The Synchronicity War Part 2 (6 page)

“The unanimous opinion is that, while we can’t
be 100% certain of this, we think there is a VERY high probability,
that the enemy has the capability to detect these transmissions,
understands what they’re intended to do and is trying to use that
same technology to interfere with the future assistance by feeding
you false information and advice. This war isn’t just a war fought
in space anymore. It’s now a war fought in both space and time,
CAG. If you want a name for it, you can call it the Synchronicity
War.”

“Oh Hell!” said Shiloh loud enough that he
looked around to see if anyone heard him. He saw a couple of
curious glances. As if the war wasn’t complicated enough already!
He stayed silent for almost a full minute, and then said.

“I can’t help feeling that you and other A.I.s
are going to play a major, maybe even crucial role in winning this
war. When I talk with the Admiral, I’m going to push for giving
experienced A.I.s, such as you, more responsibility and authority.
And now that you know about my visions, I’ll keep you posted about
any new ones I experience. I’ll leave it to your discretion who you
share this information with. Sharing with the right people at the
right time may make a difference. Unfortunately I can’t give you
any guidance as to who the right people are.” He paused and noted
with some surprise that Iceman stayed silent.

“I’m not always going to be your commanding
officer. There’s a chance that Admiral Howard will relieve me of
command altogether. I’m saying this to all of you now, in case I
don’t get another opportunity to do so later. Many humans don’t
understand that you A.I.s are sentient, self-aware entities. They
may treat you as expendable pieces of equipment. I implore all of
you to be patient with us as we collectively learn that you are
more than that. We need you even if not all of us realize that yet
and I’m not referring just to your combat abilities but also to
your insights and capacity for logical thought. Stay the course and
I’ll fight for you all to whatever extent I’m able.”

“We hear ya. We’ll be there when Humanity needs
us, CAG. You can count on us.” Shiloh nodded and smiled.

“I never doubted that for a second, Iceman.” He
paused again, and then said, “Let’s change the subject to something
less somber. I’m curious to find out what A.I. humor is like. Bring
the others into this circuit so that I can hear them and vice versa
and then I’d like to hear some jokes.” Shiloh spent the next half
hour chatting and laughing with his pilots. There was no way for
him to know for sure but his gut told him that he and they had
bonded in the same way that human pilots would have. As he walked
back to his quarters, he wondered if he’d regret getting that close
to them when some of them were lost in battle, as they inevitably
would be.

Chapter 4 - To The Victor Goes The Swagger

The trip to the star system containing the
Avalon Colony was uneventful. Defiant arrived at the outskirts of
the system, made two microjumps to arrive beyond Avalon’s 11 light
second gravity zone and contacted the Nimitz Base that had been
hollowed out of the planet’s small moon. With contact established
with Nimitz Base and their identity confirmed, Defiant began its
maneuver to drop down into orbit around Avalon’s tiny moon and the
Space Force base on it. Tanaka was conning the ship from the Bridge
so Shiloh elected to contact the Nimitz Base Commander from the
comfort of his quarters. The image that appeared on his screen was
that of Senior Commander Ingrid DeChastelaine. They had met briefly
a couple of times but he remembered her.

“Hello, Commander. I wasn’t aware that you’d
been made Nimitz Base CO. When did that happen?” asked Shiloh.
DeChastelaine smiled.

“Hello, Victor. No need to be so formal. Ingrid
will do fine. I took over here about two months ago. We weren’t
expecting Defiant. Is something wrong?” Shiloh nodded.

“Yes. Obviously you haven’t gotten the word from
Omaha yet. There’s an alien incursion, made up of 42 ships, headed
into our space. I’m convinced, but can’t prove, that they’re headed
here in order to attack the colony.” He went on to describe the
detection and battle. DeChastelaine’s expression grew serious
quickly.

“Oh Shit, Victor! What makes you think they’re
headed here?” Shiloh hesitated.

“Just call it a strong hunch, Ingrid. What have
you got here in terms of mobile defenses?”

“Twenty-five CFPs. That’s it! How soon could
they be here do ya think?”

“If they push it to the limit, they could be
here in less than 24 hours. How are you fixed for Mark 1s, Ingrid?”
She frowned and shook her head.

“None. You know the rules, Victor. CFPs can’t
carry fission warhead drones while in the same system as colonized
planets.” Shiloh cursed under his breath. He’d forgotten that
stupid regulation. Defiant had less than a dozen left over from the
Battle at Green4. Not enough to equip all her fighters with even
one each.

