I had often wondered how the Diegitron had failed to defeat the Flesh Harvesters. Sure the Harvesters had numbers, even a small skirmish force would comprise dozens of vessels carrying hundreds of smaller craft. But the Diegiton were powerful. One of them was worth at least five of anything we had. Now I'm starting to get it.

  The Diegiton ship somehow didn't split in half. Tough nuts to crack. That isn't to say it's winning. A third of the Bioship is embedded into its hull. Giant tendrils ripping off chunks and tossing them into the void of space. The Diegiton's main gun is pointed in the opposite direction, unable to dislodge the invader. If this was a Union vessel, or even a Human one, the Secondary arms would be able to rip that parasite in half. Unfortunately, the Diegiton thought that was inefficient. So their point defense is forced to pick up the slack. Not going too well.

  "Caaaptain. The Bioshiiip has launnnched craft. Theeey are heaaading our way."

  "I want all decks on full alert. Raze, get every security team ready for immediate combat."

  "Inquiry:"

  Not now. Busy fixing your mistake.

  "Why are you preparing security teams and not launching fighters?"

  "A handful of fighters couldn't hurt us even with the shields down. The only way that many craft could do anything is with boarding."

  "Rebuttal: Even at max capacity, that many craft could not contain enough Harvesters to take this vessel."

  "No, but it might be enough to kill you. And maybe me."

  I can see its face light up going through the calculations. As if this never even occurred to it.

  "Calculations: The Harvesters are attempting to stop the negotiations."

  "Well look who caught up. Fairy, take slowpoke to the panic room and lock it tight behind you."

  "Right. This way, Ambassador."

  Fairy starts leading the metal moron away. No wonder these guys haven't won yet. Enough firepower in a picket to rival a dreadnaught and yet the battle tactics of an eight year old playing chess for the first time.

  "Sagaci, any idea where those pods are going to land?"

  "Theiiir pattern is strannnge. Jumping annnd shifting. I cannnnot determine wherre they will strrrrike."

  "Any chance we can shoot them down?"

  "Nooone. They are toooo fassst for the Autoooo tarrrgetiiing. Only biiioscannners can see themmm. Toooo much delaaay."

  Great. We only have enough dedicated gunners for about thirty percent of the point defense guns. And the fighter bays are practically unstaffed. Couldn't let the Diegiton guy know about that. What good is having a ship this big if I can't get anything done with it?

  "Inanna, what do we know about Harvester tactics?"

  "Nothing Sir. There are no tactics. Harvesters believe in total numeric superiority and nothing else."

  "Then why are they here with only one ship? Raze, any comment?"

  "Beats me. This is a new one. It doesn't feel like Harvester tactics at all. In fact..."

  "What? What is it?"

  Raze seems deep in thought. Didn't know the dinosaur had it in him.

  "There was a pirate infestation in the Garnish sector. Rackter Mercs were called in to assist. They were using small converted mining vessels to drill into freights and then have their troops rush in to take the vessel. This seems like the same idea."

  "How did you stop them?"

  "Sensors. All it took. The Garnish didn't have strong enough sensors to see them coming. Once our ships were in the region we were able to blow them away before they got close."

  "And the Diegiton couldn't detect the ship. They must have found a way to avoid their sensors. This can't be something new. They must have been working on it for a long time. And then they use it up here. They must really not want these talks to happen."

  "Our sennnsors saw themmm. How can weee seeee what the Diiegitonnn cannot?"

  "I have no idea." Inanna flips through the files. "Their sensors should be leagues above ours. They should be able to detect every single sector in our ship."

  "Wait, they can what?"

  The second I realize the plan it's already too late. The boarding craft form above, charging in a tight mass and bore into the hull. What comes out is a swarm of monsters, flying down like wasps. Security teams open fire. Green splotches fill the sky as some are felled. Yet they keep coming. Flying past the power core, past the command center, and to exactly where I thought they would go.

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

  "They used the Diegiton's sensors to find their target. They are heading to the panic room. We need to move, now!"

  The transport can't move fast enough. From the clear tubing that surrounds us we can see fire filling the air. Auto turrets and security teams take pot shots at the flying vermin. The swarm thins with every few meters crossed. Yet they keep going without care for their fallen. That's the Harvester tenacity everyone has come to fear.

  "Can this thing go any faster?"

  "Captain, it's going at the maximum regulation speed as outlined by the-"

  "Regulate my red ass. Maximum power!"

  Raze slams the controls. Our transport moves twice as fast. I can hear the gears screeching. Either we reach them just in time for a firefight against a numerically superior foe or the transport breaks off the track and we fall fifty stories. Rock and hard place.

  "Sir, thirty seconds to contact. If we last that long."

  "Trust me Inanna, that's never been a problem of mine. What do Harvesters use for combat?"

  "The oldest weapons in all the galaxy. Their own two claws. Only thing I like about them."

  "Admire the genocide ants later Raze. Everyone ready?"

  Their nods and powered rifles are my answer.

  "Good. Contact in three, two, one, Contact!"

