Chapter 1: Transported
inawarminister
Member
Premise: Take a humanity that barely survive a Singularity apocalypse. How? By lashing out against "advanced" technology that strips beings of their souls and causes loss of humanity itself. The Jovians (and a few other select factions) are the last of Homo Sapiens, the last of humans - not through incapability, but through unwillingness- in a Solar system that doesn't make sense anymore.
And then put them in a virgin Solar System in a Space Opera universe with psychic blue space elves and let's see what will happen.
Chapter 1: Transported
25 December 2158 AD - First post-Event children eligible for conscription.
Aliens in ramshackle ships entered Sol.
13.50 UTC, 17 January 2159 AD-
Presidential Palace of the Sol Republic, Liberty Station (Jovian orbit)
"Mr. President, the alien fleet-leader is here." A nanosuited Secret Service agent announced to the Presidential Room.
President Gavin Brown sighs. "Here it goes, another X-risk. Though at least this one is a X-Ray situation, which we have already done once before." His assistant, a blonde Eurasian-looking splicer, nods. "Yes, Mr. President, I believe that this batch of aliens would be more willing to cooperate than the Slimes ever did."
He waves the SS agent away, secure in the safety of a post-THI interrogated sophont... And his confidential cortical stack, hidden by his suit collars. *Worst scenario, I'll just get reawakened from backup again.*
Brown refreshes his knowledge by requesting his Minder to summarise the data gleamed from the... Orgus interrogations.
It chimed inside his mind; *Orgus, scientific name pending, an alien nation that was destroyed by Umiak for being neutral. Refugee fleet arrived at Sol in Christmas 2158. Interned in Jovian system by 04 January 2159
Umiak, an insectoid-looking transspecies coalition in a decades-long war with telephatic Loroi. XXXXXXX speculates an Ultimatian imperial transhuman tendencies to the former, and infection of Watts-McLeod strain in the latter - but excuses themselves for lacking enough data.*
He see the weird alien in all its glory. Weird, but still makes sense. A natural form, unlike many morphs Exhumans have attempted back in the old days.
"Greetings, Trade Lord Urguak. I am Gavin Brown, the leader of humanity." *Words translated to Tradespeak*, his minder chimed in; and the sound coming out from his throat is - for lack of better world- alien.
"Master Gavin Brown!" the alien said, in perfect English of course. The scientists were through when they developed the cipher from the so-called Tradespeak and major human languages. "We surrender ourselves to you; whether to assist humanity, or to continue on to the void of space. We are at your service!"
The President of Humanity smiles, "Don't be so alarmed, mister Urguak. Our republic hold the rights of all natural-born sapients to in the highest regards, after all."
And, of course, the copying of FTL Jump Drive will at last make humanity resistant to extinction... Which is of upmost importance. Unlike the old Pandora Gates, this Jump Drive technology is made by mortals. Usable for mortals. And their information on "Galactic" weapons and technologies. The engineers over at Ganymedian universities seem to have cried foul over the existence of Defensive Screens, with the outrage becoming viral in the last few weeks. In the classified Mesh boards, of course.
He continues with the small-talk. "Are your people satisfied with the habitat we have given them over Martian orbit?"
It shake its head horizontally. *Orgus body language seem to use this as agreement* "Yes, our people are very thankful on our new <Home>. Although... There are some concerns about sustainability of our agriculture and maintenance, Master Brown. May we trade for those technology?"
*Reminder from XXXXXXX that any self-sufficiency on the part of Orgus would be non-optimal for the Republic and Humanity*
He smile broadly, eyes twinkling with amusement. ¨I'm sure it'll be easy to arrange... Now, though, please tell us about the greedy, deceitful Umiak... and the telepathic Loroi. I want to hear directly from you, good Orgus."
_________________
06.35 14 July 2160 AD
Naam System, 217 Light-Years from Sol.
Life always changes so quickly. An hour ago, we were woken up for "morning" shift. Nothing irregular seems to have occurred, even as we've reached the borders of Umiak and Loroi space. Well, former Loroi space, if what the decades-old Orgusian information are true.
