Maty by Aer-ki Jyr (reading books for 6 year olds .TXT) 📕

“We may need more than this fleet to hold it,” Junobu noted.

“That depends on what we find, and how many PanNari remain.”

“If any.”

“Regardless, there is a mystery here to solve. Only then will we know what future deployments are necessary.”

“We are nearing the brake point. How do you wish us to enter the system?”

“High. We do not risk encountering combat immediately. We need information before we proceed.”

“The deck is yours,” Jumobu said, retreating to an auxiliary station where he would oversee the primary command duties for the ship, but not the fleet.

Mak’to’ran stepped forward and his feet made contact with the silver circle beneath them, allowing him full access to the tactical grid where he issued final alignment orders for the fleet when it came out of its jump…but they were going to have to slam on the reverse thrust hard to come out as high as he wanted.

Their capacitors were fully charged after more than a day of coasting, but most of the larger ships would have to nearly drain them to get the necessary leverage on the gravity well…meaning their combat capability immediately after arriving would be limited by approximately 40%. The active generation of power would sustain the rest of the ship’s functions, but for maximum effect the capacitors were needed for the more energy hungry functions.

Limited sensors of the road ahead were coming back in the negative for obstructions, so when the fleet decelerated it came out into empty space with the pair of central stars being two orbs in the far distance backlighting multiple swarms all across the system…including several large objects that were not planets, nor Wardens.

“What are those?” Junobu demanded of the crew, but the passive sensor analysis came back with similarities and nothing affirmative. They were not in the Hadarak playbook as far as Star Force knew.

“Now we see some of their true might,” Mak’to’ran said, looking at the spindley corkscrews that were thousands of miles long and made the DinoThunder look small in comparison, though most of their internal structure was empty space.

“A support ship,” the lead Era’tran analyst said a few moments later. “I’m seeing numerous docking cavities. Perhaps industrial.”

“They can’t grow what they need here,” Mak’to’ran mused. “So they have to bring it in, and a Warden isn’t suitable. Why?”

“Surface area,” the analyst said immediately. “That design isn’t meant for combat, but maximum docking capability.”

“What is docking with it?” Mak’to’ran asked, knowing that their minions were expendable and the Mainline ships and Wardens could feed on their own.

“Unknown at this distance.”

“Mak’to’ran,” Junobu said, adjusting the main tactical hologram to one of the planets in the system…around which there was a carpet of minions so thick you could not see the surface.

“A blockade?” he said, barely comprehending the numbers he was witnessing as the comm system activated and another smaller holo of a squid-like ship appeared before Mak’to’ran.

“Identify mission,” the Elloquim Vetrava said flatly in V’kit’no’sat, with its position now being registered not too far ahead along this jumpline…though a moment ago it had not been there. At least not on passive sensors, and their active ones were still on their way out and yet to return except for nearby objects…and there were many in the form of tiny debris in a carpet that was continuing to stretch in towards the star as the active bounce-back continued to register, but not the Elloquim until just now.

“I am Mak’to’ran, leader of the V’kit’no’sat. We have come to investigate why you are holding onto this system, and to assist you with combat operations against the Hadarak.”

“Be warned. Danger level of operating in this system is beyond anything encountered before. Your assistance is welcomed due to the gravity of the situation, but do not be lulled into a false sense of superiority. These Hadarak are not fighting the same way as previous encounters. These are far more ruthless.”

“Explain the tactical situation.”

“We possess critical infrastructure on the planet, buried below the surface. An ongoing assault via ground is occurring despite several Elloquim having physically attached to the planet in a defense ring. The remainder of us are scattered across the system attempting to draw their forces away from the planet or succumb them to devastating counterattacks. They have not budged from the planet and are accepting the massive losses we are dealing them out here in order to keep maximum pressure on the surface.”

“What is on the surface that you hold?”

“Something very ancient that the Hadarak have only recently possessed and used against us in extreme limited fashion. It is called Maty, and has the ability to fabricate surveillance drones with near perfect cloaking devices. The Hadarak have them deployed along a portion of the Grand Border. We backtracked the efficiency of their visible forces to this location and discovered the facility. It was built by a race of machines that have long since left this galaxy after a cataclysm. We have laid claim to it, V’kit’no’sat, and we will not relinquish it to the Hadarak or to Star Force.”

“Can you hold it?” Mak’to’ran said, dismissing the challenge inherent in that statement.

“No.”

“What’s the status of your fleet?”

“Destroyed. Only the Elloquim remain. Their swarms consume everything else.”

Mak’to’ran visibly winced. He’d seen the number of ships that had passed through the Grand Border. Losing all of them was a horrific loss, even if the most valuable Elloquim still lived.

“And the surface?”

“Blocked from their approach, but they are digging tunnels that we are attempting to seal in never-ending counteractions. Our forces inside the Maty have it secured, but the pressure is constant and our reinforcements minimal. We cannot hold it indefinitely.”

“Why are you still here then?”

“We will die before we lose it.”

Mak’to’ran huffed. “What value is a suicide mission like that when the outcome