C75 The Beast.
( Another that gave me a headache, describing battle-scenes does seem to give me one hell of a road-block. Here is hope I will get the hang of it ^^)
The Beast.
Anthony.
Slowly that maw closed around the remains of the Wrath, the hull begun to buckle, to groan and scream out under the pressure, under the penetration of teeth trying to tear her apart. Which in turn, caused every remaining system on the ship to blare it’s warnings about how the ships structural integrity was failing.
And Anthony enjoyed that sound, it was like a sweet serenade to him.
It was of a creature, assured that it had removed a threat to it’s kind, like an insignificant obstacle to whatever design it was following. It was like a Sirens call, luring the prey in, only to drown it in despair, and this prelude felt exhilarating to Anthony, near arousing even.
Then that Serenade was joined by Noc, as she begun singing with the truth of this Sirens call, beginning to unfold as she took the remains of the Wrath over. Matter begun streaming from the Sovereign Android, to reinforce the Wrath, to rebuild it, change it into Anthony’s design, so that it may become his Avatar.
The large creature took notice of it. How, instead of being crushed into more digestible pieces, it’s meal grew, refusing it’s purpose to provide nourishment. And it would try applying more pressure then, to crush whatever was growing within it, but still, it’s meal refused to succumb.
Noc’s new body expanded, hardened, and teased the worm with brilliant white beams of light. Using only enough energy to tickle the creature, to carve small grooves into it’s internal structure. Just enough to test it’s capacity for pain, to have it squirm and thrash about.
“ Slow, we need it to suffer. “ Anthony uttered, satisfaction on his voice as he felt the vibrations on Noc’s hull, prove of the creature’s increasing struggle against them.
The creature was cramping in pain, and then have it’s internal muscle spasm as Noc fired once more, toying with the creature, further exploring it’s capacity for pain. To find it’s trigger points, research how it functioned.
And Noc giggled then, as she found out that the creature had a sort of nervous system, linking signals to a whole of 27 recipient points within it’s body. One of which appeared unresponsive, but 26 of which shuddered and contracted each time she harmed it.
At least by what Noc’s awareness displayed for Anthony onto a large Crystalline screen, located within the dark room they currently occupied. It seemed like they released signals of their own, and those translated as electromagnetic waves, emitted from the wing structure. That membrane extending outward on both side’s of the worm, and any other Xa’Leen by their knowledge.
“ A Hive. “ Anthony observed, as he assumed the creature to scream in pain, with 26 voices, each struggling for dominance in their effort to voice their suffering.
That struggle gradually grew louder, more chaotic, as Noc’s wings formed, piercing into the creature from within. Slowly she moved forward then, deliberate in her action to prolong the creatures pain, to allow Anthony to savor the screaming of a predator, learning that it was now the prey.
It prompted Anthony to just close his eyes, and truly drink in the suffering of their victim, as its wailing became louder. It’s electromagnetic transmissions growing ever more chaotic, until it was just one uncoordinated mess.
Noc ignited the edge of it’s blade-like structure then, to truly start cutting through it’s victim. And by the time they broke through the outer skin of the Creature, it was barely even coherent anymore.
8 of what may have been 26 brains had shut down entirely, completely ceasing functioning, with those that remained satiating Anthony with their panic stricken chorus. And when Noc finally broke out of the creature, she tore parts of it’s gut’s into the open, silencing 5 more of those brains. This left the massive worm mortally wounded, and prompted Anthony to simply shift his attention to the feast that was awaiting in front of them.
It was a shame though. Anthony had hoped the creature would survive, maybe it still even would. Maybe it would manage to escape, and share it’s experience with it’s kin. But that screaming already gave Anthony all he really needed, as Noc had recorded every last moment of it.
She was weaponizing it, replaying it through the same form of communication the Xa’Leen seemed to use. This made them scatter from their current attempt to attack the Terran’s, abandon the Destroyers that some of them had latched onto, confused by the increasing screams of what Anthony assumed to be one of their commanders.