I was born on Europa, but my family manage to emigrate to Earth in the early days. I remember the building of Singapore. House by house, buildings by buildings, highways and vac-tubes. Of course, they're still building it back there. But I know that my father and elder siblings are more at home in the warm seas, what with their gills and webbed feet. But God must understand that they have already repented of their deviancy from human form, right? Still, that gets me a few handicap in career advancement in the Republic Space Force - not that I care, for my only objective is to acquire Citizenship and help my family. But... Getting stationed in one of the few - sacrificial? - Frigates sent to scout, contact, or at least earn intelligence on the current state of the War is so troublesome.
And now I'm wasting oxygen. The Meshspace of the ship crew is dying as relays cut in and out. That last attack must have destroyed the auxiliary power line. The last public report wasn't good at all- we managed to mission-kill perhaps 2 or 3 ships that are near us, but ships from afar - more than one lightsecond! - still manage to attack us. And the defensive screens are unfair.
I engage my magnetic boots, and try to awaken Dahlia. She must be nearby - we held hands before that last impact. 20 seconds ago!
"Hey, hey, you promise to go back together to Earth with me. What about our families?" I muttered to the dark corridor. Why? I recognise that my body is in a panic attack. My Minder injected calming agent to my bloodstream, and I can think again.
Space Force standard operating procedure #42: get the blasted cortical stack for debriefing, and take care of the body.
I pray for Dahlia's soul, already back to her Creator, and cut open her helmet. There. And then I gracefully lifted her cold body to the vacuum of space.
"May your beauty be eternally preserved in the cold void of space..." I whisper, crying silently.
My oxygen level drops to 29%. I whisper prayers as I walk through the destroyed halls, trying to reach the Bridge. A silent journey, until I had a ping from a friendly object. Where? Ah, that tablet.
"Heeey! Can you rescue me?" A hologram jumped out. Figures, infomorphs can survive this kind of battle.
"AI. Access code KJ-403-AMN-98. Tell me everything."
"Ah, you should've put me in your Minder first - that way would be more efficient, but if you insist-
First, we are stuck in the middle part of the ship with zero online systems. Seems those green plasma bolts packed a hell up of a punch, even as we punch back. Last I've heard from the Ship AI is her mission-killing her fourth bogie. Second, nearly everyone else that I could reach are dead or dying. Ah, I see you have a dozen stacks there in your belt. Good.
Copy me to your augments and we need to find a way to report back to Liberty."
I grimace, but the infomorphs words make sense. Having a sophont Minder would be a much better force multiplier than just an automatic dumb one.
The transfer is fast - my augments were - like most others in this mission, unfortunately - top of the line, after all.
*There, it's much better this way, isn't it?*
Shut up, I thought to her, Let's just find a way to complete the mission so the sacrifices of all the... martyrs will not be squandered.
With the help of the infomorph - Flora is her name, poetic - I manage to get to the armoury, and with effort got in.
*Hey, remember your oxygen level is only 59% now!*
Okay. There are still many other oxygen tanks anyway. We were supposed to prepare for a 48-hour survival for all eighty crew of the ship anyway. How come I survive while Dahlia doesn't?
No, what's gone is gone. There is no turning back. She's with angels now.
When I arrive at the bridge, three soldiers in dark combat armour cluster around the room, wielding battle-rifles. With the captain sitting in his command chair, wielding a - Microwave Organizer?
*You are invited to CommandDeckBellarmine Meshspace. I accepted it for you.* The AI on my head says. I mentally nods and start to communicate.
Sir! You are still alive! I transmit to Captain Hamilton, who grimaced.
"Not for long. The bloody aliens killed us all. But Ensign Endo, you are undamaged? This must be a miracle from the Almighty!
Now, now, listen. You are the only survivor with the training for QEC. Go transmit my message to Sol Command."
Received an encrypted message from the Captain, reported Flora to my mind.
"And then, if you're able... We were able to contact SSV Aloysius and they're hiding behind one of the outer gas planet. With God's will, they'll be able to escape. I want you to Farcast my Shadow and this archive of our battle to them. With any luck, we would safeguard Humanity even after death."
