All That Glitters Ch. 17

The Valour, Piscium System

Fiona was having fun. She had managed to requisition a basic load of ammo for her little ship. Twenty-four thousand rounds of fifty millimeter ammo were now onboard, in the turrets and in the ready magazines near the turrets.

Fiona and her crew were trying out the turret by finding and blasting to pieces rocks of different sizes that had been ejected by the platform. They were well away from Liramor-23, so as not to have an issue with ricochets, and were using the targeting and fire control comps to lock onto and destroy the various chunks of rocks. She was impressed at how fast the fifty millimeter ammo blasted the rocks to pieces.

Fiona had been told once that all members of the bridge crew needed to be able to do some of the functions of the other members in case something happened. In this instance, Fiona was giving the crew the opportunity to fire several hundred rounds apiece on rocks of their choosing.

Fiona had taken particular delight in doing her shoot, and in watching the others trying their hand. Fortunately, Cdr. Hellebore had sat the weapons boards of several different types of ships during her career and was now giving instruction on how to lock onto and fire on their targets. Even the ship's captain, Abigail Moore, had taken her turn at blasting rocks.

Finding the rocks was a challenge and was a good bit of training on how to use the ship's external sensors to find and link them to the targeting and fire control comps.

The crew also took the time to learn how to pull cannisters from the ready magazines and feed them into the turrets, pulling the empties in turn and challenging each other to get it done quickly and safely. All-in-all it was a fun day, to be repeated in the upcoming week.

By the end of the day, they had gone through almost 6,000 rounds, but the crew had much more camaraderie than previously. Theirs was currently the only small ship with a gun, and they relished the fun they were having.

Command Center, Liramor-23, Piscium System

The Pallanders team was switching out new equipment for the command center, including new comps and holo-monitors. The team had told David Dent that they would have the command center back in operation inside of six hours.

Dent had sent the command crew down to the alternative command on Whiskey Level and watched as the Pallanders team worked on his. They were fast and efficient and, true to their word, were ready inside of six hours. Dent started all of the units to verify they were working. The first thing he noted was the sharper, clearer colours from the units.

Dent waited for shift change to call people back to the main command center. They opened everything up without issue and found that the transfer of data had gone smoothly. They would tackle the alternate command center tomorrow.

A Pallanders team was also working on the Mk-48 pulse cannon on the A-deck gun installation. The team had gone into the gun turrets and removed parts of the pulse generating system, replacing them with newer upgrades. It took them ten hours to finish the upgrade, then they moved down to the Z-deck gun turrets to repeat the process.

Platform personnel were in the process of removing older Marilon generators and replacing them with Marilon/Aruna generators. The more capable system generators were expected to continually provide power for the next forty to fifty plus years. a vast improvement on the expected twenty to thirty year life span of the older generators.

The platform staff were also working with navy and Pallanders techs to replace parts for the old shield generator which hadn't been functional for years. They were hoping to have that ready in three to four days. There were lots of old power and control wiring harnesses that needed replacing before they could even try to switch on the system.

Over the next five years, as part of its cyclic modernization program, new comps and holo-monitors would be invested in throughout the platform. They would also replace the powerful ore ovens that processed the raw ore into refined metals. The older ovens had been working continuously for twenty-five years now and they were beginning to show their age. The newer ovens would be products from Dr. Aruna's labs and would be far more efficient and capable.

Overall, Dent was happy with the work being done, but he wouldn't be satisfied until the Pallanders team had left the platform and all the work was completed.

The Senate, Terra

Senator Wasim Andjuran was having an evening meal in his senate quarters when he decided to turn on the news channel. He didn't often watch the news during his evening meal but decided that tonight he would. He would soon come to regret that decision.

The evening news hour was interrupted by a pan-Union news special. Andjuran immediately perked up. The last time a pan-Union news brief was given was to announce the end of The Unification War.

"We apologize to all our viewers who are expecting local news items for their supper hour," the announcer started. "However, Interplanetary News Services has recently come into possession of news of a significant event that will effect all of humankind."

