NationStates Jolt Archive

The IRDN complex, Classified Location Somewhere near Arrandin, Yallak

Whisks of smoke rose into the air from the tires of the military transport truck as it came to a halt beside the checkpoint, a simple room sized building next to the road. Less than a couple of metres from the vehicle was a pair of huge, solid metal gates with great concrete walls spreading out on either side which rose many metres up into the sky, the whole length of the top covered in barbed wire. To an observer, it looked like nothing more than a prison, with guard towers periodically positioned around the fortifications, but to those with the right clearance, it was the largest and most advanced research facility in Yallak – the home of several thousand scientists who everyday devoted themselves to improving the Empire’s military technology.
From the truck, the driver presented a handful of security papers through a small opening in the checkpoints window to one of the guards inside. Beyond the glass could be seen the glow of several computer screens scattered around the room, each placed on a large workstation. The guard sat before one, flicking through the pages of the papers before him, skimming over the details, personnel files and clearance orders before him and comparing them to the information in his database. After several moments he passed the papers back through to the truck and then pressed his hand down on a small button on the desk surface. A buzzing noise resounded from the checkpoint, and then slowly, with a faint grinding, the giant metal gates swung open.
The truck accelerated into the building enclosed courtyard just behind the walls, passing several more patrolling guards as it crossed straight over and continued on almost to the other side of the facility before turning right and traveling down the short length section of the L-shaped compound. On either side it passed even more buildings, each one identical so as to look like the inmate cellblocks of any standard prison. Reaching the end of that section, the vehicle pulled over into a small parking zone, just opposite a short, white, square office type structure.
As the faint throbbing of the engine cut out, the vehicle emptied of its occupants. A six-foot man, wearing the uniform of the Imperial army emerged from the front passenger seat, while a second shorter man, also in military uniform jumped down from the driver side.
Crossing over the road they had just come down, the pair ascended a short stone pathway towards the squat little building, entering it through a doorway formed from a pair of two thin columns. Just inside was another checkpoint, this time a simple reception desk. Showing their ID, the two men signed a small visitor sheet, the record of all comings and goings to the facility throughout the day. From there they moved across the marble floor towards an elevator. Jutting out from the wall next to the doors was a silver rectangular metal box, with a small attachment on the side containing a very thin slit running down the center. The device had no visible markings, but was the only thing on an otherwise flat and empty wall. Stepping up in front of it, the tall man swiped his security ID card through the thin slit. As he did, a small light in the top right corner flashed green and caused the top of the metal box to split open revealing an electronic keypad and display, which slowly emerged from its home until it sat flush with the surface. The keypad consisted of ten oval buttons numbered 0 to 9 and two small round ones coloured red and yellow. The display screen simply read:

Enter Access Code LV1

After entering in a twelve-digit code then pressing the red button, the device gave a single toned beep and then the display message changed.

Enter Access Code LV2

A second twelve-digit pass was entered, resulting in another short beep. This time it was followed by the hiss of the elevator doors drive mechanisms heaving open the heavy blast doors.
The two men entered the bright elevator chamber. Inside were two cameras, almost invisible to the occupants in their positions behind the ring of lights that skirted the chamber roof. On a small panel located to the right of the still open doors was another electronic keypad and display. This one held a similar message to its counterparts.

Enter Access Code LV3

A third twelve-digit code inputted into this device seemed to unlock the elevator. The blast doors thumped shut, sending small vibrations throughout the room and a secondary panel under the keypad came to life. This one had a row of buttons numbered S to 30 and a small numbered display that read: S.

“Level 26, Aerlan”, said the shorter man to his friend.

The taller man acknowledged the comment by pressing the appropriate button. Immediately the sound of gears and motor filled the air and the car began to descend. The numbered display flicked from S to 1, then 2 and continued counting until a full minute later the car came to a slow stop.

“Sub Level 26”, announced a metallic voice from a speaker in the elevators roof. With an effort, the heavy doors opened again into a stark white room, bounded on all sides by computers and specialized electronics equipment. The room was abuzz with activity. An important breakthrough had recently been made and it was the reason for the visit by the military. Suddenly, the busy operations of the scientists were blocked out and instead a lab coat clad man stood in the opening of the elevator.

“Field Marshal Aerlan, Air Marshal Cynath, welcome to the IRDN”, the man said proudly, “I am Doctor Vansa, the head of the physics department and the coordinator of this facility.”
“Thank you Doctor”, replied Cynath, “I understand you have done the improbable.”
“That indeed, Marshal. This way.”

Vansa led the two men through the room and out the other side into a long corridor with doors to laboratories paced out down the length of the hall on either side. As they reached the far end, they found it blocked by another set of blast doors, thicker and larger than those on the elevator, with the words ‘Hazardous Area – Restricted Access’ printed across the surface. Next to this door was a small booth type recess containing a round, black grating - a parabolic microphone. Doctor Vansa stepped into the alcove and lined his mouth up with it.

“Voiceprint Authorisation - Certify 116 Vent”, he said clearly.

After a moment of analyzing the frequency concentrations of his voice and comparing them and the code spoken the recorded patterns the door made several successive grating noises as the large internal locking mechanisms slide open allowing entry into the area beyond. As the doors reached their open position, the grating started to speak.

“10 seconds to door lockdown….”
“9….”
“8….”
“7….”

The three men passed into the room beyond, one quite similar to that which they had first entered, except that it was circular in shape. Behind them the count finished and the blast doors slammed shut again, three clanks confirming the locks resetting themselves.

“This is the control station for our particle accelerator”, said Vansa leading the two military marshals deeper into the room. He picked up two folders from a workstation and handed one to each. They were a cream colour with the words Project Defiler written across the top. “The preliminary report from our experiments”, continued Vansa, “so far the results have been fascinating!”
“But is its usage plausible?”
“It is hard to say Marshal Aerlan. So far we have only created a few particles at a time. We do not yet have the precautions established to risk any more than that.”
Aerlan’s face grew a look of pure determination. “Just tell me who and what you need Doctor and I’ll have it made available.”

======================================================================================

Encoded Imperial Transmission
HIGHLY CLASSIFIED
To: The Armed Republic of Lamehk
From: The High Council of Yallak

The Infinite Empire requires the best physicists your nation has available for immediate relocation to a research facility in Yallak. They will be working on Project Defiler, the details of which cannot be afforded at this time – needless to this work is of the greatest importance.
Have those you select to be ready for transport with Lord Erkal by the end of the day.

Lord Sollonaal, Supreme Magistrate of Yallak

"Dr Gital has been kind enough to put together this list of five of the best Lamehken physicists. It includes all relevant personal data and service records."

Taking out the first sheet from the folder Emperor Malus hands the rest to Lord Erkal.

"The list comprises of Dr Floid Bio-physicist, Dr Trelk Chemical-physicist, Doctor's Halvan and Cretal Astro-physicists and Lamekh's leading scientist and top physicist Dr Gital himself."

Emperor Malus finishes reading the sheet of paper and returns it to the folder.

"Each member has been briefed regarding the security and secrecy of this project and will be ready to depart at your leisure."

Malus considers carefully his next words not wishing to pry "Not knowing more than what was sent in the transmission it was hard to know what special attributes would play favourably in the projects development. For this reason we will not be insulted if you wish to replace any member with another member better suited to the project. Also if additional members are required let us know and we will send them immediately."

Malus stands and beckons the others to join him.

"Your chopper, Lord Erkal has been refuelled and I believe is ready to depart when you wish."

“To be honest”, began Erkal, “I know little enough on the matter myself, but I’m sure your scientist will be sufficient for the task. Project Defiler is still in its very early phase and all aspects of it must still be explored at this stage.”

At the mention of his helicopter Lord Erkal rose, gathering the papers that Emperor Malus had handed him.

“Then we should depart immediately. I have been told that this project is considered among the highest of priorities for the Empire. It has been an honour my Lord.”

