by Seth Libby
“Mr. Maxis, engage FTL drives, take us in.”
The thrum of the drive elevated as the warship race forward, accelerating quickly forward, taking the warship into Shenkar space.
The bridge crew remained silent as they crossed into Shenkar space. The same thought on everyone’s mind was how soon before they encounter the Shenkar.
They were into their second hour of their mission when something on Steve’s console drew his attention.
“Commander, long range sensors have found something. It appears to be a ship and it is headed in our general direction.”
“Shenkar?” Liam asked.
“Too early to tell but I suggest we drop down to cruising speed to minimize our drive power signatures.”
“Helm, do as he says,” Liam stated to Evan.
Quickly, the ship slowed as the drives powered down while everyone remained silent, awaiting identification of the ship. A prickling on Liam’s neck made him look around to reveal their only Shenkar presence onboard had silently stepped up to watch the view screen.
“Any thoughts on who it might be?” Liam inquired quietly.
“Hard to say, most likely it is only a smuggler vessel,’ Cryta explained, also keeping his voice low.
The minutes ticked by before the ship was finally close enough that the onboard systems could provide a visual of it. The slow moving ship revealed was rectangular in shape, rather bulky in size, roughly one hundred feet in length. The cockpit was situated in the front of the ship, allowing he pilot to see everything in from of him.
“What do scans tell us? Any weapon systems found?” Liam asked.
“Nothing, or at least no weapons we can detect,” Steve explained.
“Nor will you find any. It is a supply freighter, Cathergons, I believe. They are from the planet Cather and are one of the planets that have been enfolded into the Shenkar Federation. Traders by nature,” Cryta explained, although something on his face showed something was bothering him.
“What is it? What are you not telling me?” Liam inquired.
Cryta’s lips tightened as his brow, furrowed.
“Well, as I said the Cathergons are primarily traders by nature. They trade mostly in foodstuffs and minerals from their planet. They do not traverse much outside of their trade routes so seeing this ship here does not make a lot of sense.”
“What do you mean?”
“I know all of the trade routes, this area of space is not one of them, hence the reason why I recommended we entered Shenkar space here. This ship should not be here.”
“Could the Shenkar have established an outpost in this region?”
“Possibly, but unlikely, the Shelcore tends to be one-dimensional in thinking so I highly doubt the idea of you humans going on the offensive has occurred to him. This being said he would not think to establish listening posts on the outer rim of Shenkar space in areas where an incursion is unlikely.”
Both watched silently for several minutes as the ship came closer and passed within one kilometer of their position.
“Any indications we were spotted?” Liam inquired of Steve.
“Negative, seems the dampening system is working or at least well enough for that freighters sensors.”
Liam sat silently for a few more moments before finally coming to a decision on how to proceed.
“Helm, lock onto that freight, let’s follow them and see where they are going.”
January 25th, 2014 10:58pm EST
EDF Poseidon, Shenkar Federation space
The bridge was silent as they continued their slow pursuit of the Cathergon freighter. So far the ship had done nothing to indicate they had noticed their pursuers. Liam was about to give the order to break off and return to their original course when an indicator warning sounded on Steve’s console.
“Commander, I have just detected a Shenkar Kelgen class destroyer entering the system. They are moving at flank speed, looks to be they are on an intercept course with the freighter.”
“Fire control, ready all weapon systems, load all torpedo tubes.”
“Yes sir,” responded Lieutenant Groto.
“Sir, I am intercepting communications from the destroyer to the freighter. They are demanding that they cut their engines and prepare to be boarded,” stated Leah.
“What is the freighter doing now?”
“Freighter is maneuvering…looks like they are changing course to distance themselves from the destroyer. I am also getting a spike in energy readings aboard the freighter, seems they are really pushing their engines to get away,” responded Steve.
“Any chance they will outrun the destroyer?”
“No, the destroyer will be on them in fifteen minutes.”
“What are your thoughts on this?” Liam asked of Cryta.
Cryta watched the view screen, studying the situation.
“I can’t say for sure. I have never seen the Cathergon’s disobeying a command by the Shenkar. I do know one thing, if they force the Shenkar to run them down, it will not end well for the Cathergons.”
“What will they do to the crew?”
“Best case scenario? The captain and his second will likely be executed in front of the rest of the crew. Worst case scenario, they execute the entire crew.”
Liam sighed heavily as he watched the scenario unfolding before him. Intervening could possibly alert the Shenkar Federation of the human’s incursion into Shenkar, space which would present serious issues for their mission. Not intervening meant the deaths of some if not all of the crew. Liam decided he could not live with knowing he could have intervened.
“Helm, increase speed to pursuit course and move to intercept the destroyer. Tactical, ready all weapon systems and let me know as soon as we have a firing solution. Communications, see what you can do about jamming their comm frequencies.”
