Zima Generation

Dedication

This book is dedicated to our daughter Kristen and our son Daniel. My wife Sherry and I could not be more proud of them.

Preface

This book, Zima Generation, is the third book in a collection blending futuristic and science fiction worlds.

This collection lays out activities and technology advancements in the future around the year UD 5449. It is life in the future, but many of the core ideals of social structures and living environments of everyday lives are the same as old Earth in the 20th Century. There are still families, offices, parks, schools, bars, restaurants, high rise buildings, and human values as those in the 20th century. These traits and characteristics have long been adopted as valuable life requirements that promote long lasting civilization stability, love, compassion, and respect amongst its people.

Its a different time, no doubt, full of adventures and strife of Human and AI beings in a multiverse world.

Book 1: Jingo

Book 2: Cael Civilization

Book 3: Zima Generation

Introduction

This is a continuing story of future worlds and life in a multiverse existence of several civilizations and times. It follows the new Zima generation, Zima is the home of the Cael Civilization leaders on the planet Mira in the Lumar system. Their children, Eli and Jee Taylor, Alex Mason, Liz Stillwell, and Ray Chin are now grown and in military service.

This is truly a multiverse of universes that never seem to end, exploration and discovery continuously find new civilizations and races throughout all of space and its dimensions. Advances in technology make exploration and travel more friendly and safer for everyone. People are able to transport themselves to anywhere, either through transport gates or in some cases with specialized thought powers. Time travel has become a normal and accepted way of life, traveling to a different time is practiced as though you were going to another city, universe, or civilization. Sure there are always ways people abuse this ability, but is not accepted by a vast majority of people who support the many laws and policies regarding time travel.

This story follows the Zima kids throughout their young military careers. All five of them and their teams are gifted attack fighter pilots. They learn much of their strategy and capabilities while serving on the Flight Carrier Sheppard attached to BlueDevil Flight. There they receive many commendations and awards for their accomplishments and successful missions.

After years with BlueDevil Flight they are offered an opportunity to transfer to the Kesh Civilization, a chance to tryout and join the Kesh Kintar, an elite group of Kesh pilots and flight teams. The Kesh Civilization is 5,000 years in their future, a different time involving new and advanced technology that bring new aspects to their lives. They excel throughout the Kesh world in their conquests and capabilities.

Part 1 - Kesh Kintar

Alpha Team

Its really dark out here, not much light, not many stars in this sector, lots of stars in the far far distance. Our current mission time is 5567+1000, we have jumped 1000 years into the future here in this Universe Bravo4629. We are out here in nowheresville, patrolling and looking for everything and anything, usually we find Scars, a mean and belligerent race of small little people, we will all probably be damned for calling them MudHeads, but we do. Honestly I am not sure when that name started, they are classified as human, but they look like evil little dwarves with heads sculpted of mud. Not very nice I know, but neither are they. Scars may be little, and they do have little ships, but nobody I know likes to tangle with them, they are fierce, if they find you, they will attack for sure. Cael has explored this time dimension for decades, we have diplomatic relations with many civilizations, many have joined Cael, but not the Scars. I don't think they like anybody, they mandate their own borders, constantly telling everyone else they are not permitted to cross into their world, and yet they have no problem crossing into other civilizations to steal, hijack, and kill if needed. Jackal and I believe it will be just a matter of time, others too will get real tired of their hypocrisy and end it. The Mudheads are fierce and very formidable, but really no match for our fighters and pilots, a nuisance in almost every way, but its a Cael Time Force directive to keep them corralled prohibiting excursions into other space where they are not welcome, a policy Cael instated to favor with all other civilizations.

I am Commander Connie Sandy Jackson, Junior Commander of the C-GCMT BlackStone, a Cael Time Force Attack Fighter Command ship. The BlackStone Commander is Commander Pete Jackal Boxer, a good friend of many years, I have learned much from Jackal. The BlackStone commands BlueDevil Flight, the BlueDevil Flight is comprised of 5 squadrons of 200 attack fighters each, 1000 fighters total.

Its the year 5567, current Cael Civilization time, our Cael Civilization has grown to limits difficult to comprehend. The Cael Time Force Command explores many universes and time dimensions of our Multiverse. Not just actual physical universes, but also time periods for all of them, mostly future time periods. Past periods are usually reserved for fact finding, crime and cause identifications, and largely Hoppers, those who violate Cael Laws prohibiting time travel, and only by direction of CTF Commanders.

