Editing The Falthgood Devices (section)

===Describing the Devices, Promotion to Captain and Admiral's Aide Again===
''(USS Night's Watch - Capt Lee & Lieutenant Falthgood - 1450)''

"Its time," Rich said as he gestured to the three devices that had just been ushered into the shuttlebay of the 'Watch. Falthgood mused for a few moments about the path that they were taking, and then made a mental shrug.

Zach put his arms behind him and stood like a rock as he faced the first of the three devices. It was the smallest, generally shaped like a console with a giant cylinder jutting from the back. "First on the left, the Sociable device. It's a retrovirus creator, Sir. It's designed to be some sort of healing device, it creates retro-bugs. But we also discovered it could create the worst plagues known to man. Provide a sample of DNA and it can be tailored from basic DNA structure for all species, or a species... right down to individual or family DNA. Making it the ultimate in tailored bio-warfare. It's healing potential is absolutely incalculable, but so is it's terror value. We could wipe out a race with this, or an individual or blood-line."

He closed his eyes, "The middle device that looks like a giant reliard penis is the New Destiny device. For simplicity sake, consider it the Genesis Device take-two. It is... something like a transporter/replicator system. It reorganizes matter into a matrix we desire, on a planetary scale. It can use all matter in a given area to do so, as well. Even better, it can be programmed to specifically use, or ignore, specific types of matter... such as living beings. I could completely redo Earth without touching any of her native plants or animals, only living human beings and artificial structures. Its computing and sensors systems are far superior to our own.

It uses some sort of crystal matrix processing system that out-performs the entire fleet put together." He sighed, "It takes approximately six hours to complete a transformation the size of Earth with no special functions. If you give it a lot of do's and don'ts, it can take upwards of 12. But in the four tests we put it through, it never failed. The only casualties we found among the test subjects we forbid the device from harming were environmental and accidental, a cat jumped off a brand new cliff or a desert dweller drowned in a stream. Etc. It takes the device approximately one day to recharge for future use. It works on zero-point energy, so theoretically its power source is infinite. With this device, you can take a week and completely destroy a few star systems worth of enemies and their bases, while leaving lower order life-forms alive and well in whatever new eco-system you program."

He swung his head a bit and cracked his neck. "Third and last is the Trinity device, the only pure-weapon among them... as far as we could tell anyway.

It absorbs any energy sources in the area and directs a mutli-phasic pulse which, for lack of better terms, liquefies living matter. We used it against all types of test subjects, from Carbon based life right down to all forms of silicates. Depending on the base structure, it either breaks down all living matter into its basic compounds, or in a silicates case, utterly crystallizes all materials into something solid." He paused, "Whereas this doesn't sound any worse then some of the weapons that we've devised in the past century, this one works on a system-wide scale. And nothing we devised could stop it... trust me, we tried a lot. Not even the Inchon level technology we had made more then a small dent in the final outcome. This seems to have been an Inchon or Malcorian doomsday device." 

Zach paused for a few moments, and then continued. "All energy sources in its directed path are sucked dry within moments. Shields are stripped away like they aren't there, generators, batteries and warp-cores last for maybe 30 seconds. And all the while the pulse is building in strength. You could wipe out all of Earth, the Moon, the Mars Defense Perimeter, Christopher's Landing on Titan and all Starfleet ships and bases within 45 light-minutes of the target point within 25 minutes with this device. Zero error, zero chance to live. Even better, it uses a portion of the captured energy to shield itself and create an interdiction zone. Once this thing starts, it doesn't stop until it's programmed function has been completed."

He didn't have to say that, in testing this device, it had been used to end several systems. The probability for survival was a figure come by honestly after much testing.

Zach opened his eyes and turned to face the Captain, whose face had gone quite pale as he considered the implications. "These are what I was ordered to bring back Captain, this is the fear you can deal to Doenitz. He knows I have them, he knows I could give them up to you. The code names themselves were buried in ten levels of black bag-dom. Whether or not he believes you'll use any, or whether you will indeed use them, is now out of my hands."

He handed over a PADD, "These are the complete notes on working the devices, and the results of all the tests that were conducted."

Rich took the notes, but his eyes never left the devices. "Very well," he said after long moments. "I'll take them into storage." He turned back, "Lieutenant [[Falthgood]], I am instructed to tell you that you are now listed as a special aide of Admiral LoDona with the rank of Captain and command codes to suit." He pulled out a PADD and handed it over to the frowning Falthgood. "But only we're going to know that, you'll go back to the [[Nimitz]] as a Lieutenant. Your promotion will be buried and sealed, for now."

Zach rubbed at his temples, "Why?" he finally growled, "I was quite happy as a Lieutenant, d*mn you and your admiral anyway!"

"Because you might need that rank and privilege." Rich said dispassionately. "You know how to act, and you're quite used to usurping command. Your status as a special aide gives you that power, if you need it. Though be warned, you'll answer to LoDona if you do."

"I won't." Zach replied flatly. "Captain Sash is quite capable of commanding the [[USS Nimitz|Nimitz]]."

"But not in recognizing the danger signs you see." Lee sighed, "Use it, don't use it. I would prefer you didn't, but you might find yourself in a situation where quick orders are needed. If nothing else, you can command any Starfleet assets if the need arises. You're rank confers upon you a special dispensation from Strategic Operations."

"How lovely." Zach said acidly. It had finally been enough. "These are the same smooth words I heard from Doenitz once, long ago."

Rich's face turned red and he stepped up to Zach. They were both of the same height; they could look into each others eyes. "Mr. Falthgood, I will make this very clear." Rich said harshly. "I don't care. I was asked to confer this to you in case of dire emergency; you're one-of-a-kind in this fleet. I actually had to argue him down, he wanted you at his side, but you're both safer while you're on the Nimitz. At his side you could remain a Lieutenant and he would give the orders. If you're going to be on your own, you might very well require this. You can recognize threats that no one else in this fleet is qualified to see until well after it's too late. If you have a problem with this, take it to the Admiral."

He stepped back again, "In the mean time, I suggest you get on your shuttle.
It leaves for the Nimitz is twenty minutes."

[[Falthgood]], now a Captain who was playacting as a Lieutenant, growled and spun on his heel. He had just about stepped out the door when Lee's voice rang out again. "Captain, one more thing."

He stopped and turned, Rich had turned to face the devices. "Record a message to Doenitz and forward it to myself and LoDona. The fact we have these devices will be better received from you, Doenitz knows you well." Lee turned on his heel, "And if you can scare him properly, we'll be able to bury these forever."