"Yes, sir." I said
<The Captain Mesh-insert is damaged, but ours aren't. We will safeguard you until your mission is finished, then we'll engage self-destruction by shutting down the anti-matter containment system. Are you satisfied with this?> Sergeant Dostoevsky broadcasted to the Mesh network, with the other three concurring.
I shot back, <Of course. I know the risk. If these Aliens are in the same ballpark as the Orgus - other than their superior ranged weaponry -, then it'll be a disaster if they copy our superior techbase. Who's the engineer here?> As I fiddle with the QEC and use my (and Flora's) ID to authenticate the transmission. After that, I destroyed it.
<Ha! I like your cheek. Go get the Captain's pistol, we have no time to go to the Armory. Might help you before the end.>
Then they were gone, and so I look towards Hamilton's eyes, see his nod, and shoot him right in the head. Death. May God give you mercy and rewards in the Afterlife, Captain. This is not your fault.
While I cut around his neck's base to cut away his Cortical Stack, Flora says something,
*Isn't it hard for a mortal to choose death and the loss of his immortal soul? How could the Captain do that?*
I spy around, seeing no soldiers. Thinking a little bit... I decide to speak aloud in a whisper. "Well, it's his choice. May God forgive the man, and his soulless shadow." Powering up a transmission tight-beam and let it run using backup battery - *Thirty minutes, Endo.*- I send an updated SITREP to Aloysius, then started to transmit Hamilton's cortical stack towards that other ship. Three minutes of delay. Hopefully the Captain's memories won't be scrambled and help humanity eke out advantages against these warlike aliens. Even if it's a degenerated, soulless copy.
*Hey, don't be rude, that egocast is the same class of beings as I am!* whined a feminine voice directly to my brain.
I don't dignify it with a response.
But.. I'm thinking. There is still a few minutes of the battery left. Why not..?
I put Dahlia's cortical stack in the egocasting machine as well.
While her Shadow is transmitted back to SSV Aloysius, I can only think -- What would her family think of me, who doomed a reflection of her to exist in this world?
*Meh, they were the ones that put a Cortical Stack inside her head. I've checked, your ranks weren't high enough for that. In fact, how do you know she's really Dahlia and not a copy from the start?*
Shut up. I'm gonna rest and don't bother me for anything non-important.
<Hey! Head's up, we got boarders incoming.> Sergeant Dostoevsky transmitted through the wide band.
Boarders? Aliens! Flora, please send a signal to the bomb in the armory.
*Already done. Unf, what kind of Space Force AI do you think I am?*
Not bothering to respond to that, I closed the eyes of the captain, nods to everyone in the bridge. I got to the door, before shooting all the machinaries and corpses' heads. Better to avoid Fork interrogation. Who knows if they manage to emulate "human"like egos, the Factors certainly could... right? It's times like this I wish the academy curriculum was more broad.
I pulled up a mental image of the ship layout - huh, Flora has already mapped up a most probable layout after the bisection of the vessel.
*Ah, thanks! Nice to see my efforts appreciated.*
I transmitted <Where are the aliens boarding from?> to the Meshspace, earning panicked transmissions from the soldiers. <Aft-side! We're busy sabotaging the antimatter system - protect the bridge with your life, Ensign Endo! For Humanity!>
I begin making a makeshift barricade at the end of the hallway, and ready my Microwaver. Hmm, why is it stuck in less-lethal mode? ... This is fate, I guess. At least there will be no witnesses to this shame.
*Except me, you big dumb idiot! I told you to take another rifle! Or at least a shotgun!*
Shut up, okay? My hand was full, after all.
... It's been minutes since I last heard from the soldiers. What happened?
*Be careful Endo! I've just analysed a Mesh ping that was corrupted-* What? *And Sergeant Dostoevsky said that the aliens have personal shields and tractor beams! If you forgot, that means they can push and pull things - and bullets - from a distance!*
Damn.. If a half-squad of soldiers managed to get wiped out by these aliens, what could I do? Still...
