This was a very difficult chapter to write, and with it starts a rapid deviation from cannon. Some elements from HBP and DH may enter the story, but there won't be a lot of them. The battles with Voldemort will escalate soon, and I will also bring on a whole slew of new enemies for Harry.
Chapter 14
"This is an incredible vessel, Harry." Dumbledore commented as a select group of members of the Order and the Army were walking through the ship towards the bridge. The ship's name roughly translated into Valiant Spirit, which was met with approval by the rest of Harry's companions.
"Yesterday, I deployed subspace disruptors to cover the whole solar system. They're not powerful enough to disrupt travel, but any message sent that's not Lantrisi in origin will be distorted beyond legibility." Harry grinned.
"So, when we catch whoever is helping Voldemort, they won't be calling for help." Sirius grinned widely.
"That's right. Of course, they'll eventually send more ships to see what happened, but that won't happen immediately." Harry replied.
"I have a question. Won't they detect this ship when they get in the area?" One of the Army officers asked.
"That's a good question. Right now, the ship's weapons, shields and engines are offline. Since we're positioned in a Langrangian point, we don't need the engines to remain in this position. The only active system is the sensors, and even they don't operate at full capacity. As far as anyone's concerned, we're nothing more than a space rock.
On top of this, Lantrisi ships have a light absorbing exterior and sensor scramblers. They won't see us until we're right on top of them." Harry grinned.
"How long do you think we'll need to wait?" Sirius asked.
"I have no idea. Could be anything from a few days to a few months, based on whatever unknown arrangement Voldemort has with them." Harry shrugged.
Meanwhile, the new armor Harry had supplied to the Phoenix Army finally allowed them to get back into the fight, but this time, the battles were different.
Both sides now used better tactics, and while the armor helped the Army fight the Death Eaters again, it wasn't a perfect defense, since too many shots would heat it, causing burns underneath the affected area, and also, head protection was limited. This time, casualties on both sides were minimal, and while the Army was struggling to counter the continuous attacks, Voldemort decided to replenish his depleted forces by going on a massive recruitment drive.
Fortunately for Harry, after a week of waiting, the ship's sensors detected a ship entering the Solar system on a course for Earth.
"Damn, that thing is massive." Sirius exclaimed as they saw an image of the ship as it headed towards them.
"Relax, Sirius. It's just a freighter. Ninety percent of the ship is cargo containers. Let's see, class two ship plating, class three shielding, and six class five plasma cannons. Ixius, calculate potential combat classes based on available data and return threat assessment." Harry read the sensor report before giving the AI a command.
"Estimated combat class is ranked between class five and class seven. Threat level, thirty-seven percent at twenty-on-one odds." Ixius replied.
"What does that mean?" Moody asked.
"It means that they will need dozens of ships to counter even one Lantrisi vessel. Of course, that is just an estimate. First, let's go and greet our guests. Ixius, bring the ship to full tactical readiness and engage an intercept course." Harry ordered.
The crew of the freighter only had time to stare as a black shape suddenly blocked their sight of the Moon before white light washed over them and they found themselves in a completely different area.
"What's that smell?" More than one man commented as a group was displaced aboard the freighter.
"We're on an alien ship, gentlemen. Don't worry, we won't be here long." Harry sat at the pilot's seat, and while he could not understand the controls, a little trial and error let him figure out the basics and he soon had the freighter parked in high orbit.
"Alright, I've copied their computer database. This should help us learn their language, as well as figure out what their mission really is." Harry gently tapped the handheld device in his hand.
"What about their cargo?" Moody asked.
"Mostly various ores. A few containers hold various equipment components, and I did detect several crates of plasma rifles as well as a complete fusion reactor with fuel for it." Harry replied once they were back on the Valiant Spirit.
"So, they were here to give Voldemort more weapons?" Sirius shivered.
"Good thing we stopped them then. Now, let's see what secrets we can discover from this." Harry began to study the computer data, and only moments later, grinned widely.
"This is a lucky break. Their translator database contains several Earth languages. That should speed things up a great deal." It took a couple of hours until Harry finally had the whole database analyzed and quickly prepared a briefing for his group.
