This is the ninth section of the ninth chapter of Sonnets from a Proton. The novel starts here.
The next section is here.
The captain sat in his command chair casting a tired eye over the screen. he was trying to free up forces from the clean up crew to allow them to move the schedule ahead for taking the enemy base, but as usual prudence held back his lieutenants. He went back to the display in the middle of the room depicting the Freedom at the centre, the potential targets, potential mines and the cleanup drones moving around the local area. The initial strike had done much to clear the area, but the space that enemies could have resources hidden in was vast so this was a slow project. He’d first been worried that things were too quiet but as the scale of the securing operation took on its hour by hour monotony his fears dropped. Now there were hundreds of drones out there investigating what could be mines and could be just hunks of rock. Or they could be rocks with mines deeply embedded in them. It was a slow process.
“Sir” came the voice of a Commander at a console “We’ve lost a drone”
“Any flash of an explosion”
“It’s not a nuke no. Could have been chemical”
“Could be. Anything in the area pick up what happened.”
“No, there were no engine trails either” he paused a second “We’ve lost another” a brief pause “And another I think we’re under attack”
“Any idea by what or where from?”
“No they’re just disappearing from contact”
“Jammers?”
“No sign of their scramble. It’s as if someone just pulled the plug from three drones”
“Unlikely, unless we’re looking for the wrong thing.”
“What do you mean?”
“It’s not missiles, it’s not lasers, it’s not ships. What have we left?”
“Nothing we know of”
“Okay few options. We have point to point communications lasers on the drones, try getting into contact with them that way, if it’s just jamming then we’ll be able to work around it with those. With the point to point lasers at least check for the albedo of the drones. If they’ve been destroyed or disabled we should be able to detect that from the reflection. What about drones, we know the ‘roids robotics is very advanced, could they have sent in micro drones to disable them? Get on it.”
The bridge came alive with activity and before long one of the Lieutenants spoke up “Sir we’ve got something.”
“Yes?” asked the Captain.
“Cloud of dust approximately twice the rest mass of drone moving away from the drone’s expected position at nearly half c.”
The Captain whistled his appreciation “How is that even possible?”
“Unknown but closer examination of the drones we’ve lost since then implies that they’re being hit by an object of similar mass travelling a good fraction of the speed of light that is hitting them and taking them out of the picture”
“We’ve lost more since then?” asked the Captain
“Another two”
“No we know where they’re coming from?”
“They’re all disappearing in the same direction so we can assume the projectiles are being launched from this vector” she indication a line on the central display.
“There’s nothing along there”
“Nothing known for a few light years no.”
“Get all scopes looking on that region I want to know before anything hit the ships and who to fire on.Con start up the engines and direct the engine exhaust in that direction. If anything is out there I want it to come head on into a storm of accelerated particles and start extending the AM drive I want whoever is out there chewing on a lance of relativistic particles themselves. With any luck we might be able to light them up. Marines prepare...” The Captain never finished the last sentence as the ship rang with the sound of a massive explosion followed by a series of smaller but still deafening thumps.
“Report!” barked the CO
“Unknown damage, over half the ship is either missing or out of contact with the AI, Engines are mostly intact, but secondary explosions have taken out four of the Ks.”
15 September, 2011
14 September, 2011
[SFAP] Chapter 9:8
This is the eighth section of the ninth chapter of Sonnets from a Proton. The novel starts here.
The next section is here.
Hi Jane
Hope this letter finds you well. The Freedom arrived in the target zone and found it clear of any combatants, looks like this actually has been a case of overkill leading to military prudence. Radiation levels were much lower than had been planned for it appears that all the blasts had produced fine particles of radioactive material which the blast from the fusion drive’s exhaust had cleared quite efficiently. A few remaining mines that hadn’t been detonated by the chaff strike were located and triggered in a planned fashion and the cleanup operation began.
Nothing more here to really report, assuming things carry on as planned the marines go in to capture the suspected base tomorrow but we’re still securing the location to the Captain’s satisfaction.
Missing you, Laurence.
The next section is here.
Hi Jane
Hope this letter finds you well. The Freedom arrived in the target zone and found it clear of any combatants, looks like this actually has been a case of overkill leading to military prudence. Radiation levels were much lower than had been planned for it appears that all the blasts had produced fine particles of radioactive material which the blast from the fusion drive’s exhaust had cleared quite efficiently. A few remaining mines that hadn’t been detonated by the chaff strike were located and triggered in a planned fashion and the cleanup operation began.
