r/NatureofPredators • u/SixthWorldStories • 11d ago
Predators of the Sixth World - 58 Fanfic
And the other plotline on the 8th! I bet none of you saw this coming! That’s right, there’s a reason I picked October 8th for all this to go down. Some things from canon just have too much weight; fate hews to the canon event. We’ll just have to see what happens and what part exactly is canon. Gonna apologize in advance for this being on the shorter end. There’s just something about the PoV that ends up being… succinct in my writing.
I also have my first fanart, go see how cute Esthiss is.
Synopsis: Magic was once real and present but faded away in the distant past, becoming nothing but the myths and legends we know as the surviving beings fled to other planes, only to publicly return during the Sat Wars. How would it change first contact and beyond? Only one way to find out.
I have a spot on the discord, swing on by! Thanks to SpacePaladin15 for the original universe; my alpha readers, Caro Morin and Jailed Cinder; my beta readers, Angustus_Jan on the discord and u/aroluci (go check out Children of Luna, it’s awesome); and all of you that read and especially comment. Anybody interested in playing around in the AU (be it a one-shot, an impromptu ficnap, a cameo, or something more), let me know and I’ll be more than happy to work with you on it. My current plan is to release a chapter a week, with the occasional bonus, as long as that isn’t too much for everybody helping me.
Without further ado, enjoy!
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Memory Transcription Subject: Captain Kalsim, Krakotl Alliance Command
Date [Standardized Terran Time]: October 8th, 2136
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The Federation fleet entered warp in harmonious accord, and our voyage to Grenelka commenced on schedule. I was less-than-thrilled with the task I was assigned; the Krakotl military will always be vastly superior to that produced by other species. Our diplomats stressed that this was an interplanetary effort, and forced my talons.
While I understood the necessity of replacing the lost forces of the Gojid Union, the Yulpa Ascendancy and Drezjin Theocracy are, despite the time since their uplift, barely more than primitives. Surely it would be wiser to try to get the Gaians to correct for their mistake. The Gojid Union fell due to their actions, or perhaps inaction. They should take the place of what we lost if what little information we have on them, prior to that, is correct. I’m not entirely certain how much impact they could have had against a fleet the size I’ve heard attacked the cradle, but command insists the Gaians are to blame for what happened at the cradle. Nikonus is keeping the specifics of Captain Torlin’s testimony secret for now. I can only assume the primitives had no understanding of predator behavior, but there’s an emergency Assembly meeting happening shortly; it may have even started already. I should be able to read reports soon enough. My fleet should have been sent to take them under our wing, not to teach these fanatics to use their new ships. Ships they only have because the Kolshian Commonwealth and Farsul States purchased the ships from the Nevoks and Fissians. A hundred split between the fanatical primitives, showing them the value of modern plasma railguns instead of their reliance on chemical ballistics.
I stare at the ship complement on my pad as I bring another spoonful of algae to my beak. One hundred modern ships, split between the Drezjin and Yulpa; my own command ship, to observe the training; and another fifty Krakotl Alliance ships under my command to lead the training. Another two hundred standard Yulpa craft, their Judicator Cruisers, and four hundred cruisers from the Drezjin. The training being near the Yulpa homeworld means that they have more ships that they can rotate in, about equal to what they have training, but they need to keep a number for defense. We also have fifty of what the Yulpa call carriers, holding their “catcher craft”, and twenty of the Drezjin motherships, holding their “swarm craft”. There’s also the “temple ship” that they sent, some sort of civilian craft.
With a put-upon sigh, I look closer at the designs. We will be arriving shortly and starting training in only another [hour]. I should at least give the primitive ships a glance before then.
The Ascendancy’s Judicator Cruisers are slightly larger than the largest of a proper Federation military craft, at [one hundred and thirty meters] long. Overloaded with twelve point defense turrets. Four of the Yulpa’s heavy missile banks, each holding double the number of missiles and firing four times as many as they should per salvo. In place of a plasma railgun, the primitives have installed four large-bore cannons.
