Katherine- War Master

by Will Crudge

  “Have they indicated how many credits I’m worth? I heal almost instantly, so I can get brutally fucked all night without so much as a blemish on my skin. I give great head, I have experience with girl-on-girl, and that’s not even the best part!”

  “Oooh! I want to know! I’m mentioning all this in my negotiations, and they’re eating it up… What else, can you do?” Jonathan eagerly asks. He’s like a kid in a candy store. It would seem he was on the brink of negotiating a lot more than his own survival.

  “You want to know what I can do, huh?” I ask with a flirty wink.

  “Yes! Yes! Hurry, tell me!”

  “This!” I say, as the back of the Mwargoths heads exploded out of the back of their skulls in rapid succession. I lifted the smoking barrel to my mouth, and gave it a sensual blow with my puckered lips.

  “You’ll pay for that, you lower life form!” Jonathan shouted angrily. “I’m venting this atmosphere, and then having an automaton put your body in a stasis pod!”

  Marbles chimes in. I don’t know whether to breathe a sigh of relief, or laugh hysterically.

  “Before you start figuring out why you can’t get the atmospherics to respond, let me ask you something.” I say.

  “What? How did…” Jonathan started to say, but I talk over his words.

  “What’s Donkey Punch offering? Because I gotta tell you, those NSAI NAV systems don’t carry a lot of coin, in my experience!”

  “You bitch! I’ll kill you! I’ll kill the shit of you!” Jonathan shouts.

  I walk casually over to the command console. I tap on the front of it, where there’s a node for either a sentient, or non-sentient AI. “I guess it’s getting a little cramped in there, huh?”

  “What? NoOoOoOoOo!” Jonathan the Chimera was about to have a shitty day.

  CLOSER TO CLIMAX

  The Chimera buzzed to life in a flash. It may not have known that its memory gaps, and much of its ‘back-story’ were fabricated. To him, he was on a mission. A human gunship was his target, and he travelled the tight beam coms signal all the way to the coms array.

  Puny human security! He scoffed in his own mind, as he quickly slipped through the layers of firewalls and bot-checkers. Once inside the coms array, he needed to find a console to activate the human-based executable file. This file would open up the access into the ship’s main systems.

  He slithered through the fiber conduits, and bounced across a few wireless repeaters. Each wireless system had an even weaker fire wall, and he stepped on in like it was nothing.

  Then he saw it. It was an NSAI node. The node was tied directly into the fire suppression and emergency systems. He knew that the safety systems would crisscross the entire length of the ship, and would not be compartmentalized.

  He skirted from one hull section to another, until he finally made it to the PA system. The main system was analog, and wouldn’t be navigable for him, but that wasn’t his plan. He was interested in the digital conduit that approximated parody checks. That system would link him into engineering, and then it would be a straight shot to the main CIC systems.

  He dropped a little surprise wherever he went. A little executable nugget that would hide in plain sight, and then await the correct conditions to be met before activation.

  He buzzed engineering, and was now well within the CIC. Sensor suit, NSAI NAV node, coms suit, and weapons control would all be seeded with his little package. Now it was time to pounce on the ship’s AI.

  The disgusting little human creature was perplexing. He had hints of hexadecimal construction, but was converted into the barbaric binary coding that the humans preferred to use. Humans think they’re fooling us by giving hexadecimal core coding to their AI’s! It will not help this ‘Jonathan’ from becoming subverted!

  He ignored the useless vocalized banter that Jonathan was having with some kind of human meat sack. None of it was his concern. He would worry about the details when his objective was complete.

  All he needed now, was the trigger signal.

  Meanwhile, aboard the Donkey Punch…

  Punch reported.

  “Fuck! That’s not good!” Marbles scoffed. “We need that executable file to be triggered somehow. Answering the hail is our only option without the correct crypto!”