Nothing more here to really report, assuming things carry on as planned the marines go in to capture the suspected base tomorrow but we’re still securing the location to the Captain’s satisfaction.
Missing you, Laurence.
[SFAP] Chapter 9:7
This is the seventh section of the ninth chapter of Sonnets from a Proton. The novel starts here.
The next section is here.
Martin was fed up with being stuck in. He remembered that some of the city never slept. Good for an explore he thought. The trendy areas are still busy, those who seek out the bright lights of companionship always seem to be drawn together. Wouldn’t work otherwise.
This really wasn’t the prime time for exploration but that was probably for the best, if it was too busy it would be all the more obvious he didn’t fit in. After a brief look around he picked a random bar and watched the scene around him. Some people slumped in their drinks, some trying to fill the almost empty dance floor by themselves. Somewhat annoyed he noticed a couple over in the corner having sex. From the sounds of the two of them they’re trying to get others to join in.
For all the decadence that Martin had seen this was still something that surprised him when it became fashionable. At first it was all kind of predictable. Remove all risks associated with sex and what else was going to happen? Certain parts of society would start to push the boundaries.
What had been a small almost underground movement spread like wildfire when people realised that what few laws existed on the Habitat had no problem whatsoever with any form of public exhibitionism. For a while it became fashionable to fornicate in public and it was almost impossible to walk down the street without someone somewhere, or towards the beginning even have large groups vocally and enthusiastically having public orgies.
As with all fashions it was both fleeting amongst the masses and permanent among a few hard-core supporters. The realisation by some that the eternal ever search-able records of the Habitat made such events potential stains on your record removed some of the carefree nature. Of course for others this just added to it. One way or another there was still now no shortage of such people who except for the occasional shock value kept their activities to places where they would be likely to get the interest they desired. Bars and nightspots were such a hotspot.
“Man you look out of place.” the woman who Martin had just been watching and had started this train of thought was looking down at him.
Martin looked up briefly to see the woman’s face. Standing before him was either a young woman or one who had had enough surgery to pass as such “yes sorry” he stumbled “Just feel the need to be around people.” he cast his eyes down again to break eye contact and saw the man’s discharge running down her leg. Panicking he reached for his drink and regretted ordering a white russian.
Laughter came from above him “Boy you just don’t know where to look do you” she laughed again as she raised one leg onto the table in front of him giving him nowhere to look that didn’t bother him
“Yes I’m an old man hot and bothered by what I see before me, unable to do anything about it and getting exactly what he came in here for, a distraction.” Martin had tried this tactic before and had heard that it was sometimes successful at giving people the hint that he was actually uncomfortable and could they please stop.
She put her leg down “Old school, nice”
Actually thought Martin, that was probably the first time it had worked.
The next section is here.
Martin was fed up with being stuck in. He remembered that some of the city never slept. Good for an explore he thought. The trendy areas are still busy, those who seek out the bright lights of companionship always seem to be drawn together. Wouldn’t work otherwise.
This really wasn’t the prime time for exploration but that was probably for the best, if it was too busy it would be all the more obvious he didn’t fit in. After a brief look around he picked a random bar and watched the scene around him. Some people slumped in their drinks, some trying to fill the almost empty dance floor by themselves. Somewhat annoyed he noticed a couple over in the corner having sex. From the sounds of the two of them they’re trying to get others to join in.
For all the decadence that Martin had seen this was still something that surprised him when it became fashionable. At first it was all kind of predictable. Remove all risks associated with sex and what else was going to happen? Certain parts of society would start to push the boundaries.
What had been a small almost underground movement spread like wildfire when people realised that what few laws existed on the Habitat had no problem whatsoever with any form of public exhibitionism. For a while it became fashionable to fornicate in public and it was almost impossible to walk down the street without someone somewhere, or towards the beginning even have large groups vocally and enthusiastically having public orgies.
As with all fashions it was both fleeting amongst the masses and permanent among a few hard-core supporters. The realisation by some that the eternal ever search-able records of the Habitat made such events potential stains on your record removed some of the carefree nature. Of course for others this just added to it. One way or another there was still now no shortage of such people who except for the occasional shock value kept their activities to places where they would be likely to get the interest they desired. Bars and nightspots were such a hotspot.
“Man you look out of place.” the woman who Martin had just been watching and had started this train of thought was looking down at him.