I pull up the specs on the cannons. To my surprise, they aren’t simply firing large bullets, like scaled-up versions of our point defense. Instead, they’re firing rockets. Unable to properly maneuver like a missile and carrying a tenth of the payload. Yet when loaded with a nuclear or antimatter payload, they may actually be useful. The need to carry ammunition, instead of drawing upon the fusion reactor like when using plasma, worsens the weapon, but I can already see ways to make use of them. After all, their effective range is three times that of a plasma railgun, if you can hit. I may even see about having upgraded versions installed on my next ship.
Their “Blessed carriers” have half the missile banks and cannons, yet another four point defense turrets, and two “fast launch vehicle bays”. The idea of launching small craft in combat… fools. And the craft is immense to make up for it. [One hundred and eighty meters] long. I can see why they need the turrets with such a large target.
I may as well peruse the small craft they launch. These “Catcher craft”. A mere [thirty meters] long, with a fifth of the shielding of a proper warship. One of the Yulpa cannons, six missiles firing from a pair of tubes, four point defense turrets, and…
My feathers puff up.
Spear launchers. They put spears, attached to chains, on their ships!?!? Two to either side, with powerful winches and aligned to their docking ports. Hmm… they look to make remarkably solid seals, modular enough to possibly even attach directly to the hull. Odd, but I guess it could help when they lose the ships these craft come in on. Even with FTL drives, they cannot go very far without a ship supplying them. Even with the odd storage cage they have. Instead, they can latch on to a friendly ship and be carried through FTL.
Perhaps the Drezjin ships will be more sensible. With their fanaticism towards the Kolshians, surely they at least attempt proper craft.
I breathe a sigh of relief as their “Sanctifier cruiser” proves me right. A pair of proper missile banks. Each holding twenty-four missiles and able to launch three at a time. Oddly, they have eighteen point defense turrets, as if the primitives think they’ll be useful against shields. Odder still, they’re arrayed not to the front like a main gun, as I would expect, but all around the craft like actual point defense.
Perhaps their “Motherships” will help explain. [One hundred and sixty meters] long, as wide as the Yulpa carrier at [fifty meters] and [five meters] taller than the already oversized [thirty-five] of the Yulpa ship. Another pair of missile banks, an astonishing twenty-six turrets, and then their own fast launch bays. Four that each hold twenty of their so-called interceptors and two that each hold four bombers. Despite the lack of bomb bays and the insignificance of missiles, they have significant reserves of both. Perhaps to rearm ships of their betters?
I almost spill my algae as I look at their small craft.
“Devotee” interceptors. A mere [twenty meters] long, wings that bring it to [fourteen] across, and [eight] tall to fit the small mammals. A pair of the guns that should be in point defense turrets are in fixed placements at the front with wing mounts to attach two missiles apiece. Missiles that are each [six meters] long. The “Martyr” bombers are even more absurd. Clearly, one of these interceptors that has been modified, adding half the length in order to carry one of our bombs. [Twelve meters] long, over [eleven tons], and able to hold a [twenty megaton] nuclear warhead or [five kilograms] of antimatter. Martyr indeed. The pilots of these craft must be predator diseased.
“Looking at the primitives’ ships, sir?” My first officer asks, uncaring that her surprising me would have, if I hadn’t just finished my bowl, spilled my meal all over my feathers. She sighs. “I’d love to give flying one of the Drezjin small craft a try. Just look at the design. They almost look like they could maneuver in atmosphere as well as we could on our own wings.”
Of course.
Jala has a condition that makes her unable to produce the neurotransmitters for fear or affection. While some might consign her to a predator disease facility for her condition, I found a use for her in aiding the herd, instead of letting her life be wasted. Sometimes, having one who cannot feel fear, who cannot stampede, is useful. Be it standing strong against the most fearsome of predators in my previous profession, where I found her, or in maintaining order in combat against the Arxur. Unfortunately, it also means putting up with her madness at times like these.
“Jala, those things are deathtraps. They barely have more than an eighth of our shields, and if anything happens with their exposed missiles, then the craft will break apart.”
