War Fleet: Resistance

return to Admiralty Station, we’ll be questioning your actions, Olsen.”
As if his dreams of a cushy retirement weren’t already hanging by a thread, he thought. “So what do we do now? Are you able to send some extra support?”
“Hell, no. Captain Olsen, you created this problem, and you must fix it.”
Olsen was seething. All he’d been doing was following orders and using creative solutions to solve them. Yes, he could have used Admiralty AI. But in the time he would have spent explaining the situation to them, the enemy could be firing up their weapons to annihilate the Tapper on the spot.
“We haven’t got any leads on where to start,” he pointed out.
“Then find some. You’re resourceful, Olsen. I’m sure you can find a way.”
“Ma’am, with all due respect, the Tauian ambassador stated the weapon is incredibly dangerous and more powerful than anything humans have ever known. I urge you to at least consult with the others in fleet command. It is my personal recommendation that the issue should be escalated to the highest level.”
“Of course. I’ve already passed some parameters into Admiralty AI, and I’ll forward you the recommendations.”
Olsen took a deep breath and restrained himself from punching a dent in the table. Now that military strategy was run by an AI, Brownstone had stopped caring. Or perhaps she just felt that she couldn’t possibly outdo the most expensive system known to mankind. Olsen didn’t buy that.
Admittedly, his only experience trying to outthink a computer was his brother’s hologram. Then again, he’d won plenty.
“Ma’am, those recommendations will be based on existing data. This is a completely new situation, which I don’t think a computer can reliably assess.”
“Captain, Admiralty AI has been tested on multiple scenarios and has proven it can solve new tactical and strategic problems.”
“I really do believe this should be handled by real people, ma’am.”
All Olsen’s pushing did was cause Brownstone to narrow her eyes as the features on her face tightened. “I’ve given you my opinion on this matter, and there will be no changing that. Hang on a minute.” She looked down at her computer screen. “Yes, it looks like I already have a recommendation. Hold your position for a good two hours and we’ll send a warp pod your way.”
“A warp pod, ma’am?” Olsen struggled to keep a straight face. The fate of a solar system is at stake, and she’s sending a single warp pod?
“I’m sure you’ll find its contents most useful for your unique situation. Godspeed, Captain Olsen.”
“Admiral,” Olsen started to say, but she cut out before he could finish.
He stared at the blank screen, completely perplexed by Brownstone’s behavior. He turned to Rob, but the cyborg’s detached features gave nothing away. For all Olsen knew, he thought the Admiral was right about everything.
But how could Admiralty AI select such a passive course? To Olsen, it just didn’t make sense that the system wouldn’t treat it more seriously—or that Brownstone wouldn’t override it and do so.
“Well, we’re officially in this alone it seems,” he said.
Rob looked at Olsen blankly. “Not necessarily, sir. Admiralty AI has some further data which will be sent inside the warp pod.”
“Then I guess we just twiddle our thumbs and wait while that weapon slips further and further from our grasp.”
“The Okranti can’t match us for speed, sir. And the radiation signature can be traced now that we have it.”
Olsen stood and headed for the CIC to wait for the warp pod to arrive. “I guess we’ll find out.”

13
“Sir, another object is coming out of FTL-warp,” Santiago said.
“Don’t tell me,” Olsen said. “This time, we have to fight a Foorint battlecruiser.”
“Negative, sir,” Santiago said with a chuckle. “It’s the warp pod.”
“About time,” Olsen said. “Our gift from Admiralty themselves.”
The pod had appeared on the screen now, a spherical object with an enormous FTL-engine attached to the rear. Nothing advanced, but then these things were only meant for a one-way trip. “We better take precautions. Scan it, Santiago.”
“It contains a lifeform, sir.” Santiago’s foot started tapping rapidly against the floor. “Are we getting a new crew member?”
“It would appear so,” Olsen said. He wasn’t sure what he’d been expecting, although he’d been secretly hoping for a third shield generator. No such luck. “Well, I guess we should bring it in. Question is, with Redrock out of action, who’s going to pilot the Extractor?”
“Active and reporting for duty,” Nathan said over the intercom, much to Olsen’s surprise. On Olsen’s armrest display, he could see the call was coming from the sickbay.
“Lieutenant Nathan, shouldn’t you be resting? You were only knocked unconscious a couple of hours ago.”
“Only a minor concussion, sir,” Redrock replied. “The doc’s already cleared me, and there’s no way I’m missing out on any action.”
“It’s only a warp pod.”
“With life signs. Maybe a pretty belle on board?”
Kota was standing just outside. Out of the corner of his eye, Olsen saw her smirk and roll her eyes. “Fine. If the doc says you’re fit to fly, you better get out there and retrieve it.”
“Yes sir,” Redrock said. “One day, maybe they’ll give us tractor beams.”
“Keep dreaming,” Schmidt growled from behind Olsen. The weapons officer was seldom impressed with the resources at his disposal. Olsen had found it funny in the past, but that was before they’d been doing so much shooting.
Olsen stood up. “Rob, accompany me to the shuttle bay.”
He walked towards the door, and Sergeant Kota saluted him as he turned up the dials on his mag-boots before leaving the room. Olsen returned the salute. “Actually, Kota, get your squad freshened up and be in the shuttle bay in ten. I don’t know who’s aboard, so we should ensure we make a good impression.”
“Aye, sir,” Kota said, and she and Olsen parted in different directions.


14
The cargo doors of the Extractor shuttle opened to reveal a ‘belle,’ just like Redrock had asked for. She stood ramrod straight in mag-boots, with her hands folded behind her back. Her bloodstream must be packed with time-release nanites and organic-reinforcing cells