Fleeting Moments

Part 23

2006-03-07T20:42:00.000Z

"Oh how we sang
That far night away
Oh how loud we sang"

There was a glowing halo, burning bright. It expanded in front of and around the gunship he'd targeted. It morphed, rolled and swayed. Pushed by the shields and mass of the oncoming ship. Made bigger by colliding energies dropping and randomly creating molecules of gas, superheated and venting. The space around the Gunship was screaming in protest.

Alarms in the 'Chance were ringing. Gunship number two had set it's sights and was launching.

Missiles were coming forward.

That wasn't what worried Freddie.

Seconds till impact. The defences were running, selecting, green lighting a strategy.

That wasn't what worried Freddie.

It was the frontal attack to come.

The defences started cutting up missiles

He waited a second

'Raise shields to maximum" he said.

At that level, no more shooting and no more missiles.

The shields raised.

The main guns of the attacking gunship fired.

The Golden Chance was lost in a glowing flare.

"Jolo give me some extreme evasion. Get creative" said Freddie

"Yes Sir!" came Jolo's gleeful reply.

The engines roared into life. The Chanced burst forward and starting spiralling. Spiralling wide, spiralling forward. Spiralling right into the attacking ship.

Freddies original target rolled out of it's miasma of debris. Fires burning, gases venting and stance unstable.

More alarms rang in the 'Chance

"Sir, we have hull burn' said Ko-on

"Jolo, we need more" said Freddie

"Brace for main engines " came Jolo's reply

Space around the 'Chance compressed. Blurs of radiation blossomed in colour and everything wrenched

"Captain you have a little time. " said Jolo

"Explain things to me Jolo" said Freddie

"One tenth of compression for one tenth second on manual navigation" said Jolo

"Good, get me a strategic update on our position." said Freddie.

Freddie pulled out the chrome performance mike

"All crew, thanks be to Jolo we have a reprieve. Make any repairs you can"

Freddie smiled, put the mike down and looked at his maps.

Technorati Tags: Battle, Opera, SF, Space, Starship, Writing

Part 22

2006-03-02T16:05:00.000Z

Van Gehan stood on his circular command deck. Throughout the Smokeless Fire crew were strapped tight into action stations. Effectively acceleration stations on a freighter like this. The one job 'Gehan had never managed was to upgrade all those stations, even those on the bridge into combat worthy cockpits. So whilst the men who could sat secured tight into steel cages, the bridge crew walked the deck. Needing the resources at their fingertips.

Each in a decompression suit, mask open and gloves off.

Knowing that if all else failed. The command deck itself could be ejected as a single big capsule.

The situation itself was pushing the 'Smokeless. Mapping the missiles was a mess. Bending space had thrown them all over the place. Right now there were 16 units that looked like direct thread. Four more were so far out of that they were never coming back and as for the rest. Who knew? There was more random movement out there than in a cup of tea.

Of the eight Sterateel fighters two locked two far damaged to dog-fight, but were flying wide. Probably hoping to engage from a distance with even more missiles. The rest had formed up into an attack formation. Van Gehan knew that they were coming for him. First though they had to avoid the missile salvo loosed by the 'Chances two remaining fighters and that was buying time. The squadron was six was wheeling across the sky, taking out the defensive missiles in short and sharp bursts of fire.

Those two fighters from the 'Chance were still in formation. These were well trained men. Not the provincial amateurs sung of in Fleet bars far far away. Hajamke it turned out was producing a fine breed of man.

Beeping on a console were a host of messages from the convoy. As Van Gehan had discovered throughout his career in Fleet ; merchants everywhere were worriers. Automatic soothing replies were flowing out them. Smooth and slick as treacle. There was no time to worry about these.

His men were quiet. Working hard to keep everyone alive.

The missiles were getting closer and closer.

The guns on the Smokeless Fire opened fire.

The escort fighters followed their planned cue and moved aggressively.

Technorati Tags: Fiction, Opera, Battle, SF, Space, Starship, Writing

Announcement to Authors!

2006-02-25T11:16:00.000Z

I've mentioned Shared Creation in this blog before. The site is now accepting members and is running it's first few projects. I would like to draw your attention to one of them. Writing on the Web is an indexing project. It's aim is to create a collection of posts on Shared Creation that link back in the authors own words to fiction published online. It is especially interested in looking at blogs that publish both fiction and poetry.

If you run or know of such blogs / web sites then please come over to Shared Creation, register and post. If nothing else it is an easy way to gain a link back to yourself.

Technorati Tags: Blog, Fiction, Links, Poetry, Web, Writing

Part 21

2006-02-13T22:37:00.000Z

“Moments Lost
Never Known Never Found
Most Lost
Time unbound”

Freddie edited out the far part of the map ahead from his conscious mind. Let the ex-Admiral run with the convoys section on the battle, and let his subconscious monitor. The back end of his brain would soon scream if things turned sour.

His worry was just ahead. Two tough gun ships. The big question was - which was the one really hurt earlier. That had to be the target. It might have been repaired and replenished, but it’s crew would be the most ragged. Most likely to err. It was one of the universals that linked men and Sterateel. When tired - mistakes happen.
There was no telling and the gunboats engines were dropping thrust. They were about to spin and face him. He picked. He pointed and selected.

“All weapons open fire. Maximum coverage”

Maximum coverage meant that the point defences would spray fire at long range, the main guns would aim and fire at maximum output and frequency. Each missile bay would fire on loading and locking. A lot of ordnance was going the way of that one ship. As each gun or tube kicked in reverberations flooded into the Chance. Made the ship shake. Maximum coverage induced moments of pure war song her structure. This time there was no chase, and no dogfight. So far it was an emerging one sided slugging match. Freddie could sit back and hear the tune. He smiled and continued to think ahead.

An Unfortunate Break

2006-02-08T22:45:00.000Z

This is an apology for this break in the story. I've been caught up in completing the technical side of Shared Creation. This concentration on development has slowed down my writing. This is just a short break. The story will continue and develop. Again my apologies for this small break.

Part 20

2006-01-24T21:07:00.000Z

“Watch me walk and watch me stand
As ice flows over this promised land”

The beat of drums to action. The drums lived in the head of the Captain and the Ex-Admiral. No doubt noises lived in their crews minds too. Most likely drums aboard the Smokeless Fire, but on the ‘Chance who knew. She had a far less orthodox crew.

Four Maringer pods dashed forward and lashed out with the last four Krugers. They fired and they turned back for home. Not looking at their missiles path or the attacking wall that was flying in. They fired and turned. The ‘Chances last two fighters in escort. Not firing a shot but just holding formation.

Captain Freddie watched it play out. He watched ranges, he watched a plan. He gave the order to full burn the engines and leave formation. The missiles ran forward. The Golden Chance ran forward.

Ex-Admiral Van Gehan ordered a looser formation amongst the cargo ships.
They complied, but with concerned brows and questions flying but left answered they complied.