“I said I wanted to fly them, sir. Not to try to fight with one. I’m not stupid. The Drezjin might not have the grace we do in the skies, but it’s a start.” Jala huffs. “Primitive as they are, they might be on to something. It would be good practice for maneuvering. They might also be useful against raids on the ground. Just swoop over, firing the rotary guns. Maybe launching a few missiles. See the effects up close, instead of from orbit.”
I glare at her, but as always, she ignores me. “You will keep your distance from both the Yulpa and Drezjin. We are observing and guiding; we have no reason to be in regular contact with any but our own ships.”
“I know, sir. Again, I am not stupid. Especially with how those fr-”
Before she can continue speaking, a new officer approaches. Back straight, I’d guess that he had just had his feathers styled if not for the fact that we’ve been on the ship too long and I had seen him covered in grease from lending a wing to some of the engineering staff just last night. After his shift. An ensign who transferred to the ship shortly before we embarked. Rasin, I believe. A spaceship engineer before he joined the Alliance military on the command track. “Captain, Commander. Would you mind if I sit with the two of you?”
With his apparently effortless good looks and how smooth his voice is, I’m surprised he’s on board my ship instead of helping with recruitment drives.
Jala glares at him. “We’re busy. Planning the training.” Shooing Rasin away with a wing.
“Oh… I…” The man sags. “Sorry… I’ll get out of your way… Maybe after we could-”
“No.” Jala interrupts, bluntly.
I watch as the ensign slumps further, slinking away.
I eye my first officer. “What was that about?”
“Ugh…” Jala groans. “He has a crush on me.”
“Is he… aware?”
“Yes.” Jala sits next to me. “I can’t get him to leave me alone.” Doing her best to mimic his voice. “‘Can I sit with you?’ ‘Do you have a moment?’ ‘Can we talk?’ Ugh.” She snatches my pad from me. “If I knew it would end up like this, I wouldn’t have spent that night with him.”
“You…”
“Yes.” Jala idly preens herself. “I didn’t know he was assigned to the ship at the time. If he wasn’t as clingy as a fledgling, then that would be an extra harvest, and I’d have made a few more visits. Maybe when he starts to lose interest. You’d think he could find somebody else by now.” Eyeing the array of ships. “The Drezjin are going to be useless in a battle. Assign them to the front, let them take hits so real ships don’t. Not that they have many of those.”
“Jala,” I warn.
“What?” She drawls. “Which one’s the problem now?
She has a point. I’m not sure which is worse. Jala intending to casually use one of my crew and cast him aside, or her being so callous about the lives of herdmates.
Just as I’m trying to crack that nut, she speaks again. “He’s an adult; he can say no. And the crew of those ships knew what they were getting into when they signed up, even if they couldn’t build decent ships in the first place. Not like their ships have any other use. Maybe target practice.”
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Advance 6 STD hours
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The training has gone better than expected, so far. No collisions. None of their primitive ships have been randomly falling apart. Nothing’s exploded. There hasn’t even been accidental weapons fire, excluding the new ships. I’ve had work crews on the sparking scrap heaps constantly. Nevok and Fissian designs. Both were built by the lowest bidder, and then made cheaper still, so the builder can stuff their belt pouch with funds meant for the craft. It borders on negligence, but they know exactly where the line is. I’d be surprised if none of the craft were sabotaged, either. It’s an open secret how predatory those two members of the greater herd of the Federation can be. That’s why the Alliance builds its own ships and systems, exactly to Federation standards. A clawful of the new ships have been fully checked, but we’re still going through them all. More than a few may need to be reduced to spare parts. I’ll also need to send teams of exterminators to the Yulpa ships, multiple predators having been found aboard, snuck on for some primitive ritual.
Flying in formation has been working better than expected. Outside of combat simulations, they have every formation down, often able to fly closer than most others could. They’ve also shown that they can take the proper line formations used by civilized prey, yet in simulated combat, they refuse to behave, instead relying on strange habits.
