Biomech: SSW, #5

By Savage Tempest

I failed my last mission.

 

And a rogue scientist wound up dead because of me.

 

Now my crew of Wraiths and I must locate and secure the Golden Cudgel. A weapon rumored to be able to summon the cosmic forces of nature and lay waste to any army. If I fail again, the Fleet admiral will relieve me of my command of the Wraith.

 

Two things stand in our way of retrieving the cudgel: a civil war and biomech assassins. Ruthless hybrid soldiers made of flesh and blu-steel. The biomechs are being used to kill Alliance Council members and to destroy a nation.

 

It's possible that we can stop both tragedies, but it might just cost me… everything.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Savage Tempest
• Release date: Apr 30, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223174059

Book preview

1

Remind me again why we’re on this dead planet.

Tyton ignored JeMerik, knowing full well that Belfona and King were most likely wondering the same thing too. They hid their anxiousness well, but with an empath like him around, they might as well shout their discomfort to the stars. Tyton lowered his gaze to the bottom left of his HUD screen, activating his battlesuit’s zoom lens.

The broken city mere kilometers ahead was the only one left standing on Santorini. At least according to initial ship scans.

JeMerik does have a point, Tyton. Belfona moved closer to him. Santorini has nothing to do with our mission of finding the Chrysaor. We should be heading to Rigel Sera.

With the Wraith’s arc-drive, we’ll lose two days at most. Isn’t that right, King?

King nodded. You couldn’t see his face behind his helmet or his arresting blue eyes. We’ll make it to Rigel Sera in plenty of time. Now how about answering Belfona and JeMerik’s question?

Very well. Tyton gave the decimated city his back and turned toward his crew. I have a promise to keep.

Promise? Aylana’s voice came from the seer unit floating above Tyton’s left shoulder. Does this promise involve accidentally pushing the technician off a cliff?

So I can be dead like you?

Enough, JeMerik. Tyton turned his head slightly at the floating silver ball. You too, Aylana.

Yes, captain.

Tyton checked his suit’s radiation levels despite knowing that they would still be green. Santorini had been irradiated thousands of years ago, so they were safe now—especially inside their battlesuits. The planet, however… still dead. No plants or animals… nothing but scorched land and a dust colored sky looming above with clouds so thick… you could not see even one of the planet’s four satellites. Tyton executed an about-face and started walking toward the city. Hopefully, there he would find some clues as to who destroyed the Stefreghi homeworld.

Using seer as a point of reference, it took Aylana a little more than eighty seconds to pinpoint which building housed the city’s tactical operations center. They arrived less than a standard hour later.

The Santorini city was almost a replica of the underground city back on Angkor dera before Lohet destroyed the planet. Most of the silver-gold buildings seemed to be intact. Spirals of metal resembling blades of grass and bushes reached for the dreary sky. Seer—controlled by Aylana—led them to a four-story building. There were no lights inside, so they relied on their HUDs night vision. Tyton’s battlesuit, which also acted as a spacesuit, informed him that the air was breathable but cooler inside.

If they found out who attacked the Stefreghi, Tyton could refer the matter to the Planetary Alliance. It was the least he could do for the Keeper since there was no way he could avenge her people. Despite the Keeper’s claims to the contrary, he could never kill a fellow sentient being. No matter how dire the circumstances, Elysians will never take someone’s life.

Be careful of—

King prodded a shriveled, multi-vined plant with his forefinger before Tyton finished his warning. Fortunately, nothing happened. King shrugged. What’s the big deal?

Belfona stared at Tyton for a moment. Her helmet covered her face like everyone else’s, but he sensed a growing curiousness within her.

The Stefreghi like to set traps. An image of one of the mercenaries impaled on a metal pole came to Tyton’s mind unbidden. Everyone, be mindful of what you touch and where you step.

You should be worried about that Snake beacon we activated—not some theoretical boobytraps from a race slaughtered eons ago.

Oh, so you’re the captain now, JeMerik? King let out a yelp. My goddamn eyes… I can’t see.

Belfona gripped King’s shoulder to hold him steady. JeMerik, what did you do to him?

JeMerik continued flipping through his data pad screens. Hopefully, taught the human animal some manners. His data pad flew from his fingers and into Tyton’s gloved hand. The next second, JeMerik literally flipped upside down, leaving his head hanging mere meters above the floor.