The Sterateel wall of missiles came closer. In formation behind that were their eight deadly fighters and behind those two gun ships. It was an imposing formation.
Captian Freddie watched the Kruger countdown, then counted down from five.
The main compression engine on the Golden Chance kicked in at full power. In a sudden, and temporary blast of energy turned to fog, turned to gone she vanished.

The Krugers detonated.
Space convulsed.
Space spasmed.
Lights shone.
Darkness brooded
Gravity swirled.
Missiles tore apart
Engines ran hot
Chaos lived in the approaching onslaught
Every calculation of place and distance meant nothing.
Every planned course was diverted
Every sense of seeing the target obscured.
Half the missiles died.
Half flew randomly.

The fighters lost formation and did not know which way to go. Some lost fuel. Some suffered injury.

Flew spewed into space.

The Maringer pods docked with the Smokeless Fire. Free of their charges the fighters took on an aggressive pose, locking on their missiles and firing into the madness. Van Gehan waited for the moment when he would say fire.

Not far away at all in a burst from nowhere the Golden Chance emerged. Behind the enemy lines. Away from the Chaos. Away from space turned in all the wrong directions but most importantly behind the gun ships.

The scene was set.

The ‘Chance turned to descend on her enemy.

Part 19

2006-01-19T19:28:00.000Z

Freddie was up, out of his char and out of his office. Transferring his call to the Admiral through to the Command Centre as he moved, cradling the stone in his hand.
Ko-on pointed to a map.
“They’re staging” he said.
Captain Freddie looked. Ko-on was right. Small objects were launching from the Sterateel support ship. They were drifting forwards away from the ship and coming to a halt. It was missile staging.
“How many so far?”
“24 at the last wave sir”.
Freddie nodded.
The ex-admiral joined in
“Freddie, I’m launching the pods now”
Freddie smiled
“Sandro, launch the fighters. They’re to support the Smokeless Fire, and her pods.”
“Understood sir, as per plan”
“As per plan Sandro. Put me through to them”
“All yours”
“This is the Captain. I know you’re down two. I know I’m asking a lot of you this time. Just do what you can be lucky”
The Captain smiled at Ko-on.
“Everything ready?”
“Yes Sir’
“Then get everyone locked down and ready to go”
The captain jumped in his cockpit and waited for Ko-on’s call to arms to go through the ship. Then he picked up the chromed performance microphone.
“Attention all. This is it, this is the traditional third Sterateel attack wave, the big push. Everything they’ve got at us. It’s going to be a lot. It’s going to be tough. We’ve got a plan and we’re going to be lucky. We’re going to win”
The cockpit doors sealed shut. The command centre was empty. It’s crew and everyone else in the ship sealed tight in their own little capsules.

Part 18

2006-01-13T20:58:00.000Z

‘From where I am I can see ever reaching eternity’

Eternity seemed close at the moment. In a darkened office with a beer and an open box sat the Captain. His stone glowed. He knew who it was.

“Hello Admiral, how are you?”
“Betting you’re looking at your shiny’s Freddie”
“You win, go and collect.”
“The medals are nice aren’t they?”
“You know how it. How are yours?”
“Happy I think. Not missing a warship too much”
“Well I hate to tell you, but that ship of yours is hardly a tramp steamer”
“That’s true Freddie. She’s quite nice”
“One day I’ll have to retire onto a tub like that”
“You will. Bet she’ll be full of all kind of interesting bending of the rules”
“Well, look who I’m learning off.”

The Ex-Admiral laughed

Freddie swigged back some beer and looked into his box of shiny medals.
“Well Van, we did good last time we bent the rules, let’s hope this all works out”
“I know Freddie. Hoping is what I’m good at, that and mad plans”
“I did enjoy Midtreanas. Even if it scared me half to death”
“And left you working out the defences for a middle of nowhere system”
“Well Admiral, true I wasn’t keen at first, but Hajamke has grown on me”
Freddie could hear the ex-admiral smiling.
“It’s a nice place for a home Freddie”.
“I like the oceans, Van, the oceans are wonderful, so are the people, nicer than the old worlds”
“It’s gotten to a soft spot in my heart too”

Alarms started to ring.

Part 17

2006-01-04T21:20:00.000Z

“So we talk, with familiar words.
Nothing new, just words and answers the same for ever more
We always use the same old words, ever ever more”

“So”, said Captain Freddie, “what do you think of that”
The lights raised from the dim twilight that Freddie and most captains of Fleet liked to conference in up to more pleasing ambience.
“It’s mad, a nightmare, but I can see more hope in it than a stand-up fight”, replied Ko-on
“That’s the spirit. You know we don’t stand a chance in a broadside encounter.” smiled Freddie.
“It’s all clear to me, and we’ll get the programming worked out; but is this how you got through Midtreanas?”
“Yes, madness, hope and pushing things to the limit. Always the way in the frontline”
Ko-on paused for a moment. “You and the Admiral think we’re in a front line?”
“Absolutely Ko-on”
“It’s only one ship and it’s attendants” said Ko-on.
“It’s only one ship, it’s attendants and a cloaked bomber. That and our Star Pool will be active soon. This fight, it’s the start. A lot more will come in the next few days. The Sterateel, start small, but large enough to divert ships. They want us to call in help, but to not think there’s an invasion force standing by”
“How do you know?” asked Ko-on
“I don’t really, but it’s a used tactic. Common enough for them. We’re about to become a tactical system. They want the combat ships and colony out of the way” said Freddie
“The Star Pool?”
“Will be used to launch an attack against Fleet and then destroyed. But you can’t do that with an angry system snapping at your heels”
“So it’s all about Fleet?”
“Has been” said Freddie, “For a long time now. We are just Fleet to them”
Ko-on nodded. He’d been brought up on the benefits of Fleet in the war with the Sterateel. Everything was Fleet and them.
Ko-on smiled. “I’d best get things organised with Jolo. He’s going to love this”
“Thanks Ko-on. It’s going to be good.”
“That I do not doubt” Ko-on smiled as he walked out of the Captains office.

Part 16

2005-12-09T19:59:00.000Z

If there’s one thing that helps a crew recovering from combat it’s a picnic. Captain Freddie had ordered out the special rations. The moralisers intended by fleet to keep a crew happy in a difficult time. Through out the ship food and drink was laid out on tables, chairs and the weather proof, fire proof rugs that Fleet also thoughtfully provided.
The Golden Chance’s command crew had relocated to the captains favourite area. The refectory at the front of the command centre. The screens were big and bright here. The crew sat, ate and marked off each system coming online and looked again and again at the ships resources.
Worst off was the stock of munitions. The first combat had hit these hard, but the not to the point of there being a shortage. It was just notable that they couldn’t hold out at that rate of fire without replenishment for too long.
Fortunately medical supplies were looking good. There had been few injuries to date.
Fuel was lower than desired. Some of the reserve tanks had been blown. The ship could fly, it could manoeuvre. It could still do with more though.
They’d lost two fighters, and the pilots for those fighters. Neither machine nor men were replaceable. Eulogies had been written and were being in the grand tradition of fleet orally refined. There were no bodies so the order was to get the service good and hold it when the Sterateel were in this instance - dead or gone.
The ship was filled with the noises of repair, the arguments of incidental upgrade, and the sounds of happy eating and good drinking.
Freddie knew that the ‘Chance was not alone the revelry of work. Over with the ex-Admiral in the Smokeless Fire the same tradition was being honoured. The crew were relaxing, eating and still working. He didn’t know what the attitude was over in the convoy ships. He guessed it was different. He’d never served with supply but from all the officers he’d ever met he felt that it was always more subdued. Fleet had formality, and also a joy for life. He didn’t really want to imagine any other way to live. He saw his men happily working, and enjoying the moment. That was better than waiting. Waiting to live or die was no way for any man to live. He wouldn’t let it happen on his ship

Part 15

2005-11-26T19:09:00.000Z

"When it's time, when it's time oh say when it's time.."

