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Future Sanctuary

Chapter 8 Truth, Lies, and Battle Cries

The small courier flitter settles with a sigh to the ground next to the smaller one-man craft that Murrrfie had piloted in earlier that day. Before the craft settles fully to the ground Jim leaps out, his face breaking into a grin at the welcoming committee standing on the edge of the landing field. Without a word he starts to walk towards the waiting Captain without noticing that Kilape has taken up her position two steps behind and to his left, her limp exaggerated from the stiffness of being onboard the cramped flitter for the long flight. An armed security detachment stands by, weapons held up in salute as the armored figures of Yamoti and Vorga leave the craft to look around them at the nighttime bustle of the humans.

"Captain, good to see you face to face again," Jim greets as he reaches Captain Long, his hand extended.

The Captain takes the offered hand and shakes it vigorously, a smile crossing his features to match Jim's, "Good to be seen Jim, I know it's only been a few days, but with all that's happened, it feels more like it's been months."

Jim looks at the security detail arranged around the field, "There been trouble since I left?"

"No, but with your description about their society being into the whole 'honorable warrior' image, I thought it might be a good idea to put on a show of our own." He gives a bark of laughter, "Not that they didn't get a good demonstration of our power when those rouges showed up during your introduction to the tall blue lady there." He looks past Jim to Yamoti, "I'm guessing she's the same one?"

Jim turns to look at Yamoti and waves her forward with a wave of his arm, "Her, I'll introduce you." As the tall armored female steps next to Jim with Vorga in close support she gives the Captain a polite bow. "Captain Long, may I present Commander Yamoti, she is the military counsel to the High Mother, who also happens to be her mother."

He switches languages without a pause and gesturing towards Captain Long he addresses the Rathac, "Commander Yamoti, this is our leader, Captain Long."

Yamoti bows again and holds her hand out as she had seen Jim do, a slight flick of a shoulder tentacle at Vorga to signal she doesn't want any trouble from her Honor Lead. The Captain hesitates in surprise for a moment before he extends his own and shakes her armored hand before bowing in return to her, "A pleasure to meet you Commander Yamoti. Welcome to our home and may peace reign between our people."

Jim does a quick translation and Yamoti gives a closed lip smile, "Thank you Captain, and we appreciate the honor of being allowed to visit." She looks around with expectation before asking, "I was expecting my younger brother to be here."

The Captain joins Jim in a hearty chuckle as he translates the question, "I believe the lad is currently getting an escort through one of our engineering bays. He really is a smart lad, seems to understand the basics of how our stuff works, even if he's not quite getting some of the more difficult theories."

She opens her mouth to respond as there is a loud flair of horns from beyond the trees outside the human's perimeter. The entire security detachment raises their arms to the ready as their visored faces scan the darkness beyond the circle of their lights. The radio bands starts to fill with chattering reports of figures in the trees just beyond the outer perimeter visible in infrared.

Vorga's hand is on the hilt of his sword as his lips curl in a snarl and his ears flatten against his head while he spins, looking for the source of the noise. "Commander, it's the Republic! I'd know those horns anywhere! They're Republic war horns."

Yamoti's tentacles reach down, and with a flick the dexterous appendages, unsnap the flaps over her pistols and grip the butts as her eyes go wide with shock, "What?!"

Jim looks to the Captain who is as surprised as anyone else, "Why didn't the sensors detect them?"

The Captain presses his hand to the comm unit in his ear, "The sentries thought they were just wild animals. They hadn't seen any sign of those flying ships, other than yours." He grumbles under his breath, "Those fools, they should be able to tell the difference between a humanoid and a beast."

Jim grunts, "They have probably been marching here since we shot up their little fleet. They probably figured we would shoot their craft down again if they came within sight."

The radios crackle with the calm voice of one of the sentries that silences the other voices, "Captain, we've got a group of about ten locals walking this way. Weapons and armor are in evident. No sign of a white flag or anything I can recognize as a sign of peace other than their swords are still in their scabbards. But I can clearly see rifles in their hands."

Another blare of horns rolls through the night as Yamoti and Vorga continue to grip their weapons as they search for the source of the noises. Kilape also looks around, her eyes wide with surprise, and her body in a brawler's crouch as she has no weapons. The tails of all three felines are whipping around like bullwhips in agitation as an inner fire of battle seems to gleam in their eyes.

