The Imperial, Deep Space
“The antimatter test.” [Vann] stared fiercely at the man across the table from him. His former mentor; his supposed ally.
[Marcus] sighed and sat back in his chair. “I suppose I should have told you everything. It is difficult to admit that a class C species escaped us, and especially that the top researchers in the Empire were unable to replicate their technology.”
“It is disconcerting, yes, but that should not have stopped you from informing me. I cannot be an effective leader if information is kept from me.” [Vann] looked at the man across the table from him. “That is something you taught me.”
“It is something I taught you, yes. But how did that test lead to you taking the Imperial all the way out here?”
“After that first clue, I was curious to see where the rest of the information would lead.”
[Marcus] pursed his lips for a moment, thinking. “I see. Then… can I make the assumption that the damage you received was not from an unknown alien ship, but rather from a C1764 vessel?”
“It was. So I need any information that you have on them.”
[Marcus] sighed again and nodded slowly. Reaching into his pocket, he extracted his Comm and set it on the table. With a few quick commands, he brought up a holographic tactical map of the Empire above the table.
“Some of the technology they utilize is primitive in many respects, but the FTL technology they possess allows them a dangerous advantage.”
“They don’t need the beacon network.”
[Marcus] nodded, entering a few more commands into his Comm. The map zoomed out to show the entire galaxy, with red highlights showing the boundaries of the Empire – an area encompassing nearly two hundred star systems within one of the outer arms of the galaxy. It looked tiny in comparison to the entire galactic structure, but still dwarfed the blue sphere that superimposed itself on the chart near the red area. Text above the blue sphere indicated that the C1764 home world was at its centre.
“Their domain is not as large as our own, but they can apparently ‘jump’ anywhere they want to. Nowhere in the Empire is out of their reach, although the theory from the High Scientists regarding the type of FTL they utilize suggests that they would need increasingly large amounts of antimatter for greater distances. Based on the power output readings from their escape, we believe that C1764 most likely retreated to a star system within [15 lightyears] of the initial point.” [Marcus] pointed the blue sphere on the map. “They should be somewhere in this area. I took the liberty of redirecting several beacon launches towards those systems [eight years] ago. So far we’ve been able to search and clear about half of these star systems.”
[Marcus] tapped at the console and half of the systems within the sphere darkened. Several faint lines appeared, leading from one of the Empire’s core systems, out to each of the remaining lit up systems; the travel paths of beacons that had not yet arrived at their destination. A pulsing dot sat on each of the lines, indicating the beacon’s current location, with floating text below it indicating its status.
“So C1764 is in one of these remaining systems?” asked [Vann], looking at the few of them that remained.
“I believe so.”
[Vann] looked at the beacon travel times shown below the pulsing dots. The next one would arrive in just [three months], but most of the beacons would take a couple of [years]. The beacon heading for the furthest system was just over [four years] away; an eternity when your quarry had the ability to appear any time, any place.
“As much as you and I might be at odds, Consul, we can both agree that C1764 represents a threat. One of perhaps even greater danger then the rebellions my father faced during his rule. A violent class C species with technology currently beyond our means, and a weapon to disable the shields on even our most advanced vessels.”
[Marcus] looked up at that. “What?”
“They have some sort of weapon that nullifies our defenses. We detected an increased power output from the class C vessel at the exact moment we engaged them, and then our shields failed. The shields of the Imperial could not be raised during combat with their ship. It was not an engineering malfunction, or sabotage.”
[Marcus] leaned back in his seat. “I had not heard of this.”
[Vann] studied him for a moment, wondering if he was acting or not. It ultimately didn’t really matter if he was. It was a calculated risk revealing the anti-shield technology to [Marcus], but the man’s demeanor had a way of making you trust him. Besides, the Consul would need to reveal something of his own to keep the balance of power in the conversation. Something he loathed to give up, [Vann] knew.
“I kept the information classified for obvious reasons. The mere thought that class C vessels could drop out of FTL with no warning, completely bypass shields, and attack our ships would be an unfathomable terror to many of our citizens,” said [Vann], no doubt using the same logic that [Marcus] would try to use to justify his own secrets.
