Chapter 5 : Prepare for war
Captain Varan's claws tapped impatiently on the metal console as he awaited the sensor readout. His eyes, sharp and piercing, scanned the data streaming across the screen. "How far are the insectoids? How much time before they are upon us?" he demanded, his voice a low growl that reverberated through the tense silence of the bridge.
The insectoid ships lurked on the edge of his consciousness like a festering wound, their grotesque organic forms pulsating with malevolent energy. Each vessel was a macabre amalgamation of flesh and writhing parasites, a nightmarish sight that sent shivers down Varan's spine.
Fighting the insectoids in space was a harrowing task, a relentless battle against an enemy that knew no fear or mercy. The mere presence of their ships were enough to instill dread in even the most seasoned warriors. For once an insectoid drone attached itself to a ship's hull, it unleashed a torrent of acid that ate through metal like solvent through polystyrene, leaving behind a gaping wound for its brethren to exploit. Inside the ship, the insectoids became relentless predators, tearing through crew and vessel with savage efficiency.
Varan's claws clenched into fists as he pondered the impending onslaught. Time was running out, and the fate of the Kruth ship hung in the balance.
The shipmate responsible for monitoring sensors trembled visibly, his dorsal fins quivering in a nervous tic that betrayed the fear gripping his alien form. Captain Varan's keen gaze bore into the trembling crewmate, awaiting the grim news that he knew was imminent.
"Not far, Captain," the shipmate stammered, his voice tinged with dread. "Estimated time into our weapons range is 10 minutes, estimated time for us to be within their range 20 minutes."
Varan's mind raced with calculations, the weight of impending doom pressing down upon him like a suffocating blanket. His ship, a formidable vessel by any standard, could easily outpace the insectoid menace. And yet, the humans' fate hung in the balance, their ship's capabilities a precarious unknown in the face of such a relentless foe.
With a heavy heart and a grim determination, Varan knew what he must do. Time was a merciless adversary, ticking away with each passing moment. He had mere minutes to act, to warn the humans of the impending threat, to offer them a slim chance at survival.
His reptilian nostrils flared with resolve as he made his decision.
Addressing the waiting humans, Captain Varan's voice echoed through the tense silence of the chamber, a somber melody tinged with foreboding. His clawed digits twitched involuntarily as he spoke, the weight of impending doom heavy upon his shoulders.
"Human emissaries," Varan's words hung in the air, sombre like a dark omen, each syllable laden with the gravity of the situation. "It is with deep regret that I come before you, not with peaceful tidings and happy welcomes, but with dire news."
The countdown to the hoard's approach ticked away relentlessly, each passing moment a grim reminder of the impending danger.
"The Galactic Coalition and you humans, by extension, as our neighbours, face an existential threat," Varan continued, his voice steady but tinged with an undercurrent of despair. "A hoard approaches from the great beyond, savage and all-consuming. It threatens us all."
"But fear not , The Galactic Coalition has seen fit to offer humans a temporary membership and technological assistance," Varan declared, his words resonating with solemn resolve. "In the spirit of mutual alliance against the great threat that looms before us."
Varan's gaze shifted to Kurr'an, the Wennark responsible for monitoring sensors, his aquatic nature seeming incongruous amidst the tension of the command center. Seven minutes, Kurr'an signalled silently, his finned appendages twitching in anticipation. Seven minutes until the hoard would breach firing range.
"We stand on the precipice of an epoch-defining moment," Varan intoned, his voice reverberating through the bridge. "All the Galactic Coalition asks in return for its assistance is your solidarity in the great war ahead. Offer whatever aid you can muster, whether it be fighters, resources, or expertise."
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"As we speak, the hoard draws near," Varan continued, his claws flexing with a subtle agitation. "In five minutes, we will engage a scout fleet, a mere glimpse of the encroaching threat that looms over the galaxy."
