Chapter 19: Attack!

Horti ran to catch up with her friends and family near the portal.

“How many did you spot today?” Sammy asked as they stepped out at the VIP portal on Charassa.

“I saw ten different people watching me,” said Horti. “They know something is going on.”

Several bugs met them and led them through several secure portals. They undressed and changed into their bug bodies. After many more portal transitions, the troops took them to an army base. They gave Horti and her friends rooms usually allocated to visiting dignitaries and then took them to a meeting room.

Horti’s parents and grandparents left to spend the weekend on Orma Chatzke’s family estate. Horti was sure an army would guard the estate. Orma Chatzke was angry and wouldn’t be caught out again.

A colonel in armor led them to a meeting room. The Zaos colonel was sitting near Horti, but a Zaos general spoke.

“This mission was many months in the planning, and today we implement our program of action. Two of our most skilled agents who attempted to infiltrate the Naturalista disappeared. They are expecting something but do not know what.

“Gen. Eusmil Varshtein’s aide, Col. Senka Kemel, has disappeared. The General has surrounded herself with several regiments of her troops, and her fleet circles Dinnio Prime like a predator threatening devastating retaliation.

“How will the Dinnion Military resupply themselves if the General blocks supply?” Asked a distinguished Uzliumbax General.”

“We worked with the Queen to clear out Naturalistas from the top echelons of the military,” a Collective Admiral explained. We secretly implemented an alternate supply chain using our software and AIs. We have fleets hidden nearby. The Empire will support the Dinnion and assist if necessary. We knew General Vandran would eventually be alerted to our actions or probes. They know they are under investigation after capturing our people,” said Collective Intelligence Admiral Adm. Migpal Diclakclofsas.

“We discovered and incarcerated tens of thousands of Naturalistas in the last few days. We suspect we have some of their senior leaders in our custody but have yet to separate them from the others,” said an Uzliumbax general.

“All the civilizations in the Empire apart from the Azloc and the Una have discovered cells of Naturalista. The Empire is tense and has increased the alert following the bombs in Vendaska and several other cities.”

“When do we begin the cyber-attack?” Asked a fierce, tall Orc Admiral with magnificent tusks.

“We began our attack two days ago. Our new software is superb, and we penetrated the big AI and the General’s computer without detection. We began immediately after Kemel confronted Horti. They knew something was happening; there was no reason to delay,” said Adm. Migpal Diclakclofsas. “Professor, please comment on what you found.”

Kareg strode purposefully to the podium. “We quickly confirmed General Eusmil Varshtein could shut down the supply of anything to whomever she wished. I worked with Porquenta to block the General. She issued the command to stop supply to the military on Dinnio Prime. She believes she succeeded.”

“Can you get into her AI, Kareg?”

“We penetrated her AI but could not find the entry point to access the Naturalista servers. We know about them from intercepts, but we can’t find them regardless of what we do. We recruited several hundred more hackers to assist us and are adding them progressively over the next hour.”

“What are you doing about the General?” Asked the Uzliumbax general.

“The Queen issued an arrest warrant for the General half an hour ago and added several more for her senior staff,” replied a Dinnion general.

“We will set up holograms showing how we are progressing and one on a news channel. I will leave you to your assigned tasks now,” said Adm. Migpal Diclakclofsas.

Kareg beckoned to Horti. “Remain in your insect form. It will be easier to manipulate the hologram if you do. You, too, Aubrey and Charlie, stay in your insect bodies. Both of you have done well this week.”

“Kareg, had I known the whole thing had begun, I would have been terrified. I suppose that is why you didn’t say anything to me. How did you communicate with my friends and the university?” Horti asked.

Aubrey and Charlie sat in front of their holograms, working busily while Kareg was setting up.

“We sent a team of visiting Collective Professors. The Dinnion departmental staff went to a seminar in the Collective. We cleared them all except for one clerk who remained behind. The Dinnion assigned Aubrey and Charlie to one of us. I gave them their tasks. Horti, we know we have a traitor in our midst. Most group members do not know the full picture, including our admiral. Someone warned General Eusmil Varshtein. We intercepted communications from here. Be cautious, and don’t go anywhere unaccompanied,” said Kareg, his antennae twitching with worry. “Horti, please move between my hologram and the other two. If you see something, suggest they pursue it.”

Horti did as Kareg suggested.

They took a break after two hours. “It is frustrating watching you guys work. I wish I could do more,” said Horti. ‘ Kareg, the Collective Colonel, is watching us. She looks away when I slowly scan the room. Our team can hear others talk telepathically while they believe they are secure. I asked Aubrey to listen while we were talking. The colonel spoke to the captain, the attaché of the admiral. She confirmed the captain went out and told someone my group was here.’

Kareg ambled over to a table of twelve guards, including the four assigned to her.

Kareg joked with them. The guards tidied their table rose together, and as Kareg ambled back, they pounced on the colonel and captain.

The colonel looked defiant as the guards led her out.

Kareg walked over to Adm. Migpal Diclakclofsas, watching the scene, looking confused. Kareg spoke to her and beckoned to Horti and Aubrey after several minutes of conversation.

Aubrey explained and played back to the admiral what he heard.

