bearing with ambient temperature super conducting stator, rotor, windings, and Ag field magnets.” The expression on Adams face made it look as if he’d died and gone to heaven. “This is going to be one powerful warship when she’s finished, Skipper.”
“If we get her finished that is.”
“Yes, Skipper, right, but it won’t be for a lack of trying.”
“Let me know if you need anything, or another pair of hands.”
“Will do, Skipper, thanks.” Whoever orchestrated this effort from behind the scenes had kept their promise. He had the best and the latest equipment possible. Now it was up to him to get the ship finished and into space, before whoever they were, could stop him.
Now the yard crew had the equipment they were waiting for the pace kicked into high gear. Now that all the frame members were reformed, they were set into position along the lower and side transoms, and fusion welded into place. After that, Mike watched in amazement as it appeared they were building the ship from the inside out, but after he’d thought about it for a moment, it made sense. The first things to go in were the laminated armor plate that surrounded the crystal matrix super computer, which was the heart and soul of his ship. After five sides were fusion welded into place, the fitters slid a non-descript looking steel box containing the computer into place inside. The six and final wall was placed just short of fitting in place and held there while the electricians ran the power and data cable through the pre-drilled holes and tied to the computer. The last plate was carefully lowered into its place, and bolted rather than welded in place. In theory, that some time in the future, it could be replaced with an updated unit. Mike suspected that to do that, they have to rip half the ship apart to get the old one out. Once that was completed, they started building the combined Bridge and combat information center, or CIC right above the computer chamber. Mike had incorporated both functions into one, with a smaller, more compact auxiliary CIC near the stern of the ship. In combat, this would be the first officer, or XO battle station, ready to take over should the main CIC go down or off-line. As the days rolled into months, the inside ship began to take shape much quicker than normal, thanks to Mike design and having many of the major compartments fabricated in modular form in various yard shops, some of them already fitting out with the equipment and instrument panels. All that was necessary after they’d been fitted into place was wiring them up.
CHAPTER THREE: Royal Command
The engine room crew stood in open-mouthed amazement, while the crew chief scratched his head, wondering how he was going to get all three fusion bottles and ancillary equipment inside the ship. Thankfully, they hadn’t done much in the way of work on the engine room, other than lay in the deck plates. If they had to, they’d redo those as well as these engines didn’t need anywhere as much space as the older units. A mini convoy and three heavy lifters arrived the next day and unloaded tons of equipment and much of it had to remain outside, as by this time, there was little space to spare inside the environ shelter. After that, work sped up to a fever pitch, and as one crew of fitters finished a compartment, another crew began stuffing equipment into it. Thankfully, each day, more of his ‘office staff’ turned up and Mike and Peter assigned them to work under one of the Officers, CPO Blake, or alongside the yard crews. December the 23 came around, and Mike told Conner to call a halt to work at Noon and gathered the yard crew together. Standing on a crate, Mike looked over the group, feeling slightly self-conscious with all eyes on him.
“Thank you for coming, but I am calling a halt to the work as of
“If we get her finished that is.”
“Yes, Skipper, right, but it won’t be for a lack of trying.”
“Let me know if you need anything, or another pair of hands.”
“Will do, Skipper, thanks.” Whoever orchestrated this effort from behind the scenes had kept their promise. He had the best and the latest equipment possible. Now it was up to him to get the ship finished and into space, before whoever they were, could stop him.
Now the yard crew had the equipment they were waiting for the pace kicked into high gear. Now that all the frame members were reformed, they were set into position along the lower and side transoms, and fusion welded into place. After that, Mike watched in amazement as it appeared they were building the ship from the inside out, but after he’d thought about it for a moment, it made sense. The first things to go in were the laminated armor plate that surrounded the crystal matrix super computer, which was the heart and soul of his ship. After five sides were fusion welded into place, the fitters slid a non-descript looking steel box containing the computer into place inside. The six and final wall was placed just short of fitting in place and held there while the electricians ran the power and data cable through the pre-drilled holes and tied to the computer. The last plate was carefully lowered into its place, and bolted rather than welded in place. In theory, that some time in the future, it could be replaced with an updated unit. Mike suspected that to do that, they have to rip half the ship apart to get the old one out. Once that was completed, they started building the combined Bridge and combat information center, or CIC right above the computer chamber. Mike had incorporated both functions into one, with a smaller, more compact auxiliary CIC near the stern of the ship. In combat, this would be the first officer, or XO battle station, ready to take over should the main CIC go down or off-line. As the days rolled into months, the inside ship began to take shape much quicker than normal, thanks to Mike design and having many of the major compartments fabricated in modular form in various yard shops, some of them already fitting out with the equipment and instrument panels. All that was necessary after they’d been fitted into place was wiring them up.
CHAPTER THREE: Royal Command
The engine room crew stood in open-mouthed amazement, while the crew chief scratched his head, wondering how he was going to get all three fusion bottles and ancillary equipment inside the ship. Thankfully, they hadn’t done much in the way of work on the engine room, other than lay in the deck plates. If they had to, they’d redo those as well as these engines didn’t need anywhere as much space as the older units. A mini convoy and three heavy lifters arrived the next day and unloaded tons of equipment and much of it had to remain outside, as by this time, there was little space to spare inside the environ shelter. After that, work sped up to a fever pitch, and as one crew of fitters finished a compartment, another crew began stuffing equipment into it. Thankfully, each day, more of his ‘office staff’ turned up and Mike and Peter assigned them to work under one of the Officers, CPO Blake, or alongside the yard crews. December the 23 came around, and Mike told Conner to call a halt to work at Noon and gathered the yard crew together. Standing on a crate, Mike looked over the group, feeling slightly self-conscious with all eyes on him.
“Thank you for coming, but I am calling a halt to the work as of
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