***
Now the Galactus and the Retribution are safely hidden in that blind spot. There are no Darinx sensors searching this volume of space. The AH Navy personnel spend their time studying the Darinx home system and planning their attack. At bedtime they stay together on one ship or the other.
Shiela and Honesty spend their time helping to plan, with the humanoids. When the humanoids are asleep, the AIs monitor the planetary system and their vessels, while enjoying their time together. Being in a life threatening situation increases the sensitivity for ‘the moment’. When each moment may be your last they become much more precious.
Good plans are hard to come by, for this operation. Assassinating the Darinx Emperor, from the edge of the system, seems to be an impossible task. And even if the two ships could attack the Darinx home planet, how could they know that they are killing the Emperor?
***
Knowledge is Power
Knowledge is power - so the assassination squad sets out to acquire knowledge. They study the traffic patterns and the defensive systems, and all eyes are on the Emperor’s Palace, whenever it is in view. It is critical to know whether the Emperor is in the Palace, or away.
By observing, they have learned that whenever the Emperor goes somewhere, there is a huge entourage and a huge security force that accompanies him. So far, the size of the entourage is their best indicator of the Emperor’s presence.
Sometimes there are decoy Emperors, who make pretend trips. The AH Navy crew has learned to distinguish the real, from the imitation, by looking for a certain limousine. The Emperor apparently won’t tolerate any imitation riding in his personal limo.
Surprisingly, the Emperor doesn’t very often leave the home planet. Melissa is hoping to catch him in space, close to the blind spot. Nothing like that scenario has happened yet.
***
No one is in a hurry. The time that they are spending together is family time, and no one is in a hurry for it to end. Everyone is just feeling the love. At night they invite the fighter pilots to come and spend time with them. Someone is always watching for the Emperor to come and go, and Shiela or Honesty always has an eye on the defensive systems, but everything is pretty low key. If they need to stay a year, it will be time well spent, as long as they can kill the Emperor.
***
Three months now. And nothing has changed except the size of Melissa’s stomach. She is about 6 months pregnant now. There haven’t been any real problems. Since Justice has already been through this once, he came prepared. He brought every kind of food imaginable. There was one time when she wanted him to go to the Darinx home planet for a banana split, but Justice was able to get her to accept a mango pie from the replicator, as a substitute.
***
Five months now. Melissa just keeps getting bigger. But she has done great. There was that one little breakdown, when an AI pilot asked her why her stomach was so swollen, but that was all – and it hardly amounted to anything.
***
Six months now, and Melissa is 9 months pregnant. A comment such as ‘ready to pop’ would be appropriate, but unwise. Justice certainly would never say something like that, and AIs learn fast. After that small incident, when the AI pilot mentioned her stomach size, all AIs researched pregnant+female+humanoids. Now everyone walks on eggshells.
***
The Emperor Takes a Ride
“His Limo is heading to the spaceport,” announces Honesty.
And all eyes are on the view-screen, as the Emperor’s procession moves toward the spaceport. There is heavy security around the spaceport facility, indicating that the Emperor is taking a space trip.
Everyone exchanges hugs, and Shiela and Justice board a shuttle and make their way to the Retribution, just in case this is the real thing.
The AI fighter pilots check their attack fighters, one more time - even though they are certain that everything is ready.
“His ship is launching,” announces Honesty. (That is for the benefit of the AI fighter pilots, who are boarding their craft. Everyone else is watching the telescopic projection.)
“The Emperor is space-bound,” Honesty says.
The Emperor’s Fleet surrounds his vessel after it reaches space. “Too bad,” thinks Melissa. “We could have had his ship all by itself as it launched.”
Everyone watches to see which way the Emperor will go. If the Fleet even comes close to the hiding place, Melissa is inclined to attack. The Emperor’s Escort is only a 10 warship Fleet, and none of the ships is as large as the Galactus or the Retribution. An opportunity like this may not come again.
“He’s headed our way,” Honesty tells the AI pilots.