Erkal bowed his head to Malus and then turned to the scientists. “Follow me please.”

======================================================================================

“Doctor”, said a guard nodding his head then turning and leaving the particle control room. Vansa put the documents he had just received under his arm then looked up at the five men Lamehken scientists.

“I suppose there is no point in reading these now”, said Vansa motioning to the personnel and service records he now held, “If you are here then I trust you are good at what you do, so no point wasting time.”
“Then can we begin now, Doctor”, interrupted Aerlan.
“Of course. Everything is prepared. This way.”

Vansa led the group into a spacious briefing room off to the right. While the others took to the high backed seats, Vansa walked down the small desk just in front, placing the documents he held down and picking up several folders similar to those he had previously given the Marshals. Handing them to the Lamehkens he began the briefing.

“In short, you are all here because we have succeeded in creating particles of antimatter. Very few, only nine in the past week, but that is why we have gathered your help.”

Vansa picked up a remote from the lacquered table and pressed a button, activating a projector that displayed a schematic diagram of levels twenty-six and twenty-seven of the complex.

“These floors are where this was achieved. We are on level twenty-six, the control center for the twenty-mile particle accelerator on level twenty-seven.”

Pressing the button again the display changed to the accelerator, showing an active diagram depicting the process of creation.

“Protons travel around the machine, reaching speeds of almost two hundred thousand kilometres per second before colliding with a stream of Xenon gas. This however is not very efficient and hence our limited production. As you will see in the reports before you, we have calculated it will take close to three billion years to make a single gram using present conditions.”
“Three billion?”, interrupted Aerlan’s agitated voice.
“Unfortunately”, replied the Doctor, “so our first goal is to devise a better system of creation. Any questions?”

"What you are saying Dr Vansa is that your scientific team has succeeded in creating the opposite of matter", Dr Gital could hardly contain his excitement, "and you wish for us to help you in developing a higher production yield"

Gital stood and turned to address his fellow Lamehkens. Only moments ago they had landed with Lord Erkal and had been quickly taken to the underground laboratory.

"My friends, I am sure you are all well aware of the significance of this discovery. Antimatter is one hundred percent efficient and a mere drop of it could power Hotek for weeks, not to mention the military applications of the finding, such a power source could put our nations far ahead of the rest of the world. We must work on this dilemma of time to the best of our ability. We owe it to Yallak."

With that Gital retook his seat. He new that ethics would not come into play and that the team he assembled would work for the greater good.

"Semi true Doctor Gital. While it will generate such vast power, the requirements to create it are just as large – twenty miles of electromagnets are very expensive - so antimatter as a power source is void due to an entropy problem.” A smile crept onto his face. “The military applications however are far more promising. Just imagine a missile smaller than any common design with a warhead weighing less than a gram. Well that weapon would pack the punch of a small nuclear device.”

The two marshals were evidently pleased at this news, although the question of time still hung like a shadow over the matter, well the antimatter.

“If that is all then welcome to Project Defiler. We should begin immediately.”

Vansa shut the projector down and led the group back out into the control room and over to one of the many computer consoles. The two Marshals stood at the back observing while Vansa, sitting down on the desk, called the scientists in close to look at the screen.

“Our two main problems concern the rate of reaction and preventing loss. The current state of passing accelerated protons through a jet of Xenon gas is only resulting in one reaction for every two million collisions, giving us a maximum yield of ten to the four antiprotons per second. That must be quadrupled to make this a viable project.”

Hitting several buttons on the console brought up a 3-dimensional image of a thick blurred line surrounded by a spherical shape made of dots.

“Problem number two”, Vansa continued, “when a collision results in antiprotons they scatter in different directions depending on how they hit the passing Xenon particles.” He pointed to the dots, “this is a plot of the scattering over a microsecond of collisions. Many of the antiprotons are lost because they fly out in the wrong direction. This must be corrected for two reasons. One is to increase the amount of particles which can be gathered, while two is to prevent damage to the accelerator that would result from increased unwanted annihilations within the tunnel.”

He turned the console off, jumping up from the desk.

“The cards you were issued with on the way in will give you full access to this level and its equipment. You can run simulations, calculations and pretty much basically anything else you’ll need. Use it well – this project is considered our highest priority.”

The five Lamehken scientists immediately departed to the bay of computer consols. After swiping their cards each set about reviewing the current diagnostics and experimental parameters. While the other four scientists worked collaboratively on the problem of increasing the rate of production Dr Gital conducted his own simulations regarding the loss of antiprotons after creation.

No point creating more antiprotons if they are just going to cause more damage to the particle accelerator and a damaged particle accelerator would not be a good thing

The other scientist did not mind that Gital was not collaborating with them. He did his best work by himself and was rarely seen at the Lamehken Institute of Science (LIS) normally keeping to his private lab. Gital was a genius, by Lamehken standards, and the other four respected him greatly. Best leave him to his own devices

As the Lamehken physicists dispersed, Vansa returned to his team.

“Do we really need them?”, whispered Doctor Harlan. His two colleagues Rivan and Loknell were partially in agreement.
“Well it won’t hurt”, Vansa snapped, “so back to work.”
The military clearly won’t wait three billion years for a gram of antimatter and quite frankly I don’t want to wait that long either.

Over fifty scientists worked away for hours in the control room at the tasks before them. The project had been going now for over two weeks and little progress had been reported. While they had devised ways to created positrons and antiprotons neither option was yet making headway. Hours later, maybe days, it was hard to tell so far underground, Loknell jumped up out of his seat knocking it over.

“Vansa get a look at this.”

The chief scientist stopped his work and quickly scuttled over to his team member. He leant over the desk and looked hard at the simulation running before him.

“Loknell, what is that?”
“Depleted Uranium. I’ve figured that part of the problem is the lack of density. If one in two million particles react when they hit the Xenon, but only so many particles actually hit the Xenon as they pass through the gas stream, then increased density should give increased yield.”

Vansa considered it for a moment. Simple but logical.

“According to this test it seems to be working”, Loknell said just to emphasise his point.
“Good”, replied Vansa, “then test it. I’ll get the material sent down immediately.”

Not totally unaware of the work being undertaken around them the Lamehken scientist ran and re-ran their simulations. With each increasing re-run the scientist mood began to lighten. It appeared that with an increase in target particle density more and more antiprotons were produced. The Lamehken scientist were beginning to ender test parameters for depleted uranium when news reached them that a test involving uranium had been scheduled. Not wishing to miss the results the four Lamehken scientists headed to a display monitor to watch the test results.

Dr Gital remained behind and appeared to be the only scientist in the complex not eagerly awaiting the results. He was close to figuring out how to stop the loss of the antiprotons, he was sure of it. All he required was a little more time and as long as that time did not equate to three billion year he was sure that it did not matter.

Vansa directed the Lamehkens to the right most monitor on the panel of four. It showed a data feed linked to the sensor around the target area in the accelerator.

“They will measure the amount of antiparticles passing out of the target and give us a reading per second. So far we have achieved ten to the four using gas jets.”

Initiating process in ten seconds

The warning blared around the control room as Loknell and Rivan emerged from the elevator, walking across the room to join the others.

“It took long enough but everything is in place. We’ve shut down the Xenon vents and locked a nice chunk of depleted uranium into its place.”

Acceleration initiated

There was no sound to indicate any activity in the accelerator on the floor below but the monitors and output measurements coming to life showing what they could not hear or see.

“I’m glad I don’t have to pay the power bill for this place”, laughed Rivan.

His comment went unnoticed. All eyes were fixed on the sensor readouts. After a few minutes the activity on level twenty-seven died.

“Well”, asked Vansa.
“Maximum output achieved”, replied Harlan, “was ten to the….”
“What?”
“Six.”
“Not to bad, but not enough. We need ten to the sixteen and no less.”

