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"Communication system is down, reactor stable, shield system compromised, weapons locked. We are being pulled away from our previous position."
"WHAT ARE THEY DOING!?" Srettia screamed, watching in horror as her systems were slowly locked out.
"I do not know. I am broadcasting friendly signals, but they continue to bombard the core system with command overrides that scramble my code every time I free a system."
"Fucking hell, that's a bloody dread carrier battle group. What the hell is one doing out here." Michael shouted, finally getting a quick look at the offending ships.
"What do you mean, 'Dread carrier?' That doesn't sound very Terran friendly happy people like!" Ankiah complained as she stepped into the cockpit.
"It's not supposed to be." Michael replied, finally getting a read on the speed at which they were moving. "We're moving fast. I don't think they want people to know what they're doing."
Yirphayen let out a chime of astonishment and pointed a newly grown digit towards the wall. "There is a very large mineral formation orbiting a larger formation approaching."
"I have regained control of the ship. We are still under the control of a tractor, however."
The displays flickered on as Jack finally regained some control of the ship, prompting the crew to gasp in awe at what they were seeing.
Shaking while trying to hold back a scream at the sight of the massive hangar, Srettia poked Michael with her tail in fear. "W-What am I looking at..." She asked, gasping in awe of the towers and mountain-sized weapon batteries.
"That's Luna base. I think I told you about this base before... The place you don't normally come back from when you're taken by force." Michael replied, deciding not to hide the fact that Luna was a terrifying place to be.
Ankiah screamed and held tightly onto Michael's crash couch. "I don't want to. No, I don't like the sound of this. Take me away from here!"
"They have locked me out of their systems. I cannot invade their network."
Michael gripped his control stick and ground his teeth in frustration as the carrier group forced his ship onto the deck. "Stay calm. Don't do anything stupid, and we'll come out of this just fine."
The lights of the ship flickered, and soon the speakers cracked.
"I have allowed them to take control of the speakers. Their demands should follow soon."
POWER DOWN YOUR SHIP AND COME OUT WITH YOUR HANDS UP PALMS OUT! FAILURE TO DO SO WILL WAIVE YOUR RIGHTS AS A TERRAN CITIZEN AND RESULT IN YOUR DESTRUCTION!
Michael began powering down the ship as he thought up a plan, anything he could do to fix the situation. "Alright... Here's the plan. I'm going to head out in my pilot suit. Srettia, Ankiah. You two run down to the armoury and get your gear on, now! I will distract them while you two get ready. I'll try to buy enough time for you two to get safe and only come out if I give the okay and only if I use the word Losus in the sentence. If they charge in. Do. Not. Resist. Them. The people on this base are trained to protect the Earth, and they take that job very. Very seriously."
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"Uh... Sir.. Don't you think... This is strange. Isn't it? I mean... The ship is in the I.F.F. system... Sure we don't know what the letters stand for, but you know... It's registered as a friendly, isn't it?"
"Yup. But it's our job to make sure whatever the fuck that ship is using to get around doesn't threaten our home."
"Uhh... yeah, but sir... You can see the bio signs on that ship too... Right? They're running all over the place and... One of them is a dude; he's got nanites, military-grade ones. One's fighter pilots get... The other two... Well... They have tails... And one has horns, and uhh... The other has ears... Like a wolf or fox or something...... I mean, I'm not trying to step on any toes here... But didn't the Union President give a speech about finding aliens not too long ago?"
"I get what you're saying, private. But the Admiral wants that ship captured and studied. The inhabitants we can deal with on our terms. That ship, though... Well, as long as they don't come out shooting, we can lock them up and figure out what to do later... Besides, the Admiral is right to capture that ship. We don't have the technology to stop it from entering Sol or even ramming Earth, seeing as it flew past the grav spikes. The very first thing we need to do is to figure out how to take the threat of this thing ramming into something out of the equation."
"Yeah... I get that, sir, but... What if, you know. This causes a problem. Like, what if there's a diplomat on that ship who wants peace, and we're throwing it in jail and stuff... I don't think that's a good idea."
"Well, then... That's the Admirals problem. We won't kill any aliens, but we'll be sure to take that ship."
"No, I get that, sir. But uhh... That's a long-range bomber corvette. From a Terran carrier group. I know you're not this stupid, sir."
"No... No, I am not. That's why we'll wait and see what happens before I'm forced to be stupid."
"Sir... The aliens... They're in power armour now... Official credentials and all."