There, I spy an alien... and it look like a human? *No, it's an alien! There's no transponder on it.*
A bronze-coloured battlesuit and helmet. It's equipped for zero-gee, zero atmo combat, I guess. So I shoot it, and the Microwave beam actually knocked it out.
*Seems the "shield" are useless against microwaves!* Flora reports, while additional aliens and potential hit target rate are calculated by her and my augments.
Good. I ready for another shot, but...!
My Pulser was thrown away from my grasp.
*Endo! It's... telekinesis?*
I was too surprised to react when a leg kicked me, and fall.
*Damnit! You cracked the helmet. You're going to die of Hypoxia in 20 seconds!*
Better to make my life spent well, then.
I grasped the alien's pasty blue legs, forcing it to ground, and begin wailing on it. Using my right hand, I use my unnatural strength and start to choke its neck. I can see its eyes. Gemstone green, with light shining as if with bioluminensce.
I smiled, as I can see the end coming.
*Three, two... Goodbye, Endo. May Humanity endures on Earth, forever.*
Asyh-
BLACK
And then put them in a virgin Solar System in a Space Opera universe with psychic blue space elves and let's see what will happen.
10 AF (2143 AD), 1 December - A strange event occurred in the Pandora Gates. The TITAN-built FTL portals shut down, with exploration teams deemed as lost forever. Firewall and other major organisations see this with concern and fear. The Jovian Republic denounced all public usages of the Gates as "threat to all humanity".
10 December. Project OZMA and assorted secret agencies and Firewall agents meet in secret to discuss the X-Risk. Jovian Security Council is not invited. The meeting ends with no consensus on how to proceed. Planetary Consortium observed to mass produce pods in massive quantities.
23 December - Jovian space goes incommunicado. No signals emanate from the moons or known space habitats. Egocasting fails.
30 December - the first ship in transit from Mars arrive in Jovian system, and find... nothing. No trace of human, transhuman, or TITAN presence. Only virgin astronomical bodies, yet untouched.
__________
24 December 2143 AD - the Event. Humans throughout Jovian space lost consciousness for 1 second . Even Uplifts and infomorphs in Europa are affected. After, all outside signals are gone. Observation by telescopes also show zero evidence of habitats in other systems. Complete panic in the coming weeks. Only stopped the Pope spoke in the Republic Senate.
29 December - Three fleets sent to explore Titan, Mars, and the Moon respectively. These includes supplemental crews from the living embassies of missing factions. Such as the Autonomist Alliance, Planetary Consortium, and Lunar-Lagrange Alliance.
15 January 2144 AD- the second fleet under Rear Admiral Sancho Sanchez reached Mars. Confirmation by radio to Liberty that they found nothing. It also recorded Ambassador Fujiyama Shirou crying. Most likely for the loss of his family and corporation.
19 January - The third fleet also confirmed the same in Titan.
20 February - the first fleet, most heavy of all three - reached Lunar orbit in record time. As ever, there is nothing found. No flags, no habitats, not even satellite debris in Luna or in Earth Orbit. A frigate under Captain Jean Bernoudette went AWOL and crashes into Earth. At first thought to be lost to TITAN menace, this was proven wrong by a triumphant announcement in the fleetwide Mesh.
"EARTH IS CLEAN. OUR EXODUS IS OVER."
________
21 April 2145 AD - Easter Sunday. Venerated for being the date of Roman Catholic Church landing on Earth. The city of Rome is rebuilt, brick by brick.
4 July - the first foundation of Washington, D.C. laid down.
18 September - the first landing in Santiago de Chile by jubilant Chilean refugees. Other National cities are also recolonised in the coming months, according to their former citizens' importance to the Republic.
____
9 August 2149 AD - First Europan settlers allowed on Earth. They chose Singapore for the Malacca strait and the seas. Public riot by Catholic and bioconservative Reclaimers throughout Jovian Republic.
20 November - Civilians and convicts allowed to settle Earth. They live in massive farming complexes mainly throughout the Midwest and Indus plains.