Clearly impressed with the results achieved the Lamehken scientists were also impressed with the efficiency of the facility. The war had begun and a major battle won yet there was no time to celebrate the war was not over and the objective still lay quite a distance away. Ten to the sixteen, ten to the sixteen, the number was four times greater than the original output now just under three times greater.

Renewed by the latest achievements and encouraged to have been on the right track the Lamehken Scientists returned to their work-stations. A positive vibe filled the laboratory and the many scientists, not just the Lamehken, seemed to feed off this more than they did actual food.

It had been weeks since the scientists had seen the sun yet like a child on Christmas the played continuously without break for long hours with their new toy.

After seeing the results first hand the Lamehken scientists skipped ahead to denser particles. Result surged ahead and simulation showed increasing yields.

Five days after the first breakthrough from using depleted uranium the Lamehken scientists finished entering experimental parameters for a simulation using tungsten with surprising result.

After double checking that the calculations were correct they left together to present their findings to Dr Vansa.

Dr Gital paid little attention to their movement. He often ignored them completely when asked to join them for lunch or a relaxing game of squash in the facilities gym. After his weeks of work Gital was finishing a simulation involving an increase in magnetic field around the target area. Hopefully this would result in slowed antiproton dispersions.

“Tungsten”, Vansa proclaimed after reading the reports from the Lamehken team. “The next step up. It will be a limited increase given its density similarity to depleted uranium but an increase nonetheless.”
“It will have a greater resistance to heat build up from the collisions”, stated Harlan.
“We’ll test it straight away.”

A few hours later the tungsten was in place and the countdown to the test was underway. Again only silence accompanied the activation of the particle accelerator, the only noise coming from bleeping computers which flashed coloured lines and numbers as the data came rolling in from the sensors near the tungsten target.

“Progress?”, asked Vansa, looking at the Lamehken scientist who eagerly awaited the results of their idea. Odd that Dr Gital took no notice of his colleagues efforts, thought Vansa, in fact it has been days since he took a break from his own work.

“Feeds indicate a one thousand percent increase, Doctor”, replied one of the scientists knocking Vansa out of his thoughts.
“Ten to the seven particles a second then. Almost half way there now.”
“Actually it’s higher than…”

Even as he spoke the words, the silence broke as sirens blared from the computer system.

System Malfunction, System Malfunction

The words kept repeating.

“What’s wrong?”, demanded a voice from the gathered crowd.
“Several of the target electromagnets have stopped working. I don’t know why?”
“I do”, said Vansa, “Shut it down now.”

The silence returned as the power to the accelerator was cut and the particle production ceased.

“Thwarted by our own plans”, came Vansa’s disheartened voice.
“How so?”, inquired Rivan.
“Increased numbers of particles”, he replied, “result in increased scattering and an increase in the unwanted annihilations from uncontained particles. They damaged the accelerator wall and destroyed the magnets. I didn’t think it would happen so early.”

The scientist’s good moral was broken. Harlan slumped back into his seat.

“What now?”
“Now we take a break”, declared Vansa, “we are almost half way to our first goal and that’s achievement enough for today, besides it has been weeks since we took time off. Work can resume again once we give the technicians time to repair the accelerator.”

"Stop everything, stop", Gital's flustered voice yelled in vain as he hurried to the accelerators control room. At sixty-eight years of age Gital was the oldest member of the Lamehken team and his age was beginning to catch up with him.

As Gital entered the control room, struggling to catch his breath, the faces of the scientist instantly told him that he was too late. Stumbling into the room Dr Gital lent against a large control panel. Dr Floid quickly found a spear chair and helped Dr Gital into it.

"We need to increase the magnet strength around the collision site", Dr Gital wheezed slowly regaining his breath, "by doubling the magnet strength me can slow the antiprotons by approximately seventy five percent. This will led to a more efficient collection yield."

Dr Gital hands over a memory USB drive to Dr Vansa. It contained all the test data for Gital's simulations as well as digital displays concerning the reduction in particle velocity.

“My fault”, said Vansa taking the USB device and plugging it into the computer before him. “I figured we could at least reach ten to the ten without problems like this occurring.”

Without bothering to sit he opened up the files containing Doctor Gital’s work and skimmed through them.

“It certainly reduces the loss from scattering, but…”

Leaning in to the computer he clicked a few more files and brought up data on the previous two tests, changing the parameters of the test and doubling the magnetic field strength, before hitting the enter key. Standing up he watched as the screen simulated a stream of protons hitting the target. It took only a few seconds for the high-powered system to begin calculating result for the new parameters entered by Vansa.

“Scattered particles are reduced by fifty three percent. Thirty two percent of diverted particles are contained to the appropriate pathway down the accelerator.” He paused for a moment. “There it is though… the lack of speed reduces the number of collision that split to produce antiprotons by up to sixty percent.”
“It can still work though”, said Rivan.

The gathered scientists waited for him to continue but he seemed to be still formulating an idea in his head and failed to realize they were all staring at him, awaiting further details of his ingenious idea.

“Explain”, Vansa finally demand.
“Oh right”, began Rivan, “Everything is right, except for the position of the magnets.” He pointed to the display showing the magnets infront of the Tungsten targets position in the tunnel. “These ones will need to be angled down towards the target. It will drastically affect the efficiency of the field to slow the incoming particles and yet increase their ability to prevent scattering loss.” He pointed to the magnets behind the target. “They will remain as they are, slowing the particles that emerge from the target for collection and still preventing scattering in the forward direction.”

Without answering Vansa began altering the diagnostic program before him by changing the field angles. It took about twenty minutes before he hit the enter key again and reran the test. The computers quick calculations began pumping out numbers again that Vansa read out loud as they appeared on the screen.

“Scattered particles are reduced by sixty four percent. Fifty eight percent of diverted particles are contained to the appropriate pathways and the number of collision that produce antiparticles is now decreased by only twelve percent.”
“Not if we increase the original speed”, chimed in Harlan, “it’ll cost more but should offset the problem.”
“Our good Marshals there can decide whether we need to do that once we get the yield to a reasonable amount”, said Vansa, “for now let us go eat. I will inform the technicians of the repairs and adjustments they will need to make and then join you.”

Clearly pleased that his research had a semi-positive outcome and having regained his breath Dr Gital stood, from the chair Dr Floid had brought him, intent on joining his fellow colleagues for lunch.

Food,Gital thought,How long has it been since I have had a decent meal

While working Gital often lost track of time, on many occasions finding himself alone in the lab while the others were at lunch. Gital put their lack of invitations down to respect and the other Lamehken scientist not wishing to disturb him.

What puzzled Gital the most was that the team had not notified him of their breakthrough. It was only that Gital had finished analysing the magnetic field scenario that he had noticed their absence. Checking that it was not lunch time yet Gital moved to one of the four computers being used. It was here that he found the data concerning the tungsten test. Deeply troubled by the large increase in output Gital had ran to try and abort the test.

Gital caught up to Floid while walking to lunch.

"Why didn't you inform me of you latest breakthrough?" Gital asked in a matter of fact way.

Floid looked puzzled, "We did notify you sir. You ignored our invitation to jointly present the data as you normally do. You did seem very busy so we left it at that."

Gital was shocked. "Like I always do?"

"Yes doctor", Floid answered "We have often tried to ask you to join us for lunch or for a game of squash but you have never given a response"

Gital was puzzled once more. "Maybe I am going deaf in my old age or perhaps this is just too exciting to be distracted from. Either way I give you permission to tap me on the shoulder until you get a response."

Floid smiled. He could scene that the respect was mutual between the group. The two of them continued to talk down the hall to the lunchroom where they joined the others already seated at a table.

Only minutes behind Gital and Floid, Vansa entered the lunchroom quietly taking his seat.

“Well”, asked Loknell.
“They say it will take about four to six days to repair the damage to the walls and make the modifications put forth by Doctors Gital and Rivan. We have been given this time off from our work as the technicians will need the control room.”
“Oh”, said Loknell looking disappointed – their work after all was their lives.
Harlan slid a plate of food across in front of him. “Get over it. It won’t take long.”