Andjuran's aid crashed into his room, noting immediately that his boss was watching the news.

"It's on all of the news and entertainment services channels except for their children's nets," his aid told him. "Not just Interplanetary News. They are all carrying it!"

The hair on the back of Andjuran's neck began to stand up. Somehow, he knew this was about Liramor-23...

Hollister Residence, Terra

Mike Hollister was a right-wing religious zealot who held sway over millions of like-minded people on Terra and throughout Union space. He could and would demand obedience from his followers. At the moment, those very same people were trying to modify recent changes in the entertainment channels.

For awhile, those channels seemed to be reflecting the desires of the religious right to see aliens as evil and anti-human. But something had happened of late to change things back to the way they once were, with aliens sometimes portrayed as benign and other times as hostile.

Mike came into this living room to see his children watching something that appeared to be a drama. That it was about aliens was a given, as the aliens were being depicted on the monitor.

"It's supper time," Mike told his children. "Turn that over to the news please."

"It is the news channel, Father," his youngest told him. "This is all over the news and entertainment channels. The only channels not carrying it are the children's networks."

Mike grabbed the remote and flicked through different channels and organizations, they were all showing the same image.

"The announcer said that this was a pan-Union news event," his eldest said.

Mike watched carefully for fifteen minutes. He was beginning to panic. All that his organization, and other religious and right-wing organizations had been working toward was suddenly, a moot point. There were going to look so foolish in the eyes of many Union citizens. It would seem that the religious right had backed the wrong man with Senator Andjuran.

Liramor Holdings HQ, Liramor Prime, Liramor System, Thirty Light Years from Terra

It had been three days since the eventful Union-wide news broadcast on the aliens at Liramor-23. Liramor Holdings had to add several dedicated staff just to handle the flow of inquiries from people. Some were offering to help in any manner they could, some were angry with Liramor Holdings for 'imposing aliens on mankind', others were making offers of marriage to the aliens.

"Marriage?" Annette asked of the Director of Public Relations.

"You can guess what some of the other offers have been like," he admitted. "There are a lot of nuts out there, and many are trying desperately to get to Liramor-23 to greet our 'new alien friends' or to place a defensive shield around the system to keep the aliens away from humans."

"It is our good fortune that Interplanetary News decided to air the incident of the Scarlet Woman along with the rest of the news items on the aliens. That has kept a lot of people from jumping into the system. Ten years in jail tends to make many think twice. However, there are still those who are not so easily deterred," he finished.

Liramor-23, Piscium System

The third ship in as many days had entered the system without permission. This one was a cargo vessel chartered by 'The Friends of Humankind', whoever they were. They were ordered to leave system or be arrested.

They bristled a little and even unmasked their single Mk-48 pulse cannon. Until two large warships with Mk-15 pulse cannon and many open torpedo doors bore down on them.

The Friends screamed over comms about how the navy was stifling democracy and the choice of humans everywhere, but they quickly turned tail to flee the system when two very powerful pulse cannon blasts were placed over their bow. The warships monitored the Friends until their Marilon generators powered up several hours later and they jumped from the system.

Fiona smiled. She hoped all the encounters would go as well as these three had. No one had to be arrested, and all had left the system on being ordered to, some, like the Friends, needing a little more convincing to leave than others, however, they had all left. That was a distinctive plus.

The Pollard, Unnamed Star System

Kittering was pleased. He had run the drill five times and had managed to take the 'platform', an asteroid designated as such, and administratively 'take out' the two cargo ships designated to stand in for the enemy warships even though the captains of those ships knew of the pending attack. The admiral was sure his fleet could capture the platform. He was ready to make his attack and sent an FTL comms probe to the leadership advising them so.

The Wanderer, Pallanders Orbital Shipyard, Liramor Prime, Liramor System, thirty Light Years from Terra

The crew had been hard at work for well over a month, tweaking the ships teething problems. There weren't a lot of problems, but those they found were often interesting for the Pallanders engineers and the ship's crew.

