Chapter 83

Tim sat in his office, taking a moment to reflect on the events of his morning. At 4:00 AM, I woke up and Tabitha enjoyed her breakfast in bed. Later, I headed to Fitness Room 512 to get in a workout. Afterward, I joined the commander and her troops. After finishing the five-mile run, I went back to shower with Deniece. I have arrived at my office. Decent for today.

“Sarha,” Tim called.

“Yes, Tim. What can I assist you with today?” She appeared to his right side.

“Could you kindly give me an update on the current progress of the fairy world? Then, I believe I’ll proceed with the morning reports.”

“Tim, the fairies returned safely to their village, the clones are laying out plans for three buildings for the visitors to stay in, along with a building for the soldiers and the clones.”

Tim nodded his head and then diligently collected the morning reports from every department and meticulously recorded his observations.

Tim asked, “Sarha have you received any updates on your sister ships.”

“After carefully analyzing the vapor trail, I can confidently state that its thickness is increasing. Furthermore, her pace has significantly slowed down, even though the cause of this change remains unknown.”

“Kindly keep me updated on any changes.” Tim stood up and headed towards Deck 5. “Sarha, can you set up a meeting with Deniece and Miss C at the beach on Deck 5?”

“Yes, they’ve already arrived.” She vanished, leaving her words hanging in the air.

Tim casually walked onto the beach and observed Deniece and Miss C already having a great time on the sand, and he headed toward the two of them.

He started taking off his clothes, then he lay his towel down and glanced at the two. He inquired about the current state of affairs.

Miss C smiled, “Things are going smoothly now that we are away from work.” At the same time, she turned her eyes to Tim.

Deniece turned to Tim and said, “Tim, the headteacher, wanted to express gratitude for your role in coordinating the visit from the fairies the other day. The children are completely captivated by it and can’t seem to stop gushing about them.”

Tim’s face beamed with pride and joy. His primary objective was to bring joy to Wendy and the other children at school. The recent visit from the fairy was just one of many that he hoped would encourage a sense of togetherness among the children.

Deniece and Miss C sat up and leaned back, their hands supporting them as they chatted. Deniece mentioned that Bell invited Wendy to visit her village.

That’s fantastic news! Unfortunately, she is currently unable to go there. We should conduct a comprehensive search of the village to make sure no pirates are hiding nearby. Tim gazed up at the expanse above the water. He inquired, “Sarha, what is the reason behind the dark ceiling over the water?”

“Tim, our objective is to create an authentic beach experience for people. Perceptions of the weather can vary from day to day. The lights illuminating the sand will forever radiate warmth and brightness.”

“Tim, I must say, it’s a truly brilliant idea. The beach comes alive.” Miss C responded. “It’s like being transported to a tropical paradise; I can’t wait to see how it looks at night!”

“Yes, the nighttime ambiance is truly magical. We’ve even added the sound effects of crashing waves to enhance the experience.” Replied Sarha.

“Tim, why did you want us to meet you here?” asked Deniece.

Tim sat there and stared at the water before looking back at them. Then he said, “I need to discuss something important with you.” He looked at both of them with a chuckle.

Before he could say a thing, they heard, “Red Alert, Red Alert, this is not a drill.”

Tim called, “Sarha!”

Sarha appeared next to Tim and the girls. “Tim, there is an incoming distress call. It seems that the Red Ants are back.”

Tim stood, dressed, and headed to the bridge. “Called the commanders.” He said as he ran to the lift.

Deniece and Miss C exchanged worried glances before following Tim to the lift. As they hurriedly made their way, Deniece couldn’t help but wonder what the return of the Red Ants meant.

Tim paused at the lift and said to Deniece, “I need you to look after the children. I’ll catch up with you later, I want to see what’s going on.”

Tim rushed to the bridge, where the commanders eagerly awaited his arrival. He settled into the captain’s seat and exclaimed, “All right, let’s see what we’ve got!”

The screen lit up, revealing a colossal mother ship belonging to the Red Ants. There were five hundred other ships around it.