The eating and talking around the table continued for several hours before they were interrupted.

“You are to be congratulated for your work so far gentlemen”, came Marshal Cynath’s voice from the doorway. “The Emperor has been informed of your progress and is quite impressed. With no little amount of nudging from Marshal Aerlan and myself he has granted you an increase in funds, somewhere around two trillion dollars.”

The scientists were speechless. They had never been given close to that amount for their work before.

“I expect that expectations have increased by that much too then Marshal”, probed Vansa.
“Of course. But you have done well so far, it should not be difficult to continue so.”
For you, came the sarcastic reply that lucky failed to leave his mouth. “Not at all.”

Vansa though for a moment. “A demonstration perhaps? I think we have gathered enough over the past weeks for a little annihilation.”

========================================================================

The group of eleven exited the elevator on the twenty-seventh floor. The Lamehken’s had not been informed of this yet but a test chamber had been built in next to the decelerator and the collection room, though it was shielded from them by inches of armoured/steel walls.
Having previously gone down to the deepest part of the facility to the secure lockup, Vansa had retrieved the sample they had managed to collect so far. It sat suspended in a large bulky portable electromagnetic chamber.

“Roughly zero point zero zero zero seven four grams”, he said proudly. “Basically seven ten thousandths of a gram”, he explained for two Marshals benefit.

Vansa entered a code into the test room door and entered, placing the vessel in the center of the room and then quickly leaving, sealing the door behind him.

“The glass is shielded but I don’t know how effective it will be.”

They covered their eyes partially and waited. Vansa explained that when he pushed the button on the wall the room itself would generate a field that would counteract the forces holding the sample in suspension – then he flicked open its cover and push it.

The chamber exploded into a bright white light that illuminated the entire corridor then rapidly shrank back into darkness. The scientists found it hard to see in the quick changes of contrast but there was little enough to see. The container in the room had vanished and the heavily fortified window looked like it had suffered some melting.

“A point zero one kiloton explosion”, Vansa laughed, “one hundred and fifty times less than what we expect to be making into missiles.”

OOC: Does it have to do with your little antimatter project?

OOC: Not exactly. The primary reason is to test out the ships - firepower, systems, defenses etc. I'm going to make an OOC thread so we can continue in there in a minute.

Annihilation! An appropriate description Dr Gital thought as he surveyed the melted window. Fortunately for them the test blast had been small, in terms of total mass annihilated, if it were any bigger the reinforced chamber would have been unable to withhold it. Just then a thought occurred to Dr Gital.

"Dr Vansa", Gital turned and addressed the scientist politely, "What is the densest substance known to your scientific team?"

Not wanting to be rude Gital continued without waiting for a reply explaining his train of thought.

"We have seen with the tungsten test that an increase in density increases the amount of antimatter produced. It is my belief that if we increase the density of the target the amount of antimatter will increase exponentially."

Slowing slightly Gital added. "If you are able to give me the properties the densest know substance I will be able to provide you with conclusive test data for the better or worse within a couple of hours."

Of course! It was the single thought in Doctor Vansa’s mind, even before Doctor Gital finished explaining his idea.

“Tiranaide metal”, he finally replied half to himself his face turning a shade of red, “It was there all along and we overlooked it.”

Getting over his elated and yet embarrassed realization, the doctor elaborated for the Lamehken scientist’s benefit.

“Several years ago now we developed a new alloy called Tiranaide, right here in this facility. It is fabricated at the molecular level, each atom precisely positioned. It’s dense enough and may just do the trick. All the information you require is in the labs on level 22. I will have it send down as soon as possible.”

It took five long minutes for the required data to be sent down from the lab on level 22. After the information was retrieved Dr Gital and the rest of the Lamehken scientists sat down to program the simulations. A buzz of excitement was in the air once more and everyone was working feverishly on the new diagnostics.

As the calculations and results fell into place a renewed sense of achievement came over the scientists.

This is going to change the world Dr Gital thought to himself as he busily typed on the wireless keypad in front of him.No amount of armour will be able to save you when a missiles loaded with this goes off.

Although working together each of the Lamehken scientists established calculations for the same simulation. The slightest error, Gital thought, And it might be more than just the accelerator that gets damaged. The combined data sets were to be collaborated to insure that each was showing the same outcomes and to limit if not avoid all together any mistakes in the calculations.

The problem was that even if the simulations were completed that afternoon the accelerator would not be fixed for several more days after the last incident. Another reason why all five Lamehken scientists were working separately on the same problem. The more eyes to spot any mistakes in the collaborated data the better. Dr Gital pondered. Especially if those eyes include mine.

Five lengthy hours later the data from each of the simulations had been collected, reviewed, tweaked, re-run and reviewed once more. Dr Gital was finally convinced after the final simulation came back with positive results that it was time to show the findings to Dr Vansa.

Loading the information once again onto a USB drive the Lamehken scientists left their consoles. Finding Dr Vansa in the control room supervising the repairs Dr Gital handed him the small storage devise with a smile of content on his face.

Vansa turned at the sound of Doctor Gital’s entry to the control room. One look at the scientist’s face told him everything he wanted to know about the Lamehken teams work.

“The results are promising then”, he said taking the small device from Gital and sitting down at the computer next to him. He offered Doctor Gital the other chair and then proceeded to plug the USB into a port.

It took mere seconds before the data appeared on the screen. And it took just as little time until Vansa’s face grew the same smile of content as Gital’s.

“Double the particle density of Tungsten – double the number of colliding protons that should split and the current speed levels”, the excited Doctor read out loud from the summary of the report. “Projected output: 2x Tungsten output. Test data confirms.”

Vansa spun his chair around to face Doctor Gital. “Combined with our other modifications to the accelerator, this may well achieve our goal or as close to as we will ever get it. The only question now is will the particle accelerator be able to handle a constant production at such levels without failures like last time?”

"I believe," Dr Gital began but quickly changed his wording. "In theory, yes the accelerator would be able to handle the molecular output without sustaining problematic damage, however if we once again increase the magnetic field around the collision sight more particles will be saved and maintenance costs and or delays lessened."

Dr Gital paused momentarily after addressing Dr Vansa and began to ponder the future. With the project nearing completion he wondered if Yallak would have any further use for himself or the rest of the Lamehken scientists.

As he was focused on future events another obstacle presented itself in the forefront of Dr Gital's mind.

"Dr Vansa," He began politely readdressing the Doctor before him. "Have your scientist give any thought towards the antimatter's delivery means? From what I have observed hear a conventional warhead would not be a sufficient delivery service."

Silence filled the room for what seemed like minutes as Vansa considered Doctor Gital’s suggestion, although it would have been mere seconds.

“Then theory will have to suffice for the present”, he finally replied, “if we increase the field strength again that will result in another impact speed reduction - which means higher running costs and expensive upgrades to maintain a high level of production and if we don't then we suffer another relative decrease in levels of production.”

There was another minute pause.

“The accelerator will be operational again by the end of the day. I will speak with the Marshals before then but I think we will just test it as is and hope for the best – but this time be prepared for an emergency shutdown.”

Doctor Vansa shut down the computer screen before him, removing the USB device and placing it into his chest pocket, giving it a slight pat to make sure it was secure and in a comfortable position.

“As for you question, the simple answer is no. There was no point working on a delivery system when we were so far from having anything to deliver with it. I am pleased to say though, that if our test tonight is successful then we will begin our work on such a delivery system first thing tomorrow, because you are quite correct – conventional warheads will achieve nothing but friendly fire incidents.”

ExcellentDr Gital thought. The progress the Lamehken scientists had made concerning the antimatter had not made them redundant, yet. There was still a great deal to work on before the antimatter would be ready for active service and during that time Gital was happy to stay on at the Yallakan lab.

