“General Linx, sir—“ it was Deeno D’Nunzio. “Begging the General’s pardon, sir, but Sergeant Demetrios and I have been working on that very detail.” She approached the console. “May I, sir?”
Linx relinquished control of SOFIE and 1st Nano’s CQE1 took over the sim tank, pressing buttons to bring up a 3-D image of a strange-looking cylindrical craft with a large parabolic horn at its nose. “Sergeant Demetrios and I started working on this idea after the rescue force came back from Kurabantu. Let me assure you, sir, I don’t have any great desire to go climbing through narrow tunnels underground any more than necessary.”
Demetrios picked up the story. “What you’re looking at is a new vehicle for transporting troops underground. We call it a geoplane. We’ve nicknamed this one Gopher.”
“Gopher is designed to use ANAD boring and tunneling capabilities…” she put a laser pointer spot on the parabolic nose “…to create a path underground, to ferry troops and supplies covertly from one point to another. As you can see, the borer module up front uses ANAD swarms to create a path…a tunnel, if you like, using high-speed molecular disassembly. Gopher is propelled by her treads on these six ring tracks spaced around her circumference, through the tunnel created by the ANAD borer. She can carry a full squad of troopers, plus supplies, weapons, and munitions of any type.”
Kraft was both impressed and a bit skeptical that a pair of noncom CQEs could think up such an idea. “What drives it, Sergeant? What’s the power source?”
Demetrios cleared his throat while D’Nunzio licked her lips. She knew they hadn’t brought the idea to Kraft for review before springing it at the staff meeting. The Major didn’t like surprises, especially when he couldn’t take some of the credit.
“We’re figuring a hybrid power source…fuel cells and batteries. Nuclear’s too heavy; the shielding along would make Gopher too cumbersome. Fuel cells are light and compact now. Sergeant Demetrios here has even figured out a way to capture some of the energy that ANAD releases when he breaks atomic bonds in disassembly.”
Linx nodded to Kraft. “Your people have done good work here, Major. Top notch work.”
Kraft smiled a hesitant smile. “Yes, sir. I always encourage initiative in my staff.”
“I assume this is just a design. How long before we can have an operational vehicle?”
Deeno checked with Demetrios.
“General…let me run the sim of Gopher in operation while the Sergeant and I do some figuring.”
“Proceed.”
Deeno toggled some switches and the 3-D image of the tiny geoplane whirred to life. As the sim advanced, the geoplane approached a steep mountain and its front end borer grew white hot. The craft nosed down at the base of the mountain and plunged below ground. But below the mountain, the strata of rock had been stripped away to reveal Gopher busily at work, like a carpenter bee, pushing its way deeper and deeper into the simulated crust.
As the sim proceeded, Linx, Kraft and the rest watched Gopher chewing its way through a series of maneuvers…first descending, then climbing and turning, its circumferential treads propelling it steadily along tunnels created by its ANAD borer. Mounted on a parabolic horn at the nose of the craft, the borer was a white-hot ball, as trillions of nanomechs disassembled molecules of rock at high speed. Gopher plowed through varying layers of strata with ease, then began nosing its way upward, eventually breaching the surface in an eruption of dirt and rock. The sim came to an end and SOFIE darkened the Sim Tank.
“Impressive,” Linx admitted. “I assume this is only a conceptual design? How long would it take to field a prototype?”
D’Nunzio had worked out a preliminary schedule while Linx was watching the sim. “Based on availability of certain resources…time with SOFIE, designWeb, and so forth, we can be ready to cut metal in about two weeks. We’re proposing the geoplane project have priority access to Table Top’s fabs, priority on purchasing, expedited design reviews and all the engineering and machine shop people we need. Given that, Gopher could be underway on her shakedown runs in about four weeks.”
Kraft asked, “Have you got the molecular configuration detailed enough for the fabs to take it now?”
“Only a few sections have been detailed, Major,” said Demetrios. “The borer module, the tread system and the power plant and lockout spaces have been structurally detailed. With a little help from Doctor Frost, we could load the configs into an ANAD processor in a day or so and have complete assemblies by the end of the week.”
