Chapter 25

I gathered the shield squad as well as several of the explosives that were spare from our earlier attempt. We then placed them behind our shields as we moved into a triangular formation. I then ordered the GF Troopers to make a feigned retreat which left our formation exposed, though we held off being pushed back until I felt the right moment had come. We all then raised our shields slightly and took a step back. Then I set off the explosives, relying on the grav-shielding to project it outwards and forwards into the aliens.

Because of the open area, there was no danger to the ship itself and the resulting explosion cleared away a good chunk of the aliens attacking us and enabled the Troopers to advance to where the barrier had been.

“Right,” I pointed out. “You know how it’s done, off you go!”

“Sir!” the Senior Monitor replied with a salute as the advance continued and I moved up to where the Meditechs were working and pitched in with some of the injuries from the advance across the open space.

“Well done again, Healer Kiria,” Gust praised me.

“It’s like having to relearn old style tactics and arms,” I commented thoughtfully. “I’m pretty sure from conversations I’ve had with my Dad that old style armies used to have a variety of weapons capable of taking down groups. Not modern battles with hyperbeams and occasional hand-to-hand to subdue opponents, but what we have now, a few pellet weapons and polearms ... plus the bomblets we introduced.”

“The second replenishment fleet is apparently bringing some heavy-duty pellet weapons capable of taking out the bigger aliens,” he nodded. “But you’re right, we’ve forgotten or lost so much in the way we used to do these things ... if we ever knew.”

The Hegemony flotilla had finally punched through to the two Missile Carriers and were defending them as two Fleet Tenders reloaded their stocks of missiles. Elsewhere the battle was coming to a climax as the aliens’ ability to fight off an Imperial Fleet had come to a crashing close. Nor had any alien vessel escaped, or surrendered.

“Not an easy win,” Clessik spoke to Hassat over a tri-dee connection.

“Indeed not, and not over yet either,” Hassat nodded.

“True, though the main objective now is finding out what that craft we boarded contains.”

“I’m surprised they haven’t blown it up.”

“We do not believe they have ever been in a situation to need to ... the larger craft that is. Certainly a good few of the smaller ones have tried to ram our ships as well as set off various atomics,” Clessik replied.

“Interesting theory,” Hassat nodded.

“True, and that’s all it is, just guesswork off the alien reactions.”

“Yes, there’s no indication as yet that they can communicate ... or want to.”

“Which may mean we’ll need to wipe them all out.”

“I know, with the attendant risk they’ll fight all the harder,” Hassat sighed.

‘It is almost over.’ The senior intelligence informed what few intelligences were left.

‘We are aware,’ the reply came back instantaneously.

‘I have purged the archives and set the crew to destroy the artefacts from previous culls,’ the creature also informed them.

‘That such treasures will be lost forever,’ came a wistful reply.

‘Far better that than allow the prey to gloat over them or the heaven of the master’s creation be betrayed,’ the senior chided.

‘Mayhap it would have been better to have left this prey to their own devices.’

‘We serve the masters! They command, we obey!’ the senior hit back, shocked at the almost heresy.

‘Yet where has this brought us?’

‘True.’

With our wounded healed, or sent to the medical station for evac, Gust and I followed the line of the Troopers advance as they fought the aliens.

“Delaying actions,” Gust commented with a frown.

“I was thinking the same,” I nodded.

“Wonder what they are up to, though it’s not like we can hurry things up.”

“Hiding the evidence, probably,” I shrugged.

“Yes, most likely,” he nodded as the Senior Monitor led in another attack and I moved forwards to help the wounded.

Taisha studied the various reports and proposals from the Realms surrounding the Trenoc Alliance. All showed the usual greed of humanity in trying to get something for nothing, some better than others, naturally. Yet this did not put her off her task of sorting out the Empire’s needs, humanity was humanity after all ... or rather governments and organisations were. Mostly she was looking for the various ores that could be refined and converted into the alloy corrillium. The refining wasn’t a problem, the various orbital installations in the Tafta system could handle the amounts coming in from the surrounding Realms, the problem was the number of ‘spies’ the AIs were detecting trying to search out Imperial technology and generally making a nuisance of themselves.

“Director Elloson wishes a moment of your time,” the AI announced.

“Send him in,” Taisha replied, knowing at least that the Florven Technocracy was mostly honest in their dealings with the Empire.

“Greetings, Meritocrat,” Elloson began.

“Greetings, Director. How may I assist you?”

“The Technocracy has informed me that the various ores you required are on their way,” he reported to her.

“That is good news. It’s pleasant to see at least one of the surrounding Realms keeps their word,” Taisha replied drolly.

“Ah, discovering the joys of dealing with diplomats who are actually spies and who are simply looking out for their home Realm?” Elloson chuckled.

