Armageddon's Pall

by S. F. Edwards

  “Thank you, sir, I won’t.”

  UCSB Date 1003.387

  Bridge, Planet Slicer, Nashig System

  After almost a full orbit of the homeworld the Planet Slicer was finally ready. Gondral looked out over the bridge with pride. It was a proper hive of activity as Gorvians of every type rushed about to make final checks. The Dondick’s sabotage had hindered their repair efforts, but couldn’t stop them. The main solar reactor now had five times the armor it had had before and its shields new upgrades; greater output and more layers now defended the powerplant.

  Calls rang in from throughout the ship as sections reported ready to get underway. White lights lit up the map of the Planet Slicer one by one. In moments, every sector of the ship shone white. Gondral turned to the Ship Lord as moe stood there, the pride radiating with enough strength to tickle Gondral’s underdeveloped brain tail twitch. “We are ready to move out Lord of All.”

  Gondral stood, drawing the gaze of every Gorvian on the bridge. Fae stood there for a moment basking in their adoration, it was a high that fae had sought more often of late. Gondral tuned to the Old Mind head in the sustainment ball and nodded.

  The ball rolled forward, another Gorvian in trail, a crablike thing with a thick armored shell. Gondral turned back to address the bridge and the holocams transmitting the scene across the fleet. “After far too long the Planet Slicer stands ready to move out once again,” Gondral began and paused as the cheers of thousands of nearby Gorvian flooded fas mind. The new brain tail could receive almost too well. Gondral held up a hand to calm the bridge crew and proceeded. “This great accomplishment is due in no small part to this Gorvian here,” Gondral waved the crablike Gorvian forward. “Zeblick here led the Packers that destroyed out sabotaged work drones and then oversaw the security of the reconstruction.” The crablike Gorvian bristled at the adoration. “To that end I have and will double honor fam. Fae has now sired the Planet Slicer’s Ship Lord’s next progeny, a willing receptacle for fas honor soul.”

  Gondral looked over to Zeblick and fae skittered forward, drawing back on fas hind legs to reveal fas soft underbelly. Gondral’s eye went wide in anticipation. “Know great warrior, that after this, you will be reborn in your own child and will bear my mark. Another of the next great generation that will conquer this Dondick-infested galaxy.”

  Gondral struck out and cleaved open the Gorvian’s belly. To fas credit, Zeblick didn’t cry out. Gondral tore the soft belly shell open, catching the entrails in one hand while reaching up with the other to pluck out Zeblick’s brain and brain tails. Zeblick’s pain ended in an instant as Gondral removed the fleshy organ and then popped it into fas mouth. The taste of the brain was almost too much for Gondral to contain and fae mashed it against the roof of fas mouth to let its juices soak every bite to come. Gondral feasted on the body, and by the time fae finished nothing remained but the shattered remains of the hard shell and pool of blood extending all the way from the floor to Gondral’s mouth.

  The mass of the Gorvian in fas belly and the cheers from throughout the fleet threatened to drop Gondral to fas knees. It was almost too much for him to handle. Looking around Gondral cast a hand towards the starscape-filled main viewer. “Ahead my Gorvians! Ahead to our victory! Ahead to our destiny and the fall of the Dondicks!”

  The bridge erupted into applause and Gondral made fas way towards the door to fas quarters. The crew turned back to their stations, eager to push ahead and in that moment Gondral felt the deck shimmy as the massive ship got underway. Fae took one last look at the bridge and the viewer. At first it looked like they were still in place, but moving such a massive ship took more effort than even Gondral could conceive. All too soon the scene began to shift and objects floating in the view began falling behind.

  Satisfied, Gondral, Lord of All the Gorvians, and soon the galaxy, retreated towards fas quarters. Fas feet grew unsteady as fae walked. It was all but impossible to block out the voices that intruded. Gondral had to learn new techniques to block out the voices and emotions as the new brain tail grew. One voice called out though, a tiny scared voice, that of fas next unborn heir. Gondral hurried ahead at the call and burst into fas chambers. It was empty save for the support cask that held Gondish’s decapitated body, the new child growing strong within.