We are attached to the Cael CTF Universe Time Explorer Carrier, C-UTE Sheppard. The Sheppard Commanders are Admiral Jaxson Tank Steele and Admiral Billie Sting Keenan. The Sheppard operations commanders are CAG Officer Captain Shannon Pulse Portman, and FCO Officer Captain Tommy Sparky Schulman. The Sheppard is an incredibly galactic size UTE ship, one of thousands in the Cael Civilization. The Sheppard has 8 40,000Km diameter Habitat Spheres within its outer shell made of Gossim skin technology, a nanotechnology that is the strongest material we know of, complete with AI intelligence imbedded into it, truly intelligent to change colors, Mirror cloaking, and allow leaps of our ships through it seamlessly. Cael throughout all its history have adopted the use of large spheres that provide a complete world, cities, high rises, parks, lakes, mountains, everything one would experience on a planet complete with a day sun, night stars, and weather. The spheres have proven in many ways to provide the most habitable living experience for humans, proven over and over again. The Sheppard also is home to 12 complete task forces of battleships, cruisers and frigates. It contains 500 flights, 500 flights like our BlueDevil flight of 5 squadrons, 1000 attack fighters, that is a total of 500,000 attack fighters all in one Universe Time Explorer Carrier.

Jackal and I command the BlueDevil Flight, comprised of 5 squadrons; OutLaws, MadCats, Raptors, YellowJackets, and Stingers. Our Squadron Lead Pilots are amazing, they themselves, all of them, have their own lists of commendations and awards. They are brother, sister, and cousins, they have grown up together, Jackal and I are convinced that flight is in their genes, they come from people who were also flight and military commanders, Cael Hero's. Initially out of Cael Flight Academy, they were viewed as privileged, sons and daughters of historic Cael Leaders and Commanders, it did not take long to prove all those who thought they were privileged wrong. These five exceeded beyond any measure their abilities to fly, to live and endure battle, in a very short period of time, they have become renown as pilots and squadron leaders in many ways, no one any longer disputes it, they all earned their way. They grew up as children of Shonir Command, they are now the hottest and most impressive Flights in all of Cael Civilization. We are proud of them, their squadron pilots would fly and follow them anywhere unconditionally, and they would do anything for their squadron pilots. Jackal and I feel lucky to command BlueDevil Flight. These five are not just our squadron lead pilots, they are our close friends, Dancer and Eyes are two of my closest friends.

Lt. Commander Eli Speed Taylor leads our OutLaws fighter squadron. He is the son of Admiral Jeb Taylor and Admiral Kiko Taylor, Cael Civilization Shonir CTF Commanders and Cael Civilization hero's. He got his call sign Speed after he set a Cael Civilization speed record flying the infamous DarkLight attack fighter obstacle course without jumping or AI pilot assistance, an historic record. All five are leaders, natural leaders, but Speed may be at the top of that list.

Lt. Commander Jee Dancer Taylor leads our MadCats fighter squadron. She is the daughter of Admiral Jeb Taylor and Admiral Kiko Taylor. Speed is Dancer's big brother, well 2 minutes big brother, Speed and Dancer are twins. Dancer is incredibly popular, drop dead cute, fun and an incredible dancer, hence Dancer. Dancer has an uncanny way of anticipating an enemy's next move.

Lt. Commander Alex Hawkeye Mason leads our Raptors fighter squadron. He is the son of General Tim Bear Mason, Commander of CTF Marine Forces, and Admiral Chilli Mason, Shonir Commander. He is not a blood cousin but he is a cousin in all respects with Speed and Dancer, he was raised with them. Hawkeye got his call sign by having well above average eye sight, not just good sight, but field of vision. Hawkeye has the ability to look out at an oncoming enemy and know where their weakest point is. He is also very gifted with his strength and agility.

Lt. Commander Ray Dragon Chin leads our YellowJackets fighter squadron. He is the son of Kai and Kiera Chin, of Chin's Noodles Restaurant fame, Dragon is also Speed, and Dancers cousin, whom he grew up with. Dragon holds one of the prestigious ancient martial arts Shintu Master titles, as his grandfather Master Tsi Chin. Dragon has unreal agility and combat skills aside from an unbelievable pilot. Dragon's father, Kai, is the brother of Admiral Kiko Taylor.

