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"Captain Khasta of the Relarus, what are your thoughts on the current situation?" Asked task force commander Ethuci. "We've all see the recording, but you're the only one who had contact with the victim. Did you notice anything strange when you were speaking with her?"

"No sir, nothing we haven't all seen already. I would wager the alien we saw outside the ship installing the foreign data board invaded the vessel after the victim fled the crash site. Then proceeded to alter her ship, so its signal could bypass the system security field." Replied Khasta, watching a video of the alien hammer away and tear off a steel panel during high-speed space transit. "We should be careful of whatever it is." Khasta agreed with most of the captains at this summit. The alien posed a massive threat to the security of the Aasteran people, and its strength was something to be wary of.

Ethuci continued with his presentation, looking into a camera so the other captains watching could see just how serious the situation was. "We know it's abnormally strong and durable from the video. Has advanced communication knowledge, letting it bypass the security field. And capable of greater stealth, allowing it to flee the crash site without detection." He listed, pacing around his office. "We also know from our long-range scans of the Lottyim that it thrives in the cold. The fact it's the only life form we can seldom detect on the ship is concerning, but also confirms that it's hostile having killed the ship's captain."

Just as Ethuci was about to continue his speech, a robotic voice interrupted the Commander's monologue. Captian Tushtra Requests the floor. It announced.

"Go ahead, Captain." Ethuci replied.

"Could the alien be part of an invasion force? Maybe an advanced scout? Or perhaps... Returning to finish what its species began over two hundred years ago?" Tushtra added.

The conference room was quiet as the captains busied themselves studying the new data supplied on Acarro's destruction. Some stone-faced while others worried. Most, however, had a look of rage on their face upon learning of this new information.

"We'll be able to ask it when we capture it." Replied Ethuci. "The infiltration team will launch in twelve minutes, with the new style boarding craft. They'll catch it before it has a chance to leave the system. Any more questions?"

Silence washed over the conference room as the captains began issuing their new orders.

"There is a lot at stake. we can't let this alien leave the system and inform its masters our people are still alive." Explained Ethuci. "We need to buy as much time as we can for the fleets to muster at worst. At best. We destroy it before it leaves our system."

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The new squad sat in silence. It was a hastily put together group, and the only common thing between them was the removal of rank and identity. With that, the only thing the team fully understood was the voice of the team leader. All present knew who it belonged to. He was a legend, taking down a ship of over thirty pirates single handily after a boarding pod malfunction.

Talon leader Hezexhel, Currently rankless.

"Do not. I repeat, DO NOT! Engage in close quarters." Hezexhel announced. "You all saw the video of it. Steel might as well have been paper with its strength. If it tries to get close, just run. Remember, the operation is capture and contain, so non-lethal only." He finished, noticing the boarding ship shuddered. "Prepare yourselves for the enemy approaches."

"This will always the worst part." Hezexhel thought, taking in a deep breath while the new launching system finished ejecting the ship at a velocity incomparable to the previous version.

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Admiral Miles hummed to himself happily while studying first contact procedures with a few of his hand-picked officers.

"This Jack didn't give us much to go on." Complained, captain Andriet.

"That's to be expected. The pilot basically crashed, got picked up by an alien, and high-tailed it out of the system. And don't forget we owe an FTL drive to the woman dropping him off." Corrected Bria

"An alien woman, a lizard, alien woman." laughed Tanda. "How the hell did this Jack translate her language so quickly anyway?" He excitedly asked.

Admiral Miles looked around the room. He trusted them enough to take on this mission, but what Jack told him. That Jack was a. "This doesn't leave the room or even your head, and you will not tell the Aasteran. Is that clear? This knowledge is even over my pay grade, but it's something that may impact the mission."

The three newly appointed diplomats stared at the Admiral in shock wondering just what kind of information would be above an Admiral's pay grade. Taking a moment after confirming they understood the severity of the information and what kind of damage a leak could cause, Admiral Miles carefuly informed them of Jack's true identity. "Jack is a True A.I. and Captain Michael's Co-pilot. Translating their language was apparently 'a Piece of cake' for him."

After a bit of silence, Tanda was the first to speak up. "How, when? Did they make him? And he's friendly? I mean, I'm excited. He's out here helping us and everything. But they just shot an experimental engine and an A.I. into an inhabited system?"

