Bad Seed

Chapter18

On Ceti-5, Helene was shown to her room, then almost ignored a fact that she wasn't used to. She decided to explore as she left her room. It was taking a lot for her to get used to the fact that there were females here. Then there was the fact that her sister could do what she did.

She was walking by where the chrysalis room was when she stopped suddenly. What in the hell was that? Looking around she thought she heard something again, tentatively, she stepped into the room.

"Hello?" She said as she slowly walked deeper into the room. She shook her head as she thought she heard something again.

She went around a corner, then stopped when she saw what it was the first master's mate? Staring intensely at the chrysalis.

Yes I know, Helene heard in her head. What was that? I think someone else is here, another voice said.

Rena turned to stare incredulously at Helene, "did you hear that?" Helene could only nod her head.

Rena could only shake her head, there was something special about the females of this family. She nodded her head as a thought came to her.

"Helene? Would you mind if the masters scanned you? It won't hurt, it might even tickle a little bit," Rena said.

Helene thought about it for a few moments, "is it really that important?" Helene asked.

"I believe that it is, you see before now? Only the masters and we, their mates, plus your sister could hear them. Now you say that you are also hearing them? I just want to find out why OK?" Rena asked.

Again Helene stood there, "could I ask Wren?" Helene asked.

"You want to wait that long?" Rena asked.

"Not long. I can barely hear her if I concentrate." Helene sat, then concentrated on Wren. "Wren?"

Wren had just completed working on everything when she heard her sister. "Helene? Are you alright?"

"I'm OK, miss Rena wants to do a scan on me. I heard her and another when she was in the chrysalis room," Helene said.

A portal opened immediately in the room that Wren stepped out of. "I want to be here in case something bad happens," Wren said.

Rena nodded as several masters entered the room. They started immediately to scan Helene, true to what Rena had said, the young female started to giggle, then laugh.

Wren was smiling at this, it was such a beautiful sound to her. A few minutes later, all the masters were staring at Helene.

"Wren, apparently, when you rescued her, keeping her with you, she absorbed some of your energy. According to what we feel, she is close to level three already," the master said.

Wren just nodded her head, not really surprised. "I didn't think that I was the only one in the family. Well, that's good to know," she said.

"It appears when she ran into you last time was when she took it in," Rena said.

"Well, since I am here, perhaps I should get a few more?" Wren asked, then started to the chrysalis room.

She then reached for it, laying her hand on it. Within moments, it and she started to glow. As before, four spots broke off from the chrysalis, though this time they elongated without incident.

All that were there were amazed when they solidified into two males and two females. Wren sighed now they were starting to even out.

So Wren thought they had nineteen females and twenty-three males. She nodded when she saw a reading that the atmosphere of the planet was more than half normal.

With a turn she smiled, "that should help, I hope," Wren said. Rena and a few others looked at the outside readings, their eyes getting large.

"According to this, the outside is almost normal. The cycle should be able to start up soon," Rena said.

"I sure hope so, put too much into this for it to fail," Wren said with a smile. "OK, she said as she opened the portal. "I hope to be back soon, then walked through.

"Alright Trigon, anything new?" Wren asked,

"Yes, master Wren. From all readings, it appears that the Zetcrons have more than doubled their ships. Production is complete for the second set of shatter bombs. The pods have finished with fifty feet more of ship," Trigon said.

"Have you repaired what was malfunctioning with the matter transfer?" Wren asked hopeful.

"Yes, master Wren, I have also managed to drop power consumption by ten percent," Trigon said.

"Very good Trigon," Wren said as she saw that they were about to emerge near the second Zetcron colony.

"Master Wren, I am detecting several very large Meltry ships, high destructive capability," Trigon said.

"Good," Wren smiled almost evilly. "I want all the energy torpedoes armed and ready, go to stealth."

They emerged a moment later with all the ships firing at the portal. Trigon had already released a hundred torpedoes, which quickly took out the ten Meltry ships. She then turned her attention upon the hundreds of Zetcron ships.

This time there were only twenty-five here. Wren smiled it was as she thought. A few minutes later, all onboard, she released a few hundred thermic missiles. An even larger smile came to her face as the fleet vanished quickly.

