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The Brethren of Saturn, Chap. 1 - Direction of the Platform
Posted By: Lynnada<lynnada@pacbell.net>
Date: 8 June 2002, 8:46 pm
Read/Post Comments
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NOTE: Please Read the prologe of this series first. Then you will understand. It can be found by searching under the author of "lynnada". ThankYou.
I spun around looking for my first officer. "Take us into orbit, Mr. Radi."
"Yes, sir. Gosh, do I really have to call you sir?"
"Well, no not really, as long as no one else is listening. I don't know everyone here that well. They're still in the mess hall and I suggest you eat dinner before we exit atmosphere. And, uh... I would fix that collar, on the left more. Yeah, your left."
The engines of my Gila-Class cruiser "Conclave" began their 60-second gradual power-up. Her interior lights dimmed slightly as ignition began. There was almost no rumble due to the steady start-up. This way, our expensive engines could last at least one and a half times as long.
Every person onboard was currently doing their job, except for Shift Four, bridge personnel. Actually, their immediate job was to get dinner in the mess hall for about an hour and return to their stations.
Engineering, in their blue jumpsuits monitored the core and completed inspections on the nuclear fusion reactors. The two dark red security teams casually patrolled the bright corridors and placed medical kits, emergency weapons, and fire extinguishers near lifts and stairways. Docking crews in neon orange mopped the landing bay and inspected the dropships. The four doctors of sickbay and their androids sterilized utensils and took care of an electrician who slightly burnt himself. The chef, his assistant, and the janitor cleaned tonight's dishes and tables and decided on a menu for tomorrow.
Our eight pilots and navigators wore the honorary goldenrod coats and drank hot chocolate while helping a few handfuls of marines prepare their equipment. The pilots really had nothing better to do, except for holstering their brand new pistols and relaxing for tomorrow. The marines wore olive green uniforms with flak-proof materials sown into them and steel helmets with fold-down visors that had limited night-vision equipment incorporated into them. They also wore a parachute-style utility strap belt with ration kits, extra magazines, a pistol with a holster, a cleaning kit, two grenades, one red smoke grenade, gloves, and any lucky charms. Secured to the calf of the dominant leg were a combat knife, a flare, and a classic zippo lighter (a special Christmas present from the government). The helmet had a strap that could hold small dry branches, morphine packets, and a tube of pest repellant. On some missions, cover scent tubes replaced the repellant because Elites could smell the marines before seeing them. Besides preparing their belts, the marines also inspected, cleaned, loaded, and set the safety on their weapons. Some affixed serrated bayonets with their covers in advance.
The canine trainers loaded and holstered their magnum pistols while waiting for their best friends to finish eating. Unique to our cruiser alone in the Fleet is a group of German Shepard dogs in their natural state. Not including genetically altered canines, this breed has proven itself throughout history to be very intelligent and most capable of serving in action. They are trained to attack fearlessly but with proper judgment. Their senses are fully developed and fine-tuned through passive training since birth. Their first priority is to protect humans under all circumstances, even if that means risking life and body to take down an enemy. The guard dogs wear custom light flak jackets with cover scent tubes and a leash ring and stainless steel retainers that are unique to each one. The retainer has metal teeth and is matched exactly to each dog's jaws and palettes to ensure comfort yet enhance the dog's ability to bite and rip an enemy unit. One of the six dropships will serve to land the six canines and their holders. Using canines to assist and protect marines is a concept that only Saturn has recently revived within the human home-worlds.
Near their dropship, twelve techs neatly laid down their riot shields and cyclones. These advanced robots and many others are the fruits of fourteen years of limited cybernetic experiments conducted on Titan. Their primary purpose is to land first and create a parabolic parameter for following human troops. Though expendable compared to humans, the techs carry large shields to make the most of their potential to distract enemy units and draw fire away from the marines. The techs are fighting machines but cannot fight as effectively as humans and therefore must accompany marines for support. Their only weapon, the techs carry a rifle-like magnetic weapon called a cyclone. The cyclone uses the repelling energy of magnets to launch 30mm aerodynamic airfoils at speeds greater than the speed of sound.
Recent studies have, ironically, chosen a projectile design that was first discovered in the 20th century AD. Teflon, the material that coats the airfoil, was also chosen over modern alloys. Blockade techs like these even use shield tactics similar to that of the Roman Army of Earth several centuries earlier. Guard dogs are employed just like the ones used during the human wars of Earth. The rifles of the marines have advanced over time but are based on the basic dependencies of the 20th century gun.
Meanwhile, I faced a control board towards the front of the Bridge and activated the onboard AI. "LattÈ, when Mr. Ovruchesky and Mr. Radi return here, please tell them both about GOS 7."
"Sir, you haven't briefed me on that yet. I have no record of any relevant files."
"Oh. Don't you remember what that terran Keyes said, about the sworn to secrecy thing? Well GOS 7 is the password needed to activate countdown and enable the pods. Both my officers need to tell their marines what will happen in the event we are captured. They both will also know the password."
"Yes sir, understood. And Captain Mornstein of the Aleksander has requested escort of his cargo frigate to Earth while on our way to the sector. He has an important shipment of processed flour and corn that needs to arrive in Geneva and he will bring 950 cases of Benelli rifles back to Titan."
"Yeah, I don't mind that. Earth is on the way and Saturn needs all those shiny toys. Gee, everything shiny and hi-tech here is custom ordered from Earth, even this ship! We need to replenish our oxygen, water, food, and fuel at the nearest platform and we are scheduled to regroup with the others tomorrow. Who are the others anyway?"
"We will be accompanied by the last terran Los Angeles-Class destroyer "Duspos" as we escort our carriers, "Obsidian" and the "Majik", to the Covenant-occupied sector. Obsidian is an oversized carrier and Majik is a standard size. The only fighter escorts will be from the carriers."
"Not bad. Not bad at all. That's all of the human ships that haven't already left for the ring-world. We also have our own craft this time, right?"
"Yes, sir. Six dropships."
"Good, good. I knew this would work. Lights out in ninety-five, LattÈ. We have an important week ahead of us. Good night,...and don't tease me."
"Happy trails, good hunting, pass the-"
"Aw, how swe-shut up. Your lucky I can't demote you. And go to sleep!"
"I can't do that sir, who will fly the ship to the Exxon platform during the next hour? AI's don't sleep either, and I can't force myself to go offline.'
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