"Well, Voldemort's new friends are called the Darkiin Alliance. They are a union of several races, and they're pretty much the power in this region of space. Earth is a vital point in their expansion plans as it is an ideal spot for a supply base, and also, the discovery of magic has caught the eye of their leaders. From what I managed to learn, Voldemort has been in contact with them for decades." Everyone shuddered at this revelation.
"So, what next?" Dumbledore asked.
"First, we see if our two guests in the brig have any more useful information. Then, we turn this war around." Harry grinned widely.
"How?" Shacklebolt asked.
"Simple. This ship is designed for point defense of larger vessels, which means that most of its weapons are useful agains smaller targets like fighters, but it does have a cache of torpedoes and is capable of orbital bombardment." Harry's grin was infectious this time.
"You're going to bomb the Death Eater bases?" Sirius was barely restraining his laughter.
"Death from above. Sounds unfair, but to quote my old instructor, 'It's only cheating if you lose'." Harry laughed.
"So, what is this place?" Hermione asked as she, together with Harry, Moody and Shacklebolt entered a rather isolated part of the ship. Only a single corridor led to this area, and Hermione remembered removing over two dozen traps in it, but when she tried the door, it refused to open.
"This ship was used by the Order of Death. This part of the ship is where agents are briefed, amongst other things. With access to the equipment in this room, you could intercept and decode all Order communications. This is also where interrogations are performed." Harry replied as he led them into a small room. One of the walls was transparent, and through it they could see a large room with a large metal slab in the middle of it. One of the walls was made of what looked like a series of lockers. A single wheeled multi-tiered metal table was standing near the metal slab.
In a flash of light, two grayish-green aliens appeared. They resembled lizards, only these were humanoid. Their expressions showed surprise, fear and anger at their situation.
Ignoring their threats and demands, Harry moved to the lockers, and removed a large baton, followed by different metal trays holding a number of different instruments which he placed on the wheeled table.
Then, he picked up the baton and headed towards the two still shouting aliens. With the press of a button, one of the baton's tips burst to life with a violent shower of sparks. With a vicious jab, Harry rammed the baton in the chest of one of the aliens, causing it to shriek in pain and collapse on the ground. The other tried to aid his comrade, but the area they appeared in was covered by a stasis field that prevented any non-Lantrisi to move in it.
"Who are you?" The frozen alien spoke as Harry strapped his comrade to the metal slab. A part in the middle sank lower to accommodate the tail.
"We are enemies of Voldemort, and since you've been helping him, you are our enemies as well. Now, I will ask you both a series of questions, and you will answer them truthfully and in great detail. Refuse and you will regret it with every fiber of your being." Harry grinned evilly as he began to inspect the instruments by his side.
"We are loyal soldiers of the Darkiin alliance. We will never aid our enemies." The freighter commander snapped.
"I have heard such words many times. So far, I've performed ninety-six successful interrogations, and I don't intend to break my streak just yet. Now, shall we begin?" With that, Harry picked up the first instrument and moved towards his nervous victim.
Lantrisi torture methods and instruments had been refined for thousands of years and on dozens of different species, designed to inflict lasting and excruciating pain with the minimal amount of damage. Combined with the medical equipment they had at their disposal, a skilled interrogator could keep his victim in perpetual agony for weeks, if not months.
The two Darkiin only managed to last a few hours under Harry's ministrations.
"That was the most brutal thing I have seen in my life." Moody shivered at the memory. Despite the warnings from Harry, the two Aurors had insisted on observing the torture, and it seemed they were now deeply regretting the decision.
"I'm afraid my interrogation gave me more bad news. The Darkiin are currently gearing up for war against one of their neighbors. They're expected to begin the attack within the year." Harry sighed.
"How is that bad news?" Dumbledore asked curiously.
"Normally, it wouldn't be, unfortunately for us, Earth is in the middle of the expected frontline. This sector of space is expected to endure the heaviest combat in the coming war." Harry's words made all the gathered people pale in shock.
"What can we do? I doubt this one ship can protect us against that." Moody asked.
