Ascent to Greatness: A Junior Officer's Tale

[Azatol]

The Kingdom

2000 point game
Engineer Culture
+50% Construction rate
Hardy Industrialist

Negative scores in most other categories except attack and defense.


Chapter 1 � All Hands

The shipyards of the kingdom, and their dignitaries, the shipwrights, surpass all who came before and all who would deign to compete with them. King Aya the 8th, like his predecessors, pays close attention to the concerns of the Shipwright Federation. Aya�s succession to the throne was supported by the group, because they knew of his work as prince, when he supported the construction of ships surpassing the 10 kiloton mark. In the decades since, experimental models broke that barrier and then the 100 kiloton mark.

I am Count Dorn, 2nd Lieutenant in charge of the missile crew on the Alba Lulia, a space station which provides repair, retrofitting and limited shipwrighting from orbit. The single missile bay onboard is my responsibility, and I serve Captain Moran in this respect to the best of my ability. I am third cousin to the King, hence my noble title. To be precise, my great-grandfather is his grandfather.

I have four troopers under me, Ensigns Julian, Hal and Vorn, and Ensign First Class Pai. The Alba was assembled in orbit from the 12th to the 14th. We arrived on the 15th, with the executive officers arriving the day after that, that is yesterday. As of yet, the crew has not met with him.

My office and quarters were assigned just up one floor from the missile bay, and in the same section of the station, meaning I only have to run down one set of stairs and across the hall if I am needed. The desk is steel and built into the wall, with locked compartments containing computer equipment and stationary. The compartments are locked for the same reason they are on naval vessels, sudden ship movements would break some things and scatter the rest across the floor.

While some of my desk chores are done through intership memos, which can be handled electronically, Aya has kept many of our daily tasks bound to paper forms and letters. I pulled out a sheet of stationery, which carried an insignia unique to my rank along with my name and position:

[img]/threads/images/Graemlins/Dagger.gif[/img] [img]/threads/images/Graemlins/Dagger.gif[/img] Count Dorn
Missile Operations


In the other room, past a curtain that seperated it from my office, a cot, and sink competed with a window looking into space. I had none of my personal effects, it was discouraged, since it increased the payload of military vessels ferrying their crew to ship or station. The stationary, which everyone onboard received, was a reminder of who we were, and a comfort when away from home. Rank, as iconified by its symbol, was a reminder of identity and civic purpose.

My present concern was compiling a report on the discipline of my ensigns while onboard the transport Onirin. This would be valuable early information into the character of everyone working in the missile bay. Not every ensign could get such a posting, because of its security classification, the administration didn�t want anyone they didn�t trust inside the bay mucking things up. Only the well qualified ensigns were assigned, but they would continue to be evaluated by me and by the evaluation unit onboard.

I wrote:


To:
Captain Moran and the Evaluation Unit

In reference to the request for discipline evaluation of my unit while onboard Onirin and the past two days onboard Alba Lulia, I have the following to report on each member of my unit.


Ensign First Class Pai

Leadership � B

Pai failed to raise her leadership beyond that which is expected of an Ensign First Class, she failed to respond to a dispute between ensigns Julian and Vorn, until it was too late and the two were warned for poor conduct. Proper conduct would have forced her to intercede immediately and prevent dishonoring the missile bay unit.

Personal Evaluation � A+

Pai behaved with the utmost discipline onboard Onirin, acting as an examplar of proper military behavior and responding to all orders promptly and without wrongful attitude.


Ensign Julian

Evaluation � C

Julian argued with ensign Vorn over seating arrangements onboard the transports. The dispute was not tabled as it should have been, but instead flared up, until another ensign assigned to another unit calmed the two.

Recommendation �

Remind Julian that military service is not the proper place to air out personal disputes nor to insist on personal idiosyncratic notions. Disallow Julian from visiting the observatory for the next two weeks.


Ensign Hal

Evaluation � A

Hal maintained discipline and followed all orders succinctly, Hal immediately took to responsibility once onboard the Alba Lulia.

Recommendation �

Pending exemplary service over the next two months, promote Hal to Specialist � Technical Leader of the missile bay.


Ensign Vorn

Evaluation � D

Vorn refused Julian�s request to sit near a window, despite having no interest in observing space himself. While Julian was undisciplined for demanding personal preference, Vorn erred more greatly in intentionally starting a dispute without any grounds whatsoever.

Recommendation �

Demote Vorn to Spaceman and remove him from the missile bay unit, providing a more disciplined ensign the chance to transfer to this unit.


2nd Lieutenant Count Dorn.

There was a knock at my door as I finished writing the letter.

�Come in,� I said.

It was Colonel Tal, leader of the combat operations group and my superior.

�The Captain arrived a few hours ago, he wants to have an all hands meeting in the auditorium.�

�3rd floor?� I asked, not knowing the ship well beyond my own section of it.

�2nd floor, lieutenant, read the blueprints when you get the chance,� he said as we left my office and walked down the hall. Buckets, presumeably left by sanitation workers, were filled with soapy water by the entrance to the elevator.

Shiny metal would be the best way to describe the ship overall, and the elevator was no exception, it was gleaming, with solid brass buttons for each floor mounted to one side.

The Auditorium took up much of the second floor, as it was designed for meetings such as this one. Plush seats were arranged in tiered rows, and the place could likely support entertainment on the giant video display as well as diagrams and plans. As department leaders, Tal and I sat in the first, though the captain and his commanders were at the podium.

The rest of the rows quickly filled up with the crew coming from each of the ten floors of the station. Captain Moran began to speak. The auditorium quickly became quiet.

�Welcome to the Alba Lulia!�

The two commanders on both sides of the captain began to clap, and we all rose and gave the station a standing ovation.

�Many of you are ensigns fresh from the academy, making a start in this new vision in space, so I will tell a few things about myself and our commanders before getting into the meat of things.

I am Captain Moran, duke and cousin of our King Aya. I served as commander onboard the supersub Gemarran during the rebellions. After the war I led the test pilot team as the shipwrights went from 1 kiloton ships, 10, 100, 150 and now today, 200 kiloton warships, as of two weeks ago. The King wanted to establish a station in orbit to service damaged warships and their crews, and to construct new vessels in orbit using a limited shipwrighting facility onboard. This station weighs in at 500 kilotons or half a megaton!�

Once again the crew applauded for few minutes at that statement.

�I would like to welcome our first ever military commissioned shipwrights, stand up if you would. Give them a round of applause.�

About half the auditorium stood up, and the rest of us clapped for them, and then they sat down.

�Commander Nelville, to my right, is your Service Operations Commander. He is in charge of shipwrighting, ship repairing, station cleaning and docking on this station. Lets first turn to him, to hear what he has to say about these important functions.�

Moran backed up and Nelville took the mike.

�We are the premier repair service in orbit, in fact, we are the only repair service in orbit.�

The crew laughed along with the commander.

�We will have ongoing construction assignments in addition to any repair work and also hospitality for our guests onboard whether they be ship captains or King Aya himself. I would like to introduce to you our group leaders who will be working with me and with those of you who are part of my command.

Lieutenant Commander Skeen, shipwrighting, please come to the podium,
Lieutenant Commander Joram, repair, come to the podium,
Colonel Allan, hospitality, come to the podium,
Colonel Mel, sanitation, come to the podium,
Colonel Jordan, docking, come to the podium

Give a round of applause for your group leaders, Service Crew!

We will be meeting here tommorrow at 0700 for a more detailed presentation of Service crew responsibilities. Now back to the captain.�

�In addition to performing the tasks this station was built for, we must also operate the station and its systems such as environmental control. Commander Lal, to my left, is our Internal Operations Commander. He is in charge of engineering, station repair and maintenance, combat operations and the bridge.�

�I would like to introduce group leaders of internal operations as well.

Lieutenant Commander Samuel, bridge crew,
Lieutenant Commander Vanessa, engineering,
Colonel Tal, combat operations,
Colonel Melissa, station repair and maintenance

We will be meeting here tommorrow at 1500.�

�Thank you both. Now I�d like to say a few words in general about being a crewmember onboard this station. I expect everyone to perform up to the highest standards, and I appreciate you for doing so. The vessels constructed by this station's shipwrights will require crews of their own, and many of these ensigns, on their first assignment like many of you are now, will take your example as model of their own.

In addition, civillian vessels will be docking here for repair and retrofitting. It is important to set a good example for the military as a whole. With this in mind, I would like to give you the most important rules onboard this ship.

First, no fraternization with civillians. In so far as your work involves contact with civillians onboard, you may maintain contact, but only in a professional manner. Second, crew may only fraternize within rank group. These are Ensign through Specialist First Class, 3rd and 2nd lieutenants, 1st lieutenant through Lieutenant Commander, and myself and both commanders. Recreation and Cafeteria facilities are designed with this purpose in mind. Enlisted facilities, Junior officer facilities, Senior officer facilities, Command facilities are marked as indicated and open only to these groups, with the exception of those working in the facilities.

Third, drills will be run daily for those crew members assigned to departments which do not have a full task load. This primarily applies to internal operations, especially the Combat Operations group. It is important for those groups which do not have regular daily workloads to continually train for when they are needed.

Now, on to current assignments, the shipwrights will be immediately assigned to construct the Zalau frigate, which will be the first warship to enter service. The crew of that ship will be arriving within two months.

Thank you all, and goodnight.�

The captain stepped away from the podium and the hospitality group leader stepped up to the podium.

�Cafeterias will be open for the next two hours, and then closed until morning.�

The crew left row by row, with the officers leaving last. I followed the line out of the auditorium and waited for almost 5 minutes at the elevator as each one was full of crew members heading to cafeterias or their quarters. Finally I entered the elevator and hit the 6 button. I was pretty sure the Junior Officer cafeteria was on that floor. Signs on the floor directed me to it, and I went inside.

A digital menuboard displayed:

Welcome Junior Officers

2400::04::17 time - 1930

Chicken and Rice with brocolli

The Captain has authorized a dispensation of red wine to commemorate the start of operations onboard.


I waited in line and was handed a plate and at the next window the wine. I looked for a spot to sit. I sat down with a trio of 2nd lieutenants across from me.

�I don�t trust something like wine as far out as we are, it must have been on that transport for quite a while and with all that shaking and shimmying. I�m Jon, shipwrighting engine construction unit,� he said shaking the hands of the other three of us.

