“Why would they do this?”
It’s the only seeming question that can be asked, given the moment. It’s the only question on anyone’s mind right now, and it ignores one simple fact. Everyone present has the same question, meaning no one has the answer.
Three important souls to the fleet -as important as any other and arguably more so for all three- have taken it upon themselves to risk everything for an idea. It was one of the only ideas at the time, but it was never decided upon. Now, the one potential bargaining chip in Zeeannssii is gone, and Hancock, Dr. Lopez, and Helmdraavv Khla have potentially thrown away their lives for nothing.
Mr. Right paces as he asks again, “Why would they do this!?”
Admiral Long shouts back, “I don’t know!”
Mr. Right shouts, “This is why I didn’t want her to be part of any of it!”
“No one told her to go!” retorts Tachibana sharply. “No one told any of those idiots to go!”
The angered former businessman paces towards Tachibana, growling, “Your marines allowed this. YOUR soldiers let this happen. And now, she’s gone. SHE’S GONE! Off to God knows where on some suicide mission YOU people planted in her brain!”
Tachibana prepares to get in Mr. Right’s face and retort caustically, but Chief Grey steps in, only barely holding his own temper better than her as he stops her gently with his arm. He growls, “Who in their right mind would think the Doc would go? I can tell you right now, the Rookie didn’t kidnap her.”
Mr. Right throws himself at Chief Grey, which amounts to the inexperienced fighting of a career businessman -potentially practiced in some lessons in boxing or maybe kung-fu or the like-, but ultimately no match for a seasoned marine. Grey shoves Tachibana back with his arm enough for him to allow him to absorb Mr. Right’s attack, and he instantly grapples the frantic man as Mr. Right tries to grapple him or hit him or something. Grey whirls them both, pinning Mr. Right somewhat gently to the wall as Mr. Right flails against him, shouting insults and pounding on the Marine. Grey would be lying if he said it didn’t hurt, but he’s certainly had worse, and he understands entirely where Mr. Right is coming from in this case.
Mr. Right’s angry flailing descends quickly into sobbing, and his ferocious grappling turns into clutching; hugging a safety anchor as he descends into helpless crying.
Still, Chief Grey holds him, and he can hear Tachibana relax. She was ready to fight, but is finally realizing why Chief Grey stepped in. Mr. Right, of all people, sometimes deserves his butt kicked and has yet to receive it. This time is not one of those times.
“Sh-She’s m-m-my… She’s my…”
“Baby girl. We know.”
Mr. Right nods, sobbing desperately into Chief Grey’s shoulder. “I-... I couldn’t… I couldn’t…”
“I know.”
“Russell…” murmurs Admiral Long, but the grisled chief waves her off gently, signifying he’s got it.
“T-T-Tell me… T-Tell me we’ll get her back…”
Grey states as bluntly and straightforwardly as a baseball bat, “We’ll die if we don’t. Of course we will.”
Everyone else is silent, and Chief Grey holds the sobbing man for a long time. He asks, “We’ve had a few days. What do we know about this location? If the Rookie went anywhere, it’s there.”
There’s a pause, and Nyonnys steps forward, since even Dzor is quiet as he holds Dzilika. “The location appears to be dead space. No known objects or stations. Zarakyssns don’t normally leave dead message drops, but there’s nothing in a typical drift range nor a short jump range.”
Grey nods, “Alright, so…”
Pwalkyn adds suddenly, though, “Grodrrns do.”
There’s a pause, and he adds, “Grodrrns will send covert messages from dead space. Especially more than week jump. Reduce accuracy of forensics. Impossible if the messaging ship was a shuttle class.”
Kane remarks, “So, our mysterious Queen used grodrrn tactics to cover her trail, knowing it would be the only place we could get to. Why?”
Fisher states, “Obvious answer is to bait us into a trap, isn’t it?”
Pwalkyn replies, “Not always. True, I know of such missions because I was the trap in one, but sometimes, covert message to make covert -even treacherous- exchange of information. Mystery Queen will know we arrived -somehow-, and will know we are willing to hear.”