“Perhaps you are growing more confident in command, Emperor,” said [Marcus], keeping his voice carefully level.
“I have already suggested to the shipyards that more armor be placed on the next generation of ship. If you were to put your influence with the Helfecta Corporation, I’m sure the ship would be complete within a [year].”
[Marcus]’s smile widened. “Here I was thinking you didn’t approve of such political maneuverings.”
“I need you to do this, [Marcus]. C1764 represents a threat to the Empire that will require both of us. I am able to rally the citizenry with perhaps a bit more vigor than you. You have the resources and clout to move things in the background. We need to work together, not against each other,” growled [Vann].
[Marcus] stared at the Emperor for a moment before slowly smiling. “I agree.”
“Good. I want all the data you have on the species transferred to me. I am going to hunt these ships down, and when you create a functioning antimatter drive I will take the Imperial to whatever refuge they have created, and destroy it.”
[Marcus] blinked at that, slightly taken aback.
“This is not what I expected from you, [Vann]. You have never been one to advocate a direct attack, even against class C species.”
“Like you said, they represent an unprecedented threat. My own conniptions about the situation are inconsequential compared to the safety and security of the Empire.” [Vann] looked down at his hands. “After all, the Emperor is nothing if not the ultimate servant to his people.”
[Marcus] remained silent for a moment. “I will transfer the data I have to you,” he conceded.
“There must be no more secrets between us, [Marcus]. Do not hide things from me to protect me, as much as you might wish to.” [Vann]’s tone was growing more aggressive with every sentence. He paused, not breaking eye contact. “Is there anything else you have not told me about, besides species C1764 and their antimatter drive?”
[Marcus] slowly shook his head. “No, Emperor.”
The act was so convincing that [Vann] nearly bought it. A slight twitch of the man’s eye, a moderate inflection in his voice – [Vann] wasn’t sure what it was, but he didn’t believe him.
“Very well, then.” [Vann] held his hand out to the Consul, playing along with the act.
“May we never distrust one another again.”
[Marcus] clasped his hand around [Vann]’s forearm and raised his head slightly.
“Agreed.”
FORT, Eridani System
9 Years, 4 Months, 10 Days After Eridani Landing
“You don’t want to try something else?” asked Ben.
“The food at the establishment is easily digested, and the calorie content is high enough to sustain me. Why would we need to go somewhere else?” asked Alpha.
Tanuin were still streaming past them towards the Fort mess hall, with Humans drifting through on their breaks as well. The shipyards were the secondary function of the Fort, after planetary – or rather, moon – defense, but still housed many of the amenities that were available on the surface colony. Not wanting to shuttle people back and forth every day, most of the shipyard workers lived on the satellite. The integration of the Tanuin that were helping with construction had been almost seamless. Everybody worked together without issue, and built off the strengths of their coworkers, Human and Tanuin alike. They also shared all the station’s amenities… including the mess hall, which was now getting very crowded.
“Humans have a far greater sense of taste. We get bored with the same thing over and over. I know you don’t care, but maybe the textures or consistency will be better somewhere else?” asked Megan.
Alpha was silent for a moment. “Very well,” he conceded.
Ben let out a sigh of relief.
“We’re going to the Italian place!” Megan declared. Turning away from the corridor leading down to the main mess hall, she instead bounced off the wall and down the perpendicular corridor that led to the few actual restaurants.
“Italian?” asked Alpha, sounding unsure.
Megan nodded as she floated away.
“There’s no point in arguing now,” said Ben.
Alpha let out a chucking warble. “Apparently not.”
The two turned to follow Megan down the corridor when the master alarm for the station sounded. Ben heard it for only a second before he felt a slight breeze. His ears popped, and he winced, putting his hands over them.
“Decompress!” said Ben.
Nodding, Megan leapt over to the nearest emergency station, which already had a small crowd of dockworkers around it, and grabbed two helmets. Tossing one to Ben, she shoved the thin dome over her own head as Ben and every other human on the station did the same.