The Captain grumbles, "That's enough of that." Pulling a pair of mirrored glasses from his pocket he slips them on as he triggers his transmitter override, "All crawlers, activate full floods."

With a series of clicks and hums large panels extend from the sides of the crawlers. Jim looks to the three Rathac beside him and shouts, "Cover your eyes!" as his hand snaps down his reflective visor.

The warning gives just enough time for the three Rathac to cover their eyes with their arms before a high pitched whine comes from the crawlers and the panels burst into bright light. Anyone not wearing a visor or covering their eyes is instantly blinded by the lights that have turned the night into day. The group of Rathac on the perimeter is dazzled as they call out in frustration and fear, their hands raised to their faces to shield their dazzled eyes which were accustomed to the darkness of only a moment before. Several of the rifles they hold are scanning the area in blind frustration as they let loose with roars. One of the guards starts to fire his weapon at an upward angle hoping to destroy what is making the light in his blind fury.

Vorga, his eyes squinting, steps in front of Yamoti to shield her. "Those are Republic Soldiers," he snarls.

The Captain once more speaks with his usual calm into his comm, "Pickets, fire a single warning volley over their heads, don't hit anyone unless you have to."

The pickets take careful aim and fire a single volley of blaster fire over the heads of the blind soldiers. The one firing the rifle lowers his blind aim to fire at the sound of the shots as he roars a challenge in fear.

His roar turns to a high pitched scream of terror and pain as one of the security force sees his intentions and shoots the rifle. It explodes in his hands as the blaster bolt strikes the weapon. He drops to his knees, his hands bloody and clutched to his armored chest as he cries out in agony.

The Rathac who had been in the lead turns to kneel beside the wounded warrior and calls out to the others as he holds one hand up towards the Human pickets, palm out. The rest of the guards throw their rifles to the ground and hold their hands far from their swords, palms outward to show they are no longer a threat.

"Dim those lights to thirty percent," the Captain orders and the lights dim to a more bearable level.

Chief Jenson calls out to his men, "Team bravo, forward and collect those weapons. Keep your eyes on those guys, they look like a sneaky bunch to me."

Four men climb out of their holes and keeping their weapons pointed at the Rathac close on them. A few of the warriors take a step back but a roared order stops them and they stand still while the Humans close.

Captain Long leans closer to Jim, "Can you understand him?"

Jim shakes his head, "It might be he's too far away, but I'm only catching about every other word. It sounds like it might be a different dialect." He looks over at Yamoti, "Do they speak a different language?"

Yamoti gives her characteristic tentacle shrug, "Of sorts, the languages are related, and I expect you'd pick it up quickly if you listened to it for any length of time."

Jim nods in understanding, "That's what I thought." He looks at the Captain, "I'm going out there to see what they want. I might be able to get that much at least out of them."

The Captain nods, "With an escort I think." He waves a team forward, "Corporal, take your team and watch his back." He looks over at the armored Rathac, "We'll keep the friendlies back here. Don't want honored visitors to get injured just because these guys don't like them or something."

Jim nods and starts to walk towards the group but stops when he notices Kilape following him, "Stay here."

She bows her head, "If you wish, but I can speak their dialect fluently, I may be of assistance Majoi."

Jim relents with reluctance, "Alright, but stay behind me." He turns to the escort, "This female will follow to help with any interpretation I may need. Be sure she stays safe."

The squad nods in understanding and once more the group starts to walk towards the unexpected visitors.

As they cross the outer perimeter of foxholes and bunkers the kneeling Rathac's attention is brought to them by a whisper from one of his guards. The leader stands with careful ease and an air of superiority, the wounded warrior still mewling on the ground and the blood dripping from the bandages wrapped around his mangled hands. "By what right do you injure my honor guard?" he asks with perfectly understood Rathac.

Jim stops ten paces away and looks the tall male, "By the right of your guard firing his longfang at my people, and that your flitters have attacked us."

The male bows his head the tiniest amount, "That was a mistake. We were targeting the beasts of the Empire, they never leave us alone and we thought at first they were sending an invasion fleet into our territory. It was only afterwards that we realized that your people were involved." He looks to the injured guard, "As for the attack of my guard, I must apologize. My son is foolish and easily startled. Your bright lights scared him into thinking we were under attack. He has heard much of your weapons of light from the survivors of the accidental attack on your people."

Kilape opens her mouth to deliver a scathing retort, but snaps it shut with a glance from Jim. "Why are you here?" he asks as he returns his gaze to the delegation.

