Kathmin stared at the data slate, a sense of dread descending over him. He’d hypothesized these creatures had, at one time, inhabited the galaxy, but from the anecdotes and stories he’d gathered during his research, he just assumed they had to be extinct. No creature that predatory and warlike could still exist. Forming a cohesive society would be impossible. Even if the ancient stories were discounted for hyperbole and effect, no civilized culture could withstand the stressors that level of sustained love of violence would create. In some old tales, if they weren’t fighting the gods, they fought each other.
Kathmin looked up. “Is this a joke, Rhubul,” he asked? “Cause it’s not funny.”
Rhubul sighed, “It’s no joke, Kathmin. They call themselves, Humans.”
Kathmin shuddered, “If only half of what I know about these creatures is true, even our fanged friend’s people here will pose them no threat. The Dursk would be like children before an angry god.”
Rhubul, suddenly looking older, replied, “Kathmin, they are real, they are here, and if anything, your stories fall short of reality. Zhiela, perhaps you’d like to be the one to tell him what happened when the Human vessel translated into Roade?”
Zhiela turned serious, “As I said, the ship disappeared from the scopes of our research station and, in almost the exact moment, appeared on our screens near the star in Roade…
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Commander Rigel was socializing with his captains in the officer’s lounge, on the Vigilant, following their weekly dinner. He found these times valuable in fomenting cooperation and competition among his direct reports. The weekly opportunity to showcase their accomplishments and hear about their fellow captains’ work pushed them all to be more efficient and effective with their crews and vessels. He glanced at the viewscreen, displaying a sweeping panorama looking off the bow of the ship. The Vigilant was a cruiser, class 2, and she was his. She was beautifully designed with point defense and beam placements at strategic locations all around. He’d earned his honors in numerous border skirmishes on the Outer Rim. While the Dursk hadn’t fought a war of conquest since the GU Campaigns 500 years ago ground them to a standstill, their farthest borders were constantly being tested by the various factions of the Rim. His victories outpaced all competition, and as his career neared its end, Admiral Tsarsk had asked him to command the Roade Taskforce Group (“RTG”). With the Bramin Confederation testing borders, Admiral Tsarsk felt his combat experience could aid a new slate of officers. And so, they drilled. In-system wargames were a constant. This and more occupied their time, and there was little doubt he had the most responsive and flexible task force in the empire. The RTG was one of the most sought-after command assignments. He was the first line of defense into the core world systems should an attack move from the Outer Rim.
His captains were a competitive bunch but jovial. Many had served under him through several commands and now had their own vessels. He’d known these individuals for nearly 20 cycles and handpicked each member of his command. They were doing good work here, and their efforts would ensure the empire’s protection for years to come. Rigel’s musings were interrupted by alarms.
“Commander to the bridge!” the 1st officer yelled over the coms. “Battle stations, repeat battle stations! This is not a drill! All captains to your vessels! Repeat this is not a drill!”
The lounge was quiet for a fraction of a second and then burst into activity as the captains raced from the room to the docks to board shuttles back to their respective vessels. The Commander ran to the bridge. He hadn’t heard that tone from Sarth since the Stravo incursion. His comm was chiming in an almost liturgical rhythm as Sarth issued order after order to the task force preparing for whatever was out there.
“Talk to me, Sarth,” Rigel huffed as he ran. “What came through the Gate? The Bramin?”
“No, sir! That’s just it, sir; it didn’t come through the Gate. It just appeared on the Gate’s screens,” Sarth responded, obviously turning to talk to someone else. “Lieutenant Rask, I want to know where that thing came from, I want to know what it is, I want to know how the Gate didn’t know it was there, and I want to know all that yesterday! Get on it!” Turning the conversation back to Rigel, he said, “Sorry, Commander, we’re trying to ascertain what it is now.”
Rigel nearly stumbled, “What do you mean, ‘what it is?”
Sarth responded, “Lieutenant Thras, I want this fleet moving toward those Gate supplied coordinates at 100% plus everything else you can siphon to the engines! Rask, is it on your screen yet?”
