New Shores
AWarringer
Disclaimer:
Nothing in here belongs me to, except for the story.
PERRY RHODAN belongs to the Pabel-Moewing-Verlagsunion.
Ranma 1/2 belongs to Rumiko Takahashi.
Sailor Moon belongs to Naoko Takeuchi.
Tenchi Myou belongs to A. I. C. and to Pioneer.
Infinity's Shore belongs to James Barnhill. I've used it with his permission.
Chapter two
------------------------------------------- .
Report Aki Saotome:
We have been just for two hours in the home universe of my father and I have now more diagrams to the subject of magic, than I ever expected to have. And all the data come of only one combat with the units of the solar empire. And I have headache, stronger than any hangover.
These diagrams make absolutely no sense. They go against anything, what I thought over magic previously, what was in the end not all too much, because examples were missing.
I do not know, how many times I shook my head in the last one and a half hour. If we would not need this damned analysis, I would take a brake and drink a really strong, oxtornian coffee. And with that I mean a coffee strong enough to revive the dead and kill them after that.
I heard suddenly that someone placed something on my console. I saw up and a coffee cup. My brother Russel stood there. I smiled at him gratefully, took the cup and drank a deep gulp. Shortly after the coffee arrived in my stomach, I felt slowly felt a nice warmth climbed in me and the headache went down.
"Thanks, Russ. You're my lifesaver."
„No prob, sis," he said," I know you. Every time you work that hard, you get headache. And coffee is the only thing that helps. - And how it precedes?"
I frowned.
„Not so well."
I pointed at the holograms, that showed the diagrams.
„The data makes simply no sense. But that is probably the reason why it is called magic."
He looked at me strangely and put his hand on my forehead.
„No fever. I'm certain that you are not sick."
I rose and gave a blow on the back of his head.
„You little..."
Then I shook my head and let myself fall into my chair.
„But you right are. I could need some help."
"Did there someone call for help?" asked a young voice behind us suddenly, that was so damned sweet that a diabetic would drop dead immediately.
We turned around and stared on an maybe three ten-year redhead. The resemblance to me in that age was stunning. Russel and I knew that the look of a person could be mistaken. Even we were already forty, we look like our early twenties, but that was normal for a person of the 14th century NGZ. And in the case of the redhead, it was similar. Washu was at least as old as Atlan, at least 13.000 years, if not even more. And after own statements, she was the greatest scientific genius of this universe. And if I can believe Dad, she stood very close to edge of the narrow ridge between geniuses from insanity. What did Dad called her some hours ago? ‚Mad Scientist'? At least something like that.
„Depends," I said and pointed at the holograms.
Washu came more closely and studied the diagrams curiously. In front of her, a Holodesktop appeared and her hands flowed over the keyboard. Then she looked at the diagrams again.
„Aha, and what is that?" she asked.
I resisted only very tightly at the suddenly reinforced gravity that wanted to pull my face to the ground suddenly. My brother wasn't able to resist. Instead I followed the example of my father, closed the eyes and hammered my head against the next console. After about thirty seconds, I looked at Washu.
"You know what hyperspace physic is?" I asked and noticed that my right eyebrow began to twich.
„Does that have what to do with hyperspace?" she asked.
„Yes," I said irritated.
She laughed.
„Only a joke. I know what hyperspace physic is. For I am THE GREATEST SCIENTIFIC GENIUS OF THE UNIVERSE!"
With that two little robot-look-alikes of her materialized on her shoulder and she stock a pose.
"Washu the greatest is screamed!" it in the choir.
„You say that only so," Washu said quietly and became red.
Gods, an Ego as large as the SOL. No the BASIS. Although, I tend to think that it is the size of OLD ONE. And that wants to be fed.
„Well yes, in any case I haven't looked into it more closely. To large energy consumption, one needs special crystals, that are very rare... bla, bla, bla..."
I released me out of her monologue and looked around. My glance fell immediately on one entirely black clothed woman. I rose and went to her.
"Tess," I said and we fell into each others arms," Long time not seen. How is Ben?"
Tess smiled and tightened the embrace.
„Ben is good. He is with your father and the Dynamic Duo."
