by G. P. Hudson
Zeta tried to match Annie’s tactics, trying to break off and use a jump point attack to outflank Annie. They continued to remain a step behind Annie, however, and she smashed through their weakened line the second they attempted the tactic. As she did, her battleship squadron turned into a rearguard, foiling Zeta’s flatfooted attempt to outflank her.
Annie drove a wedge through the center of the Zeta line, her ships blasting through and taking the dominant position on the celestial battlefield. With the Zeta fleet in disarray, Annie began isolating and destroying the disoriented enemy. The battle had become a total rout, and the void lit up repeatedly with the exploding cores of the defeated warships.
It was all too much for Zeta, and the enemy ships ran for their lives. Jump points began to appear all around the hapless vessels, and they started retreating into them, the chaos of metaspace offering the only remaining hope for survival.
“Would you like me to pursue and destroy the Zeta fleet?” Annie said.
“No, let them go. You’ve proved your point,” Danny said. “We should set Premier Reese’s plan in motion now.”
“Understood. I will instruct Premier Reese to begin her boarding operations.”
Chapter 44
Major Karkov studied the Valiant while his troop transports approached, hoping that its big guns would not open fire. He had been briefed about the AI takeover, and about Premier Reese’s agreement for the Avar Marines to storm the flagship and take Admiral Reynolds into custody. He looked forward to the mission but prayed that his Marines would make it on board, and not get shot out of the sky. So long as that happened, he could manage the rest.
Since his briefing, he had been put in contact with the AI, or Annie, as it called itself. It had assured him that the trip to the Valiant would be uneventful and that Admiral Reynolds would not know anything about it. Yet Karkov had a tough time accepting a computer program’s word for things. He had spent a lifetime studying military history and knew all about the AI wars. How someone could let an AI advance to this level was beyond him.
AIs could not be trusted. Like a vicious dog, sooner or later an AI would turn on its handlers. Then what? Would they end up with a more significant threat than the Empire ever was? The Empire wanted control of the galaxy. But the AIs had striven for human eradication. They were an existential threat. Why would this AI be any different?
So far so good, he thought. The transports had been within range of the Valiant’s weapons for some time now, and it had not fired a shot. The AI was keeping its word for now. As they drew nearer, Karkov noted scorch marks and massive gouges in the great ship’s armor. It had been one hell of a battle, and the flagship had the scars to prove it. Karkov intended to inflict a few scars inside the flagship before they were done.
The armored Avar transports safely passed the Valiant’s guns and flew into its hangar bay without incident. Each vessel landed, and successive bangs sounded as the safety bolts released each Marine’s powered armor. Karkov readied his plasma weapon and moved toward the hatch.
“You may disembark safely,” the AI said over his helmet’s speakers.
He tapped into the transport’s external cameras, pulling up a feed on his visor. He panned the cameras around, taking in the surrounding area. With no apparent threats waiting, he ordered the hatches opened, and his Marines raced onto the hangar bay.
The few personnel present were quickly subdued, and the Avar Marines spread out, taking positions of dominance throughout the hangar bay. Karkov again surveyed his surroundings, looking for any hidden threats. As before, he found none.
“Your actions are redundant, Major,” the AI said. “I have already established the safety of this area.
“Forgive me if I don’t take your word for it,” Karkov said.
“You do not trust me?”
“Trust is earned, AI.”
“My name is Annie. Have I not earned your trust?”
“Sorry, Annie. I’m going to have to say no to that one.”
“Major, if I wanted to harm you, I have had ample opportunity to do so. Why do you suspect an ulterior motive on my part?”
“Oh, I don’t know, Annie. You took over our ships and picked a fight with Zeta. I don’t remember you asking our permission for any of it.”
“I did so out of necessity. There was no malice on my part. Nonetheless, your reaction is confusing. Admiral Reynolds invaded your star system and pressed your forces into service. I am facilitating his overthrow in favor of your Premier Reese. This will greatly benefit your people. Do you not approve of this development? Do you prefer to remain under Admiral Reynolds?”
“I didn’t say that. Admiral Reynolds is a war criminal and needs to be dealt with.”
“Yet you were incapable of defeating Admiral Reynolds before my intervention.”
“You don’t know that.”
“Actually, I do. Your odds of success in such an endeavor were infinitesimal.”
“We would have found a way,” Karkov said, becoming increasingly agitated by the AI.
“Your powered armor is reporting elevated cortisol levels, Major. I would advise that you control your emotions, as they may negatively affect your mission.”
“I am in control of my emotions.” Karkov cursed under his breath, wondering again how much of a threat the AI was. Did it have control of their powered armor? Could it kill them if it chose? He considered his alternatives and didn’t like any of them.
“Your cortisol levels indicate that you feel threatened. I am here to assist you, and I think you will find that assistance invaluable.”
Karkov took a deep breath and accepted the situation. “Alright, I assume you can see everything on this ship?”
“That is correct, Major.”
“What kind of resistance are we facing?”
“The ship’s Marines have concentrated their forces around the bridge. All corridors leading to the bridge are heavily defended.”
“Reynolds is worried. Why can’t you just take out the Valiant’s Marines?”
