by Will Crudge
Shade! Grinder recognized her immediately, as he watched her pounce upon the ‘armored’ Peterson. He was caught completely off-guard, as he had been busy trying to position Jimma’s legs for his own sick devices.
But he wasn’t out of the fight yet.
Shade lost her grip on the smooth surfaces of armored torso, and seemed to slide away. She caught her footing a moment later, and prepared to leap again, but the pulse blaster on Peterson’s wrist was waiting for her. She growled in protest when the blast struck her, and she lurched backward from the impact.
Grinder forced himself to move once more, as he hurled himself into motion with every ounce of strength he had left… but he was too slow.
‘Black armored’ Peterson grabbed Jimma’s unconscious body, and bounded for the frigate’s ramp. The ramp was beginning to close, so he jumped on to the lip of it. He planted his feet, and then tucked Jimma’s limo body under his right arm. Peterson cursed audibly at something or someone inside the ship, and within a few seconds, he disappeared from view.
Grinder let out a laud howl in dismay, and he realized the frigate’s thrusters begin to ignite.
The huge K-9 felt defeated for the first time in his life. He collapsed on the deck in dismay, and buried his snout beneath his paws. My first mission as a paired Mount, and my War Master gets captured! I’m a disgrace to my kind!
Moments later, he felt the warm nuzzle of a feline snout brush up against his own. He lifted his head, and opened his eyes halfway. Shade was staring back at him with empathetic eyes.
“Take heart, mighty Grinder!” She said with a motherly smile. “Neither you, nor Jimma should have been sent here… Your bond was not complete, and Jimma’s emotional state was not healthy.” Despite not having her voice module around her neck, she could easily communicate with other Zodiacs quite well.
“How did you know, Grandmother?” Grinder asked with a deep sadness in his voice.
“Because I felt it as soon as you arrived.” She replied.
“You knew we were here?”
“Of course!” Shade stated as a matter of fact. “I had to conceal my own thoughts and energies, though. I’m sorry it caused you grief, my dear boy. These three humans have our genes… maybe not fully developed… but they would have known if I was truly dead or not. I had to let them believe it, or else I would have been no good to anyone.”
Grinder took a moment to process what she said, and reminded himself how experienced she was. He figured she would have never done anything so sneaky unless it were necessary. “How did you survive? And who was under that blanket?”
“That’s a story for another time, dearest!” She said, as she stood straight up on all fours. “We have a War Master that needs our help. What did you fly here on, anyway?”
“The Blood-Reaper.” Grinder replied, as he strained to stand up.
“Excellent! If they don’t transition to FTL right away, then we can still catch them. Who are your companions?” Shade asked eagerly.
“Repurposed Crimson Infantry drone, and a former War Master Candidate whose been marooned on some far off moon.” Grinder replied.
“That will have to do, I suppose.” She nodded. “I have a UAHC Soldier with me, so we’ll be more prepared next time.”
“If there is a next time!” Grinder’s tone sounded as if he were chastising himself. Shade shot him a sly grimace.
“There’s always a next time!” Sheba formed the equivalent of a panther’s smile. “Some people have grandparents that spoil them… You have a grandparent that eats those people!” She winked.
FTL Jail Break
Location: UAHC Sloop, Foehammer, CIC
Date Time: Post Interstellar 10/21/4201 0810HRS UAHC Standard Zulu
System: Faust System, Heliopause
Kara gave the order to make the hyper gate transition, and James complied without hesitation. The stars snapped back into place, and human controlled space welcomed its children once more.
“Hail the Star Fury, James.” Kara said.
“They beat us to it, Ma’am. Putting it on the main screen.” James replied. Kara cracked a smile and nodded. She felt she may be getting spoiled by having such an efficient helmsman. When he was on duty, he could run the entire ship on his own, she supposed. Even Steve had to remind him that the ship had an AI. But pirates, she supposed, had to make due with little or no resources, and he likely was used to acting as his own command crew.
