Astra Pt. 07

The hybrids, some could see the beams congregating. Aiko called out, "Beams are converging." He looked at the Master Chief, "Take it half power." She did so and he saw the stars and the edge of the circle. "Take it to full." She opened it up and Jack looked, "We need more powers everything from the labs." She called over, "Online." She looked, "We have one power core down."

He called out, "Lower outer two shields. The whole widened more and he thought this would be close. HE called out, "Now ladies. Every single one of them poured there will into Jack and he shunted the ship into the hole. There was a crash, a couple of chairs came loose, and everything stopped. "Status and location."

The Master Chief sighed, "I got one maybe two power cores non-operational. One if not two of the wormhole engine pylons are damaged. Structural engineering is checking the rest of the ship. Move it, ensign."

He smiled and took off to check his assigned location. Sprits smiled and threw a map up. Of the system. "Just outside the outer belt. I do not see a corridor here."

Jack nodded, "This is the time entry point. The location...the location I was grabbed from twice an early warning satellite needs to be placed. I happened to have one here but we will not launch it until we are about ready to leave. I am going to engineering. Shields back to full."

He went down to engineering and looked at the cores. "Replaced the suspect one and the dead one. Get people to deck 8 we got work to do people."

The Kitana had 24 decks it was tall but narrow and long. He had crewmen show, "That support platform, I'll take the power regulator. and I want 10 cores from here."

He went to engineering, "Shut off power on Power core shields. They were operational as well, correct. Master Chief. Bring it offline and relocate 3 meters toward the bow."

She looked over, "That takes it out of alignment Admiral." He shook his head and pointed, "Next platform is on its way down with 10 power cores from storage. Status on the pylons?"

She nodded, "We busted about a third off one scraped up another. About two hours. He handed her the power regulator. "While it is down, I want you to move every other line on the wormhole drive to this new set of 8." She nodded, "2 cores per with a draw from the labs and if they need more.

He nodded, "I need a team on this now pull them out of bunks if you have too. I want these 8 in place with this power regulator. Contact me in my lab immediately when the power work is done and then again for the pylons."

She nodded, "Yes Admiral."

He sighed, "Off to rewrite software."

He reconfigured the secondary screen. It now had 3 that followed the edge of the curve of the shield. Wormhole Power odd, Science and shields, and Wormhole Power Even, He then made changes to the weapons software for a similar configuration, to draw more power for the larger guns he would install on the Katana Explorer I Battleship.

He recorded his Transponder to HGEBS-1 Kirishima but he held off on this update. He wanted to do it in Tau Ceti Proper. He heard, "This is the Master Chief, Power and Pylons are ready Admiral." She still had 15 minutes to go. He sent the software updated to weapons and shields.

He started up every fabricator and then cranking out the new weapon designs for the plasma charge cannons." He sent a copy to Astra, "Crosscheck that against the archive."

She called back, "There is something like it but at half the power." Jack nodded. "Design-wise. Completely different design but very similar in theory."

He sent her the small ones. She looked at them, "That will work. The other we would not have...Wait you just added another 8 cores. You could power those new weapons! You are fabricating them aren't you!?"

He nodded, "Yes I am during a Wormhole jump."

He headed to the bridge, "We got all fabricators running. I even got the particle accelerator powered up."

Grace looked at Jack, "Are you mad?"

The Master Chief laughed, "With power. We replace the 2 and added 8 more. Now each pylon has a dedicate 2 cores during this."

Jack called out, "Shields check status?" She looked at it, "Secondary page has changed."

His son at tactical laughed, "Mine did as well. That is what that reboot was about."

He sat back, "Alright everyone, Same deal we increase our consumption and our cores. Get buckled in. I can shut the power down if we need it but we should be good."

He got everyone seated. "Launch satellite 1,000 km up."

