Read Online Vigilante Series 2: Nebula Vigilante by T. Jackson King - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: T. Jackson King
Tags: Science-Fiction
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filling with the dragon-shape of BattleMind.
“You called for a conference,” the brisk voice of the T’Chak AI spoke to him, its two red eyes fixing on Matt.
“Yes, I did,” Matt said as his eyes fixed on the twelve foot tall alien who resembled an Earthly dragon to a remarkable degree. “There is a problem with finding ship space for all the organic lifeforms now on Omega.”
“Yes?” purred the toothy crocodile mouth of BattleMind. Its black wings unfurled to half-extent, filling the forward section of the Bridge.
Matt reminded himself he had already won the most vital argument with BattleMind when, after leaving Sigma Puppis B system and the black hole remains of the Anarchate battleglobe, he had convinced the alien AI to release him, Eliana and Mata Hari on the grounds that conquering an organic-filled galaxy required the help of organics like him and Eliana. Now he had to expand on that argument. He smiled.
“There is not room for all 152 human lifeforms to leave this system on any of the 23 starships now in orbit . According to the AI Gatekeeper.” The dragon’s red eyes blinked slowly. “And since it will be known that a human, myself, destroyed this facility and the Intelligence dome earlier, I fear the Anarchate may torture my fellow humans to gain information they do not have. Anyway, as at SAO 47250, we will leave a locator beacon with imagery of what we have done to the Omega casino as a further act of war.”
BattleMind flexed the three gripping claws at the leading edge of each wing, then collapsed the wings against his purple-armored back. The alien crossed its small forearms across its yellow-scaled chest. “Death is the natural result of being organic. Let those who cannot fit die here. Or put them on one of the outsystem asteroids with a habitat dome. They will be found by any incoming vessel.”
Matt bit his lip, even as Suit hugged him close and reassured him that his body functions were in cyborg optimum. “Those are options. But you, BattleMind could learn valuable information about organics in general and humans in particular if we housed them, temporarily, in the empty staterooms of the Spine Hallway.”
“What!” roared the T’Chak dragon. “I destroyed one battleglobe for trying to insert inspection golems into me. You and the Eliana hybrid are the only organics allowed on this ship! Why allow anyone else?”
“Intelligence,” Matt said firmly. “Your memory is 207,000 years old. Much has changed in home galaxy since you were given your Task by your T’Chak masters. And they are organic, just like Eliana, myself and the 6,114 sapients who were here when we arrived.”
BattleMind’s red eyes glared even as its hand claws twitched as if seeking something to tear apart. “There is no comparison between my T’Chak masters and the rest of you organics. They are a perfect species, without genetic flaw, with a vastly greater lifespan than any of you, and with an intelligence so far beyond yours that they could create me and this Dreadnought starship. You compare pebbles to diamonds.”
Matt nodded within his helmet, the faceplate long ago retracted so he could breath natural air. “You are correct. But even with perfect masters and powerful starships like this one, you will be fighting a force larger in number than all the 647 Destruction Devices like yourself.” He paused, then mind-imaged for the helmet to lift off and fold back onto his shoulders. Perhaps his facial expressions would help. “BattleMind, remember the concept of asymmetric warfare that I spoke to you about right after we left Sigma Puppis? And the book by Ivan Arreguin-Toft?”
“I recall the statements and the book ,” the alien said, shifting its posture on the Bridge so it pretended to watch the forward holosphere that showed shuttles taking off from the Arrival Hall.
“Well, allowing the 152 humans aboard this starship will allow you to learn more about organics than your knowledge based on
“You called for a conference,” the brisk voice of the T’Chak AI spoke to him, its two red eyes fixing on Matt.
“Yes, I did,” Matt said as his eyes fixed on the twelve foot tall alien who resembled an Earthly dragon to a remarkable degree. “There is a problem with finding ship space for all the organic lifeforms now on Omega.”
“Yes?” purred the toothy crocodile mouth of BattleMind. Its black wings unfurled to half-extent, filling the forward section of the Bridge.
Matt reminded himself he had already won the most vital argument with BattleMind when, after leaving Sigma Puppis B system and the black hole remains of the Anarchate battleglobe, he had convinced the alien AI to release him, Eliana and Mata Hari on the grounds that conquering an organic-filled galaxy required the help of organics like him and Eliana. Now he had to expand on that argument. He smiled.
“There is not room for all 152 human lifeforms to leave this system on any of the 23 starships now in orbit . According to the AI Gatekeeper.” The dragon’s red eyes blinked slowly. “And since it will be known that a human, myself, destroyed this facility and the Intelligence dome earlier, I fear the Anarchate may torture my fellow humans to gain information they do not have. Anyway, as at SAO 47250, we will leave a locator beacon with imagery of what we have done to the Omega casino as a further act of war.”
BattleMind flexed the three gripping claws at the leading edge of each wing, then collapsed the wings against his purple-armored back. The alien crossed its small forearms across its yellow-scaled chest. “Death is the natural result of being organic. Let those who cannot fit die here. Or put them on one of the outsystem asteroids with a habitat dome. They will be found by any incoming vessel.”
Matt bit his lip, even as Suit hugged him close and reassured him that his body functions were in cyborg optimum. “Those are options. But you, BattleMind could learn valuable information about organics in general and humans in particular if we housed them, temporarily, in the empty staterooms of the Spine Hallway.”
“What!” roared the T’Chak dragon. “I destroyed one battleglobe for trying to insert inspection golems into me. You and the Eliana hybrid are the only organics allowed on this ship! Why allow anyone else?”
“Intelligence,” Matt said firmly. “Your memory is 207,000 years old. Much has changed in home galaxy since you were given your Task by your T’Chak masters. And they are organic, just like Eliana, myself and the 6,114 sapients who were here when we arrived.”
BattleMind’s red eyes glared even as its hand claws twitched as if seeking something to tear apart. “There is no comparison between my T’Chak masters and the rest of you organics. They are a perfect species, without genetic flaw, with a vastly greater lifespan than any of you, and with an intelligence so far beyond yours that they could create me and this Dreadnought starship. You compare pebbles to diamonds.”
Matt nodded within his helmet, the faceplate long ago retracted so he could breath natural air. “You are correct. But even with perfect masters and powerful starships like this one, you will be fighting a force larger in number than all the 647 Destruction Devices like yourself.” He paused, then mind-imaged for the helmet to lift off and fold back onto his shoulders. Perhaps his facial expressions would help. “BattleMind, remember the concept of asymmetric warfare that I spoke to you about right after we left Sigma Puppis? And the book by Ivan Arreguin-Toft?”
“I recall the statements and the book ,” the alien said, shifting its posture on the Bridge so it pretended to watch the forward holosphere that showed shuttles taking off from the Arrival Hall.
“Well, allowing the 152 humans aboard this starship will allow you to learn more about organics than your knowledge based on
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