(Conference Room, Blackstone Station, Star’s Reach system)
The conference room was crowded, with many of the top people in the Black Star Navy and Black Star Marine Corps gathered here. The reason, of course, was to talk about the latest changes to the galaxy, and figuring out how we were going to keep up with the changes. And we truly needed to upgrade our forces. The Marines were an effective fighting force, but some of the new threats were far more powerful than they were. And the Navy currently had a grand total of zero ships that could enter Dark Space or Chaotic Space, which left avenues of attack that enemies could use to outflank us.
Of course, there were some people who were questioning why a mercenary company needed to worry about stuff like that. We could simply slip by unnoticed, right? That kind of thinking was short-sighted, however. It put us at the whims of the powers that be. If, say, a horde of super-powerful aliens spilled out of chaotic space and wanted to try and kill or enslave anyone they came across, just being a mercenary company wouldn’t be any protection if they set their sights on you. Better to have a force that could make anyone take a step back and wonder if they really wanted this fight.
Of course, it wasn’t just paranoia. There were threats out there, and we either had to rise above or fall before them. The last time someone questioned my decision to augment the Black Star Company’s defensive forces, I simply quoted from The Art of War.
Sun Tzu said: The good fighters of old first put themselves beyond the possibility of defeat, and then waited for an opportunity of defeating the enemy.
To secure ourselves against defeat lies in our own hands, but the opportunity of defeating the enemy is provided by the enemy himself.
Thus, the good fighter is able to secure himself against defeat, but cannot make certain of defeating the enemy.
Hence the saying: One may know how to conquer without being able to do it.
The Navy and Marines were both the sword and shield of the Company, and all the people under my banner. I wasn’t going to leave their protection, or my own, up to the simple whims of the galaxy. So, the first step in protecting them was to make it so we could not be defeated.
At the moment, we had a ton of offensive firepower. We could kill anything that came across our scanners, if we wanted to. But we were not able to withstand attacks that our potential enemies could launch against us. That was unacceptable.
“So, what is the timeline for implementation on all the upgrades to the Black Star Marines?”
General Khan stood, and said, “As you know, after lengthy discussion, we’ve come up with a list of recommended improvements to the Marines. These will be a mix of genetic improvements, and improvements to weapons and armor to accommodate their new abilities. All told, the biological upgrades will be very extensive. However, during the process of working with the Science division, we have also come up with a more streamlined suite of enhancements, which could be used for those who aren’t expected to undergo the full Marine enhancements.”
I nodded. “All right, that sounds good, in theory. Let’s start with the full Marine upgrade kit. What all is in the kit, and how long will it take for the units to be fully augmented?”
“All right, first, the most noticeable change will be an increase in size. Average human Black Star Marine will be roughly 2.4 meters tall, and 340 kilograms in weight, without their armor. This is necessary for the other augmentations, like more durable skeletal structure, redundant critical organs, like the second heart, and so on. They will have increased muscle mass and increased strength, speed, agility, and endurance from a standard human. Obviously, these are average numbers. Ihm Marines will also see similar increases.”
“Before you go on, General, what about physiological differences between the sexes? I know there was some concern about that, considering we were using genetic manipulation. Twenty percent of the human Black Star Marines are female, and I’m not turning my back on my people.”
“Yes, sir. The answer is that, while it is true that the average human female is going to be forty to sixty percent weaker, and perhaps ten percent slower than the average male, the kind of women who elect to go into the Marines are superior to the average. Currently, our female Marines are roughly ten to fifteen percent weaker and three percent slower than the average male Marines. However, when you look at them as a part of the whole, you find that they make up much of the thirtieth to fortieth percentile in physical ability, but many of them are in the eightieth and ninetieth percentiles for combat skills.”
“With regards to the modifications, female Marines will still likely come in at 2.3 meters in height, and 275 kilograms in mass. While this is a noticeable difference, it is not outside the acceptable limits. However, we have noted that, in simulations, we are seeing a likelihood of increased psychic abilities amongst all Marines, but especially in the female Marines. It is likely that they will be able to use whatever powers they awaken to in order to bridge the gap. However, training will be problematic.”
I leaned back in my chair. “Suggestions?”
“Continue with the upgrade procedures, but have those who show talent with psychic abilities be placed in special subunits for training, and they can then be embedded in squads to bolster their abilities. We can treat it like specialist ratings from our world’s military. This way, the ‘psykers’, as some of the troops are calling them, will be part of the team, while still getting the training they need.”
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“Approved.”
“In that case, then we move to the non-biological upgrades. These would be mostly cybernetic in nature. Many are already existent in the galaxy at large, such as ocular implants to improve vision, or provided alternate vision modes, things like that. Others can be handled by modifications of existing technology. Marines will need to have a mind-machine interface implant in order to link with their armor. While the proposed armor will still function at some level without it, we’re expecting to be using the link in order to bring out its full effectiveness.”
“All right, I can see that. And, since your average marines are going to be a helluvalot bigger and stronger than they currently are, you’re going to be needing new armor to fit them. Probably new weapons, too, right?” The General nodded. “Any more high points in the Marine upgrades?”
“Yes, Sir. There will be implants that use body processes to manufacture, store, and administer combat drugs under certain scenarios. Essentially, an enhanced version of adrenaline, and released under the same circumstances. The Science teams have also developed nanohive implants, which build, store, and maintain swarms of nanophage nanites inside the Marine’s bloodstream, with the goal of hunting hostile nanites and pathogens, like an enhanced immune system. That, combined with other enhancements, will make Marines effectively immune to most known toxins, diseases, and nanoweapons.
“All right, then. Before we move to the new gear, what is this second level of augmentation you’re considering, for those who don’t go with the full Marine treatment?”