 

  “Well, I could have guessed that!” Marbles said sarcastically. His frustration was welling up within him. The ‘package’ had already been delivered, but it would be powerless to execute anything until the trigger code was executed from within the CIC. Without having matching crypto, there was no way to remotely give the Chimera control of the ship.

  Any AI’s or even other Chimera were untouchable until the ‘package’ could readily access the adequate processing and memory resources to do so.

  Punch asked inquisitively. Marbles wasn’t in the mood to satisfy his boundless curiosity, so he ignored the question for a moment.

  But then something clicked in his head. Punch may be on to something, here! He realized.

  “If I was a pirate captain, and I was told that there was a War Master onboard a lone gunship out in the black, then I think I would try to either take her by force, or negotiate a deal to capture her.” Marbles spoke as if he were thinking out loud.

 

  “Doesn’t matter. We just need to get to the front of the hail request que, and somehow keep the conversation going long enough for our ‘package’ to do his thing!”

 

  “Wait! What’s done?”

 

  “You, little fucking genius!” Marbles said, as the metal-on-metal clang from his knee slap resonated within the cockpit.

  Punch asked with a concerned tone.

  “No, not at all! You done good, Punch!”

 

  Marbles said through the tight beam net that was linked to Kat’s manual interface. After a few agonizing moments, the hail was accepted.

  The NSAI NAV responded to the hail link.

  <’Punch’ is it?> The voice on the other end asked.

  “Shit! I was going to speak to him.” Marbles said, but made sure the cockpit mic was on mute.

  Punch asked Marbles directly.

  “You are now ‘Captain Donkey Punch’, and you would be open to negotiate the delivery of the female human in exchange for safe passage… and a new starship!” Marbles said with a stream of giggles.

  Punch said.

  CLIMAX… SQUIRTY-SPASMY KIND!

  Jonathan, the Chimera, was now subverted by the weaponized Chimera known as, ‘the Package’. As far as ‘the Package’ was concerned, he was successful in taking over a human ship single-handedly. What he doesn’t know, is that he’s following a pre-set sublayer of coding. The coding is essentially a hallucination of sorts, and is designed to make the entity do the bidding of humanity, whilst believing it is still a ruthless Mwargoth construct.

  Now I am in total control of the ship, and whatever I tell the Chimera to do, it does… but only because the version of his reality prompts him to do it as a means to undermine my intent. It’s got to be the coolest, but most hilarious tool I’ve ever heard of.

  But all is not well. I’m staring at an armada of pirate ships. The outer hull of the gunships was too damaged to allow the fighters or the donkey to dock. Fuel was an issue for Marbles, and als
o for Turnbuckle. The LRF’s weren’t readily equipped with enough ordinance to face down over a hundred ships, so they had to head out system as well.

  As far as I know, the captured frigate is being flown out to link up with our UAHC ship. I’m alone… In the black… Staring down thousands of beam cannon barrels.

  Granted, the message got out to them that the gunship may have had Mwargoths onboard, so most of the ships are right outside weapons range, but a dozen or so ships were much braver.

  I can put this bucket on full burn, and maybe out-pace the bulk of the fleet, but the cruisers that are closest would run me down within a few minutes… if they didn’t decide to blow me out of the cosmos first.

  Then the proximity alarm began to chime. I dart over to the command console, and slide into the seat. The display is not giving me any reassurances. It appears as if a small destroyer of some unfamiliar hull type is moving in on me at close range… And he’s not alone.

  Red blips of smaller craft begin to populate on scan, and they’re moving fast. Fighters, I’m guessing. Then I remember that the hail request had been piggy backed. Perhaps the lack of coms response has prompted the pirates to assume there would be no negotiation.

  Trying to call them now would only be seen as a desperate ploy, and wouldn’t likely do me any good.

  I can’t run… I can’t hide… my backup is gone… Time to fight!

  “I need a firing solution, Jonathan!” I sound off. I have to be careful to address him as if I don’t know he’s subverted. I can’t afford to alienate the alien that’s ironically my only ally… I can’t make this shit up!

