Ncx: a Trilogy

Contents

C H A P T E R 1

C H A P T E R 2

C H A P T E R 3

C H A P T E R 4

C H A P T E R 5

C H A P T E R 6

C H A P T E R 7

C H A P T E R 8

C H A P T E R 9

C H A P T E R IO

C H A P T E R I

C H A P T E R 2

C H A P T E R 3

C H A P T E R 4

C H A P T E R 5

C H A P T E R 6

C H A P T E R 7

C H A P T E R 8

C H A P T E R 9

C H A P T E R IO

C H A P T E R I

C H A P T E R 2

C H A P T E R 3

C H A P T E R 4

C H A P T E R 5

C H A P T E R 6

C H A P T E R 7

C H A P T E R 8

C H A P T E R 9

C H A P T E R IO

About the Author

This book is dedicated to the men and women of the United States of America’s space program.

BOOK I

C H A P T E R 1

The wind was blowing very lightly. It was only able to ruffle the tallest pine trees surrounding a tiny cabin. Smoke was rising from the small cabin where only hours before a roaring fire had heated the structure. As the sun rose on another day of retirement, John Powers slept peacefully.

At precisely 06:00 hours, the automatic timer turned the coffeepot on to make coffee. Slowly, the dark brown liquid drained into the pot that sat underneath it. No alarms would wake John Powers this morning. He was thankful that after some twenty years of service to STARCORE, they had left him alone. This came at the end of the Gardenian War.

Deep in sleep, John Powers remembered how STARCORE became a reality; about the visit by the Datarians, as they called themselves, in the year 2050, that changed the course of the exploration of space by humans. It was at this time that they decided Earth should be contacted properly. For centuries, the Milky Way galaxy was off limits to space travelers. In the year 2055, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, NASA, was reorganized and called STARCORE. The Datarians soon opened up a whole new frontier for mankind.

As John Powers rose through the ranks of STARCORE’s best fighter pilots and navigators, he was cited many times for battle bravery and heroics, going far beyond the call of normal duties. He even managed to survive an attack by a young Gardenian. But, in the back of John Powers’ mind, he wanted more than just the rank of fleet captain. He wanted to command his own vessel. A very special kind of vessel, a research ship, was his dream command. He was very tired of commanding battle cruisers and the like.

As STARCORE started to grow in the early part of the 22nd century, the STARCORE Space Council decided to start construction of five new ships. These ships, hull identified as NCX-2105, USS PERFORMANCE Class, were being built to chart the many star systems that passing freighters had spotted many years before.

Nearing the completion of the first ship, the USS PERFORMANCE, the STARCORE Space Council decided only a select few men and women would command these ships. The STARCORE Board of Review had started the meticulous selection process from many qualified applicants. Only five persons would command the USS PERFORMANCE Class of ships. Admiral Takarov, the Board of Review’s senior member, looked over the final list of selectees. One name kept coming up repeatedly; Fleet Captain (RET) John Powers.

Admiral Takarov looked over John Powers’ record thoroughly. When the admiral arrived at the listing of awards, merits and citations, there were several pages worth. In fact, there were more awards on those pages to John Powers than anyone on the Board of Review. Admiral Takarov decided that Fleet Captain (RET) John Powers would command the first USS PERFORMANCE Class ship.

The Board of Review, comprised of eight officers, met for one last time in the conference room overlooking the Rocky Mountains. Here, in what had once been the great city of Denver, Colorado, the new Denver site was headquarters for STARCORE. As Admiral Takarov, presiding officer of the Board of Review, entered the conference room, everyone stood up, waiting for him to be seated. Looking at the Board with stern eyes, the admiral did not sit down.

Members of the Board of Review. We have, up until this point in the selection process, chosen three women and one man. I would like to recall Fleet Captain (RET) John Powers to active duty, said the admiral.

Do you mean to tell me, Admiral Takarov, you wish to take away the high ranking status of Fleet Captain (RET) John Powers? asked General Bentinite.

Yes, General Bentinite. I believe that I can persuade him to come back to us.

Are you so sure? asked the general again.

Yes, I am so sure. Look at his record on your screens. The man has more awards, merits and citations than anyone in this room put together. He also had only one wish when he retired. He wanted to command a research vessel.

A volunteer. Let’s recall him to active duty, announced the general.

