UGT: 30th Ascent 280 a.G.A. / 6:49 p.m.
Location: In an orbit around a large ringworld remnant, Clinton's Beak system (red dwarf), Republic of Nox, Second Human Federation, Milky Way
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Once more, I was stunned by just how bad the SHF technology was. The Second Human Federation mainly used impulse thrusters to move through normal space. With a maximum speed of 75,000 kilometres per second, it took us 5 hours to reach the inhabited remnants of the ringworld. The ASF Aurora with it's antimatter thrusters that managed 150,000 kilometres per second, would have theoretically only needed half that for the distance. The only problem was that antimatter thrusters needed, well, antimatter to function. While the ASF used up precious antimatter to move through space, the SHF had no loss of this valuable ressource whatsoever. That ingenuity I could therefore respect, especially as their antimatter reserves were even more limited than mine.
Therefore, five hours later, we had finally reached the largest ringworld remnant in the Clinton's Beask system, named Au'Shalis Prime, as the ringwworld once bore that name and this was it's largest remaining fragment. Right now, I stood in front of the small craft that was supposed to get me to Au'Shalis Prime. I even changed to casual outdoor clothing and away from the comfortable clothes I wore while being on board of the ASF Aurora. Meanwhile, Fen was busy with bringing the last lesser AI algorythms in order. After all, he was in my head and it was impossible for him to remain on board of the ASF Aurora. We had to at least make the impression of some people still being on the ship, if we didn't want it to be stolen from us.
"Fen? Do you really think it is smart to use our only Stealthfighter for the journey to Au'Shalis Prime? This thing is a technological marvel and I would hate to see it get stolen from us.", I said.
[ I do not worry for the safety of our Stealthfighter. It has it's own true AI like myself, although it's sentience is much lesser than mine. It will not let itself get stolen. Additionally, it will be very hard to steal a spaceship from an official hangar. And even if they manage, a single word to Admiral Thorrison should be enough to get it back near instantly. The military harbors massive amounts of control during times of war. ]
[ What I do worry about is someone using your relative lack of protection outside of the ASF Aurora to get rid of you. And to minimize the chances of that happening, we will use the Stealthfighter. It's the best ship we have for the job. ]
I sighed. "As you wish. We'll use the fucking Steallthfighter as a civilian transport. But if us trying to land with a literal shipkiller on Au'Shalis Prime gets us in trouble, you will be the one to solve that issue.", I said.
[ Naturally. ]
Silene ensued for a few minutes while Fen continued to work and I climbed into the Stealthfighter. There wasn't much room in it, with a Stealthfighter only being 15 metres long, three metres wide and another three metres high. "How far along are you with the algorythms?" I asked Fen.
[ Just about... done! We can start now. ]
"Well, maybe we could. But how, exactly do I fly this thing? I never learned it."
[ Well, you don't have to. Together with the AI of the Stealthfighter, I can. Just give me a second... ]
[ User identification code is dispatched... ]
[ ERROR! ]
[ Identification codes outdated! Station reactivates automatic defensive measures. ]
[ Innheritor-Protocol #2-A override! ]
[ Identification codes updated. Identification codes accepted. ]
"Ah, that shit again. Already missed it. Very well, how is it?"
[ I already subjugated the Stealthfighters AI. Give me another minute or so to fully familiarise myself with the system and how everything works, than we start. ]
In the end, Fen only took half that time before the Stealthfighter left the hangar of the ASF Aurora and reached open space. It immediately took my breath away. Yes, I had been in space quite some time already now, but I only saw the space through holographic screens. Seeing the space around me through real glass... Since I lost my memories, this was the first time I saw space like this.
But what was even more stunning was the massive broken fragment of the ringworld, orbiting around a red star. It looked more like a long and gigantic metallic rod than part of a ring, once more showcasing just how gigantic that ring had to have once been. "Fen, what are the dimensions of that... fragment.", I asked.
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[ Based on the readings I get, the fragment is 1,000 kilometres high, 1,000 kilometres wide, 8,000 kilometres long and slightly curved. ]
...I didn't know what to think. Intellectually I had known that a ringworld surrounding an entire star, even if only a small one, had to be gigantic. But seeing this fragment for myself and hearing just how big it was truly drove the point in. The Aetherian Empire truly acomplished gigantic feets oftechnology and strength. "This fragment really is a small planet in and of itself. And it is truly entirely colonised?", I asked, still awed.
