Repercussions
Page 26
Silver flew from her perch to land beside Crash on the bench. She hesitated a few centimeters away, and slid close to him and nuzzled the side of his neck.
Ngoba released a deep laugh. He slapped his stomach, then hooked his thumbs behind his jacket lapels.
Fugia nodded to Ngoba.
Crash and Silver watched the two humans maneuver the glimmering SAI node into a special shipping crate that Fugia had in the corner of her workshop.
Crash relaxed as Silver nuzzled him. She made a low sound that resonated in his chest, and he stretched his neck out to keep from squawking.
Fugia eyed him sideways.
Fugia took Ngoba’s offered arm with an exaggerated motion, and the two of them left the workshop.
Crash squawked as Silver bit him for real. He twisted his head to look at her, still surprised that he had found himself in this situation.
Silver opened her beak in a haughty stance, then burst off the bench, shooting for the open door. She laughed on her Link, squawking aloud as parrots did in flight.
Crash tilted his head, realizing she might be correct. He considered all the implications of approaching Silver like a puzzle: layers that revealed layers, each one a different set of data to consider and connect. It made sense.
Clacking his beak, Crash leapt into the air. He flew a quick circuit of the workshop, checking the closed crate holding Celest, then went out the door as he sent a locking command. The workshop sealed behind him.
Sighting Silver’s red tail feathers down the corridor ahead of him, her laughter drawing him forward, Crash flapped his wings and shot after her.
THE END
ABOUT JAMES S. AARON
James S. Aaron lives in Oregon with too many chickens, a Corgi and two irascible cats. He kicked around the world in the U.S. Army for a while, and always had a paperback in one of his cargo pockets.
Since he still has a day job, James spends his free time writing, hammering, soldering, gardening, biking, and listening to audiobooks during most the above.
You can sign up for his science fiction newsletter at www.jamesaaron.net/list
ADIRA’S DEMONS
BY JAMES R. HAUBENREICH
FROM THE AUTHOR
I have been reading science fiction and fantasy novels since the ’80s. There have been numerous series that have claimed a permanent spot on my bookcase. There have also been characters that were so well written that they felt like family. Almost without exception, they have all ended much too soon. I felt that there were more stories to tell, adventures to be experienced, and emotions to be explored.
That all changed when I started reading the Aeon 14 universe. I followed the Intrepid on its lengthy trip from Sol to New Canaan. I found a group of characters I could root for and a complex storyline that never went stale. I reveled in the sheer volume of books and spin-off series that I could indulge in. As this series spans thousands of years and hundreds of characters, I love every minute I spend reading.
No story resonated with this Marine veteran quite like the battle-heavy mech series. Rika’s story, from street urchin beginnings to leader of the Marauders, has made me laugh, cheer and fall captivated. It ignited my imagination, and when Michael solicited fan-written stories, I couldn’t wait to get behind a keyboard. Although my story is short, I hope that the characters in “Adira’s Demons” feel like a seamless merge with the universe that Michael has given us.
The mechs are Genevian, but the group they have formed is unique. Adira and her merry band of troublemakers are going to show the Nietzscheans something they haven’t seen before. Those of you that read Rika Infiltrator have already gotten a sneak peek! I hope you enjoy it.
Semper Fi
James Haubenreich
M. D. Cooper’s Note:
The war between the Nietzscheans and Genevians was a decade-long slugfest that raged across a hundred light years, uprooting billions of lives.
When the war ended, not all of the Genevians were captured or escaped. Some remained in Old Genevia, fighting a guerilla war against the Nietzscheans.
If you’ve read the later books in Rika’s Marauders, you’ll know that Adira and her Demons meet up with Rika. This story, however, is a tale of how they got there in the first place.
EASY PREY
STELLAR DATE: 09.27.8949 (Adjusted Gregorian)
LOCATION: Nietzschean Empire Frigate, Gatekeeper
REGION: Caulter System, Nietzschean Empire (Former Genevian Space)
Captain Monte leaned back in his command chair with a smirk forming on his lips. Fire Control had just reported that the runaway transport ship the Tempest was within range. He wondered when the foolish captains of these transport vessels would learn that one couldn’t run from a boarding party.