The two admirals, lower ranking than Admiral Takarov, shook their heads in affirmation. The two generals and both colonels agreed as well. That evening, Admiral Takarov dictated an emergency message to his secretary. The young lieutenant sent the message to John’s electronic mailbox.

The next morning, as the sun rose on yet another day of retirement for John Powers, he arose from his bed. Stumbling into the kitchen and pouring himself a cup of coffee, he walked over to his electronic mailbox and checked for any mail. Nothing of interest, until he saw the emblem and heading of STARCORE HEADQUARTERS. Pressing a button on the keyboard, the message appeared. The almost monotone voice of the admiral’s aide appeared on the screen.

Good morning Fleet Captain (RET) John Powers. As of 12:00 hours today, you are hereby placed back on active duty. This is in accordance with STARCORE retirement contract section 106, clause four. John dropped his cup of coffee on the floor upon hearing this. The cup shattered into many pieces. The hot coffee spilled all over his bare feet causing him to jump around and yell loudly. He had to be careful to avoid the many pieces of ceramic.

You are to report to STARCORE Headquarters immediately, the message continued. A special briefing with Admiral Takarov will take place today at 13:00 hours. Report in full uniform with bags and gear packed. Thank you, the image said as it disappeared.

John wasted no time in packing all his uniforms and getting dressed into his dark blue uniform. Once in the uniform, with bags packed, he put on his STARCORE issued laser gun on his right hip. Rushing out the door of his cabin, he walked down to the end of the road that led to the cabin. Flagging down a wandering shuttle car, he instructed the shuttle car to take him to STARCORE Headquarters.

Arriving at the building that housed STARCORE, he paused to look at the building since it had been rebuilt some years ago. Grabbing his bags and gear, he started towards the front entrance to the building. John was impressed with the redesigned building.

In the center of the entryway, a beautiful water fountain operated continuously. The water had been dyed the colors of the STARCORE flag for added effect. Just beyond the water fountain was the flag bearing the emblem of STARCORE, flying continuously since STARCORE was organized. Flapping noiselessly in the slight breeze, John started to get apprehensive about being here.

As John entered the building, he stopped momentarily to check and see what floor the admiral’s office was on; the fiftieth. Stepping into the turbo elevator, he was whisked to the fiftieth floor in a matter of seconds. The doors opened and he stepped out only to be saluted by two young officers. He quickly returned their salutes and located the admiral’s office. Opening the door and stepping into the office, the admiral’s aide looked up and quickly saluted John. John returned the salute and put his bags and gear down on the chair next to the door. As the admiral’ aide looked him over and noted the laser gun on his right hip, he approached with caution.

Is there something I can do for you, sir? asked the admiral’s aide, a lieutenant wearing a nametag reading L. Studabaker.

Yes, I’m Fleet Captain John Powers. I have an appointment with Admiral Takarov, said John.

The admiral has been waiting for you, sir. Please, go right on in.

Thank you.

Hanging from the ceiling in Admiral Takarov’s office were die cast, gray models of every ship in STARCORE’s fleet. On his desktop were prototypes of weapons and some mock models of ships yet to be built. The large, glass windows in his office allowed for natural lighting. The carpet was dark blue, just like John’s uniform with the STARCORE emblem in the middle. The admiral’s gray, metal desk formed a U shape around the high backed, black leather chair. The admiral swung around in the chair and warmly greeted John.

Fleet Captain John Powers, it’s good to see you. How long has it been? asked the admiral.

Almost ten years, sir.

That long, huh? Well, I have some good news and some bad news for you, John. Which one first?

Give me the bad news first, admiral.

Well, as the senior member of the Board of Review, I decided to reactivate you. However, given the sensitivity of the duty to which I have assigned you, I have to reduce your rank to captain.

May I ask why the demotion, sir?

You retired from STARCORE and stated that you would consider coming back for the right duty.

And you used that against me, sir?

No, not at all, John. You stated in your personnel file that you wanted to command a research vessel. I’m giving you that opportunity.

Thank you, admiral.

"Here are the schematics and general information about the USS PERFORMANCE Class ships. You are to report to the USS PER-

FORMANCE, NCX-2105, by midnight tonight to assume the duties as her commanding officer," said the admiral handing John a leather bound, gold inlaid lettered book about four inches thick.