Martin looked up briefly to see the woman’s face. Standing before him was either a young woman or one who had had enough surgery to pass as such “yes sorry” he stumbled “Just feel the need to be around people.” he cast his eyes down again to break eye contact and saw the man’s discharge running down her leg. Panicking he reached for his drink and regretted ordering a white russian.
Laughter came from above him “Boy you just don’t know where to look do you” she laughed again as she raised one leg onto the table in front of him giving him nowhere to look that didn’t bother him
“Yes I’m an old man hot and bothered by what I see before me, unable to do anything about it and getting exactly what he came in here for, a distraction.” Martin had tried this tactic before and had heard that it was sometimes successful at giving people the hint that he was actually uncomfortable and could they please stop.
She put her leg down “Old school, nice”
Actually thought Martin, that was probably the first time it had worked.
[SFAP] Chapter 9:6
This is the sixth section of the ninth chapter of Sonnets from a Proton. The novel starts here.
The next section is here.
Apologies for a few days without a post, here's a few at once to catch up.
The Captain watched the screens as the images of the chaff that they had released earlier arrived at the anticipated mine field. As expected the proximity triggers on the mines were triggered and the area around the predicted location lit up as the screen’s filters activated to protect the viewers.
“Well” said the Captain “If they weren’t guilty of stealing those engines they certainly had something to protect” he pressed a few buttons on his console “How long before we turn on the Ks?”
“About three hours Sir” replied a junior officer
“Refrigeration laser firing” rattled off another.
“Captain, may I have a word” asked Laurence.
The Captain waved over Laurence to his private room at the side. “Go on”
“You want me to look after the engines on this ship, what the hell are you doing with the Ks?”
“Sterilizing the area.” replied the captain “Look you told me the AM drive was a bit flaky and delicate well the Ks are tried and tested, stick them onto full power and angle them at around the insertion area. It should be enough to clear out any combatants that could have moved in waiting for us and any dust left over from our little strike back there”
“I see” said Laurence “I wish you’d let me know these things”
“Why? Normal military drives well within their parameters”
“You’re using AM injection, nothing proven about that.”
“Well maybe, still it gets the job done. Just worry about your drives and leave the rest to me” The captain turned to leave
“One more question,” asked Laurence “I trust you’re not relying on the AM drive once we get there are you?”
“Best particle weapon ever invented why wouldn’t I use it”
“Because it’s also stupendously vulnerable.”
“What are you talking about”
“Come on Captain it’s a delicate tube stretching out in front of us, we’re supposed to be moving with that thing not sat here like a sitting duck. If it was the proper one we could fold it up, but for now it’s there like a christmas tree that a single shot to would kill us and we can’t even turn properly with it there.”
“Shit”
“Yeah good luck trying to manoeuvre with a five mile long line sticking out the front”
“You designed this into a battleship?” the Captain asked incredulously.
“No I designed this for a colony ship, whichever bright spark dragged a prototype into a warzone designed this. You can use the exhaust of the AM drive as a weapon and a hell of a weapon it’ll be, but if you come to a stop the enemy will be able to pick us off no trouble.” The Captain tried to interrupt but Laurence spoke over the top of him “Before you worry the AI is fully aware of this, it’s been worrying about it for a good time now. Come to a stop and we’re dead and even if they don’t hit us we can’t manoeuvre fast enough to use the output of that drive as a thermal lance.”
“I was kind of counting on that.”
“Yeah well tough no forty terrawatt laser for you.”
“Hang on couldn’t you just keep the reaction chamber and point that”
“If we’d have had time to install things properly then yes. If we’d have had built engines specifically for this ship yes. Can we do so with a gerry-rigged drive unit cobbled together and hastily adapted from an experimental prototype in the few hours remaining to us. No. What were you planning to do with a forty terrawatt laser anyway”
“I think the better question is what couldn’t you do?” smirked the Captain.
“Aim it at the moment. Well regardless. we have to stop this deceleration, drop off our landing craft and then accelerate away”
“I’m not leaving men behind.”
“You won’t be with the relative positioning of Venus and the speed of this boat we’ll be able to pick them up in a matter of hours. You’re still thinking in terms of what the old ships could do. This thing is very very fast if you push it.”
“No I’m not leaving men without cover.”
“Captain they are supposed to provide cover to you under hostiles not the other way around, they are expendable, this ship isn’t.”
“You’re giving these jumped up rats too much credit”
“No you don’t realise who you’re up against or how vulnerable you could be.”
