The Great Talisman (Intersect Book 2) Page 15

  “Sooner or later I will have to face him. Zardon won’t harm you until I turn up, so hang in there. I will come and get you when the time is right.”

  “I love you!”

  “I love you too.”

  “Izn’t that touching.” Said a deep and sinister voice. Katie opened her eyes to see Zardon’s red eyes staring at her. “Your end is near little man, for you and your doomed race.”

  **********

  Ryan turned around to find Charlie waiting beside him. “She is okay for now, Bane is dead.”

  “What happened?”

  “He tried to make a deal with the Emperor.”

  “Has Zardon got her?”

  “Yes, but he won’t harm her until he has lured me into his trap.”

  “What are you going to do?”

  “I have to face him Charlie, and end this once and for all. But before I do I have to make sure Earth survives or it will be all for nothing. When I feel that the Earth is secure, I will confront him.”

  “Are you ready though?”

  “As ready as I’ll ever be.” Ryan was interrupted by the realistic synthesised voice of the Master Access Computer.

  “Admiral, there is an urgent message for you.”

  “Open the comlink Mac.” Ryan replied.

  A three dimensional image of Doctor Chen formed in the room before them. “Ryan, we have a theory that might work.”

  “What is it?”

  “Young Mister Cerrico has been giving me a very interesting lesson in computer virus programming. Although the thousand year language barrier was a hindrance at times. Creating a virus that would disable the Computer Pilot System is not difficult but what is, is how you infect the on-board flight systems. When I developed the system, I made sure that each was completely independent of the other and the only interaction was the system’s ability to track the other ships and react accordingly. So we thought, how do we get the virus on board? And Kim Lee came up with the clever idea of using the Warbird’s sensor system as a means of transferring the virus.”

  “How would a sensor system download a virus?” Ryan asked.

  “Please may Kim Lee explain?” Next to the image of James appeared the more sensual figure of Kim Lee.

  “If you project the virus program signature onto the Starfighter’s heat signature, the Warbird’s sensors will read it and download the virus program into the fight control system as it identifies the target. After that the virus can do its work.”

  “Uncle James, you have one smart daughter.”

  “I was a flight system analyst back in the thirty first.” Kim Lee explained.

  “How long will it take to be ready?”

  James answered, “That is the catch, it would take many hours.”

  “Mac, how long before the Warrians are within attack range?”

  “Two hours, ten minutes and fifteen seconds.”

  “That is how long you have got.”

  “Admiral?” Mac asked. “I may be able to reduce the time to develop the program.”

  “Thank you Mac, your help will be greatly appreciated.”

  “They will have my fullest support Admiral.”

  “Any thoughts on a contingency plan?”

  Adam appeared next to Kim Lee. “I have an idea, it’s a long shot though.”

  “Go on.” Encouraged Ryan.

  “You remember some years ago when we were having a one on one in the flight simulators, and I tried that new manoeuvre of mine on you.”

  “What was it called, the dead end spiral? How could I forget, it was one of the few times you ever got the better of me.”

  “Got the better is an understatement, the fat lady sang after that move!”

  Ryan was a little uncomfortable about having his flying ego deflated, however he did his best to ignore Adam’s boasting. “Go on.”

  “If these ships have been uploaded with your skills back in the thirty first, then they have yet to learn a counter measure.”

  “Yes, good thinking.” Ryan replied.

  “I’ll have the flight crews in the simulators right away.”

  “Good work everyone, keep me posted.” Ryan said as he deactivated the comlink. He said to Charlie, “I think it’s time to warn Earth.”

  **********

  Ryan sat on the solitary seat in the room he named Oasis. The place where he was away from any distractions and had a chance to be alone with his thoughts. To the air about him Ryan spoke out aloud. “Mac, how are our friends on earth doing?”

  “None have yet broken silence and the myth of the meteor shower has been spread across the planet.”

  “How has the city evacuations preceded?”

  “Most cities are now showing a population level of twenty percent.”

  “Good. Prepare to send a message to our friends.”

  “Communication links open.”

  Ryan cleared his throat before commencing. “The meteor shower will commence in two hours from now. Good luck to you all.” Ryan paused before he signed out. “End transmission.”

  **********

  May 5th, 2001

  Herbert Conley had his feet up on the coffee table while he sat almost laying down in the lounge chair. Joan, his wife of nineteen years, got up from the far side of the three seater lounge where Herb sat, then announced. “I’m going to bed. Are coming up?”

  “I’ll be up later.”

  “Okay.” She said as she turned and headed for the stairs.

  As he watched the climax to the film Independence Day, the screen went blank. Herb grabbed the remote and press the one of the buttons several times but to no avail. Then a transmission came through with a familiar voice. “The meteor shower will commence in two hours from now. Good luck to you all.”

  His heart began to throb loudly in his chest as the adrenaline began to pump through his veins. “Honey, honey?”

  Half way up the stairs Joan turned and went back down again. “Yes, what is it.” When she saw the look on Herb’s face she knew exactly what he was going to say.

  “Get the kids, we have only two hours to get to the base’s bomb shelter.”