The whole experience was like a dream come true for Gital. He always hoped that he would be part of one of the great scientific breakthroughs of his time yet he previously doubted his chances. Not that the Lamehken science facilities were bad there simply was not the funding or the power supply to support a project of any significant scale.

Gital stared absent mindedly at a small smudge on the wall and wondered what opportunities would be available for him once this project was over. Quickly shacking his head to bring himself back to reality Gital suppressed the thoughts of the future and decided instead on a game of foosball.

Accelerator Control Room
Project Defiler: Day 52

The test was set. Scientists stood positioned around the control room eagerly awaiting the beginning of the second production test. The room was filled with silent anticipation as the main terminal counted down the few remaining seconds until the accelerator would activate.

Faint murmurs accompanied the activation of the particle accelerator, several of the scientists placing bets upon whether or not the accelerator would survive the test (double odds were on whether or not the scientist themselves would live). The noise from bleeping computers, flashing coloured lines and numbers could still clearly be heard as the test data came rolling in.

The Tiranaide target had been put into place in the newly repaired accelerator only hours before and Doctor Vansa leaned in over Doctor Loknell to look at one of the sensor readouts.

‘Progress?’ he inquired.

‘Good,’ reported Loknell, ‘production rate approaching ten to the seven and still climbing.’

As they watched the other scientists gathered around them, squashing in closely to be able to seen the screen. Last time the accelerator had reached rates this high the device had had an internal explosion.

‘Rate is now approaching ten to the twelve,’ Loknell continued excitedly, ‘it is still increasing. We are going to make our target.’

‘We’ll see,’ replied Vansa in his usual logically manner.

A few moments later and Vansa got to see it. ‘The production rate is just below ten to the sixteen and stabilizing,’ declared Loknell, satisfied with the progress.

‘The magnetic field is also holding,’ added Rivan, ‘minimal scattering detected.’

A chorus of cheers resounded from the spectating crowd.

"Ha. In your face Floid," Trelk punched his fist in the air, "You owe me five chocolate bars and two cans of coke."

"Ok, ok I am just as happy as you are that we are all still alive" Floid smiled handing over the credit card he, like the others, had been issued.

As with Trelk and Floid all the Lamehken scientists where ecstatic that the production goal had been reached without major problems, however Gital could not shake the feeling that their usefulness was wearing thin. There was no possible way all of them would be required for the next stage of the project.

"Ok people," Gital addressed the lamehken scientists quietly so as not to be heard, "Party is over. We must get back to work if we want to stick around."

The others looked at him in amazement for a short time before Cretal spook.

"I have a wife and three kids at home that I have not seen for fifty two days. Do you not want to go home?"

Gital paused for a wile and let Cretal's statement sink in. Back home there was no one waiting for him other than Emperor Malus who always appreciated his work.

"No, not particularly. Even though I love my country I feel like I could do a lot more for Lamehk right here."

With that Gital left the group of his colleagues to party with the other scientists and headed back to his computer console to continue work on a new projectile design.

The group of scientists once again gathered into the spacious briefing room off to the right of the control center. Vansa ushered his colleagues into the high backed seats and then walked down to the small desk at the front. His folder of documents still lay exactly where he had left it after the initial meeting and he leant down to open it, flipping the small latch and pulling out a several papers.

Taking a seat behind the desk, Vansa straightened out his long white lab coat and cleared his throat. ‘Well, Gentlemen,’ he began, giving a welcoming nod to the two Imperial Marshals as they hurriedly entered the room and took their seats, ‘yesterday we achieved our primary objective – a viable production rate.’

Vansa paused for a moment and waited for the few whistles and cheers to subside. ‘Now we move on. Development of a specialized delivery system.’

‘Doctor Gital,’ Vansa continued, ‘I believe you have already begun working on something. Have you made any progress yet?’

Doctor Gital was surprised at first. He had not mentioned his continual work or progress to any of the scientist thus far, however he soon realised that Vansa's knowledge of his work was completely reasonable.

He was delusional if he though for a second that his progress and use of the computer was not being monitored. On top of this Gital had questioned Vansa on this very matter and logically Gital realised that Vansa would have expected Gital to ask for a reason.

"Yes," Gital replied quickly hiding his look of surprise. "I have been working on shrinking the original storage device for use in conventional warheads however I have not yet considered how the container will be breached or whether a convectional warhead would suffice? "

Gital proposed the question to Vansa and the other scientist present and left them to ponder the answer while he continued.

"At present I have plans for a container ten centimetres in length that holds the antimatter between intersecting magnetic fields. The only problem I have with the design is there is no power source small enough to be used in a missile."

Gital left the question to hang and be pondered by those present and retook his seat.

The other Lamehken scientists were stunned by his level of commitment to the project and marvelled at the amount of work he had completed in such little time.

‘Well, a detonation system is all part of what we need to create over the following days after the actual container is complete,’ replied Vansa, himself surprised by the deep progress that Gital had already reached, though he was very good at hiding emotional expressions.

‘As for a power source, it is interesting that you mention that,’ Vansa continued, answering his Lamehken counterparts questions, ‘I had just been reading up on some information that recently came through.’

The chief scientist ruffled through the pages he had pulled out of his folder and grabbed a stapled pile of about six pages.

‘I believe this may interest you, Doctor Gital,’ he exclaimed standing up to pass the document across the table to the other scientists, ‘and it may just fulfill one of our needs.’

The first page, as to be expected, read: HIGHLY CLASSIFIED in a large red font.

The Dynamic Tuning of Liquids on a Nanostructured Surface

Professor R. Mackay and Doctor Tom N. Tobias

IRDN Complex, Sub Level 15, Department of Nanotechnology.
Research Project 154

Preliminary report received: September 8, 2005. Finalized: February 2, 2006

Summary/Discovery:

Using nanostructured superhydrophobic surfaces etched with a microscopic array of cylindrical posts (diameter of about 350 nm and a height of about 7 ųm) into the surface of a silicon wafer coated in an oxide layer thermally grown to provide electrical isolation between the substrate and the liquid and a thin layer of a low-surface-energy polymer, the research team has created a high density battery capable of withholding its energy indefinitely, until activated by an applied voltage.

It is well known that the contact angle of a liquid droplet on a smooth, unstructured surface is usually a monotonic function of the liquid surface tension. During our investigation we determined that our nanostructured surfaces would exhibit the same type of behavior, using several types of liquids including water, alkanes, alcohols, ionic liquids and various mixtures of these. Unlike the case with smooth surfaces however, the contact angle of our surfaces exhibited abrupt jumps to three different states; see D154 A1.

D154 A1: For high-surface-tension liquids [such as water, surface tension 72 mN/m, or molten salt (1-ethyl-3-methyl-1H-imidazolium tetrafluoroborate), 62 mN/m], the droplet formed a highly mobile ball with the contact angle õ - 180°. For liquids with lower surface tensions (such as cyclopentanol, 33 mN/m, and octanol, 28 mN/m) the droplet underwent a transition to a completely immobile state with a much smaller contact angle. Finally, for liquids with even lower surface tensions (such as 2-propanol, 24 mN/m, and methanol, 23 mN/m), the droplet appeared to completely wet the substrate.

This ultimately proved useless though, as practical applications are limited because the surface tension of the liquid cannot be substantially adjusted without a change composition of the liquid. Any feasible device would require both the solid substrate and the composition of the liquid to remain unchanged.

We achieved this using electrowetting instead of the surface tension to control the contact angle of the liquid on the substrate (applying a constant voltage between the droplet and the silicon substrate). With no voltage applied, a droplet of molten salt formed a highly
mobile ball; see D154 A2a (on attachment). With the application of less than 18 V, the droplet underwent a sharp transition to the
immobile droplet state; see D154 A2b (on attachment). As the applied voltage exceeded about 20 V, the contact angle dramatically decreased and the suspended liquid droplet collapsed to filled the available substrate area; see D154 A2c (on attachment). (The
details of this transition dynamics are available on the video clips I154 A3).