“You are not a military strategist”
Laurence bit his lip, “I don’t think you’re aware of all the facts.”
“And thanks to you I now am, now if you’ll excuse me I have a battleship to command.” the Captain walked off.
“Now why” Laurence asked himself walking out. “Did I decide that lifeboats in space were pointless. Sure I’d be just as dead later but at least my remains wouldn’t be mixed up with that idiot.”
The next section is here.
Apologies for a few days without a post, here's a few at once to catch up.
The Captain watched the screens as the images of the chaff that they had released earlier arrived at the anticipated mine field. As expected the proximity triggers on the mines were triggered and the area around the predicted location lit up as the screen’s filters activated to protect the viewers.
“Well” said the Captain “If they weren’t guilty of stealing those engines they certainly had something to protect” he pressed a few buttons on his console “How long before we turn on the Ks?”
“About three hours Sir” replied a junior officer
“Refrigeration laser firing” rattled off another.
“Captain, may I have a word” asked Laurence.
The Captain waved over Laurence to his private room at the side. “Go on”
“You want me to look after the engines on this ship, what the hell are you doing with the Ks?”
“Sterilizing the area.” replied the captain “Look you told me the AM drive was a bit flaky and delicate well the Ks are tried and tested, stick them onto full power and angle them at around the insertion area. It should be enough to clear out any combatants that could have moved in waiting for us and any dust left over from our little strike back there”
“I see” said Laurence “I wish you’d let me know these things”
“Why? Normal military drives well within their parameters”
“You’re using AM injection, nothing proven about that.”
“Well maybe, still it gets the job done. Just worry about your drives and leave the rest to me” The captain turned to leave
“One more question,” asked Laurence “I trust you’re not relying on the AM drive once we get there are you?”
“Best particle weapon ever invented why wouldn’t I use it”
“Because it’s also stupendously vulnerable.”
“What are you talking about”
“Come on Captain it’s a delicate tube stretching out in front of us, we’re supposed to be moving with that thing not sat here like a sitting duck. If it was the proper one we could fold it up, but for now it’s there like a christmas tree that a single shot to would kill us and we can’t even turn properly with it there.”
“Shit”
“Yeah good luck trying to manoeuvre with a five mile long line sticking out the front”
“You designed this into a battleship?” the Captain asked incredulously.
“No I designed this for a colony ship, whichever bright spark dragged a prototype into a warzone designed this. You can use the exhaust of the AM drive as a weapon and a hell of a weapon it’ll be, but if you come to a stop the enemy will be able to pick us off no trouble.” The Captain tried to interrupt but Laurence spoke over the top of him “Before you worry the AI is fully aware of this, it’s been worrying about it for a good time now. Come to a stop and we’re dead and even if they don’t hit us we can’t manoeuvre fast enough to use the output of that drive as a thermal lance.”
“I was kind of counting on that.”
“Yeah well tough no forty terrawatt laser for you.”
“Hang on couldn’t you just keep the reaction chamber and point that”
“If we’d have had time to install things properly then yes. If we’d have had built engines specifically for this ship yes. Can we do so with a gerry-rigged drive unit cobbled together and hastily adapted from an experimental prototype in the few hours remaining to us. No. What were you planning to do with a forty terrawatt laser anyway”
“I think the better question is what couldn’t you do?” smirked the Captain.
“Aim it at the moment. Well regardless. we have to stop this deceleration, drop off our landing craft and then accelerate away”
“I’m not leaving men behind.”
“You won’t be with the relative positioning of Venus and the speed of this boat we’ll be able to pick them up in a matter of hours. You’re still thinking in terms of what the old ships could do. This thing is very very fast if you push it.”
“No I’m not leaving men without cover.”
“Captain they are supposed to provide cover to you under hostiles not the other way around, they are expendable, this ship isn’t.”
“You’re giving these jumped up rats too much credit”
“No you don’t realise who you’re up against or how vulnerable you could be.”
“You are not a military strategist”
Laurence bit his lip, “I don’t think you’re aware of all the facts.”
“And thanks to you I now am, now if you’ll excuse me I have a battleship to command.” the Captain walked off.
“Now why” Laurence asked himself walking out. “Did I decide that lifeboats in space were pointless. Sure I’d be just as dead later but at least my remains wouldn’t be mixed up with that idiot.”
