USN Tharsis Broiled out of Slips-pace bleeding her hull’s quantum charges off in trails of brilliant plasma. Admiral Clint Steven was stepping into his shuttle moments later, already coordinating with the Station for an immediate conference of all that were involved. His shuttle ejected itself from the midships hanger bay of Tharsis and burned hard for Hades station even before her mothership had been giving her mooring coordinates. Long moments later, Clint stepped crisply into the sparsely packed conference room.

Clint raised an eyebrow as Captain Collins called for attention. All the military personnel stood and assumed the stance. the Kawmari female present just stared around the room in confusion, and a strange amphibian being stood and gave Clint a strange formal nod. “As you were. Let’s get down to business. Ms Quawrine, thank you for coming. I have read the briefs and the data in the initial packet. I would like the more complete picture now, if you please.” Clint sat, followed by the rest of the military contingent, and the amphibian.

“Sir,” Captain Collins began, “Mr R’ben here,” he indicated to the Amphibian man, “was picked up in our operation to rescue the Lycan transport families, we gained partial success, and those families are on their way back home as we speak. Mr R’ben is a former lifelong slave who has worked for many owners. One such owner is the Kawmari female you see here. He and her shared a fascination of the Corth/ Vorath civil war and learned that we were looking for any information of the Vorath we could get. He offered to put us in touch with his former… employer… who curated the library planetoid you saw on your way in.” He paused and glanced to the Captain of Phobos.

Captain Demetri Degturev stood and clicked a button, lowering a holographic projector from the ceiling, and activated it. “Phobos engaged the cruiser, admiral. She had us in tonnage and primary weaponry, but we did not have another option.” The sensor records of the deadly symphony crescendo’d as Demetri visibly rallied before continuing, “As you can see, we made the library make a run for it; my crew and myself engaged the Cruiser with everything in our arsenal… including Strategic. Phobos was rendered combat ineffective in the exchange, but we were able occupy the enemy long enough for the library to jump, and for Texas to show up. I lost 19 souls in the engagement, Admiral; And Phobos will need more than what we can give her here.” Demetri settled into his chair heavily and took a deep breath.

“We arrived roughly… here,” Captain Gleeson paused the recording just as Texas made her appearance, “two more cruisers had jumped into the battle via subspace, I chose to engage all of them at once as a screen to aid in taking Phobos under tow. Phobos had maimed her foe, Admiral. In truth, I believe we wasted ammunition targeting the original aggressor with more than one turret.” He paused the recording just as Texas’ forward deflectors flared under the withering fire of the two primary laser batteries of the Vorath vessels struck almost as one. “This volley surprised me, their weapons appear to be of the standard laser variety; heavy hitting at closer ranges, with a severe attenuation penalty. These did not hit like any ship-grade laser battery I have seen. They seemed to feedback loop our shield generators causing more heat and damage internally than to the shields themselves. I believe that Delmar R&D should inspect the damaged components after they have been replaced,” Gleeson restarted the recording as Texas came about, plucking Phobos out of the black and tucking her safely into her central docking cavity designed to house smaller capital ships. “By this time, our mission was complete. The library had jumped, and it was time to go. We left a parting… gift... just before we jumped, to ensure we would not be followed, or our trajectory tracked.” Gleeson smiled as an entire broadside salvo bellowed from the starboard flanks of Texas just before the recording ended.

“I see, I’ve read much of this. However, the recording does give perspective. I do not have any fault to give in the actual engagement. Lt. Dawes, I know its early; but what have you found so far” The admiral nodded to the man to begin.

“Admiral, what we have found is nothing short of astounding. Ms Quawrine has, frankly, put together a Smithsonian-level collection on the conflict in question.” Dawes flicked his wrist on his pad and the hologram in the middle of the table lit once more. “She has recordings of several major battles, as well as artifacts that show weapons damage, and possible material science data. We may need years to investigate the digital data alone. The artifacts, we have yet to start properly cataloguing them, however I suspect that they are already catalogued.” He gave a nod to the avian woman standing in the corner, watching intently. She stood stock still, eyes wide. This was the first time she had seen what exactly had transpired outside of her library during the intense events of a few days ago.

“Ms Quawrine, please. If you need a moment, you don’t need to be here.” Clint offered but the bird woman shook her head severely.

“No… uh.. admiral. I do, however, have some insight if you would permit me.” She said carefully.

