Astra Pt. 05

She looked at Jack, "You have increased your comms capability?"

He nodded, "Yes. The satellite that got destroyed on our end by an alien conflict has been replaced."

Grace walked in, "They have both been contacted."

He nodded, "Grace was just letting me know that an elder sister to Carol and the parent of Holly Travus were just notified that their daughters died in that conflict. Danyelle died as we approached the systems asteroid belt and a blazingly fast asteroid ripped through the shields, hit the hull and folded the ship lengthwise before the cores exploded. The asteroid was the size of a grapefruit."

She held her hand to her mouth, "Did you lose any children?"

He nodded, 6 infants and 11 before they were born. We lost the Merlin with Danyelle and the Excalibur with Holly and Carol in the same battle at the same time for those 2 and the 6 children. They literally appeared right on top of us. I did salvage the section needed to keep Astra online and built it into the heart of another ship.

She did lose a significant part of her historical archives. She kept around 80% of her technical archive but the past timeline people's significant achievements were lost. He threw her an image of the Excalibur in space dock, "In orbit at Geos after the conflict was over. We ramped up our weapons after that and we brought some of that back."

She nodded, "How did anyone survive that?"

He sighed, "Not many aboard did survive that. I was in my lab and the hole punched through the bridge went all the way down to deck 7 shuttle bay. Carol was in the medical area on deck 4 and Holly was on the bridge."

She asked, "Have you added any more wives?"

He sighed, "Don't start that already."

She laughed. He shook his head, "No, I have not yet and the wives are wanting me to but not through messages this time. We also lost Meltora the alien entity that covered the ship. It was badly injured and went off to heal and was close to a point where it would divide. After which it could not serve the same purpose.

It was a great friend and guide who is living out in the asteroid field in Tau Ceti. I have 180 of my children with me on this trip and some of them have just become adults. The new number to be aware of 36,947."

She asked, "What is that?"

He smiled, "The number of new patents that will be filed as soon as we confirm we have enough funds to file them all. Grace is nodding at me so very soon. It will take a month or two to get them all in and then another month or so to get them farmed off to builders.

That includes new weapons designs and types of weapons we learned some things from the attack that we underwent and reverse-engineered it. I did confirm with the Drakor that nothing I added was their technology."

She looked at him, "You are still in contact with them?"

Jack smiled, "I mentioned before, to your boss Randy, that they would be keeping an eye on us and by us I meant the hybrids. I brought 21 back with me on this trip and we left 155 of them behind."

She looked at Jack, "You have made more?"

He laughed, "More volunteered and showed themselves worthy. 6 of them are in the group of my eldest children with us. I have a few more that will be ready in a few months. We will see you soon."

She smiled, "I sure hope so."

Jack ended the call and the woman was barely holding onto her seat when they went to a commercial. Grace whispered in his ear, "They refused to put me through until I told them I would have their patents pulled. I asked for the R&D expenditures into the ID device. They did not have them or would not release them. Either way, I told them their days were numbered."

He sighed, "Tell them to release them to us or the termination letter will be coming."

Jack called down, "In one minute, all shuttlecraft launch and move into position. Back the speed down until the shuttles are in position." He watched them all kick it up when everyone was ready. He was 4 hours out.

He contacted the tower, "Terra-8, 9 and 10. Please coordinate shutting down the lane in 4 hours between the moon and the stations. For 30 minutes. 20 km above and 20 km below the midline with a 20 km wide corridor. Clear all available docks at those stations for arrival. Especially docks 01 at all three stations listed."

He heard back, "This is Terra-8 dock 01 is a restricted dock who is this?"

He smiled, "The person you are holding those restricted docks for tower. Make the arrangements or contact James Treven and he will tell you to make them."

He heard, "This is Terra-3 tower, we are going to need more than that to close that lane."

Jack shook his head, "Terra-2 as you are on the edge please inform Terra-3 and on what is headed toward them."

He heard, "This is Terra-2, there are hundreds of craft squawking unknown transponders." Jack smiled, "That is correct Terra-2, you are about to come face to face with part of your sister service if you will.

Ceti Home Guard, as in Tau Ceti. Check for transponder TAR-2 King Arthur is in the group. I am not on that ship. I am further back but it should be showing on your screen any second now."

