Chapter 16.

Rear localization of the "War Process".

15.feb.2120.

Presidential board Air Force One

 The plane was gaining altitude. The surface of Lake Ontario, glittering in the rays of the evening sun, floated under the wing.

 - There is only one thing that upsets me, - Oppenheimer said, turning to Nordwood. - It is that they cannot provide a 3D model. I would spend many hours on this.

 - What can you do, total secrecy, - Nordwood answered. - This is no longer a whim of their private research program.

 The shuttle made an indelible impression. Externally, it resembled the AEX-mod.118, a third-generation shuttle that had long been in service. The similarity, however, was only in the outlines - even the dimensions of these two machines differed significantly - this new one was almost twice as high and was somewhat wider than the pointed tower of the mod.118. With its silhouette, if it stood as a black colossus against the backdrop of a bright sunset, the new shuttle would rather resemble a hypersonic bomber standing upright, only the nose of the shuttle silhouette was archaic, almost pointed with a barely noticeable rounding-hemisphere at the very top, and not a truncated rectangular one, as was often the case with hypersonic aviation.

 If the shuttles of the second and, especially, the first generation were of a "can", that is, cylindrical layout, then this one, like the third generation shuttles, was adapted to hypersonic atmospheric maneuvering.

This was ensured by peculiar protrusions that formed the silhouette. It was somewhat reminiscent of an old missile with conical side blocks, only now these blocks were not shot off anywhere, but formed a single structure with the rest of the body of the device. Now these side blocks were neither conical nor cylindrical, but looked like cut out teeth, tapering towards the top. These peculiar projections attached to the same chopped central body played the role of peculiar wings during hypersonic flight.

At the bottom of these projections ending in inclined cuts were supports - this was the case, in particular, with the shuttle mod.118.

 Inside the projections of the "118th" were tanks with the working fluid for the nuclear orbital engine - these were tanks with liquid that did not need to be inflated and which could be given a shape significantly different from a barrel or spherical reservoir inflated by pressure.

 In the new super shuttle, which plunged the president into such delight, even massive tanks with the working fluid were not needed - this tank took up a very modest volume and was lost against the background of the other units. The freed space was occupied by feeders that carried the "cold" plasma to converters - engine chambers that, like the feeders, could only function with the new superconductors.

A thin stream of the working fluid was injected into these magnetic chambers - also plasma, but ordinary. An interaction occurred with the removal of energy from that strange "superfluid" plasma and the ejection of secondary matter - that is, to put it simply, an exhaust, also plasma, but already consisting of ordinary plasma pumped with thermal energy.

 This exhaust was like a beam leaving the engine chamber. A beam trembling in the burning air around it. As the distance increased, the beam expanded, dispersed, and eventually went into a translucent glowing cloud of hot air, which, in fact, exploded over and over again, being fired at by energy from plasma particles invading the calm air. If such a shuttle had turned on its main engine while standing on the surface, even on racks, it would have caused a powerful explosion that would have destroyed the ship itself. It would have burned a hole several dozen meters deep beforehand. The evaporated gases emanating from the burning solid rocks would have created a blast wave. To prevent this from happening, small starting engines were provided, located in angular protrusions in the upper part of the ship. The outlines of the protrusions somewhat resembled the front aerodynamic tail of a conventional combat missile, but aerodynamics had nothing to do with it.

 In part, however, the protrusions still performed a similar steering function - being spaced in directions at an angle to the central axis of the device, they, among other things, allowed maneuvering. At least in space, at least in the atmosphere. Four small engines, or rather chambers, provided enough thrust to pull the ship to a height of about a thousand feet, where it was possible to smoothly switch first to additional side chambers located in the cuts of the side projections, and then to the cruise engine. It would also be more correct to say chamber - there was, in fact, one engine, and it was the reactor. What Oppenheimer was shown was the work of a large "nozzle", a chamber located in the side block. Only the cruise chamber exceeded it in size. The reactor itself was located in the central body of the device. At the time of the visit, the dark cylindrical block could still be seen standing at a distance - part of the hull and skin had not yet been installed.

 Inside, the shuttle's structure had very little in common with a rocket system, even a nuclear one - even it had a massive nozzle apparatus and a working body heating chamber, together with the nozzle resembling a conventional rocket engine. Here, in a pile of ribbed elements, rested the dark colossus of the reactor, held not only by the main power elements of the frame but also by this countless little thing, making the shuttle without the skin look like a bone in cross-section.

 The similarity was not accidental - the hull had to withstand extremely high, including dynamic, loads - the power-to-weight ratio allowed the ship, as stated, to squeeze out almost eleven units during acceleration or braking.

 An additional similarity to a biological structure was given by the feeder lines, stretching to different corners of the device, like a few vessels of some primitive organism. They went to the converter chambers - those from which beams-streams of exhaust plasma beat. All this caused such feelings as if a person, in this case Oppenheimer, who had never seen anything except a horse-drawn carriage and a steam locomotive, and only from afar, was suddenly shown a gorgeous polished V-12 engine, flaunting itself under the hood of a car that had not yet been assembled. An engine that was already capable of giving a test run. Here was a car, even if both the engine and its operation were in the process of being assembled.

 The annoying thing was that from the very beginning of the War, AEX had two prototypes of a ship for interplanetary flights, which looked very similar in appearance. All the years of the War, those two shuttles hung around as absolutely useless ballast. One was parked in Nevada, the second they threw somewhere in orbit in the solar system. More precisely, not somewhere, but near Mars.

 According to their statements, the ships were completely unsuitable for any military purposes. Those "starships", however, had conventional nuclear engines, dirty even by the standards of the War, so they had a very valid excuse.