The ‚Dynamic Duo'. Trim Marat and Startak Schroeder. The only two monochromemutants who still have their abilities. They were nearly inseparable and returned five years ago with the SOL from Dommrath and Wassermal. I knew that Tess took it very hard when she heard that. She missed her telepathic. To lose had to belike the loss of sight, only that there are no implants that are able to compensate that.
„And how is Ichori?"
With that she stuck a sore point.
„We have separated six months ago."
„Oh, sorry."
I shrugged.
„Well , it wouldn't have held that long anyway. You know, the thing with my genedefekt."
She frowned.
„Other women would kill to not to be able to age."
I smiled on that.
„That brings me an idea. Can I probably sell the gene?"
Tess laughed.
„Then I will buy the first gene, that you sell."
„It would be a present."
Then I felt someone knocking my shoulder.
„Ahm, sis? You have something to do."
Immediately my mood sank again.
„Russel, you really know to destroy my good mood."
He smiled.
„I know."
*WAMM*
With that Russel learned how hard the Terkonit-deck really was. Normally I'm not so violent, but sometimes Russ really goes on my nerves. I looked at Tess.
"Do you help me?"
„No problem. With what?"
„The diagrams that we have made in the combat are giving me headaches."
„Can I see."
„You forgot me, " I heard the voice of Washu behind me.
I turned around and saw down to her.
„Settled itself. But if you need to help that badly, you could try."
I saw her sinking expression and it was on me to grin. I turned to Tess. She studied the diagrams and looked at me after that.
„Perhaps it would help if we knew the difference in the hyperphysical constants to that at home."
I nodded. That could help. I thought of the only both other contacts with other universes. There were the contact with the Druuf around 2043 AD and the trip of a Task Force from the Cosmic Hanse and the LFT into the universe Tarkan in the fifth century NGZ. Tarkan was a universe, that stood shortly before a ‚Big Crunch', the reversal the ‚Big Bang', and the universe of the Druuf, was a very young one. In both universes, the hyper constants had differed to that at home and caused some interesting phenomena. For example the unnaturally high number of green suns in the universe of the Druuf and this black hole moon in Tarkan.
I loaded the constants measured shortly after our transition, which were necessary for the FTL-engines in order to work correctly here, and compared them to that at home.
„Aha," I made," there it is."
Tess looked at the Holo.
„A difference of four hundred Kalup in the area of the hyper gravitation up," she stated," that could help."
I nodded and instructed the syntron of my worktable to adjust the diagrams to the increased hyper gravitation constant.
„Bingo," I said as I saw how the diagrams changed.
On the diagram I was able to see a variation immediately, in context with the Ki manipulation ability placed in the UHF-area. A peak in the area of 652,887634 Terakalup. And these peaks were in all diagrams. That meant, almost everything was maintained by magic users. The shielding, the FTL engines, a large percentage of the weapons, inertia damper and so on. But it looks like there were some emergency systems that were not based on magic.
That I hadn't seen these peaks already. I was lucky when I was able to overload the shielding of Hibiki's ship and close the portal. And the portal that brought us here was not of magic origin. It was a type Para portal that I had improvised on the fly with some old data of the Metagrav and the lense field projectors out of the time of the Druuf incident. I am honestly surprised that it had brought us there, where we wanted to go.
I looked at Tess. She looked at me.
„Thanks for the help."
„No problem," she answered smiling," But now you won't loose me."
I smiled as an answer.
--------------------------------------------- .
About a hour later the CLANCY was once again in normal space after the fleet are gathered some data from scans of 47 Tucani, after a trip around the star cluster, while some of the dinghies flew into other directions in order to be prepared against possible problems. This stay would last longer, as Dad had called a Meeting, together with me as the chief scientist. Meanwhile some arkonian cruisers were approaching M13 in the protection of their Skorgon stealth systems in order to look for their the home planet.
I looked around in the room. Dad, the commanders of the other Guardian-class ships, the commander of the ‚Shadow Force', the commanders of the discoverer-class ships, Mascant da Vivo with her chief scientist, Roi Danton with one her scientists, Pucky, Ben and the ‚Dynamic Duo', this Masaki and his companions. All where there.
"Okay," Dad said," we should begin. Aki, can you say us what you have found out."
I nodded and smiled. A short command to the syntron of the room produced a Holo over the conference table. It showed several diagrams that were shown above one another for the better view.