Lieutenant Rask shouted, “No, sir, all data is still sourcing from the Gate’s initial scans. The Gate is about 30 LS out from the Unknown and is relaying its scans to us through QE. I should have it on our scopes in…8 minutes adjusting for our increased velocity. Forwarding gate data scans to Tactical for evaluation.”
Sarth turned back to the Commander on his com, “Sorry sir, we’re underway and moving to intercept the unknown. We cannot raise Roade Gate on comms, but we still receive their QE data transmissions. Whatever it is, it’s active scanning the system, lingering on high-value infrastructure, including the Gate. Sir, we don’t know what it is. Gate’s scans have to be incorrect. The readings have to be in error. No vessel is this large.”
Rask spoke up in the background, “Confirming gate readings, sir. No errors, it’s a monster! Easily 16,000 standard units LOA.”
Lieutenant Kirsk in the background could be heard shouting, “Commander, this is Comms. I have Admiral Tsarsk requesting you on a secure channel. I’ll patch him through to your commlink, sir.”
Rigel, breathing hard from the run, greeted the Admiral, “Bad timing, Tsarsk, we’ve got an Unknown that just penetrated Roade space without a gate, moving RTG to intercept.”
Admiral Tsarsk responded, “That’s why I’m calling Commander, that vessel just left 239-JS3. They just ‘appeared’ there also. We’ve been trying to communicate with them for several days but made no headway. Our research station was finally able to get them to redirect to the Roade system using pictures. I wanted you there and assumed we’d be there as well, but it turns out these guys don’t need gates. They jumped from there to Roade. We don’t know what they are, only that they obviously have some nicer toys. Approach with caution. They did not attack the research station or any local vessels in 239. Do not engage unless engaged. 5th fleet is en route to reinforce you, but we are 20 hours out, best speed. Until then, you have command and the authority to protect Roade. Keep me posted with regular updates or more as events warrant.”
“Understood, Admiral,” Rigel responded as he entered the bridge. “We’ll monitor and contain as we attempt to communicate.”
Sarth shouted, “Commander on the bridge!”
Entering the bridge, Rigel continued, “Thanks, Sarth. Fine work. Kirsk, are you able to raise our guests on comms? Tsarsk says RS-239 spoke to them through QE, or at least they got a response through QE. See what you can do. Rask, any updates?”
Rask responded, “Unknown entity, designated ‘Echo 1’, 16,124 standard units LOA, one light minutes from Roade star, active scanning everything in the system. They may know we’re here but shouldn’t know we’re on our way for…7 minutes 20 seconds. No movement from the initial appearance on gate screens. She seems to be waiting for something, Commander.”
Kirsk interrupted, “Commander, I’ve raised them on QE. We have audio, and I’m working on the video. Should have it in a minute.”
Rigel connected to the external comms, “This is Commander Rigel of the Dursk Vigilant. Identify yourselves and your intentions.”
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A garbled rush of something came flitting back through the comms.
Rigel looked at Sarth and said, “What was that? That’s a new one. Kirsk, run it through the system for a match and then retransmit my message in all languages and dialects from here to the Edge.”
“Understood, sir,” Kirsk responded. “Scrubbing it now and retransmitting.”
Rask shouted, “New contact from the Gate! Repeat, new contacts! I have new contacts entering from Roade Gate, counting 7, no, 8 Bramin vessels led by a cruiser, two destroyers, and their complements.”
Sarth inquired, “Commander, you think Echo 1 showing up with a flotilla of Bramin is a coincidence, or are we just this unlucky?”
“Tsarsk says they just left 239 and were non-hostile for several days while trying to communicate,” Rigel responded. “I don’t think they are related, or at least that’s what I’m telling myself for now. I like the alternative a lot less. Rask, can you show us what Roade Gate sees? I’d like to see this interloper and our other uninvited guests.”
The screen flickered, and the vessel appeared. Rigel stood amazed. Dursk vessels were sleek, well-armed, and armored, with a flowing aesthetic as beautiful as they were functional. There was no mistaking; Echo 1 was something else entirely. She bristled with guns, more guns, and many other things Rigel could only assume were other guns. Rigel wasn’t sure how you could make an inanimate vessel look angry, but he could tell this one was pissed. His musings were interrupted by Kirsk.