The crew quickly moved about their business as the Poseidon moved to engage the destroyer.
“Any indications we have been detected?”
“No sir, Shenkar destroyer is still on course for the freighter,” responded Steve.
Just as the destroyer came with in firing range, and opened fire on the freighter, did Lieutenant Groto speak up from the tactical station.
“Sir, we have a firing solution.”
“Fire torpedoes!” Liam commanded.
Slight thumps sounded through the hull as four torpedoes surged from their tubes, streaking forward to quickly close the distance. On the view screen the destroyer must have detected the incoming torpedoes because the warship immediately began evasive maneuvers.
“Sir, I am detecting new signatures, three light fighters just launched from the destroyer, they are moving to intercept the torpedoes.”
Liam grimaced at hearing this news, he knew the Shenkar destroyers sometimes carried light fighter support but in doing so they sacrificed hull armor as well as storage space.
Studying his personal tactical display he immediately saw the newcomers as the shot towards the torpedoes. Energy soon lanced out, catching the lead torpedo, resulting in the destruction of the first torpedo.
“How soon before we are within range with our cannons?
“Twenty seconds,” responded Lieutenant Groto.
“As soon as we are within range, target those fighters and eliminate them from our space!”
Two more torpedoes were destroyed before they entered weapons range of their energy cannons. Energy immediately lanced outwards, catching all three of the fighters as they maneuvered towards the last torpedo, resulting in three explosions.
The destroyer had almost completely turned so her broadside was to the Poseidon when the last torpedo slammed into her just forward of the engines. The explosion was massive as it rocked the destroyer, atmosphere vented into space.
“Destroyer looks to have lost propulsion but she still has her weapons,” Steve reported as energy cannons on the destroyer began to fire upon her attacker. “I believe if we maneuver behind their engines they would not
be able to target us.”
“Do you think any of your elites are aboard that destroyer?” Liam asked of Cryta.
“No, and before you ask…they will not surrender.”
Again, Liam grimaced, as he shook his head side to side slightly.
“Evasive maneuvers, all weapons target that destroyer and fire.”
A couple of the crew looked over at Liam but said nothing. They all knew that while they could easily disable the ship they would still need to board her and that could mean the deaths of fellow crew members.
All cannons lanced out, slamming into her side as the frigate maneuver to avoid most of the destroyers return fire. Under the heavy barrage it wasn’t long before the return fire died off and the warship exploded, venting atmosphere and fire.
“Operations, give me a status report.”
Steve studied the console for a few moments before responding.
“No damage, shields at eighty three percent and recharging.”
“What of our mystery freighter?”
“They seem to be all right, their engines took some damage. At the moment they seem to be stationary, not moving to leave the area.”
Liam studied the freighter upon the view screen, wondering what to make of the scenario.
“I think it is safe to assume they will not inform the Shenkar of our presence?” Liam asked of Cryta.
“Yes, I would say that is a safe assumption. I personally would still like to know why they were out here in this sector of space.”
“Commander, I am receiving a transmission from the freighter,” Leah stated.
“Put it on the overhead,” Liam commanded.
Leah tapped a few keys on her console and soon a voice permeated the bridge. It was clear the Cathergons were a race within the Meshtrell language library as Liam understood every word clearly.
“Attention, unknown vessel, this is Captain Frozt of the freighter Farrow, please identify yourselves and state your intentions,” stated a guttural voice.
Liam nodded to Leah to open a link before speaking aloud.
“This is Commander Brennan of the Poseidon; we mean you no harm and only wish to meet with you if you will permit it so.”
Silence followed Liam’s statement for a few moments before the guttural voice responded.
“I believe that would be satisfactory. I assume you wish to meet aboard your ship?”
Judging by the tone of the captain’s voice Liam knew this last inquiry was not what the Cathergons would want but clearly believed any race that could destroy a Shenkar destroyer would want any meeting aboard their ship where they would have the upper hand.
“If you wish, we can meet aboard my ship but I would be more than happy to meet you aboard your ship if you would be more comfortable with that,” Liam responded.
Clearly this was not what the Cathergon captain had expected because he took a long moment before his voice returned.
“That would be more than satisfactory, Commander, please move alongside our port side so we can extend our docking station. How many will be with your boarding party if I may ask?”
“Just me and two others,” Liam responded knowing such a low number would also ease the tension this race was clearly feeling.
“Thank you, Commander, I will meet you at the docking port.”
Liam indicated to Leah to cut the transmission before he commanded the ship be maneuvered alongside the freighter. As the Poseidon maneuvered into place a long tube extended outward to one of the warships airlocks where it magnetized into place.
“Docking tube locked in place, all indicators are in the green, atmosphere shows to be comparable to our own,” Steve reported.