“It’s a hell of a lot of nano,” Linx agreed, “but time is short.” He motioned to Frost. “See that the geoplane project gets what it needs to expedite final assembly. Gentlemen, I’m approving this contraption right here and now. Have you worked out the tactics to use it for assaulting Paryang?”
“Working on it now, sir,” Winger replied. “That’s where the sim you just saw comes in. Tactically, we feel any assault force will need two of these vehicles. Each one can carry a squad of about fifteen troopers. That allows us to put a platoon-sized force on the enemy’s doorstep with no warning.”
“There is another aspect to this concept,” Demetrios added. “With an ANAD-driven borer mounted on her nose, our sims show that a geoplane also has the capacity to induce seismic shocks…earthquakes, if you will…at least over a limited area. Injecting streams of specially configured ANADs from the borer ring, a geoplane positioned properly can cause enough slippage or fracture in nearby tectonic structures to pretty much generate earthquakes on demand.” Demetrios started to switch SOFIE to a new sim. “Sir, we’ve done the initial analysis, if you’d like to—“
Linx held up a hand. “Later, Sergeant. I’m sure the physics is sound. Gentlemen, the geoplane project is approved, both of them. I’m forwarding my report to UNSAC tonight, along with recommendations that the assault on Paryang commence four weeks from today.” He consulted a calendar. “A-Day will be December 12th. A complete tactical plan should be on my screen by December 1. Is that understood?”
A chorus of Yes, sirs came back. Linx looked around the room at the assembled staff.
“Quantum Corps is the tip of the spear, gentlemen. UNSAC is counting on you to succeed. Hell, the whole planet’s counting on you. I don’t have to remind you of what’s at stake here. Major—“ he turned to Kraft, “we need to give this operation a name.”
Deeno spoke up. “Tectonic Strike, sir. Operation Tectonic Strike.”
Linx snorted. “Odd but damned appropriate, if you ask me. Tectonic Strike it is. I’ll see to it that UNIFORCE fully supports the assault in whatever way is necessary. You’ll have combat engineers, the latest intelligence, air, ground, and space support, diplomatic cover with the governments of India and Nepal…whatever is needed. Tectonic Strike must be kept from the Chinese though. The whole thing is politically very touchy.”
Kraft had a determined cast to his face. “My people will have a geoplane design and assault plans ready in one week, General.”
That earned the Major a few raised eyebrows and sideways glances. Johnny Winger’s eyes met Dana Tallant’s.
The Major has a big mouth, making promises like that.
Tallant just nodded faintly.
“Very well, gentlemen…I’ll leave you to your work.” With that, Wolfus Linx and his two staff assistants left the Sim Tank.
Kraft glared at the rest of them. “Don’t just stand there, people. Let’s get to it!”
Two weeks of twenty-four hours days followed. Table Top Mountain was a beehive of activity as Ops, Engineering, Munitions, and other departments bent to the task of fleshing out the geoplane’s design and the details of the assault plan that would employ it. Johnny Winger himself routinely put in eighteen and twenty hour days, working at times in the Sim Tank wargaming every possible detail of the assault, studying topographic detail of the ground and subsurface structure around the Paryang monastery, arguing with engineers and machi
nists in the shops over Gopher’s design and fittings and working with Doc Frost at the Containment center to optimize ANAD for tunnel-boring and for final combat against Amazon Vector at Paryang.
As November rolled into December, Major Kraft’s promised deadline evaporated as surely as the Thanksgiving snows on Table Top’s mesa but the Major made no further mention of his promise to CINCQUANT. Through daily briefings and unannounced strolls through the labs and shops, Kraft could see that the whole compound was mobilized to support 1st Nano’s mission.
They’re good kids, he told himself after one late afternoon inspection of the geoplane prototype, now encased in scaffolding and catwalks on the ground floor of Table Top’s Hangar C. They’ll get the mission accomplished, one way or another.
He thought grimly as he walked the snowy quadrangle back to the glass cube of the Ops building. They have to. There’s too much at stake to fail now.
