Grand Redesign
A "Midnight Star" story
By Jesse M. Shearer
References to "Sonic The Hedgehog" copyright SEGA of America; Archie Comics; and DIC Television.
"Star Trek" related material copyright Viacom/Paramount Productions.
Captain Shamus O'Reiley had been having a good day of fishing. But then, Lake Pactola, a man-made lake meant for waited distribution in the ancient Black Hills of South Dakota, always had been. Shamus was one short of a meal of fresh fish, not counting the one on his line, and he about had that one in. Just as he was about to reach for his last fish, the world went dark around Shamus, and the words "Vessel Approaching" began flashing in large red letters in front of his face.
The same had happened to his two shipmates, James Keating and Illusion the Hologram. Keating, of course, was enjoying, and wining, another of his favorite races, the old Indiana Five Hundred. Illusion was running one of his Mobian subprograms to entertain himself.
As the three took off their virtual reality gear, or in Illusion's case, reactivated themselves, they saw that the approaching ship was Emolian; a known friendly species that both humans had done business with. Before any of the crew of the Midnight Star could react, the Emolian ship hailed, which put the ship's commander on the Star's main view screen.
"Midnight Star, this is the Emolian transport ship Vamoth. May we be of assistance?" asked the commander.
"Vamoth, this is Shamus J. O'Reiley, commanding the Midnight Star," Shamus responded. "Could you verify our heading for the Terran system?"
"Wait a minute," the commander of the other ship said. "O'Reiley? Shamus J. O'Reiley, of the Starship Pinochle?"
"Yes, yes I am," said Shamus. "And, you're name, sir?"
"Commander Arlem Velacho, Emolian Military, First Order," responded Arlem.
"Well, Arlem! Good to see you again. Has it really been twenty years?" asked Shamus.
"I'm afraid so," Arlem told him. "What kept you on your fiftieth birthday, old friend?"
"I had a little accident on a planet about two dozen light-year from here about eleven years ago. I lost my my ship, the Volroch, and my brother. It took me ten years to build this ship, with the help of my friend here," explained Shamus, pointing at Illusion.
"I'll get a shuttle and come on over!" exclaimed the Emolian, as he stood up to head for the Vamoth's shuttle bay.
"No, wait," said Keating. "We'll just beam you over."
"Beam? But I thought..." began Arlem.
"Transporters were illegal on Terran Alliance ships?" Keating finished for him. "They are. It's just that Shamus didn't know when he was building this ship, and we haven't been back to Earth yet."
"Who is this person? And how is it that you haven't made it back to Earth yet?" asked Arlem. "Your ship must be easily capable of Post Fifteen."
"Once we've beamed you over, we'll explain everything," answered Illusion, finally getting a word in edgewise. When Arlem materialized on the bridge transporter stage, Shamus, Keating, and Illusion gave him the "grand tour", so to speak, and explained everything, such as why the Star couldn't go much past Post Eight, how the three had come to join forces, and many other things, one of which was the Volroch.
As the four friends returned to the bridge of the Star, Arlem began asking questions about the Volroch. Shamus began explaining then and there.
"Well, the Pinochle was in a shootout about two weeks after our last vacation together on Zandor Six. We were helping a Lemmonite freighter escape from some Kelveticans. Unfortunately," explained Shamus, "the drive core's containment system collapsed, and the ship exploded before Marcus could beam to the freighter with Pat and I. About six weeks later, we managed to pick up the Volroch, and that ship lasted us until our little mishap ten years ago, where Pat was killed."
Shortly after the four friends returned to the bridge of the ship and finished the story, a message from the Vamoth's first officer came in. It seemed that a single Kelvetican warship had been picked up on the Vamoth's sensors, and Arlem had to return to duty.
"Do the Kelveticans have the transport-disrupting weapon Jim told us about in engineering?" asked Shamus.