Lt. Commander Elizabeth Eyes Stillwell leads our Stingers fighter squadron. She is a cousin to Speed, Dancer, HawkEye, Dragon. She is the daughter of Admiral Jason Stillwell, Cael Shonir Technology Commander, and Mya Stillwell, a Cael civilization renowned cellist and orchestra maestro, also Admiral Kiko Taylor's sister. Eyes got her call sign because she was blessed with the very unique and rare Skorsian eyes. Skorsian eyes are almost hypnotic, a gorgeous deep and bright blue-green color. Eyes is truly drop dead beautiful, but their is no way any one with any intelligence would want Eyes as an adversary, she has no fear whatsoever.

>>>>

We are all in a standard staggered flying formation out here, watching and listening. MT, Multiverse Tracker, is not showing much out here, but there is something further out at 30 degrees, probably MudHeads. Jackal and I are sitting at our command console on the BlackStone, side by side.

In front of us we have five holo controls, two for Jackal, one between us for ships data and information, and two on my side. Our C-GCMT Attack Fighter Command ship is a two pilot command ship, about twice the size of our fighters with a large payload configuration, and make no mistake, the BlackStone is an powerful and agile attack fighter. Every attack fighter has an incredible second, or in our case a third pilot, our AI pilot. The pilot and AI pilot train together, exhaustively train together, they know each other as if they were siblings, everything about one another. Its important that they are that close, they need to think alike and act alike, the AI pilot can almost read the mind of the human pilot by continually monitoring the pilots heart rate, perspiration, and eye movements. The human pilot names his or her AI pilot, any name they so choose, from that day forward they are a team. Our AI is called Champ.

Champ, what is going on out here? What is that at 30? asked Jackal.

Scars, or as you call them MudHeads. They have not yet detected our presence. Other than that it is quiet. said Champ.

Are the MudHeads targets? asked Jackal.

Not always are they to be confronted, if they are in their own space, no targets, if they are not in their own space it depends on how they act. If they make hostile movements, or begin charging weapons, they quickly become targets.

No targets as yet Jackal, that may change soon. I have our flight in yellow condition. said Champ.

Champ is in command of all our squadron leader's individual AI pilots just as their AI pilot is in command of all the squadron AI pilots. All human pilots are ultimately in command, the AI pilot assists by targeting, firing sequences, strategic flight and movements, anything that needs quick and complex calculation, at the direction of the human pilot, unless the human pilot is incapacitated or unconscious, the AI pilot is then in charge with the mission to save the human pilot and ship. Yellow condition is one of Ready, the condition prior to Red Alert. Jackal's job is to command the ship, my job is to be his alternate, also I field all communications from our flight squadron lead pilots.

MudHeads have good sensors and trackers, very few are able to detect our Mirror cloaking, we have improved our Mirror cloaking after we determined the MudHeads were able to detect us, we now have a -S mode for Scars, they have not been able to detect us when we use our Mirror-S modes.

Champ switch us to Mirror-S, with the exception of the BlackStone, let's see if they see us, if so determine if they are targets. said Jackal

Mirror-S activated for Flight, we are not. The MudHeads are not in their space. They have locked us on as a target, they are charging weapons Jackal. said Champ

Mirror-S Now! Have Flight target all MudHeads. said Jackal.

Champ switches us to Mirror-S to cloak. All Flight AI pilots target all MudHead targets, each fighter has assigned target selections dependent on range and location. No firing sequences will be initiated until human commands are given.

Flight has all target selections. The lead MudHead has deactivated weapons. I don't think they know we are here. They are not supposed to be in this space, should I send a turn back message? asked Champ.

We see our holo that shows a total of 60 MudHeads, 25 is the minimum number that we can choose to ignore, this is well above the 25 limit.

Champ, are they all fighters, are there any transports carrying contraband or stolen goods. asked Jackal.

Sontin Scans show all fighters, no transports. said Champ.

Jackal asked the question to know if there is property that we do not want to vaporize, stolen property or people from another civilization.