�Its better than lemonade, Dorn, missile bay unit,� I said in response. The others seemed to sway backwards at that.

�There�s lots of 1st lieutenants who would love your assignment, yet alone among our ranks,� another officer at the table said, �I�m Keith, shipwrighting structural integrity unit.�

The only female officer at the table said nothing until the rest of us had introduced ourselves, then she spoke, �Val, shipwrighting life support construction unit.�

�Fancy that, four of us all in different units when my unit has 6 lieutenants in it alone,� Jon said.


�We want to hear from you in the future Dorn, sit here more and we can share our comiserating. By tommorrow we�ll be busy with the Zalau.�

�Alright.�

Dinner was silent after that, and after leaving, I checked in on the missile bay which was on the 7th floor. Access to the bay was protected by keycard, and only the internal operations commander, the captain, my superior officer and my unit were allowed into the bay. I entered my keycard into the opening and it clicked open only long enough for me to pass through.

The launcher itself was on the far end from the entrance. It was a cylindrical block partly inside the ship and partly outside, but it was sealed except when a missile was launched. A latch opened up half of the launcher, and missiles could be loaded using a small crane from the missile storage box in the corner on my left. The small crane system could load missiles at a rate of about one per minute, but they took two more minutes to activate before launching because guidance and thruster control had to come online inside the missile.

These missiles could do substantial damage to a vessel and totally destroy anything smaller than 60 kilotons or so. It would take about 10 to destroy the space station itself. The missile storage box was loaded from below where a much larger warehousing facility on the sixth floor contained many pallets of missiles which could be loaded one pallet at a time into the missile bay itself. Security for the warehousing area was another unit under Corporal Tal.

In the center of the room the missile control system stood. EFC Pai was standing at the control system, which had a display showing diagnostic and control information on the missile systems. Hal was taking inventory of the storage box. Missiles came 8 to a pallet, and if not there would be hell to pay.

�Sir!� Pai said, saluting.

�Situation Normal?� I asked.

�Aye sir, diagnostics have been run on the launch system using dry runs, launch was successful and ship integrity uncompromised. Live missile was replaced after test. Julian and Vorn were both transfered. A message arrived from the commander, would you like to view it.�

�Yes ensign.�

She stepped aside, turning the display over to me. I pressed the messages button and entered my code. The message read:

To: 2nd Lieutenant Dorn, Missile Bay Unit


Tommorrow at 0700, 0730 and 0800 three applicants will be applying for the positions vacated in your unit, in person at your office. Please interview them and request further applicants if not all positions are fill at that point. Usual standards of conduct for highsec appointments apply.


Commander, Count Lal,

OTR � Welcome to the service, cousin.

[Azatol]

Chapter 2 -- Unidentified Flying Object


�Ensign Lea, sir, applying for vacant missile bay position,� she said, arriving in his office at exactly 0700.

�You may be seated,� I said and she sat down.

I stacked papers in piles, stalling for time on purpose as I always did. Lea didn�t flinch.

�What is the first thing that comes to your mind when I say each of the following phrases: Nuclear Missile.�

�Highly destructive weapon.�

�High Security.�

�Restricted Access.�

�Minimal safe distance?�

�Backsplash.�

�Operational range.�

�Reliable use.�

�Excellent, now, would you describe in a few sentences why you want the missile bay position?�

�It�s the only position onboard where I can gain valuable military experience.�

�What was your previous position onboard and your prior qualification for that posting?�

�Missile warehousing security detail. I went through police academy before going through the military academy.�

�This position is critical, the threat of theft of nuclear weaponry may be small, but the consequences are high, for that reason all missile related postings are in the top security classification. Since you have worked in the warehousing facility downstairs, you automatically qualify on those grounds. My response will be mailed to your quarters by 1200. If you are accepted, report to the missile bay tommorrow at 0400 for early shift duty with Ensign First Class Pai. Your keycard will be upgraded to allow access in that eventuality.�

�Thank you sir.�

I was confident Lea would win a position in the missile bay, and became certain when the second and third applicants proved to be well out of their depth and unable to achieve top level security classification. And so I sent the acceptance letter by paper mail, as all promotions were required to be filed in triplicate, and Lea joined my unit. I woke up early the next morning to catch her and Pai for the early shift and help Lea ease into her new assignment.

The two were already inside when I arrived.

�Sir, couldn�t sleep?� Pai asked.

�I just wanted to welcome Lea onboard. Go through the loading drill and then test firing if you would Pai.�

�Follow me to the launcher, Ensign,� Pai said.

Pai flipped open the hatch as Lea watched.

�This is the hatch, it must be open for loading and unloading, and closed for firing. It can be opened and closed manually, or automatically using the computer. It takes a real heft to open it, since when closed it forms a seal. Now that the hatch is open we return to the computer.�

�The launcher must be unloaded before test firing, since we never fire a missile without a target to fire at. So we unload by pressing the unload button on this screen.�

The automated crane moved across the room by a track on the ceiling and dropped its mechanical hand into the launcher, grabbing the missile solidly. It returned to the storage box, and gently set down the missile on the pallet inside the box.

�Now we press close to close the launcher in preparation for a test fire.�

The hatch slammed shut making a reverberating gong sound. �And now we press this red button that says fire!"

BAWUMPOOOSH, the launcher sounded as it launched the projectile and the air inside the launcher emptied into space in a brief few seconds.

�The launcher uses pressurized air to distance the missile from the ship before the missile�s thruster turns on. This prevents fire damage to the hull. With a test fire the whooshing sound is the sound of this air exiting rapidly. When real missiles are fired, the system automatically loads the next one, and if neccesary, another pallet is loaded from below. With test fire, this does not happen. Now load the launcher for me, but do not fire live unless so ordered.�

Lea pressed the load button, and the hatch on the launcher thudded open, followed by the crane lifting up a missile and taking it across to the launcher. Finally the hatch clanged closed again.

�Excellent,� I said, �continue the training.�

***
With no good candidates for the fourth missile bay position, it remained understaffed, but they keep up with the tests and drills rather well. Routine was followed by more routine. Hal was promoted to Technical Specialist in charge of operation of the launcher.

Finally a month into service onboard the Alba Lulia, a level 2 alert was raised across ship, and an executive officers meeting was called, with a couple unit officers requested as well. I was one of them. 1st Lieutenant Michael, sensors unit leader under the combat operations group, was at the podium along with Colonel Tal, Commander Lal and Captain Moran.

�Michael, from the sensors unit, has detected something of grave importance to the mission of the internal operations command.�

�Thank you. A vessel estimated at mass between 50 and 500 kilotons has been detected within the solar system with variable trajectory. The ramifactions of this are not known yet.�

�Thank you Michael, as combat operations group leader, I would like to alert all of you to the potential danger. This station may need to defend king and country against a possible hostile presence. The Zalau under construction on this station will play a critical role in defense as well, if we are not attacked in the coming month. Crew for the new vessel will be arriving soon, so as to be immediately activated on completion of the frigate.

I would like Lieutenant Dorn to come to the podium and brief you all on our offensive capabilities, Dorn if you would.�

I blushed and stood up, walking up to the podium, and tried to think of something to say.

�This space station has one missile launcher and an essentially infinite supply of nuclear missiles for our use. Each missile has a yield of approximately 55 megatons, enough to penetrate state of the art hull and internal structure. A frigate such as the Zalau could withstand three hits before being completely destroyed on the fourth. The first hit would do substantial damage, the second great damage, the third near total damage.

The missile launching system requires three minutes to reload after each launch. The minimal safe distance to fire these missiles is 200 kilometers with a maximum target acquisition range of 8000 kilometers. 6000 kilometers is the operational range.�

�Thank you Lieutenant. I would like you all to step up training and readiness, but not to speak of this meeting nor the classified unidentified object spoken of,� Captain Moran said.

Later in the cafeteria I met with the small cadre of friends that I had met on my second day onboard. Vegetarian chili (since meat was expensive and difficult to keep fresh onboard) was served.

Jon asked, �So, what was that officers meeting about?�

�I�m not an executive officer, I wasn�t there.�

�Don�t play coy, we all saw the request, you were listed as specially ordered to attend. Something to do with missiles I�d think,� he responded.

�I�m afraid I can�t tell you. I did speak before the executives, however, my first time at the podium.�

�Level two warning, those don�t happen every day,� Val said.

�Still one opening in your unit?� Keith asked.

�Are you highsec cleared?�

�Umm...no.�

�Didn�t think so, anyway how is the Zalau going?�

�The engine core is almost complete, the wiring still needs to be done,� Jon said.

�Structural integrity is not involved until near completion, but we are helping the other units. We have done a bit of testing on the hull material, passed for seal, but we haven�t stress tested,� Keith said.

�Life support is about half done, CO2 scrubbers, plant life, microbes in place, the biotic cycle is not yet complete, we are missing the water so far.�

�Exciting,� I said.

�Not really,� they replied in unison.

�So, how about a vid in the Junior officer�s lounge?� Jon asked.

�I have an hour, but I�ll watch what I can," I responded.

The others agreed as well, and so we crossed the hall into the lounge.

Street Fight: The battle for the streets of Rebel City

�I�ve seen it,� Jon said.

�So,� responded Val, �its worth seeing again.�

The movie was an action packed treatment of the last phase of the rebellion, when the rebels holed up in their last stronghold city, and troopers were forced to take the city block by block, with horrendous losses.

Returning to my office halfway through the movie, I found a message on the computer, from on planet.

To: All Missile Officers
Concerning: New Missile Design

A new missile design is being tested at the moment that will be ready in another half year which increases missile yields substantially. In addition it increases maximum range and operational range by 2000 kilometers. All vessels equipped with missile launchers should upgrade to the newer design, which requires a retrofit of the launcher and loading systems, because the missile is bulkier than the old design. The Weaponry adminstration believes these new missiles will be a drastic improvement in the event of hostilities.

Rear Admiral Voron
Weaponry Administration

***

To: Executive Officers, 2nd Lieutenant Dorn
Concerning: Alien Vessel

The alien vessel previously discussed has made a 180 degree turn and vanished outsystem. Level 2 alert is rescinded.

Colonel Tal
Combat Operations

***

�So with one Zalau constructed, we�ve been ordered to carry on with the second,� Jon said in the cafeteria.

