Chapter 49
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TIME:
11 DAYS LATER
(2 MONTHS AND 27 DAYS AFTER RETURNING)
LOCATION:
BETA CHARON
ZZ-4 EGRESS POINT
ASTRO DAWN
"So YAGA detected a few hyperdrive signatures? How many of these idiots should I expect to see, and did she manage to estimate what range of sizes we're dealing with?"
Mother replies, "Estimates sit at 4 void ships, she's detected nothing indicating anything above a light cruiser. They should be arriving soon. Should I ready the fusion missiles?"
I shake my head saying nothing. We're here after YAGA detected a small group of void ships heading towards the system through hyperspace and I was bored of sitting at Limbo watching the ice facility slowly begin production, so I decided to go and welcome our new "guests." The chances they were pirates travelling here was high. I planned to either introduce myself and demand payment for entering the system in the form of whatever materials they're carrying or use my particle emitters to ruin their vessels.
The best thing is it's legal too, suspicious vessels can be subjected to unilateral tolls. I planned to get my tolls regardless of what they wish. We might not have more than a few modified repair bots yet but that only slightly limited what we could collect. First though I'd have to send in a group of pesantes to secure the vessels. While I dock and steal anything metallic that isn't bolted down. It felt shameful being reduced to scavenging, but times are tough. Carin Zorv was set to need large amounts of various metals for just the automated assembly line to start fabricating simple class III weapons. The plan was to have it done in a month and have the ability to produce all the mechanical parts for class IV weapons on site by a half month later. Electronics would have to be bought from Garnet station then refined by the secondary MAT onboard Midnight Nostalgia in bulk.
It was later than planned but it was not too late. I planned to have the MAT on board producing some downgraded versions of some weapons it had installed, exchanging anything too advanced for simpler and easier to produce parts.
"Lilith they will be here in a minute you should start focusing. Plans as you described demand payment and if they activate thrusters to enter FTL engage?" Mother asked. I nodded as I began diverting most excess power to weapons and a sliver to the shields. "I want you watching for kinetic weaponry and have the Swarm ready to divert anything that fires."
"Understood, should I lace your communication with some malware?" I once again nod, not seeing a problem with it, they'll at least make their sensors a dysfunctional mess.
"3... 2... 1... Mom please send the demands to all ships. Make it clear any attempts to flee will be met with consequences."
I immediately hunch over the holo table and stare at my possible adversaries. Luckily there were no light cruisers amidst their disorganised position and they looked to be on the smaller end of destroyers only about 230-250 meters long. They looked rather beaten up as well. I immediately discard the contingencies for this being a well maintained group with parts that won't betray them.
I already knew these guys had probably been bought off to cause trouble but from the looks they didn't spend their money on repairs but probably on something else... probably drugs, alcohol, or some other vices.
"They have sent back a message implying that we'd be better off letting them enter the system with paying their due. Should I activate the malware and send our response?" Mother asks, the anger in her voice barely noticeable. They probably threatened her not believing a single ship could stop them all. "You may begin, but do keep the output of a fourth of the particle emitters at low. I want to strain a few ship's shields; the rest are to break their weapons and anything else sensitive and hard to repair... focus your destructive efforts on the ones able to flee and make them regret their refusal!" I angrily spoke scowling at the quartet of half-broken void ships as their weapons began to slowly cycle on.
Reading the output I detected a not so small laser battery alongside a few kinetic cannons. The cannons were just primitive bastardized attempts at making a functional railgun. Their shells were likely to be so slow our close in weapons systems could easily deflect without the need for the shield. I realised I never truly internalised that class I had no bottom limit. Anything from half a millenium ago was class I bows and arrows would be ranked the same as these "railguns."
Sneering at the already pathetic display. The screen dims slightly as multiple bright flashes of light spark into existence across the hull of 2 smallest destroyers. Meanwhile the other ethereal orange shields flare, forcing more matter into 3 large splotches. Trying to remain cohesive as something invisible slams into them purge the plasma shield through poking holes in its magnetic container.
The void ships that aren't likely directing their reactor to the shield started spinning attempting to bring new weapons to bear. Though a few anemic lasers did attempt to stab through our shields but missed sensors feeding false information.
"Is it me or is this just too easy? I mean an unguarded cargo vessel might have struggled but these guys are just pathetic!" I scoff as a bright flash signals something else violently failing after having a hole blown through something vital.
The two ships receiving the low powered beams suddenly begin powering their weapons causing my eyebrows to rise in surprise. Their shields of course took that moment to fail. We were currently right next to each other having only a thousand kilometers between our two groups. So I wasn't surprised when they took the chance to fire a full salvo of a dozen directed-energy kinetic weapons. The shells moving at an unimpressive mach 10 would take 5 minutes to reach us, and were well within the close in laser's effective range. We would not be hit. I was confident.
