Part III: The UnequalizerCSS LEGEND, 1ST SAPPHIRE COMPANY BARRACKS (4 HOURS LATER)

  Reveille! Reveille! We are under attack! Code: 5-1-9 Alpha-Violet!

  Repeat, this is not a drill!

  “Ugh, what time is–”

  Rokov drowsily wakes up, forced out of his slumber by the bring arm. Eventually, the fog in his head clears, and he remembers what “5-1-9 Alpha-Violet” means: “Synth-psi weapon signatures detected.”

  “Wait, what!?”

  Rokov and his bunkmates roll out of bed and hastily put on their uniforms. Synth-psi weapons meant Alliance warships and Anneru troopers; i.e., the Deldraka.

  CSS LEGEND, WARDROOM (MEANWHILE)

  Now that all the officers have gathered, Bull walks to the front of the room.

  “The enemy ships are Deldraka and came out of metaspace half an hour ago. We’re lucky Vice General Hayton detected them during her final scan for the night. Otherwise, they would’ve gotten the first shot. Lights!”

  The lights dim, and the screen in the front of the room dispys a 3-D real-time map of their surroundings. The Human ships were marked in blue, while the Alliance ships were purple. Lucky for them (not so much for the Deldraka), the map had more blue than purple.

  “Fortunately, the Legend and our other ships were recently upgraded with new psiota abtion sinks.”

  He nods knowingly at Avon sitting in the front. Thanks to her input, his engineers were able to perfect them three days ago, and just in time, too. Unfortunately, four of them quit when the project was done, citing Avon’s temper as their main reason.

  “They will reduce the impact of synth-psi weapons, but that’s not our only concern. Like the Scythe, the Alliance can send boarding parties via teleportation. They use gateways created by a psionic specialist called a Zirovrix.”

  “While the Legend is out of their range, the same can’t be said for the CSS Equalizer and her escorts.”

  Bull highlights a group of three ships near the Deldraka fgship. Like he said, the CSS Equalizer (a Solidarity-css spacecraft carrier about a third the Legend’s size) and two destroyers near it were being swarmed by enemy craft.

  Sul strokes his chin thoughtfully. “Looks to me like they’re going for the weak links first.”

  “Indeed,” Desha agrees. “While the Legend does have the firepower to break through, it’ll be wiser if we remain on the defensive for now.”

  “Then, the answer is simple,” decres Avon. “Remotely set those three ships to self-destruct. Based on their position and the capacity of their reactors, the combined explosion will cripple the alien fgship.”

  “No way. The crew won’t be able to evacuate,” Desha refutes.

  “Not my problem,” Avon spits coldly. “If we sacrifice three smaller ships to destroy a Deldraka fleet, that’s not a tragedy. That’s a good deal.”

  “Not to me,” said Bull firmly. “However, if the Equalizer continues to struggle, and they will, a Deldraka boarding party will attack at any minute. Instead of blowing up our own ships, I’d rather make a stand on familiar turf.”

  “I’ll lead a team to cover the Equalizer myself. The rest of you, assemble some troops and protect the two smaller ships nearby.”

  “You pn to fight personally?” Desha asks.

  “Why not? It’s been a while since I’ve stretched my legs, Desha.” Bull then faces Avon. “I’ll also be taking the Vice General for further support.”

  “I strongly advise against that course of action,” she argues. “As the two highest-ranking army officers, one of us should stay behind in case the other is killed in action.”

  “Your concern is valid, Avon, but Silencers like you are essential when fighting the Alliance.” Bull can see she’s still apprehensive, so he adds, “Besides, I don’t pn on dying. Do you?”

  Avon shakes her head. “Never, sir.”

  “I thought so,” said Bull smugly. “Sul, I’m trusting you to monitor all progress from the bridge.”

  “Aye, sir,” Sul replies with a salute.

  “Lights!” The screen turns off, and the lights turn back on. Bull cps his hands together. “Alright, let’s go show those Deldraka who we are. Dismissed!”

  CSS EQUALIZER, VARIOUS LOCATIONS (20 MINUTES AFTER ARRIVAL)

  “This is General Bull to all team leaders, Deck 8 and the bridge are clear. What’re your statuses?” Bull asks over comm.

  “Commander Rokov, standing by. All clear on Deck 2.”

  “Gold 1, standing by as well. Deck 5 is also clear.”

  “‘Gold 1?’ Where the hell did that come from?”

  “It’s a codename that I– uhhh…” Avon trails off. The story behind her call sign was pretty stupid. “Zip it, Commander! This is neither the time nor the pce!” she snaps.

  “Yeah, cut the chatter, you two,” Bull orders.