Using scanning electron microscopy the degree of penetration of the
liquid into the nanostructure substrate investigated; see I154 A4. In short the mobile and immobile rolling ball state allowed for no penetration of liquid in the layer. The droplet showed clear imprints of the tips of the cylindrical posts, but there were no signs of embedding into the polymer. In the case of the immobile droplet, the liquid clearly penetrated all the way to the bottom of the substrate.

Conclusion/Final Results:

These developments have allowed us to create a high-density battery that will not dissipate energy whatsoever until activated. Levitating liquid droplets of an electrolyte above the surface of an electrode upon the ends of tiny stalks of silicon the battery remains dormant. An applied voltage brings the electrode and electrolyte together through a wetting process starting the chemical reaction.

The devices size is equivalent to a thin square microchip, yet holds greater surface area than any conventional battery and thus can without far greater energy (it can also deliver greater amounts at a time if needed).

There are many practical uses for this device, recommend further work on this project.

Doctor Gital's eyes lit up. Here in front of him was the solution to his power problem. This small nano-battery seemed, to him, to be the ideal size and power output for use in the missile design.

As Gital read the paper with great interest two questions formed in his mind.

"Doctor Vansa. Are these new nano-batteries just like regular batteries in as much as are they rechargeable and can they be used in series?"

‘Somewhat like a normal battery, yes,’ began Vansa without even hesitating to consider the answers. When it came to the work done in his facility there was nothing he couldn’t recall. ‘It is possible to recharge them by simply replacing the electrolyte, though as they are very cheap to mass produce it is just as simple to disassemble the depleted cases, melt their components down and then reinsert them into the production line. We are yet to determine which method is more cost effective.’

‘And yes, they can be linked into series to increase the power capacity, or output if needed.’

Doctor Gital was impressed. Doctor Vansa clearly knew the workings of the laboratory inside and out.

"This is very good news doctor Vansa," Gital was pleased that his hard work and effort had not been for nothing, "I will review the plans for the container and make the necessary modifications needed to incorporate the nano-batteries. I believe the total length of the container including batteries will come out to be fifteen centimetres in length. If this length is acceptable I will have the plans to you by this afternoon."

And with that Doctor Gital took his leave from the briefing room and headed to his terminal to begin work straight away.

‘I look forward to seeing them,’ Vansa replied, nodding his goodbye to the departing Doctor, ‘I will have some of the batteries sent to you.’

After Gital had left, Vansa dispatched his team to go and gather some of the batteries from Sub Level fifteen.

‘Make sure you get enough,’ he called out to Rivan as the trio left to carry out the task.

That left only the Lamehken scientists and the Marshals in the briefing room. Vansa dismissed the Lamehken team to either get some R and R or to go and help Doctor Gital. He would have to explain to the Marshals what the hell had just happened in the room and give them the simplified version of the battery report.

He Lamehken scientist left the briefing room and headed to their assigned computer terminals. As they rounded the corner they found Doctor Gital bent low over one of the keyboards furiously typing.

"Hey Doctor Gital," Floid called in a friendly manner, "is there anything we can do to help you?"

Gital kept typing so Floid and the others went and closer, floid putting his hand on Gital's back as he approached.

Gital jumped and quickly turned to see who was behind him. Seeing the startled faces of his own colleagues Gital remembered that he had told floid to get his attention if he did not answer them.

"Ah sorry to startle you. I was just so focused on this design I had not heard you call out." Gital said grinning.

"That is ok Doctor. It is I who should be apologising to you.," Floid said clearly glad that he had not given Gital a heart attack, "We were just wondering if you needed any help with your design?"

"No, no the plans are coming along quite well the container itself if done it is the battery chamber that is slowing me down. What I really need it to see one of these nano-batteries for myself. That way I know what sizes I am actually dealing with." Gital answered Floid's offer casually.

"Well that should not be a problem Doctor as Vansa has just sent Rivan and two others to get some. We will go and see if we can help and also bring one to you." Floid was glad there was something that they could actually do. Most of the progress had been made by Gital and he was feeling a bit obsolete.

"That would be most helpful thankyou," and with that Gital turned back to his monitor and his furious typing.

The elevator doors open to Rivan and his collegues, revealing Doctor Floid and the other four Lamehken scientists standing in the hallway beyond, obviously waiting to get in.

Lucky we found them before they suffered the embarrassment of being unable to use the elevator, thought Rivan, assuming that they had been sent to help, as he stepped out from the elevator greeting the Lamehkens. Their cards only allowed them to access sub level 27 and the surface.

‘What can we do for you?’ he asked, as Loknell and Harlan emerged from behind him into the hallway, carrying a large silver metal case.

Floid was glad the Yallakian scientist were here as he clearly remembered doctor Vansa telling them all that their passes did not allow them to go anywhere else but the twenty seventh floor.

"Yes we were hoping to run into you or Doctor Vansa. Doctor Halvan said casually. "Doctor Gital does not require our direct input into the container design. He would however like to see one of the batteries for himself so the can get the dimensions right. We figured we might be able to help you in your retrieval of the batteries or prehaps start work on the warhead or propulsion systems?"

Since Gital's spiel on doing what is best for Lamehk the other scientists had changer their attitudes to the long timeframe of the project and were doing everything possible to facilitate its completion.

‘Here you go then,’ said Harlan, handing the silver case over to Floid. It was fairly small, but its reinforced steel walls still gave it a decent weight. On the front panel was several locking mechanism to prevent the device from being able to open in the event of a drop. ‘You’ll need this too,’ continued Harlan, placing a key into the Lamehkens pocket.

‘Anyway,’ interjected Rivan, ‘there is not much to do at the moment. Until the particle container is finalized we cannot do much with the warhead development.’

‘And the propulsion systems will be developed at Lycome engineering,’ Loknell reminded him from behind.

Harlan, ignoring his colleagues mid sentence intervention, continued to fill in the Lamehkens about the case. ‘You’ll find the specifications and dimensions of the batteries contained on the information sheet inside.’

'We will be in the cafeteria if you care to join us,’ he added, turning to leave.

"Excellent" Floid said while shifting his weight to compensate for the suprising weight of the case. "We will meet you their once we have checked or Doctor Gital. Thankyou for your help."

After saying goodbye the Lamehken scientists headed back to Gital. Finding him still working Floid placed the case on the desk beside him and inserted the key to open it.

The movement caught Doctor Gital's attention and he stopped typing and looked up from his computer.

"We have found you one of the batteries," Gital said while lifting the lid of the case, "and hear," he said while removing the pieces of paper inside, "are the specifications you needed."

"Thankyou Floid," Gital said, "by the look of that case I do not think I would have liked getting it myself."

"It was no problem Doctor." Floid answered. "If there is nothing else you require we will be in the cafeteria."

"No, no you lot run along it will be about another hour before I can join you." Gital finished his sentence and turned to the sheets then back to the computer and was instantly lost in his work once more.

The other Lamehken scientists headed for the cafeteria all suddenly quiet hungry.

Briefing Room – Sub Level 27
Project Defiler: Day 57

Doctor Vansa once again found himself standing before his team of scientists and the two Marshals, seated quietly in the high backed chairs of the briefing room. This time he ignored his folder and remained standing to address the group. Clearing his throat he began.

‘We find ourselves at the second milestone of our project gentlemen – a viable method of equipping a weapon with an anti-matter warhead. However, we will soon have achieved this goal. If you are ready Doctor Gital, we are looking forward to seeing the final design of the canister you have been working on.’

He stepped to the side of the desk, motioning with his arm for Doctor Gital to come to the front. A computer had been set up for him, linked to an overhead digital projector.

Gital stood from where he was seated and headed to the front of the room. Once behind the computer he inserted his trusty USB drive and opened the file concerning the container development. Behind him the screen displayed the containers blueprints so all of those present could view it clearly.