“I’ve sorted out the video, Commander,” Kirsk said, “on screen.”
The view changed from the vessel to what Rigel could only assume was the captain of Echo 1. He was bipedal, no exoskeleton, forward-facing eyes, probable mammal, probable primate, hairless except for a patch on his head, and well-muscled. The scale was impossible to determine on-screen, but the eyes held Rigel for a moment. Piercing, intelligent and alert, this captain was not someone Rigel wanted to enter the pit against. Rigel repeated his initial communique, “I am Commander Rigel of the Dursk Vigilant. Identify yourselves and your intentions.”
The other captain began grunting, singing, and cooing. Rigel turned to Kirsk, “Can’t you sort that out?”
Kirsk replied, “There is no matching lexicon in our database, Commander. I…I believe this may be a first contact situation. Just a minute, Commander, I’m receiving a distress call from the Gate. They’re alerting us to the Bramin incursion.”
“Better late than never,” Sarth muttered sarcastically.
“Sir, the Bramin appear to have made Echo 1,” Rask informed. “They are plotting an intercept course.”
“Well, if that’s not just the worst timing,” Rigel fumed. “Organize for intercept. Rask, keep an eye on our guests. Tsarsk says they aren’t hostile, but I’m with Sarth; it’s got to be the mother of all coincidences, or just our rotten luck, that they both show up within 5 minutes of each other. If Echo 1 so much as twitches, I want to know about it. Kirsk, relay the current events to Admiral Tsarsk and find that language. Thras, I want power redistributed to shields and weapons. Warm everything up. Life’s about to get interesting.”
As the bridge crew moved to carry out his orders, the view screen flickered back to the captain of Echo 1 who seemed to be agitated.
Kirsk offered, “Commander, I haven’t yet matched a lexicon, but they appear to be upset, probably because of the Bramin course change. They may not realize we’re not together.”
Rigel swore and turned back to the viewscreen. “Echo 1, we mean you no harm and will not fire upon you unless fired upon, but an enemy is approaching, and we need to respond. If you can understand this, you should withdraw. Kirsk, send them an image of a Bramin ship and the Gate and a picture of an explosion or something. Tsarsk said that’s how they sent them here. Maybe they can infer.”
The alien captain barked and grunted at the Vigilant and then turned barking and grunting to individuals off-screen. The screen went black just as the Bramin moved into range.
Rigel swore again. “Rask, talk to me. How long until we’re in real space with Echo 1?”
Rask responded, “4 minutes 33 seconds, Commander.”
Sarth mused, “Commander, if they don’t know we’re not with the Bramin and the Bramin get feisty, we could have a real problem on our hands.”
Rigel laughed, “I never imagined my first and only first contact situation would end in bloodshed, and I’m not about to let it happen now. Kirsk, tell the Bramin Commander to stand down and retreat to the Gate, or we will engage.”
Kirsk relayed the message. “No response, sir,” he said.
Rask shouted, “Sir! The Gate is reading a weapons release by the Bramin! Putting it on screen.”
The bridge watched as the Bramin contingent opened fire on Echo 1. Particle beams and tachyon pulses streaked through the dark.
“Well, at least we know they aren’t friends,” Sarth offered.
On-screen, the Bramin barrage was beginning to impact against Echo 1, and then, without warning, their prominent guest exploded.
Small craft streamed from every orifice of the ship, swarming towards the Bramin.
Rask, monitoring the data, said, “I’m reading approximately 30 new contacts from Echo 1 racing to engage the Bramin. We’re 2 minutes and 10 seconds from real space with Echo 1, sir.”
A single point of light flashed from one of the turrets on Echo 1. 10 seconds later, one of the Bramin destroyers disintegrated into a ball of expanding plasma.
Watching through the Gate’s sensors, the bridge went quiet.
Rigel barked, “What was that? Rask, what did we just witness?”