Thank you, admiral. I will not fail you, sir.

Don’t be late.

Yes, sir, he said, saluting the admiral who returned his salute.

Leaving the admiral’s office, John stopped by the lieutenant’s desk.

Where do I catch my shuttlecraft to my new command? asked John.

Here is your orders package, sir. Your shuttlecraft leaves from docking bay 101 at the Colorado Springs facility in one hour. Good luck, sir, said the aide, handing John a large, manila colored envelope.

Thank you.

John picked up his bags and gear from the office chair and headed down to the street below. He stopped another wandering shuttle car and instructed it to go to the Colorado Springs facility. As the shuttle car sped along a nearly invisible track underneath it, John started to feel better and better about coming back to STARCORE.

In just a few minutes, the shuttle car stopped in front of the many docking bays that were at the Colorado Springs facility. Grabbing his bags and gear, he first stopped at the uniform shop, ordering new uniforms to show his proper rank. The uniform shop made quick work of his current uniforms, modifying them to reflect the rank of captain.

After putting back on his modified uniform, Captain John Powers started to search for docking bay 101. He found the docking bay at the end of a long row. As he approached the docking bay, a young man stepped forward, saluted him, and took his bags. Placing them on the tiny shuttlecraft, he turned back around, motioning for John to step into the shuttlecraft. John looked at the man’s uniform; a Temmeco Corporation employee.

Captain Powers, we will be departing in just a few minutes for the USS PERFORMANCE. Please have a seat, said the employee politely.

John didn’t say anything, but took a seat to the left of the pilot. The seats were all U shaped and allowed for a few more people to sit in the shuttlecraft comfortably. Soon, the pilot was warming up the engines and lift off came a short while later. Heading into space towards where his new command was being constructed made John feel nervous. He was, with the exception of the book that the admiral had given him, walking into a command without any real knowledge of the ship.

Orbiting the earth, hundreds of miles above the surface, a class Z ship repair and manufacturing facility rotated slowly. Having been put into orbit in the late part of the 21st century, it was preprogrammed to run an elliptical orbit around the poles of the earth.

The Temmeco Corporation owned the facility, founded in 2015. The facility was designed to house a ship for repairs or construction, providing a ship with all its needs until such repairs or construction were completed.

The space station was shaped like a giant disc. Measuring several square kilometers in diameter, the blinking lights warned of its presence to other space ships travelling through this area of space. Around a ship repair and manufacturing facility, there was always a chance for an accident.

The space station also had serious security procedures to go through as well. As the USS PERFORMANCES commanding officer, John had to get a special code clearance to come aboard the ship before it was completed. He was anxious to see what his new duty station was going to be like. As the shuttlecraft approached the facility, he started to run through the basics of the USS PERFORMANCE. The design engineers provided these statistics. As he finished off the basics of the ship, he closed the four-inch thick, leather bound, gold inlaid lettered book, setting it in his lap. Readjusting himself in his small seat, he looked over the pilot’s left shoulder.

Running through the basic statistics of the ship, her size was some 666.6 meters in length. Beam width, 200.5 meters. Height, 150.5 meters. She was armor plated with a sixteen-meter thick hull. This hull was subdivided four times. Each plate was half the thickness of the previous one.

Captain Powers had also run through the list of weapons on board. Their purpose was for self-defense of the ship after it was fired upon. The first weapon was a particle beam gun of high energy with a killing range in excess of 250,000 kilometers. The next weapon was the Positron gun or PG’s as they are called, standard issue to all STARCORE vessels. Kill range, 150,000 kilometers.

The last items were the AM nine and AM ten torpedoes. These torpedoes, carrying either nine or ten ounces of anti-matter at the critical mass point, were used much like regular torpedoes. Their guidance system was simple, but effective. They could lock onto a target with either bridge guidance, from combat information center, or self-guidance from active acquisition.

The whole heart of the ship revolved around the Engineering. The Engineering, and the people in the engineering department, were the behind-the-scene persons who made everything run.

The engineering plant was a marvel of modern technology. The Datarians had installed the best and safest engineering plant they had currently available. The engines were small, but powerful. The Datarians had installed two fusion reactors on board. The fusioning process required only a small amount of Helium being on hand for the fusioning process to begin. The USS PERFORMANCE could do about 600 times the speed of light at maximum output.

