[Azatol]

Chapter 2 -- Unidentified Flying Object


“Ensign Lea, sir, applying for vacant missile bay position,” she said, arriving in his office at exactly 0700.

“You may be seated,” I said and she sat down.

I stacked papers in piles, stalling for time on purpose as I always did. Lea didn’t flinch.

“What is the first thing that comes to your mind when I say each of the following phrases: Nuclear Missile.”

“Highly destructive weapon.”

“High Security.”

“Restricted Access.”

“Minimal safe distance?”

“Backsplash.”

“Operational range.”

“Reliable use.”

“Excellent, now, would you describe in a few sentences why you want the missile bay position?”

“It’s the only position onboard where I can gain valuable military experience.”

“What was your previous position onboard and your prior qualification for that posting?”

“Missile warehousing security detail. I went through police academy before going through the military academy.”

“This position is critical, the threat of theft of nuclear weaponry may be small, but the consequences are high, for that reason all missile related postings are in the top security classification. Since you have worked in the warehousing facility downstairs, you automatically qualify on those grounds. My response will be mailed to your quarters by 1200. If you are accepted, report to the missile bay tommorrow at 0400 for early shift duty with Ensign First Class Pai. Your keycard will be upgraded to allow access in that eventuality.”

“Thank you sir.”

I was confident Lea would win a position in the missile bay, and became certain when the second and third applicants proved to be well out of their depth and unable to achieve top level security classification. And so I sent the acceptance letter by paper mail, as all promotions were required to be filed in triplicate, and Lea joined my unit. I woke up early the next morning to catch her and Pai for the early shift and help Lea ease into her new assignment.

The two were already inside when I arrived.

“Sir, couldn’t sleep?” Pai asked.

“I just wanted to welcome Lea onboard. Go through the loading drill and then test firing if you would Pai.”

“Follow me to the launcher, Ensign,” Pai said.

Pai flipped open the hatch as Lea watched.

“This is the hatch, it must be open for loading and unloading, and closed for firing. It can be opened and closed manually, or automatically using the computer. It takes a real heft to open it, since when closed it forms a seal. Now that the hatch is open we return to the computer.”

“The launcher must be unloaded before test firing, since we never fire a missile without a target to fire at. So we unload by pressing the unload button on this screen.”

The automated crane moved across the room by a track on the ceiling and dropped its mechanical hand into the launcher, grabbing the missile solidly. It returned to the storage box, and gently set down the missile on the pallet inside the box.

“Now we press close to close the launcher in preparation for a test fire.”

The hatch slammed shut making a reverberating gong sound. “And now we press this red button that says fire!"

BAWUMPOOOSH, the launcher sounded as it launched the projectile and the air inside the launcher emptied into space in a brief few seconds.

“The launcher uses pressurized air to distance the missile from the ship before the missile’s thruster turns on. This prevents fire damage to the hull. With a test fire the whooshing sound is the sound of this air exiting rapidly. When real missiles are fired, the system automatically loads the next one, and if neccesary, another pallet is loaded from below. With test fire, this does not happen. Now load the launcher for me, but do not fire live unless so ordered.”

Lea pressed the load button, and the hatch on the launcher thudded open, followed by the crane lifting up a missile and taking it across to the launcher. Finally the hatch clanged closed again.

“Excellent,” I said, “continue the training.”

***
With no good candidates for the fourth missile bay position, it remained understaffed, but they keep up with the tests and drills rather well. Routine was followed by more routine. Hal was promoted to Technical Specialist in charge of operation of the launcher.

Finally a month into service onboard the Alba Lulia, a level 2 alert was raised across ship, and an executive officers meeting was called, with a couple unit officers requested as well. I was one of them. 1st Lieutenant Michael, sensors unit leader under the combat operations group, was at the podium along with Colonel Tal, Commander Lal and Captain Moran.

“Michael, from the sensors unit, has detected something of grave importance to the mission of the internal operations command.”

“Thank you. A vessel estimated at mass between 50 and 500 kilotons has been detected within the solar system with variable trajectory. The ramifactions of this are not known yet.”

“Thank you Michael, as combat operations group leader, I would like to alert all of you to the potential danger. This station may need to defend king and country against a possible hostile presence. The Zalau under construction on this station will play a critical role in defense as well, if we are not attacked in the coming month. Crew for the new vessel will be arriving soon, so as to be immediately activated on completion of the frigate.

I would like Lieutenant Dorn to come to the podium and brief you all on our offensive capabilities, Dorn if you would.”

I blushed and stood up, walking up to the podium, and tried to think of something to say.

