The security officer quickly moves back with hurried steps, he opens the small medical satchel and takes out several pieces of equipment. The equipment is composed of a gel pack, a simple gauss, and tape. He then started to smear the gel onto their wounds and wrap them with gauss. Perhaps the gel was some sort of disinfectant or a regenerative gel, thoughts for another time?

I turn my gaze to the screens scanning the various occupied rooms and decks. The left four screens show the cameras on the bridge where most of the crew are situated. The centre screens mostly show the corridors of the various decks, most with sparsely anyone of note. There are mostly patrolling guards, very few I might add. The frigate was supposed to house a crew complement of two hundred, looks like a little over one hundred remain, all Wokan crew.

To the right, I spot the cargo and docking bays along with some depicting the various engineering rooms. My eyes scan those screens until I spot Zerg loitering in a control room. His lower arms crossed behind his back, the very signal I need. A few minor cycles later, the three Wokan crew seem patched up and are sitting relatively comfortably. They are in the corner watching me warily as three knocks are heard outside the door.

I quickly open it and let my comrade Quroken in. He lumbers in holding several peculiar rifles in his clutches. Turning to him with a glance, I query as to the nature of such items as he hands one of them to me. "Are those the items I requested?" My voice was calm and monotone, a reflection of the calm serenity I had been cultivating for some time now.

His gaze rested upon me as I grasp the item in my spare hand while aiming my more lethal rifle towards the three crew members. "Yes, they are the stun weapons from the weapons stash, Zerg was kind enough to unlock them for me." He replies with a mischievous grin, as he levels one of the stun weapons at the three crew members.

The stun weapons were of similar design to the laser rifles, bulky weapons but with a cylindrical barrels. The stock and trigger mechanism was the same but with four prongs on the end of the barrel. I turn my stun rifle to the three crew and with two subsequent pulls of the trigger, electrical discharges from the barrels. They propel forward striking their unguarded flesh.

Two of the security guards spasm upon contact, before going limp after a few moments of thrashing. I turn the stun rifle to the remaining security officer and as I am about to pull the trigger, a thought occurs, and I stop midway. I look down at the beverage and lift it with my free hand to take another sip of the delicious drink. My desire quenched for the moment I level my gaze at the fearful security officer and ask a question. "Excuse me but would you be so kind as to tell me where you get this exquisite beverage?" I ask without hiding my genuine eagerness to fathom such a drink's origin.

The security officer hesitates for a moment, his hands trembling as he stares daggers at the weapon in my hand. It was as if he expected me to fire at any moment. I decide to wait for him to gather himself, he does after some time and replies with a shaky voice. "It's... It's imported... From a Trady merchant apparently, it's some exotic beverage from a far-off star sector, I think he called it coffee." His voice was quite shaky, he stopped and started a few times but I got most of what he said. Perhaps I shall visit this sector at some point, this... Coffee is truly a marvellous creation.

Taking another sip of the coffee I turn my gaze directly at the security officer and give him a knowing smile before speaking up. "Don't worry it will only hurt for a moment, your pain is unfortunate." I try to reassure him in the Shahnese language, not an effective apology but they have a limited vocabulary. I aim my stun rifle at his left leg and fire another bolt of electricity, spasming the security officer upon contact until he slumps over.

Now with that done, I turn to the cameras, examining each with intensive detail. One such video feed brings a smile to my face; I witness the feed from docking bay four. The two guards outside our ship standing there aimlessly, suddenly drop to the ground as two large green figures render the unconscious and take their weapons.

Those two figures are Itoa and Hera Jan. I noticed Hera repeatedly hit the unconscious Wokan with the end of her newly acquired rifle before Itoa stops her. Hmm, that will be a problem, will need to speak with her about her capacity for excessive violence against Wokan. I then turn to the image of Zerg still with his lower arms crossed behind his back as if waiting for something.

I decide the time is now and place my hand on one of the buttons. The glyph looks like the Demthesian word for ship-wide announcements. Quroken had assisted with a few of the glyphs he knew of but had limited knowledge of except for important systems and terms. With my finger pressed gently upon the glyph, the button glows a red hue.

