The Collective

by David McCahan

  “We need tactical information.” Glory thought there was no redemption short of one killing the other. She searched the commander for tactical weakness of his ship. What did he fear someone attacking? The defenses were tough indeed. He felt confident that nothing could get past them before he destroyed the enemy. That he’d proven in battle before. The missiles had a limited range. He needed to close the gap slightly to be sure of targeting but Columbia was in range now. The speed of the missiles was just under 0.9 C. He didn’t know that anything could out run them. Ha! Gotcha there. His max speed was just over 0.6 C for a limited time. Another weakness. The laser batteries were significant if he could get close but he didn’t know that was never going to happen.

  At that time the commander ordered max speed, missiles were locked on. The shift in speed seemed to catch Columbia by surprise because the gap decreased to 9 million miles. Still a long way but much of what this battle commander wanted. The missiles were launched. Immediately the launchers were cycled and another salvo loaded. They launched them as well.

  “We must stay here. The Columbia is launching FTL and we cannot join her until she stops again.”

  “We listen to you. We are one on this.” Was Glory’s reply.

  Suddenly the Columbia disappeared off the plot. The commander was screaming at his crew to find her. He appeared ready to execute someone on the spot for losing the track on her.

  “We go now.” Saoi thought to Glory and she followed him without hesitation. They rejoined the rest and then as one moved through the aft of the ship toward Columbia that was now some 20 million miles to the rear of the alien ship.

  “It is hoped that they are focusing forward and that even if they knew where to look, 20 million miles might be beyond easy sensor reach. Once there we can decide how to defend against them.” This was not Saoi but all 20 of the Collective that was with her as one voice.

  Of course with twice the distance it took a little over four minutes to make it back to Columbia. The alien vessel was moving at 0.6 C in the other direction, having no idea that Columbia could have circled them. They know only of Ion drive as what they considered the fastest method of propulsion in existence. Add arrogance to their weaknesses. They rejoined their physical forms and quickly awoke to find the Senior Staff in the Med Center with a portable plot and view screen ready.

  “General, you completely have them baffled with the FTL move. It is not even a possibility that we are now behind them.” Glory reported as she got up from the med station. “I see you want to get to the debrief ASAP.”

  “Doesn’t seem like they are interested in talking so let’s see if we can convince them to listen.” Jeff said as Glory and Saoi took seat at the plot.

  Index

  Chapter 11 – Conflict

  “I realize that by our standards they live for conquest and do not deserve anything but a core explosion. However, it is the judgment of CentCom that we need to send a message to their home world. If they just disappear then they are likely to just send another in time. We urge a plan of attack that takes out their defenses while leaving their drive intact. This way you can force them to defeat and take that message back to their home world. If you can do that and they do not retreat, then take any measures to defend yourself. Emerson out.” The video message reply had finally been received from the message they sent 4 hours ago to Earth to advise CentCom and ask for their orders.

  “You can see our orders regarding the Basel Confederation.” Jeff commented. The Collective had succeeded in gathering some very good intel from some of the crew. They called themselves the Basel Confederation and as far as any of them could tell there was no reasoning. They conquered or died. There was no failure permitted. If they did return and admit failure they would be destroyed on the spot. It seems that a thought process like that was not one that CentCom could believe but considering the suicide attacks the Columbia encountered they should have. “Still while I will not risk this crew, or our new friends, I would at least try to disable their offensive capabilities and avoid unnecessary bloodshed.”

  “General if I may offer a suggestion.” Saoi raised his hand and asked to speak. The General nodded for him to continue. “When the Collective are in spirit form we are still able to affect the physical world. We could travel back on the Invincible (their word for their ship) and sabotage their offensive and defensive systems without loss of life or their ability to travel home.”

  “General I concur that the Collective are quite capable and especially if we are paired with them to provide the technical knowledge of what to hit and how. Without physical form does not mean anything where Psi abilities are considered.” Glory added.

  “Without physical form also does not mean that your spirit form cannot be harmed.” Jeff interjected.

  “We agree. We suggest a compromise. Pair us to find the means to disable their fighting power in one shift and then we transfer that knowledge to the second half of the Collective and they go back and complete the task. We can do the damage from a safer distance than paired. You have learned much but you are not as strong yet.” Saoi said.

  “I think I’ve just been insulted Sir.” Glory said in mock anger and then before Saoi could misunderstand added “We understand your concern and know you are correct. Having to be closer because of us still learning would be more danger to you. We could not cause more risk than needed. Your plan sounds best to me.”

  “And to me as well.” Jeff added. “At this point the Invincible has not detected us behind them. We will maintain this distance. I take it 20 Collective and 20 humans will pair and go in the first shift to determine the best sabotage?” Both Glory and Saoi nodded their agreement. “Very well then assemble your teams in the med center again and you’re to go when ready. Be advised though, no unnecessary risks. CentCom may be making policy from the safety of Earth but I am responsible out here and I’ll not risk anyone to save those that would kill us just a soon as look at us.”

  “Yes Sir.” They acknowledged and headed for the med center.

