Chapter 8 book 3<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The supply depot<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Commander Maria Ramirez sat in her office, staring at her tablet computer. On the computer with her intelligence briefing. There was a lot of information coming in from a lot of different missions. As planned that we’ve had broken up into 15 different task forces. Three of them were led by mercury, class battle stars. The rest were led by smaller ships.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One report was quite odd. Task force 99, they had taken the number on themselves, as theeeerwerenot 99 ships in the fleet let alone that many task forces by any stretch of the imagination. They chose it based on the name of a task force from in the first cylon war.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This plucky, little fleet consisted of two Artemis class battle stars, and one Valkyrie glass Battlestar, and a troopship stuffed full of Marines. They reported having taken a supply base stuffed to the rafters with ammunition, spare parts and supplies. There were tons of components for Cylon FTL technology and installation manuals on how to configure the equipment on captured Colonial ships.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This Cylon technology indicated a jump range between 3 and 5 times the distance of current Colonial ships. Though an inventory was under way, there might be enough tech at the supply depot to outfit the entire fleet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This breakthrough came at a price. To use the new technology required a Cylon upgrade of the FTL nav computer, and the array of antennas, telescopes and scanners that gathered in this data. That meant essentially putting Cylon technology on the network of every ship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
HG had been appalled by until he saw the specification on the FTL jump systems after the upgrade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since they had the source code of the Cylon operating system, they moved it into an off network \u201cair gapped\u201d lab and set about analyzing the code with HG’s take on AI \u201cArtificial Intelligence.” The effort might take weeks, but they were finding and removing malicious code. If this technology could be safely implemented, it would be a game changer, leveling the gap between Cylon and Colonial technology.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The supply depot had a mountain of spare parts and compatible ammunition. It was a fixed point in space, and it would take two weeks to offload all the supplies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The task force commander, Roosevelt, \u201cRosey\u201d Smith was due in her office to advocate for this plan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The door buzzer chimed and after a sleepy yawn, Commander Ramirez let the man in her office.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Smith was about sixty years old, salt and pepper hair and looked like he should be playing video games in his parents basement. Quite atypical from the image of a tall, dashing commander.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He literally charged into the room and froze for a moment, unsure wether to salute or shake her hand. He did both as he motioned her into a seat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSo commander,\u201d Ramirez asked. \u201cYou really think its worth the resources to defend this base while you empty it?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He nodded excitedly. \u201cI do,\u201d he said. \u201cWe have civilian ships and are making the ammunition and spare parts. Right now supplies are being consumed 54% faster than they can be produced. This base has enough supplies in it to sustain the current hit and run campaign for another year, perhaps 18 months. During that time, we can rebuild the manufacturing fleet and modernize and set up a real supply chain.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He giggled, an odd sort of sound. \u201cBefore the war and them giving me a battlestar, I was head of logistics an manufacturing for ‘Atlas supply chain corporation’<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI’ve read your resume, commander, how do you propose to defend the depot? If I jump in my battlestar, might attract Cylon attention.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Smith again giggle his odd way and sniffed, as if his sinuses were stuffed. \u201cI have a plan. There are 8 smaller facilities the toasters have within one jump, current technology. They were tasked for smaller task forces. If you split your fleet into smaller units and go through the standard 3 day, recon, plan and raid cycle, you can stay in the are without attracting \u201cMercury class\u201d attention.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ramirez waved her hand. \u201cYou know there are probably other depots like this in other locations. Why risk everything, including one of the ‘Big three’ task forces?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cPegasus was here about a year ago, they raided this place.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ramirez leaned back, her fingers forming a tent or roof. She was suddenly lost in thought.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Day 639 of the second Cylon war.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
DRADIS: \u201cRaptor 474 just jumped in. They are signaling the supply depot is facing imminent attack.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAll right, action stations. All birds in the tubes. We jump when all ships are ready for a combat jump.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Her XO answered after a short pause. \u201cThe board is green. Ready for combat jump.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ramirez thought a moment before she spoke. The task force was ready pretty damned fast. \u201cCommence combat jump. All birds launch once we confirm a successful jump.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Commander Ramirez gripped the table, CIC firmly as jump preparation continued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNav computer& backups fully spun up,\u201d one officer reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cInsert jump key.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cConfirmed, jump key inserted and locked.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cFTL shows green all systems go.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAll ships report ready to jump on your mark.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Major William \u201cWild Bill\u201d McKormick looked at Commander Ramirez who still felt inner terror at the prospect of FTL jumps. Knowing the physics had not made it easier for her. She dug her nails into the unyielding table as she nodded, giving the XO permission to do the countdown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Major who in her mind she thought of as \u201cWillie\u201d picked up the telephone handset and clicked the talk button. \u201cThis is Athena XO. Combat jump on my mark in 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 mark!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ramirez felt something in her stomach drop just the same as her first FTL jump as an IT technology officer. The fleet medical branch tried too keep track of how many jumps each officer and crew experienced,looking for a link between FTL technology and certain kinds of cancer. None had been found but for her this was jump number 473.<\/p>\n\n\n\n