"Yup, I see it. The one with the horns passed first-year flight school as per Instructor Michael Graeme."
"Yeah... But are you seeing the one with the nice tits? She's passed thirty-seven percent of Special instructor Antigone Caithens C.Q.C course... You know... That she-devil... The one who used trained us special ops Luna soldiers before she was stolen by that bastard Soto to train his squad."
....................
"They want me to point a gun at my instructor's protege."
"Uhh... Sir..... Besides the lethal... Wolf? Fox? I don't think we should be afraid of her too much... Well, we should, but uhh... Switch to U.V. spectrum seven point eight four."
This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
"Huh? Let's see... What the fuck is that... Thing... Is it a weapon? It's fucking moving around on its own."
"Yup... It might be an alien superweapon. Either way, I'm not fucking with that."
"Alright, let's pack her up, boys... I'm not pointing my gun at these guys.."
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Michael nervously paced as the ramp hit the deck. Taking a deep breath, he began to step down towards the hangar.
"Looks like your plan worked, partner. The soldiers are in the middle of a stand-down order."
"uhh... What plan, buddy?" Michael replied, freezing in place.
"The plan to... You forgot Terran Armour is hard locked to D.N.A. and broadcasts its user's credentials as it starts up. Didn't you?"
Michael scratched his chin and decided to walk down the ramp. "Let's say I didn't, alright, pal?"
"You really are a brilliant idiot."
Michael walked up to the man who seemed to be in charge of the current mess. "Captain Michael Graeme reporting. Any reason you decided to grace us with a visit, uhh.."
"Specialist Joe. Admirals orders. That ship is a danger to Earth and its inhabitants and is now the property of the Terran Star Navy." The man stated, throwing Michael a salute.
Michael palmed his face and groaned in frustration. "Yeah... See... That's going to be a problem. Though it's Terran in design, that ship actually belongs to Ambassador Srettia Esithn Graeme. Claiming it as part of the Terran Star Navy is against the new Alliance charter we signed with the Aasteran people."
"TOLD YOU!"
"Ahh shit... So we just abducted a foreign dignitary, is it?" Joe stated, already knowing the answer. "Did you say, Srettia Graeme... Did you fucking marry an alien?"
"Well, she married me... But you actually abducted three diplomats. Ambassador Srettia of Aaster, Ankiah of the Voktlix and Ambassador Yirphayen of the Eaenhreph." Michael replied with a bit of sass lining his voice.
Joe's eyes nearly shot out of his head from the thought. "Fucking three? Well, the Admiral went and made a big mess now, didn't she? Though, I'm sure she's watching somewhere. Let's wait until she gets out here. I'm not going down in history as the guy who threw three alien ambassadors in prison the moment they got to Sol."
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Flanked by her two guards, Admiral Perrin stormed onto the hangar floor, charging towards the two men having a friendly chat while sitting at the bottom of the ship's ramp. "What's the meaning of this specialist?!"
"Well, Admiral. I decided I didn't want to steal an ally's ship and throw foreign dignitaries in jail. You're free to, however. But I would advise against it. History doesn't look kindly on actions like that." Joe responded.
The Admiral took a step back in shock upon hearing the information. "Foreign what?"
"Hello, Adelyn."
Admiral Perrin waved to the air in response to the familiar voice. "Hi, Vaucs. How have you bee..... Captain Graeme...... I just made a big mess, didn't I?"
"You're extreme desire for technology will be your undoing, Adelyn. There are three alien diplomats on this vessel, and you terrified all three."
Sitting down with the two men, Admiral Perrin pulled out and lit a cigarette. "This is Terran technology, and you've come back with the blueprints on how to build more. Haven't you?"
Michael beamed a wide smile at the Admiral and nodded his head. "I did. I also have data. Important data. Fleet admiral only."
Joe held back his laugh as the Admiral took a massive drag of her smoke. "Done. I just messaged him that you're waiting on Luna for his arrival."
Michael laughed and looked up the ramp to no one in particular. "She always like this pal?"
"Since I was conceived, she has been there. Her desire for new technology borders on obsession. She has also come close to losing her job multiple times due to her... Desire to advance our people. Her being here must be the reason I can not access Luna systems."
"Yup, I just finishing up installing the A.I. countermeasures. I have to work extra hard these days, you know. Since I almost lost my job when the Fleet Admiral found out I had a fold core installed in Leda too... So you can add that to my fuck ups, Vaucs.." Admiral Perrin added, pulling out another smoke.
