Asteroid belt is created, p.1
Asteroid Belt is Created, page 1
Asteroid Belt is Created
Planetary Developers Series, Volume 1
Ford G Strange
Published by Planetary Developers Publishers LLC, 2024.
This is a work of fiction. Similarities to real people, places, or events are entirely coincidental.
ASTEROID BELT IS CREATED
First edition. August 26, 2024.
Copyright © 2024 Ford G Strange.
ISBN: 979-8990784208
Written by Ford G Strange.
Table of Contents
Title Page
Copyright Page
PDV-041 The Kentz
PDV-109 Maiden Voyage
Sorry, who is this?
Galactic Council Member Synder
The Battle for Aden
Misclassification
Bug Eradication
The 18-gram Projectile
Projectile Away
Mars Look Out!!
Look out Minertha
Final Destination
Acknowledgements
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PDV-041 The Kentz
PDV-041 The Kentz pulled into its final berth in the orbiting space port. The vessel would be decommissioned the following rotation after a brief ceremony and reception with the crew and former crewmen who served on her. Commander Nottap called out, “Comms, clear all channels for an announcement.” “Aye, Sir.”
After all the channels fell silent, a boatswain’s whistle sounded from the PA system, “Attention all hands, this is your Commander. I want to say thank you for your dedication to the Kentz. We are in port. Secure your stations and relax. The dining hall will be available until 17:00.
A ceremony and reception will be held here tomorrow morning at zero eight hundred in the forward dining hall, dress in your class A uniform. After the ceremony and reception, bonuses will be awarded, and our status will be changed to off contract.
Clear out your cabins of uniforms and personal belongings. We’re home, men, enjoy the rest of your rotation, and we’ll see you at zero eight hundred, carry on.” With that, the Comms operator switched off the PA system.
Commander Nottap stood up and faced the bridge crew, “Secure all stations. After that, you’re dismissed.” They responded, “Aye, Sir.” Nottap entered his cabin, and his PDT vibrated. He looked at the message, “Commander, you have been selected to Command the new PDV. I wanted to be the first to congratulate you. They are building a management group now. Congrats, Byron.” He smiled, “Yes! Now’s my chance to show them all.”
He looked in the mirror over the basin, turned on the cold water, and rinsed his face. He looked at his eyes in the mirror and thought, “I hope he’s not there when I walk in. “The baby of the family?” That’s how you encourage or validate me? It’s mom’s fault she refused to allow me to join the Neiubo Military.
Oh, so now I’m “The Explorer,” and you wonder why you get zero Father’s Day cards. I hate coming back home.”
He stepped off the boarding ramp, walked to the shuttle dock, and check the schedule. The next shuttle to the surface would arrive in one hour. He thought, “Layover lounge looks good.” As he walked in, a sign flashed, “Open seating.” he sat at a table and looked at the posters and the news screen.
The posters depicted a space battle on an unknown grey planet with Galactic Military Troopers blasting a large caterpillar like insect that was attacking them, it had several rows of teeth and sharp claws. The caption read, “VOTE YES! For the seventh branch of the Galactic military.” He thought, “Seventh Branch? Sounds like they’re getting ready to take over more planets.” He watched the news feed, it showed a time lapse video of the new Planetary Developers vessel being built.
A host walked over and sat a glass of water down on the table, “What can I get you, Commander?” “Good day, mate, I’ve been craving your double float burger and squares, thank you.” “Aye, Sir, I’ll get that and be right back.” As he looked at the news feed, the narrator spoke of several vessels that had called for immediate assistance, they were being boarded.
When help arrived, they found the crews lifeless bodies floating in space and the vessels gone. The Governance of Navigators Corporation assumed these vessels were boarded by privateers or another hostile group. They had no information to indicate which but were attempting to locate the vessels.