It gave him a smile, cruel and outright sadistic as he wanted more, more screaming, more suffering, and Noc translated his desire into a new course of action. Simply to plot a new route, where she would charge into the masses of the Xa’Leen, barely missing some of them, only to pick up random Xa’leen by impaling them on her wings with brutal force.
More screams to be added, enhanced by electric shocks she surged through her wings into these creatures. More suffering voices that were to be layered over the screaming she was transmitting herself. To Torture and prolong their pain, as clearly death had not been incentive enough for these creatures to turn tail before.
But now, now they begun to panic, to accelerate in an uncoordinated fashion as Noc charged through their ranks like a screaming banshee. Beams of pure white slashing at random Xa’Leen wings, only to have that panic fester, to incentivize that fear, that they might be next.
Those wing-membranes being cut, it reduced their capacity to move, to talk with their kin even, as clearly it reduced their capacity to send out those waves. And it only worsened the panic that spread through their ranks.
Within 15 minutes, Noc had covered all four of her wings to the tip with struggling Xa’Leen, which she proceeded to torture. Here and there to loose some as they tore off when she accelerated or turned to quickly, just to replace what was lost with new, fresh victims.
It gave her such a Macabre appearance that, however the Xa’Leen managed to perceive their surroundings given their lack of eyes, they would find a horrific sight, one that conveyed a promise to them. Run, or you’ll wish you’d be permitted to die.
That message was clear to most, yet some Xa’Leen still had their wits about them. Noc was just one ship, one enemy, and that enemy just had to be removed. So they opened fire on her, with some even trying to gather into a form of, loose formation.
Yet Noc danced with unnatural agility, not to evade, but to roll and turn into every last of those projectiles fired by the Xa’Leen, only for a white glare to appear meters above Noc’s hull, as a form of energy shielding turned those projectiles into dust.
She was making a mockery of their efforts, purposely collecting their projectiles just to crush their determination, their hope. All because Anthony desired utter despair from them, existential terror, and he did not need to speak his desire, because the moment it became a mere thought, Noc twisted that desire into reality.
It was like an unholy synergy. A bloodthirsty monster seated upon a dark throne, with it’s weapon, it’s will lashing out, deeply amused, and utterly devoid of mercy or compassion. That Synergy fed Anthony with more power, which in turn was fed back into Noc, creating a dependency that, eventually, should become unsustainable.
And every-time there was doubt, or even a glimmer of consideration for the Xa’Leen, the mere idea that, perhaps they may have learned their lesson, or that maybe he was taking this too far, there was that reminder again. That gurgling sound, and Ina’s voice, and it enraged him.
“ They still have hope, don’t they ? “ He would utter after one such reminder, his voice deeper, and a lot more guttural then it should have been. That reminder fed the raging hatred he experienced for them, a hatred that wanted them to suffer complete despair.
Noc understood the meaning his words carried.
Her ghostly figure danced across the floor of the dark room that was this vessels bridge. A small stature with pale skin, like porcelain, dark hair, and a dress that resembled a way too cute version of a mourners attire.
And this ghostly figure, it grew a sadistic grin at his words, turning the nose of the ship towards the distant Xa’Leen that still accelerated towards Allistor 5, intending to reinforce their panicked kin.
Then the ships nose begun to pulse with white light, like it was gathering something in waves. Each pulse appearing shorter then the last, until a massive beam of visible white light was being released. A sort of, particle beam, nearly as wide as her main body was. One that, embedded within it, held the screams of the Xa’Leen they had already tortured.
That beam cut through the ranks of the approaching Xa’Leen a few moments after, killing hundreds of them, while devastating minds and moral as the sound of pain, the promise of it, ignited their desire to run.
And to assure it could fester, Noc released a few more of those beams, to slay more Xa’Leen, and assure none of them would dare approach. Just to repeat that process with other groups that desired to salvage the situation, until their will to fight was utterly devastated.
But then Anthony’s gaze fell onto the three gas-giant’s within the Allistor System, those three that were brought along by the Xa’Leen, currently orbiting around each other around Allistor’s star.
And again, Noc understood, and grinned in agreement. The ships body blinking out of existence briefly, before reappearing right in the middle of those three worlds where, once more, the ship begun to centralize energy.
