Allison stared at her Aunt Maria with wide eyes. She couldn’t believe what she was hearing. These were humans, in real mortal danger. Maria noticed her niece’s discomfort.
“Allison, you know tactically this is the right choice. We cannot start a full on war with our fleet spread so thin. The League is the same way. I have sent portable fusion generators and shield projectors along with two Obliterator hovertanks per ship. That should give more then enough defense from weapons of the level you’ve described. Next time try and open a dialogue first, you have the prototype universal translator matrix, you should have used it!”
Allison threw up her hands.
“And what? Let them open up on the fleet from space? Let them tell their people it was a bunch of primitive ocean ships with no starship support? They don’t need protection, they need evacuation!”
Maria frowned.
“Allison any actual armed ships I send through are an obvious escalation.”
Allison was about to answer when Bit’s warning systems started going off, she was detecting another ship coming out of FTL.
“I need to go, they’re back. Thanks for the torpedoes and antimatter.”
Maria hurried to speak before Allison cut communications.
“Remember, use your words!”
Allison growled at the blank screen as she closed off comms. Her scanners indicated this was a different ship configuration. She swore under her breath and spoke out loud.
“Bit, are you telling me I’m about to start a war with two new alien species in less than twenty-four hours?"
Bit said nothing. Allison did not cloak this time, but she sure had her shields and weapons charged. The ship she was faced with was sleek. She could see weapon strips. The hull was a soft off-white with numerous windows. It was about the size of the Ark Royal, an escort carrier. She opened up comms on all frequencies.
“Hello, I am Lieutenant Allison Wanjala of the System’s Alliance. We are on a humanitarian mission to rescue stranded people from our world. We would rather not start hostilities, but we will take any action necessary to protect our people.”
Allison was rather shocked to see a beautiful purple skinned humanoid woman appear on her holo-display. She had long curly white hair and pink irises. Curled grey horns curved back over her head. She wore an obvious uniform with a white triangle across the top and a black bottom. She had a black skirt on, some form of stocking and knee-high boots. She didn’t appear to be armed and though it was hard to tell because Allison had no reference of scale, she’d say the alien was tall. Behind her were several crew manning stations. The alien smiled, showing white teeth and fanged incisors. The aliens behind her were of various races. Apparently, they had some form of universal translator because Allison understood every single word.
“Greetings, I am Commander Xyil Yorta, of the Commonwealth. We are here to investigate a violation of our neutral zone treaty by the Gargarons. Based on the debris field they behaved like they typically do and had to be put down like rapid Vargiths. We’ve also detected some strange gravimetric waves coming from this system. Similar to wormholes. We will lower our shields and power down our weapons systems if you’ll do the same. You have a remarkable amount of weaponry in that little fighter of yours. I’d hate to be on the receiving end of it.”
Allison looked at what her scanners were telling her about the craft in front of her. It had shields, and her antimatter torpedoes were useless against them as would her conventional weapons. The ship also had some form of directed energy that they could fire in wide arcs. She wasn’t sure she’d even have a chance against that kind of firepower. These guys were far more advanced than the last ship she’d faced. Allison powered down her shields to the levels required to deal with space debris and drained her weapon capacitors. She did leave the antimatter loaded into the torpedoes, she had nowhere else to put it. She was set to launch up to four of them. Commander Yorta smiled.
“Excellent, it appears our translator is working with you. This planet is quite dangerous, I suppose you wouldn’t have picked up the warning beacons. The race that lived here before were obsessed with biological weaponry and wiped themselves out, leaving the surface uninhabitable. Do you need medical assistance? Evacuation? With the gravimetric distortions we detected my science officer is telling me we could be looking at a transient micro-singularity or worse.”
Allison blushed.
“That is our fault. We use artificial wormholes for communication and travel. We needed to open several to get medical supplies and supplies for the people stranded here. We’re not sure what happened but several ships from our home world were transported to the surface along, with me. We had no intention of violating your space. We just had to open another to get defenses for the ships after the… uh Gargaron attacked us. They’re oceangoing vessels with no modern weaponry or defenses.”
