Chronicles of Sol: The Fall

November 12th, 002 SDE:

Linari shifted in her seat, as she glanced at the other woman on her screen. Who spoke, “So how did the meeting with the Refuge go? You’ve been with them for about a week now.”

A little over that actually, but it had been a fun meeting. “They are a very friendly people all things considered. I’ve been looking over what they shared with us. It seems they are also quite talented in the biosciences, they are almost on par with us in many areas and it seems they are ahead in a couple of areas. Namely life extension and regeneration techniques. Both of which I think could be adapted for our own use.”

“Regeneration techniques? What do you mean?”

“I got a first-hand look at the data and the procedure. They use a nutrient-rich gel laced with nanites to stimulate rapid regeneration in a subject. The exact details are quite fascinating and will be included in my written report, but in short, they can save a subject from extensive injuries. Even fatal levels of organ damage aren’t an obstacle, assuming the brain remains intact.”

“First hand look? Does that mean you got to observe a procedure?”

“Sadly yes, while I was there they had a small mining accident and a poor man got crushed. They put him in a nano-bath as they call it, and a day later he was fine. Better than fine actually, he was in perfect health post-procedure. Now we can’t use nanites ourselves, but I think our latest generation of microorganisms might be a suitable replacement. With the right programming, they can perform all of the functions.”

The other woman nodded, “Yes you might be right. Now what about life extension?”

“Most of their techniques aren’t anything new to us, but they do add an extra element we don’t. They use nanites to effect repairs on a subject at the cellular level. Again I think we can use microorganisms to do the same.”

“Yes but they are interesting. We’ve been looking at microorganisms for years for their applications and possible uses as a substitute for the nanites the mechanical races have been trying to perfect.”

“I know but the Refuge seems to be way ahead of everyone else in nano-technology.”

“I see, do you think they use it for hull regeneration?”

She shook her head, “Doesn’t look like it. None of the notes I saw or any of the scans I got hinted at them having hull regen.”

“A shame, I was hoping for some insights on better forms of hull regeneration. Oh well, hopefully the current projects with microorganisms pan out.”

The pair talked for awhile before closing the channel. Over all they were both optimistic for future relations with the Refuge. What they had already traded was interesting and initial contact had been good. Perhaps one day the Refuge would grow into a powerful ally. If not, they were still in a good position. As they had given nothing of strategic value. Some fuel, notes from their scientific database and some minor trinkets. In return they had been paid in kind, with knowledge and food. It was a good meeting, a promising sign of things to come. Perhaps later they could discuss matters of more consequence.

Greyman watched the alien bioship make the jump to warp speed. Disappearing in a flash of light, an illusion caused by the light hitting the warp field. In seconds she was gone. He turned to Countryman, “So are you sure about giving them so much?”

“Yes, I wouldn’t have done it if I was not sure. The Wovnar may make excellent allies one day. The last week went well I think. In the meantime we have much to unpack from the notes they left us.”

“I noticed, it was a lot of data on cloning, genetic manipulation and gene programming.”

“The Wovnar appear to be ahead of us in those areas by centuries. The other items they shared are less revolutionary but no less useful. Any advantage we can get will help us.”

“So its a good deal?”

“Very,” replied Countryman not realizing how significant this trade deal would prove. It would be years before he truly knew how much he had gained. Before they all did.

December 7th, 002 SDE:

The Commander looked over the hull of her ship. It was new, freshly completed according to the latest standards. It would be a few days before she was ready to launch though, in the meantime she was here for her first tour.

Someone nearby spoke up, “Well here she is Captain. She is a Protector Class cruiser on paper, but under the hood she is far more advanced than her sisters. Updated fire control, improved engines, superior shielding and a significantly improved main battery. Unofficially the yard workers have been calling her a Protector II class cruiser, but personally I am not really a fan of that name.”

“I’ve been reading the files, but they seem rather sparse on details regarding the upgrades.”

“Sorry about that. Some of those systems were altered as recently as last week. Anyway I think you will be pleased with the weapons. Her main battery consists of fourteen heavy plasma mortars and twenty banks of type nine heavy pulse cannons in triple turret mounts.”

“Plasma mortars? Don’t see those often, are we planning to bombard a planet?”

“No, fleet command thinks they will be useful for engaging Refuge Capital ships. The heavy plasma mortar, while inaccurate, does pack almost as much punch as a torpedo and can fire quite a bit faster. Specifically, you have been given the EPM-119, 450 plasma blasts a minute and a yield of 779 megatons per shot. Each one can vaporize a frigate with a single hit, destroyers don’t fare much better. These cannons will rip a battleship apart in under a minute Backing them up, the Type HPCs you are carrying are equipped for rapid accurate fire and will shred most armor and shield types in seconds. We’ve made a few modifications specifically for armor penetration. Hopefully they will prove more effective than they have in the past.”

“Yes I’ve seen the previous encounters. Nothing can penetrate the armor on that flagship of theirs, but the smaller ships seem more vulnerable. I’m sure the upgrades will at the very least be more damaging to their escorts.”

“In theory, next on the list of upgrades are the tri-pulse plasma torpedo launchers. These are the same type mounted on the new cutter class destroyers, only we managed to fit her with larger heavier plasma projectors. Downside this means fewer torpedo ports, but the ones she can fire are decidedly more powerful. Don’t go firing these at a planet, as they will do more than destroy a couple of cities. They also have a little more range than standard plasma launchers, but not by much.”

“Heavier? How did they solve the containment issue?”