"Humans," Varan's words were a plea, an urgent call to action amidst the encroaching darkness. "I will entrust you with a communication device to convey your answer to the Coalition. Prepare your non-combatants to evacuate before the hoard arrives. Signal your military to stand ready to finish off what we cannot defeat. We are not a combat ship, we will not be able to fully engage the approaching hoard"
Varan's commanding gaze fell upon the communications officer, a silent directive passed between them as he gestured to eject the Coalition communications pod. Once in the hands of the humans, this small, innocuous device would serve as their conduit to the Senate of the Galactic Coalition, their lifeline in this dark hour of uncertainty.
As the pod glided into the void, Varan pondered the enigma of humanity. They were a species unknown to him, their physiology and capabilities shrouded in mystery. Would they be conscripted as warriors, or relegated to more mundane roles in the vast war effort against the encroaching horde? Varan could only speculate, his thoughts drifting amidst the swirling currents of doubt and apprehension.
He himself had been chosen for this mission by mere happenstance, the closest non-combative vessel when the hoard's scavenger ship was detected. Earth, once deemed a primitive backwater by the Coalition, now found itself thrust into the forefront of interstellar affairs, its fate intertwined with that of the galaxy itself.
The revelation of humanity's existence outside their home planet had sparked a revaluation within the Coalition, a frantic reassessment of humanity’s strategic importance. No longer dismissed as inconsequential, the humans now stood as a linchpin in the struggle against the insectoid menace.
Varan's gaze drifted to the scans that had initiated this tumultuous chain of events. The discovery of countless humans scattered across myriad worlds had sent shockwaves through the Coalition's highest echelons. To leave such a vast reservoir of biomass unguarded was unthinkable, a strategic blunder that could tip the scales irreversibly in the hoard’s favour.
In the face of this dire threat, the Coalition faced a stark choice: annihilate the humans and deprive the horde of a potential foothold, or extend the hand of alliance and harness their collective strength in the battle for survival.
The humans, unaware of the grim ultimatum hanging over their heads like the Sword of Damocles, were tasked with making a choice that would shape the destiny of their entire species. If they chose to stand alone, oblivious to the looming threat of annihilation, the consequences would be catastrophic. The Coalition, faced with the grim necessity of denying the horde a breeding ground, would be forced to unleash destruction upon the Sol system, eradicating all biological life in its wake.
If they chose to align with the Coalition, they would undoubtedly be welcomed into the fold as temporary members, their society elevated to new heights by the advanced technologies and knowledge of the Galactic Coalition. But with this newfound status would come a heavy burden – they would be thrust into the heart of the war effort, their resources and capabilities exploited by the more dominant and opportunistic members of the Coalition.
Varan couldn't help but feel a pang of concern for humanity as he envisioned the challenges that lay ahead. The transition from a fledgling star faring species to a newly elevated player on the galactic stage would be fraught with peril and uncertainty. Would they be able to navigate the treacherous waters of interstellar politics and warfare? Or would they be consumed by the machinations of those who sought to use them for their own gain?
Kurr'an's urgent signal snapped Captain Varan out of his contemplation. The looming threat of the Insectoids, now just one minute away, demanded his full attention. With a swift nod to Kurr'an, Varan focused his mind on the task at hand, his claws flexing with anticipation as he issued orders to his weapons master.
"Prepare all long-range weapons for firing," Varan commanded, his voice steady despite the weight of the impending battle. "Fire on my signal and continue to adjust your aim until the horde is nearing their engagement range. We need them damaged enough that the humans can take care of them while we disengage and leave for the Coalition space port."
The weapons master, a seasoned veteran with years of combat experience, wasted no time in relaying the captain's orders to his crew. Throughout the ship, the coalition warriors scrambled to their stations, their movements fluid and precise as they readied their weapons for engagement.
As the Kruth ship's heads-up display flashed with the alert that the Insectoid horde was now within firing range, Varan felt a surge of anxiousness course through his veins. With a resolute gaze, he raised his clawed hand and shouted the command they had all been waiting for.
"Engage!" His voice reverberated through the bridge, echoed moments later by the weapons master as he relayed the order to his men. And with that, the Kruth ship unleashed there meagre torrent of firepower upon the approaching horde, the air crackling with energy as beams of light streaked across the void of space, heralding the beginning of a battle that would determine the fate of worlds.