The satellite was deployed. He waited for them to return. He looked around and thought, * I pushed to hard last time. Threw us off our angle. I need to be focused on the engine and gently but swiftly move forward. Like a toy boat. *

He heard from Justice, * You found two issues from your jump. Start sooner and the final thrust at the end. Yes, like launching a toy boat. *

He sat back, "Half power. He watched it open and saw the stars and asteroids. He called out full power he started alone gently nudging them forward he nodded at the ladies and he felt the power increase. He pushed off on the back to let the ship go and it appeared on the other side. He hit the relay satellite from here, "Paul, This is Merlin."

He heard him laugh, "What do you need."

He smiled to himself, "How is Colossus coming along?"

He heard him laughing again, "It really is that. This is over a 100m longer than your carrier base. We got engineering buttoned up. The first 150 meters is plated. We got caterpillar 3 starting fighters for you in a few weeks."

He looked things over and sent him the specs and mount location as well as locations they could be used at. Then sent the files. He asked, "Building Pylons on number two?"

He heard back, "Yes, most of the day to day stuff is running out of the dry docks. We reorder the fleet around a little with the Brelina threat now taken care of we want to set our fleet closer to our worlds so they have them near."

Jack nodded, "Get them to hold off sending 3rd and 4th yet. For at least a week. Pack up caterpillar 4. Would you let me know when the two Councils are done haggling over that damned alliance paperwork?"

He laughed, "They should have it in final tomorrow."

He smiled, "Tell them to tell the President they would like this signing ceremony to be performed aboard my vessel."

He laughed, "Sure they would get a kick out of it being on our first battleship."

Jack laughed, "You alone and secure?"

He took a second, "I am now. He sent him the new plans for the battleship. "Get that added into the new designs. Add the new designation tomorrow."

He looked at it, "Jesus Jack, how many power cores do you need on that thing?"

Jack laughed, "Think we got it just right now. Notice the additional shield generator and armor to cover the engine room. Notice model numbers."

He called out, "Don't have the info on that and looking through the list I am missing a new model on the rail gun too."

Jack sent them, "Fixed the shield problem, they do not need dry docks to install. Just need to fabricate."

He laughed, "What are you doing now?"

Jack smiled, "Turn the ship 180 degrees. He saw them make the course correction. "Finishing my engine testing. I will try and have your parents, Francine, and James aboard for the signing ceremony."

He laughed again, "Ok, but why?"

Jack smiled, "I thought you might want to hug them during it."

He heard, "Your new engine works!"

He smiled, "Look at you comm trace on your log."

He looked at it, "Holly fuck your in-system!"

Jack smiled, "No, a distance away. I brought us in where Danyelle died. I want the first system-to-system to occur with the signing ceremony aboard my ship. Ask the council members if they would do the ceremony from the bridge of the 3rd group's battleship.

Park it halfway between the two worlds they should be at their closest point tomorrow. Let them know it will be delayed by 30 minutes or so as I show off the newest designation and class of Kitana Battleship. I want this to be a surprise for all dignitaries. Only you know. Power up to half. This call will drop but I will call you back."

He heard Paul chuckled, "Alright you old Mad Scientist."

Jack called out, "Take it to full. I am not a mad scientist. I am Merlin."

He finished pushing them through back to where they started within the Tera system. "Retract the drive pylons. Take us to Terra 6x speeds. Today we made history. Tomorrow, two systems will know it."

He connected to Paul, "Just finished setting course back to Terra. We get there park us."

Paul sighed, "I got the greatest secret in this system and I can tell nobody."

Jack sighed, "It is only for one day. You tell Rebeca and the whole system will know it."

That earned him a laugh, "She does not know everybody but I get your meaning. Talk again tomorrow."

He ended his call he contacted James, "Hello James."

He smiled, "Hello stranger. What can I do for you?"

He smiled, "Get yourself and your wives. Get your father and wives to come and join us for a piece of history. They can come in this evening or first thing in the morning. It will get dicey after that when Presidential Security Services show."

He laughed, "The Presidents coming aboard? This is important?"

Jack smiled, "Monumentally important. We have plenty of guest Quarters."

He nodded, "Then tonight sounds better."

The call ended. Jack called up Terra News. He saw the operator who smiled, "I will put straight through to the producer."

He looked at Randy and smiled, "How are you doing. Got something for us?"