“Aubrey, Horti, thank you for doing us a good deed. I would never have suspected those two. I will find out how they were cleared to work with me. This problem is much bigger than any of us suspected. Kareg, we will keep the groups working in cells and only pull it together in the end.”

Martial music blared from the hologram. The technician beckoned to Adm. Migpal Diclakclofsas.

Numerous people gathered around the news hologram.

“A bomb exploded in the capital of Dinnio Prime. It is the most massive explosion the city has ever faced. It destroyed twelve city blocks and damaged a swathe of the city and a palace wing. Experts inform us the explosion was due to ground force missiles intercepting a triad of ship-based missiles aimed at the palace. A spokesman for the royal family assures us the royal family is safe.

“In another piece of unexpected news, Prince Craig, the son of the Emperor, was kidnapped by terrorists. He was opening in Vendaska on behalf of the Emperor the showpiece sports and entertainment stadium known as the Emperor Jason Kargo.”

The Naturalista mowed down the unarmored stadium guards. The news then showed several hundred heavily armed troops overwhelm Craig’s guards. The enemy troops carried the unconscious Craig into a waiting gunship. It jumped and disappeared.

“The military informed us the terrorists took Prince Craig Kargo, the son of the Emperor, to a destroyer part of the fleet of General Eusmil Varshtein, the recently identified leader of the Naturalista. The location of the renegade fleet is unknown.

“We have two related items of breaking news. Our military informed us rebels associated with General Varshtein attempted to take over the Regency fleet. Fighting erupted when several fleets unexpectedly returned from maneuvers. Three fleets, including a missile carrier, are in rebel hands.

“Our sources inform us the carrier carries a thousand planet killers. Our military will not confirm or deny our information.

“We received a communication from a group that describes itself as the rightful leaders of natural law in this universe. It alleges we are facing an apocalypse brought on by our current leaders, who illegally acted against them. Our experts believe the communiqué is from the Naturalista. The expert analysis informs us it is written by a ruthless individual who believes what they say. Our sources believe the Prince’s life is in great danger.

“In further breaking news: Forty-seven members of General Eusmil Varshtein’s team arrested early today died in their cells before our military could interrogate them. Sixteen correctional officers cannot be accounted for. The police are searching for them as they believe they can help them with their inquiries.

“In further breaking news, bombs exploded in sixteen cities in the Empire.”

The anchor showed the cities on her expanded hologram and the extensive areas of surrounding damage.

“Our informant informed this station these bomb blasts are linked to Naturalista sympathizers. The recently appointed commissioner of Empire Police will speak to the Empire about the evolving crisis in three hours at 19:00 Empire Standard time. Continue to watch this channel for further news as we receive it. In the next hour...”

“Horti, Aubrey, Charlie, we must get going. These heinous acts increase my motivation to get these guys and their minions,” said Kareg.

“Kareg, there is a severe problem. I watched you guys and then saw what the other teams were doing.

“Most people are focussing on the AI logistics system. Adm. Migpal Diclakclofsas, who should be on top of things, is upset about her aide and has become disorganized and ineffective.

“We don’t need to spend one second longer on that system. I can see your machine captured all the AI programs and the data. We must move on to find the Naturalista leaders and Craig. I am too low on the chain to speak to the general and am not credible. You must deal with her.”

“Right, Horti, I am onto it,” said Kareg.

“I know how to find Craig, and I can help you get past the general’s system to find the bastards behind this and then through to the other civilizations. Get Adm. Migpal Diclakclofsas back on track first. If we find a way through, everyone goes through, and they work on finding the lists of contacts in their civilization. Focus them, Kareg,” said Horti.

“Charlie and I will work on finding Craig. Kemel is the one to ensure Craig knows the meaning of pain. Aubrey can find out what the general’s connections are. We will find a path to get names and contacts.”

Horti alternated between looking over Aubrey’s shoulder or Charlie’s while Kareg went off to deal with the General.

Kareg returned five minutes later.

“Horti, you are correct. Our admiral wanders around as if she is a beetle with its head cut off. I will get her full attention and change her focus. Go ahead and see what you can do to find Craig. If you need help, call me. Adm. Migpal Diclakclofsas must retire and consider the implications of her attaché informing the Naturalistas you are here.”

Horti walked back to Charlie. “Charlie, I noticed Kemel disappeared weekly for a day or more. She went somewhere. It is a familiar place. She used a shuttle. The shuttle landed outside my office and dropped her off a day later. What does that mean?”

“Horti, I will get into Kemel’s diary. I am in the general’s AI, and I can hop to the Colonel’s,” said Charlie.

“Dammit, the slimy bitch deleted her diary; I will find the backups. The military always backs everything up. This will take some work, but I will get the information. She must notify the base intelligence people where she is going and how long. They usually ask about the purpose. That place was so anal they probably wanted to know the color of her underwear!” Charlie chuckled.

Horti’s communicator buzzed, and she withdrew to speak privately to someone briefly.

Aubrey called Horti over. “Horti, I have been going around in circles in Varshtein’s computer for two and a half days. She is a sneaky bitch, and I know she is leading us around and around through endless low-level garbage,” said Aubrey. “I am not the only one. The team I was with couldn’t get anywhere. Can you take a fresh look at it?”