“All ships. Get ready. This might be our chance. I’ll keep you posted,” says Melissa. “Justice, I love you.”
“I love you too, Melissa.”
“I love you Honesty and Shiela. And I love you too, AI pilots. I’m sorry I yelled,” says Melissa.
And final I love you messages pass to and fro, between the AIs and the two humanoids, aboard the two Augmented Human Navy vessels. Everyone feels like family, and this might be the last chance to express their love.
“Coming our way,” updates Melissa. “We are looking good for plan ‘Charlie’. Battle Stations. Fighter pilots get ready. I’ll open the cargo bay door when it is time to go. Remember to save your nuclear missiles for the Emperor.”
***
Plan ‘Charlie’ is for a real space, full speed ahead charge, straight at the Emperor with all guns blazing. There will be little or no attention paid to the Escort vessels, unless they are trying to get between the AH Navy and the Emperor. The Galactus and Retribution defensive systems are set on Automatic, so that all of the sentients’ attention can go to the attack.
Shiela will be handling the weapons targeting for both vessels, and Honesty will be coordinating the wasps’ attack.
***
“All ships. Initiate plan ‘Charlie’ on my mark ………………………………… CHARGE.”
And they are OFF. They gain some momentum, before they are out of the defensive system’s blind spot. They accelerate rapidly, at full flank speed, on an intercept course to the Emperor’s ship. There are still 210,000 klicks to cross, but in space terms that is close. The AH Navy vessels need to get within energy weapons range quickly, so that the Emperor can’t escape into FTL space – the AH Navy vessels will follow the Emperor into FTL space if necessary, but the advantage would shift in the Emperor’s favor in that scenario.
***
The military Escort is now aware that they are under attack. Their Standard Operating Procedure will be for the Escort vessels to place their ships between the Emperor’s ship and the attacking force, in order to take any projectile hits and to gain time for the Emperor’s vessel to get into FTL space.
There wouldn’t be any hope of keeping the Emperor’s ship out of FTL space, except for the wasp fighters. Those speedy little ships are nothing but engines and weapons. And the combined effect of their energy weapons may be enough to keep the Emperor’s ship in real space – at least that is the hope.
The distance is 175,000 klicks and closing. “Get ready fighter pilots - almost your turn. Target the Emperor’s ship with energy weapons at close range. We have to keep him from going into Faster Than Light space.” Melissa gives Honesty a gesture, and Honesty opens the cargo bay door.
The fighters are OUT and are streaking toward the Darinx convoy. They quickly close the distance to the Emperor’s ship while ignoring the Escort ships. All wasp fighters are targeting the Emperor’s ship with energy weapons, as ordered. For now, the Emperor’s ship is trapped in real space.
Most of the Escort warships are occupied with trying to destroy the wasps, who are keeping the Emperor’s ship in real space. The Darinx heavy cruisers look like humanoids swatting at flies. The fighters are much too fast for the humanoid gunners on the Darinx warships.
***
Honesty is coordinating the wasp atta
ck and is keeping them out of the firing lane so that the Retribution and Galactus can attack the Emperor with projectiles. Shiela has been firing missiles and rail gun projectiles, as fast as they will go. A number of those reach the Emperor’s ship, before the Escort vessels can get in position to take the hits. The Escort ships are able to eliminate those missiles, using anti-missile missiles, but a couple of the rail gun projectiles penetrate the Emperor ship’s hull.
Melissa sees the hits and imagines the Emperor wetting his pants, while he hides under a table - that little weasel.
An Escort vessel has gotten between the AH Navy and the Emperor’s ship. That vessel quickly receives barrages of projectile from the charging AH Navy warships. The escort’s defensive systems are overwhelmed and explosions begin, and soon that ship is out of the battle.
Now the firing lane to the Emperor’s ship is open again and Shiela has the projectiles all targeting the Engineering section.
Another Escort vessel is ready to die for the Emperor, as it presents its side view for Shiela to target. The Escort vessel returns very little weapons fire at the charging AH Navy vessels. The ship is content to die for the Emperor, without a struggle.
