The Hidden Treasure of Darfor

by David Shewring

  ***

  The cargo ship rocketed through the desert sky, the thrusters making a loud noise which sounded a bit like a huge waterfall crashing violently on rocks as they propelled the craft forwards at maximum power. The two fighter craft continued their bombing assault from above, trying desperately to disable the ship’s defences.

  ‘I assume it is pointless to try and convince you that your choice of action is both illogical and likely futile?’ asked Zeeree as her face appeared in the bottom-right corner of the main view screen.

  ‘This is no time to argue, Zeeree,’ said Ellu as she pulled the joystick this way and that in an attempt to evade the incoming attacks.

  She gently pushed a lever forwards and added a small amount of the main engine’s power to augment the thrusters propulsion. This made the ship accelerate and pull away from the two attacking craft.

  ‘Just help me come up with a plan to deal with these two ships....and fast! Then we’ll go straight back for Saleek and the others,’ said Ellu.

  Zeeree let out a digital sigh which sounded faintly distorted through the cockpit’s main speakers.

  ‘Very well. I have an idea,’ said the AI.

  ‘Well, what is it? Tell me!’

  ‘Link me to the ship’s weapons computer. Then I can control all targeting functions myself.’

  ‘But you can’t fire the weapons. The system won’t let you,’ pointed out Ellu.

  ‘I know. Although the ethical implications for an artificial intelligence being able to kill people by controlling weapons is understandably a sensitive subject for you organics, I still loathe that particular failsafe protocol built into all modern weapons.’

  ‘Zeeree, quit babbling and get to the point!’ shouted Ellu as another explosion sounded which rattled the interior of the cockpit.

  ‘Whilst various failsafes render me incapable of firing these weapons, I am capable of calibrating them and aiming them with far greater efficiency and accuracy than anyone else. So you fly the ship and I’ll do the rest. When I have locked on to the hostile craft all you have to do is press the trigger.’

  ‘You’re suggesting teamwork? We don’t always work well together,’ said Ellu.

  ‘Then let us hope that today is the exception that proves the rule,’ replied Zeeree.

  Ellu couldn’t help herself and smiled at that comment.

  ‘It’s as good a plan as any. I am transferring aiming control to you....now!’ said the blue-haired girl emphatically as she flicked a switch with her left hand.

  ‘Connection made. I am assuming control of the dorsal laser cannon,’ said Zeeree as her eyes glazed over in concentration. ‘Tracking...’

  ‘How long will it take you to lock onto the ships?’

  ‘A matter of seconds, once we are in range.’

  ‘Then get ready!’ exclaimed Ellu as she made the ship bank to the left.

  Moments later the cargo ship had completed a one hundred and eighty degree turn and had begun to gain altitude.

  ‘Heading right for the ships!’ said Ellu.

  ‘Acquiring targets....’ said Zeeree in a monotone voice, all effort focussed on calculating the trajectory of the attacking craft as the cargo ship zipped through the air at considerable speed.

  The two fighter craft were only about ten kilometres away. Then it became seven. Then Five.

  ‘Zeeree?’ called out Ellu hopefully with her thumb resting on the joystick trigger.

  Zeeree paused for what felt like an eternity to Ellu, before saying ‘Locked on target. Fire when ready.’

  The blue-haired girl depressed the trigger, sending a bolt of green laser energy streaking through the sky. It struck the ventral side of the nearest fighter jet, causing that particular part of the chassis to explode in a shower of molten metal. The craft lost control of its propulsion systems and, with fuel leaking the whole way, corkscrewed downwards at great speed. Seconds later it plummeted straight into the ground and became engulfed in a rather large explosion which could be heard for kilometres around.

  The second fighter craft avoided any further laser blasts and sped past the cargo ship. Once clear, it began to gradually turn around.

  ‘Damn that must have been volatile fuel,’ commented Ellu as she heard the explosion in the cockpit despite being many kilometres above the ground. ‘One down, one to go,’ she added as her slim fingers grasped the controls one more time.

  ‘Tracking second target,’ announced Zeeree.

  Ellu’s face was a picture of concentration as she turned the ship around again. Without thinking, she held her breath and tensed her muscles as she watched the hostile craft fly towards them on her sensor read-outs.

  ‘Target Acquired. Fire at will,’ said the AI.

  ‘Firing!’ exclaimed Ellu as she let her breath out and pressed the trigger simultaneously.

  Another bolt lanced across the blue background of the desert sky before hitting the remaining fighter craft squarely in its bow. The craft detonated in a flash of bright green and a thunderous explosion which sent pieces of metal and rubber streaking through the air. Almost by accident, Ellu sent the cargo ship hurtling through the aftermath of the explosion, the energy shield flickering as it barely managed to protect the craft from the high heat and shards of jagged metal flying around.

  ‘Oops...’ she mouthed as she realised what she just had done. ‘Zeeree? Are we in the clear now?’

  Zeeree’s face grew from the bottom-right corner of the view screen until it was taking up the whole display.

  ‘I can detect no further aerial threats,’ she said. ‘However, that little stunt of yours has drained the rest of our energy shield. The shield is now offline.’

  ‘It wasn’t a....oh forget it,’ said Ellu as she gently pushed the joystick to the right and brought the craft around. ‘Let’s head back for Saleek and Kracht. And hopefully Patrick too.’