S.W.A.T. (book 2 of the hexology in seven parts)
Chapter 3: Space Zombies to the Rescue

The sleek craft rose from the surface of Rhea. And flashed as its metallic hull caught the faint sun’s rays, mirrored by the glistening rings surrounding Saturn. Its path took a textbook arc, ready for its journey to Earth. That was when Watch Station thirty-two, orbiting Titan noticed the craft’s ping on its radar. “This is watch station thirty-two, please identify your self.” The officer of the watch demanded, over the airwaves. There was a faint hiss, then a cracked reply emitting for his speaker. “This is research vessel Kappa Two Delta, on rout for Earth, over.” The officer checked the identity against his list of known vessels. It checked out, “O.K. enjoy your trip.” There was a crackle but no reply. “Ignorant scientists”, the officer swore.

But just then his attention was drawn from the radio, as he noticed the second radar. The reply had not come from the vessel, but from Rhea itself. “Come in vessel Kappa two Delta, what is your security code?” There was no reply, but on the screen he saw the errant ship suddenly take a direct rout towards the rings of the planet. He slammed his hand down on a red button, and over the loud siren now ringing in his ears, he heard the pilots of the sleek death ships. As they announced their launch cries, “Let slip the dogs of war.”

The two hawks of space shot like arrows, on a course for their prey. They were almost within firing range, when the target changed course. It dived in to the icy river flowing round Saturn, mere seconds away from electric death. Cursing the pilots changed direction too. But each time they tried to catch this mouse of the sky, their prey seemed to be some ware else. It was as if their target was playing a game of cosmic chess with them, and knew every move they might make long before even they could anticipate it. Finally the attack craft had to admit defeat, and headed back metaphorically scratching their heads as to where the vessel had got.

Meanwhile on the opposite side of the planet, a bright streak heralded a craft jumping to light speed. Kappa Two Delta shot off towards Earth. The pilot of that craft, captain Frederick Crombie drooled with anticipation. Mind you he drooled at all times, so it was no indication of his mood. Soon he would cure Earth of its terrible affliction, if only he could get back to home planet.

Back in the twenty-fifth century mankind had finally decided to put and end to war, strife and conflict. The only problem was that no one knew how. So a space laboratory was set up on Rhea, a moon orbiting Saturn. It was far enough away not to be affected by man’s constant struggle to do the next man in. Yet Saturn was near enough for any help mankind had, to come back and save it. Finally the captain managed to reach the hyper drive control, to slow his craft down. He had worked out the precise time to slow the craft, just enough to reach Mars and not over shoot it. It was a task normally left to a computer, but the captain’s increased mental capacity was easily up to the job.

This was due to the Telepathan virus, which not only made the computer unnecessary, but impractical. As the entire crew had been infected with the cure of mankind. The Telepathan virus as its name suggests, gave the infected subject a deep and vivid insight in to another infected mind. Like radios freely communicating, and so given such a view of their fellow humans. No one could really attack, or even hold any animosity to another being. But it did have side effects. For although it did increase vastly the subject’s mental capacity, on the down side this switching of the bodies resources to a more mental state. Left the rest of the body starved of the neural impulses. Like a country pulling in its resources in to the main city. In short captain Crombie staggered about in a zombie like state, barely able to raise an intelligible syllable.

True he could freely communicate with the rest of his crew, and even in their present state, they could work the ship just as efficiently. Given their ability to think faster, and so anticipate the slowness of their reactions. It was just when something new came up. “There might be problems” the captain considered in an instant, when Mars base came in to view. “I’m sure you’ll be able to deal with it”, came the reassuring reply. And captain Crombie slowly tilted his head down, towards the twitching mass of fur that sat at his feet. Rex had been the faithful companion to the captain for many a mission, but it was only after he too had been infected, that his dog could voice the unspoken trust and affection he held for his master. At last all species would live in harmony, with the lion lying down with the lamb. Captain Crombie moved his hand slowly over to a button on his desk, and a digital message was transmitted to Mars control. This is what it said. “This is a message from captain Crombie, late out of Rhea research station. We are on a humanitarian mission headed to Earth, requesting safe passage past Mars. Due to a malfunction with our communications array, this is the only way to communicate.”

