Memory transcription subject: Captain Sovlin, Federation Fleet Command
Date [standardized aurigan time]: Heather 28, 1 AA
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"This is Captain Sovlin of the Gojidi Union. We are here to help." I spoke into the microphone, hoping there was someone on the other end who would accept my transmission. Meanwhile, Doctor Zarn stormed out of the bridge right there and then. He was more than free to abandon ship if he wanted, and fixing my shoulder cleared him of any debt to me.
"This is Captain Rill Kata of the Aurigan Federacy. I really hope that's not a mistranslation." Came the response.
"No error, Captain. We came here to liberate our home from monsters, and that's exactly what we'll do. It just took me far too long to realize that you weren't the monsters here."
"Well, I'm glad to have any help you can provide, cause they're kicking our asses here."
"The underbellies of their ships are the least armored, try to aim your plasma weaponry at those. They're also out of their cones of fire, so try your best to stay under them."
"We figure out the latter part already, but thanks for the heads up on the armor. Oh, and Captain. It's good to have reinforcements."
"You can thank me if we survive this, mezari. Sovlin out."
I then motioned for one of the bridge crew to replace Zarn at his former post. "You there, cadet. Open a fleet wide channel."
The young gojid nodded and I took a deep breath, before addressing my ramshackled fleet.
"Everyone here knows why we ignored Piri's orders. We came here expecting to have to bombard an aurigan occupation off of the face of the Cradle, but by now I'm sure you've all picked up on the transmission coming from the surface. I won't ask you to be in the same room as an aurigan, be it even one of the prey species. But I will ask you to trust me when I say that for now, they are not the enemy. As of this moment consider us at a ceasefire with them, until we can save our world from Arxur glassing. Sovlin out."
Letting out a heavy sigh, I then ordered my bridge crew to advance on the enemy positions, use plasma railguns to hound the arxur, keep them distracted, give the aurigans time to pick them off.
The grays were able to sneak smaller ships past the aurigans, but thankfully not enough of them to glass the planet were able to reach orbit. Hopefully we could prevent that from ever happening.
The tide of battle began to turn with our arrival. No doubt seeing us working together with the aurigans left the arxur confused.
Our ships moved in to sandwich the grays between our two fleets. While the aurigans were keeping them from reaching the planet below, we were pushing into their rear, unleashing plasma fire to weaken their shields, before launching missiles into their hulls.
The two pronged attack forced some of the gray ships to turn to face us, which in turn opened them up from attacks by the aurigans. We didn't need much communication with the newcomers to pull off the attacks. As soon as on of the gray ships had its back to us, we struck, merely co-ordinating among ourselves, while the aurians did the same whenever a gray ship faced us instead.
As the battle grew tighter, we had managed to pull the arxur away from the Cradle itself, and the fighting moved out to the planet's L2 point. Whittled down long enough, the arxur finally called a retreat at this point, and we made it our mission to shoot down as many catte ships as we could, even though they were most likely empty.
"Sir, the aurigans are hailing us." My comms officer informed once the battle was done.
"Put them through." I replied.
"Well... We survived. So thank you." Kata's voice cam through the comms.
"We did... Now what do we do?"
"Well, unless you're still planning on exterminating us, I suggest we focus on tending to the wounded, and making sure there are no more arxur around on the surface."
I gave a solemn nod, despite the lack of a video feed. "Alright, good. In the meantime I'll try contacting Piri. Hopefully her bunker didn't get bombed by one of the smaller bombers."
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"Good. Oh, and Sovlin. You're still wanted for attempted genocide. So unless you plan on turning yourself in, you might want to make yourself scarce once this is all over."
"I take it you're not going to arrest me yourself, then?"
"Not my job. Plus, you saved my hide. So consider this to be me looking the other way."
"Understood, Captain Kata. Sovlin out."
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Memory transcription subject: Prime Minister Piri of the Gojidi Union
Date [standardized aurigan time]: Fall 1, 1 AA
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When Sovlin contacted my bunker to inform me that he had come to rescue the Cradle occupation, I was angry. I'd told him that civilian casualties were not acceptable, that he couldn't just come and bomb the Aurigans off our world. When he told me that he'd helped the Aurigans beat back the arxur, I was shocked. The same man that wanted to exterminate the newcomers was now working with them?
