Neptune's Massif (32 page)

Isaak nodded. "Yes, in fact Maia has had to reassess the schedule on several projects. Pleiades Two is moving along nicely, and the main framework for station three is being assembled as we speak. The addition of that mining ship has really stepped things up; that and the massive influx of workers we've been getting. Things are really starting to take off around here. There's been a lot going on here."

Ian nodded. "I'm beginning to see that. I'm sure everything is in my data stack for review, but can you tell me the high points?"

"Commander Serena would probably be able to give you a better answer. Let's see... Commander Carlson took the Caldarian Base, rescued a ton of folks, but I think you already know that. The UN has agreed to allow us to maintain control of the base even though every member nation on Earth was drooling to get their hands on it."

"I got most of that; it happened before we left, has there been any changes there?" Ian asked.

Isaak nodded. "Not with the base, but right after you left, we caught a few of the 'diplomats' trying to steal tech and information. The Council canceled their visas, made damn sure they didn't remember anything, and sent them home. At first, we thought two of them had been Chinese, but it turns out one was actually North Korean. The others were from the US, the Russian Federation, and the last was a Brit working with a commercial European Coalition. What's most surprising is that the UN pulled their diplomatic credentials as well and recalled two of the Ambassadors.

"However, I've heard that some of the medical personnel sent up have expressed an interest in remaining here. I don't know how the Council is dealing with that, though." He looked thoughtful for a moment as if trying to remember. "Oh yeah, the probe! The day after you left, the defense network detected an Imperial probe that was passing through the Oort Cloud on its way in-system. They might have missed the little bugger too if it hadn't sent out a scanning pulse. Our patrol ships took it out and retrieved what was left for study. Commander Serena had us on full alert for the rest of the day. Apparently, some of those probes are sent out from their light cruisers and she was afraid the ship might come looking for it. Forensic analysis of the probe showed that it was one of their long range probes used for locating enemy bases and mineral deposits."

That concerned Ian. "Do we know if the probe detected us, and did it get a report sent out?"

Isaak shook his head. "No, it didn't see us. It was headed into Sol system and we got it while it was still far enough out that it couldn't detect anything in the system. A Condor took it out. From what I understand, it is giving our science types a much better idea of how Imperial scanner tech works."

Ian nodded. "I'll look for the reports. You know, we might not catch the next one, or the one after that. If that happens the Empire will arrive shortly thereafter."

"Won't ARC protect us too?" Isaak asked.

Ian nodded. "I'm sure they'll do everything they can. The problem is that they're spread pretty thin right now. For the most part, this war is at a stalemate. If the Empire brings in more ships, ARC will be hard pressed to defend everyone. That's why I've been pushing so hard to get more ships built, even though we don't have the people for them, ARC does. Plus, the Talosians now have crews but no ships. Which reminds me, they'll be sending their people here for training on the new systems; including their fighter pilots. I need to make sure we have the facilities available for that."

Isaak nodded. "When you ordered the ships to be built, we thought we would need to train the crews, so we've been working on getting ready for it. Since I didn't really have the room for it up here, I asked for permission to build a sort of training academy dirt-side. The Engineering stuff will be handled up here, but Command, Gunnery, Navigation, and Computer Support systems will be handled on-planet.

"The Council took my request and upgraded it. They set aside the entire subcontinent of Hera for the new Military Academy. I'm told it's going to be quite the project. While it's going to take a long time complete, we'll still be able to use it for what we need. I think the Council might have something more planned there than just a place where we can retrain crews for the new ships," Isaak said grinning.

Ian nodded. "Knowing them, they’re planning on a full blown, Alliance Military Academy to train new people as well. While I applaud the idea, I'm still going to worry about security. We have a lot at risk here, not the least of which are two poorly protected planets. Hell, not even the Defense Network will be completed for another year and a half."

"Ah, about that..." Isaak said, "It's gonna be much sooner than you think. Remember how I said the addition of the mining ship really helped?"