“Compound particle fields, employing a Sega-Omicron matrix which is 40 percent more stable, but is slower to form and requires more energy. We had to add a couple of dedicated reactors just to power the torpedoes.”

She blinked, that wasn’t a common feature. Many ships had dedicated reactors just for the shields since more power allowed for a stronger shield. Just not many Valorian vessels had reactors dedicated to the weapon systems, that was more of a Cathamari thing. Although they weren’t the only race to do it, but she knew their ships tended to have at least one dedicated reactor for every weapon system. Even if the system didn’t need the extra power. “They need that much energy?”

“Oh yes, but the destructive output when we tested them was nothing short of extraordinary. A single volley has enough destructive firepower to destroy a Champion, and they can penetrate a planetary screen in a matter of hours rather than the days required for previous-generation heavy plasma weapons.”

“Impressive indeed, and the other ships in the fleet are getting this kind of firepower as well?”

“You are going to need it. I presume you have been briefed on your mission?”

She had been alright. They were heading to the Wesk sector. It was a semi-stable sector near the Lantaro sector and there were reasons to suspect that Refuge had travelled to the area. It was on their apparent course as well. Even if it was hard to locate them, it wasn’t hard to string sightings together and extrapolate a path. Wesk was an interesting sector to be in, while not as chaotic as the wartorn Lantaro sector it wasn’t stable either. The Voskar and the Wovnar both maintained large fleets and numerous holdings in the sector. There were also a number of minor powers in the area, typically attached to either the Wovnar or the Voskar. It was these minor powers that represented the greatest danger in the area. While not at war, the Voskar and the Wovnar didn’t exactly get along and it was an open secret that they were waging a series of proxy wars along their borders. That included the Wesk sector, which was why little trade passed from the Confederation and into the sector. While it was close to the Confederation borders, it was hard to find profitable trade routes. Many of them ended up hit by Voskar raiders, or privateers. Forces that occasionally struck into Valorian space, striking Valorian shipping, but since it was outside the core the Council cared little.

Something that was changing now. She wasn’t going there just to hunt for Refuge ships, but to hunt down and destroy all pirate bases near the border to the Confederation. They also had several outposts in the area that required additional support, which meant escorting new ships and supplies to these bases. Her first stop in the sector would involve escorting a supply convoy and fresh patrol cruisers to the outpost R-22. It was not the only such convoy out there, as with the new political shift, the military was not only expanding but it was increasing its presence in the region. Long term they were looking to stabilize the region and open new prosperous trade routes with which to fill their coffers. The commander did not have much to say about that, but she was all for the piracy hunting. The Refuge were also a threat and she wasn’t against neutralizing a potential menace before it became a problem. Something that would certainly happen with the Refuge if left unchecked.

“I have, I’m aware of the potential Refuge presence, but their armor is only half the equation. I’m more worried about their torpedoes.”

“Yes, well the scientists are still drawing a blank on those, but we did what we could. Your ship has been outfitted with a network of modified type six light pulse cannons for point defense with upgraded fire control and targeting systems. We believe they will prove much more effective at intercepting incoming torpedoes. Simulations show a sixty five percent effectiveness, but until we meet the enemy in combat I’d take those numbers with a grain of sand.”

She certainly wasn’t planning to. In the meantime she wanted a tour of her new ship. It certainly looked to be quite impressive. She could see changes in the lines of the hull. New additions to the design, additional weapon and shield mountings. Along with an enlarged aft quarter, clearly to enable the mounting of a larger more powerful engine.

Inside she noted new bulkheads, thickened hull plates and even extra structural integrity generators.

“What’s with all the extra bulkheads and structural field generators?”

The other woman replied, “Sadly the extra cost was needed as these upgrades are sorely needed. Your ship would tear itself apart without the improvements.”

“Tear itself apart?”

“I believe I mentioned the engine upgrades? We built her from the ground up with a much larger and more powerful sublight drive,” she paused as they passed through a door and she caught sight of the central warp engine and her twin primary reactors on either side. The central drive made use of two field-generation engines in the nacelles mounted against the rear quarter of the hull. It was also by tradition directly integrated into the ship’s primary Plasma Occilation Drive. This is what gave modern ships their excellent fuel efficiency and high speed. It didn’t escape her notice that this one was somewhat different. Larger plasma coils, beefier main reactors, additional force shields protecting the core along with several components she didn’t recognize. This wasn’t a standard issue class II drive, or one of the Class III drives found on the faster newer cruisers of the line.

“And as you can see we also upgraded the warp drive systems.”

“What kind of upgrades, I have not seen this drive configuration before.”

“It’s new, a result of the Warp Five Development Project. These new class four engines have been tested and rated for a cruising speed of warp four point eight two six nine. With a maximum warp speed of five point...”

“Five! You’ve breached the barrier?”

“Not as well as we would have liked, there have been setbacks, including the complete destruction of a prototype at Cantra and less well known was the loss of a lab and all its materials to a raid. We think the Voskar were involved, but have no proof. Sadly that same lab was related to the prototype we lost at Cantra, which was actually showing the best promise for a warp five engine. Still we managed to get close with a design from a different lab, just it doesn’t perform as well.”

“I heard something about that, a real shame, but this drive still makes her the fastest ship in the fleet.”

“Well every ship in your fleet is being equipped with the same engines. Along with modified sensors that might be able to detect the Refuge at greater ranges. Nothing amazing, but way better than before. In combination, you might be able to find them.”

She smiled, that was certainly an interesting development. “Tell me more about these enhancements.”

The other woman happily complied. Eager to tell her all about the work they had been doing. It was honestly cute.