Dangerous Toys (Part Nineteen)

Mars Orbital was busy with today’s business as Xenos reacted to the Human offensive against what was simply being called the ‘Incice War’. Small squadrons of human ships were popping up all over the place and seizing ships, Orbitals, and goods. It got difficult when they started doing what they called ‘Extraction’ on some very high-ranking officials. The XCC and the HDF were running at full tilt to crush this network and from the outside it just looked like the humans had decided to smash and grab their way across the Galaxy. What was becoming increasingly clear is that they weren’t asking for permission.

The Director had called a meeting ‘for all interested parties’ in the main conference hall and a multitude of Xenos and media were waiting. Newcomers might wonder why this tired, grey-haired example was chosen to speak on behalf of the Humans. As he took his place at the podium they got a chance to find out.

He looked at the swelling crowd, all set in that was, in his not very humble opinion, the finest room mankind had ever built. Above the transparent roof that soared some three hundred meters was the planet, the red soil interspersed by the glinting light of the cities and the gleam as so many ships caught the sun on their descent. It was a celebration and a warning, just as intended. Hardwood and delicate stone carvings filled the room, furniture that was designed and presented to every new species that was permitted to visit. The only jarring note was the two human marines that held a permanent station at the door. They wore full, unadorned armour and carried the complete array of weapons of the real thing. Only vague rumours and some highly-classified reports existed for the Xenos to read but since they were the sharp end of human diplomacy it made sense to see them here. He thought so anyway and it was his call.

“Welcome all. I have a lot to get through so please leave your questions until the end. I’m not going anywhere so take your time. Firstly would like to address the question of who exactly we are fighting. A criminal network based from Central Worlds 12.789.0845 has apparently flourished to the extent that it reached into human space. It is, essentially a smuggling service with a surprising military capacity. It has been suborning smaller systems and using their forces as mercenaries and enforcers. The creature responsible for this network was apparently a logistics officer at some point.” He flashed an image of an early picture of Incice as a young Officer. “And that is all we know about his beginnings.” He flashed up pictures of an office, “We know even less about his end. Forensics report that he died here. By what agency or people, we frankly don’t know but his blood coated several walls and the bunker began singing ‘Ode to Joy’ when we arrived. Someone obviously took offence at his actions regarding one of our Engineers that was sadly killed in his attack. All we know is that it is multi-dimensional and carries a grudge. Regardless of that, his AI-controlled ships have attacked us in eighty systems so far. We are dealing with the problem” He took a pause as the Xenos reacted. One of the press-pit ignored his early statement and called out. “Are you telling us that this Incice was killed by one of your human ghosts? I find that hard to believe.”

The Director had felt this might surface. Many Xeno’s were fascinated by the old human beliefs in an afterlife. “No. He was not killed by any human agency, alive or dead. Something walked into his bunker and slaughtered him. If we are reading the science correctly, it was done in a manner that would attract several hundred criminal charges. Also, we do not have the capacity to do this.” He pulled up an image. A large blade was clearly embedded in the desk. It was also very clearly not.

Human Marines lifted the desk out of position and the blade continued to cut through the surface. They attempted to grab the knife but it was intangible to human hands. “Feel free to ask your scientists to examine the data. I can tell you now that we don’t have a clue.” The Xenos reacted to that. If the humans couldn’t figure it out and were willing to admit it, this was going to take a while. Any thoughts of fraud fell away. The human’s pride in their science wouldn’t permit its corruption over the death of a criminal. Especially one that they would have cheerfully and publicly shot in the head for causing so much mayhem in their worlds.

“To return to the main issue, one of our people is underway with further Intel. At this point, it is probably unnecessary as her first reports were sufficient to begin to untangle this mess. She is, however, still out there being hunted by the Incice AI-driven fleets. I hope to bring you better news shortly. All those involved in this parasitic network will be brought to account and this evil crushed. We apologise for the inconvenience. Any questions?”

One of Earths allies had been prepped beforehand. The Fay Ambassador to Earth stood, “Director, is this a war? What are you planning to do with all these ships and people caught up in this action?”

The Director nodded, “Good questions. It is a war in the sense that we face an enemy with its own fleets, its own orbital assets and personnel. In more general terms we regard this as a policing action. We have no territorial or political ambitions. We simply wish to crush a criminal enterprise that has declared us an enemy because they failed to kill the human that unveiled it. As to those captured, we are seeking a comprehensive picture of those that are involved. They may face our legal system or their local one. If we feel that there are entrenched interests protecting this network we will ban all trade and travel with humanity. We are not your police but we will protect our worlds and ships. To be clear, these criminals were carrying slaver AI amongst other evils. We will not permit that.”

And there it sat. The humans never forgave slavery, even of AI. They would pull all trade and ensure that their allies did the same. Ban all engineers and close their Orbitals to anyone they suspected was involved. No doubt there would be other, unacknowledged actions. Essentially this was the message to all the Xenos and Press. Clean this shit up or we will. Good luck getting a ship if the humans wouldn’t touch it. Superstition alone would regard them as cursed, probably with good reason. Even neutral systems would ban them in case they exploded.

One of the newest Ambassadors stood unexpectedly. “Director, you spoke of the missing ship. That is one of ours. What efforts are being made to recover them safely? The ship is at the forefront of our first-contact with humanity and the Canine-Alliance and my people are looking for news.”

The Director glanced at his screen. The Ambassador /NewSunondrygrass/. Ah, the catnip guy. “Ambassador, welcome to Mars orbital. If your schedule permits I will meet you immediately after this meeting with our HDF delegate and we will brief you. Please assure your people that every effort will be expended to secure your people.” His voice dropped slightly, “and our dogs.” He had personally sent /Scentofhappy/ our there and approved Lokis travel. If they were hurt he would also personally ensure the destruction of whoever had dared harm them.

For the rest of the audience, it was split between those that had ignored the whole human symbiote story and were now reassessing the political power involved and those that knew just how far the humans would go to protect their pets. No wonder Incice had been cut down by some supernatural entity. It probably did him a favour if he had attacked the human’s dogs. The Director took a few more questions and then left the Xeno’s to themselves. The two Marines moved to Ambassador /NewSunondrygrass/ and waited to escort him to the private meeting. A few of the Xenos murmured to each other and the conclusion was clear. The galaxy would stay out of the way and ensure their own fleets were clear. The Director had done an excellent job of laying out the consequences of fucking with the human race and the benefits of playing nice

Patrica didn’t particularly feel like a diplomatic triumph. She felt like a sacrificial offering to the gods. If Loki knew that fleets were flying from many quarters to defend him, well he wouldn’t have expected anything less. /Scentofhappy/ was sleeping contentedly on her Captains lap. Plasma fire continued to strike the shields.

“Oscar, begin our descent. We will go and sit on the fucking Genie if she won’t respond. Fire the flares and follow the patterns you so nicely built. Now.”

The Genie was watching the enemy approach under fire from Oscar. Trust a human to start throwing rocks around, although she appreciated the elegant simplicity. So far the ship seemed fine, shields were solid. Frankly, for a twenty-to-one attack, the bad guys weren’t really making an impression. She had expected someone to die by now. She finished up her tea just in time for the flare attacks to begin. To her, they looked like a beautiful fireworks display. Some of them were so clever that she had to drop a dozen sensors to prevent infection. The Engineer was good. Time to go to work.