Выбрать главу

Weed looked at Kreej, Hes right. We wouldnt need to go into the core.

But that means that there would only be ten or less stars in a galaxy to power our ships.

Trey shrugged, And there are how many dead galaxies in the eight universes that were killed by the invaders?

Alex said, We can power our ships.

We need to take one to that Blue Giant and see.

Not just yet, Weed.

Why not?

Before we start absorbing the power, we need to make sure the weapons can draw it from the skin inside the hull and send it to the appropriate location. You dont want to overload the systems. You also need to develop a force field that uses that power instead of conventional designs.

Weed looked at Trey and then at Kreej. Kreej said, Im not sure what you mean?

Trey looked at the energy absorbed by the probe, Do any of you remember the old force fields used by the first ships of the Realm?

Alex pulled up a picture of a Washington Class Ship and they watched a recording of it as it fought in the first battle against the Alliance. Notice that the force field was actually a hot energy field around the ship that burned anything coming at it out of existence. Beams that were fired into it actually raised the power of the screen and missiles were just burned. That is the simplest method to handle this level of power. If you try to build a screen that harnesses that magnitude of energy, youre looking at more years to develop it.

Weed looked away from the display, How do you know this?

Run a program using the amount of power collected in that probe through the software we currently use to make our force fields and tell me what you see.

Let me get Seed in here. The other Algean came in and Weed said, Link with me a moment and let me run some programs with you.

Kreej and Trey listened in on their thoughts and Kreej said, Theyre thinking too fast for me to follow.

Trey shrugged, The first hundred programs they ran had screen failure.

You can follow what theyre thinking?

Trey nodded.

Can you slow it down and show me?

Trey smiled, Take a look.

Kreej looked at Treys thoughts and followed the data through the various permutations. Youre right. Anything we could build into a force field would be weaker than the method used by the old ships.

Thats the way I see it.

While they are still working their way through all the possibilities, I want to share something with you Alex.

What is that?

I have a plan for a ship I want to build. I want you to take a look at it.

The Algeans and the Zord could do a much faster analysis than I can.

Even so; I want you to examine it and let me know when youre ready to discuss it.

Send me the data.

Trey put a clear square into the reader and pressed send. Alex started receiving the information and said, Is the size that big?

Yes it is.

Ill get back to you.

Thanks, Alex.

Kreej looked at Trey, Did you send the Algeans on their little trip to la-la land so they wouldnt hear what you just did?

Trey smiled, You know they cant be reached when theyre this deep into computations.

I know it. Did you?

Trey shrugged and smiled.

Cassie sat in class in the Robbins Fleet Academy and listened to an Engineer describe the circuits of a beam projector. She was listening to Trey have his conversation with the group at the Defense Facility and found it amusing that he had excluded the Algeans from his little building project. She smiled and enjoyed Treys back and forth with Kreej.

Perhaps you would like to comment on this particular circuit, Cadet Blake!

Cassie brought her attention back to the class and saw the visiting engineer pointing to a power coupler on the circuit diagram. She glanced at her Professor and saw he was cringing. She took a deep breath and smiled at the smug Engineer, Actually, that power coupler is being replaced in the next generation of ships that will be coming on line shortly. As you probably know, the main channel for the energy transfer can only handle the power of three reactors before they melt and the new level of power thats going to be used is more than a hundred times that amount. Cassie walked forward and took the pointer out of the engineers hand and used it to indicate where several electrical circuits passed very close to each other in the coupler. She looked at the Engineer and pointed at the confluence of circuits and said, Do you know what amperage this board can handle before these four paths melt?

The Engineer stared at her and didnt know what to say. She smiled and said, No, I guess you dont. The power of a Zeta-A would fuse this circuit. Thats why they are being replaced. Why dont you look it up? Cassie turned to go back to her desk when she stopped and said, You already knew that board was being replaced. Why are you here teaching us useless electronic circuits? Did you perhaps miss your last briefing on the updating of the Zetas?

Cassie went and sat down. The Professor said, That concludes this training. Please report to your next class. Cadet Blake, may I see you for a moment.

The Class left and Cassie walked up to the Professor and Engineer, Yes, Commodore Jekins.

I thought we had an agreement not to embarrass visitors.

Cassie saw the Engineer was angry, Did the Professor warn you that you shouldnt even think about singling me out?

What if he did?

Cassie turned to Commodore Jekins, Some get what they deserve. Further, the Empire really doesnt need engineers that refuse to pay attention to those with experience they can learn from.

Cassie, she didnt know. She took it as a challenge.

Then shame on you for not telling her enough to protect herself. She looked at the engineer who was starting to show some concern. She stared at her for a long moment and then said, Here is the update on the new Zetas. She gathered her thoughts and sent the entire package. The engineer stumbled and sat down quickly at a desk. She had a stunned expression and was having difficulty focusing her vision.

Shell be fine before the next class. This time she can teach them something they can use.

Commodore Jekins watched Cassie walk out of class and wondered why she attended. She was so far ahead of everyone on the faculty that they all left her alone. She said from outside the door as she walked away, Im here to find a crew.

Catherine MacDougal finally regained her senses and discovered that she now knew a Zeta-A from bow to stern and port to starboard. She looked up at the Professor and said, Next time Ill listen. She cant have me removed from the service, can she?

Yes.

Who is she?

Professor Jekins looked at the door Cassie had taken and said, I really wish I knew.

Now that was interesting.

Dont tell me you were watching?

Of course. Do you want that engineer reassigned to a public job?

You didnt take a good look at her did you?

No, I was only seeing you; like I always do.

Really, Trey, you should expand your horizons. That engineer is going to be on the ship.

Are you serious?

Absolutely. She was warned and had the courage to find out for herself what she was being told to avoid. She has courage and the will to take a risk.

What do you want her to do?

Have the Emperor reassign her to the Defense Facility and have her go over the plans with Alex. Shes more bored with her current assignment than I am.

Consider it done.

One other thing, Trey, see if Emperor Valrico will send Junior to the Facility to assist her and Alex in drawing the plans.

Ill have to tell him about the ship.

Hell know anyway as soon as we ask for the facilities to build it. Junior is also being stifled here. Hes pretty much absorbed all hes going to get out of this training and its time to start challenging him.