Instead of a quick inspection—and a little bit of extortion for his efforts—this little cargo hauler was about to find out what his imperial frigate could do.
“Prepare to disable the Tempest's engines and let Lieutenant Hurst know that his boarding team is to put these upstarts down hard.”
The comm officer nodded and passed the message to the assault team in the port side bay. The group of twelve Nietzschean shock troops specialized in storming ships out in the black. The pulse rifles were tailored for disabling organic threats while sparing the delicate systems inside the ships. It wouldn’t do to board a ship, only to accidentally destroy its hull integrity or breach the antimatter bottle.
Fire Control called out positive firing solutions for disabling the drives, and Comm simultaneously reported that calls for the target vessel to cut drives had once again been ignored.
“Hit them!” the captain snarled.
Captain Monte might not be the most driven or enthusiastic officer to command a ship, but his small frigate had a relatively easy job out on the boundaries of the Caulter System. Their mission was to investigate civilian craft to determine if they had rebel ties. If so, they were to capture them and return them to the Ramstein moon base.
He would be the first to admit that the evidence he considered to be proof of rebel ties was questionable at best.
“Sir, shots impacted target per firing solution. Starboard engine is offline, and the vessel is attempting to correct their spin.” The scan offic
er sounded almost mechanical as she reported the unfolding action.
Perhaps they are getting bored of these easy takedowns, the captain mused. “Launch the assault team's breaching shuttle, and prepare my pinnace. I am going to see for myself what cargo is worth risking death to protect.”
He made his way through the ship’s passageways while summoning his personal guard team via the Link.
She wasn’t much for small talk, and Captain Monte was more than a little suspicious that she disliked him. No matter; as long as her troops performed, he couldn’t care less about her personal feelings.
Minutes later, the bridge crew reported that the assault team’s craft was locked on to the port side airlock and breaching. Within minutes, the captain was aboard his pinnace, racing across the kilometers between the vessels to take part in the subjugation of this crew that thought they could run from the Nietzschean Empire. While on final approach, Lieutenant Hurst sent an update.
Monte sneered beneath his helmet’s visor.
This day was looking up for the crew of the NSS Gatekeeper. The Nietzschean Empire kept close tabs on any AIs used by either civilian or military systems. They were never allowed to operate without human guidance, and certainly couldn’t go gallivanting around his system on their own.
Within ten minutes, Captain Monte’s pinnace had matched spin with the cargo hauler. Locking onto the exterior, his guard positioned themselves at the airlock and waited for the green indicator before breaking the seal. With a dramatic flair, they covered both directions upon entering what appeared to be a maintenance passageway. Rolling his eyes, Monte stepped around them and, using his HUD, moved toward his strike team’s location in the forward cargo bays.
When he arrived, Monte found the team surrounding four humanoid AI frames of differing design and color. They were standing in a circle with their hands up, lacking any visible weapons. The smallest human-looking AI was green and black in color with glowing green eyes. It was communicating with the strike team leader, who kept cutting it off with angry responses.
It seemed that Lieutenant Hurst shared Monte’s own dislike for the sentient machines.
Walking up to the group, the captain planted his hands on his hips and looked down at the waifish green AI. “Well, what do we have here? Are the AIs trying to strike out on their own without oversight?” His tone was full of derision, and Monte couldn’t help but smirk as the AI narrowed its eyes.
To his surprise, the AI only cocked its head to the side as it studied him. Just when Monte was about to speak again, he was surprised by the smooth, feminine tones that replied.
“Sir, we are free AIs and do not require oversight. Further, we wish you and your crew no harm. The crew of this ship wishes only to pass through this space unmolested.” The AI’s words were delivered in calm and measured tones.
Her unflappable attitude only served to further irritate the Nietzschean captain.