But this time, it wasn’t just the nose of the ship, but instead the ship as a whole, with it’s white edge growing with intense light. Wave after wave of energy slammed against the ship as more and more was being gathered out of the void, just to release a massive shock-wave of pure psykic energy.
The Xa’Leen hiding within the upper layers of the gas-giant’s took notice of the ship, and the energy buildup around it.
But before they could offer any reaction, that shock-wave was being released, and the moment it touched the upper atmosphere of a gas-giant, it begun to strip it away with violent force. Ripping apart the Xa’Leen that had been held on Noc’s wings, just as much as those that hid within the gas-giant’s upper layers..
And with the pressure relieved, the lower layers of the Giant’s exploded outward with more violent force then the shock-wave had provided, tearing apart any Xa’Leen that may have survived, and distributing a lot of their worlds matter into dense gas clouds all around them.
“ Ah. “ Anthony exhaled, satisfied, and yet, not.
The message was conveyed, and what remained of the Xa’Leen within Allistor was in utter panic. It was hard to see them gathering their wits again anytime soon, though part of him near hoped they would. It was still a large number of them, and while he wanted them to run, he also craved to chase them down, and utterly tear them apart.
But they were fleeing now, trying to leave the system on conventional acceleration, and he wanted them to spread the news. To run, to seed the fear, so that next time they faced him, they would throw whatever they had at him.
They would probably try again for the Allistor system, and any new attack performed by them would likely contain a larger attack force then. And after what he did to their worlds, Anthony doubted they’d be foolish enough to bring any other in.
“ Yes. “ He near growled, his thoughts wandering to Allistor 5, which was promptly displayed on the crystal screen. And once more, Noc giggled, aware of what was being formulated in his mind.
TMS Silencer.
The Bridge had fallen into complete silence, and had been ever since they could gather their fleet in orbit around Allistor 5, as they were watching that new ship. But what had begun as the intent to use this opportunity to resupply and prepare for the next battle, it had devolved into near complete shutdown of all current operations.
Everyone was glued to the main view screen, and what it displayed. It was focused on the new contact, that black and white ship, following how it flew through the Xa’Leen ranks and seeded absolute chaos amongst them.
Even after Sovereign’s representative had warned Alber to not appear as a threat to it, suggesting that it was a dangerous weapon, he had not thought it possible for one single vessel to outclass the Xa’Leen to such a degree. He could see now why he was being warned, but that ship, it posed so many questions to him right then.
The rules of physics merely seemed to be a suggestion for it, as it maneuvered in ways that should have been impossible. Accelerating to insane speeds, coming to an instant stop, turning about with such impossible agility. No conventional drive should be able to do such, and by appearance, there was clearly nothing conventional about it.
It appeared to use a particle beam, a weapon that was still just a theory within the Commonwealth, and the way it moved, the closest thing he could think of was the idea of a sort of, Gravity-drive. And an energy shield to top it all off ? Where the hell did that thing come from ? Was that perhaps, why High Command was being so careful about Sovereign ?
But that was merely an assumption on his part, and he had little time to dwell on those thoughts, as this battle, if you could even call it that, looked nothing like one should imagine combat to be. No, this wasn’t combat, Alber would not even consider it warfare, that ship was outright terrorizing the Xa’Leen, and it appeared to do it’s work extremely efficient.
Clearly the ship was equipped to kill the Xa’Leen with ease, and it refused to do so. Every move, every action that ship performed, it was calculated cruelty, designed to display superiority, and seed absolute terror.
Among the many questions to Alber, the most prominent to him was, if that ship was from Sovereign, then why did they even bother with the ship design that currently assisted his fleet ? Were they trying to hide something ? More importantly, if they had such technology, did they have more ships like this one ?
The ship suddenly disappeared as Alber posed those questions to himself. Just like the Seltran ship they used before, suggesting that it had a similar method to cover large distances in an instant. Though it would take Alber, much like his crew, a few more moments to grasp the situation as the disappearance of that ship meant the Xa’Leen may try to reform and attack again.
“ Status on resupply ?! “ Alber demanded, calling the personal on the bridge back to action.