  As they entered the med center Rhonda was waiting for them. “Off to the enemy ship again I take it?” she asked.

  “Yes Ma’am, hopefully this group goes for more recon and then the second group goes in to disable them. If all goes well we aim to try to get ‘em to turn tail and run.” Glory replied.

  “Why do I get the feeling that you’re not too confident that they are going to give up and leave?”

  “From what we’ve all felt in their minds I don’t think it’s in their nature and they know that if they did they would be executed anyway. But as a decent benevolent society we have to at least make one try. See you when I wake up and take could care of me while I’m gone OK?” Glory teased.

  “I’ll think about it.” Rhonda replied with a chuckle.

  “Hey already in spirit form, I’ll haunt you if you don’t. Ok see you in a bit. Leave a light on for us.” Glory responded and then separated and looked for the rest to do the same.

  Quickly everyone was gathered and they paired up and headed for the Invincible. Hopefully they were about to prove that the ship was named incorrectly. Now that there was actually two of the crew from each technical specialty the groupings were actually in fours instead of in twos. As they traveled the distance these groupings of four worked on joining themselves together and working on their strategies as they went. The other crew working with Glory was Captain Andrew Zimmerman. She knew he was a very accomplished strategist. His specialty was Tactical Warfare, something that was hoped we would not need but anticipated that his skills would be a help getting out of system. Now he was a welcome addition to dig into the mind of the commander and find what it would take to get him to leave and never return.

  “Andy, you and your partner should get inside the alien commander’s mind and see if you can find something that we can do that will convince him to give up. Failing that then we need strategy from him that will defeat him with least risk to the Columbia. He’ll be easy to sp
ot. Probably starting to execute crew for not finding us by now if I read him right on the first go round.” She passed what she learned of the commander and his mind during the first encounter as she finished the thought. “We’ll look for the second in command and work on that one while your search the commander.”

  “Wow that is one nasty mother over there. If there is something that can change his mind then we’ll find it.” He replied.

  They were nearing the Invincible when suddenly the ship turned end for end and with full power now directed away from the Collective group she was decelerating rapidly. They almost overshot the ship.

  “We believe they finally spotted the Columbia behind them.” Saoi observed.

  “They’ll keep the 20 million miles between them and stay out of missile range so we’re still clear to proceed.” Glory thought.

  “We are one on this.” Was the reply from the whole concert. There was that comforting feel of unity again. She could get used to that.

  On passing into the ship they split into ten groupings of four and headed for their respective areas. Saoi directed their group quickly to the Invincible’s C&C, or whatever they called it. True to form the commander dominated the room. It was clear that he had provided ultimate discipline to one or two of his crew as evidenced by the fresh blood on the floor and the stains leading out of the room where the bodies had been dragged out. What a sweetheart this one was. Why were they not just going blow his Ion core and him with it again? Oh yeah, to send a message not to come here.

  “Andy, you have your target there. Looks like the second in command is motivating the sensor tactician over there. We’ll get him.” Glory thought to her group.

  “Sure we can’t switch or at least just blow his aorta while we’re in there?” Andy thought back.

  “Wouldn’t lose any sleep over him either, but no, stick to the plan. Wouldn’t you like to see him so scared he pisses himself though?”

  “Yes Ma’am I would pay to see that. We’ll see what’s in there then.” And with that they focused on the minds of their targets.

  The second in command was no better than the commander and maybe more sadistic. They thought for a moment of looking for another crew that would take over if they killed the two highest ranking officers. Perhaps that one would be more pliable. After penetrating the minds of both though it was easy to see that from all appearances the next few in line were just as bloodthirsty as the rest. So Saoi and Glory spent their allotted time understanding all they could of the command structure and ship’s weaknesses. The redundancy of the weaponry and defenses were remarkable. You could blow the ship half apart and it could still fight. The actual systems though were other’s assignment. What could convince these two that they must leave? “Phantoms” came a word from his subconscious. They focused on that thought. In their legends there were stories of space phantoms feeding on the souls of Basel travelers. If they died in battle they were glorified in their afterlife but if killed by the phantoms their souls would be in agony for eternity.

  “Could we convince them that there are real space phantoms in this end of the galaxy?” Glory thought.

  “With weapons systems blowing for no reason and then feed images in their mind of phantoms we might be able to make them decide to save their soul from the phantoms.” Saoi agreed.

  They continued to dig deeper into their mythology of the phantoms and also shared the information with the rest so that they could look for it as well and also begin to plant the seeds that the sudden disappearance of the Columbia was phantom like and that this was a cursed area of space.

  They all spent the next several hours spreading the thoughts of the phantoms to as many crew as they could. Finally, it was time to return to their bodies. Columbia had continued to keep the distance constant in their game of cat and mouse.

  While in route they joined in thought to review the information they had gleaned. Environmental nodes were identified that could be blown easily, plasma conduits to rupture, power feeds for missile and laser control that could be pushed to overload. The sensor array was vulnerable to overload in the same manner at several key points but also at a variety of distribution points. If the outermost points overloaded and then the overloads worked into the central system, it could appear that phantoms were entering the ship. If this didn’t work, then what would? All in all, the group felt this was a successful intelligence mission.