Tim looked at the pilot and asked, “There did they come from?”

Mayio said, “Tim, we just entered this system, and they were here.”

Tim ask, “What system is this?”

“Someone named it, The Talmler system, according to the database, the name is over five hundred years old.”

Areyaka stepped onto the bridge and asked, “Is there anything I can help you with?”

“Yes, this is the third time we’ve come across these things,” Tim remarked to her. “Try hacking into their systems to discover where they’ve been. I want any information you can provide.”

Areyaka turned and headed to the TOC room and her special computer system.

He turned to the commanders, I want two of you to take cloaked shuttles and as many soldiers as needed to take the mother ship. The other commander will be ready to take any ship that Areyaka finds with prisoners on it, to free them.

The commanders turned and moved quickly to the lift. Tim said, “TOC, Pauline, Are you there?”

“Tim, everything is ready here. The probes are on their way, and the minefield is being prepared behind them. We have about one thousand starfighters on standby. The defense weapons are ready for use.”

“I want cloaked probes close to the mother ship. I want to see what is going on. Send as many as needed.”

“They are on their way as we speak.” A voice said in return.

“I want the shuttles and Tarkeetta’s ship to move to our left and coordinate their fire from that side. Under no condition will anyone fire upon the mother ship. Everyone will stay cloaked until I give the word.”

Tim watched the monitor and saw a ship approach the mother ship, and watched it dock. He knew what was in the ship and hated to wait. He could not attack the ship while they were transferring prisoners.

“Pauline, put everything on hold until the transfer is finished, and we find out if there are any more prisoners,” Tim said to TOC.

“Tim, things have been put on hold; the probes are on the mother ship, near the engines.” The other probes have been installed on the other ships. There is also a minefield between us and them.”

“Tim, I have found another ship with prisoners. It is in line to unload. The rest of the ships are warships.” Areyaka stated.

“Have you taken control of any of the ships?” Tim sat there staring at the scream.

“Yes, I have two ships, one a destroyer, the other a missile launcher. I am downloading all the files, now.”

“How much control?”

“Will have total control when you want. Engine and weapons will be at your command.”

“Take the destroyer and play with it.”

“Tim, I stumbled upon something. They have successfully developed a method for transferring data or communication. High-frequency electromagnetic waves are utilized. It’s known as Hyperwave Transmission.” Areyaka said with a smile, feeling a sense of accomplishment as she thought, ’I finally did something that makes me feel like I belong here.”

“Are there any plans or instructions?” Tim inquired.

“Indeed, I possess both of them. Continuing to explore if there are any other possibilities.”

“Good work, keep it up.”

“Sir, I appear to be encountering some difficulties with my controls. It appears that they have little regard for proper behavior,” the pilot of the Ant’s destroyer began shouting at the captain.

“What are you referring to? They have been functioning smoothly for the past twenty-five years. If you cannot fulfill your responsibilities, I will find someone else who can.”

“Yes, sir.” With precision, he gently returned his hands to the control panel, smoothly pulling the speed lever towards him to gradually slow down the ship and bring it to a complete stop.

Pauline carefully observed her panels and closely monitored the actions of the pilot. She skillfully manipulated the controls to enhance the ship’s velocity.

She quietly contemplated what would happen next, a mischievous smile playing on her lips.

She quickly pulled the lever back, causing the ship to slow down and everyone thrust forward.

“What the fuck are you doing?” the captain asked as he rose from the floor and walked over to the pilot. Placing his top two hands around the pilot’s head and lifting him off his seat.

“But, sir, I didn’t do it. The controls are malfunctioning.” As he uttered those words, the ship surged forward.

The captain, seeing that the pilot hadn’t touched the controls, released the pilot’s head, and said, “Call maintenance and get someone up here now.” He returned to his seat, narrowed his eyes, and stared at the pilot, waiting to see if he did anything else.

“Sir,” a voice crackled over the intercom. “The bay doors are opening on their own. Do you give your authorization for it?”

