The Earth Conundrum: Book 1 of the Alliance Conflict (33 page)

The
Sunflower
may be able to defend itself from maybe 10 or perhaps even 20 missiles and the defensive missiles should be able stop 80. The ship might be able to handle 100 missiles, but there was no possible way it could withstand 168 of them.

He decided to have the computer double check his work. He said, “Computer analysis.”

…98.2% Both the fighters and the missiles will engage the ship before we are clear of the gravitational field. If we continue at our current speed, we will stay clear of the ion cannons. If we engage in combat, estimate chance of survival at 0.1%…

Arean said, “Hey, at least we have a chance.”

Clowy said, “I have another response from the Hiriculans. They said to ignore the second final warning and proceed as if the first final warning was indeed the final warning. They then stated that there would in fact be no further final warnings. They then ended by reiterating the final warning.” Clowy smiled brightly.

Solear looked at Clowy strangely and then said, “Thank you for getting that clarified.” He then added, “Arean, launch the fighters. They may as well try to defend us.”

Arean said, “Do you think they will actually launch? I doubt Advranki pilots would launch. What would be the point? They can launch and die or stay on the ship and possibly live when we surrender.”

Solear said, “You are going to have to convince them to launch. We cannot have them found aboard this ship!”

Arean said, “Computer, contact the humans.”

…Connection established…

Arean began his well-rehearsed speech. He said, “Gentle beings, I need your commitment to launch at this time of crisis. Your patriotism and potential ultimate sacrifice at this most trying of times will…”

He was interrupted by Clowy. She yelled, “Proximity alert, port side.”

Lexxi yelled, “Proximity alert on the starboard side.”

Captian Solear tried to think through the new information. The alert made no sense. They weren’t beside any astronomical bodies and the enemy fighters were still chasing them. The fighters have a much higher acceleration than either cruisers or destroyers. As a result, they were taking a sharper angle toward the cruiser and would intercept them in a few minutes. He said, “I need answers.”

Ella said, “I have confirmation; the new signatures are 8 of our fighters.”

Solear was dumbfounded. He was just about to say something when Clowy yelled, “Proximity alert.” She paused for a moment and then said, “Their status is confirmed, 8 more fighters have launched.”

Solear looked at Arean. Arean looked back at Solear and raised his hands palms up to signify that he didn’t have an answer. Clowy said, “All fighters have launched.”

Solear said, “Computer, mark the time. How long did the launch take?”

…The first 8 fighters launched 8 seconds after Arean ordered the launch. The next 8 followed 22 seconds later. The final 4 followed 22 seconds after that. The total time for the launch was 52 seconds…

Solear said, “52 seconds. That is not possible. It is simply not possible.”

Normally, when a command to launch is given (and accepted), the pilots have to put on their flight suit, walk to their fighters, climb in, strap themselves in, run a systems check, don the helmet, and start the fighter. This can take anywhere from 4 minutes to 20 minutes.

Arean said, “We have to assume they were sitting in their fighters when the launch order was given.”

Solear remembered that the humans did spend a lot of time each day sitting in their fighters, so it wasn’t out of the question. However, he doubted that they sat in the fighters in full flight suits with the engines warmed up and ready for immediate launch.

Solear said, “Computer, what is the record for the fastest launch by any fighter squadron?”

…The fastest launch time is 52 seconds. This record was recorded exactly 30 seconds ago…

Solear said, “I meant before this launch. What is the fastest one before this?”

…The fastest previous launch recorded in Alliance Navy history was 11 minutes, 14 seconds. The pilots were intentionally trying to set the record. It took them 7 minutes, 4 seconds to get dressed and in their ships, and then the standard 4 minutes and 10 seconds to launch…

Solear said, “Computer, how did the humans launch so quickly?”

…Standard time for launch is 4 minutes and 10 seconds. Deviation from this is not advised. Therefore the launch record must be considered invalid…

Solear said, “Commander, if you can, try to figure out how they launched so quickly.”

Arean said, “Yes. I want to know as well.”

Ella said, “The fighters have configured themselves into a box formation and are proceeding towards the enemy.”

