Coeus?

by Andur

  During the following hours we watch the entire scene unfolding. I think it is the longest time I have ever spent with my relatives. We talk and follow the situation.

  Nina decided to hold back on using our long range teleporters as weapons. Mainly because she wanted to use our ships to pick off as many lone vessels as possible. Ayo's blueprints proved invaluable in that regard. We knew exactly what to expect from the enemy vessels and how much they can take.

  And they are able to take a lot! We need a twenty to one superiority to guarantee a victory without having losses of our own. The one aspect which kept our ships alive is the fact that our propulsion is still superior to alien technology. Even if everything on those ships is scaled up by ten it doesn't change the fact that their mastery of gravity can't keep up with ours.

  They have machinery to simulate gravity on their ships, but their approach is only able to compensate for up to ten gravities. Everything above that kills the ship's crew, causing them to turn into bloody smears on the deck.

  Our ships are easily able to accelerate with over a hundred gravities or more if just a short burst of speed is needed. That gives us the ability to pick off lone enemy ships as we please.

  Apparently the Drazi understood that point too and changed tactics on their way into the solar system. By the time they reached the belt they started forming up to stop us from killing off stragglers. In some cases they even risked FTL-flights within the system to escape our ships. Their form of warp-drive is a risky endeavour if you aren't absolutely sure that there is no matter in your flight path. At least fifteen alien ships lost such a bet when they decided that running is better than fighting superior numbers. But that was just a drop in the ocean.

  Sadly they also found and destroyed four of our asteroid colonies on their way into the system. We are still trying to conserve our forces, so defending a small colony at all costs could have caused more trouble than it is worth. Luckily we managed to evacuate most of the civilians beforehand. Nina was very strict in organizing evacuation plans for the outer colonies. The individual colonies weren't that big compared to one like Aether, but all four together still amount to a hundred thousand people who lost their homes.

  I wince at the thought of what to do with them. Since all this began we are really starting to get into trouble with our living space. First Oibras, then the immigrants from Earth, now those colonies. Maybe we should find a habitable planet which is close to Earth? Or relocate some of the people to Earth? We could use the north - or south - pole if we don't want to mingle with the normals. More than enough space there and the resources were exploited hundreds of years ago.

  Finally the fleets which are approaching Earth and Mars are in a tight enough formation to justify the use of the nova-weapons. Nina teleports several of the nodes into their path to enclose each of the two big Drazi formations in their own zone of death.

  The people around the table cheer and I can't help myself. I grin. That single strike got us four hundred ships closer to victory.

  But while Nina is managing the new deployment of ships I have another thought and request a news feed from Earth. It takes a few minutes, but then I am rewarded with a reporter who is frantically gesturing at a second sun in the sky above Moscow. It is slowly expanding, but also diminishing at the same time.

  “Oh, the representatives from Earth will totally freak out about that!” Melan reaches up to run her fingers through her hair, desperation in her voice.

  Yes, she is right. Earth's population isn't really up to events, so Earth's government and its president, Rob, will have a lot of explaining to do. “If you think that they are freaking out right now, then wait until the light from Mars arrives and they get a third, bigger sun though it is farther away.” Nina had to use a little more neutron star explosives on that fleet because their ships were farther away from each other.

  But those are just minor problems. “How is it going with the individual ships, Nina?”

  “A few made a flyby on Jupiter, but couldn't identify the colony there. It is too well hidden. I've decided to completely ignore them after the first ones didn't detect it. If we don't fight for Jupiter it will encourage the point that there is nothing of importance there. I would rather have them remain ignorant than trying to poke the surface with their lasers.” Nina answers. Then she decides to confess the downside of her strategy. “Sadly the orbital stations around the planet got wiped out, but those were just trans-shipment centres for the colony which is hidden planet-side. Our racial paranoia is playing to our advantage. The stations aren't to be counted as real damage to our economy and can be replaced rather easily.”

  Then her expression turns sour. “What's really hurting though is that their raiding strategy is wreaking havoc in the belt. So far they found and destroyed seventy-nine mining operations and caused the loss of one resource node. I could add a hundred other little things. They are shooting at everything that comes too close. I am just glad that even our slowest transports are easily able to outrun them.”

  I wince. The resource nodes are big stations and usually very expensive operations with much sensitive equipment. Miners ship valuable asteroids to the station where they are broken down. Usable pieces are sent on a slow trajectory towards the sun where they are caught and further refined by the Forge, our main shipyard.

  “Does it look like they have any intentions against the Forge? Or at stealing technology?” I ask.

  “For now it doesn't look like it. But my entire strategy at this moment is to avoid using the long range teleporters for as long as possible. Once we have riddled down their numbers I can use our sniping ability to deny them the escape.”

  Good. I return my attention to the chaos which is spreading all over the solar system, but at least Nina is able to deny them targets of high value. The fact that the enemy is now reluctant to form big formations is helping a lot at keeping them at bay. The threat of our miniature supernovas is more than enough to stop them from using their biggest advantage.

