Attention! Your character lacks the following skills: Heavy Weaponry, Resonance Weapons, Gravity Weapons.
Attention! The Listener Class is not allowed to use Heavy Weaponry.
Now there’s an item!!! You could destroy a whole starship once every half hour with this baby. Or a fortress. Or wipe out a whole settlement along with its residents. And I didn’t even know where they would respawn if their res point got “cut out” of the game world. The Spatial Cutter, not in mechanism of action, but effectiveness of application – one shot and done – reminded me of my Annihilator. It was just a bit heavier, more fearsome and far-ranging in its possible applications.
It reminded me of a weapon from the novels The Star Kings and Return to the Stars by the great American fiction writer Edmond Hamilton, which contained a similar weapon: “The Disruptor,” a force that annihilated not matter but space. A forbidden and semi-mythical doomsday weapon only permitted when mankind truly risked total annihilation or enslavement. How was that different from my case? Earth was under threat of invasion from space and enslavement! Take the most dangerous invading starships out of the picture and maybe our shield could hold out until help arrived. Yes, the Spatial Cutter did does require some very particular skills, but I was sure we’d be able to find a player who could operate it on our planet! And if we couldn’t, there was still time to make one from scratch and grind him up to the proper levels! Although... I was putting the cart before the horse. First of all, I needed to know where I could find “subatomic energy sources.” I couldn’t find anything about them in the guide.
“I can see, Leng Gnat, that you have an interest in that artifact,” the Meleyephatian trader’s chirring voice tore me from my deep contemplation. “Perhaps the honorable Leng can tell me just what that obscure part of my artifact collection actually is?”
After a second’s delay, I realized with relief that the Trader didn’t have the Intelligence to read the information about the Spatial Cutter. In fact, Ayzzz 117 was not a high-profile player at all. And even though he was absolutely laden with Intelligence rings (and Meleyephatians can wear a whole eight bonus-conferring items), his Intelligence was nowhere near my sky-high 38. And to my eye, there was no benefit to telling this member of the Meleyephatian Horde about the imba item in his stock.
“This is a Mechanoid geological drill, as far as I can tell from the description. As a Free Captain engaged in the search for valuable metals on asteroids, it really did catch my eye. And I might have bought it. But I just can’t understand why it is has to be attached to a ship or how it could ever work without being attached to the power system. Here it says it ‘requires subatomic energy source.’ You ever heard of anything like that?”
Mental Fortitude skill increased to level one hundred one!
Danger Sense skill increased to level seventy-one!
The Trader didn’t believe me and decided to extract the information directly from my brain! My good humor blew away like the wind. How dare he attack a high-profile player like that?! The Annihilator instantly appeared in my hand, and I touched the tip of its barrel to the head of the huge yellow spider.
“Stop rummaging through my brains this instant! And get out of my sight before I shoot you!”
But the Trader’s reaction to the weapon and threat was not at all what I was expecting. The Meleyephatian spread his arms wide to show that he wasn’t planning to go anywhere, then deafeningly chirred out in offense:
“You must be mistaken, Leng Gnat! I have done nothing untoward!”
But... regardless, I could still feel thoughts trying to pierce through my mental defenses like a flaming scourge, lashing into my mind.
“If I were in your place, human, I’d put my weapon away! I have come on assignment from the Prelates of Tailax. I am your liaison with the Meleyephatian Horde as a whole and Tailax in particular. And I have some important information for you: an answer to a question. But I don’t like it when people try to trick me. So before I tell you anything, I need to check...”
Astrolinguistics skill increased to level ninety-three!
Mental Fortitude skill increased to level one hundred two!
Mental Fortitude skill increased to level one hundred three!
I don’t know what Ayzzz 117 was able to read from my mind (if anything) but, based on the three Mental Fortitude jumps in such a short time, the Meleyephatian Trader was constantly repeating his desperate attempts to psionically break down my mental defenses. It felt like someone was ramming a smoldering stick into my eye and trying to break through the back of the socket. But physical pain wasn’t going to make me give in. Pain could be tolerated. But at any second, the Meleyephatian might read that I told Geckho Diplomat Kosta Dykhsh about the Meleyephatians attempting to recruit me! I absolutely could not allow that!
