The Mission

Posted on Apr 27, 2016 @ 1:59am by Captain Michael Turlogh Kane
Edited on on Apr 27, 2016 @ 2:00am

Mission: Fortress: Earth

"THE MISSION"

(Continued from "Long Distance Call")

********************************
********************************

Captain's Log, supplemental - our arrival home, at first an anti-climax, is slowly giving way to a realisation that Edgerton may well have saved his deadliest scheme for last. If we cannot find a way to circumvent the so-called Aegis Defence Network, then Earth will continue to languish under the Neo-Essentialist jackboot for the foreseeable future...

**********************************

Location: USS Phoenix, standing off with the fleet's command squadron near Earth orbit
Stardate: [2.16] 0427.0600
Scene: Captain's Ready Room


Michael Turlogh Kane was scanning the screen of his desktop terminal, poring over the sensor data that the fleet had accumulated on the energy shield. The golden web, clearly visible through his ready room's viewport, was proving irritatingly difficult to scan, made up as it was of several different types of sub-atomic particles, but mainly highly-polarised tachyons. No clear picture was emerging of what its use was, but the worrying power indications from the orbital satellites, each of which was also capable of operating as an independently-shielded polaron cannon, was an indication that it was some sort of weapons platform.

Still, a breakthrough was inevitable. There were some good scientific minds in the fleet, and their combined knowledge would be enough to properly analyse the energy web. It wasn't yet a given that a solution to knocking it out would be found, but that bridge could be crossed when it loomed in the foreground. In the meantime, all ships continued their blockade, maintaining yellow alert.

When his ready room door chimed, he didn't answer at first, but the second chime wormed its way through his ear and into his head. "Come in," he said, turning the desktop monitor away from him and looking at the door expectantly.

It was Kassandra Thytos. She was wearing an off-duty marine officer's green shirt with her captain's bars on the collar. Her sensor network was blinking under her skin, a studded network of red and blue lights running down her limbs, sightless eyes blinking uselessly.

"Major Thytos," said Kane. "Sit down. What can I do for you?" There was an old naval tradition that said that there could only be one captain aboard a ship. Marine officers of that rank were politely elevated to Major when being addressed.

Kass sat down. "Ah was readin' what we got so far on them there sons o' bitches," she said in her frontier accent, throwing a thumb at the viewport. Kane knew she was talking about the Neo-Essentialists. "Ah wanted to know the likelihood of a marine landin' on Earth. If there's a chance we're gonna shoot us up some fuckin' fascists, y'all gotta let me know so Ah kin be ready."

"You're not ready right now?" Kane said with a smile, sitting back in his seat. "I thought marines were - "

"If y'all order me an' mah people to go inta battle in the next five minutes, Ah'd tell ya that was too long ta wait," said Kass fiercely. "What Ah mean is, Ah wanna be kept in the loop. Maps o' LZs, plans o' targets, expected opposition an' suchlike."

Kane nodded. "I'll keep that in mind, Major. However, the fleet's efforts are currently directed towards collecting as much information as possible. Admiral Marxx is unwilling to risk direct action against the enemy without knowing his capabilities. That, as I'm sure you'll agree, is sound military strategy." He paused a moment, sizing her up. "I understand your eagerness to do something, but are you sure you're not looking to redirect some tension?"

"Whaddya mean, Captain?"

"I heard about your public argument with Lieutenant Barton on deck ten a few days ago." Kane drummed his fingers on the tabletop, wondering how to go about dealing with this. "The relationship between you two is not something that I have to intervene in, is it?"

Kass was bristling. "No, Captain. Ah know the score. It's just that - " Kass paused, like she was looking for the right words.

"I've never known you to hold back, Major," said Kane gently. "Go ahead and say what's on your mind."

Kass shrugged. "Ah guess Ah feel a bit vulnerable around him. He's like a friggin' Mary Sue from an old comic book, all muscle and attitude. It's like he's tryin' ta intimidate me or somethin'. Or maybe he ain't, but that's how I feel. I dunno. Ah don't like bein' in his goddam shadow, Captain, Ah'll tell ya that fer nothin'. Barton needs to back the hell away from me or Ah'll pull his 'roid balls up over his head."

Kane pursed his lips to avoid smiling at Kass' invective. "I see." He got up and went to the replicator. "Two glasses of lemonade, four degrees celsius." The two cold beverages appeared in a sparkle of light.

