Federation one, p.1
Federation One, page 1
part #5 of Steven Gordon Series
Federation
One
J W Murison
Copyright © 2017 J W Murison
All rights reserved.
ISBN:
ISBN-13:
DEDICATION
To Danny Gibson, Davie Walker, George Towbridge and James (Buggs) Garrick. Hopefully, the next time we bump in, I will be able to stay more than an hour.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I would like to say thank you to Jeannie Michaud for all of the covers she has don’t for me to date. I hope you like my first attempt at one Jeannie, and it doesn’t embarrass you .
CHAPTER 1
It could be seen from thousands of miles away, shining like an evening star. Within a few hundred miles it began to take shape in the darkness of space. Thousands of pairs of eyes strained to make out its exact shape. As it drew closer, it did not disappoint.
‘Looks like a mushroom,’ decided one of the operators on the bridge of the Earth Defence Force ship, The Burning Wind.
‘Nah,’ disagreed his companion, ‘It’s like one big one and then a heap of smaller ones joined onto the stem.’
‘Let’s can the speculation until we have docked gentlemen.’ The brisk retort came from the man high up on the Captain’s platform.
‘Aye aye, Captain,’ they replied simultaneously.
Captain Douglas McKinnon climbed down from the lofty heights of the Captain’s platform and wandered over to the big screen. As the object came closer, more and more detail could be made out. There was one thing for certain: the space station was huge.
Commander John Noaks cleared his throat, ‘Sir, we are approaching the outer marker.’
‘Signal the group. We are approaching the outer marker. Reduce speed to five hundred miles per hour, on the marker.’
‘Yes Sir.’
‘Comms Sir.’
‘Yes comms?’
‘We have a signal coming in from Federation One. Audio only.’
‘Put it up, let’s hear it.’
‘Connecting now.’
A strange voice filtered through the loudspeakers. ‘Federation One to all Earth Defence Force ships. Continue to observe marker speeds and then hold at the inner marker. You will then be prioritised to land in sequence. Please put your best pilots at the helm, this will be a manual docking.’
A look of horror passed between the bridge staff. The Captain turned towards the two men who were standing at the back of the bridge.
‘Have either of you two ever tried a manual docking?’
Commander John Logan and Commander Alfie Lloyd, both former astronauts, shook their heads. Logan spoke for both.
‘Sorry Sir, I’ve never heard of anyone doing a manual docking.’
‘You did it on the space shuttle right?’
‘Yes Sir, we did. However, this thing is a damn sight bigger than a space shuttle. I wouldn’t even like to try it. Hell, I wouldn’t know where to start.’
The Captain ran his fingers through his thinning hair, ‘Oh dear…’
‘Comms Sir, Federation One is waiting for us to reply.’
‘Acknowledge their signal and add this: we do not have a single pilot on the fleet who has ever attempted a manual docking. Will hold at the inner marker for further instructions.’
There was a slight delay, ‘Seriously?’ Came the response.
In the control room aboard the space station Federation One, the signaller looked to his Commander for further instructions. The commander was rubbing his snout vigorously.
‘They don’t have a single accredited pilot?’
‘No Sir.’
‘Not even on one of their ships?’
‘No Sir, not one.’
‘Okay, tell them to hold at the inner marker and wait for further instructions. Do any of them know how to initiate auto docking procedures?’
The reply was quick in coming. ‘Yes they do, they say they use them for refuelling.’
‘Of course they do. I will kick this upstairs.’
The Commander got straight onto the command network. It took a bit of explaining before he received permission to bring them in under auto pilot.
‘Let the Humans know that they are to hold at the inner marker. We will bring them in one at a time. When ordered to, they will relinquish hold to the controllers here on Federation One. At that time they are to sit back from the controls and touch nothing. Make that point very clear.’
‘Yes Sir.’
The small fleet of ships stopped at the inner marker. The Captain of the Burning Wind watched as they took the auxiliary ships in first. The first to dock was their supply ship, the Cardigan Bay, then their tanker, the Oakleaf. After that they took in his complement of destroyers - the Antelope, Courageous, Dunkirk, Exeter, Illustrious, Intrepid, Kestrel, Northumberland and Ulysses. A section of the space station had turned to greet them. He knew the words on the face of the station said “Modloch configuration”. The ships slid right into their slots. Sections moved away from the side of the space station and latched onto the ships as they docked. The Burning Wind was docked last and they were told to remain aboard. It was almost an hour before their new Commander, with a full entourage at his back, appeared at the main airlock. Weapons snapped up, and the group were escorted to the bridge under strict guard. The guard on the bridge also added their weapons to those pointed at the person who walked in front.
He took a walk round the bridge, taking everything in. Finally he came to stand in front of Captain McKinnon.
Douglas stood up, ‘Lower your weapons gentlemen, now.’ A few hesitated, ‘I said NOW.’
The Albany’s eyes swivelled in different directions. When all of the weapons had been lowered the eyes came to rest on Douglas. Douglas came to attention and saluted. It seemed to amuse the Albany.
