Chapter 172: In the Background

Chapter 172: In the Background

(A few weeks ago)

“What in the four manifestations of God’s will have you presented me with?” a grey and black patterned face with a central mouth ringed by four eyes laughed.

“Can you make it or not?” Jessica Morgan chuckled at her screen, already knowing the answer.

“Sure, how many million do you want?” the strange visage on her OLED screen replied, “But what is it? I mean, I know what it is but not what it is. My engineers have a pool running.”

“You mean you don’t know?” Jessica smirked, “Oh, that’s right. You never got this far. You guys watched the Juon invasion of your world on cathode-ray tubes.”

“Which is why we’re pretty sure we know what this bit is for,” the weird xeno replied, pointing at a diagram in front of him. “Is it some kind of weapon? Because it wouldn’t be a very good one.”

“Actually,” Jessica replied, “It can be an excellent weapon, but you’re right. That’s not its primary application. We’re reviving a bit of ancient history to save a buck and, far more importantly, a great deal of time and resources.”

“Is it related to this other thing?” the figure asked as another diagram appeared. “Now this one we know, but why do you need gyroscopes of this size and power? The overall scale of the two components seems to be compatible, though. Are they part of a larger assembly?”

“That they are,” Jessica replied.

“Would you be interested in what you call a ‘turn-key’ arrangement? I’m certain we can build whatever these are involved in quite quickly and reasonably.”

“Op-sec,” Jessica replied, “And I have quite the large workforce at the minute, even if they are shrinking by the fucking day that I need to utilize. It’s getting ugly and even The Penitent are having problems maintaining order. A project, even a forced one, will focus their anger and dispel the helplessness destroying my people faster than the plague.”

“You’re using infected workers on this project?” the creature asked in surprise. “Aren’t you worried about contamination?”

“It isn’t a concern for these,” Jessica replied grimly.

“Very well,” the creature smiled, “We will start expedited production immediately.”

“Great!” Jessica enthused with a smile, “Now, Horace (his ‘human’ name – His real one is just not happening), those flywheels have to be exactly to spec. They are going to be (heh) flying.”

“Has anything I have ever supplied not been ‘exactly to spec’?”

“Yeah, but these flywheels kind of freak me out.”

“This is why I like humans,” Horace replied, “You actually know what is dangerous. Do not worry, Jessica, they will be perfect... well... as perfect as they need to be.”

“I look forward to their expedited delivery,” Jessica said as she sipped a cold cup of tea.

“They will be,” Horace replied, “I have no other customers currently engaging in hostilities. The entire workforce is aware of your situation and... (sigh)... Our prayers are with you, as will be our efforts. You will have... whatever in the insatiable void this is, to spec, as fast as we can provide them.”

“Thank you, Horace,” Jessica replied.

“So... What is it? Please, Jessica, I just have to know.”

“You’re a smart cookie,” Jessica smiled, “figure it out or just watch the news after delivery. We are going to field these as soon as we get those... Oops. I almost let the cat out of the bag... Those components.”

“Bah,” Horace chuckled, “I guess we will just have to wait.”

Jessica just smiled.

“When you see them in use, you will recognize them. The sooner we get them, the sooner you will have your mystery solved. Take care, Horace.”

“You too, Jessica,” Horace replied. “Oh, before we end this transmission, the Empress has closed the border to Federation space in order to protect our human population... However, if any of your ships happen to enter our system, they would be resupplied and refueled before being politely asked to leave the Empire.”

“I will keep that in mind, Horace,” Jessica replied, “That truly means a lot to me, however...”

Her eyes gleamed dangerously.

“Our plans have changed. While I am still evacuating people as quickly as possible, I am no longer abandoning Raylesh. I am going to save all of my people. I... I abandoned humanity once, and I will not do it again. I am staying right here until every single one of my people is either dead, cured, or evacuated... We need those components, Horace.”

“Are you insane?!?” Horace exclaimed, “Even you can’t hope to stand against the focused might of the Federation. You’ve pushed your luck far too hard as it is. Jessica...”

“I’ve made my decision, Horace.” Jessica smiled. “I will stand and fight right here, on this world, with my feet on the ground! I am not tucking tail and fleeing into space, abandoning my nation, my world, ever again! If the Federation comes, they will face the full fury of humanity... and they will lose.”

