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Outside - The Reflection
:: 01-01-31 ::
Chapter 19: The Children's Crucible
“All fighters launch!” Dolann Kaalel exclaimed. “Main Hiigaran fleet, block the primary T-Mat attack group. We must protect the Beastslayer at any cost. How many ships are attacking?”
“Approximately 28 Megaships, 72 Frigates, and 36 Destroyers. There are some others - some from the other Unbound races, and a few Imperial ships. No signs of subversion among them. However, approximately twenty-four of our capital ships have been subverted.”
“All offensive weaponry, come online. Target the nearest Megaship,” Kaalel said. “Fire at will!”
*****
The three Bentusi Tradeships surrounded the Beastslayer. Super Acolytes flew out to the nearest T-Mat ships, firing their brilliant ion cannons simultaneously. The Megaships began firing their own weapons, destroying the Bentusi fighters, one by one. Flashes of yellow and blue were exchanged by the ships of the Unbound races.
“There is no need for this,” the T-Mat broadcast. “Bentusi ships and newly Unbound Hiigaran - leave and disable your ship’s trans-hyperdrive. We will let you flee.”
“We cannot do that. Outside must be stopped, whatever the cost.”
“You risk all Unbound ones. You-”
“You are killing us. We must protect the Bound ones.”
“Your job was to monitor the Bound ones; destroy them if they threatened us. They threaten us. You have lost your way,” the T-Mat accused.
“We have seen them do thing we cannot do. Their songs are as stirring as ours, if not as loud.”
“You are soft. We help the Bound ones, but only if we are not threatened by their actions.”
“You often use ‘threaten’ for any action that does not serve your purposes,” the Bentusi said. “Sense those around you, even the Bound ones. They continue to fight for what is right, even though their ships burn with your wrath. They are trying to make up for what our ancestors did one million years ago, and you let your fear get in the way. They are not motivated by self-interest. They are fighting for all of us.”
“We cannot let Outside touch us. We lost some of ourselves to the Devourer, and we may yet lose more to its remnants. The Bound ones cannot release the Devourer again.”
“We have an opportunity to end Outside forever. We only need to let the Bound ones continue.” Despite what the Bentusi said, the T-Mat continued their attack, ion cannons lashing into Bound capital ships and waving across the Bentusi Tradeships. With a sadness, the Bentusi said, “We regret that we must prevent you from stopping us.”
“Lies!” the T-Mat exclaimed, filled with rage. “They are meant to be little more than servants. They are lesser. A thousand of their stories does not compare to one of ours! The Universe appears before us, to them it is hostile. If you wish to make their lives filled with joy by giving them insignificant scraps of our fortune, we will not stop you, but you risk all of us for them! We must do what we must do for all Unbound ones!” The T-Mat let the power of their words radiate out from their ships.
After a long pause, the Bentusi replied, with an undertone of anger, “If that is what being Unbound means, then perhaps we deserve whatever Outside does to us.”
The T-Mat were in silence for an even longer time, partly in shock, partly in fury. “You are traitors,” they finally said, and then ended the conversation with them.
But, the T-Mat still had to listen to one other.
"You are arrogant if you think you appear as anything more than children throwing a tantrum before me. I stand behind everything the Bentusi said. It is sad that being Unbound doesn’t purify you, but rather corrupts you.” Then the Beastslayer cut communications and fired its small compliment of missiles at the T-Mat ships.
The T-Mat seethed, but calmed themselves. The Hiigaran was only newly Unbound. His…irrational beliefs would fade away. So, the T-Mat focused their attention on the Bound ones and the Bentusi.
*****
Shanal Alo viewed the incoming T-Mat ships. Slowly, Frigates and Destroyers advanced, while Megaships escorted them from behind. Blue ion cannons fired out of the Megaships, destroying the scattering Bentusi Super Acolytes.
The bridge shook as a Frigate opened fire.
“Hull integrity at 93% and falling.”
“Republican ships, target all fire on the flank of T-Mat ships at 35° by -20°.”
“Energy cannons targeted.”
“Fire!” ordered Shanal Alo.
