The problem was that the knowledge provided could only be accessed through immediate need or very precise internal questioning. In other words, one often didn’t know what one actually knew. It required intellectual stimulation to surface. No issue if it was about finding a path or recognizing an object. But when it came to developing a strategy, the process was much more delicate. Jennel and Alan worked together on this issue with some success.
That night, on the eve of their transfer to their ship, Alan was wrestling with unanswered questions. He sat facing Jennel and, in a thoughtful tone, said:
"This war has been going on for forty-two years."
Jennel raised an eyebrow.
"That’s both a lot and very little..."
"It started after a great battle that bled both sides dry, especially the Gulls."
Jennel nodded.
"They became so few in number that they had to organize the Selections to acquire fighters."
Alan crossed his arms and stared at an invisible point in front of him.
"I looked at the numbers. The number of mercenaries is decreasing over time, while the estimates for the Arwiens seem constant."
Jennel frowned, deep in thought.
"There’s an anomaly."
Alan turned his head toward her, waiting for her reasoning.
"According to the Gulls, the Arwiens have some sort of Empire, which they translate as 'Imperium' in our language. It supposedly includes dozens of planets, maybe more. That gives them enormous industrial and manpower resources."
Alan slowly nodded.
"So… they should have won this war long ago."
Jennel sighed.
"Yes, I think so."
Alan ran a hand over his face, pensive.
"How can we fight effectively against an enemy whose full potential we don’t understand?"
Jennel shrugged.
"We could ask Bubble."
Alan raised his eyes. Bubble was standing by the door, motionless, waiting for either him or the Gulls to summon its services.
In a firm voice, Alan called out:
"Bubble."
"Yes, Commander."
Alan crossed his arms and smiled slightly.
"I have a very simple question: why haven’t the Arwiens already won the war?"
Bubble responded instantly, without the slightest hesitation:
"Because they cannot."
Alan raised an eyebrow, surprised.
"They don’t have sufficient economic power?"
"I do not know their actual power."
Alan straightened, intrigued.
"Does anyone know?"
"I do not have this information."
Alan thought for a moment, then asked:
"Can we meet a Gull to ask?"
"Too soon," Bubble replied, without further explanation.
Jennel frowned and spoke up:
"Bubble, considering the evolution of the number of available mercenaries and assuming the Arwiens’ strength remains constant, in how many Earth years will the Gulls have to resume the fight themselves, and then how long before they lose the war?"
"Nine and twelve years, with a margin of one year," Bubble responded immediately.
Alan exchanged a look with Jennel, then slowly nodded.
"Thank you, Bubble. You may withdraw."
The interface obeyed without a word and left the room. Jennel sighed.
"This war makes no sense, Alan."
Alan stared at the door for a moment before responding thoughtfully:
"Or maybe… we just don’t see it yet."
The mega-shuttle, this time with transparent walls, transported the crew to the Gull military astroport.
The immense structure loomed in space as a colossal ring surrounding a massive central sphere, connected to the structure by countless walkways and modules. The outer ring, dotted with docking bays, seemed designed to accommodate an astonishing number of ships, from massive war cruisers to small patrol units. The structure radiated artificial light, casting golden and metallic reflections, while signal lights marked precise flight paths for incoming vessels.
Alan and Jennel observed in silence, impressed by the scale of the spaceport. It was designed for war, to coordinate military campaigns of unimaginable magnitude. And yet, it seemed almost… empty.
Alan murmured:
"One would think that almost all the ships are out on campaign..."
Jennel, still captivated by the sheer size of the facilities, nodded absentmindedly.
"It’s impressive, yes..."
Alan shook his head and clarified:
"But in reality, that’s not the case. There aren’t enough mercenaries to fill even half of it."
Jennel blinked, realizing the full extent of the issue.
"Then why such a massive deployment if half the bays remain unoccupied?"
Alan shrugged before replying in a pensive tone:
"Maybe they don’t have enough ships anymore."
They were dropped off ten at a time onto a vast platform connected to the docks where sixty battle cruisers awaited. They all instinctively knew the layout, the access points, and the control room where each crew member took their place.