Commander Yorta looked behind her and nodded.
“Yes, based on those ships, I’d expected we wouldn’t be able to provide assistance, we have limits on who we can interact with, but based on your artificial wormholes it would seem you have managed faster than light travel.”
Allison blinked a few times.
“Of course, we only use wormholes for vast distances, we use more conventional FTL for shorter distances.”
Commander Yorta nodded.
“Interesting, I see you also harness antimatter for power systems along with a singularity! Oh my, yes, yes, I suppose this is a first contact then! Forgive me, I’m getting ahead of myself, do your people on the surface need medical attention? I imagine they are very sick, unfortunately the planet is under quarantine so we could not provide any personal but we would be happy to provide any supplies you might require.”
Allison shook her head.
“No, we’ve managed to cure them all. Some died but most survived, thankfully. It is making sense why the diseases were so virulent.”
Commander Yorta smiled showing her fangs again.
“Truly, you can cure that. We would be eager to find out how.”
Allison shrugged.
“I’m just a pilot, Commander, I couldn’t tell you how it all works.”
Commander Yorta nodded.
“Would you like to come aboard so we can have this conversation in person, Lieutenant?”
Allison raised an eyebrow then nodded.
“Aye, ma’am, it seems like it would be a good next step.”
Allison had a sudden panic attack after Commander Yorta motioned to one of her officers. Allison and Bit’s forms shimmered, and they appeared in some form of hangar bay. Allison could see space outside through a force field. Smaller craft were here in various states of repair or launch readiness. Allison checked herself over.
“What the fu… what was that Bit?”
Bit spoke softly.
“Some form of matter transmission. It would appear as though we have encountered a very advanced species.”
Allison slid her Qual’sa pistols into a side compartment.
“Well… keep your sensors open here, if any more of those what do you call them’s show up, let me know immediately.”
Allison climbed down and was greeted by a rather human looking man. He had boney protrusions on his fingers, ears and forehead. He was almost seven feet tall and extremely lanky.
“Lieutenant, welcome aboard the Valiant. I am Ensign Jahil. I can’t believe you took out a Gargaron battleship with only a fighter.”
Allison walked beside him.
This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work.
“I was cloaked, they didn’t see it coming. They didn’t have any shields. I can’t imagine your ship would have trouble with one.”
He nodded.
“Ah it was those ones. There are different factions. Some shun more advanced ships and weaponry they feel it makes one weaker.”
Allison tried not to giggle at that thought.
“They sound like morons. Though I guess they’re going to be really mad I blew up one of their ships.”
He shook his head.
“No, they love battle, crave it even. They’ll say you gave them good deaths. They’d love that you had the guts to do it in a fighter alone. They’ll also be angry at that ship for even being here. Our war was long and costly, it was over the systems in this neutral zone. The Radiants enforced the peace and they have violated it, that makes these systems subject to our control now. Likely we’ll still keep the buffer, lest another war start and neither of us want that. Their leadership will bluster, ours will calmly tell them they are screwed and then graciously advise them we’ve told The Radiants we will let it slide this time. No one wants to get The Radiants involved.”
Allison was extremely curious about who these Radiants were but didn’t get a chance to ask because they had apparently arrived at their destination several decks up. The ship was unlike any military ship she’d ever been on. The hallways were a comforting shade of cream. It had carpets. This Commonwealth was made up of many different species as evidenced by the multi-racial crew. The conference room was comfortable with some sort of display at one end and a long table with cozy looking chairs. It appeared the command staff were all present. At the head of the table stood Commander Yorta. The rest of the command staff were various species. It seemed the triangular band at the top of the uniform indicated department. White appeared to represent command. There was a dark purple. A dark gold. Commander Yorta indicated the names and ranks of all those assembled and motioned for everyone to be seated.