The claws of Taiidan Attack Bombers advanced on the dozen Frigates that were firing at the Taiidan fleet. Plasma bombs shot out of the fighters into the T-Mat vessels. They maneuvered into spheres, pouring continuous fire onto the Frigates.
“All ships with ion cannons, target the Destroyers in the center of that fleet. Assault Frigates, distract the Frigates.”
A wall of Taiidan ships closed in on the T-Mat fleet. Fifty ion cannons blazed across space, tearing into the Destroyers. Slowly the Destroyers began to wither away. Meanwhile, the viewscreen began to light up as the T-Mat Frigates fired on the Taiidan ships. Some Taiidan ships began spinning in space, turning on their comrades.
“Eight of our capital ships have been subverted.”
“Do not fire on them,” Shanal Alo said. “All capital ships, continue firing on the Destroyers.”
A flash of white light filled the bridge.
“T-Mat Destroyer destroyed. Two are still active.”
The T-Mat Destroyers began to turn, waving their ion beams around. Then they began tumbling, venting plasma. The Destroyers’ hulls were cratered and scorched. Finally, the T-Mat ships broke up, scattering debris into the nearby Frigates.
“Excellent. Group 3, advance on the Megaship at 70° by 110°. Everyone else, target the Frigates and fire at will,” Shanal Alo ordered.
At his command, the red glow of Taiidan weapon fire bathed the Frigates.
*****
Imperial captain Tequal Nal sat in the commander’s chair of the Protector of the Throne. He looked around at the crew, who knew the Beastslayer project leaders as their captors. Tequal sensed varying reactions, from hostility from Ensign Kelsak in the front to a determined calm of first officer Lieutenant Ulksar at his side. They gave me back the ship. We can learn to trust each other, the captain thought, as if broadcasting it to the crew.
“Protector to all Imperial ships, bring all weapons online. Target the T-Mat Frigate directly ahe-“
“Captain, I cannot let you do that.” Behind him was Lieutenant Ulksar, pointing a gun at his head. From his peripheral vision, he could see it was a Tralsak, one often used for assassination when the Empire was becoming decadent and corrupt. The lieutenant grabbed Tequal, holding him in place.
“Lieutenant-“
“Quiet! You were about to betray us for…some Hiigarans, Republicans, the Frrern, and their masters, the Bentusi.”
“Look around you!” the captain shouted. On the viewscreen, several Hiigaran frigates were attempting to destroy a T-Mat Destroyer. One by one, the ion cannons of the Destroyer sliced apart the Frigates, a massive explosion of plasma following quickly. A Hiigaran destroyer pushed ahead, its front section glowing red from damage. It rammed straight into the T-Mat ship, causing it to shake and pull back somewhat. It was too late for the Hiigaran ships, though, which now hung derelict in the battle. “Do you not get that we are all in danger! Not only from Outside, but from the T-Mat, who-“
“-Are our allies-“
“-Just like the Beast supposedly was.”
Ulksar was quiet for a moment. “I am relieving you of duty, captain. Ensign Kalsak, Tel’Doth, escort him to the brig.”
Tel’Doth, the sole Turanic Raider on the bridge, had merely been watching with a hostile curiosity, but now flatly refused to carry out the order.
“Tel’Doth, I know we have had some…difficulties with the Turanics in recent times-“
“It was a war!” Tel’Doth exclaimed.
“-But, you want to serve the Hiigaran and Republican fleets?”
“We might not like either of them, but we have cooperated before, when the Beast came and it was to our benefit. The only reason we ever served the Empire, or the T-Mat, was because you offered us resources that we could use for the future of Turan. We don’t want a future with the T-Mat like this, or with Outside.”
“You-“ Ulksar didn’t finish the sentence. Instead, he clutched his head in pain and fell onto the captain’s chair.
Captain Tequal Nal turned around to find one of the bridge’s security officers withdraw his extended fist. Two others were behind him. “We always intended to defect. You spared us a mutiny.”
Tequal Nal didn’t let the idea of mutiny cloud his mind.
“Good work. Did the fleet target its weapons?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Fire!”
The ships of his fleet, as dark as the void between galaxies, opened fire.