  If they had been able to use their ships in a tighter formation to cover each other while relying on superior shields and firepower we would have had a hard time.

  As it is now all they can do is pick targets of opportunity while trying to run from our hunting groups as long as possible. From time to time one of their ships attempts an FTL-flight, but that deep inside the system that's not getting them very far. There is always enough dust and micro asteroids around to stop them after a few light minutes. Then our ships simply perform a teleportation and the chase continues. All Nina is doing right now is to keep the ships away from the planets. There is no way to tell what might happen if one of the Drazi feels like creating a big crater on one of the planets is a bright idea. If such a thing hits Earth it might as well cause a second ice age.

  It's only when Nina already started using the long range teleporters as weapons that a very grave and avoidable thing happens! The fight is practically over and suddenly all my hopes are destroyed. The most important dot on the entire tactical 3D representation vanishes! I even gave it a separate colour to have an eye on it!

  “What happened!?” I call out. The Coeus is gone! The good, little ship survived so long despite always being used among the first line of attackers. Countless other remote controlled ships perished long before her, but the brave little dot which represented the Coeus kept going!

  “I am so sorry!” Nina shrieks! “I think one of the enemy ships got lucky and hit a reactor. I think. It simply exploded!”

  I slam my head onto the table. “Not the Coeus! My baby! My spaceship! Why?” Cyla pats my back, but somehow it doesn't help at all.

  “If it helps... I think she didn't suffer. It was over in an instant.” Nina tries to comfort me, but it doesn't help. Nothing can make up for this loss.

  “I've never seen Gideon getting emotional over something. What's so special the Coeus?” Sadina asks a little more than baffled.

  Melan makes a dismissive gesture. “It's just his
private ship. If he really wants to he has enough money to build a whole fleet of them.”

  “You don't get it! The Coeus was important! Unique! One of those places filled with memories. It's where Cyla's ass fell into my lap and where I did her for the first time. Where our souls became one over weeks and months! I wanted to use the Coeus to take her on a late honeymoon once all this shit is over. You could very well see it as our hidden honeymoon suite! Losing such an important place is like losing a home.” I try very hard to keep my face from showing any emotions.

  “Gideon...” Cyla asks and I turn towards her. “Yes, Dear?”

  “Didn't those mind-medics mention that they want to have a second meeting with you? I think it would be good if you at least tried to take their help... they might have a point when they say that you need help.”

  89. ~For money.~

  “Walefish has a lot of fat, while thunder-sharks are very meaty. Normally I eat only stuff without shells. Eating clams or shellfish is normally not my thing, too hard to chew. But once I bit a fresh Zeen and I guess it's the closest thing to what the dry minds call a cracker.

  Though you shouldn't wait for too long when they fall into the water. They tend to bloat up like a globe-fish once the water soaks through their skin.”

  -Nig's opinion on various foods.

  Sol, Aether

  Cyla

  “Gideon, you've been hiding yourself from the world for three days. All you do is attend the meetings of the elders.” I try to get a glimpse at Gideon's working screen, but all there is to it are the blueprints for a new ship.

  “And I repeat again, it's not because of the ship. I've work to do, places to be and people to talk to.” He answers with the same monotone voice as he always does.

  I sigh and sit on his lap, trying to distract him. “I liked the Coeus too, but it was just a ship. If you can save even one human life for it then it was worth the cost. Shouldn't there be better things to pay attention to?”

  He hesitates with his answer, so that means that he has to think. “That's really not the problem. There are the Drazi-”

  “Who are currently rapidly dying out since a certain virus was released. The SDF confirmed that all their population seems to be infected and prognosticated that their first wave won't even reach Sol before they are all dead.” I interrupt to make the discussion short.

  I feel Gideon nodding behind me. “Yes, but that doesn't mean that we don't have to deal with the fallout from the other alien species. At least there seem to many parties who don't really care how the virus came to be. Though almost all species are investigating the dead Drazi worlds. All that counts is that the Drazi are mostly gone, though I have no doubt that there might be an isolated population here and there. But that doesn't matter. As soon as the Drazi start spreading once more I am sure that they will catch the virus again.”

  “How is that?” I ask, but then I raise a hand. “No, wait. I think I get it on my own. You think that one of those investigating species will take it upon themselves to infect the Drazi again, should they ever show their faces again.”

  “I am very sure of that. That's how uncontrolled democracy works. And the alliance of species is nothing but an uncontrolled democracy. I am just glad that Sadina somehow managed to make the virus look natural.” He answers.

  Nina's voice interrupts our discussion. “The former me got her hands on a Drazi corpse. There are enough viruses inside a healthy human body and the Drazi are no different. Even a little sample is enough to almost assuredly infect you with the common cold and that's just one example. There are also hundreds of pathogens hidden inside an animal's genome. All you have to do is to analyse the DNA.”

  “Okay, let's say that I buy the story. What else are you working on?” I ask.

  “Most importantly, the second Coeus. And secondly a way to deal with the Zeen. We shouldn't forget that they still are the puppeteers behind the Drazi. Just because we took away one puppet doesn't mean that they are out of the game. I am working on that too.” He interacts with the interface by making a gesture and something like a mind-map appears.

