The Serpent Fleet

By Fred Files

The end of The Twenty Years War left behind many unanswered questions after it's unexpected sudden end.

Paul Stand runs a small salvage business with his wife and small crew, on his ship, the Trawler. His latest assignment is the tedious task of life boat recovery from a civilian ship shot down during the start of the war.

Paul and his crew, stumble on more than they bargained for when the trail of the escape pods lead them back to more than just a wreck, but to a collection of war-era secrets that many would kill to keep secret.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Jun 11, 2017
• ISBN: 9781387031443

Book preview

The Serpent Fleet

The Serpent Fleet

By

Fred Files

Copyright 2017; All rights reserved.

ISBN:  978-1-387-03279-2

E-book ISBN: 978-1-387-03144-3

Also available:

Fighter in the Sands

Castle of the Golden Eagle

The Serpent Fleet

Prologue

December, 3120 N.E.

Mr. Gout, one of the three highest placed members of the Ready Political Party, walked across the hanger deck along with the honor guard that had been provided for him and his very large staff of assistants and officers.  In many ways, he was directly under President Weatherman in terms of power since the Party won the last election, so Commander Henry Bullard felt the need to make a good impression by providing every pomp and circumstance the official could want.

Bullard’s position as commander of Bowie Shipyards had been a result of one of the promises the Party made to achieve that power:  the creation of new jobs.  Even the Shipyards themselves had not existed before the election, but it was just the first of many new projects.  Bowie Shipyards alone had generated thousands of new jobs, and the starships that would be constructed there would provide even more jobs in the government’s expanding military, even that was just a small step towards Weatherman’s long-term goals.

Bullard had no doubt that Mr. Gout had his own goals within the Party that he wanted to fulfill, and the President had given him the authority to pursue them.

Welcome aboard, Minister Gout, it is a pleasure to meet you, Bullard said.

Thank you, Commander, but I’m not actually a minister.  In fact, the Party has not yet established the title for the position I hold.  It does get confusing.

I’m certain that it does.  I am also surprised to see you out here.  It is Christmas Eve, I would have thought that someone as highly placed as yourself would be home with your family.

Yes, yet the pressures of government mandate that sacrifices must be made.

Of course, sir, maybe next year?

Indeed, Mr. Gout agreed, But to business.  Is it true that your first ten ships are ready?

It is, sir.  I would be happy to give you a tour of the facilities, if you would like.

I think that I would enjoy that.  While we are doing that, most of my men will be inspecting those new ships, if that is acceptable.

Certainly, Bullard agreed, knowing full well that was the reason for Gout’s visit.  That the man asked permission at all was a mere courtesy.

Bullard escorted Gout down the hallway as the inspection teams went down to a lower level that had dock access to the ships under construction.

Right now, we are on the executive level, Bullard explained, from here we can supervise the entire operation of the shipyards.  Below this level are the machine shops where we can alter or manufacture whatever custom parts we need, as well as our supply warehouse and an atmospheric lock where we can perform detailed work on ships.

Gout was guided to an outer observation ring and afforded a magnificent look at the ships and facilities outside.

We now have thirty construction bays in operation, with more planned for later.  We are constructing ships in three waves.  The first wave of ten ships are nearing completion now; the BC01a series, which will be better known as the Mamba class cruiser once the Mamba makes her first flight.  A similar design, the BC02a series will be nearing completion in a couple more months.  We have also begun construction on hulls for the third wave, BC02b.

What is left before the Mamba Class ships are complete?

Purely cosmetic stuff: carpeting, repainting the interiors now that they have been pressurized, as well as the loading and customization of the various science labs.  In addition, final test flights have not been made yet, the ships munitions have not been loaded, and the shuttle craft and fighters have not yet arrived for them.

Is that all?

Not really; but I don’t have the full list memorized.  It may sound like a lot, the ships are fully ready to go into service right now if they were needed.

What is the primary difference between the 01 and 02s?

Bullard pointed out the window to one ship that looked finished and to one that did not.  The Mamba class has a forward-facing landing bay, which is traditional, except the launching tubes are along the side.  Below the bay we have mounted a Monitor Class cannon.

That combined with the four side mounted turrets that I can make out from here, is a lot of firepower.

Yes, but the cannon can interfere with the landing bay, and there are not as many tubes as you are use to on a typical ship.  For the 02s, which we are calling the Crockett class, we did away with the Monitor Cannon, replacing it with an improved sensor suite, and the landing bay will be on the side, to enable additional forward mounted launching tubes.

Gout asked Bullard a variety of other questions about the ships, as well as about the Shipyards themselves.  Again, most of it was simply for show.  Bullard could tell he had already thoroughly researched everything before his visit.

They passed through the main conference room, which had been decorated with an artificial Christmas tree and other assorted decorations for the upcoming holiday.  The tour concluded at the control center, where the entire shipyard operation was on computerized display.  They were met there by two more of Gout’s men, and a distinct absence of any of the shipyard’s normal personnel.

I think that the Mamba class will be suitable for my needs, so I will be taking them with me, Gout informed Bullard.

Excuse me?

You heard me.  I will be taking the entire run of Mamba class ships with me to operate under my direct command at my new government ministry.  You will delete any and all computer references to the existence of the ships.  To everyone else, the first ships produced here will be the Crockett class.

You can’t do that.  You don’t have that kind of authority, no matter how close to the President you are!