The 'Fire and the 'Chance had drifted slowly back to their points in the formation. The way ahead for the moment was clear, no ships nor mines nor missiles in the way. Nearby lurked the presence and threat. It kept it's distance. Close enough to freely strike. Not yet doing so. So far though that it's preparations and actions were unseen and unknown. It was just there.

The ex-admiral had transferred back to his ship. To oversee the state of the 'fire. To oversee the state of the convoy. Captain Freddie wasn't implicating himself in that role. Van Gehan had the management of the freighter crews under control, he didn't need to speak to them and that was about right. it wasn't appropriate in his mind that was the age old role of the convoy leader not the escort ship. It had worked like most of Fleets traditions for centuries now. If it works, Freddie like to let it work.

It was a time to wait.

True enough crews and machines slaved away at repair and rearmament. There was more than enough work to do there, and the continual reports needed looking at, just so he knew what he was commanding but for the moment everyone was waiting. The question on Freddies mind, his crews mind, the admiral' mind and those throughout the convoy was would they be ready for another attack and could they survive it.

That would of course depend on the attack and when it came.

Nobody knew that.

What Freddie knew was that the freighters still hadn't finished charging up their compression engines and without those they could not run. Without running they could not help but fight if it came.

Waiting.

Waiting

Waiting

Like an endless musical rift they were stuck in the mantra of waiting. Work a little, think a little, worry a little and wait.

Wait a little more and worry.

Part 14

2005-11-18T20:38:00.000Z

“Ah Dah Dah Dah Do!
Do Dah Dah Dah Do
Say Dah Dah Do
Say Dah Dah Do”
Red is not a warship captains favourite colour. Any shade is wrong, perhaps the worst of all is flashing crimson; and right now it was highlighting the area map set to track the Sterateel support vessel. There was activity and there was movement.
Captain Freddie and Van Gehan were out into the bridge stones in hand without being called. Barely a note of the alarms sounded before Ko-on knocked them off. The point was made. That awful noise was not needed. Instead Freddie grabbed his performance mike.
“All crew to combat ready, repeat all crew to combat ready”
All the information they needed was displayed on the front cinema and the tactical table.
There were eight contacts moving at speed, at very great acceleration for the convoy.
Cotolo made the confirmation.
“They are fighters, can’t tell you the load.”
“Thanks Cotolo” said the captain.
“Well”, said Van Gehan, “they don’t want you to get any rest”
“I expect you’re right. We did well on the first attack. Now they harry us and wear us down” said the captain.
The bridge was paused. Waiting for command. The fighters closed.
“Missiles rig to fire chasers. Main Cannons, open fire and keep firing. Put everything you can towards those fighters. Point defence, set long and close as they approach. Again, fill the sky with fire. Fighters to stand by. Don’t launch yet”, the captain looked round. The bridge was active, his orders being followed. “Cotolo - how long ?”
“Three minutes and twelve seconds on .. mark! sir”
“Thanks Cotolo, well Van, I think I’d better show you the guest cockpit”
“Thanks Freddie”
“Ok everyone, seal in for the fight”
One minute elapsed as the bridge crew, last as usual locked themselves in.
Another minute elapsed.The big guns opened fire. The point defences opened fire.
“Sir”, said Cotolo, “it looks as if they mean to by pass us this time and head for the freighters”
“Jolo, get us in their way”, said Freddie
“Moving us now sir”
The ship lurched and the familiar pressure of movement pushed into the crew.
The oddly powerful guns of the Smoking Fire opened up. She too started moving.
The chaser missiles, nearly fighters in their own right ripped out of their bays. Diving for the Sterateel.
The Sterateel were spiralling and flipping all over space, ellipses opening out spheres at there centre and each again with flaps and panels and protuberances that were all unique. Neither was identical. Although their shields flashed bright with impacts.
The chasers were firing close range pellets. The Sterateel were shooting blue dollops of spreading plasma. Space was alight with bright.
Then the fighters turned, broke formation and ran for home in eight different ways.
The chasers followed.
The Golden Chance and Smokeless Fuel did not.

Part 13

2005-11-14T20:24:00.000Z

Ex Admiral Van Gehan sat. Mug steaming to his side and stone placed on the table in classical fleet position, directly in front of him. Captain Freddie faced him, same kind of mug and of course his own stone in the same position. Off to their side stood the big displays of the Golden Chance. Ko-on had placed the battle map directly in their view. They could see the alignment of ships, more information could be sent to their stones and around the corner the ships command crew were organising the repairs.
Van Gehan smiled at Freddie.
“You’ve done well, the freighter captains want me to convoy their thanks, and they want to help holding a memorium to the men you’ve lost”
“Thanks Van, it’s appreciated. Thanks for transferring over”. Freddie smiled, at his old captain.
“So what’s our condition?”
“the freighters and your ship are unhurt. That’s good. You’ve still got four Maringers, each armed with a Kruger. That’s powerful. The ‘Chance has a lot of exterior hull scorching. Three minor storerooms have been incinerated. The aft repair hatch and workshop has been blown out and our main shuttle hatch has been melted shut. We had a fired in the landing bay, but not too serious. Four fuel lines however have been burned open. We didn’t lose that much accelerant, but our top acceleration is down 17%. For’ard the main armour is brittle, so I can’t expect to do much against a direct hit and we’ve got a lot of noise in the communication array, So long range conversation is going to be limited. We expended 32% of our missile stores, but cannons are O.K. and that’s just the overview. There’s a lot of fine detail but the crew are working on that.”
“Ok Freddie. Well you broke the rules and we destroyed one Gunship, it looks like you damaged another - so big commendations in my view on great tactics. The trouble is”
“That we’ve still got the fighters and a fully working gunship to face”, interrupted Freddie.
“Yes, that’s it. We’re not sure how many fighters they’ve got, or the capacity of the damaged gunship, or the missile load on support ship.” finished the Admiral.
“Or when the next attack will come”
“So”, said Van Gehan “What next”
“How long to the your next Compression Jump?”
“Soon, the freighters have nearly finished their charge cycle. inside of a day before they’re all ready”. said the admiral, drinking from his cup.
“Good, so how about we look at buying some time by running away”, Freddie played with his cup.

