The Jenefran Air Guard (part 2)

Posted on Sun Sep 11th, 2016 @ 5:08am by Lieutenant Yui Hirasawa & Commodore Samantha York & Commander Hans Munich & 1st Lieutenant Leroy Mangalia

1,465 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: Shadow Dance

[CONTINUED]

[OLD]

"That we store in another building," Praxx said. "I'll take you there next. One of our space craft is down for repairs, so I can show you that, as well."

[NEW]

He led them to a third air ship and pointed out where the ordnance was stored on board, and the tubes through which they were dropped for more accurate targeting. "As they do not travel as fast as your ships, we do have magnification systems to help us target well. We can adjust for speed and wind, then when the target lines up in the cross hairs, we drop the ordnance in the tube. We have a 97% accuracy."

Leroy nodded, as he moved in closer to look at the weapon systems. "Too bad it doesn't work like that on my fighter," he said just loud enough for Yui and the Jenefran to hear. Looking back to the sleek fighter he smiled the produced a padd and started his report on the planet based ships. "What's the max air speed of one of these?"

"These do thirty gleegs. We can get to the border of Jeenfran territory in no time at all," the man said.

Leroy looked up the speed of a gleeg, before raising his eyebrow. It was impressive for an airship to go that fast. "Very well, and whats the capability of your space program? Do you still use retrorockets to break the gravity well for the planet?"

"We use rockets, yes. We can reach warp once we leave the gravity of our star," Praxx replied.

"About how long does that take?" Leroy asked as he looked over his padd and started taking down some notes.

"To leave the system, it takes four to six hours. Warp does not take much time after that."

"You're not able to initiate warp inside your solar system?" Leroy looked up, rather amazed. Hitting a control on his padd, the cockpit to his fighter unlocked and hissed open. "Do you know why your warp device doesn't allow for warp travel inside your system? What happens if you accidentally enter one that isn't your own?"

"The scientists believe it would be detrimental to inter-galactic travel to achieve such speeds within the system." The Jenefran shrugged. "There is no rush to leave our home system. Most of our travel right now is exploratory."

"I have an extra seat in the fighter, or we can take the shuttle and I can show you the sensors of what happens when warp is gotten to before you exit your system. We've been doing it for ages, and there's never been any issues."

Praxx' eyes opened wider. "Perhaps, after the wedding. However, I am not the one you need to convince. Perhaps your Federation can give the Jenefran scientists your data on warp travel?"

Yui simply nodded in response. "The Calyso can do that" she added quietly.

"I unfortunately will not be here during or after the wedding. I have other orders for the Federation I have to complete. There is a chance that once I return to my home I will be able to speak to some of our warp engineers and have them confer information to you that would be beneficial; if you're accepted into the federation of course."

Praxx bowed. "That would be most appreciated. Now, if you will come this way, I will show you one of our rocket ships."

He led them to a large field where a rocket ship sat awaiting repairs.

"What happened to it?" Leroy asked as he remotely locked his fighter again. He didn't need someone taking off in his pride and joy. Not only that but he'd get court martialed if it happened.

"It needs to be degaussed," Praxx said pragmatically. "That requires a complete shutdown, so, it is currently parked juts outside the complex on a hill."

The Rocket SHip was having several tractors pulling an acordian style skelital structure to stretch out the length of the Winged Rocket Ship. Thick cables were being attached to each acrhed structure as the next was pulled until the net of thich cables like ropes between the arches to hold them together and course power through the system. The rocket ship was a long cylindrical ship woth an olyiptic shape; larget in teh front than the rear with a delta wing formation of two triangular wings and vertical stabilizer. Windows along all three decks and gangways on the sides with a glass front control center in the nose and upper third of teh sphereical nose. A long pointed spear off teh front served as an antenna for teh frontal transmitter. three squat landing struts fron the underbelly and tw from teh wings that were longer held the craft steady on the ground.

"We are almost ready...." A bellowing voice of a Jenerian with a surprising beard in his face as he laughed. "We are about to send an alternating magnetic charge through the system once deployed." He had a jovial expression on his face and more relaxed pounch type physique. The going through the atmosphere and such the Rockets aquire a magnetic charge this can build up especially in a north or south orbital course around the planet." He explained and smiled broadly. "W-e-l-l, we cannot have that affecting out electronics so we periodically run an alternating current because as you know it is a Direct Current frequency that in the planet's magnetic field. He gesture broadly. "We just give it a little series of zaps and that makes the hull back to normal; while the field does not affect the vacuum tubes and such the more delicate computer boards tend not to like magnetic fields you know?" He chuckled again. "I am sorry..." He extended a hand. "I am Vultan, leader of the Jenefran Rocket Ship Technical support battalion."

"Leroy Mangalia, Chief Fighter pilot of the USS Calypso," he said taking the proferred hand. "Good to know someone can give me some specs. What's the fight in this thing anyhow?"

"We have the wing mounted Particle Beams and the Nasty Static Projectors." Vultan said. "Her real technical advantage is she cane be in atmosphere as well as space. We are working on a PRoton Torpedo that will give a real..." HE made a fist. "Punch ; if you know what I mean? She is a gunship and fast at sub-light where combat is held coupled with firepower...." He bellowed a laugh. "She may not be as large as your ship but for her size she is ...." He had to think. "I believe the last man to ask that from your people compared it to the type ... nine 'p-h-a-s-e-r bank was it?"

"I wouldn't know without seeing a weapons test," Leroy said with a shrug. "What's her crew compliment and top speed?"

"She has a complement of 78." Vultan told. "From the trials with the last ship it is confirmed she has a Warp five Engine for short periods, four point two is cruising.>" He continued. "Not such a battle Ship such as yours but we have enough to make a good fight should it be needed."

"Warp 2," Praxx muttered under his breath. "They registered Warp 5 once, then the engines blew."

Leroy snorted a laugh and smiled. "It happens, we had a lot of failed experiments when we were trying to reach warp five. They happen, I wouldn't be too hard on these guys. Breaking the light barrier isn't something that comes easy."

Praxx nodded, almost imperceptibly. That was his thinking, too. It had taken the Jenefrans far too long to achieve flight at all, space flight would not come all at once.

"That is true; we have made warp five but I do admit..." He laughed a little. "It was not all that long, your warp three is more of a safe speed we can move at, four is pushing her greatly and five... well, let us say it is possible but very hard to maintain without some minor breakdown."

Praxx nodded. "Indeed. I recognize now that our small fleet pales on comparison to your Starfleet, but it had served us well for generations. As we do not currently colonize other planets, there has been little need for space travel. We look forward to learning from you."

He led Leroy and Yui back to their ships. "I trust you are satisfied with the tour. We will send you the details you have requested later today." He bowed to the two and stood quietly while they climbed in their ships and departed.

When they were gone he turned and headed for the palace, there was much to report to the King.

____
OFF

Praxx
Jenefran Air Guard

Lieutenant Yui Hirasawa
Chief Flight Contol Officer

1st Lieutenant Leroy Mangalia
Flight Leader

Vultan
Jenefran Rocket Ship Technical Support

 

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