Horace pulled himself upright and flipped open a knife with one of his many limbs.

He cut another.

“Then the Ukk&v##@ Corporation pledges a blood oath. We shall stand with you. Whatever you need... wherever you need it... no matter the risk... Just tell us what you require, and you will receive it. T8*Vril~~!%kth VA!... Your blood, our products... Fight with God itself at your side.”

Jessica scoffed.

“God doesn’t take my calls anymore, Horace.”

“Perhaps he will take mine and those of the people you protect.”

“...”

Jessica decided not to get into it. Horace could believe whatever he wanted as long as she got those components.

“Thank you, Horace,” she replied.

***

(Last Week)

“Hello?” a bright, cheerful voice asked as a bright pink slug’s face appeared on Jessica’s screen. “Oh! Hi there!”

“Hello, Karashel,” Jessica smiled as she sipped a freshly refilled cup.

“What’s up?”

Gordon turned to her, eyes full of tears.

“If you aren’t abandoning these people because you can’t bear to... then I can’t either... Please, if you care about me at all, let me stay.”

“Of course, I care about you!” Jessica exclaimed, “I... I... I love you.”

“You do?”

Jessica looked at him with open, vulnerable eyes.

“I do, Gordon... I...”

She choked up.

“Well... if you love me...” Gordon said slyly as he magically produced a set of big fluffy neko ears.

Jessica just burst into laughter... and reached for the ears.

***

(Today)

Every radio, holovid, computer, and public address system on Raylesh and Zaran switched on if it wasn’t on already.

Across every radio and on every open hyperspatial band echoing across the galaxy, Jessica Morgan’s voice suddenly spoke.

People of Raylesh...

As you all know, we are facing the darkest days since The Sol Wars...

We are testing people as fast as we can, and loading ship after ship as quickly as possible...

That you know...

What you do not know... Is that I will not be on one of them...

I am staying right here until the end. I am remaining WITH YOU until the LAST person is either cured, evacuated, or dead...

This is our HOME... And you are MY PEOPLE... We WILL hold Raylesh, and we WILL save each and every one of you... or DIE in the attempt...

We have been running for over a hundred years...

My people... we are DONE running... IF we leave Raylesh, it will be an orderly evacuation, not fleeing in terror, abandoning BILLIONS out of cowardice... And if you board a ship, know that it will NOT be your final home... I WILL either save this world, or I will TEAR out the HEART of this universe and give that to YOU... MY PEOPLE!...

To those who would seek the end of my people... who seek the end of ME...

HERE I AM, MOTHERFUCKERS!!! I am right here, on Raylesh. If you want me, come and get me. I will NOT abandon my people EVER AGAIN!

Across Raylesh, a stunned silence fell...

And for the first time since the nightmare started, people could be seen smiling.

Some even cheered... or coughed... or gurgled...

There wasn’t much you could count on in this galaxy, but if the Devil made a promise...

She kept it.

For the first time in what felt like forever...

There was hope.

***

In the Republic, many also smiled, some ruefully, some wickedly. The general consensus was, “Well, the Federation is about to find out why we hate those fuckers.” usually followed by a grin.

“OG’s” started to tell stories of the final blood-soaked days of the Sol Wars, the last time the Porkies were backed against the wall, the last time the Devil stopped running, some smiling about it for the first time. They had lost family to the Federation a lot more recently than they did to those bastards.

If anyone deserved those animals, it was them. Good riddance to the lot. Hope they kill each other... But if you could squeeze the truth out of any of those vicious, ancient fuckers, you might be surprised who many of them were secretly rooting for.

New Vegas, Monte Carlo, and most other such places started taking bets on how long the Federation was going to survive...

...with very, very few people betting that they would win, even with the very generous odds.

Johnny and every other arms dealer just sighed and reached for their phones once again...

Maybe there was a source that hadn’t been tapped yet.

***

Capital City’s reaction was a bit less pleased.

Karashel undulated out of her office and listened to the angry murmurs.

She smiled to herself as she made her way to a conference room where the councilors for the Gvorta and two other species awaited, getting angrier by the minute.

Councilor Una was also there, trying to look annoyed and play along, mostly trying not to pass out or give anything away.

She looked at her communicator.

One thing you could say about Jessica, she was punctual.

Karashel liked that.