“And there we go again
And then and then and then then then”

Part 12

2005-11-11T10:49:00.000Z

A quiet command deck is a deck in crisis, or at least preparing for one
“Do you have a plan
An A or B for me...”

“Captain, the gun ships are in main battery range”, said Ko-on.
“Hold on to fire control Ko-on, we want them in close and they’re about to do it for us”
“Done sir”
Space held it’s breath.
The three gunships burst forward, each flying a spiral, each madly accelerating and each aiming for the ‘Chance.
“All crew this is the captain - here they come”
An orange blast of continuous pulses leapt from each gun ship. Pulse of the same came again and again, several times every second, marking three solid waves impacting on the ‘Chance. The shields on the Chance flared, whipping the blasting energy away from the bow and back all around the ship, changing the colour with movement, crackling with intensity and glowing like a sun.
“Captain we can’t use main weapons under this” said Sandro.
“Stick with the close combat plan, we don’t need guns yet anyway”
“Sir, forward hull is heating up, radiation is a bit high”
“Ko-on, extend the shields to dissipate the impacts, Jolo, move us ahead of formation, let’s give that shield some room to breath. Telolo, bring the shuttle reactors online, Hanj-on how are we looking?”
“Sir, reactors have ramped up to 75%, 90 plus in the next minute or two, shuttle power should see us through we’re shuffling everything to keeping the shields running. Biggest problem will be overheat. That’s limited’
“Thanks Hanj-on”
The gun ships had slowed their acceleration. Forming up into a triangular formation. Wide enough to place the Golden Chance within them.
“Sir, they’re going for a three way broadside, they’ll fire in 32 from mark” shouted Cotolo
“Telolo, fighters away, full missile attack now”, the Captain said, urgent, quick yet still calm.
Calm did not describe the movement of the fighters. Each engine blasted on blazing white hot. Leaving long trails of exhaust behind him the fighters unveiled their missile load. Moving wide of the Chance and then firing again and again.
Captain Freddie saw the streaks of the missiles and the bodies of the fighters.
“Telolo, make sure they don’t directly engage, make sure your fighters follow the plan and get get back to the Admiral.”
“Done Sir” came the reply from Telolo heard by Captain Freddie who was on his next order
“Jolo, full power, break formation”
A smiling “Yes sir” from Jolo. He was about to have a chance to really fly.
“Admiral we’re going top break their formation” said the Captain”
“Good luck Freddie” came the simple reply from the Smokeless Fire
The blazing orange attack on the Chance stopped, losing it’s footing the moment Jolo turned the big ship into an imitation of a space fighter. As that happened close cannons on the Gunships littered space with sparks trying to fend off the incoming missiles. The three way broadside never happened as the ‘Chance nearly clipped the Gun Ship top most to the formation and somersaulted into position behind the gun ships.
“Reduce shields to firing capacity. All guns on that ship” said the Captain. Marking a gun ship in gold for this crew.
Space roared and coloured up with brilliant luminosity with the brightness of cannon and ranged defence guns on a single target. Immediately it attempted to dart away - pulling away from formation. It’s shields burning under the heavy fire.
“Telolo, fighters to this mark, close attack”, said the captain colouring a second gunship in red.
“They thank you sir” came the reply from Telolo.
“Jolo, watch out for ships behind us, Sandro, dump the missiles onto this ship” said the Captain, colouring a target in green.
One gun ship rolled through space, it’s outer shields radiating bright, perhaps even chunks of it’s armour obliterating under pressure. Behind came the ‘Chance balancing on every engine it had. Guns fire forward and missiles being pushed out of silos, spinning, seeking and dropping behind to one of the chasing gun ships. That ship came up behind, firing with opportunism at the ‘Chance but focussing on the missiles. The third ship, engaged by fighters fought to defend, and also to dive towards the convoy. It saw a way in. There were not enough fighters to stop it.
“Captain we have fires starting, damage controllers are responding but we can’t withstand much more action at this level” came the report from Hanj-on in the bowels of the ‘Chance.
“Just do what you can” said Freddie
One of the fighters exploded.
Then another.
Up off the Smokeless Fire popped four small Maringer pods. Each fired a Kruger.
The Krugers blurred with speed towards the closing gunship. The Chances two remaining fighters left their engagement and turned towards the ‘Chance - the Admiral having issued his fire warning.
Space ahead and around the Krugers bowed, and bulged and rainbowed coloured. The distortions hit the gunship. There was a tide. A ripping tide that lasted for a fraction of the moment. It went through shields, through structure and space. Life went out of the Gunship, sections broke off and it’s course curved wildly away from true.
“Break off attack Jolo, get us out of here” said Freddie
“Ok sir” came the pilots reply.
The Chance shuddered under a series of small explosions.
“Jolo - take us wide” said Freddie
“Ko-on, get me reports” said Captain Freddie.
The firing on the Chance stopped. The remaining two gunships headed past their fallen comrade. They didn’t remain in station long. For the moment there was no attack on the convoy.
Smoke poured from the Golden Chance.

Part 11

2005-11-07T21:19:00.000Z

“This is the way we see
Riding over heavenly”
Three forms, nightmare clouds forming up and solidifying. Barrels emerging, armour hardening, dread exotic parabola becoming visible. The stuff of the Sterateel gunship was moving from willow the whisp flimsiness to harsh rockiness. Each different, that was the hallmark of standard Sterateel. Mass produced, rolled out a production line and unique in form and colour. Absolutely identical in function. That was Sterateel.
These three, those approaching the convoy and the ‘Chance were formed to have heavy forward weapons backed up with rapid fire turrets of opportunity. Maestros of the hit and run. Hit heavy, keep moving, carve up and still keep moving and shooting as often as possible.
That was all there was to it.
The convoy was placed. The ships ready and the gunships on the cusp of the ‘Chances big hitting long range guns; focussed back to react quicker at closer ranges. Timed to work with the rapid fire shooters of it’s defence network. This was not going to be a long range slug of a fight. Sudden and violent was the way forward.