"If they do, they're not in range yet, but they're closing fast," said Arlem, from a sensor station on the Star. "So, you'd better beam me back to the Vamoth now if you're gonna, because I'm not going to risk one of my shuttles."
"Let's do it," said Shamus, as he and Arlem proceeded to the bridge transporter. Meanwhile, Keating opened a channel to the Vamoth and asked them to lower their shields for transport, to which they gladly complied. After the transport was complete, both ships raised their shields and armed weapons. Shamus, the natural trader that he was, opened a communications channel to the Kelveticans and asked their business. This, of course, only provoked the usual attack from the Kelveticans.
Even though the odds were really not favorable towards the Kelveticans, with the Vamoth's battleship weaponry and the Midnight Star's defensive weapons working against them, they fought until the bitter end, when their ship was completely destroyed. Neither the Midnight Star or the Vamoth were salvageable as separate ships. Fortunately, Illusion, who had made himself known for novel ideas over the course of the years that Shamus had known him, had one that seemed the only good option.
"What if we build the two ships into one?" asked Illusion.
"Are you sure that's wise?" asked Arlem. "Most Emolian systems aren't compatible with Terran systems."
"Actually, these are modified robotics from back home," said Illusion. "Besides, if it doesn't work, we're all dead anyway."
"Good point," responded Arlem.
Since the Midnight Star, though still too badly damaged to be salvaged as an individual ship, had fared better, it was used as the frame for what would later be renamed the Midnight Star/Vamoth. The weapons systems and Post Light drives from both ships were repaired and installed on the Midnight Star. Certain instruments from the Vamoth had to be saved at all costs, even if they were nonfunctional. These were placed in storage unless they worked or could be repaired and could replace the damaged ones on the Star.
With the help of the surviving crew of the Vamoth, the work of combining the two ships was complete just under a month later, with the removal of any nonvital and nonfunctional equipment to the ship's main reversal reactor and it's replacement with the food stored on the Vamoth.
"There are still some minor details to take care of," Arlem told his friends and crew. "First, a weapons test. Shamus, will you do the honors, by destroying the remains of the Vamoth?"
"Certainly," answered Shamus, who had taken the spot at the new weapons console, as he put the broken-down ship on the main viewscreen and fired, destroying it in one shot.
"I hadn't expected the disruptors to be that strong. This turn of events will keep us from testing the torpedo launchers, but we can sure move along to the engines," said Arlem.
"Where to, our Emolian friend?" asked Keating, from the helm, located to one side of the weapons panel.
"Emolia Prime. We'll have to register this boat sooner or later," Arlem told him.
"Course set. Speed: Post Twenty-one," Keating responded.
"Engage, Mr. Keating," ordered Arlem. Unfortunately, the ship didn't move.
"What's wrong?" asked Arlem.
"It's the transporters," answered Shamus. "They're interfering with the Post Field Emitter. We'll have to reconfigure one of them, and I don't think it's the engines."
"Right," said Illusion. "We'll still need the transporters for a mode of ship-to-surface transport and such. The problem is finding a way to keep them legal."
"What if we to find a way to use them as both safe transporters AND weapons?" asked Keating.
"Good idea," remarked Arlem. "But how can we do that?"
"I've got an idea for an add-on device, but we don't have the parts on board," said Illusion. "I'd suggest taking the transporters off-line until we can get to the nearest parts facility."
"Already done," said Shamus. "Try engaging the engines again, Jim."
"Course laid in," said Keating, "and engaging at Post Fifteen." This time, the ship did exactly as it was supposed to do.
On the way to Emolia Prime, some small details were taken care of. The one that had the most discussion was what the Star/Vamoth's ship class would be. Keating was the only one to have an idea that would work.
"Bismarck Class?" asked Shamus. "Are you serious? You really want to name an entire series of battle carriers after the Twentieth Century's most destructive battleship?"
"I'm quite serious," Keating responded. "That is, unless anyone else has a better idea."
Of course, none of the bridge crew did, because at that point, there were no other open class names for large destroyer ships like the Star.