“ Still in progress Cap. Non essential crew’s have been fully deployed Planet-side, Full ammo restock at current pace would require another two hours. “ Tactical responded to him.
“ Cut it down to projectile rearmament. All vessels set reactors to highest output. First sign of Xa’Leen approach, I want them shut off again. “ Alber commanded, keeping those orb worms in mind.
They needed to prepare a new defensive line, as with that ships intervention, the Xa’Leen at least were spread out and too disorganized, but that may change at any moment. If anything, they had been given a massive time boost, and they might actually make it until reinforcement arrive.
“ Cap. The Xa’Leen worlds. “ Tactical called out then, and the tone in the officers voice suggested that something was amiss.
“ On screen. “ He ordered in response.
Then the main view screen changed view, and they could watch how those Xa’Leen Gas giants ripped themselves apart from within. With the new vessel, sitting right in between all three worlds, remaining there even as it’s location was being shrouded by the rapidly expanding material of those massive worlds.
Only the occasional flash of light hinting that it was still sitting there, as Alber imagined those flashes to be another occurrence of the ships shield, blocking heavier impacts of whatever was flung against it.
“ Tactical, Active scan, determine remaining Xa’Leen forces. “ Alber demanded, a churning sensation in his guts as he watched the scene on the main screen.
It felt strangely wrong to him, even as Terran, even with the dominant hostility towards anything Alien or AI. Destroying what he saw as a colonized world, eradicating what may have been non-combatants so ruthlessly, it seemed needlessly cruel.
Perhaps there was a reason to it, perhaps the Xa’Leen lacked the social structure that permitted the formation of something he could even consider a civilization. And clearly, they had been ruthless themselves in their attacks on Terran worlds.
But Nana’s claim, that they used to be peaceful, and the use of strategic formations, as ineffective as they had been, it suggested a level of intelligence that should bring a social hierarchy with it.
“ Accounting for 1.5 Million Xa’Leen in system, Cap. No active life-signs from within the gas cloud, nor the Gas Giant’s themselves. “ Tactical reported a short while after Alber’s order.
It left Alber only to nod, considering for himself that perhaps he was just trying to make sense of Sovereigns actions there. The entire battle, if you could call it that, simply broke any scope that would have made sense to him. And by his observation, his crew was not left untouched either by what they seen.
“ Cap ! “ Tactical called out, switching the screen towards the view in front of the TMS Silencer where that Sovereign ship had suddenly appeared, rolling to the left, then the right, before just holding position in front of the TMS Silencer.
“ Sheep, Sheep. “ That girlish voice from before spoke, a communication channel being opened by force, with a video link showing a face covering the whole screen.
It was young, feminine, with white eyes like the representative of Sovereign sitting to his left. But this one had black lips, and when she leaned back, the first thing that came to his mind was, Gothic Lolita, a theme that still found it’s niche even today.
She was pale, dressed in a black dress that looked to mature for how young she appeared. And by how she suddenly twirled around in front of the screen, she even seemed to have the maturity of a child. An image that was immediately shattered when she stood still again at a distance, with a smile that suggested absolute Malice.
“ Slay ? Or Keep ? “ She spoke then before Alber could even find the words to offer any response.
“ This world, this System, it now belongs to Sovereign ! “ Another voice from further back spoke, a guttural, near growled voice that barely even managed to sound, human.
Alber could not make out the source of that voice, the bridge of the other ship, if indeed that was the bridge, was dark, just barely illuminated enough to show the section the girl inhabited. The only thing he could see, were intense red orbs from somewhere within the dark, a whole of three of them, and he had no idea what they could be just then.
“ You-, “ Alber begun, wanting to protest out of reflex and a sense of duty towards the Commonwealth, even though he was aware that it may be a bad idea. Though he was promptly interrupted by the other speaker.
“ I care little for whatever excuse you intent to offer. Sovereign does not work for free, and without Sovereign, neither this world, nor you, would still be standing.
You have two weeks to remove your military presence of Allistor 5, and I will not stop any who wishes to leave, but this world is now Mine !