„Here we can see the spectrums of some systems, that are based on the data of the attack of the little fleet. This are the spectrums of the shielding, the FTL engines, some weapons and the communication system. Like we can see, the spectrums are almost exclusively in the SHF hyper spectrum, the area of magic."
I was interrupted by the arkonian chief scientist.
„Pha, magic. There is no such thing as magic! That is only the fantasy of a terran!"
He stared at me for same time. I saw in his stare, that he was one of the arkonians, who thought that terrans were for upstarts. According to his opinion Bostich should have never abandoned the occupied Terra. I saw at him with crossed arms. I was somewhat furious. Bad enough that I had to hear something similar from terran nationalists and xenophobes because of my red eyes.
„Only for your information," I said," my mother is an arkonian. But that has nothing to do with this. You can spout as much propaganda nationalistic as you want on board of the KARRIBO II. But here it would be better you retained it."
Okay, that that wasn't the most diplomatic I could say, but I hate such people. I think I have got that from Dad.
„Back to the subject," Dad said.
„Yes, Ranma," I answered.
A further short command marked an area on the diagrams.
„Like I just wanted to say," my view fell on this arrogant arkonian," It is almost exclusive a magical phenomena. But they have something in common. The marked area shows a frequency in the UHF area. It indicates that to produce these phenomena it uses bio energy, or Ki. That means, an intelligent being has to produce this magic. If were could develop some kind of para neutralizer, we could block this frequency and render the ships unprotected."
"But?" Danton asked.
„But, we need larger quantities of pure Howalgonium crystals in order to construct such a system. Best would be crystals of the purity class RT-0066. Okay, we could use a Paragenerator like the one on the CLANCY, but to build with our current materials we could only build it in little numbers over several weeks and we also would need larger quantities Howalgonium."
„I think with Howalgonium you mean hyper crystals?" asked Washu.
„Yes," I said and suspected what she wanted to say.
„Then we have a problem. Howalgonuim is very, very rare. Before the solar empire, you were able to buy yourself for a planet of the size of the earth for one kilo."
„I understand," Dad said.
„Well, that was it."
Dad nodded.
„Well, I think, we should see were to get Howalgonium. Has the FULLER some on board? And how about our star cards? Do we have any positions of Howalgonium-deposits?"
I nodded.
„Yes, we have a couple RT-0066-crystals for maintenance purposes. But it's only enough for just one or two generators. And about the deposits, perhaps we should look at Schemmenstern or Rubin."
He nodded again.
„Then you should give the plans for the generators to the engineers on board the FULLER. And we send light cruisers to the system of Schemmenstern and Rubin."
Before he could say anything else Danton said something.
„This magic is depending on people?"
I answered with a yes.
„Why don't we crack the shielding with the KN-interval guns or transformcannons and paralyse the crew?"
"It needs to much time. The shielding are about as strong as our Paradim-shielding."
Danton nodded.
„However, then we would have a chance to use all our ships and not only the one or two with the generators."
"That's right."
Why didn't anyone talk about the Paradim-Penetrator, the PDP? I did not ask this question as a precaution. Dad cleared his throat.
„A good idea, Roi. We should go these two ways. Aki, would try to find the base frequency of the shielding so that we can adapt our weapons systems on the shielding, to penetrate it more quickly. Then we should speak next about the resistance. I think we should only take a small ship."
Masaki looked at him asking.
"You do not trust us?" he asked.
„To be honest. Not entirely. I saw some of the battles of the Senshi and the attack of that of this ‚Black Moon Family', only wanted to overthrow Serenity so that they could reach the power. That is not in my intention. And I do not hope that it is yours. And I think that the resistance is swarmed with agents of the solar empire. And I wouldn't like to give them data about our ships strength to them. It is enough that they know, that we have 33 ships, it has no purpose to tell them, that some of these ships are only carrier of smaller ships."
Masaki gave him a second look. I was able to understand Dad, this was his operation, his responsibility, to the Resident, to the parliament, to the population of the LFT and the galaxy. And I didn't want to make the way for a regime, that is perhaps much more terrible.
„We will use a heavy cruiser of the CLANCY to fly to the meeting."
Dad seemed to think about shortly.
„The units of the ‚Shadow Force' will accompany us in the protection of its ATG-fields."
„We should go further," said Ascari da Vivo.
"And how so, Mascant?" Dad asked.