Allison took her seat in her chair, and it felt like it was hugging her. She wondered how they got anything done. She just wanted to close her eyes and sleep. Though that might just be because she had been awake for the greater part of ninety-six hours with only a scattered sleep of seven hours in two or three hour chunks. Commander Yorta smiled at Allison.
“Your bio-scan shows you’re suffering from exhaustion, lieutenant, we can postpone this.”
Allison shook her head.
“No, ma’am, your conference chairs are just too comfortable.”
The commander smiled.
“Yes, I’ve always thought so myself. Now then. We have a few questions…”
Allison nodded.
“Are all your species dependent on nanotech symbiosis?”
Allison blinked. Of course they could see her nanites.
“Umm, no, ma’am. I’m a special case. In fact, if we could just leave that part out of any communication with my people it would be best.”
The commander raised an eyebrow, and her delicate pointed ears twitched slightly.
“Is that so?”
Allison sighed.
“Such nanotech is highly illegal in the System’s Alliance, I could be executed just for having it, so umm, it’s a secret. We are allied with another group that uses it extensively. I am… well it is a long and complicated story, but I am not the best example of my species. Anyone down below would be better. I am only half-human.”
The commander seemed extremely eager with every bit of information she was getting.
“So, your civilization is multi-species as well?”
Allison nodded.
“Yes, ma’am. Four to be exact. Our allies have at least eight hundred separate species as members.”
Commander Yorta looked positively gleeful, but it was tempered by something suddenly.
“Are you an empire? Are they conquered?”
Allison shook her head.
“No, three of us are from the same planet, and the others joined us willingly after we helped negotiate peace on their world, without a shot fired. The League is made up of member species who requested to join and meet the requirements.”
Commander Yorta looked pleased by that answer.
“It is rare you find organizations like that; In every case we’ve run into a multispecies arrangement it was always one conqueror.”
Allison nodded. Commander Yorta looked around the table and then looked back at Allison.
“The Commonwealth is a group of like-minded species who have joined together for the greater good of all. We maintain a peacekeeping force but we choose to avoid conflict. I am a Xaltor. We were one of the founding members. We have since grown to include over sixty species. Do you have any questions?”
Allison bit her lower lip.
“Well, ma’am, I have been trained in first contact procedures but I’m just a soldier, it would be much better if you speak to my leadership. I can ask my starfighter to open a channel for you, if you’d like.”
Commander Yorta blinked a few times.
“Your starfighter, is it an artificial intelligence?”
Allison shook her head.
“Uh, it is really complicated. She acts like one, she is sentient.”
Commander Yorta suddenly looked quite concerned.
“Is she shackled? Forced to serve you?”
Allison shook her head vigorously.
“No, she’s my friend, she chose me. We don’t enslave sentients. That would be abhorrent. We aren’t monsters.”
Commander Yorta’s hand went to her chest.
“Of course, we do have to verify… making a slave of any sentient being is highly illegal in the Commonwealth.”
Allison shrugged.
“Ask her anything you want. Just keep in mind she’s a bit angry I blew up that Gar..g.. whoever they were from cloak without really giving them a warning. She pouts when I don’t listen to her.”
Commander Yorta motioned to one of the officers present, they had the dark purple uniform, he left, at least Allison thought it was a he. Allison was starting to see while the universal translator worked great to translate words it was missing something in the communication because the commander seemed to be thinking the worst of her. She decided to change the subject.
“I have a question about your faster than light travel? Um, do you use hyperspace, exotic matter?”
Commander Yorta shook her head.
“No, we use subspace bubbles, ah, I see, you utilize a different transit method! I’m sure my chief engineer would be eager to discuss the differences.”
Allison blinked a few times.
“Does it produce hyper-matter waste? Err.. Antimatter?’
Commander Yorta shook her head.
“No, it doesn’t we need to create antimatter so we can use it in our main power core.”
