Free Beyond Mars Crimson Fleet by RG Risch

unarmed
transports or freighters.
    In reality to this deception, these were the Earth’s
most advanced warships, which were far different from the older
vessels with keels and hulls of welded braced metal. Their
conception was the result of newer technologies specified in their
design requirements to counter a number of growing alien
civilizations with equal or superior battle fleets.
    These ships were constructed of two-way shape memory
alloys and materials, in which all atoms shifted at the same time
to form new stable crystal structures when energized. This not only
altered the physical footprint of
the ships, but created added functions by forming new equipment.
The yield strength of these compositions were much higher than
steel, giving the ships of this Earth fleet
a unique advantage along with battlefield
dominance.
    In
particular to this, was the huge space dreadnought positioned at
the head of the fleet. Its size dwarfed even the biggest of the
Martian cruisers and boasted the name of the present Earth's
council director— Quinton .
    The ESS Quinton was the flagship of this—the Crimson Fleet. Reputed as one of
the most aggressive, destructive, and brutal of the modern Earth
military forces, the Crimson Fleet was also counted among the very
best.
    The crews
of this fleet were also strangely unique: the majority of which
were not human. Humans accounted for less than one sixth of each
ship's compliment at best, and slowly they were being replaced.
Machines or their variant hybrids dominated the crews. Their
strength, endurance, and efficiency were considered more valuable
than human inventiveness, bravery, and compassion. This was
especially mirrored in a microcosmic melodrama that now played
itself out aboard the Quinton .
     
    * * * * *
     
    Only bands of upward moving
rings of pulsed bluish-white energy illuminated the dark judicial
chamber. The bands of electromagnetic conductivity were used to
restrain a kneeling woman prisoner between two metal plates in the
middle of the room. Their fluctuations of motion were accented by a
constant hum and occasional miniature lightning strikes of static
electricity that stung at the brunette's body. The woman jerked and
cried out from the pain cause by each random sting, while her
thoughts were choked by the despair of her uncertain
fate.
    Crewman Laura Jillian
sobbed quietly as she awaited the verdict of her court martial. She
did not understand how or why this nightmare had happened. The
woman's mind replayed her cycling of a bank of power relays during
the normal 100-hour maintenance procedures. Every Step was
meticulously followed and electronically checked off on an
intuitive log. However, without warning one of relays was stuck
closed, causing a huge unexpected surge of current. This overloaded
the equipment, which blew apart and caused an internal fire in the
main engine room.
    Although, her actions were
recorded on video, the recording somehow mysteriously vanished
along with the electronic log, evaporating her defense. The
recording and log’s disappearance was seen as a cover up to an act
of sabotage, as accused by a cyborg shortly after the incident. He
had been remotely monitoring the operation on the bridge. Added to
this notion of treason were several previously made statements by
Laura taken out of context. It was though someone had deliberately
set her up for a court martial that was unwinnable. Laura’s spirit
sank lower in the depths of depression with this thought as the
waiting continued.
    Suddenly, the room's
hatchway opened and light temporary flooded the chamber. Laura saw
only the silhouette of a tall, lean female who stepped into the
room with two massive bodyguards. The door then sealed itself
again. Laura heard the woman's footsteps march to the judge's bench
in front of her as small reflections of light betrayed the tall
woman's path. For the moment, there was only silence.
    A dim green light then
“clicked” on from the judge's bench and