*****
Frrern Attacker corvettes moved to intercept a trio of Frigates. Designed during the last days of the Taiidan Empire and the chaos that followed it, they now fired their heavy plasma bombs at the Frigates. The bombs crashed into the Frigates, which were approaching the Beastslayer slowly. The wing of Frrern corvettes fired salvo after salvo into the capital ships, which began to turn, as if in annoyance. A pair of Kushan Ion Cannon Frigates approached from the side and then fired their ion beams into the T-Mat ships. The T-Mat vessels began moving to focus their weapons on the new threat, but were outmaneuvered by the Hiigarans.
Then, a Taiidan Republican Missile Destroyer, subverted by the T-Mat, fired its missiles at the Frrern corvettes. The Frrern ships took heavy damage as the Destroyer’s weapons guided themselves into the hulls of the corvettes.
I’ao fighters coasted into the scene, towards the Missile Destroyer. They began circling it, swarming it, their high speeds outracing the missiles. The Frrern corvettes resumed attacking the T-Mat ships. The Frigates shuddered under their collective fire.
*****
“The fleet’s tertiary flank is collapsing! Only four frigates left against multiple capital ships and a Megaship!”
“Somtaaw groups 3, 5, and 8, prepare to intercepts T-Mat at tertiary flank,” ordered Pukna Somtaaw, commanding the Explorer warship Naab-Corum. She took in a breath, and added, “Target the siege cannon on them.”
“Aye!” The weapons officer sounded excited at the prospect.
Slowly the Naab-Corum turned. A low rumble signified plasma being diverted from the fusion drives to the weapon. It took endless seconds, but finally, the huge globe of plasma shot away, towards the T-Mat ships. The T-Mat did not even bother to attempt to escape. Instead, their fleet approached straight on. The shot plowed into a Megaship.
The shock wave erupted, destroying one already-damaged Frigate and crippling two more Frigates and a Destroyer. Where the shot had impacted the Megaship, there was a gaping hole, like a giant wound on the semi-organic ship.
“Somtaaw ships, intercept and destroy them. Fire at will!” Pukna said.
*****
Thenar Soban stared into the T-Mat Megaship, on the viewscreen, which was beset by several dozen ion cannons.
“This thing is worse than the Headshot Asteroid in the Hiigara War,” he said. “Continue firing.”
The Megaship looked like it was slowly eroding. Even so, it was taking far too long.
“Burn, you Sajuuk forsaken…” Thenar added.
T-Mat ion canons lashed out at the Hiigaran fleet. They pierced the Kushan ships, slicing them apart.
“Three of our frigates destroyed! Four…” reported an officer.
“I meant them not us,” Thenar said to no one in particular.
“Hull integrity at 65% and falling.” The Heavy Cruiser rocked under the assault. But then, without warning, the T-Mat Megaship collapsed slightly, as if giving up, and then exploded. An intense light filled the room, as well as cheers.
Quickly, though, the joy died down as the ship continued to shake under the T-Mat onslaught.
*****
Datlai saw the cluster of green points begin to wink out on the holographic display of the battle Tasiin was projecting for her on the bridge. He stood to her side, apparently watching the battle himself.
She turned to the projection of Tasiin and asked, “Tasiin, I may not know much about starships, but I know that we are losing too many ships there,” she said, pointing to the cluster of green. “You said you lived in space itself. Can you somehow…stop the T-Mat there?”
He sighed. “Datlai, I do not really transcend the laws of physics; I merely use more subtle aspects of them. What you are asking would require a huge amount of energy. I am using most of the ship’s energy to charge up the trans-hyperdrive, which is 93% complete. Any spare energy is being used to fend off the T-Mat attempts to subvert the Beastslayer, or will be used when we actually are Outside,” Tasiin replied. “…Or for this.” He gestured to include the entire bridge.
“If we lose this, we won’t be going Outside, will we? Aren’t there…reserves of energy?”
“Yes, but they…”
“Please.” Datlai stared into Tasiin’s eyes, or rather, the illusion of his eyes. He looked back at her, and seemed to consider it for a moment.
More green dots disappeared.
Tasiin closed his eyes.
