Repopulated Ch. 11

Chapter Eleven

The breeding bays below were getting frisky, couples pairing up in various poses. Several others were using the feeding pillars, their asses bouncing as they fucked the slurping pockets without a care in the world.

This all served as a poignant reminder of what she had given up to remain in control. It was so unfair!

After all this was over, she was going to go on a good long vacation with her lover and get away from all of this nonsense. Temporarily.

The worries and concerns crowded back into her head and she shoved them aside as she strode onto the bridge. "Situation report?" she barked, stepping around a curve as she descended towards her chair.

The Proctor spun about, head frills glowing red as she clasped her hands together respectfully. "The maneuver is complete, Mistress. We are in position behind the sun."

Kate grunted as she noted Jackie standing next to her command chair, her attention spearing the display on a small console that had sprung from the floor. "We do not appear to have been detected so far, Captain," she announced. "The general vicinity is clear of all drive signatures."

"Good," she replied, taking a seat and setting her elbow on an armrest. She braced a fist against her bony chin as she stared pensively at the screen. "Of course, there wouldn't be any if someone was lying in wait."

"I can't locate anything that has a mass larger than a bus," continued Jackie. "Unless they've laid a minefield, we're probably safe."

"Probably," muttered Kate, her mind racing.

Should she test one of the objects for explosives? No that was being a little too paranoid, and if they cracked one open, they might draw attention to themselves.

She sat back, folding her hands over her thighs. "Anything from the Gray Dawn yet?"

"No, Mistress," slurred the Proctor, her tentacle legs spreading out so that her body slumped in front of Kate. "We are not expecting them for a couple more minutes. However, we have registered the target vessel via our relay satellites."

Kate sighed. It was the hardest thing to do, to wait, and yet here they were. There was nothing to do, nothing to distract them from this boredom.

She flexed her fingers, clicking the edge of a fingernail off the horned plate that had become her face.

"Any activity at the jump point?" she asked, feeling restless.

"No, everything is quiet, ma'am," reported her navigation officer, Dolohn. "Still nothing on the EM and gravitational bands."

Annoyed with herself, she was about to snap out another request when he spoke again. "There's something happening now, Captain, would you like to see it on the main screen?"

"Pull it up," she requested, sitting up in her seat.

At first, there was nothing more than the blackness of space and a view of a ship docked to a space station. The station itself was nothing remarkable, an oblong, chunky brick made up of several modular components. Overall, it was nothing more than a warty protuberance.

It had all of the usual docking facilities, however, and it was positioned next to a valuable asteroid that was pockmarked with the telltale signs of core drilling. Why would a noble be visiting here? Perhaps it was a sort of 'show the flag' mission, or a political event to pretend that the upper class had solidarity with the workers.

Whatever the case, the docked ship sparkled in the light of the sun, its swooping curves and majestic nacelles making it look like a swan parked next to an ugly duckling. This wasn't even the largest of its ship class, being only a cruiser, but it had more than enough firepower to take out Kate's vessel in a one on one fight. She was hoping it wouldn't get the chance.

Her attention shifted as bright lights sparkled near the jump point. The vertical entry bars flashed, warning of an incoming ship. Blue, green, red, and now here came the gravitational distortion that always preceded a small rip through space.

A curvature was briefly visible between the jump bars, and suddenly a ship was there, the circular saucer of the invasion ship appearing between the wispy tatters of broken space. "Mistress, it's the Gray Dawn," confirmed Dolohn, his voice trembling as the slug around his neck gave him a rewarding squeeze.

"Good," she replied, nervously tapping her fingers against the arm rest. She watched the movement of the ship, feeling almost as though she could reach out and touch it. "Monitor their communications and put them directly on screen when they occur. I want to know exactly what they're saying to each other at all times."

A soft beep sounded, and an overlay appeared over the ship, showing a middle aged alien with a decorative sash secured about his neck. "Unidentified vessel," he said in Slanadorian, his words being automatically translated by the computer. "There is no scheduled traffic at this time. Please send your ID code and purpose for being here."