“What are you referring to? Why would I ever give my authorization to something like that?” The captain pondered the situation, his brow furrowed in confusion.

The pilot on the mother ship carefully observed the area, ensuring everything was under control. He soon noticed that one of the destroyers was behaving strangely. He attempted to contact them but received no response.

He turned to his captain and said, “Sir, destroyer number Delta 67452 is exhibiting unusual behavior, and we are receiving no response.”

“When was the last time we heard from them?”

“They checked in with the last call, about twelve hours ago. Sir.”

“It appears that they are encountering a certain problem. Remain alert for any signs of trouble. How is the progress going with the transfer of food for the queen?”

“The last ship will be arriving soon. I anticipate the completion of the transfer before the conclusion of my shift.”

“Once the final harvester ship has been emptied and resupplied, send them back out. The queen requires a substantial amount of food.”

“Excuse me, have you received any information from your source regarding the arrival of any significant vessels in this vicinity?”

“Oh, no. He will be calling shortly. He goes through the credits at an astonishing rate. He will be released soon. The act of betraying one’s kind for personal gain, despite the inevitable dire consequences they would face as food for our queen, is truly difficult to comprehend.”

“It’s baffling how someone can betray their species. I would never be able to accomplish such a task. I suppose that’s why we are the superior race.”

“That’s correct, now I’ll be going to my quarters. Kindly inform me in advance of the departure of the harvester ships.”

“Sir, it appears that the control panels are operating as expected.” It seems like the problem is connected to the software. The chief maintenance officer remarked as he rose from the floor. “Upon thorough inspection of every circuit board, no problems have been detected.”

The captain pondered the problem while seated in his chair. He glanced at the pilot and suggested, “Perhaps we should attempt one more time before contacting the commander to inform them of the issue.”

The pilot shifted his attention back to the control panel, studying it intently. He thought, ’If this doesn’t work, the captain is going to kill me.’ With utmost caution, he extended his hand towards the lever, his entire being filled with anticipation. Gradually, he lowered the lever, his every nerve tingling with tension. He was optimistic about his work.

The ship moved forward with a steady glide. The pilot’s eyes widened, and his heart settled back into a steady rhythm. He let out a soft sigh and cast a glance over his shoulder at the captain. A small grin on the captain’s face brought a sense of relief.

The ship came to a stop, and he calmly waited for further instructions.

Tim watched attentively from his seat, taking in the sight of the final harvester ship as it gracefully docked with the mother ship. With unwavering confidence, he proclaimed, “Once that ship leaves the mother ship and before it can leave, our assault will begin.”

They observed the numerous other ships and noticed that they created a defensive barrier around the mother ship. The missile ships were the closest to the mother ship. Next come the battle crafts, destroyers, and corvettes.

Tim knew that this would be a tough fight. “Sarah, could you kindly reach out to Shanae and request her presence at the bridge?”

Before long, Shanae reached the bridge. “Tim, do you require any assistance?” she asked. She remained steadfastly by his side, in serene silence. Upon glancing at the screen, she quickly noticed the presence of the ships. “Are those the ships of the ants?”

“Yes. There are over five hundred ships shielding the mother ship. Additionally, more prisoners have been recently transferred. We must take immediate action to rescue them.”

“Has Pauline started laying the cloaked mines between us and them?” She asked, as she took a closer look at the ships and how they were placed. The ships seemed strategically positioned. As she observed the intricate arrangement, a sense of unease crept over her, realizing the potential danger lurking out there.”

Shanae inquired with Tim about the possibility of inviting Captain Mike and Sherald to attend a meeting. Continuing her observation of the Ant ships and the formation they were in, she asked Tim, “Are we planning to eliminate all the ships?”

“Yes, they are causing harm to our people, just like the others have in the past. The memory of some of the faces the other individual on board is still fresh in my mind. The slide and the events unfolding around it are etched in my memory.”

“Captain, did you need us here for something?” Captain Mike wanted to know as soon as he stepped onto the bridge.