  Awake and back in physical form Glory and Saoi reported to Jeff, “We found legends of space phantoms in their memories and began to plant the thoughts of phantoms in this area. Starting with the way Columbia just mysteriously disappeared and then reappeared. The second team is going to overload systems from the outer shell into the center to make it seem like phantoms are coming to eat the souls of the command crew and disable their weaponry at the same time.”

  “I wonder if we shouldn’t reinforce the image of a phantom ship at the same time?” Jeff was thinking out load. “What if we jump the Columbia right in behind them, drop the Collective at that point, then before they can get missile lock jump back out. First we’re not there, then we are, then we’re not. If I didn’t know anything about FTL Grav Focus it would be pretty unnerving to me, especially if you’ve already planted the suggestion.”

  “For them to get missile lock it would take about a minute to reverse the ship. Seems like a good way to link us and phantoms.” Glory said as she looked to Saoi.

  “The Collective needs to be some distance away from Columbia before moving out again or be in the Invincible. This will not be a problem.” He replied.

  “If everyone is ready let’s position the Collective going over in this shift and get Nav to plot the course.” Jeff got up from his office table and entered C&C and walked over to Eva Svenson. “Nav we need you to plot a course that will bring us within 1000 miles directly astern of the alien ship at 5 C. Really anything FTL will make us invisible but we need to come in behind them FTL and then to a full stop relative their ship. No Ion Drives until we are keeping distance. We are to remain astern until they have almost flipped their ship to face us. We want to leave again before they achieve missile lock, so we’re thinking a little under a minute. At that point our second crew of Collective will have transferred from Columbia to their ship. We’ll go back to FTL and maneuver around behind them again and hold at 20 million miles. Can you make that happen?”

  “I take it this is going to really freak them out?” she asked and Jeff nodded yes. “Then Sir, course is entered and confirmed, waiting you command.”

  Jeff looked to Saoi and Glory “Is the Collective ready?”

  “They are in place and ready to go at your command.” Saoi replied.

  Jeff looked to the plot to confirm all systems go and Glory ran a system sweep and nodded that all looked green to her as well.

  “Nav, Launch!” he commanded.

  “Grav Focus engaged.” Eva announced. “Circumventing alien ship, coming up aft of ship in ten seconds.”

  “Collective prepare to disembark.” Jeff said to Saoi.

  “All stop aft of alien ship Sir!” Eva called out.

  “Collective go now.” Jeff called out.

  Saoi relayed the command and waited for the signal that all were on the Invincible.

  “Invincible is flipping their ship now to engage missile lock.” Glory called as she observed the plot and ship’s sensors.

  “Nav prepare to engage second FTL maneuver.” Jeff said to Eva.

  “All clear General, all Collective on Invincible.”

  “Nav launch!” Jeff ordered.

  “Grav Focus engaged. FTL now.” Eva processed the navigation commands.

  “Missiles launched!” Glory announced.

  “What, how?” Jeff joined Glory at the plot.

  “Looks like they took a blind sh” Before Glory could complete her sentence Columbia shook violently. The plot went dark for a few seconds and then came back online. “Damage status updating. Grav Focus offline.”

&nbs
p; “C&C this is Rodrigues. You’ll have to use Ion for a few minutes until I can get Grav Focus back.”

  “Nav best speed and evasive course. Try and stay behind the ship. Space Boss launch all shuttles!” the General ordered evasive action and launched the shuttles to help screen Columbia in case they got another lucky shot off.

  “Shuttles launched C&C, Everret out.” After reporting to C&C that the shuttles were out he switched from command frequency to flight frequency. “Alpha squadron take up screen position between Columbia and the bogy and arm missile and lasers to engage any missile launch. Bravo squadron, you’re free to engage bogy. Hit those missile tubes and lasers and take thrusters out if you can!”

  Columbia continued her rotation around the Invincible trying to keep the momentum she built in the second or two that Grav Focus moved them to FTL but that speed was dropping sub light now and the gravity bubble had failed making the sustained speed they would be able to make around 0.4 C.

  In the plot a stream of 24 green dots flowed to the alien ship and then targeting line displayed as the shuttles locked on target and let loose a salvo of missiles and then fired laser batteries as they completed their pass.

  The Columbia was losing the battle of the maneuver. The Invincible was coming closer to bringing her missiles and lasers to bear. At that moment explosions blossomed over the fore section of the battle cruiser. The explosions continued down the sides of the ship covering the front half. The explosions had their effect and she stopped her rotation and Columbia finally cleared the danger and continued past the aft of the ship.

  “C&C Grav Drives back online and you have Grav Focus to 2 C. More details later but that’s best we can do right now.” Javier’s voice over the com.

  “Acknowledged Engineering, C&C out. Nav get us clear. Space Boss order the shuttles to cover our tail and rendezvous at 20 million miles.” Jeff ordered.