"To the planet know that this is one of the last princesses of earth. Today, I bring justice and the same mercy that you showed the earth. Launch two shatter bombs. Destroy all ships trying to leave," Wren said.

Wren felt the energy cannons as they destroyed ship after ship. That was 'til the two shatter bombs went off, ripping most of the atmosphere from the planet.

"Alright, the last two," Wren said with a smile as the planet shook, cracked, then shattered.

Wren and Trigon were already in the trans-warp conduit when it exploded.

"I am keeping production going, master Wren. We will need supplies after the next few," Trigon said.

Things went the same at the next colony, though there were no Meltry ships this time.

"Hmmm," Wren said. "It appears that the Meltry are worried now they have lost more than a few ships. Good should make quicker work of the planets."

"It would appear so, master Wren, I have kept the sensors open. Still no sign of their home planet," Trigon said. "I have also been taking what I could from their central computers, nothing yet."

"It will take at least another hour to complete the last two shatter bombs. Then I should have most of the torpedoes and thermic missiles replaced. Shall I drop to hyper-space while we wait?" Trigon asked.

"Yes, we need to be as ready as we can, make sure we have enough when we go in. Try to increase production," Wren said as Trigon dropped to hyper-space.

Wren sighed it was going to be a while, she might as well work on the ship. For the next hour, Wren worked on increasing the power of the energy weapons, the torpedoes and the thermic missiles.

Wren then started to work on the trans-warp. She wanted to make sure that it wouldn't rupture again like it had when she was exposed.

She nodded as she saw that everything was twice as strong. She was also able to extend it to ten minutes thirty seconds. For some reason, it completely destabilized a second after that.

She was surprised that the whole hour still wasn't up. How in the hell had she completed it that fast?

She also checked in on the fifty humans she had still in stasis. Wren was also wondering where her bastard of a brother-in-law had gotten to. There was a thing called death that he was due.

Trigon alerted her that he was starting on the second set of shatter bombs. "Should I go to trans-warp, master Wren?" Trigon asked.

"No, when you are almost complete with the second set, then go to trans-warp," Wren said.

"Also, master Wren, I am detecting a mass exodus from the fourth colony planet," Trigon said.

"I want all those ships tracked. It may be that they are heading to the main planet of the Zetcron. With any luck, they will lead us to where it is," Wren said.

Almost another hour and a half later, Trigon informed Wren that both sets were almost ready. With a smile, Wren ordered Trigon into trans-warp.

Less than a minute later, a portal opened not far from the planet. Wren almost gleefully started to destroy all the ships that were trying to flee the planet. She was almost disappointed that there were no war ships.

Almost a moment later, a massive ship appeared firing on her. Ah! She thought this was more like it!

"Trigon, disable all engines," she said.

Damn, she thought this has some serious power, too bad it belongs to warmongers. She then watched as Trigon took out all four of the engines. That's when the call to surrender started.

"Trigon open a channel to the large ship, my answer is that I will give you the same mercy you gave the earth. Fire torpedoes in one minute increments.

Wren started to laugh in an almost maniacal manner. As a section of ther ship was blown away. She saw several life-boat shuttles leave the ship.

Target all the shuttles, then drop two shatter bombs," Wren ordered. So satisfying she thought, as the atmosphere was nearly ripped away. "Alright, drop the other two then head for the last colony."

"They are away, now opening trans-warp," Trigon said as a portal opened, then they were gone.

"Are you still tracking the ships that left earlier?" Wren asked.

"Yes I am master Wren, they haven't stopped as yet. They seem to be heading for the edge of the galaxy. Star charts aren't showing but three planets there. No indication that they are approaching any of them," Trigon said.

"Good, keep an eye on them. I still feel that they will lead us to the main planet," Wren said.

"Compliance master Wren. The last two shatter bombs are completed, master Wren, nearing capacity of torpedoes and thermic missiles, energy weapons at the ready, generators and engines at full," Trigon said.

"Full stealth, I imagine we are going to have a heavy reception," Wren said.

"One minute 'til exit, I am reading a Meltry battleship awaiting our arrival," Trigon said.