  I study the plan and notice that it mainly involves paying a lot of money to many shady characters. “Gideon, are you sure about this? I don't think that you should use your money like that.”

  This time he can't hide how upset he is. “I see no better way to use my money.”

  I bite on my lower lip. “Gideon, you hired an alien hit-man...”

  “Do you think I paid too much? I admit that I don't even know what a Vantue is, but I was assured that he is the best at his job.”

  Galactic Centre, Gathering-Station

  Ayo

  “Why am I here?” I try to get off the handcuffs which chain me to the chair, but the damn things don't even buck. Last night I went to sleep, dreaming nice dreams about killing my brother, and then I wake up and am here in this dark storeroom!

  “Don't worry, we weren't paid to kill you.”

  Then I register the Binary in front of me. They bob their heads in amusement and switch on the light. “The complete opposite is the case. We are protecting you to ensure that you aren't in the way, or get targeted by accident. Zeen are easily confused with their siblings. Not even their own species can discern between brothers.”

  I draw my attention away from the handcuffs and try to think of a Binary with enough power and influence to abduct me. “KaaHud?”

  “We are honoured. For a local crime-lord to be known by one of the station's administrators.” One of the Binary bows to me while the other remains indifferent.

  “Why should you want to protect me!?” My thoughts race, but I can't think of a reason for this turn of events.

  “I don't want to do anything aside from doing my job.” KaaHud corrects me. “Your brother is about to die.”

  “What?” No! My plans! “I have to kill him myself!”

  Both of the two parts of the Binary nod in unison. “Yes, about that. I was told to give you a message from the Mages. They said that time is up and they aren't willing to wait any longer. That's why your brother will die tonight. Don't worry, I know that it is common practice among the Zeen to kill their siblings to replace them without anyone's knowledge. The strategy works perfectly fine for your race, but that's not what we need in this situation.”

  One of the Binary raises a hand to stop me from interrupting it. “Let us finish to give you a head-start instead of asking meaningless questions. Abducting you in this manner is just to show you that we have the means and to have a little chat. Call it a demonstration. We know what you intend to do. Our client equipped us with various tools and the knowledge to control the most important systems of this station. I must say that their abilities in regards to spying and breaking security systems are outstanding. Probably that shouldn't be a surprise with a species which values their secrecy so highly.”

  The Binary pauses for a moment, but starts speaking again shortly afterwards. “You see, a while ago we got a very generous offer to work as free agents for our client. He tasked us with assessing the political situation and to influence it to his advantage. Since then we've been working very hard to please our client and that includes getting your cooperation. The first thing we need from you is getting over your personal vendetta with your brother.”

  “And what if I can't do that?” I ask, trying to keep my voice in check. To a Zeen having control over his outer appearance is everything. What's inside is a secondary matter.

  “Then I would be very sad and change my plans. The latter includes making you disappear along with your brother.” KaaHud shrugs his shoulders in perfect synchronisation.

  “You wouldn't dare to do that. I am a Zeen!” I try to put as much force as possible into my voice, but KaaHud is totally unimpressed.

  “There was a time when that held a lot of meaning. But I am always on the side of who is paying me good money while holding the best promise to be on the winning side at the same time. Don't get me wrong. I would never ho
pe for an open confrontation between the Zeen and the Mages, but when I look at the teleportation nodes and other recent events I am very eager to please my client.

  Not only because he is paying me more than a generous sum to do good work. Do you know that they completely eradicated the ships you guys sent after them?” Both Binary tilt their heads in perfect synchronisation.

  I feel like the floor was just pulled out from under me. “No. How would you know that? The battle must have taken place just a few days ago. The message must take months to arrive... oh. I made a grave mistake. I thought I had more time, but their diplomats will bring this to light much sooner than I expected. No, they have to give me more time to take my brother's position.”

  “I think you figured it out. The Mages were so friendly as to grant me exclusive access to their new intergalactic news network. They are intending to open it to all the species later on. A way to communicate almost instantaneously between two points.” One of the Binary picks his nose, which is perfectly fine to do in front of strangers. At least in their culture. “I hate to break it to you, but your plan has to be accelerated. That means that you can't stick the knife into your brother yourself. Then you have to make the right reports to the right people. I think you already prophesied that the Drazi will fail, so that alone will boost your reputation sufficiently.”

  I look at the ground. Maybe I can deal with the fact that I don't get to kill my brother myself, but a kill has no meaning if you can't take the prize. “That alone won't help. I need much more to change the politics of our government. Assessing a single event correctly will be seen as luck. If I want people to listen to me, then I must be seen as an expert on the species in question.”

  “An expert, hmmm.” KaaHud grumbles, but then he nods. “Who says that you can't be an expert. I've had a long time to get used to my client and I am sure that he would be delighted to give you a little warning ahead of time regarding their actions. We will simply make you an expert. Better to say that we will make you the expert. What do you say?”