Betrayal

by E. Wayne Stucki

  P’Mar dipped his head in meek submission. “Good,” said S’Cinf and gestured at the Battle Plot. “I see many more vessels than our original count when we arrived in this system, Fleet Admiral. Your reports also mentioned the increased automation in our vessels. In fact, the newer ships are almost entirely automated.” He took on a thoughtful look. “How will those automated ships complicate our attack?”

  “That’s what we’re here to find out,” replied the Admiral. “Our simulations indicate there shouldn’t be any problems. But…,” the naval officer gave a resigned shrug from his tail. “There are no guarantees in combat, your Eminence.”

  The Run Point grimaced. “I think we’ve all learned that principle the hard way, Admiral,” he said in a soft tone.

  P’Mar gave a bob of his head. “Now, with your permission Run Point, we’ll begin.”

  S’Cinf waved his tail in approval. P’Mar swung his long neck around so he could look at the Kthpok comprising his staff. “Notify all ships we’ll begin our exercise momentarily,” he ordered. “Bring the fleet to Battle Ready.”

  He started to swing back to S’Cinf but paused as another thought came. Facing his staff again he said, “Remind the ship captains that this is a live fire exercise. We’ve worked too hard and have too few people to have casualties result from stupidity. Because we’re an endangered species I may not dismember and kill any who cause casualties due to incompetence.” He gave a light growl deep in his throat. “I may not kill the offending officers but when I’m done with them they’ll wish I had.”

  “Nice pep talk,” said S’Cinf in a quiet tone when the Fleet Admiral joined him at the Battle Plot. A note of approval was heard in his voice.

  “That wasn’t its intent,” replied P’Mar with a tight smile. “I know we’ll take casualties when we face the Iidx. We can’t avoid that. What I hope to avoid now is inflicting damage on ourselves.”

  The lighting in the room switched and an alarm sounded cutting the conversation short. The ship’s captain was bringing the Raging to Battle Ready as ordered.

  A moment later Commander R’Gon announced, “Fleet confirms Battle Ready Admiral. I show that all weapons have personnel and are powered throughout all ships.”

  P’Mar checked the time then called out. “Stage one of the exercise is to begin now!”

  The Admiral turned to S’Cinf as the orders were being passed. “Using technology from the Iidx we’ve reduced the personnel requirements,” he said. “Our ships have been refitted with an unprecedented level of automation. The orbital assault craft we’re about to watch are completely automated.”

  S’Cinf bobbed his head. “I understand those craft have traditionally sustained the highest losses among all our military. With our numbers so reduced our population has to be conserved. But how will those ships be controlled?”

  “The OAC’s will be handled from a control location in their nest vessel,” he replied. “One operator can monitor several ships but he isn’t expected to actually operate a particular vehicle. Although he could if the need arises.” P’Mar gestured with his tail at a suite in the Center Room where several operators were perched. A bank of screens was above the suite. “This set up allows us to monitor the next segment of the exercise,” the Admiral explained. “Each screen will show the view from a particular vehicle. The artificial intelligence installed in each craft should be able to fly through the asteroids and fire pulsers to achieve the objective. We anticipate it’ll be able to handle simple problems. But the complex difficulties that come with battle may be too much for an AI to handle.”

  He gave a slight shrug from his tail. “We haven’t been able to assess the capabilities of the AI in a changing situation. This test is set to help us determine the limits of these weapon platforms. After our evaluation we’ll make what changes we have to in their software.”

  “The OAC flight is away,” announced R’Gon from his post at Battle Control.

  The Battle Plot displayed a series of twenty small icons that detached from a larger vessel. They took up a pre-determined formation with uncanny speed and precision then dropped into the asteroids. Cameras placed in the nose of the drone ships allowed those in the flagship to follow their progress. S’Cinf and P’Mar watched the bank of monitors which showed the dizzying panorama as craft swooped past rolling rocks. The Battle Plot showed the craft moving out of and back into formation.