  **********

  Marcus Jones was busily typing a report into his home desktop computer when the screen began to flicker. He stopped and watched the screen go blank, then promptly pressed the reboot button. “Damn crappy computers!” As the computer started up again, the usual image of hardware data paging through was replaced with the message. “The meteor shower will commence in two hours from now. Good luck to you all.” Marcus reached for his mobile phone and recalled a saved phone number. A Moment later, the groggy voice of General Harding came through the handset. “This better be good?”

  “Sherman, its Marcus. We’ve got two hours!”

  “Okay, how soon can you be hear?”

  “Fifteen minutes. That little bastard may have fooled Conley, but he didn’t fool us with his parlour tricks.”

  “I’ll give the order to go to DEFCON two. When the ruskies try to invade, they will be in for one hell of a shock!”

  **********

  Adam stood at the podium in front of the thousands of fighter pilots under his command. The large semi-circular briefing auditorium was positioned at the end of one of the thirty kilometre long flight decks. The audience faced Adam and the seemingly endless chamber that extended as far as the eye could see. Its ceiling was hundreds of meters above the flight deck as the girth stretched up to a kilometre. It was so massive that sound waves were virtually lost in its expanse giving no audible impression that it was a chamber at all. Even the loud clamour of the ground crew preparing the fighters far behind him was lost within, and only a faint echo could be herd. A powerful amplifier system allowed Adam’s audience to hear his address, and with the spectacular background of the flight deck, all eyes were in his direction.

  “.....As you know, the Warbirds will need to pass through the Megaproton Energy Field at warp speed, then exit before overshooting the field on the other si
de or impacting at sub warp speed into the field. It will take up to a second for the Computer Pilot System to absorb the environment data after exiting hyperspace, and will be at its most vulnerable at that time. The application of the dead end spiral manoeuvre that you all have been frantically perfecting, would be best implemented immediately after the Warbirds enter. The intersect altitude will be fifteen clicks and a westerly attack vector within the twelve to two range. They will have to enter the shield in a positive Earth rotation and an angle if incidence within one and one point five degrees. We expect their entry points to be randomly spaced to reduce multiple bird downs. Therefore, we will be evenly dispersed over the Earth’s surface. If any patterns emerge, the battle control centre will re-co-ordinate the space force accordingly.”

  “Attrition rate during the shield breach should be high; somewhere between seventy five and eighty percent. You will outnumber them ten to one, but they will be the hardest targets you will ever have to hit, so stay alert. Remember, the Starfighter is far more advanced than the Warbird, more manoeuvrable, and has a quicker response time. If you have a Warbird on your six, make use of the technology at your disposal, as it can save your life. As for the counter measure for the Computer Pilot System, it is still under development. So don’t wait for that miracle as it could come too late.”

  “You have been training for this moment for years. You are the most skilled pilots flying the most advanced fighters in human history. If there is an Achilles heel, you will find it. If the Computer Pilot System makes a mistake, you will seize the moment and make sure it is its last. God speed to you all.” Adam left the podium as the thousands stood from their seats and headed for the flight decks.

  Moments later, Adam stood in front of the hanger that housed his X3000 Starfighter. The rest of the fight deck was adorned with X2000 Starfighters, the predecessor to the X3000. The X2000 was a similar shape and size, but had two distinct differences. Unlike the smooth and elegant fuselage of the X3000, its surface consisted of sharp edges and a canopy that was like half an elongated diamond. The other was the flight control system. The X2000 used a fly by wire system via a standard control stick, thrust lever, and foot rudder controls. The X3000 possessed none of these. The interface between the pilot and the vessel was the Pilot-Flight Computer Mind Link, and it gave the pilot the perfect connection with the spacecraft. There were only two people who were capable of utilising the mind link: one was Adam, the other was Ryan. The floor in the system was that the pilot required a natural skill of flight like that of a bird, and out of the entire spaceforce only they possessed this special gift.

  Adam ran his hand over the nose of the spacecraft that stretched out above his head, then down side past the cockpit. “We got a job ahead of us Betty, don’t let me down.” he said not realising anyone was listening.

  “She won’t as long as you don’t let her get shot up. Said a voice from underneath the X3000.

  Adam bent down to see Frank uncoupling the power source from the belly service hatch. “Sorry Frank, I didn’t see you there.”

  Frank stepped out from under and polished where Adam had just run his hand. “She’s all ready to go. Now look after her won’t you.”

  “I will guard her with my life.”

  “You better.” He pointed his finger at Adam’s face. “If you come back without her, I’ll come looking for you with an energy pistol, no matter how many stars are sown to your shoulders!”

  Although Frank was being disrespectful to a superior officer, Adam let it slide as Frank was the best service man in Intersect. He was given the prestigious task of looking after the best ships in the fleet, and the two X3000s were among them. Whenever Adam took Betty out for a mission she was always spotless and glistening like new. His eccentric ways made him the best and Adam wasn’t going confront him for that.

  He bent over and kissed the fuselage. “Make me proud my little girl.” Then turned back to Adam. “Now be off with you before I change my mind about letting you go out with her.”

  Adam’s expression changed to surprise when a feminine voice came from behind them. “I never thought I’d find you amongst all this.”

