Naturally..

Posted on Wed Apr 10, 2019 @ 2:58pm by

627 words; about a 3 minute read

Mission: Plaga Navis
Location: Agadon Reach

Captain Katya Ivanov
Agadon Reach
Red Sector

Rudigon Deep, a bar / restaurant in the higher end area of Red Sector

Seated at a table set in a back corner of the establishment, Captain Katya Ivanov of the Imperial Terran Fleet.. now just Captain Ivanov here in this backward version of her own universe.. gazed calmly across the table at the representative of the Drouda Strategic Command Matrix who had come to discuss a cessation of hostilities with the Empire. As the duly named representative of Admiral Cartwright, she had full authority in most matters ..at least where this particular meeting was concerned.

Sipping her drink, she said “Have you reviewed the articles of cease fire as proposed by Admiral Cartwright?”

Unhappy, his eyes veiled behind the inner 3rd membrane Ambassador k’Dral gave a nod. “We have. The Council of Matriarchs wishes an end to the fighting, but are.. concerned over the terms.”

“The terms are non-negotiable, in return for an end to the bombardment of your homeworld, you will transfer all military weapon schematics including the series 5 and series 5Gamma long-range tactical armor unit to our military research division and submit to the placement of an Imperial military base in orbit within your star system.” She paused, “Or, the bombardment will resume as soon as I give Admiral Cartwright your answer.”

She waited. Confident of the outcome. The Druodo homeworld had been subjected to a continual bombardment of specialized weaponry for nearly a year now. There wasn’t much left to resist with, and the acquisition of the series 5 and 5Gamma would be a huge boon for the Empire.

At just over one meter long, the torpedo was a weapon designed for mass destruction. Its explosive yield consisted of a highly focused antimatter explosion with a blast radius of two hundred kilometers. The armor unit was powered by a condensed energy matrix, which alone could power a fleet of starships. Instead of a standard computer core, there was an on-board class-11 artificial intelligence which used bio-neural circuitry to mimic humanoid synaptic functions. The intelligence was programmed to take every measure necessary to ensure that it reached its target. When separated from its explosive components and reprogrammed, the intelligence core could be used for planetary weather control or even terraforming purposes.

The weapon was warp-capable, had a maximum range of eighty light years, and was protected by paratrinic shielding. Its sensors were able to detect both its position and when its systems were being tampered with. The torpedo was programmed with a targeting threshold of two light years meaning that, when it was within two light years of its target, it could not disarm or divert – not even with the correct command codes.

k’Dral gave a soft hiss, his instructions had been very clear. “I must speak one last time with the Council.”

“You have 2 hours.. then I fear the bombardment will resume.” Ivanov answered.

k’Dral nodded and rose, walking away with the air of a being defeated..and knew it.


[3 hours later - Green Sector Diplomatic Quarters]

Looking up as Katya entered, Admiral Jason Cartwright smiled, “Just in Captain, I have just received confirmation from Commodore Jessek that the specifications for the Series 5 have been received, sadly too late to stop the initial resumption of bombardment I am afraid, it does appear that the Council of Matriarchs was present when a salvo from one of the battle cruisers struck. No survivors.”

His smile was telling as she reached his side and allowed him to pull her into his arms. “A tragedy..” Katya answered. “Naturally we should send in ground forces to assist with aid of the wounded..”

“Naturally..” he answered, drawing her closer into his embrace.. that knowing smile still on his handsome features.

 

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