  The transport bends as the enhanced speed smashed the front end into its station. Hope I don't have to pay for that. Rushing out, we fortunately don't get swarmed. The Harvesters have B-lined it directly to the Panic room and only taken time to wipe out what little is in their way. Reinforced doors are chewed open and automated turrets lay smashed to bits. Luckily they still did their duty. Harvester corpses line the entire hall. Each one represents a fight I don't have to have.

  Unfortunately, all good things come to an end. The Automated defenses can only be counted to do so much. Of the huge swarm that had first entered, only around a dozen still survive. They have reached the last room. Turrets and sentinel mechanicals scattered in pieces all around. Between their scraps at least twice as many bug bodies. I was hoping we'd get here and find them all finished. Oh well, guess it's do or die time.

  This is the first good look at live Harvesters I've ever had. Uglier than I thought, and they already looked pretty ugly in the pictures. There's a big one with a huge head that's mostly jaw at the front, boring through the reinforced metal door to the panic room. No wonder they made it through all those defenses so fast. Defending their Siege Bug are two different types of more common Harvesters. I recognize these ones from threat assessments. Three of them are what we call Pike Harvesters. Two meters tall and covered in thick Chitin armor. They look like Medieval Knights with an eldritch bug theme. They have two big slashing arms and four smaller arms that help them latch onto walls and prey and a big fanged mouth that injects poison. For each Pike there are two or three Squires. Small and stout, around the size of an eight year old child. They remind me of horse flies, hate those things. They have a lot less armor and only a single blade-like weapon, but they are expert fliers. Even in the tight confines of this room they are zipping about.

  Then there is the leader. We call them Knights. They are similar to the Pikes but with even heavier armor and armored wings that drape like a cape. You'd think they'd be slower but they aren't, quite the opposite in fact. They are fast and flexible with a low cunning about them. Single Knights have reportedly taken out whole squads on their own. A Harvester squadron can have dozens or even hundreds of lesser types but will only have a single Knight leading the charge from the front. And despite always being in the front, they are almost always the last to die.

  As we enter, the Harvesters react. The Knight lets out a bellowing screech, which must have been an order of some kind. The Pikes form up, creating a defensive line between us and the Siege bug. Squires scatter, surrounding us in a buzzing mass. Raze makes the first move. A Laser Rifle has several settings. The lowest will do little more than cause some painful burns. They call that riot control mode. There are several settings above that which are considered lethal each with varying degrees of RPM and penetration to give options against a variety of enemies. Then there is the highest, meant to only be used in emergencies against powerful foes when all other options have failed.

  So of course Raze uses that right away. A beam of hot red energy blasts out of the rifle. The barrel melts and internal systems fry at the intense heat. A Pike is sliced clean in half with a large part of its chest now vapor. Enough energy is left to hit the Siege Bug as well, clipping its side and blowing away where a kidney would be. I don't know Harvester anatomy. Either way, looks painful, as the monster stops chewing to scream.

  The remaining two Pikes charge forward. Raze bats at them with his melted rifle. They keep their distance, just enough to keep from being hit while close enough to capitalize if Raze makes a mistake. I have to hand it to the guy, he's keeping them both just at arms reach. That's where the Squires try to come in. I raise to fire at one charging at his rear, only for Inanna to beat me to it. She's taking those flying pimples out like a pro skeet shooter. I'll leave the hard battles to the bigger races. I need to take out that Siege Bug.

  As I take aim, the Knight gets in my way. Weird, it bit the Siege Bug. There's a bright pink ooze dripping from the wound. And somehow the Siege Bug is back at it, cutting though the door even faster then before. Got to stop this before it's too late. Setting to power level three and fire.

  No good. Even at three that Knight’s armored wings are too tough. Splayed out like a giant shield, it's protecting the Siege Bug. Ordinarily I'd expect the Knight to be fighting tooth and claw at the front. These guys are a lot more clever than most give them credit for. It's saving itself to kill the Diplomat. I could turn up the heat, go to power level five, but even that might not work out. Think I have no choice but to turn this baby to Eleven.

  The rifle quickly starts to overload. The heat rapidly builds. I can see the finer details and etching begin to melt away. I feel the hairs on my hand burn. I'm only going to get one shot, so I have to make it count. I take a deep breath, and fire.

  I don't see the Knight move, the flash of red blinding my eyes makes sure of that, but it does. My beam turns the Siege Bug into spattered guts and ash. Unfortunately, I was too late. The door has been breached. The Knight squeezes through and rushes at the Diegiton. From the other side through a hole I could never fit through, I see the Knight make its move. Fairy stands in the way. Little trooper has guts. Though not much brawn to back it up as the Knight just steps over her. Its target is clear. The diplomat doesn't even try to move out of the way. In a swift, brutal swing, the Knight shoves a spiked claw through its chest. Scattering scraps of metal across the floor.

  Crap. How in the Space Hell am I going to explain this one? Forget being sent back to the boonies, I'll be lucky to not be in a one by one meter block on an asteroid after this. A Diegiton Diplomate died under my... wait. It's not dead! Thank Space Christ. Now maybe I can...

  Why does the Diegiton Diplomat have a gun? Why does the unarmed non combat Diegiton Diplomat have a very big gun sticking out of its arm? Why is it firing that very big gun in my general direct-"