---------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Unhand me, you tools of a harlot! Do you not know who I am?! I will have you throw in prison for the rest of your miserable life, you worthless fools!!" Michael paused as he walked down the long street, trying his best not to terrify the locals as he continued towards the corner Resima had pointed out, taking great care to stay in the middle of the pack with Soto as she directed him to the precinct. "Umm... That normal around here?" "Wouldn't think you'd have problems with loudmouth idiots with the majority of your people the way they are." Soto added, eyeing the fuzzy centipede mammal thing he had yet to get the name of. "Yes. At times." She replied, though the unease could be easily seen on her face as she quickened her pace. "But that sounds like the section chief." Michael sighed as he resumed walking, listening closely to the screeching of a female and yells to calm down, rising in volume as he closed in on the building and the sound of crashing objects. "I'm not surprised. Not anymore, at least." Soto replied, putting his pistol back in its holster as he turned the corner and examined the hectic scene. Michael sighed as he walked towards the precinct, waving at the soldiers as they dragged what Michael assumed were high ranking peace officers out of the building. "What's going on, soldier?" Michael asked, walking up to the one with the shiny neck pins. "You are one of the aliens!?" She replied, turning towards Michael in surprise and getting rather close to him as she studied his armour. "Well, I suppose so since this is your planet... Care to tell me what's going on?" He replied, taking a step back and watching as the soldiers pushed uniformed Voktlix into bared carriages. "YOU ARE ALL TRAITORS TO THE TRUE PRESIDENT! I WILL BE FREE AND BANISH YOU ALL TO THE FOREST!" "Yes, we're apprehending these rebels and traitors as per President Ekianei and General Basthin." She replied with a smile, stepping off to the side as a cup was thrown through the window "YOU! RELEASE MY HUSBAND, YOU SCUM! YOU FILTHY ALIEN INVADER!" Michael nodded in annoyance and turned away from the female, opening a com to Aylen. "Aylen... Can you just say 'Michael says' and stare at Ekianei until she answers my question.... I know she's up to something again." "Uh... Sure I guess. Sir." Aylen replied, going silent. "Well then, Resima, seems your department is being gutted. Any ideas on what to do now?" Michael asked, noticing the horror on her face. "Oh, I guess this might be quite a shock to you. My condolences" "Um, Captain... She just said she might have mentioned where the former President was being held when the maids were attending to her last night while preparing for bed, then told me to think hard on the day's events. She won't say anything else." Aylen replied, not use to these cryptic Voktlix answers quite yet. Michael thought for a moment, his annoyance peaking as the Chief stared daggers at him, though he was thankful a soldier had seemed to put a muzzle on her. "Did she have lots of servants helping her or just one?" "Just a few, Sir... Ahh... Sneaky." Aylen chuckled, understanding the situation. "I'll mark the maids, sir, might come in handy when we need to hunt down a spy." "You do that, Aylen. And tell Ekianei to leave my crew out of this." Michael replied, finally turning back to Resima as he cut the com. "You going to be okay? I know It's been a rough day and all but." "Sir, alien... She was part of the team that attempted to steal your ship and will be held accountable." The lead soldier stated, twirling her hand in the air and rallying her soldiers to round up the new officers. "That won't be necessary; they're forgiven, and I won't be pressing any charges." Michael said in reply, waving off the soldiers as they surrounded the stunned officers. "Well... That's going to be a problem; while that's certainly possible for most of the group, someone still needs to be held accountable and punished as per our law. Sorry, but it's to prevent cases of blackmail and bribery. My apologies, sir alien. I'm allowed to let you decide who gets punished and their punishment, though... Umm.. As per our law... Sir alien. Sir..." The soldier replied, unsure of what to do in this case. "Well, shit, this is a problem. Can't I just like... Slap her on the wrist and be done with it?" Michael questioned as he turned to look a the group of officers. "Or maybe have one of them eat a dastardly meal of my choosing?" "Sorry, Mr. Alien.. Sir." The soldier said in reply, waving her hand around in the air as the soldiers finished caging up the offending officers. "This is dumb." Michael complained as