He took a step back from the table and slid his chair aside. “We have, however, done considerable work in categorizing the enemy capabilities and developing possible systems and weapons to at least partially counter the disparity our forces face.” He scooped a small controller off the table and hit a button. The large viewscreen along the wall activated.
“As you can see, we have listed several basic areas that constitute the bulk of the of the enemy’s advantage over our forces. First, they appear to have developed the ability to produce and deploy antimatter in useful quantities. This allows them to build warheads considerably more powerful than our largest thermonuclear weapons, with a lower mass and, consequently, better maneuverability.” He punched a button on the controller and the screen switched to a series of tables comparing energy output from fusion and antimatter explosions. “The advantage of more powerful explosions in ship to ship missile combat are obvious. With their generally superior targeting capabilities, the enemy is able to get its more powerful warheads closer to our vessels, putting us at a very significant disadvantage in a missile duel. Additionally, it appears that some of their missiles utilize antimatter fueled drives, allowing them to achieve thrust level far in advance of our own weapons.”
Sparks paused for a few seconds, allowing everyone to digest what he had said. “In reviewing the data from Admiral West’s recent battle at Cornwall, we have identified another apparent use of antimatter by the enemy. Indeed, this may be the more tactically significant issue. They appear to have developed a defensive torpedo that scatters tiny mines across the path of incoming missiles. We have employed similar weapons in the past, however we have been constrained by the yield we can achieve relative to the mass of the individual mines.” He clicked the controller again, and the image on the screen changed to a graphic displaying relative weapons yields.
“The enemy mines appear to produce approximately 100 megatons of explosive force. For us to achieve a similar yield would require a device with a total mass in excess of 17,000 kilograms. By comparison, only 2.5 kilograms of antimatter are needed to produce the same yield. With reasonable use of nano-technology, I would project that the total mine, including containment and propulsion systems could have a mass under 300kg.” He looked back from the screen toward the table. “The implications for blanketing an area with enormous coverage of anti-missile warheads are obvious.”
The room was silent. The staggering power of antimatter weaponry was a sobering realization. Most of those present knew at least the basics of everything Sparks had said, but it was still a shock to see it laid out not as theory, but as a straightforward analysis of weapons that had actually been employed in battle.
Garret broke the silence. “Colonel, what are your thoughts on countering this advantage? However powerful the enemy’s weapons are, we need to find a way to defeat them.”
Sparks looked over at Garret. “Yes, sir. I’m afraid it is virtually impossible for us to deploy our own antimatter weapons. I am at a loss as to how one of the Powers could possibly generate enough energy to produce meaningful quantities of antimatter. It is well beyond our current capabilities.”
He shifted his glance from Garret down the table. “Containment is another issue. We have no idea how to safely store weapons-level quantities of antimatter on an ongoing basis. We can keep research quantities stable for a limited time, but we don’t even have a clue how to store large amounts…and certainly not in a ship or other mobile location. However, there is some good news. Our first potential advantage is not a technological one at all…it is logistics. As General Cain touched upon, an analysis of the combined data strongly suggests that the enemy has a constrained supply of antimatter weapons. Perhaps they can only produce a limited amount, and this could mitigate our disadvantage, at least somewhat. Nevertheless, in every weapons category, it appears they have a conventional system as well. These are generally far more advanced than our own comparable systems, though the disparity is far less than it is with the antimatter weapons.”
Sparks hesitated nervously before he continued. “If you will all indulge me in what I freely admit is pure guesswork, I believe there is another factor that we should consider.”
“Please, colonel. Go on.” Holm nodded as he spoke.
“Yes, sir.” He hit the button on the controller again, and a schematic appeared on the screen. It looked like a rough engineering diagram of the superstructure of a space ship. “The enemy seems to utilize an external weapons deployment system not unlike our own missile racks. Their setup is substantially larger and more complex, however.” He paused and took a breath. “It is my opinion that they utilize this system for all of their antimatter weapons and that their doctrine requires full deployment of that ordnance before entering into the effective zone of any opposing weaponry.”
Garret leaned back in his chair, and odd smile on his face. “You weren’t kidding about guesswork, were you?”
Sparks felt his stomach clench. “I’m sorry, admiral. I just thought…”
“Relax, colonel.” Garret’s smile widened into a full-fledged grin. “I happen to think you are correct.” He turned to face Compton. “Admiral West’s experience seems to add validity to this theory. She apparently caught the enemy by surprise with antimatter weapons still bracketed to their hulls. It appears that a number of vessels were destroyed by their own secondary explosions. What do you think, Terry?” Garret was the only person in occupied space who called Fleet Admiral Terrance Compton Terry.
“I agree.” Compton didn’t hesitate. “In fact it would explain the apparent disparity in the damage levels it took to destroy different enemy ships. According to West’s data, the ones that didn’t get vaporized by their own antimatter warheads took a hell of a lot more pounding before they went.” He paused with a crooked smile on his face. “It almost reminds me of the old wet-navy stories. Catching an aircraft carrier with bombs stacked on the deck.”
“Of course the problem is getting close enough undetected.” Garret’s smile morphed into a thoughtful expression. “Erica West took advantage of an anomaly in the system layout…something we won’t be likely to have again.” He rubbed his hand over his mouth as he thought. “I’m not sure how we can replicate that.”
Compton leaned back in his chair, but he remained silent. It was Tom Sparks who worked up the courage to jump back into the exchange. “Sirs, I may be able to offer some insight that may be useful in that regard.” He paused, eyes shifting back and forth between Compton and Garret.
“By all means, colonel.” Garret looked up expectantly.
“Well, it appears that the enemy weapons are quite susceptible to our ECM…strangely so, in fact. To the extent we have been able to calculate it, our ECM success rate in the engagements to date is higher than what we achieved in the Third Frontier War. If this is new technology being deployed by one of the other Powers, I am at a loss to explain this.” He hesitated, then added, “Perhaps some of their new technology interferes with their electronic systems in some way. Or maybe they had to sacrifice their ECM and ECCM suites to make room for the new tech.” He didn’t sound convinced.
“I apologize for interjecting, but I believe that Dr. Hofstader has some insights that I think you should all hear at this time.” Roderick Vance hadn’t said a word since he’d greeted Cain. “Indeed, this is why I brought him here to this meeting.”
Vance was a Martian and a spy…not the most likely candidate to enjoy the trust of the men sitting in the room. But he’d proven to be a loyal ally, and he’d followed through on every promise he’d made them. If he thought it was important, they wanted to hear it.