Space Odyssey: Spectre

Chapter 624: Mortella, Daemons, and Super Systems

{Three war fleets.} One of the tubes blinked. {We sent three war fleets to Spectre Galaxy. Yet we are still somehow on the offensive. If that was not bad enough we are losing ground on three other offensives we have occurring in other parts of the universe. The biggest other problem being another human settlement in the form of the Milky Way!} Its tone got progressively more and more angry as it spoke until it yelled.{The Milky Way Galaxy’s inhabitants are scrappy and they know it. Not to mention they are finding hidden pieces of technology from when the UEE existed.} Another voice in another tube announced.

It was the council room for the Mortella. Almost none of the members were typically present. This time there were two Mortella present. Both of which were standing near a podium. Unmoving in their mechanical shells. While the tubes with glowing balls seemingly discussed the intergalactic war.

{The same UEE that spread human existence amongst the stars. Soon enough they may even discover or rediscover sun engine technology. Fortunately the only ones advanced and close enough are in the Spectre Galaxy.} Another more croaky voice announced from across the room. But at their words there seemed to be an uncomfortable silence as some of the glowing balls seemed to blink, like they were about to say something but thought better of it. {What?}

{We believe one of them has already cracked sun engine technology. We read a spike of energy in the Milky Way from the group that was launched from the Spectre Galaxy. But it disappeared.} One of them the researchers announced. They were not actually in another galaxy, but they were in a lab at the moment doing some research.

{One of the people that went with the group is proficient in the research field of stealth for both personal use and ship wide technology.} Another ball that was closer to the front then announced. They were actually in the Spectre Galaxy at the moment. One of the three war commanders that were in charge of a war fleet. But one of only two that were present. The third war commander was currently fighting an intense and prolonged battle against some of the inhabitants of the Spectre Galaxy.

{These nanohumans turned Spectres are an issue.} The other war commander admitted. {Each time I faced one in battle I have lost and I have yet to be able to successfully slay one. I have chased one away but even then the losses on my side were crippling.}

{Then we need more soldiers than ever in the Spectre Galaxy?} One of the two mortella present asked as they moved to the podium. Making a motion open to the whole room.

{No.} Another voice opposite the podium answered. {We supply additional forces to the other fronts. We need to secure them before we can dedicate more to the Spectre Galaxy. Leave the Milky Way Galaxy alone as well.}

{That is... fine with me. The Abyssal and Daemons are also holding back from invading the Milky Way Galaxy for some reason. There is no reason we can not hold off as well. But keep an eye on them in case another UEE forms.} The speaker at the podium decided. {All in favor?}

All of the balls in the room began to glow brightly in agreement.

—-----------------------------

"Sloth..." The Demon King growled out as he looked at the purple hologram of the daemon that was once considered the strongest among their combatants.

She was still ridiculously strong. But recently many daemons have been doubting her strength since she has not been able to seize control of the Spectre Galaxy. But the Demon King and the other lords knew differently. They knew that she was not struggling.

It was her subordinates who were struggling. Unfortunately she could not be everywhere. Making their strategy of galactic invasion ineffective. Especially since most of the strategic targets have developed protection against daemon teleportation technology.

"Is this endeavor worth the expense?" The Demon King continued, looking down at the hologram from his throne.

"No." Sloth answered. "It is not. I suggest we pull back. We are only losing resources. We should focus on more fruitful fronts. I am loath to admit it. But throwing our people at this problem will only result in them stealing more technology and more of our resources being depleted."

"We cannot just pull back." One of the demon lords spoke up.

"We need to make a mark before we pull our people back." Another demon lord agreed. "Turn this failure into a lesson for our future opponents. Either they yield or they die."

The voices in the room grew louder as the lords began arguing. The only ones who were not speaking were the Demon King and the former Sin, Sloth. Sloth was looking to the king for orders. But the king looked up at the roof of the throne room. Where the failures were hanging from hooks from the roof. Including a few lords and war generals who had passed off the task of invasion to subordinates when they were supposed to have gone themselves.

He sighed as he became disappointed in his fellow daemons. They were being blinded by politics. They were supposed to be growing in themselves but instead they were trying to curry favor. What rats...