He was only halfway out of the bay when a low, grating chuckle echoed through the space.
The Nietzschean boarders tensed and spun toward the source of the laughter. The largest AI frame, a grey giant, was shaking its shoulders in a human approximation of laughter. The other three seemed to be gazing off into space, as if receiving data.
“Emma only said that we didn’t wish you harm. Unfortunately for you, there are always more dangerous fish in the sea.” The AI’s voice echoed through the bay, sounding unnervingly as though it was chewing on metal parts in order to speak.
“Lieutenant, secure them now! We will question them back on the—”
Gritting his teeth, Captain Monte glanced at Lieutenant Hurst and his team, who were getting the situational update via their combat net. His first instinct was to return to his pinnace, but if there were gunships closing in, his pinnace would be a deathtrap.
He needed to find a place to defend from, possibly create barricades from the cargo in this hold. They only needed to buy time until either the Gatekeeper broke free or a comm relay picked up on the fight and notified the Nietzschean vessels further insystem.
Before he could begin ordering his men to move crates toward the entrances, the audible address system came alive. The cultured male voice spoke in a clipped, professional manner.
“Greetings, esteemed members of the Nietzschean Navy. I have received a tightbeam message from our saviors...ahem, apologies.” Snickering was heard from the mobile AI present. “I meant to say, I have received a message from some individuals who would like to speak directly to you. Stand by for the recording.”
The pause was interrupted by what sounded like feral growling and haunting laughter. The voice that spoke next seemed as though it came from the grave. The contralto female voice contained resolve and the promise of pain.
“Crew of the Nietzschean frigate Gatekeeper. Listen carefully, your lives balance upon the edge of a razor. Surrender your weapons and leave the crew of this vessel unharmed.” The voice seemed to gain an edge of violence as it raised in volume. “Failure to surrender will result in your death. We are coming for you. Decide quickly, Niet scum, before we reap your souls.” The recording cut off so abruptly that the boarding party was stunned by the sudden silence and the calm certainty of the speaker.
The grating chuckle of the big gray AI and the voice of the green female broke the silence. “So, is it safe to say that you will be leaving now?” she said with a slight grin on her face.
Monte detonated. Before he could think through his decision, he raised his rifle and fired a three-round kinetic burst at the slight green AI. Almost faster than thought, a sleek black AI threw themself in front of the leader. Its right arm separated at the shoulder, and the other two rounds struck the being’s upper chest.
“I said to secure them!” Monte screamed, his face flaming with anger beneath his helmet. “And get ready to defend this bay. Strap them to the front of the crates you are using for cover.”
His crew made short work of securing the AIs, but they left the disabled black one on the ground where it lay. Although its core was not destroyed, it seemed to have partially shut down its human-shaped vehicle t
o protect its key systems.
Several tense minutes later, their defensive position was set up, and they were lying in wait for whatever was to come. With a sour feeling of disappointment, the captain cursed his luck. What had looked like a day of capturing easy prey had turned into a complete disaster.
Now, he was feeling like the prey.
DAMSEL IN DISTRESS
STELLAR DATE: 09.26.8949
LOCATION: Former Nietzschean Destroyer, Trenton
REGION: Caulter System, Nietzschean Empire (Former Genevian Space)
One day prior…
“Oh for the love.... Captain Bergen!” Ensign Katie grumbled. “That frigate that we targeted is making a run on a cargo ship. They are headed away from our plotted intercept point.”
Captain Bergen’s expression remained impassive as he glanced at the holotable to confirm his scan officer’s findings. The patrol vessel was indeed giving chase to a mid-sized cargo vessel. “Probably looking to do another shakedown. That will be the third one in the past two weeks. This captain must be a real piece of work.”
Bergen chewed on his cheek as he considered his options. He needed to take this frigate out of the equation in order to move on the Trenton’s ultimate objective. The Gatekeeper’s vector change and subsequent burn away from Ramstein base meant that, after the takedown, the Trenton would have a much longer sprint to their objective.
He was met with silence for a second before she finally replied.