Rena replies, “That sounds too much like a trap to me.”
Pwalkyn nods, “Small ship in reply would be only right answer. I’ve been on the reply as well.” He looks at Chief Grey, who shakes his head. Pwalkyn nods, seemingly understanding there is something he shouldn’t say. Instead, he says, “Small ship says we heard message and are willing to reply. Mystery Queen must provide instructions to fleet.”
Dumas asks a little more cynically than may be needed, “And, what happens if it is a trap? What if there’s a giant fleet waiting for them there?”
There’s a moment of quiet, and Admiral Long states, “We pray all of our combined gods and spirits guide Neezha’s hands, Dr. Lopez’s mind, and Hancock’s aim.”
A small noise draws their attention, and everyone turns to face Syretia, who is in the back of the room. She doesn’t have much to add on the new Queen, but is present in case she might think of something. However, she’s been momentarily distracted as something happened, and now she’s trying to quiet the source of that distraction.
Without telling anyone, and during the course of the current meeting, Syretia’s egg hatched, and she’s attempting to quiet the tiny insectoid being out of respect.
No one knows what to say at first, and she apologizes, “S-Sorry… I… This was… bad time.”
Spaceman Long, realizing it more quickly, coos gently, “No! No, congratulations, Queen Syretia!” She approaches, bowing politely to add, “Very nice to meet you, little princess… Queen? Little Queen?”
Syretia nods, glancing nervously at the others. Everyone else relaxes a little, and Admiral Long adds, “Yes, congratulations, Syretia. I’m sorry her birth was overshadowed by current events.”
Syretia shakes her head, “N-No! No! Of course!” She buzzes, trying to think of words. “Can’t help. Sorry…”
Long nods, “It’s okay. We’ll all keep working on it. Together.”
The Admiral looks at Nyonnys and the other Captains listening in on screen. “I know we just finished a jump, but do we have new coordinates plotted out? We may need to keep moving. While we figure out how to deal with this Queen.”
Admiral Murdock nods, “Yeah, Providence has the next set loaded. We’re ready to jump.”
“Good, then…” Long is interrupted by the lights going out. The room they’re in is pitch black, and the wind-down of distant fans and blowers and pumps tells an experienced ear all they need to know. A tiny voice coos sounds, “Zump…” Syertia hums and buzzes to try to calm the larval Queen, but the baby seems to be content, oblivious to what’s going on around her.
Red lights come on, filling the dark room with an eerie ominous glow as the others look to each other.
Kane states to everyone what they already know; “We’re too late…”
A handful of them jog out into the hallway to find a window, peering outside to see if they can see anything.
Indeed, looming over the Providence in the middle of the fleet is a dark shadow, dwarfing the mobile starship dock and the battleship it’s constructing. The ship is alien in design to everyone on the Polonia. It shares the properties of a starship only by virtue of being metal, but it’s massive design is angular and terrifying in its own right, like a massive claw reaching for the Providence. However, a flash happens on the hull of the ship, and the lights on the Gaia flicker off just as quickly, making the otherwise deadened hunk of metal that is a starship difficult to see across the relatively short distance of space. The Providence’s and other starships’ lights are already out, and the Andromeda is the only ship that is able to fire off a short volley of one or two of its turrets before a similar flash snuffs out the main power on the Andromeda.
Spaceman Long asks softly, “How… could this happen? Aren’t we resistant to EMP?”
Grey shakes his head. “I don’t know.”
A small form appears, slamming rather indelicately into the hull of the Polonia. A beam of energy appears pointed towards the attacking ship, and the ship seems to shift. Several more latch onto various points on the hull, and it becomes clear the devices are some sort of energy-based tether that is pulling them in.
Admiral Long orders, “Start spreading the word manually and via sound powered phones. We are at General Quarters. Combat teams, prepare to repel boarders.”
Kane states, “I’ll try to dislodge the tethers.”
Grey stops him, “Sir… Do you think that’s the best idea? Without the Rookie and his jetpack,...”
Kane picks up where Grey trails off, “We’re leaving the other ships…” He looks around.
