Free Sentient by D. R. Rosier Page A

heavy particles and frees massive amounts of energy.  Also, we have quantum connections, much like the spooky action at a distance your current understanding of quantum physics employs, except we know how to bridge a connection.”
    A picture of the sun appeared on the screen.
    Aide continued, “ This is our reactor.  Your sun.  In layman’s terms what we do is open multiple quantum connections into the sun itself.  This connection, or many connections, actually streams plasma through millions of small conduits on the ship, and then ejects it back to the sun through a reverse quantum connection.  These quantum connections are limitless in range, we could be across the known universe and the power from your sun would still be at the same strength.
    “ Some of our systems directly tap into the plasma, such as our reaction engines which generates movement through gravity.  Our weapons systems also directly tap the plasma and in essence eject it toward the enemy.  The plasma balls are protected inside a shield that resonates and is attracted to enemy shields and ships, so it can change course even after being fired. 
    “Obviously it is much more involved than that, but I don’t believe you could fully understand it, not without years of schooling to explain the knowledge download.  Humans are just as intelligent as Alions on the scale; you just lack teaching, not smarts.
    “Some of our systems use coils to collect energy from the many plasma streams circling the outside bulkheads of the ship.  Plasma streams generate strong magnetic fields.  The shields are one such system, where the plasma is just incompatible to what we want, but the magnetic field isn’t.  Our FTL drive runs that way as well.  Even the luminescent lighting of the floor and ceiling are just elements mixed with the metal that reacts with a magnetic field and produce the light.”
    He grunted kind of following, but mostly not.
    Stacey asked curiously, “Is there a reason the ship is saucer shaped?”
    Aide replied, “ Yes, the magnetic fields need to be as uniform as possible in the ship.  The plasma running in millions of perfect circles ensure a stable and uniform magnetic field.  If the ship was shaped more square, the magnetic field would be… snarled at the corners.”
    Aide giggled at her comparison, “ Although other shapes are possible, this one is the most efficient.  The fighters for example are smaller, so we make them tubes.  The equations and specs are tighter, but we can run the plasma in many small circles, like millions of springs embedded next to each other spiraling along the length.  If done correctly the irregularities cancel out. ”
    Aide continued, “ There is a more mundane reason as well, in battle there are plasma turret ports in all directions, any side can be the front, and we can even spin to make it harder for the enemy to hit the shields in the same place over and over while constantly alternating turrets to allow cool down time.  But back to the original question Stacey asked, we will start recruiting tomorrow.  You should both try and get some sleep. ”
    This still felt a little unreal to him, despite being in perfect health and aboard this amazing ship.  Having Stacey by his side didn’t exactly help and he knew he was becoming quite smitten.  She was extremely distracting and took up a lot of his thoughts, he knew he would have to buckle down over the next twelve days and learn the bridge systems.
    It would be embarrassing if the Earth died because he couldn’t keep it in his pants for five minutes.
    But right now it was time for bed.  He turned and couldn’t help but stare as Stacey stripped and slid under the covers completely naked.  Being in the military, then in a hospital he hadn’t slept that way in a long time, but strange to him or not he followed her lead.  By the time he was in bed his reaction was apparent.
    Stacey smiled and kissed him, and it wasn’t a good night kiss, it