The Rathac male bows low, "I am an ambassador from the Republic of Dilar, we seek peaceful relationships with you. We can give you much; ores, food, lodestone, many things that will let your people live in comfort. Why, we can even supply you with slaves, both for labor and pleasure. All we ask is to learn of your ways of battle, to defend ourselves from the hostile Empire."

"The Empire?" Jim asks with a flat and neutral voice.

The nameless Rathac waves a dismissive tentacle towards the courier vessel on the landing field, "Yes, we see you have already had contact with them. They can't be trusted. They are aggressive and will take your weapons for themselves so they can rule the world."

Jim tilts his head to the side and studies the ambassador standing in front of him, "The Empire has been nothing but honorable in our dealings so far. But your people have attacked mine, and more than once I was attacked by treacherous forces under your influence while in the presence of those from the Empire."

The Rathac tries to wave away such things, "They surely were not targeted at you. They were probably trying to kill that whore standing over there," he waves towards Yamoti. "You can't trust her or the rest of her family." His eyes glint with knowledge, "I've heard you were mortally wounded by one of their subjects. And that you had to fight that... creature standing behind you." He gives a dismissive growl as he flicks a tentacle towards Kilape, "I don't know what you let her live."

Jim can almost feel the rage radiating off Kilape as she holds herself in check. He lets a scowl cross his face, his fingers drumming on his crossed arm, "Again, I only hear your words while I have seen your actions. The two are not aligning into a message of truth. And while you speak the truth of the attacks on my person, those were individuals, not the acts of the government who have never sent their armies against my people. I have seen to those who attacked me and taken what action I see fit."

"But it was a mistake," the male says in a raised voice as he takes a step closer to Jim and stops as the human guards train their rifles on him, fingers slipping inside the trigger-guards as the muzzles glow with the restrained power of suns. He takes a step back before crossing his arms over his chest and waving a tentacle dismissively at Jim, "I will not talk to such a stupid individual further. I will only speak with your lead Ambassador or your leaders. Go and prepare the way for me underling."

Jim smirks in humor as he replies, "I am the only Ambassador for the Humans, and I already think you're so full of it your eyes are brown."

The Rathac looks back at him with perplexity, "My eyes are yellow, not brown."

Jim scoffs at the clueless male as he repeats what he said to the others around him in Terran and elicits a roar of laughter from all the guards. "Then tell him to take a piss," comments one of the privates.

The Rathac before him look around in startlement at the unexpected sounds before the leader focuses on him again, "You claim you are the only Ambassador for your people?"

Kilape leans down and whispers in his ear, "He is startled, seldom is such a high ranking person as yourself presented to greet an Ambassador at first. The risks of first meetings are high between the Empire and the Republic. The Republic has been known to lie in wait for such meetings and then ambush the diplomats. The Empire would never trust one such as him in diplomacy with a senior Ambassador."

Jim gives a nod of agreement, "I'd say you need to make yourself comfortable out here. You will not be allowed within our fortifications until such time as we can trust you. I will talk to my leaders and tell them of your words. They will decide the truth behind your actions." With that Jim spins and starts to walk back to the cluster surrounding the Captain on the far side of the landing field. His escort backing away from the Rathac, their weapons' muzzles still trained on the Ambassador to discourage any stupid movements.

***

"They claim they want peace and that the attacks on us were accidents," Jim reports to the Captain. He spits in the dirt, "I don't trust them as far as I could throw them. The guy acts like he's lowering himself to talk to vermin by addressing us."

The Captain rubs his chin, "While I don't trust them, I don't see why we can't hear what they want. We aren't bound to anything they want after all. You haven't made any promises to them have you?"

"No, sir, and they made it plain what they want," Jim says with a snort. "They want our weapons to use against the Empire." He waves a hand towards Yamoti and Vorga to explain. "I'm not for giving either culture our weaponry at this time. We don't even know yet if it can be duplicated here. We lost a most of our scientists and many of our engineers too, who knows how much longer we can keep our tech running. And much as I like and trust Yamoti, I don't want to unbalance the power of the governments on this world by giving one of them our weaponry. They got plenty of their own, you saw their ships, sir. Their firearms, they are a very effective variant of the railguns humans used back on Earth. Maybe a bit primitive, but using an ore we have never found before. They call it Lodestone, and it seems to be the basis of their technology. Especially their flying ships and those spaceships we detected in the asteroid belts."

