Cyborg Assault

Light traveled at approximately 300,000 kilometers per second. The time lag between firing the laser, its journey across space and to the target was almost negligible in space combat terms. Normally, the Rousseau would have possessed motive power. Today it lacked that, but drifted instead. That made it a stationary target. That meant the Highborn calibrating system could snipe at the dreadnaught with comparative ease.

The dreadnaught did have particle shielding. And the laser’s wattage was mid-level and it would take time to chew through the asteroid rock.

As the laser stabbed through the darkness, the dreadnaught lowered particle shielding just a fraction. Through that slit opening, its point-defense cannons began spewing depleted uranium pellets. Those pellets would take time to reach the Thutmosis III. And the enemy’s position could change by the time the pellets reached the projected impact point.

Gharlane had ordered CR37 to lay the pellets in a large, predictive pattern. In effect, CR37 shot the pellets as mines, putting them in the enemy ship’s projected path. Instead of using nuclear detonation, CR37 would rely on kinetic force. He would use the ship’s velocity against it, and that it lacked particle shielding. It would take time to hurt the enemy vessel, but the cumulative effect might be enough to destroy it.

A klaxon began to wail. The unmodified human turned to him, with horror twisting her pale features. “A laser —” she whispered, before she choked up.

CR37 clicked a toggle. A tri-screen activated. From a hull camera, he saw the enemy laser. It chewed into particle shielding at the edge of a point-defense cannon.

“Raise the shield,” the woman whispered. “Or the laser might breach the hull. Maybe it will slice into our chamber.” She wilted as he stared at her.

CR37 turned back to the tri-screen. Gharlane had given the order. They must lay down the pellets, even at the cost of further ship-destruction.

-20-

On Athena Station, Gharlane stood in the former Guardian Fleet Command Center. It contained the latest in liquid computers and AI-enhancers. Cyborgs worked the modules. On the walls were various screens. One showed an interferometer enlargement of the beaming Highborn vessel. Another showed the Descartes. Another showed the Zenos burning for the Rousseau. The crippled warship was taking hits from the Highborn laser.

Audio bursts had increased throughout the system. Callisto Orbital Defense demanded clarification. Guardian Fleet warships still under Jovian control also wanted assessment of the situation.

It was clear to Gharlane that with the Highborn’s declaration and attack, phase one of the cyborg stealth campaign was effectively over. It was time for open strikes. The first should occur against Callisto.

A ping in Gharlane’s mind alerted him to the Web-Mind’s radio linkage. He stood straighter and moved his head minutely to the left.

“Gharlane here,” he said.

I have assessed the probabilities, the Web-Mind said. With eighty-seven percent certainty, the current attack means that the Highborn are allied with the Jovians.

“I am not convinced of that. The Praetor’s messages indicate troubling rogue factors.”

The messages were coded sequences.

“Do you say that because of the immediate ignition of the two Zenos?” Gharlane asked.

Highborn and Jovians are attacking in concert. The conclusion is obvious. They have a working alliance.

“If that is true, it is time for open strikes.”

First, it is time to implement the subversion campaign.

Gharlane shifted his stance as he observed the number seven screen. The Highborn laser stabbed through space. It hit the Rousseau with uncanny accuracy.

“The random factors are too high to implement the subversion campaign,” Gharlane said. “It could produce unknown backlashes.”

The Highborn have joined the battle for the Jupiter System. They have achieved a surprise attack. To maintain over eighty percent chance of system victory, we must immediately implement the subversion campaign.

Gharlane had uncovered the Secessionist Plot through captured officers of Ganymede and Europan origin. The Secessionists awaited the opportunity for a system-wide rebellion against Callisto and the Guardian Fleet. Through mind-analyzers, truth serums and pain inducements, he had also discovered the code words that would initiate warship takeovers and planetary coups by the Secessionists.

The Secessionists will divide the Jovians and sow discord at this critical juncture.

“It will also alert Callisto Orbital Defense and all remaining Guardian Fleet warships.”

There is a high probability that the two factions will begin interspecies infighting.

“Other than this single vessel, there is no evidence of further Highborn presence.”

This vessel surprised us. Therefore, the probability is high that the genetic soldiers have other stealth vessels in the region. We must strike hard now before the Jovians and Highborn can coordinate their respective ships. Also, the appearance of the vessel at this point indicates that our stealth assault has been compromised.

“Shouldn’t we wait until—”

Begin an immediate implementation of the subversion campaign. Then increase the attack velocity of the two nearest meteor-ships against the Descartes.

Although Gharlane had grave reservations, he said, “I have received.”

The Web-Mind broke the radio-linkage and Gharlane gave the needed orders. Half the cyborgs in the Command Center switched tasks. They began to broadcast the latest Secessionist code sequences to different warships and to Ganymede, Europa, Io and other moons.

Gharlane strode to screen eleven. It was split in two, showing camera shots from two cyborg-controlled meteor-ships. Each focused on the other. They were the Kepler and the Hobbes, identical in size and function to the Descartes. Each now began to accelerate, increasing their velocity.

* * *

Marten joined a badly shaken Yakov at the Primary Gunner’s module. Rhea was hunched over the controls, her slender fingers adjusting critical passive sensor arrays.

“They’re meteor-ships,” she said.

Marten wondered how she knew. On her screen, they were dots drowned by a sea of stars.

Rhea pressed a button. On the screen, the view shifted slightly. Brighter dots moved away from the first two. Rhea leaned closer to her various monitors.

“The ships have launched Zenos,” she said.

“Their projected trajectory?” whispered Yakov.

Rhea twisted around to face him, causing her breasts to strain against her black uniform. “They’re targeting us, Force-Leader. They think we’re Secessionists.”

“Maybe they’re cyborg-controlled vessels,” Marten said.

Rhea refused to look at him or respond to his words.

“Or they’re Jovians allied with the cyborgs,” Marten told Yakov.

Now Rhea gave him a cold glance. “No Jovian would make an alliance with a cyborg.”