Chapter 8

The course continued with instruction introducing them to energy torpedoes, Type 71 which was being phased out of service and Type 53 which was replacing them. The major difference was in the electronics which were miniaturised in the '53s'. These were straight blast weapons. There were reports, confirmed by the Instructors, of a newer class of missile just coming into production for the new DNs which were still on the drawing boards; the missiles were simple rocket drive but already there were moves to improve on this technology. The major advance, apart from the greatly increased endurance of the power plant, was the warhead — it was a nuclear bomb pumped destructive laser designed to be detonated very close to protective shields and pierce them blasting into the ship's hull. Even it one did not pierce the shield, the energy of the war head would be absorbed by the shield which would eventually fail under the cumulative effects of multiple explosions exposing the unprotected hull (well, unprotected if you discount the benefit of armour) to direct damage. Some lectures were given on these matters as they involved counter measures. There were some discussions (aka bitter demarcation disputes) taking place at rarefied levels in the Admiralty as to which branch would have control of countermeasures; Electronic Warfare (EW) or Gunnery. When the bodies stopped flying and the blood congealed, all would be revealed to the spacers who tended the nuts and bolts of things. The use of this missile moved the sphere of the battle area outwards by a large multiple of present values placing greater pressures on detection of an opponent.

TJ was given to think deeply upon this point when Morg pointed out that their FTL fantasy could not be used for detection as the propagated 'side' beam was returning in the natural course of events and then by Ivy's comment that FTL could be utilised by an unmanned scout fitted with detection equipment. She had closed her eyes for a moment as if visualising and had then continued to state that because a 'sweeping' mechanism would have to be positioned so much further out from the ship to cover the new sphere of operations, a new method of control as well as detection would have to be developed. Ivy had taken it further to suggest that a controlling rocket could be dispatched out to the limits of an electronic tether accompanied by a ship load of missiles. Morg, getting into the same mindset, had offered his improvement by suggesting instead of single missiles use a salvo of missiles in a group — nest them together.

Having developed the pattern of self education with their PDAs, the trio began looking at bringing their presently fanciful ideas back to the present limits of technology.

TJ envisaged an unmanned vessel, an up scaled version of the missile, which could be carried by a mother ship, dispatched out to the limits of communication, saunter in its own sphere — perhaps even be 'puter programmed to independent operations, transmitting information back on a tight beam, and returning to be utilised again.

Ivy thought that the quickest method of getting a controller into service would be to tether it to the mother ship using tractor beams as this did not use up ship's limited coms systems — several 'lone rangers' scouting could be handled but not hundreds of missile weapons by the present com's suite. With new builds, perhaps, augmented com suites would be fitted.

Morg's eyes clouded and he was longer silent as the figures swirled about his neurones taking present construction as unity. Additional nests could be tractored for a one off salvo to beef up the ship's internal load. Present construction was self limiting and a hollow design would be better; expand the central utilities core into a large magazine — that was the purpose of a warship anyway; to place the largest number of weapons at the battle site.

The course wound down to its completion and TJ and Morg completed their extra instruction and sorties in hard suits. From their rather selfish point of view, the EVAs were a waste of time but they agreed the added camouflage might help if questions were asked.

The course finished with a seven day of 'action station' drills with the last of them involving the whole ship's establishment. The Captain expressed her satisfaction and signed off the course as fit to undertake fleet work. The students spent the last two days on board "Artemis" on 'make and mend'.

Debarking to "Scylla" and dirtside quarters allowed the trio to access the stored 'puter. Preliminary examination revealed the presence of indicators of signal receipt so the idea worked. Closer and tighter investigation was needed to ascertain time intervals between those recorded on Morg's PDA at instant of transmission and by the 'puter as instant of reception.

Students' requests as to their first postings were solicited. 'Admin' work was finalised. Leave was granted with allowance for travel to place of enlistment. The quarters were cleaned and equipment returned to store and the newly minted Gunlayers 3rd class were shuttled back to Settlement.

...

Morg had several days in Settlement before departure to Georgipest and he spent them at TJ's home where Ivy joined them during the day. They spent the time huddled together brainstorming the next step in the HSW saga; the time intervals were unmeasurably close. Ivy moaned that a long range test was not financially feasible as the cost of putting a power source into orbit was out of their reach. TJ and Morg who had a fairly accurate idea of each other's financial status looked neutrally at one another to be interrupted by Berryl. She had been half heartedly listening and followed the idea of power in orbit with the proposition that second hand space yachts were ten a credit these days — enthusiasts had them built and then lost interest and no social climber wanted to own a second hand yacht — unthinkable; and anyway why did they want power in orbit?

After swearing to secrecy, Berryl was given the story. As the tale progressed, she sat straighter and straighter in her chair. At tale's end, the trio were subjected to a far more intensive interrogation than they had ever received from their Instructors on any subject. Berryl was 'in trade' although no one thought of it that way as she appeared to do nothing but flit about like any social butterfly of a certain age. Appearances were deceiving, apart from a double life — the one she lived and the one her kin on Sol thought she lived — she supervised her own affairs and kept close hold thereon. Berryl understood the importance of speed of communications. She told 'the children' to go play or something for an hour and then come back. TJ and Ivy went off to do the 'or something' and Morg pulled out his scrap of embroidery and went to work being idly watched by Berryl as she worked through the ramifications of her information.