Send the turn back message. said Jackal.

Message sent. said Champ.

They are not turning back Jackal, in fact they are increasing their speed. said Champ.

Flight to Red Alert, activate weapons, Mirror-S off. Let's show ourselves to them, see if 1000 to 60 odds will change their minds. said Jackal.

Sandy, Eyes. They are charging and not turning. said Stinger Squadron Lt. Commander Elizabeth Eyes Stillwell in Stinger1.

Copy Eyes. I confirmed.

Eyes is correct, They are selecting and charging weapons. said Champ.

Damn, idiots. Fire, Launch missiles on all targets. commanded Jackal.

Immediately our Flight fighters, those with AI assigned target selections, launch our M-Jump nuclear anti-matter jump missiles. These weapons jump instantly into the target, vaporizing the target in a blinding flash. Instantly 60 MudHead fighters are nothing but inactive molecules in space.

Nice work BlueDevils! Keep your lid's on, there may be more. said Jackal.

This has happened many times, they just never understand what out matched means. We often wonder if this race is human, but that is what the experts tell us. We execute per SOP.

BlueDevils, Jackal. We will make one more pass, and then head home. said Jackal.

Jackal, MT is totally clear. I see nothing, nothing will change in the time we make another pass. said Champ.

Got it Champ. Ok Flight, MT is clear. Let's jump home. commanded Jackal.

>>>>

I quickly throw on my teeg's, short for our fatigue uniforms, and Q out to the park just outside our flight rooms as I want to walk and get some fresh air on my way to Zip's.

Hey E, wait up. shouted my sister Jee as she, Liz, and Ray are behind me, my name is Eli, they call me E and other things too, What time is our Flight cap, are we late? she asked.

Zip's is one of the popular bars, lounge, hang out, what ever you want to call it, we are on our way for our weekly Flight cap, a summary and talk with Jackal and Sandy with just the squadron leads. It is usually a time to unwind and have some fun, not always, but mostly, food and drinks, well, food and a lot of drinks usually. The park is awesome, wide walkways with shrubs and fantastic shade trees, and of course slam tubes about every 40 meters, slam tubes are everywhere. Slam tubes are tubes at about 45 degree angle, on alerts pilots run for the slam tubes, you jump into the slam tube and get slammed, slammed is our slang when you are instantly cleansed of too much alcohol or anything else your on, its instantly removed from your body as well as any headache or hangover, its refreshing. What happens next is not so much, your immediately recognized and you are jolted right into your fighters cockpit flight chair, I remember Dad telling me he never got used to it, neither do I.

No, we have 20 minutes easy, I think. I said.

Hey look, there's Alex! Hey Alex over here! shouted Ray as we get Alex's attention. Alex sees us and jogs over as we all continue toward Zip's, its really a great hangout, there are many in our sphere, tons actually but Zip's is popular with our Flight. The five of us, even though we all were raised together and grew up in Zima on Mira, remain very close and are best friends. We got on the same flight, I think someone probably pulled some strings somewhere, but we also earned it, all five of us have excelled as pilots with awards and commendations, we all were excited to get assignments on BlueDevil Flight, its a prestigious Flight to get on.

Liz, did I see you the other night with Cranston, he is so cute. asked Jee.

What is it with you Jee, did you bot me or something, you know everything I do, he is kind of cute though. said Liz as they both giggle.

I saw you talking to Jimmy the other day, it didn't look like flight notes either. said Liz as they both pushed each other laughing.

What's with you two, boys, boys, boys, dang! said Alex.

Oh, well what about Tina in GatorTooth Flight, you don't seem to pass up a chance to see her. laughed Liz and Jee.

I think you two have tracking bots on all of us, is there a MT mode I'm not aware of? Sheesh. said Alex as we all laugh.

We all stroll up a facade leading into Zip's, music going, people everywhere, its a great place. We walk over to the studios on the outside perimeter, BlueDevil has one reserved. We look over and see Pete and Connie going over to the studio, good timing, Pete Jackal Boxer is our Flight Commander, Connie Sandy Jackson is our Flight Junior Commander, they are both good friends too.

The studio is really more of an alcove, not so much a room, but it has a transparent sound wall that prevents all the noise coming in from the rest of the bar. It has a holo area if needed, we rarely use it but we have on occasions.

