Torpedoes

This strategy very nearly proved fatal for
the Technocracy. When the Hatchlings finally
reached the heart of the Empire, the
ASP Technocracy, which was located relatively
close to the Imperial center, was
caught up in the Grubs’ drive to destroy
the Imperial Throne. The entire Technocracy
was nearly obliterated. In the end, only
a few star systems were left to the Technocracy
after the Hatchlings had been
beaten into submission, and those that remained
had not been the state’s prime systems.
Still, the ASPers rallied gamely, applying
new, untested, cutting-edge technologies
everywhere in a desperate effort to reclaim
their ascendancy in Terran space.
Their alliance with the Data Sphere went a
long way toward helping them along in this
endeavor. All of their recorded research had
survived along with the Data Core, and although
the loss of human life had been just
phenomenal, the Technocracy’s accumulated
knowledge remained intact.
An Alliance Forged
Even so, it would have been a long, hard
road back to prosperity had the ASPers not
struck a deal with the Draconians. In exchange
for funding of the new ASP defense
program, the ASPers would allow the Draconians
access to all of their research so
that both parties could prosper. So far, the
arrangement seems to have worked as
planned.
Today, after the desperate times of the
Terran-Hatchling war, it’s often difficult to
recognize ASPers as entirely human. Nearly
every ASPer has undergone some sort of
extensive elective surgery to improve his
or her physical and mental capabilities. And
almost all ASPer newborns are genetically
engineered from conception to be perfect
in almost every way and to exceed normal
human standards wherever possible.
All ASPers are fanatically loyal to the
Technocracy. ASP and the Council made
these people what they are today: better
than anyone else in nearly every way. This
superiority complex is likely what makes
the ASPers’ bond with the Draconians such
a strong one. Both parties believe that
they’re individually the best and that by
working together they can become better
than ever.
direction, sending her
and Corky tumbling
planetside even faster
than before.
But she had to act
quickly. There was little
time for second guesses.
If a few moments, the
Grub Buster would be
firmly in the gravity
well’s grasp. At that
point, the life pod’s jets
would do them little
good.
Yazmin stared up
through the cockpit
glassteel. The ship’s
spinning had accelerated.
She waited again
for the planet to appear,
then just as it was
disappearing, she
punched the button
that would separate the
pod from the ship and
launch her and Corky
away.
The powerful thrusters
shoved her back into
her chair as the roar of
the jets threatened to
deafen her. She had
never been forced to
effect an emergency
ejection before. She
hoped she never would
again. Corky’s voice
rang loudly in her ears:
“Whoooooaaaaaa!!!!!”
Then came the
strange sensation of
weightlessness. With
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