Chapter 149: (The War) (2/2)

”Does anyone have any idea why there would be Terran combat cyborgs inside a survey probe?” a scientist asked.

”Perhaps they pilot it? Perhaps they do not trust their virtual intelligences to scout a system?” a technician suggested.

The lights flickered for a second and Dorno'ot made a mental note to lecture the technicians about ensuring the laboratories received proper power at all times.

”There is very little shielding within the probe. Perhaps they can't trust their computer systems?” another scientist asked.

The lights suddenly flashed, strobing, and loud sounds came from the speakers and over everyone's headset inside their suit.

”OOOOH! ARE YOU READY, KIDS?” blared from the speakers.

Dorno'ot gasped as the warborgs suddenly moved, their eyes flashing to dark red.

”I CAN'T HEAR YOU!” blared over the speakers.

The warborgs smoothly jumped out of the large probe, their massive feet thudding against the floor of the laboratory.

”I SAID: ARE YOU READY, KIDS!” roared out.

The warborgs reached into the probes, ripping the bottom away, and revealing heavy weapons.

Half of the blocks suddenly dissolved into black dust which began to turn into black mist. The blocks turned out to have small four legged robots that immediately ran for the doors. Other blocks suddenly dissolved, revealing small mantis figures in armor, complete with helmets, carrying small rifles with tiny missile launchers on their backs. The rest of the blocks dissolved to show massive four legged robots that stood up, deploying weapons from their backs.

”OH, WHO LIVES ON A PLANET AND IS TOTALLY FUCKED?” roared the voice.

The massive warborgs lifted up the weapons, the barrels suddenly starting to spin. The little mantids jumped off the tables. One of them crouched down and fired his missile launcher at the armaglass that protected the System Most Highs, the glass exploding inward to show the panicking Most Highs. The small four legged robots touched the door and oozed through the doors. The big four legged ones engaged laser sights, panning the green dots all over the technicians and scientists in the room. One jumped, with a warborg, through the shattered window, a backhand from one of the warborgs sending a Secbeing clattering to the ground.

” LA-NAK-TAL-LAN SCIEN-TISTS!” the speakers roared.

Every Lanaktallan in the room screamed as their urinary catheters and rectal waste plugs suddenly and violently withdrew and then slammed back into place.

Every scientist and technician went down on their knees.

”IN TROUBLE OUTGUNNED AND TOTALLY SCREWED ARE THEY!” roared the voice.

There was gabbling over the coms. Reports of kinetic energy weapons being fired from stealthed platforms streaking down out of the sky to blot military bases off the planet. Shoals of missiles suddenly going live and making their final attack runs on the anchored warships outside of the stations. The entire computer network failing. Lanaktallans screaming as their armor systems suddenly went haywire.

All six of Dorno'ot's eyes were crossed as the catheter and waste plug repeated the action twice more, making him lean forward as he screamed in pain.

The communications net went down as one of the warborgs slowly walked over in front of Dorno'ot, using the barrel of the heavy cannon it was effortlessly holding to lift his chin.

”Wow. That really worked?” the warborg's voice was heavily synthesized but this one had a definite female 'feel' to Dorno'ot. The warborg looked down, her eyes dull red, and shook her head. ”I mean, really?”

”You cannot win,” Dorno'ot managed to groan. ”The military forces here...”

”Are gone,” the warborg said. ”We moved in satellites under stealth a week ago. We launched those missiles from outside the resonance zone before we even launched the probe array. Already heavy metal is moving into the system and taking possession of the orbitals,” the warborg lifted and lowered its shoulders. ”It's over.”

Dorno'ot could only stare with hate at the warborg towering over him.

Their deceit knew no bounds.

But Dorno'ot knew that the Terrans would eventually fall before the might of the Lanaktallan people. They had ruled for tens of millions of years and nothing had ever so much as slightly challenged them since the hated Mantids had been destroyed.

Which made the tiny Mantid, clad in armor, that moved over to the warborg, flashing icons and emojis over its head, all that rage inducing.

”I wouldn't. 653 would blow your head clean off with that little rifle,” the warborg sneered, tapping the front of Dorno'ot's visor with the barrel of the heavy cannon. ”You know what?”

”What?” Dorno'ot managed to grate out.

”You should be glad. We decided to take possession of this system, rip its secrets out with our bare hands, and let all of you live that survive the invasion,” the warborg said, still staring down.

The little mantid flashed an emoji of a face with its tongue sticking out and Dorno'ot wished he was in less pain so he could reach out and smash it. The Mantid flashed a smiley-face emoji and lifted the rifle, pointing it at Dorno'ot's face. A little wisp of vapor wafted from the barrel.

”Yeah, he'd blow your head open,” the warborg said.

”Man, are these guys dumb,” the voice said through the speakers, the volume turned down to a reasonable level. ”There's nothing past single entry logins, they don't even ask for a password half the time. No security beyond basic firewalls. Hell, the skriptkitty team is already at their mainframe and pretty much own it.”

”Good. Any problems in the cities?” the warborg asked.

”Naw. We just triggered the emergency broadcast system, told them there was a radiation leak and to go home. They just filed right home,” the speakers said. ”Right now I just sent them all emails telling them that it's mandated by the System Most High, who's passcode just happened to be 'passcode', that they take an IQ test. I figure that oughta keep them busy for a day or two.”

The warborg looked back down at Dorno'ot. ”We've got the main operations center under control. Go ahead and signal the fleet to move in.”

There was a pause for a moment.

”Activate Agent Smith. I want to know what they know.”