Fire!!!
The Trader’s front right appendage vanished in a bright flash. All that remained of his chitin arm was a footlong stump off the carapace.
Rifles skill increased to level fifty-nine!
You have reached level ninety-one!
You have received three skill points (total points accumulated: seven).
Yes it was an alarming situation, but I still took note of my weapon-skill boosts and level-up. For a flash, I even had an insidious thought that the spider-like Trader had another seven arms, and this could be a good opportunity to grind my skills. However, after my one shot, the Meleyephatian immediately surrendered. I stopped feeling the fiery stick boring into my head.
The Trader jumped up and twitched fitfully in pain, his jointed arms jerking at random. Then he hissed out in dismay:
“What have you done, human?! My cover is blown! It will be very hard to get another ring like that one!”
What was he talking about? But then I noticed that the Meleyephatian Trader’s description had undergone a striking change. In fact, he was no longer a Trader at all:
Leng Sooweesssh Eleven. Meleyephatian. Nest of the Horde Frontrunners. Level-207 Spy.
Level two hundred and seven! And he’s a Leng!!! I made a big mistake starting a conflict with him! Still, before I could even get scared, I heard a vile sound somewhere between a whistle and near ultrasonic peep. It made my teeth clench until they cracked... and the lemon-yellow spider collapsed on the floor in a lifeless heap. I turned in surprise. Uline Tar was standing with her eyes wide in horror, all the while squeezing an unusual weapon in her furry paws: a short squat tube that grew wider at the end, which was also lined with metal rings.
Successful Intelligence check.
Ah, I see. An Infantry Resonator, a Geckho close combat weapon that destroys the nerve cells and internal organs. I had seen one like it in the trade catalogue when I was looking for a weapon to buy for the Human-3 Faction’s army. But I didn’t buy any then, because resonators are entirely ineffective from farther away than three or four steps, which made using them in modern warfare a technical impossibility. Beyond that, it was not a very discerning weapon, cutting a wide and indiscriminate swath of destruction. Some weapon skills (perhaps Sharpshooter or Pistols) could choke that down, but Uline had once confessed to me that her character had no weapon skills at all, which meant the Geckho lady could do little more than point it in a general direction and shoot.
“I set the Resonator to kill Meleyephatians only,” the Geckho woman answered, as if reading my thoughts.
I nodded in silence, not clarifying that the forcefield on my Listener Energy Armor had drooped by fifteen percent. If not for that, I would at the very least have been severely disabled and paralyzed by the shot. And yet Uline said something else with a mixture of delight and fear:
“Gnat, I just went up eight levels at once! Who even was that Meleyephatian? And why did he attack you? Woah look – he’s a Spy!!! We have to tell the administrators of the Miyelonian station that we unmasked an enemy agent!”
I myself didn’t fully understand why the peaceable looking Trader suddenly decided to attack me mentally. Maybe what I said a
bout the Relict artifact was too far removed from what he could see with his lower Intelligence and was trying to find the truth. Although... I was no longer confident that the level-two-hundred-seven prominent Spy had lower Intelligence than me. In any case, I quickly searched his valuable corpse while it was still there to loot. A few plastic belts, a blindfold, a bunch of junk I could barely understand and...
Captain’s key (main) to Tolili-Ukh X frigate.
I believe in fate. As I believe that coincidences are never truly random. Just after I lost my space frigate, when was busting my brains over where to get a new ship, this idiot drops a glowing blue crystal as loot which would allow me to take a frigate exactly like the one I had before. It would have been hard to imagine a clearer hint from on high about what to do next. And who cares that it was sure to have consequences and the Meleyephatian agent wouldn’t like what I was doing. It was his fault for attacking me first!
Not hesitating for a second, I activated my radio and called my crew for an emergency council.