They went through the jump test procedures and discovered that the ship could do a forty-five light year leap and then jump again an hour later. Extremely impressive for such a large ship, especially when the ship had been lucky to do a thirty light year jump before she was decommissioned.

The ship slowly came online and ready for action. They last thing they needed to test was the weapons. Master Chief Sprawl came onboard with a series of navy cargo shuttles, he had some good news for the captain.

"Morning ma'am," he greeted Capt. Noor. "I have a treat for you. I've managed to requisition a portion of your basic load from the local naval base.

"We got sixteen 360cm torpedoes no missiles, ten missiles and twenty torpedoes for the 280cm tubes, and I have eighteen missiles, thirty-six torpedoes and six programable FTL probes for the eighteen 150cm tubes fore and aft. You'll be able to test out all your ready racks, selectors, loaders, and fire all the tubes with live shot for some fun.

"In addition, I was able to snag 192,000 rounds of fifty millimeter rail gun ammo for you to play with," the Master Chief told her with some pride.

"By the gods, Master Chief," Noor said with a smile. "You do keep performing miracles!"

"It's only a miracle when people don't know how to do it properly, ma'am," the Master Chief said with a smile. "For now, it's an all-hands evolution to get the missiles and torpedoes where they need to go. I have four ratings per shuttle to help, but they will leave after each shuttle is depleted. Best to make use of them while they are here."

Noor got people moving, three hours later, all the missiles, torpedoes, and probes, were safely stored in the ready racks, and the rail gun ammo was in the turrets or in the ready magazines near the turrets. The ship was armed, and the crew was ready for some fun.

"Alright, we don't want people to see what we are fully capable of, as most people still believe the ship is a private vessel," Noor advised her staff. "That means a little trip somewhere out of the way. Since we will be assigned to Liramor-23, I suggest we make a trip to the Piscium system for some target practice.

"We will spend two or three days in the Piscium system, getting our weapons systems certified ready, and drilling the crew in missile/torpedo/probe selection drills, loading/unloading drills, misfire drills, and having a little live-fire fun. Questions?" Noor asked of her staff.

"Be ready to depart in thirty minutes. Nav O, I want the best plot for the Piscium system, that will be one full jump and a not quite a full jump as we are eighty-six light years to the system. I want the solution ready and constantly being updated as we move through the Liramor system.

"Right. Let's get to it, people," Noor finished.

The Pollard, Unnamed Star System

Adm. Maxwell Kittering had his orders. They included a day and time to launch the attack against Liramor-23. Max was looking forward to it. His fleet was ready, and he was ready. He made his final dispositions. Mindful of the damage the cargo ships caused by coming into the backside of the warships in the previous attack, he ordered the cargo vessels to remain in this system until four hours into the attack. The plan was to ensure that no warship would be in the inbound lanes when the cargo ships arrived.

Central Control, Liramor-23, Piscium System

Capt. Liana Dostier had seen off NS Betelgeuse and NS Claridge, both of which had gone three light hours out to conduct a series of crew drills against another ship. No new thrill seekers had entered the system for several days. Now was the time to conduct the exercises.

With Commodore Marsh off station, even if she was in the system, Dostier was in charge. With her was Capt. Beverly Davis, Fiona's Civilian Liaison Officer. Between the two of them, they had every military contingency covered, or so they thought.

Left at the platform were the two ready ships, Dostier's own ship, NS Kindalla, NS Kologn, Capt. Cèleste Dauphine commanding, and NS Churchill, Cdr. John Seldon commanding, the Churchill newly returned from refit at Pallanders Orbital Shipyard at Liramor Prime.

The Churchill had just finished conducting fleet drills with the Kindalla and Kologn and was about to depart to surprise the Betelgeuse and Claridge on the outer edge of the system.

David Dent, SOps, informed them that The Valour had entered bay eleven, now a dedicated ship's berth. The boss would be back to Central Command soon and Dostier would be able to go back to her ship.

Then everything changed...

