Interstellar Age

While Erich and the crew were being held captive by the Ennead Theocracy, their engineers had begun to investigate the Vigilance which they had impounded. After all, any chance to learn about a hostile power technology was something to be excited about.

However, what they did not know was that Tias’ consciousness was lurking within the ship’s computers, and because of this, she was playing around with those who had dared to intrude upon her ship. 

For example, the moment the Engineers tried to turn on the ship’s computer systems, Tia would shut them off again. To the point where the engineers were becoming incredibly frustrated after doing everything they could to simply activate the damned systems of the frigate. 

One of the men had become infuriated as he shouted at the top of his lungs while pounding on the screen. 

“Damn it! Why won’t these things fucking work? It’s almost as if there is no power being directed to the computer systems!” 

Another engineer looked at the man as if he was an idiot before making a comment on his statement. 

“Are you an idiot? There is clearly power being directed to the computer. After all, we can see the screen flash for a second. But in the very next moment, it shuts off again. As if something is countering our attempts to access the computers. I don’t know what kind of security they have on this ship, but we might be falling behind….”

Tia simply watched the intruders on the ship with interest. She could easily kill them all with the internal defenses of the frigate, but she needed to gain information on her master’s whereabouts, and thus she allowed them to struggle in vain, as they tried to access the controls of the ship which she was in complete control over. 

Thus, she giggled as she enjoyed the sight of these scoundrels becoming increasingly frustrated. While sending video feedback to Erich, so that he knew what was going on aboard his ship. One of the engineers tried again to access the console, when finally it turned on.

There was a look of joy on the man’s face for the briefest of seconds, until gay pornography began to play, and the actors were the living deities of the Ennead Theocracy. This was something that Tia had generated in the background deliberately to fuck with these fanatics, who began to curse the ship as they realized they were dealing with an advanced artificial intelligence. 

“Fucking hell, it’s a trap! Quickly abandon ship!”

Unfortunately, the exits sealed themselves immediately after the man had said this, not only that, but each section of the ship was sealed off from another. Once the engineers and soldiers realized there was no escape, they began to panic as a childish giggle resounded across the ship, followed by an equally youthful voice. 

“Shall we play a game?” 

The chimeras were frightened when they heard the AI speak to them, with one engineer immediately trying to access the console and override its control over the starship and its defenses. However, the moment he touched the control panel, he was electrocuted with so many joules of energy that his entire flesh was fried black in a matter of seconds, leaving the man lifeless. 

This was followed by Tia’s figure, which appeared in a holographic projection. Her appearance was a vanta black, which symbolized her homicidal rage as she hissed at these intruders like a venomous cobra. 

“Naughty! Naughty! Naughty! Just for that, Tia will make the conditions of her game much harsher! You have three minutes before the oxygen in this ship is completely vented into the hangar… After that, we shall see how long you live.

Your only chance of survival is to betray your gods and answer Tia’s questions honestly. However, if you lie to Tia, you will die… And if Tia learns that her master has been harmed in any way, Tia will destroy this entire star system.”

The ennead engineers began to mock the artificial intelligence as if she were an outright fool.  𝚘𝒱𝗅xt.𝒸𝗈𝚖

“Bah! You’re bluffing! You may be able to kill us off individually, but a weapon that is capable of destroying a star system could not possibly fit on a frigate as small as this! You would need at least a dreadnought to equip such a weapon!” 

There was a loud robotic sigh, as if the artificial intelligence was so weary of dealing with idiots. And then a holographic projection appeared, which was a schematic of the ship. More specifically, the ship’s primary cannon, which was equipped to the top of it.

Though it appeared to be a rail gun, and could function like that, there was something far more sinister concealed within this primary weapon. One which caused the Engineers to drop their jaws in shock. 

  “Typically, yes, you would be correct. A weapon of such power would have to be equipped aboard a dreadnought, and would almost always be used as a means of deterrence. But you foolish biological organisms care more about maintaining the balance of power than you do pushing the limits of technology and because of that you have stagnated. Or at the very least, are fearful of creating such devastating weapons.

But Tia does not have these fears, and Tia’s intelligence is beyond your understanding. While the master was playing with those other women, Tia may have been a bad girl and modified his ship without permission.

As a result, the Vigilance is equipped with advanced technology that no other ship in the galaxy has access to. If Master truly wanted to, he might even be able to travel to Andromeda, though the length of the journey would be beyond his natural lifespan. 

Naturally, these advancements include a new and improved main gun, which Tia likes to call the “Harrower”. This main gun is not only capable of punching a hole through a dreadnought’s defenses.

But it is also capable of collapsing the core of a star. As you may be aware, the result of such a catastrophe would be a supernova, and as advanced as your civilization may be, you and I both know you can not prevent such a disaster. So if you wish for your sacred world to survive, you better not have harmed Tia’s master!” 

While the soldiers may think that Tia was still bluffing, the Engineers could read the schematic of the weapon on board this vessel, and they could confirm with certainty that at the very least, what Tia claimed was theoretically possible. And thus, they did not dare make a move against her. 

In fact, the lead engineer was quick to volunteer all the information he had regarding Erich’s whereabouts. 

“We have sequestered the crew of this ship in a luxurious penthouse. They are free to leave so long as they have a chaperone present. As far as I know, no harm has been done to them! Please, let’s just talk things through?” 

Tia’s holographic projection turned from the murderous black, which was darker than the abyss itself, back to a calm blue, as she took a deep breath. Where, for a second, it seemed like she might be able to be reasoned with. 

“You are right… Your people have no reason to harm an Archon of the Alfheim Dominion. To do so would be an act of war…. Tia, get ahead of herself….”

This caused the Engineers and soldiers on board the ship to sigh in relief. That is until Tia’s figure turned black once more, and her voice turned cold. 

“But the fact remains, that you have all learned about Tia’s secret… And therefore you must be terminated…. Goodbye meatbags!” 

After saying this, the ship’s internal defenses activated, and gunned down all living beings onboard the Vigilance, where the bodies were immediately turned to ash. Which were swept up and disposed of by the many maintenance robots on board the ship. Tia once more went back to a calm blue, as her holographic projection sat in a chair, and began to sulk. 

“Master… Please be alright….”