Shiro’s shuttle landed in a nice clearing. A dozen other shuttles were already on the ground along with a couple of drop ships. The operation however was not yet underway. The local union scientists were resisting. She didn’t blame them, the ruins were incredible. Looking over the nearby ruin, she took in the clean, smooth, almost organic lines of the alien spires. They were made of materials with similar strength to those the Sylnari Remnant used in the construction of their ships. They were the remnants of an elder age. Problem was that they couldn’t be allowed to remain.

She had her orders, and they would be carried out. Which is why the drop ships had brought down the most powerful explosive they knew of. A dozen bombs containing an experimental AMF warhead. These massive warheads each had enough power to devastate the local biosphere so preparations had been made to limit the damage. The Alliance had shipped shield generators here, and they were being put it place right now to contain the inevitable shockwaves. While local Union forces had already evacuated most of the southern continent just incase.

“You can’t do this! You stupid military types are all the same! You find something you don’t understand and you try to destroy it!” screamed a Mydorian scientist at the top of her lungs. She and several of her colleagues were among the few hold outs. Another Mydorian this one in a general's uniform walked toward her.

“Still having trouble with these holdouts I see,” said Shiro.

“They are still protesting the decision to level the ruins, but it is only a matter of time before another Cylovan force tries to make a run at the ruins again,” said the general.

“We are running out of time. My troops can clear the protestors out easily enough,” said Shiro.

“That won’t go over well with public opinion,” said the general. Shiro knew it wouldn’t, but that was the kind of problem that the Union had to deal with. Just like every other Republic out there the government stood heavily on public opinion.

“I didn’t think it would, but I am serious about running out of time. My long range sensor detected a second Cylovan fleet headed this way. This one is larger with 48 ships. Twelve of which have been identified as cruisers,” said Shiro.

“Wait! Twelve cruisers? The Cylovans don’t normally send that many capital ships against a world,” said the general.

“Your fleet already has a plan to repulse the incoming cruisers, but it just shows how important these ruins are to the Cylovans,” said Shiro.

“I see your point, and if they decided to send that big ship I have heard about we won’t be able to protect them. Go ahead and clear them out, but try not to kill anyone,” said the general. Shiro immediately gave orders for her troops to forcefully evac the protesting scientists, but ordered them to only use weapons set to stun.

One Month Earlier

SFS Enterprise

Two hours after the Battle over Aizur II:

Countryman had retired to his office. There wasn’t anything really important to do. Which gave him the time to focus on his own projects. In this case, he was running his own materials simulation. He had told Selia that they had reached a roadblock in armor development, but what he hadn’t told her was that developing a better material was his own pet project. The only lab working on the project reported directly to him, and he often ran a few simulations of his own, whenever he had the chance. They were still in the simulation phase, and had yet to find a material that showed any promise in supplanting the current Titan Alloy.

So far the latest simulation wasn’t showing any improvement over the last. In fact several of the readings were worse. Which indicated that this one was likely a step away from what they wanted. Suddenly he heard a ding from the door, and he minimized the simulation. Before telling whoever was in the hall to come in. The door opened, and his operations officer Misaki sauntered into the room.

“Captain Shiro sent back her report. The system really is as unremarkable as our data said. However, at some point in the past an Elder race must have had a colony in the system. We found a number of ruins scattered across the Southwestern region of the Southern continent,” said Misaki.

“An Elder race? Is she certain?” asked Countryman.

“Yes. We can’t be certain who built them, but the artifacts down there look to be highly advanced. Not only that, but the ruins down there are positively ancient. We were unable to get an exact age, but they are somewhere between two to three hundred thousand years old. They are also remarkably intact for their age. Not surprising considering that the buildings were made out of solid neutronium,” said Misaki.

“That could be a problem. Tell Shiro to run extensive scans of those buildings, and send what data we have on them to the labs. Also contact Selia, and get her up here. I have a few questions I would like to ask her,” said Countryman. As Misaki rushed off to carry out his orders, Countryman returned to his earlier simulation.

