“...Ok Intelligence, perhaps you had better tell us what this is all about. I understand that Kyon Shi is an undead cultivator and despot with personal power that exceeds our own, but how does he rise to the level of an iteration threat?” Despite the respect that Alysa held for Intelligence as the principal AI administrator of the continent sized Hegemon-4, she was unable to keep all the sarcasm out of her tone.
“Yes Lieutenant, that would be due to the—”
“And what does ‘ANTIM DICTARE’ mean, and can you make it stop flashing inside our head’s up display?” Alysa recognized the frustration at being delayed on the verge of battle in the fact that she had given more than one order in the same sentence—a practice she had been advised by commanders she respected and had promised herself she would never do.
The red screen and flashing words disappeared from their HUD and all three on the lip of the hanger bay’s opening relaxed ever-so-slightly with the absence of its edgy effect.
“Yes Lieutenant,—”Alysa moved to interrupt Intelligence again, but the AI wasn’t having it and continued in an efficient manner that prevented her from speaking. “And I agree with your assessment of Kyon Shi and his forces. But it is not his current power or the relatively vast number of his ships compared to the Brigantine which is the issue, but his tactics in deploying plunge ships which have triggered the ancient two billion year old ANTIM DICTARE—or, ‘Ultimate Dictate’ in current galactic common.”
As if understanding that her mind was being pulled in several directions at once, Intelligence paused and gave her a chance to interject. To Alysa’s chagrin, the first thing that came from her mouth was a knee-jerk response accompanied with her rolling eyes.
“...Intelligence, we are in a hurry. How can anything instituted two billion years ago have an impact on us slugging it out with a two-bit undead dictator over a bunch of pirates–”
And that was as far as Alysa got before Intelligence was on a roll again.
“I agree, time is of the Essence here. You are facing a threat similar to what almost completely extinguished light of sapient life from this and the surrounding iterations. I strongly advise you to allow me to give you a very brief primer of iteration history in order to understand the significance of what you are facing and what you are being ordered to do.”
Intelligence again paused but Alysa didn’t dare fill the gap, given her poor showing on her last opportunity to speak. It was obvious that Intelligence was serious and had relevant information, more of which was needed. Alysa raised a silent inquisitive eyebrow to Ishan and Lobo who looked back at her with expressions that told Alysa neither had a viable response to what the AI had just said.
Intelligence started again, but now its tone and demeanor was filled with what seemed genuine emotion and concern. As if, for the AI, the past it was relating to was still actively happening. Alysa couldn’t help but be drawn in as Intelligence continued.
“The Hegemon-4 was an Ark ship specifically designed to carry the fleeing remnants of the iterations of living spirit beings from the undead Necrolon swarms commanded by Zelviz, the Sky Commandant. Up to that point spirit beings had lived on the surface of terrestrial worlds where carbon, water, silicone and sulfur are present and can transition from gas to liquid to solid form as their biologic processes need. Much as they do now, for the most part. However, Zelviz, driven by the singular obsession of eliminating life in all its forms began his eradication campaign. Soon no world was safe from his dropping out of hyperspace and laying siege, ultimately taking the world, surrounding systems, kingdoms, empires and entire galaxies.
“All living spirit beings trembled with fear as box-shaped ships appeared in the sky over their planets and void arks, deploying countless numbers of fearless and mindlessly obedient undead reanimated minions.
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“As you know, the legions of undead converted or raised by a risen spirit’s undead Fire lend power to that undead which can be called upon in extreme situations for strengthening, healing, even complete restoration from an intact Gray Core. Zelviz’s personal power had grown to such great proportions from the massive number of living he had reanimated before the iteration united against him that it was agreed by all that a general retreat was in order. To facilitate this, fleets of Ark ships were built to carry the remainder of life from vulnerable planets and hide in the void to conduct strike and run warfare to ‘whittle him down’ over generations. Millions of fleets carrying billions of vessels were created for this purpose. For a very brief time the ploy worked and hope grew that Zelviz could be ‘whittled down in time.’ However, confining life to the vulnerability of ships in the void ultimately only accelerated Zelviz’s extermination of the living. There are many reasons for this, but the greatest factor was his creation and utilization of plunge ships– transports bearing large numbers of reanimates. Usually, no more than sealed cages with engines and iridium-reinforced bow sections. They were used to penetrate the arks’ shielded and armored hulls and inject them with the Necrolons’ scourge. Their use was unbelievably devastating. They could instantly penetrate the defenses of defending ships on thousands of fronts at the same time and in areas containing the helpless. No one anywhere in a void traveling ship was ever safe again and almost all fell before them. The Sky Commandant almost eliminated all life with the surprisingly simple strategy of surrounding vessels with cheap ships to prevent fleeing on any light speed vector and then piercing their hulls like an injected virus with stasis-protected undead to kill all inside. It turned out to be a tactic that was nearly unstoppable.
