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Chrarada sat across from the very nervous Srettia. The former explorer whose previous job was that of a simple miner now sat across the table, fidgeting with a golden pin denoting her as Aasteran's first ambassador. "I get that you're nervous, Ambassador, but you must learn to control the pheromones your releasing. Though truth be told, I'm flattered you would think that way of me." Chrarada said, noticing the scent of both lust and terror in the air.

Srettia screamed to herself as she tightened her hood against her neck, a vain attempt to stifle the scent. "I-It's not like that First Tail. I um.."

Chrarada let out a boisterous laugh as she watched the fledgling Ambassador struggle with the pressure. "Relax, I'm not so blind to scents as to miss your mark on that Terran pilot. I fear I may have interrupted you at an inopportune time." She slyly noted while flicking her tail in amusement. "From miner to diplomat. How the universe works is all but a mystery to us..." Putting on a serious face, Chrarada then straightened herself and put on a regal air. "Though teasing you is quite enjoyable, I am here to coach you while we still have time."

Digging around in a bag, Chrarada smoothly took out a datapad and slid it across the table. "On that data slate, I have written down the all but the lost etiquette when meeting foreign dignitaries, something we have done away with since our unification during the great freeze. If you have any questions, ask them now. I will help you with what little information we have."

Srettia curled her tail and looked down at the datapad. "What do you expect of me when I get to Terran space? I barely finished school."

"I expect you not to embarrass our people in front of the Terrans. Show them we are not broken even if we are accepting their help. That we are proud, and that when death stared our people in the face, we survived." Chrarada replied, flicking her tail in annoyance. "The entirety of their people will be watching you when you arrive. I expect the dignity and grace befitting of our people. That is all. I do not expect you to negotiate with their leaders. That has already been done, and the council will handle the related topics when the rest of the Terran civilization inevitably visits our system."

Srettia looked over the gestures, the positions, how to carry her tail and flare her hood, and how to scent the air in front of others in a proper manner. "This is impossible! How am I supposed to achieve this on such short notice!?"

Chrarada sighed and shifted her weight; she leaned against her chair and flicked her tail as if amused with the diplomate in front of her. "You'll just have to as the job is now yours, whether you want it or not. The rest of the council is busy with the varying nuances of running the system while dealing with the Terran Union. Only Muldios was willing to make the trip, and he was demanding a Terran mining station and refinery in return for the losses the mining guild would take in his absence. I cannot in good conscience allow such a trade."

"What about our current diplomats?" Srettia tried, already knowing the answers.

"You're joking, right? I just said we haven't had an ambassador since the council was formed during the great cooling. Now stop this playing and work with me." Chrarada Demanded. "It's your duty as the mate of a Terran to represent and our people to the Terran government and the hope it brings."

Srettia groaned and picked up the datapad. "I thought I wasn't supposed to negotiate. If I'm reading this demand right, I'd be considered a Terran if they accept it?"

"Yes. Yes, it does." Chrarada said with a smile. "It was the Admirals suggestion he said it was common among his people."

Srettia eagerly began reading the datapad, finding her new posting suddenly much more enjoyable as the thought of becoming a Terran citizen nipped at her mind.

"Ohh, One last thing... Try not to eat the wildlife while on Earth." Chrarada stated, mischievously flicking her tail.

Srettia stood and slammed her hands on the table as both frustration and embarrassment washed over her. "I did nothing of the sort!" She nearly yelled, looking Chrarada dead in the eyes.

"I know. I never said you did." Chrarada said with a sly grin, tail still flicking playfully. "I did. Earth mammals are quite delicious, you know."

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"This information is accurate, sir?" Michael asked, looking at the star chart with a grim face.

"According to the data we pulled from the command ship, it is. Terran space is considered to be a part of Briold space. Though they haven't gone anywhere near far out, it still means they consider us their slaves and property, as according to our most recent conversation." Admiral Miles replied, throwing up a few more star charts.

Michael frowned and panned the chart to get a better look. "It looks like they took a stylus and drew randomly around this entire sector. How can you take this seriously?" He asked, frustrated at this finding.

