Chapter 196: The Forsaken's Bad Day

Chapter 196: The Forsaken's Bad Day

On board the Remember Eternal, one of the Federation's new Argent class heavy cruisers, a grim faced Vulxeen sat in the command chair.

"Has the Morran courier boarded?" he asked calmly.

"Yes, Captain," one of the crew replied and then smirked, "He says that he is dissatisfied with his quarters and demands to speak with you."

"Oh, does he now," the captain replied as the bridge broke out in malicious chuckles, "Well, send him to one of the 'reception chambers' and tell him I will meet with him when I am able."

"Yes, Captain," the crewman snickered and then ordered security to take the courier to the brig.The debut release of this chapter happened at Ñòv€l-B1n.

"Has the jump been calculated?" he asked in his calm, emotionless voice, all feeling burned from his soul by the Republic. He and all of his crew were "distinguished veterans" of that catastrophic conflict.

"Jumps for all four Argents have been calculated and laid in," the navigator, a Kreneel who was missing the feathers on one of his arms, replied in an equally impassive voice.

"Synchronized jump at will," he said in a monotone.

"Jumping," the navigator replied as all four warships slid silently into hyperspace.

"How long are you going to make the Morran simmer," his first officer, a physically unscarred Kaavel with Gloria-like eyes, chuckled as it perched its small furry body on top of the oversized chair (for her) on which she lounged.

"The who?" the captain replied impassively.

"Nevermind," the Kaavel sneered and then looked at their status display. "Four Argents, most of our fleet, assigned to escort duty? I assume there is a reason?"

"We are making one of the new convoy circuits," the captain said, "On board, we have over a dozen couriers carrying the payments for their agreements in cash, several trillion credits worth. If they fail to reach their destination, the results will be severe. Even if their partners, most with legitimate grievances, decide to grant them mercy, the damage to the economy of the races we are carrying will be seriously impacted... and the Forsaken will get all of that to finance their operations, including giving untold billions to the Republic, which will then use the money to expand their arms production. At our 'fattest', we will be carrying half again as much as well as a significant amount of cargo, most of which will be food and industrial raw materials that are urgently needed by yet more systems. We simply cannot bear the commerce attacks that we are suffering..."

The captain allowed himself a slight smile.

"Besides, Federation intelligence has ensured that the Forsaken will know everything we carry is being conveyed by a convoy consisting of two cargo vessels, a passenger vessel where the couriers and cash will be located, and a single Federation cruiser. If they want it, they will have to commit enough of a fleet to engage that cruiser. If they do, they will instead find us."

The Kaavel chuckled.

"How unfortunate for them."

"Have the crew double-check our point defense arrays, especially the fast-neutron projectors," the captain said flatly, "See to it personally, Commander. Inform the crew that I will personally be overseeing the third inspection."

The Kaavel grinned.

"On it, boss," she snickered and lept off the chair.

***

In a tiny apartment in Capital City, a very nervous Palg sat on a couch as a rather ragged-looking Xvli with a droopy ear and patches of fur missing sipped a cup of tea, his rather extravagant jeweled engagement bracelet glittering in the light.

"H-how long are you going to keep me here?" the Palg asked, its porcine snout twitching anxiously.

"We are staying here in this comfy little safe house until that convoy reaches its destination or the trap is sprung," Senior Agent [email protected]@ said pleasantly.

"And then you will let me go?"

"Absolutely," [email protected]@ said reassuringly. "We always keep our promises."

A reptilianesque xeno wandered in from the kitchen, holding a large pot.

"Soup's on!" he said happily.

"Wonderful!" [email protected]@ said with delight. "Your dumplings almost rival our noodles."

His fellow agent snorted.

"Speaking of 'noodles'," it grinned as it ladled out two bowls, "hear from your disgraced councilor yet?"

Xree groaned.

"I can't believe she, of all people, would turn her back on her duty for a... human, especially that one!"

"I dunno," the reptile said as it pulled a silver spork from his pocket, "I think he's kinda hot."

"You Vtsbn think everyone and everything is 'kinda hot'. You are worse than humans, and that's saying something."

"I mean, have you ever seen a human penis?" his comrade snickered. "They are magnificent! I wish I had one."

"I believe strongly in 'need to know'," Xree replied as he pulled out a set of gilded chopsticks, "and I am pleased to say I have never needed to know."

"If you did, you might have some insight into her decision."

"I'm trying to eat over here," Xree snickered.

"D-do you think I could have some?" their captive asked hopefully.

Xree tossed him a mealy food bar.

"Enjoy."

"Hey," his comrade said as he looked at his watch, "isn't it time for you to be online? We don't need you suspiciously disappearing."

"And don't forget," Xree said as he sipped the broth from his bowl, "every move you make is being monitored, and I will personally remove a piece of you for every single character I disapprove of."

"Y-yessir..." the Palg whimpered and dutifully pulled out a laptop.

***

Gwen the Elder surveyed the fleet before her with satisfaction. Nearly a hundred vessels were loaded down with compliance tubes and ready to go.

She smiled.

The haul of the century was headed right into their trap. When would the Federation ever learn about network security?

This was just getting sad.

She grabbed the old studio mic she had on her bridge.

"Is everybody ready to rock?" she shouted and smiled at the wild howls echoing from her bridge crew and blasting out of the large speakers surrounding her.

"Remember, we are actually going up against a cruiser this time. Everybody launch an EMP spread and then wings one and two launch the nukes at the cruiser set to blow just before their shields. The blast should take out the prey's shields but leave them mostly intact. Nail them with EMP missiles just to be sure. Boarding teams! No prisoners!"

More howls and cheers.

"Four vessels incoming," her sensor man howled. "They are here!"

