It is the year 2319, and Commander Virgil Artus of the Earth Federal Navy is about to be promoted to captain, the youngest in the fleet’s history to do so. His new command is the navy’s latest ship, the battle cruiser Bismarck. With the best technology available and the brightest crew, Captain Artus takes the Bismarck for its maiden voyage to the colony of Alpha Centauri, never knowing what awaits. The Bismarck carries a motley crew, including an army engineer corps, attractive Wing Commander Carmen, and two mysterious individuals—a navy psychologist with a questionable background and a shadowy man known only as Astaroth. Their mission is to resupply a colony located at the outer limits of humanity’s exploration, as well as to survey and construct a colony base on one of the four worlds found in the system. But the mission begins to go wrong after the colony reports an emergency. When they arrive at Alpha Centauri, the crew finds that humanity is not alone in the universe. A fleet from the Iksus Armada, a reptilian race bred for war, is approaching, and they seek vengeance for an atrocity committed by humanity years ago. As captain, Artus is about to face his first—and possibly his final—confrontation.

The Revelation of Earth

First ContactBy Frank Sims

iUniverse, Inc.

Copyright © 2012 Jonathan Henry
All right reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4759-3506-6

Contents

Prologue.............................................11 Astaroth, Goddess of Fertility.....................52 The Bismarck.......................................163 Artus Makes a Pit Stop.............................234 Operations.........................................355 Senior Officers....................................436 Ensign Heinz.......................................517 Chess..............................................598 Heinz has a Flashback..............................669 History of Carpathian..............................7510 Warp..............................................7911 Colony Emergency..................................8212 Maiden Voyage of the Bismarck.....................8713 JS 18s............................................9514 Kethis Arrival....................................9815 Kethis Surveys....................................10516 Hudson............................................11017 Hudson Additional.................................11918 Kethis Prepares and Ponders.......................12719 The Warp Gate.....................................13220 The Briefing......................................13621 Battle Preparations...............................14322 Bismarck on Approach..............................15023 Valerie and Astaroth..............................15624 The Battle Begins.................................16425 Kethis Under Fire.................................17226 Kethis Flees......................................17727 Valerie on Colossus...............................18228 William Steiger...................................19129 Valerie's Fury....................................19730 Kethis Observes...................................20231 The Battle Unfolds................................20532 Survival Party....................................21233 Artus Contemplates................................22234 The Field is lost.................................22935 Time to Run.......................................23336 Kethis Victorious.................................23737 Kethis Conclusion.................................24538 Artus conclusion..................................250Epilogue.............................................255I Characters.........................................259II Notes.............................................263III Timeline.........................................266IV Terms and Abbreviations...........................269Acknowledgements.....................................271

Chapter One

Astaroth, Goddess of Fertility

Journal of Commander Vergil Artus Entry #1 July 11, 2319

Promotion! I can't wait. I'm writing this journal to catalog the key events in my life as a new captain. I've been given the brand new CC-6 battle cruiser named Bismarck. She is the only ship of her class. I've only seen it in pictures and vids. In all seriousness, I must question: Why me? I didn't realize that I had impressed anyone and there are definitely more experienced commanders out there.

There is, of course, no current conflict. There hasn't been since the Capellan Incident at Titan. There was no space combat, which is the main reason why I left the army for the navy after the conflict was ended. I still have nightmares of my time on Titan's surface, though not of the fighting. It's a harsh environment, Titan, and one to which I hope never to return.

I'm also concerned about the ship's name. I may be young and relatively inexperienced, but I'm not ignorant of history. The original was hunted and gunned down just as it made its way into open seas. That was nearly three-hundred and eighty years ago.

It's been a family tradition that I had ancestors on both the Hood and the Bismarck. At least the Bismarck went down fighting. The Hood never stood a chance. That's how the story is told anyway. I suppose I should look on the bright side: when a ship as big as the Bismarck goes down, everyone knows it.

Entry #1 Additional

It's not that I'm complaining, but the red tape on my transfer is insane. My new security clearance is not activated yet and no one informed me until I arrived at Moon Base Armstrong. They denied me port. I'm stuck in orbit until things get cleared up. It wouldn't be so bad if the shuttle was more comfortable or if I could see my new ship from up here.

Entry #3 July 14, 2319

It's been almost two days and nothing spectacular has happened except that I'm finally on Armstrong. I've given my taxi pilot, Boris, a large bonus for putting up with me and the situation. He was happy to be of service and said that if I needed a ride to give him a call.

Entry #10 July 24, 2319

This is getting ridiculous! I know I'm new, the ship is new, the crew is new, but I've been hanging out in this sleazy dive bar for a week. The Captain's Lounge refuses to believe that I'm a real captain. I don't blame them. I'm young, probably the youngest in private, commercial or military service for decades. My brother was hoping for some of the decorative gift plates they sell, but he'll have to wait.

At least I've picked up some information in this place. It seems that some political upheaval may be the cause of my delay. There's been a scandal in the House and Senate and some people have resigned. One of them was the senator, Mr. Whitney, who supported me and is probably the reason I went up for this promotion.

It did strike me as odd that he showed so much interest in me for no particular reason. I'll probably be implicated in something, which is why my superiors are holding me back. I think they agree with Senator Whitney about me for some reason and are trying to keep me from the spotlight in order to protect me. And by me, I mean them.

Entry #11 July 25, 2319

I could be on to something with my theory. I've just been arrested. So much for my faith in my superiors; or whatever is going on is out of their control. At least they let me keep my journal.

The Master-at-Arms read my few entries. He laughed, handed it back to me and said, "Man, that sucks." I don't know if he meant anything by it, but he came across as though he knew a lot more than he was going to tell; almost scared in a way. He refused to answer most of my questions. Looks like I won't get to see my ship for some time, if at all.

Entry #12 ...?

As for my current state, I have no idea how long it's been since my last entry. I'm being held for no apparent reason. I was sitting in my favorite dive when four very heavily armed men and the Master-at-Arms came up and drug me away, kicking and screaming like a stuck pig. It seemed like a good idea at the time. Talk about adding insult to injury.

It would've been a lot worse if there had been any other witnesses. Come to think of it, this whole affair is like a very strange dream. There are so many things that don't add up; the Master-at-Arms, the lack of an audience at my arrest, the amount of fear the guards have when I ask why I'm being held. This does not ring of political scandal. I'm beginning to think there is something else going on. Perhaps this is the military way of protecting me or maybe it has to do with my promotion. It could even be someone's sick joke to haze the new boy. I apparently have plenty of time to figure it out.

Entry #13 ...?

Yet another day in my cell and I've been trying to remember something my...