Star Rover-Chosen to Die (Lens of Time) Read Free

see it later on today.”
    Kelli stared at Cranzen, “Are you serious?”
    “Oh yes. This is the one we use to assemble the command circuits for the ships to be used by your Flag Officers.”
    Kelli looked at two rows of giant white ships facing each other. “So this is what the new Jukebox Class of battleships looks like?”
    “Yes, what do you think?”
    “They’re larger.”
    “Yes, and much faster.”
    “How is the training going?”
    “The crews are getting up to speed quickly. The controls are not that different from the current model they’re used to flying. Changing out the crews was recently completed.”
    “We had to move them when one of the enemy probes wasn’t around. We replaced the experienced crews with new graduates from the academies and brought them here in commercial vessels.”
    “I’m surprised you were able to get away. I thought they were following all our Flag Officers?”
    “They’re not following me; I don’t think they determined my rank. Admiral Hull is of the opinion that they look at me as simply Matt’s wife and not a member of the military.”
    “Is that why you’re wearing civilian clothes?” Kelli nodded. “It must be difficult not saying anything to the others.”
    “Matt and Shane know some of the details. We’ll soon be telling everyone else when we send these ships to the Union. We’re hoping it will delay any plans the senders of the probes are making. Did you receive the new encryption frequencies?”
    “Yes, all the new ships have them activated. For the moment, they are maintaining communication silence.”
    “What about the sensors?”
    “These new ships use the same system our advanced probes use. They have a much longer range than the probes because of the power difference. They also can scan much further than the Jukeboxes they’re replacing.”
    “Well, why don’t you show me how this new ship functions?”
    “We have the tutorial ready for you to have sent to your cortex.”
    “Which of these ships is going to be mine?”
    Cranzen smiled, “Pick one.”
    Kelli looked around and pointed to the one directly in front of her, “This one appears to be smiling and calling my name.”
    Cranzen smiled, “An excellent choice; I’m sure it will serve you well. When will the crews for the command ships arrive?”
    “They’ll all be brought here together in four days.”
    “We’ll be waiting for their arrival. The new transfer of information directly to the minds of the crews will expedite their learning of the new systems. They should be ready to immediately take their ships out and join their fleets.”
    “What’s the biggest difference between these new ships and the current model?”
    “The force fields are several orders of magnitude stronger than the multiple force fields currently used. This ship has three of them. The fields will stand up to multiple heavy penetrator hits.”
    Kelli stared at Cranzen and shook her head in disbelief, “Are you sure about that?”
    “We’ve tested them; six penetrators didn’t penetrate them.”
    “How were you able to strengthen them so much?”
    “You know about the holes in the dark energy force fields?” Kelli nodded. “We developed a way to close them. Dark energy is a repulsive force and any beam or missile fired at the fields will be pushed away. The new reactors that power all the new systems are also on a new level of energy. We’re hoping they’ll be strong enough to withstand whatever those beings in that distant galaxy can throw at them.”
    “You’re assuming they have that kind of power.”
    “They defeated the Servants in less than ten days.”
    Kelli nodded slowly, “We can only pray they are.”
    “There’s one thing you should know.”
    “Oh; what is that?”
    “We’ve also developed a new penetrator that has the new field installed; the new ship’s force fields will not stop it.”
    “What about the blasters?”
    “They’re different from the previous ones we’ve