�And the Zalau has been ordered to protect the civillian colony on the third planet.�

***

�In view of your three months of meritous service as unit leader of the missile bay, I hereby promote you to first lieutenant and welcome you to the ranks of senior officers. Here are your official papers and stationary, destroy the priors. I eagerly await your future progress as an officer.�

Because of the fraternization rules, I couldn�t lounge about with Jon and the others in the Junior officer facilities, on the other hand, the senior officer cafeteria was rather cozy, and smaller, less like a mess hall. It was eerily quiet, and perhaps being the most junior of the senior officers, few were comfortable with treating me casually as of yet.

Most officers are given information about their potential for reassignment and their priority on a list for their position. In my case, it was missile bay officer on a warship that I was due for eventually. I had been #5 on the list when I first boarded, but each Zalau contained two missile bays, quickly moving me to #3, and after the second Zalau was complete I would be at number one.

Unfortunately future Zalau construction was not planned past the second Zalau, at least until funds became available, as the military was facing a budget crunch with larger space operations costs. The two Zalau�s would be the primary defenders of king and country until such time as production resumed. I was sure to receive a position on a Zalau when that happened. I was still #5 to serve on any larger warship, since many of the Zalau missile leaders would wish to move up themselves. But no matter what a vacancy would exist for me once a third vessel was constructed.

[Hunpecked]

Not a bad start. Looks like we may have "Horatio Hornblower in space" here. All we need is the junior officer toasting the king at each formal meal.

Perhaps it was deliberate, but I noticed a lack of "nautical" terminology in the story, i.e. "floor" instead of "deck", "wall" instead of "bulkhead", "cafeteria" instead of "galley". In some places the station is referred to as a "ship"; in others it's called a "station".

I look forward to future installments.

[Azatol]

Well the station was supposed to be more like a military base than naval vessel. The next chapter takes our officer into space. My knowledge of nautical terms is lacking, but I'll do what I can to include them.

The game uses the Toltayan shipset, but I didn't research what the actual Toltayans are like. The shipset doesn't look very metallic after all, but I liked the idea of a shiny super clean space station that has the worry about the King making an appearance.

[Azatol]

Chapter 3 � Targul Onca

[img]/threads/images/Graemlins/icon44.gif[/img] 1st Lieutenant Count Dorn
Missile Operations


To: 1st Lieutenant Dorn

The King has authorized construction of two additional Zalau class frigates to guard the colonies. You could be placed on Zalau 003, pending your acceptance of such a transfer. Your response is requested.

As is standard for such transfers, your crew will be allowed to transfer with you to the new posting.


Personnel Division
Weaponry Operational Teams


To: Personnel Division - Weaponry Operational Teams

Regarding the position of missile bay unit leader, I gratefully accept the position and would appreciate your cooperation in the transfer of my team.


To: 1st Lieutenant Dorn

Your transfer time is set for 2401::03::06 1200 - 1800
Onboard the Zalau 003 with Captain James

The ship may be delayed in embarking from the Alba Lulia space station in order to retrofit the new missile design and launching system. The Capital Ship Missile, utilizing fission-fusion H bomb technology, has an estimated yield of 75 megatons and an operational range of 8000 kilometers with maximum range at 10000 k and minimal safe distance of 200 k.


To: 1st Lieutenant Dorn

The Zalau 003 will not need retrofitting because the shipwrighting team onboard the Alba Lulia was provided with the appropriate supplies and specifications for the new missile system.

Personnel Division
Weaponry Operational Teams


�I�m being assigned to the Zalau 003 as chief of weaponry as well, Dorn, the sensors unit is also due for the ship. The thrum of engines will be a nice change from the wimpy orbital control thrusters on this hulk,� Tal said, when I entered his office to tell him the latest news on the Zalau.

�You had something to show me?� I asked.

In the corner, resting on a chair was what looked like a missile, but it was substantially wider and more rectangular than the old design. Two security guards were standing in Tal�s office guarding the missile.

�It�s the new missile design, almost 50% higher yield and more efficient fuel usage which gives it 25% greater maximum range. The loading mechanisms have to be redesigned to carry the heavier missile.

They�ve renamed the Zalau design because of the updates in weaponry, so our new ship will be christened the Targul Ocna. This new missile weighs 20 tons. Onboard the Ocna, there will only be room for about 100 of these babies, and they load 4 to a pallet. On the plus side, these missiles will outrange any and all weaponry we know of.�

�So estimating now, the new missile could destroy a Zalau in three hits and take out this station in seven. That�s certainly an improvement. Have they ran combat tests with the new designs yet.�

�Thats what we will do to pass the time, until the Ocna is ready. They�ve sent up the new fleet command simulator to allow us to test the effect of these new missiles, the weaponry administration would like to see our report on effectiveness in battle. So I have a laptop for you here, preloaded with the program, and lets run even numbers first, 8 Zalau�s vs 8 Ocna�s.�

�I get the Zalau�s?� I said knowing his response.

�Rank has its privleges.�

After the battle we assessed the results.

�You failed to use your range advantage,�

�And you might make a damn fine admiral, you wrecked most of my fleet with your misfits. I count 3 ships left with only three missile bays active between them. One ship had none, another had only one and the third had both. I hate missile dancing, it goes against my naval instincts.�

�Wall formation may be better than V formation to take advantage of range, with V vs V only a few ships are able to exploit a range advantage. Wall vs V would allow concentrated fire against a few targets.�

�The closer you can get in the more chance your missiles have to hit. If only armor could be developed to resist a 75 megaton blast.�

�That�s a tall order sir. Anyway the ramming was a bit different from missile bay duty, it gave my disarmed ships something to do.�

�Indeed they tore me apart, so I responded with my own ramming.�

�I would write up the report as follows: new missiles offer moderate advantage over previous designs, proper tactics are required to use them to their full potential.�

***

So, three months later, Tal, myself and the rest of my unit trekked our way down to the docking facility, where the Targul Ocna had been transferred from shipwrighting. We were carrying our tote bags towards the bay where the Ocna was held when we heard clapping. We rushed into the bay and noticed a big crowd surrounding the ship.

�Give a round of applause for the combat operations group, Tal and his missile unit are transferring to our brightest new warship, congratulations!�

The crowd applauded us all as we entered sheepishly.

�We, the shipwrights of Alba Lulia hope you will respect the Targul Ocna just as much as we did in making her. She will serve you well.�

Another round of applause.

The Captain of the new vessel entered behind us and walked up to the Shipwright leader who had been speaking.

�Thank you, shipwrights, for your fine work on this vessel. We will be in dock for another week to gather our crew and run tests.�

Captain James turned to us and said, �Well lets go on board.�

The ship felt downright claustrophic compared to the station, although in reality it was only a bit less than half the weight of the Alba. It was wider but not as thick, with only three levels.

�Unlike the Alba Lulia, onboard this ship, the three most important things are bridge command, weapon operations and propulsion. I will rely on your team heavily on this ship, and I expect you both to step up to the responsibility.

Our mission is to defend the colony Yukra I from orbit against any attacker, and to prepare, in case full scale war breaks out.

Yukra I is rather close to the sun, so I hope you brought tropical outfits instead of arctic designs, I�ll be hot even with environmental control working hard.

On planet temperatures reach a high of 140, so residents live in habitation domes with air conditioning. Any internal disputes in planet will also be handled by our team, but we have a police detail arriving in two days who will be assigned to such things. The rest of the crew will also be arriving in the next few days.�

***
Two weeks later we were in orbet of Yukra I, environmental control kept temperatures away from the boiling level, but we suffered the heat anyway as the system could not keep us as comfortable as we would like. When we were on the far side of the planet, the ship cooled off fairly quickly, but when we took in the sun�s rays it would heat back up again.

Having a night shift was horrible because you had to try to sleep during the hot days. Equipment faced different stresses than on the station, where cold was the stresser instead. Metal walls and equipment were something we cursed hourly, but we soon became careful what we touched. The crew numbered 140, 50 of these being the police detachement.

The civillian community was planning on flying a small test vessel through the wormholes which marked the boundries of our solar system, if they made it through, the military thought they might have to go follow the civillians to protect them, especially if new colonies were established on the far side of these wormholes.

The civillian community believed that the unidentified object seen months before had come and gone through the wormhole. Soon they would prove to be right as their test vessel slipped right on through the wormhole and back.

If the UFO, or its friends were around on the far end of the wormhole, the military would have to think about forming up a fleet, which would take us away from the oppresively hot assignment we had. We eagerly devoured what news the military dispensed about the civillian project.

Plans were to send a much larger ship through with sensors to detect objects on the far side. Construction would take several months however, because the shipyards of the homeworld were busy constructing colonial ships.

And so the months went by, of drills and police actions. A small rebellion on planet was quelled when the captain threatened to use a missile to obliterate the colony. That was the only time I�ve ever waited on live firing, our missile launcher was loaded and ready to fire on the colony on the captain�s orders. The group turned themselves in, though and I didn�t have to pull the trigger.

Finally, in mid 2401, the Mizil sensor ship began construction on homeworld, and we eagerly awaited the results of their testing. A month later the Mizil set out on its mission.

Soon after, the military was able to make use of shipwrighting facilities on homeworld to build a network of new missile silos featuring the mark II missiles, that would defend the planet from most threats. These weapon platforms, as they were called, were placed all around the planet in defensive installations, and they were manned non-stop.

The Mizil arrived through the wormhole into a system they named Eskirk, and discovered another UFO barely detected on their sensors, but it was there. They pursued it across the Eskirk system, hoping it would lead them to an even greater find.

Instead the Mizil was attacked by this UFO, and it sent a distress signal which woke up the whole military establishment soon after.

PRIORITY ALPHA
EMERGENCY MESSAGE SYSTEM

To: All

All warships are hereby ordered as of 2402::00:03 1300 to form up for fleet action at the Alba Lulia space station. Admiral Winter will be boarding the Zalau 001 to form his command center there. The Toltayan Fleet will embark for the Eskirk system after all ships arrive.

Finally, away from the frying pan, but what was next for us, if not the fire?

I stepped up the missile bay drills trying to hone my unit into a cohesive fighting force as we raced homeward to join up with the others.

And so the game was afoot as the fleet raced towards the Eskirk system by wormhole. I wondered along with everyone else, just what was in store for us.

There was nothing in sight in the Eskirk system so we headed for an unexplored wormhole there, in hopes of finding the murderous aliens that had killed our citizens.

