Mantis Homeward: Mantis Saga 7 by Jim Henderson

Author:Jim Henderson [Henderson, Jim]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2021-06-23T05:00:00+00:00

After taking a short break, he threw some water on his face, and grabbed a snack. Euclidia was making lunch, but it would be a while. He headed back to the bridge.

“What’s new?”

Ada chimed in, “Captain, Mantis and I have focused more attention on the outer system area near where the IEF appears to be. All signals seem to indicate IEF.”

Potts added, “I’m monitoring the ships near planet three. There’s a lot of activity, but little detail I can make out from here without active sensors.”

Mantis summed up, “Monitoring additional communications, I have verified that Esjafaqu-three is, indeed, interdicted by Ten Kingdoms’ forces. Newsfeeds suggest that they occasionally bombard the planet at long range, but planetary defenses, coupled with a small Independent States Navy fleet, keep them from getting too close.”

“Very good. Good initiative, everyone.” He turned to Potts, saying, “Potts, lunch will be ready soon. Go take a break. Be back in two hours or when I yell.”

“Aye, sir.”

“Ada, what can you tell me about the IEF ships out there?”

“I’m detecting one apparent transport of about ten K-tons and a warship of about five K-tons. There are several smaller vessels, but I can’t make out details yet.”

“Go ahead and fire up active scans. Get as much info on them as you can for about ten minutes. We’ve already hailed them, so they know we’re here.”

Mantis interrupted, “Message coming through.”

“Go ahead.”

The radio crackled. “Mantis, this is the Cetacean. Go to two-point-two-one-five Gigahertz, employ one-time keypad CZ-thirteen and send query.”

Ximon muted the mike. “They’re serious. Mantis, put the response to that keypad code and a random cipher interrogation code on my station.”

Mantis provided the data for these one-time codes they were using. When they were getting their cargo for this mission, Mantis had been provided with a data file with hundreds of such code pairs. Mantis sent Ximon the appropriate response to the interrogation Cetacean had sent and a new code for Mantis to interrogate with. Between the two confirmations, they could set up a truly secure link. He adjusted the frequency and keyed the mike. “Cetacean, YT-forty-one. Interrogate MM-twenty-one.”

There was a response delay of about 15 seconds.

“Roger. Response UE-eighty-five. Encrypt. Cycle Ten.”

With that, they added a strong layer of encryption to their transmission, which would switch every ten minutes.

A new transmission came in on this encrypted link. “Mantis, this is Captain Peta of the ISN Javelin, flagship of the IEF. Please intercept at top speed. We have much to discuss.”

“Aye, Javelin. We are heading your way. Will increase speed. ETA seven hours. Is there any fuel available?”

“Yes, there should be. Can you put Lieutenant Bara on a separate channel? I have some matters to discuss with her as well.”

“Aye, sir. I’ll have her contact you on this frequency.”

“Thank you and God speed. Javelin, out.”

Ximon notified Rani and then noticed that she set up a separately encrypted link. He was a bit uneasy at the fact that they were employing that level of secrecy on his ship that he wasn’t privy to.

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