The holographic display came alive, and the image of, a very pleased, Brigadier General Cooper emerged. “I was getting worried, Kara! Did you make the pickup?”
Kara smiled. “Indeed, General.”
“Excellent!” He replied, as he seemed to release a nervous breath. “Now the daunting task of trying to make it to our link-up point, and then onward to the main fleet.”
Before Kara could reply, she noticed Cooper’s eyes go wide, and his eyes seemed to be focusing on something behind her. She turned her head around, to see Keltec as he glided into the CIC. She turned back to Cooper. “General, I’d like to introduce Vizier Keltec.”
“It’s a pleasure, General!” Keltec said as he bowed.
“The pleasure is mine, Keltec.” Cooper replied.
“If I may be so bold,” Keltec shared a glance with Kara, and then turned back to Cooper. “I think I can help with the next phase of your mission.”
“Oh? Please enlighten us.” General Cooper said, as he shifted his hands to rest on his hips.
“My old friend Val has known of this mission for a long time… Longer than, I suspect, any other human… The point in space, of which the link-up point is located, is arbitrary.” Keltec explained.
“That doesn’t surprise me. Val is vague and calculating, at best.” Kara shrugged.
“Indeed. And with good reason.” Keltec replied with a nod. “Should the details of the mission be intercepted somehow, then the link-up point would provide a tempting location for an ambush. As a matter of fact, Val chose the spot for its myriad of ambush-friendly characteristics. This would make it an optimal point for an aggressor to devote their combat resources, and thusly leave our actual route largely unmolested.” Keltec explained.
Kara took note of the facial expression the General was giving showing. His eyes were squinting as if to exude apprehension. She turned to the Cooper, and decide to quell his concerns. “It’s classic Val, Sir. His strategic thinking is centered on the use of absurd tactics that keep any enemy guessing. It appears as if this mission has been thought out with every tiny detail.”
“Detail that we were never briefed, you mean.” Cooper said with tilt of his head. Kara could tell the man wasn’t used to operating under – unconventional – conditions. The regular UAHC Fleet Forces didn’t do anything without hundreds of pages of detailed planning, and she supposed the Air Force wasn’t much different.
“It does make sense, Sir. The fewer details that any one person has access to, the less likely the mission will be compromised.” Kara stated it as delicately as she could. She suddenly felt more like a mediator, than she did military professional.
“Be that as it may, Colonel… We’re still half-way across human controlled space from our fleet. By now they’ve linked up with Crimson forces… and by some miracle, I pray they’re not in the middle of a massive battle.” Cooper said with a frown.
“I can get you there in short order, General.” Keltec said as a matter of fact. “Does the Foehammer have the ability to dock with your ship?”
“Yes.” Kara and Cooper replied in unison.
“Good.” Keltec said. “I can’t instantly zap you into Crimson space like Val can, but I can help maximize the efficiency of your, so-called FTL.”
The conversation devolved into less urgent logistical matters, and administrative concerns. Inevitably, the sloop would link up with the massive battle carrier, and General Cooper would greet his new guest personally.
The hours passed before the Foehammer docked within the Star Fury, and K
eltec froze when the airlock exterior door opened up to the cavernous docking bay beyond.
“I’m afraid I sorely underestimated humanity!” He said with an awe-struck tone. Kara shot him an inquisitive look, but his dark eyes were agape, as they took in the view before them.
“What makes you say that?” Corporal Thomas asked. The FISTER’s came along as added security, and had had very little interaction with their new non-human guest up until then.
“I know more about humanity than most other sentient entities outside of human space, and I’ve always known your kind to be resourceful, but I wasn’t expecting anything like this!” Keltec explained.
“Well, this ship is more than five hundred years old, and was built at a time when we were slightly more barbaric.” Kara pointed out, while gesturing towards the inner spaces of the battle carrier’s docking bay. Keltec turned to look at Kara with, what she seemed to think as, a look of astonishment.
“You mean to say, you have ships more advanced than this?” Keltec asked.
