Chapter 10

When Dylan walked into the Command, the first thing he noticed was Trance and Rommie arguing. It happened a lot over the last weeks. This time, it was because Rommie has changed her mind about the food. Refusing (her words) to be a garbage recycler, she ate a couple of Harper's newest projects. Naturally, he was unhappy, and his wife felt some of that. That was the fifth argument so far today – only counting what he witnessed.

"What can I tell? It was aesthetically pleasing food."

"Rommie, that project was important!"

"Had it worked, and the probabilities are about 4.215%, judging from…"

"Rommie, this is not about chances. This is about my husband!"

Dylan sighed quietly. The recent changes really affected the crew. Beka was determined to be a perfect aunt for two. Rhade was teaching all the parents about the proper raising (he cut down on it after Rommie pointed out he made a mistake in reciting to her some sacred Nietzschean text – for the fourth time or so). Even Rev has dropped by for a few days, giving his blessings to everyone.

Of course, the parents were the worst off. The two future mothers, aside from bickering, were constantly cooing over the expected babies, completely oblivious. So, largely, were the fathers (Hunt had to admit it, even him). And Harper was also constantly drooling over the expected upgrades.

Over the last weeks, Andromeda has, as soon as she docked at a secret Commonwealth shipyard (with all but the core crew being granted vacations beforehand), deployed all the resources at building bots of all sizes. Now, they were just about finished. And the Admiral (he, as well as everyone else, still had some trouble referring to him as such) now had some fifty papers with proposed upgrades he had to sign.

The total number of upgrades was much bigger, but due to their nature, Dylan only had to concern himself with ones affecting the crew directly.

For example, this one, brought about by the expected increase in the ship's size.

Dylan sighed again. Already the AI has blocked off over ninety percent of the ship. And just this one upgrade was likely to reduce the currently available volume by half.

Harper walked in, talking (quietly, as became his habit lately) with the Andromeda hologram:

"Andromeda, here is the modification I worked on. Should make the communication system much easier to maintain."

"May I see this book you are reading?" Suddenly asked Rhade.

Harper silently passed to him the flexy. Rhade's eyes widened.

"Inside the Soviet Army? I heard the Commonwealth didn't appreciate this doctrine."

"Every Commonwealth ship had copies of all known books on warfare. What is so special about it?" Asked Hunt.

The stare given by the Nietzschean was really not one you direct at an Admiral.

"During the Uprising, the Nietzscheans managed to outproduce the Commonwealth in all the major branches of military industry. Ever wondered why? Well, I heard that the Commonwealth ignored certain engineering principles, and this is one of the books which was used to teach them to our children"

"I have already rebuilt the Twins' with tracks instead of legs." Noted the main AI. "The field repairs were too much of a bother."

"Is that you, Andromeda?" Asked Dylan. "I barely recognize you."

"I have transferred to the avatar and the Hologram most of the protocols that interfere with my duty as a warship. Trance, I am afraid that you will have to cut down on Hydroponics expansion, or find someplace outside the ship for the plants."

"Don't worry; I already arranged to transfer a few less demanding plants to our summerhouse on Infinity Atoll."

"Now, what is the book about?" Asked Dylan "What are the principles you mentioned"?

"Oh, it's simple boss." Answered Harper. "If you have two options, choose the one easier to build and repair. The Old Commonwealth always used a five percent increase in efficiency with a five hundred percent increase in cost, and field repairs difficulty which only a dozen people per galaxy could do. And the results?"

Dylan waited for a moment.

"Well? What are the results."

"Damage which crippled a Commonwealth vessel enough for a complete overhaul only required a field repair for a Nietzschean Vessel. The Nietzscheans outproduced the Commonwealth three to one – mind you; even the initial ships were not nearly all rebuilt civilians. AND half the systems on the Andromeda had to be rebuilt after we rescued her, because in the chaos of our times the alternative was unacceptable."

"And the there is the armament." Noted Rhade.

"Well, the low battery density is a bad thing. About a square km of surface, and only 40 batteries."

"Did you hear him insulting you?" Dylan smiled at the main AI.

"He is not insulting me, he is insulting the Commonwealth bureaucracy. The main military doctrine seems "Thou shalt not build a vessel for a real war". The High Guard itself was not intended for one, not for centuries. Except perhaps for DSX class."

"A Nietzschean design" Noted Rhade. "After the Magog attacked, other doctrines took hold for a while."

"In any event, I am building a ship for war, and not for the convenience of the crew. Sorry."

"Very nice to hear that" smirked Dylan "But is that new tram system necessary?"]

"Admiral." The AI looked at him as if he were daft. "What is the time given to get to the battle stations by regulations?"

"Three minutes." Answered Dylan without a hitch.

"Do you realize it is not enough to get from one end of the ship to another on foot?"

Hunt shrugged and continued to look through the papers. Fire control systems, propulsion, antiprotons replaced with heavier elements to conserve space and increase the firepower...

It was going to be one hell of a ship.

Suddenly, at the last project, his eyes widened.

"Harper!" He bellowed while shaking the flexy. "Let's discuss this Marduk project of yours!"

"Well, you see Boss" Harper gulped. "Andromeda has requested it. Said she needs a new one."