_____
05 May 2152 AD - Rome (Italia), and Washington - (New America) accepted as full members of the Republic. After election, their senators agitate for a change of capital to Earth. This was vetoed by the Security Council.
First conflicts of humankind post-Event:
Asteroid War: in which secessionists and anarchists tried to build a hidden habitat in the Mars-Jupiter asteroid field. Detected by SCI agents before their cornupacia machines come online.
Thousands died. Permanently, as recovered cortical stacks were destroyed irreparably by vengeful Space Force soldiers.
______
10 December. Project OZMA and assorted secret agencies and Firewall agents meet in secret to discuss the X-Risk. Jovian Security Council is not invited. The meeting ends with no consensus on how to proceed. Planetary Consortium observed to mass produce pods in massive quantities.
23 December - Jovian space goes incommunicado. No signals emanate from the moons or known space habitats. Egocasting fails.
30 December - the first ship in transit from Mars arrive in Jovian system, and find... nothing. No trace of human, transhuman, or TITAN presence. Only virgin astronomical bodies, yet untouched.
__________
24 December 2143 AD - the Event. Humans throughout Jovian space lost consciousness for 1 second . Even Uplifts and infomorphs in Europa are affected. After, all outside signals are gone. Observation by telescopes also show zero evidence of habitats in other systems. Complete panic in the coming weeks. Only stopped the Pope spoke in the Republic Senate.
29 December - Three fleets sent to explore Titan, Mars, and the Moon respectively. These includes supplemental crews from the living embassies of missing factions. Such as the Autonomist Alliance, Planetary Consortium, and Lunar-Lagrange Alliance.
15 January 2144 AD- the second fleet under Rear Admiral Sancho Sanchez reached Mars. Confirmation by radio to Liberty that they found nothing. It also recorded Ambassador Fujiyama Shirou crying. Most likely for the loss of his family and corporation.
19 January - The third fleet also confirmed the same in Titan.
20 February - the first fleet, most heavy of all three - reached Lunar orbit in record time. As ever, there is nothing found. No flags, no habitats, not even satellite debris in Luna or in Earth Orbit. A frigate under Captain Jean Bernoudette went AWOL and crashes into Earth. At first thought to be lost to TITAN menace, this was proven wrong by a triumphant announcement in the fleetwide Mesh.
"EARTH IS CLEAN. OUR EXODUS IS OVER."
________
21 April 2145 AD - Easter Sunday. Venerated for being the date of Roman Catholic Church landing on Earth. The city of Rome is rebuilt, brick by brick.
4 July - the first foundation of Washington, D.C. laid down.
18 September - the first landing in Santiago de Chile by jubilant Chilean refugees. Other National cities are also recolonised in the coming months, according to their former citizens' importance to the Republic.
____
9 August 2149 AD - First Europan settlers allowed on Earth. They chose Singapore for the Malacca strait and the seas. Public riot by Catholic and bioconservative Reclaimers throughout Jovian Republic.
20 November - Civilians and convicts allowed to settle Earth. They live in massive farming complexes mainly throughout the Midwest and Indus plains.
_____
05 May 2152 AD - Rome (Italia), and Washington - (New America) accepted as full members of the Republic. After election, their senators agitate for a change of capital to Earth. This was vetoed by the Security Council.
First conflicts of humankind post-Event:
Asteroid War: in which secessionists and anarchists tried to build a hidden habitat in the Mars-Jupiter asteroid field. Detected by SCI agents before their cornupacia machines come online.
Thousands died. Permanently, as recovered cortical stacks were destroyed irreparably by vengeful Space Force soldiers.
______
Chapter 1: Transported
25 December 2158 AD - First post-Event children eligible for conscription.
Aliens in ramshackle ships entered Sol.
13.50 UTC, 17 January 2159 AD-
Presidential Palace of the Sol Republic, Liberty Station (Jovian orbit)
"Mr. President, the alien fleet-leader is here." A nanosuited Secret Service agent announced to the Presidential Room.
President Gavin Brown sighs. "Here it goes, another X-risk. Though at least this one is a X-Ray situation, which we have already done once before." His assistant, a blonde Eurasian-looking splicer, nods. "Yes, Mr. President, I believe that this batch of aliens would be more willing to cooperate than the Slimes ever did."