Another topic which sparked much debate was who exactly would be in command of the ship. Eventually, it was decided that Shamus would handle command of non-military missions, such as trade and civilian transport; while Arlem would handle the military side of things, including tactical situations and ship's defence. Shamus, of course would be in command for the majority of the time, as it was decided that the Star's primary objective would be as a peacekeeping vessel.
Within a matter of hours, the Emolian star system had been reached, and shortly thereafter, Emolia Prime, where the Terran Embassy and the Emolian government were contacted. Several shuttlecraft were sent from the planet, carying the proper officials, who brought along the regeneration documents and toured the ships. Few seemed to notice the various transporter rooms and bays throughout the ship; those that did didn't seem to understand what they were seeing because of either age or the shock of being onboard the most advanced ship known to be operating in either the Terran Alliance or the Emolian Military Group. It wasn't until the tour group had reached the bridge and Illusion had begun explaining what supplies were needed and why that the Terran representative grasped what he had seen in the tour, and dug into the transporters.
"This ship can't have functional quantum transport devices onboard if it's to be registered as Terran," the representative began.
"We've changed the design completely, Mr. Representative," Illusion said. "You see, when we first brought the engines on-line, we couldn't go to Post because the transporters wouldn't allow a stable hyperspace field to form. In an effort to remedy the situation, the Emolian chief engineer and I have come up with a solution to that problem, creating a system that was also immune to the blocks and disruptions that the Kelveticans and their allies can cause, AND we have a third weapon type onboard that can effectively eliminate the shields on almost any known class of warship."
"If that's the case, all of you will have to stay here while a group of specialists studies this new transport system of yours," the Emolian representative said. "Even though this is a time of war for both Earth and Emolia, and we need all the ships we can get, the study is required, and your transport system only complicates things."
"During the testing, you'll have a legal skeleton crew," explained the Terran representative, "and afterwards, the four-shift crew will be sent up, by the quickest approved means, be it shuttlecraft or transporter."
"How long will this testing take?" asked Shamus.
"Approximately six weeks," the Emolian representative informed him.
"As long as it doesn't go too much over that," said Shamus.
Within a few hours, the researchers were aboard, scrutinizing every detail, from the general design plan to the presice thickness of the protective surfaces on the touchpads of the instrument panels. At the same time, Illusion, Keating, and Shamus got busy with the new quantum weapon generator. The test schedule indicated that the testing would be complete in five weeks, with one extra for the results to be sent to all the members of the TA and EMG; but that was barring any delays. Unfortunately, a major delay came up in the third week of testing; in the form of a distress signal from sector Beta Two, requesting that all ships able to fight gather in the Karto system.
"That's the closest Kelvetica's ever gotten a fleet to Earth," Arlem informed his Terran friends.
"Well, then, we'd better get going!" exclaimed Keating.
"You can't take this ship anywhere yet!" exclaimed one of the researchers that had overheard the conversation. "We still need to finish our research!"
"We have to defend our home," said Shamus. "Besides, you and you're friends are here to see how this ship works, and you won't get a better chance."
"You're right," the researcher commented. "Let's get going!"
Within an hour, the ship was in place and the crew had been fed. Unfortunately, it took the Star a few seconds to find the battle, which was still raging, on the other extreme of the system. What the crew saw startled them. The Terran ships in the battle were small and underequipped for battle.
"Let's get in there and help them" said Keating, as he moved the ship into position to target a relatively large Kelvetican ship.
"Quantum disruptor readied," Shamus informed his friends, and the researcher.
"Disruptors and torpedos armed," Keating said.
"Lower their shields, Shamus," ordered Arlem.
"Their shields have failed," Shamus reported, seconds after he had activated the transporter's disruption sequence. The crew of the Kelvetican ship, needless to say, was so confused that they stopped firing on the smaller ships for a few seconds.