Jack laughed, "I wish to invite your Capital correspondent aboard my newly design flagship if you will." She smiled, "Something is up. I can feel it."

Jack nodded, "Yes, the thing is the choice is yours."

She laughed, "All right, anything else I should tell her?"

He nodded, "Have a second floating still camera and an overnight bag for both. Also, triple-up on how much storage she carries around for the cameras."

She laughed, "You make it sound like she is filming a documentary."

Jack looked at her, "You asked. The choice..."

He left it hanging there as she laughed, "Fine. It is not a big ask."

I will send her up with a News shuttle. When will you be in orbit? "

He smiled, "Going past Luna now."

She nodded, "She is already on her way."

The call ended and The President contacted Jack. He sighed, "I just got off comms with your two colony leaders."

He smiled, "Thank you, Astra, for putting him straight through."

She giggled is his head, * I overheard, see you soon. *

The President looked to speak and Jack cut him, "Astra be sure our forward airlocks are available for the Security Service destroyers that will be coming with the President to my ship. They are of course barred from unrestricted access to my ship and only a handful will be needed aboard the ship itself as he will have two hybrid guards at all times."

The President sighed, "They told you already."

Jack laughed, "I made the recommendation. The only way to get your ass to check out my newest ship in person and see a few new surprises. I need a ship you are decommissioning for a demonstration of new weapons technology. Not lasers and not railguns. This one is new. Similar in concept to a design used on Excalibur.

This is my own production-ready version that your ship designers will want to see. Two models even the 'oh my' and the 'oh my god' versions. Which will be installed within the next two hours. I started printing them earlier after our rough start at engine testing. They will also list the power requirements. The patents will be sent within 24 hours of weapons testing.

I hate what we do with weapons against each other but this is another weapon you could never put into the hands of ground troops. They would immolate upon firing. That makes me more hopeful, but air or space bombardment of the masses is still possible.

That means I will be adding a new shield product for mass population areas. Those have 1 and 3 of my shield designs, 2 would be a hassle for traffic getting into and out of the city. Then one for military installations that would have all 3. Which brings in another product line."

The President held up a hand, "Alright, I get it. You got new toys to show me."

Jack nodded, "I got new bobbles to show and before the end of the day tomorrow you will see some truly spectacular revelations in technology. I will need you here for at least 24 hours. The duration after that is up to you."

He laughed, "All under the guise of a document signing ceremony. I will add an authority letter if I am unreachable for my vice President to watch over things." Jack nodded, "You will be reachable by comms at almost all times. Cannot speak for planetary orbits."

He sighed, "That is a shot about the satellite communication network to go along with our security net. I just do not see the cost-benefit of it."

Jack nodded, "It was a shot at it but I will also remind you I did two in system FTL jumps to get where I needed to be. Were the cost and risk worth the benefit? You need to be able to talk with your fleet commanders.

If they are in a low orbit refuel on the backside of Jupiter or if they doing mining work clearing a corridor through the belt. The problem was it was presented wrong. Instead of another net what you need to do is add new modules to the existing net. Ones that have the advanced communication functions we installed in your Starbases.

Labor, they are the military. They have a commercial component piggybacking off it. Just like Starbases 1-6. The extra paid interweb feed for porn channels, political channels, and religious channels is crap at this stage of development. You start terraforming and making bio-domed facilities on some of the distant moons then sure.

It was a commercial endeavor with a lot of fluff thrown under a military expansion. The companies that pitched it cannot finance itself or they would have just put them into play. They already had the licensing for off-planet broadcasting, Get one of your backers to incorporate just the communication aspects to the existing network and you would have what is NEEDED not wanted."

The President laughed, "My new admiral is sitting here laughing at that. She wants to push for a communication solution. You gave a potentially easy one."

Jack smiled, "Invite her along. She can see how the other half live."

He heard laughter and she appeared in the frame, "I would love to see inside one of your Katana battleships."

He nodded, "The same thing, bring an overnight bag."

She laughed, "Trip around the system?"

Jack smiled, "Exactly, the best way to show off some new features."

She nodded, "Alright I am curious."