When Ian nodded, he continued. "Well, the new Mars facility has gotten so far ahead with fighter production that I ordered our fighter bays to retool themselves to build the defense satellites. All six of my fighter bays have been kicking out two new birds a day for the last week. The patrol ships have been towing them out and releasing them so the control center can put them into final position. I know I should have asked first, but you were really in the thick of it at the time, so I spoke to Commander Serena and made the decision."

"Mars is that far ahead on fighter production?" Ian asked using an auxiliary monitor to search for a production report.

Isaak nodded. "Their storage facility is over-full. They've even begun construction on more storage facilities. Last I'd heard, they had to shut down until the new warehouses are ready."

Finding the report, Ian was amazed at what had been accomplished. Even after cleaning out the facility to equip the
Tiamat
, they had managed to restock in a single month. "You made the right call, Isaak. I just had no idea they could produce the fighters this fast!"

"Well, the redesign of the assembly system had a lot to do with it. Belirus really got the whole place moving," Isaak replied.

Ian nodded. "He did really well commanding the
Tiamat
too. I know he was an Admiral, but he was really amazing. He really seemed to use the ship to her full potential. I think he was a good choice to command her."

––––––––

A
dmiral's Office

TDF
Star Dancer

Pleiades One Orbital Shipyard

Planet Atlas, Centauri System

Sol Sector

––––––––

"L
adies and Gentlemen, the reason I asked all of you here today is that we need to come up with a plan," Ian began. "The plan I need worked out is for the defense of the planet Earth in the event that this sector falls under attack again. I am certain all of you know of the recent attempt by the Empire to probe this system. There is also the added threat that the remaining Caldarians could decide to return here and take the planet by force. Although we cannot allow any of our advanced weapons technology to fall into the hands of the governments controlling the planet, we still have to plan for its defense.

"The attack we faced almost two years ago would be a mere skirmish in comparison to what we will face if either of those two forces decide to attack us. The probe we attached to the freighter has shown us not only where the remaining Caldarian forces are hiding, but that they have at least three more Super Nova class ships. I say at ‘least' because continued observation has led us to believe that there is more than one enclave of Caldarians. Information supplied to us by ARC concerning the final battle with the Caldarians left several of those monster ships unaccounted for. Due to their continued failure to appear, many had believed them destroyed in other battles but simply not reported. That information tells us that as many as eight more could still be in existence."

Many of the people gathered for the meeting were upset about that and started talking. Ian simply held up his hand to stop them. "Folks, I'm not all that worried about them at this point. If they decide to show up here... well, those big monsters are what the Defense Network was designed to defend us against. I doubt more than two of them would actually arrive in the system, and both of those would be heavily damaged.

"No, I'm more concerned with an Imperial offensive here. Their ships are small enough to evade fire from the network, although I'm sure it would cause them no end of issues, but a good portion of their fleet would arrive here ready for a battle. In that event, we need to be ready to protect our planets, but most especially the surface of Earth, not only from ground attack, but also from orbital bombardment as well. I'm sure many of you can imagine how well the cities there would survive something like that.

"To that end, we need to plan and prepare. However, we need to do it in such a way as to prevent the governments of the planet from not only interfering, but also not capturing any of our technology. This is the reason I have asked you here today." Ian retook his seat to let them think and talk it over.

A Marine officer Ian didn't recognize stood. "Sir, I'm Major Jeff Bradley, currently assigned to the
Tiamat
. Commodore Belirus promoted me in place of Major Simmons." He paused a moment in silent remembrance of his former commander. "Sir, as I'm sure you are aware, on Alliance worlds, civilian population centers are protected by massive shields as well as air defense cannons. However, on Alliance worlds, those same cities were designed with those defenses in mind. None of the cities on Earth were designed in such a manner, but if a way can be found, that would be the most ideal method of protecting at least the population centers. In more rural areas, as we've seen on New Talos, the civilians have hardened bunkers built in strategic locations that the civilians can run to in an emergency. Again, the community was planned with this in mind. Earth has several civil defense shelters however, those are mostly intended for a natural disaster and not orbital bombardment.