Meanwhile, four other Escort warships have turned to face the attacking AH Navy vessels, and have positioned themselves between the charging AH Navy warships and the Emperor. The Darinx Escorts are heavy cruisers bristling with weapons, and all are firing at the attacking AH Navy ships.
Unfortunately for them, the Galactus is one of the biggest battleships ever built by the Verm Navy and the Retribution is only a little smaller. The 2 Verm-built battleships are an even match, against 10 Darinx heavy cruisers. And to make matters much worse for the Escorts, Shiela is controlling the weapons assault from the two AH Navy ships.
Shiela targets one Escort warship at a time. All available weapons, on both ships, are pointed at the bow of the charging Darinx vessel and all weapons fire is coordinated, so that projectiles hit the ship, in clusters - like a sequence of hammer blows. Even though the bow of the Darinx heavy cruiser has strong shields and reinforced armor plating, the defensive systems are quickly overwhelmed, and a missile penetrates to the center of the ship, before exploding.
Without hesitation, Shiela shifts her targeting to the same point on another attacking Darinx warship. That ship has seen the results, of that kind of attack, and changes tactics. It begins evasive maneuvers and heads for the battleship Retribution. Clearly the intention is to ram the big ship. But the evasive maneuvers do nothing to spoil Shiela’s aim. The sequence of hammer blows from projectile weapons has the same effect and this ship is also destroyed.
The Galactus and the Retribution blow by the remaining 2 attacking Escorts, and head straight for the Emperor.
Now the two AH Navy ships are close to energy weapons range, and Shiela decides to start them early. They won’t have the full potency at this range, but the energy will add to the energy from the wasps, and will insure that the Emperor remains in real space.
***
When the full energy from the big battleships reaches the Emperor’s vessel, Admiral Meyers says: “Wasps. Back away and fire your missiles.”
In a heartbeat, the wasps circle around and fire a coordinated barrage of nuclear missiles at the Emperor’s vessel, from multiple directions. The Emperor’s vessel was never built for warfare – it was built for comfort. Even though the Emperor’s ship has an anti-missile system, it is not even close to being good enough to stop such a barrage. The Emperor’s ship explodes in multiple places and disintegrates, into particle sized pieces.
***
The wasps quickly return to the Galactus’ cargo bay, but two of them are missing. Honesty has been scouring the battlespace, searching for the fighters or the AIs. She finds debris from both of the missing fighters and there is an SOS signal coming from one of the AIs - she is in her Exoskeleton, floating in space. Honesty moves the Galactus over to the AI and scoops her, into the open cargo bay doorway.
And then the two AH Navy vessels run for a clear patch of real space, where they can engage their FTL drives.
They enter FTL space, bound for Verm territory. That FTL trip will take 5 weeks. An FTL trip of that length will cause any following Darinx vessels to be widely dispersed, when they emerge. There probably won’t be any Darinx warships within fighting distance of the AH Navy vessels, even if they are foolish enough to emerge in verm space.
The two AH Navy vessels will probably be widely dispersed also, but this is a pre-planned tactic. They have a rendezvous location where they will meet.
***
A Busy FTL Trip
Wow, they made it. The Emperor is almost certainly dead, and this escape plan really should work – barring any unforeseen circumstances.
“Nothing to do for the next 5 weeks, but relax,” Honesty thinks.
Unless of course, you are on a trip with a pregnant female humanoid who is ‘ready to pop’.
Almost as soon as the Galactus enters FTL space, Fleet Admiral Meyers starts to moan, from the contractions.
Now, Honesty is a very bright girl. Within a few nanoseconds, she is researching childbirth+humanoids. “How gross,” she thinks, as she views the holos. “How gross.”
“First things first,” she thinks. “Get the patient to a comfortable and clean place to lie down.”
“Melissa,” she says. “Maybe you should lie down in a comfortable and clean place.”
“Yes Honesty,” Melissa replies. “You’re right. There is a sofa in the Command Deck Conference room. I’ll go there. I’ll never make it to my bedroom.”