Meanwhile, the military research establishment focussed on establishing a cadre of space marines that could be carried onboard a warship and dropped on a planet to take over. A new hull size was prototyped at a whopping 300 kt. Following the pattern from naval ships, this new hull size was called the destroyer. Now the military would have to design a destroyer and start building them.

In the meantime we speed along, looking for hostile vessels as we approached the unknown wormhole. When we warped through, there were rumors throughout the fleet that scanning teams had picked up a message from the aliens, but as a unit officer I never received any word on that subject, so I can not say either way. It is likely any message would be considered top secret and sent to the diplomatic corp back home.

A hostile warship orbitted a world in the new system which we labelled Nizarum. The world was generating large amounts of radio traffic, which was picked up by our ship comm system on accident, because the frequencies matched. We couldn�t understand any of it, however.

The first space battle of our history began soon after, when we entered orbit of the enemy planet. Sensor software discovered the alien vessel in orbit was not equipped with any weaponry, but designed for some other unknown purpose. The satellites could not be hit by our missiles, because they were too numerous and minor to be tracked by the missile targetting system, they would have to be bypassed until a warship capable of destroying them was built.

So we went after the enemy ship, keeping our distance from the satellites.

As we passed by the planet, we detected missiles launched from it, and turned our attention to destroying the launchers on planet. Thirty missiles were headed for the fleet as I managed my unit team.

�Load and fire, this is for real people,� Pai shouted as Lea operated the controls. She quickly fired when the missile was loaded and ready.

BAWUMP sounded the launcher. �Reload,� I shouted as the machinery was already in motion doing just that.

The comm sounded, it was the captain, �Missile launch detected, we are retreating to attempt to get out of the enemy missile range. We will wait to see the maximum range of their missiles before proceeding.�

�Activate the missile.�

The system display showed the status of the missile�s guidance computer which was booting up. Diagnostics had to be performed on every missile before launch to ensure they were not defective.

I could feel the sudden jerk as we turned and fled the oncoming missiles, which I knew were there but could not see.

�Fleet has launched its payload of missiles,� the captain said on comm. �750 megatons of power, hoorah! Those launchers will be dead in the water soon enough.�

The Captain was still thinking in naval terms, I thought to myself. The enemy�s launchers were on solid ground.

�Hostile missiles pursuing, all ships are holding ground,� the sensors chief Michael said on comm.

�This is combat operations commander Tal, structural integrity team prepare for possible missile impacts. Assume defensive stations for impact. We do not know the range on the enemy missiles, so prepare for anything.�

Expected time of impact came and gone.

�The enemy missiles lost thrust at 8000 kilometers out, estimate maximum range at that figure. Our missiles have hit their targets on planet. Damage: moderate. Three missile silos are now offline,� Michael said.

�Fire at range of 9000 kilometers, missile teams assume attacking positions,� Tal ordered.

�2 rounds in the pallet remaining,� Hal said.

Engines fired up taking us in closer to assigned firing distance.

�Fire!� I said as we closed in.

BAWUMP!

We waited a few minutes as our second salvo hit the planet.

�4 remaining silos.�

�Some missiles are reported as ineffective at 9000 kilometers due to targetting distant parts of the planet. Fire at 8000 kilometers and return to 9000 while reloading.�

BAWUMP!

�All silos have been destroyed, some collateral damage on planet,� Michael said.

�Fleet requests pursuit of alien vessel, full thrust,� Captain James said.

The hum of the engines could be felt throughout the ship as Pai loaded another missile and prepared it, and we chased after the vessel that had escaped when we turned our attention to the planet.

We were alongside the Torgul Onca 004 in pursuit of the enemy vessel, with the rest of the fleet behind us.

A new pallet of missiles was loaded from below, replacing the empty one. The pallet loading mechanism closed with a sharp click.

004 and our ship fired at the same time on the vessel. We were firing at maximum range. The rest of the fleet closed in and fired after us. The first two volleys destroyed the ship and the rest of the missiles were deactivated. The Torgul Onca 001, our vessel, had its first kill.

Captain James had a single star painted alongside the ship�s name and designation. The 1st battle of Nizarum VII was a complete success, mostly because of the new missile design.

The fleet was ordered to blockade the planet and prevent any reinforcements from arriving.

To: All

These aliens, who call themselves the Amon�krie Continuum, wished to offer peace to us, after having ruthlessly killed the civillian vessel Mizil. We will not stand for such barbarity and therefore I have extended to the continuum two options: Surrender, or Conquest.

King Aya the 8th calls on you to serve your kingdom. In another year and a half the ground invasion of the Amon�krie homeworld will commence. New technologies must be developed in order to create a Space Marine Corps. In the meantime you will destroy all warships of the continuum that show themselves.

[Azatol]

Chapter 4 � Submarines in Space


To: Officers of Targul Ocna 001

Unfortunately, the King has informed us that the space trooper program is being delayed because of technical issues, namely the difficulty of providing effective and efficient landing equipment for so many soldiers. The Amon�krie will continue to threaten us until we can take control on planet. Their latest message was translated as follows:

�Death to the accursed Toltayan Kingdom.�

I want someone on alert at all combat stations 24/7, in case they throw something more at us, and they will.

Captain James

***

�Wake up Dorn, fleet orders coming in,� Pai shouted at me while I was blinking my eyes groggily.

I sat up, �Whats the situation?�

�Enemy frigate class just out of orbit, fleet is pursuing.�

�Give me five minutes and I�ll be there,� I said.

She left, and I wearily readied myself for battle stations. I was in the missile bay 16 hours at a time, sometimes more, with no targets, no enemies but the planet off in the distance. Sometimes anomalous readings would have to be chased down for hours to confirm that they were in fact anomalous. And we still had a few more years before the marines could come relieve us of this work.

As I walked to the missile bay the thrusters activated, and I held onto the wall the best I could. They were in a hurry to catch this frigate.

Once in the missile bay, it was routine as always, and I plonked myself in a corner watching the crew at work.

�Range: 25000 kilometers and closing,� Sensors chief Michael said on comm.

�Hold formation, prepare to fire at 8000 kilometers. Vice Admiral�s orders.�

That was strange, it had already been established that 9000 kilometers was the safe zone between our missiles� effective operation, and their missiles.

We waited as the minutes went by.

�11000 kilometers.�

�9000 kilometers.�

�Fire!� the captain shouted on comm as we passed 8000.

BAWUMP!

�Two inbound missiles from the frigate, target unknown,� Michael said

�About face, full thrust, hold onto your hats folks,� the captain responded.

The sudden thrust pitched Lea forward onto the firing computer but she composed herself as the reloading mechanism worked its magic.

�All 10 fleet missiles are inbound on the bogey, estimate detonation in 15 seconds,� Michael said.

�Confirmed fleet kill on the frigate...� James said but then his voice trailed off.

�This is COMM chief Ron, distress call from the Targul Ocna 003, patching it through the comm system.

�This is Captain Julian, we have taken damage from two missile hits, the engines went off-line after the blast but we have restored some engine power, more seriously, life support is down, backup systems are online, but we need to offload some of the crew, backups can�t support the full complement. Sirs, I must say the new hull composite materials performed well, the estimates are correct, as much of the blast of the missiles was redirected into space. Structural integrity team is still working to ensure we have no more air leaks, the others have been patched up.

The second missile hit right at the life support systems, which is not actively crewed as you know, but the first hit was on the leftside thrusters, the shockwave killed six of my men and injured another dozen in the main engine room.��

�Offer to take some of their crew, chief, we are returning to blockade positions now, brace yourselves.�

***

The first casaulties of the new era of war were given funerals onboard the admiral�s ship the Zalau 001 (although all vessels of the fleet were upgraded to new missiles, the older ships kept their original name for nostalgia.)

Later the dead would be commemorated before billions by King Aya himself, who proclaimed them the brave soldiers of a new era. He used the ceremony to unveil his Space Marines plan, which was still under development. He wanted to start training troops immediately, and hoped to get a lot of interest by informing the public of what had been a secret project. The response he got was more than anyone could have expected as millions turned out to apply for the program. Now they just had to work out the technological problems that continued to plague the program.

Rumors were flying that the Admiral had laid the blame for the deaths and damage to the ship on the Vice Admiral who had followed what he assumed was standard practice, giving firing orders at operational range, which was listed as 8000 kilometers. The Admiral had very clearly given special orders, that in all missile on missile combat, minimum firing range was to be set at 9000 kilometers, except when otherwise ordered by the admiral.

***

To: All Military Personnel


INTRODUCING �

The Sarande class destroyer, weighs in at 300 kilotons, with 50% more firepower than the Targul Ocna and extra fuel and missile storage for extended campaigns. The first Sarande will be commissioned in one month on 2402::09::03, and will serve as the new Capital ship for the Toltayan Fleet in orbit above Nizzarum VII.


From,
The Alba Lulia Shipwrighting team

***

�This briefing describes briefly how the fleet will be changing in the coming days.

The Sarande will arrive in another month, and in the meantime, the Reserve fleet will take the wounded Targul Ocna 003 from us and escort it through the Eskirk system, which the Reserve fleet is defending anyway. Then the 003 is destined for the Alba Lulia and repair. The Admiral will be transferring to the Sarande once it arrives.�

Tal asked the captain, �What is the Reserve fleet defending in Eskirk?�

�Colonies are being established in Eskirk for military research operations, especially concerning the new space marines program. The colonies will be optimal places to test the operations of proposed drop-pods, in addition a substantial quorom of scientists are relocating to these new colonies. They are completely helpless against enemy attack, so the Reserve fleet is protecting them. With this new effort there is hope that we may conquer the Amon�krie in two years.�

***

To: Toltayan Fleet

Extraordinary efforts on the space marines project have produced results and now effective drop pods should be complete in about 8 months. An invasion force will take some time to assemble, but with troops training now, the invasion date is set for 16 months from now, on 2405::01::01.

***

�Contact, it appears to be an enemy destroyer, the first we�ve seen,� Michael said to the captain.

�Report it to the admiral, prepare for manuevering. Prepare missile launchers,� the captain ordered.

Pai loaded a live missile into the launcher, and we prepared for the third battle of the war.