“Okay, what kind of payload do you have?”

“Over two hundred Mark 2s plus laser modules for
the CFPs.” Shiloh took a deep breath as he considered the
possibilities. Laser modules designed to be carried by fighters,
didn’t have enough power to burn their way thru any kind of half
decent hull armor or at least not fast enough to be really useful.
The Mark 2s were kinetic energy penetrators with a fast drone built
around a thick rod of depleted uranium. Given enough velocity, the
kinetic energy released upon impact, would turn the depleted
uranium rod into a jet of superhot plasma that could cut through
even the densest armor. It was the perfect weapon for disabling a
ship, IF you happened to hit it in the right spot. To be certain of
disabling a ship quickly, you had to hit it with multiple Mark 2s.
At least all of the fighters in the system now, could carry their
fill of Mark 2s.

“Well, if that’s all we have, then we’ll have to
make the most of it. I’ve got 17 fighters left. Can you arrange to
have 85 Mark 2s brought up to the ship as soon as possible?”

“You bet, Victor. I imagine you’ll want fuel
too, right?” Shiloh nodded.

“Yes but that can wait until after we reload.
How soon can you get your fi…your CFPs loaded with Mark 2s?”
DeChastelaine frowned with concentration.

“Don’t hold me to this but I think we can do it
in six hours if we had too. I’m reluctant to pull them all off jump
detection patrol at the same time.”

“Understood. Once we get our reloads, my CFPs
can help carry some of that load. I don’t think we should count on
my time estimate as a minimum, Ingrid. These bastards have already
surprised me once with their acceleration. We should push our
people to get ready as quickly as we possibly can just in case
they’ve got more fuel capacity that we estimated.”

“I agree. What else do you need, Victor?” Shiloh
thought for a couple of seconds, then said,

“Nothing else that can’t wait. I’ll get back to
you shortly so that we can co-ordinate our deployments. Thanks for
your help, Ingrid. Shiloh clear.” As soon as the connection was
cut, he said.

“Intercom…Bridge.”

“Bridge here.”

“Sumi, the Base is going to replenish our
fighter weapons load as best they can. Do whatever you can to
expedite the transfer and as soon as we disconnect, find the DCAG
and have him report to my quarters asap.”

“Understood, Sir. Anything else?”

“No, Sumi. That’s it for now. Shiloh clear.”
While he waited for Falkenberg to arrive, Shiloh pondered what he
should order the DCAG to do. He had a very strong feeling that
stopping the attack would require the use of the fission-armed Mark
1s. Defiant could fire them herself but she could only be in one
place at a time and if she happened to be in the wrong position or
if the enemy fleet came charging in at high speed, her Mark 1s
might not reach them in time. In his vision, Howard said they had
barely prevented the enemy ships from attacking the planet. That
sounded like the defenders had used every possible means of defense
and if that was the case, then it implied the use of the eleven
Mark 1s that Defiant had left. On the other hand, Howard hadn’t
congratulated him for taking the initiative and deploying the Mark
1s on his fighters. That didn’t mean he hadn’t done it but neither
did it mean that he had. He was completely on his own for this
decision. Damn the man for not being more forthcoming! He heard the
buzzer that announced that Falkenberg has arrived. When the DCAG
entered, Shiloh stood up and met him half way.

“You wanted to see me.” said Falkenberg.

“Yes. The base is sending up 85 Mark 2s as soon
as they can. They’re going to call their own fighters down from
jump patrol to get them armed but that’ll take time and I’ve
offered to have our fighters fill in the coverage gaps in order to
speed that up. So, get our fighters loaded with jump detection gear
and one recon drone each. I’m now going to give you an order that’s
a violation of standing regulations. If you obey it, then your
career will be just as far out on a limb as mine will but I think
it’s necessary under the circumstances. I want Iceman and ten other
fighters of his choice, to carry our remaining Mark 1s. Get them
loaded first and sent out on jump patrol. Then send out the rest as
soon as they have their Mark 2s, then we’ll bring Iceman and his
ten back aboard to top up their load as well. Are you willing to
step out on that limb with me?” Falkenberg said nothing for so long
that Shiloh was certain he would say no.

“Ah, what the hell. I’ll do it, Sir.” Shiloh
grinned at him.