Bit by bit, beams and spars and panels and struts and framing came together and Gopher gradually took shape inside the hangar. By the second week of December, she was powered up for the first time and Winger and a select crew tested her for fit and function, exercising her treads, grapplers and cycling the borer on and off.
The lead engineer was a ruddy-cheeked sunburned Texan named Murchison, with scarred hands and a booming voice. He climbed up onto the command deck and sat beside Winger in the cockpit, while a trio of electricians pulled wiring bundles through the forward consoles.
“She’ll be ready for maneuvering exercises, next Monday, Captain. We’re hauling her out to Hunt Valley over the weekend. You got a test crew ready?”
Winger was checking off switches and buttons against a diagram he had spread across his knees. “Me and Captain Tallant will be the test crew, Murch. I just have to clear it with the Major. Are you going to load live ANAD in the borer?”
Murchison nodded. “Soon as Doc Frost okays a test batch, we’ll load her up and put her to work. The test range has already laid out a course for you…some above ground and some below.” He handed over a map of the range to Winger.
The atomgrabber studied the test course for a few moments, following the track through the snow-covered hills with his finger. The route would take the geoplane prototype from a launch point at the eastern end of Hunt Valley, near the “Notch” along a serpentine path across central Idaho, eventually diving below ground south of Buffalo Ridge. The test then had Gopher circling the Table Top mesa below the surface, tunneling its way north across the Snake River canyon at a depth of two miles before circling back toward the war game range at Hunt Valley.
“This should put Gopher through her paces, Murch. How’s she coming along?”
Murchison shrugged, pulled out a small thoughtpad and checked files. “Power plant full-up test this afternoon, Captain. We’re still tracking down a current leak in the batteries, but that should be fixable. Tomorrow, we hang her treads and motors on; they’re powered up in two days. It’s tight but we’re getting there.” The Texan shook his head ruefully, patted Gopher’s instrument panel and played with her controls like a child. “I don’t mind telling you, Captain…up until a week ago, I never thought this contraption would work. I mean…look at her…it ain’t natural doing what she’s doing, going where she’s going.”
“You mean burrowing underground like a…gopher?” Winger chuckled. “Her name fits, doesn’t it?” He thought back to the tunnel at Kurabantu, how claustrophobic and hot it had been, like being trapped in a coffin that went on forever.
“The way I look at it, maneuvering through solid rock is no different than maneuvering through air or water,” he lied. Or, for that matter, atoms and molecules. “It’s just another medium. First Nano has to stay focused on the mission, on the target.” He squeezed the control stick affectionately. “Gopher’s just our ride to the show.”
Murchison was already climbing down from the command deck, off to check on some parts in the shop.
“I’ll make sure she’s a good ride, Captain. Don’t you and the guys worry none about that.”
CHAPTER 10
Table Top Mountain, Idaho, USA
November 21, 2068
0700 hours
Test day came a week later. It was a cold, snowy morning in Hunt Valley when Winger and Tallant boarded the geoplane and strapped themselves in.
Winger looked over at Tallant. “Let’s fire this jalopy up and see what she can do.”
Gopher was started up, her treads spinning as Winger throttled up the electric motors. With a jerk, the geoplane trundled off through foot-deep snow, a plume of powder making rooster tails behind her. She plowed ahead at a stately three miles an hour, while her crew tested controls and systems.
“A real race car,” Tallant observed dryly. Gopher rocked back and forth as she clawed her way around the valley floor, following a pre-determined course that had been laid out at the test range.
“Yeah,” said Winger, as he steered left and right, getting a feel for Gopher’s handling. “Let’s enter her in the Indy 500.”
“We’ll be the first to cross the finish line…under the track. But we’ll never see the checkered flag.”
For the next half hour, Winger put the geoplane through her paces.
“Handles pretty well on the surface,” he noted. “Steering is stiff…not a lot of pickup.” He saw the snow-streaked lower flanks of Signal Mountain dead ahead on their monitor—Gopher had no windows or portholes—and steered in that direction. “Dana, light up the borer. Let’s put Gopher in her real element.”
