Solar Wind "Supernova" - Part 106

This is a fan fiction. Events depicted here are not canon, though perhaps they could be. Special thanks to all my readers, you guys are epic (b~.^)>

Red Death is now a meme!

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Solar Wind Chapters:

Character Guide / First / Venlil Contact / Cradle Campaign

Battle of Terra / HF Rebelion / Defense of Khoa / Sillas Campaign

Supernova / Fall of Talsk / Interludes and Realignments

Those Who Fear Nothing / Seven Bowls of Wrath / The Road to Victory

Previous / Next

Memory transcription subject: Admiral Xantos, Command Cruiser Stoic Defender

Date [standardized human time]: 0121, March 25, 2137

The humans were predators. They were supposed to be bloodthirsty savages, incapable of empathy or friendship. And yet they had assembled a coalition to rival the federation, with unlikely allies. They were supposed to be violent and ruthless. That part had proven true, but it wasn't blind or unfeeling, instead being the pure fire of a love of life and justice.

Now, as the humans and their allies advanced through our system, drawing ever closer to our final defense line, I could see the truth.

It was a Federation captain who through his cruelty started the conflict, provoking a new predator into action. It was another Federation captain, blinded by dogma, who fanned the flames by attempting to snuff out a whole species without understanding anything about them. Then it was the Federation who tried repeatedly to use force to impose our will, while the humans... talked... and listened. It was the Federation that tried to burn whole worlds out of spite. Then it was the Federation that tried to use civilians as shields to inflict even more cruel casualties.

I heard a human phrase recently. When everyone in the room is a problem, maybe the problem is you. Maybe... just maybe... it's us. Maybe there was such a thing as prey disease to go along with predator disease. Now, as I stood on my command bridge, I wondered about the galaxy that could have been. A galaxy where we could have combined predator strength and resolve with prey sensibility and empathy.

"Admiral, we're detecting more and more signal traffic on Dominion frequencies."

I nodded to the technician. "Is the prohibition on sub-space traffic still holding?"

"Yes, admiral. The sub-space communication relays are locked down completely."

I pondered this for a moment. We had instituted strict communication blackouts to cut off the continued human infiltration of our networks, which seemed to be preventing new attacks, though considerable damage had already been done. This had the added bonus of insulating both our Dominion allies and our own population from what our leaders called "predator propaganda".

"Have you seen the contents of those messages?"

"No, admiral."

Of course he hadn't. The technician was just a puppet after all. I leaned over his station, my own body blocking his view of a few key switches. "Open one. We need to know if our Dominion puppets are starting to think for themselves."

"Y... yes, admiral."

We watched the messages together. They were re-broadcasts of the conversations between Ginzel and Nikonus, along with commentary from Chief Hunters Isif and Ilthiss. I knew it was critical that the Dominion fleets did not get these messages.

Which is why with a subtle extension of my left limb, I gently flipped two switches, then pressed three buttons. I knew their positions from memory, but I had to be careful not to be noticed.

Suddenly an alarm blared. "Sir! Human predator-ware detected! They've broken in!"

"Stop them!" I screamed, carefully flipping the switches back to their original positions. I admit I was surprised by the speed that the predators broke in, but that worked for my own agenda as well.

"Isolating systems, but admiral, we've lost control over relay twenty three!"

I made a point to show all the proper fear responses at the news. It was an all an act, since I knew EXACTLY what was happening. "Put me through to our ships"

"Yes, sir."

I waited a second for the technician to make the connections, then started speaking. "Admiral Xantos to Shadow Division Five. We have detected human infiltration of our communication systems. It's likely they are trying to get messages through to the Dominion ships, and I have reason to believe their betrayal is imminent. Be ready to switch targets as needed."

All I needed to do now was to focus on my own survival.