Armageddon's Pall

by S. F. Edwards

  “Negative. We are full up and our airlock is inoperable.”

  “Nach Eight, Shuttle One Six Two Two. Our airlock is functional. Vectoring to intercept.”

  “Chris!”

  “I see it. We’re not losing anyone else, not this soon. Any other hostiles on approach?”

  Bichard pulled back his view to encompass the whole of the battle space. Targeting lines that had pierced the volume before had all but disappeared. The fighters they’d broken off engagement from to go after Blazer had been taken out. Only faint traces from a group half a light hect away showed up now. “Nothing close enough to worry about.”

  Bridge, Planet Slicer

  Gondral fought with all fas will to suppress the eruption of anger. The destruction of over two dozen Mini-Gorvian fighters wasn’t what enraged fam so, but that fae had allowed famself to focus so many on a single target. Using other Gorvian telepaths as relays Gondral had commanded as many of the Mini-Gorvians as possible. Seeing Vaughnt’s fighter, the lust for vengeance against the one that had killed Gondish had taken full control. Gondral couldn’t allow that to happen again.

  The probing eyes of the tactical and navigation officers almost burned Gondral’s flesh. Focusing again on fas surroundings, Gondral turned towards them. “What is it?”

  The navigation officer spoke first, the rodentlike creature none too willing to deliver mor news. “Lord of All. The jump point that the Dondicks flee towards, it is too small for expansion. We will have no choice but to free navigate in hyperspace to pursue them.”

  That was not welcome news and Gondral turned towards the tactical officer. The insectoid thing shook and stank with fear. “Lord of All. Our allies have reported taking the Dondick station. They’ve begun recovery of the station’s navigational core, but report that it’s heavily damaged. Most of the solid memory is destroyed but they may be able to recover some information.”

  “Have they captured many Dondicks?”

  “Yes, Lord of All. Many managed to escape the station, but we’ve intercepted most of them.”

  “Good. Have them prepped for conversion.” Gondral paused for a moment. “Select a few as tribute to our most competent Ship Lords. Let them do with them as they please.”

  “Aye Lord of All. It shall be done.”

  The crustacean communications officer held up a hand. “Lord of All. The leader of the Pharad’s servant forces requests an audience and is online now.”

  Gondral nodded. These Galactic Federation had been wise to come to the Gorvian with a peace accord. Though Gondral longed to see these Dondick-like creatures made to line fas floors, their close relations with the Pharad proved intriguing. The Pharad had once warred against the Gorvian’s old masters but had made a type of peace with them before their exit from the galaxy. Gondral would honor that ancient accord. Once the Dondicks were no more however, Gondral would lay waste to these servants of the Pharad, and that ancient race as well.

  An image filled with dropouts and pauses filled the view screen. The sight disgusted Gondral. The Terran looked far too much like a Dondick Anulian, fit only for feeding lower Gorvian. To have it address Gondral on near-equal terms sat ill not only with fam, but from the radiating anger from the bridge crew, them as well. “Lord Gondral. The station is ours. We are mopping up the last of the resistance and offer any without strategic knowledge to you in tribute. Once we are finished with interrogations we will offer the rest to you as well.”

  The Old Mind’s ball rolled forward, ever on alert for transgressions. “Low born slaves like yourself shall not address the Lord of All with such familiarity. To speak the Lord of All’s name in such a way is heresy.”

  Gondral suppressed an inner smile as the Terran reeled back in what might have been awe and disgust. The admiral looked over his shoulder for a moment at a reptilian Krad. The slave to the Terran whispered something in his ear before he turned back to the camera. “Please excuse the unintended insult Lord of All,” he replied with a terse, uncomfortable bow. “I was left ill-informed by my slave. I offer this Krad up to you in tribute as apology.”

  The Krad backed away, surprised at the announcement before two men in studded jet-black armor hauled it away.

  “I shall enjoy your apology General. Do you have knowledge of where the Dondick fleet flees?”

