A Faded Star Read Online Free Page B

especially challenging. So
many of the systems on board were new designs with innovations from lessons
learned during the war. There was virtually no background of experience to upon
which to draw. During initial simulation exercises, the drones attacked each
other immediately after launch and, once they had deemed themselves 'dead',
then turned on the Rampart, which was saved only by the fact that the drones
were firing simulated weapons. In subsequent tests, the drones' targeting
systems interfered with their navigational sensors, causing massive flight path
errors. Fortunately, the worst of the bugs had been eliminated, leaving minor
glitches and errors to work out. Stokes was about to give the order to engage
maneuvering engines when Hanlon held up her hand to Stokes.
     “Sir, there's an alert of the proximity net. It looks
like an unidentified energy reading.”
     Stokes looked over the data that Hanlon put on the
master plot that dominated the front bulkhead of the bridge. “Very well, Miss
Hanlon. Science station, give me an analysis of the energy source.”
     Halford Kri looked up from his console and reported,
“Sir, it seems to be an unclassified disturbance on the sensor net. It appears
to have come from a single point source and is highly energetic. Running
analysis now.”
     Stokes looked the young lieutenant over for a moment
while he worked at his console and then said, “Mister Kri would you care for
the assistance of Miss Simmons?”
     Kri glanced at the Commodore and nodded sharply. Marli
Simmons had repeatedly rebuffed Stokes' efforts to talk her into a year aboard
the Rampart. Her input had been instrumental in the development of drone
technology for the formerly Ebrim and now Lashmere navy. Stokes gave Simmons a
nod, and the petite redhead walked over to where Kri was working. The pair
began to interact quietly over his console.
     After several minutes had passed, Stokes had to resist
the urge to tap his foot in impatience. “Is there an answer forthcoming?”
     Kri jumped and looked up at the waiting commodore.
“Sorry, sir, but we have a bit of a disagreement on what this may be. There are
a number of possible explanations, but until I see a more detailed sensor scan
of the area where this reading came from, it is impossible to say for sure.”
     “Would you care to hazard a guess, Mister Kri?”
     "As I said, there are several possible causes for
this energy reading. It could be a cometary collision between highly
reactionary materials, or it could be some kind of solar reaction or..."
he trailed off.
     "Or what, Mister Kri?" Stokes spoke into the
growing tension filling the bridge. Kri turned and was about to speak, but
Marli Simmons interrupted him.
     "Sir, if I may?" She said.
     Stokes nodded. "Go ahead, Miss Simmons."
     "Sir, I think what Lieutenant Kri is unwilling to
say is that this may be a signature from a hyperlight jump. The theoretical
physics behind this kind of system would probably leave an energy discharge
like this at the destination point. We explored this kind of faster than light
drive before we perfected the point to point drive system."
     Kri nodded slowly as he stood off to the side, looking
over Simmons' shoulder. Stokes steepled his long fingers before his face and
considered for a moment. "Very well. Miss Hanlon, what's your opinion?”
     “Well sir, whatever it is, it set off the early
warning net. If it's a natural reaction, we should see what happened. If it's a
ship, then we should definitely take a look.” Linis Hanlon responded. She
paused for a second and then added, “I recommend we go to battle stations, sir.
Just in case.”
     The Rampart had been designed during the Ebrim-Karn
war that had ended five years before. Construction had been started before the
war actually ended. The original intent of the ship with all of her highly
advanced systems was to bring the war to a decisive end. Since the Karn
surrendered before the Rampart could be