He heard, "This is Terra-2 confirming we have hundreds of fast movers coming, all above 5x speed approaching Terra. TAR-2 is one of them. It is squawking the second ID of CHGST-1."

Jack replied, "C is Ceti, HG is Home Guard. F is fighters, ST is scout, DY, destroyer, BS Battleship. SH shuttle, SD Carrier Base Super-Dreadnought. You ever get a CHGBSSD designation it is because a Battleship is docked and in charge of that Super-Dreadnought. The ship's name is the battleship name at that point."

He heard, "This is Terra-3 that is too many letters in a transponder."

Jack laughed, "Terra-3 I am sure our towers in Tau Ceti would tell you that you have too few letters in the transponder. Every ship except the shuttles are FTL enabled."

He heard, "This is Wing Commander Wildcard with Terra-3. You got FTL drives in fighters?"

Jack chuckled, "Wildcard do you need Merlin to take you to school again?"

He cried out, "Damn it is him. Terra-3 clear that path for Jack Travus otherwise we are going to have shuttle pilots shitting themselves again. Last time he only had 5 ships in the sky. How many this time Merlin?"

Jack replied, "A plethora, 324 craft flying straight, in formation, and down the corridor.

3 hours out now is the first group of fighters, 240 Lancers version V. All craft are 6x system drives and FTL drives, except the fighter which are 5x FLT Drives." He heard, "This is Terra-10 tower if you had watched the news you would have known he was coming."

He heard some chuckling in the air and from his crew.

He got a message, "This is squadron leader Death Blossom out of Terra-6. What did you do bring the whole military Merlin?"

Jack shook his head, "Death Blossom, I left another 3,500 craft in the air with the HG in Tau Ceti."

He heard her on comms, "Holly fuck Merlin."

Followed by, "Terra-6 tower to Death Blossom. Watch your language."

Jack listened to all the band traffic as the first of the fighters flew past Terra-3. He heard shuttle pilots and Terra military comment on the numbers and formation being flown. Once the destroyers hit the area it was dead silence until Jack could not stop laughing, "Holly fuck what in the hell is that thing?"

Then he heard, "This is Death Blossom to Terra-6 tower. Watch your language."

Then there were a few laughs until they all figured out what he was talking about, "CHGBS-2 Haruan, Commander Ashton Travus show them. Button up your unit and get a CAP over it." He replied, "Understood Admiral Travus."

The crowds and the ships all hung there as the Super-Dreadnought Factory Base expanded and the various ships docked, "Haruna Flight Alpha Destroy take the cap."

A few seconds later, "Warning to towers, do not approach Haruna CHGBSSD-2 Haruan Deploying Drones." A thousand small drones circled over, under and around the packed-up ship except for one group that had CAP running over it, "CHGSD-1 Commander Zack Travus, buttoning up minus CHBS-1 Kirishima. Flight Alpha Destroyer, take the Cap."

A few seconds went by "Warning to towers, do not approach CHGSD-1 Deploying drones." Jack nodded, "SD-1 and 2 Starting with Delta wings. Take R&R at Terra 9 and 10. My personal shuttle land at Terra-8 This is CHGBS-1 requesting to dock on dock-01."

He started moving, "Merlin you are cleared to dock on Dock-01 Welcome back to Terra."

He took it in and lined it up and slid it right into the docking ring. They clamped down as he clamped down. "Kirishima Delta crew shore leave 4-hour blocks. Your accounts have been set up. See the XO on your way out. This is CHG Admiral Travus to all CHG ships. See your XO's to get your account access, shore leave is in 4-hour blocks.

Do not head off the station unless you have a Terra ID card. XO's submit requests to Starbases you are working with to get Terran ID cards and Certifications listed for all personnel. Terra towers. CHG minimum age for service is 16, Respect our process and do not hold up identification cards on our pilots. If you have a problem contact the Capitol and ask for the President."

Jack went to his office and she pointed. He hit the button and the President sat there with his Cabinet, "Hell of an entrance. Those ships of yours are massive. The carrier bases." Jack nodded, "Yes, they are. I do have one item for you. I remember a pilot getting locked out of her shuttle pilot's license and losing her family shuttle because her father was dead, she piloted it back herself and she was not 18.

HG pilots are certified at 16 years of age. With over 2,000 hours in space flying from 13 on. I asked your people not to hold up Terran ID cards on our pilots."