Liam stood and turned to Cryta.
“You’re with me on this one.”
Surprise registered clearly upon Cryta’s face at Liam’s command.
“Do you think that wise? A Shenkar warship just attacked them.”
“Yes, I do, and I believe they should know that not all of the Shenkar within the federation agree with their Shelecore.”
Cryta nodded but said nothing else.
“You are also with me,” Liam said as he turned back to Steve, “I would like your assessment on their technology.”
Steve nodded and immediately stood and moved away from his station.
“Lieutenant Commander Maxis, you are in command until we return.”
With the bridge situated and everyone knowing their roles, Liam set off towards the airlock, with Cryta and Steve in tow. Butterflies danced in his stomach as he knew this would be first contact of an alien species unknown to the humans and he didn’t know what to expect.
January 25th, 2014 11:52pm EST
Docking bridge to Cathergon freighter, Farrow, Shenkar Federation space
As the trio traversed the docking tube Liam spotted a light on the freighters airlock illuminate followed by the airlock door slowly sliding open. Just inside the airlock stood three humanoids, looking to be of a reptile like race. While shorter than the average human, roughly five foot in height, their bodies were proportional to their height. They possessed noses and mouths relatively the same shape as humans with solid black eyes that were larger by half that of a human with two sets of eyelids. The head that framed the face was relatively oval in shape atop a thick muscular neck. Hairless, their skin was of green pigments and looked to be densely comprised of tiny scales, almost too tiny to the naked eye.
“The one in the center is the captain,” Cryta quietly said from Liam’s side.
Liam noticed the Cathergon in the center was unarmed but his guards to either side carried small energy pistols, both of which were not aimed in their direction.
“Is this how you greet someone who just saved you from a Shenkar destroyer?” Liam inquired as he nodded towards the armed guards.
The captain nodded his head towards as he spoke.
“You destroyed a Shenkar destroyer yet you have one among you and he is no less an elite.”
Liam turned his head to look at Cryta before he turned back to the Cathergon captain.
“He is with me and I suggest you should not judge someone based off his race. He is helping my people work to bring down the Shelecore and end his reign of tyranny. ”
Captain Frozt once again looked to Cryta, seeming to appraise him once more before turning back to Liam.
“And who are your people? I do not recognize your race nor do I recognize your warship.”
“My people are called Humans and we come from a planet far from here called Earth.”
Judging by what happened next, Liam got the impression the Cathergon’s had heard of humans as the captain and his two guards sank to one knew, bowing their heads before them.
“Great ones, we are honored by your presence, I apologize for our initial reaction and thank you for saving someone as unworthy as us, tell me how we might serve you.”
Liam was taken aback at this and didn’t know what to say, instead turning his head to look at Cryta and Steve. Cryta looked just as surprised as Liam and Steve just smiled nervously and shrugged.
“I take it you have heard of humans?”
“Yes, great one, we received a transmission recently from the Meshtrell telling of a race with the ability to defeat the Shenkar. Many among my people did not believe this to be so but clearly their information was true as you most recently demonstrated.”
Liam was somehow not surprised to hear the Meshtrell mentioned. Liam made a mental note to himself to find out any information these Cathergons had on the wayward Meshtrell but first he needed to deal with the fawning of these Cathergons.
“Please stand up, we are not gods nor do we want to be treated as such. All we ask is that you treat us with respect and we will do the same.”
The Cathergons seemed surprised by this and hesitated at standing, but instead looked to one another.
“This human is not trying to test you. He really does want you to stand up,” Cryta assured the Captain Frozt.
“I apologize, Commander Brennan, we meant no disrespect. It is just our culture to submit to those stronger than us.”
“I understand but please let me assure you we mean you no harm. We only seek knowledge and hope to build an alliance with your people,” Liam said softly.
The Cathergon studied Liam, weighing his words over in his head. After a few moments he nodded slightly as if coming to a decision.
“I thank you for your respect of my people and would be honored if you would join me aboard my freighter so we might discuss how our people can help one another,” Frozt said as he turned slightly to indicate the airlock behind him with his arm.
Giving a slight nodded to the captain, Liam stepped forward through the airlock, into the Cathergon freighter. The airlock slid shut behind them with a thud before the captain turned to the inner airlock door and tapped in a sequence upon a touchpad next to the door. After a few seconds, the door made an audible chime and slid open. Without waiting the captain stepped through into the passageway, hesitating only long enough to make sure Liam and his companions followed.
Liam did notice that when they headed off down the passageway the two guards did not follow directly behind their captain but instead followed behind him and his companions, in perfect position if they needed to use their weapons. Perhaps all that fawning was an act and these Cathergons were not as meek and trusting as they wanted others to believe. He didn’t know what to make of this situation but he was sure he would have some answers soon enough.