Liberty: Operation Bit-Byte

[Fletcher]

Be advised this character bio is now out of date and deemed void.
Yours sincerely, Fletcher.
4th March 2012

//Cast and color code for ease of reading and understanding:

• LN Admiral Nimitz - light blue text
  
• Professor Farnsworth - aqua
  
• Intelligence Chief Horton - pink
  
• Armament Minister Elizabeth - orange
  
• Chief Strategist Halfpenny - black
  
• Chief Engineer Julian Powell - yellow
  

Chapter 2: Manufacturing

Norfolk station is the epicentre of the latest shipbuilding projects within the Liberty Navy. It is the primary shipyard for the construction of Liberty transports; gunboats; and even the feared Liberty Dreadnought. Norfolk Shipyards are the testament to the Libertys abilities to manufacture large vessels ever since the 3rd century Sirius.

Nowadays, with a large scale war looming on the horizon Norfolk Shipyards has seen an influx of cargo ships of all sizes bringing in supplies and components needed to build and re-supply large vessels of war. But there is new activity, new transport ships added to the common influx of Universal shipping, and Ageira weapon shipments. No these were Liberty transports, and they were bearing the Liberty Navy Guard ID, meaning that if you questioned their cargo; or their cargo, you get suspended, or worse accused of espionage.

Amongst the new influx of ships was an armoured transport bearing Liberty Police Incorporated, with an unusual ID. A LASP ID, the next thing that was unusual was the fact that it was escorted under Liberty Navy Guard vessels, real tooth grinders, not ships you want to tangle with in a commercial, or even a military vessel.

The armoured transport vessel docked with Norfolk Shipyard quickly and efficiently, it is the hatch that leads to Hanger 4.

Hanger 4 consists of several computer terminals and several docking clamps for medium to large vessels, but it is primarily geared for the maintenance and refitting of Gunboat class vessels.

A Hanger 4 door opens, two people walk in.

Ah Professor, come to check up on the Anvils getting the refits?

Why yes, indeed I am. I have to oversee the preparations of the new Anvils after all.

This is where theyre being assembled professor? Im sure we can find better facilities to accommodate you

There is no need Elizabeth, we have the resources and logistical support right here, besides its not often Norfolk is subjected to attacks that can hinder its production capability. Also, where else to build special ship, than in a special dry dock?

Elizabeth then walks around the hanger, examining the three Liberty Anvil Class gunboats in drydock. The ships components are strewn in what seems to be a random pile, but to a trained eye, they are perfectly sorted for ease of maintenance and refitting.

This hanger is in such a mess, how can you engineers work in here?

Gee, Ill thank you for having such a motherly attention to the supposed negative things in my hanger. This mess as you call it is actually sorted categorically and in priority. The reason the parts are strewn around is so we can see where the parts are when we need to inspect and make use of them.

Oh? This mess is organized is it? Well, suit yourself Im not the one fitting these parts. Im just going to supervise this operation, Ill make use of your offices and computer terminals in order to speed things up around this dump.

Wait what!? Your going to supervise this operation?! Id rather move into Sugarland than be a subordinate to you, I run things my way, its never let me down and Ive never heard any complaints. Professor, you cant be serious about this!

Im sorry Julian but thats the way its gotta be. This operation is a hush-hush type, so we need to be supervised in order to keep things safe. Not to mention quiet. We cant risk any information of this operation getting out into the military, or even the police networks, we are operating on our own on this one save for supplies and information from the Navy.

Tch, fine I understand. Ill be quiet as long as she doesnt tell me how I do my job.

Good boy, but I will have to breathe down your neck at times, its the way I do my job.

Oh lovely, the spine tingling feeling of the Devil is going to become a commonplace thing here now. Ill write my will while I still can.

What did you say!?

Ya heard me!

Both Julian and Elizabeth are now in a glaring competition, not going to back down for anyone or anything.

Now now, nonsensical glaring never solved anything. We need to get back to work, we dont have much time you know. Elizabeth, could you please run through the new parts that came in todays shipment to Julian please?

Julian and Elizabeth snap out of their competition and shape up into their work postures

Off course Professor. Elizabeth hands Julian a holopad Todays load contains a new set of ballistic missile launcher, plasma containers, turret power couplings, communication systems Mk VI, and three Sentinel 300 series core units. These units are self sufficient for a certain time, but please make it your top priority to install them into the Anvils as soon as possible.

Man, thats a fair amount of parts, and Sentinel core units? Good thing I just installed that Alpha what, a week ago. Ill have those units installed within a day, the ships will take a month to finish altogether though. What with all these heavy modifications. Speaking of which Professor, these ships wont last long against bombers if I install these modifications. Basically youve asked me to weaken there plating integrity for more space and fuel intakes.

Im afraid I cannot elaborate on the details right now Julian, what with the bureaucratic secrecy laws. Just keep doing what your doing and Ill be sending more parts within the next few days. Your priority is to get the Sentinels aware, updated via the terminals and await further part orders to arrive with instructions attached. We must keep communications to non-authorized personnel to a bare minimum.

Yeah, I kinda got that assumption from lets see now replacing my entire crew with KV 4 robots! These things are dock handlers not mechanics.

Those are no ordinary KV 4s, theyre specially programmed for engineering tasks too. I oversaw it myself.

Julian whispers into the Professor Farnsworths ear

No wonder she is all high and mighty, robots dont have the ability to stand up for themselves under her programming.

The Professor chuckles heartily

Pardon me for interrupting, but we do have work to do.

Alright, I hear ya. See ya Professor

Julian gets to work on one of the Anvil Gunboats immediately. The Professor leaves the hanger and Elizabeth makes herself at home in Julians office.

Weve got to hurry these Sentinels the others have already been completed

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"Oh chuffing blimey, another day, another person being whiney!"
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