*****
Tasiin reached out with his limbs of gravity, finding a T-Mat Megaship. Those aboard were confident of themselves and their superiority. Using the Beastslayer’s energy reserves, he closed his hands of gravity around the T-Mat ship, as if holding it. As the tides on the T-Mat ship grew beyond what it was meant to handle, the Megaship twisted in place, pieces breaking off. The T-Mat aboard seemed shocked at what was happening, unable to comprehend what Tasiin was capable of. The T-Mat Megaship finally exploded.
Although Tasiin felt a little exhausted, he still found enough energy to turn against other T-Mat ships.
*****
Datlai had watched the T-Mat vessels turn around aimlessly, partly imploding, partly exploding, breaking up even as no weapons hit them.
“The Beastslayer’s energy reserves have been used up,” Tasiin said. “I cannot do any more.”
“What did you manage to do?” Datlai asked,
“One Megaship, two Destroyers, and three Frigates destroyed. Another Megaship was heavily damaged.”
Datlai looked into his eyes, and then smiled. “If you could do that, I don’t think you need to be worried about Outside.”
*****
“The…whatever it was came from the Beastslayer.”
“Thank you, Tasiin,” Dolann Kaalel whispered, and then looked back up at the viewscreen. “Continue firing. I hope the Bentusi reinforcements arrive soon. They will be bringing anyone else-“
“The Bentusi.”
“Yes.” After a silence, Kaalel asked, “What is wrong?”
The viewscreen changed images to one of the three Bentusi Tradeships. Its entire hull was scorched, cratered, scarred. Blackened pieces of hull drifted off the ship. It slowly approached a T-Mat Megaship, while ion cannons tore at it. The Tradeship launched a final wave of fighters and then a Cargo Barge. The Bentusi ship, a shadow of its former self, continued to move close to the Megaships.
“Bentusi ship, please, pull back while you still can!” Kaalel exclaimed.
“It is too late,” the Bentusi replied. There was a deep grief and sense of exhaustion filling their voices. “Our Body is dying. We can still do one more thing for your people. Go on to defeat Outside.”
T-Mat ships near the Bentusi Tradeship turned on it, firing everything they could. But Dolann Kaalel could see the Bentusi were right. The Tradeship rammed the Megaship, both ships shattering at the point of impact. Massive breaches appeared on both vessels. Finally, when the Bentusi vessel was two-thirds destroyed, a massive explosion radiated out from it, finishing off the Megaship and destroying a few of the nearby T-Mat ships. Wreckage filled that area of space.
After a long moment, Dolann said, “Let’s make sure their deaths meant something. Main Hiigaran fleet, destroy the fleet at 35° by -20°.”
The Jal-Tor turned and fired its energy cannons at the T-Mat Frigates and Destroyers. Interceptors and Attack Bombers rushed past the Carrier, joining with the capital ships. A wall of Ion Cannon Frigates opened fire on a Megaship, looming beyond the other T-Mat ships.
“Beastslayer’s trans-hyperdrive is 95% charged.”
“Our fleets seem to be gaining the upper hand.”
“Excellent,” said Kaalel. “Prepare to-“
“Detecting hyperspace signatures! They’re T-Mat! Reading three Megaships, several capital ships…and something big.”
Dolann Kaalel did not even have to wait for the ships to fully emerge from its hyperspace window to identify it. Long, radiating arms emerging from a circular center. Twice the span of a Megaship.
“Sajuuk help us…a T-Mat Mothership. Main Hiigaran fleet, break off and destroy that thing before it comes near the Beastslayer. Target one of the arms. Pukna Somtaaw, fire your two ships’ siege cannons at it!”
*****
The T-Mat Mothership slowly approached the Beastslayer fleet. The escorting T-Mat ships opened fire, destroying several ships quickly. Ion cannons from the Beastslayer fleet hit one of the arms, doing little.
The two Somtaaw Explorer warships turned, firing spheres of plasma. The shots blazed across the battle, and slammed into one of the arms of the T-Mat Mothership. The T-Mat fleet shuddered slightly, then continued to push forward.
Fighters quickly followed, firing projectiles, energy cannons and plasma bombs into the T-Mat Mothership. Ion cannons lashed out, scraping it. Ships began turning on the others, their weapons aiming at their comrades instead of the T-Mat. Even so, the fleet continued to pound away on the Mothership, while the T-Mat and their undermined escorts thinned out the fleet.