“Good man! Tell Iceman I’ll be down to the bay
to speak with him soon. You better get moving, Brad. I don’t want
us caught unprepared.”

“Understood, Sir.” As soon as Falkenberg left
his quarters, Shiloh left as well.

Ten minutes later, he was once again in the
Hangar Bay hooked up to Iceman’s fighter by direct connection.
Iceman already had his attack drone loaded along with one recon
drone. As soon as they were linked up, Iceman spoke.

“Have you had another vision? Is that why you’re
violating regulations by ordering us to carry Mark 1s in a
colonized system, CAG?”

“No vision, just erring on the side of caution.”
said Shiloh.

“Ah, roger that, CAG. Any last minute
instructions?” Shiloh took a deep breath and said.

“Yes. If…no, when the attack begins, I’ll be in
constant contact and I’ll let you and your boys know when you can
use the Mark 1s but I’m also going to rely on your judgment. If, in
your estimation, there isn’t enough time to get authorization from
me, and if that’s the only way to stop the enemy, then you and your
boys do whatever is necessary to stop them and I’ll take
responsibility for any adverse consequences.”

“We hear ya, CAG. We’ll be careful.”

“That’s what I needed to hear. I’ll see all of
you when this is over. CAG clear.” Shiloh checked the time. His
next duty shift on the Bridge wasn’t set to start for another hour
and a half. He wasn’t hungry and didn’t feel like wading through
his pile of administrative paperwork. Maybe it was time for some
leadership by walking around. If he started at the back end of the
ship, he might be all the way up to the Bridge by the time his duty
shift started. For half a second he contemplated making a detour to
the Officers’ Mess to get a pickle but decided that would just
confirm any suspicions as to his questionable mental state!

When the estimated minimum time for the arrival
of the enemy fleet came and went, Shiloh breathed a little easier.
The anticipated message drone from Omaha Base had arrived with
confirmation that the Quick Reaction Task Force was only a few
hours behind it. All fighters in the system were loaded, fueled and
back on patrol. Defiant was refueled and had 11 Mark 2 drones ready
for launch, while she maintained a tight orbit around the planet.
The QRTF, when it arrived, was somewhat of a disappointment. Four
Sentinel class combat frigates. Shiloh was hoping for more but
apparently some were held back to defend Omaha Base in case that
was the real target. With the benefit of his visions, it was easy
for Shiloh to call that a stupid move but he reluctantly
acknowledged to himself that for someone without that certain
knowledge, it was a strategically prudent precaution to take.
Naturally the attack took place during his sleep cycle. He woke up
to the blaring of the ship’s Battle Stations siren with Tanaka’s
excited voice calling him via his implant.

“Bridge to Commander! They’re here, Sir!
Repeat…they’re here…” Shiloh shook himself awake and started to get
up.

“I’m awake, Sumi. What’s happening?” He was glad
he decided to sleep in his uniform for just this kind of
emergency.

“Jump detection contacts! Lots of them!” When he
was sure that she wasn’t going to say more, he said.

“From what bearing?”

“ALL of them! They’re coming at us from 360
degrees and all three axes!” The near panic in her voice shocked
him. By this time, he was running down the corridor to the Bridge.
She was already vacating the Command Station chair when he entered
the Bridge. Before she could relinquish command, he said in a loud
voice.

“The XO still has the Con. XO, take the Helm
station; I’ll look after the fighters!” She looked at him with wide
eyes but nodded and stepped over to the Helm Station. As he got
himself strapped into his chair, he quickly switched com channels
to the open channel with the Nimitz Base.

“Nimitz, this is Shiloh! Order your recons to
active scanning!” Without waiting for a reply, he switched to the
fighter com channel. By prior arrangement, DeChastelaine had agreed
to let Shiloh take tactical command of her fighters too. “CAG to
fighters! Launch your recons and go active! Light’em up! We need to
see their vectors and speeds! If you have a viable intercept
solution, take the shot!” By now he was strapped in and had time to
actually look at the tactical display. Tanaka was right. Red
triangles indicating jump emergence points were all around the
planet as well as above and below it. There was something about
this strategy that made the hair on the back of his neck stand up.
Concentration of force was a key tactical concept that should
theoretically be valid to any species. There was strength in
numbers and it minimized communication lags. So why was this alien
fleet…this alien, A.I.-controlled fleet behaving this way? They
must know that they risked being picked off one at a time. He
didn’t have an answer to his question and…no vision either.