Star Force: Internecine (SF55) by Aer-ki Jyr

them off all you wanted, it couldn’t get much worse as far as
their intent was concerned.
    Star Force didn’t use them because they and chemical
weapons were considered ‘dirty’ weapons by the Archons. Davis was less opposed
to using them in certain circumstances, in the way of disabling rather than
killing, such as gassing a target in order to render everyone there
unconscious, but the Archons were adamant that they weren’t going to fight that
way. Davis didn’t entirely understand why, but he agreed with them on most
points and bowed to their wisdom on the differences.
    But Star Force did have a bioweapons program, and a
beefy one at that, so they could design and test defenses against the very
weapons they were building. The Archons knew the danger of such weapons and
they wanted as many immunities against them as they could get, but there was a
strict ban on ever using any of the bioweapons and likewise Star Force had
banned them from the ADZ as well. Davis knew that didn’t mean there weren’t
bioweapons out there, but the races or groups that had them had to keep them
secret else Star Force would come and take them away, along with instituting
heavy penalties.
    But Davis knew the idea of creating bioweapons to
fight the Skarrons was going to be something many races would favor in lieu of
sending troops to the front. He wasn’t going to advertise that that had been
one of the aims of this rogue group, but he had to be prepared if it came out
anyway…or if the bioweapon attack gave others the same idea. He didn’t think it
would be an easy fix, for the Skarrons and lizards undoubtedly had the tech to
counter such weapons after the fact.
    But it was the lingering thought that, with the
pyramid database, Star Force might be able to develop a neutralizing weapon
against the Skarrons that would cover the loss of the Scionate. Something they
could seed into the atmospheres of the contended planets that would render
those who breathed it in unconscious, and tailor it to the Skarron and Hobbit
physiologies.
    It wouldn’t affect their walkers or aircraft, but any
unarmored ground troops would be neutralized shortly after landing. In fact,
the more Davis thought about it the better an idea it seemed, and as he was
writing up the press release for the bioweapon attack investigation results he
couldn’t shake that something was off. He couldn’t put his finger on it, but
there was something he wasn’t seeing.
    There weren’t any trailblazers in Sol at the moment,
aside from those in deep training and he didn’t want to bother them so he held
off for a couple of days, trying to think it through on his own.
    Killing through bioweapons was usually gruesome, for
people didn’t have an off switch and killing them required causing damage of
some kind despite myths to the contrary. But even if there was a magical kill
gas that just eliminated opponents without damage it would be an area of effect
weapon, meaning you just targeted an area and all those within it would be
effected…which meant you didn’t really know who you were killing, and that
inaccuracy was something the Archons would never tolerate, nor would Davis.
    Bioweapons could be tailored to kill individuals,
either by genetic identity or through delivery method, such as a dart as
opposed to a gas. But again that left the question as to why you were fighting.
Star Force didn’t fight to kill, they fought to neutralize threats, which was
why so many stun weapons had been created to supplement their lethal ones…but
even the lethal ones weren’t kill machines. They could wound an opponent
without killing them, whereas a bioweapon just killed.
    Then there was the surrender option. Star Force wanted
to neutralize threats, and if they chose to surrender or otherwise stop being a
threat that accomplished the goal and there was no need to kill them.
Bioweapons didn’t allow for that, essentially being a death sentence when
employed and unable to be rescinded