"The system information wasn't known at the time. And I have a question about this part here." Bria replied, holding up her datapad towards the Admiral. "Culture exchange including Music, Art, and basically all media from what I can tell, which is good. But, do we give them access to our data tech, or do we find a way to just dump it on one of their info systems? I'm looking forward to some alien dramas."

Tanda was speechless, "How the hell does humanity's first friendly A.I. take second place to alien soap operas?" He demanded.

"If they even have the concept of drama. They might think the topic is offensive or something weird like that." Captain Andriet added.

"And that's why we're studying contact procedures. I don't want this going to shit, and Jack says they're nice people. So I have high hopes this will go smoothly." Replied the Admiral, looking down to a low beep informing him he had an incoming message.

"What the hell!" Tanda ejected, looking over the team with disappointment.

"Bridge to Admiral Miles."

"Miles here." He crisply replied.

"One of the Aasteran ships launched what looks to be some kind of high-speed craft. It will intercept the Lottyim within the hour."

"I'm on my way to the bridge," He answered, rising from his seat immediately and rushing towards the door.

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Jack was busy watching the interaction between Srettia and the unconscious, Michael. She was taking great care wiping the sweat and used nanites that were, as she referred to it. 'Leaking' from his body

"How curious" He thought.

She had only known Michael for a little over four days but seemed rather attached to him. "Father did say organics can form close relationships at seemingly random times." He thought, recording the interaction and filing it beside the previous encounter. Jack chuckled. "I may need to set up another encounter for them. This has been rather enlightening."

"T.E.S. Quest results, This is T.S.N. Warmonger of the Seventh fleet Respond."

Jack sighed and patched himself through the new coms array, "This is Jack of the Quest results."

"Are you detecting the ship on intercept course?" The voice asked.

Jack was stunned. He was so absorbed watching the organics that he missed the ship closing in on his own. "we won't be able to outrun that ship." He informed the Warmonger.

A reply came through a few seconds later. "Understood, the fleet is thinking up a plan. Orders are to defend yourself and the pod."

"Understood." Jack responded, cutting the link soon after.

Jack quickly began scanning the ship, then the pod and the craft approaching. It was then Jack came to a concerning realization, He could do nothing.

"Michael was right about this system."

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Five until impact Hezexhel informed his squad. He could hear the laser drills charging on the sides of the ship. "This is the last check, make sure your gear is ready. Once again, we don't know what this thing can do, so keep your distance and stay alert. We'll be coming in around engineering on our current course. The plan is simple, shut down engines and power, take the bridge, then sweep the ship, got it?"

"Let's bag us an alien and save our people." One of his squadmates responded.

The laser drills activated, and the boarding craft rammed into the Lottyim, cleaving its way into the engineering compartment and rattling its occupants in their harness. Seconds passed in silence before Hezexhel slammed the eject button, opening the doors and allow the team of ten to quickly pile out swept the area, looking for any surprises.

"Engine and power disabled." His team engineer advised.

Hezexhel swept his area, watching as his squad began reporting all clear through his helmet H.U.D. He paused to take one last look at the room before signalling his team to follow. His unit then made its way slowly out of the engineering bay, silently pushing down the hall, their eyes wide in anticipation.

"It's not coming up on the bio scanner." Hissed a faceless teammate.

"Nothing on I.R." Reported another.

"Something's not right. It should know we're here. Is it stalking us?" A third said, trying but failing to control his tail.

"Eyes open, listen for movement." Hezexhel commanded as the team advanced through the ship, making their way to the bridge unopposed. "This is definitely too easy." He thought to himself. "Is the monster scared? Does it care?"

"I can't get control of the ship. Some alien tech is keeping me out of the system." Stated the team engineer.

"There's the problem." One of his teammates replied with a chuckle.

"The engines are disabled regardless. The task force will catch up eventually, so let's hunt the alien while we wait for pickup." Hezexhel announced. It was then his team spent the next hour sweeping the ship before coming to the storage hold in slight annoyance of their lack of encounters.

"It's gotta be in here." Hezexhel heard offhandedly.

"Stay alert! We can't let this thing get away, weapons ready, and remember it's extremely dangerous. Breach in Three, Two, One!" Hezexhel and his team stormed the storage hold. Stun guns held high and glue bombs in hand, they quickly washed over the hold like a mighty flood.

"Nada, boss." A teammate reported.

Hezexhel was worried. It obviously had some sort of extreme stealth equipment. His squad might not even be able to see it if they were looking directly at it. "Poor girl." He thought, looking at her massive ore haul. "She was about to be rich." He finished, pausing for a second.