he looked through the remaining group. "Who's in charge now that all your head idiots are dealt with?" Resima shook her head as she looked over to the soldier with questioning eyes, only to receive a shrug in return. "Umm, who's left?" "Uhh, I think you call them staff sergeants, and down were mostly untouched." The soldier replied with a shrug. "That would make me the senior officer as I hold the rank of Inspector." Resima's superior replied, arrogantly stepping forward and standing proudly in front of the building. "You're an Inspector!?" Soto replied, eyeing the female with amusement. "Inspector of what, butts? Well, I see your nose is the right colour at least." He said, not bothering to hide his thoughts on the Inspector's skill repertoire. Appearing to ignore the remark, the Inspector took a step forward and pointed at Resima. "My first decision as the ranking officer is to terminate your contract effective immediately. I don't need someone like you always questioning my every move." She said, tossing her nose in the air and walking up to the broken door. "I wouldn't have worked for you even if you begged me to! You tail sniffer." Resima spat, throwing her gear into the Inspector's face. "Take it you wanna be!" "Uhh... I'm still going to need your judgment on this, Mr. Alien, Sir." The soldier said, stepping off to the side. "Why do I feel like I'm playing right into Ekianei's hand by doing this." Michael said, turning to the boiling Voktlix. "You got any family that would be missing you if you went on an adventure?" "I have a wife that would miss me dearly." Resima replied, ignoring the cursing Inspector as she turned to face Michael. "Are you going to exile me?" "Hmm... That complicates things quite a bit. What does she do?" Michael asked, banking on the slim chance that her wife was a soldier. "She's a teacher." Resima replied, taking a step forward and glaring daggers at Michael. "I will not allow you to hurt her if that's what you are planning." "Shit..... You're not making this easy, ya know. What's she teach? Oh, and I promise I won't hurt her; I'm actually trying to help you." Michael replied, glancing to Soto, who had quite the angry stance on him. "Gardening, home-keeping, topography and geography. She normally teaches them all throughout the day." Resima replied, taking a step back to look over the assembled group of officers, some of which were slinking into dark corners in fear of punishment. "Well... You know, that's actually pretty useful. Okay, here is your punishment. You are to go home and pack your stuff. Clothes and sentimental valuables those kinds of things. Tomorrow morning, we'll send a shuttle to pick you and your wife up. You are now part of my crew, and your wife will be an advisor as we travel your planet." Michael replied, watching as the soldier nodded and turned to walk away with the carriages. "This planet is pretty damn annoying sometimes, ya know." He said, looking over to Soto, who still had quite the angry stance. Taking a moment to himself, Soto sighed and eased up, shaking his head in annoyance while he slowly turned to the ship's direction. "Captain. We don't have time to train new recruits like this." He said over the coms, walking through the officers who began piling into the building. "Well, I wasn't going to punish any of them for following that idiot's orders, even that dumb Inspector wasn't entirely in the wrong. And I'm not sure what losing a job in this culture would entail, so I'd rather just do what's right and help her out." "The saving grace is she should have some combat training at least." Soto replied, adding Resima to his combat training roster. "Yeah... We're going to leave the city as soon as the wall is done tomorrow. We're wasting too much time spinning our wheels here." Michael replied, turning towards Resima and handing her a com. "Push this button to talk to me when you're ready for pickup. Also, feel free to ask any questions you may have in the meantime. I'll be sure to make time for you while you're preparing." "I.. I'm still quite confused. Am I to be a member of your crew and travel the stars with you? My wife, She a normal, you know. She's frightful of new things." Resima replied, looking to both Soto and Michael in shock. "Depends on what happens. And I'll do what needs to be done to make her feel comfortable, so rest assured. Right now, we're gathering information on your planet's situation so we can better prepare for the counter-invasion in the coming month or so. Her knowledge may come in handy in that case. If you want to come with us when we leave... Well, as long as you work hard and fit in with the crew, I don't see why not. Though I'm pretty sure command is going to kick my ass for inviting all these people to come with us." Michael answered as he turned to walk with Soto. "Use that com if you need anything!" Resima paused to look around the area. The building she had worked in for the last few years had been nearly destroyed, and many objects had been tossed out just as she had been. But sitting in her had. She now held onto a once in a lifetime opportunity. To travel the world with her wife... and Aliens... And to possibly see the stars. Resima smile, pocketing the device and turning down the sidewalk, deciding to ignore her meagre possessions left in that stagnant building. