Body Snatchers
Author's Note:
The title of the
contest was 'vessel' and the host was talking about ships, planes, and even
vehicles. I just decided to drive mine differently.
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We have identified
the final enemy vessel to be used but we did not bargain for the resistance
from the vessel's current crew. It took us more time to subdue and take over
the vessel. Then there was the period to learn the workings of the vessel's
components. But my squad is trained for such missions and we overcome the enemy
vessel's defenses including its core command. It took us a long time to
understand the workings of the enemy vessel and the needed adjustment for our
use. This is not our first vessel hijacked to date but this one gave us the
most resistance, but we completed the task before the set time frame.
The next stage of
the insertion was to move the vessel to the quadrant where it's most effective.
This is the most difficult part of the mission as it involved working behind
enemy lines. The quadrant we are looking to insert in the fleet command center
and is patrolled by many vessels of different makes and sizes. But our hijacked
vessel has the security clearance to get us past all the security protocols.
Soon we were moving to the target area. There have been several unconfirmed
vessels moving among us as we stood in the quadrant. It's difficult to tell
which of these vessels could be friendly or hostile as we have not established
any communication protocols with the other squads so we need to make contact or
alert each other.
Our mission was
given by High Command is based on stealth and it's of utmost importance we are
to take command of an enemy vessel to retrieve the crucial data on the
defenses. Once that is completed we are to do the needed extraction without
alerting the enemy. The invasion fleet needs our information so that they can
know the best approach. This is a mission of utmost importance and it will reclaim
our glory from the disastrous invasion of Exeter Four where the lack of
information caused the demise of two million of our warriors. Since then the
intelligence sector has been very careful to ensure all new invasions are to
the highest level of information before we embark on it. This planet was
selected as it has the correct environment and it has an abundance of vessels that
we can use.
But with our
ingenuity and determination, we managed to reach our prime objective with the help
of the hijacked vessel; the central database server. Our final objective is now
within a hand touch away but the final works we need to do would be difficult.
We have to park our vessel among the rest of the enemy vessels in their fleet
command home. Our vessel was given clearance to dock in one of the bays. We did
as per instruction and we extended the download cable. Thanks to our tools, the
download took only a short time and I just received confirmation that we have
done the needed and all information has being downloaded to our vessel. But
before we could move. we have an intrusion of a nearby vessel. I initiated
stealth mode on our presence so that the sensors cannot pick us up, I was
relieved that the other vessel was recalled to the other Quadrant and we are safe
to move again. I instructed that the vessel be moved at a normal speed as not
to attract any attention from the nearby vessels.
The movement of
the vessel was sluggish indicating there is some compensation needed to be done
on the vessel engine. I re-do the calibration and it worked now. But we caught
the attention of another bigger vessel nearby and I need to send the vocal
command that the vessel is fine but unsteady. I was surprised that the vessel
we were in communication with was the Mothership. It would have been a good
bonus for us to hijacked that vessel but it's too risky at this stage of the
operation. The Mothership was still concerned about our performance to transmit
a signal for us to retire to Base for repairs. I acknowledged the command and
move the vessel out of the quadrant.
Soon, we berthed
at the Home Base and the vessel was docked in a stationary position. I
instructed the shutdown of all the essential services and told the squad to
stand down. I was soon to find that was a good command as another vessel approached
to intercept us. This vessel looks like a repair unit and it was checking our
hull for any breakage. Then it moved to do a scan on the inner compartments.
The squad has moved to their sedentary mode so the sensors cannot pick them up
as hostiles. I also shut down the neurons in the command center to a minimum to
avoid any detection. The Repair Vessel tried to hail us on the open channels
but we ignored the responses. It soon left our berth area to check on other vessels
in the area.
It was much later
when the alert woke me up and I activated the neuron sensory functions. All
systems confirmed working fine and we are operational. I initiated instructions
to move the vessel forth from the berth while my other squad members checked
their instruments. All gauges and levers are working but there seems to be some
fault in the middle section. It's routine maintenance that can be worked on
soon enough. I sighted the required docking bay and moved the vessel there.
Upon docking at the bay, we opened the cargo doors to dropped the unwanted
waste. It's a prerequisite of this vessel as it's been designed to do in a certain
period or its pressure built-up will damaged the gauges. Once we have cleared
the docking procedure, I have the vessel moved out of the quadrant but we bumped
into the repair vessel again. This time the repair vessel halted us in our
journey to query us on our next destination. I had to use my authority to
override that query and proceeded to ignore the repair vessel. My refusal was
met with hail from the Repair Vessel to return to my berth but I ignored the
command.
