Lens of Time Read online

  RV looked at Cyanna and smiled, “My life is whole again. You are so much a part of me now.”

  Cyanna moved into his lap and reclined with him. She put her head on his shoulder and said, “You don’t feel as lumpy.”

  RV looked at her with a straight face, “I’m sorry. I’m down to two hundred and fifty four pounds. I’ll try to put them back on if you want.”

  Cyanna smiled brightly and said, “Don’t do that. Now I can sit on your lap in the command chair.”

  RV looked serious and looked around, “Only after hours.”

  Cyanna laughed and kissed him.

  RV felt her break the kiss and said, “Will you do that again if I let you push some buttons on the chair.”

  Cyanna tried to kiss him again but couldn’t stop laughing.

  • • •

  “We’ve received a new design from our friends.”

  “What is it?”

  “It’s a modification of the larger small ship.”

  “Show me what it does.” The leader watched the video and sat back in his chair. “How many of those ships do we currently have?”

  “Two million.”

  “Begin the modifications immediately.”

  “They’ve also given us a diagram for a missile that uses fusion power.”

  “Show me later. Get moving and make it happen.”

  The second moved out of the room and smiled at the possibilities of the new craft.

  George and Admiral Owens sat in a room with Captain Mikal Roman. George looked at the handsome, young man and said, “Captain, are you sure you know what you’re volunteering for?”

  “Yes Mr. President, I do.”

  “This is probably a suicide mission and it’s important to me that you know that going in.”

  “There is always the chance of survival, Sir.”

  Bob said, “It doesn’t look good this time, Captain. You’re going to take on one of the most advanced Major Battleships you can find and attempt to destroy it. It will not be there alone.”

  Mikal smiled, “I’ve always liked performing in front of an audience.”

  George shook his head, “This isn’t funny, Captain.”

  “With all due respect, Sir, when you lose your sense of humor, you’re holding on too tight. That’s when you make mistakes.”

  George looked at Bob and then turned to Mikal, “You understand that your ship will have a self-destruct circuit. You cannot allow it to be captured by the Majors.”

  “I understand.”

  George looked at Bob again and nodded. Bob said, “Captain Roman, report to Admiral Anders on the Tampa to receive your briefing and the information you’ll need to fly this mission.”

  Mikal came to attention and saluted Admiral Owens. Bob returned his salute as he did an about face and left the room. Bob looked at George and said, “Is this really necessary?”

  “It is. We must know the new ships capability against our enemy’s most advanced battleships before we commit our full resources in building and modifying them.”

  Bob slowly shook his head, “He won’t survive. There’s no way he can escape. Even the new jukebox class battleships are unable to escape their scanners.”

  “Don’t diminish his decision. He knows.”

  • • •

  Kenny was going over fleet reports when Mikal arrived from the command center. “Admiral, Captain Roman has arrived in the landing bay.”

  “Send him to the bridge.”

  Loree looked at Kenny with raised eyebrows.

  “He’s going to M-87 to take on an advanced Major Battleship with one of our new attack craft.”

  “How many are going with him?” Kenny stared at Loree and remained silent. “Sir, please don’t tell me he’s going alone.”

  “That’s the mission he volunteered to do, Captain.”

  “That’s a suicide mission.” Kenny just shrugged.

  Mikal entered the bridge and came to attention and saluted, “Captain Mikal Roman reporting, Sir.”

  Kenny returned his salute and said, “Come with me Captain. Captain Barber, come with us.”

  Kenny walked off the bridge and Mikal nodded to Loree that he would follow her. They followed Kenny to the conference room and he said, “At ease. Take a chair.”

  Mikal sat while Loree continued standing. Kenny looked at her and said, “Take a chair, Captain.”

  Loree’s face turned red and she sat down. She looked at the handsome attack craft commander and just couldn’t believe that fleet was going to send him to his death. She was surprised when she heard Kenny say, “Admiral Owens has told me about his efforts to persuade you not to accept this mission. I want to also echo his comments and say you should not do this.”

  Mikal smiled and said, “Do you remember when you and Admiral Arvolo were ordered to attack a Blue Giant Scout that was three times your tonnage and armed with six times your number of weapons.” Kenny nodded, “Why did you accept that mission?”

  “We had to know their capabilities.”

  “This mission is really no different from that one except you were ordered to go, right.”

  Kenny nodded.

  “Why is this any different? Have we become so weak that we will no longer order our sailors into harm’s way? You know we have to know if this new ship can survive against the Major’s best ships. I’m embarrassed that the decision would not be made unless someone volunteered to do it.”

  Kenny felt his anger start to rise and said, “We didn’t know that our mission was a suicide mission. We knew nothing about their scouts. We do know about the Major’s advanced battleships. The mission you volunteered to do is a one way trip, Captain and I don’t think you fully realize the risk you’re taking on.”

  Loree watched the exchange and was surprised Kenny was trying so hard to dissuade the Captain from going.

  Mikal said, “I know exactly what risk I’m facing. But I am not going to order my squadrons to attack the Major’s most advanced ships and hope that my ships are adequate to face them. I’m not doing this for me; I’m doing it for the ninety sailors flying the attack craft in my squadrons. I owe it to them to make sure they have a chance to come back to their families.”