He waves the SS agent away, secure in the safety of a post-THI interrogated sophont... And his confidential cortical stack, hidden by his suit collars. *Worst scenario, I'll just get reawakened from backup again.*
Brown refreshes his knowledge by requesting his Minder to summarise the data gleamed from the... Orgus interrogations.
It chimed inside his mind; *Orgus, scientific name pending, an alien nation that was destroyed by Umiak for being neutral. Refugee fleet arrived at Sol in Christmas 2158. Interned in Jovian system by 04 January 2159
Umiak, an insectoid-looking transspecies coalition in a decades-long war with telephatic Loroi. XXXXXXX speculates an Ultimatian imperial transhuman tendencies to the former, and infection of Watts-McLeod strain in the latter - but excuses themselves for lacking enough data.*
He see the weird alien in all its glory. Weird, but still makes sense. A natural form, unlike many morphs Exhumans have attempted back in the old days.
"Greetings, Trade Lord Urguak. I am Gavin Brown, the leader of humanity." *Words translated to Tradespeak*, his minder chimed in; and the sound coming out from his throat is - for lack of better world- alien.
"Master Gavin Brown!" the alien said, in perfect English of course. The scientists were through when they developed the cipher from the so-called Tradespeak and major human languages. "We surrender ourselves to you; whether to assist humanity, or to continue on to the void of space. We are at your service!"
The President of Humanity smiles, "Don't be so alarmed, mister Urguak. Our republic hold the rights of all natural-born sapients to in the highest regards, after all."
And, of course, the copying of FTL Jump Drive will at last make humanity resistant to extinction... Which is of upmost importance. Unlike the old Pandora Gates, this Jump Drive technology is made by mortals. Usable for mortals. And their information on "Galactic" weapons and technologies. The engineers over at Ganymedian universities seem to have cried foul over the existence of Defensive Screens, with the outrage becoming viral in the last few weeks. In the classified Mesh boards, of course.
He continues with the small-talk. "Are your people satisfied with the habitat we have given them over Martian orbit?"
It shake its head horizontally. *Orgus body language seem to use this as agreement* "Yes, our people are very thankful on our new <Home>. Although... There are some concerns about sustainability of our agriculture and maintenance, Master Brown. May we trade for those technology?"
*Reminder from XXXXXXX that any self-sufficiency on the part of Orgus would be non-optimal for the Republic and Humanity*
He smile broadly, eyes twinkling with amusement. ¨I'm sure it'll be easy to arrange... Now, though, please tell us about the greedy, deceitful Umiak... and the telepathic Loroi. I want to hear directly from you, good Orgus."
_________________
06.35 14 July 2160 AD
Naam System, 217 Light-Years from Sol.
Life always changes so quickly. An hour ago, we were woken up for "morning" shift. Nothing irregular seems to have occurred, even as we've reached the borders of Umiak and Loroi space. Well, former Loroi space, if what the decades-old Orgusian information are true.
I was born on Europa, but my family manage to emigrate to Earth in the early days. I remember the building of Singapore. House by house, buildings by buildings, highways and vac-tubes. Of course, they're still building it back there. But I know that my father and elder siblings are more at home in the warm seas, what with their gills and webbed feet. But God must understand that they have already repented of their deviancy from human form, right? Still, that gets me a few handicap in career advancement in the Republic Space Force - not that I care, for my only objective is to acquire Citizenship and help my family. But... Getting stationed in one of the few - sacrificial? - Frigates sent to scout, contact, or at least earn intelligence on the current state of the War is so troublesome.
And now I'm wasting oxygen. The Meshspace of the ship crew is dying as relays cut in and out. That last attack must have destroyed the auxiliary power line. The last public report wasn't good at all- we managed to mission-kill perhaps 2 or 3 ships that are near us, but ships from afar - more than one lightsecond! - still manage to attack us. And the defensive screens are unfair.
I engage my magnetic boots, and try to awaken Dahlia. She must be nearby - we held hands before that last impact. 20 seconds ago!