�This is the Admiral, ignore formation, be wary of missile fire from the planet and concentrate fire on the destroyer. If the Amon�krie have constructed any new missile silos, I want them destroyed now as well, move out.�

�Sensors detected active scanning systems on two objects on planet, estimate that these are newly constructed silos.�

�Affirmative, you know Michael, sometimes I wonder if you haven�t rigged those sensors for improved operations, you�ve caught the enemy at work more often than any other sensor chief in the fleet. I�ll see to it the admiral knows too. First priority is this destroyer, keep range at 9000 kilometers.�

�Whats our missile stockpile at?� I asked Pai who punched it up on the firing computer.

�53 missiles onboard sir.�

�How many does the Sarande hold at full?�

�I think 125, with three missile bays as well,� Lea responded from memory. The Sarande was a popular topic to relieve the dull monotony that characterized missile bay work.

�We need to develop a weapon to take out those satellites,� I said absentmindedly as we slowly closed in on the enemy destroyer.

�I�ve heard some say that if they�d retrofit naval cannons onto a ship, they�d be able to knock out those satellites,� Hal said.

�Destroyer is heading straight at the fleet, get ready,� Michael said.

�Fire and retreat to stay out of the destroyer�s weapon range, assume that it is 8000 kilometers until informed otherwise,� Captain James ordered.

�The target is in range Lieutenant,� Lea shouted at me.

�Fire!�

BAWUMP!

�Full reverse!� the captain yelled as we retreated in a game becoming increasingly familiar.

�Missiles from the Zalau 002 have hit first, the others are still in flight. We need to continue retreating.�

�Thats a confirmed kill, credit to the whole fleet, nice job, now close in on those missile silos on planet and destroy them,� the captain said.

BAWUMP!

�Ocna 004 and our ship have fired first on planet, the others are just behind us. 004 has closed to 7000 kilometers, will have to make an abrupt retreat to avoid oncoming missiles.�

�Enemy launch detected...�

�About face, full thrust again, this should wipe out those silos.�

�Enemy missiles have locked on Sarande. Sarande is out of their range however. The silos are no longer pinging sir, they are destroyed.�

�Good job crew.�

[Azatol]

Chapter 5 � Operation Glory


To: Toltayan Fleet

The Tarnaveni military transport is under construction and will be carrying the Space Marines during their invasion of the Amon�krie homeworld. It is of the utmost importance that your fleet destroys any weaponry that could damage the ship or the drop pods during their drop.

The hatch of the Tarnaveni will open up at the maximum range of the pods which is 1000 kilometers. From there, up to 200 infantry drop pods will be released from the ship like water droplets in a rain cloud. Each pod holds a division of Space Marines. The invasion, tenatively set for 2405::01::01 will be the biggest military operation in history, the invasion of another world. Your support will help bring glory to king and country.

General Duke Adrum,
Commander in Chief � Space Marines

***

To: The crew of Targul Ocna 001

Destroying enemy vessels is becoming routine, I know it. The actions taken are done without the need for words or adjustments. But remember, while war may have its routines, it also has surprises. In the time since we began our blockade, the enemy has moved up to destroyers.

As part of the fleet, we have now destroyed 4 enemy vessels. An unarmed ship of unknown purpose, one frigate and two destroyers. As you all know, we destroyed the second destroyer hours ago without any problems. Sensor teams from throughout the fleet, including our expert Michael, are analyzing some strange sensor readings that were emanating from both destroyers. These were very strange electromagnetic readings, and no one is sure what they are, but it is clear the enemy is not going to die without a fight. It is innovating just as we are.

Soon, the biggest military operation in history will begin, and we will be able to say that we made it happen.

Also, the admiral reports that Targul Ocna 003 has arrived safely at the Alba Luli for repair.


Captain James

***

�Even combat is becoming so routine as to be hardly the heart pounding affair it was at first. Three destroyers one after another, sent against us. Destroyed. Missile stockpiles, falling gradually. Fuel, falling gradually from manuevering. Otherwise things are going well. Now the ground war may go differently, they�ll be taking territory when they aren�t facing opposition. That will be constant tension I�d think,� I said, sitting eating in the galley.

�It should be exciting to see the marines in action. The Tarnaveni is already constructed, its just waiting for its passengers. I�ve heard they�ve run three test drops in the Eskirk system already. And all the able bodied men of the kingdom want to join up to serve, and probably to kill some Amon�krie as well. No one knows what the makeup of the Amon�krie army is. I mean, this era is an era of island nations, we are all islands.

The Island nations were safe with a strong navy, so they never had much of an army, I wonder if the Amon�krie are that way. I know our standing army is just a bunch of old garrison soldiers. None of the youngsters joined up until now. The old army offers standing around and sitting at a desk, the new one offers death and glory and travelling to strange lands,� Tal said.

�It offers space for a lot more men than the navy ever could. And they get to see planets we never set down on. But invading a whole other world, the fatality rate in such a job can�t be good. You can�t escape, you can only fight.�

***

To: All Military Personnel


A new civillian Mizil class vessel was constructed recently, and explored a new system which was named Bakshal. It discovered an Amon�krie colony in the system. For this reason, the fleet and space marines will not be returning home after the invasion of the Amon�krie homeworld. This new colony must be conquered afterwards. In addition, the military has asked the Mizil to explore other nearby systems and report on any Amon�krie colonies found.

***

To: All Military Personnel


Construction of the drop pods is now in progress, the space marines are ready waiting on production and loading of the new drop pods. A new high powered infantry weapon has also been developed for use by the space marines.

Estimates show the Space Marines should be onboard along with the pods in 6 months, meaning 2405::01::01 remains the anticipated I day.

Emergency level production of the pods has begun on homeworld, with many factories diverting their efforts to the new pods.

***

To: Toltayan Fleet, Reserve Fleet

The following message from the Amon�krie was recently translated. We believe it is cause for alarm and so, the Reserve fleet is hereby ordered to entered the Yukra system and assist the main fleet in terminating all bogeys.

Message �
"We are planning a massive offensive in the Nizzarum system. Unless you remove your ships, they might get damaged.�

***

To: Toltayan Fleet, Reserve Fleet

Through the end of last month, the Toltayan fleet has destroyed 7 enemy ships, 5 of them being destroyers, 1 a frigate, and one unknown. The Reserve fleet has destroyed 1 enemy ship, a destroyer.

King Aya commends both Admirals for exemplary service.

Preparations for the Space Marines are proceding rapidly.

***

To: Toltayan Fleet, Reserve Fleet

As of 2404::07:12, the Turnaveni troop transport is fully loaded and in transit to the Nizzarum system.


General Duke Adrum
Commander in Chief � Space Marines

***

�The Mizil has discovered an incredible amount now, in a few months. The Ashadra system contains three Amon�krie colonies, it is likely reinforcements have come from there. The Jubrup system contains many colonized planets, but neither the colonies nor vessels match the electromagnetic signature of the Amon�krie. This is likely yet another nation, and it is bordering the Amon�krie homeworld. We may have to worry about multiple bogies inbound from them. Or not. No one knows what the King plans to do about these new guys.�

�Incredible, just when you think you understand the galactic sector, it changes. We�ll be chasing after enemies for years. Those space marines aren�t going to have a short little tour of duty are they?�

�Well, you might not be chasing after all those colonies.�

�What do you mean?�

�You know the Military Space Academy, of course you do, you attended there like the rest of us, well anyway... The dean of the School of Weaponry asked to interview me long distance. They�ve got some relays connected to talk to command anyway, so I was able to.

This dean ended up asking a bunch of questions about you. I was confused, but now I think he wants you to be a Missile weapon systems instructor at the academy. He hasn�t sent word to me or anyone else yet, but you may end up shipping out with the reserve fleet and returning home. And getting a position like that could help your career in the long run, you could end up with my position on a new ship in a few years.

Oh, and congratulate me, you are looking at a new Lieutenant Commander, the Captain put in for my promotion. Didn�t make sense to have his commander not actually be one.�

�Congrats Tal, but why would they want me for missile systems instructor?�

�You are the longest serving missile bay unit leader, from the beginning onboard Alba Lulia. You know how to run all of the equipment well. What with missiles being so important to the war effort, they want an instructor with experience.�

�Well, we will see if I hear anything from the academy on that. It would be nice to spend some time on solid ground for a while. Catch up on all the homeworld business I�ve been missing out on.�

�Indeed.�

***

�Turnaveni is in system, it should arrive just in time for final preparations,� Michael said on comm.

�The Admiral has ordered us to make a sweep of planetary defenses before Turnaveni goes in. Also, wherever the Satellites are in orbit, the Turnaveni must approach the planet from the opposite side to avoid being fired on.�

***

�Hello Admiral, this is General Duke Adrum onboard the Turnaveni, requesting conference in preparation for Operation Glory."

�Acknowledged General. We will make a sweep of Amon�krie missile defenses and inform you of the location of the satellites in orbit. Our missiles can not hit the satellites, so you must avoid them and approach the planet from the far side relative to them.�

�Right Admiral, by the way, I�ve filed a suggestion that the fleet man at least two ships capable of destroying satellites. They really do complicate things.�

�Lets go through our procedures. We will signal you on success, if things look bad, we will signal you for failure. Before that I will signal for touchdown. Once touchdown starts, I want no missile fire directed at the planet. If I signal failure, you may attack at will. We will let your run your sweep before beginning touchdown.�

�Roger that, all ships scan for missile silos on planet.�

�A destroyer is in orbit, Admiral, previously only the unarmed mystery design was in orbit, we must link up with Turnaveni to guard it,� Captain James said on fleetcom.

�Check the destroyer�s trajectory first, if it comes toward us we can destroy it without danger to the transport.�

�Its engines have fired, the destroyer is headed towards us.�

�Phew, hallelujah on that one. General, you are clear to make your approach, head to your left to avoid the satellites.�

�Affirmed Admiral. Operation Glory commencing.�

�And it will be a glorious day indeed.�

Onboard, we were more concerned with the destroyer, although we were heartened that the General�s forces would soon be fighting for king and country below. And so after a rather non-routine conversation, things became routine again, as we fired on the destroyer in the same manner we had followed several times now. This would be the fleet�s ninth kill.

�The destroyer is destroyed General, no missile silos detected on planet, the way is clear for touchdown.�

�We are in route.�

�Fleet, this is the Admiral, stand down all offensive operations. Switching fleetcom to the marines combat comm. We will be able to hear their progress and respond if things go sour. But mostly just to witness the greatest invasion in history. I would like to thank my captains and crews for their long and dedicated service. No one knows just how long this invasion will take, but stretch your legs and get some rest, because we�ll be shipping out for the Amon�krie colonies after the Marines are retrieved.�

Tal entered the missile bay a few minutes later.