Part 10

2005-10-28T10:05:00.000+01:00

“Dum Dum
Da Daa Da
Will you be with me?”
Eight in a circle, one as a spoke and up ahead one larger, singularly more determined form. The shape of the convoy, it’s co-ordinator and it one single escort. Nothing on the outside revealed activity within. Of men on the eight checking distance and number; obeying with need and reluctance orders that sounded dangerous. They were not used to cruising like this. Of the spoke, the Smokeless Fire; men fitted and adjusted and armed with some illegality themselves and machines. Everyone not maintaining was strapped down and ready for action. This was a grey army. None of them young, none of them at their best but all used to the orders of fleet and to carrying them out. There was of course the exception of their captain. An ex Admiral of fleet and hero of war. One of the few men in Hajamke who had seen ships in combat, his seasoning showed as he leaned back and with some relaxation toyed with his options for the convoys future. The other man in the convoy who had seen considerable war was in the lead vessel. The great and famous Golden Chance. This was Captain Freddie, an officer trained by the admiral and whose actions with him had seen them both stranded on out of the way Hajamke. Music always played in his head.
Right now Freddie had ordered removal of power from the ‘ Chance’s anti matter duster. Too big a weapon for close fleet combat. A weapon of last resort and bombardment but too dangerous for the work to come. Aboard the Chance fighters were being overloaded with ordnance, missiles rechecked, ammunition loaded, decks cleared for action and perhaps the most telling - power systems modified; the ships boats and shuttles turned into spare supply stations. This was a warship being made ready. As on the Ex Admirals ship anyone who didn’t need to be moving about was strapped down. Locked tight into a capsule, a cockpit ready for action. Pockets of activity echoed with noise whilst everywhere else was ghastly silent. Even the command deck was populated only by lights. It’s crew locked away in sarcophagi.
Freddie looked at displays, the numbers and distances.
Soon the first actions would start.
Freddie spoke the order to Ko-on
“Ko-on release the observation drones. Set to battle distance”
“Yes sir” was the only reply from Ko-on
Four small cylinders popped up out of the same silo on the ‘Chance’. Floating free for a moment before spiralling out and away from the ship.
“Ko-on create the relays, back to the ex-admiral and from the convoy add their resolution into us”
“Yes sir”
The drones were extended eyes and ears. Then every ship in the convoy became the same, and the admiral saw the same as Freddie. The freighters captain flew with their normal resolution of information. Not blind but not fully informed; kept reliant on order and command.
“ Telolo is the flight deck ready?” asked Freddie
“All ready for action and waiting”
“Good, launch the fighters on a low energy course the Smokeless Fire. Close escort positions”
“Launching now sir”
Four doors blossomed open, each heavy with armour and structured form. Squashed, slender eggs slid out with no effort from each. Four fighters of the fleets. Four capsules ready for combat. They cleared the ‘Chance, rotated with with small bursts of light from their rears dived with slow grace towards the Smokeless fire. The doors closed behind them. Freddie monitored their progress.
The deployment was complete.
The three gunships were closing in towards firing range.

Lost but found again

2005-10-20T15:33:00.000+01:00

Lost it for a moment
Lost it for a fair amount of time
I believe that writing the space opera whilst on the Grande Tour was possibly not my best move ever. I ended up during part of the trip out of time and places to write; either that or I was so busy with the tour that I ended up not writing.
Net result - no writing.
To be completely fair though the writing at the start wasn’t that cool. Most definitely a case of more work being required.
Well I’m back from the trip and a bit more settled so here is the plan. I’ll work on the Space Opera. Try and lay down more background and more story, I’ll do my best to improve the quality of writing. There is raw from the keyboard as I planned, then there is raw ; a bit too much of the wrong kind of raw in the initial stages. So I’ll focus on writing and updates. This means that I will not worry about the open source space opera for a while. So that will look a little stale. Unless of course you want to add to it. So in the meantime - back to the story.
I hope it works for you.

Part 8

2005-08-05T14:48:00.000+01:00

There was expectation in the air, a quiet anticipation not felt for a long time. Everyone was working their posts, hardly talking, just enough conversation to work by. After the blast, the fury of an antimatter path clearance. It was the quiet both after and before the storm.

Ko-on monitored two jobs. Tracking the oncoming battle and finding the mine dropper. His big question was why only one mine. A field or cluster would have made more sense. He looked for his answers.

The 'Chances big table showed the scene. Hovering in easy to view space. There was the Chance, behind it leading the convoy stood the 'Fire behind that back in the 8 point formation was the convoy. Long, and heavy looking ships all. So different to those in the lead. Yet with their big engines effectively swift when needed but so vulnerable in a fight.

Ko on kept looking.

In reality his third job was the real one. Making sure the 'Chance was ready for a fight. He knew the fighters were fueled and the missiles were being transported to the Smokeless Fire. He know that the guns were being tested and he knew all were fully armed. He knew that marines were taking guns from storage, and preparing for action. He even knew that the galley had the infamous fleet traditional before the battle menu nearly ready to eat. He hoped chef hadn't just followed the book of fleet meals. Left on his own the 'Chance's chef was a wonder in the kitchen, yet when following fleet recipes somehow things went a little awry.

Ko on was looking out for all things.

He also worried about the Captain. He'd known Captain Freddie for longer than any man in the crew. This was the first time in years the Captain had been reminded of the battle of Midtreanas that had trapped him and the ex admiral in Hajamke.

Most of all his eyes followed every display and every crew member on the bridge.

Then suddenly there it was. One of the answers he'd been looking for. They'd found the missing ship. The one that dropped the mine. Time to get in touch with the captain. Who was now doubt on his third or fourth fleet beer with the heavy drinking ex admiral.

Part 7

2005-08-03T13:19:00.000+01:00

“Flying lessons were never vague said the trooper,
Like a 60 ton fighter cruise over a crowded highway..”

Odd to recollect the start monologue start of a heavy song. As you're head ducking along the crawl space of a smugglers transfer gate, bumping along until climbing out.

That was half an hour ago and now Captain Freddie sat with a beer in hand smiling with his old captain the Ex-Admiral who was pleased. Over on the chance Ko-on was setting up for the fight and skill scanning for the mine bomber.

Right now though these weren't the details a certain ex admiral were interested in. It was time to talk of illegal actions. The door was locked, the recorders were off. Just two old friends and some bottles.

“It's a bit irregular to meet over a beer”
“Freddie it's a bit irregular for a captain of fleet to use an illegal transfer point”
“Even more irregular to offer a civilian heavy weapons”
“What do you have in mind Freddie”
“Anti ship missiles. Krugers to be short. I'm assuming you have pods on this ship and I want to fit Krugers to them.”
The admiral smiled.
“I went a bit overboard on outfitting, my pods are from a fleet support ship. Slightly declawed Maringers”
“I knew they wouldn't be trade standards. Nothing on this ship is.”
“Well she is ex of fleet Freddie”
“And being who you were able to keep more more fleet than ex”
“Something like that. It make the 'Fire a perfect convoy leader”
“Ok, not too many details. Someday I'm sure I'll be answering questions on this. For know, directly how many Krugers can you fit to one of your Maringers”
“Two, and I have four Maringers”
“Eight is a good number sir, I'll have them gated over to you. Can your boys install them?”
“Everyone on this ship is ex fleet it'll be easy”
“Good, that's settled. Pass me another beer will you”
“Here you go Freddie. Glad you like it.”
“It's the special from Hoktow, everyone likes this; I've just authorised the Krugers for you by stone”.
“Good, my boys will be pleased to get some new toys”
“Now about those freighter captains you seem to have them well trained”
“They hate it Freddie, but I have my reputation so they're actually listening”
“I'm glad about that”
“You're worried aren't you're”
“Van we've got a big fight ahead and somewhere out there is a stealthy mine dropper. “
“You think things are about to get big”
“What do you think?”
“That I didn't bring enough beer on this trip. I think you're right”
“Trouble is Van, is that until the new locally built ships are ready this system is under defended”
“True, but at least they have the legends from Midtreanas to defend them”
“Ok, can I have a tour of Smokeless Fire?”
“Thought you'd never ask. Bring your bottle”

Part 6

2005-07-31T03:44:00.000+01:00

The bridge climbed onto deck with ease, all over the ship the same was happening. The crew emerging ready for action.