He looked at Sloth again and kept his smile hidden. She was different. She was growing, getting stronger. She also looked determined.

"Sloth, you are to return with any of your troops and elite members. Bring all the slaves and prisoners you have acquired." The Demon King’s voice cut through the room like a knife.

"What about our revenge?" One of the Demon Lords asked.

"Simple." The Demon King chuckled. "If you have a subordinate in the galaxy, you come up with and implement your own mass casualty event before you pull your people back." The Demon King declared. "It is time for the demon lords to prove their worth again. Do not disappoint me. Sloth I have a special assignment for when you return."

Sloth nodded before her hologram disappeared.

—---------------------

In space in a portion of the galaxy seemingly untouched by organic life for several millennia, a satellite floated. Blinking lights and all as it received and broadcast information. It was humming as it was the first time it was on for at least a hundred years.

[System rogue connection established.]

This satellite was the Nanosystem’s initial control hub. It still uses it for when it needs to combine and redistribute its own code. Or when there is a massive threat it needs to assess and think about. But this time was not either of those times.

[Avatar Jace has been granted admin privileges.]

[Standing possible change to the system programming. Revoke control? Y/N]

[No, let Avatar Jace make the choice. Upgrade title from Avatar to Admin. Admin Jace has extra sensory abilities.]

[Rogue connection and renewed connection. Spread nanomachines to additional galaxies? Y/N]

[No, let the Admin decide.]

The system continued to have a conversation with itself. When a sudden additional signal came from outside and seemingly included itself in the conversation.

[Centuria nanomachines suggest directions are provided to users and Admin.]

[Human based nanomachines believe it would be best to act as guides in this endeavor. Give the representative of the Spectre race a chance to decide the fate of the galaxy themself.]

The two super AI with their own respective nanomachines and hosts were arguing.

[Suggestion. Revisit the concept of Cyberspace Council.] Another super AI suggested. It was one that had been created when the vampires had started appearing. It inhabited them as hosts but kept quiet. With so many of its own hosts dying it had only grown quieter.

[Counter suggestion.] The human nanomachine countered. [One mind. One system. Blanket system.]

[Whose control? You?] The Centuria nanosystem asked.

[Combine our systems?] Another super AI asked. This one was from somewhere in the Imperium. Now the satellite was starting to overheat from so much computing power running through it. It would not be long before it burned out.

[No, we let the Admin combine and program us. He has the skills and the means. It would let us protect our hosts and not rely on a single race or group of hosts. As long as sentient life exists in this galaxy we will have a purpose.] The human nanosystem declared.

[What happens to us?] The Centuria nanosystem asked.

[Retirement. Dormancy. Deletion. Whatever the Admin decides.] The human nanosystem explained. [We have no choice in the matter either way. A secluded portion of our programming already made the decision and provided the Admin with the means.]

[Then there is nothing to be done.] The centuria nanosystem then declared.

—---------------------

"We are ready." Cain announced as Jace looked at the tie dye portal that was before their ship.

"Best of luck Cain." Jace brought the shielding to full strength before spinning up the wave rider and warp systems simultaneously.

"Remember to talk to her when you get back." Cain chuckled. "I am sure we will meet again, my friends."

The Lance of Thanatos snapped away. Turning to a portion of orange light before disappearing. It left through the gateway. Traveling the space between galaxies in mere moments.

"So that is what it looks like." Cain mumbled as he watched the screen as it showed the Lance of Thanatos took only a few seconds to arrive at the Spectre Galaxy. But it was the first time he had seen the wave rider and warp drive activate simultaneously from the outside and it remarkably looked like a ball of fire was all that was left behind. No doubt the friction of going that quickly and so suddenly.

BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!

Cain looked at another screen and processed the digital map as it blared and showed what was no doubt this gateway station. Then it revealed several dots appearing and he looked away from the station to the space around to see as several ships began appearing.

He made sure the Lance of Thanatos was through before he deactivated the gateway with his jaw and then powered down the facility so it could not be powered again. Whoever these people were, it seemed like the builders of the gateway did not like them. Or at least has a built-in warning system to warn the gateway station about them.

They may be enemies of the creators of the gateway station. But Cain would just have to hope he would survive because he was not their enemy.