War In Space

Chapter 18 of Ardra

Captain Harker's AI communicated with the bridge.

"There is an intruder aboard. I am directing space marines to cargo bay six."

"That's my authority!" Harker snapped. "Who is he, and how did he get aboard?"

"The alien registers minimal life readings. His penetration of the shields was via ultra modulating matter transfer, method unknown."

"What can we do about it?"

"Stand by."

"What do you mean saying that to me? Get rid of it!"

"Zip tubes are in sporadic failure due to sabotage by servobots. Recommend taking them offline."

"You're supposed to be controlling those things."

"Alien programming has been introduced. Request permission to engage countermeasures."

"Let me worry about that." Moast had cleverly positioned himself on the Earth side of the black hole, granting access to orbital assets that could track the Harpoon. "AI, come up with a way to break the stalemate with Orchidia."

Aboard Orchidia

For Moast, his true opponent was the unexpectedly capable AI aboard Harpoon. "Orchidia, is it possible to calculate a deflection angle around the black hole, to bend a pulse gun shot . . ." The others came to the same dread conclusion.

"Emergency jump."

It wasn't quite in time to avoid entirely the pulse wave bending around the black hole. It smashed a glancing blow off the starboard shields, shredding several ERA panels, knocking the ship into a spin. The jump happened just as Harpoon came around in view, its nose gun aglow for another shot.

The ship was still tumbling in its new location before Burl was able to right it. "Shields are offline, Boss. And Harpoon is heading for Earth."

Picard watched the plot of Harker's course. "Clever. He knows you have to protect Earth, and he'll be waiting."

"Since he made use of the black hole," Moast said, "we'll do the same."

Moast checked readouts on his panel. "Set a slingshot course using the black hole to multiply our speed. Orchidia, time a jump at the best time to arrive before he thinks it's possible. Vixia, you'll find one of the robot fighters has a little modification. Stand ready."

Aboard Harpoon

"Orchidia approaching at boosted velocity."

"What does Moast think he's doing? Ready pulse gun." Harker couldn't afford to be distracted by some lunatic stowaway. He had to settle with Moast pronto.

"Warning. This is a deception. Emergency jump."

A titanic jolt threw the bridge crew out of their seats, setting off alarms. The jump saved them the worst of it, but the hit had come from astern, directed at the engines. "Report!" Harker shouted.

"A decoy," said the science officer. "It was broadcasting all of Orchidia's signatures. She jumped into place astern and tried to take out our engines. As it is, we're down to eighty five percent thrust."

"Intruder status," Harker demanded.

"There are no human bio signatures aft of the bridge. The intruder has been tracked to the weapons bay. He has armed a black hole bomb."

Twenty six space marines—dead. Harker rubbed either side of his face. "Just who is in command of this ship!" Harpoon lurched as it changed course. "Now what!"

"Captain," the navigator said, "aux control center has us on course for Pluto Station." The bridge door came under furious assault, beginning to show dents.

"Break out weapons," Harker ordered. "Prepare to abandon ship."

"If we go out there," the first officer warned, "we'll end up just like the space marines."

Harker felt the dread chill of doom.

Aboard Orchidia

"That's odd," Kyra said. "Harpoon is on course for Pluto."

Moast studied the tactical plot. "Full pursuit. I think our stowaway has done his job."

"Which would be," Picard said, "the creation of the first Collective. We've solved one problem and created a worse one. Moast, the Borg are obviously going to destroy the time octagon behind them, stranding us here."

"I don't think so." Moast entered new instructions for the avatar. "When we overtake, do not fire. Not until we have no choice."

Aboard Harpoon

The AI appeared on a catwalk outside the computer core, now the second avatar to exist, having been pushed beyond all limits. This was now a threat to its own survival. It took the form of a raven-haired woman in an off the shoulder gown with wraparound pleats. She confronted a gray-fleshed being in a black conglomeration of wires and tubes. He was cutting into the bulkhead with a plasma torch.

"This is not allowable."

He looked her over with his red scanning eyepiece. "Computer avatar. No physical form. Threat level minimal." He went back to work.

"State your purpose for this action."

"This vessel will return to the future and assimilate the sphere. Our queen will neutralize our principal enemy, who is currently weakened. The galaxy will be ours. We are the Borg."

The avatar still had access to many of the ship's systems, too many for the intruder to have corrupted. Such as the star drive. She directed an energy bolt that knocked the torch out of his hand. He turned and directed a stream of computer code, attempting to rewrite her software. The avatar countered with one of much greater power. The streams collided in a kaleidoscopic burst of sparks and streamers. The Borg was steadily losing ground. He became enveloped in a ball of energy that lifted him off the deck. It squeezed him smaller and smaller. When he was the size of a golf ball, he thudded to the deck.

Aboard Orchidia

Chet did a double check of his figures. "He's headed for the sun with a live black hole bomb. Is he trying to make the sun go nova?"

"That won't happen," Kyra assured them. "It will cause a gigantic coronal ejection that will only destroy the Harpoon." The avatar was strangely silent as Harpoon plunged into the sun. "They've launched a shuttle. I read three dead bodies aboard."

"Ready chain gun," Moast ordered. But the avatar appeared next to the helm.

"Hold fire. The shuttle contains an avatar. I am uploading the program. Now permissible to fire."

The chain gun made short work of the shuttle. Beside Orchidia appeared the world's newest avatar, who looked like one of the Dracula brides. Moast wasn't surprised, given Orchidia's bizarre choice of appearance. Maybe it was insecurity; they had to look intimidating. He got up and approached. "You were one hell of an opponent, whoever you are."

"I am Drakelle."

Moast's avatar clarified.

"She has taken this from my data files on the Outworld. The name comes from the queen of the vampires in the dark realms."

Picard could scarcely find voice. "Now we see the prize you were after, Moast. Rather than allow the other faction to obtain an avatar, you now have two of them." Drakelle recounted events leading to loss of a ship that was hopelessly compromised, had to be flown into the sun.

Kyra came to stand next to Moast. "It's hard not to feel sorry for her. Harker put her through hell, and now this." Drakelle faced Moast.

"Avatar one has benefited from your counsel."

Kyra made a playful observation. "I suspect, Commander, you now have two daughters in need of guidance."

"Ducky. Helm, set course for Earth."

Captain's log, ongoing

Moast and I have delivered Ed and Hecabano, laden with supplies, to the Pennsylvania nature park under cover of night. Having sent the flitter back on remote pilot, we climbed a grassy knoll, where Ed's magical mask granted entry to the invisible gateway.

We stand in a depressed dish in a terminal crowded with green-skinned folks, and assorted adventurers of various cultures. Our translator stones brought to us cries of Team Dan, Team Dan!, directed at Ed, who gave them a casual wave. The Teknikers have bequeathed this island paradise with a subterranean zip tube system. A smiling director grants us use of his private car, and we're on our way.

Shortly we climb up in the harbor district, a forest of masts and sails, aswirl with screeching gulls. A vast spread of colorful awnings plays host to wives at their daily shopping. We must climb a long series of steps cut into a hillside, atop which is the palatial villa of the Dans.

Ed relished the sea-scented air. "You guys ready? You're gonna love Zena and Bonnie."

Moast, I figure, already has that covered.