Don’t you ever… Tyton slowly stepped over to JeMerik. Attack one of my crew or sabotage their suits again. Understand, technician?

I don’t think so, captain. Better drop him on his head a few times.

Enough, Aylana. Tyton positioned himself directly in front of JeMerik, hands resting on his hips. Do we have an understanding, JeMerik?

The technician twisted against the unseen force keeping him aloof.

I don’t need you fighting my battles.

He’s not, King. Belfona still held her hand on King’s shoulder, but Tyton could almost feel her eyes on him. Tyton is re-establishing his authority.

Fine, JeMerik spat. I give up. Put me down you, muscle-boy pacifist. JeMerik let out a small yelp as he shot up toward the ceiling feet first, pausing breaths away before hitting it. Okay. I’ll play nice.

Captain.

JeMerik nodded or at least tried to nod. Captain.

Tyton lowered, then flipped his technician around a little faster than necessary and set him down. A month ago, using his telekinesis would have required a lot more effort. Today’s stunt was so easy that he didn’t even need an outside power source.

JeMerik’s legs were a bit wobbly, but he managed not to fall down. Tyton derived no joy from humiliating the Ishvaran. Since returning from the Djall universe, JeMerik’s poor attitude had increased along with his technopathic abilities. Regrettably, it was necessary to remind JeMerik of where he was in the Wraith crew’s pecking order.

We’ve wasted enough time. Tyton led the way out of the foyer and into a large room, twice the size of the Wraith’s War Room. There were no computers or anything that looked like consoles. To his left, four anodized green thick sections jutted out of a similarly oxidized green wall. So completely alien. Belfona and King spread out without being told.

Not a goddamn thing. King continued looking this way and that.

This room is too large to be so empty. Belfona sounded calm enough, yet her left hand rested on her hip pistol.

Incoming transmission, captain.

Thank you, Aylana. Tyton activated his helmet comm. Go for Tyton.

Maya here, captain. We’ve got a big-ass Snake ship headed our way.

Where did they come from?

A wormhole appeared 4,400 klicks from Santorini’s fourth moon.

Wormhole technology was beyond most civilizations grasp and certainly way beyond the Sna’karans’ abilities. Suggesting that the Djall was still passing along superior technology to the Alliance’s enemies. Can you fend them off, Maya—without killing them?

Say again, captain? Your signal is breaking up.

No, it is not, commander.

Maya’s transmission signal ended abruptly. King and Belfona were watching him while JeMerik continued waving his hands in the air, like he was literally interacting with something that only he could see and hear. Tyton wasn’t overly worried about the Wraith. In some ways, Maya made a much better captain than he did. Plus, she had Aylana helping her. Best continue searching, so they could get back to the Wraith before Maya killed all of the Sna’kar.

Maya looked over at Lohet, who except for his six red rectangle eyes stood like a bored statue at JeMerik’s systems overview station. You don’t have a problem with me killing these Snakes, do you?

I would much prefer that to the alternative.

Good. She didn’t think she’d get any objections from Mister Genocide over there, but since Lohet was technically still the ship’s advisor, she gave him the courtesy of asking. Maya shifted her attention to the bridge holo-sphere.

The gun blaster shaped ship increased its speed toward them. It had no known tags or digital identifiers, but the pustule yellow mole dots cluttering much of its purple hull were too similar to the ship on the Skua Colony not to be the Snakes.

Aylana, you’re on helm and tactical. Maya spoke aloud instead of mentally for Lohet’s benefit.

My pleasure. Aylana materialized in King’s helm seat while simultaneously appearing in front of the tactical station. The more she split herself, the more it diluted her abilities. Since she was on the Wraith though, siphoning energy shouldn’t be a problem.

Let’s put some distance between us and the Snakes.

Initiating evasive maneuvers, Maya.

A swarm of yellow egg-shaped fighters swarmed out the Snake ship. Maya fiddled with the command dais sensor readings. Lohet, I need to know if the Djall also hooked that ship up with lightspeed.

It would be foolhardy for the Djall to arm their lackeys with technology that could be turned against them.

Will you please just do a scan? The Wraith was staying ahead of the Snake ship, but the distance between them was decreasing.

As you wish. Moments later, Lohet looked up from his console at Maya. Now this is interesting. Our enemy appears to be using ion thrusters.

What’s interesting about that?