"Hold on, that's one odd piece of ore." One of his team stated, pointing up at a large oval piece.

After a moment of thought, Things began to fall into place for Hezexhel. "Team on me." He shouted into his com. It only took a few seconds for his nine other team members to gather, all of them looking at the strange piece of ore.

"Hey, boss. You don't think." The teammate was cut off as the engineer pushed him aside and held a scanner up to the giant piece of ore.

"This is it? This is the alien's ship! It's no wonder it got aboard. The damn thing is disguised as a piece of ore! She must have picked it up while working." Pulling out his laser cutter, the soldiers were murmuring their sympathies for the poor miner girl.

"I don't know what this thing is made of, but I'll have it open soon enough." The engineer declared with a grin.

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Jack watched as the boarding party scurry about the ship. A difficult task considering it was on emergency power. He slightly wished that he could encourage them, but they are currently the enemy. And though it took them a while, they did eventually find the pod. It took one of them standing in front of it for a good five minutes before he noticed something was off and called his team, however.

Jack was kind of proud of them. Right up until one of the big ones pulled out some sort of laser drill and started drilling into his body.

Jack was then cut off from the outside. He only had a minimal view due to the low power. "Least the drill is quiet." He thought to himself.

"Well, might as well try talking them. No power to any of the ship's external speakers anymore." He found. "Was I always this weak?" He thought to himself. Jack then decided to try talking to the only awake companion he had.

"Srettia, how are you doing?"

"I'm fine, Jack. I assume from the humming outside that the boarding team finally found us?" She asked.

"Yes, apparently we were cleverly hidden as ore. So it was hard for them to notice us. It will take them around two hours of drilling to get through the pod's armour."

Srettia looked into the nearest camera. "Do you have a plan? I don't think Michael's well enough to be moved yet, even if I could move him."

"I have control over all systems with power. But it amounts to cameras and environmental control. I also tried taking control of their suits to deactivate their mag boots. But it seems your boarding teams don't use power armour. So I am out of options. I do not know what to do."

Srettias face contorted in surprise. Like she just realized something important. "Are you scared?"

Jack paused for that felt like an eternity.

"I'm currently vulnerable. Taking the risk of flying a ship with Michael is one thing. It was my choice. Having armed soldiers board me and destroy my quantum processor in an attempt to dissect the ship is not a happy thought."

"You dodged the question, but I'll let it slide. I won't let them hurt either of you. How's that?" She smiled. "Besides, I need you both alive for my engine. How am I going to claim it when they ruin my paycheck."

"Is that why you are taking care of Michael?"

Laughing, Srettia replied. "He's my free heating stone. That's all he's good for." She replied, clearing the sweat from his brow again.

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Commander Soto was currently briefing his team excitedly as the boarding ship screamed through realspace. "Alright, lads! We're about to seal onto the ship. The word is the Aasteran have already boarded, and from what I saw, it was pretty impressive. They drilled right into the engineer section of the ship, so DO NOT. Underestimate these guys and NO NEURAL WEAPONS on your loadout. We don't know what it will do to them. Taser and antigrav weapons only. We're going with the standard boarding method and entering the cargo hold right on top of them, shield bearers upfront. Stay behind them. Move forward slowly and corral them away from the pod. Once they get the idea, we won't hurt them. I'll signal the suits to drop by. Any questions?" He asked, stepping into the control harness of his suit and selecting a Non-lethal loadout configuration.

Soto looked around as his team proceeded to do the same, exhaling as his armour closed around him...

Private Reinin was the first to speak up, waving his arms around to make sure his suit was working correctly. "Are there any alien babes?" He asked as laughter began to fill the armoury of the stealth ship.

Commander Soto, not one to let his team get one up on him, replied in kind. "Word on the street is our test pilot had a lizard girl giving him a ride out of the system before this shit went down."

"It's always the flyboys." Renin replied, eliciting more laughter in the armoury. "When do I get my alien babe?"

"Alright, Cut the chatter and get in position." The Commander ordered as the ship shuddered, and the exit light turned red.

His team then started forming upon him, and he moved to the side for the four shield bearers to get in position.

Admiral Eric Miles walked into the room as his team was waiting for the green light. "DO. NOT. Fuck this up, Commander. No one dies, got it?"

"Yes, sir." Commander Soto Replied.

