The Commander by CJ Williams

center of each tube.”
    “So you manufacture the rounds in the barrel ready to fire?”
    “Exactly. The slug is a super-heavy material and the inside of each one contains a solid core of lithium deuteride. Depending on the density of the enemy’s hull, the projectile should tear right through it. If the target point is sufficiently solid, the heat and compression from the impact will result in a nuclear detonation. Our reload system will fire two volleys per second. It’s a limitation of the replicator.”
    “Why not have the projectiles prepared beforehand for a faster rate of fire?” Luke suggested.
    “Fewer moving parts,” Evan replied. “We assume the ship will be operating in combat conditions. It is possible that under the stress of a high-speed engagement, the linkages necessary to move the projectiles could result in a mechanical failure. In this fashion, the only moving part is the actual slug as it leaves the barrel. The projectiles are fired by maximally powered gravity plates. They generate two hundred thousand gees for one second. About half a second is transferred to the projectile itself.”
    “Doesn’t that push the ship around?” Luke asked.
    “All four barrels fire on each command. That creates offsetting forces so the effect on the ship itself is neutralized. Typically, only two of the barrels are loaded at any one time. Each volley fires two rounds forward or two aft. Fully loaded, the ship has over one hundred thousand rounds.”
    Evan nodded to another engineer who continued the narration. “Commander, the fire control system is effective in-system only against targets that are moving at sub-light speeds. As we’ve discussed in the past, our detection ability still does not allow us to engage targets that are moving faster than light. Also, if an enemy ship is moving in anything other than a straight line, the probability of kill is very low. We would not be likely to score a hit, other than by luck. The reason is that targeting calculations for a Bakkui ship maneuvering at near light speed in a curvilinear plane are simply not possible even for our AIs.”
    “Got it,” Luke said. “We’ve talked about that in the past. I don’t see any way around it. But it sounds like you’ve got basic in-system engagements figured out.”
    “Yes sir. The ship’s captain only has to designate the desired targets, which are displayed on any of the viewscreens on the bridge and the AI takes over. We’ve tested prototypes of the fire control system against target drones with excellent results. During the firing process, our AI maneuvers the ship using directional gravity drives placed throughout the hull. They are highlighted as you can see on this simulation.”
    Luke saw over a dozen gravity plates built into the disc. The ship’s AI would have the ability to target by pointing the large cannons on its back to the enemy’s projected location.
    Morrow took over the briefing. “A crew of twelve live in the forward module, although in a pinch, just the captain and the AI could engage in battle. The remaining positions on the bridge are mainly for monitoring the threat screens and assisting with analysis. There is also a communications station.”
    Luke pointed to the front portion of the module. “Is that a window?”
    “That’s correct,” Morrow replied. “It covers almost the entire width of the bridge providing an unrestricted view in front of the warship. I’ve built a lot of ships, boss. This will be a comfortable assignment for periods of up to half a year. The crew module has all the amenities and extends into the main disc when not in combat. That’s a half-size gymnasium there in the middle.”
    “What about the AI in emergencies?”
    “If the ship is seriously damaged to the extent the crew module jettisons, the AI within the disc, and the disc itself, self-destructs. Same thing applies to the crew module AI, which is a subset of the main AI. If the module is in any danger of