"Ok!" Gwen yelled, "This is it!... Just like Zaran! Fire up the grills and pass out the pills! It's party time!"

***

"Would you look at that," the Vulxeen captain said, his voice actually revealing a trace of pleasure.

"Any traffic?" he asked.

"From the howling and complete lack of signal discipline," a sleek Garthra grey replied, "It's the Angels... Holy shit!... um... sorry, Captain..."

"Well," the captain replied, "share the shit."

"Gwen Shay herself is leading the attack!"

"Can you identify the vessel?"

"No, Captain, not at this range."

"Then I guess we have to kill them all," the captain replied.

"They are firing up their jump drives!" the sensor operator replied, her voice betraying a trace of fear. That was a LOT of ships.

"Visual analysis reveals compliance tubes," the tactical officer said calmly.

"Excellent," the captain smiled. "We lead with the neutron guns. We can't let them know about them. No survivors."

"Yes, captain."

"Me too."

There was a pounding on his door.

"Looks like the guys with guns are here," he smirked. "Later."

After the call ended, Jessica frowned.

There was one more call she had to make...

***

Gwen Shay (the only one left) was playing "spaceship" with Vee with a murder-borer pup clinging to her back as they both held model ships and were weaving them back and forth.

"And you just blew up," Gwen said with a laugh.

"Nuh-uh!"

"That turn you just made was way too tight. You just exceed the structural integrity of your ship! You are either in a million pieces, or you are so fucked up that you are easing pickings...

Gwen started poking and tickling Vee.

"Pew, pew, pew!" she said as Vee giggled.

Arissa, her "Guardian Angel", walked up, her eyes red and swollen.

"Um... Gwen?" Arissa said in a grave voice.

Gwen's blood ran cold with one look in Arissa's eyes.

"What?" she asked in a frightened voice.

***

"Ok, traitor, you're free to go," Agent [email protected]@ said to the Palg.

"R-really?"

"Yep," Xree said, "Trap's sprung. Bad guys go boom. You get to go home, and so do we."

"Finally!" his fellow agent exclaimed. "Do you have any idea how many dates I've missed?"

"Chastity builds character," Xree snorted.

"The fuck it does!" his friend exclaimed, "Another day and I would have seduced you!"

"Then you would have to answer to my fiance," Xree replied with a laugh, "You would have a hard time getting laid without a pee-pee."

He glared at the Palg.

"What the fuck are you still doing here, traitor?" Xree snarled. "Go before I change my mind about gutting you."

With a strangled yelp, the Palg fled.

After he left, the other agent turned to Xree.

"And we are just going to let him go?" he asked, "After he collaborated with the fucking Forsaken, after what they've done?"

"Yep," Xree smiled maliciously and pulled out his phone, switching it to an unsecured line. He called the Capital City police.

"Dispatch," a uniformed avian replied.

"Yes," Xree smiled, "I am Senior Agent [email protected]@ with Federation Intelligence. I am sending your credentials now."

"Yes!" a much more alert officer exclaimed as they preened their feathers, "How can I help! Do you need to speak to someone?"

"You'll do just fine."

"Really?!?" the officer exclaimed excitedly, "How can I help?"

"I need you to inform the appropriate parties that the Palg, known as Yulip Bik, is an informant and intelligence asset for the Federation and has been instrumental in recent operations against the Forsaken. We consider him a valuable asset and request that any criminal activity undertaken by this individual be disregarded and referred to our department. We'll keep him in line."

"Yes, Agent!" the officer exclaimed, "Um... I mean, Senior Agent!"

"Thank you," Xree replied, "I know I can count on you."

"You can!" the officer chirped they were so excited. "I won't let you down, Senior Agent!"

"I know you won't," Xree replied, "Take care, officer."

"You too!"

His companion looked at him, his mouth slightly agape.

"You complete and utter bastard."

"He's a fucking traitor," Xree replied, "He doesn't deserve a cushy Federation prison cell. He was responsible for the death of Gwen Shay herself, and lord knows how many other Black Angels. Let them handle his... rehabilitation."

"But.."

"Welcome to special division," Xree replied. "Hey, you hungry? There is this great diner that is still open. They make the best sausage."

"I'll pass."

"Your loss," Xree shrugged. "See you tomorrow."

Whistling, Xree casually loped out of the safe house, leaving a deeply disturbed reptile who flopped down onto the couch.

"What have I gotten into?" he asked nobody in particular.

***

"Comfy?" Gwen said to a terrified Palg as she tied him to an X-shaped frame in her bedroom.

"Please!" the Palg pled, "I had no choice!"

"Mmm-hmm..." Gwen replied, her eyes sparkling.

He whimpered as he looked into them. They were horrifying.

"You did have a choice, you know," Gwen replied sweetly as she gently booped him on the snout. "You could have refused and spent your life in a nice Federation prison... But instead, you decided to kill my gram gram."

She kissed his forehead.

He involuntarily evacuated his waste.

"Now there are good choices, and there are bad choices," Gwen said as the words "Prepare for jump." were announced over a speaker. "And killing my gram gram was what we like to call a bad choice," she snarled as she pried his eyelids open and glared.

"But it's ok," she smiled as she released him, "Because I'm going to give you the opportunity to make it up to me."

Jumping in 3... 2... 1... Jump!

The ship shuddered slightly.

"Anything!" the Palg squealed in terror.

"There is something I've just been dying to try, and you could help me."

She smiled at him.

"Do you want to help me?" she asked sweetly.

"Yes!" the Palg squealed, "Anything!"

Gwen walked casually to a small control panel next to the shuttered observation dome and traced her fingers over the switches.

"Great!" she enthused as she pressed them...

"You get to be my boyfriend."