„We seek a basis outside of 47 Tucani. A gas giant or an asteroid belt."
Dad nodded.
„Good idea, we will seek a system seek, where we can set up our basis."
I looked at Dad. It was hard to believe, what he had told us once, how he was an arrogant asshole. To be someone whose hobby it seems to make himself enemies. I believe after sixty years in the fleet and in another universe, without the influence of its so-called friends and enemies, Dad changed a great deal.
„We should send some missions into the galaxy also, " Danton said, "to gather more information."
Dad nodded again.
„A good idea, all NOSFERATU-class reconnaissance- and hyperspace relay-Space Jets will deploy and collect as many surveillance data and radio transmissions as possible in the next four days and the intelligence divisions analyze these data to get a better picture of the situation."
„We could deliver these data much easier," Masaki said.
„That is possible," answered Dad," however the material might have a problem."
He lifted a hand to stop commentary from Masaki.
„The material is incomplete because you don't use hyperphysical systems and with that a large part at data is simply missing for us. And perhaps we to are get data, that isn't to be found even with the help of magic. But nevertheless we take your data gladly."
With that Dad addressed a good point. Here was no technology at all that was based on the use of the hyperspace physic. Not a concrete hyperspace theory did exist. Why? No idea. To the people here some phenomena, like for example hyperspace storm, have to look like magic. I know, that is a stupid joke, but it should be right.
The Meeting lasted some time, but what was said didn't got my interest. At the end, I took Dad to the side.
„How about the Paradim-fighters? No one mentioned them. Anything I should know?"
Dad nodded.
„I have spoken with the Mascant and Roi. It is too dangerous if we give Tenchi information on the PD-fighters. For if the solar empire has a mole, they could pay attention to them, if they know about them. And we are only have under one thousand fighters with Paradim–Penetrators."
--------------------------------------------- .
Ten hours later the TC-P-KR-01HAYABUSA, one of twenty PROTOS-class heavy cruisers of the TOM CLANCY, was an route to 47 Tucani, a spherical cluster of star that consisted almost completely of old red giants. The ship was accompanied by the five ships of the ‚Shadow Force' which moved in the protection of its ATG-fields. On board were to that Masaki and his group and Dad, I, Mascant da Vivo including a squad of body guards, Pucky, Ben, the ‚Dynamic Duo' and Roi Danton.
I sat in the canteen of the cruiser, together with a cup of oxtonischen coffee and a syntron. I had to try and understand this goddamned magic better. Not that I had much luck so far.
„Hey, Red," a voice said behind me.
I grimaced and turned around. Behind me stood an about one meter high cross between mouse and beaver. With flat beaver tail and one gnaw tooth, which stood out of the middle of the face. I breathed in deeply.
„Hello, Pucky," I answered without much eagerness.
The ilt waddled around the table and sat down in front of me.
„What is? An ilt ran over your liver?" he asked while the single gnaw tooth shone in the artificial light of the canteen.
I had to laugh. He made me laugh again and again. Russ and I had known the immortal as children because we lived in Atlan-Village in the same street. Even with his more than three thousand years of live he is still an original prankster and trickser.
One only has to think about the pranks we arranged. For an example this one special robot. I still laugh my head of if I think of it. The robot went through Atlan-Village, raided every womens underwear, fled from a growing mob of furious women and yelled 'What a haul!'. It's a pity that it was sniped by an arkonidian woman. We wished we could have experienced the reaction of Dad.
I sighed and pointed at the holo.
„Only a couple of problem, no much."
He looked at me criticizing.
„You should get some spare time. Your brother had said you already worked for more than two days on that and only have slept ten hours in this time just. Altogether."
I breathed in deeply and looked at him.
„If I could afford it, would do I it."
„You sound like Kalup. If you continue like that it will make you a Workaholic. Delegate it to your people so that they could think about it."
Then he had flash a strange in the eyes.
„And too much work only gives you wrinkles."
„As if I had to think about that," shot I back.
I took his advice to heart and tried relax. I chatted with him, joked and drank my coffee. The chat was interrupted by an alarm, that indicated that fall out of the hyperspace. We stood up and went into the command center.
The command center was buzzing from activities. Some people ran to their stations and some robots and security people held an eye on the people of Mascant da Vivo and Masaki.