Lohet pointed a granite-like finger at the holo-sphere. A bluish white light started to form around the pug-nose ship. Before Maya could react, a bluish white beam of light shot out of the Snake ship right at them.

Hold on. Aylana sounded like she was enjoying herself. This is going to hurt.

This doesn’t look like much of a tactical operations center to me. Belfona stared up at the opaque domed ceiling. Her helmet and the v intersecting her chest were scarlet red. Not long after they returned from the Djall universe, Aylana insisted on redesigning their battlesuits. Ostensibly to make them more battle resistant. King’s suit was cobalt blue, JeMerik’s gray, and his was gold.

Tyton sensed something stirring. Despite there being nothing inside this room beside the large, dead plant that King had touched. Something was wrong. No glyphs, no traps… JeMerik, are you certain that this is the TOC?

Yes. JeMerik allowed his hands to drop to his sides. And your floating ball confirmed it.

Probability eighty-three point four percent this was the Stefreghi command post.

Thank you, seer. Tyton tried not to think about the implications of Aylana removing her consciousness from his seer unit so soon after Maya’s transmission ended. The Wraith was in good hands, he reminded himself and focused on the situation at hand.

Belfona stepped confidently to the middle of the room and into a small circle engraved into the floor. Almost instantly a spinning saucer-like device floated down from the ceiling. Rotating blue holograms of maps and charts projected out of the device. Everyone moved closer to get a better look. There was also a static image of a sapien.

Is that your Stefreghi, Tyton? asked King.

Dark forest green skin, small eyes, and a large beak. There was no doubt. Yes, she is… was Stefreghi.

This technology, said JeMerik, using two fingers to zoom in the chart closest to him. It’s odd but not bad… Crap.

The hollow circular hologram went from blue to red. The door that they entered through slid shut with a metallic thud.

What did you do, JeMerik?

I didn’t do anything, witch. It’s not my fault this place has a biometric failsafe.

Tyton felt it again. The sensation that something bad was about to happen. Everyone, defensive positions.

Against what? King barely got the words out before the pod near the closed door burst open. Four thick tendrils shot out of the pod’s innards. Two of them at King.

King managed to snag one in each hand, but even with his cybernetic strength he appeared to be having a difficult time. The pod’s gray tendrils twisted and whipped around while trying to strike him with their sharp tips.

One tendril came for Belfona. A fire sword appeared out of nowhere. Belfona sliced though the tendril, causing its tip to drop to the dusty floor with a splat. Another tendril, caught Tyton by the wrist after he shoved JeMerik out of the way.

Stand still, Belfona ordered. She slashed at the tendril dragging him toward the pod. More tendrils sprouted from the pod. A second fire sword appeared in Belfona’s free hand. She used it to fend off the other tendrils while finally managing to severe the tendril that was ensnaring Tyton’s wrist.

We need to get out of here, shouted King.

Tyton removed his plasma rifle from his back and aimed it at the pod. He wasn’t certain whether or not the thing was organic or not but, hopefully, a couple of blasts would destroy it. Two more tendrils whipped at him, one managing to grab his rifle and hurl it to the other side of the room. The second tendril ensnared his trigger hand. JeMerik, can’t you do something?

I’m trying to hack into the system but— A tendril jammed its tip into the back of JeMerik’s neck, causing the Ishvaran to go limp.

This situation was devolving fast. All because of him.Seer, we could use a little assistance.

Unable to comply, captain, said the floating silver orb. The technician was correct. Stefreghi DNA is required. Landing party destruction is imminent.

King’s shout confirmed that. In the corner of his eye, Tyton could see that a thick gray tendril was now holding King several meters above the floor by the nape of his neck.

Tyton shoved the emotions trying to overwhelm him to the back of his mind. He needed to figure a way out of this or they would all die here.

Maya felt her stomach drop as Aylana dipped the Wraith’s nose forty degrees. The Wraith shook violently even though most of the deadly beam missed them. The bridge’s lights morphed from gold to vermillion red. Maya glanced down at the command dais’ damage report. Direct hit to their left flank. Shields were still holding. Meaning that the Oreyonic crystal that coated the hull of the Wraith had been able to absorb and redirect enough of the ion blast to prevent it from breaching the ship’s hull plating.

Best Maya knew, Oreyonic wasn’t available to anyone else. The technology being experimental and its components in short supply.