"TEN SECONDS!" Was then announced over the speakers, prompting the Admiral to step back and saluted the team.

A Green-light appeared, and the door burst open. The shield bearers lifted their massive shields and activated the barrier they provided. They then proceeded to slam their shields together, making a massive wall of Kreinyx steel and hardlight barrier.

The Aasteran immediately opened fire to no effect. Their weapons bouncing off the shields barrier or harmless impacted the shields. The commando team held firm for a moment allowing the opposing force to empty their weapons before they slowly started walking towards the pod, making their intentions known.

A disk was thrown at the group, bouncing harmlessly of a shield, or at least it was supposed to.

"Gah, what the fuck is this shit." Sergeant Aleyn complained. His shield and armour was now coated in some kind of sticky fluid. But his power armour was quickly demonstrating it as a non-effective tool. In fact, it became clear from his cursing that he was more annoyed about having to clean his armour afterwards.

"PUSH THEM AWAY FROM THE POD!" Commander Soto yelled at the shield bearers noticing that the Aasteran had cut deeply into it. "I'll give them one thing, the bastards are brave as fuck" He yelled over the noise as his team marched them away from the pod and took up a defensive position.

Soto walked up to the emergency pod as the shield bearers blocked sight and began to key in the unlock code. Thankfully, it didn't take long as he heard the familiar click of a new coms unit joining the battle net.

"Do not enter the pod yet, Commander Soto. It's unsafe while the cargo hold is depressurized and cold."

"I assume you're Pilot Michael?" He asked.

"No, I am the Co-pilot Jack. Leave it at that for now."

Commander Soto was puzzled at the request but turned back to the battle. "Alright, I'll leave your pod alone."

As he rejoined his team behind the shields, he noticed the fire dying down and less fire going out. "Well, that was easy." He thought. "Don't let them do a sneaky sneak pay attention." He said over the group com. "Admiral Miles, the heat seems to be dying down, might want to get ready." Commander Soto informed the happily.

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Hezexhel knew his team's time was numbered. The aliens had snuck up on them and blew open the doors of the storage hold. He thought if his squad could regroup, he would have a chance. But the moment those giant aliens stepped forward and made that moving wall of steel and energy shield, he knew it was over as he was slowly being pushed away from the alien ship, and his team started hiding behind whatever cover they could find. "They aren't returning fire," He thought to himself. They're just standing there. "HOLD FIRE!" He shouted over coms

"They're just standing around like idiots behind those damn shields." One of his teammates said.

"Would you rather them start shooting?!" Another Yelled.

"Don't put your weapons down, but stop firing," Hezexhel ordered, slinging his weapon on his back.

He then peeked around his cover and took a deep breath as he put his hands out to his sides and lifting his tail for the aliens to see. He started walking slowly towards them. "I hope this works." He thought to himself, stepping out in the open. He made it to about halfway to the aliens, and he was happy to be right about them not trying to kill his people.

"I am Hezexhel of the Aasteran Military." He tried, stopping when he was easily spotted in the open.

"Keep your hands where we can see them and put your weapons down." He heard from one of the aliens, surprised he could understand them. So he did his best to comply with their demands. He dropped his stun rifle and electro-baton. "I am unarmed now." He answered back to them.

"Raise your hand's in the air palms facing us and walk over slowly, and uh, let me see your tail too! make sure you're not doing anything funny with that."

Hezexhel Laughed inside his head. These aliens seemed as nervous as he was suddenly.

Walking over to the aliens, He noticed their body language seemed more... Excited, then menacing. A few more steps and the shield wall opened up for him, so he walked through, holding firm as he listened for it to close behind him. Hezexhel then came face to face with what he thought was their group leader.

"Greetings. I am Commander Soto, Terran special forces. It's a pleasure to meet you, Hezexhel. Oh right, Our people come in peace." The alien stated.

Hezexhel nearly fell onto the floor in relief. "Once again, I am Hezexhel, no rank currently. And as long as you speak the truth, The pleasure is mine." He announced with a grin, tapping his tail twice on the floor in the traditional greeting of his people.

The alien then surprisingly extended its hand. "When meeting for the first time, it's a tradition between my people to grasp each other's hand. We call it a handshake." It announced.

Hezexhel reached forward and took the alien's massively armoured hand in his own, allowing himself a smile. "They come in peace." He laughed to himself, gripping the alien's hand tightly and planting his feet.

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