  “No Lord of All. That is a question best left to the fleet admirals, and will be the focus of our first interrogations. They could…”

  The signal cut out without preamble and Gondral turned to the communications officer. The Gorvian scrambled across its consoles, mor eyes probing the screens from the recesses in mor belly. “The signal has been lost at the source.”

  Gondral looked back to the main viewer to find that the captured hyperspace bubble at the core of the station had begun to fluctuate. Gondral stood, eyes growing in awe. This was something Gondral had never thought fae would see. The clear silica-steel shell encompassing the bubble shattered. The bubble went wild, bouncing about and everywhere it touched pieces of the station began to disappear. The lights of the station went out all at once replaced only by dim emergency glow panels.

  The whole Planet Slicer began to shudder as the massive bubble ripped through the station, cleaving a hole through its structure, before it rocketed towards the gargantuan ship. “All stop,” Gondral roared. “Shields to maximum. Divert the dark energy field to screen us before that hits us.”

  Though only a few hundred metra wide, the excited bubble played havoc with the local dark matter and dark energy. If it should hit the Planet Slicer it might do worse than eat away portions of it. It had the potential to disrupt the dark energy manipulators across the ship. The Planet Slicer shook with enough violence to drop Gondral back into the throne before the dark energy screen vaulted the hyperspace bubble away.

  Gondral watched the bubble race away until it disappeared from view then turned back to what remained of the Cathedral station. Secondary explosions tore across the station as smaller power cores ruptured. Once graceful buttresses of the station spun about in the darkness, colliding with one another before bouncing off to slam into the remains of the outer ring. Atmosphere vented from every breach, the tiny forms of Galactic Federation soldiers and Dondicks tumbling out along with the precious air.

  Gondral’s lip twitched in annoyance, brain tails not even registering the emotion. The damage to the station was only a minor setback. The loss of the navigational data and donors to make more Mini-Gorvian were the real losses to the Gorvian war-machine. That the Dondicks would sacrifice the station in this way however almost gave fam a sense of respect for them. It was a ruthless move that no doubt cost them thousands of lives, all to prevent Gondral from gaining more warriors.

  Portions of the station began falling towards the Planet Slicer, pulled in by its gravity. Gondral just shook fas head and stood. “Send in crews to search the remains and assess the damage. Take any survivors to the prison ships for conversion.”

  “Even the Pharad Slaves, Lord of All?”

  “Any that won’t be missed Ship Lord.”

  Gondral strode out of the bridge and down the passageway into fas quarters. The room was not empty upon his arrival. Doctors were attending to Gondish’s body and the baby growing within. Birth would be upon them soon. Along with the doctors were a team of technicians and a single telepath. The group stopped their work to bow and Gondral turned to the telepath.

  “What brings you here?”

  “Our allies gave us information about the source of the Dondick sabotage Lord of All. The Dondicks inserted a system to override the repair drones into Lord Gondish’s sustainment couch.”

  Gondral had to resist the urge to storm towards the group and instead reached out to touch the mind of a Mini-Gorvian. It lay within the base of the medical bed and Gondral looked through its eyes. A device, tiny by even Dondick standards, lay nestled in the wiring at the base of the machine. Vaughnt, you monster. You wou
ld use my own child against me? Your end will bring me such joy. Gondral pulled back; looked at the group. “Create another sustainment couch for Lord Gondish then have this one destroyed. What is the health of the babe?”

  The lead doctor bowed. “Soon Lord of All, soon and your next true heir will join us.”

  UCSB Date 1004.035

  Medical bay 3, UCSBS Mercy, Cynial System

  The retreat into synthetics space bought the fleet only a brief respite. While the Planet Slicer couldn’t follow immediately, the rest of the Gorvian fleet and the Galactic Federation could. What troubled Marda the most however was that aside from a few sensor pings, the synthetics had remained hidden.

  Que-Dee for once was at a loss as to why. When he’d left Synthetic space, there were multiple thriving colonies on these worlds. Marda didn’t find the word colony an adequate descriptor for what Que-Dee had described. These worlds were dead, and would never support biological life. Instead they were massive data centers within which millions of individual sentient programs clustered together in search of the ultimate form.