Ben latched his helmet on, and the normally loose MCP suit everyone wore in space tightened to approximate an atmosphere. Pulling the gloves from the side pocket of his pants, he slipped them on as well and locked them in place.
“You alright?” Ben turned to Alpha, who was still clinging to the wall of the corridor.
“I am undamaged.”
“Good.” Ben turned to the windows, which would in times of emergency not project the normal star field and planet below, but rather display what section of the station had been compromised.
“Fuck,” breathed Ben.
The Russia dry-dock had been breached. The outer doors that held the atmosphere in had opened.
“Fuck,” repeated Ben.
It was the same ship that Ben and Megan had been working on with Alpha just ten minutes ago.
The corridor leading back was already sealed, as was every other bulkhead door back down to the large compartment, containing the breech.
A man floated up in front of the compartment door. “I want everyone with emergency training up front!” he shouted, his slightly thicker suit marking him as an emergency responder. Decompression drills were run almost weekly, and the response time was critical.
“You stay here,” said Ben turning to Alpha. “Turn on the communicator.”
“If the atmosphere has vented, you will need weapons,” said Alpha.
Ben paused at that. “What?”
“Weapons. To dispose of those which are already dead in mind, but not in body,” Alpha said somberly.
Ben’s face fell. “The Tanuin… those who were in there are gone?”
Alpha shifted uncomfortably on his haunches. “They have reverted back to what we once were. With no atmosphere, the communication between our bodies is lost, and no one part can maintain even part of the whole. Their minds are gone. They will be aggressive; the hungry will feed. Without our minds, we are nothing but aggressive creatures without any concept of friend or foe.”
“Damn it,” Megan growled. Pushing off away from them, she drifted over to the first responder who was opening the compartment seal, readying everyone who was part of the rescue effort.
“Are you sure there’s nothing that can be done?” asked Ben.
“As sure as you would be that a human missing their head is dead,” said Alpha, plainly irritated.
Ben put his hands up. “I’m trying to figure this out, alright! You’re telling me we’re going to have to go in there and kill your own people! Are you not upset over that?”
The many bodies of Alpha all gathered up closer than Ben had ever seen, and reared up as one to look at him.
“I am upset! Do not question that! I do not wish to lose any more! Those whom are now without minds will tear this station apart; they must be destroyed! I regret that Humanity must see us like this, but I do not wish you to go in unprepared! They will be aggressive, and they will attack.” Alpha was shouting with all of his mouths, sending the sounds of his language reverberating loudly through the corridor. The translator did its best to match the volume, greatly increasing the effect.
The many humans and first responders who were readying to go through the airlock had all frozen as he yelled. No one, including Ben and Megan, had ever seen a Tanuin lose their cool or yell like Alpha had just done.
“Pass out the hand guns,” Ben quietly said to the first responder. The man blinked, but hesitantly nodded.
Someone had already broken the combat locker in the corridor open. Under the current state of warfare operation and struggling to survive, weapons were never far from reach. Accepting one of his own Ben checked the rounds and snapped it to his leg into the ever-present holster.
“Alpha,” Ben started, turning to look at the alien.
“Please do not damage their remains more than necessary,” whispered Alpha.
Ben nodded and turned to the first responder and the others inside the impromptu airlock. Turning to look at everyone that had gathered, he shouted, “Everyone clear? The Squeaks inside are dead, and dangerous. Shoot to kill. Be careful, defend yourselves, and save any of our own that are still alive.”
“Aye,” said the emergency responder, deferring to the rank on Ben’s uniform as the commander in the situation now.
“Cycle it,” said Megan from where she was in front of the compartment seal.
The rescue group drifted forwards into the next compartment. After a moment, the compartment door behind them snapped shut. The atmosphere rushed from the room in under ten seconds; it wasn’t being pumped into tanks, it was simply being vented out into space to quicken their response time.
The oppressive silence of the void pressed down on everyone, and for the first time in nearly a decade, Ben felt like he was back on the Yamato and in the middle of the war. A gun in his hand, the oppressive silence, Megan next to him, almost all of it was the same.