They went up to Shanae and waited patiently for Tim to make his request during their conversation. When Tim glanced away from the screen, he did so with a sense of urgency in his gaze. “Yes, I need you both to gather your crews for an emergency.” Their interest was piqued as they pondered what might have inspired such a rapid call to action, and Captain Mike and Sherald exchanged anxious looks with one another over the matter.

Tim extended an invitation, asking, “We need to go to my office.” He turned and started walking in that direction, with Shanae closely following behind. He comfortably eased into his chair and kindly said, “Please, have a seat. This might take a while.”

As everyone watched Tim, he anxiously grasped the skin at his throat and exclaimed, “The Ants are causing trouble once again. There are five hundred ships and a significantly larger vessel. Two harvester ships had just delivered their cargo of additional individuals, intended as food for their queen.”

Sherald inquired about the possibility of additional ships arriving to provide assistance. She sat there, softly caressing her pants leg.

“No, we will have to handle this on our own.” Tim sat there, shaking his head in disbelief.

Mike glanced at the others and inquired, “Can we, do it?”

Shanae looked at him with unwavering confidence and stated, “I am fully confident in our capacity to achieve this!” Observing others to assess their reactions.

Tim glanced at them and said, “It appears that we have no choice but to move forward. There are numerous lives at stake.” He firmly planted both hands on his desk and stood up. “I’ve observed the destructive capabilities of these creatures, and it’s anything but positive.”

Everyone stared at Tim. They had never seen him this way. A steely determination had taken the place of his usually calm demeanor. The room fell silent as they realized the gravity of the situation and the weight of their responsibility.

Tim sat down and said, “I’m sorry for that. It pisses me off just thinking about what those individuals are going through.”

Tim’s words hung heavy in the air as his anger and frustration resonated with everyone in the room. The urgency of the situation became even more apparent, and a collective determination to find a solution filled the space. They knew they had to act swiftly and decisively to protect those whose lives were at risk.

Shanae suggested that relocating Captain Mike and Sherald’s ship to the left side could improve their chances, as Tim had mentioned earlier. She believed that this strategic move would provide them with a better advantage during the battle. Additionally, Shanae pointed out that Tim’s previous observation about the left side being less vulnerable to enemy attacks further supported her suggestion.

Once a pathway to the mother ship is established, ten MST shuttles will proceed to dock with it. A formidable force of a thousand soldiers with new suits and weapons will be deployed. Their mission: to advance towards the mother ship and eliminate every last ant that stands in their way. Tim and his special team were heading towards the queen.

Their objective was to neutralize the queen and disable her control over the shredding machinery, ensuring the safe return of all individuals.

After all that is done, the mother ship will be destroyed.

Captain Mike and Sherald quickly returned to their ships, gathering their crews, and getting ready for the upcoming battle. The atmosphere crackled as they carefully evaluated their plans and double-checked their weapons. The crew members were highly conscious of the importance of their roles, which fueled their resolute determination to emerge victorious in the impending confrontation.

Tim and Shanae engage in a discussion regarding the imminent fight within Tim’s office. He planned to trust her with the ship’s protection, as he and the girls would depart alongside the soldiers. After Shanae had given her approval, Tim needed to gather his team of girls for a meeting.

Tim called a quick team meeting, ensuring that Tabitha, Tammy, Pauline, Tawni, and Connie were all coming. As they entered, he couldn’t help but feel a surge of confidence, knowing that they were the best team for the job. With their unique abilities, Tim knew they would be instrumental in freeing as many individuals as possible.

Tim was seated at his desk while the others patiently awaited the start of the meeting. Tim announced, “Ladies, we have another mission for this team. There appears to be a concerning issue with ants taking over the space-liners in this area. We have received an urgent distress call, and they need our immediate assistance.

The women exchanged glances before Tabitha inquired, “Tim, when do we leave?” Tim looked at his watch and replied, “We leave in exactly one hour.”

