Chapter 201 (1/2)

Pluto

Built to facilitate the construction of a massive and powerful intergalactic fleet, Arkos continued to flawlessly perform this function many millions of years after coming online. Though the Tauri fleet was growing exponentially, thus far the full potential of the Ancient shipyard had yet to be tested to its fullest. Each new day brought new build orders that would be filled without question, or complaint.

Begun with little fanfare but with a sense of urgency, the Titan project was nearing the completion of the first two vessels of the class. Sequestered on the lowest level, normally reserved for city ship maintenance and construction, two hulls sat. Six kilometers long, one kilometer wide, and seven hundred meters in height, the two vessels were fearsome looking by virtue of their size alone. In honor of Earth's first interstellar warship, the lead ship and class had been changed from Titan to Prometheus. Destined for the Air Force, Prometheus would return this hallowed name to the Tauri fleet. Beside her, Nimitz would come under the control of the US Navy.

Designed to carry a compliment of four hundred F-302's, these carriers brought about a problem for the two branches of service they belonged to; pilot shortage. Instead of transferring Reservist's to active duty to fill the need, another solution had been found. The fact that this solution had come about from study of a captured craft was fitting, given the Tauri history of alien technology emulation. Drone mothership's and their unscrewed charges had proven a formidable foe for Destiny, despite her technological advantages.

This solution came in the form of removing the human pilot from a majority of F-302's and FB-302's the Prometheus class would carry. Much like the Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle designed by Northrop on Earth, these aircraft would go into combat in an automated fashion. Replacing the systems needed to support a human pilot was a system designed to accept control from aboard the launching ship. That control would come from a second Artificial Intelligence aboard the carrier. While the primary AI would serve in the same manner as those found aboard Ancient vessels, the secondary existed only to control each UCAV.

Leading each flight element would be a human piloted 302. All other members of each flight would be under AI control. To that end, the controlling AI needed to be proficient in fighter tactics and employment. Data covering the span of air combat was fed into each AI, along with all material ever taught at the US Air Force Fighter Weapons School. It was hoped that this would create a UCAV force meeting or exceeding the effectiveness of manned squadrons.

To support UCAV production needs while avoiding interruption of manned 302 production, a second 302 build bay had been brought online. Churning out a steady stream of UCAV's, the compliment needed to fill both Prometheus class carriers was still far short. That would be corrected before each carriers shakedown and acceptance cruise. Of the three hundred complete so far, each had performed a number of training missions with manned 302's. Each training mission represented another opportunity for the UCAV command AI to put knowledge recently gained to practice.

Though not yet complete, each Prometheus already had a crew hard at work learning how to most effectively operate their new vessel in combat. A handpicked crew from various Air Force commands manned Prometheus. Nimitz's crew came directly from the recently decommissioned aircraft carrier Enterprise. Big E as her crew had called her had been a record-breaking ship, and it was believed that Nimitz would continue the tradition. After all, the ship had a proud name to live up to.

Many levels above the carriers, eight vessels were in the very earliest stages of construction. So new were these vessels, they had yet to be named. The Netherlands, Norway, Italy, and Spain would take possession of two 304's each. Proud nations all, they were honored by the invitation to join the ever-expanding fleet of Earth. In the coming days as each sh.i.p.s crew trained in simulators on both Arkos and Earth, these sh.i.p.s would be given names honored by their commanding nation.

Two levels above the unnamed 304's sat Destiny. Her new crew unpacked and settled in, went about the countless tasks necessary to prepare the ship for her new tasking. Food stores, books, DVD's, could be found scattered about in all crew quarters. Finally, the ship was beginning to feel like home. It helped that a modic.u.m of proficiency had finally been achieved with the many advanced systems found aboard.

Over the last two days, many of the crew had taken to avoiding Doctor Rush at all costs. Micromanaging to the highest degree, the Scotsman was rapidly driving anyone unlucky enough to get away slightly mad. A betting pool had come about due to his rampaging around. Currently, the best odd's lay on his ego being the culprit of this recent tirade. A man that normally slept very little, it did not help that he seemed to fuel his never-ending quest with an endless stream of coffee. The mess attendant openly joked that for the right bribe, he was more than open to hiding the coffee somewhere off ship. So far, no one had offered up a bribe worth the wrath that was sure to follow.

Seeking out the head of his science department, Colonel Davidson only had to listen for bellowing in a Scottish brogue and the stream of crewmembers running for other areas of the ship. Strolling with a smile, he followed Rush for fifteen minutes before finally deciding that he had needed to get this done and move on to the bridge. Brushing past two Sergeant's scurrying away, the Colonel manages to contain his prey in the control interface room.

”I thought I heard you in here.” Davidson began.

”Colonel, with all due respect I am a bit busy at the moment.” Rush countered.

”So I've heard. Actually, I heard that from down the corridor.” Davidson continued.

”Is there something I can do for you?” Rush asked impatiently.

”Yes, there is. I need you to meet and interview a potential late addition to the crew.” Davidson explained.

”We're preparing to get under way shortly. Late addition indeed!” Rush spat.

”Regardless of our feelings, I need you to talk with them. The science department is your domain, so the ball is in your court.” Davidson offered.

”When am I supposed to be doing this?” Rush asked.

”One hour. My understanding is they will be meeting you on the observation deck.” Davidson explained.

”I'll make sure I'm there. Now, if you don't mind, I would like to finish what I'm working on before I run off to play human resource manager.” Rush finished.