CH37 (116)
Quast was sitting in a park with several of his captains and some Marines.
"What have we got?" Quast was still in the fight even if he didn't have any ships.
"Our last meeting with the people from Tellus was, … productive. They have agreed they see the need for a ship that can be used to hold a few thousand Marines to take a planet on the ground.
Their designers are going to get started on the design of one. They plan on building it off a variation of their cruiser model. They are thinking back to back flight bays top and bottom. One side would be fighters and the other side would be a method not yet designed to get the Marines on the planetary surface." One captain mentions.
"And the fighters?" Quast was curious, he still hadn't seen one.
"Construction of the first three simulators was completed 3 months ago. Our pilots have a big learning curve ahead of them. They are kind of like the F-22 Raptor with bits of RAF Tornado in atmosphere. Our pilots are doing fine there.
It's their space flight capability that is giving our pilots trouble. They can think 3D just fine. It's getting them to stop thinking they are flying in an atmosphere. All of my best guys got their asses handed to them. It was embarrassing." One captain comments.
"They're not going to ship us fighters if we can't fly them. Try some of the rookie kids we have. Maybe they don't have as much to unlearn as our veterans." Quast offers.
"That's not going to make our pilots happy." It is pointed out.
"And dying and getting a fighter destroyed because we appease to their egos is even worse. Just do it." Quast isn't sure he can order anyone anymore, but it doesn't hurt to try.
"How's their first destroyer coming?" Quast asks.
"They're about 3 to maybe 4 months from completion we were told. What's in it is still a mystery though. They are still tight lipped about it."
"Anything else?" Quast wanted to know what else they had learned.
"Our latest red flag – blue flag was not so easy for our Marines." One of the Marines tells them. "They're learning. We also caught wind of something that is in the design phase still.
It's going to weigh something like 16 tons."
"Sixteen tons. Why does that number sound familiar?"
"That's because it is the same weight as a Stryker vehicle, empty."
"Armored transport. Nice." Quast liked the sound of it.
However the Marines were shaking their heads. "Whatever it is, it is 16 tons per Marine."
Quast looks at him funny. "Per Marine?" 16 tons per marine. Quast opened his mouth to question them but decided to close it instead.
"We actually have a theory, but it involves some Sci-fi thinking." One Marine offers.
Quast and most of the captains give them an "I'm all ears" look.
BattleTech is a wargaming and military science fiction franchise launched by FASA Corporation in 1984, acquired by WizKids in 2000, and owned since 2003 by Topps. The series began with FASA's debut of the board game BattleTech (originally named BattleDroids) by Jordan Weisman and L. Ross Babcock III and has since grown to include numerous expansions to the original game, several computer and video games, a collectible card game, a series of more than 100 novels, an animated television series and more.
"You're talking about a Marine stepping into a walking machine loaded with weapons attached. What was that movie? …. A Star, …. Altar, …. AVATAR." Quast tries to understand.
"That's our theory sir. Depending on what they carry, we may get our mobile artillery or stinger missile system. Mini gun, mortars, grenade launchers. The list could be endless.
Our younger Marines are excited about the prospect already, they want one." One Marine tells them.
"I'll make some inquiries. I think I know someone who might have answers. The council seems to think highly of these two. They might talk to me." Quast hopes they know and will talk to him anyway.
"Anything on this enemy coming our way?" Quast asks. His primary fear was timing. Tellus wasn't ready when they got here. They were making progress, but with just one warship not yet complete even, and only light ground troops, they were in trouble.
All he got back was people shaking their heads.
"Great! Where's that chaplain?." He got God to get them here after they blew themselves to hell and gone. Maybe he could get him to listen again.
"How is it going?" Lanie asks Javi after he got home.
"The contractor has finished construction, the landscape is done. Did you know the landscaper was someone taught by Alexis Castle?" Javi had been surprised.
"That family amazes me. Aliens that aren't aliens. We're alive and living on another planet all because of those two. We should be dead with all the others, …." Javi stops her right there.
"Don't think things like that chica. We're alive, just go with that. I know that kind of thinking from combat. You question why you're alive when everyone else isn't.
You live the best life you can because you are living for you and living for those that aren't here." Javi wraps his arms around Lanie.
Lanie simply leans into him soaking up some of his strength.