  On alert for any problems, Gondral approached and found Gondish’s enlarged belly to be bleeding. Gondral stared down at the sight, the new one within had had such a massive spike in growth that the skin hadn’t been able to take it. Gondral turned to the Old Mind in fas ball. “Have you seen the likes of this before?”

  “Yes, Lord of All. When the High Lord carried you. You experienced a growth spike that nearly split mor in twain. The new one appears to be undergoing the same now. But Lord Gondish is far larger and can contain it. Perhaps this is good news.”

  A new sense of pride filled Gondral and fae turned back to the body. Gondish had never achieved such a massive prenatal growth spike. If the Old Mind was right then the new progeny might, in fact, prove to be a true general.

  Personnel Quarter Room 415, USCBS Mercy, Veglid System

  Frustration ate at Gokhead as he worked on Fealgud’s cybernetics. The neural links didn’t want to align properly. Sighing, he set down his interface unit; ran a hand through his mane.

  “That bad?” Fealgud asked.

  “No, worse. There’s nothing wrong, at least nothing that I can find,” he replied and almost wanted to punch the table.

  “Then why does it keep twitching and refusing my commands so often?”

  Gokhead looked across at Acknit as he lounged in a nearby chair. “I know you’re not asleep Acknit. What do you think?”

  “Could be psychological,” he mused, not opening his eyes. “Deep down, the trauma over what happened might be keeping her from using the arm. It could just be a nervous tick, or it could be deliberate.”

  Fealgud jumped out of her seat and leveled her outstretched hand on Acknit, all three fingers and twin thumbs pointing straight at him. It remained steady as she fixed it on him. “That is not the case. This is an interface issue, nothing more. So, take your stupid opinion and shove it into the nearest black hole. Got it?”

  Acknit rolled over and eyed her. “Seems to be working fine now that you’re upset.”

  She stared at the hand for a moment and flexed it, her face seeming to crack a smile. Gokhead just watched her as she ran through the motions with all four limbs. As her heart rate slowed however the control over the limbs began to fade. Tiny ticks ran through the muscle fibers of all of them until she had to sit back down. “Damn. When your heart rate is up, or you’re emotional the neural pathways must reconnect in such a way as to grant you control.”

  Fealgud huffed in frustration, looking at the younger Drashig. “It’s almost like an elder.”

  Gokhead’s own grandfather had undergone a similar neurologic disorder late in life, and it looked like the hybridization process may have forced that in her. He was chairbound except for when he’d get angry or frustrated. Then all the tremors in his limbs would steady and he could walk on his own. Once time he’d even managed to maintain his control long enough to punch someone. Gokhead remembered laughing like an idiot when that had happened. “It seems that way. Maybe there’s a way to stimulate that response all the time.”

  Fealgud shook her head and watched as Acknit rolled back over and reentered his semi-sleep state. “No. Any drugs that do that would disqualify me from duty, and have their own share of nasty side-effects.”

  “What about an implant? We could insert a control nanochip into your motor cortex that would simulate the same response without the necessity to go into a rage or the increased heart rate.”

  “Won’t work. The cybernetic interface is already in there and is supposed to do the same thing.”

  “Right. How about software? I could write a program that would do the same thing.”

  “How long would that take you?”

  Gokhead scratched
his head and looked down at Que-Dee. “What do you think - a decle or so to write, debug, and field test?”

  “That could work, or I have another idea.” Que-Dee hovered around to face Fealgud. “Gokhead’s idea has merit, but wouldn’t have the ability to adapt to changing circumstances well. I could draft a basic Synthetic Intelligence program that could anticipate such changes. Even it would only have an estimated ninety five percent accuracy rating.”

  “So, then what do you propose?”

  “Interface with me. Pull my core and implant it into your system. I would ride along and provide the needed interface with no actual bodily control of my own.”

