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Authors: T. Jackson King
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of your plan?”
“They do not,” Jane said. “At the Slinkeroo system I invited their input on whether to return home or to go straight to Kepler 62 for an attack on any ships gathered there. Their input was useful. I made the decision to return home. Only in the last day have I put together the four stages of my plan to cope with this new enemy fleet. I feel certain each of them will volunteer to join me on our covert scouting mission into enemy territory.”
The black woman brushed a wrinkled hand through the tight curls of her black hair, then sighed. “You know your people best. As for the four captains and other vets on the ships in your fleet, share with them all details of your plan. However, I cannot approve the plan until I consult with General McAuley and President Hartman. By the time you arrive in Earth orbit, 50 or so hours from now, I will have an answer for you.”
Jane blinked, then the muscles in her face relaxed. “Understood. I will coordinate with my ship captains and the vets serving on board. Our travel time down to Earth will give each captain time to work with their SOCOM and Slinkeroo volunteers,” she said slowly. “On routine matters, once we arrive in orbit we will need the standard boomer sub loadout of food, fuel, personal mail and such. The Blue Sky’s two transports can bring the supplies up to orbit. Should they go to Peterson or to SOCOM at MacDill in Florida?”
“Send them to MacDill, after you arrive,” Poindexter said, her attention wavering as the other four JCS chiefs crowded close to her, clearly wanting to discuss Jane’s plan.
“I will,” Jane said. “General, a final question. Has the Air Force made any headway in producing more x-ray laser warheads for our thermonuke missiles? Those lasers could disable the crew on many enemy ships.”
Poindexter looked intently at Jane, all of her attention focused on Bill’s wife. “We have indeed made progress in setting up a production line for x-ray laser thermonukes at the Pantex plant in Texas. Los Alamos has supplied Pantex with a final warhead design, based on the combat performance of the prototype x-ray warheads fired by the USS Louisiana during the battle against the last enemy fleet. We have plenty of modified plutonium pits for the design.” She paused as the new Navy CNO whispered something in her ear. “We should be able to arm every spacegoing vessel with x-ray laser warheads by the time you return from Kepler 62.”
“Excellent news,” Jane said, a quick smile now showing. “With your permission, Blue Sky terminates this discussion.”
“Permission given. Stay safe.” The Air Force chief turned away to consult with the new Chief of Naval Operations.
Her image vanished from the comlink holo. Returning to the holo were the faces of Jake, Mack, Janice and Colonel Minetowa. Bill checked the true space holo to the upper right of his Weapons control pillar, noticed they were closer to Pluto than earlier, then looked back to Jane.
“Captain,” Bill called. “If we can get the Los Alamos warhead design from Peterson, I am sure the AIs on each of our fleet ships can adapt their current thermonuke warhead designs to be x-ray laser emissive. That would make our MITV torps more deadly.”
Jane’s holo image looked his way. “One more detail. XO, take care of it when we arrive in orbit.” She looked away from his post. “Captains, you heard the news. How have your SOCOM volunteers worked out while we’ve been away?”
In the comlink holo, Jake blinked gray eyes. “They’ve done fine. They’ve joined our Command Bridge crew. Francis and Alonzo are happy for the help.”
“Same here,” said Mack, his stocky form filling his portion of the holo. “Apsara and Andre did the training. The two gals from MacDill have done great.”
Janice relaxed her muscular tenseness. “Larry and George handled their training. They’re part of my Command Bridge crew now,” she said, her tone a melodious soprano.
“They do not,” Jane said. “At the Slinkeroo system I invited their input on whether to return home or to go straight to Kepler 62 for an attack on any ships gathered there. Their input was useful. I made the decision to return home. Only in the last day have I put together the four stages of my plan to cope with this new enemy fleet. I feel certain each of them will volunteer to join me on our covert scouting mission into enemy territory.”
The black woman brushed a wrinkled hand through the tight curls of her black hair, then sighed. “You know your people best. As for the four captains and other vets on the ships in your fleet, share with them all details of your plan. However, I cannot approve the plan until I consult with General McAuley and President Hartman. By the time you arrive in Earth orbit, 50 or so hours from now, I will have an answer for you.”
Jane blinked, then the muscles in her face relaxed. “Understood. I will coordinate with my ship captains and the vets serving on board. Our travel time down to Earth will give each captain time to work with their SOCOM and Slinkeroo volunteers,” she said slowly. “On routine matters, once we arrive in orbit we will need the standard boomer sub loadout of food, fuel, personal mail and such. The Blue Sky’s two transports can bring the supplies up to orbit. Should they go to Peterson or to SOCOM at MacDill in Florida?”
“Send them to MacDill, after you arrive,” Poindexter said, her attention wavering as the other four JCS chiefs crowded close to her, clearly wanting to discuss Jane’s plan.
“I will,” Jane said. “General, a final question. Has the Air Force made any headway in producing more x-ray laser warheads for our thermonuke missiles? Those lasers could disable the crew on many enemy ships.”
Poindexter looked intently at Jane, all of her attention focused on Bill’s wife. “We have indeed made progress in setting up a production line for x-ray laser thermonukes at the Pantex plant in Texas. Los Alamos has supplied Pantex with a final warhead design, based on the combat performance of the prototype x-ray warheads fired by the USS Louisiana during the battle against the last enemy fleet. We have plenty of modified plutonium pits for the design.” She paused as the new Navy CNO whispered something in her ear. “We should be able to arm every spacegoing vessel with x-ray laser warheads by the time you return from Kepler 62.”
“Excellent news,” Jane said, a quick smile now showing. “With your permission, Blue Sky terminates this discussion.”
“Permission given. Stay safe.” The Air Force chief turned away to consult with the new Chief of Naval Operations.
Her image vanished from the comlink holo. Returning to the holo were the faces of Jake, Mack, Janice and Colonel Minetowa. Bill checked the true space holo to the upper right of his Weapons control pillar, noticed they were closer to Pluto than earlier, then looked back to Jane.
“Captain,” Bill called. “If we can get the Los Alamos warhead design from Peterson, I am sure the AIs on each of our fleet ships can adapt their current thermonuke warhead designs to be x-ray laser emissive. That would make our MITV torps more deadly.”
Jane’s holo image looked his way. “One more detail. XO, take care of it when we arrive in orbit.” She looked away from his post. “Captains, you heard the news. How have your SOCOM volunteers worked out while we’ve been away?”
In the comlink holo, Jake blinked gray eyes. “They’ve done fine. They’ve joined our Command Bridge crew. Francis and Alonzo are happy for the help.”
“Same here,” said Mack, his stocky form filling his portion of the holo. “Apsara and Andre did the training. The two gals from MacDill have done great.”
Janice relaxed her muscular tenseness. “Larry and George handled their training. They’re part of my Command Bridge crew now,” she said, her tone a melodious soprano.
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