�Ok everyone, shut down operations here and secure the facility.�

The ensigns did so, and the missile bay was empty for the first time in over a year of continous operation.

�So Tal, what now?�

�Head to the galley and listen on comm, like the Admiral said. Lets get some grub.�

The officers galley was rather small and became full quickly, when officers from around the ship entered. Finally the captain came in.

�Everything is shut down for now. All we can do is listen and hopefully celebrate. Excellent job over the past year everyone. The crew has maintained discipline in the face of grueling schedules. Now its our turn to watch, after being the watched for so long.�

�Passing within 10000 kilometers of the hostile satellite group, now heading inbound on planet...

Crossing to far side for touchdown. Estimated time to touchdown is thirty minutes...

And...beginning touchdown. Hatch is being opened. Divisions are being informed of touchdown...

Pods away, pods away...

All pods are deployed and entering atmosphere...now!

Parachutes deploying...

Touchdown...we are scattered across 2000 square miles, I estimate. Commanders are gathering there forces.

Several divisions reporting contacts. Sensors indicate that citizen militias have formed in response to our invasion. Thermal gear detected massed formations in many towns and cities.

Estimated militia strength at 150 divisions, armed with service rifles and grenades, no air power nor armored vehicles.

Effectiveness of new high powered rifles is high. Body armor is worthless against the new guns.

We out man the enemy and we out tech them. It appears the Amon�krie no longer have a standing army.

Many divisions making contact with the militia groups...

[Azatol]

Chapter 6 � Inquest


A stranger series of events spanning three months could not be imagined. Not only strange but gruesome in the extreme. And now here I was, at a senatorial inquest, as the guest speaker, or more precisely, guest answerer, on homeworld. Three months ago I had listened to the comm chatter of Operation Glory, now I, a mere 1st Lieutenant, was answering questions before the senate about the operation.

The King�s senator, who served also as chair of the legislative body, spoke up.

�Could you, first of all, give us an account of how you arrived here, from the Nizzarum system?�

�First of all, I would like to say that I am merely a first lieutenant, and thus I do not have all the facts, but I will tell all I can.

Sometime during the three day war with the Amon�krie militia groups, I received a message from the Military Space Academy here on homeworld. My superior officer had previously informed me that I might get an offer from them. The dean of the School of Weaponry messaged me to offer me the position of Missile Systems Instructor. The Captain of the Turnaveni felt that it might be appropriate to return to homeworld after the incident which will be described later.

As a result I was allowed to board the Turnaveni and ride along with its crew in the now empty transport. As you know, the Turnaveni is now docked on planet. Discovering that I was the officer with the longest tour of duty on homeworld, you sought me out for this inquest.�

�Alright then, we know that after you left the fleet, the Reserve fleet was folded into the main fleet, and they now are stationed at the wormhole into Ashadra, which according to the navy, contains three colonies of the Amon�krie Continuum.

Part of what this inquest is about, is finding out what happened, and the other part is deciding what to do. Of course we could always rely on the King�s staff to communicate by relay, but face to face we can ask more questions. Describe this incident you speak of, with a mind to the fact that when the Turnaveni returned home, we expected that she would be filled with troopers returning from a successful operation. Instead she returned empty.�

�This will take a while to describe, so first I will tell you about something we have faced from the beginning. Missile systems like the ones I manage as unit leader, use targetting computers to hit. Missiles, however, are designed to hit large targets not small ones.

Orbitting the Amon�krie homeworld, is a network of satellites that can not be targetted by our missiles. As a result we have avoided the network, and so did the Turnaveni prior to the invasion. You see, these satellites are armed with short range cannon that can not hit us as long range, where we fire our missiles from.

When the Turnaveni launched its pods, the system worked great and those pods unleashed 200 divisions of the King�s finest. The Amon�krie have no standing army, and so militia groups were formed to fight us. They failed to defeat us as the marines wiped out the militia and forced the planet�s surrender in three days.�

�Lieutenant, I want to get this clear, Operation Glory was a success, you defeated the enemy on the ground and achieved their surrender.�

�Indeed. Despite the incident, the planet is now under our control, the Amon�krie on planet have surrendered, leaving only their colonies to fight. And one other thing, their satellites.�

�So what is the incident then, if not Operation Glory.�

�Soon after the planet surrendered, the cannons on the satellites of the network began firing.�

�How large were the cannons and how many?�

�Battleship main cannon with incendiary rounds, twenty of them, firing incessantly. They first fired on concentrations of our troops, but the damage affected the Amon�krie civillians as well. The incendiary rounds set off fires that expanded in the absense of an adminstration. No firefighters were combating the blaze at first. More and more fires were set off, and the satellites continued to target our concentrations of men.

Divisions scattered into companies than platoons, and eventually squads. Military command and control was lost. Meanwhile, General Duke Adram was coordinating with the Amon�krie local adminstration in transitioning them to our rule. He began to get cooperation from the Amon�krie in fighting the fires.

But with our Space Marines essentially destroyed as functional units, the satellites did not stop firing. No, they continued, now firing at population centers such as cities. They were firing on their own civillians. We were in utter shock in the fleet. That a nation would fire on its own people just to flush out an invading force, it was hard to believe. Many of our scattered soldiers must have died, but others aided the General in commanding firefighters and trying to organize our own administration. The fires continued to spread though, despite limited success, and the satellites continued to fire.

It seemed as if the satellites would kill everyone on the planet. But then the General got in touch with the designer of the satellites, and found the satellite control center. The controllers had tripped an invasion flag for the satellite computers which meant they would fire on the planet until it was deemed to be unoccupied.

The General and his motley group of Amon�krie found a way to temporarily deactivate the satellites. It required the fleet to leave orbit. You see, the satellites were put in a rest state, watching only. If they detect a warship in close vacinity, they will wake up, try to fire on the warship, and then if not possible, begin firing on the planet again.

The actions of a small group of Amon�krie satellite controllers killed 153 divisions of our soldiers. The war prior killed the other 47. In addition, the controllers killed 697 million of their own people, including possibly themselves. They are dispersed into the population now, so they cannot be identified and tried for war crimes. Eventually the General�s leadership ended the vast fires spreading across the planet. Now the general is attempting to maintain control of the planet in proxy for the king.�

�So would you say, its absolutely imperative that the military put top priority on the development of anti-satellite weaponry.�

�We already have anti-satellite weaponry, we just haven�t used it, because no one in power in the military thought about it.�

�What is this newfangled weaponry?�

�It is old fangled, senator, we take battleship class sea navy guns of our own into space. We will have to fight the satellites without a range advantage, but with a substantial force, we could destroy the satellites and any others we encounter. Not only that, but in the meantime, we could construct planetary platforms using the guns to fire back at the satellites.�

�Why didn�t anyone deal with the satellite threat before?�

�No one thought what was essentially an old naval gun could be of any threat. The Amon�krie use the same kind of design we have for our battleships on their satellites. Now of course we must have a contingent of anti-satellite vessels.�

�How would you recommend we respond to the Amon�krie�s horrible actions against our soldiers and their own men. They have killed some of the finest soldiers we�ve ever raised. But with their homeworld conquered, the Amon�krie have no way of stopping us from taking our revenge.�

�Its not really my place senator, but we will not be able to conquer the remaining colonies without raising more soldiers. The only other option is to blow the colonies up with missiles. That is your decision, these colonies contain perhaps a few million residents apiece, and also shipyards that have sent destroyers against us.�

�Thank you Lieutenant. I propose we conduct a strategic bombing campaign on Amon�krie colonies in retaliation. Focussing especially on any and all enemy shipyards and headquarters. The Amon�krie will have to learn civility, they don�t deserve to kill more of our men. It is obvious our missile boats are the best, and they have truly given us this victory. They should be the bringers of final victory against the Amon�krie.

In the meantime, the General will construct old naval cannons in planetary platforms as the Lieutenant has suggested. On a parting note, how many times have you fired live missiles?�

�16, for 8 fleet kills � 6 destroyers, 1 mystery ship, 1 frigate. With a whole fleet salvo, nothing can survive.�

�Thank you Lieutenant, you are dismissed.�

***

Home sweet home, something so rare since I�ve joined the navy. My parents had watched what turned out to be a worldwide televised event. My face was suddenly more familiar than could be imagined.

As part of the cadet line of the King�s family, we didn�t have a huge castle or palace, but we did have a decent mansion that felt like a mansion after what I�d lived in. Family being what it was, I knew they�d have a feast in celebration of my return home. I swung the heavy brass knockers against the solid door, and standing there in formal navy blue uniform with insignia and everything, my father opened the door.

Father had long since retired from the sea navy, but he still had that military spirit too him and he saluted as he opened the door. I returned the gesture.

�First Lieutenant eh?�

�Colonel next week when I get my new position.�

�Impressive, come in, you don�t have to knock you know.�

�I know.�

�We saw you on the news, I was most impressed by your kill count.�

�That was for the whole fleet father, the way salvos work, no one ship can claim credit. We do have one kill that was ours alone though.�

�Still impressive even if it is the whole fleet. My ship only sunk 3 vessels in the whole rebellion, and they were tiny yachts.�

We went inside, where my younger brother Jonathan, was eagerly waiting.

�There was a special vid about the Amon�krie, they aren�t rebels, father,� Jonathan said.

�They are quite skilled in short range weapons. Which is why we haven�t let them get close. Missiles are the reason for our success. But I think with the Senate upset about the satellites, we will have cannons in space within a year. On the Amon�krie homeworld the general will be constructing anti-satellite cannons as well. Hopefully those killer sats will be destroyed in another three months.�

[Azatol]

Chapter 7 � Operation Cold Dish


�This is WEP 523 Contemporary Missile Operations, I am your instructor Colonel Dorn. Let me tell you a few things about myself and then this class. I served onboard the station Alba Lulia and then the Targul Ocna 001 as missile bay unit leader. During my time, the fleet destroyed 8 Amon�krie vessels, all of them destroyed by missile fire.

This class is about the analysis of contemporary usage of missiles in fleet operations. This course will be drawing heavily on new developments in the war and especially Operation Cold Dish, which is now underway. We will also discusss the Blockade Campaign and the possibilities for fleet action in the future.