When I asked what made him take such a big risk, he told me it was thanks to all the broadcasts of their bravery and kindness that I'd sent out in my public announcement. He said 'I was wrong about them, this is my chance to make it right.'
And now I was sitting at a table across from Governor Tarva and the Aurigan leader, ready to formulate a formal peace agreement between the Gojidi Union and the Aurigan Federacy.
News that the Aurigans abandoned their invasion in favor of defending us from the Arxur had swayed several species towards accepting the newcomers, at least temporarily. While about 10% of the Federation was still against them, well over a third were comfortable with a temporary alliance against the Arxur threat, and a dozen and a half races were willing to open full diplomatic channels.
I personally required no more convincing in this manner. It was clear to me that we were mistaken about the strange aliens from a far off world.
With cameras documenting every second of our diplomatic meeting, I felt it was best to show the galaxy that my change of heart was genuine.
"Thank you for agreeing to oversee this meeting, Governor Tarva." I began, bowing my head lightly. "I trust you will be fair and impartial."
The Venlil leader swished her tail in affirmation, looking between the Zolya and myself. "I hope so too, Prime Minister. I only wish to end this madness, so that we can focus on the true threat to us all."
I then turned my attention to the mezari leader of the aurigans, who was staying quiet so far. "Let us begin then, shall we?"
"Indeed. We should begin with the first matter at hand. The plot exterminate us. You were in charge of that, were you not?"
I gulped nervously and nodded. "Yes, I signed off on the plan..."
"Due to the utter failure of the plot, we are willing to drop the issue. But we request a defense agreement in return."
"A defense agreement? But this conflict has taken a toll on both of our militaries."
"Which is why now, more than ever, both of us need this." The mezari argued.
I couldn't exactly refute that fact, but I knew that it would be controversial to form an alliance with the newcomers, especially since the Krakotl were vehemently opposed to any species that deigned to work with them.
I took a deep breath, closing my eyes for a moment, before opening them again and letting out a deep sigh. "Very well. Genocide charges dropped in return for a defense agreement. What of the prisoners you took?"
"They will be returned once the agreement is formalized."
That eased a lot of my worries, since their return would prove to the galaxy that they were still alive, and their testimonies would be invaluable in proving that the newcomers weren't like the Arxur.
"Thank you. We have already lost too many people as it is."
The mezari gave a solemn nod, before speaking again. "We also request open borders, so that our ships may fly freely in your space. The Zurulians already have given us the same. If the Gojids accept, we will be able to finally move, and trade, freely through the sector. Speaking of trade, I'm sure you know we signed a trade agreement with the Zurulians, and have already shared our technologies with the Venlil. We're willing to do the same for the Gojids, in exchange for raw materials."
"Raw materials such as?..."
"Titanium-70 and ultradense deuterium are our most pressing needs, but we also require base matels, as well as silica glass and helium-3."
For a moment I was worried it was something far more nefarious they would ask of me, like bones and hides, but I was relieved that for the most part it was just metals and gases. "Ok, I'll have my people hash out the details of the trade."
"Good. That's all of our demands covered. Is there anything you'd like to add to the treaty?"
"I'd like to request aid in rebuilding. While much of our infrastructure is still in place, the destruction of our military bases severely limits our defensive capabilities. It will be months before we're back on our feet, even with help."
"We'll dedicate 20% of our manufacturing capacity towards helping you rebuid. Is that agreeable?"
"Very. Thank you." I nodded, before turning my head to look at Tarva. "Do the Venlil people have any additions they would like to make to this agreement?"
The Venlil leader swiveled her head to the other side upon being addressed, looking at me with her other eye. "Perhaps there is one. We would like for the Gojid to formally forfeit their military jurisdiction of Venlil space. We want to put our faith in the aurigans instead. Especially after you tried to bomb part of our planet."
It pained me that we'd violated the sovereignty of the Venlil like that. I fully understood where Tarva was coming from, but I wasn't sure relying solely on the newcomers was a good idea. "Are you sure? We could instead work together?"
"The Venlil public are outraged still. Perhaps in time we will rescind that part of the agreement, but for now I would like to keep my constituents happy."
I pawed at my forehead with a groan. "Very well, Governor. I accept. Venlil space is no longer under our military jurisdiction. I hope your safety is in good hands with the aurigans."
And with that, the agreement was finalized, and we all signed off on it. Hopefully this new peace will last.