Rimward Stars by Glynn Stewart

Author:Glynn Stewart [Stewart, Glynn]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781988035703
Publisher: Faolan's Pen Publishing Inc.

Quantum entanglement was an inherently point-to-point system. One particle changed, its entangled partner changed—no matter how far apart, no matter what was between. But since only that one other particle changed, it didn’t allow for omnidirectional transmission.

To solve the problem, humanity’s engineers had resurrected the concept of a switchboard. The blocks of entangled particles in Kodiak’s q-com array linked to a number of space stations across human space, mostly the one in Castle orbit, that contained millions of similar blocks. Those stations were linked to other ships and to other switchboard stations.

The routing code that Schwarzwald Control had given Jamison had their transmission going to the Castle Switchboard Station, where it was relayed to a set of particle blocks entangled with particles aboard the Antioch Switchboard Station, which then relayed the message to the RSF command station in orbit of Schwarzwald.

Time delay was almost nonexistent, but it still took several minutes to actually get someone on the other end of the channel. Finally, a blue-haired man in a simple white uniform with a single star on his collar appeared on Kyle’s neural feed.

“I am Rear Admiral Vincent Merkel,” he greeted Kyle. “I apologize for the delay; how can I be of assistance?”

“Admiral Merkel,” Kyle returned his greeting. “I am Captain Kyle Roberts of the Castle Federation Space Navy. We’re escorting a convoy of ships, two of which I believe you were expecting.”

“Anteater and Golden Aurochs,” Merkel confirmed. “We’re glad to finally see them, Captain Roberts. Things have not become truly dangerous down here, but some of our towns and cities were starting to run perilously close to the wire where even rationing wasn’t going to get everyone fed.”

“With the pirate situation, it was dangerous for them to move alone,” Kyle replied. “That said, the situation with the pirates has escalated and I need to move on to the Serengeti System as soon as possible. Would you be able to deploy starfighters to escort the two food freighters in to a safe orbit?”

“This is a safe system, Captain Roberts,” Merkel objected. “They will be fine regardless.”

“Admiral, Antioch lost a battlecruiser in their own system,” Kyle pointed out. “I’m not certain any system here is safe.”

The Reinhardt man winced.

“I hadn’t considered that aspect of Crusader’s fate,” he said slowly. “I’ll have our fourth squadron move out to rendezvous with the ships,” he promised. “Will you be able to meet with my senior officers and the President before you leave?”

“No,” Kyle told him. “If you can escort Anteater and Aurochs in, we’re going to be leaving immediately. I have a damaged warship to take care of.”

“Ah.” Merkel nodded slowly. “Very well, Captain. Our fighters will be on their way momentarily. Safe travels, and good luck with your mission.”

“Thank you, Admiral.”

He cut the channel and turned to his staff.

“Houshian, set up the course to get us to Serengeti and transfer it to everyone else. Sterling, let me know as soon as those fighters are moving. We’ll let them get to about thirty minutes’ flight

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