"No, it cannot. There are good news, however. One of the cargo holds on the freighter contains three tons of refined hysperil. In the Lantrisi universe, it's an extremely rare metal. It is used in small amounts to produce the crucial components in our singularity reactors. It's so rare there that over ninety percent of it is produced by molecular reconstruction of other, more plentiful minerals. This, however is a very energy intensive and inefficient process.
At any point in time, there are about fifty brand new ships sitting in dry-dock waiting for the reactor parts. Giving the hysperil to the Collective will get us everything we need to defend this system. I'll contact Hashera later and take care of the trade." Harry grinned.
"I think we should get back to Hogwarts. We've been away for far too long as it is." Dumbledore stood up, but a gesture from Harry brought him back down.
"Just a moment. I reviewed the monitoring map before I got here, and I noticed something interesting. There are six Death Eaters in Hogwarts, when there should only be one. Any reason why they're still breathing?" Harry asked.
"They are only students who have been pressed into servitude. They haven't done anything wrong yet." Dumbledore said immediately.
"Very well, I will leave it to you for now. However, if even one of them steps out of line, I want all of them shot." This was more aimed at the Army officer sitting across him.
"There's just one more thing I want to say. With the recent developments, I'm afraid I will not be returning to Hogwarts. There's just too much to for me to be tied down at the school." Several people looked like they wanted to protest, but they had learned quickly that once Harry had made up his mind, he wasn't changing it.
Once he sent everyone back to Earth, Harry began preparing to contact the Lantrisi universe.
The method was a combination of magic and technology, using spells to open the gateway and devices to keep it stable.
Once the gateway was formed, Harry waited, knowing that he would be contacted soon. True enough, seconds later, the viewscreen before him was occupied by the visage of Lord Deathhand.
"Daroth, it is good to see you, my boy, but I daresay this isn't a social call?" The man gave him a warm grin before he spoke.
"I'm afraid not, my Lord. I learned that Voldemort has contacts with a nearby interstellar power, who have recently begun to supply him with weapons and equipment. While investigating this matter further, I also discovered that this region of space will soon be the grounds for a massive conflict between the dominant forces of this region." Harry replied.
"That is grave news, indeed. You do know of course, that the Collective can hardly spare the resources to aid you." Lord Deathhand gave a light sigh.
"I would never presume to burden the Collective, my Lord. However, I have appropriated something that should keep the Collective's power stable. I have in my possession three tons of refined hysperil." Harry grinned as his Lord's eyes threatened to fall out of his head.
"You're kidding. Three whole tons?" Lord Deathhand spluttered.
"There's more. From what I read in the database of the people I got it from, it is listed as a semi-rare mineral in these parts. Haradont, shirakon and deremite are also found on many worlds and asteroids in the quadrant." Harry grinned as he saw the gleam in his lord's eye.
"Those are hardly as rare as hysperil, but a proper stockpile of those minerals will double, if not triple our ship production rates. You have my attention, Daroth. Now, tell me what you need." Lord Deathhand laughed.
"What I need most is a Fortress defense package. A few combat teams would be handy, as would some ships." Harry replied.
"Let me see…" Lord Deathhand spent a few moments working on a console to his side, occasionally muttering under his breath.
"The Fortress package is easy, since we have some in storage. Once it's prepped, we'll ship it over and install it. As for the troops and ships, I'm sending you a third of the Chapter Immaterial, a full legion of soldiers and four battle groups." This time, Harry's eyes threatened to vacate his skull.
"That's over eighty ships counting the troop transports. Can the Collective spare such numbers?" Harry protested.
"With the hysperil you've provided, we'll be able to replace them in a month, and it's not like I'm pulling them from the borders, am I? The reason I'm sending you that kind of force is to secure more resources for the future of the Collective. With the increased production, we might finally break the stalemate we have with the Alliance." Lord Deathhand smirked.
"When can I expect the ships to arrive, my Lord?" Harry asked.
"They will begin arriving tomorrow. Prepare a permanent gateway for their use. I'm sure you'll be pleased to see your old schoolmate. She has recently been promoted as well. She will have command over the fleet, however, I'm giving command over the whole operation to you." With that, the connection was closed, and Harry directed the Darkiin freighter into the gateway.
Soon, the Darkiin would curse the day they ever heard of Lord Voldemort.