Ivy and TJ returned trying to look innocent until Berryl sniffed and Ivy cracked up

"How long have you known?" Berryl gently enquired.

"I haven't until you just confirmed what had been my suspicions" grinned Ivy.

"Mother, you knew? You could have told me, you know" TJ expostulated.

"You had enough to concern yourself about, dear. After dinner tonight, we have things to discuss."

And then led them through her plan, scheme, idea, whatever.

HSW Enterprises Inc was to be registered in Settlement and Georgipest. The corporation was to purchase, as its only initial assets, a used space yacht in each city. Morg was to fit the circuit in the Georgipest yacht and TJ here and on a given day, at a set international time, be in the space marinas over the planets' north poles and send from Settlement and reply from Georgipest a short transmission. From that position, further refinements could be made and thought was to be given as to how the project might be packaged for presentation. The Crown would descend upon the project clamping Royal Prerogative all over it but they would give both good value and a guaranteed market. The Directors would have to be 'Seniors' and Julie Windsor, William Sorenson and Berryl Hobson would do very nicely, thank you. The inventors were to be not known, except as HSW employees, as the vultures in Treasury would claim the invention because the trio were serving personnel at the time. A court battle would be prolonged but successful as the trio were not employed as researchers nor was the invention part of their work category; but the hassle was neither desired nor wanted.

Morg had his features completely expressionless as he objected

"Mam can't be a Director. We run a brothel, a high class brothel, but a brothel. Companies' Board would never accept her as being of good repute."

"Nonsense, Morg, complete nonsense," chortled Berryl "couldn't be better cover. I wondered about the 'Gentlemen's Club' but was too polite to ask" (with feigned innocence) "you will find the Club is a registered corporation and you might get a surprise if you look at the Board of Directors and shareholders; even if Julie is in complete control as I am certain she is; she will have built in protection for the business."

TJ had a more serious objection

"The circuits are not built robustly and they are just a bit ragged after their recent use, particularly the one we put in the gain chamber; they weren't built for prolonged working."

"Can you construct a more robust work circuit quickly?" Berryl asked.

"Tomorrow; but what can we use as an aiming and power device?" TJ asked his fellow spacers.

"Line thrower," said Morg "might have to reinforce breech" and his eyes went blank momentarily "probably not — were using directional energy, no blast."

"Didn't your elders teach you how not to go 'blank'?" Berryl demanded.

Morg just looked blank.

"Ne'er mind. I'll deal with it this evening."

"Pity" Ivy complained "I have to be home in the evenings — have to keep up appearances."

"You probably aren't fooling your father" Berryl retorted "but in this you are not involved. And it's better you not know. Besides you have to tell your father we need to meet and talk about the project."

Ivy nodded compliance.

"I don't like the idea of carrying a circuit board on the trip home. Baggage always gets ransacked on those ships" Morg put in "and a drawing isn't a real good idea either."

Berryl thought for a few moments

"In prediaspora days, kerchiefs were that valuable there was a trade in stolen ones. What is their value in that sense, now?"

"Not even the beggars in the Stews are interested" snorted Morg.

"Good! TJ, draw the circuit. Morg, embroider the circuit into a handkerchief — two would be best" Berryl directed "as quickly as possible. We'll talk again at dinner."

TJ extracted his PDA and menu'd up the circuit drawing and then made a link to Morg's PDA to transfer the data.

"Why's yr Mam wanta kerchief broidered?" asked Morg "PDA should have done."

"Don't know; she has some funny as in peculiar ideas at times; but there is always a reason however way out" TJ replied.

They got down to their appointed tasks with Ivy off with Berryl somewhere.

Dinner was early. TJ was sent off to escort Ivy home and to pass a personal invitation to Bill Sorenson to meet with Berryl Hobson on the next afternoon.

While TJ was out, Berryl closely interrogated Morg on everything he could remember about his mother and what she had told her children; it hadn't been much as Julie herself didn't have memories anywhere but the Stews. Morg got very closemouthed about the financial aspects of their life and Berryl, sensing a defensive aggression, let the matter slide. She did specifically ask if the special embroidery was complete and inspected it minutely. Morg was somewhat relieved at TJ's return.

Not for long.

Berryl took them to a rather closet sized internal room in which were three straight backed chairs arranged in a triangle.

"Strip down to bare skin. Everything off and leave your things outside. Morg carry that kerchief. Sit on a chair and wait for me" Berryl sharply ordered and turned away. The men's reaction was automatic if not quite dazedly. They sat upon s chair bathed in a generalised soft lighting. They had not long to wait.

Berryl Hobson entered the closet and hung up two large brown robes on hooks on the back of the door which she had closed. She placed the robe she had been wearing on an adjacent hook and turned unconcernedly, breathtakingly naked, to take her place upon the vacant chair. She stared briefly at each individual and as they became aware of an essence which filled the closet, she began speaking in a weirding voice...

...

"Put on the robes and come to the kitchen" Berryl instructed them as she robed and departed. TJ looked muzzily at his friend who returned the same sort of look.