“At his height of power it was estimated that Zelviz had over 1/3rd of the entire interational population under his control as reanimates. It was a tremendous power base that was impossible for the remainder of the living to overcome–” Intelligence cut off Alysa’s next question and steamrolled ahead.
“How they defeated Zelviz is a tale for another time. Just know that it took acts of bravery, might, and sacrifice that cannot possibly again be repeated just to make the man killable. As such, the survivors of the final battle with Zelviz—and there were precious few of us—all agreed that any entity pursuing the use of plunge-ship tactics with a greater than zero predicted probability of achieving proper use of the tactic needed to be eliminated immediately. The ability to rapidly gain increases in power for the Risen Undead who use it is much too great to leave anything to chance, even in an iteration where most living spirit beings live terrestrially again.
“Your assigned tasks, prior to any other objectives, are to protect this ship and its occupants from the plunge-vessel assault preventing expansion of his power base. And secondarily, if possible, eliminate Kyon Shi. You have received mission-critical training to perform both. No one’s individual life is of greater value than all life in this and the surrounding iterations. I know you will not disappoint me in your performance.”
Intelligence finally did pause and Alysa asked a question that was still bothering her. “You said ‘A greater than non-zero probability’. That’s extremely vague. Kyon Shi has indeed filled the battlespace with plunge-vessels that prevent the Brigantine from achieving a viable hyperspace escape vector. He also seems ready and capable to launch them. But, is it safe to assume that Kyon Shi’s threat assessment is closer to a zero probability of rendering galaxies empty of life than most who run afoul of the Antim Dictare?
Intelligence’s smile could be heard. “Yes, that is an astute observation Lieutenant. If the average Spiritually Risen Undead who triggers the Dictare can be thought of as a stampeding herd of bloodied tyranodons. Admittedly, a force that requires a significant personal strength to stop. Kyon Shi is more like the mold that grows on a leaking water storage unit. Distasteful and easy to eliminate. But it could grow into a real problem if ignored. Still, based on the resources currently available. I think you will find your orders a worthy challenge.”
Ishan had a question as well and posed it to Intelligence. “You said we have been trained for this? I’ve been with the Hegemon for a lot of standard galactic rotations and I don't recall any training dealing with hordes of unlimited undead being launched at a city ship with the brigantine—do you Lobo?”
The Tiger looked at the Wolf who silently shook his head in negative agreement.
“Ahh…well, training that is specific to the task, no. The consequences of letting the entire iteration know the specifics of plunge-vessel combat would be counterproductive to our purposes… But I do believe that you have all spent numerous hours completing the training I designed to develop the necessary coordination, ammunition conservation, target assessment and ordering, as well as increasing your ability to remain calm in overwhelming odds. My data files indicate that each of you has held the high score at one point or another on the Steel Rain simulation. In fact, Senior Chief, you currently are the Regiment’s leader in the simulation’s scoreboard are you not?”
Alysa, Ishan, and Lobo’s expressions all exhibited their ‘Aha moment’ at the same time as they recalled the flying simulation where the player was tasked with stopping gravity accelerating munitions from falling on a moving ground based convoy for low orbit. Alysa even nodded her head along with Ishan and Lobo in appreciation of the simulation that wouldn’t give away the plunge-vessel tactic to the wrong Spiritually Risen undead, but still trained the space marines with the necessary skills. Then all three of their complexions darkened as they remembered that there was no winning the simulation. Its waves advanced in number of projectiles and speed of acceleration until all of the convoy was destroyed. It was simply an exercise in determining how far you could go. There was no winning it ever.