The Captain nods, "Could the first attack have really been a mistake?"

Jim shrugs with a frown, "Could have, but they sure didn't act like it the way they came in shooting at everything, including us. We lost four men when those damn raider ships flew in and just started firing." He casts a sideways look at the delegation, "Guy's full of himself too. Told me he wouldn't speak to an underling anymore and I was to fetch the senior Ambassadors and our leaders," he says with a snort.

The Captain gives a bark of laughter at that, "Oh that's rich. Did you set him straight on that?"

"That I am the only Ambassador with us at current, yes. Seemed to floor him for a minute," Jim admits. He tilts his head to the female still standing attentively behind him, "Kilape here says he was not expecting to be meeting someone so highly placed at first. Apparently it's standard practice to send low level diplomats in case there is treachery in dealings between these two nations. I gather from the reactions of Yamoti, Vorga, and Kilape that it is common for the Republic to assassinate senior Ambassadors at every opportunity."

He looks back to the delegation, "Look Captain, I'm all for us staying neutral in the disagreements between these two nations. While some members of the Empire have been a bit eccentric in matters of honor and such, Yamoti and her family have been honorable. And honor seems to be a big part of their culture. There is a reason body guards are called Honor Guards in their culture."

The Captain looks at his friend, "Like stabbing you in the heart? When you gave me that report I was ready to open fire on the entire fleet and burn them to a cinder."

Jim holds up a finger, "She saved me, says her honor was at stake if I died. And well," he rubs at the spot the knife had slipped through his unarmored chest, "we have to agree that the benefits of that altercation have come in handy." He hesitates as he looks back at Kilape, "I guess I should also explain, this lady here is the one who had to fight me yesterday. When she lost, she lost her honor because she backed a side that was dishonorable. She is now what they call Kilape, a person seeking to be reborn into the society of honorable persons by learning true honor from me. I don't even know the name she used to be known as, when you become Kilape that is your name for the duration of your training."

The Captain looks up at the tall female, "So she's a servant?"

"Not really Captain, she's more of a student." He looks over Kilape as she stands there with her hands clasped behind her back in mimicry of the guards standing at ease around them, "Their society feels much like the histories talk about ancient Japan back on Earth, but only on the basics. You can't always apply human social structures to aliens. There is a royal family, but from what I've seen they rule their lives with honor and what they feel the Spirits guide them to." He looks back to the Captain and shrugs, "I haven't quite gotten the hang of their religion, but they always say the Spirits guide them to do what's honorable. From the connotation I suspect they revere the spirits of their ancestors and feel they give guidance from the afterlife."

The Captain nods and brings his hand up to rub his chin in thought, "Alright Jim, I'll agree that we can't quite trust these folks from the Republic yet and I'll brief the department heads to this effect. Even if Republics tend to be a bit more caring about the people they rule than Empires."

Jim shakes his head, "Not always Captain, remember the Roman Republic? It was as corrupt as you can imagine." Casting a sideways glance at the delegation with clear disgust on his features, "And they are the ones who offered slaves for our technology, not the Empire."

Captain Long nods without hesitation, "Alright, I'll give you that one." He looks over at Yamoti and Vorga, "I'll take our guests inside while you tell the moron out there that his offer is refused at this time."

Jim nods and looks to Kilape, "Go with Commander Yamoti and Vorga, I'm just going to tell the Republic's Ambassador to shove off." She opens her mouth to argue but he closes it with a hand on her jaw, "No arguing, you think I don't notice that limp getting worse? Go and rest a bit, I'll be back shortly."

She watches him return to the no-man's land outside the human perimeter with a frown and a glimmer of worry in her eyes as she whispers too soft to be heard by the departing human, "Be careful Majoi."

***

The Ambassador stands once more at Jim's approach, the squad once more flanking him in protection and Chief Jenson standing in Kilape's place. "Your leaders are ready to speak with me I assume," he says with a haughty tone as he brushes some dirt from his armor. "I am upset at being made to wait so long, but I will follow you to them."

Jim gives him a hard stare as he gives the most direct and simple answer possible, "No."

The Rathac seems shocked at the blunt response and stares at the human with wide eyes, "What do you mean no?"