"As soon as we are clear, I want you to launch a hundred torpedoes at the battleship. Are they strong enough to destroy it?" Wren asked.

"Insufficient data to correlate a factual answer. Going by past data, there is a chance though the battleship has better shielding. A hundred torpedoes are a significant force," Trigon said.

Wren watched the missiles fly toward the battleship. For a while it appeared that the ship was too tough. Then near the end of the first hundred, a few got through. They summarily blew a significant hole in the side of it.

"Fire another hundred," Wren ordered. It was about that time that the battleship started to return fire. For the moment, they weren't close to Wren, she just hoped that all the upgrades she made helped.

Wren watched as the second salvo of torpedoes streaked toward the damaged ship. This time almost all struck the side, the entire side of the ship. Wren's face started to smile as even larger holes opened up in the ship.

Wren was even more satisfied as several explosions started on it. At least they had stopped firing.

"How many do we have left?" Wren asked.

"Only twenty-five," Trigon said.

"Alright, target the engines, don't want them to leave," Wren ordered.

"Torpedoes away," Trigon said.

Wren then had Trigon start targeting all the ships that were leaving and defending the planet. Wren was surprised when there was a huge explosion behind the ship. A look back showed that the battleship had broke in half.

"Have you detected any humans here?" Wren asked Trigon.

"Yes, master Wren, just like the last three planets, a total of twenty-five. I already have a lock on them. The extra room will make things better later on," Trigon said.

"I know, though I think I need to add another fifty feet. I feel that the main planet will have more than any of them. No, I am afraid that even room for two hundred might not be enough. Start the growth to accommodate three hundred," Wren said, though she was still unsure.

"I have started the growth on the new section. It will take at least three hours. Hopefully, we won't need more," Trigon said.

"So do I Trigon, do you have them?" Wren asked.

"Yes, master Wren, they are onboard, now preparing shatter bombs," Trigon said.

"Finish off the rest of the ships, I don't want anything to interfere with," Wren was saying then the ship was rocked. Wren started to curse when she saw her brother's ship fly past.

"No damage, the new shields are holding master Wren. Returning fire with energy weapons," Trigon said.

Onboard his ship, Thomas Tygoron was pissed that he hadn't caught up with his bitch of a stepsister. She had even come out of trans-warp; she had gotten a damn good jump on him. He whistled as he passed where the first four Zetcron colonies had been.

He managed to get almost two full minutes out of the new drive. As soon as they came out of the tunnel drive, Thomas's mouth dropped open, shit that was a Meltry heavy battleship. He saw where Wren's ship had to be, firing on the spot.

A laugh escaped his lips as he confirmed he had hit her. Though a groan was soon after, as he saw that she had no damage. What the hell was he going to have to do to kill this bitch?

Wren turned her attention on her brother's ship, she had Trigon fire the energy weapons. She was pissed when they hardly did very much damage.

"What the hell is going on?" Wren asked.

"Master Wren, one of the energy weapon generators has been damaged. We are only at half power with them. The Meltry battleship did more damage than I first detected.

"Do we have enough thermic missiles? Can we finish the job if we fire a few at him?" Wren asked.

"I am afraid that with the energy weapons as weak as they are, we are going to need all that we have. I am attempting to make more, though it will take time," Trigon said.

Wren sighed then nodded, "try the energy weapon again. Maybe we can do some damage," Wren said.

"Firing now, master Wren," Trigon said.

Thomas was smiling, obviously going against the Meltry battleship, had been more than she could handle. Finally, he thought, something had gotten to her.

It was at that moment that he saw her ship fire those beam weapons again. This time his ship shook as the lights started to flicker.

"What in the hell is going on?" He was yelling.

"It appears that even as weak as the beams are, they have overloaded the generators. We are at half power, should we depart?" The alien asked.

"NO! Fire on her. I want her ship disabled, then we can board it. That ship is a technological treasure trough, the things there could make us the strongest ship around," Thomas said, watching the alien's eyes grow large then the greed also grow there.

Wren cursed again as she saw her brother-in-law's ship slowly start to turn, "Fire again!" Wren yelled.