“By all means.” Clint’s intrigued tone bled through as he yielded to the floor.

“The biggest insight is that I can give… Is to tell you that your, uh, Phobos, should not have survived that battle. These were not ‘Vorath cruisers’ as you say. They have two types of such vessel. One, and forgive me I cannot remember their names, has smaller main turrets designed for escort duties... the other, admiral, were designed to glass planets… superheat atmospheres… and destroy worlds. One of these cruisers was designed to be able to accomplish this task... There are records of these ships single handedly destroying Corth capital ships double the size of Texas, I can show you where they are if you want. You fought three of them and destroyed two before jumping out. This has simply never been done.” Quawrine looked around the table, “The second. Is that Those designs do not appear to be appreciably different than the ones I have records for from the war. If you would like, I can give your scientists the contents codex of my library's digital collection. I.. have one request...” She looked at the admiral, only beginning after receiving a slow nod, “This is my lifes work. I know I am just a criminal to you… but I wish to retain possession of the Library when you have completed your inquiry.”

“Admiral,” Clint raised an eyebrow at Captain Collins, but the Marine simply continued, “I believe we have an opportunity here. It is clear, the Vorath are working around the edges of civilized space. Mr R’ben has seen a dagger, very much like the one i… acquired over Delmar, being worn by a cloaked figure mere weeks before our raid. I do not condone Quawrine’s profession, but we need eyes on the fringe… Sir.”

Admiral Stevens raised a hand to rub his short but thick beard as he sat for several moments. “A point, captain.” He conceded, “Ms Quawrine, I have a proposition for you. I believe we can kill two birds with one stone, pardon the expression.”

You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

“I’m listening, Admiral.” Quawrine ruffled her feathers slightly, her species sign of tension.

“My people need your library, at least temporarily, to learn all we can about our foe. You need an out, an alibi if you will, for how you escaped the clutches of Legion. I propose that we keep your Library here, at Hades station, and fully document its contents. You may provide any procedures for preservation you require, and they will be followed to the letter.” The Avian's eyes widened but she held her tongue as the Admiral held up a hand to indicate that he was not finished, “We are not taking them from you, but we need time to learn what you have studied your entire life. By us ‘stealing’ your library... and possibly a few well place, and completely harmless, weapons impacts on your Corvette… We should be able to provide you with the cover you need to maintain your status among the Syndicates. The truth is, Captain Collins is correct, we need intel from the fringe. We will give you a secure transmitter. If you find something, Contact us. The Vorath will hit you and your people first. I cannot say I will be upset when they wipe out the pirates. However, if you are willing to agree to this, we will get you and yours out, if at all possible, when the attacks do come. That will be what you get out of this. You and yours getting a personal extraction when the Vorath threat finally rears itself again.”

“What makes you believe that they are coming.” Quawrine asked intently. She could not find a lie in the man. He as human, so it was still possible, “You are asking quite a lot on faith, admiral…”

Admiral Stevens slowly drew a data stick, slipping it into the hologram projector, “Because they already have.” He said simply, pressing play.

A familiar image to many in the room flared to life as the recordings of the Vorath attack on Delmar began it’s replay.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Centarus stepped through the airlock onto the shattered wreck that was once a Vorath “World Cleanser” Cruiser. Two of these formidable craft were nothing but expanding clouds of gas in a no-name sector of space, but this one… This one was precious. It was the first of his vessels to return from a confrontation with this new threat that his people would face when they returned to claim their birthright. Her captain thumped his armor in a salute, “Centarus, I was not told you were coming personally.”

“I am here, nonetheless. I would see the ship that survived these… newcommers.” Centarus growled. “Show me.”

The tour was brief as several sections of the ship were still exposed to vacuum. The captain knew his ship well, and his men better. His body seethed with the knowledge that his foe simply left instead of finishing him off honorably. The engineering section had plucked a warped and mangled chunk of foreign material from one of the decimated sections of the ship and had it on a table for inspection, “We believe that we know what this ship used to defeat us, Centarus.” One of the engineers stated formally, “This appears to have been fired from some sort of kinetic weapon of some kind. We believe it to have impacted our shield at semiluminal velocities.”

“I find that hard to believe, but your expertise is value’d. Continue.” Centarus said slowly.