After trading barter tickets for his meal and shuttle ticket he stepped onto the shuttle. The overhead speakers reminded travelers of the inherent dangers of space travel, this made him chuckle. On his way to his parent’s house, he decided to stop at McCoy’s for a shot or two.As he walked in the door, a woman had her back to him and he was smacked in the face with a back hand punch. He instinctively grabbed the hair on the back of the assailant’s head and pulled her to the floor.
As he held his assailant down, he looked up, and a woman was charging toward him. He put up his hand to ward her off, but she ducked and slapped the head of his assailant. A man and a woman grabbed the charging woman pulling her back.
His assailant jumped up and kicked at the woman. Nottap and his assailant fell backward into a booth, she sat on his lap and began to squirm as she yelled at the other woman. The couple pulled the other woman to the back exit, and they fell out the door and into the alley.
Nottaps assailant stopped squirming and sat on his lap. She said, “Let me go, or buy me a drink.” Nottap grabbed the back of her pants and hoisted her off his lap. She spun around and looked at him, “Well, hello, sailor, when did you get in?” “Hello, Rhoda. I see you are keeping busy.” “Aye Capitan, so wat ya drinkin these days, eh.” “That’s the worst accent I have ever heard. Are you still the bartender here or a barfly?” “Nope, to both. I own this place now.”
Nottap stood up, “Well, congratulations on moving up in the world. Well, good for you.” “Ha, hold that thought, the two best days of owning a bar, the day you buy it and the day you sell it. Double gin, right?” “Aye matey, arg.” Rhoda laughed and walked behind the bar and poured the drink. Nottap sat at the bar and looked around.
Rhoda said “It gets packed at 18:35 and goes heavy until 23:45 exactly.” “Oh, exactly wow how did you manage that?” “I guess you missed the new fabrication yard two blocks east. They end rotation at 18:00 and seats are full at 18:35 exactly.” Nottap laughed, “I’m glad you landed on your feet.” “Ha, hold that thought, by the way I never properly thanked you for helping me with the court marshal. I know if it wasn’t for you, I would have been in confinement for a long time.”
She walked around the bar, spun his seat around, and pulled him toward her. She gave him a hug and a kiss on the lips. He hugged her back for a moment as she continued the kiss. He grabbed her by her upper arms, pushed her back gently, and stood up.
“Don’t start your trouble. I still have that dang tattoo.” She smiled at him and said, “You’re getting soft Nottap you kissed me back.” “I did not!” “You did too.” “Did not!” “Well, I’m going to tell people you did.” He looked at her and realized she still knew how to push his buttons.
He laughed and said, “We had good times together, I miss them, I miss you.” She smiled, “We did, I miss you too it’s too bad things went sideways on us.” He turned and looked at her reflection in the mirror that hung behind the bar, “Yeah, that Captain what’s his name messed it up for us.” She turned and looked at his reflection in the mirror, “He sure did.”
As they stood side by side looking in the mirror, at the reflection of each other they smiled. She said “Hey, what if ... ““Yeah, I better get to my ...” “Right, ... Your Parents house, you better ... ““I’ll need my ... ““It’s by the door... it’s in the booth ...” “Yup ... there it is ...” He walked to the door and flung his duffle bag over his shoulder.
He turned and looked at her, “Thanks for the drink.” “Sure, stop by when you get back, we’ll catch up, Oh, thanks for chasing off, ... Sorry about the punch...” “Sure, no problem. I’ll see you when I get back.” He threw her a half salute with a peace sign and she threw him one back. He walked to the corner of the block. As he stood at the corner waiting for traffic to clear he noticed he felt ... Happy.
As he walked in the front door to his parent’s house his mother greeted him with a kiss on the cheek. “Oh, do I detect a little celebration libation on your breath?” “A little.” She walked to the kitchen counter and rummaged in her purse. He put his duffle bag down by the stairs and sat on the couch. She walked up behind him and handed him a mint, “Thanks, Mom.” She rubbed his shoulders and neck.
“What’s her name?” “The Kentz.” She swatted the top of his head, “Not your ship, the woman who put lilac perfume on you.” He laughed and said, “Nothing gets by you. You’re still as sharp as ever.”