"Lilith they are currently requesting aid on all bandwidths. We should expect someone to come and investigate within a few hours. I sent a request to YAGA to verify there are no nearby patrolling vessels through Tachyonograph, but it will take time to receive a yes or no. Should I kick up the intensity before our emitters run out of charge?"
I frown watching the dots of sabot's dart attempting to close in on us. Then they disappeared. The lasers having dealt with all of them. I was confident we would severely damage 2 vessels and completely cripple at least one of the void ships. I however wasn't confident of the odds of our emitters hitting anything vital.
"Yes, hit the two shieldless ships in places you are confident contain vital components like capacitors and power nexuses. I want them to be unable to fight back even if they escape. Chances of reinforcements actually arriving to aid them if they hear their wails?"
Mother's response has a notable pause as I notice the remaining charge in all 30 particle emitters dropping to empty. It would take time to see if she had successfully maimed the ship beyond repair, or simply forced them to rely on whatever back ups that may or may not exist.
"... Chances are low in my opinion. Their "rescuers" are more likely to appear to engage both of us and them. Then attempt to take their ships for parts or add them to their petty fleets."
I hummed happily. Pain awaited these insects regardless; they were stupid to believe they would be mercifully helped for free. Mother was confident so I was as well. She was way better at understanding and actually reading the enemy than me. She could change her mindset to mimic the enemy and understand their most likely emotions and mental states. YAGA however, she would have struggled to answer that question nearly as quickly without leaving dozens of different separate possibilities.
Staring at the holo table my focus returned as one ship began to break away and activate its thruster at full power. The lack of us returning fire must have tempted the other still shielded ship as it also began to red line its thrusters. From what our sensors were returning to me we would be able to only be able to hit them for a few seconds before they'd flee into FTL; and likely become prey for someone else.
"How much longer until our particle emitters are ready to fire again? I'd like to give them a parting shot as a final fuck you before they leave."
"The emitters are still cooling, their charge however is rapidly filling. I expect them to return to suitable temperatures in a few minutes. If we fire now we risk warping and damaging the magnets inside it. Those are rather difficult to repair at this time."
An annoyed huff escapes my lips, but regardless I cast an impatient glance at the new row of information. It counted down how long before we can safely fire a full charge at high output. We wouldn't make it in time, unless?
"Mother as they charge up their FTL drives fire all emitters at medium output for only two seconds. That should be within safety margins, correct?"
"Yes... you are correct, I will do as you say."
'Grand.' I smirk and slowly stand straight, stopping my hunched posture over the table. This battle was rather easy thanks to the enemy's lacking technological edge.
Hell those light minded zealots gave me a more difficult fight with just one destroyer thanks to their rather misplaced zeal. These vermin were either trying to beg and surrender or flee with their tails between their legs and their arms broken.
"Firing particle emitters in 3... 2... 1.. hit confirmed before FTL transition. Expected time until emitters are safe to fire, T- 3 minutes." Mother droned as I watched two vessels disappear with a bright flash of excited light.
'Thats checkmate any chance those two had of joining their friends has just passed,' A manic grin spread across my lips as I sent the command to awaken the pesantes and improvised scavenger bots. This would bring in a lot of supplies. And hopefully I can expect an extra surprise for the next person to stumble upon the vessel.
"Are they dead in the abyss Mother?" I ask glancing up at the avatar that appeared immediately at my question replacing the depiction of nearby space. "Yes Lilith, I assume you wish to begin crippling their thrusters and begin salavaging?"
My smile only grows broader as I state my approval. I also had a few scuttling charges prepared to prevent anyone from using these ships again. Then a thought entered my mind and my already wide smile grew slightly wider, "Mother please task the pesantes with capturing any pirates with their subdermal IDs still intact. I think they still have a use after all, can you remember how much a pirate can sell to ISCA?"
I feel a healthy amount of greed warm my heart as I get told the commission cost for bringing in worthwhile slaves. If they remain in good health I can see an income of tens thousands of credits per person turned in. It doesn't matter if they were nobodies or infamous they would pay in the thousands at the least. No matter how barbaric and moronic it sounded to me, legal slaves were vital to this primitive society for dangerous labor, like breaking apart ships or testing experiment drugs and modifications on.
I am thankful humans seem to hate the mere idea of developing thinking AI even at the level of a dim witted animal. Instead they use the disposable bodies of their kin where necessary for tasks we would have assigned to disposable robots. I believe it's like this because humans really hate feeling obsolete and useless. Which meant any attempts to develop smart—as in dog level intelligence—AI is usually kneecapped and crippled before it can become viable out of fear of riots tearing a planet apart.
I should remember that when I eventually am forced to accept these hairless evolved rodents as subjects. It wouldn't do for too many colonists to die from me putting down riots and dealing with their insane and illogical bullshit. I have no room for luddites if my dream to take back and restore the Runethari to ascendancy is to actually happen. I'll have to plan for a way to make this sound good and to the benefit of those who settle here. The greatest politicians can make something that sounds—and likely is—bad look amazing and invaluable to their people's lives.