Rae Summers: A New Beginning Chapter 11 By: Desiree Jones   Character's Rae, Lana and Valen BuiLieutenant from several source Books, GURPS by Steve Jackson, Robotech RPG Book Four: Southern Cross from Palladium Games and Champions by Hero Games. This is a work of fantasy. Special thanks to Senior Editor Jenna FL, stanman63, Maid Joy, Faraway, cyclist, and Erin for their suggestions. Love you all so much your help has made this so much easier. Military Adviser David Jones USNR

Klaxon Alarms ringing woke me, “Battle Stations,Battle Stations, all hands , THIS IS NOT A DRILL!...”

It kept repeating, as I stripped and pulled on my armor on. I was pretty sure this was an attack that Saber Pilot Rae Summers needed to take on. I went to my Saber Cycle and converted to Battle mode as I ran out onto the flight deck.

I patched into ET/Gyro shop, “This is LT Summers are we 'manned'?”

Sara answered, “ET1 Gynic, On station, Ma'am, Lana went to the fo’c’sle.”

I see the attackers on the heads up display, “Report us manned and ready, Sara, and do the best you can.”

I boosted my speed and drew both sabers, and sliced the underside of the alien craft. It seemed to get their attention, as they broke off their attack run on the ship. I notice the craft have no visible means of propulsion, and are about six meters long four meters wide and four meters in height.

Lana called out, “Have a total of three attacking craft off the port side, make that two.”

I heard the blast of a missile launch from the ship, and saw the other craft and set my vector to intercept. The missile struck the alien craft, which veered away from the ship. The craft behind me was laboring to keep up according to my heads up display[HUD].

I climb steeply, then dive towards the craft in front of me, firing two mini missiles, to soften it up. Then skewering the craft with the sabers. I roll, flip over it then fire the twin rail-guns built into the saber's which launches craft two into craft one.

They collide, and explode, disintegrating into small shards that fall into the ocean. The blast wave throws my battle armor gyros off, causing me to clip the gunwale
of our ship, crashing hard on the deck.

My HUD shows no other craft, in the air or sea. Then I do a quick scan for magic and portals. Both scans come up with zero unknowns.

Lana, was by my side, “Rae are you okay?” and Mumbling, “chiyu,shi-rudo,rifureshu.”

I was feeling a lot better, “Better now, we need to get to the ET Shop.”

“Well we are cloaked, love, so we can just walk to the shop.”

“Except I need to go via the flight deck and get out of my combat armor. Get to the shop, I am going full stealth, to get to the Hanger. Will get to the shop as soon as I can.”

Fifteen minutes later I am in khaki, on station. “Are there any electronic casualties to report?”

There were no electronic casualties, so we helped coordinate the deck and superstructure repairs.

1MC announcement, “Lieutenant Summers and ET1 Garamond report to CIC, Immediately.”

“Uh oh, I think we may be in trouble. They Could have used our direct link over the sound powered phones.”

Sara remarked, “I think it is more electronic related. For visual saw the craft but they did not show up on RADAR, and your battle armor disappeared after hitting the deck”

I lead the way, we were just one deck below, so we just head up the ladder outside of the shop, though I just barely fit through the hatch.

I enter the code to CIC, then Lana and I Step in. “Lieutenant Summers, and ET1 Garamond Reporting as requested.”

CO finished reading a report, signed it and looks over to Lana and I, “Need you two to check out the RADAR systems and tell me why it failed. Also the FC's(Fire Controlman) can't find how the Missile System fired and seemed to hit a target that we only had visual on.”

“Yes, Captain, permission to launch the test drone.”

“Permission granted, but not until we stand down from General Quarters. You're dismissed.”

Lana and I do self diagnostics on all of the display terminals, something the OS's(Operation Specialists) can do but as usual the Techs have to do the operators job.

[+][+][+]

We sat in the shop for a moment, “So I guess we caused as much trouble, as much we helped. The magic has opened rifts where others can come through. What are our options?”

Lana recommends, “Rae you know and understand the technology of your battle suit. Also how to replicate the materials for it. I suggest you offer the blue prints and manufacturing details to.... Um who though?”