  “Copy that!” Jonathan says. I see the firing lines of telemetry coalesce.

  “Engage!” I shout… But nothing happens. A klaxon rings out, and the proximity alarms are alerting me of incoming beam fire.

  “Where are my flak cannons?”

  “Off-line, I’m afraid!” Jonathan replies frantically. I suppose even the Chimera doesn’t want to die. Our mutual survival is now our only thread of hope.

  “The cannons never recovered from the LRF’s attack. They’re reading green, but the mechanical ammo feeder is jammed!” He reports.

  “Do we have beams?” I ask.

  “Engaging now!” He says, but the lights dim and then flicker wildly. “Energy surge! Beam generators are in auto-shut-down!”

  “Missiles?”

  “Expended!”

  “Rocks?”

  “Are you fucking kidding me?”

  “Sorry. Had to ask.” I say with a nervous shrug.

  “Shields are down to thirty percent!” He shouts. “Now twenty five!”

  “Where’s your node? I’m getting us to an escape pod!” I say as I stand up and begin to frantically look around.

  “The pods are gone… I launched them all to capture you aboard this ship, remember?” He says it, as if he were frustrated with himself.

  “Well, I guess we’ll just have to enjoy the fireworks!” I say. The Rage is within me… It stirs. It’s as if it knows I’m about to die, and it’s trying to cover me like a warm blanket… but from the inside.

  Is this how it all ends? Years of training… Years of struggle… All for nothing. I think to myself, as I slump back down in the command chair. I watch the shielding indicator dip below five percent.

  And now I breathe my last, I suppose. I’ve accepted my fate. There’s nothing more to do.

  “Energy anomaly!” Jonathan calls out. I perk up slightly, but merely out of idle curiosity. It’s not like it will change the situation either way, I suppose.

  I love it when I’m wrong!

  I see the visual feed zoomed in on a new shape… A familiar one.

  Foehammer!

  The sloop isn’t gone after all… or is my dying mind just playing tricks to ease my passing into the nether world?

  “UAHC Sloop! IDENT code pings, Foehammer!” Jonathan sounds off.

  I guess I’m not dreaming, after all! I stand up and cling on to the edges of the console surface. The sloops is on a Collison course with the lead pirate vessel. Now, the beam fire warnings begin to disappear. The enemy ships are attempting to engage the new contact, but it will be too little too late.

  I watch in awe as the axe-shaped prow of the sloop impacts the pirate ship, and proceeds to gut it from starboard to port. The mighty sloop glides right through the wreckage like a hot knife through butter.

  Now the fighters are in a panic, and the other attacking ships begin altering their vectors. Then a broadcast indicator begins to chime from the coms suit.

  “Looks like the Foehammer is broadcasting audio!” Jonathan says.

  “On speaker! Play it from the beginning!” I say. A second later the CIC speakers erupt with a strong female voice.

  [Attention all ships in the vicinity! This is Colonel Kara Elders of the UAHC Warship, Foehammer! Cease all weapons fire, and vacate the area! Failure to comply will result in the expenditure of nuclear ordinance! You will not be warned a second time!]

  Now that’s one bad bitch! I think to myself! “Jonathan, hail Colonel Elders.”

  “Sending now.” He replies.

  WRECKING CREW

  Being back on the Intimidator, the whole team is gathered into the main entrance foyer. We’re eagerly awaiting our final docking hook up with the estranged sloop, Foehammer. I still have no clue where they were, or what the hell they were doing, but I’m just grateful they’re alive.

  The GBE and Crimson commandos are all dressed down to their sub armor layers, as I asked them to. Our three UAHC Soldiers, David, Kelley, and Jefe, are in their dress uniforms. Ives and Turnbuckle are dressed down in military style fitness apparel, while the fighter ground crew are lounging in their flame resistant jumpsuits.