I take this as being active and speaking with a calm monotone voice to the entire frigate crew in Shahnese. "Greetings current crew of the DSY Uroha, frigate class vessel. This is Clone Commander Designation 4462 of the Samsiran Empire. I regret to inform you that this vessel and its crew are in violation of regulation twenty-three of the Imperial Sentient Charter, crimes such as the subjugation and enslavement of a less advanced civilisation." My words are broadcast to every corner of the ship, causing the cameras to light up with every Wokan crew member each with almost synchronicity moving their gazes to the various comm speakers throughout the ship.

I pause for a moment before continuing. "Violation of such regulations typically incur a life sentence penalty on the Lumara Maximum security prison or execution by firing squad. In that regard condemning the entire crew for the actions of the command is dubious at best. So, I suggest you lay down your arms and submit yourself to Imperial law." My final words cause a ruckus amongst the Wokan's, specifically Commander Zekton. From what I am seeing are barking orders to the bridge crew, as I expected.

I breathe in for a few moments before assessing the various cameras of every Wokan that seems like a threat. The bridge crew, what seems like a barracks with several Wokan's arming up, the mess hall with several Wokan and a few engineering and cargo decks. Pausing for a time I decide to activate the communication system once again and make another announcement. "It is a pity your leaders do not acknowledge their actions and they're inherent consequences. Much like a history I know all too well." I pause again and suck in some more air before lifting my gaze and casting it on the image of Zerg.

H is now gazing at the camera; I resolve and proceed to speak. "Bridge Deck, Main Bridge corridor, Barracks one through four, Engineering deck one and two, Mess Hall, cargo bay one through five and docking bay one through three." I nod my head and try to think up something else, something I missed. Instead, I firm my resolve and speak my final words. "Mithorka onwada." With those words, I gaze down at the visage of Zerg who begins activating the control panel near him.

After a few minor cycles, a loud thud could be heard echoing around the ship as one by one every Wokan crew falls to their knees. They descend as if by an invisible pressure, keeping them down. After a time, the pressure seems to increase as they all fall flat to the floor, struggling against this unseen force keeping them still. Their faces or at least from what I can see are truly frightened. Each deck filled with Wokan lumbered to the ground with one swift stroke.

I turn to Quroken, speaking carefully. "It's time, go get the Garudan's and distribute the stun rifles to the ones you trust the most. Leave the rest on the Hellmak and have Itoa split them up between the cargo, docking bays and engineering decks. Make sure to emphasise, I want them alive." My stern gaze lingers upon him as I continue giving my orders. "You take the mess hall and the barracks, take some Garudan's if you need them and tell Hera to come to me. I need to speak to her." My final order disrupts Quroken's thoughts for only a moment. He attempts a sloppy Samsiran salute, before leaving the security room.

I monitor the camera feeds for a time and coordinates the various Garudan forces via the communication system. Each of them is now armed with a stun rifle. The cargo and docking decks were swept easily as I ordered Zerg to lift the high artificial gravity fields from select areas before the Garudan's can stun the Wokan's and take them hostage. Itoa managed to keep the more aggressive Garudan's inline and they easily swept through taking every Wokan on the lower deck.

The plan was relatively simple, gain access to the ship's security terminal and have Zerg power down the lights and co-opt the auxiliary gravity controls. From experiments with the gravity plates on the Hellmak. Zerg was able to create a program that overwrites the security safeguards. Increase the gravitational field to above tolerance level, on certain sections. With my guidance from the security office and Zerg's alteration of the ship's sectional gravity fields. Quroken, Itoa and the Garudan's managed to take nearly every Wokan crew member hostage, with minimal bloodshed.

If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it's taken without permission from the author. Report it.

The last remaining crew members were the bridge crew. I saved them for last as I was not sure how to deal with Commander Zekton. He would likely be the driving force behind the hostilities on Garuda. I take a sip of my coffee, savouring not only the taste but the exhilarating post-sensation. Acquiring more of this has just become a priority, with that thought washing over my mind. I barely noticed the sound of the door opening, before the footsteps.

I turn over my shoulder only to see Hera levelling her spear towards my back, with an intense look of displeasure. I quickly turn around and parry the spear away, before settling into a traditional Junpo stance. Lunging forward to immobilise her weapon, grabbing the spear I swiftly turn the blade to the left side and nearly remove it from her grasp, before a swift kick comes to my side. I endure the blow and try to move into her guard for a grapple.