As prerequisite to this class, you have learned how missile bays are operated, the security concerns that are paramount in operation and the tactical firing criteria and performance of current missiles and obsolete designs. This class will be your preparation beyond serving in a missile unit, and into the issues Admirals and their staff must deal with. Any questions?�

There were only five students in this top level missiles class, four men and one woman, but one answered him with a question.

�What will the tests be like?�

�Part essay, and part computer evaluated using the Fleet Command Simulator. I will give you exercises early on, voluntary but highly recommended, in using the FCS. The system can handle battles beyond any that have existed in our history down to small conflicts more characteristic of the war thus far. The Amon�krie have shown us that hostile races exist, and it might only be time until one that can field true fleets faces us. The Amon�krie thus far have not sent more than one ship after us in a single battle.�

The rest of the students were silent, and so I waited a moment and then began my prepared discussion.

�The Senate recently approved a new operation for the combined fleet which they call Operation Cold Dish. The Amon�krie who do not know our aphorisms, are unsure what the operation�s purpose is, but can any of you?�

��Revenge is a dish best served cold� The senate proposes to get even for the slaughter of 200 divisions of our soldiers,� Marcus, one of the students answered.

Joseph, who had asked about the tests, finished the answer, �And also the depravity of the Amon�krie military in killing nearly 700 million of their own people.�

�Exactly, killing their citizens, or what are now our refugees, and starting fires which may well have obliterated the population completely, along with the destruction of the best of our soldiers, has displayed to the senate and military the complete indifference the Amon�krie have to morality. But beyond the questions of why, we settle into the how, what and when.

Two weeks ago, the fleet began its first battle of this new operation, and wiped out an important strategic colony of the Amon�krie. The colony, named Ashadra VI, operated 20 missile silos, and yet did not damage the fleet at all. Why have such planetary missile silos failed to damage our ships as we have damaged them?�

�They have not made advancements in missile design that we have, and therefore the maximum range of their missiles is significantly less than that of our own. In addition the fleet doctrine takes advantage of this by operating in between our maximum range and theirs. This means we can hit them but they can�t hit us,� Julia, a third student who was tops in her class responded.

�If we factor out missile iteration, and equipped such a colony with our class of missiles, would the final results be different?�

Marcus responded, �Both sides would have equal range, so the outcome would depend on the durability of the planetary silos versus the durability of our ships, and the number of each as well.�

�Incorrect, one of the fundamental doctrines of missile combat between two vessels, is what is called the missile dance, where each combatant closes in to fire, and then retreats to evade the enemy missile�s maximum range. Modified appropriates, in the described situation, our fleet can close in and fire on the enemy, and then flee the oncoming missiles. The planet can not flee the missiles targetting it, because it is not mobile. Thus, in missile on missile combat, immobile objects such as planets and stations are significantly disadvantaged, unless they have much greater range on their missiles.

If the stationary target has vastly longer ranged missiles, then the mobile vessel can not close in to fire before the stationary target has fired upon them. Even then, the mobile vessel can usually flee, making the battle a stalemate.

Only at a wormhole defended by a space station, can an immobile object actually win against a mobile vessel, assuming proper tactics on both sides. Sometimes, a fleet could estimate that it would survive a missile barrage from a longer ranged planet, but in fact not be able to and be destroyed, but this is an error in tactics.

Maximum range, acceleration rate and yield are three factors to be maximized in missile designs, while reload time, footprint and cost are to be minimized. Of course, like all things, you never get the best of all worlds, and so the better missiles that were developed gained in yield and maximum range but lost in cost.

Maximum range has already been discussed during our battle sequence, but the rest should be analyzed as well...

***

�Some Space Marines, trained and ready, were left behind because Turnaveni was full. Now the transport plans to load those marines and conduct operations on all the colonies they can find, skipping any which have satellites in orbit. The Baksha system is their first target,� the Dean informed me. I had met with him often to learn of recent developments in the military.

�So the war is almost over?� I asked.

�No one knows how many colonies the Amon�krie have. But there has been no significant resistance from the Amon�krie. Meanwhile the fleet continues Operation Cold Dish. The Shipwrights report they will soon be able to construct a 400 kt ship. The military wants to see what they can do to build larger stations once they complete this new hull. The Alba Lulia may be scrapped if the king orders a larger station built eventually.�

�What else would they put on a larger station. They already have the shipwrighting group onboard the Alba.�

�We don�t know, but at least another missile bay, and perhaps other useful equipment, although know one knows what that would constitute. A new station would have more of a planetary defense focus than the Alba. They may leave the Alba in place and cut out all civillian modules from a larger station. How many launchers do you think a station twice the Alba�s size could support if it had no civillian purpose?� he asked.

The Alba Lulia was 500 kilotons, this new one would be 1000 then.

�Anywhere from 2 to 12 launchers I�d say, but probably 8, if they really go in for the military station idea.�

�If they stacked launchers everywhere, and offered nothing else but a missile defense station, how about then?�

�18 launchers, the cost would be rather high, but it would be quite a formidable battery.�

�Staggering, especially if the military researchers ever get a chance to improve our missile designs some more.�

�Maybe they will, eventually. An important station with that many missiles would be a real impetus to develop better designs.�

�We don�t know how long it will be until they can build such a large station however,� the dean said, leaving the fantasy behind.

�By the way, as part of an exchange program, related to our treaty with the Kithra Consortium, as secret as that has been thus far, as many as a dozen Kithra citizens will be enrolling in classes here at the academy. Others are arriving to supplement the small diplomatic staff at the palace. The Kithra are very local in their concerns, caring only about their own solar system, but they offered the new agreement to share some of what they know and learn some of what we know. Not the best stuff, just skimming a bit off the top, as I heard our ambassador say.�

�They seem to be a complete mystery, I�ve not heard of what they are like,� I said, and it was true.

�They are a green species, but brighter green than the Amon�krie, and they don�t look serpentine as the Amon�krie do. They are much more insular than the Amon�krie, and they don�t insult us nor destroy our ships. It seems from recent communications, that the Kithra once were embroiled in constant warfare between factions, as we once were, but a strong leader has risen to unite the people.�

�Interesting.�

***

To: All Military Personnel

General Duke Adram completed his planetary cannonry program, but unfortunately the enemy satellites used manuevering thrusters to take themselves out of planetary range. Why they didn�t fire, since they must have been active and not in sleeping state in order to manuever, is unknown. The planetary cannons are now useless, so Adram hopes to get a design for a cannon-armed destroyer. We are currently working on such a design, and will send it along to the appropriate departments.

Military Design Team

***

To: All Military Personnel

The Medias class destroyer contains seven naval style cannons of superdreadnought size and bore. The vessel is designed for short range defense or fleet supported operations, because it can easily run through its ammo capacity. Maximum range of targetting acuity on the cannons is 3000 kilotons, beyond this the weapon can not be accurately fired. Damage is an impressive 1/3 of that of the current nuclear missile, because of the advanced cannonball design. Each shot should hit with around 25 megatons of impact energy.

Recommended usage is anti-satellite operations.

***

�Recent technological developments, as well as digital footages shot by General Adrum, for Operation Old School, have made it neccesary to have an academy wide meeting. First we would like to show the footage of these new naval cannons that have been retrofitted and scaled up for space usage. Then we�d like to show both students and instructors a new technology that will reshape the universe of war in space.

First the video.�

The amphitheater darkened, and you could feel the excitement in the room. Many of the instructors and all of the students were seeing their first space battle. I tried to note what features of the cannons I could. They were mounted externally, two at each side, and three on top. They dominated the visual look of the Medias.

Only one Medias was going up against all 10 satellites.

�The enemy satellites can only fire accurately at up to 2000 kilometers, giving us a range advantage,� the superintendent said, as the video showed the satellites gradually coming into view and getting bigger, �but even with our range advantage, battle is much more close and personal with cannons. The cannonballs are made using depleted uranium, which gives them more density and punch than regular rounds. In space, such rounds are safe since their harmful affects are not applicable.

The Medias closes to 3000 kilometers, since it can�t be fired upon from that range, but its rounds can hit the satellites at that range. Unlike missiles, which are guided, firing projectile weapons requires good tracking and sensor equipment onboard, as well as a staff capable of lining up the shots well. Misses are not only possible, but expected at times.�

But, against the satellites, all seven cannons fired shots that hit, destroying two satellites. On the second volley, only one satellite was destroyed as two shots missed. Three missed on the next volley, and then again two missed. After seven volleys by seven cannons, the satellites were destroyed.

�These cannons cost less, and recharge in one third of the time, giving them equal firepower on a time basis, to the missiles. However missiles have a range advantage that is quite significant. Another advantage in the cannon�s favor is that more cannons can be mounted on vessels than missile bays. For every three missile bays, five cannons can be mounted. This would all be moot, because of the range advantage, except that a new technology has come along.

As those who study history know, missiles have dominated since the end of the naval era, or the middle of the air force era. The navy, this time in space, has since taken first position back from the air force, for several years. But now the preferred air force weapon, the missile, is likely to face obsolecence in the coming years. Again, as I said, this is because of a new technology.

Meet a special type of cannon that has been newly developed. Along with this special cannon, which fires smaller cannon balls than the ones you have just seen, comes special tracking software and systems. The combination of special cannon and special software is called the Point Defense System. Operated automatically by this software, the point defense cannon fires rounds optimized for the destruction of missiles and satellites.

To fire at satellites, the point defense cannon is used manually as any other cannon, however against missiles, the software detects them using sensor systems and carefully, even repeatedly if neccesary, fires against the missile. The cannon fire is optimized to disable the missile, rendering it dead in the water and non-explosive.

These point defense cannons can be overwhelmed by a sufficiently large missile volley, but current experimental designs are just the tip of the iceberg, and in testing in the Eskirk system, point defense proved capable of substantially revising all doctrines of missile fleet warfare.

A second point in favor of missiles, is that neither the Amon�krie, nor the Kithra have such technology at this point in time. But such things do not remain that way, while the Amon�krie are not likely to exist as a fighting force by next year, other threats may come into existence that are equipped with such cannons.

In addition, using the point defense cannons on our side opens up new options. We can use the less expensive, and equally powerful DU cannons that were so well demonstrated in Operation Old School, along with the Point Defense cannons, and dominate any enemy that uses missiles. In fleet operations, point defense should be able to support other ships, such that the combined power of many ships� point defense will surpass any sporadic missile attacks.