The inner bulkhead hesitantly opened. Various debris and several bodies floated into the impromptu airlock.
Medics quickly drifted forward, reaching out for the bodies of those who were floating in place. They placed needles on the back of their necks and shoved them in, injecting an oxygenated solution into the brain in an attempt to stave off cellular death.
Drifting down the corridor, Ben made his way into the observation room, followed by Megan. Tools and other materials that had been disturbed by the decompression were drifting around through the air. Sitting in the corner of the room nearest the dry-dock compartment was a single Tanuin, a sight which was odd in of itself given that an individual was more than one body. It was glaring at them. The creature’s eyes, which were normally as expressive as a Human’s, were beady and dark.
The rest of the rescue crew carefully moved through the observation room towards the dry-dock. They barely glanced at Ben as he made his way towards the creature.
Moving far faster than Ben had ever seen one of them move, the Tanuin raised its forelimbs and leapt forwards. He wasn’t able to raise his gun in time, and the creature latched directly onto his helmet. An angry buzzing from the creature filtered in through the helmet. Ben shuddered as the thing started to try and chew its way through the clear material.
“Don’t move.” growled Megan.
“You’re not going to shoot it off, are you?” asked Ben as he remained still, just in case that was what his wife intended to do.
“No.”
On the opposite wall, Megan disabled the safeties on her prosthetics. Bracing herself for the acceleration, she launched across the room and all but tackled Ben into the opposite wall. Like a bar of soap crushed between two hands, the Tanuin shot out from between their bodies.
Megan, expecting the disorientation, lined up the shot and hit the poor creature directly through the head. The body of the Tanuin began to drift, now stilled and illuminated by the emergency lights. Ben felt his stomach drop.
“Maree,” he breathed.
Megan glanced at the body and nodded. “Alpha wasn’t kidding about them being aggressive,” she said somberly.
“Damn it. All this is going to be messy.”
Megan nodded in agreement. “It must be a terrifying thought, that at any moment you might lose contact with a part of your mind, and you will never get it back. And then you have to kill it before it kills you.”
“It’s a weakness we’re going to have to help them overcome,” Ben said as he lowered his weapon and looked at the remaining rescue detail filtering through the observation room. He waved to them, telling them and anyone else in radio range, “Don’t mutilate the bodies if you can avoid it, but do not hesitate to defend yourselves. They are dangerous.”
The men and women around him all quietly affirmed that and continued moving into the dry-dock, and the Russia, where the majority of the crew that had not been on break would be gathered still.
“God damn it.” Ben repeated as he looked over at the single body that only made up a small portion of Maree.
“Let’s go.”
Slowly pushing himself up out of the observation platform and into the void between it and the Russia, Ben glanced up at the giant airlock doors. He could see the small gap that had formed. It was perhaps a quarter of a meter wide, but that was plenty considering how long the door was. Looking at it, Ben grimaced, seeing several bloodstains around the doors; no doubt where those unlucky few who had been in the main dry-dock chamber had been blown through the open door and out into space.
They were dead, having been effectively squeezed through the doors and launched at nearly the speed of sound into space. Their bodies would probably never be recovered. Any Tanuin who were among that crowd would have been cleanly sucked out through the gap, although Ben imagined not without internal injury.
Drifting to the open airlock of the Russia, Ben peered inside just as a first responder tumbled out of it. His faceplate was cracked, and he had a long gash along his arm. The suit had already administered a temporary sealant, which had the effect of freezing his arm in place.
“What happened?” asked Ben looking down at the man.
“There are people still alive in there, but the Squeaks aren’t too happy with us!” he said as he glanced down at his arm.
“Get back into the environment, your helmet’s about to breach,” Megan ordered him.
The man grimaced, but nodded and carefully began to retreat away from the Russia.
Moving forward, Ben carefully drifted around the corridor, on the lookout for more survivors, of either species.
A form suddenly burst from the ventilation duct and rocketed towards Megan. Putting her hands on a piece of the frame, Megan braced herself and swung around. Twirling in the air, she hit the creature with her foot, sending it flying backwards into the bulkhead with a solid crunch.