Hey guys, good job out there today, not very exciting, but we filled up space with some more Muds. said Pete.

Ya, what's with them, 1000 Cael against 60 and they think they can take us on, I don't get it. Maybe they knew the MadCats were there! said Ray laughing.

Oh, well isn't Ray feeling froggy tonight, if they did they would have turned and skeedaddled back to their mud puddle. laughed Jee, she is the MadCat squadron lead.

The studio's have waiting staff that come to get our orders. Barb, comes in to get our orders.

The same guys? asked Pete, we all give a thumbs up.

Hey Barb, seven mushroom cheeseburgers, huge fries, extra sauce, and 4 pitchers of Dolik. ordered Pete.

So Eli, how is Trap doing, she ok? asked Connie.

I think so, I met her yesterday and we had a good talk, she needed to talk I could tell, its rough but she is very strong, good pilot. I said.

Its hard to imagine isn't it, losing your brother, I heard he was an ace pilot, I hear those Kaabar fighters are really tough. said Liz.

Lt. Commander Karen Trap Kosinski just lost her big brother in a battle with the Kaabar, they were in Delta350 +1500, its a hot universe right now, they were very close. Trap is my number 3 in my OutLaws squadron.

That's all I have, how about any of you, any thing you want to talk about? asked Pete.

Silence, guess not.

So tell me, you all were raised together right, how is it that you all get along so well, your like best friends? asked Connie.

Again a moment of silence.

Alex pays us, we get almost half what he makes if we go along with him. I said, we all start laughing.

Very funny. Actually you only get a quarter of what the others get E! Alex said as we all again laugh.

Seriously, you guys are a great team of incredible talent and yet you all get along so well. repeated Connie.

Again a few moments of silence.

I don't think any of us think of it that way, true we are cousins, our parents are incredible, we really don't know how it should be different. We have always been together sharing ups and downs, that's the way its always been. said Ray.

Ya, Ray's right. We are all very close, shoot our whole family is close, and we have quite a family, huh guys. said Jee.

Liz, your Mom is an incredible orchestra cellist, how come your not? asked Pete.

Oh boy, that's a long story, don't get me wrong I love music, I was brought up in music, I love my violin. I guess there is enough of my Dad's genes in me to be out here. My Mom worries a lot about me, but I really love being a pilot and the flight club, it really is in me at the angst of my Mom. said Liz.

You say you have quite a family, how so? asked Pete.

Silence again as we all are looking at each other with smiles.

Well, our family has a lot of people, our parents, our grandparents, very close family friends who are also our family, and we also have nine other very special and unique Uncles and Aunts. I said, as we all roll our eyes a little looking in different directions.

Pete looks at Connie, Connie looks at Pete, they all look at all of us.

Nine special and unique Uncles and Aunts? asked Pete.

Before we answer, Barb brings our mushroom cheeseburgers, fries, fry sauce, and Dolik. We all begin to dig in to our food and pour glasses of Dolik.

Oh shit! Uh... er ... Admirals on d ... I mean ... Attention on Deck! announces Pete as we all jump to attention.

There emerging in our studio are three Admirals, actually our Uncle Kolman, Uncle Benny, and Aunt Tara. They are three of our AI ZiKor family. AI ZiKor are AI powers that are in a ZiKor body, indistinguishable from any human. ZiKor are nanotechnology bodies, they have unreal capabilities that far outmatch any human.

As you were. said Uncle Admiral Kolman.

Uncle Kolman, Uncle Benny, Aunt Tara, what are you guys doing here. asked Jee as we all go for our accustomed hugs.

I look at Pete and Connie, they are still standing at attention, mouths and eyes wide open, staring at us as we hug the Admirals thinking we're crazy.

Guys, its ok, relax. I said to Pete and Connie.

Commander Pete Boxer, Commander Connie Jackson, it is a true pleasure to meet the Commanders of BlueDevil Flight, we have heard so much about you two. said Uncle Admiral Kolman as Pete and Connie are still standing in shock.

Please let me introduce Admiral Benny and Admiral Tara. said Kolman.

Kolman, Benny, and Tara all reach out and shake the hands of Pete and Connie.

Please, everyone sit down, can we also get some mushroom cheeseburgers, huge fries, fry sauce and three glasses. asked Benny.