“That should give the desired effect”, thought the captain as he patted his dog with infinite patience. There was a crackle on the radio, and an officer’s voice came over the airwaves. “Communication received, but we really must board you to do security checks, respond please.” The captain instantly relayed the message to his crew with a command to “take evasive action and repel boarders. They must not suspect our state, until the right moment. Or we will fail in our mission to save Humanity.” Captain Crombie still had a trick or two up his sleeve. “Activate key pad control, chief engineer Smethwick”, the captain relayed mentally. And he moved his hand down to a pad on his chair. It was pre programmed for certain maneuvers, and had been utilized to good effect to avoid the attack ships near Saturn. But this time captain Crombie had other plans for this device.

The larger patrol craft of Mars control was getting closer. He just had to evade them for a little while, but he knew they would dog his every maneuver. The captain punched the first key, and his craft did a complicated maneuver intended to both make it impossible for an enemy craft to dock, and look like a gyrostabilizer was out. The Martians pulled away screaming over the radio. “What are you guys playing at, you nearly took a chunk out of us.” A prerecorded message was sent out as part of the maneuver. “Sorry, our gyro stabilizers are faulty. Docking could be dangerous.” But before the captain could punch the next button, the Martians had recovered. And the net of power dragged his craft into the clutches of Martian dominion. The Mars security vessel locked its clamps on to the main airlock. Blue sparks flew through the chamber, as the attack crew cut there way in. Then with a resounding clang, the door fell in. As the smoke cleared, the huddle of heavily armed troops edged their way through the still glowing hole. It was only when the last of the wedge of troops had entered the now useless airlock, that security officer Velich pressed the button on his harness, suspending him from the ceiling. And with pinpoint accuracy, he fell on the last man’s exposed neck, biting down on the bare flesh.

The man staggered forward with the blow, and instantly threw up over his fellow invaders. Partly from the shock of having a zombie fall on him, but mostly because the scientists who developed the Telepathon virus, had engineered this reaction for a more efficient mechanism to spread the virus. Within seconds all the troops had become members of the new order. And then captain Crombie welcomed them in to the fold. With an about turn, the troops set off back in to the attacking craft. And with the element of surprise, to counter their vastly reduced combat ability. They soon brought the rest of the Martian crew round to their way of thinking. The Martian ship’s captain entered his security code, and the two vessels now locked together passed safely on their way. Next stop Earth.

The vacuum of space made little difference to the strange conglomeration of the two craft, as it surged to light speed again. Captain Crombie had made sure their course was true, so when these saviors of Humanity came to a halt, it was very close to Star base one. The orbiting way station that served Earth, as both a stepping-stone to the stars, and its final line of defense. It could call up on a vast array of sensor satellites orbiting the planet, and housed just as an impressive number of star fighters. Ready to unleash electric death at any invaders.

But the commander of the base, along with his observation deck crew, had got quite a disturbing message. For captain Crombie had timed his arrival to be just seconds after the message from Mars base telling of the zombie attack. The Earth’s defenses were understandably at the height of panic. Especially as captain Crombie had opened his video link to hale the station, giving them a good view of his best grimace. Ships poured out of the star base intent on dispatching these horrors from beyond, before any zombies could get near. Just then the Martian ship broke away at full speed, scattering the attacking ships like flies. Recklessly it careered in through the command centers window. All communications, between the defense forces were lost.

In the confusion, the Earth’s last line of defense descended on captain Crombie’s ship. Which was now headed towards the dawn side of the planet. He didn’t stand much of a chance. And shot after shot rained down on his vessel. Until even the debris and corpses that orbited the home world, were little but some flotsam and jetsam. To be consumed by fire, if they drifted down in to the atmosphere.

But on the dark side of the planet, an escape pod was descending to Earth, unseen in all the confusion. Some time later, a dog stumbled from the wreck, and jerkily made its way in to the brush.

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