s reply, Rollins jumped down into the
compartment and used a tool, taken from his pocket, to measure the
free space from the top of the compartment down to the level of the
bunk and then the height of the drive unit itself. Shiloh could
tell from his expression that the news wasn’t good.

“Half a centimeter short, Sir.” Shiloh was
smiling when he said,

“And if we remove the mattress from the bunk?”
Rollins looked over at the padded mattress which had to be at least
2 centimeters thick.

“Then we’ll have enough room but it’s gonna be a
tight fit, Sir. We’ll have to cut a larger opening and install
something to prop up the drive units on the other side.”

“But it can be done.” It was as much a question
as a statement.

“Yes, Sir. I believe it can be.” Shiloh nodded
and gestured for Rollins to climb out. He then made his way down
the gantry and waited for Rollins to join him.

“So you know what I want?”

“I sure do, Sir. Would you like me to start work
right now?” Shiloh laughed. He liked Rollins.

“I’m not going to order you to do that but I
won’t stop you if you decide to start working on it in your free
time. As long as it gets done and works, I don’t care if it takes a
few more hours so I’ll leave it up to you.”

“Thank you, Sir. I’ll have to do some
preliminary planning before I can actually start to install
anything and I’m eager to do that part.”

“Very good, Rollins.” said Shiloh as he patted
the man’s shoulder. “Let me know when it’s ready. I’ll inform Cmdr.
Morgan about this.”

Morgan wasn’t happy and Shiloh knew why. When
the two drives were installed, the vehicle would have to be tested
again. Shiloh had no sympathy for him. Individuals like Morgan were
the price that the Space Force had to pay for promoting people
faster than they normally would be. Morgan had either passed his
level of competence or figured they HAD to keep promoting him as
long as he didn’t screw up TOO badly.
Well guess what, Cmdr?
When I get back to HQ, I’m going to make sure your career takes a
sharp turn for the worse!

The new modification took almost two days.
Shiloh had made a mental note to commend the technical team in
general and Rollins in particular when he filed his project report
to the Old Man. Because he was certain this modification would
work, Shiloh allowed the test to begin here in Sol. 55 hours later,
the test vehicle returned from its jump to Alpha Centauri and back.
One drive unit was shorted out. The other was still operational but
it shorted out too when they applied a power surge to simulate
another jump. Shiloh transmitted a detailed report to Howard and
asked him if the latest results were good enough to proceed with
the Zebra19 mission. The reply was short and to the point.

[
Valkyrie agrees with me that the mission can
now proceed. Good job. Your recommendations re: Cmdr. Morgan will
be acted upon. Get back here, Shiloh. I want you and Defiant ready
to execute your next mission asap. End of message
]

Reforger settled into her parking orbit around
the moon 11 hours later. Morgan found orders waiting for him that
relieved him of command of the ship. Shiloh didn’t know where he
was being assigned next but whatever it was, Morgan clearly didn’t
like it. Defiant was manned and ready to begin the mission. When
Shiloh read his new orders, he was surprised to learn that the
search for a suitable location for Site B would not be conducted by
jumpfighters after all. Replacing their jump drives after each
scouting mission made no sense. Instead Defiant would act as
flagship and tanker for a squadron of A.I. controlled sentry
frigates. Instead of carrying fighters in her Hangar Bay, she would
carry a dozen Mark 4 fuel shuttles. The rest of the squadron would
consist of 4 frigates. When the squadron was ready, Shiloh gave
Maverick, Defiant’s new Pilot/Astrogator, the command to order the
squadron to leave lunar orbit. They were on their way and even
Shiloh didn’t know exactly where they were going to start their
search. Maverick knew and would keep all jump destinations secret
from the human crew.

Chapter 13 - Task Force 89 Arriving!

144 days later, the squadron was back in Sol and
in lunar orbit. As soon as communications with HQ were established,
Defiant received a text message from VF001’s Squadron Leader.
Shiloh was on the Bridge when it arrived and he watched it scroll
across the bottom of the tactical display, just as it had appeared
in his vision.