“Yes… and no.” Kara shrugged. “What this ship lacks in modern tech, it makes up for in superior hull durability. Most modern ships are built with less mass. It takes a tremendous amount of energy to accelerate a ship like this. But, if I had to be in a massive battle, I’d rather be behind these bulkheads. Newer ships are tough, but this ship was designed to be a planet with guns!”
Keltec let out a laugh. “I must say, my favorite thing about humans, is your eloquent communications by use of sound! Some species use verbal language of sorts, but humans are far more expressive. For species like mine, that use mental images and complex gestures, we lack the artistic expression that humans can bring to bear!”
“I’m glad we can keep you entertained!” Kara chuckled. “Let’s get you to the Star Fury’s CIC, shall we?”
“C – I – C?” Keltec asked.
“It’s like a ship’s bridge, or helm, but in a warship, it’s where the ship’s operation, and combat systems are coordinated.” Corporal Thomas clarified.
“I like it!” Keltec said, and then followed Kara’s que to head down the gangway. They were met by a pair of Air Force NCO’s, Tech Sergeants by Kara’s recognition, and they wore light ballistic vests. They each were armed with some sort of ballistic pistols within holsters, and they wore garrison caps to round out their appearance.
The trek to the CIC was remarkably short, given the expansive ship they were navigating through. The guards escorted them through a series of corridors and security checkpoints along the way. Kara admired how well kept the ship was. The ancient vessel was spotless. It was a blend of new hardware, and retrofitted conduits. The ship may have been through a recent refit, but Kara could to tell that it was one of many.
They eventually arrived in a conference room adjacent to the main CIC area. The walls were clean, with a bright coat of white paint. The floors appeared to be polished aluminum, but had some kind of textured coating to allow for sure footing. The conference table was classic UAHC design, and was the same style that Kara had encountered within the Hailstorm. A large Star Fury crest adorned the bulkhead just behind the sole chair on one end… A chair already occupied by General Cooper.
Cooper rose to greet his guests, and then gestured for the guards to leave the room. The disappeared back through the door they’d entered, and promptly closed it back behind them as they left. “Welcome to my situation room!” Cooper said gleefully.
Kara took a mental note of his current demeanor, and decided that he seemed to have calmed down since their earlier exchange. “Always a pleasure, Sir.” Kara nodded curtly.
The General approached Keltec, and extended a hand. Keltec looked puzzled at the man’s actions, and then looked to Kara for reassurance. “It’s a hand shake, Keltec. A Formal greeting.” She told him.
“Forgive me, General… But I don’t see your hand shaking.” Keltec said.
Cooper dropped his hand, and went into a light chuckle. “My friend, you’ll learn our ways soon enough.” He stepped aside, and gestured for Keltec to have a seat at the table. Keltec nodded in recognition, and then glided gracefully to the seat Cooper pointed out.
He gave it a curious look, and then turned back to Cooper with another confused glance. “Allow me to demonstrate, Keltec.” Cooper smiled and walked over to take his own seat.
Keltec’s eyes lit up. He studied the mechanics of the chair for a moment, and then labored to undulate his body into a seated position. He then reached out with two tentacle like appendages, and gripped the table with two opposable organelles, and pulled himself into the seat.
He doesn’t have hands! Kara gasped outload, but hoped nobody heard her. Confident she her sudden outburst went undetected, she sat beside him and pulled her seat in. “Corporal, you and your team are welcome to stick around.” She said as she gestured towards the many vacant seats.
All three team members shared a few glances, and Kara could tell they shared one mind. “We’ll stand, if it’s all the same to you, Ma’am. The Foehammer is more cramped than what we’re accustomed to.”
“Very well, Corporal.” Kara nodded, then she turned back to General Cooper.
The General casually turned to Keltec and crossed his legs. “So, tell me about getting us to our destination faster.”
“Yes, General.” Keltec nodded. “You use slip-space for FTL, or so I understand?”