"Fire all weapons now!" Shamus told Keating. Keating fired, and almost instantly, the Kelvetican ship was destroyed.
"I've got a plan," said Shamus. "Let's see what happens when I set this thing to disable the shields on all the Kelvetican ships."
The plan worked, thereby turning the tide more in the favor of the Terran shuttle fleet. After the last of the Kelvetican ships had been either destroyed or scared off, the commander of the Terran force contacted the Star.
"So this is the new Bismarck class ship I've been hearing so much about," the commander said. "Will the two captains step forward?"
Arlem and Shamus stepped forward and introduced themselves. Immediately afterwards, the fleet commander, who looked to be about Shamus's age, introduced himself also, as Admiral Raymond Lance, made a startling request: to be beamed aboard the ship to discuss the mission. Once he was aboard, the crew of the Star had it's own questions for Admiral Lance, who also had some questions. After the admiral's initial arrival and welcomes, he started right in on the questions.
"Tell me, how was it that you made the shields fall on the Kelvetican ships?" Lance asked.
"First, we redesigned the system so that it wouldn't interfere with the engines," explained Illusion. "While we were at it, the transporters were also made into a weapon and blockproof and disruption proof."
"The process involves storing matter signals in the pattern buffers and inhancing them when directed into a shield system, thereby disabling it and causing the shields to collapse," continued Shamus. Upon the conclusion, Lance asked about Illusion, and when he got his explanation, was less interested in the actual explanation than everyone had expected. His reaction to the time and distance shocked them more.
"Only a hundred and fifty light years in a year and a half? You should've been home by now if this ship can do Post Twenty-one!" exclaimed the admiral.
"We couldn't make it past Post Eight point five for most of that time," explained Keating.
"How's that?" asked Lance.
"It's because the Midnight Star and the Vamoth were two separate ships for most of that time, also," Arlem told him.
"Well, why are they together as one ship now?" the admiral once again asked.
"We got attacked by a Kelvetican ship about a hundred and twenty-five light years from here, and we had to build them together to survive," Illusion explained. "It took us about a month to do."
"Somehow, that makes sense," said Lance. "I'll have my crew contact Earth and have them explain what you've done; and to expect you in our return convoy. You'll most likely get hero's welcomes for your achievements, sirs."
"What about our research?" asked the research commander, after remaining silent and taking notes since the initial trip to the battle site.
"You can complete it at Earth. These three have to report there for debriefing along with the rest of the fighter crews," answered the admiral.
"Oh. That means we can actually do all those tests and explorations that I want to do," the researcher said, happily. "I'll need at least a year, though."
"It'll take us that long to tell of our experiences between here and Mobius, right, Illusion, Jim?" asked Shamus.
"Yes, it will," answered Keating.
"You got that strait," said Illusion.
The End
Epilog
A year and a half passed during the testing and Shamus, Keating, and Illusion's debriefing. By that time, most every ship in the Terran Alliance had been equipped with the transport weapon system, Shamus and his three friends had become wealthy through their designing of the Bismarck class multi-purpose starship, and the Terran government had commissioned six to be built in as many years. The Midnight Star/Vamoth was once again just the Midnight Star, and Shamus was given command of his ship and a crew that would call him "Captain O'Reiley". Jim Keating and Illusion were sent along as Ship's Trade Representative and Holographic Starship Assistant, respectively. All three were ready for the new adventures that stood before them. And, they enjoyed the great many that they had.
Arlem Velacho went on to command the first Bismarck class ship to be built at a propper shipyard, Englewood Three. This ship was a sister ship to the Midnight Star, and christend the Vamoth Two. The crew of the second transport ship Vamoth
Author's Ending Message
Thanks for taking the time to read this. As usual, I'd appreciate it if you'd take the time to e-mail me and tell me what you think of the story. My e-mail address is: JMShearer@aol.com. It was interesting to write something like this, and I hope it was as interesting to read.