“They are all wearing powered armor. It is an independent, closed network that I do not have access to.”
“What about the bridge? Can you not flood it with gas and knock everybody out?”
“No, Major. The bridge is self-contained. It was designed in this way so that the ship’s commanders could hold out if an enemy boarded the ship. In history, the concept is like that of a castle keep.”
Karkov knew all that but was hoping that the AI had access to some hidden feature. He cursed again, wondering if the AI would just finish them all off once the mission was complete. “Alright, show me a map of the ship.” Ship schematics appeared on his visor. “Now show me the location of the ship’s Marines.” Red icons appeared indicating the bridge’s defenders. As the AI said, all corridors leading to the bridge were heavily defended. “Do they know we are here?”
“No, Major. I blocked all notifications of your arrival,” Annie said.
“Good. So, we have the element of surprise. I assume this ship has maintenance bots.”
“Yes, Major.”
“Send them down to the hangar bay.”
“I don’t understand, Major.”
“Good. Now send the bots.”
Chapter 45
The map on Major Karkov’s visor tracked the maintenance bots’ movements through the corridors. He had split his Marines into two, and both groups had advanced toward the bridge from opposite ends. They had encountered mild resistance along the way, usually surprised crewmembers who foolishly tried to fight. They now paused, as the maintenance bots took the lead.
Karkov had picked cleaning bots for the operation, hoping they would not arouse suspicion. The machines were a regular sight on a warship and played an integral part in keeping things sanitary. Unbeknownst to the Valiant’s Marines, these cleaners also carried a payload of high explosives.
The bots rounded a corner and came into view of the Valiant’s Marines. This was the moment of t
ruth. If they managed to reach the Marines, Karkov could detonate their payload, and dramatically improve his odds. More importantly, he could also lower his potential casualties.
The cleaners inched forward, taking their time and doing a proper cleaning job. Everything should seem normal. Nothing should arouse any suspicion. But would the Marines let them get close enough?
The blue bot icons continued to move forward on Karkov’s display. All was going according to plan. Karkov ground his teeth in anticipation. Come on, he thought. Just a little bit closer.
The floor shuddered, and violent explosions sounded. “Damn it!” Karkov said as the bots’ icons disappeared from his visor. He had not detonated the explosives, and they had not gotten close enough to the enemy to do severe damage. The Valiant Marines had merely not fallen for his ruse. Worse still, they had now been warned.
“Your plan seems to have failed, Major,” Annie said over his speakers.
“Yeah, thanks for the newsflash,” Karkov said sarcastically.
“What will you do to compensate?”
“Nothing. We are going to do this the old-fashioned way.”
“I understand. I wish I could be of more assistance.”
“I’m sure you do. Just send each of my Marines a rundown of what they’re facing. Numbers, weapons, positions, and anything else that might be important.”
“Understood. Sending an update to all Avar Marines now.”
“Can you also put me in contact with Admiral Reynolds? No point hiding the fact that we’re here now.”
“Yes, Major. I’ve connected you to the Admiral’s comm,” Annie said.
“Admiral Reynolds, can you hear me?” Karkov said.
“Yes,” Reynolds said. “Who am I speaking to?”
“This is Major Karkov, of the Avar Marine Corps.”
“Avar Marines huh? I was wondering how long it would take your Premier to move against me. I assume you are already on the Valiant.”
“We are. There is only one way this will end, Admiral. The only question is how much blood will be spilled in the process.”
“How much blood? Major, oceans of blood have already been spilled. Why should I concern myself with a little more?”
“These are your Marines, Sir. Would you have them die for nothing?”
“On the contrary. They will die doing their duty. Would you not agree that that is an honorable death?”
“They don’t have to. You can surrender.”
“Surrender? Really, Karkov, why would I do something foolish like that?”
“Because you cannot win. The AI is on our side. She controls your ship. And we outnumber your men. Your position is hopeless.”
“Hope is overrated. Come and get me, if you can,” Reynolds said, and terminated the connection.
“That son of a bitch,” Karkov said. “I guess we’re doing this the hard way.”
Karkov began issuing orders, and the siege of the bridge began in earnest. The corridors ahead lit with flashes as plasma grenades were launched at the enemy positions. The defenders retaliated with their own plasma barrage. They also sent in tiny insect-like aerial drones, to determine the Avar numbers and locations. Thanks to Annie’s surveillance, the drones were lit up on the Avar visors and easily destroyed.
He had to admit that the AI had tilted the scales substantially in their favor, and that became more apparent as the opening rounds of the battle progressed. Her feed proved invaluable, and as each enemy Marine fell, she updated her feed so that the Avars always knew the exact enemy numbers, and positions.
The Valiant Marines continued to offer stubborn resistance, however. They were excellent fighters, and quickly won Karkov’s admiration. How could Reynolds sacrifice them so needlessly?
The explosives had ravaged this section of the ship, adding another obstacle to the hazardous mission. The bridge was located deep within the ship’s bowels. That protected it during a battle, preventing any hull breach from taking out the ship’s command personnel. That feature also meant that the current firefight would not cause a breach. It did chew up the interior, however, and the floor soon turned into a jagged mess of metal and gaping pits, creating an added obstacle for his troops.