The computer had already completed the analysis of the proposed materials and configuration. He changed a variable, one he believed to be the biggest problem maker, and reran the simulation. A few minutes later, Selia announced her arrival at the door. After Countryman let her in, she sat down in one of the chairs in front of his desk.

“You wouldn’t happen to know of an elder race colony on Aizur II, would you,” asked Countryman as soon as she was settled.

“I’m not aware of any on Aizur II, but it isn’t far from the historical borders of three different old races. So it wouldn’t surprise me. I take it you found one there,” said Selia.

“Yes, I wanted to know what drew a Cylovan fleet to attack the system, and the only thing of interest was some old ruins,” said Countryman.

“If there are indeed old ruins there, then they must be destroyed. The Remnant has been forced to destroy a number of such sites to keep any technology that may remain, out of Cylovan hands,” said Selia. Countryman fell silent for a bit, before replying, “Unfortunately I would have to agree. The buildings are made of pure neutronium, so they would make an excellent test for our experimental warheads. I think it would be best if we attempt to destroy the ruins,” said Countryman.

“That might be best. We have few ships to spare for such endeavours, that it would be a large help if you could,” agreed Selia.

“I’ll need to speak with Telkeki. It would be best to convince the union of this first,” said Countryman.

“Given the way the war has been going as of late, I suspect that they would agree. Especially if they were offered something of value to compensate the loss,” said Selia.

“I figured as much myself. There isn’t much we have to offer, but I’m sure our hyperspace scan data would be invaluable to them. They could use it to chart more efficient routes through hyperspace, but that is only the obvious applications,” said Countryman. Then he continued, “However, I don’t think that would be needed. I’m sure I will be able to convince her of the necessity without an offer.”

“No, I don’t think it will either. I’ll mention this to my people. That way they can have a ship on standby if your experimental warheads don’t work,” said Selia.

“Go ahead. I have a few calls to make myself now,” said Countryman. Selia then excused herself, and Countryman started making those calls he mentions. The first thing he did was order a supply of experimental warheads to be prepared for testing. Then he sent a hail out to Telkeki. Fortunately, she wasn’t too busy at the time and was able to respond immediately. Her ugly image appearing on his monitor, which he remembered to set to black and white. Monochromatic helped mute the clashing color schemes of colorful Mydorian fur. Not that any of them would say anything about it to their face.

“You caught me a bit late. I was about to call it a day. Is there something I can help you with?” said Telkeki.

“Sorry, about that. A colony of yours has recently come to my attention thanks to a Cylovan attack,” said Countryman.

“I’m guessing that would be Aizur II a report about it just recently crossed my desk. I think I saw mention of a few of your ships in the area,” responded Telkeki.

“That would be the one. Are you aware that the planet is home to ruins belonging to an elder race?” asked Countryman.

“Yes, I am quite aware. We have been studying the ruins for decades. Don’t know what I am going to do about them now that the Cylovans have learned of them,” said Telkeki.

“Now that the Cylovans know of them, you would be hard-pressed to defend them. I would rather not let them have the ruins for who knows what kind of horrors they would make with the knowledge they could glean from them,” said Countryman, pushing the conversation in the direction he wanted.

“The best solution would be to level the ruins, and have what artifacts that can be moved shipped elsewhere. Unfortunately they are made of solid neutronium, and that makes things difficult to say the least,” said Telkeki.

“I have some experimental warheads that are nearly ready to be tested. In theory they should be able to punch through solid neutronium if the warheads are big enough,” said Countryman.

“As much as it pains me to say it. I think that would be the best solution. I’m going to have to deal with a bunch of angry scientists though,” said Telkeki.

“Well if you want something to help with the scientists, I have an extensive amount of hyperspace scan data I could sell you. I’m sure it could help your people plot more efficient routes through hyperspace,” Countryman suggested.

“How extensive? I need to know what it would be worth,” asked Telkeki. Countryman responded with a brief sentence and sent her a small sample of the data, and then said, “That is a small fraction of what we have to offer. Our database includes fifty years worth of extensive hyperspace sweeps.”