Kane picked up the two glasses and gave one to her. "Major, I hear what you're saying. Lieutenant Barton is the Security Chief because he's the most experienced officer for the job, but that doesn't mean he'll be in the position permanently." Kane paused to take a sip of the lemonade. "Everyone has skeletons in their closet, including you and I. But Barton was responsible for the deaths of dozens of children in a bombing on Vulcan sixteen years ago, including his adopted son. His service record indicates that he disappeared in its aftermath."

"Ah know that," said Kass, somewhat mollified.

Kane looked thoughtful. "I have some idea of what it's like to have the deaths of others on your conscience. None of us are above reproach. It's not an easy thing to live with." He turned back to Kass. "Once the Federation is restored, James Barton must answer for every one of those children. I told him that when he got the job. I imagine it weighs on his mind somewhat."

"Ya think he'll cut an' run on us?"

Kane shook his head. "No, I don't. None of us are the same person we were when we started down this road. James Barton is on a collision course with the ghosts of those dead children. He can see them coming, but he doesn't try to turn away because he knows he's got to face them if he's ever going to restore his own soul. I admire that, but in the meantime his decade-and-a-half away from the fleet is crippling his discipline. He was living as a criminal so long alone on Limbo that he's forgotten everything about being a Starfleet officer."

"Hmm." Kass paused to consider this. "What's keepin' him in line, do ya think?"

Kane raised an eyebrow. "I like to think it's my command authority."

Kass frowned, then realised that Kane was being laconic. She smiled. "Ah don't know either. Don't worry, Cap. I'll put a ten millimeter explosive tip caseless in his face if he ever goes too far." She put the half-drunk lemonade back on the table and stood up. "Thanks for the drink, sir. An' don't you worry about mah marines. We're always ready. Always."

"Of that, Major," said Kane with genuine warmth, "I have no doubt."

********************************************

Location: USS Century, nearby
Scene: Bridge


Admiral Dexter Marxx was waiting for something to change. Things were moving slowly, and much as he would like for an immediate resolution of this whole situation, it was becoming clear that the final battle to restore the Federation was not going to be a short one. A blockade, followed by a siege, was all that the fleet could manage at the moment.

This energy field surrounding the planet was the bugbear. Marxx knew that he did not have the same emotional investment in Earth as did Human Starfleet officers, but he was well aware of its political and economic importance to the Federation. Also, the very fact that he was an off-worlder gave him more of a clear mind - he could make more dispassionate decisions, if needs be, unclouded by sentiment or worry about familiy or friends.

But there was nothing happening planetside, nothing to react to or bounce off of. For the past several hours, President Sardak's proclamation demanding the unconditional surrender of all Neo-Essentialist forces on the planet had been broadcast by the orbital fleet, coupled with urgent blanket subspace messages urging Richard Edgerton to make contact with the President. There had been no answer, and more than that, there had been no indication that anyone was receiving the transmissions. Certainly, they were being heard - everyone tuning into any civilian or military subspace radio band could hear them - but the silence from the Neo-Essentialists was deafening.

There were only two possibilities. Either Richard Edgerton was unable to answer, or he was unwilling to. Only a fool would consider the former at this stage of the siege, and so Dex was forced to wonder - why isn't he answering? Does he think that by ignoring us we will just leave? Is he hoping to lure us into a planetary assault?

He looked out the main viewer, out at that damnable energy web crackling into the blue Terran sky. He could easily drop the hammer at any time, could put his trust in the All-Father and send the fleet into orbit with orders to destroy the satellite network. But that way was utter foolishness - only desperate generals would send their forces forward against an enemy they knew nothing about.

There was nothing to do but wait. And waiting was the hardest part.

*************************************************

Location: USS Phoenix, as before
Scene: Conference Room, Deck 1, saucer section


Another alpha shift, another senior staff conference. They could become tedious, but Kane knew that everyone was invested in what they were doing, so regular updates like this were critical to keep everyone abreast of what was going on in the wider scheme of things. The Siege of Earth was still in its initial phases, but there were multiple threads to unravel, and some might take longer than others.

Selyara's distress call was weighing on his mind. When she had taken the Runabout Athena and warped out of the Elandipole system she had been on a course to Earth, but the distance was so great that it was not a given that she would come here. Now that she had revealed herself to be on the surface, Kane had spent much time wondering what she was up to - like she told him, she had her own score to settle with Richard Edgerton, but that might not reconcile with restoring the Federation. Still, she had asked for help, and Kane was inclined to give it, if only to get someone down on the surface who could report back to him. As soon as the damn shield was down.