--Jesse Shearer
----JMShearer@aol.com
A "Midnight Star" story
By Jesse M. Shearer
References to "Sonic The Hedgehog" copyright SEGA of America; Archie Comics; and DIC Television.
"Star Trek" related material copyright Viacom/Paramount Productions.
Captain Shamus O'Reiley had been having a good day of fishing. But then, Lake Pactola, a man-made lake meant for waited distribution in the ancient Black Hills of South Dakota, always had been. Shamus was one short of a meal of fresh fish, not counting the one on his line, and he about had that one in. Just as he was about to reach for his last fish, the world went dark around Shamus, and the words "Vessel Approaching" began flashing in large red letters in front of his face.
The same had happened to his two shipmates, James Keating and Illusion the Hologram. Keating, of course, was enjoying, and wining, another of his favorite races, the old Indiana Five Hundred. Illusion was running one of his Mobian subprograms to entertain himself.
As the three took off their virtual reality gear, or in Illusion's case, reactivated themselves, they saw that the approaching ship was Emolian; a known friendly species that both humans had done business with. Before any of the crew of the Midnight Star could react, the Emolian ship hailed, which put the ship's commander on the Star's main view screen.
"Midnight Star, this is the Emolian transport ship Vamoth. May we be of assistance?" asked the commander.
"Vamoth, this is Shamus J. O'Reiley, commanding the Midnight Star," Shamus responded. "Could you verify our heading for the Terran system?"
"Wait a minute," the commander of the other ship said. "O'Reiley? Shamus J. O'Reiley, of the Starship Pinochle?"
"Yes, yes I am," said Shamus. "And, you're name, sir?"
"Commander Arlem Velacho, Emolian Military, First Order," responded Arlem.
"Well, Arlem! Good to see you again. Has it really been twenty years?" asked Shamus.
"I'm afraid so," Arlem told him. "What kept you on your fiftieth birthday, old friend?"
"I had a little accident on a planet about two dozen light-year from here about eleven years ago. I lost my my ship, the Volroch, and my brother. It took me ten years to build this ship, with the help of my friend here," explained Shamus, pointing at Illusion.
"I'll get a shuttle and come on over!" exclaimed the Emolian, as he stood up to head for the Vamoth's shuttle bay.
"No, wait," said Keating. "We'll just beam you over."
"Beam? But I thought..." began Arlem.
"Transporters were illegal on Terran Alliance ships?" Keating finished for him. "They are. It's just that Shamus didn't know when he was building this ship, and we haven't been back to Earth yet."
"Who is this person? And how is it that you haven't made it back to Earth yet?" asked Arlem. "Your ship must be easily capable of Post Fifteen."
"Once we've beamed you over, we'll explain everything," answered Illusion, finally getting a word in edgewise. When Arlem materialized on the bridge transporter stage, Shamus, Keating, and Illusion gave him the "grand tour", so to speak, and explained everything, such as why the Star couldn't go much past Post Eight, how the three had come to join forces, and many other things, one of which was the Volroch.
As the four friends returned to the bridge of the Star, Arlem began asking questions about the Volroch. Shamus began explaining then and there.
"Well, the Pinochle was in a shootout about two weeks after our last vacation together on Zandor Six. We were helping a Lemmonite freighter escape from some Kelveticans. Unfortunately," explained Shamus, "the drive core's containment system collapsed, and the ship exploded before Marcus could beam to the freighter with Pat and I. About six weeks later, we managed to pick up the Volroch, and that ship lasted us until our little mishap ten years ago, where Pat was killed."
Shortly after the four friends returned to the bridge of the ship and finished the story, a message from the Vamoth's first officer came in. It seemed that a single Kelvetican warship had been picked up on the Vamoth's sensors, and Arlem had to return to duty.
"Do the Kelveticans have the transport-disrupting weapon Jim told us about in engineering?" asked Shamus.