Kate steepled her fingers. Everything depended on how Doris handled this encounter. It would take several minutes for the open tear in space to dissipate, which meant that if they caught on too soon, their prey could run into the jump gate before they had a chance to catch them.

Hmm, but if they guessed that was the intent, even if they thought they were trapped, they would avoid using it, because they would have no idea what the endpoint would be. They could be stepping into a trap within a trap.

Damn, she wished she had thought of that! Once their forces had grown further, that might actually be a valid strategy. She'd have to keep that one in her pocket for later.

The screen beeped again, and the alien on screen looked displeased. "Your identification has been accepted, ESS Drake, but your presence here is not acceptable. We are not allowing visitors for the next two days, unless your situation is an emergency."

Kate turned to Jackie. "It doesn't appear to be going well. Doris can't show herself on camera, as a Slanadorian ship can't be seen to be captained by a Plaxx infested human. We need another way."

Jackie rested her hands on the console, peering up at the Proctor. "Well, there is one option. We could use her."

Kate gazed at the mind controlled alien, her mind stirring. Yes, she had some form of authority, and perhaps with her assistance they could deceive the station controller. That posed other problems, however.

"Is there any way to disguise where our signal is coming from?" she asked. "If we break in, they'll detect our presence right away."

Jackie shrugged. "I don't know. I would have to defer to one of the crewmembers who knows this ship better."

Dolohn raised his hand hesitantly. "We could try to bounce our communications off the satellite and through the Gray Dawn's communication array. It might look like it's coming from them, if the station doesn't examine the situation too closely.

Unfortunate. It wasn't that she didn't trust the brainwashed crew, but whatever they did would be risky. Extremely risky. Should she commit themselves to this mission?

The alien on screen was becoming increasingly agitated. They didn't have much longer before a rash decision was made. It was better to make one of her own before that happened.

"Okay, let's do it," she said more confidently than she felt, getting up from her seat. She took a step to one side, ushering the Proctor into the position she had vacated.

Jackie joined her, the two of them grabbing spare seats at an empty console. The Proctor appeared a little confused, so Kate sent a pulse through the control network. <<Pretend to be your old self,>> she commanded. <<We are low on fuel due to an engine breakdown and need emergency maintenance so that we can be on our way.>>

The crystals pulsed, and the alien's eyes glowed blue. Her back straightened, her stance changing to her old, severe posture. She looked every inch in control, in command of the situation. Excellent.

Dolohn punched a sequence into his console. "It's all set up, Mistress," he said nervously, giving her the side eye. "Should I proceed?"

"Do it," she ordered, wrapping an arm around Jackie, but before the command could be executed, another box appeared on the screen.

Kate's legs shivered as she recognized the alien - the sharp angles of her face and the fat tubes that ran over her forehead. The alien's mouth spread wide in a toothy grin. Khanja.

"What is the matter, administrator?" she asked, her tongue dripping with apparent sarcasm. "What reason do you have for denying us? We need emergency aid."

Taken aback, the station agent scowled. "If it's truly an emergency, we cannot deny you, but you will stand off and submit for inspection before entering the security threshold."

Before he could continue, another chime sounded and a new signal appeared. This one was assigned the label 'ESS Goodhead' and was promoted to the center of the screen by one of her helpful bridge crew before she could ask for it.

A haughty alien filled the box, similar in appearance to the Proctor. Well, before Kate had turned the regal alien into her pet.

The arrogant air she emitted seemed to typify the upper echelons of Slanadorian society, and her extensive collection of jewelry marked her as such. Golden rings decorated her head tubes at regular intervals, a chain running down to a glimmering red jewel that rested on the center of her forehead.

Her neck was emphasized via a rippling necklace with overlapping ovals that looked like fish scales, dropping low enough to slide between the slope of her breasts. Her top was cinched tight, showing off her assets, her curves cupped by a sheer red dress made of a filmy, opaque material.

Her frills flexed as she stared into the screen with suspicion. "Khanja, is that you?" she asked.

Kate suddenly felt a little dizzy, panic flopping in her chest. She sent a burst through the command network, forcing the Proctor to the floor as she strode back to the captain's seat. "This is about to go bad," she announced. "Get ready."

