The Phobos Project
The Phobos Project
Written by Andrew Landells & Simon Withers.
The events in this story take place between those of First Encounters and Rightful Vengeance.
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As the sun set on the Martian city of Olympia, the day was just beginning on the moon of Phobos. Captain James Varison awoke at seven-fifteen local time and ordered a mug of Eridanian tea from the food machine. He was just about to take a sip when his communicator chimed. He opened the channel.
"Captain Varison, this is Rear Admiral Morley, please attend the main control room."
"I'll be there in five minutes ma'am." Varison pulled on his Earthfleet uniform and ran for the turbochute.
Varison entered the huge chamber and looked at the large table in the centre. It was a large galactic map of all the systems within a thirty-light year radius of Sol and it was also bare. Varison knew that there should be markers representing all Earthfleet vessels in battle, but there were very few. The radio crackled into life and a voice came over the speakers.
"E.F.S. Prague calling Command. We just can't hold th-m off, our missile systems are completely useless, we are defen..."
There was a short burst of static and then complete silence. A young lieutenant murmured under his breath the thoughts of the whole room:
"Ship down."
When Rear Admiral Morley finally spoke, the distress was suppressed, but still apparent, in her voice.
"As you know, we're losing ships at far too high a rate. Many good Earthfleet officers have already died because their equipment is not up to the task in hand. Just over an hour ago, Earthfleet Command made a momentous decision.
"As the disaster with the E.F.S. Prague has just proven, we need better weapons. Therefore, Command has decided that all weapons research is to be moved to one facility, here on Phobos, so that our developments may be more easily exchanged between labs. Congratulations. I know you'll make us proud."
The Rear Admiral left the hall, Captain Varison in tow. He cast a glance around at the faces of the other officers as he left, saw their grim determination, and knew that this installation would be an unprecedented success, if only by sheer force of willpower. They entered the small communications room and the Rear Admiral operated the subspace radio.
"This is Rear Admiral Morley calling the E.F.S. Archer."
"This is Lieutenant Commander Farrier receiving you loud and clear. What can I do for you, Admiral?"
"I need to talk to you about taking a member of your crew off your hands. An ensign by the name of Alan Lorton."