[ Based on everything I could gather the fragment is in fact not entirely colonised. The outermost 100 kilometres seem to be uncolonised in all directions. This region is the most damaged and would be way to expensive to repair and upkeep. On the outside, there are only three spaceports with a connection to the colonised depths of the fragment. ]
"Well than, please try to get me a connection to Admiral Thorrison. With how big that thing is we'll need to coordinate to actually meet each other.", I said.
[ I send a ping his way. But please keep in mind that we will only be able to reach him, if he's still on the FSF Defience. ]
"I know, but he has an entire fleet to coordinate, explain the ASF Aurora to the civilians and prepare his own landfall, while making sure their antimatter reserves get restocked. But seriously, did anyone try to contact us from the locals?"
[ Yes, may questions were send our way, with the locals thinking the ASF Aurora to be the flagship of our small fleet. But Admiral Thorrison and FSF Defience quickly interfered, making clear that we are not to be bothered. I had to take no actions whatsoever and didn't even have to acknowledge their distress. ]
"That is very good. It make-"
[ Admiral Thorrison accepted the connection! ]
Instantly I shut my mouth while a hologram of Admiral Thorrison flickered up in front of me. "Ah, I am still speaking to Captain Lunaris, right?", Admiral Thorrison asked, still clearly taken aback, which had me furrowing my brows.
[ He cannot see you right now. I didn't want him to see the interior of the Stealthfighter. ]
I cleared my throat. "Yes, Admiral, it's still me. I wasn't yet overthrown and you will have to deal with me a little longer still, im afraid.", I said dryly, but with a clearly warning undertone. The Admiral only nodded once.
"Be assured, I'd deal much rather with you than someone new and truly completely unknown to me, whose intentions and plans I do not know. Anyways, how can I help you?", he asked.
"We said a meeting between the two of us is finally in order. As I'm already on my way down to the fragment, I need to know which one of your spaceports I am to use.", I said, seemingly surprising him.
"Well, I did not expect you to get your crew and landfalls in order that fast. I would send you the data you need, but I'm afraid we are currently unable to determine your position. It seems like you're using a very interesting medium of transport, as our sensors are completely unable to detect you.", he said.
"Yes, that was the entire point of using one of our few Stealthfighters to make landfall. Furthermore, Im only underway with a small team of special operatives. They have their own affairs to take care of, therefore I'm going to meet you alone.", I said, smirking slightly as I saw one of Admiral Thorrison's eyebrows twitch.
"Captain Lunaris, I have to insist that none of your... operatives do anything outside of the local law. Promise me this.", he said.
"No worries, I promise. It's just that some of them lived here before the entire ringworld got destroyed. Just some old sentimentality and sightseeing, you know. And maybe some information gathering, but nothing drastic that could make my earnstwhile allies angry with me. I talked it all through with them.", I said. Admiral Thorrison nooded reluctantly, clearly still averse to the idea of First Human Federation operatives walking around on a world of the SHF.
"Anyways, I ordered to just send an encoded broadcast filled with the information you need in all directions. I trust that you'll manage to pick up and decipher the information by yourselves. You'll probably have to wait an hour or two before you vanish deeper into the ringworld fragment, as I still have some things to organise. The spaceport managers have been informed of your arrival in... whatever unusual wy it will be and have orders to just wave you through. There should be no problems. Otherwise, please do not hesitate to contact me instantly. The needed connection data will be send your way as well.", he said.
[ In intercepted the broadcast. Everything's as the Admiral described. You don't have to worry about that. ]
"Perfect.", I said to both Fen and Admiral Thorrison before focusing purely on Admiral Thorrison again. "That should be no problem. We'll meet in a few hours than. That was all I needed, thank you for your time.", I said, instantly after cutting of the connection. It was my turn to do that again!
[ That is petty. ]
Well, yes. But it felt good. And I should always remember that Fen was able to read my thoughts if he wanted to.
[ You really should. If only for you to stop and think through your actions and decisions more. ]
"Just get us down to this spaceport Admiral Thorrison wants us to go to. No reason to waste time. ETA until we're there?", I asked.
[ ETA is just under 20 minutes. Therefore relax, enjoy the view and only start stressing yourself over all of our problems again after we landed, deal? ]
I sighed, leaned back in my seat and closed my eyes. "Fine. It's a deal. I'll try to get some sleep though. Sightseeing I can do on the way back. Wake me once we land, okay?"