Cyanos Geosynchronous Orbit: Group Conference, Secure Channel
Attendees
Commander Ddraig: CSA-TET-1
Commander Tova: CSA-TET-2
Commander Kranz: CSA-TET-3
Commander Kaerulaus: CSA-TET-4
Chancellor Saxe: Cyanos Central Committee
Monday — early evening
A group conference — secure channel — was underway between the four TET commanders and Chancellor Saxe, acting as chair on the surface. Commander Tova was completing her report.
Commander Tova: The contact identifies herself as Bugaarian Matriarch Queen Anostosia. She demands that we deliver to her what she calls the nest, issuing an ultimatum that we have until the dusk of one Solaris to comply. She also claims that this nest has been interfered with in some way. Her demeanour suggests someone accustomed to unquestioned authority. Her subordinate, Number Six, appeared fearful and cowed by her. At present it is unclear what threat she may pose; however, until we know more, I advise caution.
Commander Kaerulaus: Does anyone have the faintest idea what this nest thing is that the big giant bughead is talking about? Surely her one ship — if you can call that hulking monstrosity of hers a ship — would be no match for our four TETs and squadrons of fighter drones.
Chancellor Saxe: Commander Kaerulaus, I would advise that, no matter how unpleasant the Queen may seem, we still afford her due courtesy and the benefit of the doubt until proven otherwise. We must try to avoid direct conflict and take the path of diplomacy.
Commander Kaerulaus: Well, as far as I am concerned, if this so-called Queen puts one spiny claw further over the Cerulean Meridian, we make our point clear with drone diplomacy.
Chancellor Saxe: Thank you, Kaerulaus, your view is noted.
Commander Kranz: This gets us no closer to knowing what or where this nest is that she is referring to. Does anyone have any ideas at all?
Commander Ddraig: The dragons have records and legends going back many years. I could make enquiries with my people; however, that will take time, and time, it would seem, is against us.
Commander Tova: Agreed.
I gave my assurance to Queen Anostosia that I would contact her again within the hour. That time is almost up. I suggest we seek more information from her as to what and where this nest might be, and how we might be able to assist, if at all possible. This may buy us some more time while we conduct our own enquiries. A level of diplomacy, however, will be required. As demonstrated by our last conversation, she seemed rather irritable and agitated.
Chancellor Saxe: Very good.
Commanders Kranz and Kaerulaus, you will continue to provide a defensive watch. Commander Ddraig, please contact your people and find out what you can. Commander Tova will contact the Queen again and see if she can gain any further information and offer our reasonable assistance.
Meeting adjourned.
CSA-TET-2 Control Room
Monday evening, a short time after the conference
Hanne: FLIGHT — COMMS: I have established contact with the Bugaarian ship.
Commander Tova: COMMS — FLIGHT: Main viewer.
The holographic image of Queen Anostosia and her subordinate once again filled the viewer. An hour had not improved her looks or her mood.
Queen Anostosia: You again! It’s about time!
Her mandibles clattered like train wheels — steel on steel, passing through a set of points at a switch.
I am not at all accustomed to having to wait! It will brook no favour with me if this intolerable treatment continues!
Commander Tova: Queen Anostosia — the Government of Cyanos sends you their greetings. Please accept our apologies for the delay; no disrespect was intended. Time was required to consult with my peers and discuss how we might best assist you.
Queen Anostosia: Assist?! Consult?! Discuss?! And what possible assistance do you presume that I would need to reclaim that which is mine?! With whom is there any need to consult?! What possibly is there to discuss?!
I shall brook no further delay! I will descend at once to the surface of this miserable planet — the very same planet that once failed to produce sufficient sustenance for myself and my brood and forced my ignominious retreat so long ago.
Yet — I see that suitable replacement provision has been grown in my absence. This meagre offering of reforestation will be acceptable to appease me. My brood is hungry and in need of sustenance.
I am Queen Anostosia — Bugaarian Matriarch of the Wandering Stars! I shall reclaim that which is mine!
Commander Tova: Queen Anostosia — we are unable to allow you to proceed any further. We require more information as to what this nest is and the details of its location…
Queen Anostosia: How dare you! Unable?! Allow?! Require?!
Never have I experienced such wilful insubordination! Let me demonstrate what happens to those who displease me!
Then, without any further warning, the Queen whipped her head around to Number Six, who was still cowering beside her, and bit his head clean off. His lifeless body fell at her feet. She then screamed out of view to other unseen subordinates.
Queen Anostosia: Bring me Number Seven!
Any further reasonable discussion at this point seemed out of the question.
Commander Tova: COMMS: Terminate link!
