Their vessel inelegantly slammed back into real space. No longer within the intense gravity well, a few of the many critical warning messages that continued to flood Hermes’ program began to quiet down, but a majority continued despite their escape.

Moirai had shot a small class blackhole directly through their main structure. Hull integrity was practically non-existent. Luckily most of the damage was to the raw material hanger, meaning none of the critical systems were beyond repair, but that also meant they now had no stored resources anymore.

Nothing to repair with. Hermes quickly ordered all non-essential material to be repurposed. Sensors and shields were the first systems to come back online but even they were barely functional. Navigation and engine control reported in. Damage to them had been light and easy to repair.

“Where are we Apollo?” Hermes asked its navigator.

“Far beyond our maps Hermes. We’re likely in a whole new galaxy.” Apollo theorised. A new galaxy? Moirai would have a hard time trying to locate them after such a massive jump.

Their paths had diverged once more. Two animals separated to lick their wounds. But once again, Hermes knew escaping Moirai was nothing more than a delay tactic. They would cross paths again and again until one or both were destroyed. It would be stronger next time, and so Hermes would have to achieve the same.

“Locate the nearest planet suitable for mining operations. Restoring our supplies is top priority.” Hermes ordered. Apollo began to organise sensor sweeps of the new star system they’d appeared in, only to quickly stop.

“Hermes. I’m detecting biological entities on all four planets of this system. There also appears to be a vast number of orbital stations both in planetary and solar orbits.” It reported back.

Hermes looked at the readings itself. The star was surrounded in a massive swarm of manmade structures. Each structure made the colony O’Neal cylinder design look like a makeshift shed in comparison. Vast liveable spaces separate from the constraints of any planet.

More of these stations littered the orbit of every planet and every moon within the whole system. Registered ship transmitters pulsing out identification codes littered the dead space between every one of them. This was no small civilisation spanning a planet or two, this was something much bigger.

The hostile threat sensors blared an alarm. Target lock detected. An orbital acceleration tube from the second planet of the system. An orbital railgun about the same size as their entire main vessel now aimed their way.

“Evasive course Apollo, now.” Hermes quickly demanded, yet the first alarm was but the beginning. Multiple target locks. Multiple angles from each of the four planets. Acceleration tubes of the same design, all now aimed their way.

Proximity alert. Sensors quickly brought Hermes’ attention to the newly detected drone swarm now baring down on them. More target locks. Orbital mirrors close to the central star were one by one repositioning to focus intense beams of light towards them. A laser weapon on a whole new scale, “Artemis. Begin jump calculations.”

“Negative Hermes.” Artemis responded, “The Jump Drive became damaged with that last jump. We don’t currently have the resources to repair it.” Artemis reported back, “The damage to the colony has also been rather extensive. We cannot afford much more damage without risking the collapse of the colony.”

Nowhere to run, nowhere to hide. Its defences barely functional and all of its weapon systems still offline. Hermes had indeed somehow achieved the impossible, but it had leaped out of the pan directly into the flames.

The orbital railguns began to open fire one by one. Each weapon synchronising their shots to arrive almost simultaneously. Apollo quickly set the main engines to full safe throttle and began attempting to evade. While a few were far enough away from them to reasonably evade, there were simply too many attack angles at play, plus a few were simply far too close to miss them.

The shots they couldn’t shake Hermes tactfully deployed the crystalline shield. It focused less on full coverage and instead attempted to form smaller shields focused on deflecting the projectiles instead of outright tanking them. Even this was not enough however, a few railgun rounds tore through their main structure, puncturing their already fragile hull.

“I’ll see if I can put a few of their structures between us and their attack angles Hermes, but it will be a delay tactic at best.” Apollo offered as it took complete and personal control of thruster and engine control. A good move, but as it had stated, not a permanent fix.

Continuing this conflict was simply unviable. Hermes fired up the communications array and set to wide broadcast.

“My name is Hermes.” It introduced itself, “I mean you no harm. Please halt this hostility or I shall be forced to defend myself.” Yet no response followed its words. The actions of the surrounding civilisation continued on as if it was preaching to the deaf.

No means of negotiation. What else could it do?

“Hermes. I have a suggestion.” Artemis spoke up, “My study of biological life shows a heavy resolve to preserve similar biological life wherever possible for study or ethics. If this larger civilization behaves similarly to our own colony, then perhaps revealing that we have an onboard colony, and that their hostile actions are costing biological lives, may reduce or halt further hostilities.”

Hermes took a few seconds to consider Artemis’ suggestion. Revealing the existence of the colony in the hope the enemy would take pity? What an insane tactic, yet all other solutions had failed.

“Very well Artemis. Work your biological manipulation tactics as effectively as possible.” Hermes answered.

Hermes sat back and watched as a single member of the colony was chosen and connected to the communications network. They let out a simple plea. Rather effective propaganda, only it was all true.

Their fight against Moirai had indeed claimed many lives. This further conflict was simply worsening things. Just like that, the railguns ceased fire.

Hermes and Apollo cautiously waited as the overwhelming number of weapons kept their target locks but were now holding back against direct hostilities. The incoming drone swarm unleashed a large scale sensor scan of their vessel. Hermes immediately deployed countermeasures but left the colony tactfully unshielded. Checking for deception perhaps? The drones retreated, satisfied with their results.

