A new chapter of The Serpent’s Garden is here, giving us the final moment of the battle for Meer Colhara. A second hive vessel has emerged from hiding, enough firepower to cut through whatever the defenders can spare to stop it and enough resources to found a colony. The only thing that stands between it and the eventual rise of another genocidal civilization is one small escort and a somewhat larger AI warship.
Below is a snippet from the latter’s final gambit to stop the hive. For the full chapter and story, check out the link above and thanks for reading!
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Little by little, Retribution was overtaking the hive, but the Meer-Ulson’s gambit, expending its support craft and ordnance had bought it the time it needed. If Red One had been able to strike with her impactors and missiles, she could have crippled it before it reached the rip threshold, but it hadn’t taken enough damage. It was still intact, still clad in rows of guns that would tear even the synth’s ship-self to pieces if she somehow managed to get within energy range.
It’s going to get away.
The rip limit was approaching fast. The hive was minutes, maybe only moments from a rip jump and Retribution was still four million kilometers away. There was no sign that it was recalling its falconets. They were going to be left behind, fighting until the very end to cover its escape.
“Signal Implacable Agent of Retribution,” Nanil ordered. As soon as the channel opened, she spoke, getting right to the point. “The hive is still operational. Our conversion core is still functional. If you can cover us, we can try to-”
Red One cut her off. “The hive ship is preparing for a warp jump,” the synth told Nanil. The young woman glanced at her Sensor officer and received an unhappy head bob of confirmation. ‘Moments’ had been prescient. Its acceleration was dropping. Its shields came down a moment later. It stopped firing, but its emissions spiked even higher than during combat as every system, every erg of power was redirected to its rip systems. Only minimal thrusters remained to carry it across the minimum safe limit for an FTL jump. The sense of failure and dread pooling in the back of Nanil’s mind didn’t have time to take root before the synth spoke again.
“You won’t reach it in time. I can, but I need you to protect me while I make… preparations.”
Nanil didn’t hesitate, didn’t even question the synth’s odd wording. “We will. What else do you need?” She signalled her Helm and Tactical stations. Thoughtful Repudiation of Intent, nearly crippled, surged from its defensive position into the fray like a gladiatorial blade-dancer.
Below and behind her, Retribution’s energy signature fluctuated as it shut down primary systems and then spiked as a surge of power from deep within the vessel’s core ignited, rising sharper and faster than the hive vessel’s own power-up sequence. The pattern didn’t quite match, but sensors were reporting traces of rip energy. It looked like the synth was preparing for a jump of her own. Was she planning to pursue the hive and catch it with its shields down?
Red One’s voice changed when she answered Nanil’s question. “Time.” It sounded… Nanil didn’t know how it sounded. Strained, yes. Laconic, distracted? Maybe. Sultry, even excited? Was that possible? If so, what could cause such a reaction?
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