Jim glares at the yellow furred Rathac, "I thought the word was simple enough even for an idiot like you to understand. But if it's too complex I'll explain it. At this time the Human settlement chooses not to have dealings with you or the Republic until such time as we feel we can trust you." Jim crosses his arms across his armored chest, "Your actions to date show that we can't trust you at this time and as such, we want you away from our people and our settlement. Now leave this area, if you try to cross our perimeter by land or air, you'll be fired upon." He glances at the wounded Rathac, "And you already know what our weapons can do."

The Rathac are shocked at the blunt response to their gesture and can only stare at this small human as Jim turns to leave and Jenson addresses the other guards around the delegation. "Toss their rifles to the side a few dozen yards and back away. We're not going to have any dealings with them right now."

The Ambassador growls low in his throat, a menacing sound from a giant humanoid feline, "You will regret this Human." He raises his voice to a shout, "All you vermin will regret this!"

***

Jim enters the meeting room where Yamoti has been reunited with Murrrfie and the two are hugging as the younger male tells his big sister all the wonders he's seen. Jim sits next to Captain Long, Chief Jenson, and a woman he isn't familiar with and removes his helmet with a sigh, "We're going to have trouble with those guys from the Republic I think. They showed their true colors as I left, called us vermin."

The Captain nods, "Maybe, but let's not dwell on them." He chuckles, "That lad hasn't stopped chattering at Yamoti there since she came into the room."

Jim chuckles, "That's what you get for giving him a guided tour of the engineering facilities. I understand the lad is quite the genius among his people." He tilts his head for a moment as he listens to the fast paced purrs and growls of the excited male, "Yeah, he's telling her all about the wonders of our people, food grown indoors, machines that require no lodestone to operate, and devices that let one man do the work of many."

The young woman on the other side of the Captain nods, "Yes, but it was a valuable experience for us too." She holds up a data pad, "I've got the start of a translation algorithm here; I hope to have a translator ready in a week or so."

The Captain waves a hand from Jim to the woman, "Jim, this is Karyl Bachner, linguist and cultural anthropologist. She already speaks more than a dozen Earth languages and says she's picking up a few words in Rathac too."

Jim extends a hand to her that she takes with a, "Pleased to meet you."

With a twinkle in his eye Jim responds in Rathac, "Likewise."

She grins, "I think that's 'also'?"

He wiggles a hand back and forth, "Almost, I said likewise. Also is in a lower pitch and not so hard on the second syllable"

She nods and makes a few notations on her data pad, "Thanks, every little bit helps."

Vorga steps up to Jim and gives him a respectful bow, "Ambassador, when shall we return to the Capital?"

Jim waves about the room, "I thought Commander Yamoti might enjoy a tour of one of our land vessels and enjoy our hospitality tonight as I have enjoyed that of your people during my time with you."

Vorga opens his mouth to respond but is cut off by Yamoti's enthusiastic, "That's a grand idea Ambassador Ward, we accept with pleasure!" Vorga gives her a sideways glance as he closes his mouth and she gives him a crocked smile, "Vorga, you need to rest after that long flight here. We are among friends here just as the Ambassador is among friends within our home."

The black and red furred male turns to give her a respectful bow as his right tentacle whips out to give her a salute, "As you wish Commander."

As Vorga returns to his place next to the tall blue female Jim turns back to the other three humans. "Chief, can we find appropriate quarters in the command crawler for our guests for tonight. I'm going to give them a tour and we'll head out in the morning."

"From what I could understand, I take it the male wants to leave now?" asks Karyl.

Jim shrugs his shoulders, "Yes, he is the leader of Commander Yamoti's honor guard and is always concerned about her safety. But he flew us here, and needs his rest too."

The Captain nods in agreement, "Yes, indeed. Chief, set them up with one of the empty staterooms."

Chief Jenson snaps a salute and leaves the room to see to his orders.

Jim gives the other two a smile, "Would you two like to accompany us as we tour the crawler?"

Captain Long shakes his head, "I have things to see to, but I'd recommend you go with them Karyl. That way you can work on your translations a bit more with the Ambassador here."

She perks up at the invitation, "I'd be delighted."

***

The small party walks into the cavernous hopper bay deep within the bulk off the command crawler and the Rathac look around with amazement at the sights and bustle of the large chamber. Maintenance crews pause to watch the visitors for a minute before returning to their work ensuring the small flyers are ready to launch at a moment's notice. "This is where we keep our flitters," explains Jim.