Eight of the fighters launched toward the enemy and eight launched away. The final 4 fighters launched toward the enemy. The closer fighters had to slow down and wait while the fighters launched on the other side of the ship looped over the ship and caught up. When everyone had arrived at the same spot, they formed the standard box formation of 2 rows of 10 fighters each and flew toward the enemy fighters.

Suddenly, Arean received a hail. He realized that it was from one of the fighters. Since it was technically a within ship communication because the fighters belonged the cruiser, the computer had sent it directly to Arean versus routing it through Clowy. Arean answered the hail.

Jim Donovan said, “Commander what are your orders?”

Arean panicked for a moment. He had been so focused on his speech to motivate them to launch and then the corresponding speed of that launch that he hadn’t actually considered what he would tell them to do once they had launched. He had inadvertently answered the communication with an open channel. Everyone on the bridge heard the entire conversation. He answered, “Protect the
Sunflower
at all costs.”

Jim replied, “Are we allowed to engage the enemy?”

Arean responded, “Yes. Of course you can. Oh, and rendezvous with the ship at time Now plus 49 minutes 11 seconds.”

Jim replied, “Repeating your orders for confirmation. Order 1, protect the ship from all enemy threats, order 2, engage and destroy all enemy combatants, and order 3 disengage from the battle and return to the ship at time zero mark 49:11. Are these orders correct?”

Arean said, “Yes, Yes. That is correct.

Solear was impressed. He really liked the concept of repeating orders for confirmation. If the being could repeat the order in his (or her) own words, then they probably understood what was required of them.

Jim switched over to a different channel to communicate with the other fighters. The bridge crew was still able to hear this new channel, but they could not respond on it. Jim said, “This is it men. It’s show-time. Our orders are as follows, defend the ship, engage and destroy the enemy, and return at time mark 48.59.

Ace interrupted, “What, only 49 minutes to finish this! Does the captain have a hot date?” Several pilots laughed at the comment.

Jim said, “Cut the chatter. It is time to get serious. Good hunting men.”

Clowy said, “What is a hot date?”

Everyone looked around the room and it was clear that no one knew. Solear said, “Computer, translate Earth colloquialism hot date.”

…Scanning…

…86.2% - It is a date with a member of the opposite sex that is very attractive…

…83.9% - The act of rushing through something important or possibly postponing it to make time for a different activity such as a date…

Arean briefly considered the significance of the phrase hot date. The humans were being sent to their deaths and the pilots didn’t seem to care. They were concerned that they weren’t being given enough time to fight the battle. This mindset was ludicrous to him. If he understood the meaning of the second translation properly, the humans actually wanted to stay and fight the battle and were admonishing the Captain for leaving early. Weird, he concluded.

Lexxi seemed to have fixated on the first meaning. She said, “I need a hot date. I will have to remember that phrase.”

Arean said, “Computer, how about good hunting?”

…82.2% - It is a motivational phrase, such as good luck…

…81.0% - The speaker is telling the other men to be successful in killing their prey…

Advranki flight commanders would give a 10 or even 20 minute speech. They would talk about honor and sacrifice. They would mention how their possible sacrifice would be honored and never forgotten. Many of these become famous speeches and are re-told at graduations and honor ceremonies.

The human’s speech was quite different. It was three words; three short words. There was no mention of honor or sacrifice. Arean expounded just a bit. It appears that the humans will only honor those that kill the enemy. He wondered if the dead would be remembered. He was certain that those getting a kill would be. He thought that it really showed the difference between the two races. The humans really were a race of killers. Apparently little else mattered to them.

Arean said, “I reviewed the camera in the launch bay. The humans had two rows of fighters exposed in the elevator instead of only one row. They then launched all 8 fighters at once, 4 from each bay. It was a tight squeeze, but the bay is wide enough for all 4 to exit at the exact same time.”

Solear said, “I didn’t think that was possible.”

Arean replied, “Me either. However, they just accomplished it. I don’t think any Advranki pilots would try that particular maneuver.”