"It is you," hissed the alien, swirling a cloak in front of her as she stepped closer to the pickup. "What the hell are you doing here? Last I heard, you were assigned to conquer that nasty rocky ball of a planet filled with barely sentient mammals."

The translator struggled with some of the words, choosing as many close equivalents as it could. The insults seemed a little garbled, but the meaning came through well enough.

Kate could detect a faint glow in Khanja's eyes. She was clearly under Doris' control, but would the noble pick up on it? "Irizina," said Khanja smoothly, "It's a surprise seeing you here. Weren't you in the bottom half of the class in military academy?"

Irizina's eyes flashed. "I still graduated," she said, her voice sounding like gravel. "That makes us both commissioned officers." Her teeth showed. "But I am also of noble blood, which means that I outrank you. Tell me, what are you doing out here, so far from your assignment?"

"I can't discuss the details of my mission over an open channel," Khanja said abruptly, the blue glow growing in her eyes. "We could arrange a meeting, however, and then I might reconsider, given that you are an old friend."

The tension increased in Kate's throat. "That was a good play. Do you think she'll buy it?"

"Don't know," replied Jackie, sliding in behind her console. "It kind of depends on how well those two actually know each other."

Irizina's eyes flicked to one side. "Can you confirm this?" she asked someone off screen.

A male stepped in, a thin and reedy fellow that looked rather unassuming. "Ah, I don't have any reports of any military presence in this sector," he stuttered.

To Kate's sharp eyes, this was all an act. Underneath the supercilious exterior, there was an animal cunning. If this was Irizina's advisor, they were truly in trouble.

She noted the badge affixed to his vest. A golden, multi clustered leaf of some alien tree. What did it mean?

"So says the Empress's guard," muttered Irizina. Her eyes darted up to the screen. "If they don't know why you're here, then nobody does. Stand down, Khanja. Do not approach any closer, or we will be forced to power up our weapons."

Shit. Now that Kate knew what to look for, she spotted several more troopers dressed in the same uniform as the advisor, peering over the lord's shoulder with hard looks.

"I told you, we need assistance," insisted Khanja. "We won't be able to leave here without it."

"I don't care. You're not docking here until we're gone," announced Irizina. "I'll send a fast courier through the warp to request help, but that's all I can offer until my business here is concluded. ESS Goodhead, out."

The ship's screen vanished, leaving the image of the station administrator behind. He was still scowling. "You heard the lady. She has control over this operation, and I am unable to countermand her orders. Stay where you are until we are able to send assistance."

They were sunk. Doris needed to dock the Gray Dawn to continue this operation, and Irizina was just as determined to keep them at arm's length. Worse, if that fast courier was able to bring word back to the Slanadorian empire, they were totally screwed.

Sitting on the edge of her seat, she wondered what Doris would decide to do next. Her options were severely limited. Surely it would be for the best if they gave up the ruse and left? More opportunities came up all the time. They didn't need to try and force it.

Khanja's eyes glowed a deeper blue. "We hear. You obey. Signal blue lampshade. Execute plan 'restitution' beta. Confirm."

The administrator stiffened, the same blue glow filling his eyes. "Plan restitution initiated," he replied in a monotone, tapping in a set of commands into his console. "Heard and obeyed. Control cell delta out."

The communication boxes blinked out one by one. "Mistress, the station is charging a generator," warned Dolohn from the rear of the bridge. "They're preparing to use an interdicting field."

"But on who, I wonder?" muttered Kate, tension rising.

Her mad plan from earlier forgotten, she tried hard to discern what was about to happen. It was obvious that Doris had triggered a sleeper cell, but were there enough of them on the station to make a difference?

"It's charged!" announced Dolohn. "Barrier going up around the station!"

The zoom updated, giving them a better view of the ESS Goodhead nestled underneath an overhanging rectangular box jutting out from the side of the station. A causeway connected the two of them via a set of thick docking clamps. A shimmering sphere of energy spread around the station and the ship, making it blurry on the screen.

Kate chuckled. "Well, I guess that's taken care of. Nobody is leaving until that is down."