Next, Honesty calls the AI Fighter pilots to the Command Conference Room, to assist. Then Honesty comms the fighter pilots as they are en route, and instructs them to bring warm water and clean cloth – lots of it. Fortunately everyone has AI Exoskeletons, so getting warm water and clean cloths are feasible undertakings.
The videos of childbirth show lots of body fluids and ‘stuff’. “This isn’t going to be pretty,” Honesty thinks.
The fighter pilots show up with about 20 gallons of warm water and a whole pallet load of towels. “Oh well,” thinks Honesty, “better too much, than too little.” Out loud she says: “Great job wasps. We are going to assist in birthing Melissa’s baby.” Honesty senses various emotions emanating from the wasps - ranging from excitement to fear - and the fear dominates, as Melissa groans and moans.
“Honesty,” Melissa says, “have you studied the humanoid birthing process?”
“Yes Melissa, I have. And as long as things proceed normally, you will do almost all of the labor yourself. The wasps and I are here to help if you need us. And I am prepared to do a caesarian, if necessary.”
***
A Fresh Face
A day later Melissa’s contractions are back, and she is feeling some discomfort – i.e. pain.
The wasps, who have now studied the humanoid birthing process - and consider themselves to be experts on the subject - offer helpful suggestions, such as ‘breathe deep’ and ‘push’.
Under normal circumstances, Melissa would be venting her anger and frustration on Justice, since he is responsible for her condition. But since Justice is not available, the wasps will make a handy substitute.
“You breathe deep,” she says. And “I’m going to push you, as soon as I get up from here.”
The wasps remember their sensitivity training about pregnant female humanoids, and refrain from offering any more helpful advice. They walk on eggshells for the remainder of the process.
They all wait and watch.
***
Four hours later, Melissa’s contractions increase in frequency and intensity. “Get ready Honesty. This is it,” she says.
“I am ready,” Honesty says. “And everything appears to be proceeding normally. I think I can see the baby’s head.” She was going to say ‘push’ but she remembered the incident with the wasps and refrained.
“Arrrrgh,” yells Melissa. And the baby’s
head is out.
The baby cries, and that seems to motivate Melissa to make one final effort. With a little help from Honesty, the baby is completely out and is being held gently in Honesty’s Exoskeleton hands.
“How gross,” thinks Honesty. “And I thought having an Artificial Intelligence birth was messy. There are all manner of slimy emissions in a humanoid birth. And what are we going to do with that piece of rope connecting them?”
***
Changing Diapers
A week has passed since the big event. Fortunately, Justice had the foresight to stock both vessels with diapers and baby supplies. By now, all of the AIs have learned to change diapers.
That speaks well of the AI Exoskeletons, which Honesty designed. On the next revision she intends to have the fingers heated, so that the baby doesn’t scream when the AIs touch him.
He still has no name. Melissa wants to wait for Justice. She has the name already picked out, but she wants Justice to feel like he is a part of the naming process – his name will be Justice Nemo, Junior. Melissa will probably call him Junior.
***
Verm Space
As expected, there are no other ships emerging close to the Galactus. This was such a long FTL jump that it was highly improbable that other ships would be able to follow the AH Navy ships.
They wait for the Faster than Light drive to cool, and then make the jump to the planned rendezvous.
The Retribution emerges some minutes later and Justice asks: “Did you have the baby yet?”
***
Everyone has enough self-control to let the FTL drives cool, and to take one more jump, before Shiela and Justice join the rest of the family, on the Galactus. The family spends a few weeks there, in deep space, enjoying the moment.
***
There is just one more task, before returning to the AH Navy fleet - but killing the Verm Emperor will not be a trivial task.
***
Chapter 20
Stalking they Prey
There were many verm species crewmembers aboard the Augmented Human Navy Fleet, when the Rebellion first started. From his relationships with the verm sailors in the AH Navy, Justice knows that the species is not evil. The dictator is evil, along with the other leaders of the Verm civilization.
Retribution: The Augmented Human Rebellion - Book 2 Page 16