Instead, she adjusts her stance to parry and shifts her footing to my side, pulling me into a headlock. Her spear landed on the ground, with the struggle but her counter was well worth the loss of her weapon. It gave her the advantage as I was too focused on it, lesson learned. I tap on her shoulder with submissive intent, causing her to let go as per the custom I showed her.

She moves to the side and picks up her spear, gazing at me intensely before speaking. "What is it you want?" She speaks in Garudan, something I had learned somewhat through the aid of Kalo and my implant recording capabilities. The implant assigned words to their Samsiran translation. I was no expert on the language, but I could keep a conversation with the aid of the implant.

I sigh with a heavy breath before straightening my posture and replying. "You have improved I daresay you are superior to me in close combat," I state matter-of-factly, she has indeed improved far more rapidly than I anticipated. Perhaps her species is tailored to fighting, a warrior race indeed. She seems to scoff at my words as she glares at me with her posture imposing. Her spear standing upward from the floor.

Her demeanour suggests some level of imposition against me, I can already see the gears turning in her mind as she barks in her native tongue. "Honest praise, I accept it well, but what do you want?" I admire her capability to act with modesty and fervour almost simultaneously. This could be the result of the language translation from my implant. But I have noticed the Garudan language seems the most respectful in comparison to the others.

I centre my thoughts as the next few words and questions will be difficult to say but her understandable misgiving about the Wokan is not conclusive to an effective strategy. I pause momentarily, speaking directly and to the point. "I am concerned about you Hera." She seems to want to say something but instead chose not to. I have observed her respect for me for some time. It seems that respect may conflict with her own desires, so a middle ground is necessary. "My concern is that your animosity against the Wokan's, because of your personal loss and degradation. You and your people have suffered at their hands compromises your judgement." These words were not perfectly translated, but I believe most of it should sink in.

She seems to ponder for a time as I continue. "I don't mean to diminish your loss, but perspective must be attained to ensure your people's survival. Not all of the Wokan's are deserving of harsh judgement." The words needed to be said whether she understands or accepts them. I will not allow her to compromise what I am doing, but I desire her loyalty regardless.

Her little pondering session comes to an end, she continues to glare at me, her mouth twitching in anticipation of the words. "They slaughtered us... They fought without honour, for a warrior to fight another warrior is something I can accept... But I can neither accept nor forgive when they slew the young. The ones not yet blooded; the ones not yet needed to fight. How can I accept or treat honourless creatures with the honour they never dared show us." Her words were filled with emotions such as fury, hate and righteous anger. Anyone would immediately sympathise with such a speech, perhaps even join their cause, but I do not think nor feel like just anyone.

Though it was difficult to create an imposing figure to her much larger stature, nevertheless I stepped forward and glared at her with a cold and icy intention. "I understand, not in a way you do with feeling or experience. But I do understand what is important." I adjust my tone to become slightly softer, causing her furious glare to soften, perhaps a mirror reaction or perhaps I have managed to gain a repour. "What If Hera, I was to let you kill them, to kill them all. How would you look like in the eyes of their kin, as you indiscriminately slaughtered them in retaliation." Her face twitches into a grimace, and a faint look of realisation dawns on her, but acceptance is still far behind, as I continue my little speech. "In their eyes, you would be the honourless creature, you would be the same, another link in the chain. I have seen it, not in person but seen it nevertheless." I drop my eyes to the ground; flashes of images cross my mind. Images of battlefields, destroyed cities and nations brought to their knees by endless war.

For what did they fight for exactly, I have yet to discern the meaning. "I assure those responsible will pay in blood, but not all the Wokan are the same, they were slaves once oppressed, degraded and treated without honour, just as you were." I straightened my posture to look as large as I could, an attempt at intimidation.

The moments ticked by before she replied simply. "I will heed your words and accept you as a leader. But on the honour of my dear Tokron, I will demand recompense in blood." She stamped her spear on the cold floor and slammed her left arm horizontally against her spear. I believe this is an ancient Garudan salute. She mentioned her Tokron which is the term used to depict a male mate the female Garudan chooses to bear her lineage. It is very rare for female Garudan's to accept another Tokron, after their deaths at least from what I have learned.