Chapter Sixteen. Conflict in the Crew
THE ONLY ONE in the whole crew who knew about my secret understandings with the Prelates of Tailax was Valeri-Urla, but the Tailaxian girl was tactful enough not to mention it. To the other members of the crew, it looked very strange indeed that a high-level Meleyephatian Horde Spy was interested in their captain. And the false Trader attacking a prominent player (and an attempt to forcibly read someone else’s mind would surely be regarded as an attack) was completely beyond the pale for some of them. Most of my crew shared my outrage and were crying out for “spider” blood. After all, sending the discourteous Spy to respawn once was clearly not enough punishment. That brute needed to be taught a lesson and full bore!
When I told them my idea to break into the Meleyephatian Trader’s hangar and capture his frigate, my crew was quite enthusiastic. Yes, that it probably more fit the spirit of space pirates than the crew of a respectable and peaceful Free Captain. But I had pirate status, so we were in fact pirates! I wasn’t at all afraid that the official authorities of the Kasti-Utsh III station might intervene in my squabble with the Meleyephatian Spy who bit off more than he could chew because I had a story to tell the Miyelonians and something to show them:
Eye of Leng Sooweesssh Eleven, level-207 Spy (trophy).
My business partner Uline Tar took an identical trophy “spider” eye for herself. She was unexpectedly bubbling with martial spirit and ended up being the loudest voice in favor of attacking the enemy of the Geckho race. Her position was shared by all Geckho and Miyelonians in my crew, along with most of the humans.
Just Valeri-Urla was being cautious, telling us things like all members of the Meleyephatian race were born psionic, and them noticing that someone was holding back information was a totally commonplace affair. The Trader could have done it completely by accident, out of habit, and this was not a very serious breach of etiquette.
The only one who was categorically opposed to the planned attack was Denni Marko. The bodyguard reminded everyone in very emotional and blunt terms that the Gilvar Syndicate, where Denni lived in the real world, was a vassal of the Meleyephatian Horde. And the rulers of the Syndicate might really dislike his role in this whole story. But fear for his own fate was not the deciding factor in Valeri’s long-term companion’s position:
“We is really pirate? We is really going to war with Meleyephats?” Denni Marko looked from side to side, staring tensely at the crew and searching in vain for support. “I to be choose normal contract and no to sign this crazy venture! This is big stupid! I no to choose signing you contract if I know before!!!”
Denni was determined to be indignant about the fact that he was not clearly informed Captain Gnat might embark upon foolhardy ventures when signing his contract. By the way... Denni Marko had a big black eye covering half his face. In fact, the Bodyguard’s left eye was all swollen and could hardly open. I wonder who he got into it with and when? Could it be that Denni’s bad mood was not only because of the upcoming raid, but something else as well? I looked over my team attentively.
Eagle Eye skill increased to level eighty-four!
Kisly’s face also had fresh wounds on it, and the knuckles of the Machinegunner’s right hand were all bloody. Nefertiti’s emotional background was extremely tense and bothered as well. The Dryad was very angry at her husband and could not calm down. Valeri-Urla, whose mood I read very cautiously, was also on edge. Clearly something had happened there to make Denni Marko, already famed for his difficult temperament, get into an especially bad mood.
Nevertheless, the Bodyguard was asking very reasonable questions and I was even having a hard time finding answers to them quickly. As a neutral Free Captain, I was supposed to stay out of galactic politics, be on the side in all wars. And if I did support one side in a conflict from time to time, it couldn’t be too regular or high-enough level to arouse suspicion of working directly for them. But even still I had already helped the Geckho and Miyelonians on a number of occasions and was an active participant in military operations on the Geckho side, which did not go unnoticed by their Meleyephatian opponents. I was reminded of the secret negotiations on the back of the sea turtle in the middle of the bay, when the Prelates of Tailax tried to make me aware that I was “on the verge” and soon could find myself declared an enemy of the Horde. If I aggravated the conflict with the Meleyephatian Spy, again finding myself going against the Meleyephatian Horde, there was a high probability that I would be irrevocably crossing their “red line.”