Long is just finishing ordering for someone to get a hold of the reactor plants and find out why the reactors were shut down by the attack that had no impact. She states, “Lieutenant Commander, I want you repelling boarders. If this Queen or her Void Queens presents herself, I need you to stop them.”
Kane hesitates, but he nods. “Agreed, Admiral. Anywhere you’d like me to stage from?”
“Hangar. If they intend to take us as Syretia and her allies did, they’ll commandeer the hangar. If not, it’s central enough to get you there.”
Rena asks distantly as Kane jogs off, “How… did they find us? W-We just jumped… a-after Hancock… How? How?”
Tachibana puts a hand on her shoulder. “Steady, Coulson. We need you.”
Rena sniffles, murmuring, “I can’t keep doing this… I… I just want… This is…”
Grey growls, “Lock and load, Marines. Thing Four, you gonna leave Thing Thirty all alone?”
“Chief… I…” She looks at him, and he says coldly, “If you’re gonna do it, do it before you panic and suck up all the air. Sounds to me like us dumbasses that want to live are going to need all we can get.” He checks his pistol, and Fisher checks his rifle magazine. Fredericks and Dumas check each others’ basic EVA armor briefly. Spaceman Long takes a deep breath, cradling her rifle to her chest, and Tachibana looks at Grey quietly as Rena stares at him. “I can count all fifty two of your reasons to live at a minimum, Thing Four. I’ll take them on as my reasons. Always wanted an army of squid nieces.” He draws his shotgun and asks, “Anyone want to share with me?”
Fisher, Dumas, Long, Moody, Brown, Marvoni, Fredericks, Pwalkyn, Pratt, and French cheer, “Oo-rah!” He looks at Dzor. “You said ‘Asset denial’, right Yarjen? Well, I say we deny these bastards one foot on our ship.”
Rena sniffles, but steps forward finally. “Oo-rah…” She looks him in the eyes. He stares back at her with his one good eye, and he snarls, “I didn’t hear that, Marine.”
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She says louder, “Oo-rah!”
“YOU THINK I’M A DAMN MOUSE, MARINE!? SAY IT LIKE I’VE BEEN SHOT A BUNCH OF TIMES!”
Rena screams at the top of her lungs as the others join her, “OO-RAH!”
Grey shouts, capitalizing on the energy, “LET’S MOVE! BRAVO TEAM, TAKE SECOND DECK AND MIND VACUUM ZONES! ALPHA TEAM, WE’LL HOLD THE HANGAR! CHARLIE TEAM, GET TO REACTOR CONTROL AND DEFEND THEM!”
The marines confirm with shouts of affirmation, and the teams break up, roaring as they run down the halls to stations.
Baskylla Jardzen Dzor hands Dzilika to Admiral Long. He states calmly, “I will deny the enemy this ship.”
She nods, “Please do…”
He leans down, and she kisses his head. “I love you…”
He nods, exhaling on her chest, since her neck isn’t readily available. “Love Yukonja.” He rises to almost his full height, slouching to avoid hitting his head on the ceilings, and he inhales. He roars powerfully, charging after the marines to join them.
Syretia approaches holding her newborn, and Dzilika coos as she reaches towards either the Queen or the baby.
Syretia has seemed to be loyal. She wears gold wherever she goes, she follows Kane every chance she gets, and she has shared everything a young Queen in the Zarakyssn Horde knows about the Zarakyssns, which clears up the perspective the grodrrns have of them. She has rescued children and soldiers, including some of the rebels that attempted to kill her just prior. She does not seem to hold any anger for her loss against the humans, nor does she seem to seek any intelligence to undermine them.
So, Admiral Long still doesn’t suspect treason as the Queen stands next to her with a newborn infant.
Long is simply piecing together what she knows as she tries to devise a strategy to fight. Without power, the ship is almost completely defenseless, and so, her sprinting to the nearest phone is going to do little at this exact moment.
And, if she had, she may never have realized what may have doomed them all.
Fate twists across the universe, and though Long still strongly believes in God and His plan, she knows His plan is full of challenges; life being life within the boundaries He set.
