The Fleet by John Davis

with the Viscion. To
them, it meant ample food for the harvesting.
    Ryalk turned
once more to look across their freezing chambers. Large metal hooks
in line as far as the eye could see. Each of them awaiting the
carcass of humans.
    The Viscion
would exterminate the infected, as promised, allowing them feast
like kings. But they had no intentions of leaving perfectly good
meat behind. They had planned to harvest the infected first, at
which time they would crush the fleet of uninfected. Giving them a
bit more food for their travels in deep space.
    Rylak smiled
wide, exposing vicious teeth as he watched large ships purge
themselves from his warship. Filled with Viscion soldiers and
plenty of room to package human flesh, at which time they'd be
transported back to the warship.
    He'd not
demanded Dalton's group be disarmed out of fear. He'd done so in
order to give his people time to study the human weaponry. Having
done so, Rylak knew his species was the most dominant. Their
technology far more advanced.
    Unlike the
human weaponry, the Viscion powered their weapons with a crystal.
One that was as transparent as the clearest of diamonds, though it
emitted a charge which allowed their technology to function.
    Better, even,
was the fact that the crystals would recharge over time. Meaning
their rifles were limitless in ammunition when used sparingly and
their ships, which functioned by way of several very large
crystals, would fly indefinitely.
    The Viscion
could produce their own crystals, though it took massive amounts of
time and energy to do so. Depending on the size of the crystal.
    They could
mass-produce smaller ones, which they used in combat weaponry. But
larger crystals took time. The wait certainly worth it in the
end.
    One of the two
ships which accompanied their warship was a processing facility
which churned out the technology regularly. If a ship became
damaged, for whatever reason, they could literally produce a new
piece to replace the damaged one. Replacing the translucent beams
and structuring within the ships. Nothing more than ships made from
crystal.
    Powering
themselves.
    The infected
could be captured and purified on board the ship as well, which had
been the plan of the Viscion. Bringing them to a large chamber on
board the processing ship and cleansing them back to human form
with only the touch of a button.
    Their
commander had failed to tell Dalton of this technology, however, as
the humans would have pleaded for the Viscion's help in eliminating
the plagued horde of priests while saving so many people under the
virus' influence.
    The race of
chalk white knights among the stars cared not for rescuing anyone,
nor did they come to lend a hand.
    The Viscion
had arrived with a single purpose. Stock their freezers and be on
their way, as they'd done so many times before with other races
throughout the sands of time.
    They'd have
their fill of meat, one way or another. And that fact alone, led to
Rylak’s smile lasting a bit longer than usual. Knowing his stomach
would soon be digesting the pure protein that was human flesh.
     
    *
     
    As Dalton sat
down in the shuttle, its walls crafted of thick plated steel and
strong rivets; he began to remember what it was like. The
excitement which accompanied such a rush of emotion as possible
death awaited.
    Reaching over,
Dalton began strapping in the woman he loved. Double checking her
harness for safety.
    “Now you get
to find out what a true military jump is like.” he said with a
grin.
    “The same kind
you've bitched about countless times?” Cambria asked.
    “Yep,” he
replied. “That's the one.”
    It was a
twelve man shuttle which would be filled to the max. A pilot and
twelve swinging dicks ready to punish anything that stood in the
way.
    Well, eleven
swinging dicks.
    One by one,
Husk began to file into the shuttle. Their tall stature nearly
touching the top of the shuttle cabin. For them, the ride would be
particularly unpleasant. For a smuggler draped