"The container," Doctor Gital began, "is a miniature version of the containers already used in antimatter storage. The power supply," Doctor Gital now pulled a laser pointer from his pocket to indicate the area he was talking about, "consists of twenty-four nano-batteries connected in series. Each battery is zero point two one centimetres in length. These batteries will supply the one hundred and eight to one hundred and thirty volts and the seventeen point five amps required for the container to operate at maximum efficiency for the total time of two point seven hours."

Gital switched slides to display the container element of the design and continued with his presentation.

"The new container, unlike the originals will be ten centimetres in length, contain a voltage balancer to stabilise the electric flow of so many cells connected in series and be roughly six centimetres in diameter. The overall length of the container, that is including battery casing, will be fifteen centimetres and suitable to be equipped to a small propulsion system."

With that Doctor Gital left the front and retook his seat.

‘Well done, Doctor,’ said Vansa returning to his desk, ‘an excellent design – such a compact canister should now be quite easily made to fit into any weapon system. But now however, unless anyone else has anything to add or any questions, our part in this project has come to an end, for the moment anyway.’

Vansa paused, allowing a few moments incase anyone wanted to make a comment, then resumed his report. ‘Marshal Aerlan will now take the blueprints of the finalized canister off to Yallakian Arms where an appropriate missile design will be created.’

Switching off the projector and removing the USB device from his computer, Vansa sat down behind his desk. ‘In better news,’ he said, gathering all his papers and the USB and putting them into his folder, ‘we have been granted leave until such time as we are needed here again.’

‘You have been granted temporary permits for passage throughout the Empire for this period,’ he continued, looking at the Lamehken scientists, ‘they will be given to you once our transport has taken us from this facility.’

IRDN Facility, Loading Dock 2
Project Defiler: Day 74

With little warning the dead silence of the morning erupted into the throbbing of engines and headlights. Scattered movement among the facilities surface buildings pinpointed patrolling guards moving into a position where they could watch over the arriving vehicles.

The new arrivals, passing quickly between the identical ‘cellblocks’ that gave the complex the look of a detention facility, arrived at the end of the road, pulling to a stop with the small, square ‘Administration building’ off the their left. To the right was the parking lot and behind that a single long, fat structure, its entire side just two sets of large, solid mechanical doors.

The lead vehicle, a Darkhorse Infantry Fighting Vehicle, took a long loop behind the convoy, taking up a defensive position just after the last vehicle. The remaining vehicles, two heavy container transport trucks, reversed in towards the long building. The complex returned to its state of dark and silence almost instantly as the trucks parked and switched off, their cargo containers positioned only millimeters from the left hand side mechanical doors, which simultaneously ground to a halt; now wide open.

The facility patrols now melted back into the night, resuming their routes as a handful of soldiers flung open the two trucks containers and their ramps and began to haul out crates into the shadowy interior of the Loading Dock.

***************

Several levels down, IRDN staff waded through the newly arrived freight, checking off the inventory against their order invoice. As they pushed through the arduous task, one case caught their attention. Unlike most of the crates that were filled with standard supplies, maintenance equipment or the typical materials you’d expect to find in a science laboratory, this one was electronically sealed and had no labeling save the words Priority Shipping (Level 27). Another stack next to it was similar in all respects except that it contained seven much larger cases and was destined for a different level of the facility.

A sense of awe filled the Lamehken scientists as they exited their transport under the looming shadow of the gigantic Imperial palace. Impressive was not the word for the scene that lay before them. The palace looked like a huge fortress of epic proportions that could only be any safer if it were buried underground.

The Lamehken scientist only received a brief glimpse of the palace, as their schedule was tight with not knowing how much time they had before being called back.

Hoping back into the transport the five were headed to the Yallakian Museum of History, hoping to learn more about the culture when a transmission came over the on board radio.

Scientists from Lamehk. New materials concerning recent activities have arrived. Please stop what you are doing and return immediately to the lab. Dr Vansa out.

The driver immediately turned the vehicle around and a look of disappointment fell across the scientist faces.

"To the lab" Dr Floid said in a whiny tone, "I was just beginning to get used to the sun again."

"Looks like the museum will have to wait," Dr Gital said although he was extremely happy with the prospect of getting back to work. "There will be plenty of time for sight seeing once our job is done here so right now all we should focus on is the task ahead of us."

With the words of Gital's statement still in their minds the Lamehken scientists headed ungrudgingly back to the laboratory.

‘Over here, gentlemen,’ called Vansa as he eyed the somewhat disappointed Lamehken scientists entering the control room, then he hurriedly disappeared into the briefing room, excitedly waving all the scientist to follow.’

As the group piled into the briefing, Vansa now stood with the two marshals around the room’s desk. In front of them was a one and a half meter metal case. Without even waiting for the group to finish being seated, he began to speak.

‘I’m sorry your ‘leave’ was so short, but the pinnacle of our efforts has been achieved and I for one didn’t want to put of this moment. Marshal Aerlan.’

The Imperial Field Marshal stepped to the side of the unmarked case and inserted a tiny data card that looked somewhat like a computer circuit board and then entering a pass code, he flipped the case lid up. Inside, tightly secured, was a single prototype missile.

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b23/Yallak/Imperial%20Ordinance/1f1050f5.jpg

‘Our delivery system,’ declared Vansa happily. ‘The second last step in our project is finished. It is designated the ASGAM-1 ‘Defiler’ and while our Marshals would be happy to give you all the details you may want on it, I can tell you that it fits our requirements perfectly – small, fast and specifically engineered to hold one of our miniature canisters.’

‘Only one thing remains, now,’ he concluded, a massive grin spread across his face.

Doctor Gital looked at the other Lamehken scientist who appeared to be as confused as he was. As far as they were all concerned their role in this project was over, but it seemed that Doctor Vansa had other plans.

It was Doctor Trelk who was the first to speak up amongst the Lamekhen scientists. "Doctor Vansa, we were under the impression that the project was finished since a suitable missile design has been found." At this stage Trelk paused and indicated to the missile sitting on the table in front of him "What other uses do you have for us?"

‘Uses,’ repeated Vansa thoughtfully. ‘There is nothing else that needs you used on it at the immediate time.’

Still wearing his grin, Vansa paused for a moment, more to enjoy the confusion he was causing than for anything else. ‘On the other hand,’ he finally continued, motioning to the missile snuggly fitted into the case on the desk, ‘we still haven’t used that yet.’

Realisation crept over the faces of the Lamehken scientist's slowly dissolving the haze of confusion that had once hung there. Doctor Gital was the first to brake through the mental fog and became extremely joyous as he mused on the possibilities concerning Doctor Vansa's announcement.

Yallak has already found a target for the first "public" display of antimatter. A wide grin started to visibly reflect the Gital's thought. No doubt it will be a target of great military importance or at the very lest one that would send a strong message to Yallaks aggressors and the rest of the world

Gital turned to the rest of his comrades and watched as each gained their own understanding and wide grins.

Doctor Floid, who was now clearly shacking in his seat with excitement, could no longer contain himself. Springing up out of his chair he began to ask the question they had all wanted to.

"Doctor Vansa, if there is one thing most scientists have in common it the enjoyment of making objects explode, disintegrate and generally combust, what test target did you have in mind?"

‘I don’t know, Doctor Floid, but I’ve been assured by our good Marshals that we will find it to our liking,’ answered Vansa.

‘And you will,’ interjected Aerlan, ‘a helicopter will be arriving in an hour to take us to the test site. Have yourselves and everything you need, ready and in the loading bay by then.’

‘That is more than enough time, Marshal,’ Vansa said turning away to face his own team, his hands resting on the missile. ‘Retrieve the first canister and the portable generator, lock it up and get it to the loading dock. I’ll see to this case.’

***************

The helicopter took off in the fading light of the afternoon. The scientists sat with the two Marshals on either side of the fuselage, near the cockpit and tail of the craft. In the center of the floor, taking up much of the available space was a heavy steel safe, holding the anti-matter canister connected to a portable generator as well as a loose battery pack. Beyond the open sides of the helicopter stretched the vastness of the ocean.