One challenge was clearly to not underestimate something as simple as the mind of a telepathic infant.
“Syretia?” The Queen looks at Long, and she asks cautiously, “Is… your hatchling… part of the Divine Bond?”
Syretia hums briefly. She can understand most English, now, but she’s still working on speaking it. The insectoid queen has to choose words to try to make sense. “Is… unorganized… Homeworld.”
Long thinks. She suspects the Queen is telling her that the baby’s mind must be ‘organized’ on the homeworld before it’s useable to her. But, that doesn’t answer her question. “But, other Queens can sense her?”
Syretia nods, “Only… alive.”
Long looks out the window at the claw ship now all but looming over them. “I think more than that…”
***
Gree’ato follows the Azure Queen as she walks through her ship. Brrtuuzzyvv, one of the middle-seniority Void Queens, jogs up. “{Dear Sister, we’ve identified the ship the non-humans are concentrated on. The humans call it ‘Po-lo-ni-a’, I think. Their language reminds me of grodrrn.}”
The Queen nods, “{There are similarities. Any word from Zeeannssii, yet?}”
“{No, but I can feel the traitor and her daughter. It appears the daughter has hatched.}”
“{So, the daughter has laid eyes on non-Zarakyssns… Interesting. Where is the traitor being held?}”
“{Preliminary reports suggest… she’s not, Dear Sister.}”
The Azure Queen looks at the Void Queen with surprise. “{Really…? Interesting…}” She continues her march as Brrtuuzzyvv returns to her task.
Wyyvvyrriizz, a more technically-inclined Void Queen, approaches from her station, “{Dear Sister, our sensors are detecting minimal reactivity in their reactors, as you predicted. However, it appears this could be due to shielding.}”
“{The humans are clever. They’ll undoubtedly defend as they attempt to restart the reactor. However, there are reasons primitively-enriched fission fuels are abandoned at large. They have moments before restart is precluded.}”
Wyyvvyrriizz nods in reverence, “{Your wisdom is unmatched, Dear Sister.}”
“{Preparation, Darling Sister. This is why we came equipped for the enemy we chose to face.}” She marches towards the umbilicus bay, where tendril-like docking tunnels are prepared to be launched toward the captured ships. She says over her shoulder, “{If we are certain of the ship with our targets, then let us dump the others and return home. I shall introduce myself.}”
A squad of her trusted combat Void Queens, as well as their battalion of soldiers, are prepared to board the human ship. Gree’ato asks gently, “[Are you certain you should go, Dear Sister? They will undoubtedly recognize the threat you pose, if you are certain they are so clever.]”
Mmnnorrynn hums, “[Do not doubt our sister, Gree. No creature is mightier-...]”
The Azure Queen waves off the zealous young Void Queen. “[Be at ease, Darling Sister Mmnnorrynn.]” She pets Gree’ato’s cheek gingerly, replying still to the Void Queen, “[I am flattered that my Darling Sister would worry for me. What you said was incorrect, however, Gree’ato. I AM certain they are so clever. Arrogance is not the same as pride. Never let it exist on my ship again. I know I am powerful because I have proven it. I know the humans are clever because THEY have proven it. Never substitute doubt in your opponents for the arrogance you actually feel.]”
“[My apologies, Dear Sister. I am unwise to combat, and I wish you only safety.]”
“[I know. However, I am… optimistic. Perhaps, this Baskylla Jardzen Dzor will prove me wrong. Perhaps there is someone who can face me.]” She growls at the Void Queens, “[Incapacitate them only. I would like to learn more about what caused this little phenomenon before I decide what to do with them.]” She looks over her shoulder and says to the standby surgeons, “[You will heal all who come under your care. I don’t care what they accomplish or whose side they’re on. Is that understood?]”
The Void Queens that specialize in xenospecies medicine bow, affirming, “[Of course, Dear Sister. We shall not fail you.]”
The Azure Queen looks out over the clear floor at the ships towed into boarding position. She looks at the ships below. One is much larger than the others, and they got lucky her ship didn’t arrive on top of them. The temporal drive often operates similarly to the jump bubbles the grodrrns use, but instead of vaporizing the landing area, the temporal field tends to crush everything in its zone, similar to a black hole.