“This space station has one missile launcher and an essentially infinite supply of nuclear missiles for our use. Each missile has a yield of approximately 55 megatons, enough to penetrate state of the art hull and internal structure. A frigate such as the Zalau could withstand three hits before being completely destroyed on the fourth. The first hit would do substantial damage, the second great damage, the third near total damage.

The missile launching system requires three minutes to reload after each launch. The minimal safe distance to fire these missiles is 200 kilometers with a maximum target acquisition range of 8000 kilometers. 6000 kilometers is the operational range.”

“Thank you Lieutenant. I would like you all to step up training and readiness, but not to speak of this meeting nor the classified unidentified object spoken of,” Captain Moran said.

Later in the cafeteria I met with the small cadre of friends that I had met on my second day onboard. Vegetarian chili (since meat was expensive and difficult to keep fresh onboard) was served.

Jon asked, “So, what was that officers meeting about?”

“I’m not an executive officer, I wasn’t there.”

“Don’t play coy, we all saw the request, you were listed as specially ordered to attend. Something to do with missiles I’d think,” he responded.

“I’m afraid I can’t tell you. I did speak before the executives, however, my first time at the podium.”

“Level two warning, those don’t happen every day,” Val said.

“Still one opening in your unit?” Keith asked.

“Are you highsec cleared?”

“Umm...no.”

“Didn’t think so, anyway how is the Zalau going?”

“The engine core is almost complete, the wiring still needs to be done,” Jon said.

“Structural integrity is not involved until near completion, but we are helping the other units. We have done a bit of testing on the hull material, passed for seal, but we haven’t stress tested,” Keith said.

“Life support is about half done, CO2 scrubbers, plant life, microbes in place, the biotic cycle is not yet complete, we are missing the water so far.”

“Exciting,” I said.

“Not really,” they replied in unison.

“So, how about a vid in the Junior officer’s lounge?” Jon asked.

“I have an hour, but I’ll watch what I can," I responded.

The others agreed as well, and so we crossed the hall into the lounge.

Street Fight: The battle for the streets of Rebel City

“I’ve seen it,” Jon said.

“So,” responded Val, “its worth seeing again.”

The movie was an action packed treatment of the last phase of the rebellion, when the rebels holed up in their last stronghold city, and troopers were forced to take the city block by block, with horrendous losses.

Returning to my office halfway through the movie, I found a message on the computer, from on planet.

To: All Missile Officers
Concerning: New Missile Design

A new missile design is being tested at the moment that will be ready in another half year which increases missile yields substantially. In addition it increases maximum range and operational range by 2000 kilometers. All vessels equipped with missile launchers should upgrade to the newer design, which requires a retrofit of the launcher and loading systems, because the missile is bulkier than the old design. The Weaponry adminstration believes these new missiles will be a drastic improvement in the event of hostilities.

Rear Admiral Voron
Weaponry Administration

***

To: Executive Officers, 2nd Lieutenant Dorn
Concerning: Alien Vessel

The alien vessel previously discussed has made a 180 degree turn and vanished outsystem. Level 2 alert is rescinded.

Colonel Tal
Combat Operations

***

“So with one Zalau constructed, we’ve been ordered to carry on with the second,” Jon said in the cafeteria.

“And the Zalau has been ordered to protect the civillian colony on the third planet.”

***

“In view of your three months of meritous service as unit leader of the missile bay, I hereby promote you to first lieutenant and welcome you to the ranks of senior officers. Here are your official papers and stationary, destroy the priors. I eagerly await your future progress as an officer.”

Because of the fraternization rules, I couldn’t lounge about with Jon and the others in the Junior officer facilities, on the other hand, the senior officer cafeteria was rather cozy, and smaller, less like a mess hall. It was eerily quiet, and perhaps being the most junior of the senior officers, few were comfortable with treating me casually as of yet.

Most officers are given information about their potential for reassignment and their priority on a list for their position. In my case, it was missile bay officer on a warship that I was due for eventually. I had been #5 on the list when I first boarded, but each Zalau contained two missile bays, quickly moving me to #3, and after the second Zalau was complete I would be at number one.

Unfortunately future Zalau construction was not planned past the second Zalau, at least until funds became available, as the military was facing a budget crunch with larger space operations costs. The two Zalau’s would be the primary defenders of king and country until such time as production resumed. I was sure to receive a position on a Zalau when that happened. I was still #5 to serve on any larger warship, since many of the Zalau missile leaders would wish to move up themselves. But no matter what a vacancy would exist for me once a third vessel was constructed.