In a corner, sat Mascant da Vivo, surrounds by her body guards, two naat, also native in the arkon-system, three meter giant with three eyes and their own little star empire that belonged to Arkon, two arkonidians and two three meter Katsugos, heavy battle robots, that were introduced for the first time 1303 NGZ in the battle of Ertrus and were external modeled after the ertrusians, to morally weaken them. And this attempt, at least for the ertrusians, failed spectacularly. And last but not least this dron, I think his name is Qertan. A 205 centimeters big T-Rex look-alike, with longer arms, and always wearing his ebony Samurai-like space armor.
Then Roi entered the command center of the HAYABUSA, in accompaniment of two Katsugos. Okay, no really Katsugos. TOMCAT and SHECAT, two robots that were constructed by the USO on basis of the Katsugos and of which each one possessed a crew of seven siganese. Siganese are the descendants of terran colonists that shrank from generation to generation under the influence of the radiation of Galor's star. Nowadays the siganes are only about ten centimeters. They are outstanding technicians and engineers. But unfortunately there are only about four hundred siganese alive.
The body guards of the Mascant and both body guard of Ayeka turned immediately to both USO-Katsugos. That was foreseeable. Roi lifted his hands in a defending manner.
„N panic. We had spoken about everything."
With that they approached us. I meant with 'Us' myself, Pucky, Startak, Trim, Ben and Dad. When both Katsugos had stopped, they opened an air lock on the head and a part of the crew came out. A look at Washu showed, that Washu threw a slightly crazy look at the Siganese me while the remainder of the group looked at Washu concerned. Then it happened.
"Do you want to be my guinea pigs?" asked Washu the siganese a bit too loud.
All present in the command center looked at her with large eyes and the siganese went back into in thier Katsugo. Naturally Washu tried to grasp one of the siganese, but that brought her several blisters under the fingernails from siganese thermo blasters.
Then the ship fell out of the Hyperspace, about ten light seconds ahead from Ashra the main planet of the resistance. Several Holos appeared the command center. One showed a tactical display and another a quasi-optical display of the scanner data. Hundreds, no thousands of ships were in orbit around the planet. Two ship types were dominating, the elegant ships of the remainders of the juraian home fleet and the remainders of the oni fleet.
But what I have say about the ships from Jurai: Why are does anyone construct spaceships out of WOOD??
The rest of the fleet were cruisers and other ships of the Galaxy Police and the remainders of the planetary defense fleets of other species. And a large part of the ships were on an interception course. If it comes hard to hard, I don't believe that the shielding of the HAYABUSA holds long enough to let us escape to hyperspace.
„Commander, they don't answer," reported the communications officer of the HAYABUSA.
„Try normal radio," Dad said before the commander of the HAYABUSA was able to say something else.
The communications officer nodded and sometime later a video window opened up. It showed an approximately forty year old man. I would have said a first that he was a terran until I noticed the violet eyes. The man was with high probability juraian.
„Identify yourself before we open the fire," he demanded.
At least they were asking first and shooting then. Dad turned the video window in order to answer.
„Ranma Saotome, I am the commander of a special Task Force of the LFT and the Hunhay'Tussan. I have orders to advance against possible further attacks of the solar empire against our universe. And I thought, that the enemy of my enemy is my friend."
The man on the other side focused on Dad.
„Who says me that you not with Serenity and only use this as cover?"
There was a noticeable threat in his voice.
„Because I confirm his story, Ginraii" said Masaki, who had pushed himself to the video window.
The man, Ginraii, got large eyes.
„Emperor," he said nearly breathless.
I was able to see the face of Dad and it showed unbeliefl, that I was able to understand. Should the center pest get me. Russ and I were not only related to the Emperor of Arkon, but also to the Emperor of Jurai.
--------------------------------------------- .
Little later the HAYABUSA had landed on planet. The greeting was rather icily. Not that I had expected anything different. The people who welcomed us were two juraian and three oni, accompanied by an entire squad of security personnel.
Ascari da Vivo looked around and her look remained at one of the Oni, who was apparently responsible for the security. She stared at him and he stared back. The dron stood next to Ascari and looked also sharply at the Oni. Immediately his body guards reacted and moved closer to the Oni.
I heard, that Dad sighed. Then I looked down to Pucky, who stood next to me. He looked also at the Oni, with his eyes focused on him.