"We're taking it seriously because they're heading this way due to our intervention. They'll eventually assault the Aaster system in force and send scouts in other directions... They'll eventually find Terran space, maybe not this year or the next, or even the next ten years with their current warp. But eventually, they will. When they do, they'll consider what they find theirs, and people may end up like Ankiah or Yirphayen. I will not let that happen, not while I'm alive."

Michael nodded and accepted the data slate. "Fleet Admiral eyes only, I assume?"

Admiral Miles nodded. "You would be correct. It's everything we have on the Briold, all data from across our engagements, and recommendations to outfit and train more boarding marines."

"Understood, sir. Any other orders?" Michael asked.

"No. I just need you to make sure the Fleet Admiral gets that. I have faith that the moment he does. He'll bring hell to this sector."

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"Are you sure you can't come with us?" Ankiah whined, holding tightly onto her former guard, now turned lover.

"I am. Time off was denied based on not knowing when I'll return to Aaster space. Besides, you'll be fine on your own without me for a bit. Just remember all the stuff I taught you, and you'll be fine." Private Caithen replied.

Ankiah looked down to her feet and rubbed the back in embarrassment. "Like I can forget." She whispered.

"Good, I have more techniques to teach you when you return... I wasn't talking about that, ya goof..." Caithen noted, sighing as she noticed Ankiah's tail swishing unevenly. "I was talking about our exercises. Though I must admit... That stuff was fun too... Quite the breath of fresh air on how forward you aliens are. Both you and from what I've heard about the Aasteran. You guys see someone you want and just kind of... Take it, I guess? We, humans, tend to play games... It can be annoying." Caithen replied, Tightening her hug.

"Are you saying I'm easy?" Ankiah answered, faking her annoyance.

"Oh, no! You play hard to get quite well... For all of three hours." Caithen said, playfully squeezing Ankiah's tail.

Shivering, Ankiah leaned into Caithen's hug. "Well. In my defence, you have some great tits and a beautiful ass."

"Ahh. I see. Just some TnA while you search for a mate, am I?" Caithen replied, releasing her hold.

"Maybe... Maybe I like the fact that you make me feel safe..." Ankiah responded, unable to meet Caithens eyes.

"Well, I'll let you in on a secret..." Caithen whispered, leaning into Ankiah. " You're already tougher than a lot of Terrans. So when you get to Earth and make your speech, you put on your fanciest dress, and you look right into the camera drones. You tell them your story with your head held high and be proud that you survived. You tell them that others still need help and demand they do something. Because we can."

Ankiah sniffed and hugged Caithen tightly. "I'll make sure to come back. Keep the bed warm for me, Antigone."

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Srettia gracefully walked onto the bridge, only stumbling twice over her feet as she took her seat. "Are you ready to go home?"

Michael held back a snicker and grinned as he began to power up the ship. "Yup, Jack and I have just been going over some final checks."

"My father wished us luck on our journey."

"How is your father doing, Jack?" Srettia asked, buckling herself in as Yirphayen entered the bridge.

"He is well. He is excited to work with Viscia on a new companion."

Yirphayen created itself a crash couch and attached itself to the wall, letting out a chime of amusement. "I am ready to see your home friend Michael."

"Me too!" Came Ankiah's voice through from a nearby speaker.

Srettia keyed in her command inputs and wiggled into her seat. "Is this right? Fold drive says two minutes to get to the Sol system? How is that possible? I checked a while back how long warp would take, and it was nearly a year in this ship."

"The fold drive is much faster. Very much so."

Michael bit his tongue and continued his startup sequence. "What Jack is trying to say is that this is why Tanda was going crazy. Viscia's warp fix really helped to make this fold drive into something special."

"Hangar is signalling all-clear for takeoff. We are good to go."

Srettia Grabbed her controls and began to ease her ship out of the hangar. "It feels... Sharp. Did they do something to the impulse without telling us?"

"Viscia increased impulse efficiently by approximately seven percent. No other changes have been made."