Everyone found their station without hesitation, as if the knowledge assimilated through hypno-teaching guided their movements with natural fluidity. It was only once they were seated before their illuminated consoles, adjusting the glowing controls and scanning the interactive holographic interfaces, that they fully realized where they were. The magnitude of their new reality struck them then: they were no longer mere refugee survivors but members of an interstellar crew, engaged in a war whose full stakes they did not yet grasp.
Alan and Jennel had taken their place aboard the command ship, which was indistinguishable from the others for security reasons. They had their own observation platform overlooking the control room, where a multitude of holographic screens displayed primarily tactical data. The entire front wall remained transparent, somewhat reminiscent of their terrestrial shuttle.
Alan and the ship’s commander were equipped with a highly advanced AI, which the Gulls referred to as the "thinking machine." Alan provided it with the fleet formation type and the designated rally point.
Everything proceeded with mechanical precision: the sixty ships departed in perfect synchronization from the astroport, their antimatter thrusters automatically adjusting trajectories to avoid any interference. From inside, the crews barely felt the movement, but through the holographic screens, they could see the immense metallic sprawl of the military complex slowly receding.
A few minutes later, at an inaudible signal, the entire fleet activated its stasis fields. A brief tremor rippled through the cruisers' structures, like a strange echo in space itself. Then, in a silent flash, each ship vanished, launched into hyper-quantum transfer.
The sensation of the jump was imperceptible, but something within the crew members (a faint mental blur) indicated that they had crossed an invisible threshold, leaving behind the known universe to venture into the unknown.
Most of the journey was spent testing and familiarizing themselves with the AI’s capabilities, which handled nearly all tasks under normal conditions. The crew members gradually became aware of the extent of their responsibilities and the operation of the ship that would carry them to the heart of the war.
The fleet re-entered normal space near a gigantic asteroid field. Before them, an immense expanse of drifting rocks stretched endlessly: some no larger than pebbles, others far more massive than a cruiser. Unlike the typical image of chaotic asteroid orbits, this belt was relatively flat, as if it formed a suspended disk in the vastness of space. Its thickness was minimal compared to its width, making it both fascinating and menacing.
Alan and Jennel observed in silence before Bubble’s calm, pre-recorded voice echoed through every ship via inter-nanite communication.
“The mission objective is to locate one or more scout outposts belonging to the Arwiens, as well as any escort vessels hiding among the asteroids.”
Alan nodded, then addressed the fleet in the same manner:
“We are expected to enter this field to identify potential threats. Our enemies are likely concealed within, and we must force them to reveal themselves. But we will not follow the tactics the Gulls expect from us. We will do things differently.”
A?ssatou, in charge of the command ship, turned to him.
This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.
“Active scan of the asteroid field in progress.”
A few seconds passed before the AI responded:
“Rock density too high. Results inconclusive.”
Alan smirked. He had expected that.
“A?ssatou, would you say we need to find a path to send in a few ships?”
A?ssatou confirmed:
“That’s the only logical approach.”
“That’s also what the Gulls predicted,” Alan countered. “But we’re not going to give them that satisfaction.”
Alan then ordered the AI:
“Regroup the ships into trios. Twenty groups total. Groups 1 to 10, position yourselves beneath the asteroid field in evenly spaced formation, as displayed on the hologram. Groups 11 to 20, same maneuver above the field after the first groups deploy.”
Jennel studied him for a moment before asking:
“You think this will improve detection?”
Alan nodded.
“Yes. But not to find the enemy.”
The deployment proceeded smoothly. Now, Alan moved on to the next phase:
“AI, generate a detailed gravitational constraint map of the field, identifying points of stability and instability.”
Seconds passed as the sensors of the sixty cruisers analyzed gravitational variations and cross-referenced the data. The holographic display updated, revealing three equilibrium points marked by large, stabilized asteroids and three instability points corresponding to unusually calm, empty zones.
Alan then requested a simulation removing the equilibrium points and enhancing the effect of the instability zones. After complex calculations, the hologram displayed a vision of rapid asteroid field disintegration.
A?ssatou studied the hologram, thoughtful.
“If we do this…”
Jennel finished her sentence in a monotone voice:
“…The entire field will collapse.”
Alan nodded.
“Exactly.”
He turned to the tactical operator:
“Order to the best-positioned groups: fire six antimatter torpedoes at each of the three stable asteroids. Launch three quantum fragmentation missiles into each of the unstable empty zones.”