The captain turned to Ko-on
“I'm taking a stroll over to see the ex-admiral”
“Very good sir, I'll just get the Chance ready”
“Thank you Ko-on - “

He never finished a dull tone reverberated through the bridge, a deep, deathly rip cage shaker of a noise. A single voice piped up it was Cotolo – running the ships eyes

“We have an object along our course. Time to intercept 4 minutes 47 seconds; countdown initiated; identification procedures are running. Passing view onto primary tactical”

Above the biggest table on the bridge a view opened up, it was the Chance, the convoy and the mystery object. Highlighted, hanging in space were reports – all that was known regarding the newcomer. The crew started reading.

Cotolo – again with an updated

“Object verified as globular, diameter 1km and growing”

Captain Freddie reviewed what they knew, but even then he and all the crew and deck knew what it was.

“Togatho – keep the ex admiral updated, give him a free flow line on this. Make sure he holds formation”
“Yes Captain” came the default reply.

The captain looked at Ko-on

“Sound batle stations. Then get a detailed view around us, map into the scan arrays on the convoy. See if you can find what dropped this thing”

“Doing it now”

The alarm rang true around the ship

It was Cotolo again

“Diameter up to 4Km, “

“Jolo, work with navigation and the convoy. I want last minute evasion solutions that keep the convoy tight in formation.”

“On it Captain”

“Diameter is now 8km”

Captain Freddie stared at the display. Diameter rising, and inside it was a mass of surging messed up space. Being yanked this way and that. Probably with a very big bomb in the middle. Spatial Distortion mines. He hated them.

Countdown: Four minutes till impact

“Diameter is now 16km”

The question was – what had put it there and were was it. Was this just a mine, softening them up for later, a trap laid for immediate assault of something else?

"Ko-on, any news yet?"
"Nothing sir, all quiet out there at all"
"Ok keep looking" The captain looked up to the steadily descending countdown. He made a decision, not one that he liked.
"Fire Control, formalise this order. Get the duster up to full power, 1km radius , high density, no object target place centre of dust area in centre of mine's anomaly field"
"Yes sir, please confirm ok to dust order"
"Yes, dust order is confirmed"
"Thank you sir"

The bridge went quiet. The duster was an almost random weapon. Deadly, at close range often wiping out the firing ship, at long range hard to control and in a fleet action likely to ruin both sides tactics. Firing it was a grave risk.

"Diameter up to 32km"

Countdown: Three minutes till impact.

"Togatho", said the Captain, "link me to the admiral"
Togatho nodded, "he's on your line now sir"
This time it was the captain who immediately took the reins of the conversation; he took them hard and formally
"Captain Van Gehan, this is Captain Deban. You are aware of the mine ahead of us. I've just given the order to us an high intensity anti-matter dusting to clear the area. Please arrange the convoy straight behind you, all shields to full. The Golden Chance will attempt to shield your ship".
"Thank you Captain Deban, consider it done. Thank you Freddie and be careful.".
"Thanks Admiral. you be careful too, we still don't know where the drop ship is"
"Understood Freddie"

The line closed.

"Diameter is 64km"

Countdown: Two minutes till impact.

The Captain picked up his performance mike and breathed heavily once, shallow once and spoke
"This is the Captain. We are about to fire the duster. All crew brace for impact". He put the mike down and looked at the bridge cockpits. "Get in lads" he said.

All on bridge jumped for their seats, the only sound of the bridge was that of doors sealing tight.

Countdown: One minute till impact.

Even before the bridge closed the Captain surveyed the situation. The convoy was all engines blazing; spiralling down into formation. Their own shields were high, the shields on Smokeless Fire were too high for a commercial ship. Not a surprise from the Admiral that. Time for the the order.
"This is the captain to fire control. Discharge the duster when ready"
"This is fire control. Duster program starting in 3, 2, 1, dusting program on"

Captain Freddie held his breath.

No noise, and no vibration. That was the duster. The quiet one to watch out for.

And wait for. The result was not immediate. They had to wait for the first clusters of antimatter to find something to annihilate.

First a spark, then another, and another. Then a new sun rained dawn and destruction upon the Golden Chance. Space caught fire and turned from black to searing white. In half a second the shields of the chance flashed through all colours of the rainbow before becoming star bright. A bright glow shot behind the Chance the Smokeless Fire lit bright. Every detail illuminated. Then the light subsided and all that was left was the music of alarms and the groaning of the ship as the last vesitages of distorted space bucked her about. The captains cockpit space glowed orange with warnings, but no reds, no criticals.

Cotolo broke in with the first report. "Space ahead is clear and normal"

The ship seemed to cheer.

Captain Freddie spoke into his chromed performance mike. "Thank you all, a great performance. Let's here it for Sandro in Fire Control for a first class duster solution". Then he breathed again. Knowing the Sandro would be the toast tonight.

Open Source Space Opera

2005-07-10T02:02:00.000+01:00

As I've been kicking off Fleeting Moments an idea has come to me. The way that I'm writing this - ad - hoc with notes on some underlying ideas; struck that perhaps this is a very shareable experience. If something can be shared why see what opens when sharing is taken to a logical end. So I've come up with the idea of Open Source Space Opera. The idea being that various writers, artists and commentators all create and share a common pool of material from which individual stories and lines of stories can be written based on what I would become a rich pool of mythos. In some ways this is not unlike the shared universe anthologies that has been published in the past. The difference here is that everything is community developed.

To kick start this process I've created a discussion forum over at http://thespaceopera.17.freebb.com/ where those interest can start to share ideas and stories

Of course the subject of copyright will rear it's head, and some sort of license will be needed. Possibly one of the common copyright licences, for the moment I'm saying this. All material remains the copyright of it's creator. Materials marked as being for the common good can be reused by any member of the community

I don't know how this will work - let's hope it does and it is interesting

Part 5

2005-07-06T06:46:00.000+01:00

The course change did go well. It was as the Captain had hinted a series of high acceleration moves, followed by periods of just waiting. Like all space travel for millenia before the ship accelerated itself onto a heading and then waited for an opportune moment to change that heading. Nothing had really changed since the dawn of interplanetary or even suborbital rocketry.

Except that the speeds and energies involved were higher than back in the way back time of myths. It took the Golden Chance less than eight hours to steer a course half way accross a solar system.

