Free Uplift by Ken Pence Page B

generals.
    “Komenski. I left that vehicle with its ultracapacitor, and battery pack charged. Target those, private…a couple of shots.”
    “Targeting the power packs with a couple of shots,” said Komenski, and there was a flash, and flames shooting up from the vehicle after he fired.
    “Private. Please cut the vehicle in half,” the sergeant major said.
    “Cutting the vehicle in half – which way?” asked the private.
    The sergeant major chuckled, and the audience leaned forward with their binoculars. “Top to bottom will be fine private.”
    The private flipped his weapon to continuous, reaimed, and neatly cut the smoldering car from top to bottom, and it visibly fell down in the middle.
    “Sirs. Would any of you like to try one out? I have ten,” the sergeant major asked. “Any questions?”
    There was polite shuffling as every general came forward. They might be leaders of men, but they were all experienced soldiers, and wanted to try these things out. There was a little trepidation as the weapons were handed out where each was told to keep the weapons on safe, and pointed downrange.
    General Clanton asked, “How do adjust for distance?”
    “Good question sir. Remember. These weapons are line of sight. No adjustments are needed for windage, or elevation. You see it – you can hit it. Off safe only on my command, and cease fire at my command. Acknowledge by shouting – Affirmative range master.”
    There was a resounding yell of “Affirmative range master!” the generals were in a good mood.
    “Target anything left of the tall oak in the distance,” the sergeant major yelled.
    “Target left of oak,” the generals replied laughing.
    “Get serious gentlemen. Understand?” Pinchon yelled.
    “Affirmative range master,” the generals shouted.
    “Set rifles to continuous fire. Safeties off,” he shouted.
    The reply was a bit broken as the shooters figured out how to change the settings though the safety was just like an M8. There was a short pause as Pinchon waited for all to be ready. “Aim,” he shouted, and all the rifles were mounted to shoulders. “Fire at will.”
    The only sound was the whip crack of the ionized air, and the explosions down range. There was a good deal of chuckling, and ‘I wonder if these are allowed in deer season, and the like.’
    “Keep it down people,” the sergeant major yelled, and waited a minute longer ‘til they were running out of undefiled targets. “Cease fire! Weapons on safe! Privates. Collect those weapons please.”
    “What powers these? I heard gasoline,” asked General Robbins.
    “Sir. We’ve used almost every flammable hydrocarbon. Diesel, and biodiesel work, but require more cleaning. One of our people even used pure grain alcohol. That worked very well,” Sergeant Major Pinchon replied.
    “Don’t the different hydrocarbons produce different energy levels when they burn, and different byproducts,” General Clanton asked.
    “There is no ‘burning’ per se, but the hydrocarbon molecules are stripped apart to their elemental particles, and pass through a magnetic field to produce the power. That is why so little goes such a long way. Mister Patterson could explain later if you want a more detailed explanation.”
    The general waived him off.
    “Now to a little heavier weapon that AcuMint has developed. We like this one very much also. General Clanton. I know you like to shoot. This one kicks a bit if you’re up to it?”
    “Thank you sergeant major. I’ve heard the men talking about this one – the railgun?” the general said.
    “That’s the one,” and Komenski brought over the weapon, showed the rapid-fire selector, and the safety.
    Clanton gave a thumbs-up, and the sergeant major pointed to an old Abrams M1A1 with its depleted uranium, and Kevlar strike plates, some reactive armor added. Specs said the old tank ran about 67 tons, and was arranged dead on to the viewing platform at around 1,000 meters. Sergeant Major Pinchon