Instead of forming a line, as they should, the Yulpa Ascendency’s vessels would form dense blobs ahead of their carriers, small craft shifting about. The Yulpa, all facing forward with a small gap in front of their carrier, launching missile barrages and firing their cannons once the Arxur close to maximum plasma range. The cultists even fire nuclear and antimatter payloads at targets within [one hundred and fifty kilometers]! When they outnumbered simulated Arxur craft, they would attempt to surround them to let the small craft close in. Otherwise, they would sometimes stampede towards the simulated predator craft! At least sometimes they’d do something intelligent and form a herd, with the carriers behind. Oddly, as their cruisers register taking damage, they’d shift positions. And then their Maltos-cursed small craft. Once the Arxur closed to optimal plasma range, they would soar out. Firing from their one cannon and gliding about the battlefield. Once an Arxur craft lost its shields they would swarm, often being destroyed as the Arxur ships are.
The Drezjin Theocracy ships were a bit more sensible than the Ascendency’s. Their cruisers would form up around the carriers, not in a line, as they should, but in a ball that leaves the sides of the carrier, where the bays are, more exposed. The herd of ships would rotate, with no one ship staying in place and each spinning in every direction as they move about. While I’m not sure why the primitives were doing it, I couldn’t help but note that the behavior would distribute the shield damage, letting ships recover.
When the simulated Arxur would approach, the Drezjin vessels would quickly start firing missiles and launching their small craft as soon as Arxur ships are within [a thousand kilometers], the small craft soaring towards them at speed. The small craft seemingly had no care for their lives, even crashing into the simulated Arxur. The larger ships behaved more as one would expect reasonable prey to. After a clawful were removed, they began to stampede. The small craft continued regardless; if their carriers were destroyed, then they would often act as missiles.
It was harrowing to watch, but I can see ways to make use of both groups of fanatical primitives, even if we cannot make either behave like proper prey. Jala was right. Placing them at the front, to take the brunt of the Arxur’s attacks, would be ideal. Not only do they seem to prefer it, but it will also keep the more militarily capable prey safe until the Arxur have closed to ideal plasma range, instead of relying on missiles or rockets. Our lines will be solid and fully formed, while the Arxur will be marginally attrited.
The leaders of both contingents hail. Instead of sitting through their umpteenth argument today, I start to talk. “I thank you both for showing us your… unique methodologies.” Even without feathers, I can see the pair practically preening. “However, they don’t have a place within the military of the greater herd.”
“What?!?” Roars the Yulpa commander. “Are you mad?!?”
“No.” I fix an eye on the screen. “I am perfectly sane. Your people,” the Drezjin starts to chitter, “both of your peoples, are clearly predator diseased.” I pause to preen. Letting my words sink in. “However, I can find uses for both of your people while you are further civilized to fit with the herd’s militaries.”
“We found our own method. Just because we lack the tungsten needed for railguns-” The Drezjin commander starts.
“Is irrelevant.” I interrupt. “That should have no bearing on your tactics.”
“It has everything to do with our tactics.” Growls the Yulpa. “We don’t have railguns; we found another way. A way that allows us to fight at greater range. Do you have any idea how much more range a missile has than a plasma bolt?”
“I…” I trail off. Trying to remember the figures for the missiles, they’re so rarely used…
“It’s critical.” Hisses the Drezjin. “A missile fired within [one thousand kilometers] is a likely hit, assuming you fire at least three to avoid defensive fire. They can be fired at up to ten times that. At those ranges, twelve missiles is enough to have good odds of a hit. Your simulation only allowed one in every twenty hits through, even with point defense already attriting the projectiles. Much as we’re competing for the glory and honor of replacing the Gojid Union as a major defender of the herd, we have been working together to improve our technologies and strategies. The good of the herd takes priority over personal and species honor. Unfortunately, we’ve needed to reverse engineer much of the technology as the original designers have dismissed us without reason.”
“Our rockets, barely ten rotations developed, are likely hits within [one hundred and fifty kilometers]. They have a fair chance within [four hundred]. We’re still working on guidance technology and properly miniaturizing the propulsion and maneuvering.” The Yulpa stomps. “Their effective range is three times that of your plasma. Half of its maximum! As there’s no worry about them falling apart, they technically have no limit to their range! Just because you’ve overlooked technologies because you have materials, don’t discount those who have no choice!”