  I wanted the crew to appear at ease. None of us has any clue what they’ve been through, so I felt that creating a light atmosphere may help Kara and her skeleton crew to feel welcomed.

  Kara’s ship only has four elite UAHC Soldiers, called ‘Fisters’, and a ship’s AI, named Steve. From what I’ve been told about the Fisters, is that they are uniquely – aggressive – when compared to the typical disposition of their peers. They may not like rubbing shoulders with Crimson troops, especially since they’ve faced off against them in combat, so this encounter can’t be allowed to escalate.

  I take note that Jack and Shade enter the foyer, as well. Despite the friction between the former Crimson Agent and Captain Frick, they’ve reconciled quite a bit after fighting along-side each other. Combat has a strange way of bringing us together, I suppose.

  Marbles taps me on the shoulder. I turn to see what he wants. “The LRF NAV’s are stoked to know that the Skull-Crusher is in one piece.” He says.

  “I would be to! They’ve probably known each other since before they achieved sentience.” I say with a half-smile.

  “From what Doom has told me, Crusher saved their asses somehow. Apparently, he’s become extremely adept to repairing and upgrading UAHC warships.”

  “So, I’ve been told.” I say with a nod. “The Foehammer’s former flagship started life as a heavy cruiser with the ability to be converted to a dreadnaught. Crusher got into the ship’s systems, and unilaterally converted it to a battleship. Supposedly, the Hailstorm is the most badass human ship!”

  “Well, there are the juggernauts, though…” Marbles says, as he intentionally leaves his sentence hanging.

  “True.” I say flatly. “But as of yet, they’ve only been used to transport smaller fleets of warships, and have yet to engage an enemy directly. I have no idea how combat effective they really are. Being the size of a small planet, and having next gen FTL doesn’t mean they’re built for brawling.”

  I hear the airlock cycle, and our conversation ends. The hissing and squealing of pressure equalization fills the foyer with ear piercing noise, but then it dies down a moment later. The hatch opens, and a woman steps out into the open. She has silky dark hair, and is wearing UAHC standard issue sub
armor. She steps into the open, and four bodies follow her in.

  “Welcome to the UAHC Intimidator, Colonel Elders!” I say, as I approach and extend my hand. She ignores my gesture, and goes in for a hug. It caught me by surprise, but I roll with it and hug her back.

  “Thank you for coming to find us!” She says with a crack in her voice. I feel her emotions course through my spine, and I can tell she’s been through a tough ordeal.

  We separate from our embrace, and I look her in the eye with an empathetic smile. “It’s you who deserves my thanks, Kara!” I say as a point of fact. “I don’t know how many pirates it would have taken to kick my ass… but I know how many they were going to use!” I begin to chuckle.

  She grins from ear to ear, and shakes her head. “I would have never been there if I didn’t sense your presence!”

  I blink wildly. Her words don’t make sense to me. “You’ll have to explain that part to me!” I say with an incredulous tone.

  “All in due time!” She nods.

  I barely noticed the two men, and two women that are standing behind her. I lean to one side to look around Kara, and try to get a better look at them. Kara seems to notice what I’m doing, and she steps to the side.

  “Please allow me to introduce my skeleton crew!” Kara says. “First, we have Sergeant Gail. She’s the team leader.” She points out a tough looking chic with short red hair. I recognize her immediately. She saved my as at Titan.

  “It’s great to see you again!” I say cheerfully. I embrace her warmly, and then step back once more.

  “You too, War Master?” Gail says apprehensively, as she looks my armor up and down. “Congratulations!” She adds.

  “Thank you!” I say, and then I look to the man next to Gail. He’s got sharp features, and corporal stripes on his status display.

  Kara chimes in. “This is Gail’s right-hand-man, Corporal Thomas.”

  I shake his hand, and he nods silently. I move on to the next Soldier, a young woman with longer blondish hair.