Rask watched his data screens as the Bramin formation broke, and confusion seemed to reign on the invading vessels. The gate data was showing an enemy utterly unprepared for what they faced. He muttered, “Unknown, sir. I have no idea. Echo 1’s smallest craft will engage the Bramin in…20 seconds. We’re 1 minute 45 seconds from real space with Echo 1, sir. Gate’s visuals and data are still most recent.”
Three more points of light from Echo 1 and three more Bramin ships boiled away into space. The Bramin were turned and under full burn for the Gate when Echo 1’s smallest craft caught them. Those 20 craft accelerated and made a fast pass of the Bramin fleet, and the last two escorts and destroyer were disabled. Two more flashes from Echo 1 and the entire rear drive section of the cruiser was obliterated. The four Bramin ships were disabled, floating in space. The smallest craft began turning for another pass as the larger of Echo 1’s launch craft continued on an intercept course with the four ships.
Sarth marveled, “Commander, I think those are boarding craft, sir. I think they mean to capture the Bramin….”
As if on cue, Echo’s larger launch vessels impacted the sides of the Bramin ships, tearing holes in their hulls and penetrating to the inner decks.
Rask spoke up, “Commander, we’re 20 seconds from real space with Echo 1.”
Rigel turned back to business, “Thras, cut the weapons and shields. When we get near Echo 1, I want it obvious we are as friendly as possible. Kirsk, see if you can raise our large guest again. I want to find a way to talk to these guys as I’m not sure we’ll survive long if they decide to shout.”
The Vigilant and her escorts translated into real space, and Echo 1’s escorts diverted to intercept.
Rigel ordered, “I want nothing offensive. We will sit here, shields down, weapons offline, and continue trying to talk. Kirsk, anything?”
Rask said, “inbound contacts 15 seconds from intercept, Commander.”
Kirsk shouted, “Got them, Commander! On-screen.”
The same light brown primate was back on screen. His countenance was stoic, but there was a light in his eyes, which Rigel found unnerving. A darkness seemed to hover around him. More barking, cooing, and grunting came through the speakers.
Rask called out, “Interceptors have changed course, Commander, they seem to have split; half are returning to Echo 1, the other half heading back towards the Bramin craft.
The screen flickered, and the view changed to what appeared to be a view from the boarding party on one of the Bramin vessels. Echo 1’s boarding parties were completely unfettered by the enemy fire that met them. They ran into the storm of light, emptying unknown weapons into the Bramin that caused them to pop in the goriest display of violence Rigel had ever seen. That is until the armored trooper running point was jumped by two of the Bramin. He smashed his body left into a wall, stunning one of his attackers, turned to the second, and ripped off both arms before crushing its head with his boot. The first attacker was up and leaping towards him. The trooper spun, a blade appearing in his hand, and he cleaved the Bramin in two. Kirsk became physically sick and bolted for the dispenser. The troopers reached the bridge of what was now obviously the Bramin cruiser, leveled a large weapon at the door, and it simply disintegrated into a cloud of dust. They entered firing, and in seconds, the bridge was theirs. The Bramin Commander was on his knees before the troopers. Rigel could see they were easily 2.5 standard units tall, now that he had some basis for comparison. A warrior Rigel assumed had command stepped up to the Bramin Commander and barked at him. The Bramin lunged for him, but faster than Rigel could believe possible, the trooper drew a small weapon from his hip, and the Bramin’s head came apart.
The video flickered and switched back to Echo 1’s apparent captain. He barked and grunted a few more statements, and the screen went dark.
Rigel and his bridge crew stood in stunned silence at the violence they had just witnessed.
Kirsk was back at his station, obviously shaken. His voice wavered, “Commander, I have Admiral Tsarsk back on comms. He’s requesting an update.”
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Zhiela took a deep breath and continued, “It was touch and go at first, but underpinning everything we’re doing is the knowledge that we are dealing with beings here capable of a level of violence even my people cannot possibly imagine. Kathmin, you are the foremost expert in the galaxy on these beings. We’ve finally sorted out our languages. Now it’s time to meet in person. There isn’t time for you to teach someone what you know, so you’ve been named to the first contact detail as an adviser. It’s time to go.”