Ella noticed there was a pause in the conversation. She said, “Commander, the humans have the automatic assist turned off. They are flying the fighters to manual mode.”

Both Arean and Solear yelled “What!” at almost the same time.

Solear said, “I thought it was impossible to fly the fighters on manual mode.”

Arean yelled, “It is. Like all pilots, I’ve tried it. After a few seconds the information overload drives you crazy.”

Solear said, “Clowy, give me a readout of their mental state. Computer, can you verify that all fighters are in manual flight mode?”

…Verified. The humans have been flying the fighters on manual mode since launch…

Clowy said, “Wow, all of the pilots are calm and relaxed. In fact, they seem calmer than their baseline scan when they were brought aboard.”

Arean pondered this for a moment. He had gone to pilot’s training school with Advranki, Altians, and even a handful of Solarians. To a being, all of them became more nervous than their baseline after they launched. Arean had also reviewed the emotional state of the Advranki pilots during the earlier battle with the Hiriculans in Opron. Those pilots were extremely nervous heading into battle.

Arean, still deep in thought, said out loud. “How is it possible that they can fly fighters in manual mode?”

Lexxi said, “Maybe their minds are so empty that there is plenty of room for the extra information.”

Solear laughed and said, “That’s as good an explanation as anything else.”

Ella said, “The fighters are increasing speed and closing formation.”

Arean looked at Ella’s navigation monitor. The humans had indeed closed ranks. The spacing between the fighters was dangerously close; closer than regulation allowed and also far closer than any maneuver Arean had seen. In fact, they were far closer than Arean even thought possible. He said, “How can they fly that closely together? It is not possible.”

Solear said, “The humans are doing so many strange things. I need some answers. Computer, perform an analysis.

…The fighters’ quick launch has improved the chances of survival. Now estimate percent chance of survival as 9.3%…

Solear said, “Computer, expand reasoning behind percentage.”

…The fighter battle will significantly delay the approaching fighters. It is probable that the fighters will not be able to engage the
Sunflower
. The battle will also slightly delay the enemy destroyers as they will have to navigate around the battle. Estimate time of effective missile range will fall from 21 to 15 minutes…

Solear said, “So, we will only have to contend with 96 missiles. That is certainly an improvement.” Solear had said it as sarcastically as possible, but both Clowy and Lexxi said “Whoo hoo.” Solear let them have the moment. He made a mental note to try to have a better attitude during the crisis. He thought, the crew does respond to my leadership.

Clowy said, “Receiving a communication from the fighters. I am patching it through to the overhead speakers now.”

Jim said, “Captain, request that you launch 15 missiles in three minute intervals. Rotate the ship 360 degrees at a rate of 2 degrees per second to starboard and fire all the missiles on a least time intercept course. Make the first 10 missiles shield busters and the last 5 ship busters. Have the missile burn set for 100 seconds. Launch the first ones at time mark 10 minutes.”

Lexxi looked at her board and said, “He is requesting the first set of missiles be launched ten minutes from now. Should I launch them?”

Arean said, “The pattern is interesting. By rotating the ship, we will effectively have 15 missiles spread out over a 3 minute interval.

Solear said, “Yes, but overall, the strategy makes little sense. The missiles will run out of fuel and go ballistic long before they get near the destroyers. There is little point.” He paused for a moment and said, “Computer, time to missile intercept.”

…Time to intercept 20 minutes. The Hiriculans improved the earlier estimate and will be in effective missile range for 17 minutes…

Arean said, “The missiles have a burn life of 120 seconds. The request was for a 100 second burn. So, they won’t technically be ballistic.”

Lexxi said, “Well. I don’t have all day.” She rocked back and forth in her chair again to show that she did indeed have other things to do.

Solear answered, “Stop that. Let me think for a moment.”

Solear reasoned that at the 17 minute mark the Hiriculans would begin firing missiles. They would then fire 24 every 3 minutes, so 24 more at time mark 14, 24 at mark 11, 24 at mark 8, and 24 at mark 5. That would be 120 missiles. They could potentially fire 24 more at mark 2, but the
Sunflowe
r would be able to jump before they hit.