923: 923 Sudden Change

923 Sudden Change

After the sighting of whatever being was hiding in that other layer, none of them had the appetite to do any more tests on the theory. They did at least have a basic answer that yes, the other layer here was mostly the same as the one near the Koleska.1

The probe was also feeding data back to them, and for now, there wasn't much to report other than the barren planet that somewhat resembled the one that they were currently on. But that could change in an instant, Max knew.

If the Myceloids used it to travel around the same way that the Darklings and the Arisen Army did, then it would be nearly impossible to stop the spread of them, even if they could destroy all the ships in orbit here.

From what he could tell, the loss of the force on the planet wouldn't actually matter to the ship. The Myceloids grew from spores with all the knowledge they seemed to need, so replacing them was a simple matter and could be done in a matter of days. 

If they attacked the ship, it could very well just leave and let the force here do as they pleased.

With their personality, that seemed likely. They loved to fight, but they would back down from a losing battle if they had to, and the ships in orbit were most likely the most valuable bits of tech that they owned.

Huntress Khan looked over the data that the Alliance had prepared with a frown.

"Alright, so if we can't use antimatter detonations to close the Anomaly, what are our other options? We could try a containment field, but it would have to be put up on both sides, and we wouldn't be able to test if it worked at all until it activated.

That means either trapping us here if it does work or evacuating and risking it not working. What other options do we even have to give the Alliance for closing this Anomaly?" She asked.

Max and Nico considered that for a few moments, then shrugged. 

"We could barricade it from both ends, so nothing gets through or even just try to completely destabilize it to see if it collapses. If my calculations are right, growth isn't the only possible outcome when it destabilizes. That moment could cause it to collapse in on itself entirely." Nico suggested.

None of those were good options, and none were worthy of putting before the Alliance.

"Of course, we could detonate an Antimatter warhead in it from the other layer and just make everything implode. But that might very well destroy the entire star systems on both sides o the Anomaly." She added with a frown.

She wasn't actually against the plan, just the likelihood of being blamed for the negative outcomes.

"We can get back to this later, now that we know what an antimatter explosion would do in the area. It's more important to see what the Myceloids were doing after that strange bowing incident when we opened the Portal." Huntress Khan agreed.

They switched sensors to watch the footage from the Drone Bombers, which were still peacefully circling the camp and found that the Myceloids had returned to their regular daily schedule. They were going about their business, making weapons, gathering food, and building camps and villages. It was as if nothing had ever happened, and they weren't on a warpath to destroy the Hunters Camp just a day ago.

"That's not normal. It's like they forgot that we're here." Khan muttered.

"Or they've been ordered to change plans and build up a functional society on the planet instead. You know the Alliance will send monitors here eventually to see how things are going, and if they see the Myceloids living peacefully and not attacking the moment that they are fully grown, it's going to be a political nightmare." Max reminded her.

The Huntress growled at the reminder. "That's just what we need, some bleeding heart telling us that we need to play nice while the enemy rebuilds their strength and prepares for an attack that will wipe us off the planet."

"Those are the downsides of working for someone with a moral compass. But if they really have been ordered to set up some sort of functional society here, you could always declare them a prey species and treat this as a hunting ground. 

If we go pick fights with them, there is a chance they won't come to pick fights with us. I can read minds. They love to fight. Not for bloodshed, they love the actual fight. So, I think that letting them stabilize and going to challenge their leaders would actually be a viable strategy." Max offered.

Khan nodded. "That's not a bad idea. We did that the first time when we swept through the planet, but we didn't take the spores into account and ended up getting swarmed. If they're really going back to how they were before we arrived, then things might actually get a lot better here."

Nico considered their arguments as she planned more attacks.

"Have you managed to translate their language yet?" She asked.

"Most of it. It's somewhat similar to Alliance Common, though the two don't actually share any words. Once we heard it a few times and managed to get some context to start the translation, it was a fairly simple matter to decipher the basics of their communications.

I will send the translation file over to you, and you can put it in a Learning Machine to pick it up before our next mission. They don't speak much in combat, but it will be good if you can at least issue proper challenges to their leaders."

That got Nico excited. The prospect of getting to directly challenge the biggest and best of them was nearly irresistible to her. The only thing that would make it better is if there was nobody else around to get in her way.

Max wasn't about to let her go with just an android company though. There was no telling what she would get up to if he did.

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