“We do.” Cooper nodded. “We have the technology to utilize other forms of FTL, but slip-space was the first to become commercialized, and thus the other candidates were never developed beyond prototype stage.”
“It’s a shame.” Keltec frowned. “But I can still bolster slip-space, none the less.” Keltec pulled a strange device from under his cloak, and rested it on the table. His tentacle-like appendages retreated back into the folds of his red cape, as he spoke once more. “This device has no human verbal equivalent name, I’m afraid. But it will help to maximize the efficiency of your FTL.”
“How does it work?” Cooper asked.
“It allows me to link my mind directly with the FTL drives, and I can visualize any misused energy. I can redirect fields of energy that human science is only theoretically aware of, and I can make fine-tune adjustments to optimize your FTL transition.” Keltec.
She replied.
“I’m not sure I’m comfortable with that, Keltec. The Air Force is well known to be protective of our networks and core systems. I’ll need reassurances before I can approve something like this.” Cooper replied.
“Sir, if I may?” Steve chimed in audibly. Cooper looked around at first, but he seemed to realize it was an AI.
“Go ahead, Steve.” Cooper acknowledged.
“If it makes you feel better, I can assist directly. No biological consciousness can process within human tech faster than an AI… Not even the Chimera.”
“The same entities that nearly took down the UAHC, you mean?” Cooper retorted. His scoff left little to the imagination. He was losing his patience.
“Yes, those things. But even they weren’t entirely invisible to the more advanced AI’s. They were simply equipped to subdue us before their presence was reported.” Steve added.
“But subdued none-the less.” Cooper asserted.
“Yes. But they weren’t biologics. Keltec’s brain may not be human in origin, but it’s still chemically based. Even if he were to do something – less than desirable – then I can intervene accordingly.”
“Not that I would do so intentionally, of course!” Keltec added.
“I’m not accusing you of subterfuge, Keltec. I apologize for coming across so coarsely. It’s my duty to safeguard my people, and the ship that keeps them alive.” Cooper replied.
“I fully understand your position, General. My concern is making it to your fleet in t
ime. I am the only creature within the human sphere that understands the enemy to any degree. If my guidance is not brought to bear before any major engagement, then humanity may be defeated outright.” Keltec insisted.
“Your words make sense.” Cooper began to rub his chin in contemplation. “Can we win this war?”
“Admittedly, I didn’t think so at first. But then I saw this ship. Then I saw your Soldiers,” Keltec paused to gesture a tentacle towards the FISTER’s. “I believe there is a glimmer of hope.”
“That’s not very reassuring.” Cooper huffed.
“What is reassuring, is that humans are the only hope for this galaxy. All other species have long since abandoned formal warfare. They believe pacification is the key to enlightenment, and they are more afraid of becoming war-like than they are of the Mwargoth threat. Their logic is flawed, to say the least.” Keltec explained.
“But surely we’re the least advanced of any of them! How are we any glimmer of hope to anyone?” Kara chimed in.
“Simple. All other species only advanced their technology only after they abandoned warfare. Humanity is the exception, not the rule. The other races look at humanity as more threat than asset, and would rather try to reason with the invaders than to allow humanity to fight them off. Human technology may not be as advanced as most, but it’s the only race that actually has the capability of waging war. Your entire race is essentially a weapon.” Keltec explained, by it seemed more like a reverent sermon than an actual answer. Kara couldn’t help but wonder if the entity’s admiration for humanity was ill-placed.
“So, our seemingly barbaric weaponry are the only ones in the galaxy?” Cooper sounded incredulous.
Keltec nodded. “Some races have weaponry still… but none of them have any racial memory of how to use them, or even how to conduct war effectively. Humanity is the only known species, indigenous to this galaxy, to have turned warfare into a literal art-form.”
Cooper’s eye went wide, and several silent moments followed. Eventually he stood up, and turned his back to the rest of the room. He remained stationary for a moment, and then spoke over his shoulder. “Steve, make it happen.”