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Transition to normal space in Three. Two. One... Transition Complete." "Good work. Now let's see how our hosts react to our presenc-" "Twenty-three ships on a high-warp intercept course, arrival in eight seconds." "Well, it looks like the information that was delivered was right about their promptness and discipline." "Incoming hail." "Put it on screen." "This is First Tail Chrarada of the Aasteran Star Phoenix Council. Thank you for Following Procedures this time.. Mr..?" "That's Quite the name.. I approve First Tail Chrarada. I am Fleet Admiral Cohen Ewart. It's a pleasure to finally meet you in real-time." The Admiral replied, sitting in the guest chair aboard the Unnamed Dread carrier. "Thank you for the compliment, Fleet Admiral. We chose the name after much deliberation but found the history of the creature suited us quite well. Now.. May I ask what you are doing here with such a large ship?" Charara replied, eyeing the Admiral through the screen in an attempt to guess his motives. "I come with gifts First Tail. You see, I'm quite troubled... This Dread Carrier and its normally held battle group... They were built strictly for war. To be a new fleet for our people to replace one we lost during the Pirate war. But alas, I find myself quite attached to my current ship, thus leaving this Dread Carried needing an Admiral and crew for the fleet that comes with it. You wouldn't happen to have an Admiral and crewmen in need of a fleet, would you? It would be doing me a great favour if you could solve this conundrum for me." Ewart replied dramatically from his guest chair as he looked to the Captain's chair with sorrow. "I do not like charity Fleet Admiral, and I assume you already know that. Yet still, you make me this insulting offer." Chrarada replied, standing from her Captain's chair and walking towards the display. "What are you up to?" Ewart sat back in his chair and looked at the leader with excitement. She was everything her file said her to be. Dropping the act and folding his fingers on his stomach, he gave Chrarada a piercing look. "I'm equipping you for war. Normally this dread carrier would be carrying frigates, cruisers, and fighters. Hundreds and thousands, respectively. Instead. It's carrying a massive construction yard, one you can set up in an Asteroid field. Just toss an asteroid in and spits out ships with fold drives. I come to you with a way to produce your own ships and ground weapons." "I accept." Chrarada replied, stepping forward with a vicious grin. "But you're still hiding something Fleet Admiral." "Very astute. I need volunteers. Lots of them..." Ewart began, sending a data packet to Chrarada. "You see, a large portion of our soldiers are equipped with combat nanites, keeping them healthy and in top shape. Our scientists at Luna have altered our nanites to potentially work with Aasteran soldiers, granting them quickened reflexes and strength. It won't make them as fast or strong as a Terran. But it would be a large boost to your physique." He finished, letting the idea hang in the air. "We also have new armour for all three of our people. For us, it's a simple fix, print and equip. For Voktlix and Aasteran... Well, training will be our main objective while the fleet musters." Chrarada studied the data with heated interest, humming to herself but ultimately finding the results too good to pass up on. " I don't like this. It feels like cheating. However, I will create a list of volunteers for you. Now... If there is anything else you are hiding. Please do enlighten me." "Nope That's it, First Tail. I've brought you a new flagship, a shipyard, new armour and nanites." The Admiral said with a smile, leaning back into his couch with a sigh. "Good. I accept your generous gift to our sovereignty, and you may now enter our system. Now get off my ship." Chrarada said, turning to walk off the bridge, Ethuci following close behind her as the display shut off. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------