Nevertheless, I couldn’t just turn tail and pretend like nothing out of the ordinary had happened. That would also be wrong-headed. Maybe Meleyephatians were used to having their minds read, and didn’t think twice about digging around in the brains of enslaved peoples to read whatever they wanted to know. But I am not a slave! I am a proud Free Captain, a prominent player and I cannot allow a representative of the Meleyephatian horde to use me as a doormat! Furthermore, it was very possible that our uncovering a Spy would leak to the station owners. Then the Miyelonians would have a good reason to be outraged that their guest Leng Gnat didn’t warn them first. By the way... I could actually play that up! What if I tried to get the Tolili-Ukh X frigate with diplomacy rather than force?
“Denni, you’re absolutely right. We really shouldn’t rush this, or do anything without thinking it through. We’ll try to get by without any bloodshed. Valeri-Urla! I need you to go into the real world and send a message to your prison guards from me. Listen close, it’s gonna be lot to remember!”
After that I sent everything mentally because I didn’t want the other team members to hear my top-secret message:
“Message from Leng Gnat to the Prelates of Tailax. The Meleyephatian Spy on the Kasti-Utsh III station made a serious misstep and exposed himself. And now Leng Sooweesssh Eleven, leader of the Nest of Horde Frontrunners has some very big problems: the Miyelonians will not let someone with so many important secrets off their station and will surely take him prisoner. And the Miyelonians have methods of cracking even a nut as tough as a level-207 Spy. Then the whole Nest of the Horde Frontrunners could be exposed, dealing a huge blow to the Meleyephatian spy network as a whole. Or Leng Sooweesssh Eleven will have to kill himself to keep his secret and just die, die, and die until his final death. But I would like to propose a different way out. I am prepared to save your careless Spy and evacuate him from the Kasti-Utsh III station to a safe location. Providing this service will my reputation seriously at risk, so my price will be: the Tolili-Ukh X star frigate that previously belonged to Leng Sooweesssh Eleven and which is now stationed in hangar 1-108. To my eye, that is a fair price and just compensation for the fact that an agent of the Meleyephatian Horde attacked me mentally. It would also be legal to take the frigate by force, because Leng Sooweesssh attacked me first, but I would like to maintain good relations with Tailax and the Meleyephatian Horde as a whole, which is why I am suggesting this alternative. I need the Prelates’ answer
as quickly as possible while we still have a way of getting the Spy off the station. Valeri, did you memorize that? Excellent!”
“I have memorized it and will reproduce it accurately. But Gnat, before I leave the game, I must tell you one important thing. Denni Marko and I broke up. Yes, we are finished for good. One of the reasons was that he started flirting with that Dryad, and she was receptive. I mean, I’ve been feeling like ending things for some time, and there are many other reasons. I am a proud Great Huntress and I alone decide who is worthy to be with me. Denni has proven himself unworthy. I have spoken with him already and told him my decision. Denni Marko will be leaving your crew right after our next voyage as soon as his contract is up. So captain, you should get another space gunner ready to replace Denni Marko.”
The Beastmaster’s message knocked me off balance. In fact, I even ran out of Magic Points without noticing. Denni Marko would be leaving the team soon? I was going to lose the man responsible for operating my ship’s cannons? Unexpected and highly unpleasant news! And now I understood the reason for Kisly and Denni’s conflict – of course it had to be a woman, even if she was an NPC.
Mysticism skill increased to level forty-six!
From there, with my mana bar empty, I had to speak to Valeri vocally. Thankfully there was nothing secret or compromising to either me or the Tailaxian lady in the rest of my message to the Prelates of Tailax:
“Valeri, tell them this. An item in the antiquities trader’s catalogue caught my eye: the Mechanoid Spatial Cutter. Leng Sooweesssh 11 will know what I am referring to. Anyhow, I would like to acquire the artifact. In return, I am willing to provide the precise coordinates of the place where Queen Tishhh-Ukhshhh, ancient ruler of the Rowonti-Tor system’s relics are hidden. So, a stash full of Relict treasures in exchange for a Cutter which Leng Sooweesssh has a high likelihood of losing anyway when Miyelonian special forces reach his ancient artifacts store and warehouse. So have him think quick. And finally, one last thing. Tell him that I really don’t like when people dig around in my head. That really bothered me and I truly hope this vexing incident will be the first and last time it occurs. If not, no further contact!”
A Jump into the Unknown (Reality Benders Book #5) LitRPG Series Page 18