Naturally, your welcome to resist this claim, but do not expect me to show mercy. “ That voice proclaimed, and then it’s owner seemed to finally step into the lit area.
It was, like a dark cloud, the vague form of what may have been a wolf on two feet. At least that was the closest description that Alber could compare it to. And that creature looked at him with three red eyes, two where it would seem natural, and a third where the creatures forehead should be. It’s very appearance seemed to inspire dread, not only within Alber, but the whole crew on the Silencers bridge.
That sensation left only a moment after though, as the creatures attention suddenly shifted. It’s gaze turned to the side for a moment, it’s head leaning to it’s left, only for it to reveal a maw filled with fangs, in what may be a display of delight, a smile that outright felt cruel to Alber.
“ The feast has not yet ended. “ That voice near growled with a tone that may have been pleasure, sadistic and full of hunger.
“ Noc can play ? “ The girl uttered sheepishly, looking at this monstrous being, who then reached out to stroke the girl through her hair with a claw bearing hand, using a surprising gentleness.
“ Leave one, slaughter the rest. “ The creature growled, pleased to the point that it sounded utterly delighted. And those words ignited screaming, the whole bridge of the other ship was being filled by them with no discernible origin. And with it, that girls grin grew wider.
“ Return to your ship, Nana. “ The voice then ordered firmly, with a tone that demanded absolute obedience. It’s gaze turned back towards the bridge of the Silencer, spreading that sense of dread again, a sensation that disappeared again with the communication being simply cut a moment after.
“ Please, do forgive. “ Nana spoke then as she rose from her seat.
Alber was still taken aback, and briefly he considered to have Nana restrained, but he decided against it when considering High Commands stance towards Sovereign. He was not privy to what High Command knew of Sovereign, but that creature, whatever it represented in Sovereigns command hierarchy, it was dangerous, and challenging it right now felt like a mistake that could condemn not just Allistor.
“ Have our guest escorted to the shuttle bay. “ Alber ordered, simply regarding Nana with a light nod that she returned in silence.
“ C-cap, new contacts. Spread out across the system. I am counting nearly 10 million Xa’Leen. Multiple larger creatures. “ Tactical then announced, audibly shaken.
Alber could see then that the Sovereign ship before them disappeared, only to appear moments later nearby the larger Xa’Leen creatures. Simply to slam through the first while opening fire on others.
Again, not to outright kill, but to cause as much harm as possible. And likely, just to hurt them, as the waves they could detect from the ship itself were a mimicry of what the Xa’Leen used, likely to taunt, to shatter their will to fight.
The Xa’Leen’s reaction was instant. They ignored everything but that ship, trying to hunt it while it begun a macabre dance, a massacre like he had not seen before.
“ Send everything about our Situation to THC, include all information and recordings of Sovereigns ship, and inform them that we will be preparing to evacuate personal from Allistor 5.
Given no further attacks through the Xa’Leen, we will start evacuation efforts in 7 days. “ Alber then ordered after Nana left the bridge, and considering the distance to Sol, he could probably not count on a timely response.
The earliest response possible would be in 9 days, and that was, if they came to a quick resolution once they received the information, which he doubted. Two weeks, he had to make a choice here, and whether THC agreed or not, Alber had no intention to be the reason for a third faction starting a war with the Commonwealth.
“ Send an emergency call into every nearby system, we need transport ships. Inform the military base on Allistor 5 as well, have them prepare evacuation efforts for all military personal and the civilian population. “ He then ordered, having no illusion that it would be near impossible to evacuate the entire planet. And he had no doubt that many of the colonists may oppose leaving their world.
“ Fuck. “ He muttered under his breath. He had been willing to die in the defense of this world, to sacrifice his entire fleet in the line of their duty. And now ? He had to turn tail because the scope of what they were facing could potentially threaten the Commonwealth as a whole.
If sovereign actually managed to handle the Xa’Leen reinforcements, there was no telling what their real power scale was like. But at the very least, he could try and collect as much information as possible right now, and have High Command break their heads over this matter.
One thing was clear though, this was going to shift the political landscape, and he worried that it might be for the worse.