09 September, 2011
[SFAP] Chapter 9:5
This is the fifth section of the ninth chapter of Sonnets from a Proton. The novel starts here.
The next section is here.
Iz tried to retrace her steps down the maze of hallways, an occasional glance at her Pad gave her the route out. Hearing footsteps behind her she tried to quicken her pace but her muscles refused to respond.
“Sorry” came the memory “your body is barely holding together after earlier, That bust of speed and strength was very damaging, you were supposed to spend more time talking to the Queen, you need more time before you can run. I’m doing the best I can to suppress the other problems your body is complaining about.”
Cursing as best she could she at least tried to lengthen her strides. She rounded a corner to find a group three people waiting for her. She noticed their weapons drawn. She slowly raised her hands.
“I guess the Queen thought I was a bit rude?”
“Just walk” came the response from the middle guard.
Iz turned around expecting the shield to intervene again.
“Sorry” came the memory as the world went dark from the hood placed over Iz’s head
The next section is here.
Iz tried to retrace her steps down the maze of hallways, an occasional glance at her Pad gave her the route out. Hearing footsteps behind her she tried to quicken her pace but her muscles refused to respond.
“Sorry” came the memory “your body is barely holding together after earlier, That bust of speed and strength was very damaging, you were supposed to spend more time talking to the Queen, you need more time before you can run. I’m doing the best I can to suppress the other problems your body is complaining about.”
Cursing as best she could she at least tried to lengthen her strides. She rounded a corner to find a group three people waiting for her. She noticed their weapons drawn. She slowly raised her hands.
“I guess the Queen thought I was a bit rude?”
“Just walk” came the response from the middle guard.
Iz turned around expecting the shield to intervene again.
“Sorry” came the memory as the world went dark from the hood placed over Iz’s head
08 September, 2011
[SFAP] Chapter 9:4
This is the fourth section of the ninth chapter of Sonnets from a Proton. The novel starts here.
The next section is here.
“They’re coming then?” asked Alice
“We’re set, don’t worry” replied Jo
“How aggressive do you think they’ll be in their first strike?”
“It shouldn’t matter”
“Yes but what if they strike the asteroids themselves?”
“And wipe out the evidence for their justification? Oh no they’ll want us captured, alive and as evidence to show the might of their new military. Otherwise they wouldn’t send a ship, just missiles.”
“No reason they can’t alter the records, it’s been done before”
“And who would care?” replied Alice “Their only reason to not do that is because someone will care and I’m not sure anyone would.”
“No I have faith on this one, these guys will at least try to do it by the book.” Jo paused “To begin with anyway.”
The next section is here.
“They’re coming then?” asked Alice
“We’re set, don’t worry” replied Jo
“How aggressive do you think they’ll be in their first strike?”
“It shouldn’t matter”
“Yes but what if they strike the asteroids themselves?”
“And wipe out the evidence for their justification? Oh no they’ll want us captured, alive and as evidence to show the might of their new military. Otherwise they wouldn’t send a ship, just missiles.”
“No reason they can’t alter the records, it’s been done before”
“And who would care?” replied Alice “Their only reason to not do that is because someone will care and I’m not sure anyone would.”
“No I have faith on this one, these guys will at least try to do it by the book.” Jo paused “To begin with anyway.”
07 September, 2011
[SFAP] Chapter 9:3
This is the third section of the ninth chapter of Sonnets from a Proton. The novel starts here.
The next section is here.
Alarms sounded throughout the ship warning all to find a grapple point. The journey had reached just under its halfway point and it was time to turn the ship around to begin the braking procedure. The one and a half G that most people had now grown accustomed to very quickly disappeared as the massive ship slowly rotated about its centre of gravity. The journey so far had lasted just over three days and the end was already in sight. Over the course of the couple of hours of freefall the ship turned around and with another klaxon sound the familiar weight of gravity resumed as the engines were brought up to full strength slowly enough to allow bodies to adapt to their resumed weight.
The next section is here.
Alarms sounded throughout the ship warning all to find a grapple point. The journey had reached just under its halfway point and it was time to turn the ship around to begin the braking procedure. The one and a half G that most people had now grown accustomed to very quickly disappeared as the massive ship slowly rotated about its centre of gravity. The journey so far had lasted just over three days and the end was already in sight. Over the course of the couple of hours of freefall the ship turned around and with another klaxon sound the familiar weight of gravity resumed as the engines were brought up to full strength slowly enough to allow bodies to adapt to their resumed weight.
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