The president nodded, "How many of those that flew those formations are 16 years old?"

Jack smiled, "80% of the fighter pilots 50% of the scout pilots. 75% of all of the shuttle pilots."

He nodded, "I cannot argue with that request. I heard them refer to you as Admiral?"

Jack nodded, "Home Guard is a protection force. We have no economy as you have here. It is a co-operative. Everyone is expected to do their part. I deal with the inventions and manufacturing side of things. In the HG, I am the most senior person with a military background.

I am not a politician. I just build the ships I needed. See how those go hand-in-hand. We have no need for congressional budgets. How soon until we can meet Mr. President?"

He nodded, "Please come and see us. We are in Japan now. Oddly enough."

Jack nodded, "Good, I got a contractor of 6 to visit in that part of the world."

He laughed at that. Jack got up and walked out with his wives and two of his captain sons, Grace's twins from the second round. One set at least, waiting for him. A guard stopped him as he was coming on the station, "No guns aboard the station." Jack looked at him, "This is a military unit, your military units carry guns.

This is also my CIVILIAN station. I own it. Lock stock and your swinging cock out of an airlock if you fuck with my people. Command Admiral Jack Travus Ceti Home Guard."

He pulled up a vid and saw James, "Inform your people they are not to harass Ceti Home Guard from carrying sidearms aboard stations I own."

James nodded, "That is correct. There is an exception for military and with what you brought you got military. Also, he does own the station so his house. His rules. Stand down, guard. Informing the station operations managers. Also the station security forces on your stations. I will forward that to Jupiter and Titan. They will forward to Saturn if you need it."

The guards backed down.

He left the dock and took them to the ID section. He looked at the man, "We need IDs issued for all of our people including our pilots. The man looked, Minimum age for..." Jack cut him off, "Watch!"

He pulled up his hollo vid and showed him the message with the President.

He looked at him, "Do as requested or as the owner of this station, I will shove you out of an airlock for being disrespectful to me, my family, and the president."

The man gulped and issued the ID cards Jack walked around to the shuttle his 17-year-old captain sons had just brought in moments before. Guards must have missed them at the pad or they recognized them as being military.

He looked over, "Timothy, Second chair. Jacob, you will take second on the next leg of our trip." He nodded.

He took the pilot seat and called out, "Terra-8 this is Merlin CHGSH-1Danyelle requesting departure for Capitol in Japan."

He heard, "Tera-8 tower, Merlin you are cleared to depart. The information has been relayed to Capitol."

Jack took them up and then down. He pointed out land markers as they leveled off over the ocean, "Tokyo tower, need glide path to Capital Tower. This is CHGSH-1Danyelle callsign, Merlin."

The tower operator started to say something and someone jumped in, "Merlin, Glide Path sent to Capital tower, contact them for pad assignment. Welcome back to Terra Merlin."

He nodded and his son commented, "They seem happy to know you are back."

Grace laughed, "Give it time my son. Give it time. They thought he was dead."

Jack nodded, "Came close."

She nodded and padded his arm, "I know."

He went ahead and contacted the tower, "Capital tower this is CHGSH-1Danyelle call sign Merlin. Requesting Pad assignment."

He heard, "Merlin Pad 1 you know about the guns and doors?"

He laughed, "Doors away guns away. Impossible on this craft. Guns are stored under armor and exit is in the rear of the shuttle. Guns have turrets and angles of fire are 360 degrees. Again, they are stored under armor."

The man sighed, "Never easy with you Merlin. At least this time it is not a Scout."

Jack chuckled, "I was ordered that time after my shuttle was destroyed."

The guy laughed, "Set exit away from building and keep weapons secured. Merlin."

Jack brought it in and set it down without a whimper. Jack, Ash, Akio, Grace, Sprits and his two sons got up. "Leave sidearms in the ship. Different rules here."

They nodded and left their pistols and sword. The door opened and there was a new fresh-faced Lieutenant there and Jack held up his hand, "Not my first visit here. All guns left on the ship." The guy looked, "Laser swords too."

Jack shook his head, "You have a lot to learn. The president has an exception for PSI swords. I am Jack Travus this is my family."

The Lieutenant looked confused, "I should."

Jack walked past the Lieutenant, "You check I will be going through security. Astra seal my shuttle."

