The Colony on Meranda IV - Part 28

3 days ago

This post started off as a one-off response to a writing prompt in the Freewriters Community. Then I wrote a part 2 (with the outcome literally determined by a coin toss).

But that naturally leads to a part 3, which is where this short series comes in. I felt that doing it in just one post really wouldn't give enough time to build up a bit of suspense 😀 Enjoy !

Image created by AI in NightCafe Studio

"No deal."

Dafang's voice came through the speaker, and Garrad slumped slightly in his command chair.

"Nova torpedoes ready to launch, Sir. Permission to fire ?"

The weapons officer's finger was poised over the button which would launch a dozen star killers from the command battleship, The Serpent's Bite, and transmit the fire order to a hundred other ships ready in formation with them.

But Garrad waved him back. "No. Not yet. It's not protocol, but I want to give them another chance. Open the channel again."

He had to admit to himself that he liked Dafang. Garrad's job involved rooting out officers who were disloyal, incompetent, or corrupt. Some were true psychopaths, like that Kailen from 3275-A Battle Corps.... what was his name... Horgett, that was it. Happy to sacrifice anyone to further his career, even including sabotaging his own commanding officer. Blowing his head off had been a pleasure. It was a filthy job that few could do. He was the best, but it meant he saw all the worst the Empire had to offer.

Dafang was different. If Garrad had to pick a word for him, it would be... pure. The man was honest through and through, even though it did him no favours. He knew his task, and worked hard to do the best for his colonists. It was just a shame he'd been captured by this strange mind virus. But even that didn't inhibit his fundamental nature. He deserved a second chance.

So Garrad hit the transmit button.

"Dafang, I know you can hear me. You know Imperial protocol as well as I do. This hive mind of yours linked to an intelligent alien power is a threat the Empire has to resolve. But dammit, I like you, and want to find a way to fix this without killing you and every colonist on Meranda. It's these Spineder aliens we need to stop, that's all."

He hesitated for a couple of seconds, and then suggested something which was a complete breach of normal quarantine procedure. Whether accepted or not, he knew he'd get a serious grilling from Lady-Leader Saria for even suggesting it.

"Let me offer you a better deal. We'll move all the human colonists to a new world as before, and if you recall your hidden cruiser, in return you can have all the comms you want with friends and family. We'll have Imperial scientists and Infomancers work with you to find ways to detect the mind virus. Then we'll try to develop a cure; uninfected children and those who want to be cured will be allowed to resume their lives as full Imperial citizens."

There was a long pause before a reply came though. He'd just started to wonder if the Governor would answer at all, when the transmission light flicked on.

"Thank you, Garrad. I appreciate the thought. But the hive mind is a living, sentient thing. Cutting the Spineders out of it would be like cutting off my own arm. So I'm afraid it's still no deal."

Reaching for the glass of Filamnian whisky beside his chair, Garrad raised it in a salute the other man couldn't see.

"You're an honourable man, Governor Dafang. I'll make sure to put that in my report. I'm sorry we have to do this. Good luck."

Garrad cut the communicator and turned to the weapons officer, giving the order in a flat voice.

"Fire."

He felt the ship shudder slightly as the massive torpedoes leaped free and started on their way towards the star. The HoloTac display showed tracks spreading from the other missile carriers in his fleet.

Under his breath, he murmured something that echoed what he'd said just a few days ago.

"I don't know if you've got anything, but if you have, now would be a good time."