  “But you stand no chance of coming back to lead them.”

  “I can be replaced by at least ten of the sailors in my wing. I’m not married and have no children. I owe it to them, Sir.”

  Kenny stared at Mikal and finally said, “Why are you really doing this?”

  Mikal smiled at Kenny and said, “You don’t believe me do you?”

  “No, I can see you mean what you’ve said; but you’re not telling the whole truth.”

  Mikal looked at Loree and then back to Kenny, “This will probably be the most fun I’ve had in years.”

  “I’m being serious, Captain.”

  “With all due respect, Admiral, then you need to lighten up. This could be a hoot. I wouldn’t miss this for the world.”

  Kenny leaned back in his chair and Loree thought the Captain was insane. Kenny thought about Arvolo and the wild things he had done in the pilot’s chair and he sensed a kindred spirit in the young captain. “What are you going to do to them?’

  Mikal laughed and said, “If this new system works, what do you think will happen if I get inside the force field of one of their most advanced ships and start flying around the ship inside the force field.”

  Kenny thought about it and started laughing as well, “Now that might be something worth seeing.”

  “You will, Sir. I’ll be sending a video feed back showing everything that happens.” Mikal paused, “If I’m unable to penetrate the force field then I will have saved the men in my Wing. We won’t waste our resources building a ship that isn’t effective against our enemy. Either way, it’s something worth doing.”

  “We could send a large number of ships to make this determination.”

  “If you do that you run the risk of giving away too much. The risk is also greater that
many ships will be forced to self-destruct to avoid capture. No, one ship is the most effective way to make this happen.”

  Kenny stood up and said, “I wish you success, Captain. Captain Barber will provide you with all the information we’ve been able to gather on the best probable places to find one of their advanced civilizations.” He looked at Loree and said, “Make sure he has the most current information we have. I would also recommend you contact the Hive Master and see if he has anything to offer Captain Roman in the way of new information.”

  “Yes, Sir.”

  Kenny left the room and Loree said, “If you’re hell bent on killing yourself, I’ll try to assist you in going out with a bang.”

  Roman laughed, “I think it’ll be a blast.”

  Loree didn’t want to but she laughed, “Let’s get to work.” Loree saw the captain wasn’t insane; he was brave to a fault. It was also a shame to waste such a beautiful man as well.

  • • •

  Kenny hit his panel and said, “Bob, RV will be back tomorrow. He request’s that we meet him here on the Tampa and update him on what’s happened in his absence. Are you available?”

  “I am. What time?”

  “It’s eight p.m. ship time here. He suggested ten a.m.”

  “I’ll be there.”

  “Thanks, Bob.”

  Chapter Four

  RV listened to the two admirals and remained quiet except for a few clarifying questions for more than two hours. That changed when Bob said, “George and I sent Captain Roman here to Kenny to prepare for his mission.”

  RV said, “What mission?”

  “I just told you we were going to trial the new attack craft against one of the Majors’ most advanced ships.”

  “I thought you were going to do that in our next battle?”

  “No, Captain Roman will be going to find one and confront it.”

  “Just how was this Captain selected?”

  “He volunteered.”

  “He did?”

  “Yes Sir, he did. We did all we could to talk him out of it.”

  Kenny said, “I recorded the meeting I had with him. I’ll play it for you on the display.” The video started and RV watched the young Captain refuse to be persuaded to not go.”

  “Where is he now?”

  “He’s been working with my Executive Officer getting ready to go. They’ve been viewing footage of the last battle with the Majors to decide which civilization he was going to attack.”

  “Take me to him.”

  Kenny looked at Bob and then said, “You’re not going to talk him out of it.”

  “Take me to him!”

  “Yes Sir, follow me.”

  RV and Bob followed Kenny to the Tampa’s main conference room and found Mikal and Loree were sitting at a table watching the display with thousands of ships being destroyed. When they saw RV enter the room they both jumped to attention. RV said, “As you were.” They sat back down and RV said, “You will not be making this mission, Captain.”

  Mikal said, “Is that an order?”

  “It is.”

  “Then you will be responsible for the loss of life in my wing if this new ship fails.”

  “I didn’t say the mission was not going to be done; I just said you weren’t going to do it.”

  “Then who is?”

  RV said, “I am.”

  The room burst into an uproar with Kenny, Bob, and Loree protesting the decision. RV ignored everyone else and kept his attention on the Captain. RV saw he was not protesting. RV raised his hand and said, “Be quiet!” The three officers grew silent and RV said, “I notice you’re not protesting me taking your mission.”

  “No Sir, I’m not.”

  “Why is that?”

  “Because you are far more qualified to fly it and you can probably manage to escape where I might fail.”

  RV smiled and said, “You’re back on the mission, Captain.”

  Kenny swore and said, “What was this all about?”

  RV shrugged, “I needed to see if the captain here was smart or crazy. He’s not crazy.”

  Kenny sat down in a chair and RV said, “Have you selected a civilization to attack?”

  “I have. However, they did not send a ship in the last attack.”