 Those shuttles were conceived as transport exclusively from the Moon and to other planets. Nevertheless, with such different functionality and engines, the appearance of those machines was very similar to the new shuttle. This led to certain thoughts. What and how these constellations were developing as part of their private research was not completely transparent even to the President of the United States. This was annoying.

 What did they, the constellations, come up with regarding flexible appropriations? - the President finally turned to Nordwood. - Let me guess, they spoke out in favor of expanding the tax franchise. If this continues, then sooner or later national states will be completely abolished, and without any unnecessary actions like creating a confederation, - Oppenheimer grinned. - Not about that at all, - Nordwood answered, smiling politely at the sad joke. This time, the headquarters put forward their idea, and it concerns exclusively military operations.

 - We seemed to be interested in the economy and the costs of all this magnificence. For the shuttle. For the shuttles.

 - This is intended to some extent to relieve the production complex, - Nordwood answered. - The new concept is called rear localization.

 - Another combination of words. It's time to come up with some simple names for all these phrases. I'm surprised ordinary people don't get confused by this.

 - We shouldn't underestimate ordinary citizens, - Nordwood added conciliatorily. - So, the central idea is to transfer the main burden of the Military Process to the so-called focal confrontation. A certain area in the rear is selected, preferably with reliable strategic protection. From there, a series of offensive strikes are carried out with weapons such as aviation and short-range ballistic missiles. The strike is carried out on some infrastructure facilities of the enemy. An option with an attack on frontline fortifications is possible, but it is desirable to go deeper. The localization of our strike in this case conditionally outlines a similar area from which the enemy will undertake symmetrical actions. As a result, we will get a conventional confrontation for several days and the finale in the form of a local victory of one of the parties. A war in miniature. I would also characterize this as a hastily concocted version of conversion. My words in this case do not have a derogatory context. I do not mean that the planners hastily concocted it, but that, from the position of an uninitiated average citizen and even an executor, this can be perceived exactly like that. The burden on the front is weakened. The military-industrial complex can also exhale and switch to more interesting tasks.

 Oppenheimer shook his head thoughtfully.

 - This is not the first time I have heard some nonsense that later turns out to be quite workable. Nevertheless, I have a number of questions now. The first is how can we be sure that with our attack, with our missiles, we will outline the very area for the enemy, from which his attack will come? Do I understand correctly that we are talking about a strategic attack. These are carriers, right?

 - Rather, we are talking about medium-range weapons. The main secret here is that we will not outline something random, but will choose based on our data on the enemy's rear. Despite all the games of information and disinformation, this is feasible. You can't hide a plant under a sheet. Or a bridge of strategic importance. As well as anti-missile terminals. The enemy must have the impression that he will attack from parity conditions. From a localized rear sector with protection conditionally equal to our, so to speak, bridgehead. The hotbed.

 - Another matter. Now the second. What is the insurance against unpredictable escalation?

 - Here I will answer simply - The war has been going on for seven years, sir. Who needs such an escalation?! - he smiled politely.

 - Oppenheimer also came to life a little.

 - So, it won't work out without a certain bilateral process over the white continent?

 - Of course, Sir, otherwise why would he fly there all these years.

 - But really, it is somewhat akin to conversion, only instead of orbit and distant near-Earth space we now have these, what did they call them? Hotbeds? It has already been determined where the new strategy will be tested.

 - Yes, sir, - answered Nordwood. - The vicinity of the Kepler-West rocket launch site.

 - Yes... These places... I've heard about them, - Oppenheimer answered cheerfully. - I just want to draw special attention to the fact that the most important shuttles are evacuated in time, or better yet, in advance.

 - Sir, of course. In general, laser selectors have now been put into operation there. In addition to their direct purpose, they are great at shooting down hypersonic drones. True, if they are not too low above the horizon and there are no clouds.

 - Not so great, although okay. And one more thing. In the order of small joys of life. In the event of this local victory, it would not hurt the locals to arrange some kind of small relaxation. Well, a celebration, a weekend. Something like that. Everyone else should also develop a sense of involvement. People need it. I mean everyone else and the Americans in particular.

 - Okay, I will pass on your wish. It will not be difficult or expensive.

 - Yes, by the way, is the result predictable or will everything happen... on a parity basis?

 - Of course on a parity basis. Theoretically, something like a defeat is possible if the enemy overdoes it with offensive activity, but... As has already been said, priority in the choice should be given to a protected area. "Kepler-West" is the best fit in this sense - it has defense and an optimal distance to the front line. - Another important point, - Nordwood once again cheered up. - We can declare both a defeat and a victory. And this is regardless of the victory or defeat on the opposite side. With the current information isolation, two victories on both sides are not something extraordinary. At least because our enemy cannot help but lie. Yes, this took place in past wars, too, although not at such a developed level as we can afford now.

 - Yes. Quite a cynical concept, - Oppenheimer sighed. - However, not the first time. However, as always. I think that in the case of defeat it would not hurt to also cover the event as it should be. Mourning and all that. I mean in terms of all our nations. People should be on their toes and not forget that this happens, otherwise the coming conversion may go unnoticed.

 - Oddly enough, it's not that simple. The concept doesn't provide for serious damage, however... I would think about the fact that such a defeat could be linked to some... Some "black day" at the front. At any front. The functioning of the rear is still one mechanism and linking, for example, another breakthrough of our defense on the African front with attacks on the region in Siberia will not be difficult. A kind of justification. Just in case.

 Oppenheimer thought for a moment, then glanced out the window. The surface of Ontario was floating away somewhere behind, the plane was heading south. The horizon line changed from yellow to scarlet shades. - If only this whole corps de ballet would give us the opportunity to calmly hold out until the moment when this giant with its mad engine takes off from the ground, and even better, lands. At least in its first test flight, - he thought.