"You and Jenny do anything today?" Javi knew Lanie had the day off from work.
"Did you know the Castle clan is on Athos?" Lanie asks him.
"What are they doing here?" Javi knew they lived on another planet. Another planet! That was still taking some getting used to.
"They and some family members are here to sail around on their new ship." Lanie wondered if he would remember they were going to be here.
"That's right, they told us we would see them yearly if we moved here. … How are we going to see them if we are on land and they aren't?" There was a problem with this situation.
"Kate said they were going to sail around for 2 months with their family, and then when everyone went home they were going to stay for an extra month and sail around with us." Lanie meant Kevin and Jenny included.
"Don't they have 2 little ones?" Javi remembered Emily and Kali.
"Their oldest daughter and her boyfriend agreed to watch them for a month at their home on Ariel, while all of them started school. …. Do you want to go? We don't have to if you don't have the time." Lanie was willing to give him an out.
"The building is done, the landscape is done, only problem is the weapon delivery. They've decided that the weapons can't be shipped by normal shuttle." Javi was ready, just didn't have anything to shoot with.
Lanie's mouth fell open. "How are you supposed to make this work without weapons?" A sniper school with no sniper rifles.
"They're precious military warship they are building is almost done, in about 3 months or so. One month to travel here they will bring the weapons we need. They wouldn't accept anything else." Javi tells her.
"So we have time. Madison said she would give me the time to do it. We just need to talk with Kevin and Jenny." Lanie points out.
"We can ask them tonight when we go over to their place for dinner. … You know why they want us over there?" Kevin wouldn't tell him earlier today. Lanie only shook her head.
"We need to go shopping, we need to take something with us. Wine or dessert maybe." Lanie offers.
"I'll let you find the wine while I search for a dessert." Javi offers.
"Fine just make sure it's not full of sugar Javi." Lanie pokes him in the chest.
"You know how to take all the fun out of things." Javi teases, which earns him a punch to his arm.
Lanie had found a red wine that the owner suggested based off of what Lanie remembered from home. Well old home.
Lanie was waiting for Javi to show up when suddenly he was standing next to her. "We need to get going." And Javi starts walking.
"Where's the fire?" Lanie was practically jogging to keep up.
"Dessert requires refrigeration and their place isn't just around the corner." Which was technically true. Both they all lived in the same tower, just on different floors.
As soon as Jenny opened the door Javi rushed for the refrigerator. "Don't mind him." Lanie offers looking at Jenny's shocked face.
"He seems to think whatever he bought will melt in his hands." Lanie offers up her wine bottle. "Where's Kevin?" Lanie didn't see him.
"I needed something to finish dinner, so he ran downstairs to get it. He'll be back in a minute." Jenny explains.
Javi has found a beer in the refrigerator and helps himself and heads for the living room to look over the list of what is available this week.
Deciding on game one of the 2012 World Series between the San Francisco Giants and the Detroit Tigers.
The top of the first inning wasn't even over when Kevin came back with what Jenny sent him for. Then grabbed a beer and joined Javi in the living room.
"Can you believe where we are?" Jenny asks Lanie as she goes back to finishing dinner while Lanie watches, since Jenny smacked her when Lanie tried to help.
"I mean, we're out in space. This is our third planet to live on." Lanie was grinning. Thinking about just this topic had kept her awake more than one night.
"The view from this place is amazing. An entire city in a single tower. And have you seen the maintenance guys?" Jenny finally lets Lanie get a word in, or so she thought.
"We had a guy in her just yesterday. He wanted to check the seals on the windows. Then he checked the drains to see if they were clogged and something about the water pressure.
And one of the elevators was down for normal maintenance." This place was not letting anything just rot away or get outdated. It was brand new and they were already doing maintenance.
"They're doing a remodel of one of the grocery stores too. I don't know what they're doing, but it's in the produce area." Lanie adds.
Jenny finally puts it in the oven. "What are the guys doing?" Jenny washes up at the kitchen sink.
Lanie only has to twist her head since their place was an open concept just like theirs, just a different layout, furniture and color scheme. "Watching baseball."
Jenny is shaking her head. "Baseball. … This is an alien planet. The food is like home, or at least most of it. The animals here are just like at home. Well kinda like home, seeing as I've never been to Australia before. I mean what are the odds? Kangaroos, Emu, crocodiles, birds, reptiles." Jenny knew the list was endless.