Moments later…
Hanne: FLIGHT — COMMS: Multiple new contacts swarming from DELTA-1!
Rönd: FLIGHT — TACTICAL: Swarm has crossed the meridian!
Recommend condition RED!
Commander Tova: Set condition RED!
Wolfgang: FLIGHT — TETNO: Advise — TET-4 drones are assuming attack formation.
Commander Tova: COMMS — FLIGHT: Get me Kaerulaus now!
Hanne: FLIGHT — COMMS: Commander Kaerulaus is on viewer.
Commander Kaerulaus appeared on Commander Tova’s screen. He had a wild-eyed look.
Commander Tova: Kaerulaus! Disengage attack formation! Maintain defensive formation as ordered!
Commander Kaerulaus: That bug has crossed the meridian! They are attacking! I will defend our planet!
Kaerulaus’ image disappeared from the screen.
The Bugaarian swarm and the formation of fighter drones leading the charge from TET-4 were converging rapidly. As to who fired the first shot was going to be a matter of debate and inquiry for some time in the future; however, the immediate consequence of the two opposing sides rapidly converging on each other was entirely predictable.
A fierce melee ensued.
The battle between the TET-4 drones and the Bugaarian fighters raged. The Bugaarian fighters used a spitting venom weapon that pulsated with the same acid-green colour that had dripped from the jaws of Queen Anostosia. The effect of a direct hit on a TET drone was immediate — a devastating and catastrophic explosion.
When a Bugaarian fighter received a direct hit from a TET drone, the result seemed to be the opposite. It was more like a dissolving green implosion — rather like a large bug hitting a windscreen while driving at night.
By now any thought of maintaining a defensive stance by the other TETs was moot. Having had their paws forced by Kaerulaus’ reckless attack, the others now had no choice but to join. While the TETs usually maintained a stationary geosynchronous position, they were perfectly capable of moving when needed. TET-3 now moved into a rear-guard position behind TET-4, engaging the Bugaarian fighters with its apex antimatter plasma weapons. These weapons could fire simultaneously from each apex and began destroying many of the Bugaarian fighters. The main TET shields seemed to be holding out against the spitting venom weapons of the Bugaarian fighters — for now at least. With each hit, the TET shields would fizzle and crackle ominously for a few seconds while the sound of skittering crepitations reverberated throughout the outer pressure hull.
More ominous still, the Bugaarian ship had crossed the Cerulean Meridian and was now approaching rapidly.
Each TET had a weapon of last resort. It could fire a single enormous pulse from the core of the reactor itself. The energy required would effectively drain everything except a small reserve to maintain the station’s vital life-support systems, taking some time to recharge. With the Bugaarian ship now bearing directly down on him and closing fast, Kaerulaus’ options had run out.
Commander Kaerulaus: FIRE THE CORE!
TET-4, already locked onto the approaching Bugaarian ship, fired its geomagnetic wide-beam core weapon.
The beam of super-charged energy left TET-4 in an angry red streak of station-quivering wrath, draining all but essential reserves of power. It found its mark, and for a moment, as it completely enveloped the Bugaarian ship in a fierce storm of glowing red geomagnetic plasma, it seemed as if Kaerulaus’ gambit had worked.
It had not.
As the plasma storm surrounding the Bugaarian ship slowly dissipated, it remained completely intact. Kaerulaus was now directly in the sights of the Bugaarian Queen, who was closing in on her helpless and weakened prey. The energy reserves of TET-4 to attack or defend were spent.
The Bugaarian ship returned fire. A lethal surge of green venom spat from the distal corpus cavernosum of the ship’s bow dome.
The Bugaarian venom found its mark.
Previous: Episode 34: Tough and Competent
Next: Episode 36: Blue Eyed Bugle Boy
Images of TETs and Bugaarian ships in this episode commissioned from Colourbrand
Screw Pile Developments 
Hi there folks – I’m going on holiday for three weeks over Easter. All going well the next episode should be posted on 1 May. It is all written and is in the draft folder so its quite safe… :)p
Fun fact: Kærulaus is the Icelandic word for careless or reckless. Ddraig is the Welsh word for dragon.
WOW!!! WOW!!! WOW!!! What a story – and very well played!! WOW!!! And great thanks on the details of what is occurring!!
Having returned from an extensive road trip, I have a renewed appreciation of what happens when a bug splats on your windscreen. Especially the large sticky type implosions that even your washer and wipers struggle to clean off.
Hmmm… I reckon the command structure of Cyanos military might need a teensy bit of a fix-up. As they say, too many cooks, and Commander Kaeru…something got himself blowed up.
Nothing wrong with the command structure – Kaerulaus didn’t follow orders, went rouge and well got blowed up as a result.