"If they do, they're not in range yet, but they're closing fast," said Arlem, from a sensor station on the Star. "So, you'd better beam me back to the Vamoth now if you're gonna, because I'm not going to risk one of my shuttles."
"Let's do it," said Shamus, as he and Arlem proceeded to the bridge transporter. Meanwhile, Keating opened a channel to the Vamoth and asked them to lower their shields for transport, to which they gladly complied. After the transport was complete, both ships raised their shields and armed weapons. Shamus, the natural trader that he was, opened a communications channel to the Kelveticans and asked their business. This, of course, only provoked the usual attack from the Kelveticans.
Even though the odds were really not favorable towards the Kelveticans, with the Vamoth's battleship weaponry and the Midnight Star's defensive weapons working against them, they fought until the bitter end, when their ship was completely destroyed. Neither the Midnight Star or the Vamoth were salvageable as separate ships. Fortunately, Illusion, who had made himself known for novel ideas over the course of the years that Shamus had known him, had one that seemed the only good option.
"What if we build the two ships into one?" asked Illusion.
"Are you sure that's wise?" asked Arlem. "Most Emolian systems aren't compatible with Terran systems."
"Actually, these are modified robotics from back home," said Illusion. "Besides, if it doesn't work, we're all dead anyway."
"Good point," responded Arlem.
Since the Midnight Star, though still too badly damaged to be salvaged as an individual ship, had fared better, it was used as the frame for what would later be renamed the Midnight Star/Vamoth. The weapons systems and Post Light drives from both ships were repaired and installed on the Midnight Star. Certain instruments from the Vamoth had to be saved at all costs, even if they were nonfunctional. These were placed in storage unless they worked or could be repaired and could replace the damaged ones on the Star.
With the help of the surviving crew of the Vamoth, the work of combining the two ships was complete just under a month later, with the removal of any nonvital and nonfunctional equipment to the ship's main reversal reactor and it's replacement with the food stored on the Vamoth.
"There are still some minor details to take care of," Arlem told his friends and crew. "First, a weapons test. Shamus, will you do the honors, by destroying the remains of the Vamoth?"
"Certainly," answered Shamus, who had taken the spot at the new weapons console, as he put the broken-down ship on the main viewscreen and fired, destroying it in one shot.
"I hadn't expected the disruptors to be that strong. This turn of events will keep us from testing the torpedo launchers, but we can sure move along to the engines," said Arlem.
"Where to, our Emolian friend?" asked Keating, from the helm, located to one side of the weapons panel.
"Emolia Prime. We'll have to register this boat sooner or later," Arlem told him.
"Course set. Speed: Post Twenty-one," Keating responded.
"Engage, Mr. Keating," ordered Arlem. Unfortunately, the ship didn't move.
"What's wrong?" asked Arlem.
"It's the transporters," answered Shamus. "They're interfering with the Post Field Emitter. We'll have to reconfigure one of them, and I don't think it's the engines."
"Right," said Illusion. "We'll still need the transporters for a mode of ship-to-surface transport and such. The problem is finding a way to keep them legal."
"What if we to find a way to use them as both safe transporters AND weapons?" asked Keating.
"Good idea," remarked Arlem. "But how can we do that?"
"I've got an idea for an add-on device, but we don't have the parts on board," said Illusion. "I'd suggest taking the transporters off-line until we can get to the nearest parts facility."
"Already done," said Shamus. "Try engaging the engines again, Jim."
"Course laid in," said Keating, "and engaging at Post Fifteen." This time, the ship did exactly as it was supposed to do.
On the way to Emolia Prime, some small details were taken care of. The one that had the most discussion was what the Star/Vamoth's ship class would be. Keating was the only one to have an idea that would work.
"Bismarck Class?" asked Shamus. "Are you serious? You really want to name an entire series of battle carriers after the Twentieth Century's most destructive battleship?"
"I'm quite serious," Keating responded. "That is, unless anyone else has a better idea."
Of course, none of the bridge crew did, because at that point, there were no other open class names for large destroyer ships like the Star.