He reached back and held her hand, “Is he here?” “HE, your father, yes, HE, is here. Outback getting the grill ready. Listen son, you two have to bury the hatchet, both of you, for my sake.” He let go of her hand and crossed his arms. “Son, please, you’re not going to be home long, so please, get along with your father.” “For you, I will. Who is coming over?” “All of your brothers and their wives, it’s going to be so good to have you all under my roof again. By the way what ever happened to Jessabelle,” “MOM, her name is Kathy and she is, I don’t know, somewhere in the fleet. I don’t keep track of her.”
She leaned over and kissed his cheek, “That’s my boy, all grown up.” “Thanks, Mom.” She slid an info card down his shoulder, “Something to read when you have downtime on your new ship.” He looked at it, Match Makers Global, “Mom I can’t ... “she cut him off, as she walked to the kitchen, “Son, you keep picking losers or boozers, I’m sure they are wonderful, well, females, check it out, and look outside the fleet. What is Jessabelle’s rank Petty Officer?” “Chief Petty Officer 1976.” “Son, that’s my point, not even a real officer, check it out, for me.” He imitated putting a blaster to his head and pulling the trigger. “I saw that,” she yelled from the kitchen.”
Neiubo
PLANETARY DEVELOPERS were humanoids that lived on the planet Neiubo, located in the Ophiuchus solar system, Milky Way Galaxy. An average planet that measured forty-nine thousand miles, and the humanoid residents stood twenty-five feet tall. Neiubo had a planet wide industry.
The bulk of the residents of Neiubo worked to build large space vessels for population transport. Other residents provided services and goods for the workers. When a world was dying of natural causes or was facing impending danger due to a cataclysmic event, the Planetary Developers would offer to transport the population or a portion of the population to another planet to colonize in exchange for raw materials.
Their goal was to save as many lives as possible. They would also search for areas of space in which a planet could be formed and used elements found on most planets suitable for humanoid habitation to start the formation of a planet. Life on Neiubo was abundant, and like other planets of average size, there was room for all types of species. Their skills for building a planet were legendary throughout the galaxy.
PDV Crew Members
PLANETARY DEVELOPERS Vessels crew members were generally residents of Neiubo, who were career-minded individuals with an adventuress spirit that applied to join the Planetary Navigators Corporation. Each applicant had to pass several entrance exams to test their physical fitness and mental acuteness. If accepted, they would sign a twenty-five year “Commitment to Serve” contract and enter the Planetary Navigators Academy.
Training mirrored the Neiubo Naval Academy standards and lasted four years. After graduation, postings to vessels and positions were assigned by the Governance of Navigators Corporation (Gov of Nav Corp), a branch of the planet wide Governance. They managed space fairing guilds, vessels, and crew.
Each cadet received training for three positions, which allowed them to be posted to any vessel in the fleet. Should they desire a more technical posting, they would submit an application, and if accepted, they would receive the specialized training upon returning to port from their current assignment.
Most PDV crews were off world for up to four years per voyage and aware of the inherent dangers of space travel. Both men and women were eligible for training in any position. Upward advancement of careers was always encouraged including command levels. PDV Command Officers were generally lax as they had worked with the same crew on previous vessels right out of the academy and were more managers than overseers.
This allowed the crewmen to do their jobs without constraint. The crew had moments of light hearted banter from time to time, this kept the crew close-knit and morale high.
Orientation
AFTER THE DECOMMISSIONING ceremony on the Kentz, Commander Nottap rode a shuttle to the Planetary Developers Academy for vessel orientation. As he arrived and walked to the main doors, he noticed hundreds of other crewmen walking in and thought, “Wonder what else they have going on.” He scanned his ID card, and the gate opened. As he walked in, the info board showed “PDV-109 Orientation” with a flashing green arrow that pointed to his left.
