Solar Warden, Jakob Waechter [book club suggestions .TXT] 📗

first to also guard it and even then we give them some time to prepare a counter. Also the alien rifle worked well in the facility. But it is a heavy weapon. Operating long with it costs a lot of strength and targeting at longer distances is difficult for us. Contrary with our ARX-160 we have a good light weight weapon. The grenade launcher has its range limits and the 5.56 mm armor piercing ammunition does not penetrate the armor as we know. So we have to further figure out what weapons we can use.” Commander Knight had made a point.

“Depends where we fortify. The forest is on high ground. So they would have a clear advantage shooting down to the cave. That means they can cut us off. Also we can use this as our advantage as long we can secure the forest,” Pearce noted.

“The forest also has an advantage for our team tactics as long they don’t use the armor. I guess we have no weapons to penetrate it,” Yamada added.

“That works if you outnumber them and you get the surprise on your side. But with your tactics you cannot attack a bigger group covering each other’s,” Knight replied.

“True, at least in close combat,” Yamada agreed.

“Well, if I know more about the armor I can tell if the explosive bolt of the crossbow has a chance,” Newman added.

“Back to their behavior. If they don’t value their troops much. They must have plenty of them or it is not an important place here. Sure with the sentry option and knowing where they come from we can stop a bigger number. But another question comes up. What kind of facility is hidden? Don't we need to check this also out? I mean sure if you build a base you need resources first but then what kind of installment is needed first in their eyes? This is probable behind that doors,” Ryan noted over video. He was fit again and combat ready. But the higher quarantine stayed.

“You will need power for the machines, produce replacement parts I guess and food for the personal if there is much at start. We don't know to which extent they do it automatically but at some point here is a facility that supports the main operation. Maybe that's the facility we found or they do extend the operations. When we have the machines we always can try to blow up the doors and swarm them with surface scout drones or even use bikes,” Newman suggested.

“Good option. I will consider that,” the Captain replied.

“Well, we have now options to work out. That can do the team leaders with their teams now. We meet again at afternoon. I inform you when exactly later. On our last meeting Newman and Watkins will join us again. Hopefully with more information that can give us an improvement,” Knight suggested.

“Good, if there are no more matters we have to discuss now, the meeting is done.” The Captain waited a bit. “Ok. Back to duty. Dismissed.”

Newman went for the analysis of the armor. It was a simple task getting the spectra’s, identify the materials, micro- and nanoscopic analysis. Then the other scientist continued the calculations and further analysis while Newman and Cooper used for the next test space suits. They went for the measurement equipment and the alien rifle and continued to the left hangar bay. The hangar doors were closed and Newman used one to fire against while putting a plate with sensors in front. The other cameras and spectral cameras were placed. So it was time to fire. Max monitored the incoming data stream. They used fiber optics to transfer the data to the ships research cloud. Newman let Cooper do the first shot. He triggered and one shot of lowest level went directly into the plate. Most of the sensors there were fried now by the electric discharge of the shot. Those were the sensitive ones. They changed the plate and did it again with a level higher. This time Newman did the shooting. More of the sensors were dead. He estimated on the next level all would be fried. So wasting more sensors was not needed. He had data to analyze. They went back to the lab after putting the measurement equipment and the rifle back to the lab storage and got rid of the spacesuits.

 

The afternoon meeting was ongoing.

“We have now a worked out plan. Newman do we have some news?” the Captain asked over video conference to the lab.