Aunt Tara, do you want fettuccine and some wine? asked Liz.

Perfect Liz, thank you. replied Tara.

We all know that Aunt Tara is not a cheeseburger fan, her favorite is fettuccine .

Pete and Connie are still motionless, sitting now at least.

First of all all your parents said to say Hi and Love! Secondly, Pete and Connie, relax, we're all friends here. said Kolman as he waves his hand and the sound wall between us and the rest of Zip's goes opaque, there is a crowd gathering staring in at all of us.

How long has it been, maybe a year or more, its so great to see you. I say to our Uncles and Aunt.

15.6 months, its great to see you too. You all, all of you, are doing such a great job. We were just talking with Tank and Sting, they say BlueDevil is the best. said Benny as he digs into his mushroom burger.

Tank and Sting are the C-UCT Sheppard Commanders, Admiral Jaxson Steele and Admiral Billie Keenan, this blows the mind of Pete and Connie, referring to our Ship Commanders by their call signs with such familiarity.

Pete, your doing a great job, do you enjoy commanding the BlueDevils? asked Tara.

Oh, well uh, yes of course, they are a great group! stammered Pete.

E, why don't you pour another Dolik for Pete and Connie, maybe that will help. laughed Benny as we all laugh, even Pete and Connie.

Connie, Sting says your doing great work, how about you, do you enjoy it as well. asked Kolman.

Absolutely Admiral, BlueDevil is a great Flight, I have learned and enormous amount working with Jackal. said Connie.

Ray, get some more Dolik, we are going to need it. said Benny with his belly laugh, Uncle Benny does have a great belly laugh.

Please, relax, let's get to know each other, we are going to be here for some time, we have lots to talk about. Zip's will stay open for as long as we need. said Kolman.

Ok now this is interesting, what is going on, Kolman, Benny, and Tara are all here together to talk to all of us, we have a lot to talk about, as long as it takes. The most powerful AI in our Cael Civilization are here to talk to us for as long as it takes, about what?

Guys, we will be right back, take some time together, talk it out a bit, we are going up to the bridge for maybe 20, be right back. said Kolman as they leave us.

I look at Pete and Connie, they are just staring at us. We are looking at them, we all burst out laughing.

What was that! Your Uncles and Aunts, what? said Pete.

Well you asked us about our special and unique Uncles and Aunts. said Jee as we all started laughing.

We have nine, including Kolman, Benny, and Tara. They are the most powerful AIs in all of Cael Civilization. They are Shonir Commanders. Other than that, I have no idea what they want to talk about, but it will be something good, that I know. said Alex.

Alex is right, something is cooking in their minds, it always is a surprise. Pete and Connie, really relax, yes they are Admirals but they are not just our Uncles and Aunts, they are our best friends, they are your best friends, relax and feel free to be totally candid with them, its OK to do so. I said.

E's right, they are really amazing in so many ways, they want you to talk with them not to them, we can all relax and just be ourselves, what ever is going on, its going to be something, it always is. said Jee.

Roger That! said Liz and Ray simultaneously as we all laugh.

How about some more cheeseburgers, probably some more beer too. I said.

Pete orders more.

They know our Commanders, as though they are all old chums? asked Pete.

Oh ya Pete, they know everybody. I know for a fact that Benny knew Admiral Steele and Admiral Keenan, when they were lieutenants. said Ray.

Seriously, dang! You guys didn't know they were coming? Really? asked Connie.

Nope, almost always you don't know what they do, they know everything and everybody, always. said Liz.

Pete and Connie look at all of us, just shaking their heads.

You all sure have an interesting family. said Connie.

You don't know the half of it, as a matter of fact, I'm not sure we know the half of it. said Jee as we all laugh.

Barb brings in our food, there is a monster crowd out in the bar who have assembled trying to peer in to the studio, You all are the event of the century, I have never seen such a crowd! Everything OK? asked Barb.

All's good Barb, thanks! said Pete.

Come on, do any of you know or guess why they came here? Admirals don't just show up to a simple Flight cap. asked Connie.

Nope, chances are good that it will be scary and or frightening mostly because we will probably not understand it, ultimately it will be good, none of us have ever been let down by them. said Alex.

The three