He watched Jake, Byte, Barton, and Eve file into the conference room and take their seats. Aerdan was on the bridge, and Kass was below decks. When they were ready, he looked at Byte. "Update on the analysis of the tachyon network?"

{{We have completed a preliminary analysis of the grid,}} began the android, activating a holographic three-dimensional picture of the Earth that hovered over the table. {{The Aegis Defence Network is a satellite-based planetary defence system that can act both independently and be controlled from a central ground location. There are thirty-five satellites orbiting the Earth. Each satellite carries five phased polaron banks and one hundred quantum torpedoes each, plus an independently-operating tactical computer system equipped with sensor software. Each satellite is powered by a miniature quantum thaleron drive.}}

"Thaleron?" asked Jake in alarm, sitting forward anxiously. "We're sure about that?"

{{Our readings are not yet finalised, but we believe so,}} said Byte. {{As you know, thaleron is a type of radiation in the tertiary electro-magnetic band that has unique biogenic properties. It is capable of expanding almost without limit, and is utterly deadly to organic life.}}

"How does it work?" asked Barton.

{{Thaleron consumes organic matter at the subatomic level,}} explained Byte, like he was stating a pleasant fact instead of describing a weapon of mass destruction. {{Because of its lethality, it was banned by the Federation in the last century. Exposure to even a microscopic amount of thaleron radiation means the death of all organic cells it touches.}}

"And each one of those satellites is a thaleron generator?" asked Jake. "On top of being armed for ship-to-ship combat with its own independent tactical system?"

Byte inclined its head in an android approximation of a nod, its features a mask of seriousness.

"Good God," breathed Jake.

{{Destruction of the satellites will result in the release of the thaleron radiation onto the surface of the Earth,}} continued Byte. {{According to projected estimates, everything and everyone within five thousand square kilometres of a destroyed satellite will be reduced to ashes. If one of them is destroyed over an ocean, the long-term consequences for the Earth's environment are even more... drastic.}}

Kane sat back in his seat as the enormity of what Byte was telling him became apparent. The entire population of the Earth was under the shadow of death. There might not be any way to fight this. Edgerton was a genius. He closed his eyes for a moment. "What about the tachyon field, Mister Byte?" he asked.

The android manipulated the controls, and the view zoomed in to a pair of satellites with their attached golden web-strands. {{The high-polarity tachyon field seems to be acting as a chain link. We have no knowledge of the workings of the satellites' programming, but it seems likely that a break in the tachyon link will alert the nearest satellites that an attempt is being made to penetrate the field. It will likely trigger some sort of automated response from the satellites themselves. The tachyon web also acts as a transport scattering field, rendering beaming down to the surface impossible.}}

"What about their orbital patterns?" asked Kane.

{{It seems to be somewhat automated, Captain. The satellites are maintaining geo-synchronous orbits above the most heavily-populated cities on the surface.}}

"To maximise the casualties they can inflict, no doubt," said Eve.

{{Exactly, Counselor.}}

"If the fleet engaged these satellites, could we win?" asked Barton.

{{Most certainly, Lieutenant,}} said Byte. {{The fleet's combined firepower would annihilate the entire satellite network in less than sixty seconds.}}

"But we'd end up releasing all that thaleron onto the surface," said Jake. "I've got to hand it to him, Edgerton knows how to stack the deck. So, our starships or shuttles can't get too close to the tachyon field. We can't destroy them with our shipboard weapons. If we do the former, the satellites open up on us, and if we do the latter, the surface of the Earth gets annihilated. This is just great."

Kane frowned. "Byte, what is the average distance of the gaps in the grid?"

Byte seemed to be looking within itself as it made a swift calculation. {{Approximately three thousand kilometres on average between the strands, sir. But the distance itself means nothing. Each satellite is likely to be equipped with its own sensor network to scan for approaching starships or shuttles.}}

Kane leaned forward. "So you mentioned. Would the network be likely to be scanning for organic life?"

Now it was Byte who frowned in an approximation of a Human thinking. {{No, sir. Automated sensor networks on this scale are not particularly nuanced. Also, given the network's primary utility as a guardian device, it is likely to only respond to a shuttlecraft or a starship breaching its proximity zone.}} The android's features lit up. {{Query. Captain, are you suggesting that we attempt to penetrate the tachyon field with something smaller than a shuttlecraft?}}

Kane nodded slowly. "Not something, Mister Byte. Someone."