Yamoti nods as she looks at the array of craft sitting on the deck and nestled in their hanger pockets. "Much like the dens we keep our small cubs in aboard their mother ships." She waves a tentacle around the room, "Are these all Alcami?"

Murrrfie nods in excitement, "Yes sister, they are all Alcami of some rank, though mostly lower than master. They call themselves 'techs' in their language."

Jim chuckles at the excited male's reaction, "Yes, we call them techs, or engineers. But basically they fulfill the same role as your Alcami. They maintain the technical systems on our flitters, which we call hoppers."

Vorga steps closer to a bulky white hopper in its hanger pocket, a bright red cross emblazoned on the side of the craft, "I don't see any fangs on this one. How is it expected to fight?"

Jim nods and walks over to slap a hand against the armored flank of the craft, "Good eye there Vorga. That is an emergency evacuation hopper. It carries no weapons, but has an extra layer of armor and overpowered engines to let it get into a dangerous zone and out again with wounded. It can shrug off an amazing amount of damage, but carries no offensive weapons for that reason. The weapons would just weigh it down while it was trying to get in and out of a hostile zone."

Murrrfie runs his hand through his hair and plays with his ponytail, "I can see the value in such a flitter. I can already see how we could make such a vehicle to deliver the wounded to a Mender or even a group of Menders to the scene of the injured." He looks up at his sister, "It could save many lives on the battlefields as well as in the larger cities."

Kilape points to another of the squat craft, "And this one Majoi?" The boxy craft is little more than a flattened geometric shape with panels covering its surface. Several techs are working on it and the panels which are open reveal the fat muzzles of blaster cannons and the racks of rockets in their housings.

"Class three fire support hopper. We call it a Thunderstorm," Jim explains. "These carry an array of blaster cannons and rocket pods. They are effective in combat against both air and ground targets. They have less armor, but rely on their superior speed and handling for protection."

"These are your weapons of light?" asks Yamoti as she steps around the craft to examine it from every side.

Jim taps the sling of his blaster rifle still hanging across his back then indicates the visible muzzles, "Yeah, really big and powerful versions of this. But the rockets," he indicates the pods, "are small projectiles that explode on impact. They can do some serious damage to a clustered ground force or pierce heavily armored targets."

"How do you make them so small yet so powerful?" asks Murrfie as he reaches out a hand to run it along one of the exposed barrels.

Jim shakes his head, "Sorry lad, but I can't tell you that. I'm no engineer and I doubt you would understand the theories of fusion blasters just yet. But to put it in layman's terms, those weapons harness the power of a star and can turn sand into glass within an eye blink."

Murrrfie is prevented from asking another question by an audible alarm accompanied by flashing red lights around the cavernous room. The crews in the bay start to close up the hatches on the hoppers and scramble to complete pre-flight checks as other men and women run out into the room pulling on helmets and zipping up flight suits.

"Oh shit," Jim mutters as he taps his comm, "This is Ward, what's going on?"

"Jim, looks like the Republic Ambassador is back," replies Chief Jenson.

Jim shakes his head and sighs, "What's he trying now?" The whine and thud of the blaster turrets on the outer hull of the crawler firing makes Jim go pale, "He's not attacking is he?"

"Looks like it," the younger man says, "and he brought some friends. The Captain requests you and your visitors report to the command deck."

Jim turns to the pretty linguist, "Karyl, please take Kilape and Murrrfie to the conference room. The Commander and her Honor Lead will come with me to the command deck."

***

Outside the night is streaked by the flashes of longfangs from the woods and the bright white bolts of blaster fire answering. Jim runs into the command deck and skids to a halt with Yamoti and Vorga right behind him. "What's going on?" he shouts over the noise of the command deck.

Captain Long turns to look at him momentarily, "Seems they didn't like the brush off we gave them. Now they want to try and take what they can I'd guess." Turning back to the screens he orders, "Put the overall tactical situation on the main screen."

One of the sensor techs complies and soon an array of green boxes are shown surrounded by red dots and the paths of red triangles flashing over everything as a few green ones leave the green boxes to engage. "This can't be something they threw together since you dismissed that 'Ambassador' can it?"

Jim shakes his head, "That's a full assault." He looks at the statistics along one side and gapes, "More than two thousand troops and at least a hundred of their small flitters? But it's not enough with the fire we can bring to bear on them."

