Mira watched as the markers for the security ships drew inexorably closer to their own vessel, nearly a hundred-thousand kilometers of a head start dropping down now to little more than ten thousand. She knew they were running out of time, as generally weapon systems began to be effective only a little bit less than that, and while thankfully this the species that comprise the security force and did not appear to favor longer-range laser weaponry, she had a sinking feeling that this meant that whatever munitions they did use would hit all the harder as soon as they closed that gap.
The swarm, however, appeared unconcerned, making small touches of adjustments here and there but maintaining the same general course heading, for a pair of enormous gas giants that loomed red and blue in the sky before them.
“We don't have weapons on this ship,” she cautioned the nearest cluster of bees. “So if you're hoping to catch them by surprise and shoot anyone down, you're going to be sorely disappointed.”
“We have no plans to resort to violence at this juncture. In any case, it is best for us to conserve power, given that we anticipate a long flight that we have not had a chance to resupply for.”
“Long flight? Where’re we going?” Mira asked, eyes still darting between the dwindling distance marker to security forces and the enormous planetoids that were now seeming perhaps a little too close on the screen before them.
“The nearest suitable world cluster for our supplies and long-distance communications requirements is Androx Beta.”
“I'm not familiar with that one,” Mira said, leaning over to pull up the navigation charts. Her mouth fell open when she saw the cluster highlighted, almost three light years from their current position. “How the hell do you think we're going to get to make it three light years before they catch us? I don't think we'll get to the other side of the system before we get blown out of the sky.”
“Do not concern yourself with the pursuing ships. We will be escaping their reach shortly, and have calculated that their interest and dedication in pursuing us will not be sufficient to warrant the weeks-long full burn needed in order to catch up with us. Once the danger has passed, then it will be safe for you to enter into your stasis pod for the rest of the trip.”
“What do you mean ‘in order to catch up with us?’ They are already catching up with us!” Mira said frustratedly. “Also, what's all this about a ‘stasis pod?’ The only one that had been aboard we sold to make room for the research lab.”
“Oh, that is most unfortunate.”
“Most what?!”
Before she could say more, Mira was thrown back in her seat, groaning as her vision narrowed and it felt like her chest was threatening to implode as the gravitational pull of the gas giants took hold and began yanking the ship forward. However, she could also see through the viewport and her bleary vision that the trajectory they were on actually appeared to cut between the two looming planets. The angle was such that they were on an orbit around the smaller of the two, wisping clouds of blue and teal flashing by far below them as they rocketed around the far side.
Mira forced herself to you blink and tore her eyes away from the screen to glance at the long-range sensor readings. The pursuit ships had split in half, three still trying to make up the distance behind them while the other three waited on the other side of the gas giant, at the midpoint between the two large bodies that they would be passing through.
Mira was surprised that the ships following behind them appeared not to be gaining ground. “Queen and Kin, what's going on? Their ships are faster than ours, aren't they?”
“While their ships are faster, we have found that far too many singular-member species rely on shortcuts, and the surface level knowledge of how to perform an action without truly understanding the underlying and deeper question of why and how that action would achieve a desired result.”
Feeling far too many g-forces to be able to contemplate and engage the swarms sage rambling, Mira just groaned again. “Simpler, please?”
There was a short buzz of discussion, and then they spoke again. Mira could see that the nearest insects on and around her were swaying with the additional angular momentum, but appeared to be fairing far better than she felt she was under the circumstances.
“Very well. To put it more fundamentally, these pilots know how to be pilots, but they don't know the underlying physics behind spaceflight beyond the bare minimum required to fly a ship. But we have found that when one understands the physics of flying between stars, how bodies in motion affect one-another and the beautiful geometry of those galactic dances, that one can optimize and perfect travel among the worlds.”
Even as Mira watched, the pursuing craft began to fall behind. It was a relief, one extremely short-lived as the ship lying in wait at the other end of the orbits were drawing rapidly closer.
“I don't think we're going to be going fast enough to avoid them,” Mira said through gritted teeth, starting to feel less strained as the stress of the g-forces eased.
“While those craft do present a risk, we believe we hold maneuvering capability they are not aware of. This ship contains a concealed reserve dorsal and ventral thruster pairs, likely intended for uses analogous to this scenario back during its military service.”
Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.
“What thrusters?” Mira asked in confusion. “I’ve never seen any controls for any thruster pairs, and that seems like the kind of thing my parents would have sold for salvage ages ago.”
“We have verified its position and initial diagnostics show it should be functional at the moment it is needed.”
“And if it's not?” Mira asked in disbelief.
“Then we likely will not survive long enough for it to become a concern. But rest assured, our confidence is quite high.”
She grimaced, partly from the ominous prediction from the Queen and Kin, and partly from the feeling as the gravity well of the other gas giant began to again exert its control and draw them closer and faster as it crested into view around the edge of the gas giant they were orbiting above.