  Knowing a boarding party can appear anywhere on the ship, each of them leads a patrol on different sections of the Equalizer. However, Avon, Rokov, and others on the First Shift (even Bull) weren’t in the best fighting shape after being dragged out of bed. Still, they subdue their fatigue and stay vigint.

  Then, the open line beeps, and Sul’s portrait appears on their HUDs. “Be advised, scans are detecting psionic emissions near the General’s location,” he warns. “It’s too weak to be a portal… it might be a scan of their own.”

  “Is it moving?” asks Avon.

  “Aye, but slowly.”

  “They must be looking for a weak spot in our lines,” Rokov guesses. “Good thing they won’t find one. The General positioned us at even intervals.”

  “But what if they do find a weak spot, and we know where it is?” Due to her background, Avon has committed the yout of every Confederate warship to memory. After examining her surroundings, the wheels in her rge head start to turn.

  “What do you propose, Vice General?” Historically, Avon’s tactical style is far more destructive than Bull’s. Her specialty is inflicting maximum losses on both sides. But this time, Bull believes she has something more crafty in mind.

  “The fifth deck of a Solidarity-css cruiser has very few diverging hallways but plenty of open space,” she informs.

  “Before their psionic scan reaches that region, we can move all troops on Deck 5 to Deck 6. Then, a small strike team could ambush the Deldraka and force them to ascend.”

  “That’s… not a bad pn,” Bull procims. “Let’s do it. All forces on Deck 5, proceed to Deck 6, then stand by.”

  “Bull to Equalizer bridge, disable all lifts and Turbo-Pods. Also, seal all corridors on Deck 5 aside from those leading to an ascending stairwell.”

  “As for you, Avon, hold your position. Rokov and I will take our teams and go to you. We’re going to be the bait.”

  “Copy that,” Rokov replies. “En route.”

  “Understood.” Avon pats herself on the back. After getting shot down in the wardroom, she thought Bull wouldn’t consider her strategy. Now, her confidence was back to normal.

  CSS EQUALIZER, DECK 5, AVON’S CHOKE POINT

  As Avon predicted, the Deldraka fell for their trap. A line of portals appeared, and dozens of Anneru charged through them, armed with purple synth-psi equipment. Sticking to Avon’s pn, the Confederates force them into a corner. Even so, the Anneru refused to go down quietly, matching Human brutality with their superior energy weapons.

  During the fighting, Avon hears an oddly familiar shriek of pain. Not far away, she spots a wounded marine clutching his abdomen. Her HUD identifies him as Ty, one of the soldiers who harassed her on her first day, and he was fatally wounded.

  Seeing her walking up to him, he ughs grimly. “Go ahead, blondie. Shoot me,” he rasps. “I’d rather be killed by an elite than an extie.”

  Avon removes her helmet and points her rifle at him. Her long blonde hair was tied in a tight bun underneath, making her brown eyes look bigger and colder.

  “Unfortunately, you don’t have my permission to die.” Avon puts down her rifle; she was bluffing to see his reaction. She then crouched down and aims both hands over his wound. Purple particles fly out of her armored palms and into Ty’s body, rapidly healing him.

  “So, I won’t be breaking you today,” she sighs after she finishes.

  “Huh… thanks.” Ty gives his Vice General a wry smile, and she helps him up.

  *bang-bang* BANG

  In the meantime, the battle is still in full swing. Guided by Avon and Bull, GSAF manages to bait the Deldraka into sending more troops.

  “Hey, think we got their attention!?” Rokov yells.

  “Looks like it!” Bull yells back. “Everyone, fall back to the stairwell!”

  The General rips off a chunk of the bulkhead as he backpeals. Using it as a shield, he covers their retreat. By now, the Alliance had them outnumbered five to one.

  “Go first, I’ll cover you!”

  In a surprising dispy of selflessness, Avon ys down suppressing fire, letting the others go before her. Bull, his soldiers, and her Silencer unit all run up the stairs while she keeps shooting. In a few seconds, despite having her gun on the burst setting, she’s out of bullets.

  “Shit!” Avon takes cover to reload. Her belt only has one magazine left.

  Then, Rokov rushes to her side, firing a hail of bullets at the Alliance forces. “What the–? You’re still here!?”

  “Avon, I could use an assist! Preferably of the psionic sort!”

  “Here, you can thank me ter,” she replies.

  *vmmm*

  Avon reaches out her hand and creates a psionic barrier for them.

  “That’s what I’m talking about!”

  Rokov screams while firing indiscriminately. He might have been unconcerned that the barrel of his LMG was overheating, but Avon was. She slings her rifle over her back and charges psionic power in her hand again.

  “Get down,” she orders.

  BLAM

  Avon fires a powerful psionic bst out of her fist. She thinks the explosion she created had over twice the power of a grenade, give or take. This gave them an opening.

  “Time to go, Gregori! Move it!”