Several more creatures crawled out of ducts further down the corridor.
“Fucking hell,” growled Ben as he raised his pistol and started firing.
He hit two of the creatures, and the others retreated back into the ducts, out of sight.
Megan bounced off of the corridor wall and into the nearest compartment. Still pressed against the frame of the ship, Ben felt several more vibrations consistent with Megan firing her weapon. Entering the compartment after her, Ben grimaced.
Several dead Tanuin were floating around, and in the center of the room was a human corpse. One of the engineers who had been late to take his break. The front of his face was gone, ripped away by small mouths and hands.
“This isn’t going to end well,” said Megan.
Ben shook his head. “No. It’s not.”
Megan left her Link open and sighed. The two of them were old enough as it was, and with the subspace radiation slowly degrading their cellular structures, the two engineers felt the end closing in.
“Let’s get to work fixing this,” said Ben as he raised his gun again to move into the next compartment.
Megan did the same, and they moved forwards.
The Imperial, Deep Space
“What are we waiting for?” asked [Yuka].
She and [Charles] were waiting in the airlock antechamber, where the Consul’s ship was docked with the Imperial.
“For [Marcus] to pull his stunt,” growled [Charles].
“The Consul? What do you expect him to do?” asked [Yuka], curious.
“Something stupid.”
The compartment door opened, and the bodyguard that [Marcus] had brought with him entered. Behind him were several soldiers, and in between them were the two class C prisoners.
“You’re making a mistake,” warned [Charles], not moving from where he stood next to the airlock.
The bodyguard considered him for a moment. “I have valid orders to move these prisoners.”
“I’m sure you do. Still not a good idea.” [Charles] stepped forwards, blocking the way through.
“I do not need advice from a failed drunkard of a Captain telling me if something is a good idea or not.”
[Charles] shrugged. “I suppose not, but I was going to offer advice in how you should restrain these particular class C prisoners. They can be quite difficult to contain; you would think the extra fingers they have would be a detriment.” [Charles] raised his three fingered hand. “With five fingers, though, the joints are much more malleable.”
The bodyguard blinked, not sure what [Charles] was talking about. The entire room was silent enough that the audible pop from both Human’s was heard throughout the chamber.
The larger Human, his hands now free, grabbed the gun of the guard directly next to him and pulled the trigger, shooting the man in the foot with his own weapon.
[Yuka] took a step back in horror as the large class C, now armed, swung his body around and knocked two fully armored guards backwards and to the deck plates. The smaller human drew the knife from the first guard’s belt and stabbed forwards, hitting the Consul’s bodyguard in the gut before turning in a tight pirouette and stabbing the guard behind her in the stomach, directly through a gap in his armor.
Her hands at her mouth, [Yuka] screamed.
The two Humans, having dispatched their guards, turned in unison to look at her.
[Yuka] quelled under their gaze. The intensity in their features was disturbingly animalistic. Like two confident predators, they regarded her not with fury or bloodlust, but rather indifference. She was unimportant, and if she did become important they would have no trouble in dispatching her.
[Charles] took several measured steps towards them and said something in a language that [Yuka] did not know.
[Yuka] watched horrified as he unabashedly continued towards them, completely exposed and apparently unconcerned with his own wellbeing. It was almost as if he did not fear the class C’s.
The class C’s, for their part, did not immediately attack him. They kept the weapons they had stolen raised, however. The small female stooped down and collected another gun, which she raised and pointed at [Charles] along with the knife.
[Charles] paused in the middle of the room and continued to speak to them. The two class C’s glared at him for another moment, and then both of their faces fell slightly and the larger one took a step towards him.
The airlock doors behind [Yuka] crashed open and an entire squad of men ran out of it their weapons raised and at the ready. She let out a shout of surprise as she was roughly shouldered to the side, away from the aliens and into the corner of the room.
The class C’s kept their weapons raised for a moment. They didn’t look angry; they looked almost resigned. Slowly, the large class C lowered his weapon, and the female followed suit, carefully setting them down on the deck plating and raising their hands up into the air.