The shuttle bay doors locked up for him as he walked inside. A guard waved them through, "Welcome back Mr. Travus." He nodded, "Educate the pup on PSI swords."

He laughed and nodded as Jack walked down and waited for the escort. He saw a woman walking toward him and he walked to her with the family. She looked, "Who are the boys?"

He looked over, "Captains Timothy and Jacob Travus Ceti Home Guard. My sons. A couple of them."

She nodded, "They don't look 18."

He nodded, "16 is the minimum age for Home Guard. They are a few months from being 18. With only a half million people between two colonies, age is relative. They have been flying in space since the age of 12 and have over 4,000 hours each.

In craft up to Destroyer class so far. When they hit 18 they will get some bridge time on the battleships."

They walked into a conference room which was where the cabinet was meeting. Jack nodded and thought, * Phase 1. *

He walked down to the President to the sound of snap, pop, and crackle. Jack looked at the President.

"Those sounds were the listening devices in the room."

He sighed, "I want them found after we are gone. If you can find what is left of them."

Jack brought up his vid, "Astra secure connection display video from external cameras only on the Excalibur."

He played the video and they watched the lightning arc around the area. "That was a hypervelocity railgun like weapon cut through the shields, armor, Meltora, which is 5 times stronger than your titanium and seven decks of the ship in one shot."

Jack continued it but looked down as always. The bodies flying out included Holly, Carol and some of his children. "They appeared right on top of us. From what we have put together this was the launch location of the 2 attempts back in time. They went to 2 locations on the far end of the asteroid belt, arrival and departure, and 2 near Jupiter all arrival.

6 events in this system if you count arrival and departures. That is 3 location and we have had another time travel event occur in Tau Ceti. Analysis of the metal matched or was very damned close to the Excalibur for signs of radiation associated with time travel.

If Justice is right in his theory. The Drakor I worked with during my trials, these locations could be magnets to other time travel events. We did not have what we brought in today flying. We upgraded the crap out of some of our systems. You remember me telling you about the King Arthur armor being worth 3.5 billion?"

He nodded. "Every craft I flew in and we build back in Tau Ceti is a 2.5 cm thick Titanium-H with a bonded Onyx powder coat. That coat on that alloy nearly doubles the hardness of it. Instead of 10 times the strength of your best titanium is 18 times the strength. He threw up the images of King Arthur after the battle. "Missing plates, scorch marks, the whole ball of wax. Except for the frame and no hull breaches.

That is 3-4 times stronger than any armor humanity had in the 30th-century. The shields on the Excalibur were 18 times more effective than the ones here when I arrived. I increased the 1x shield you had to 4x on all other ships. 25 % of what Excalibur had. Excalibur had hard shields, which you don't want as you cannot shoot through them, they are twice as tough though.

Excalibur was running with those hard shields when that occurred. The shields were 9x stronger than what you have today. It was a method for keeping the ship from being boarded while in space or in the dock as in the Terra-1 incident. Now the King Arthur had 6% of the shields and 200% of the armor. Of the Excalibur."

He threw up the side by side dry doc images, "Both day 1 of repairs after the battle. I gave up on the Excalibur. The frame was fucked, the armor, I lost two wives with 8 unborn, and 6 children and it got hammered. I have new shields that are not even half of the ones on the Excalibur.

The frame is 10 times stronger and plating that is 18x stronger, This image of the scout Lancelot with the black armor from the same battle. Tim, my engineer that I trained, flew it after losing all but one of his sons to these monsters. The marks you see are the impacts taking off the black powder coating.

All the plating was intact and he put the death nail in 3 of those ships with this scout. Without any better shielding than what was on King Arthur. Those two factory base ships up there have enough of that element I needed to create synthetically, Vironidite, I mined in Tau Ceti, it is like dirt there. All the titanium and other miscellaneous elements.

Finally, dual mining rigs going into each half of those factories to extract the metallic hydrogen and hydrogen from the gas giants. Over a million bricks of that armor and framing metal sit in bars per factory. Each base has two factories. There is enough material if we add more metallic hydrogen, to create another 10 million bricks per factory. 44 million bricks of that alloy.

We can generate the onyx coating and apply it to the plating at any Space-based shipyard with the formula, common enough material, and the bonding process to make it adhere to the finished plating. I came back with the method to make that alloy affordable to retrofit and design your entire fleet in whichever type of ship you want.