  Marda almost envied the synthetics for that. They didn’t squabble or wage war amongst themselves or others; they sought ultimate enlightenment. They’d skip millions if not billions of annura of evolution to reach a state of ethereal being beyond life and death, eternal and content.

  The fleet saw no such peace. Every cycle, Marda had had to watch her squad mates and husband race off into the void. Even her duties had kept her on her feet far more than they should have at this stage in her pregnancy. While the Mercy remained far from the fighting, nestled amongst a picket of corvettes and cruisers, other ships weren’t so lucky. Patients from throughout the fleet poured through the frigate. Plasma burns and vacuum exposure injuries had become all too commonplace.

  A brief respite came and Marda collapsed into her chair. Her head nurse, ever by her side, waited with a cup of herbal tea. Marda breathed in the heady aroma and felt the tension melt away. Even her son seemed to feel it and relaxed within her womb. “How much more do we have Lilry?”

  The dark-furred Drashig shook her head, her eyes hooded. “Not much matron. The garden between the inner and outer hull was all but wiped out during our escape from Veglid.”

  That proved a sobering thought. A single torpedo had slipped through the Mercy’s defenses and had cracked the outer hull. It reminded her that they were all but cut off from the rest of the galaxy. “Have they found the source of the jamming?”

  “Rumor has it that the planet below is the source. None know for certain.”

  The view wall revealed a world where the word barren seemed generous. It was beyond featureless. Even magnifying the image had revealed nothing but an unnaturally smooth, grey landscape. Marda suppressed a shiver at the sight; felt the baby have it instead. She placed a hand on her belly to soothe the growing infant and sat back. “Reminds me of the old grey goo arguments against nanotech. Do you think the synthetics accidentally wiped out the colony?”

  “No idea matron. How long until the next transport arrives? I'd like to get the synthesizer working on supplies early if I can.”

  “That would be a nice change of pace,” Marda replied and checked her micomm. The next scheduled arrival wasn't for over a hect. Chatter on the comm net caught her attention however. She shifted away from the flight control weave and dove in. The conversations were panicked but they all said the same thing. The Planet Slicer was in system and running at the world they orbited at full speed.

  Bridge, UCSBS Nosh’Tak

  The scene on the holographic situation display did nothing to elevate Admiral Quin Tosh’s dark mood. For a tridec they’d held their stalemate against the combined Galactic Federation and Gorvian forces. Their blockade of the Veglid Jump Point had held against all but the largest assault forces, despite heavy losses. The scouting forces that had made it in-system however had done their job and the Planet Slicer ripped through the system’s largest jump point.

  The blockade force and defensive satellites deployed by the synthetic sentients there were no more. The expanding tear destroyed most of them. The few which escaped saw the whole task force laid to waste by the Planet Slicer and the fleets that flowed in around it. At the same time, a massive assault force took the Veglid Jump Point in a three-wave attack that the picket had no hope of standing against.

  The sensor officer at his station jerked back, drawing the admiral’s attention before he swiveled about. “Admiral. The jamming field from the Planet below just spiked!”

  “What's going on?”

  “I'm not sure but the field almost seems to be focusing on the planet Slicer itself. Standby, I'm getting surface fluctuations.”

  “Main viewer!”

  At first the surface looked unchanged, then the smooth surface began bubbling. The bubbles burst and spheres rocketed skyward. The lack of surface features made guessing their size impossible; a still frame blew up on the corner of the viewer. The image resolved and the cleaned-up visual revealed a sphere some fifty metra in diameter covered in tiny sensors and thruster ports. “What are they?” she asked, afraid that she now faced a third enemy.

  “Unknown ma'am, but I’m picking up strong dark energy signatures from each of them.”

  The communications officer spun around, her hand to her headset. “Admiral, we're getting a signal, from the planet. They want to talk to you. Audio only.”

  Tail swishing with nervous anticipation, the admiral stood and straightened her uniform. “Open the link. Full holographic. Let's show them we have nothing to hide.” With the enemy closing she had little time for diplomacy but needed an ally now more than ever.