‘I have no idea what you are doing Captain.’
‘We call it a salute Sir. It is a form of respect shown to those higher in rank.’
‘I see, it’s very pretty, but if you go around here doing that, you are going to be laughed at more than you are now. Just stand to attention, that is the proper protocol while serving with the Federation.’
Douglas snapped his hand down, ‘Aye aye, Sir.’
‘Do you have a stutter?’
Douglas had to think for a moment, ‘No Sir, another tradition.’
‘I am Colonel Man Dei, I am in charge of your training. I have been trying to work out your very confusing rank structure but I gave up. All you need to know is that I am senior to all of you.’ He looked around, ‘To point a weapon at a senior Commander is considered mutiny, or treason. It carries the death penalty. Be warned, the next time one of your people point a weapon at me, I will have him dragged away and executed. I may be Albany, and my father may have been killed while invading your solar system, but I am a career Federation officer. While serving with the Federation, you are of the Federation. We of the Federation consider ourselves raceless. Or maybe if you wish, of all races. You had best make that clear to all of your people.’
‘I will Sir, let me apologise.’
‘Please don’t,’ Man Dei interrupted, ‘I find it pathetic. In my eyes you couldn’t get any lower than you already are. In all the history of the Federation, you are the first group to join us that couldn’t dock their own ships. The senior staff always gather to witness the arrival of new comers. They consider it a little light relief. There is always a few who make a right Royal mess of things, and we find it amusing. The greatest shame for a new Commander of a group is if one of his ships has to be docked automatically; we allow three attempts. Yet here we are, the whole damn battle group. Not a single decent pilot. My embarrassment goes far deeper than any apology can assuage. It is unfortunate that I do not have the authority to order the lot of you to fly into the nearest sun. If I had, I would. Now relieve your men of their posts.’
‘May I ask why Sir?’
‘Only this once. So my men can secure your ship properly.’
Douglas gave the order and his men stepped away from their stations. Man Dei’s people quickly secured the ship. It didn’t take them long.
Man Dei looked round the bridge once more, ‘As of now this bridge is off limits to all non-qualified personnel. We are now going to the rest of your small fleet to do the same thing. Remember, I will not tolerate any more weapons pointed at me Captain.’
‘I will get them told Sir.’
‘See that you do. Tell me, do Humans have any expressions regarding first impressions?’
‘We do Sir.’
‘Fascinating.’
Man Dei left the bridge with his personnel in tow. Douglas let out a long sigh. ‘What a bloody stramash!’
Chapter 2
Man Dei, or Mandy as the Humans had nicknamed him, walked up the row of Captains and Commanders. He turned at the end of the row and walked back. He stopped at Douglas McKinnon and rolled an eye downwards. Still he said nothing and began pacing again. He repeated the process a half dozen times before stopping once more in front of Douglas.
‘I really don’t know where to start.’
He paced up and down twice more before stopping at Douglas again, ‘Stolen technology. That’s what they are telling me, it is because you have stolen the technology you are using,’ he held up a large hand, ‘Don’t try and say it is borrowed technology, I don’t care, it is only a phrase. The bottom line is you are worse than children. I have a ten-year-old nephew who can do more complicated mathematics than your best engineers,’ he stiffened, ‘Sorry, I had a nephew. My brother was an eng
‘You are a Post Captain, a senior Captain. The tests I gave you all last week were for junior school children. Every single Human failed, including you. I was hoping for something, some glimmer of hope. I even had the mathematical symbols changed to those you use on Earth,’ he shook his head in a Human manner, ‘Still every single one of you failed. I would kick you all out, every one of you. However, sometime today, one of your fast freighters are dropping off some young navigators. It seems they have graduated from some university on something you Humans call the Moon.’
He turned to face Douglas so he could look down his long nose at him. Both eyes focused on him, ‘This is your last chance Captain McKinnon, if these navigators can’t pass the junior maths tests I am going to kick the lot of you out of here. I don’t care what Emperor Ne´ Langus says. In the end it is my decision. It will be a moment in Federation history. I wouldn’t be the first to kick out a Captain and his crew for incompetence, but I would be the first to kick out a whole battlegroup. It isn’t quite how I want to be remembered Captain. Give me something to work with,’ he emphasised those final words then turned and left.
The Captains slumped with relief.
‘What a prick!’ Voiced the Commander of the Antelope.
‘Cut that shit out Andrew.’
Andrew Gordon shook his head, ‘Sorry Sir, but he is always riding our asses.’
‘He has damn good reason to Andrew. We are considered to be the best of the best. I checked, those tests were for primary school children, and we all failed. I feel no pride in that. Do you?’
‘No, of course not Sir.’
He waved a hand at the tables and chairs, ‘Sit down gentlemen, we really need to talk this through and try to find solutions.’