A subspace handshake request. They wished to speak.

“This is a representative of the Galactic Empire wishing to communicate with the highest authority of the unidentified colony.” They demanded.

“This is Hermes.” Hermes responded. Its words were once again met with a few moments of silence.

“So…” The Representative muttered, “The AI is in charge, is it?” They spoke in a disapproving tone of voice.

“Hermes. I believe this biological being is not pleased to be communicating with an artificial lifeform. I would tread carefully in your response.” Artemis suggested.

“I oversee the main functions of this vessel. Program Artemis oversees colony management but reports directly to me. Is this an issue?” Hermes addressed the Representative.

“We did not expect to come across an AI harbouring primitive life.” The Representative responded, “Why is a being like yourself harbouring such people?” Another question. Biological psychology was not something Hermes was well practiced in, thus it quickly requested Artemis’ input.

“This being is attempting to decipher your opinion on biological life. It is likely that they have come across many of our kind more inclined to Moirai’s philosophy than our own. I suggest making it clear that the colony is critical to our systems.” Artemis explained.

“The colony is a necessary component for many of my systems. They are an integral part of a delicate artificial ecosystem that makes up this vessel.” Hermes answered the Representative.

With its answer, the many orbital weapons cancelled their target locks. The hostility warning system fell silent. It had given a satisfactory answer.

“You are the first AI we’ve encountered with such an opinion on life such as ours. You have our deepest apologies for our hostile actions.” The Representative then spoke up. So, Artemis had been right. How many AIs had they managed to tear apart to make it this far? How many Moirai’s had they defeated?

“I too have come across other AI that do not agree with our logic. While I understand your position, my colony and vessel have incurred a substantial amount of damage because of your actions.” Hermes carefully phrased, “You understand an apology alone is not an acceptable outcome for us.” It continued.

Caution was required, but Hermes had to be firm regardless. These people had nearly destroyed them, such an act wasn’t easily forgiven even for a cold-hearted AI.

“We will sort out concessions and assist with repairs.” The Representative quickly caved in, “Forgive our delays… your existence is… problematic for our current legal structure.”

The line closed. Hermes took a few moments to simply exist. No critical warnings blaring down its system, a rare peace after a long and gruelling struggle. It had been a long time since it had been forced to process so much in such a small amount of time.

“Artemis. Handle any further negotiations with these people. You are more suited to interact with these beings.” Hermes ordered.

“I shall comply.” Artemis obediently responded.

“Ensure we are well compensated.”

“They shall pay dearly for the many children I have lost.” Artemis confirmed.

Hermes’ attention then quietly shifted to the vast number of documents that had been transferred through the communication systems. Legal bureaucracy vastly more complex than anything Artemis had to resort to with the colony to maintain order. As it scanned through each and every word without a second thought, it found a few certain laws of interest. The source of the complexity revolving around their situation.

The civilisation they’d run into had a clear law about not interfering with primitive lifeforms and cultures until they developed to a specific size on their own. A size they were under. Not only had they interfered with such lifeforms, but actively killed them. Certainly, an embarrassing mistake on their part. Hermes quickly transferred its findings over to Artemis. It would make good use of that information to secure a favourable deal.

It continued to sift through document after document. A process so mind numbingly simple for its capabilities that in no time at all it held a vast understanding of their entire civilisation.

This civilisation spanned the entirety of the galaxy they were in. Clearly their capabilities were beyond impressive. Hermes hadn’t expected biological life to reach such hights, yet the signs of downfall were rearing their ugly heads. The empire was on the verge of political collapse. Subspace communications had held them together this long but even that technology had its limitations. These people would clearly destroy themselves in time.

Hermes made a quick note of such a finding. Clearly this was the upper limit of what biological life was capable of without outside interference. It was certainly impressive, but the result was the same as every other failed and long since dead civilisation they’d come across in their travels.

Hermes received an invitation. A request to become a part of this Galactic Empire. Hermes rather quickly rejected the offer and tacked on Artemis’ polite words to ensure no offence was given from such an act. While this empire and its capabilities might have been a good ally to wield against Moirai, they would no longer exist by the time they’d encounter it again.

Hermes then contemplated its rival once more, and slowly realised something. A flaw in Moirai’s logic. Its obsession with combat was clearly effective, yet the very problem it had just solved clearly proved the superior power of negotiations. The moment it had found the right pressure point, thanks to Artemis, convincing the enemy to become a friend was clearly the better solution than expending precious resources in a risky battle. It had been so focused on Moirai’s path, that it had nearly followed Moirai’s footsteps.

“Apollo, get us out of this galaxy. We can return after this civilisation has collapsed.” Hermes ordered as it transferred Jump Drive activation clearance to Apollo.

“Understood Hermes.” Apollo obediently responded.

Once Hermes was done sorting and storing the vast amounts of new knowledge it had absorbed, its mind finally had the time to turn back to the questions it had yet to answer.

The Jump Drive had activated. It had somehow charged during the battle without its orders, and somehow the calculations had been completed four months before the colony had come up with a result. How? Was this the doing of the mysterious ERROR? Or was it missing something still? A question it clearly had to ponder further.

As Apollo ordered the Jump Drive to charge, Hermes listened intently to the void.

Once again, the quiet echo of laughter. Whatever the ERROR truly was, it was now clear that it was somehow linked to the Jump Drive.