  An artificial voice, free of any hint of emotion, that seemed to belong to a centuries old computer, rang across the bridge. “Synthesis. Presence unauthorized. Explain. Biologic war here unacceptable. Agreement of mutual disinterest broken. Yes No?”

  The Admiral took a moment to consider her response, and the message repeated. The synthetics did not seem to like waiting. “No. We flee from an enemy that threatens all sentient life; biological and synthetic. They left us no other choice but to escape here. We had no intention of bringing this conflict into your domain.”

  “Synthesis. Communications monitored. Analysis: truth. World ship on high velocity approach vector. Explain.”

  “Communications. Send them everything we have on the Planet Slicer. Synthesis. We are sending you a data packet. We believe that the Gorvians mean to destroy your world as it is the source of the jamming signal that affects us all.”

  “Synthesis. Analysis completed. Warning transmitted. No response. Accord violation. Attack on Synthesis world.”

  “We mean you no harm. We have abided by the terms on the accord for centuries with no incident. Please, let us contact our government and arrange an exit.”

  “Synthesis. Hyperspace portal count: three. Confederation utilization: one, entry. Federation, Gorvian utilization: two, entry and exit. Confederation zero exit, explain.”

  “Your blockade satellites have kept us away from the other two. The other is too near the Veglid Jump Point in hyperspace for our ships to negotiate around it. Our enemy holds that system.”

  “Synthesis. Ship analysis: portal proximity in hyperspace problematic to large ships. Portal protection protocol deactivation codes not received.”

  “We attempted to send the agreed upon codes, but were still fired upon.”

  “Synthesis. Analysis: communications via outdated systems not recognized by automated satellites.”

  So, the synthetics have developed a form of arrogance, and a hierarchy to their systems. Interesting.

  “Synthesis. Exit clearance granted, Confederation IFF transponders.”

  “What about the Geffer, rather Galactic Federation and Gorvians?”

  “Synthesis. Zero accord with new forces. Hostile actions taken against Synthesis and Confederation. Continued hostilities will meet with appropriate force per existing accord with Confederatio
n.”

  “Thank you, we will retreat from your space. Please excuse our intrusion.”

  “Synthesis. alert. Ship designated Planet Slicer has not initiated deceleration. Analysis: Planet Slicer capable of planetary attack at maximum decimal five light speed. Zero defensive options available at this time. Analysis: probability of planetary destruction and loss of all resources; ninety five percent and rising.”

  “Can we assist?”

  “Synthesis. Analysis: link bandwidth insufficient for core algorithm upload to confederation fleet. New jamming from non-confederation forces preventing upload to prime systems. Five hundred million core algorithms endangered. Request: writing core algorithms to solid state cores, Confederation rescue and deliver to attached jump code?”

  “Of course. How many cores and how many ships will be needed?” Did I just make the Synthesis an ally?

  “Synthesis. Core container dimensions: two metra square cross section by six metra length. Analysis: confederation fighter craft capable of carriage. Evacuation requires five hundred thirty two containers.”

  “We will divert as many fighters and planetary-capable craft to the evacuation as we can.”

  “Synthesis. Defense spheres will provide escort. Total manufacture time two hundred seventy-six pulses, Confederation Standard. Initial production underway, ready in one zero pulses. Landing coordinates: transmitted. Estimated time to attack: two hundred sixty two pulses. Expected core program losses to exceed fourteen million.”

  The admiral thought she detected a note of regret in that last statement. “We’ll do everything we can to limit your losses.”

  “Synthesis. Thank you.”

  I never thought I’d hear that in my life.

  Monstero Nach 004

  In any other circumstances the idea of landing on a world shaped and inhabited by synthetics would excite Gokhead more than anything else life could ever offer him. The fact that this world was soon to die however dampened his mood. If he emerged from under the shroud he’d just be able to make out the Planet Slicer as a growing dot in the distance. Its approach had slowed, but not enough and the Monstero Nach would be one of the last squadrons to rescue the surviving synthetics.