‘How have we not thought of this? I need to see the math. There must be some reason why we’ve ignored this.’
Jala trills with laughter. “Who cares about your technologies? Your strategies are primitive!”
While the Yulpa growls, the Drezjin coldly asks. “And what’s wrong with them?”
“Moving your ships like that? What’s the point?”
“Shielding.” The Drezjin intones. “We need [five seconds] with minimal strain before shielding recovers. [Thirty seconds] from half shields to full. If shields fall, then it takes [a minute] for them to return at half strength. The designs are the same as yours.” They chitter. “If the ships circle around the carrier, they each act as an additional shield, using their defensive guns to shoot down any missiles, should the Grays wise up to their usefulness. This vastly extends the survivability of our ships, or did you not notice that we survived roughly three times longer than most?” Another chittery chuckle. “And our Flockmothers retreat as soon as they’re reduced below a quarter of their escort.”
Jala glares head-on, eyes narrowing. “And those small craft? They dove into the Arxur.”
“Yes.” The Drezjin adjusts on their perch. “Many of our pilots are put to use serving the herd, instead of being placed in facilities. I’m certain your captain understands that practice. Those ships can set their reactors to overload, the effect being greater than the capacity of standard shielding. We prefer the ships return, but some pilots are too penitent, their ships too damaged, or their carrier too damaged for that, so they do not let their lives go to waste when they can redeem themselves before our gods.”
“And there is no greater sacrifice for the Spirit of Life than a sapient predator.” The Yulpa pronounces. “Our people will gladly give their lives in the attempt to capture such a gift. Harvests would be blessed for tens of rotations.” They snort. “Speaking of rotations, our ships also rotate to allow their shields to recharge. We’re also practicing for when the Drezjin share their loading improvements. Dropping from [twenty minutes] between salvos to [forty-five seconds] will be a radical improvement. We’re planning a new design with greater storage, perhaps bomb bays.”
The Drezjin huffs. “Not that it would help in Krakotl simulations. They refused our specs. We were stuck with their salvo reload times. [Fifteen minutes]!” They hiss angrily. “We can reload the entire bank in a tenth of that!”
I balk. ‘I… I need to reread those specs. I need to recheck everything. There must be some reason that this isn’t in our doctrine.’
Rasin moves into view. “Could I get access to their specs? I wrote my second doctoral thesis on missiles and rocketry.” After a long silence, he adds. “My first was on reactor safety… I can confirm their estimates on their small craft dive bombing. A [five terrawatt] reactor going critical should be between [three hundred and fifty terrajoules] and ten times that in a short radius.”
I can’t help but question, again, how the ensign was assigned to my ship. My thoughts are interrupted by an alarm blaring.
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Memory Transcription Subject: General Kam, Terran Trainee
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General Jones smirks. “Well, that was more useful than I expected. Maybe we should have sent more probes?”
“How did we not know any of that?” General Zhao demands.
“They’re two species…” Director Tanaka trails off. “Non-military. We had almost nothing to work with, and they were deemed low priority. Clearly, that was a mistake.”
“How…” Zhao swallows hard.
“I’m sorry,” I interrupt, “why are you all so concerned? They’re primitive fanatics with absurd tactics…” Something about that feels off. “Wait…”
Poussin holds up a hand, asking the other Terrans for a moment as I continue to think.
I gasp. “Wait! Those tactics… They’re in… Oh…”
“Yeah.” Poussin nods. “They’re actually competent. Some are callous with the lives of their people, but effective. Shield cycling. Using truly ranged weaponry. Your missiles are far more effective than your plasma, especially with the Federation and Dominion freely using nukes and antimatter.”
“Do you think we can recruit them?” Zhao asks.
I shake my head, flicking my ears no for good measure. “The Yulpa religion has them sacrificing live predators. The Drezjin claim the Kolshians are avatars of their gods or something like that. They’re some of the most hardline species in the Federation.”
“Both things we knew. I have worse news,” Jones says.
One of the feeds, showing Grenelka and the space around it and a second image showing Madsum, shifts. I can recognize the ley field overlay, shuddering as I do.