Pressing a few buttons, Tallant activated the borer that formed a huge dish-shaped nose on the geoplane’s bow. Inside the borer, actuators fired to release the ANAD swarm contained there. In seconds, the outer surface of the dish was thick with nanoscale disassemblers, forming a shimmering half-globe around Gopher’s nose. Like a single huge blue-white headlamp, the dish and its halo of mechs formed the geoplane’s working surface for subterranean operations.
“Approaching the mountain…” Winger said. “Contact Test Ops and tell ‘em we’re going under.”
Tallant complied.
“Good luck,” came back the voice of Murchison. “Don’t you be stopping at no bordellos down there,” he added.
“Borer coming on line,” Tallant reported. She scanned her instrument panel, reading swarm density, alignment and other parameters. “ANAD’s ready to bite—“
Winger absent-mindedly patted his left shoulder, feeling the capsule port embedded there. He linked in and tried to raise ANAD, knowing full well the frustration the tiny assembler felt in containment inside the capsule while a distant cousin hummed with activity at the geoplane’s nose.
“ANAD, sorry for this…the borer swarm is optimized for disassembly in solid-phase structures. I need you here with me, up here on the command deck.”
***ANAD isn’t liking this, Boss. I should be in that borer…you know that…those mechs up there are just rubes…they barely have the brains to disassemble rock. Put me up front, Boss…I can do so much more. You and me, we’ve always been a team, haven’t we?***
Winger suppressed a smile. ANAD sounds like a teenager begging for the car keys. He was glad Tallant couldn’t hear any of it. He stole a glance over at his co-pilot…she was preoccupied calibrating the borer, paying no attention to anything beyond her instruments.
You’re lucky, he thought. You don’t have whiny voices in the back of your head.
Gopher slowed down as the mountain approached, then a high keening wail could be heard through the hull, as the borer bit into the rock. The geoplane shuddered as it decelerated. Outside the command deck, unseen by Winger and Tallant, Gopher’s nose buried itself in a shimmering blue-white fog as the borer revved up and uncountable trillions of mechs tore at the rock.
Tallant licked her lips nervously, reading her instruments. “Coming back mostly quartz and pyroxenes, with some sandstone mixed i
n. ANAD should eat this stuff up.”
The geoplane plunged into the tunnel created by the ANAD borer, angling nose down as it bit deeper into the side of the mountain.
Gopher’s instrument panel showed the results of acoustic sounding, displaying rock layers on a graph, with temperature and pressure readings all around the graph. Borer status was displayed as well.
“Looking good,” Winger muttered. “Borer configured for quartz and pyroxenes…ANAD’s chewing through at a rate of two point five miles per hour. Treads are functioning fine.”
“Let’s try some basic maneuvers,” Tallant suggested.
Winger turned the stick to port and Gopher’ initiated a shallow left-hand bank. The command deck listed slightly, then stabilized. For the next few minutes, first Winger, then Tallant took turns putting the geoplane through a series of turns, dives and climbs.
Winger began to relax his grip on the stick slightly, trying to forget they were now hundreds of feet below ground.
“There’s a layer of basaltic rock a few miles north of here,” he remembered. “It’s nearly a mile down. We should see how Gopher handles there.”
Tallant was cautious. “Remember what Murchison told us in the briefing: don’t push her too hard on this first test. Basaltic stuff is superhard and dense…all shale inclusions and quartzite. We’re not sure Gopher’s hull can take the pressure.”
“I know but we’re eventually taking her to the Himalayas. Most of the approach corridors into the Paryang valley go through similar stuff. We have to find out how she’ll handle.”
Tallant took a deep breath. “Just be careful. Stay above five hundred feet. If the borer goes on the fritz and something fails, the test crew can still dig us out.”
“Agreed.” Winger programmed a new heading into the tread control system and steered northwest on a heading of three ten degrees, roughly paralleling the Buffalo Ridge at the surface. Acoustic sounding soon showed the geoplane was entering harder, denser rock layers.
“Shales,” Winger muttered. From earlier briefings with Quantum Corps geologists, he knew the layer was sheeted with hard slate and mica, compacted over millions of years by glaciers and the overriding Buffalo mountain range. ANAD, he linked in, I hope to hell your cousins are up to this. If we get stuck down here….