“Centarus, we believe this to be so because of the time between our registering their firing and the impact. That is not all… This material is in fact two distinct materials. One wrapped around the other with the core of an extremely dense and mildly radioactive structure.” The engineer waved a sensor over the mangled amalgamation of metal only to have it go off in a radioactive warning. “We do not know the manner of discharge, but the energy requirements to be able to fire even one of these is immense. I’m sure a detailed analysis would yield even greater insights.”

“I see, Granted. See that you present your findings personally.” Centarus stated before turning to the captain. “I will be taking your entire sensor logs with me; you are to transfer your surviving crew to my ship to return to Praesidium. They will be debriefed and given leave while your vessel is returned to service.”

“Centarus, I’m afraid I have been tasked with making a request of you. Some of my men, they will not survive the journey. They wish to take the right. I was going to send a request for authorization when you arrived. It pains me; we are but few this far from Domus Mundi. Our resources are limited. My men know this and wish not to be a burden” The captain’s eyes were level, but his loyalty to his men did nothing to dull the pain of such a request.

“Show me to them” Centarus rumbled as he turned to follow the captain down the corridors once more, ending their trek at the entrance to the Infirmaria. The two of them stepped into the room, and the stench of death and blood seared through their nasal passages as the room’s occupants struggled to come to some form of attention.

“Rest yourselves.” Barked Centarus, giving the wrecked bodies of these men the permission, they needed to relax once more. “How many.” He turned toward the captain.

“These men will recover, but the 3 in the back. They will not… not in any useful way.” The captain said softly as he led the way to the private room in the back. Centarus’ eyes narrowed as he saw the mass of carnage before him. There were indeed 3 men there, mostly. “These men, their injuries were left unattended to for too long, there is not enough good tissue left to save. They were in the worst-hit areas. All spent too much time in the void without a suit.”

Centarus slowly walked up to the first man, his face was pealed like the skin of a fruit and already waxing a sickly black as the necrotic tissue spread, slowly claiming its victim. The Vorath had access to Bio Bed and nanite technology, but there were some wounds that exceeded its limits. “Vorath, you wish to take the right.”

“Aye, Centarus. Do not force me to consume what will not save me.” The man's lidless eyes saw nothing, and his face held little tissue left to emote with. But his voice held its formality, with bare but a waver.

“I Grant you this blade. Die well and be welcome in the halls of the Devoted” Centarus held his eyes on the young man as he silently slid his dagger from his sheath. Quickly slipping it between the crewman’s ribs to sever the main artery from his heart to the rest of his body. Pride swelled in Centarus’ core as the man made no sound, but simply nodded once before his body sagged in the passing of a warrior’s soul.

Centarus granted the right to the next Soul with the same gentle swiftness. This man could not speak, his lower jaw was missing entirely, and the void bite was completely black with necrosis across his entire body. He simply nodded his answer and made but a grunt when the blade struck home. Centarus turned to the final Soul. This one was clearly the youngest, barely above the age of majority. He turned his head slowly and his eyes locked on the captain’s face. The young man was practically skinned alive and covered in thermal blanket to keep him as comfortable as possible. His exposed tissues oozed and dripped as he shivered in the flashes of hot and cold. There was simply not enough of his skin left to reconstruct.

Centarus paused as the captain’s hand shook slightly as he put a hand on his superior to halt him, “Centarus, I wish to perform this one. He is… my youngest... He is blood.” Centarus understood the captain instantly, ignoring any perceived breach of decorum with a solemn nod.

“Lift me, father. I wish… to… take it.. upright..” The young man grunted through the pain. His father slowly lifted him into a sitting position. The man’s teeth creaked as he fought the agony of simply changing position and ended up sitting up, leaning heavily on his father for support. The captain cupped the back of his boys head and slowly drew his own dagger.

“Marook, I grant you this blade…Die well… Be welcome in the hall… of the Devoted.” The captain croaked, choking on the words as he sent the blade home with a practiced hand.

Marook grunted once, then held his father's gaze as his eyes slowly lost their focus. His father cupped the mans head as he laid his lifeless form back down onto the bed before cleaning his blade on a bit of sheet before sheathing it.. He took a long shaky breath before turning to face Centarus, “They took my blood from me. I would have my recompense.” He said slowly to his superior officer.

Centarus did something out of character, alone in the room with a man who had just put his own son out of his agony. He took two steps forward, his blade flashed as he slit his palm, reaching out with the bloody hand, “You will have it.” He said simply.

The captain’s eyes widened slightly before he slashed his own hand and clasped the offered appendage.

No further words were exchanged. The pact was sealed.