Theres only one reason they could have been motivated by, Commander Kilsh, said the analyst officer, they didnt want to kill us. This conclusion is consistent with the content of their message, which they continue to broadcast cyclically on common frequencies.
What are the odds that all this is true?
Its the propaganda of the humans! Its a fake! Didnt you get that right away, Commander Kilsh? The officer-Surveillant shouted with annoyance.
We have analyzed the recording, the analyst reported, ignoring this emotional statement, We compared the time of captivity of our soldiers and officers who appear in this message with the time of the likely activation of their mental blocks, and weve run the sound stream and the video series through a special program to compare voice, mimics, style and language to the samples we have. The on board computer did not detect any alterations. The video series was also not edited. The probability of counterfeiting is less than ten percent.
Too late. Its too late anyway, the Сommander of orbital defence said grimly.
Whats too late, Commander Kilsh? asked the officer-Surveillant in an insinuating tone. After the complete disappearance of Commander Yashs strike fleet, the Surveillants became an integral part of the warships crews, and their powers were sufficient, even at the level of major units and fleets, to overrule commanders of any rank.
You, too, have undergone a recent update of the block, Officer Lins? The Commander asked the Surveillant indifferently.
Of course, there was a challenge in Lins voice, and what does it matter?
Now it doesnt matter anymore, responded Kilsh seeming outwardly imperturbable and turned to his officers, Light forces, form a barrier in front of the battleships and cruisers.
Kilsh knew this maneuver was useless. If the human torpedo salvo has casually removed the veil of fighters and scanners, what can the corvettes and destroyers do against a new attack, except needlessly to perish? But the Commander just couldnt do nothing. Had it not been for the renewed block in his head, he would have already given the order to end the useless resistance, especially since he was eager to believe the fairy tale humans were broadcasting on his ships. Kilsh was sick and tired of this senseless war
The alarm has interrupted the Commanders reflections.
Enemy torpedo attack, tactical officer shouted, our light forces are under attack! Enemy torpedoes have breached the barrier!
Open the barrage fire, impassively commanded Kilsh, knowing full well that it would do little. The flagships hull shuddered from frequent hits. These strikes were not strong the second wave of enemy torpedoes knocked out anti-aircraft emplacements on the battleships hull, clearing the way for the main attackers, who also were not long in coming.
Damage report, demanded Kilsh when the ships shakings stopped.
Major caliber cannons and anti-aircraft systems destroyed. Space scanning efficiency 20 percent. The hull is breached in three places, but the damage only affected the outer sections. Damage to the propulsion system is being investigated. Four crew members were slightly injured.
Make contact with the squadrons ships, requested the Commander. Having listened to the reports of the commanders of the ships and having given the necessary orders, Kilsh made a gesture to turn off the communication and fell hard into his chair set up in the center of the command post opposite the tactical hologram. He wouldnt be able to call this a battle. Not a single ship of the squadron has been destroyed. Even the corvettes, which would have been annihilated by a single torpedo in a normal combat, have survived the attack of the enemy, but the squadron could no longer continue the battle only a few guns were able to fire, the ships were not able to move, the aiming-navigation systems failed, constantly losing their targets. The humans did not shoot, although main batteries of their battleships could easily reach any ship of the squadron.
Commander Kilsh, do you intend to command the battle? The voice of the Surveillant has broken the silence set in the command post of the flagship.
Do you see the slightest opportunity to continue the fight, Officer Lins? The squadron Commander has turned to the Surveillant.
I dont have to explain to you, Commander, that the enemy is about to board. Why dont you give the order to prepare to repel it?!
Because therell be no boarding, Kilsh calmly answered.
Do you want to give up? hissed Lins, You probably forgot that the new block will kill you the first time you try anything!
I didnt forget it, answered Kilsh looking him straight into the eyes, but it doesnt change anything.
Im relieving you of command of the squadron, former Commander Kilsh! squealed Lins.
Not this time, Surveillant.
No one at the command post noticed how a gun appeared in the Commanders hand. Kilsh was a big fan of hand-held personal weaponry and was good with it, and now his staff officers, who were well aware of the Commanders passion, have been able to make sure of that once again. The dry crackle of the shot sounded especially loudly in the instant silence, and the Surveillant, with a neat hole in his forehead, collapsed into his chair, from which he had jumped a minute earlier.
Establish communication with the enemy fleet, ordered the Сommander in an ice-cold voice, lowering his hand with the gun, but not putting it in his holster.
But the tactical officers face was affected by a misunderstanding, but what about the block, Commander
Do it! barked Kilsh. His face was skewed. The Сommander almost felt death coming. Something was going on in his head, confusing his thoughts and clouding his consciousness. Then the pain came.
So this is how a death order algorithm works when youre on the verge of doing a prohibited act, the thought ran through Kilshs mind, but he drove it away, trying to keep his consciousness lucid. So far, hes been able to do that.
* * *
I watched silently on the tactical projection as our torpedoes struck the battleships and cruisers after forcing their way through the nominal light forces shield deployed by the enemy in front of the heavy ships. In fact, I saw nothing new. It was very similar to what happened during the attack on the orbital fortresses.
Why dont they give up? Fulton was clearly perplexed, After all, our message worked out so well near star Ran, and now its even more convincing.
It means that something has changed, I told the Admiral, dont underestimate the enemy, they couldnt help reacting to the complete disappearance of their strike fleet. If the fleet had died in battle, someone would have survived. There are some reconnaissance ships that are not directly involved in a battle, and that have good camouflage capabilities. Several such ships would have left the system and reported the defeat to their commands. But for the top leadership of the quargs, their armada simply vanished without a trace, which led them to believe that the Fleet ended its resistance on the orders of the commander, who no one dared disobey.
Call from enemy flagship! Liaison officer shouted and, without waiting for orders, activated the channel.
A strange picture appeared before us on the projection screen. The cameras field of view appeared to have been specifically enlarged, so weve seen the entire command post of the enemy flagship. The first thing that caught our eyes was the corpse of a quarg in the uniform of Surveillants, lying in a chair with a hole in his forehead. In the center, right in front of the camera, stood a quarg with a pistol in his lowered hand, his face was twisted in pain. The other officers were in their seats at the consoles and they were watching us, too.