“Well, the Marines are going to be combat troops, pure and simple. However, we were talking with some of the ship commanders, and the special operations groups, like you had stationed on some of the original Black Star Ships, like the Shadowdancer, could be upgraded as well. Nothing as extreme as the Marines, but it would greatly increase their effectiveness.”
“What did you come up with?”
“Several profiles. The basic would be enhanced speed, endurance, and agility. Not to the same degree as Marines, but these people would still be ‘normal’ size, for their races. Basically, a mix of biological and cybernetic enhancements, which would also include the combat drug and nanophage enhancements.”
“Reasoning?”
“Sir, right tool for the right job. Army is best at holding ground. Marines are best at taking it. Operators are best at slipping behind enemy lines and slitting the commander’s throat. Sure, Army and Marines can trade jobs, but that doesn’t change the fact that both groups have different focuses on their skill sets. Operators are typically in too small numbers to try and take and hold ground. It is the same as the problems the Navy faced during the Imperial Civil War, and the Battle of Nuevo Edo.”
“Very well. Now, let me hear about the gear you and the R&D boys have dreamed up, and why we should be cooking it up.”
“All right, we started with the framework of the Mark V armor, since it has the most enhancements of the current lot, and began working from there. Now, obviously, with the increase in size and strength of the Marines due to the biological upgrades, we can increase the size, thickness, and enhancement capability of the armor itself, making it into true power armor, rather than just power suits, like we have today. The increased size and durability of the armor has its own benefits in terms of protection, of course, but we should have the ability to have increased functionality across the board.”
“What kind of functionality?”
“Well, obviously, we have enhancements to speed, strength, and agility, on top of the improvements the Marines will already have. An upgraded Marine in full armor, as designed, would essentially be a demigod compared to baseline humans. Obviously, life support and environmental control systems will be included, featuring a complete chemical seal, rated for undersea to roughly twelve thousand meters, Terran standard gravity, as well as full vacuum seal, allowing a Marine to survive in hard vacuum for up to five hours. Full Nuclear-Biological-Chemical-Nanite protections, as well, though battle damage will compromise those systems, naturally.”
“The proposed armor has a zero-point power module that should allow the wearer to provide power for systems. Additional systems will include a sensor suite that can be included in the armor, along with hardened communications and a HUD in the helmet. We also have a detachable jump pack for the armor, which will allow for increased mobility. Ihm versions up-scaled appropriately, naturally.”
The General paused. “With this armor and the accompanying mods, the Black Star Marines will be one of the elite fighting forces in the known galaxy, with few groups even coming close to being able to match our capabilities. And that isn’t even counting the weapons the R&D people have come up with.”
“Currently, we Marines are using ‘conventional’ weapons. Sure, there’s a mix of ballistics and psyshot or lasers, with a few heavy weapons involved as well, but they’re all basically weapons that already exist. This includes the melee weapons available to the Marines as well. Frankly, it is time we upgraded those to match the new reality.”
I smiled with a knowing grin. “Chainswords, General?”
He smirked. “Well, with increased strength, bolstered by power armor, what was a completely nonsensical idea becomes far more practical, you know. But the research teams haven’t gotten a practical model, yet. However, they have come up with some interesting options involving powered melee weapons.”
“Oh?”
General Khan nodded. “Yes, they come in three main variants, so far. Blade, fist, and hammer.”
“The blade, whether it is a sword or axe, is made of an aligned carbon nanomesh, with an edge that is honed to a monomolecular thickness. The power reinforces the blade, making it harder to damage, and increasing its cutting ability. Elemental effects such as lightning, flame, or frost are also possibilities.”
“The hammer is a two-handed mace or warhamer, though single-handed versions could be made. The power, in this case, primarily adds to the weapon’s durability, and adds a triggerable gravitic assist on a swing, causing the weapon to hit far harder than it ought to, similar to the Dragonbreath torpedoes. As with the blades, elemental abilities are possible.”
“The fist weapons actually come in two forms. One is a claw, and the other is a fist. Essentially, they are the same as the blade and the hammer, respectively, but they are built into the armor, which makes disarming the Marine quite difficult. Unfortunately, current models suggest that trying to wield a weapon in the same hand as a fist or claw would be problematic, at best. So, in most conditions, users would need to dedicate either their melee or ranged weapon to their nondominant hand.”
“As for the ranged weapons, well, you still have ballistics, though sized up and with explosive rounds. Then you also have plasma weapons, though they are still a bit unstable in combat conditions. And, of course, you have a heavy flamethrower. Better yet, it is possible to make some of these weapons in wrist-mounted versions that can be used with fist weapons, but that would require extra training to get proficient with.”
“The labs have created prototypes of the weapons sized for normal humans, as well, along with models of power armor that do not require the mind-machine interface. The weapons are less damaging due to being scaled down, and the armor does not perform at the same level as the Marine armor, obviously, but they are still massive improvements over the rank and file weapons and armor that the Marines have.”
“Very good. And how long will it take to fully upgrade the Black Star Marines, complete with the new gear?”
“Minimum would be six months to get the augmentations done if we go all at once. Production of the armor could be done by then, if we rushed it through development. Realistically, we should get the Nomads to go first, in order to troubleshoot the procedure and reduce the casualty rate. Do augments by squads, so that we don’t have our entire force down for the duration. Say two years, total, for the augmentations, and then retraining with their new abilities and gear, with everyone being augmented and up to speed by year three.”
“Not what I’d like to hear, but makes sense. Proceed.” As the General sat down, I turned to Slave-Commodore Virstina, and said, “Now, Commodore, I believe it is the Navy’s turn. What do you have for me?”