Micro-fiction sci fi: Death Duty

Death Duty

By Jonathan Traynor

The screen flickered as he reached for the ship’s controls. It was soaked with the captain’s blood. The captain had been cut in two by the collapsed bulkhead. The first officer was also dead.

Now he was in charge, a mere ensign, of this Avenger Class starship. The computer rattled off casualty and damage reports: 200 dead, multiple hull breaches, and still the hits continued. He programmed some return fire, but it was futile.

The Disrupter ship was too large for the remains of the armaments on board.

“Computer, Ensign First Class, Taveneer, 616567. Order and implement Abandon ship.”

“Confirm order Ensign Taveneer.”

Its voice remained calm, with that hint of humour.

“I confirm.”

He watched the sub-screen as bright green dots popped into space, and then in horror as the Disrupter’s fire began to target the escape pods.

“Computer, full available speed to vector five, slash eight.”

“Ensign Taveneer, I cannot comply, that is directly into the enemy craft. I need a destruct command, and you do not have sufficient rank. And it will destroy my core. You will die too.”

Taveneer did not know how to challenge the computer logic. If the Disrupters advanced through the rim of the solar system and Earth and its colonies would be destroyed.

He paused, looked at the bodies scattered around the bridge, and considered for just a moment.

“Computer, what is your predicted outcome for your core and the remaining escape pods?”

“My core will be destroyed, and 95% of escape pods will be destroyed.”

“And what is your predicted outcome for all fleet vessels facing the enemy craft?”

“85% destroyed.”

“And, what is your, I mean our duty?”

“To preserve the human population, be a valuable protector of the defence fleet, and uphold our oaths.”

“Given those odds it is compatible that your implement my orders. The percentage chances of our surviving and impact are low, but not zero.”

He felt the engines hum rise, and the computer’s silence was such that it was shutting down non-essential systems and deleting records of fleet positions in advance of the collision.

The flickering screen showed the Disrupter craft growing bigger. He tried to think of a suitable battle cry. Instead, for the record, he said his name, rank and serial number and smiled.

“I will die having done my duty.”

Ends

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