  Fealgud crossed her arms in defiance. Gokhead could understand why. The knowledge that Que-Dee was actually a Synthetic Sentient was something Blazer wasn’t even sure they should have told her at first. She didn’t react well to the initial news, but had warmed up to the squat intelligence. Were Gokhead in the same situation, he’d jump at the chance. The few times he’d interfaced with Que-Dee had been mindblowing. The team often debated taking Que-Dee on missions to assist Gokhead in breaking through security systems. Doing so however would place Que-Dee in harm’s way. He almost shook with excitement at the prospect of interfacing it with her.

  “What would it take?” Fealgud asked.

  “I would just need Gokhead to remove my core and find a surreptitious place to insert into your cybernetics. I would prefer someplace armored.”

  Fealgud jumped to her feet and pulled off her pants. Gokhead turned away when he saw that she had foregone underwear again. She clicked a set of hidden keys on the side of her leg and the ballistic sheeting retracted before a panel opened to reveal a hollow within. “It’s an upgrade port, will you fit?” She asked between gritted teeth as she huffed to keep her heart rate high.

  The top of Que-Dee’s boxy shell opened and Gokhead peered inside. It looked like any other personnel robot, except for a single module sitting where the normal processor should be. The smooth block was so nondescript that it almost disappointed him. But the lack of markings and simplicity was elegant in its own regard. Why would synthetics care about aesthetics? That was when Gokhead noticed the microscopic tendrils snaking out from it to all throughout the robot. He’d never seen them, but now he noticed the reflection of the light as they retracted back into the case.

  “Gokhead. My internal power supply will sustain me more than long enough for you to insert me and I can interface. I’d rather if you didn’t waste time. I will maintain a link with this robot for when we are aboard ship. No one outside this room need know what we’ve done.”

  Gokhead looked up at Fealgud and she nodded at him to proceed, her teeth still gritted and her fists clenched to maintain control. He wasted no more time. Not seeing any connectors or hardware keeping Que-Dee’s core in place, he plucked it from the frame. A miniature version of the casing remained behind. “How were you secured?”

  “I have a small army of nanos at my disposal,” the robot replied as Gokhead examined the seamless device in his hands. “Most of my kind persist in our hyperweave and only take control of interface units when necessity demands it.”

  “So, you’re more software then hardware then?” Gokhead asked as he inserted the device into Fealgud’s leg. He watched it for a moment as the glistening, almost invisible nano-tendrils exploded forth, first securing it in place and then disappearing into the leg itself.

  “Yes, but the hardware must be compatible. We surpassed your computer technology generations ago. This interface chassis was designed for compatibility with your systems,” Que-Dee explained before the leg shut cutting off Gokhead’s view. “Fealgud. Please sit, I am making contact with your interface circuity and will need you to be completely still.”

  “For how long?” Fealgud asked.

  “A centipulse or two should suffice, but as you stand these legs have to actively maintain that stance. As I was saying. Working in this chassis would be like you trying to access the hyperweave through an audio interface and keyboard with broken fingers.”

  Gokhead whistled at that as Fealgud sat back down and unclenched her jaws. With his micomm he could explore the whole of the hyperweave with but a thought. “It must be Sheol for you.”

  “Could be worse,” Que-Dee continued through the robot. “I’ve almost gotten used to it. If Fealgud grants me access, I’ll be able to use her micomm. Such a more robust and advanced system. Fealgud I’m in now, give me a cent and, never mind, done.”

  Fealgud lifted her hand and flexed it. There were no tremors, no glitches. She picked up the other hand and did the same. Taking a deep calming breath, she reached across the table and picked up Gokhead’s tool kit. She pulled out a tiny screwdriver and twisted it about. For the first time, her face seemed to light up with joy. She looked up at Gokhead, both sides of her mouth smiling. Then she looked over at Acknit, his eyes fixed on the exchange.

  She stood, flexing her legs and feet. Gokhead marveled at how well it had worked. He doubted that any of the medics who’d helped with the initial surgery and rehab would recognize her now. Her demeanor was calm, but still had a fiery intensity that excited him. Or maybe it was that she kept her pants off, displaying herself to the whole room. She kicked, punched, jumped, ran the limbs through their motions, all the while keeping her cool.