"Man, you Terrans suck at technology." Ankiah quipped through the speaker. "Least now I know to buy an Aasteran ship when I get the credits to."

"Hey now, don't be mean. We're always improving our own shit and asking what the hell we were thinking when we make progress. Science and technology are inherently progressive as a result of such things. You build shit, then make it better, then make that better. Viscia just seems to be good at making our stuff a bit better, is all." Michael replied as he shifted power from weapons to nav shields.

"Seems like she's making a lot of your technology better." Srettia replied proudly, Directing her ship into open space.

"She is a brilliant individual. She is an important person and is defended as such. Leda base is giving us the all-clear for fold jump."

"What do you mean defended? I didn't see anyone." Srettia replied as she double-checked her nav systems.

"They were see-through, Ankiah quipped through the speaker. "I could smell them but couldn't see them. They were sneaky buggers."

"What Ankiah said." Michael stated, noting the fact Ankiah could smell stealth troops.

"Were they the forms crouching around the one known as Viscia? She didn't seem to notice their presence though they were observing her closely." Yirphayen chimed in confusion, hoping for clarification.

"So we have one alien who can taste them, one that can smell them, and one that can just straight up see them. Guess our stealth troops only work on Terrans." Michael lamented to no one, making another note to pass along.

"Fold core charge at ninety percent and ready. You may initiate the jump."

"Well, I, for one, think they're sneaky." Srettia retorted with a chuckle.

Michael turned to Srettia and gave her a grin. "Remember when you thought the fancy colours in warp were boring?"

Srettia frowned and looked at Michael to see that stupid grin again. "I remember you telling me fold space was worse."

"GET GOING ALREADY, SLOWPOKES. I WANNA GET BACK TO ANTIGONE!" Ankiah yelled through the speaker, alarming Yirphayen.

"Well, then... I don't know who Antigone is, but I can guess. Will you do the honour or taking us home?" Michael said, noticing the core was at full power.

"It would be my honour... That's what you say, right? That lesson Chrarada beat into me was... Not fun." Srettia replied, lazily hitting the fold command.

The ship gently shuddered as it compressed the space and began the task of deploying the warp bubble around it. Not having to wait long, the core released the compressed space sending the Blazing Sun screaming towards the sol system. Well... Much to Srettia's disappointment. She actually felt and saw nothing.

"A-Are we moving?" She asked, seemingly confused.

Michael laughed and pointed at the same screen Jack had brought up the first time he asked. "Yup, see, we're moving."

"THIS IS BORING!" Ankiah yelled.

Srettia looked at her display and concluded that this was, in fact. Boring." You weren't joking. This is a bunch of nothing."

Yirphayen let out a screech of terror as it shrunk itself to be as small as possible, almost pushing itself through the wall as it hid in a corner. "STOP! We are going too fast."

"You are fine, Yirphayen. Everything is fine. This is all calculated and safe. Be at ease." Jack responded, sending a soothing harmony towards the terrified being.

"Well, I know who not to take on a roller coaster." Michael quietly quipped.

"It perceives space differently. It might see something we do not."

Srettia nodded her head as she monitored the incoming data. "That's a good point. The being travels at warp by itself, and he's terrified of fold space. We still might be missing something."

"I would assume so. I heard that down here." Ankiah shouted. "I think it damaged my ears."

"Didn't seem that loud to me." Michael replied, contemplating the oddity.

"Same here." Srettia said, checking her systems.

"Another mystery. We are ten seconds from the Sol system. Please be patient, Yirphayen."

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"Unidentified ship approaching Sol at impossible speed's"

"Scramble all available ships for intercept, Don't let it enter Sol space!"

"The First Fleet is en route Warp Skip approved clearing space."

"First Fleet in position ship arrival in sixteen seconds."

"First fleet confirming contact I.F.F. 'A.D.V. Blazing sun.' No known record of A.D.V, First Fleet is requesting permission to engage."

"DENIED!" Admiral Adelyn Perrin shouted as she charged into the Sol C.I.C. "I want that ship captured and brought to Luna for study immediately!"

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