A colorful line appears around one of the ships on the floor, and Brrtuuzzyvv reports via the short range bond they’re all sharing now, “{The highlighted ship is the Po… Pol… The human ship with the non-humans, Sister.}”
Urrzzvynnurr remarks as she observes the ships as well, “[Strange that the humans would house their most valuable assets on something other than their largest ship.]”
“[I’m sure there’s a story to tell. Gree, return to the bridge.]”
Gree’ato looks up at the Queen. “[Sister? Is there no way for me to be of service?]”
“[You are not prepared to fight, Gree. Seeing death is not the same as taking life. Do not make me repeat myself.]”
“[Yes, Sister.]” Before she leaves, Gree’ato says to all of them, “[Please, Sisters, come back safely.]”
Mmnnorrynn approaches her and scratches Gree’ato’s chest gently. “[Thank you, Sister. I shall bring you the finest of these creatures as a pet.]” Gree’ato hums in affirmation. The others hum warmly to her, and she makes her way out. The Azure Queen states, “{Extend the umbilicus and commence temporal jump once charged.}”
“{As you wish, Dear Sister. May the Mothers lay blessings upon you all, Sisters.}”
The Azure Queen hums as the umbilicus extends. “{I can feel it. This is the ship.}”
The Void Queens look at her quizzically, but she doesn’t elaborate. She stands proudly at the forefront of the group. She starts down the umbilicus as it extends towards the human hangar bay, even before it docks. The lighter tapping of the Void Queens follows her closely, though they are far more tense and combat ready than she is. The Azure Queen welcomes a challenge, though as she just told Gree’ato, that doesn’t make her arrogant.
She can hear the umbilicus bump the other ship, and the Void Queens briefly brace themselves, even as the Azure Queen continues towards the door. She can feel the tingle and distortion, like g-forces turning around her. The temporal drive is active.
“{Activate the cutter.}”
Sparks fly ahead of her as she draws close to the end, and the umbilicus door cuts through the human hangar door. She smells the tangy odor of iron and carbon, as well as a few other hints of metals. Human steel seems to be taking a lot of heat to cut, and she knows it helps dissipate attacks immensely, from what she’s gleaned from the battles her sisters have had with them. The irony of the humans is that their steel does not reflect their bodies; it is inversely proportional to them.
The cutting slows, and she kicks the slug in, leaping into a tight roll into the room. She can hear the humans, though she can’t understand them, “CONTACT! POSSIBLE ZJEEKA!”
She recognizes one of those words, and it sends a small tinge of amusement through her.
Weapons fire from both sides explodes in the hangar, and she tumbles and leaps into cover, pinning several of the small creatures to the ground behind one of their metal boxes. They squirm and wear steel plates over their bodies, struggling to aim their weapons, even as she could crush them. Smoke begins to fill the hangar, pumped in via the umbilicus. The Void Queens rush in, firing their stun weapons as quickly as they can cycle them from cover, while soldiers pour in through the umbilicus and spread out.
A tingle finds her bones, though, and the Azure Queen whirls as she carries the human warriors with her. She can feel the pressure wave rip through the air; summoned seemingly by magic, and she pivots to face the defender.
He appears to be human, but he bears a strange golden device that she recognizes instantly. He is the one who can translate seemingly any language, he can summon strange abilities, and he is seemingly invincible.
I wonder if he’s truly who the Bachsuu spoke of.
She holds the human soldiers in front of her as she snarls, though he recoils briefly when he gets a solid look at her.
The humans thought they were prepared, having their most powerful soldier waiting for her. She pivots behind cover out of his line of sight, feeling her bones tingle again. The tingle dissipates, and the soldiers in her arms grunt out. Weapons fire prods at her, and stings find her cheek as she recoils her head. As soon as a mechanical click happens, the pain relents, and she glares at the soldier in her right hand. He managed to grip his sidearm and fire at her.
And, one of his eyes seems to be useless to him.