“Everything is prepared for our departure,” Tim responded. The women nodded, rose, and left to get their gear. “Ladies, please gather at the MTS in one hour.”

Tim returned to the bridge, after getting his things together. He was informed that the second harvester ship was leaving,

“Ensure that it does not leave the system. Begin your assault without delay! “ Tim confidently asserted, using his command voice.

Shanae assumed control of the TOC, declaring to everyone, “Attention, it’s time to commence the attack. Mike, you, and Sherald, please start with the corvettes on the left side. All Starfighters, prepare for launch. Shuttles, get ready to launch when I give the order.” Shanae efficiently issued the commands to activate the probes located near the engines of the Ant’s ships.

Shanae confidently grasped the microphone, surveying her surroundings. “The moment has arrived,” she declared. “It’s time to reveal ourselves and initiate the assault. May fortune smile upon us all and may we all return unharmed.”

A thousand starfighters were released from the ship, all of them unmanned. The pilots were stationed in the bays, manning their control booths. Both contentedly navigating their paths, free from any concerns of perishing.

The crew of each pilot stood next to their respective starfighters, ready to assist if anything were to happen to the first. The new control molecule would be inserted and sent on its way once more. Each Starfighter pilot had three ships, to be manned, if needed.

Mike and Sherald quickly revealed themselves and immediately launched a fierce attack on the nearest Corvette. They knew that a mere five or six nano-bot shells would be sufficient for each enemy ship. If both were firing on the same vessel, it would go much faster. They decided to terminate and then shift to their right for the next craft.

While engaging with the next ship. The first ship was closely observed to ensure that the nano-bots were effectively consuming the other vessel. A set of guns would continue targeting that ship until it was fully engulfed in flames.

Despite facing heavy fire, they managed to withstand the attacks thanks to their advanced shields and reliable shield generators. The attacks were proving ineffective.

Areyaka skillfully regained control of the two ships, redirecting the destroyer towards another enemy vessel and unleashing a relentless barrage of fire.

“Sir, our destroyer is engaging friendly vessels.” The pilot exclaimed; his expression filled with disbelief as he witnessed the scene before him.

The captain witnessed the unfolding events and exclaimed, “Those traders! Return fire and eliminate those bastards!”

The pilot sent the captain’s commands to the other ships close to the vessel. When three ships opened fire on the destroyer, it was swiftly destroyed.

It was reported to the communications officer on the mother ship that two of their spacecrafts had gone rogue and were shooting at their fellowships. Additionally, the communications officer received additional reports stating that something was wrong, that their ships were no longer operating, and that there were a large number of starfighters headed in their way.

Areyaka couldn’t help but smile to herself. She currently had two destroyers engaged in combat with one another. The missile carrier played a crucial role in supplying the necessary missiles to the ships behind the mother ship. They could cause a problem for Tim and the soldiers. Areyaka inputs the necessary commands to activate the firing mechanism, targeting any approaching ships from behind the mother vessel.

The destroyer stationed at the rear received orders to move forward. As it began to comply, the captain noticed seven missiles rapidly approaching. Caught off guard, he found himself completely unprepared as the missiles mercilessly tore his ship apart within seconds.

The missile craft was subjected to intense fire from the other Ants ships that were located close to it. Areyaka decided to launch the remaining missiles, which, she directed toward the few ships that were positioned behind the mother ship.

Areyaka, while controlling the two vessels, was also breaking into the mothership control program. This would allow her to stop the other ships from fighting and gain full control over the entire fleet. With her expertise in hacking, Areyaka swiftly bypassed the security measures, ensuring that she could manipulate the mothership’s commands and disable any aggressive actions from the other vessels.

Sending out the command to stop fighting, Areyaka watched as the other ships immediately ceased their aggressive actions, creating a momentary pause in the chaos of battle. With a sense of satisfaction, she knew she now had the power to dictate the outcome of the entire fleet’s actions. However, she also understood that maintaining control over the vessels would require constant vigilance and strategic maneuvering. She hoped that all ship captains would be obedient to the mother ship and refrain from questioning the cease-fighting orders.