As Captain John Powers approached his new command, he knew it would be the last one he would ever have. Captain Powers had a simple goal this time; research three new star systems that a passing freighter had discovered some years earlier.

The shuttlecraft carrying Captain John Powers was getting closer to the space dock. The Temmeco Corporation employee was very good at the controls. A blinking series of lights directed him to the far side of the space dock to a set of small doors. These doors were opened for a short period of time and the shuttle disappeared into a great, gaping hole.

Captain John Powers’ attention was distracted when the employee called his name.

Captain Powers, I am approaching the USS PERFORMANCE.

I would like to get a good look at her from a safe distance.

Yes, sir.

He carefully piloted the shuttlecraft around the huge cranes that were moving some of the last battle plates into position. The ship seemed almost complete. The last of the plates were being welded into place and the ship would soon start functioning on her own. Captain John Powers’ attention was distracted once more.

Unidentified shuttlecraft on my starboard side, state your cargo and destination, announced the voice of the communications officer.

Captain Powers, sir?

USS PERFORMANCE, this is shuttle ST-345, code clearance green.

Hold your present position while I verify your clearance.

Good morning John, this is your executive officer Bill Laguer. Welcome aboard. Please enter port side torpedo loading bay number four.

Thank you, XO.

An air seal formed as the door from the ship to the shuttlecraft opened with a hiss. Captain Powers stepped into the loading bay and was warmly greeted by his good friend, the Executive Officer, Captain Bill Laguer, STARCORE. It was quite a surprise to Captain Powers to see someone whom he had served with many times.

Good evening, John. Welcome aboard.

Thank you Bill. It’s good to be aboard.

Can I help you with your bags?

No, I can manage them by myself. Where is my cabin?

Deck twelve.

Deck twelve, aye. Please give this to the weapons officer.

Captain Powers handed the executive officer his personal issue laser pistol from STARCORE. Nodding and using his personal communications device attached to his left lapel, Bill called for the weapons officer.

Weapons officer, please report to torpedo loading bay four.

As Captain Powers made his way up to his cabin and settled in, he saw the real size of the ship. Captain Powers remarked how much bigger the PERFORMANCE Class of ships was compared to the old EXPLORER Class ships. The old EXPLORER Class ships weren’t even half this size and carried nearly twice the number of crew as the PERFORMANCE did.

He started to conduct an informal inspection of the ship and her crew. He wanted to see what was going on with the ship and what its mission really was. Captain Powers looked at engineering and weapons, then moved to supply and medical. From medical, he went to the bridge.

The bridge was on emergency power. Nothing was running right and no one saw him come onto the bridge. He observed that everyone on the bridge knew what he or she was doing. Captain Powers then stepped into the combat operations center.

The combat information and operations center, as it was properly called, was the nerve center of the ship in case of attack. The combat computers were state of the art. Captain Powers noted that the last of the compact discs were being loaded into the main computer.

Locating his underway cabin, that was adjacent to the bridge, he looked at the bridge clock on his way off the bridge and noticed that it was an atomic clock. These clocks were becoming standard issue to all STARCORE ships.

Captain Powers moved about the ship going back to the Engineering. He wanted to see what was going on down there. He found his chief engineer working very hard to get the ship ready for final inspection prior to departure. The engineer was checking and then double-checking all engineering systems.

Wandering back to his cabin, Captain John Powers prepared to go to sleep for it had been a long day. Captain Powers had just taken off his uniform when the bridge yeoman came down and asked him if it was all right to secure for the day. He agreed and she left.

However, there were events unfolding around him that were going to spell doom for the ship while she was still in space dock.

The weapons shuttle carrying torpedoes from TARQUEN weapons station arrived around 23:00 hours to load torpedoes onto the ship. It was standard STARCORE procedure for a ship to be armed prior to leaving space dock.

The shuttle had departed around 03:00 hours when the weapons department officer called up, requesting permission to load the torpedo tubes with unarmed torpedoes. The operation went smoothly until the loading of the tubes commenced. There was a mistake and an armed torpedo was loaded into tube five.

Weapons, Bridge.

Bridge, aye, said the deck officer at the time.

Request the ship go to battle stations. We have an armed torpedo in tube five.

Bridge, aye. Communications officer, sound battle stations.

Aye, sir.

The battle station