  “Ladies first, I’ll be right behind ya!”

  CSS EQUALIZER, DECK 6, FORTIFIED HALLWAY

  “Great, you both made it,” said Bull.

  “Be ready, they won’t be long.” Avon finally reloads her gun and stands ready. Once the first Alliance soldier steps into the corridor, a single command is given:

  “OPEN FIRE!!”

  Bullets, explosions, psionics, the Humans throw everything at the Deldraka. Hopelessly outmatched, they try in vain to escape. As the sughter continues, another portal appears from the side, but this one was protected by a barrier.

  “Kill everything that comes out of that fucking portal!” shouts Avon.

  “No, stop! Please, stop shooting!” Rokov was the first to take his finger off the trigger.

  “Uh… am I losing it, or did that portal just speak English?”

  “All units, cease fire! Cease fire!” Bull commands. Soon, the rest of his soldiers stand down as well. Albeit, with some reservations…

  “General, what are you doing!?” Avon cries.

  “The victory is already ours, Avon. Further violence would be a waste. Surely, you of all people should know that this is the best time to cut a deal.”

  Surprisingly, the Alliance troops also stop. While the Humans were still ready to fight just in case, the Anneru immediately attended to their many casualties.

  “Whoever you are, show yourself!” Bull yells. “And no tricks or games!”

  Two figures slowly emerge from the portal. One is a Deldraka aristocrat wearing a luxurious cape. His long bck hair goes well past his chest with two tails tied with gold bands resting on each shoulder.

  The other is an Adga-type Lesser Deldraka with a simir but simpler cape and a rifle and sword on her back. Her blonde hair is short and mostly covered by a menacing-looking helmet. In fact, the only part of her face that’s visible were her eyes.

  “I’m Shrador Kryder, Second Ler-Deld of the Eln Fleet,” the Deldraka introduces himself. “This is my personal guard and ward, Taln.”

  “General Bull,” Bull replies. “Why did your ships come to us and what’ll it take to make you and them leave?”

  “Before we continue, I am quite familiar with Human behavior. Since Confederates tend to deceive opposing parties during nonviolent encounters, may you send some of your soldiers away as a show of good faith?”

  In response, Avon raises her gun. At the same time, Taln draws her sword and steps in front of Kryder.

  “How about we kill you all instead? It makes no difference to me.” Taln gives Avon a death stare and points her sword at her.

  “Avon…” Bull hisses. “Put. It. Down.” Kryder also puts a hand on Taln’s wrist while whispering something in Deldrakan.

  “Tsk…” Reluctantly, Avon lowers her rifle while Taln also sheathes her sword. Both women glower at each other. At least the frustration of being held back by their respective superior was mutual.

  “Forgive my second-in-command, Kryder. She’s new,” Bull apologizes.

  “Only if you forgive Taln. She has a poor history with Humans.” Kryder slowly steps forward with his hands open. “So, General Bull, are you willing to form a compromise? You have already bested us, so I’d prefer to prevent losing more soldiers to you.”

  “I guess we can talk,” Bull shrugs. “Vice General, you’re in charge. Don’t let anyone step out line like you just did.”

  “I understand. It’ll be done.”

  Bull nods at her before walking to Kryder. The Deldraka then reaches into a portal and pulls out a table and a pair of chairs. Still, Avon couldn’t help but feel this whole battle was pnned somehow.

  *5 minutes ter*

  Bull and Kryder continue to talk while Taln watches wordlessly. Since the Anneru had already left the ship, the Humans decide to take this moment to rest. Avon and Rokov both removed their helmets and sat down on the floor to have an idle conversation.

  “Is it just me, or is Kryder very eloquent?”

  “Now that you mention it… Most aliens I’ve met can’t even form a sentence. Those who do speak English use poor articution, abnormal word choice, and no contractions. Meanwhile, he is completely fluent.”

  Excluding English, Avon is fluent in four Human nguages (French, Latin, Spanish, and Yamato jargon). Learning them may have been pointless since English is the only nguage of the Gactic Confederacy. However, it did show her just how complicated her native tongue was compared to others. It must’ve taken a lot of time and energy for Kryder to master it.

  “Having said that, your knowledge of the English lexicon is barely passable by my standards,” she jabs. “It could be a matter of perspective.”

  “You’re so mean sometimes…” Rokov frowns. Then, he has a revetion.

  “Wait, hold on a sec. You think it’s a coincidence that a bilingual Deldraka noble came to us out of nowhere and is now talking with our general?”

  Avon nodded, having had the same thought since they started. Maybe Rokov and her weren’t that different after all.

  “Still, we should heed Bull’s orders and let things py out. He knows what he’s doing,” she assures him. “Just keep an eye on the Alliance soldiers, especially Taln. I can see murder in her eyes.”