  “Kim Lee!” Adam exclaimed.

  “I couldn’t let you go without a good luck kiss.” She threw her arms around Adam’s neck and kissed him square on the lips. As she pulled back, Kim Lee continued. “Besides, I haven’t thanked you for saving our lives.” Then kissed him again.

  “Should I come back later?” Came a voice behind her. Adam opened an eye to see Ryan standing next to them. Adam and Kim Lee separated as Ryan shook Adam’s hand. “All the best to you mate. Wish I could be your wingman.”

  “I think there are enough of you out there as it is.” Adam replied.

  “The skill you have now far exceeds the skill I had when Uncle James picked my brains for his experiment. You’ll do fine.”

  “Come on.” Frank hurried him up.

  Adam smiled as he activated his A.A.E.E.V. suit, then soluted Ryan. Ryan returned the solute as he said. “Now go and kick my asses.” Utilising the power of the A.A.E.E.V. suit he jumped gracefully up into the open cockpit. They all stood back as Adam started the powerful engines of the X3000. A low drone echoed through the hanger and slowly changed pitch as the generators built up the huge charge required to activate the twin fusion reactors. The pitch reached an almost deafening scream before passing the perceivable range of the human ear. The deep rumble of the fusion reactors took over to shake the floor of the hanger.

  Slowly, the X3000 moved forward on a railed platform that extended out into the flight deck. A few hundred metres in, the X3000 stopped on a round platform. The clamour of the countless fighters joining the X3000 in its parade to the launch tubes drowning out the previously dominant sound of its engines. With a loud clunk, the X3000 began its journey up into the ceiling of the flight deck. Beneath the platform that elevated the X3000 was no great hydraulic ram, but an anti-gravity field that made the platform and everything on it as light as air. A small jet was the only propulsion required to lift the many tons of spacecraft. Finally the X3000 disappeared into a circular hole in the ceiling to begin its journey to the lunch tube.

  EARTH BESIEGED

  At minus two hundred degrees Celsius, the icy cold expanse of space near the orbit of Neptune suddenly jumped in temperature by a few hundred degrees as the great superstructure of the Manta emerged out of hyperspace. From its belly came thousands of small vessels that quickly disappeared as they jumped back into hyperspace. When the last of the Warbirds had left the confines of the Manta, the massive battleship faded into the blackness as its cloaking system was activated.

  **********

  Ryan stood beside Charlie as he conveyed orders to the Endeavour bridge crew from the helm.

  One of the communication officers below them turned about, “Sir, the Manta has just released the Warbirds in sector seven seven eight, then disappeared off our screens.”

  Charlie replied, “Give the Cruisers the order to launch. Keep an eye on the Ultraviolet scanners for any seismic disturbances.”

  “Patch me through to Blue squadron leader.” Ryan added.

  From the helm communications panel the voice of Adam came through loud and clear. “Blue Leader to Endeavour.....we are in position.”

  “Roger that Blue Leader, the Warbirds are on their way.”

  “Just tell the ground crew to get the black paint ready, as they will be busy labelling little Warbirds all over our Starfighters.”

  “Good luck, over and out.”

  **********

  Adam looked about from the cockpit of his Starfighter as he flew the intersect altitude or “CAP” of fifteen kilometres above the Earth. The stars were clear and bright at this altitude, while the sun shone on the Earth far below. About him was Blue Squadron, a fleet of fourteen X2000 Starfighters all hand picked by their leader, Adam. The choice was difficult as the standard of pilot was exemplary, so Adam chose his closest pilot friends to be in his Sq
uadron. One of the key factors for a squadron to fly efficiently together was their familiarity with each other. Anticipation of another’s manoeuvre and flying style can give a winning edge.

  Each squadron was made up of five pods of three, and each pod flew in a triangular formation. The pod would remain together no matter what the circumstances.

  The two other members of Adam’s pod were John “Vain” Masters and Sabastian “Slick” Eli. John inherited his call sign after the last battle with the Warrians, as he bragged about his flying prowess to a point that aggravated his colleges. His vanity was not without substance as he was irrefutably one of the best. Sabastian achieved his through a combination of his looks and his flying style. His raven coloured hair was always slicked back with hair gel, while his flying was as cool and sleek as a shark. Adam earned his call sign through his immaculate flying skill. His friends nicknamed him, “Superman”.

  “I can’t believe that the boss was such a good pilot?” Sabastian asked over the comlink as he attempted to pass the time with idle chatter.

  “He is the best.” Adam replied.

  “So you’re telling me that you only managed to beat him a few times over the years?”

  “Yes.”

  “I would have to see it to believe it. Especially when someone could get the better of you Superman.”

  “I’ve seen him fly.” John announced.

  “Yeah, when?”

  “Back in ninety five during the battle. It was a sight to see. He made old Superman hear look like a trainee.”

  “And we are about to take on several thousand copies of him! We are in for one hell of a fight boys and girls.” Sabastian exclaimed.

  “Admiral Williams was flying in Starfighter One, and had a few less tricks than we do now. They will be in Warrian Warbirds and that should be enough to give us an edge.”