The fact that it would only take one captain to start thinking independently and questioning the grounds for the decision to withdraw the combat order was something that she was well aware of.

The enemy vessels were bombarded with a relentless storm of nanoshells from Sarah’s ship that were hindering the shuttlecraft’s route to the Ant’s mother ship.

While the TOC continued to fire in the direction of the mother ship, the Ant ships that were going in the direction of Tim’s shuttles became the targets of their fire. Following the completion of the first pathway, Shanae instructed the gunners to begin the process of expanding the pathway. This was done after the first route had been completed. She put a strong premium on making certain that none of the shuttles were in any kind of potentially hazardous situation.

The lead shuttle began to come under fire; it immediately broadcasted a need for assistance. A shell struck the shuttle’s engine, igniting a fire that spread throughout the vehicle. The pilot and the co-pilot both loosened their seatbelts and made their way to the MTS. Once there, they were able to safely jump through the aperture. Following that, the shuttle detonated.

Shanae had listened to the pilots while they made their escape and was thankful that they both had made it to the MTS. In accordance, Shanae gave the gunners the command to significantly expand the breadth of the route. She intended to dispatch the starfighters to guarantee the security of the shuttles. Because they were devoid of pilots, she would use them as kamikaze starfighters in her operations.

Jewel, who served as the liaison between the TOC and the starfighters, received a call from Shanae. According to her explanation, she desired for the starfighters to fly twenty meters away from the shuttle and to have six of them fully around the shuttle. That way, the starfighters can and will take the hit, not the shuttle.

Jewel turned and walked confidently towards the control table. She observed that six shuttles were on their way to the Ant’s mothership. She noticed that one had already been shot down. She chose twenty-four pilots and immediately called them, instructing them to return.

Effectively utilizing the communication channels, she provided clear instructions to the pilots regarding their tasks and the shuttles they were responsible for safeguarding. The final six individual starfighters would patiently await the arrival of the new shuttle craft and accompany it as it departs from the bay.

Jewel strategically placed an additional twenty starfighters along the pathway to the Ant’s mothership. This measure was taken to ensure that in the event of any starfighter being damaged, a replacement would be readily available.

“Captain, the rogue destroyer has been destroyed, ... but sir, ... a message from the mother ship. It’s telling us to stop fighting.”

The captain turned and looked at the pilot, his face contorted with a mix of shock and disbelief.

He thought, ‘Why would they give such an order? Did the higher-ups know something? He weighed the consequences of following the mother ship’s command versus continuing to fight.’

He quickly glanced at the communications officer and urgently exclaimed, “Get the Fleet Commander for me!” I’m curious to know who is giving this command.”

“Sir, I cannot raise the mothership.”

“Open all channels,” The captain said, “We need to continue this fight. There is something wrong with the mothership.”

“Sir, channels are open.”

“This is Captain Madaat, despite the unresponsiveness of the mothership, we shall press on in the midst of battle.”

After hearing this, Areyaka understood that the battle would continue. She continued her activities of hacking other ships and manipulating them to work against their own.

The MTS shuttles gracefully approached the Ant’s mother ship and smoothly landed two each into a bay. As soon as the shuttle landed, the doors swung open, and the soldiers sprinted out.

The moment the soldiers stepped out, they immediately spotted a few ants and began shooting at them. The large bay doors at the end of the bay swung open, unleashing a relentless stream of ants flooding into the bay.

The soldiers were caught off guard by this unforeseen twist and swiftly withdrew to the secure confines of the shuttle. The shuttle gracefully departed the bay and calmly awaited further instructions.

With all shuttles outside of the mothership and unable to land, the situation becomes quite challenging. Tim was informed by the pilots about the updated conditions.

Tim stood there trying to think of how to fight this large number of ants and keep the soldiers safe.

Tawni confidently approached Tim and asked, “Could the nano-bots take the lead and eradicate half of the ants?”