The antimatter torpedoes left the cruisers silently, reaching their targets in an instant. A blinding flash illuminated the hologram, simulating the explosions’ unprecedented intensity. Simultaneously, the quantum missiles struck the void zones, causing spatial distortions with no visible effect but triggering a gravitational storm.
Minutes passed in tense silence.
The real-time updated hologram displayed the slow but inevitable spread of chaos. The once orderly, static asteroid field was collapsing into total disarray.
A?ssatou reported multiple detections at the periphery of the field.
“AI confirms,” added the tactical operator. “Twelve scout ships in two formations, two small escort cruisers, one on an erratic trajectory.”
Alan wasted no time.
“Tighten formations on the targets. Weapons free.”
Jennel stepped closer and murmured:
“The Arwiens… They’re almost human.”
Alan clenched his jaw and replied in a dark tone:
“The priority is keeping our people alive. The real threat doesn’t come from the Arwiens.”
The battle was short and brutal. The concentrated firepower of the Terran cruisers gave the scouts no chance. Eight were destroyed within seconds, while one of the escort cruisers exploded under crossfire. The other, already adrift, crashed into a massive asteroid.
“No damage to the fleet,” A?ssatou reported.
Alan nodded.
“Immediate regrouping. Scan for survivors.”
Moments later, A?ssatou announced:
“Two escape pods detected.”
“Recover them immediately.”
The first pod was empty. The second contained a survivor.
A?ssatou analyzed the data and declared:
“One live Arwien.”
A tense silence settled. Alan took a deep breath.
“Prepare a secure airlock. And find me some sidearms.”
A?ssatou smirked.
“With what little we have, I doubt that’ll make us feel any safer.”
Accompanied by three armed guards, Alan made his way to the airlock where the pod was about to be opened.
The pod opened slowly, releasing a soft exhale of pressurized air. Alan and his team remained still as the silhouette appeared.
The Arwien was a woman.
She was of striking and unsettling beauty, eerily close to humanity. Her pale, almost translucent skin seemed to capture the light, giving her an otherworldly glow. Long silver-white hair framed a face of perfect symmetry, every feature sculpted with a precision that seemed almost unnatural. Her crystalline eyes didn’t just reflect ambient light, they seemed to generate their own, shining with an intense, cold brilliance.
Her sleek white bodysuit was made of a remarkably fine synthetic material (both supple and rigid) designed for protection and mobility. Subtle inscriptions adorned her forearms and collar, unknown symbols arranged in orderly patterns, perhaps a signature or identification.
Alan accessed her Specter, and unlike with other extraterrestrials, he found it surprisingly easy to interpret. He detected fear, distress, but also a form of courage and fierce pride. What surprised him most, however, was the emotion of pure surprise, as if she herself had not expected to find herself here, face to face with them.
Without taking his eyes off the Arwien, Alan called out:
“Jennel, come see this.”
Moments later, Jennel entered the airlock. Instantly, the Arwien’s gaze locked onto her and did not waver.
“You see her Specter?” Jennel asked.
Alan nodded.
“I can decipher it.”
Jennel murmured to herself:
“She doesn’t have nanites… How do we communicate?”
She thought for a moment, then gave a clear command:
“AI, display a hologram in the airlock.”
The AI complied. Jennel then described the sequence to display:
-
An image of the Arwien, isolated.
-
An image of Jennel reaching out to hold her hand.
-
A third image, where a Gull held a chain attached to Jennel, pulling her away from the Arwien.
“Loop this sequence.”
The hologram animated, repeating the three images at a steady pace.
The survivor took a few seconds to process the representation. Her gaze shifted from the hologram to Jennel, then back again. A flicker of uncertainty passed through her glowing eyes.
Suddenly, Alan intervened:
“AI, do you know the Arwien language?”
“No.”
Alan gave a bitter smile. He had expected that, having already asked Bubble the same question.
“Do you have a semantic analyzer?”
“Yes.”
He had also expected that. The complexity of alien languages meant that nanite-based communication wasn’t always enough. Between two vastly different species, certain linguistic structures were so distant that an additional translation layer was necessary. The AI had to fulfill this role.
Alan turned to Jennel.
“How do we use it?”