When Karkov figured the enemy had been sufficiently softened up, he gave the order to move in. The Avars stormed the enemy positions, using their powered armor to leap over the destruction and land amid the enemy.
He flinched as the first wave was cut down by the defenders but did not let up. Successive waves hammered the enemy, and the battle soon became a close quarters struggle.
Energy swords were drawn, and the body count climbed as the enemy held their ground. It was their last stand, and they fought ferociously for their ship. They were outstanding warriors and deserved so much more than Reynolds. Assessing the situation, Karkov knew that the casualties would end up being far higher than he expected.
He would lose a lot of good men and women today. Reynolds would pay dearly for this. Taking a warship was never an easy task, but seizing a flagship fell into a category all its own.
Here you typically found the best crew in the fleet. That usually included the best Marines, as Karkov was finding out. Even with the AI’s help, and their greater numbers, they still needed to defeat an elite fighting force.
History was rife with examples of smaller, highly skilled forces prevailing against overwhelming odds. Of course, this would not be the case today. Karkov would emerge victorious. Nonetheless, the Valiant’s Marines reminded him of the three hundred Spartans at the Battle of Thermopylae.
“Major,” the AI said. “Captain Travers is asking to speak with you.”
“The ship’s captain?” Karkov said in confusion. “Put him through.”
“You are connected,” the AI said.
“Captain Travers, this is Major Karkov. Where is Admiral Reynolds?”
“Reynolds is dead, Major. I killed him.”
“You what?”
“I shot him, and as the Captain of the Valiant I am offering our surrender.”
“Order your Marines to stand down.”
“I will, once your AI allows me to contact them.”
“Do it, Annie,” Karkov demanded.
“Stand by,” Annie said.
True to his word, Travers relayed the order to his Marines, and they surrendered. The battle for the Valiant was over.
Chapter 46
“My troops have taken positions on all the former UEDF warships,” Premier Reese said through the conference room’s wallscreen. The screen was split in two and shared with the Volsung leader, Consul Blake. Danny sat at the conference table with Gerry and Isaac. “Out of necessity, we have allowed some of the existing crews to retain their positions for the time being.”
“Annie will keep a close watch on everything,” Danny said. “Between her and your troops, everything should run smoothly for the return trip.”
“Those crews are guilty of war crimes,” Blake said. “I demand that they are delivered to Volsung Prime to stand trial.”
“I assure you, Consul, that we will conduct a full investigation once we return to the Avar system,” Reese said. “Anyone found guilty will be prosecuted accordingly.”
“But this is absurd!” Blake’s face had turned cherry red. “The crimes were committed against the Volsung, not the Avars. Any prosecutions must be conducted by the Volsung.”
“Yes, I do understand your concerns, Consul, but I assure you that we will leave no stone unturned in our investigation. Do not forget that the Avar had suffered at the hands of Admiral Reynolds as well.”
“The Avar?” Blake said. “Are you joking? You surrendered the first chance you got. Your people did not suffer?”
“Didn’t they? Avar citizens lost their lives. The Avar system lost its freedom. And the Avar fleet was pressed into service under that maniac. Do not presume to lecture me on suffering, Blake. You knew full well that Reynolds would bomb your civilians. You had no hope of defeating him, yet yo
u refused to surrender. You are just as responsible as Reynolds for those deaths.”
“How dare you-”
“Save your sanctimonious bullshit for someone else, Blake. You should have surrendered. Even as millions of your people died, you persisted in your obstinance. Why?”
“I don’t answer to you, witch.”
“Okay, that’s enough,” Danny said in frustration. “Consul, I understand how you feel, and I assure you that all those responsible will be brought to justice.”
“Why should I take your word for it?” Blake said defiantly.
“Because I keep my word,” Danny said. “Beyond that, you really don’t have any other choice.”
“Look, if this is about my not giving you sanctuary-”
“It’s not. It’s about necessity. That’s all. Look, Annie controls this fleet. That is the hard truth. We could just take these ships for ourselves, leaving you all to fend for yourselves. But we need allies, and so do you.”
“You will turn Masterson against us,” Blake said. “Up until now, we only had to worry about the Empire.”
“That’s not true,” Danny said. “The Empire always hired Zeta contractors. You’ve been fighting both all along, you just didn’t realize it. Tell me, Consul, why did you rebel against the Empire in the first place?”
“We wanted our freedom,” Blake said.
“As do we,” Danny said. “Don’t you see? We both want the same thing. We are natural allies. You speak of atrocities, yet you turn a blind eye to Zeta’s crimes. Why is that?”
“I do not condone Zeta’s actions.”
“No? Have you ever hired Zeta contractors?”
Blake didn’t answer.
“That’s okay. We know you did, as did Premier Reese, and the rest of the Frontier Alliance. I suppose it’s an easy thing to do. We are clones, after all. We weren’t born like you were. We were built, as you all like to say. Genetically engineered and augmented with technology. Freaks. Surely, we can’t be human, like the rest of you. Right? Our enslavement can’t possibly be a crime.”