[
Vandal to CAG. Hunter has returned to
Bradley. Strike Mission to Z19 successful. Hunter said to tell you
that he wouldn’t have made it back if not for the reserve jump
drive that you insisted jumpfighters have. Thanks for looking out
for us, CAG. End of message
]

That message was followed almost immediately by
a voice message from HQ Operations that Admiral Howard would be
arriving at Defiant by shuttle within 12 minutes. Shiloh was so
shocked by the message that he personally spoke with Operations to
confirm it. The Chief of Space Operations NEVER travelled to the
moon to greet returning ships. It was unprecedented. The message
was confirmed. When the shuttle settled down in the Hangar Bay, a
nervous Shiloh stepped up to the craft’s entrance and nodded to
ship’s Security Team Leader who opened a ship-wide intercom channel
and said.

“Chief of Space Operations arriving!” As Howard
stepped onto Defiant’s deck for the very first time, Shiloh and his
senior officers, who were standing behind him, gave the Admiral a
textbook perfect salute, which he returned and then offered his
hand to Shiloh.

“Welcome aboard Defiant, Admiral.” said Shiloh
shaking the offered hand.

“It’s a real pleasure to be here. I almost never
get a chance to see our new ships from the inside. The precision
welcome was a nice touch.” Turning to Shiloh’s officers, Howard
said,

“I wish I could say that I’ll be here long
enough to spend some time with all of you but that’s not going to
be possible and right now, I have some important matters to discuss
with the Commander. Shiloh, let’s go to your cabin.” As soon as
they were inside Shiloh’s quarters, Howard turned to him and
said,

“So you found it.” Shiloh laughed.

“Boy did we ever! It’s perfect, Admiral.
Abundant mineral resources AND a first class planet that’s perfect
for human colonization based on what we could observe from orbit.
We brought back soil and plant samples for analysis but it looks
damn good! It has a moon that’s loaded with iron, nickel and other
useful metals including uranium and there are more resources on the
moons orbiting one of the gas giants.”

“Well don’t get your hopes too high about the
planet. Even if the climate is perfect, the local biology may not
be friendly to us but the metals…yes, that’s worth getting excited
about. That’s what Site B has to be first and foremost, our main
production center. Do you or any of the crew know where this star
system is?” asked Howard as he sat down in a comfortable chair.

“No, Sir. Maverick and Shooter, that’s the A.I.
piloting the frigate that found it, know the exact location, which
means the other A.I.’s do too but no one else. I made certain of
that.”

“Good, good. That means I won’t have to exile
them there for the duration of the war. Your crew can go on R&R
but not you, I’m afraid. The SPG is adamant that Site B has to be
set up as soon as possible if not sooner. That’s why I came up here
instead of the usual pilgrimage of you coming to see me. There’s a
convoy of A.I. controlled freighters waiting to leave orbit. The
convoy flagship will be the new light carrier, Valiant. You’ll
assume command of the Task Force. Tanaka will be promoted and given
command of Defiant. Things are moving fast now with the attack on
Earth only 72 days away. Iceman is now conning a cruiser. We’re in
the process of converting a dozen more combat frigates and cruisers
to A.I. control. By the way, Iceman will be given a field promotion
to Senior Commander, to take effect 24 hours before the expected
attack. He’ll be put in charge of all mobile defenses near Earth
and that will include a lot. Plans are to pull in the Quick
Reaction Task Force from Omaha Base at the last minute too. Oh, one
more thing, Valkyrie will be Valiant’s Pilot/Astrogator. She’s been
pestering me for a ship and she’s earned it. You’ll also be pleased
to know that we’ve started mass production of a larger, far more
reliable jump drive for fighters. We’ll have six squadrons of
fighters available for defending Earth and all of them will be
jump-capable although not all will have the improved versions.
That’s pretty much it in a nutshell. Any questions?”