They all sat down and Douglas cast his eyes over them. At home they were considered the best, these men had been with Douglas for years now. On every exercise at home, along with admiral Baxter, they had been running rings around their opposition. It was why they were chosen as a single group to come here. Baxter knew and trusted them. One Australian, one Canadian, two Englishmen and the rest Scots. They had all joined the Scottish Navy. There wasn’t a single one who regretted the choice. Douglas decided it was time to remind them of that.
‘Gentlemen, we are the best of the best. The best that Humanity has to offer. I think we are all becoming aware that it isn’t good enough for the Federation. I took a picture of those tests and sent them to the freighter. According to the signal we got this morning from our replacement navigators, the tests are very simple.’
There was a snort from the far end of the table and Douglas smiled, ‘I felt the same way Mark, but at least it is a glimmer of hope.’
Commander Mark Witherington looked up, ‘I apologise for my outburst Sir. I thought I was damn good at maths.’
‘You did better than most of us Mark.’
‘I still failed.’
‘The kind of maths they teach their children is a lot different to the stuff we learned at school.’
‘Somehow that revelation doesn’t make me feel any better Sir. How come we haven’t had any of these smart kids before now?’
‘Because it took time to teach the teachers Mark. I did ask.’
‘So was it one of the new universities on the Moon?’
‘One of Steven Gordon’s universities. It would seem he built one that is dedicated to stellar cartography and navigation. According to the communication I received, they have received a good grounding in stellar navigation, but they wouldn’t pass any of the advanced navigational tests that they require to become accredited navigators. We can only hope it is enough to make them worth teaching.’
‘Ain’t they supposed to be accredited before they are posted?’ Asked the Australian Captain Lance Williams of the Courageous.
‘Aren’t we all Lance?’
‘We are accredited, but not for this shit,’ Lance spat back.
‘You are absolutely right Lance. We are, for the seas back on Earth.’
‘I think we got stuck with the shitty end of the stick Sir.’
They all laughed, ‘We have, but can you think of anyone else more capable than the Navy to do this job?’
‘Hell no.’
‘We are trail blazers for the rest of Humanity. What we fail at is far more important than what we succeed at. We need to be completely honest with the powers at be, no matter how bad a light it paints us in.’
‘We all get that Sir. I think being here has thrown us a little,’ there were a few bobbing heads at Lance’s statement. ‘It is inexperience that is dragging us down, education, or the lack of it on the right subjects. Everything we have learned has been from our Modloch advisors and it still ain’t enough.’
‘I know, I know. I have taken to reading literature on space anomalies. The main problem is, I don’t even know the basics, half the words don’t have an equivalent in English. At home we built up a lifetime of knowledge sailing on the sea before we took command roles. The dangers we face in space are far different, and just as lethal if we get it wrong. We need help and we need it badly.’
‘From where Sir?’ Lance pushed, ‘The whole damn fleet, hell, all of our fleets, are in exactly the same position as we are. They can’t help. They are trying back home with the kids that are coming through now, but they are being taught by people who have never been into deep space.’
‘There are plenty people with experience all around us Lance.’
‘These assholes turn up their noses at us and bark their strange laughs every time they see one of us.’
Douglas thought it over, ‘I have a little plan forming in my mind. Next week, if we are allowed, we are going to be taking part in field exercises. If we can beat the crap out of them, then the chances are they might just begin to listen.’
‘You mean force them into a position where they will want to help us Sir?’
‘Aye Lance, if we can win some measure of respect from them, then they may think it is worth their while keeping us on.’
Lance sat back, ‘If they let us play.’
Chapter 3
Man Dei cast his eyes over the Human contingent, ‘Full safety protocols are online. You shouldn’t be able to do anything stupid. Your bridge crew will, by necessity, be professionals I have selected for this exercise. Your people can stand behind them and watch. We will be testing your tactical knowledge and your troops’ fighting abilities. Please take a look at the model.’
The model itself was a 3D depiction of the area they had to attack.
‘A troopship of unknown origin and its escort are heading to the Asteroid Beta Three. Quite simply, you are to stop it. Their objective is a building on the south side of the landing zone. If they reach it, you have lost. You are not allowed to use ship weapons on any troops that land. Neither are you allowed to use any kind of primitive Earth weapon. If you are planning to defend the base, your people will have to draw infantry weapons. We will respond appropriately to your attacks. If a ship’s shields sustain enough damage, then they will be dropped. However, so will yours.
‘This is a tactical exercise using the out-going recruits. The purpose of it is to show you how far you have to go in your training. The boundaries of the exercise are within the asteroid field. Because it is contained within the asteroid field, you will not be able to slip in and out. Obviously, if you wish to land troops on the target site first, that is allowed. I can tell you now that if your enemy is able to hit the target area, they will simply bombard the target site, which would effectively kill all your troops inside anyway. A piece of advice: save your troops. Your forces are evenly numbered with your enemy having one more ship than you; obviously the troopship. They will be allowed to reach the asteroid field first; once they pass the start line, you will be allowed to advance to contact.