The Valour, Piscium System

Fiona Marsh was taking another day for weapons drills for the little ship's crew. She was treating herself and her crew after the hectic week they had replacing and repairing platform systems and chasing away the idiots who were determined to ignore LMC and TUSN protocols for Liramor-23 and the Piscium system.

The crew had gotten much better under Cdr. Hellebore's tutelage at locating and 'swooping' down on their moving targets, letting the crew member of the moment destroy the offending rock.

Cheers were heard all over the ship as rock after rock was targeted and destroyed. But, soon enough, it was time to return to the platform. They landed in the construction bay and waited for the bay to pressurize. As they moved to exit the ship, the NQM was coming through the airlock with two anti-grav panels loaded with ammo cannisters.

Fiona decided to take the initiative and made a chain of people from the ship, moving the empty cannisters out and the loaded cannisters in. The had just finished the reload and Fiona and Helga were headed to the airlock when all hell broke lose.

The Pollard, Piscium System

The pirate vessels came into the system all around the platform. His ships that were closest to the navy ships fired on them immediately. Three ships fired four torpedoes each with multiple hits being recorded against the two Fairling Class vessels in parking orbits around the platform.

Kittering was pleased. He moved his ships further out from the platform. Once in place, he ordered phase two of the plan into effect. His ships fired fifteen electrical disruptor missiles at the platform, hoping to do enough damage to blow out all or a substantial portion of the electrical system. The results were not what he expected.

"The navy ships are retaliating. They are firing torpedoes at our ships," his Tac O informed him. "Hits! The Brixil and the Gandar have taken hits. They have been damaged but are still in the battle."

Central Command, Liramor-23, Piscium System

"Unexpected FTL event, check that, multiple FTL events, NOT IN THE INBOUND LANES!" the Ops O called out.

"Shit," Dostier said, "man the weapons systems, defensive shield on, NOW! Get the people on shift out in the cages to shut down and hide themselves out there until further notice," Dostier shouted. "Get me Major Thom on comms!"

"Weapons events! The incoming ships have fired missiles or torpedoes at the Kindalla and the Kologn! They are taking hits!" the Ops O shouted.

"Tactical display up," Dostier shouted. "Designate the new ships as hostile for the display. What have we got?"

"Ma'am, I'm showing eight ships having entered the system close in on the platform," SOps called out. "At least three of them have fired on the Kindalla and the Kologn. Multiple hits on both vessels, status unknown, but it looks like their sub-light engines are out of action."

"Get the sensor arrays to give us a read on the enemy's sub-light drives and send that to the torpedo launchers," Dostier ordered. "Fire on them as soon as they have that."

"The Kologn has retaliated, it just let loose five torpedoes at the incoming ships," the Ops O reported. "HIT! Torpedoes have impacted and damaged two of the enemy vessels. The Kindalla has launched torpedoes. The enemy vessels are moving out giving them distance from us."

"Weapons stations are manned and ready," the Ops O called out."

"Those ships are firing at the platform!" the Ops O called out. "The Mk-48s are engaging. We have impacts on the hull. They seem to be electrical disruptors, but they are not doing much against us."

Disruptors were designed to be used against Fairling Class sized ships, not something as large as the platform. The impact was carried through the entire electrical grid, a much more robust system than the warships would be. The new shield also came into play, helping to disperse the impact of the large electrical burst over a much wider area.

"Ma'am, I have indications that fifteen torpedoes were fired against us," SOps said. "Four have hit the platform, the rest were taken out by the MK-48s. Those torpedoes have disrupted electrical performance in the immediate area of the impact zones, but otherwise have not significantly affected us. The enemy ships are moving further out, they are now 150km from the platform and moving away."

"Commodore Marsh is delayed as the airlocks have locked down," the Comms O told them. "She has returned to The Valour and is launching back into space."

Fiona's voice came over the link.

The Valour, Piscium System

Fiona was caught off guard in the designated ship bay when the alarms sounded the attack on the platform. It was too far to make the airlock and get onto the platform before they would be locked down, meaning she would have to cycle through them, a time intensive process, but she now had a ship with weapons on it.