"Ahh... I go by the name of Jack now, Adelyn. Please refer to me as such. Father also sends his regards."
"Can I meet them? The ambassadors, I mean." Admiral Perrin asked, now somewhat cooled down.
"Sure, one sec." Michael answered as he turned to look up the ramp. However, thinking for a moment, he paused and looked back at Joe. "Swear that you won't harm the ambassadors, and this isn't some dumb trick."
"Hey, dude, I swear on my mom. Like I said. No way I'm going down in some book like this." Joe stated, raising both his hands in the air.
Michael turned back around and poked his head up the ramp. "Hey guys, We got some losus steaks down here. Come say hi to the locals."
Srettia soon exited the armoury and poked her head down the hall. "You sure it's safe?"
"Well, Jack seems to know the big boss. I would think it's okay." Michael replied, waving Srettia over.
Ankiah popped out of the armoury and skipped down the hall in her red armour. "What kinda greeting is that if she's a friend of Jack then?"
"The kind where her desire overrode her intelligence."
"Doesn't sound like much of a leader to me." Srettia replied as she stepped down the ramp.
Admiral Perrin Stood and marvelled at the two alien Diplomats. "Greetings. Though I may have been... Overzealous in my welcome... I hope we can look past this mistake and become friends moving forward."
"She sure talks like one, though." Ankiah quipped, earning her a quiet chuckle from Joe.
Yirphayen floated down the ramp. Letting out a chime of success and greeting as it moved toward the Terran leader. "Hello, I am Yirphayen of the Eaenhreph. It is an honour to meet you."
The room fell silent at the perfectly shaped polychromatic diamond. Whispers of talking shapes and the beautiful colours filled the room as Admiral Perrin gawked at the newest Ambassador. " Hello, Yirphayen of the Eaenhreph. It's an honour, and as long as it's appropriate, I would like to say your colours are quite beautiful."
Ankiah furrowed her brows in confusion. "Was Yirphayen always like that? I mean... It always seemed rather... Needy? Before."
"I have been teaching Yirphayen the proper way of handling these situations."
Ankiah Ejected herself from her amour, hopped out around it, and extended her hand to the Admiral. "This is a proper greeting, too, right!?"
The Admiral laughed and nodded... "You're rather spirited. But yes. Once again, I apologize and welcome you to Sol, our cradle system. If you wish, I can personally take you to V.I.P. quarters while the Fleet Admiral figures out how to deal with alien diplomats visiting Sol... You wouldn't mind if I sneak a peek at the new fold core designs, would you?"
"Slow yourself, Admiral. And yes, you may. I have transferred the designs to your implant. You may browse at your leisure."
Admiral Perrin gave a wave and turned to walk the group out of the hanger and through the halls, her personal guards following closely behind her and trying their best to make sure she didn't bump into the walls or stray workers as she focused on the new core designs. "Who's Viscia... I want to meet her."
"Viscia is our science councillor." Srettia replied while holding her head high.
"She's brilliant. I would like to add her to my research team. Do you think she would move to Luna and work here with us?" The Admiral asked, stumbling slightly as she bumped into a maintenance bot.
Michael chuckled as he caught the spinning bot. "Maybe. You'd have to bag Tanda too since I would assume they're a package deal now."
"Tanda built the new style fold core with Leviye..... I want him too." Admiral Perrin replied, stumbling over her feet
Ankiah studied the cleaning bot in wonder, poking it with her finger before realizing she was left behind and ran to catch up. "Michael made this place sound like you make people disappear. Like for good. You seem pretty nice, all things considered."
"Oh... I would have had no problems making you disappear if you were withholding new fold-core designs. Terran security comes before my social standing." The Admiral replied coldly.
Ankiah stumbled for a second thankful Srettia caught her before she collapsed... "That's... Kind of... At least your truthful."
"I see no reason to lie. With the designs supplied here, we can alter the gravity spikes and make it so the fold core can't be used as a weapon to smash into our planets. That's all I wanted." The Admiral responded as she came upon the final lift. "My guard here will take you to your quarters in the civilian wing. You can choose to accept the V.I.P. suite or chose one for yourself if it makes you feel safer. I have to... Take care of so-"
"Don't try to lie now, Adelyn. I know you're going to research the blueprints. Go play."
Adelyn, the former scientist turned Admiral due to her brilliance and circumstance, skipped down the hall, mumbling about how stupid she felt from missing the math involved.
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