  Rokov looks at Taln, and she hisses at him. “Yeah, I see it too…”

  Finally, after a ten-minute conversation, Bull and Kryder shake hands and part ways. Then, all the Humans returned to their ships, and the Alliance left the area. It was almost as if nothing happened at all.

  CSS LEGEND, AVON’S QUARTERS (2 HOURS LATER)

  Due to the time, most soldiers from the 1st Shift went back to sleep instead of celebrating their victory. As for Avon, after taking a sleep repcement pill, she was hard at work at her desk.

  *knock knock*

  Avon: Who is it?

  Rokov: Your friend.

  Avon: *sigh* Come in, Gregori. Disengage lock!

  *swoosh*

  Unlike ordinary military accommodations, Avon’s suite was decorated with wall-to-wall carpet and modern furniture. Her window even had curtains which are useless in space. A gss case holding medals, awards, and curios stands in one corner of the room while her power armor stand is pced in another. Certificates of excellence, posters of famous basketball pyers, and a Stripes of White fg adorn the walls. Curiously, there was an absence of family photos.

  Rokov: This is a nice pad, Avon. And you have a voice recognition lock? So fancy.

  Avon: Please take off your boots. This “nice pad” also has a nice carpet, and I abhor vacuuming.

  Rokov does as she asks, pcing them on a small mat as the door closes behind her. He notices Avon only has four pairs of shoes: her day-to-day heeled boots, name-brand basketball high-tops, blue four-inch heels, and casual gray slippers. Given her sense of style, he expected a lot more.

  Avon: I hope you don’t find my accommodations too gaudy. Much of the furniture was… not my choice.

  Rokov: Not at all. It’s a nice change of pace from my barracks. Smells much better, too.

  Rokov: So, whatcha working on?

  Avon: A report for the Defense Cabinet.

  Rokov: Oh, make sure to include that Bull convinced Kryder to talk some sense into the Alliance. Let’s hope those wizarding exties finally understand that they can’t take us.

  Avon rolls her eyes at Rokov. She believes the general term for this sort of behavior is “manspining.”

  Avon: Thank you for reminding me what the subject of my report is.

  Avon: And speaking of Kryder, for some reason, I can’t get him out of my mind…

  Rokov: You have an alien fetish?

  Avon: Ewww…!! Would it kill you to think before you say things like that!?

  One of the downsides of Rokov being so comfortable around Avon is the occasional raunchy remark. While never directed at her, Avon still wishes he’d show some tact in front of a dy. Sure, she may swear a lot, but that doesn’t vindicate him.

  Avon: As I was saying…

  Avon: I think Kryder carried himself like a scientist or a schor. A curious but pragmatic individual. With the odds stacked against him, he had no problem conceding defeat and backing down. He cks the fighting spirit we have.

  Avon: Then again, I’m not the best at reading people.

  Rokov: No, I’m with you. I thought the exact same thing.

  Rokov: Still, everyone knows aliens who act nice are just trying to con us “primitive” Humans. To them, we’re easy prey because we haven’t been in space as long.

  Rokov: If I had a nickel for every fake extie pacifist, I’d pack up and retire.

  Avon: I considered that.

  Avon switches windows on her computer. Instead of her report, the screen shows a set of graphs and calcutions in progress.

  Avon: So, I collected all our recent Deldraka battle data to run a series of probability simutions.

  Avon: …Unfortunately, the connection in this part of space is subpar.

  Rokov: *yawn* Well, this is boring, and I’m starting to crash from all the adrenaline. I’m gonna get some rack.

  Rokov: *sigh* We got another long day of work ahead of us… Ugh, my neck hurts…

  Avon: *waves* Sleep well.

  Weighed down by exhaustion, Rokov picks up his boots and exits Avon’s room. As she goes back to her work, the famously diligent vice general suddenly finds it hard to focus. Without Rokov’s voice, she just felt… empty.

  Avon: *yawn*

  Avon: Huh, yawns are actually contagious…?

  Avon: …

  Realizing she can’t work in this mental state, Avon saves her report and pauses the simution. She then takes off all her clothes, not including her inhibitor bracelet, of course. After grabbing her favorite towel, she heads into her bathroom for a long, hot shower while humming a peppy tune.

  Avon: I guess putting it off for one day won’t hurt. If I rest now, I can work twice as hard tomorrow.

  Avon: Actually, isn’t tomorrow Friday? Maybe I’ll take the weekend off. It may improve my efficiency even further…

  As she bends down to scrub her legs, Avon feels a sharp pang in her spine. Ever since she was young, her “natural gifts” would cause her chronic back pain. She hefts her ample breasts with a frustrated sigh; they’ve grown again.

  Avon: Grrr… Thanks for nothing, Mother…