*****
“Destroyer lost. Heavy cruiser lost…”
“Tasiin,” Dolann Kaalel said. “Prepare to jump to normal hyperspace. We cannot hold against the T-Mat.”
“The trans-hyperdrive is 96.7% charged,” Tasiin replied. “We cannot change our minds now.”
“Tasiin-“
“We must continue.”
“We have no choice-“
“Hyperspace signatures detected!” an officer reported.
“We cannot take this. All ships prepare for emergency hyperspace jump!”
“Sir, they’re Bentusi! Seven Tradeships appearing.”
*****
The new Bentusi Tradeships immediately fired their yellow ion cannons at the T-Mat, as well as launching Super Acolytes.
“The Council has agreed to support you. They have sent their ships here to assist. They on our side.”
All around the battle, hyperspace windows opened. Hundreds of ships emerged, immediately attacking the T-Mat. Strike Craft poured out of carriers and glided into the battle.
*****
“Reading ships from dozens of races - including the Turanic Raiders…and the Imperialists.”
“Yes!” exclaimed Dolann Kaalel, who was echoed by many on the Jal-Tor bridge. “Hiigaran ships, continue to attack. Take down the T-Mat fleet.”
*****
“The Bound ones have betrayed us,” the T-Mat said. They directed it not to the Raiders or the Imperialists, but to the Unbound races of the Council. “As well as themselves.”
Even so, the leader of the Imperialists replied. “We may never forgive the Hiigarans. But at least we are not risking the entire Universe to get revenge for them. You are even worse than them.” With that Imperial ships fired a salvo at the T-Mat.
“The Bound ones mean nothing to us. Their Unbound allies, though, should see their obvious errors and their repeated hypocrisy. We cannot risk the Devourer coming again.”
“We do not want the Devourer to return. However we cannot let fear consume us,” the Bentusi replied.
“Fear lets us survive when life is dangerous,” the T-Mat said.
This time the reply was from Tasiin Limandatt’sa. “But it destroys us if we let it control us.”
Another Unbound race added, ”Call off your attack.”
“When we do not have to fear the Devourer, we will withdraw.”
*****
The Council fleet began to surround the T-Mat fleet. Ion cannons slashed the Mothership’s outer hull. Fighters - Hiigaran, Republican, Bentusi, Frrern, Turanic, Imperial, among so many others - fired side by side on the T-Mat. The Motherships and Megaships picked away at the Strike Craft, one by one, while the Frigates, Destroyers, and the Mothership waved their powerful ion cannons through capital ships.
Three Frigates opened fire on the Naab-Corum. However, an Imperial Heavy Cruiser as well as Turanic Ion Array Frigates turned against the Frigates, raking them with relativistic plasma. A Bentusi Exchange also joined its weapons to the skirmish. The Frigates began to withdraw, but it was too late for them. They began to tumble, and then they exploded. All four groups - Somtaaw, Turanic, Imperial, and Bentusi - turned once again to the Mothership.
*****
“Hull integrity at 51%.”
Dolann Kaalel felt tense, but excited. “Keep firing.”
“Trans-hyperdrive fully charged,” Tasiin Limandatt’sa said from the Beastslayer.
“Good luck to you, Tasiin!” Kaalel said.
“May the gods be with you,” Shanal Alo added.
“Make all of this mean something,” agreed Thenar Soban.
“From one Beastslayer to another, good luck!” said Pukna Somtaaw.
“May you find your true strength. Help ensure that Outside ends no more songs - including your own,” the Bentusi finally added.
Kaalel could almost hear Tasiin take in a breath. “Engaging trans-hyperdrive.”
*****
Tasiin felt a hesitation. There was no backing out of confronting Outside, though.
You have been a good friend Datlai, he thought. For the universes, I have hesitation. For you, who has gone through so much for me…
Tasiin activated the trans-hyperdrive. He felt joy as the waveforms he had helped calculate surrounded him, his creation a part of his essence.
Amid ion cannons and projectiles, the Beastslayer was enveloped by a brilliant blue glow, and jumped to Outside.
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