The Azure Queen smirks. She licks her teeth, but looks towards the golden gauntlet warrior. He’s trying to keep distance on her, and her bones tingle once more. She throws the human with one good eye towards the empowered-human, forcing him to dodge or catch his comrade. In either case, she bolts. He desires a battle, she will win the war.
She sprints up and over one of the metal boxes, storming across the hangar through the thick of the battle as her surge of soldiers pour into the hangar and claim more and more ground with every fallen body. Soldiers are replaceable, but she’s not displeased with the numbers so far. The humans are falling quickly to the tide, and she barrels towards them.
A powerful roar causes almost everyone in the hangar to flinch; some from pain and others from fear. She spots him.
Her true target.
Baskylla Jardzen Dzor, one of the mightiest grodrrns to have ever existed, surely. He is every bit the specimen she knew he would be. He towers over the humans and likely weighs more than even her. She’s larger than a female grodrrn, but he’s larger than her -at least in structure-. Mrrk’lah was a challenge for her. Dzor may be a match.
She recoils a little, mindful of her bones. The human hasn’t caught up just yet, but she is the center of Dzor’s attention.
She tosses the human soldier into her soldiers as he calls out, and her soldiers capture and immobilize him, sending him up the line of soldiers to the medical zone. Shots from various weapons dart by in both directions, but Dzor ignores them. She takes a step back as she shrinks her size.
Dzor steps forward into a run, and she tries to provide a docile expression.
He doesn’t seem to be fooled, but it doesn’t matter.
He was fooled anyway.
He roars as he barrels towards her, springing into a tackle. She shifts slightly to catch him, tumbling backwards with him as she intercepts him. The two tumble violently through hapless Zarak soldiers from dozens of Queens nowhere near this battle -most of whom are no longer alive-. The insect bodies crunch and splatter around her and him as they tumble, and they are both covered in gore as their boots find footing.
Yes, her boots are just like his.
And so is her strength.
She is able to slow him to a stop with screeching boot treads, and she uses her forearm to press his throat to avoid his jaws as she grips his otherwise free forearm with her jaws. He howls, and she places her feet carefully, using a swift motion to avoid a knee and block it with her own shin. They are both slick with insectoid gore, and she uses this to slip free of his grip in a whirling pivot as she releases him, placing her momentarily outside of his left side. She grips his head and launches him over her shoulder, throwing him like a giant sack.
The pure grodrrn tumbles, slamming into one of the metal boxes and jarring it out of position. The one above threatens to fall on him, and she launches upwards, kicking that box to spring down on him from above as he tries to recover. She pins him to the ground briefly, but she felt it. Her bones tingled for a moment.
Whatever the human is trying to do to her, he seems hesitant to do it when he can’t keep a solid line of sight on her.
She wrestles onto Dzor’s back as she chokes him, biting the side of his jaw. He roars in frustration, attempting to dislodge her, and scratching her in the process. She nearly loses an eye, but a mere scratch will heal. She spots the human, and she all but scurries down and around Dzor as he elbows her. She slashes his shin from low, and his armor shrieks as she pierces the metal. His leg slips a little, and he is dropped a little lower. She spins, kicking Dzor across the ground towards the golden-wristed human. Dzor snarls, and the human briefly checks on him, but turns back to the Queen as she inhales.
The Azure Queen roars -admittedly higher pitch than Dzor’s-, but equally fearsome and moment-stopping.
The human asks in Zarakyssn, “{What… are you?}”
She smirks. She pulls the metal box next to her in front of her, and then kicks it powerfully towards the two. They both spring up and stop it, which she finds rather impressive.
However, what the human, specifically, didn’t expect, was that the other box would come down on them. She didn’t necessarily plan that, but it is convenient. So, as she swoops around the side of the lower box, she finds the human briefly distracted as Dzor barely catches the upper box.
The human’s distraction costs him his arm; the arm the Bachsuu spoke of.
He is caught in shock, and she grips him, tossing him far more in scope with his new state to the outside of the box. She holds his golden-banded arm, looking up at Dzor as he stares down at her in a moment of shock.
***