The Captain returns with a grave nod, "Yes... We should be able to handle them, but at what cost still remains to be seen. There aren't enough of us to waste in battle after battle against an entire country." He sighs and shakes his head, "At least we didn't let that snake into our defenses where he could have gathered untold information for his superiors."

Jim slams a fist into his open palm, "Damn!"

"What is going on?" asks Yamoti seeing the agitation clear on his features but not understanding the display on the main screen.

Jim turns to face her and Vorga, "We're under attack by the Republic it seems. I think their Ambassador was just trying to get a good look inside our perimeter to scout us out when he made his gesture towards us. You were right, they can't be trusted."

Vorga nods in agreement, "It's a good gamble that was his goal. They wouldn't have brought so much to a peaceful meeting, even to ambush an ambassador. It would have taken days to assemble such a force if it wasn't already here and waiting." The horns blare loud enough to be heard faintly through the hull and Vorga frowns, "They think the noise will disorient your troops and break their will."

Jim smirks with a mischievous twinkle in his eye, "Two can play that game." He turns to the Captain, "May I make a recommendation sir?"

He nods as he turns to Jim, "Always."

"Let's introduce them to some of our culture," Jim says with a wicked grin as he holds up a music chip.

The Captain nods with a grin turning up the corners of his mouth and Jim slips the small data chip into a slot on one of the consoles and winks to the tech there. "Let's rock," he says with a grin as he presses the controls of the external loudspeakers and the beating of loud drums starts followed closely by the screams of an electric guitar.

Yamoti and Vorga look around with startled expressions as Vorga asks, "What... is that noise?"

"The music of a band from before we left our homeworld for our long journey through space," Jim says with a grin. "We call it rock and roll."

The Captain triggers his comm, "Send out the Thunderstorms, and let's show them the storm they've called down on themselves." Another of the monitors changes to show the hopper bays and several of the heavily armed hoppers shoot out of the side of the crawler. Magnetically powered catapults launching them from their holding bays fast enough for the doors to be closed before a lucky shot can enter the fragile interior of the crawler.

Yamoti watches with fascination as the nimble craft weave about the swarm flitters of the Republic. She watches the weapons bays located all over the hopper flip open, blaster barrels extending and the muzzles glowing with the restrained power of a sun while racks of rockets are exposed, death and pain bristling from the small craft. The eye searing bolts of blaster fire cross the sky over the human encampment as they engage the attacking craft and soon debris from exploding flitters starts to scatter across the fields.

Chief Jenson taps his comm unit, "Thunderstorms three and four, target that large group coming from the south. They look like they want to swarm the defenses there. The rest of you take on those aircraft."

The indicated pair of hoppers diverts from the aerial attack and form up side by side to swoop over and align on the indicated swarm of hundreds of troops sweeping towards the twelve defenders holding that line. As blaster fire pours into the flood of furred bodies the wave of enemies comes closer foot by foot, disregarding their casualties as their battle cries overwhelm the screams of the wounded as they fall beside the dead. "Thunderstorms three and four, engaging," the calm voice of a pilot calls out as the darkness of the night is lit by a hail of blaster bolts from the muzzles of the two strike craft and the twirling smoke trails as rockets join the rain of death. The rain of lethal light and explosives falls on the swarming Republic troops and cooks some before they know they're dead, others are wounded horrifically. Scores of the Rathac are cut down by the passes of the two hoppers, cries of pain and the silence of the dead replacing many of the battle cries they had been roaring. As the craft come in for their third pass the Republic troops panic and run back for the perceived cover of the woods while blaster bolts continue to chase them into the trees, setting more than a few of the trees alight.

Yamoti and Vorga watch with wide eyes at the carnage the human weapons cause. "Merciful Spirits," whispers Yamoti, "This is a slaughter, not a battle."

Without taking his gaze from the screen Jim responds, "No worse than they would do to us if they could."

Vorga agrees with a silent nod but his eyes are still horrified at the destruction outside the calm of the command crawler.

Chief Jenson points to the main screen and the figures that indicate the enemy flitters, "They're pulling out and heading for the hills." He looks at the Captain, "Do you want us to finish them off?"

Captain Long shakes his head, "Order the Thunderstorms to follow, but if they keep running they aren't to shoot anymore down." He looks at the side display that shows the troops running in panic from the battlefield leaving dead and wounded behind. Though his face shows no sign of his inner pain, his eyes show the truth as he look back to the Chief, "There's been enough killing for today. Don't you agree?"

