“I, uh… hello” I stammered out as I stared at this woman that I would have sworn came from Bougainville or somewhere close to that.

“Hello” she replied as she turned to look at a man that was standing near the doorway still.

“This is Captain Luscious Rivers, who will be helping you during my downtime rotation. And the man next to him is my Husband, he is here to establish a defence contract with yourself for the Orbital Station, as well as set up a guild hall. However, there is something you must do first.”

She focused on her hud for a bit for swiping what ever it was towards me, and before I could open it to read what it had said, she continued speaking.

“You will need to read this to the surrounding ships for legal reasons, I suggest you do it quickly to get them to stop shooting.”

Just as she finished talking, the hologram behind her suddenly lit up brightly as missiles splashed over the blue shimmering field, and I watched the power level plummet to 10 percent. I quickly moved to the command table, placing my hands on it as I thought about activating a broadcast channel to all ships in the Solar System.

“ALERT, ALERT! To all ships surrounding the Blossoming Terranova Orbital Station, cease fire, I repeat cease fire! Immediately! The protected neutral zone has been restored under galactic federation asset protection laws! A distress signal has been broadcasted requesting reinforcements and aide.”

I nodded as I stepped back to see if everyone stopped shooting. Out of the corner of my eye, Jessica swiped something at me, and a message popped up on my hud informing me to read out a second bit to all the surrounding ships. I then glanced at Jessica before moving and placing my hands on the table again as the microphone reappeared.

“ALERT, ALERT! Blossoming Terranova Guild, claims all salvage rights pertaining to all ships and debris left by the Orbital Station while it was defending itself. Please collect any survivors and exit the solar system.”

I saw ships start moving towards the bigger wrecks and snatching what was registering on my map as life banks. But other ships were still moving towards the orbital station. Suddenly, a blue line shot from the orbital station and tore through the hull, venting a couple cabins of a ship that was docked with a wreck. The command table displayed a microphone as it spoke in a monotone robotic voice.

“WARNING! The blossoming Terranova guild owns all rights to salvage, under Galactic Federation salvage rights, theft will not be tolerated!”

Jessica moved towards the table and placed her hands on it, navigating through some menus using that code of hers to get access as she opened the microphone and made an announcement of her own.

The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.

“Captain Jessica Biko of Galactic Federation Headquarters, hailing Commanding Officer of the invading force, I repeat. I am Captain Jessica Biko of Galactic Federation Headquarters, hailing Commanding Officer of the invading Twiddles Clan force. Any further attempts to have this Solar System reclassified as a combat zone after I have already classified it as a protected neutral zone will result in punishment from his imperil highness Command Chief of all Galactic Federation Military and Clan Leader of the Empire Federation Clan!”

She then stepped back and moved to the side as she started manipulating her hud, I assumed she was monitoring what she had just claimed. And I couldn't help thinking ‘better not piss her off anymore than I have’ as I quickly went back to watching the ships, most had started heading for the perimeter. However, five ships had not. One freight cruiser, two battlecruisers and three destroyers, were moving in the direction of earth.

“Hey, what are these five up to?” I asked.

“No idea, why don't we ask them, cousin?”

I reached up and tapped the freight cruiser as I thought about hailing them. After a few moments a man appear standing on the edge of the table in front of me but not in the way of the map.

“Greetings Blossoming Terranova Orbital Station, I am a humble freight captain on my way to earth with a cargo delivery, how may I help you today?”

“You do not have permission to enter this Solar System, therefore I must ask you to turn back and leave, you may return once you have proper clearance!”

“I am afraid that won't work for me, you see I have a delivery to complete, and I am under contract to complete it.”

A message suddenly popped up on my hud and after quickly reading it, I turned my eyes back to the man.

“You are a member of the invading twiddle clans force, you will turn back at once, or you will be recognised as enemy combatants attempting to reach a hospitable planet to cause destruction and harm to the local populace. I warn you one last time, turn back, or you will be fired upon!”

I noticed past him, ships had begun to dock with the carriers as they reached the perimeter, but the man in front of me had not changed course or even spoken. I had watched the carriers in curiosity until I felt Jessica tap my shoulder and whisper “fire” to me. I immediately looked at the freight cruiser which was still approaching the planet and instructed a long range gun to fire, which it did, sending a blue plasma bolt straight at the freight cruiser the reaction was immediate. The man started screaming silently at his bridge crew, and the ship altered course, moving away from the planet towards the perimeter. The three destroyers moved to cover its retreat, attempting to shoot the blue plasma bolt before it reached them. The two battlecruisers had also moved to cover the freight cruiser escorting it away.

“Blossoming Terranova Orbital Station, you have fired upon a merchant vessel attempting a delivery, this will be remembered and when I reach a civilised orbital station complaints will be filed!”

He then vanished from my command table, having ended the call. The next second, a dreadnought surfaced out of subspace, hurtling at rapid speed into the solar system as it broadcasted its identifier as Celestial Duke Arthur Cilterian flagship: the Arbinger. A few seconds later, more and more ships began surfacing from subspace as they hurtled into the solar system, broadcasting their own identifiers. They stated they came from Celestial duke Cilterian Clan, Celestial Marquess Walker Clan, Celestial Count Johnson Clan and Celestial Viscount Ripter Clan. Including the flagship from each. Ships broadcasting all sorts of other identifiers were also surfacing as they hurtled into the solar system, all while moving to defend the orbital station. I noticed the five ships that had turned away from earth. They were trying to get to The closest Twiddles carrier as fast as their engines would let them, even to the point of abandoning the freight cruiser who was lagging behind. The reason became clear when the carrier closest to the dreadnought Suddenly started sinking into subspace, leaving the Solar System.

I turned to look at Ashley and smiled At her, “five pounds says they shit their pants and leave at least one of these five ships behind”

“Ha, only a fool would take that bet!”