As Captain Freddie had promised in that time - he made sure the crew were rested and fed. Anyone he caught working was kicked to recreation and food. Anyone monitoring his cockpit would have that in between dozing and in all liklihood snoring he was monitoring everything, making sure that he had was up to date on his ship in all it's aspects.

The crew forced to come together and talk were battle expectant. Confidant that the battle was theirs for the taking. Made so by the fact that they had in command the famous Freddie Deban survivor of Midtreanas and killer of fleets. The crew kept recounting the arrival from the battle of the bruised and ruined battle cruiser Richter arrived and Hajamke and forever changed it's history.

Then they were out of their last spatial compression move and coming up on the fleet. The captain ordered his crew to remain in safe position until the rendezous was made. Just in case.

He also got a line to the Ex Admiral. As he approached smiling at the formation the freighters were flying in.

The admiral answered the line.

"Hello again Freddie. I see you've reached us."
"We have that. Nice formation you're flying in."
"Well at it took a lot of shouting but at least in an eight point star with me at the centre we can all cover for each other."
"You're seperation distance seems quite low."
"It is Freddie - that's the bit that took all the shouting."
"So any signs of trouble yet?"
"Nothing at all. We still can't see them and haven't located anything passing near us either"
"Well that's a start. Ok, I'm going to come aboard by 'gate. We'll move the Chance in quite close to you to keep the energy drain down. I'm assuming you have a very small reception area?"
"How did you guess?"
"How else can you hope to keep the gate even a little bit quiet. Ok, after me will be coming some ordanance so please make sure it's your ex fleet guys who receive it"
"I wouldn't have anyone else touch it. What's coming over?"
"A few spatial mortars with mounts for your service pods. "
The ex admiral was quiet
"I know it sounds a lot but I know what I'm doing sir"
"Sorry Freddie I know. Ok come on over I think you already know me 'gate code"
"I was hoping that It was the old one. I'll never forget that"
"None of us ever will Freddie. "

The connection closed and Captain Freddie passed transfer gate codes and orders to his gate operators and made the equipment order from the ships arsenal. Jolo at helm gave the call that they were in position and then the captain ordered his crew out of their cock pits and into position.

He could hear the drums rolling. For the moment the song was quiet.

Part 4

2005-06-26T12:48:00.000+01:00

The three spires of the drive were in place...

Along the command centre all the doors were open. The external access doors - open, the captains door - open, and all the cockpit compartments - were open.

The command centre was a long corridor. Running centrally were the command and control tables. Lit on top and side; projecting displays from table top to ceiling. The cockpits were set into the walls of the command centre, one per valid crew member. The cockpits were secure and self sustaining to be used in heavy flight or cockpit. Built to withstand almost anything, should disaster occur the crew should survive - and still operate their jobs from their cockpits. Throughout the ship were other safe areas.

The crew were everything to the Golden Chance.

On the forward screen the countdown clicked down.

Ko-on was receiving reports. Already crew non critical to the operations of the spatial compression were safely tucked away.

At the command centre fore section Jolo Hq kept checking the flight program simulations. The problem with compression flight was the navigation. It had to be right and was almost impossible to run manually. Not much for the chief pilot to do except make sure the charts were right and press the start button.

The captain was in office. Plotting and listening. Senior crew dropping in with quick updates with responses of thanks and nod of head.

Of course the word around the ship was out that they were outnumbered and outgunned, also rife around the ship were recounts of their Captain and Ex Admirals legendary actions at Midtreanas. Midtreanas was almost urban legend. Down in the kitchens a book was being started, trying to define how wild the tactics to come would be. The good news was all the crew felt that the ship would survive. The only question was how.

Then it was only five minutes to go before the compression drive kicked in. The Captain strode out of his office, silver presentation microphone in hand, office door sealing behind him. He walked smiling till he was half way along the command centre.

"Dazzling lights a firey blaze"

He flicked the mike on

"Teaching us to not look away"

A hum filled the air. He held the microphone just above his mouth.

"Attention all, attention all. This is the Captain. As you must all know we're about to execute an early and somewhat speedy course change to intercept the convoy "Need for Speed" led by Ex Admiral Van Gehand aboard the Smokeless Fire. The convoy is due to be interecepted by a Sterateel gunship support vessel. In the coming fight we will be outnumbered, we wll be executing tactics that should amaze or enemies. The Golden Chance will survive. We will all survive. I promise you this - do what I ask and you'll be getting free drinks out of the coming events for the rest of your lives. We're about four hours out from catching up with the convoy, during the coast sections of this course change I ask you all to rest and eat well, nothing else, we can work when get there. That's all. Good Luck to us all, but I don't think we'll need it"

The microphone is shutdown. The captain leans into his cockpit and placed the microphone in his holder.

And says

"Seal the command centre, get into position, and let's enjoy this course change".

Transfer Gates

2005-06-26T11:39:00.000+01:00

Transfer Gates are "Short" range methods of moving people and goods. Gates link up two points in Space Time and allow transfer of solid material between them. There is heavy regulation on these gates due to obvious criminal and terrorist application. Generally gates are only held on military ships or used by controlled licensced operators - such as space station to shore transfers.

Gates are range limited. Generally they can only effect a transfer between objects within 1 light second of each other. Limitations such as power and keeping gates aligned normally reduces this considerably.

However gate transfers are virtually instant, are not interruptable and are completely secure.

Transfer Gate technology is the way to get cargo and crew into space, and the way for the military to make secret transfers between ships

Part 3

2005-06-24T11:09:00.000+01:00

The Golden Chance was an old lady of the fleet. Built over a 120 years ago she had long and graceful lines; bulked here are there with additions over the years but still fundamentally a lithe ship, even if showing the weight of old age. Fleet had designed her for many roles, and in her years she'd served them well. She'd ended up in Hajamke a relaxed colony founded by accident, built indepentantly and re-united with Fleet only two generations ago. On unification a serious of flexible ships had been assigned to defend the system, together with it's own built sentinals.

It had taken the Chance 5 years to get there. Bouncing high over lightspeed, then cruising near it. Most of it's original crew then trained the new eventually settling down, being on the land, breathing real air and taking on uncomplicated lives with actual dirt between their toes.

That was some time ago. Her new captain had stumbled on Hajamke with a handful of survivors from the Battle of Midtreanas and in doing so had a credit in finding the site for the Star Pool. The Star Pool project that the ex-admirals convoy was supplying; When the pool was ready Hajamke stood a chance of really joining the fold.

Which was a pity, for that brought risk. Not just from obvious attack, but of also being swallowed up in the homogenity of fleet. Still everyone rushed to built the pool.

At this time with Hajamke's sole star blazing brilliant orange behind; three long ripples issued along the Chance's hull. Hull plates moved exposing three trenchs from which three long low albedo gray towers rose, from the stem and hinged near the stern. Three slender towers that were the integral to the compression drive of the Golden Chance. Like sails they would move her, not by catching any wind but simply making waves in the nature of space and time itself.

The movement was smooth and calm. Lit only by high contrast star light.