Aylana, take the shot when you have it.

You got it, Maya. Better grab on to something.

Maya morphed her hands into Wyvern claws to give her a better grip on the command dais. Aylana made such a sharp turn that it strained the Wraith’s dampners. Maya could almost swear that she heard the ship’s hull groaning.

The strain of Aylana’s sudden left bank almost had Maya puking her breakfast. The holo-sphere showed three Hell Lancer missiles streaking toward the Snake ship. Some of the enemy’s tiny fighters tried taking the missiles out. Aylana rewarded them by launching a starburst between the egg-shaped fighters and the missiles. The starburst expanded within seconds into a high-pressure plasma sphere, enveloping a slew of the Snake fighters. Incinerating them.

Not all of them though. Two squads made it through.

Incoming fighters.

As if she needed Lohet to tell her the obvious. Aylana, can’t you fly and fight at the same time? I want these Snakes dead.

Aylana, the one seated at helm, spun around to show Maya her displeasure. Would you like to take over?

Maya considered… but only for a moment. Hey, a little more respect to the acting captain. Now get back to flying. Maya fixed her glare on the Aylana flipping through holo-screens above the tactical table. Initiate Thunderbolt Delta-4.

Thunderbelt Delta-4 initiated.

The Wraith shook briefly, its gravity dampners struggling to keep up with the stress against the increasing g-forces. The Snake ship started to glow again. Damn. The Hell Lancer missiles weren’t going to make it.

One Hell Lancer missile destroyed.

Maya was tempted to tell Lohet to shut the hell up. She could damn well see that the Snakes’ annoying fighters had managed to take one of their missiles down. What are you waiting for, Aylana? Fire our particle cannons already.

Particle cannons online and firing, Little Miss Sunshine.

Is that another one of King’s colloquialisms? Forget it. Just keep firing. Maya kept the relief from her face when the holo-sphere showed the Snake juggernaut suffering several hits to its bow and port. The white surrounding the ship started fizzling out.

Maya almost smiled. Sure, the Snake fighters were still pounding the hell out of them, but their Oreyonic shielding was still holding. Still… something felt off. That’s when she noticed it. Three oscillating lights—two on either side of the Snake ship and one at the bottom of its nose. All three of them wiggling from the Snake ship and headed toward them at an alarmingly fast rate.

What the hell are those things?

Unknown, said Lohet. Scans suggest some concentrated energy of sorts.

Which told her nothing. Except that they would pack a mean punch. The Wraith’s shielding should be able to absorb the hit—but from three of them at the same time? Maya didn’t want to take the chance.

Aylana, I just sent you a new course. Get us out of here.

Not bad, Maya. Sadly, your course will only help us evade one of the worm’s strikes. Advisor Lohet?

Arc-drive is now online. Ready to initiate.

Belay that, Lohet. Maya took a deep breath before she mentally addressed Aylana. What are you thinking? We’re too close to the Snake ship to engage our arc-drive. We might pull them into subspace with us along with the fighters.

Our turrets are handling the Sna’kar fighters efficiently. Don’t you trust me, Maya?

Yeah, she trusted Aylana as much as she trusted anyone on this ship, which wasn’t saying much. No, that wasn’t fair. Aylana had saved her several times now. Yet Maya couldn’t help staring at the three barrels of green light hurtling toward them. Okay, have it your way. Engage the arc-drive.

Advisor, purred Aylana. If you wouldn’t mind.

Lohet pressed a red button. Arc-drive engaged.

The Wraith screeched, which was unsettling since the ship was usually more quiet than a luxury cruise ship. Doubly as unnerving… the bridge floor started shaking. Yes, this was the first time they had activated the arc-drive, but this certainly wasn’t what she was expecting.

A muted blue filter spread across the holo-sphere as a tunnel of swirling stars appeared before them. What filled the holo-sphere was hypnotic. Almost as if someone had folded the galaxy into a bread roll. Maya dared a look on the command dais’ sensor monitor. Multiple explosions too close to the Wraith’s stern. Are those Snake fighters still attacking us?

Negative, shifter. Lohet chuckled. Some of the Snake fighters are being pulled into subspace in our wake. Apparently, their hulls can’t take it, so they’re exploding.

Not enough to hurt us, Maya. Don’t worry.

And just like that… it was over. No Snake dreadnought or annoying fighters battering them. Nothing but the blackness of interstellar space. Maya swiped the translocator display to see where they were at. Status?