As he continued down the main hallway with hundreds of crewmen, Academy Proctors blocked the walkway. A Proctor yelled, “The lower levels are full head up to level four or five.” As he reached the fourth level, Proctors said, "Fill the first available seat, we are about to start."
He found a seat on the eighth row and sat next to a female crewman. The din of conversations was loud, and she asked, "Do you know how many crewmen are on this Maiden Voyage?" "No, I don't, I didn't get a crew profile with my contract." "Neither did I. This is listed as a limited crew for the Maiden Voyage, so how big is this new vessel?" "I don't know, maybe they're using a full crew for the Maiden Voyage. I know the normal compliment is two hundred, Command and Crew."
A voice over the loudspeaker said, "Welcome, crewmen, this is the Orientation for PDV-109, we will begin in five ticks. Proctors close the doors." The din of conversations lowered. A massive screen lowered from the ceiling. The image of an Admiral standing on stage appeared. "I will answer your first question, two thousand five hundred. That is how many crewmen are assigned for this Maiden voyage." A loud murmur of voices swept through the auditorium.
"As you were, as you were, I will answer your second question: this state-of-the-art PDV is six thousand eight hundred miles in circumference. PDV-109 is the largest PDV we have built so far. It comes with all the bells and whistles everyone has been asking for." The crewmen murmured or applauded.
The Admiral walked toward the right side of the stage and shook hands with an engineer wearing a teal green uniform. The Engineer walked to a podium on the left side of the stage and said, “As you were, I am the Senior Engineer for this build. So now, “let’s get technical.”
He pushed a button and the large screen showed PDV-109 in the space dock: "We have received hundreds of suggestions to design a more aggressive vessel, such as a bird of prey or a flying serpent. Those designs look fantastic, I agree, but they're not efficient. They require more engines and thrusters and have, on occasion, gravity voids or wells.
This lack of gravity will cause the crewmen to become weightless and float around their compartment. We transport passengers, and having passengers weightless and floating around a section would not be good.
Once again, our vessel is a sphere for the following reasons. One, everything in space is round, including planets, stars, comets, and everything. Why, you ask? It takes less energy to traverse space. Two, everything in space rotates. If it rotates, it has poles. If it has poles, it has a magnetic field in a torus shape, and if it has a magnetic field in a torus shape, it has gravity.
The third reason is energy flow lines, or lay lines. As the energy lines intersect, they grow a lattice. This process is organic. As the lattice grows, the charge or pulse of energy gathers strength and becomes measurable." He walked to the other side of the stage. An animation of PDV-109 in flight appeared on the screen.
"Our vessel spins, but the inner shell isn't connected to the outer shell. A layer of mercury separates the two shells. When it's spinning, it creates an energy lattice.
Mercury is conductive and adds more plasma to the engine and other components. A little side benny, it also repels lead when energized. Most privateer vessels have a lead-lined hull. The mercury will keep them from ramming our vessels.
When the shell stops spinning, the lattice dissipates. When PDV-109 arrives at its destination, the shell will stop spinning and the flight crew will hold the orbit mechanically. The gravity will be artificial. Now let's talk power source."
After he explained the new engine types, he discussed the navigational shielding. Two hours later, he finished with a pictorial display showing the new crew quarters cabin layout, which received applause from the crewmen. A Proctor walked up behind him. The Senior Engineer saluted and walked off the stage. The Proctor said, "Alright, we will break for lunch. It's 12:30 now. Be back and in a seat at 14:00. Dismissed."
As Nottap stood up, the female crewman said, “Let’s get something to drink after we use the restrooms.” "Okay, that sounds good. I can't believe the size of that thing, it's mind-boggling." She chuckled, "That's putting it mildly. I'm glad we get a vanity and wider quarters with a data port and sonic shower. It's about phase." "I agree, it's about phase."
All PDVs were not military related and didn't transport Military Troops, equipment, or supplies. A debate between the Gov of Nav Corp and the Admiralty about the sphere design stalled as neither side had conclusive facts to support their position.