“What about your Friend Des she is super tech savvy and could probably pass it as her own or at least be able to be the front as agent for the Patent holder.”

“Good Ideas Sara, but how do I get it patented at this point.” I am worried, “There's a lot more demons(dimension travelers) out there that could find their way here.”

Lana was glowing brightly, the glow faded, “The Goddess has locked the rifts for a while, but they have been opened, and so it is just a short term fix.”

I feel the magic of the Goddess pass over me, “I own the patent, and Des has the ability to create the circuits required. She also understands the forge properties to crate the malumganse alloy required for the armor.“ I also knew that she was had just signed a contract with Autoneteks to build ten prototypes.

I write down some adjustments that should help the RADAR's pick up any other stealth craft, handing the sheet to Lana, “Lana, Sara, we know that there is nothing wrong with the systems. Make those adjustments, then run the diagnostics, on the Radar's and launch the drone for configuration alignment. I think I should...”

The buzz from the CIWS(it fires so quickly, several thousands of rounds in a very short time) echoed throughout the ship.

+I know to call the XO+ Picking up the phone I dial the XO's extension in CIC the Goddess is kind and the XO' answers, “Executive officer, Meet me in my stateroom.” and she hung up.

1MC announcement, “Stand down from General Quarters, now on watch section two of five”

“Wrap up our communications gear, and forward all calls to the RADAR room that your in. I'll be with the XO.”

[+][+][+]

In the XO's stateroom, “Ma'am, The craft were from another dimension, and ...”

“Lieutenant Summers, You are on board in several capacities. One that has just appeared, is you're also the pilot of an experimental Battle Armor. I expect you to use it to the best of your abilities to recover any scrap from the craft that you and Lana destroyed?”

“Oh, I will see if there is any to retrieve Ma'am.”

“Do so Rae, and the Official record says 'That three Unidentified aircraft with stealth technology attacked the ship, and were destroyed by you in the experimental armor with help from the ships Missile system and the CIWS using manual targeting techniques that we have been practicing.' That's the Official Report.”

“I guess parts of the wreckage would help as well.”

“Well something hit the deck hard, I just thought it was part of those aircraft.”

I smile weakly, “It was me, but I think there were a couple of pieces left from the craft that the missile hit.”

“Well go, and Rae, thanks for saving our butts. Stop in with Doc, and get checked out.”

[+][+][+]

I was back in the Armor, did a quick scan of the area. The HUD showed locations of several pieces, I chose a flight path and was off to retrieve the pieces. Well I now know the suit works well underwater as well as in space.

I have my diving cert but this was much deeper and it was never a problem as I passed through the water as if flying in vacuum. I took a scan of the ocean floor, and noted several mineral deposits, gas deposits and a large oil pocket.

[+][+][+]

“Ma'am, I Have several pieces of hull, and a piece of circuitry, will place the hull pieces in the salvage locker, is it okay if Lana and I take a look at the circuitry.”

XO replied, “Place them on the bench or deck as necessary, the Captain and I will be right there.”

I placed the two pieces of hull, which are about two square feet each on the deck. I put the circuitry on the bench and pull over the magnifying glass.

The good news to me was that it was not as advanced as the circuitry in my suit. The Captain and the XO came in.

“Attention on deck” I said loudly as I stood at attention. It was just the three of us but had rendered it out of courtesy.

“As you were Lieutenant Summers. So tell me what we have here.”

“Yes Captain, This circuitry is relatively advanced compared with most the systems on board. Well except for the battle armor.” I said then moved over too the pieces on the deck, “The hull pieces are lightweight and are an aluminum/magnesium combination much like our advanced helicopters and stealth fighters. There is a coating that may be how they evaded our RADAR systems.“

The CO asks, “Can you discover the properties of the coating, Lieutenant Summers?”

“I might be able too, but the scientists at Autoneteks could probably do it quicker than I could, Captain. I could take it there now, about an hour round trip, or we can turn it over once we return.”

“I worry about the defense of My ship if you are gone, but I am more worried abut the defense of our nation. Lieutenant Summers, take the hull fragments with you and return as quickly as possible.”

I was soon on my way to Autoneteks......