I nod and lift my stun rifle mimicking her salute with near accuracy. I then turn to the door, grab another stun rifle, and hand it to her. I had given the Garudan's some training with rifles, they're not very accurate but they will suffice. She places her spear in the sheath, behind her back and follows behind me.

I reach for the coffee and gulp the remnants before glancing at the monitors. Specifically, the bridge and the corridor to the bridge. The depiction of the Wokan crew sprawled out on the floor under the weight of the increased gravity is quite the sight. Quroken and several Garudan's make their way to the entrance of the corridor and wait just outside the gravity field. Quroken and his forces level their stun rifles and fire upon the several crew members still plastered to the ground, with rather impressive accuracy.

This Garudan troop had taken to the rifles, hopefully, such actions by my hand do not take away from the Garudan's spirit of combat. With all the corridor crew now dealt with by the stun rifles, I press the communication button and command Zerg to lift the gravity field from the corridor. I then order Quroken to advance on the bridge. Quroken's squad consists of five Garudan's, three males and two females. These five were the first to be receptive to my command and thus took well to Quroken's teachings. One of them is Mera's father, quite a capable man I must say and very intelligent. His hatred towards the Wokan is nearly non-existent, merely overshadowed by his desires to safeguard his Telkreen, the female that chose him and birthed their child.

I communicated with them directly by patching my voice to Quroken's plundered comm system. "Quroken... I want Commander Zekton alive; he is your main priority." He nodded in acknowledgment to the camera and commanded his squad to split into teams of three and maneuvered to both sides of the bridge doorway. Through the cameras, I can spot Commander Zekton, along with his crew faintly struggling against the gravity field. My eyes squint as I narrow them into steel-like focus.

Gazing upon Zekton, I noticed a small shadow to his right side as he moves his appendages with minimal success, but enough to. I immediately press the communication button and bark out my orders. "Quroken, Zekton will fire on you, evade!" I glare at the camera as the visage of the slumped-over Zekton barely lifts his arm up. He levels his laser pistol and fire's several shots just as the Garudan squad begins stunning the bridge crew. The arcing laser and electrical discharges fly across the monitor as Zekton's laser fire pierces one of the Garudan's in the chest.

He slumps to the ground holding his wound whilst screaming in pain. Further arcing electrical discharges render all the bridge crew stunned, along with Zekton himself who slumps down. I glare at the video feed and watch as the injured Garudan is pulled away to the side. Quroken takes cover along with his squad.

I turn to the video feed of Zerg and communicate to him to lift the gravity fields off the bridge. I then leave the security office with Hera, towards the bridge. After some time, I reach and my eyes cast on the injured Garudan. It was Mera's father, writhing in pain as Quroken applies the medicinal gel to the wound, his fellow squad keeps him steady. I move towards him and lean down, with my gaze sharing his I speak in a confident tone. "You will survive." Though my confidence in his survival was not based on any medical knowledge. The respect I have for the sheer will the Garudan's displayed as they trained under me.

I stood up and nod to Quroken who begins wrapping the wound with gauss. I turn to the bridge and walk over at a brisk pace. Passing all the stunned crew members, all the way to Commander Zekton's slumped body. I near him and notice a slight tremor before he forces himself up, brandishing his laser pistol. I quickly grab the pistol from his grasp, with a swift lunge and turn the barrel away from anyone. Twisting his hand to a near-breaking point, I relieve him of his weapon and turn it upon him.

The pistol is of exquisite make, silver cylindrical barrel, no bulky frame with a rather comfortable grip. I aim the pistol at his face as Hera moves up behind me levelling her spear at him. All four of his hands raised in surrender, but his eyes still beam defiance and aggression. His impressive resistance against the increased gravity field and the stun rifle was unexpected.

That defiant look was anticipated and I lower down further placing the pistol directly in range. The weapon aimed to construct a rather large hole in his forehead. I speak my very first words to the commander. "Greetings Commander Zekton, it is a pleasure to meet you, I have some concerns regarding your mishandling of the Garudan homeworld and its people. Luckily we have plenty of time to discuss it." I cannot help but beam a pleasant smile, it was unprofessional but the anticipation of what is to come puts a smile on my face.