  The Admiral found he was getting nauseous from trying to watch the movement of all the monitors. He looked away from the displays to check the Battle Plot. The icons were now well inside the asteroids, performing an intricate dance to avoid destruction and reach their target.

  “OAC’s nearing target,” announced R’Gon.

  “One ship gone!” announced one of the operators in the monitoring suite on the tail of R’Gon’s announcement. An icon on the Battle Plot disappeared from the edge of the formation and a display screen dissolved into static. The operator reached over and shut the monitor off so he wouldn’t be distracted.

  “Target acquired!” called Commander R’Gon. An asteroid was now framed in nineteen monitors. “Lock achieved and firing.” There was a tense moment as everyone waited for the next report. The screens showed laser pulses streaking from the surviving assault craft streaking towards the tumbling asteroid. Explosions covered the rock and all the displays blanked from the flare.

  The Battle Officer announced, “Firing is complete. Flight is altering course to exit the belt and return to base ship.” The images came back online as the OAC’s turned away from the explosion of the target asteroid.

  “Another ship lost!” called a tech. An explosion outlining a large rock was seen from a trailing drone ships view.

  “Evaluate accuracy and effectiveness of the firing,” ordered P’Mar.

  “Ten seconds until exit from the asteroid belt.”

  “Ship lost!” For the third time an operator reached up and turned off a monitor that was showing static.

  “Analysis of attack coming in,” called the Battle Officer. “It’s on your console, Admiral.”

  The Fleet Admiral craned his neck so he could read the report beginning to scroll up his screen. “Formation held fairly well during the approach,” he summarized almost to himself. “Adjustments to that formation were made due to unanticipated asteroid course changes.” A soft cough interrupted his thoughts.

  P’Mar looked over at S’Cinf. “Sorry, your Eminence,” he apologized then repeated in a louder voice. “The craft adjusted course to avoid danger and achieve the objective just like live pilots would have.” He shook his head. “But the changes occurred faster and with greater precision than what I’d’ve deemed possible. The targeting was phenomenal.”

  The Fleet Admiral’s recitation was interrupted with another report from Commander R’Gon. “Flight has left the asteroids and is moving to dock with carrier.”

  “As programmed,” commented P’Mar. “Now, as I was saying, Run Point, analysis indicates the pulses fired by the OAC’s hit within a five yard radius. The target asteroid was obliterated while the flight lost three ships. Projections of the same attack with Kthpok pilots show a loss rate of over seventy-five percent of the attacking force.”

  The Run Point bobbed his approval. “The targeting and result of the firing is impressive. What weaponry was used?”

  “The pulsers were Kthpok state-of-the-art,” replied P’Mar. “There was no augmenting with Iidx tech.”

  “And the composition of the target?”

  This time the Admiral had to consult his computer before answering. “It seems to’ve been a standard rock. There’s nothing extra-ordinary.” He paused for a moment as he continued reading. “Long range surveys indicate the presence of some iron.”

  “The performance of this exercise was impressive,” repeated the Kthpok leader. “All the more so because the target wasn’t a ball of ice, easily fractured. And that was with Pre-Iidx weaponry?” he asked. P’Mar nodded confirmation. “I can’t wai
t to see what happens when our new weapons are used,” the Run Point added.

  P’Mar used his equipment to call an image of an asteroid to the main view screen. The asteroid was actually a small moon reminiscent of those orbiting the gas giants back home. Two smaller rocks could be seen in orbit around the target. “This is the largest asteroid in our exercise area,” the Admiral told the Run Point. “Our scientists used the data provided by the Bugs to compute the destructive power of the new missiles. The next stage is to determine how well our computations match reality.”

  He craned his neck around so he could look at the communications suite. “Orders for the Terranic,” he called. “This is the bombardment test. Three launchers in the forward section, port side are to target the asteroid designated as target Beta. Tubes are to be loaded, ready to fire on my command.”

  P’Mar turned back to S’Cinf. “An asteroid of this size and composition is the mass equivalent to two dreadnoughts,” he announced. “We’re going to use three launchers to destroy the target.”