I instructed the
engine room to move up the speed of the vessel to a higher level and hoping
that I can outdistance the Repair Vessel. It was a wrong move as it attracted
the rest of the fleet which was all around us. I saw the opening in the
Quadrant and went for it. But I did not expect the onslaught that hit the rear
section of the vessel. The blow came from the nearby vessel which landed its blast
on the rear hull of the vessel. It was to result in some damages but not
crippling. However, it disabled the sensory function there causing the vessel
we are on to stall in the speed. The next blow came to the middle section expanding
more ballast air out of the midsection and causing some internal leakage. I was
getting reports of hydraulic leakages and major cables severed. I had to
compensate or this vessel will be redundant. I trigger off the self-defense
mechanism which reacted by blocking the next incoming barrage on the observation
deck.
The next action of
the vessel was to gain some time and distance, so the long-range defenses went
into action. The impact on the enemy vessel caused it to withdraw and we were
able to withdraw in time to have an assessment of the damages. We now regaining
more control back on the vessel but I need to expedite some quick moves. I
initiated a broadside barrage on the nearest enemy vessel causing it to crash
into another stationary vessel. I then sped out towards my original doorway to
leave the Quadrant. But the path was blocked by another enemy vessel which I
had to strike to disabled the enemy vessel to a sunken condition. My sensors
picked up signs of dangerous enemy life support there but I am beyond any
concern now except for my mission.
More alerts coming
and telling us we are still in conflict with another new vessel arrival. The new
vessel has a long-range metal projectile weapon that had penetrated the outer
hull in the upper middle section and piercing some of the vital life supports
components. The vessel which we are in called for evasive action and to move
the vessel out of the battle area. It's a slight respite of time as the enemy
vessel is still encroaching in. I called for damage reports and the results are
not conclusive. That means our vessel's ability to function in another similar
attack could be compromised. I have no choice but to move the vessel onto a new
quadrant of space. There is a window space in front and we jumped into the opened
port without any routine calculations. But it worked as we landed on solid
ground and the vessel is still able to move despite the long jump, but the
damages it incurred are causing it to slow down.
There I called for
the sighting on new vessels to takeover which the one we are on is going to collapse.
Observation report in of one vessel nearby but it's smaller in size but should
be able to accommodate the five of us. I initiated the shutdown of the current
vessel and prepare the evacuation. On my cue, the life pods were assigned to
all five of us and we were ejected out on the proximity of the new vessel.
The assimilation
process is done; we are into the new vessel and I initiated stealth action as
with our new vessel we are still vulnerable to attacks from the enemy. All five
of us are in our sections and we move the vessel away. I can help to ask the
observation deck to give me a sight of the previous vessel. It has served us
well, and for the last five earth cycles of day and night, it has given great insight
into the workings of the human defenses. But sadly we are found out by their
highly intelligent counterparts who sniffed us out.
Goodbye, Hauptmann
Richter. You have served us well as our vessel and despite your resistance, your
mind is no challenge to ours as we are the incorporeal species that rides on
vessels like yours to survive. My squad commands all your five senses while I control
your mind. Soon we will be leaving your planet with our findings but we will be
back. Your kind is an ideal host for us to migrate to as you have all the
qualities we needed. But the first order of our conquest will be the
extermination of all your canines as they are too inquisitive for our purpose.
Blame not me for your death, as Sparky your so-called dog was the one who
alerted the others to our existence. But now we inhibit another and we will be
safe again.
Commander, we have
a situation. I asked for the report.
The current vessel
is of a similar design and although it has the necessary neurons this one looks
very weak in its workings. The squad also find difficulty controlling the
components of the vessels due to internal damages. I called for a scan of other
vessels to be evacuated but the reply I have was the surrounding vessels are
all of the same design and in the current weak state. We seemed to have moved
to a new fleet of similar sizes in ships. But from our observation deck, we can
see that the new fleet is guarded by several bigger vessels like the one we
just left. But all efforts to evacuate there will be very difficult and is
futile now. I saw a sign that needed to be deciphered to understand our current
position. The result I had was alarming. The vessel designation is STG1234 and
we are in the process of being moved into a chamber.
"Hurry up. Your
execution is imminent. The Gas Chamber awaits you."
No, it' can't be.
How did we get
into this vessel that is going to be exterminated? Initiate evacuation now. I
will be damned. But we can't move out of the current fleet as we are being
pushed by the larger vessel towards the large vacuum chamber. Observation deck
reports of reading this line.
Gas Kammer No.5'
Gas Chamber No.5
....... It’s my fragging decision to inhibit the vessel that would be sent to
the Gas Chamber.
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