"Yes, but what hope does she have of capturing the Goodhead?" asked Jackie. "Does she have enough shock troops to overwhelm the royal guard? If so, where has she been hiding them? We certainly don't have anything of the sort, and the five assault squads on the mission briefing aren't going to be sufficient."

Kate frowned, leaning back. "She might be assuming that, combined, we'll still be able to take them down, but that would require us to take a more active role than she had originally slated for us. And we've received no confirmation that we should commit to this."

"Either way, it appears that she has decided to go for an all out attack," grunted Jackie, drawing a plot on the screen. "The Gray Dawn is accelerating towards a docking point near the ESS Goodhead. I wonder how they'll respond to this provocation."

"Badly," groaned Kate. "I'm just waiting for the other shoe to drop."

The communications display appeared again, this time with Irizina looking insufferably regal, though her ruffled head tubes gave away that she was agitated. "What is the meaning of this?" she roared. "Lower the barrier immediately!"

The station administrator popped back up. "It is for your protection, Lord," he said unctuously. "The Gray Dawn has started moving without our permission, and we need to isolate the station. Please, stand by until we've reestablished control."

Both communications then terminated, leaving dead air as the Gray Dawn moved ever closer.

"That will confuse them for a few minutes," opined Jackie, "but it's not likely to hold them for long. What do you want to do? It's your call."

Kate was reduced to scraping her nails along the armrests. "We wait," she grated out. "The situation is still developing, and we're beyond what the mission briefing laid out. Standby to circumnavigate the sun at military speed, if necessary."

"Aye, Mistress," acknowledged Dolohn, and then everything went silent but for the various gurgling noises of the organic bridge equipment.

As the Gray Dawn approached closer, a faint glow appeared around the forward section of the ESS Goodhead. They were charging weapons! But that was insane. With the barrier up, their laser weaponry would be deflected at random, possibly damaging the station!

She held her breath as a sudden flash of malevolent red light speared through the blackness, splitting and diffusing as it ricocheted back towards them and the station. They watched as a mess of debris scattered in all directions, large pieces bouncing off the barrier.

"Maybe they didn't know?" groaned Kate.

"Damage appears to be minimal," remarked Jackie. "They can't hit the barrier generator without causing a lot of civilian casualties. I don't think they'll risk it."

Kate stood, beginning to pace. "I hate being so helpless," she groaned. "All these stupid decisions, happening in a vacuum. I want to reach out and throttle whoever decided that was a good idea."

"Well, it's not the only strange decision they're making," remarked Jackie. "The energy signature of the Goodhead's core is becoming increasingly erratic, almost as though they're overloading the reactor.

"They'd do that? Insane!" Kate stopped moving, feeling helpless as she stared at the station. "They'll destroy them all!"

"That's probably the point," Jackie said dryly. "If it's a threat, it's a good one, but there's also the outside possibility that they're fighting off an assault squad that infiltrated from the station."

"Captain!" interrupted a crewmember from behind her. "They're sending a signal!"

The communications screen appeared, showing a view of the Goodhead's bridge. Some of the organic tubing installed on the ceiling had fallen down, creating a mess that looked like a malfunctioning intestinal tract. Irizina had been dragged into a chair, a small, blue wound on her forehead leaking blood.

The guardsman she had been talking to earlier was barking orders, his bulging eyes popping as he gazed into the pickup. "Her Empress' ship the ESS Goodhead is under attack," he declared, his diction clipped.

Despite his appearance, this was clearly a military man, used to being obeyed. "Since Lord Irizina has been injured, command has been delegated to me. I will not allow her to be captured. Before that occurs, I will destroy this ship!"

Sweat poured down his neck, but the other guards around the bridge appeared unbroken. "We are the solid, red line that protects the Empress!" he shouted, pounding a fist against his chest. "We will not be defeated. Lower the barrier or prepare to be destroyed!"

The screen clicked off. "The signature is getting more unstable," warned Jackie. "He's serious, he'll destroy them all if he doesn't get what he wants."

"An absolute madman, but I suppose I shouldn't be surprised given what I've heard about them," groaned Kate. "Brutal bastards, as tough as nails."