Aylana swiveled the helm chair toward her. We are 2.3 parsecs from our original position, Maya.

That confirmed the translocator reading. Thanks. Lohet, how soon before we can make another jump? She didn’t like treating him like a crew member, but given the circumstances she didn’t see much of a choice.

If I’m reading this right… another twenty minutes.

What the hell?

Both Aylanas smiled at her. We didn’t give the arc-drive time to warm up—what did you expect?

Not to be goddamn stranded. It took her awhile to get used to Aylana speaking to her in her mind. Listening to her in stereo… too much to ask for. "Lohet, divert as much power from the other decks as you need to. I want that arc-drive back online five minutes ago.

Someone woke up on the wrong side of bed this morning.

Stop complaining, Aylana, and double check the nav specs that I just sent over to you.

Aylana giggled. Not bad, Maya. Very risk though. If the Sna’kar ship has moved too far, we might wind up crashing into their ship instead of winding up underneath them.

I’m aware of that. Maya turned to Lohet. Any objections?

You’re the captain.

Jerk. Lohet knew how she hated being in charge of the Wraith. He was also no doubt aware that they couldn’t let the Sna’kar ship escape. It had witnessed them using the arc-drive. No other Alliance ship had one, and few outside of the Planetary Council knew that the technology existed. She needed to blow them into tiny bits before they escaped with that information.

Arc-drive status, Lohet?

Lohet sighed dramatically. The arc-drive is back online. I rerouted power from almost all systems except for bridge life support, weapons, and the engines.

Good. Maya took a deep breath as she willed her back straighter. Aylana, have the railguns ready when we exit subspace.

Aylana didn’t look up from the tactical table. I’ll also have the plasma cannons ready to go.

Alright then. Maya shifted her hands back into Wyvern claws and grabbed the command dais. With her luck, this next trip into slipspace would be an even bumpier ride—if they survived it. Let’s kill us some Snakes.

Belfona decapitated three tendrils in a single swipe with her fire sword. Sadly, it wasn’t going to be enough. The pod, now glowing an eerie amber, appeared to have an infinite supply of deadly tendrils. Tyton marveled at the professional fierceness that Belfona displayed. Definitely more effective than his pistol blasts. Tendrils kept wiping at him, never allowing him time to retrieve his rifle. They were on the defensive and losing ground. Even back to back, he and Belfona didn’t stand a chance.

JeMerik and King still hung like dead fish on individual tendrils. They weren’t dead. However, a part of Tyton knew that in another few minutes that would no longer be the case.

Suggestions, seer?

Belfona spared him a withering glance. You’re asking a stupid computer for help?

This unit is not a stupid computer. I am an extension of the AI known as Aylana.

Seer. My question please.

Limited data suggests that only Stefreghi DNA can stop the tactical operations center’s self-defense system.

A tendril snagged Tyton’s left hand, causing him to drop his pistol. Without taking her eyes off of the attacking tendrils in front of them, Belfona jammed a fire dagger into it. The tendril couldn’t get away fast enough.

Cover me.

You’ll never make it, Tyton.

She was right. Tyton made it halfway to the holo-device before he felt something pierce his battlesuit all the way through the back of his neck.

Darkness. His consciousness fading.

Stefreghi DNA recognized, came a voice.

Tyton felt his eyes flutter open. The pain in his neck disappeared. The pod’s tendrils had stopped thrashing. Belfona was still crouched, fire sword ready to continue slashing. White numbers and glyphs appeared on the walls as the room came to life. Invisible machinery began humming as embedded wall lights flickered on.

Awaiting instructions.

This was so utterly alien to him. Yet familiar. He knew what to do. Revive then release my friends.

Acknowledged.

What the—? King jerked awake, automatically reaching for the tendril embedded in his neck.

What happened? JeMerik’s left hand rubbed the back of his neck where the tendril had pierced him.

He didn’t even have to look to know that the pod was reeling in all of its surviving tendrils. Tyton still couldn’t see her face, but he knew that Belfona was staring at him. Anxiety and distrust rolling off her in waves. Definitely not how he wanted her to perceive him.

Vortex.

Awaiting further instructions.

Tyton fixed his gaze on King, then JeMerik. They appeared to be alright. Belfona moved to check on them, her fire weapons now gone.

"Please