“Well, yes. But it will not affect much the operation. Except the armor analysis. We have explosives for the bolt which will penetrate the armor. Also we have special ammunition. Instead the normal 5.56 mm NATO armor piercing that has much higher velocity. It will penetrate the titan alloy. This alloy is a very tricky thing to produce. It has even a layer of graphene between. So the high speed ammunition has two disadvantages. A nearby pass can cause cell shocks with bleeding that won’t stop. So watch who is close to you. Our suits will protect against a pass but not a hit. Also keep in mind it is only tested with the HK which has a high quality barrel. That's the second disadvantage don't use it with the APX-160. I don't know how long it will take to kill an armored turtle face but more shoots might be needed to speed it up. Except you hit the head. Then to the alien rifle. We cannot load it yet. I need to develop the equipment for it. But I know what to do. It should be a one-day work. Further tests with the mostly depleted rifle have showed it shoots out a cold plasma created out of the surrounding air. The plasma itself is at the lowest level I used harmless except the speed. It would just disinfect you. But the electrical loading is high enough to disable a human. A similar effect like our microwave rifles. So increasing the level just increases the loading and later I guess it also heat up much more and maybe even pressurize the plasma. Which also results in an additional speed up of the blast. Such investigations should be made not on the ship. The analysis also says that the rifle won’t work in vacuum. Maybe fire one shot that is stored in the rifle. After each shot it immediately refills the air for the next one. This also might cool the rifle. But how exactly this works will take much more time.” Newman was finished with the report.

“Fine then we have at least more weapons available. What about the alloy can we make it?” Commander Knight asked.

“Here? No way. Maybe later on Earth. But it is nothing we can use much. Despite it would be very useful for our ships armor. But you know titian is a bit expensive and we have not so much resources of it. Then our graphene production is in a scientific state not mass production. Also we don’t know how to combine the stuff. That means unless we find no big supply of titan. There will be some unique constructions. Sure we have to find out how to produce it. And here comes this mining robots we try to capture. They will make the mining cheaper and we can use them on other planets. It also could mean they can produce the armor inside this hidden location,” Newman replied.

“For the machines I don't want to stay to long down there and if they produce the armor there it would be even more dangerous,” Knight was concerned.

“So next Dr. Watkins what do you have?” the Captain asked also over video.

“The fruits we tested are genetically the same as on Earth. They are even better no pesticides. Till now we found no genetic manipulated plants as far it is detectable. Sure our samples are very limited. But we can guess they eat similar stuff like we do, except animals. Therefore, we would need a dead not too much damaged body for a deeper autopsy on board the ship. Further genetic analysis is completed. The Grays have changed and both have some human parts in the DNA. However, the Grays on Earth didn't had it like this. It means they found in our genes some useful parts for them. This also may explain why they take samples from us. But not why they try to stun us only. It is possible they need life samples for some reason. Which would mean they may try to eagerly trap us,” Watkins reported.

“That's an interesting assumption and could fit well. Also it increases the risk of the next operation. So we may do some additional analysis and backup plans,” Commander Knight advised.

“Right, guess we skip the raid tomorrow and plan for the day after,” the Captain suggested.

“But that means also the aliens have more time to prepare. We have now a good plan. If we work out some backup as fast as we can, it would be still possible to start tomorrow. I don't know how long they need to breed a clone. But what if they have a hidden breeding station there. That would mean they are on full production or just get from a running production an output of whatever many turtle faced aliens a day,” Ryan objected.

“That's a good point. Dr. Watkins what do you think?” the Captain wants to know more.

“Fast production I don't believe. It should take month to breed them. Sure some acceleration is possible which would not concern us. What we can't tell, what their output is. It could be one or less a day or more likely 10 or 100 every month. Also it is possible that a batch of one 1000 is ready tomorrow or the day after tomorrow and then they have to wait more month again. That would also mean they breed to produce an army which gets picked up,” Watkins replied.

“OK. We continue preparation for tomorrow. I have to assume on their behavior they have soon another production ready or still enough in stock. This means giving them more time would improve their forces or do nothing.” The captain made a decision.

“Agreed,” the Commander added.

Then the preparation continued for hours.

 

7 More

On the next day five shuttles with five fighters and ten combat drones went down to the planet. SW-6 and 7 were again the backup. The landing zone was some kilometers away from the facility. The alien was still there doing nothing. They took the same fast approach and went as fireball down till the mountains were close to the horizon. This time they planned all to fly through the canyon. They left the ocean area and continued in low altitude over the land flying supersonic. A half hour later the canyon was in sight. The shuttle decelerated to subsonic travel and on entering to the needed speed to get through. All escort combat drones were already on the other side. Two fighters in front of the shuttles the rest behind. With the automatic they flew through the canyon. It was a proven and fast procedure. Now leaving the canyon they went to the landing zone also some kilometers away from the cave.