The Colony on Meranda IV - Part 26

6 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

"I'm sorry to say this Governor, but that little display of force was the signature on the death warrant of this world and everything that lives here."

They were the last words spoken by ASP-Brigadier Garrad to Governor Dafang. That severe officer had then left Meranda with almost indecent haste, hurrying off to his personal shuttle without any kind of ceremonial farewell.

Dafang retreated to his office and spoke through the hive mind, focusing his attention on Helen, Wardek, and the Spineder alphas. There was no need for complex introductions, although it still felt very strange to be communing with such alien intelligences.

~ My friends, I think it likely that the Empire will see us as enough of a threat that they see no choice but to try to wipe us out. ~

The Spineder alphas were the first to respond, coming through in Dafang's mind as a group.

~ But surely the threat of what we could do with the ship we captured will act as a deterrent ~

It was Wardek who answered; his experience allowed him to predict what would happen. ~ 5D orbits are good, but they can still be cracked with enough effort. The Empire will put that effort in if they feel threatened enough, even if they have to shut down all interstellar movement for weeks or months. ~

~ And then what ? ~

The Spineders were supremely intelligent, but it was tempered by their lack of knowledge or understanding of the Imperium, of the degree of power granted by the resources of a hundred galaxies and the ruthlessness with which it would be wielded.

~ They'll find the ship, destroy it and hunt down any shuttles which try to escape, no matter what it takes. But even before then, they'll destroy Meranda. We won't face a single depleted Einheriar squadron this time. It could be a whole battle group, thirty thousand warships or more. They'd throw half a million nova bombs at our sun if that's what it took, and it would only need one to hit to end us.~

The humans all felt the stunned shock that coursed through the Spineders. They were wise and powerful, but hadn't dreamed that the Empire could do such a thing.

It took them a few seconds to regain their composure and ask the question that had to be asked.

~ Is there nothing we can do ? ~

Dafang mentally shook his head.

~ We've tried negotiation. They won't listen. We can't fight. They'll win. ~

~ So is this the end of Meranda and all of us in the hive ? ~

The building despair was clear. But the Spineders didn't yet appreciate the stubborn determination of the newest members of their hive mind.

Meranda had been at peace for eons as every living thing integrated into the hive, competition for resources replaced by co-operation. Even carnivores learned to eat by feeding on the old and unwell who would die anyway. Humans, humags and other Imperial species among the absorbed colonists were different; they were used to struggling against overwhelming odds to survive.

Dafang answered.

~ Damn it, I'm not losing what I've just found. I might have an idea. Helen, Wardek; the three of us and any other technicians among the colonists need to feed through all we know of Imperial technology. I know what we need to do, but it'll need all our pooled knowledge combined with the genius of the Spineders to pull it off. ~

~ We're not losing Meranda. Even if it means defying the Emperor himself. ~