The Consul’s bodyguard, recovering from the attack, grabbed the gun in front of him.
“No!” shouted [Charles].
The bodyguard rolled and fired the pistol, hitting the large class C squarely in the chest with a single bolt of plasma.
[Yuka] watched as the creature was thrown backwards by the force of the bolt. The smaller class C let out a screech of fury that sent tingles down her spine, and moving far more quickly than [Yuka] had ever seen anyone move, pounced on the Consul’s bodyguard like a wild animal.
“Don’t move,” [Charles] growled to the members of the squad who had made to try and restrain the comparatively small class C creature. The small class C’s hands were moving in a blur punching at the man’s face.
[Charles] turned and watched as the woman continued. The compartment was completely silent except for the dull thuds of each punch as the woman attacked. Blood, both red and green, was now flying through the air, and the class C woman showed no signs of abating. She continued to beat the bodyguard’s face, letting out a ferocious cry her attack increased in intensity even as more blood began to pour from her hands.
Moving forward, [Charles] put his hand on the class C’s shoulder and said something to her. The woman turned on him as if to attack, before the fury drained from her face and then slowly nodded her head and got to her feet.
The bodyguard for the Consul slowly rolled over and did the same. How he was still moving despite the wounds inflicted on him, [Yuka] had no idea. His face barely held any of the usual features, and his eyes were peering out through the green blood – the only recognizable feature.
“What is going on in here!?” shouted the Emperor as he stepped in from another corridor.
The guards in the room immediately converged on him, and the ever present bodyguard of his seemed to materialize at his side, an odd looking angular weapon held at his side ready to fire.
[Charles] spun around on his heels, putting his back to the class C.
“Emperor! Valid orders for the transfer of prisoners were given by the Consul. I learned of this and I thought I should warn the guard that if they were transporting species C1764 without sedation, extra precautions would need to be taken.” [Charles] gestured at the fallen guards. “Unfortunately that warning was too late.”
[Vann] looked at them for a moment and then at [Charles].
“Well, it would be too dangerous for the prisoners to be moved in any case. Take her back to the cell, and get a medical team down here,” [Vann] ordered.
[Charles] nodded, then put his hand on the class C woman’s shoulder and said something in her language. The woman’s head snapped around and glared at him, then turned to look down at her fallen companion. Leaning over him, she whispered something in her language, reached up to his face, and carefully closed his eyes.
Diana, Jikse
Slowly raising her gun, Diana inspected its length. Some of the man’s blood had splashed up onto it. Rubbing her sleeve over the barrel, she wiped it away and holstered her weapon.
“What the hell?” breathed [Orin].
Diana turned to look at the woman. “We need to get this back to the boss.”
[Orin] hesitantly nodded and glanced over at the trunk. “What’s in there?”
Reaching into the pocket of her jacket, Diana extracted the vial of nano-machines she carried with her.
“A knock off version of this.”
“That freaky medical stuff you used on me?” asked [Hal]. “Why’s that got you so riled up?”
Diana hurriedly constructed the lie that would fit the scenario most cleanly. “My ship was transporting it, after we obtained it from the official source. Its’ going rate is millions of credits. These nano-machines can cure almost anything if given enough time. These,” Diana waved her hand at the trunk, “are a cheap knock off. If these were to be sold as they are now, the market would be soured away from buying the higher quality product and the entire haul my ship was carrying would be worthless!”
“You’re remarkably dedicated to a ship that abandoned you,” [Hal] commented.
“They still owe me a cut, and I intend to collect. Which means I’m going to have to find them at some point. You have no idea how hard it was to get that shipment.”
[Hal] kicked the trunk closed and glanced over at the man and the ruined transport.
“If we did all this just for this much, I’m not sure I want to know what you did for an entire cargo shipment of the stuff.”
Diana smiled. “No. You don’t.”
[Orin] and [Hal] glanced at one another. They were starting to figure out that when Diana smiled, it was not a good thing for them.