NationStates Jolt Archive


A Test of Technology (FT Information)

Cestus Three
31-01-2006, 17:56
Admiral of the Line Samuel Rodriguez stood on the main bridge of the ‘London’ and smiled. This was the latest vessel from the Cestus Three Shipyards, the newest Vanguard Class Solar Cruiser to enter service with the CDF (Navy) branch. As such, she was the first vessel to benefit from new technologies that were being developed by the Cestus Three Defence Research Laboratories. Other vessels would have to be refitted with these technologies within time, and the ‘London’ would have this done also once the promised FTL drive and Communication systems came from the new alien allies of the Cestus Dictatorship. For now, they were trying some home-grown developed technology.

Rodriguez turned to the Captain of the vessel, Gregory Redwall. He leant against one of the guardrails that surrounded the Command Chair, and nodded. “Very well Captain, begin the exercise.”

The Captain nodded, and turned to his Executive Officer. “Send the transmission to the ‘Kennedy’ and standby.”

The Executive nodded. “Aye sir.” He then turned and walked away to the Communications Officer. Redwall turned back to the Admiral. “Sir, with all due respect, do we know this will work?”

Rodriguez looked across at the Captain. “I wouldn’t be standing on the deck of this vessel if I didn’t think it would work.”

Greg began to speak, before the Radar Officer suddenly called out. “Captain, the ‘Kennedy’ has launched a spread of four torpedoes towards us, bearing 221 horizontal mark 031 vertical, impact in twenty seconds.”

Redwall took a deep breath. “Sound Battle Stations, prepare for impact.” The lights of the bridge turned blue, and different areas of the ship acknowledged the order. The Captain then turned to the Executive. “Mister Tamale, deploy the AA1.”

“Aye sir.” The Executive turned and sent on the order. From along the top of the Vanguard, a hatch slid open to allow a device resembling a missile launcher to raise into position and lock. The launcher swivelled as the computer took precious seconds to process the speed and trajectory of the torpedoes before silently belching forth a pair of small missiles. Rodriguez watched on the Holographic Tactical Display on the forward viewer as the missiles leapt forward on an intervening trajectory. When the AA1 devices reached within ten metres of the incoming torpedoes, they exploded in a small nuclear detonation, the small shockwaves expanding outwards in a blast of energy and electromagnetism. The torpedoes exploded with the AA1s, and the Executive turned to the Captain. “Sir, AA1 tests were successful.”

The entire bridge erupted into cheers. Rodriguez smiled. This would help in any upcoming wars, providing a defence against enemy ordnance not previously carried by CDF forces.