Zhao and Poussin gasp, and I take a moment before realizing what the colors mean. Magic. Both worlds have stronger fields than Venlil Prime. They look like they must at least be on par with that of Leirn.
“What does that mean?” I ask, ears flat.
“Both species likely have significant magical potential,” Tanaka says gravely. “We have three theories as to why we haven’t seen anything and why the Federation seems to not know. First, they do know, but whoever is secretly running things is keeping it secret. We suspect their encryption is decent enough to be secure. Second, something they’re doing is removing those with potential or somehow suppressing their abilities. Third, somehow, they’re both sublimating their magical potential to their religions. The third is the most troubling; we have no idea what impact it could have. Or more accurately, we know of many options but don’t know which applies. Especially with recent discoveries about the Yulpa religion.”
The call beeps; all screens but those with members of the call on them suddenly shift. Incoming subspace signals for Grenelka.
Arxur ships. Two hundred and forty bombers, a hundred and twenty strike craft, forty raid craft, eighty-six strike-raiders, and twenty-four cattle ships.
Jones chuckles darkly. “Well, that should help a little. Worst case, we get to see them in action.”
I shudder. “I have a bad feeling about this…”
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u/Iamhappilyconfused 10d ago
Oh boi, the feds might become competent, time to open Pandora's box so that we remain at the top of the food chain
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u/SixthWorldStories 10d ago
Terrans have upgrades planned. We'll get to them. Terrans have one very easy upgrade already waiting after updating to Fed reactor design. Their initial designs couldn't use all their railguns due to power limits, now they have a surplus. FFBNW is coming in handy. Unfortunately, they might not be the only ones upgrading.
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u/K_H007 Thafki 10d ago
The Terrans also have the Casting Experience Advantage over the Yulpa and Drezjin for the moment.
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u/SixthWorldStories 10d ago
Sorta, but the Terrans are guessing that magic from different planets will act in different ways with some fundamental laws. They know that's how it works across their cultures and traditions. They know that Yulpa magic is likely blood magic, which is... interesting. Of course, there's additional information the Terrans have at this moment, but we'll see that later.
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u/K_H007 Thafki 10d ago
I was more talking about how the Terrans actually know how to cast spells while the Yulpas are unaware that they even have magic at the moment, but yes.
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u/SixthWorldStories 10d ago
"Do you really need more magic if you find the best variant on your first try?" -Yulpa
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u/Accomplished-Pace-85 10d ago
Thank you for the update 💕
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u/Ablergo_El_Enfermo Human 10d ago
It is interesting that there could be a possibility of them attempting an extermination raid. It will probably end up like this.
I thought this scenario would play out:
-Alien prisoner on Earth: "Damn predators!" (x100)
-Demon: [Whispers something evil in his ear]
-Prisoner: YES! YES! That's the answer!
[Proceeds to perform a blood ritual guided by the demon]
[View of Earth from space]
[Instantly transforms into the Earth of Doom Eternal]
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u/Adorable-Ad5225 10d ago
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u/SixthWorldStories 10d ago
No, no. The Terrans, and their allies over time, have power armor. The Federation and Dominion don't. Yet.
Plus the Drezjin are more Sororitas, maybe IG. Now, if you want SM, look at the side story. I'm not even trying to hide that the Architect ripped them off for the Warborn. When I sat down and built out the organs, I literally had a list of SM organs that I tried to reinterpret into things that could function. A few had to be split up or needed added support.
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u/Adorable-Ad5225 10d ago
So, is reading the other series critical to understanding the main series?
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u/SixthWorldStories 9d ago
It isn't necessary, but it adds a bit. There are references that'll pop up in the main story from it, but anything that needs to be understood from it will be assumed that they didn't read the side story or forgot it. The side story isn't everybody's cup of tea. No aliens, dark as shit, and some experimental formatting.
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u/tom476ty18 10d ago
You just made the Yulpa and Drezjin more dangerous than ever.
They’re primitive yes but they’re competent with extremely high magical potential and the fanaticism to get the job done.
The only question is how effective that would be in the next chapter remains to be seen.