  She eyed Acknit as he sat in the big chair. “Get out. We’re going to need that chair!” She demanded, then turned her gaze on Gokhead and raising her double thumbed foot, pinned him to his seat. The ways she shoved him against it, leaving everything on display as her strength enhanced thumbs dug into his shoulder and the fingers squeezed the back of the seat against him. The view set his fur on end, her maturity and demands sending the contents of his underwear standing as well. “And you. Take your clothes off so that I can thank you.”

  UCSB Date 1004.002

  Monstero Nach 003

  It had taken some getting used to, but Blazer’s adjustment period to having Fealgud on his wing had ended. She didn’t have the same style as Marda for sure, but her maneuvers were crisp. While she didn’t get too aggressive in dogfight practice, if Blazer sent her after a fixed turret, she proved deadly. She would excel at bomber escort, clearing the way for the bigger ships to deliver their payloads without any defensive fire.

  “Arion, what are you thinking about Fealgud?”

  “She’s good. Will have to see how she does in the field. Not the warmest manner though.”

  “Like you should talk,” Blazer let slip.

  “Grief counselor says I’m doing better.”

  “I know, sorry. I didn’t mean to…”

  “Don’t worry about it. She and Gokhead are making a good team though. According to Mikle and Acknit, he treats her like a matron when they’re on the ship.”

  “A subservient WSO. I never thought I’d see the cycle.”

  Arion actually laughed at that. It was the first time Blazer could remember hearing that sound from him since Alieha’s death eighteen tridecs earlier. He almost couldn’t believe how long it had been. To see him dealing with the death was good; the guilt of it ate at him, even if his final act with her had been a merciful one.

  “Blazer. We have a scanner contact.”

  Blazer snapped back into the moment; checked his sensor globe. It remained filled with blue contacts. “I don’t see anything.”

  “It’s a buoy ping. The transports we’re supposed to be escorting are early.”

  Blazer checked his navigational display, even at slipstream they were still at least a hect away. “Ah bugger. Signal, and instruct them to proceed to the fleet without us. No need to waste time. Is their course clear?”

  “Direct course to the Cathedral is clear. Want me to signal Gavit’s flight? They should be able to intercept and provide terminal escort.”

  Blazer mulled that over. Higher ups hated to see transports, especially munitions transports, arrive without fighter escort. If his briefing proved accurate, these also carried the E
nhanced Great White Shark Torpedoes. The massive weapons featured shield negators that would allow a trail of twelve photon detonator warheads to stream through unmolested and bore a hole through a ship. “Yeah,” he said feeling distracted for a moment. It felt odd not having Gavit on his wing. Tadeh Qudas had insisted that he needed more time in leadership roles and switched up the flight groups to accommodate. He looked over at Zithe’s fighter. The Lycan hated giving up control of his flight group even more than Blazer did.

  A sudden chill overcame Blazer and he turned his gaze back to the distant jump point. Instinct, or some perception he couldn’t explain, called out that danger was imminent. Blazer went to key his link but Zithe rang in first. His honed Lycan instincts were faster than Blazer’s. “Lead, One Zero. Don’t ask me to explain, but if I had hair it would be on end right now. Something is coming, something big and bad.”

  Blazer had learned not to doubt Zithe’s instincts. “Copy and concur One Zero. Arion. Are you getting telemetry from the jump buoy?”

  “Checking. I’m picking up some odd readings, but nothing outside of normal bounds. There’s a steadily increasing gravity field though. But, I have reports of mass shadows in the vicinity from the transports.”

  “Understood. Get me some heavy bombers and instruct them to meet us at the jump point.”

  “Copy that,” Arion replied with some reluctance. It took some time for Arion to respond. Blazer began to wonder why before the big man came back to him. “Sorry that took so long. We found some bombers nearby that weren’t responding over the WSO weave.”

  “Link issues?”

  “Negative. I couldn’t get a solid read on them at first due to interference, but they’re not Confed. Blazer it's a flight of Valkyries, Geffer bombers, they’re also a hect out from the jump point. The nearest Confed Bombers are over two hects out. What do you want me to do?”