„What is it?" asked I.
„This oni. I don't trust him," he answer me.
One of the juraians went towards Masaki and bowed.
„Welcome back, Emperor."
Maskai nodded only and turned to the Oni, which the Mascantin and Pucky looked at.
„I think, this much security is unnecessary, Tien" he said.
The Oni bowed, to.
„However, why do you trust them, Emperor," Tien asked.
„Because I know one of them," Masaki answered.
He tiened to Dad.
„My staff if I am not here," he said and pointed at the five men.
„My second in command, Gendo Akabe," the juraian, who first had spoken earlier, " my security chief, Tien, the commander of our secret service, Akai Nerami," the other juraian," the commander of the fleet, Han, and the commander for ground operations, Gai." the other of both Oni.
Dad nodded and began to introduce our people.
„I am Ranma Saotome, the commander of this Task Force, Mascant Ascari da Vivo, delegate of the arkonian Hunhay'Tussan," that got Dad frown from the Mascant," Major Roi Danton, delegate of the USO, my daughter Aki, my chief scientist, and Pucky, my.. adviser."
After this short greeting, we were led to several open gliders, which brought us to a building several kilometers away from the space port , witch almost so looked like the Pentagon in Washington D.C. which is a branch of the LFT-fleet command. The gliders landed and we were led into a briefing room.
After everyone had sat down, without to the body guards and security people, the discussion began. Before someone was able to speak, I saw out of the eye angle how Dad whispered anything of Pucky in ear, before Akai Nerami began.
„Why are you here?" asked it very freely out.
„We are here," said Dad," because we were attacked by the solar empire. It seems like, Serenity tries to get higher state technology. We have the attack, a so-called ‚Cleansing', prevented. The president of the LFT and parliament agreed to send my Task Force. The arkonians and the USO are also part of the Task Force, since it is a matter for our entire galaxy."
Tien looked at him.
„And like many ships do you have?"
„33 ships are part of the Task Force," answered Dad.
With I don't know how many dinghy ships, which have a good arming.
Tien laughed.
„And how do you hope to do something, that we were not able to do in a thousand years?"
Dad smile extend.
„We will see."
Han smiled inviting at Dad. The entire appearance of the Oni said a word: gay. The guy looked like he had fallen in love with Dad.
„You are welcome to establish your operation command here," he said and his voice sounded like one of this prototype of a homosexual.
Dad shook his head.
„I must reject this offer."
„And why?"
„Here there is the possibility of moles."
„Moles?"
„Agents of the solar empire."
The rest of the discussion stretched and again and again I had to look at this oni Tien. The guy had anything at him what I didn't like. But perhaps I am only a bit paranoid. But only because you are paranoid, didn't mean that you are observed.
Three hours later we were on board the HAYABUSA again on our way back to the CLANCY. I brooded in the mean time over some of the scanner data, which we had received from the resistance. And again Pucky sat down at the other side of the table.
„You know what?" he asked seriously.
„What do you mean?" I answered and looked up.
„This one oni, Tien. I do know why I don't like him."
„And?"
„It is a mole."
„What?"
I stared at him.
„A mole? But why didn't you say anything?"
He smiled and his gnaw tooth was seen.
„Firstly because Ranma forbid it. And secondly because Roi wants to feed him with incorrect information. He suspected something like that and the HAYABUSA dropped three USO-agents."
I was able to understand that. With that we can work directly and put incorrect traces. But an agent so high in the food chain?
„His code name is 'Topaz'," Pucky said.
End report Aki Saotome
--------------------------------------------- .
Short after the HAYABUSA was docked at the TOM CLANCY, 150 Space Jets started from the ships of the LFT and USO, as well as 80 leka-disks of the Arkoniden. The order was clear. Lay out a belt of surveillance- and hyperspace communication relay-bouy in the interstellar room around the most important systems and system-clusters of the solar empire.
Beside that one hundred other dinghy ships started, to that a large part cruisers, in order search for a system in the Halo, were the Task Force was able to establish a base.
--------------------------------------------- .
Authors notes:
Writers is awful. I don't know how long I thought about the meeting scene with the resistance and I'm not satisfied with it.
Next time:
We accompany one of the Space Jets on its surveillance mission. And ‚Topaz' has a few things for the commander of the secret service of the solar empire.