Unlike the command centre, unlike the rest of the ship where everything was a bundle of busy.

Calmer also than the Captains mind

"Strangers moving in stranger ways
Flashing lights that persist and stay"

Part 2

2005-06-22T10:15:00.000+01:00

Pictures in the air, sliding, enlarging, reducing, twisting even swaying. Floating blue images, lines, diagrams and flashing dots. The paraphrenalia of strategy. Then the annoyance of a tone designed for notice one that is hard to ignore.

A wave of the hand

"Captain Your line to the Smokeless Fire is on demand"

"Thank you"

Perhaps a little curt, not intentional - more lost in thought. Still summon a warm drink, feet up and make a the call. At least the ex-admiral running the Smokeless Fire is an old friend. Who quickly answers - exuberantly as usual.

"Freddie; are you catching up on old times?"
"Sorry to say no to that sir"
The ex admiral ponders for a tiny time
"Freddie, you never really called me sir when I was your Captain ..."
"Ok, sorry, I've got bad news. There's a good chance that a Sterateel support ship is moving to intercept your colony"
"How big"
"We guess three gunships and support fighters"
"That's a lot Freddie"
"It's going to be a tough fight."
"Can we get help?"
"With the Keramiss out of action - it's probably not a good idea"
"Ok, I see that point "
"I'm moving up our schedule to join you. I'm authorising speeds beyond navigation code, so tell your boys to batten down in case our wake hits. I want to prepare a defence strategy for the convoy"
"Thanks Freddie - I'll see the other captains don't complain"
"I have an awkward off the record question?"
"You best go ahead"
"Does the 'Fire have a working transfer gate"
"That would be illegal"
"So would some of my ideas at the moment"
"Off the record..."
"Completely"
"I've retrofitted a few systems on the 'Fire"
"Thank goodness for that - when we get in formation I'll come accross and we can work out what you need"
"That's good Freddie"
"Ok, well I'll be back in touch once we're in position"
"Good, you'll this convoy in fighting shape when you arrive"
"That I do not doubt"

A blink, silence, a thought, and a little less light. A muted room and a busy ship. A place for serious thought

"Drifting stars and flashing lights...."

The song continues

Getting Around

2005-06-21T08:02:00.000+01:00

If this is Space Opera then there must be space travel. Both interplanetary and Interstellar. Here are the rough concepts for the bending of physics in Fleeting Moments.

Star Pools
These are points that connect to wormholes to wormholes. Star Pools are vast and dangerous. They are the points where connections where space time is sufficiently altered to allow Worm Holes to be built. No worm hole is ever 100% stable or directable. However transit is instant. Worm Holes have a tendancy to focus onto Star Pools. So Star Systems with Star Pools can more easily send and receive traffic.

Sometimes ships do go the wrong star pool - they either stay where they are or try again.

Sometimes ships in worm hole transit go so far off target that they may either never been seen again.

Star Pools are still seen as an advantage

DV Engines
DV - Delta Velocity. Or to put it simply very very efficient rockets. A primary (and simple method) or moving ships around.

Compression Engines
These compress and uncompress spacetime in a bubble around the ship. Very high speeds - even FTL speeds can be achieved by compression engines. Compression Engines need huge amounts of power and can often only be run for relatively short periods. However these are the most stable method of travelling large distances.

Note: Unless a Star Pool is used Interstellar travel usually takes months of years.

Note: All ships have methods of regulating the effects of acceleration. However during high speed or high risk operations most crew retire to individual booths, with self backing up systems for keeping the crew alive should anything go wrong

Part 1

2005-06-19T05:48:00.000+01:00

"..fleeting moments;
different times and different ways.."

"Ahem" A tap on the table. An opening of eyes. A misfocus, a man, massive displays behind a dark brown mug.

"What's the news?" A recovery

"Latest from the Keramiss. Their engine repairs will take another 3 - 4 days, but they have the parts; so they won't need any help from us; but something disturbing from the probe they launched. Our preparations to catch up the convoy are all on time, helm has a acceleration window plotted - we can be in position today Captain"

"Ok, Ko-on let's take a look at the probe results. Where do you want to do this, main table or my office"

"For the moment - your office"

TIme to stand, grab the still warm cup and motion Ko-on to follow. Past the other empty tables, in front of the other tables, past the vast screen with it's arrays of views, tables, schematics and illustrations whilst opposite are the operations tables and wall desks of the command centre to a glass wall, with a glass down which opens silently. They both enter, the door closes, and at a quick nod the glass silvers. No noise here. Just a desk some and chairs. The captain settles into his.

"Here's the problem", a white stone is placed on the desk and touched for a few long seconds. Images focus over the desk.

"Last good image from the proble before it ceased transmitting, the books give it an 87% chance of being a support ship, around 3 gunships plus support squadron of fighters. It's on a low energy flight path, that with small modification could intercept the convoy in 11 or more hours",

"Ok, does the convoy know?"

"It's beyond their range to resolve - for a while at least."

"Good, that means I've got a good chance to talk to the ex-admiral with some sound tactics when he calls. We need to get into position a few hours earller. When we finish here arrange that with navigation. Give them my authorisation to exceed local acceleration codes for compression engines"

"Aye - what about the crew?"

"I'll get on the performance mike before we course shift. First I want to take a look at the full report on your stone and talk to an ex admiral - I need to ask him if he's breaking the law. I assume he is?"

"The stones in your desk, I'll get comms to secure a line with the convoy leader - I assume that's the ex admiral you want"

"Yes - but I didn't say anything"

"Ok Captain"

Ko-on gets up, takes his stone, the door glides open and shut

The room is silent.

The Story

2005-06-17T01:35:00.000+01:00

In another place....

Interstellar travel has bee around for a long time.
Technology is such a part of life as to be completely invisible.
No one really notices it

A war rages accross the stars.

On one had there are the Sterateel. So alien as to be unknownable. So alien as for diplomacy to always fail. On the other hand are out heroes (no name here - I want the players to imagine them). The clash is the familiar (our heroes) and the alien.

No one knows why the war started or how it will end. It is played accross vast distances with each side taking almost random resources off each other.

This story is of the Frigate "Golden Chance" and her crew as she attempts to escort a convoy of supply ships to the constuction point of a Star Pool a place that draws in currents of chaotic fluttering wormholes that allow fast (if sometimes unpredictable)interstellar travel. Construction of the pool is important - it will allow development of what is an otherwise isolated system.

The Sterateel are just starting a campaing here and the job of getting accross the system is going to be a hard and tragic one

This is to be simple story. Told on a human level that alludes to huge goings on. An attempt to create the start of a huge space opera.

2005-06-15T10:03:00.000+01:00

Fleeing Moments - the Space Opera

Written live in a blog format the blog consists of

1) Episodes and scenes from the story
2) Background and source information
3) Lyrics Poetery -and imagery writing
4) Story Arc notes
5) Discussions

The blog and copyright will be to myself (Robert Lyn Davies)
The Plan is to create a non linear novel told serially