"Maybe the Castles can provide some answers. They did say that they had been spending their time creating these colonies, including this one. Javi and I have even been over to the dome's that they lived in.
The space is crude but not exactly roughing it like living in a tent." Lanie points out.
"A tent in 115 degress F with no air conditioning!" Jenny had dragged Kevin to anyplace that had air conditioning every chance she got. And then they stayed there till it got dark.
Lanie started sweating just remembering those times.
"And then there's Disneyland. This place is full of questions." Lanie had to admit she had several.
They were silent for a time standing in the kitchen taking sips of their drinks. "You think there's going to be a war?" Jenny didn't want another one. Earth was gone because of one.
"It sounds likely. Everyone seems to be gearing up for one." Lanie knew from Madison that stuff for war was being built or made.
"Blow ourselves up again." Jenny's fears were getting to her.
"Jenny it's different this time. The enemy is from another planet this time. We're not fighting against each other like we used to do. I don't know how but this place is different." Lanie could see the difference. Sure there was still some crime, but no one hated the other. Since there didn't seem to be a separation to have "Others".
"Why the concern now? Is everything alright?" Lanie knew medical if she was sick, even though Madison was gone for 2 months. There were other doctors.
"We found out a couple of days ago. …. I'm pregnant." Jenny whispers to Lanie.
Lanie however squeals loudly and hugs Jenny. "How far along?"
"About 10 weeks." Jenny was smiling.
Lanie squeezed Jenny a little tighter and started hopping up and down with her. This did however manage to get the guys attention.
"What's going on?" Javi enters the kitchen.
Lanie lets go of Jenny and turns and smile at Javi. "I take it you told her." Kevin mentions coming up behind Javi.
"Told her what?" Javi looks between Jenny and Kevin.
"We're pregnant." Kevin tells him.
"SERIOUSLY BRO!" Javi looks shocked at first, then is hugging Kevin and slapping his back. Then switches to hugging Jenny. "This is great guys, we're happy for you. … I assume this is why you invited us over?"
"We figured we'd share with our friends." Jenny explains.
"That's why we're not drinking the wine I bought." Lanie slaps her forehead. How could she have missed such an obvious sign. She used to be so much better at this.
The Castle's had some guys undo the lines and toss them aboard ship. Rick and Kate were on the bridge. Rick was handling the controls while Kate kept her eyes on the gauges for the engine and the scanner displays. Both above and below the water. Watching to make sure they had the depth they needed.
They were running on engines only to get out of port. It was only when they were well clear that they switched from engines to sails.
Kate was using the ships communication to make sure the girls were ready. The system was pretty much automated. If you could drive a car you could handle this ship. The girls were there to watch and make sure there were no problems, though each knew what to do if there was.
Lucy had thrown everything at them she could think of, from a sail getting stuck, to a complete system shutdown and everything in-between.
The main sails were soon deployed since they were handled by electric motors and they were sailing without power.
"All I see is water babe." Kate was grinning as she looked out the windows of the bridge.
"That's all we're going to see for weeks to come." Rick points out since the only land mass was behind them.
Everyone was meeting up for lunch while Rick put it on auto-pilot and brought back in some of the sails. There were 3 main masts and each mast could deploy 5 sails each. They were presently sailing on 6 sails, 2 per mast.
The centerpiece of the interior is the atrium where the three decks are united by a circular stairway surrounding the main mast, creating a spiral effect that is enhanced by natural light coming through transparent floors.
The main deck is a wide open space featuring a main saloon, an enormous aft-cockpit, two separate studio areas and a dining room. Twelve guests are accommodated in five lower deck cabins and one passage cabin on the upper deck, with a private cockpit, a protected sunbathing area and direct access to the wheelhouse, the heart of the whole vessel.
The construction crew had made good on a design choice. They had added a small crane and made space to mount 4 jet skis, 2 on each side just aft of the main communication and scanner post at the bow of the ship.
They had tried to add a small boat, even smaller than the one they had at home. However it had been omitted for a number of technical reasons. Four jet skis distributed the weight more easily and the smaller crane would be less likely to interfere with the mast at the bow.
"We can stop and drop anchor and go swimming when anyone wants." Rick points out.