18 February, 10TE, TAS Kyiv, Portsmouth Staging Area, 1 LY from Astralis System
“Okay, Jack,” Dr. Washington said, her tone cautious as she glanced between the Admiral and General Weber. “Arwae will have Rory present, so you and the President should be fine. But I’m concerned about General Weber. His presence could cause severe anxiety, and Mir’Shuran anxiety has an interesting effect on humans capable of telepathic contact... particularly those as large and combat-ready as Captain Kincaid.” Her eyes lingered on Weber, taking in his imposing frame.
Leena frowned. “General Weber is slightly larger than Captain Kincaid. How is there a difference?”
Natalia chuckled as she fell in step beside Aya, the corridor’s lights casting a soft glow over their faces as they made their way toward the refugee bay that had been converted into a sanctuary for the Ny’Shuran and Mirii. “Captain Kincaid was in an adjacent room when Kinner found the infants,” Natalia explained, an almost wry smile forming. “The moment he made eye contact with one of the babies, it bonded to him. And Rory... well, he’s a highly skilled marine, but Muuran—one of the infants—was terrified. Her fear radiated into his unprepared mind and triggered his fight, flight, or freeze response.”
Aya’s face paled slightly as she added, “He chose fight.”
General Weber’s expression darkened, a shadow crossing his eyes. “How many?” he asked, voice weighted with grim understanding.
Natalia’s smile faded as she met the General’s gaze. “Kinner woke up in his alternate and didn’t even realize Rory had driven his vibro-knife into the side of his helmet. Rory incapacitated three other marines before tearing through 117 Xarkai, using nothing but his hands and that knife. He fought his way through them until he found Arwae and a cage holding 13 more Ny’Shurans and Mirii.”
Aya shook her head, a touch of awe mingled with horror in her voice. “Arwae said the mind touch, as they call it, doesn’t use words but raw emotion and thought images. When Rory was in that state, she said he was mentally shrieking for his mother as he tore through anything in his path, Xarkai or human. When he saw the captives, he ripped the cage open, grabbed Arwae, and ran back to Muuran before collapsing with her in his arms.”
“I just know what they are saying when they talk to me and sometimes, I see pictures in my mind.” Natalia shrugged, shifting Olena gently against her chest. “Arwae managed to soothe them both enough to pull fragments of intent from Rory’s mind. She understood that we were there to save them from the Xarkai. That was the first accidental bond. I was the second, but by then, Arwae and the others had calmed the infants enough that I didn’t completely lose my mind.” She turned her eyes to Weber, a flicker of concern in her gaze.
“General, I can feel the malice you’re radiating—the desire to hunt and kill every last Xarkai,” Natalia said, her voice soft but resolute. She stroked Olena’s fur, the tiny Ny’Shuran’s breathing steady in her sleep. “So can they.”
A heavy silence fell over the group, punctuated only by the quiet hum of the ship’s systems. Weber’s jaw tightened, the rage that usually simmered just below his disciplined exterior now tempered by the understanding of what his presence could mean. He exhaled slowly, eyes narrowing with a mix of resolve and restraint.
“Very well, Doctor. I will wait outside,” General Weber growled, his voice a rough acknowledgment as he halted just before the entrance to the Tahlaris Sanctuary Bay. He crossed his arms, the tension in his posture mirroring the storm simmering behind his eyes.
Dr. Washington stepped forward, and as the doors slid open, Jack took his first look inside and understood what the sign above the door meant. The Sanctuary had been constructed within BH-2, Kyiv’s centermost bow hangar bay, transformed into a lush, fully terraformed forest biome. The air was cooler here, filled with the scent of greenery and damp earth. A central path led away from the entrance, branching off into smaller, winding trails that disappeared among dense foliage and dappled pools of sunlight.
Natalia led them down the path, the soft sounds of leaves rustling underfoot blending with the occasional chirp from hidden creatures. They emerged into a central courtyard, a clearing framed by tall, ancient-looking trees. In the center, Captain Kincaid stood at attention, towering over a Ny’Shuran who barely reached his chest but clutched his hand with fierce determination.
Jack and Leena approached slowly, sinking to their knees and then settling onto the cushions laid out across from the Ny’Shuran. Kincaid, ever vigilant, sat down last, his tense shoulders easing only when the Ny’Shuran spoke in a voice soft but steady.
“We are Arwae,” she said, dipping her head slightly. “We have been chosen to speak for our people here, on the ship of Natalia.” Her dark eyes shifted, glancing behind Captain Kincaid. “Our companions, who are hiding behind Rory, are Asha and Ilyr.”
Arwae extended her three-clawed hand to the ground behind the captain, and a moment later, two insect-like creatures, each about the size of a human hand, scurried up her arm. The first was black and red, its body segmented with a mantis-like head and eight nimble legs. It paused on her shoulder, and the front segment lifted upright, the smaller forelimbs shifting into a posture that resembled hands.
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“We are Asha,” Arwae said, as the red and black Mirii’s head tilted toward her face, eyes glistening with intelligence.
The second Mirii, blue and black, leapt from Arwae’s shoulder and landed gracefully on Captain Kincaid’s, its movements swift and almost mesmerizing. It assumed the same upright stance, four limbs extended like hands, turning its multifaceted eyes toward the red-haired marine. “We are Ilyr,” Kincaid said. “And we know Rory’s mind as we know the mind of Natalia of Kyiv.”
Arwae’s gaze moved across the humans before her, a subtle tremble in her frame as she continued. “We know their minds as we know the minds of all those who bonded with our stolen young, so they might live. We see truth in your hearts.”