  The Run Point’s tail stiffened in surprise and he stared at the image. “Our scientists think it’ll take only three missiles to destroy two dreadnoughts?”

  P’Mar gave a twitch of his tail. “It’s the mass equivalent of two dreadnaughts,” he replied. “That’s what the scientists have computed. In real combat we’d have to beat down or confuse defensive fire before doing actual damage. But if our computations are correct all we’ll need is a hit or two from these missiles to eliminate the target.”

  “Terranic reports the target has been acquired, launchers ready,” announced Lieutenant L’Art from communications.

  “Have them launch,” ordered the Fleet Admiral. An instant later the acknowledgment was announced. Three capital missiles thundered from their launch tubes. The two Kthpok leaders turned to the screen showing the target.

  “Ten seconds to target,” came the announcement from R’Gon.

  “Augment main screen to show the weapons,” called the Admiral. In response the view screen flickered. The target still showed but now the computer had added the track of the missiles. S’Cinf’s tail began to switch back and forth as the weapons moved through the intervening asteroids and neared their target. Commander R’Gon kept an ongoing countdown as the distances closed. When the countdown reached zero three intense flashes were seen on the surface of the dark asteroid. Filters automatically dampened the blinding wave of light caused by the explosions of three nuclear warheads. A moment later the miniature suns died away leaving only the image of space dotted with distant stars.

  “Results!” hissed P’Mar.

  Lieutenant D’Pan looked up from his scanning equipment. “Target was destroyed,” he reported. “Scans cannot pick out any pieces at all.”

  “That means nothing larger than a foot exists, your Eminence,” said P’Mar to the Run Point. “The bulk of that asteroid was probably vaporized by the warheads.” Then he turned back to the Scan officer. “What did the explosion do to the orbits of nearby asteroids?”

  “The shock wave has thrown all surrounding asteroids into new orbits as anticipated,” D’Pan replied. “We’re showing impacts and scattering.”

  “Fleet defensive weapons are to be ready,” ordered the Admiral. “As we continue the exercise there’s bound to be a lot of fragments flying around. The defensive stations are to use any incoming fragments for practice. Have the fleet deploy to their pre-assigned positions. Weapons are free in their assigned sectors. Confirm that recording is operational. I want efficiency reports on all stations.”

  Orders went out and the fleet began to change its formation. As ships reached their assigned target sectors ranging scans intensified. Missiles erupted from launchers and pulses of light flew from laser mounts. Explosions began to dot the fringes of the belt and moved inward. A moment later smaller balls of fire appeared near the ships caused by fragments of asteroid being targeted by ship defenses.

  S’Cinf and P’Mar watched the monitors as statistics showing the missile cache levels, power usage, missiles launched and confirmed hits scrolled up. The Run Point kept silent as the Admiral dictated observations and directions to his staff.

  Two hours after it had begun the firing ended. The ship board missile cache levels had been depleted and the count of asteroids in that area of the outer belt had been reduced drastically. Of course, the gravel count had increased and any ship coming into the area would be at risk of being holed. It was anticipated that it would take several weeks for the gravel to disperse to a safe level.

  As his fleet returned to convoy formation P’Mar turned to the Run Point. He adopted a respectful pose. “Your Eminence, our scientists will have to examine our records of this exercise in detail,” he said, “but preliminary observations show our forces are now ready for action.”

  S’Cinf nodded his agreement. “That is my observation as well,” he replied. “Rearm. Begin assigning targets and priorities. It’s time we began the conquest of our new home.”

  Chapter 14

  A flight of twenty small vessels was seen leaving a larger ship. Their movements were sharp and impressive as the ships assumed formation then dropped below the plane of the main swarm. Positions within the formation were kept with unbelievable precision until the force entered the outer asteroid belt. At that point the twenty ships began to bob and weave to avoid hitting asteroids. Most were successful in evading destruction but one wasn’t. It disappeared in a ball of flame and gas after it struck one of the smaller asteroids.