Allison rubbed her face.
“We thought you could only do FTL in one way, that’s strange, and amazing. We generate antimatter when we use FTL. It is a waste product for us.”
Commander Yorta and her engineer, who was wearing the dark gold uniform band both seemed rather excited by this topic.
“Intriguing, what is your top speed?”
Allison bit her lower lip and decided to hell with it.
“Depends on the species, most, ten light years per hour is the maximum safe speed, for me personally, one hundred light years per one of our standard hours, twenty four hours in a standard day based on our home world’s days. A full version of my other half, I don’t know if they technically have a limit. How about yours?”
All the officers looked at each other, a bit shocked, and finally Commander Yorta answered.
“It would take us two and half of your day units to travel ten of your light years. Our ship is one of the fastest in the fleet.”
Allison nodded.
“Yes, but you don’t create antimatter. Kind of dangerous stuff.”
Everyone at the table nodded. Commander Yorta looked Allison up and down.
“Our bio-scans showed you have not fully matured, are you an adult by your species standards?”
Allison shook her head.
“No ma’am, I am legally a seventeen year old girl, I won’t mature for… four years, according to our laws, I’m just a reservist, I got to umm, I’m still going to our basic education.”
Commander Yorta glanced at her staff then went back to Allison.
“So, you’re still a child, why are you here?”
Allison blushed.
“Well, I was ordered home, but it is complicated. I didn’t choose to come here. I am active duty military with the System’s Alliance. At least until I get suspended when I get home… for not going home… or not if the Sal’nash attack.”
Commander Yorta raised one of her white eyebrows.
“Sal’nash? We could not translate that.”
Allison nodded.
“It’s a species of insectoid that devours everything in its path… We’re at war with them. I’m the… I am what is called a Battlelord, I am in command of the response fleet, so the chances of them actually locking me up or suspending me are nil.”
“Do they often send children to fight wars?”
Allison blushed and shook her head.
“No, it is really hard to explain. Look where I’m from, I live on the edge of our space, it’s dangerous so we are allowed to join young with parental consent. Typically, we wouldn’t be expected to be in command of anything or actually in combat but like… there is this whole thing I really don’t want to get into, I am the big exception to the rule. We can’t join full time until twenty-one. I am… I was, the League calls me a tactical prodigy. That is what a Battlelord is, we have an intuitive tactical mind. They believe I am the only one that can win the war it is really hard to explain their social… their beliefs. I’m not even part of the League.”
The command staff of the Valient all glanced at each other. Commander Yorta nodded.
“I see it is a lot of responsibility for a child. We have strict laws surrounding child labor and who can be on a starship on the front lines so to speak. Do you feel, used?”
Allison shook her head.
“No, I volunteered. I had to prove I was ready for this. You need to understand I am not a normal teenage girl. I am from a very powerful family that founded our civilization most of the board and the president are related to me in some fashion. My biological mother is considered a goddess. You are probably getting the most odd example of humanity. I understand why it’s confusing.”
Commander Yorta almost said something more on the subject but was cut off by a tone and then flashing purple lights. She sighed and tapped her wrist.
“What is it bridge?”
A woman answered her.
“A Gargaron fleet has arrived they are hailing us and requesting to speak to you directly.”
Commander Yorta sighed.
“Of course they are. We’re on our way.”
Everyone started to get up, Allison looked around. She wasn’t sure what she was supposed to do. Commander Yorta motioned to her.
“You’re part of this, please join us on the bridge.”
Allison followed the Commander, her first officer and security chief, to the bridge. They all took their seats. Commander Yorta motioned to a chair beside her that was currently unoccupied.
“Have a seat, Lieutenant.”
Allison sat down in yet another far too comfortable chair to be on a warship. Commander Yorta stood up and in front of their main viewscreen. The bridge was far different than Allison was used to, none of the controls were holographic. They seemed to lack any real holographic tech.