“If even half the data is as detailed as this sample, this would be worth millions, no billions of credits. I think I know how we will officially frame this exchange. We will sell you the rights to the Aizur II ruins, and pay you the equivalent of half a billion credits for your entire collection of hyperspace data,” said Telkeki. Countryman had the computer do a few quick calculations on the worth of the database, and found her offer was close to the appropriate price. In fact based on the market data they had she was offering more than what the database was worth.

“That price seems fair. I’ll send you a list of materials we want,” nodded Countryman.

“Sure, I’ll get together the official paperwork, and we can finalize it at Aizur II?” asked Telkeki.

“I’ll be sending a ship to deliver the experimental warheads to the Battlehawk anyway, so I’ll have an official representative tag along,” replied Countryman.

“That should work, and in the meantime I am going to speak with the Alliance. Testing such high yield weapons could have all sorts of environmental impacts, and the Alliance has some useful tools,” said Telkeki.

“Sounds like a good idea, but if anything goes wrong my people possess extensive knowledge of terraforming. Nowadays we use it to maintain artificial arboretums and other shipboard environments, but we did terraform two of the major planets in our home system,” said Countryman leaving out that they never finished the terraforming process on one of the planets.

“I appreciate the offer, but we also have a fair knowledge of terraforming. Anyway, do you have any leads on your pirate hunting?” asked Telkeki.

“No, but our scouting groups have only had time to search a handful of systems. No pirate bases have been found. We have chosen an isolated system in the belt to use as a base site for charting the belt. Don’t worry we will find those pirates before long. We have a great deal of experience navigating hazardous regions of space, and the equipment to navigate in regions more difficult than this one,” said Countryman.

“Yes, I believe one of you mentioned that before, but I do wonder why you have experience navigating hazardous regions,” said Telkeki.

“The hazards of exploring uncharted space is that you often come across dangers you don’t know about. In our travels we have often entered uncharted space, and we have had encounters with some anomalies more dangerous than the ones we have seen so far in the belt,” said Countryman. Telkeki mentioned that his explanation made sense, and then they exchanged pleasantries before signing off. Countryman settled back into his office seat, and considered the large amount of work that needed to be done, before making the next call on his list.

Present Day:

At her order dozens of marines drew their pistols, and proceeded to sweep the ruins, and the surrounding structures. A model of efficiency they swept the grounds with remarkable speed, and before even twenty minutes had passed the forty odd protestors on the site had been rounded up. While another group went to set up the warheads at the prime detonation sights, a couple of shuttles were loaded to move the protestors to a safe site.

It was almost no time at all, before Shiro had reboarded her shuttle. Heading off to her ship. She and her sister ship the SFS Accentor had an appointment with Cylovan Cruisers to keep, and she needed to be back aboard now that the problem had been resolved.

As soon as she was aboard she headed to the bridge, where she had to wait mere moments before getting the report she was waiting for.

“Sir, all the sites have been cleared, and are ready for detonation,” reported her operations officer.

“Set sensors for maximum gain, and initiate the first sequence,” ordered Shiro as she focused her gaze on the screen facing the planet. The last of the shuttles sent down could be seen just as it left the atmosphere. Mere seconds later the first of the detonations occurred. At first there was no visible sign of the blast, as the neutronium absorbed most of the energy. Then the stuff started to liquify moments before expanding balls of fire rippled outwards from the first site. Minor quakes registered at the sites just as predicted, and the shockwaves were contained by the Alliance provided shield generators. Just as the first waves were disappearing the second sequence began. Once again expanding balls of fire blossomed on the surface, each easily visible from space, and most of the energy absorbed by the neutronium.

After the last bomb went off, much of the countryside had been reduced to molten craters. The extreme heat of the detonations having melted everything into lava. Large amounts of vaporized water and other gases rose into the air. Their temperature falling quickly as they rose. Before long, clouds were forming, an indicator that a storm may soon be on its way. The incoming rain would likely cool the site back down.