  “Why are you choosing them?”

  “Both the Hive Leader and Horde Master mentioned during the attack that his fleet should keep their eyes out for a Nexu Battleship and plan to attack them in high numbers. None appeared during the battle.”

  “How do you know?”

  “No large ship concentrations were directed toward any of the ships that attacked. I suspect that none of the most advanced civilizations participated in the attack.”

  Loree said, “They didn’t mention them when Captain Roman asked for the strongest ships in the Majors. I’m sure they didn’t want to see him die.”

  “Do they know where their planets are located?”

  “No Sir. They have an idea but it is only that, an idea.”

  “Then how are you going to find them?”

  “That’s really quite easy, Sir.”

  RV smiled, “The two systems where no buoys were launched.”

  Mikal showed his surprise and then smiled, “You’re as smart as I’ve been told you are. Those two systems obviously have the best defensive system of all the Major’s planets. If the Nexu aren’t there, some one more advanced is.”

  “Then why have you been wasting your time here looking at all this material?” RV watched and saw Mikal’s face turn red. RV smiled and said, “I understand.”

  Mikal looked at the floor and nodded.

  Kenny, Bob, and Loree looked at each other and finally Loree said, “You’ve lost me.” She looked at Mikal and said, “If you knew where you were going, why did you waste the last week?”

  RV said, “You don’t have to answer that, Captain.”

  Mikal looked up and said, “Thank you, Sir. I’m going to leave tomorrow.”

  Loree looked at Mikal and said, “You owe me an answer, Mikal.”

  Mikal looked at Loree and after a long moment he said, “I didn’t want to leave before I had some time around you.”

  Loree stared at Mikal and after a moment said, “Then you’ve been wasting time because I’m going with you.”

  All four men said simultaneously, “WHAT!”

  Mikal immediately said, “No you’re not! This mission is entirely too dangerous for you to go.”

  Loree said matter of factly, “But not for you?”

  “That’s different.”

  Kenny said, “Captain Barber, you’re slated to be our next Fleet Admiral. I’m not going to allow you to do this.”

  “Then you should stop him as well. I’ve learned over the last week that he knows more about fleet maneuvers than I ever will.”

  RV remained silent as the two Admirals and Mikal argued with Loree. He interrupted and said, “Captain, Barber, why do you feel you have to go?”

  Loree looked at Mikal and smiled, “It’s not because I’m all ga-ga over you, although you do intrigue me. It’s because this mission is worth doing. I didn’t think so at first but now I see what Mikal has been saying. If we build these ships without a beam to defend them and they don’t work against the Major’s ships; then they’re all going to die. We have to find out.”

  RV nodded and said, “But that doesn’t tell me why you have to go with him?”

  Loree looked around the room and said, “This new ship is going to need two people to make it work. The pilot is going to have to put his full attention at avoiding the weapons he’ll encounter once he breaks through the enemy force field. He can’t do that effectively and work the weapon controls as well.”

  Kenny said, “What weapon controls? He just fires a fusion missile and that’s that.”

  “That’s true, but what if the ship he’s attacking is surrounded by enemy ships where multiple numbers can fire on him when he exits? He needs to choose a place to leave bef
ore he fires the missile. I know the new force field will stand up to one ship but will it survive the attention of ten or more?”

  The three Admirals and Mikal were silent as they thought about what she said. Then she dropped the bomb, “Besides, I know how we can escape.”

  Mikal jerked his head up, “How!”

  Loree smiled and said, “The black hole’s jet.”

  RV laughed out loud, “How long did it take you to make that intuitive leap?” Loree’s face turned red. RV said, “Come on, Captain. You made him confess.”

  Loree took a deep breath and said, “I’ve been struggling with the thought of Mikal dying and I just had a major problem with that thought.” She looked at Mikal and said, “I don’t want to lose him. He’s made me laugh more than I have in ten years.” She looked back at RV and said, “Then it occurred to me that you and the Connors had gone into M-87 safely. Why couldn’t the same process be used to exit?”

  Mikal said, “I’m not sure what you’re talking about.”

  “The jet that erupts out of M-87’s black hole extends more than a hundred and twenty thousand light years. That jet is too powerful for most ships to even think about entering. However, this new ship has a force field three times stronger than any we’ve been able to develop. It might be able to jump into that stream, accelerate away from the black hole until the stream weakens, and enter Sierra Space from there. There’s no way the ship could be tracked from there except visually. Any pursuing ship would have to enter the stream right behind us.”

  RV said, “How do you know that?”

  “I pulled the report from your escape and I took a look at the Sierra Space that your George Communicator was operating in. You were a light year away from that jet and it was roiling and boiling even that far away. Any trace of a jump would be erased instantly inside the jet. The jump location would have to be visually plotted.”

  “How do you know you can jump from Sierra Space that is being distorted that much, even at the end of the stream?”

  Loree smiled, “I don’t know for certain but this offers hope. Nothing else does; it’s worth the effort. Someone is going to have to make the jump into that jet at the outer edge.” She looked at Mikal and said, “You’re going to be too busy to do that while fleeing from any pursuers, right.”