She stood, drawing herself up with quiet strength, and faced Leena directly. “Natalia of Kyiv has shown me her mind’s words. As chosen speaker for the people of Tahlaris, we request the assistance of the Terran Alliance and beg you—save our people from the Xarkai. Please.”
Leena leaned forward, hands outstretched, palms up, and locked eyes with Arwae. “I know our eyes frighten your people,” she said softly, her voice steady and suffused with compassion. “But look into mine, and you will find nothing to fear. I do not see you as prey or a threat. I see you as a friend in need.”
Jack watched as the President’s expression shifted, hardening with resolve. “Admiral Reynolds,” Leena said, turning to him, “you have authorization to make war on the Xarkai at your earliest convenience.”
A gasp of quiet surprise left Leena’s lips as Arwae stepped forward and took her hands, the Ny’Shuran’s grip gentle but firm. “As President of the Terran Alliance,” Leena continued, holding Arwae’s gaze, “I grant your request for aid against a loathsome invader. We pledge to liberate your home and drive the Xarkai from your system. And in the meantime, we will continue our efforts to find and free as many of your people as possible.”
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25 February, 10TE, Bridge, TAS Kyiv, Portsmouth Staging Area, 1 LY from Astralis System
“Alright, people, Callisto has this operation timed to the nanosecond,” Natalia said from her command chair on the bridge of the Kyiv. The room hummed with anticipation, every officer at their station, eyes locked on their readouts. “We’re jumping into Tahlaris orbit at maximum range for QD connection and deploying five thousand Legionaries. The Warspite, Texas, and Yamato will follow suit, dropping the remaining fifty thousand. Once we deploy our troops, we’ll move into a higher orbit.”
She took a long pull from her coffee, the warmth a small comfort amid the tension. “Transit time is 14.45 hours. Callisto will have launched its nano-drone attack three minutes before we re-enter real-space, so by the time we arrive, we should have operational control of the planet and the system.” Natalia’s eyes shifted to Jack, who sat beside her, a faint smile playing on his lips.
“Admiral, anything to add?” she asked, a hint of challenge in her tone.
Jack shook his head, his grin widening. “Your show, Captain.”
“Larysa, open a fleet-wide channel,” Natalia ordered, leaning forward in her chair.
The AI’s voice came through, smooth and unflinching. “Channel open, Captain.”
Natalia took a breath, letting it settle the last of her nerves. “This is Captain Sokolov,” she began, her voice ringing with command and purpose. “We’ve rehearsed this operation for a week, and we know our jobs. Every second we wait is another moment of pain and death for our new friends. They are peaceful beings who do not understand war. But we do. In 14 and a half hours, the Xarkai will understand, too. And in 15 hours, they will all be dead.”
Natalia turned to Larysa, her gaze unyielding. “Larysa, coordinate fleet-wide hyperspace transit on my mark.”
The AI’s voice held a note of electric anticipation. “Ready, Captain.”
“Three... two... one... Mark.”
The stars outside the viewport shimmered as the Kyiv and the rest of the fleet slipped into the fabric of hyperspace. The familiar, heart-stopping moment of dislocation hit the crew as space warped around them, and then the viewscreens flared with the blinding distortion of light before stabilizing into the stretched, tunnel-like visuals of hyperspace transit.
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14.45 hours later, TAS Kyiv, 495,000 kilometers from Tahlaris
The bridge of the Kyiv was bathed in the pale, electric glow of control panels and holographic displays. The tension that had built over the past hours seemed to thrum in the air, sharp and alive. Larysa, turned to face Jack and Captain Sokolov.
“Real-space transit complete. All systems nominal,” she reported, her voice even, betraying none of the anticipation that gripped the bridge. “Callisto reports full operational control of all Xarkai ships and computer networks in the system. General Weber is requesting communication with Admiral Reynolds.”
Jack stood, the slight creak of his boots on the metal floor underscoring the silence. “Put him through, Larysa.”
A hologram flickered to life in front of them, resolving into the formidable figure of General Weber. He stood clad in full combat armor, a massive railgun cradled in his arms. His eyes were hard, his expression focused.
“All Legionaries deployed and carrying out the mission, Admiral. The planet should be clear of Xarkai within the hour. Weber out.” The hologram blinked out as suddenly as it had appeared.
A low chuckle escaped Natalia. “Rory says it’ll be more like fifteen minutes.”
Jack turned to her, eyes narrowing. “How, Nat? We’re half a million clicks out. Your nanites can’t connect at that range.”
An odd look crossed her face, a mixture of disbelief and realization. “I’m hearing him right now,” she said, a note of tension creeping into her voice. “He says the Xarks have given up on guns and switched to blades again. And he’s... pleased about it.” Her eyes widened suddenly. “What the—Larysa, establish a radio link with Captain Kincaid. I know there’ll be a time delay.”
“Channel established, Captain. Signal reply delay will be 3.34 seconds.”
Natalia’s voice was taut as she spoke into the comm. “Rory, I want you to say ‘Mark’ on your comms.”
The bridge fell into silence, every ear straining for the reply. Less than two seconds later, Rory’s voice came through, steady and clear. “Mark.”
Larysa’s eyes brightened. “That was approximately 1.7 seconds. This suggests zero or a negligible time delay over 495000 kilometers.”
Jack exhaled, a wry smile forming on his face. “Well, that shouldn’t be possible according to any known physics,” he said, the humor in his voice masking a deeper unease. “But I guess neither is telepathy, so here we are again.”
“Larysa,” Jack continued, his tone shifting back to command, “inform the President and Arwae that we are in control of Tahlaris.”
“Acknowledged, Admiral,” Larysa replied.