"Hey, hey, you promise to go back together to Earth with me. What about our families?" I muttered to the dark corridor. Why? I recognise that my body is in a panic attack. My Minder injected calming agent to my bloodstream, and I can think again.
Space Force standard operating procedure #42: get the blasted cortical stack for debriefing, and take care of the body.
I pray for Dahlia's soul, already back to her Creator, and cut open her helmet. There. And then I gracefully lifted her cold body to the vacuum of space.
"May your beauty be eternally preserved in the cold void of space..." I whisper, crying silently.
My oxygen level drops to 29%. I whisper prayers as I walk through the destroyed halls, trying to reach the Bridge. A silent journey, until I had a ping from a friendly object. Where? Ah, that tablet.
"Heeey! Can you rescue me?" A hologram jumped out. Figures, infomorphs can survive this kind of battle.
"AI. Access code KJ-403-AMN-98. Tell me everything."
"Ah, you should've put me in your Minder first - that way would be more efficient, but if you insist-
First, we are stuck in the middle part of the ship with zero online systems. Seems those green plasma bolts packed a hell up of a punch, even as we punch back. Last I've heard from the Ship AI is her mission-killing her fourth bogie. Second, nearly everyone else that I could reach are dead or dying. Ah, I see you have a dozen stacks there in your belt. Good.
Copy me to your augments and we need to find a way to report back to Liberty."
I grimace, but the infomorphs words make sense. Having a sophont Minder would be a much better force multiplier than just an automatic dumb one.
The transfer is fast - my augments were - like most others in this mission, unfortunately - top of the line, after all.
*There, it's much better this way, isn't it?*
Shut up, I thought to her, Let's just find a way to complete the mission so the sacrifices of all the... martyrs will not be squandered.
With the help of the infomorph - Flora is her name, poetic - I manage to get to the armoury, and with effort got in.
*Hey, remember your oxygen level is only 59% now!*
Okay. There are still many other oxygen tanks anyway. We were supposed to prepare for a 48-hour survival for all eighty crew of the ship anyway. How come I survive while Dahlia doesn't?
No, what's gone is gone. There is no turning back. She's with angels now.
When I arrive at the bridge, three soldiers in dark combat armour cluster around the room, wielding battle-rifles. With the captain sitting in his command chair, wielding a - Microwave Organizer?
*You are invited to CommandDeckBellarmine Meshspace. I accepted it for you.* The AI on my head says. I mentally nods and start to communicate.
Sir! You are still alive! I transmit to Captain Hamilton, who grimaced.
"Not for long. The bloody aliens killed us all. But Ensign Endo, you are undamaged? This must be a miracle from the Almighty!
Now, now, listen. You are the only survivor with the training for QEC. Go transmit my message to Sol Command."
Received an encrypted message from the Captain, reported Flora to my mind.
"And then, if you're able... We were able to contact SSV Aloysius and they're hiding behind one of the outer gas planet. With God's will, they'll be able to escape. I want you to Farcast my Shadow and this archive of our battle to them. With any luck, we would safeguard Humanity even after death."
"Yes, sir." I said
<The Captain Mesh-insert is damaged, but ours aren't. We will safeguard you until your mission is finished, then we'll engage self-destruction by shutting down the anti-matter containment system. Are you satisfied with this?> Sergeant Dostoevsky broadcasted to the Mesh network, with the other three concurring.
I shot back, <Of course. I know the risk. If these Aliens are in the same ballpark as the Orgus - other than their superior ranged weaponry -, then it'll be a disaster if they copy our superior techbase. Who's the engineer here?> As I fiddle with the QEC and use my (and Flora's) ID to authenticate the transmission. After that, I destroyed it.
<Ha! I like your cheek. Go get the Captain's pistol, we have no time to go to the Armory. Might help you before the end.>
Then they were gone, and so I look towards Hamilton's eyes, see his nod, and shoot him right in the head. Death. May God give you mercy and rewards in the Afterlife, Captain. This is not your fault.