The Chief nods and turns back to the screen to give the orders as the Captain rests a hand on the shoulder of one of the operators in the command center, "Turn up the flood lights so we can see what we're doing and call out the medics. We'll see who we can save out there." He turns to another, "What are our casualties?"

The young woman shakes her head, "Mostly minor wounds, sir. But we lost six of the security detail and one of the Thunderstorms took a solid hit. Engineering is trying to figure out if they can repair it. Those rifles of theirs are able to punch through our armor on the first try if they hit a weak point."

The Captain nods and turns to the Rathac standing in the back of the room, he gives them a short bow of respect. "If you'll excuse us, we have to see to the wounded and dead."

Jim quickly translates for him and Yamoti returns the polite bow, "Is there anything we can do to help?"

The question again translated, the Captain nods, "We'd appreciate anything you can do to assist us." He turns back to the screens and the carnage. "I just hope this taught them a lesson, because the cost was too high."

***

As the small group walks down the ramp from the command crawler the carnage of the scene hits them like the images on the screen couldn't. Wounded Rathac are being gathered and tended to as well as medics unfamiliar with their alien physiology can. The dead aliens, what's left of them, are being laid out for burial. The few human wounded are being helped into the medical crawler and the dead wrapped in black body bags.

Yamoti hands a message tube to her younger brother, "Get this to the High Mother as fast as you can. The humans have already agreed to give you an escort of two Thunderstorms. Fast as your flitter is, they are faster and are powerful enough to keep you safe."

"Yes sister," the younger male says as he tucks the tube into a pouch on his belt.

She pulls him into a hug, wrapping him with not only her arms, but also her tentacles. "Stay safe, you may return with the Denguard ships if the High Mother permits it. But don't go off alone anymore."

He nods and gives her the familiar salute of tentacle to brow, "Yes Commander."

She chuckles and waves him away, "Get going you cub."

He runs for the landing field where it had been shielded from the worse of the fighting by the massive command crawler. A pair of the attack hoppers hovers over the small flitter and brackets it as the small craft and its daring young pilot take off and flies off for the Capitol.

As the flitter disappears in the distance Vorga salutes Yamoti with a tentacle to his brow, "With your permission Commander, I will see what I can do to assist with healing the wounded. They might be citizens of the Republic, but they are often conscripts and not here by choice." The blue furred female nods in agreement and the black and red furred male takes off at a trot.

"Kilape, you go with him and do what you can." Jim turns to look at her, "You might not be a mender, but I'm sure you know something about battlefield medicine."

She gives a respectful bow, "As you wish Majoi." She follows the armored Rathac and together they start to assist the medics.

Turning back to the view the ground around the crawlers Jim shakes his head at the glazed spots where blaster fire had turned the ground to glass, the craters where rockets had blown enemy soldiers to scraps, and the smell of burned fur and flesh hanging heavy it the very air they breathe. "Did they really think they could overrun us like that?"

Yamoti rests a hand on his shoulder, "Jim, they do many things that do not make sense. This could have simply been a raid to see how powerful your people were. They might have been counting how many weapons you possessed." She looks up at the smoke smeared sky, "We certainly didn't know about the power of your flitters, but now both sides do. I can call for a flotilla of the Denguard to escort your people to their new lands. While the Republic may still consider you and your people an unknown, they know the might of our lodeships with certainty."

Jim nods, his thoughts racing at the scene, "We could use it, but do you think that would really dissuade raids from the Republic?"

"No..." she says with a drop in her voice. "I have seen them send in waves of thousands against superior forces just for the chance that a few would get through or at least cause some damage to their enemies. Their leaders are mad, and their honor is tainted by the blood of the innocents they have killed." Her gaze sweeps the battlefield, "And I think they will now hunger for your weaponry, a hunger that cannot be satisfied with something as simple as the blood of their own people."

With the stomping of booted feet two squads of security descend the ramp from the crawler and form up around the two, arms held at the ready. Jim casts an interrogative glance at the senior corporal, "Orders, sir. You and Commander Yamoti are not to be left unguarded at any time. Orders come from the Captain."

Jim gives a nod of understanding before he glances at Yamoti, "Come on, and let's see what we can do until the menders get here from the Capitol."

All characters unless otherwise stated are the intellectual property of Chris Gilman [aka. Goliath Wildcat] Murrrfie © Goliath Thunderstep, Story © Copyright Christopher Gilman 2013 all rights reserved

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