The readout ticked down the distance to the stationary security craft, closer and closer, until a red light blared and marked a string of projectiles had been fired. It was a small burst, but Mira suspected that if they somehow dodged from that distance, they would be fired on again as they got closer and closer.
However, the increased pull of the other planet of the other gas giant meant that they were accelerating faster than the firing projections had appeared to initially anticipate, and the shots passed harmlessly far to one side. A few moments later, another barrage was fired, this time tracked and adjusted to the increasing momentum of The Apiary.
“Caretaker, please brace yourself.”
“Yeah I figure we won't be able to dodge them forever,” she said with frustrated resignation.
“Not at all. Rather, we have determined several engine optimizations we can implement for a temporary boost in acceleration. It will be only for a moment, but will allow us to avoid this cluster of munitions.”
Mira had barely inclined her head to nod when she was thrown further back in her seat, feeling herself pressed into the fabric as if and feeling every ridge and button on the upholstered chair as the ship raced forward. The second round of shots passed, this time less than a kilometer distant, and Mira was beginning to grow worried. They had not fired again, and appeared to be waiting until the last moment to ensure no possible deviation could occur.
The distance marker dwindled into the triple digits, then double, then as it dropped to less than a dozen kilometers distant there came another blaring warning on the screen. Even before it lit up she felt another lurch, this time the blood rushing to her head and pounding in her ears as the dorsal thruster fired. It pushed them down, still in the same trajectory but transposed below their previous location, and she could see the flashing lights of hundreds of shots peppering the space where they had been moments before.
And then they were past, and Mira breathed a sigh of relief as she saw pursuing ships engage engines and come to a slow, regrouping and retreating.
“Their munitions are unguided and slower than our current velocity, so they have no chance of reaching us now we have passed without applying full thrust for multiple days in a row.”
Shaking, Mira unbuckled from her seat and stood, still feeling the tug of acceleration of the engines and watching as their speed indicator crept higher and higher. Even still, the journey they had set off on would take years.
“I appreciate the save again, Queen and Kin,” she said softly, trying to avoid the surge of anxiety she could feel rising in your chest, “But this isn't a deep space vessel, and we don't have half a decade of supplies. How are we going to make it that far?”
“Your matter recycler is in good repair, your engine shielding is undamaged despite your earlier collision, and you have sufficient fuel rods for a century of low-capacity expenditure. All the tools we need are here, and we have verified some key supplies are present that will enable you to survive, Caretaker.”
“But I've only got maybe two months worth of food, three tops,” she said. “Even if I eat light and stretch it, that'll only last me half a year. I don't know what else you eat, but I didn't bring any honey aboard either, so I'm not sure how long you'll be able to subsist either.”
“Fear not, caretaker. Can you please show us to your food reserves?”
Mira led the main cluster of bees down the hallway, the occasional hive members underfoot quickly and automatically moving out of the way to clear passage for them. When she reached the cozy mess hall, Mira went over to a large drawer, twisting the large stiff locking handle and sliding it open. She had been, if she was truthful with herself, not particularly wise with her food choices, mostly getting small snacks and treats rather than cheaper and longer-term staples, but the Queen and Kin made a pleased noise as they saw the full extent of her stash. She could see a clump of bees already flying off with an unopened jug of fruity soda as the swarm spoke.
“This will do excellently, caretaker. We shall begin refueling our own needs from some of that sweetened beverage, but in the meantime we shall prepare you for the future with this.”
Several of the bees had landed and lifted up a granola bar from the back. Mira squinted in confusion and more than a bit of mild disgust. It had been a style and flavor that was a favorite of her mother's alone: unmilled nuts and wheat combined with dried fruit.
“I'm going to live for years on a single granola bar?” she said, crossing arms skeptically in front of her. She realized the hive was trying to help her, and did her best to avoid looking annoyed as she uncrossed them, but she was still feeling nothing but doubt at the idea that this gross little health snack was the key to her future.
“Not all things are that which they have become. While a thing can move forward through time and be changed by that passage, in many cases it can readily step back to what it was before, with enough will and patience.”
The cluster of bees have descended on the package, chewing it open along one side and sliding the bar out before the bar itself was swarmed by further insects. Looking close, Mira could see many of them chewing off the natural sugars used to glue the ingredients of the bar together, but then instead of consuming the remaining nuts, grains, and fruit, the bees flew out into a separated formation, each carrying or helping carry one of the disparate ingredients. They were clustered together based on what they carried, but Mira realized they had carefully cleaned and prepared them.
“These will be suitable for planting in the right conditions.”
“Planting?” said Mira with dawning realization. “But I’ve lived on a spaceship my whole life: I never tried to grow so much as a dandelion, let alone a bunch of food!”
The voice of Queen and Kin was kindly, as the queen herself deposited a dried strawberry seed into the human’s hand.
“Then let us teach you. It's time to begin our garden, caretaker.”