The School of Weaponry will be adding a new speciality in Cannonry, both regular and defensive, and your Missile Instructor, Colonel Dorn, will be investigating the impact of point defense cannons on the doctrines of missile fleet warfare.�

The superintendent was certainly right that these developments would change everything. Any missile fleet facing such weapons would have to go over the top with overwhelming volleys.

***

�Tarneveni gambled and won against the Amon�krie colony in Baksha. They began their run just outside of missile range and charged in against three missile silos, taking three hits, but using their bulk to survive. Tarneveni was heavily damaged but managed to launch its pods, and the Space Marines won their second victory. This time the Marines suffered almost no casualties, but the Tarnaveni was heavily wounded, losing much of its engine power. Now, the military says they have control of every system they know the Amon�krie occupy. They will probably release the Mizil for exploration, once the fleet is resupplied.�

[Azatol]

Chapter 8 � Out of Supply


To: All Military Personnel


The new Turnu Magurele light cruiser represents the pinnacle of power to date. Advancements in cannonry and point defense have lead to still bigger main cannon on this vessel. The Magurele supports four of these supercannons at an impact energy of 50 kilotons. In addition, the ship boasts three of the new point defense cannons with defensive range of 4000 kilometers. Ammo storage was also supplemented.

***

�The fleet is in grave danger, they are out of missiles and almost out of fuel, coasting back to the Nizzarum system, but the Amon�krie have shown they can still build warships, as another destroyer is on the tail of the fleet. The fleet is trying to devising some kind of strategy to fight off the destroyer with no supplies, but they don�t have much to work with.

Medias went into the Eskirk system to destroy an enemy colony ship, and so it is out of range. Within the coming month, the Amon�krie destroyer is likely to engage the fleet.�

�Why did they run so long before heading to base?�

�They wanted to clean up the Ashadra system before moving on. They know where the Amon�krie must be coming from now that the destroyer has showed up, they simply need to resupply and begin the campaign anew. Meanwhile, the Tarnaveni is waiting for repairs in orbit above the planet it conquered.�

Luckily, the fleet was not immediately attacked by that destroyer, and so the fleet entered the Nizzarum system, slowly proceeding towards the Amon�krie homeworld.

Yet more improvements to space cannon design forced a retrofit of the Turnu Magurele and gave it 20% more firepower. It was hard to believe a cannonball could hit with the force of a nuclear missile, but this one hit as well as the old style nukes in testing.

***

�They have no ammo, but the destroyer appeared from the wormhole just 500 kilometers away from one of the frigates, and the desperate fleet strategy was enacted. The Targul Ocna sacrificed itself, ramming straight into the body of the enemy destroyer and heavily damaging it, nothing else could get in range to ram the enemy before the fleet got its first taste of Amon�krie short range weapons.

While the Amon�krie did use some cannons, they also used a bizarre weapon that sent a stream of destructive particles against the Sarande 001.

Zalau 001 was now in range to ram the destroyer, and it did. The Zalau was not destroyed and neither was the enemy. Zalua was entangled with the enemy vessel. Finally the Mizil rammed the remains of the enemy destroyer, and neutralized it. Now the fleet hopes to avoid any more confrontations until they can get resupplied.

In the meantime, I have a question for you. Are you interested in getting trained in cannon operations?�

It was obvious to me, with missiles on the way out, that I should learn as many other specialties as possible.

�Certainly sir, do you have a training program for cannon yet?�

�Well next month, the class year will be out, and you will be available for reassignment. I�m willing to push for your posting on Turnu Magurele 003, which is due for completion two months from now. That will give you good experience in cannons, the best kind, honed in battle.�

This was more than I could hope for, the question was whether I could handle it. No one was quite sure what needed to be done in cannon operations, except for the cannon operators on the Medias.

�I�ll take it, sir.�

***

From: Colonel Dorn
To: Crewmembers Pai, Hal, Lea onboard Targul Ocna 001


I would like to offer you the opportunity of serving on the new light cruiser, Turnu Magurele 003, in the position of cannonry operations. I will be cannon unit leader for one of the four main cannons onboard, and I was informed the three of you were still serving on the Targul Ocna.

The Turnu Magurele 003 will be linked up with the fleet in the coming months, and transfer could occur then if you are interested.

***

From: 2nd Lieutenant Pai
To: Colonel Dorn, Military Space Academy

We are interested in serving onboard a cannon cruiser and learning all about cannonry operations, we will be waiting for transfer in the coming months. Currently the fleet is still ambling towards the Amon�krie homeworld out of supply, but soon we will arrive and be refueled and rearmed.

***

I must admit that I didn�t anticipate the size of these new cannons. When I was transferred onboard, I had a chance to examine the cannons mounted on the ship�s hull. They were enormous beyond anything I had seen in sea naval history. The cannons mounted a trajectory camera that was just above the cannon and showed exactly where the cannon would fire. With gravity out of the picture, firing the cannon was a matter of taking into account any movement of the enemy.

The computer could automatically acquire a targetting solution as needed, but skilled manual operation could account for impressive manuevering by an enemy vessel. The computer could only think in terms of current velocity of the target, whereas if you could outthink your opponent and find where he would manuever to next, you could deliver your round there.

I practiced manuevering the cannon to different firing angles. My cannon, which was mounted on top of the ship, couldn�t hit anything below. With the ship oriented well all four cannons could hit a target.

***

To: All Military Personnel

Advancements in weaponry and defensive systems are proceeding so fast that they will be incorporated in a new light cruiser design scheduled to begin production sometime next year. Point Defense and Main Cannonry continue to improve in effectiveness with hard work of the King�s technology team.

In addition, a new technology relying on exotic energy systems will be unveiled with the new light cruiser. This system creates an energy barrier that can absorb a rated amount of firepower before being overwhelmed. This shielding system will lessen need for repairs, as the shielding can be replenished between battles. Much practical testing and improvement is needed with these shields however.

***

To: All Military Personnel


Colonists in the Baksha system have made an amazing discovery. A bizarre weapon was found on a new colony in the system and sent to scientists who learned how to use it. It seemed to have no effect on ordinary targets, until the scientists discovered all of their mechanical equipment was dead as a result of their testing.

The weapon can disable much of a ship�s propulsion in one shot, and at up to 6000 kilometers. The King�s technology team is now working on replicating the design.

Immobilizing an enemy can be quite useful, but the weapon requires a large power source and won�t be mounted on any smaller vessels.

***

�Sit down Colonel, care for some Hzjar, its an amon�krie drink, a bit like tea. What with our logistics all coming from the Amon�krie on planet, we�ve had to settle for Amon�krie things. General Adram plans to bring a number of things from home after the war. One thing the Amon�krie do better than us is make Rum and Beer. They don�t make anything light, its all dark and potent, yeouw!

I visited with the General last week when we arrived, and the citizens were quite civil. In the countryside some riots continue, but in the capital city the General has made quite an impression on the Amon�krie people. They don�t seem to like their old leadership much.

Unfortunately, information leading us to the rest of the Amon�krie colonies hasn�t been found. Tarnaveni has arrived in system, and the general may call for volunteers among the Amon�krie people to finish off their own government. The transport currently contains 52 divisions from home, which may be sufficient anyway.

Meanwhile the fleet continues to limp towards us. Medias was involved in a brutal fight, and is just behind the fleet. Once the fleet is repaired and the transport ready, we are heading out through the far wormhole of Ashadra.

In the meantime, this ship is getting retrofitted with the latest cannon designs, 16% more firepower and 1000 kilometers extra maximum range on the cannons. Must be costing the King a fortune however.�

***

�Welcome to the Turnu Magurele 003 everyone!� I said to my old crew who were transferring over, �And welcome to the world of cannonry.�

�We had a chance to see the Magurele when the fleet entered orbit, those cannons are huge,� Lea answered.

�Well let me show you around.�

Each of the four cannons onboard had a control center on the second level, mine was #2. The room displayed the position of other vessels and computed targetting solutions constantly for them.

In manual mode a joystick controlled the orientation of the cannon.

�Like the missile systems, during war time we need someone in each control room at all times. This control center is #2. Firing can be manual or automatic. We will run practice drills in manual, but for now all live firing will be on automatic. It takes a lot of precision to hit a target at these kind of distances, and the computer system is good at precision.

Also, like in the missile systems, rounds are transported from a warehouse below which supports all four cannons. Unlike the missile system, the cannon is outside the ship, and so the loading system is different, none of the rounds are stored in these control centers. These cannonballs are significantly larger than a missile, but they are non-nuclear and so size is important in terms of impact. Despite their size, the cannonballs are not considered a security risk as the missiles were, and they are slightly less expensive as well, because of simple design.

In fleet operations with a mostly missile based fleet, as ours still is, we will serve as back up in case the enemy has point defense, and also we will destroy all satellites and incoming missiles. Point defense cannons are completely automated and use much smaller ammo. They are designed to repeatedly fire once they lock onto a missile.

When missile tactics work, the fleet is likely to stick with them, because they are less dangerous. Almost all close range operations will result in some damage to this ship. Cannon fire can�t be outrun, neither can the particle stream weapons the Amon�krie use be outrun. The best thing that can be done is to manuever erratically and confuse the enemy sensor systems.�

***

�Mizil will be scouting the neighboring systems of Ashadra and Baksha to find the remaining Amon�krie colonies. The Fleet will defeat any warships and planetary defenses then allow Tarnaveni and the Space Marines to conquer the colony. Satellites will be taken out by our trio of Turnu Magureles, and they can also knock out any missiles the enemy launches against us.

We are trying a new fleet formation during this operation, and orders pertaining to it will be relayed to each captain. General Adram will be handing administration of this planet off to a team that arrived recently, on orders from the King. Adram has stabilized the planet, but the King believes much more work needs to be done before the Amon�krie can be productive members of the kingdom.

It has been 7 years since the Alba Lulia was built, which jump started the Space Navy. The war with the Amon�krie continues, but it is merely a matter of exploration now.�

We had been on the Amon�krie homeworld for two weeks, stuck inside the new Amon�krie Interstellar Hotel which was designed to support oxygen breathers such as ourselves. The Amon�krie species used a completely different biological mechanism relying primarily on methane, and the atmosphere was inhospitable to us.