Book 4: Chapter 200: Backdoor

Book 4: Chapter 200: Backdoor

USD: One hour since communication with Thea

Location: Meltisar System, MNS Aegis Flag Bridge

A shiver of anticipation ran down Alexs spine as she stood on the bridge of the MNS Aegis.

Oh, what a difference an hour could make.

On the main screen, the remnants of the Imperial fleet had scattered into a chaotic expanding crescent as they hard-burned away in a frantic attempt at escape.

Meltisar corvettes ran in wolf packs, dashing in the giant holes left in the enemy fleets cohesion to chase down the faster imperial elements racing for the jump point. Pairs of cruisers worked to harry and bring down their counterparts, while the primary walls of battle trudged in a straight line toward the distant escape towards Eta Monocerotis.

There were so few enemy capital ships that calling what they had a wall of battle was a misnomer. There were only three, and the 1st fleet had not lost anymore battleships in the brief exchange after the smart munition launch had concluded.

The Aegis and two of its smaller sisters angled themselves slightly, homing in on one of the singular surviving imperial battleships. There were no more long-range projectiles or missiles left across the fleet, so deathblows and finishing strikes would be left up to long range lasers. It was doubtful their mark would survive to railgun range, even if it flipped to present its bow double d-field to them.

Alexs fingers danced across her holo-panel, her eyes narrowing in focus. There were only a few minutes left before they entered range and ended the chase for the damaged enemy ship. And they were certainly the enemy, but she still felt the need to offer them a chance to live and there were other considerations besides.

Admiral Parks, Im going to initiate contact with the enemy vessel and encourage them to surrender, Alex stated.

The admiral had been nearly silent since she had taken command of the fleet, acting only to support her orders or offer a few suggestions or ideas of his own. She wasnt sure what he was thinking, but he nodded at her.

Opening the connection prompted a notice from Nameless.

[Informative: A NAI signal has been detected. A NAI computronics unit is present on fleeing vessel. Unknown rank or status.]

Alex grunted. That was a surprise. She was fairly sure that they had located and targeted the Imperial Fleets flagship and obliterated it in the smart munition volley.

There was no response for over a minute, but she sent the hail multiple times until, finally, the screen opened with a picture of a naval officer appeared.

|Nanite System Detected|

|Authenticating|

|Handshake, rejected. |

|Firewall present. |

What do you want? the man demanded. A profile blipped into place in Alexs peripheral vision, showing an older image of the NAI, complete with name, status, and rank. Prince Andrew Astraea Psi. Tias older brother.

He had asked a good question. What did she want?

She doubted Tia would thank her for capturing him. Saving the crew of the ship? They werent her friends. It wasnt exactly fair to blame them for the invasion, though.

No, what she wanted, needed, was information. The prince might make a good source, but since the ship appeared important, maybe it would have records on board.

The trick would be to capture the ship intact without destroying it.

Having a NAI on board maybe she could trick him?

Cut your drive and power down your systems except life-support and prepare to be boarded, Alex stated.

Youre wasting our time. No one will surrender, he replied coldly, venom dripping from his tone.

Alexs eyes shifted to the fleet monitor. Thats not true. There are many damaged ships that have surrendered. Are surrendering.

He sneered. Human traitors, all of them.

A frown crept onto her face. Lower your firewall.

Why would I do something like that? he asked.

I have your profile. Youre a Chi. Why not lower it? Alex countered.

Andrew glared at her hatefully. Besides the fact I have orders to not do so? Doing anything you request would be foolish. If I had any missiles left, Id launch them at you.

She took a breath, then spoke. Admiral, Im in the process of hijacking the enemy battleship through electronic warfare. Please maintain course until we can confirm a full takeover.

Park nodded gravely before turning and issuing some orders to the Aegis captain. Sitting down at a chair, the world suddenly flashed, and she was looking out of a pair of unfamiliar eyes. Her entire vision was washed out in gray-blue hues hinting at the tele operative connection.

Standing up waswrong. Her height was too high, her body moved strangely, and there was a distinct feeling of nausea filling her.

[Notice: Ship interlocks prevent full control overrides. Manual intervention required.]

There was also the problem that the ships captain was shooting her in the chest with a pulse pistol. She reached out with Andrews arm and converted the blood splatter into a nanite cloud, sending the machines through the air like little needles to puncture the bridge crews brains.

When the bloody carnage was over and a rapidly forming pool of blood coated the bridges floor, it wasnt her voice that finally answered Nameless.

Wheres the interlock override?

[Informative: Performing ship analysis based on available data. Please standby.]

The bridge was silent except for the hum of the ship and the dripping of blood from Andrews fingers. For a moment, she stood motionless, taking in the stillness that had settled over the Relis command center after the swift and brutal removal of its crew.

[Direction: Proceed to the auxiliary control room. Interlock override is located within. Route highlights activated]

Alex turned and followed the glowing arrows. She felt a constant barrage of discomfort and alien twinges as she maneuvered Andrews body through the ship. Her control over the body was awkward, movement clumsy, like she was using strings to move the limbs of a puppet.

Several crew members rushed past her towards the bridge, unaware of her hijacking of their NAIs avatar. Alarms went off, but she ignored them.

The auxiliary control room was guarded, as expected. Two marines stood at attention, weapons at the ready. They hesitated at the sight of herno, at the sight of Prince Andrew, giving her the time needed to incapacitate them.

Clouds of nanites burst from her hands, enveloping them in a swirling blue mist. They dropped, stunned but alive, as the nanites disrupted their nervous systems. She knelt down and pulled a keycard off one of the men and slid it through the scanner.

It beeped and showed red, demanding additional verification.

Alex grunted and picked up the guard and held him up, forcing his eye up to the scanner.

The door surrendered.

Is this the only one? Alex asked.

[Affirmative: Systems interlock bypass can be achieved via control of primary bridge and this control node. The previous node has been fully infiltrated.]

The console didnt look special as she brought it online. Placing a palm on it, some nanites flowed off herAndrews skin and an array of confirming system messages appeared on her HUD.

[Confirmation: Ship interlocks have been bypassed. Assuming full ship system control.]

A wave of information threatened to overwhelm her, but she pushed it aside. Nameless, take care of it. Begin deceleration, shut down all offensive and defensive systems. Leave life-support as the only thing online.

The ship responded immediately, the alarm klaxons silencing themselves while the lighting was replaced by an emergency brown alert.

Nameless, did they wipe the database? Alex asked.

[Notice: Accessing ship computronic systems, please standby.]

She returned to the bridge. Panicked junior officers looked at her and began to ask questions. She stepped up to the command console and pulled out the handheld mic that broadcast to the entire ship. This is Prince Andrew. To preserve the lives of the remaining crew, the Relis has surrendered to the Meltisar Navy. All officers and crewmen should enact surrender protocols.

[Informative: Imperial Fleet database located and stored intact.

[Notice: Database decryption in progress.]

Alex let out a tense sigh. Then she released the connection, the world a painful shock as she snapped back into her body. She was filled with relief. Nameless, dont let Andrew wake back up for now.

Admiral Parks stared at her with concern. The Relis has started a breaking maneuver.

Alex nodded. Admiral, you can begin boarding operations. The ships commander has ordered a surrender.

A frown appeared on the admirals face. The hail was still active. We could see what happened on the monitor.

Alex felt her entire body tense up slightly.

Admiral Parks didnt look comfortable either. Prince Andrews eyes turned blue. From what I understand, all the Empress children are Chi.