This time the ship went dark after the beams struck the ship. "I am reading that most of the systems are overloaded master Wren. Shall I finish what's left of the Zetcron fleet?" Trigon asked.

"Yes, the sooner we finish here the sooner we can start to look for the main planet," Wren said.

"Compliance master Wren, now firing thermic missiles. I estimate that ninety percent of the fleet is destroyed. Now moving to eliminate the rest," Trigon said as the Zetcron fleet rapidly grew smaller. "Fleet eradicated, now dropping the first two shatter bombs."

Wren watched with satisfaction as the atmosphere was nearly wiped out. 'Reposition and finish this," Wren ordered.

"I have several ships attempting to leave orbit on the other side of the planet," Trigon said. "I am receiving a signal."

"To the war ship, we are medical ships carrying children and sick. Repeat, we are a medical ship," the voice said.

"I will show you the same mercy that you showed the Earth, Trigon fire," Wren said without remorse.

A few moments later, dozens of missiles reached out, reducing the ships to debris.

"Destruction of all departing ships is complete, now moving to drop the last two shatter bombs," Trigon said.

Thomas watched as Wren's ship destroyed everything. They had managed to get the sub-space back up, part of the hyper-drive. Thomas' mouth dropped open in appreciation as he watched the whole sale destruction of the planet.

Hell, he thought, as he put distance between her and his ship. He had them a pretty good distance away when she started in his direction. "I want every weapon we have targeted on her," he said.

She was almost in range when her ship fired a lone missile at them. They tried to hit it, missing greatly, still several weapons managed to strike her shields. The result was that her ship was greatly tossed about.

"Alright, right Trigon, get us out of here. Are we any closer to discovering where the Zetcron home world is yet? Wren asked.

"So far we have narrowed it down to one of two worlds. One of the three they are completely ignoring. As of yet, they have made no move toward either of the two. I will continue to monitor both of them," Trigon said.

Thomas was pissed that they hadn't been able to damage her ship more than they had. How in the hell had she managed to strengthen her defenses and weapons that much? That plus the fact that he could swear that those torpedoes were of Meltry design.

Had she made a deal with them? He hadn't heard anything about her talking to them. He knew that she was extremely smart, though he hadn't thought she was that smart. This new weapon she had would indeed level the playing field. Just the sight of the battered and destroyed Meltry battleship was proof.

He needed to warn his mother. A moment later, he was sending a signal to her.

Esmerelda was still pushing her engineers to upgrade everything that they could. The next time they met she wanted to damage the little bitch's ship. A flashing light alerted to the fact Thomas was calling.

As she sat in her throne chair in her room, she saw Thomas' stressed face. "What has happened?" She asked.

"I haven't heard of her talking to the Meltry, but the bitch has Meltry torpedoes. Plus the fact that they are far more powerful than I have ever seen them," Thomas said.

"Why do you say that?" Esmerelda asked.

Thomas changed to the scans he'd done on the huge field of debris. "That," came Thomas' voice. "Is all that is left of a Meltry battleship that went against her. I am reading no less than a hundred Meltry type torpedoes, high yield. My new shields against her thermic missiles, against these? No chance."

Esmerelda's eyes went large, then she nodded that was indeed a hell of a lot more power than she'd seen before. "I have our engineers working on stronger shields, though right now they are barely twice as strong. It appears she'd shred those. I am sending you the new configuration, keep trying to kill her between both of us, we should succeed."

Esmerelda looked at all the data that her son had sent her. Damnit! How was the little bitch improving everything as fast as she was? At this rate, the fleet wasn't going to be able to keep up. At the present time, this new weapon made her far more deadly.

A shake of her head, she had better warn the last strong ally that they had. God, she hated talking to that pompous windbag.

"Emperor Piton, I bring you news from the Zetcron colonies or, rather, where they were," Esmerelda said.

"News? What news?" The emperor asked.

"The defeat of one of your battleships," Esmerelda said as she showed the emperor the pictures that Thomas had sent.

As she thought, the emperor's face turned blood red as he started to yell.

"I want the entire fleet on alert, we will destroy this enemy. No one destroys our ships and survives long," he yelled.