Chronicles of Sol: The Fall

Vera stepped onto the alien bridge. It was like most places on this ship rather dim. This had the effect of making the consoles seem brighter. As the local crewmen and officers manned their stations. She found the people she was looking for standing by a console in the middle of the lower level. She noted the upper level with its rather commanding view. The bridge differed from Valorian design, which favored a single level with the commander sitting smack in the middle of the bridge.

Countryman noted her approach, “Ah! Lady Vera glad you could make it. We were just discussing ways to extend our shield endurance.”

She blinked, “I’m honored that you would include me in such an important conversation. I’m not sure how much help I could be.”

“You are an expert on shields yes? A fresh perspective alone could be valuable. I know what my own experts would say.”

She nodded. “I can understand that, but I’m not that familiar with your shield technology yet. I haven’t even had time to really start reading the books you gave me on the subject.”

Countryman gestured and Greyman tapped a few keys. Almost immediately a projection of the ship appeared. With highlights that were clearly the shield grid. She quickly noted the highlights. Two generators, located fore and aft. More interestingly the emitter grid appeared to be directly tied into the armor systems and the main engines. The connection to the main engines seemed to be shared with the armor systems but it was still there.

She leaned forward, tapped a few keys and studied them for a moment. This was really interesting. Their approach to shields was very different from what she was used to, but not entirely unfamiliar. “If I am reading this right your shields conform to Dulmar’s theory of triphasic shielding.”

“Dulmar?”

“He was a rather famous pioneer of shield systems from a little over two hundred years ago. The man developed several theories for advanced shielding and developed the first prototypes for Omicron shields. Anyway he also looked into triphasic shielding like you did, and while they showed potential no working prototype was developed.”

“I see. I’m guessing his investors didn’t want to fund the project or something?”

She nodded, “Dulmar was brilliant, but not every project he started bore fruit. He did publish his theories, but his investors wanted to focus on Omicron shields. Rather than invest in a project that may or may not actually work.”

“I understand that. Anyway, any ideas on how to improve them?”

Vera nodded, “Your shields being connected to your engines means we could easily infuse them with gravitons, but that is more of a combat improvement than anything else. Not to mention your shields don’t seem ready to use any form of shield particle.” She paused reached for the console and started tapping away. The alien symbols slowed her down a bit, but she recognized the patterns. The math was the same, the language was not. It only took her a few minutes to create what she wanted.

“Here this change to the shield configuration should do the trick. I wouldn’t recommend flying into a star, but you can get pretty close now.”

“We could already get close to a star, but you presume you mean we can now get close to the Zah star?”

“If my calculations are right, yes. For about six hours before we have to pull back. I might be able to do more given time.”

Countryman glanced to Greyman, “Add a close flyby of the Zah primary to our itinerary. I’m sure the scans would be most useful.”

Vera blinked, “You want to do a close fly by of the star? Why!?”

Countryman turned to her, “We’ve been doing the same with our home star for decades. The entire reason we developed triphasic shielding is for the sake of our solar research, but we did find military uses for it. Most notable was protecting ships from radiation traps. We made good use of them against the Cathamari for example. Their shields didn’t hold up against radiation as ours did and when combined with weapons fire the effect was most deadly. The Zah star must be fairly unique given the deadly radiation it generates. I can only imagine what we will learn from studying it.”

Shields only for the sake of solar research? That seemed weird to her, but now that she was thinking about it. They were right the Zah star represented a major scientific opportunity. Maybe she would learn something that could be used to make even better shields. It was an interesting thought.

Sali just stood there staring at the face. She had never met the other woman before, but she did know who she was. Sure they had been in the same fleet, but they were assigned to different captains, different ships. Sali was a fighter pilot at the time, the other woman an officer. Completely different circles, but Sali did at least know the faces of the officers, especially the commanders of the fleet. Still it took her a couple moments to place the face. The other woman was not a ship commander, but a first officer. “Reia? Reia of Clan Urko right?”

The other woman blinked, nodded and then said, “What on Valoria are you wearing young lady?”

She idly shifted the hem of her plain dress, the prisoner’s shift she was wearing. Sali had for the moment forgotten she was wearing it. “Um, a prisoner’s shift?”