There was silence around the conference table, as each person present let what Kane was saying sink in.

Jake frowned and spoke slowly. "So, we put someone in what - an environmental suit? And launch them towards the surface from orbit? As long as they don't strike the energy strands they'll be alright?"

Kane was looking at Byte. "Is it possible?"

The android considered it. {{Something like what you propose has not been attempted in several centuries, Captain. An environmental suit would have to be modified to resist the heat friction of atmospheric re-entry and the gradual exterior pressure changes. We would have to come up with a way to slow the rate of descent gradually once terminal velocity is achieved - falling from outside the atmosphere is likely to generate airspeeds in excess of two thousand miles per hour.}} Byte looked around the table. {{Yes, Captain. It is.... possible.}}

"We have to risk it," said Kane. "Selyara is asking for help, and if she's on the surface, we have to give her every chance to help us. I'll clear it with Admiral Marxx, but I'm confident he'll agree. If we can get someone on the surface to co-ordinate and assist Selyara, we stand a much better chance of success. Can you make this project happen, Commander Crichton, sooner rather than later?"

Jake looked taken aback, but he was nodding. "I'll get all my team on it, Captain, there are a lot of elements that need considering. But sir, who are you going to send down to the surface?'

Kane turned and gave a long, significant look at James Barton.

Barton seemed to consider it. "Captain...." He stopped, then continued. "I might not be the best choice. I remember Selyara from when the Limbo refugees were aboard the ship. We didn't get along very well."

Kane raised an eyebrow. "Lieutenant Barton, are there personal reasons why you cannot accept this mission?"

Barton nodded. He seemed to be calling up old ghosts in his mind's eye, the memories of what happened between him and the capricious woman whose mind melded with his. "Yes."

"Are there *professional* reasons?"

Barton set his jaw. He gave the only answer he could give. "No."

Kane eyeballed him.

Barton inclined his head. "Aye, sir."

Jake Crichton slapped Barton on the shoulder. "Come on, big guy. We need to get started on this. After all, you're going to be getting first crack at Edgerton."

The thought seemed to brighten Barton's mood.

"Dismissed," said Kane, and the meeting broke up.

**********************************************
**********************************************

NRPG: Moving things along...



Thaleron brings a whole new dimension of danger to the satellite network. It popped up in one of the TNG episodes (I think), and Shinzon used it to assassinate the Romulan Senate in Star Trek: Nemesis. Now you know why we can't go in all guns blazing!

SHAWN/DALE: Another subplot for you both to work on. A modified enviro suit, a flight path to avoid the energy strands (3,000 km apart, shouldn't be too difficult) and a way to keep Barton from going insane with fear. Also, remember Newton's Laws of Motion and you'll be fine ;)

DALE: In 2012 (419 years ago by FRPG's timeline), Felix Baumgartner jumped from a balloon about 127,000 feet high in the Earth's stratosphere and fell 24 miles to the surface of the Earth, reaching speeds of 1300mph on the way down. Although that record was broken in 2014, you can watch Baumgartner's jump in glorious HD on the Internet and shit your pants when you see what he did. If you're willing, James Barton is going to shatter that record. He will jump from the Earth's exosphere, where the Phoenix is holding station, around 370 miles (1,953,600 feet) up from the ground, maneuver through the energy strands of the Aegis shield, reaching a terminal velocity of around 2500mph. He will descend from the exosphere (the outermost layer of the atmosphere, where even the molecules attracted by the Earth's gravity field are too far apart to even form a gaseous state), down through the Earth's thermosphere (where solar radiation can superheat the little air to over 4500 degrees Fahrenheit during daytime, and heat friction will begin to occur), mesosphere (high-speed winds, heavy gravity waves, the highest clouds), stratosphere (circulating air currents, where today's airliners fly) and the troposphere (where all the Earth's weather takes place), to land somewhere in/near San Francisco. If it succeeds, it will be the highest free-fall jump in history. And then he has to deal with Selyara again. Now you know why I asked you if Barton was afraid of heights ;) If, however, you decide that this is not for Barton, then write something where Jake and he realise that the mission is impossible because of some scientific problem.


Jerome McKee
the Soul of captain Michael Turlogh Kane
Commanding Officer
USS PHOENIX


"He speaks an infinite deal of nothing!"
- Shakespeare's "The Merchant of Venice", Act 1, Scene 1.117

**************************************
**************************************