"I hate to say it, Sir, but I just don't see how we could build anything like that down there without the Governments interfering or being able to steal technology. In order to construct anything, it would have to be shielded and guarded to prevent outsiders from entering the area. Even if we did that, it would slow any work we need to get done considerably. I'm not saying we shouldn't do this, I'm only trying to point out some of the most obvious obstacles in our path here."

Ian nodded. "Well said, Major. You are also correct. In the case of a normal Alliance world, defense of the type we are considering would not only have been planned for, but have already been built and maintained for years. They had centuries, in most cases, to get everything built. We don't. Folks, at some point, someone is going to attack this sector. When they do, they are going to bring what forces they feel they will need to get the job done. To be honest, it could happen tomorrow, next week, next month or next year. That doesn't matter, we need to figure out how to get the planet defended in such a way that anyone that comes here to take the planet will not be given that opportunity."

"Sir," one of the men from Phoenix Base spoke. "I'm Doctor Hans Schoffel, I am the lead shield technologies researcher here at the base. It would be a simple matter to design a shield generator system that would cover most, if not all, of the individual cities. However, installation of those devices would be very difficult. As the Major has said, the need to keep the curious away would hamper our efforts. There is also the fact that each installation would have to be manned and guarded to prevent the technology transfer. But, I would also like to point out, that these shields could also be used as an anti-missile defense system with reference to the nuclear arsenals of the planet. I am very much in favor of moving ahead with these installations, however it would take a great deal of manpower, even after the construction was complete."

Commodore Belirus stood. "Admiral, ideally, there would be shields over the cities as well as the defense cannons, civil defense bunkers and fighter bases in each hemisphere, as well as a division of troops stationed at strategic points across the globe. However, none of this can be accomplished without the willing support of the planetary authorities. At this time, it simply is not possible. However, if I may propose a counter suggestion?"

"Please do, Commodore," Ian said.

"As at New Talos and as is being done at Atlas, we should build several orbital fortresses. For the time being, the ground forces assigned to the planet can be stationed on them. With standard Marine assault shuttles, they should have no problem reaching almost any point on the surface very quickly.

"Secondly, we preselect the sites where shield units will need to be installed, in order to protect the population centers of the planet. I am told that, with the detection system you currently have, we should have at least a week advanced warning of any inbound hostile forces. We could assemble and set aside the required materials and equipment to rapidly install or set-up the facilities we will need in the worst case event. I know it isn't the best plan in the galaxy, but it should give us what we need while still maintaining security," Belirus said and retook his seat.

"Do you propose we assemble something like a 'kit' for each location?" Ian asked.

"Yes, exactly that Admiral," Belirus replied. "An installation kit for each site. I am still having difficulties with the language and couldn't think of the correct word."

Ian thought for a moment. Such a method could work for larger weapons installations as well, but not for the needed fighter bases.

"I can see how that would work for the shield units and the weapons systems, but what about the bases we'd need?" Ian asked.

"Drones," Commodore Hawkins replied. "There is nothing we have that we can build faster or more accurately. In each of the kits for the shield and weapons sites, we include drones preprogrammed with what they need for their location. The same can be done for the bases, only on a larger scale. We prebuild construction drones, program them with the plans for the base as designed for the area we select and box them up for delivery at a later date. Hell, we could even build several extra drones to be dropped near rural areas that could build multiple shelters, then call in for pick-up. Those shelters don't need to have any of our tech in them, just load them up with supplies and leave them be. If we really need to have some form of security with them, we could always drop a FROG in with them. The pilot could keep the people back and trigger a new design download into the drone once it's finished. Hell, a construction drone is almost as large as a FROG anyway."