Those coordinates would arrive with the documents that would be required in order to enter the EDF facility. I wondered if the government had developed their own means of teleporting, when a courier showed up with our EDF documents not 15 minutes after we said our goodbyes to the general.
We each had our own EDF identity tags. The instructions said to attach the tag to a convenient part of our bodies. No, Para, that would not fit their definition of convenient. You’re kidding, right? They might need to scan it for goodness sakes.
Anyway, the tags would stay there for exactly one week and then disappear. And that’s what happened. So, just like that, we were all set to visit EDF headquarters. Well, all of us except Muncle, and he said that was fine with him. We all knew military brass and all the saluting and rigidity make him nervous anyway. He said he would catch the rerun, whatever that means. Time to go.
We had our own smallish gallery room off of the main War Room. We could see all of the large screen images in full Real3DP (three-dimensional-polarized). In addition, there were smaller monitors (3D projection grid stations) in our gallery with the same high-tech imaging. On the way in we saw what they call the planning room. Strategists roamed the room, dwarfed by the very large 3D image of the Moon hanging before them. We settled into our gallery room to review the Operation Briefing Report, which was copious.
Twelve Earth ships against a 10-ship bug blockade. And another Earth ship to race around to Darkside on a surveillance run. I wish there had been time to develop a plan to use Shockwave against the bug blockade.
We were watching a rear view of Nemesis 12. It looked like the ships were being tailed by a drone craft of some sort. It was either that or a powerful satellite telescope. No, I’m sure it was a drone. The image was excellent. There was also access to audio feeds from each of the Nemesis ships. Each bug ship was shown within a magnification circle. Those must have been telescopic images.
Nemesis was outbound, about 45 minutes into a 10-hour trip. Their calling codes were simply Nemesis 1 through 12. Nemesis lead was designated One. The screens went blank, then came up again with a transcription box, timestamp, and audio. Something was happening.
* Nemesis Three, 00:45:35:
“Control, we have a weapon system warning light. We think we have the solution but we may need to do a quick EVA.” <Extravehicular activity possible.>
* Control, 00:45:45:
“Acknowledged Three. No blockade movement. Keep us apprised.”
* Nemesis Three, 00:50:42:
“Control, we’ll need an EVA. Kowalski is suiting up. We are estimating a 20-minute walk.”
There were some fairly hi-res shots of the bug blockade ships within the mag-circles. In scaled distance shots they seemed too scattered for a blockade. Unless you understood how fast those ships could move.
* Control, 00:55:45:
“Nemesis Three, status EVA.”
* Nemesis Three, 00:55:55:
“Kowalski is working it Control. Having some troubles. He should be inside within 20 minutes.”
* Control, 00:56:01:
“Roger Three. Apprise of any change. No bug ship movement.”
* Nemesis Three, 00:56:04:
“Copy Control.”
* Control, 00:57:02:
“New picture. Blockade movement. One ship. Intercept course. Very fast. 45 minutes to your position. Get your boy in Three. You’re cleared hot Nemesis.”
* Control, 00:58:03:
“Nemesis Lead, this is Control. We’re picking up background noise. Are you hearing this?”
* Nemesis Lead, 00:58:10:
“Copy Control. It sounds like chatter. Nemesis group, whoever is on the radio, knock it off. Keep the comms open for operations.”
* Nemesis Two, 00:58:18:
“Control, Two here. I don’t think it’s any of us sir. Listen carefully. It’s the bugs. They’re pushing their signal.”
* Nemesis Eight, 00:58:26:
“Control, this is Eight, Technical Sergeant Hadley on the comms board. Nemesis Two has it correct. I just took the communications update course, the whole package, with a full synaptic work-up for the bug language.”
* Control, 00:58:46: “Thank you Sergeant. We’ll get a translator on it. It could be they’re willing to surrender.”
* Nemesis Eight, 00:58:56:
“Uhhh, I don’t think so Control. That hacking sound you keep hearing is laughter. They’re having some fun. Someone in the blockade just radioed the ship that’s cruising our way. Said something to the effect that they should increase their velocity. It was suggested that if they didn’t hurry, half our ships would probably explode all by themselves, before the bug got a chance to take a shot.”
* Nemesis Two, 00:59:26:
“Oh, #&c# <expletive deleted> that!”
* Nemesis Lead, 00:59:35:
“Okay Nemesis group. Cut the chatter. Pay attention. We’re going to take this one down. In maximum effective range, 10 minutes.”
* Control, 01:09:22:
“Nemesis Lead, this is Control. We show you in effective range. The Boss suggests at this range you link fire control and focus for effect.”
* Nemesis Lead, 01:09:32:
“Roger Control. I have a link. Ready to engage. Firing solution is ... up.”
* Control, 01:09:48:
“Splash confirmed Nemesis. Bug ship destroyed.”
* Nemesis Three, 01:10:30:
“Control, be advised of new EVA. Kowalski jumped back outside to finish up with the circuit. He should be back inside in 15 minutes.”
* Control, 01:11:35:
“New picture. Blockade movement. Two ships. On intercept, less than 30 minutes. You are likely within their weapons range already. Nemesis three, abort EVA.”
* Control, 01:11:50:
“Nemesis, we’ve got interference. Do you read?
* Nemesis Lead, 01:12:55:
“Nemesis group, this is One. We’ve lost comms with Control. Heavy interference. My systems are degraded. I can’t see what’s going on. Do you read? Nemesis Three you’ve got to get Kowalski inside. Now.”
The enemy had successfully jammed all communication systems. Scanning, including radar, was degraded to the point of being useless. Control worked to bust the jam and to get additional optical scopes pointed at the