  When space to what appeared to be the flights target was clear of any obstructions the nineteen ships homed in to open fire with pulsers. Packets of intense light streaked through the intervening darkness. A series of explosions sent fragments of rock in all directions and the asteroid fractured into many smaller pieces. With its target destroyed the loose formation of small ships swung around to leave the asteroid belt and return to its carrier ship. But the craft weren’t safe as two more were destroyed before reaching open space.

  Moments after the surviving attack craft docked with their hive ship a nearby dreadnaught launched three missiles at an asteroid the size of a small moon. These three missiles vaporized the moonlet in three immense nuclear fireballs. Surrounding asteroids were blown out of their orbits to strike still more asteroids.

  As if the obliteration of the moonlet was a signal the rest of the swarm began to move. The ships spread out into a bombardment formation and missiles erupted from their launchers. Laser mounts swiveled back and forth emitting powerful pulses of light. Explosions dotted the asteroid belt then spread closer to the swarm. After devastating a sector of the asteroid belt the attacking ships ceased fire, closed formation and moved off.

  The image on the room’s large wall monitor dissolved into static and a hiss came from the rooms speakers. Swarm Master Zelof reached out for his computer to key in the commands which would turn off the screen and cut the noise. He cocked his head to look at the Iidx sitting on the other side of his desk. Both Iidx were in the Swarm Master’s office deep in Refuge which wasn’t a problem. The Iidx were a species that evolved from lower life forms that’d lived in burrows to hide from predators. That propensity for burrows and tunnels remained with the Iidx eons later.

  “That little exercise put on by the Kthpok was impressive,” Zelof said. “The missile and laser targeting of their ships was precise and the performance of their small attack craft unbelievable. There’s going to be a problem though.” Sesum cocked his antennae in an unspoken question. “All the asteroids blown out of orbit are going to present a hazard for navigation and possibly to our planets.” The Swarm Master shook his head causing his antennae to flutter. “I’ll need to consider sending a force out there to sweep up those strays. In the meantime we’ll need to be vigilant or a stray asteroid could impact one of our planets. That’d be real messy if it hit a population center.”

  “It’d be ironic if an asteroid blown out of orbit by this exercise hit the Kthpok base on Tar
ren,” Sesum commented with a smile.

  Zelof gave a little chuckle. “You’ve got to give it to them though,” he said. “The Kthpok have amassed an impressive fleet.”

  The Swarm Second waved his antennae in agreement. “Yes, Swarm Master, their swarm is very impressive. But I think it’s more than their new weapons. The increase in the number of ships the Kthpok have can only be explained by a level of automation not used in our ships,” he commented. “Their small population requires it. The automation can also explain how their targeting was so precise.”

  Zelof nodded his agreement then gestured at the blank screen. “With dramatic results like that we need to incorporate the design of their automation into the ships of our Swarm. Do we have any schematics of how they do it?” he asked.

  Sesum consulted his electronic pad for a few minutes before answering. “No sir, we have nothing. Literally, nothing,” said the Second as he continued to work his device. He shook his head in disgust. “In fact, a check of all data bases shows we haven’t learned anything from the Kthpok beyond their language.”

  The Iidx leader nodded. “I see,” he said slowly. “That’s disturbing. We’ve given them a base to operate from, technology to upgrade their weapons, resources for repairs and all the foodstuffs they need. Our help has enabled them to bring their military strength and precision to an unprecedented level.” He gave a snort of disgust. “And they’ve provided nothing in return except their professed good will.” Zelof nodded at the monitor. “If that little exercise is any indication the Kthpok has the most powerful force in our system. And we have no guarantee the Kthpok won’t use that force against us.” His antennae drooped. “If they do we’ll lose.”

  Sesum waved his antennae in disagreement. “I think you’re correct where our technology added to theirs gives the Kthpok an edge,” he said. “But it isn’t decisive. We have the numbers. If they intend to conquer our system they’ll have to defeat our Space Swarm which outnumbers theirs three to one. That’s including their new construction.