While I cut around his neck's base to cut away his Cortical Stack, Flora says something,
*Isn't it hard for a mortal to choose death and the loss of his immortal soul? How could the Captain do that?*
I spy around, seeing no soldiers. Thinking a little bit... I decide to speak aloud in a whisper. "Well, it's his choice. May God forgive the man, and his soulless shadow." Powering up a transmission tight-beam and let it run using backup battery - *Thirty minutes, Endo.*- I send an updated SITREP to Aloysius, then started to transmit Hamilton's cortical stack towards that other ship. Three minutes of delay. Hopefully the Captain's memories won't be scrambled and help humanity eke out advantages against these warlike aliens. Even if it's a degenerated, soulless copy.
*Hey, don't be rude, that egocast is the same class of beings as I am!* whined a feminine voice directly to my brain.
I don't dignify it with a response.
But.. I'm thinking. There is still a few minutes of the battery left. Why not..?
I put Dahlia's cortical stack in the egocasting machine as well.
While her Shadow is transmitted back to SSV Aloysius, I can only think -- What would her family think of me, who doomed a reflection of her to exist in this world?
*Meh, they were the ones that put a Cortical Stack inside her head. I've checked, your ranks weren't high enough for that. In fact, how do you know she's really Dahlia and not a copy from the start?*
Shut up. I'm gonna rest and don't bother me for anything non-important.
<Hey! Head's up, we got boarders incoming.> Sergeant Dostoevsky transmitted through the wide band.
Boarders? Aliens! Flora, please send a signal to the bomb in the armory.
*Already done. Unf, what kind of Space Force AI do you think I am?*
Not bothering to respond to that, I closed the eyes of the captain, nods to everyone in the bridge. I got to the door, before shooting all the machinaries and corpses' heads. Better to avoid Fork interrogation. Who knows if they manage to emulate "human"like egos, the Factors certainly could... right? It's times like this I wish the academy curriculum was more broad.
I pulled up a mental image of the ship layout - huh, Flora has already mapped up a most probable layout after the bisection of the vessel.
*Ah, thanks! Nice to see my efforts appreciated.*
I transmitted <Where are the aliens boarding from?> to the Meshspace, earning panicked transmissions from the soldiers. <Aft-side! We're busy sabotaging the antimatter system - protect the bridge with your life, Ensign Endo! For Humanity!>
I begin making a makeshift barricade at the end of the hallway, and ready my Microwaver. Hmm, why is it stuck in less-lethal mode? ... This is fate, I guess. At least there will be no witnesses to this shame.
*Except me, you big dumb idiot! I told you to take another rifle! Or at least a shotgun!*
Shut up, okay? My hand was full, after all.
... It's been minutes since I last heard from the soldiers. What happened?
*Be careful Endo! I've just analysed a Mesh ping that was corrupted-* What? *And Sergeant Dostoevsky said that the aliens have personal shields and tractor beams! If you forgot, that means they can push and pull things - and bullets - from a distance!*
Damn.. If a half-squad of soldiers managed to get wiped out by these aliens, what could I do? Still...
There, I spy an alien... and it look like a human? *No, it's an alien! There's no transponder on it.*
A bronze-coloured battlesuit and helmet. It's equipped for zero-gee, zero atmo combat, I guess. So I shoot it, and the Microwave beam actually knocked it out.
*Seems the "shield" are useless against microwaves!* Flora reports, while additional aliens and potential hit target rate are calculated by her and my augments.
Good. I ready for another shot, but...!
My Pulser was thrown away from my grasp.
*Endo! It's... telekinesis?*
I was too surprised to react when a leg kicked me, and fall.
*Damnit! You cracked the helmet. You're going to die of Hypoxia in 20 seconds!*
Better to make my life spent well, then.
I grasped the alien's pasty blue legs, forcing it to ground, and begin wailing on it. Using my right hand, I use my unnatural strength and start to choke its neck. I can see its eyes. Gemstone green, with light shining as if with bioluminensce.
I smiled, as I can see the end coming.
*Three, two... Goodbye, Endo. May Humanity endures on Earth, forever.*
Asyh-
BLACK
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