He looked over, "I invited only one reporter aboard. She is the one who interviewed me from Terra News. Bring your wives I have yet to be introduced properly to the two new ones."

He chuckled, "After Brenda's return Valery wanted to see what you have onboard."

Jack laughed, "Should I be locating her a laser sword as well?"

He laughed, "She has talked about it but has not committed yet. Maybe after she watches a sparring match or two."

Jack nodded, "Will be tight tomorrow with all the tours and such but we will work to accommodate. If you decide you want to take the extra time, I mention It would make it easier on my schedule but I am flexible."

He nodded, "We will see. Sounds like you got a whole slew of new technology in this model."

Jack nodded, "I also want to show you the mockups for the next one I am building out in Tau Ceti. It has a project name of Colossus."

He laughed, "Building something bigger?"

He smiled, "Always working on a better mousetrap. I got to go."

He ended the call. He called Grace, Katlyn, Olivia, Pela, and Velma to his ready room. "All attire on mission decks shall be official Home Guard uniforms. Sorry, Charlie, no Hawaiian loud shirts. We have dignitaries coming in tonight and tomorrow.

Comms blackout should end around noon tomorrow. Grace, please send those new design patents to our lawyers in Australia when that happens. Have them transmit 30 minutes later."

She nodded. Jack went to his ready room and looked at the 4 ladies in front of him as Katlyn came running in.

He nodded, "Olivia is taking over for Dr. Vee. Pela will be working in the same area. With a special eye on Sprits. Velma, we have a xenobiology department for you to work from. That leaves Katlyn. I want you to get your license, and start writing. We need a manual or playbook for planetary exploration, isolation, decontamination, and sample collection.

You will have to work with every doctor and scientist we have and figure out where we have any holes. Astra connect me with Dr. Vee."

She answered her vid and smiled, "Thank you for giving me a couple of months to get settled back in."

He nodded, "Back to teaching and doing a book deal as well on the physiological and mental changes. Where and how full hybrids fit into society. I read the outline and I liked the concepts. I would, however, like to see you include a few things."

She nodded, "Alright, like what?"

He smiled, "A psychological profile overview of personality types typically found under a given blade color. The question was asked to me how can a hybrid be judged by human society? The almost 20 years of experience you have had working with them how are hybrids ruled? How and why we 'seek' power and political power."

She laughed at that, "From what I have observed you gain power by practicing and staying true to the tenants of your order. Some struggle for a time and progress very slowly. They find it frustrating until they learn that it is the norm. Your council of 6 you maintain are all very loyal to you.

The red members of it are very much the adrenalin junkies and they want to take action types. While the blues are more cautious, the homeward defenders. The Judges are the judges of your inner conclave. They are the ones who have a balance in life. As to politics goes you refuse to embrace it and refuse to bend your principles. That makes you ill-suited to politics.

The framework that you used to establish each of the colonies and the level of involvement in setting up a working government that was compatible with humans and hybrids alike was astounding. You laid in the rules over those aspects into the core of that society. The place where you are getting the push back is Terra. Your 'kind' did not exist to help frame the government on Terra so you do not fit into its structure.

You recognize that it is the cradle of humanity, but what is fair and just does not always align with human laws of being legal. Right now, you have a huge help in that with Grace and Astra. The biggest thing I hear from a lot of people is why are you getting all this power? What do you need so much power for? What are you going to do with it? Many fear you because you cannot be controlled."

He smiled, "I hope to have the answer to most of that tomorrow."

She laughed and then she could tell he was serious.

He smiled, "Comeback aboard for a couple of days or watch it from here. We have the President coming aboard."

She smiled, "I will catch it from this side for once. I am sure you got something big going. I will see what is applicable to my book that might help people understand the hybrid mind better. Take care Jack and no more putting 20 into women...or more."

He laughed, "I told Sprits I would work to keep it below 6 going forward."

She nodded and ended the call.

Jack looked over. "Grace, I want all 4 of them brought onboard as lieutenants to start. I want Vee's position held open. I then want a poll done across the medical and science department as to who among the four should be considered for this position. Also, who should be considered for this position from the existing crew?