Another topic which sparked much debate was who exactly would be in command of the ship. Eventually, it was decided that Shamus would handle command of non-military missions, such as trade and civilian transport; while Arlem would handle the military side of things, including tactical situations and ship's defence. Shamus, of course would be in command for the majority of the time, as it was decided that the Star's primary objective would be as a peacekeeping vessel.
Within a matter of hours, the Emolian star system had been reached, and shortly thereafter, Emolia Prime, where the Terran Embassy and the Emolian government were contacted. Several shuttlecraft were sent from the planet, carying the proper officials, who brought along the regeneration documents and toured the ships. Few seemed to notice the various transporter rooms and bays throughout the ship; those that did didn't seem to understand what they were seeing because of either age or the shock of being onboard the most advanced ship known to be operating in either the Terran Alliance or the Emolian Military Group. It wasn't until the tour group had reached the bridge and Illusion had begun explaining what supplies were needed and why that the Terran representative grasped what he had seen in the tour, and dug into the transporters.
"This ship can't have functional quantum transport devices onboard if it's to be registered as Terran," the representative began.
"We've changed the design completely, Mr. Representative," Illusion said. "You see, when we first brought the engines on-line, we couldn't go to Post because the transporters wouldn't allow a stable hyperspace field to form. In an effort to remedy the situation, the Emolian chief engineer and I have come up with a solution to that problem, creating a system that was also immune to the blocks and disruptions that the Kelveticans and their allies can cause, AND we have a third weapon type onboard that can effectively eliminate the shields on almost any known class of warship."
"If that's the case, all of you will have to stay here while a group of specialists studies this new transport system of yours," the Emolian representative said. "Even though this is a time of war for both Earth and Emolia, and we need all the ships we can get, the study is required, and your transport system only complicates things."
"During the testing, you'll have a legal skeleton crew," explained the Terran representative, "and afterwards, the four-shift crew will be sent up, by the quickest approved means, be it shuttlecraft or transporter."
"How long will this testing take?" asked Shamus.
"Approximately six weeks," the Emolian representative informed him.
"As long as it doesn't go too much over that," said Shamus.
Within a few hours, the researchers were aboard, scrutinizing every detail, from the general design plan to the presice thickness of the protective surfaces on the touchpads of the instrument panels. At the same time, Illusion, Keating, and Shamus got busy with the new quantum weapon generator. The test schedule indicated that the testing would be complete in five weeks, with one extra for the results to be sent to all the members of the TA and EMG; but that was barring any delays. Unfortunately, a major delay came up in the third week of testing; in the form of a distress signal from sector Beta Two, requesting that all ships able to fight gather in the Karto system.
"That's the closest Kelvetica's ever gotten a fleet to Earth," Arlem informed his Terran friends.
"Well, then, we'd better get going!" exclaimed Keating.
"You can't take this ship anywhere yet!" exclaimed one of the researchers that had overheard the conversation. "We still need to finish our research!"
"We have to defend our home," said Shamus. "Besides, you and you're friends are here to see how this ship works, and you won't get a better chance."
"You're right," the researcher commented. "Let's get going!"
Within an hour, the ship was in place and the crew had been fed. Unfortunately, it took the Star a few seconds to find the battle, which was still raging, on the other extreme of the system. What the crew saw startled them. The Terran ships in the battle were small and underequipped for battle.
"Let's get in there and help them" said Keating, as he moved the ship into position to target a relatively large Kelvetican ship.
"Quantum disruptor readied," Shamus informed his friends, and the researcher.
"Disruptors and torpedos armed," Keating said.
"Lower their shields, Shamus," ordered Arlem.
"Their shields have failed," Shamus reported, seconds after he had activated the transporter's disruption sequence. The crew of the Kelvetican ship, needless to say, was so confused that they stopped firing on the smaller ships for a few seconds.