This is a government in transition, now that the Party has taken power, and that means the power and authority is mine for the taking, Gout said, But no matter, your wife has suitable insurance on you; she will be proud of the efforts you took on behalf of the Party before an untimely accident took your life.

Accident? Bullard asked, as he tried to back up, but two of Gout’s guards held him firm.

Yes.  You accidentally said no to me, so now you will be victim of a more fatal accident, he said, then turned to one of his men, I think an airlock incident would be suitable.  Part of Gout felt it was a shame that he needed to kill the Commander; in another reality, he would have been a very capable officer.

His men nodded, then dragged Bullard away, while one of Gout’s officers sat behind a computer desk and began deleting computer data from the mainframe and its backups.  Within moments all computer records of the Mamba class ships were all gone.

What about the men who built the ships? the officer asked, We can’t erase their minds. Do we eliminate them too?

Do not worry about that.  Let them talk.  Let them spread stories about the ships they built, of the fleet of ships that does not exist.  Those rumors will go forward to build a mythology around this fleet that people will learn to fear.

Over the next few years, the workers did talk, spreading rumor about the ten missing ships, all named after snakes.  Those stories were matched up with vague reports of strange strikes by unregistered ships, and the legend of the Serpent Fleet began to grow.  News became rumor, rumor became stories and tales of the Serpent Fleet were spread far and wide inspiring a boogie man like fear.  Any appearance of a ship from the Serpent fleet was dreaded by friend and foes alike.

Chapter 1

December, 3152 N.E.

Paul Stand always liked visiting space stations at Christmas time.   During the Twenty Years War, all the stations and ships would do their best to blend into the background, but now, three years after the war’s end, a festive spirit overtook everyone.  The space stations, and most of the ships docked with it, were all decorated for the holidays.  People who lived mainly in space, like himself, came to the stations to celebrate the holidays.

Wendover Station came into view.  It was brightly lit in many festive colors, not just by standard navigational lighting.  Windows were lit in bright greens, blues and yellows, while additional spotlights providing colorful lighting as well as a few well-placed strands of lights. 

Wendover Station, this is the Trawler, on approach for docking, Paul spoke into the radio.

The Trawler was Paul’s personal salvage ship, it was an old tug that had been modified into a sort of cargo hauler.

You’re running behind, Trawler, the voice on the radio said, You’re cleared for berth twelve.  And a reminder:  While in flight, all ships are to use navigational lighting only.  Also, salvage deliveries are closed for the next two days.

Acknowledged, Wendover.  Hope you don’t mind if we do a pass before we dock.

Go ahead, everyone else has.

Paul smiled, then flipped over to the internal intercom.  Attention all hands, we’re on approach to Wendover Station, so come on up for the show.  This means you, Frank: you don’t want to miss this.

Wendover Station slowly grew in the front windows.  Sally Stand, Paul’s wife, arrived first and took her seat at the central computer and communications station.  She was followed by Harry Trope, a large man who took his seat at the navigation console.   The ship’s stocky engineer, Samantha Sam Fulton, came in next followed by the ship’s young intern, Frank Mullins.

Wow, Frank exclaimed.

I told you, Frank, Paul said, no matter how many times you visit a station, it’s always a different experience to see it during the holidays.

Wendover Station’s navigational and docking lights were unchanged, but the station’s accent lights had been changed to red, yellow and green.  More impressive than the lighting on the station itself were the ships that were docked along the station’s docking rings.

One ship had its cone shaped cargo pod covered with green lights, making it look like a Christmas tree with a strand of red lights as garland.  Another ship with a boxier design was covered almost entirely with red, blue and gold lights in random patterns.  A ship in the employ of salvaging rival Bronson was a little more creative in its decorations, outlines of reindeer in white, with red lights to mark out a harness and sled.  The ship called the Pilot’s Light, owned by Captain John Pilot, was a white ship with blue strands of lights in the shape of a Star of David on its bow, with a yellow menorah outlined on the side.  Paul knew that Pilot was not a fan of the Christmas season, but he didn’t know if he had decorated his ship in such a way because he was Jewish or as a simple protest against the season.

Everyone really outdid themselves decorating their ships this year, Sally said.

Yeah, Harry agreed.

Wait, Frank said, just how big are those ships?

With only two and a half decks, he Trawler is a tiny thing next to those guys, Sam told him.  Try counting the number of windows to estimate their height.

Oh, wow, Frank said. Are we going to decorate the Trawler?

I have a few bolts of Christmas lights and magnetic clamps in the Hanger.  If you want to decorate the hull, you’re more than welcome to go outside the ship and do so, Paul answered.

Be kind to him, Sally intervened.  Sam will help if you really want to decorate.

Behind her, Sam rolled her eyes.  Sure, I’ll help, but I’m not doing it by myself again.  Or bringing the lights back in.

Don’t ask me, Harry said.

This is one of the drawbacks of having a small crew, Paul said.

Yeah… Frank said, maybe not this time.

You’re not going to do anything outside to match the tree I set up in the lounge? Sally said.

That small tree is an embarrassment to decorations everywhere, Paul said.

At least it’s something, She replied.

Their pass around the station over, Paul guided the ship into its docking bay, and connected to the station’s mooring lines and airlock gantry. 

We’ll be here for a few days; if you hurry you can still make it before the banks close.  I doubt they’ll be open tomorrow. Paul said, and pulled out his crew’s long overdue