As they had passed over the coastline of the Empire almost one and a half hours ago, even Doctor Vansa had become confused as to where they could possibly be going. He looked down at his watch. Nine forty eight. Only about twenty minutes left now, he thought, as he gazed out into the growing darkness.

***************

Doctor Rivan woke feeling like his stomach was bloated and ready to explode. His room rocked side to side as he sat upright in an attempt to offset the horrible feeling. I hate boats. He was unlikely to be the only one.

At almost ten o’clock, the helicopter had touched down aboard the Imperial Carrier IYS Summoner. Now, after months of living below ground without windows, a night aboard the rough ocean was too much for some of the scientists.

Struggling to quickly get dressed, Rivan left his bunk and headed off to join the briefing. He was already running late.

***************

‘Thanks for deciding to join us, Doctor,’ called Marshal Cynath from the front of the ships briefing room. Rivan sat down quickly, and Cynath continued unabated. ‘The test will begin at thirteen hundred hours today. Any questions?’

The room was silent. Then as expected, Doctor Rivan put his hand up. Cynath motioned to him with his hand.

‘What is the target, Marshal?’ he asked still feeling somewhat uncomfortable on the waves of the ocean.

Cynath smiled. ‘Why, it’s a DMG Atlantis-class Super Dreadnought.’

The Lamehken scientists too were feeling the effects of the sea as they sat in the briefing room. Doctor Floid was the lest worried with his new surroundings, being a bio-physicist he was used to the sea and was more comfortable here then back at the laboratory.

The announcement that they were testing the design against a foreign vessel had not take them by surprise, however specific details such as the targets status and ramifications of the test darted through the scientists minds.

"Marshal. Is this DMG ship an actual military threat or is it one you have acquired by other means?" Doctor Cretal spoke up voicing the thoughts of the group.

‘I will assume that by ‘actual threat’ you meant, was it controlled by DMG,’ replied the Marshal. ‘No. The ship was purchased several months ago, after which it was put through an array of combat trials and other tests. With that done, it has now been turned over to us for this trial.’

Marshal Cynath taped a button on his computer changing the image on the projector screen behind him from the tactical map of the test to an image of a very large dreadnought.

‘As you can see, the vessel no longer looks like it once did. Many parts of the ship were dismantled during testing. Our engineers also found a few decently worthwhile parts among the otherwise primitive craft and they are now awaiting your return at the IRDN. Overall though, the ship has been patched up and even reinforced, giving it even better defence and structural integrity than before – making it the perfect test slash demonstration we could have, short of using the missile against this craft.'

Cretal and the other Lamehken scientists laughed at Marshal Cynath's humour. Clearly even if the DMG ship was manned it would pose no military threat anyway. Yallak's cunning allowed the test to start no immediate conflict between rival nations but would still demonstrate Yallaks new capabilities.

It was Gital's turn to voice his thoughts. "Well everything seems to be in order, except for one thing."

Gital paused for a moment before continuing.

"That DMG ship is still afloat."

International Waters, IYS Summoner, 12:31 PM
Project Defiler (Weapons Trial 1): Day 80

The ASF-32 ‘Shadow’, sat idling on the carrier deck under the shadows of the cloudy sky. Although it was almost the middle of the day, the sun found it a hard fight to get even the slightest rays of light down to the ocean and carrier below.

Beneath the fuselage of the plane, technicians finished securing the prototype ASGAM-1 to the ventral hardpoint, as the pilot ascended his way into the cockpit.

‘Now remember you have only two hours and forty two minutes until the missiles battery is depleted,’ Vansa called after the man, ‘I strongly recommend that you fire it off well before that. Good luck, Halita.’

Giving a nod of acknowledgement, Halita jumped down into his ejection seat and locked the cockpit shut.

The clock was already counting.

***************

‘Is everything in position, Captain?’ asked Marshal Cynath, bringing up the ships tactical display to check on things for himself.

‘Yes, Marshal. The dreadnought is in position, its crew has been evacuated and the surveillance craft has reported a green light.’

Looking over the display before him showed the Captain to be correct. The DMG designed super dreadnought Endgame sat dead in the water and the modified AWAC which was to record data and footage of the test was flying in a holding orbit around the two ships, which were spaced roughly ten kilometers apart from each other.

Endgame indeed, thought Cynath, turning to look at the target ship through the bridge window, for our enemies. ‘Launch the fighters.’

***************

Squadron Leader Halita, led three fighters from the Squadron ‘Flightknife’ as they sliced through the air only meters above sea level. They had scored many kills during the battle over Xirnium against Torontia’s air force and their proven courage and skill had earned them the privilege of this test.

‘Target ahead. Standby.’

With its enormous size, the Endgame was easily visible already but it grew rapidly into focus as the flight closed to within five kilometers distance.

‘Flightknife to Summoner, we have target acquisition. Awaiting conformation for launch.’

The affirmative reply came back clear and determined.

‘Two, Three: Leader,’ said Halita energetically, ‘Spread wide, begin patrol.’
‘Copy that, Leader. Breaking formation.’

While his two wingmen broke off, heading wide out patrol the perimeter, Halita’s craft didn’t falter on its course. At a distance of four kilometers, the ASF-32 began to pull up. Rising away from the water and banking slightly to the right, a black, meter long dart streaked out from Halita’s undercarriage.

‘Weapon deployed. Impact in seven seconds.’

***************

Halita’s plane had barely rejoined his wingmen as the ASGAM-1 slammed into the starboard hull of the Endgame. All eyes, sensors and cameras were focused on the DMG super dreadnought – and then it was gone.

The point of impact exploded into a bright white light that illuminated the dark sky under the building storm clouds. It seemed to hang in the air for minutes, though in reality it was only a split second, before it expanded outwards rapidly dissolving all view of the Endgame. The airborne craft above buffeted roughly under the ensuing shock wave and a tidal scale wave expanded outwards from the blasts center.

Moments later, the light imploded, shrinking upon itself allowing the darkness of the evening to return to the area. As it vanished, the dreadnought became visible again. Or what was left of it anyway. Of the kilometer long vessel, a gaping hole well over one hundred and fifty meters long and nearing almost one hundred meters wide was missing from the ship. The ocean around the hole foamed and bubbled as water poured into the exposed wound, which extended up to the full height of the vessel and down to the waterline and below.

The dreadnought reeled heavily to port, its buoyancy completely compromised. The twisting metal of the interior groaned as it bent and broke. Finally, as the ship lurched heavily, the superstructure finally gave out to the damage and the entire vessel snapped in half with a resounding crack.

From that point, it took a mere forty-nine seconds until the ship disappeared below the waves.

From their viewing location the Lamehken scientists cold see the DMG ship as an imperfection on the otherwise clear horizon. As the three craft streaked away from the carrier the Lamehkens could hardly wait to savour the destruction. Although they already knew what the results of the test would be, watching the outcome play before them inspired all the joy of a child watching fireworks.

The planes disappeared from view and were suddenly replaced by a sphere of light emanating from where the DMG ship once sat, as if someone was unhappy with a pimple and decided to pop it. A large cheer erupted from those watching before everyone started moving at once.

Unfortunately the test was over as soon as it had begun and the Lamehken scientists also relinquished their viewing spot and headed quickly to the briefing room as the shock wave rocked the carrier.

Upon entering the spacious briefing area the Lamehken scientist were not surprised to find it standing room only. It appeared that along with the Yallakian scientist present much of the ship's crew had come to watch the video feed from the AWAC, which was now playing on a continuous loop on a large projector screen.

"I have to get a copy of that," Doctor Floid said a huge grin appeared permanently stuck to his face, "Nothing like a good explosion to lighten one's spirits…and they do not get much better than that."

Form out of no where several bottles of soft drink appeared and all the scientists began to celebrate a successful test.