Now that she was thinking about it Sali noticed that the other woman wasn’t wearing one. Not wearing one... A feeling bloomed in her belly. Reia was a free woman. Does that mean...

“Prisoner’s shift?” then the woman frowned, “Wait!? Why did that come through my translator?”

Sali sighed, “Cause I’m speaking their tongue.” then she gave the woman a look, “What took you so long?!!

The woman frowned. Then her eyes widened, “Wait, Sali of Clan Arimae?”

“Yeah thats me. Now what took you so long?”

“Um” she started but trailed off. After a moment, Sali felt those blooming feelings die.

“You aren’t here for me are you?”

Reia shook her head.

She felt herself deflate a little. She glanced back at her escort who was just patiently watching things unfold. Not a word spoken. She took a breath, “If you aren’t here for me, what are you here for?”

Reia deflated, “Well um...’ she sighed, “We were picked up as survivors after the Battle at Cantra. I’m afraid we are just as stuck on this ship as you are.”

Sali gave her a look, “You certainly don’t look like a prisoner to me!”

Reia blinked and opened her mouth, but she was cut off before she could speak.

“I’ve been here for months! Months!” she gestured at her clothes, “I have nothing! And you! You completely forgot about me didn’t you! How long have you been here? Did you even ask about me, or come to see me! I think not! In fact now that I am thinking about it, I recall being told that no one even inquired about me. I’ve been working in their damn factories this entire time! And let me tell you its not fun! They don’t even put rails around their damn nanite pools! One slip and in you go. Not fun! Not fun at all! And here you are in your nice clothes and you didn’t even try to ask about me! What were you even doing?”

Reia let her vent and didn’t say a word. A moment later the guard picked her up and said, “Alright, come along. You need to cool off.”

Sali wasn’t even given a chance to protest that as she was carried away.

Reia watched Sali be carried away by the armored gaurd. In the process the smaller woman’s dress had shifted just enough to reveal she wasn’t wearing anything underneath either. Her words echoed in her head. Reia watched the retreating form slip around a corner, but did nothing to follow. She didn’t know what she was even going to say to the girl. How could she even apologize?

Sali was right, she had forgotten about her. Worse, she had done nothing to help her. Months ago after that disaster at Delta-Four she had been part of the negotiating team. Now that she was thinking about it, she had actively chosen not to inquire about Sali. In hindsight, that was a mistake and poor Sali had suffered for it.

Finally after the two had long vanished and several people had walked around her. Reia moved on. Her mind still thinking about the little blow up. What she had even come to this part of the ship for, long forgotten.

Sali followed the guard through the familiar cell block. It had been a few days since she was last here, but at the moment she found these walls quite welcoming. Turning a corner they passed a cell she recalled passing that first time she left her cell. Countryman had been the one escorting her and he was the one that told her that her fate was to be decided in some mock trial. She remembered feeling very uncertain than. Aside from thinking up escape plans, there wasn’t much to say about that point in time.

Sali was still considering escape plans, but she couldn’t help wondering if she actually wanted to. Especially after having passed up a potentially prime chance. The ship had been at a Valorian world and they had been fighting. That fighting might have presented a distraction, but instead of trying to give the hospital staff the slip after she had been shown the fighting going on. She had stayed and watched.

She sighed, as her mind recalled her recent conversation with Reia. Maybe it would be better if she just stayed? What did she really have in the Confederation? Family? Friends? Did anyone ask after her? It really didn’t feel like it. Another breath escaped her. Then again the Enterprise wasn’t that great either but at least she had something. It wasn’t much but she had at least one friend here. Perhaps a few more. Samantha Greyman was a tough teacher, but Sali did feel she was looking out for her. There was also the young man who sometimes helped her at the factory.

Glancing up, she noted they had reached her cell. She smiled, happy to see it again. Something Sali never thought she would feel, but after a week or was it two in that hospital? The cell seemed welcoming. Maybe she would actually get a decent night’s sleep. More importantly it was quiet, plenty of time to think. Something she needed. Sali headed on in and the guard sealed the grid wall behind her. When suddenly an alert went off. The lights turned green. Again?

“Green Alert! I repeat Green Alert. All hands report to code green stations.”