"Fire all weapons now!" Shamus told Keating. Keating fired, and almost instantly, the Kelvetican ship was destroyed.
"I've got a plan," said Shamus. "Let's see what happens when I set this thing to disable the shields on all the Kelvetican ships."
The plan worked, thereby turning the tide more in the favor of the Terran shuttle fleet. After the last of the Kelvetican ships had been either destroyed or scared off, the commander of the Terran force contacted the Star.
"So this is the new Bismarck class ship I've been hearing so much about," the commander said. "Will the two captains step forward?"
Arlem and Shamus stepped forward and introduced themselves. Immediately afterwards, the fleet commander, who looked to be about Shamus's age, introduced himself also, as Admiral Raymond Lance, made a startling request: to be beamed aboard the ship to discuss the mission. Once he was aboard, the crew of the Star had it's own questions for Admiral Lance, who also had some questions. After the admiral's initial arrival and welcomes, he started right in on the questions.
"Tell me, how was it that you made the shields fall on the Kelvetican ships?" Lance asked.
"First, we redesigned the system so that it wouldn't interfere with the engines," explained Illusion. "While we were at it, the transporters were also made into a weapon and blockproof and disruption proof."
"The process involves storing matter signals in the pattern buffers and inhancing them when directed into a shield system, thereby disabling it and causing the shields to collapse," continued Shamus. Upon the conclusion, Lance asked about Illusion, and when he got his explanation, was less interested in the actual explanation than everyone had expected. His reaction to the time and distance shocked them more.
"Only a hundred and fifty light years in a year and a half? You should've been home by now if this ship can do Post Twenty-one!" exclaimed the admiral.
"We couldn't make it past Post Eight point five for most of that time," explained Keating.
"How's that?" asked Lance.
"It's because the Midnight Star and the Vamoth were two separate ships for most of that time, also," Arlem told him.
"Well, why are they together as one ship now?" the admiral once again asked.
"We got attacked by a Kelvetican ship about a hundred and twenty-five light years from here, and we had to build them together to survive," Illusion explained. "It took us about a month to do."
"Somehow, that makes sense," said Lance. "I'll have my crew contact Earth and have them explain what you've done; and to expect you in our return convoy. You'll most likely get hero's welcomes for your achievements, sirs."
"What about our research?" asked the research commander, after remaining silent and taking notes since the initial trip to the battle site.
"You can complete it at Earth. These three have to report there for debriefing along with the rest of the fighter crews," answered the admiral.
"Oh. That means we can actually do all those tests and explorations that I want to do," the researcher said, happily. "I'll need at least a year, though."
"It'll take us that long to tell of our experiences between here and Mobius, right, Illusion, Jim?" asked Shamus.
"Yes, it will," answered Keating.
"You got that strait," said Illusion.
The End
Epilog
A year and a half passed during the testing and Shamus, Keating, and Illusion's debriefing. By that time, most every ship in the Terran Alliance had been equipped with the transport weapon system, Shamus and his three friends had become wealthy through their designing of the Bismarck class multi-purpose starship, and the Terran government had commissioned six to be built in as many years. The Midnight Star/Vamoth was once again just the Midnight Star, and Shamus was given command of his ship and a crew that would call him "Captain O'Reiley". Jim Keating and Illusion were sent along as Ship's Trade Representative and Holographic Starship Assistant, respectively. All three were ready for the new adventures that stood before them. And, they enjoyed the great many that they had.
Arlem Velacho went on to command the first Bismarck class ship to be built at a propper shipyard, Englewood Three. This ship was a sister ship to the Midnight Star, and christend the Vamoth Two. The crew of the second transport ship Vamoth
Author's Ending Message
Thanks for taking the time to read this. As usual, I'd appreciate it if you'd take the time to e-mail me and tell me what you think of the story. My e-mail address is: JMShearer@aol.com. It was interesting to write something like this, and I hope it was as interesting to read.
--Jesse Shearer
----JMShearer@aol.com