“Yes, they appear to believe they can lie to me about what their Realm can send, asking for some technology in advance as a down payment ... naturally.”

“The Technocracy can be of a similar manner, however we discovered early from Admiral Hratt that your AIs know when we’re lying, hence decided to be scrupulously honest with the Empire,” he admitted with a smile.

“When the ores arrive, the Empire will cede title to all the Trenocian worlds, except for Tafta, to the Technocracy,” Taisha confirmed, knowing this was the real reason Elloson had called.

“Thank you. It’s been a pleasure dealing with the Empire ... quite refreshing too...” he finished with a smile.

“It’s been a pleasure dealing with the Technocracy too, particularly with regards to your intelligence assessments,” Taisha replied.

“Ah yes, no doubt in regards to some of our more ... belligerent neighbours,” he chuckled.

“Yes, the AI network is quite aware of any who attempt to break into our secure areas, as well as those attempting to tap into our networks.”

“Any clues as to which Realms?”

“Most, if not all. However the largest attempt appears to be being made by the Ilmainian kingdom,” Taisha replied with a frown.

“Ah, yes. They are somewhat troublesome, though until these aliens arrived, the Technocracy had them tied down to the extent they could not expand by means of war.”

“The Empire uses a similar methodology ... or rather used to. We now mostly are too large to ‘upset’ and used terraforming to expand our demesne internally. Though we have taken worlds in reparations for acts of war against us.”

“Terraforming?” Elloson asked, suddenly looking very interested indeed.

“We use gigantic ships to convert useful, if uninhabitable, planets and moons to human norms.”

“Isn’t the cost prohibitive?”

“Not really, most of it is just time consuming and making tailored algae that introduce oxygen into a reducing atmosphere; then plant life and, finally, animals.”

“We have a large number of planets with a reducing atmosphere within the Technocracy. Such technology would be worth the cost, I believe. Do you sell it or hire it out?”

“Considering the distance, I doubt hiring one would work. The process takes a minimum of ten of our years and the crew would probably wish to rotate home,” Taisha replied thoughtfully. “Nor do your people have the technological and biological skills to operate one, yet. There would also be the issue of payment.”

“That’s true. So far all we have done is barter,” Elloson conceded.

“Still, I’ll discuss it with her Serenissima and see if we can find a way to arrange something, even if it is taking a few of your people and training them whilst selling you one.”

“With your relay link, communication is not a problem.”

“I’m told that experience counts for the majority of skills needed, not education, I’m afraid,” Taisha replied thoughtfully.

“We’ll await your reply with interest then,” Elloson nodded.

King Rentap listened with ever growing frustration to the report coming from his Head of Ilmainian Espionage, yet stayed silent until it was over. Patience was not one of his virtues, however, he had learned not to react until he had all the details to hand.

“So, essentially we know nothing except what they wanted the Florveni to know?” he asked with glittering eyes.

“Correct, Sire. Their AIs prevented any access to sealed information and tracked and arrested any of our agents who attempted to steal their technology or data,” Jolip replied firmly, knowing the King would react badly to any sign of prevarication.

“What of a kidnap attempt?”

“We could not get near any of their high officials and I rather doubt any of their lower order would contribute anything significant to our records.”

“Pointless attacking one of their fleets either, I presume?”

“Considering what they did to Crown Prince Vislan’s fleet, no. Plus, they now have four fleets and I’m informed another two are on their way.”

“Seems like we have no choice but to open negotiations upon this parole they requested for our prisoners of war.”

“It is a strange concept, Sire,” Jolip replied.

“It is, but it does save them having to feed and house their captives,” Rentap mused. “Plus, if necessary, we can always use them as cannon fodder at least to further an attack on this Empire.”

“Their conditions did say if we did that those lives would automatically be forfeit...” Jolip replied carefully.

“As we would be committing an act of war upon them, it matters not.”

“A war we’d likely lose, Sire.”

“Hmmm, yes.”

“Still, we could always call them planet raiders.”

“Indeed. Let me consider it for a few days. Begin negotiations for their release ... oh, and the execution of Vislan for failing in his duty.”

“Yes, Sire.”

“We appear to have reached the inner ring,” I commented to Gust as we observed, via an AI operated nanite scanner. fixed guard positions awaiting our advance.

“Any thoughts?” he asked.

“Use stemmed bomblets to take out the aliens and then rush them,” I said after a few rotation’s consideration.

“Well, the pressure’s off. The last alien vessel has been destroyed, so take your time,” he nodded.

“Yes, sir,” I replied and beckoned a Monitor over.

After explaining what I wanted, the Monitor gathered several bomblets and, with my aid, attached the stems to them. Meanwhile, the Troopers he’d selected removed the pellets from the case they were attached to to make up the blank rounds we needed. The bomblets were then set to either proximity or impact detonation and inserted in the barrel of the pellet firers.