Jennel thought for a moment before answering:
“With time, maybe… But we don’t have time.”
She took a deep breath, then tried a different approach.
“Zirkis.”
No reaction.
“Xi.”
Instantly, the Arwien’s eyes widened in clear surprise.
Alan understood immediately.
“AI, translate our words into Xi.”
Alan then asked:
“Do you speak Xi?”
A moment of silence, then a fragile crystalline voice responded, slightly hesitant:
“Yes, a little.”
Jennel and Alan exchanged a glance. Communication was established.
"Who are you?" the Arwien’s fragile voice continued.
Alan took a breath and replied calmly,
"I am from Earth."
The Arwien fixed her gaze on him before asking in a wary tone,
"Why do you seek our death?"
Alan did not look away.
"We do not want that… but we are forced to by the Gulls."
A heavy silence settled. The Arwien blinked, as if analyzing his words.
"Will I be killed as well?" she finally asked, her voice quieter.
Alan shook his head.
"No. You will be released in your capsule, with a more powerful distress beacon."
The Arwien hesitated.
"Why?"
"Because you are not a threat."
She continued to observe him, then her eyes drifted toward Jennel, who had remained silent.
"Why does your leader say nothing?" she asked, pointing at Jennel.
Jennel raised an eyebrow before replying in a neutral tone,
"I am not the leader."
The Arwien flinched slightly. Her expression showed genuine surprise, followed by a hint of dismay.
Jennel understood what that implied.
And before inviting her back into the capsule, she asked one last question:
"Why has the Imperium not managed to win the war?"
The return journey mirrored the departure. Hyper-quantum transfer. Docking at the spaceport. Return via shuttle.
Bubble was waiting for Jennel and Alan in front of their quarters. As soon as they approached, it greeted them in a neutral yet firm voice.
“Commander, you have violated the rule against taking prisoners.”
Alan stared at it calmly before replying,
“When exactly did you tell me that?”
Bubble paused briefly before admitting,
“This rule was not a priority for this mission, but it is included in your teachings.”
Alan raised an eyebrow and turned to Jennel.
“Did you ever hear about this rule?”
Jennel shook her head, just as surprised as he was.
“No. It certainly wasn’t included in the hypno-teaching.”
Alan looked back at Bubble, feigning contrition.
“Well, now that we know, we’ll make sure to apply this unexpected rule in the future.”
But Bubble didn’t stop there.
“You did not follow the planned strategy.”
Alan crossed his arms and adopted a more serious tone.
“What part of the plan exactly did I ignore?”
“The implicit strategy of the Gull thinking machines.”
Alan smirked.
“Oh. And were we ever told about that?”
Bubble hesitated for a fraction of a second before replying.
“No, but it was inferred from standard engagement parameters.”
Alan turned to Jennel, who was barely suppressing an amused smile.
“Did you realize that we were supposed to guess the ‘implicit’ Gull strategy?”
“Not at all. But apparently, we were expected to figure it out.”
Alan nodded with mock resignation.
“Well, since we failed to read the minds of the thinking machines, was the mission at least carried out correctly?”
Bubble seemed to process for a moment before answering.
“Yes.”
Alan gave it a satisfied smile and, as he closed the door in front of it, said lightly:
“Then everything is just fine.”
Alan had gathered all the Terrans in their Hall and addressed them with the following speech:
“It is crucial to know as much as possible about your enemy in order to be more effective.”
Alan believed this would serve as a justification in the eyes of the Gulls.
He reminded them that the war had begun approximately forty years ago with a brutal conflict. Both sides were left devastated, with the Arwiens successfully halting the Gull advance. However, the Gulls then launched an attack using nanites against several Arwien planets.
“It took time for them to develop and multiply. There was insufficient energy because there were no Selection ships to sustain them. But eventually, they spread and destroyed entire regions, then transported themselves to other planets.”
Alan paused for a moment before adding:
“You know exactly what I’m talking about.”
“Since then, the threat and destruction have only grown. The Arwiens’ efforts have been insufficient. They have only managed to slow the advance of the nanites, but they are also exhausting their war effort against the Gulls. They are preventing a military victory. One that would be inevitable without the nanites.”
He scanned the room.
“This is what we know about the situation of the Arwiens.”