“If the humans were supposed to meet us here, where are they? We found no evidence any human ship was ever here.” “It also does not account for the facts.” “That is a shocking and hurtful accusation,” Scorandum hung his head, his antennas drooping. They were here, waiting for the humans to meet you, but instead the Maxolhx discovered your plan, and destroyed the ships before the humans could use them against all of us.” “How about this: those ships were never stolen. Scorandum shook his head, his antennas flopping side to side. “Honored Representative, I do not see any other possible explanation.” “ That is your story?” The spider was incredulous. Before she could report her findings to you, her ship was destroyed.” Sadly, the heroic efforts of her crew were unable to overcome the heinous perfidy of the enemy. “Clearly, Commander Fentenu of the We Were Never Here discovered the theft in progress, and bravely followed the enemy here, to determine their intentions.
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“Really?” The spider’s voice dripped with scorn. “ Aaargh! If the ships were indeed stolen from you, then please explain why one of your ships, the We Were Never Here, was found among the wreckage.” Which, I am reluctant to mention again, you failed to do.” “That is why we depend on our exalted patrons the Rindhalu, to warn us of impending danger, and to protect us. “The methods of the enemy are inscrutable, certainly,” the ECO captain sighed. “The- You are claiming the Maxolhx stole the ships from you, then brought them all the way here, before destroying them? That makes no sense!” “Clearly, the Maxolhx stole those ships.” “An apology from us?” Scorandum’s main antennas dipped low over his eyes. “Captain Scorandum! The explanation we demand is how a group of your ships came to be here, after we expressly forbid you to transfer more ships to the humans, and after you claimed this same group of ships was mysteriously stolen.” “No doubt you are deeply ashamed by your failure, and will compensate us by-” This was a direct assault by a senior species force, against a second-tier client species of your coalition. Under our mutual-defense treaty, you are required to defend us against attacks by your counterparts.
#Breakaway grill skin#
Even through the translator, the sound made Scorandum’s leathery skin crawl.
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“From the-” The spider’s hideous mouth gaped open. “When you get that explanation from the devious Maxolhx, please pass it along to us.” “We also demand an explanation for this outrage,” Scorandum shook his head sadly. “Yes, thank you,” Scorandum breathed an exaggerated sigh of relief.
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“Captain Scorandum,” the Rindhalu official representative aboard the advanced-technology warship glared, as she appeared on the bridge display of the Will Do Sketchy Things. The most shocking news of all was that humans had been flying around the galaxy for years, doing all kinds of awesomely sketchy things, without ECO being involved or even knowing humans were players.Ĭlearly, the Ethics and Compliance Office needed to seriously step up its game. Scorandum’s head was still spinning from learning that humans were flying the fearsome ghost ship, and that humans had a cache of Elder weapons. If the human ship Valkyrie had suffered a horrible fate, the balance of power in the galaxy might abruptly change again. The attack had been a complete shock, but what truly concerned Captain Uhtavio Scorandum of the Ethics and Compliance Office was, why had the humans never arrived at the rendezvous point? They were supposed to meet the second group of ships, to take possession, and guide the star carriers to the remote inaccessible forward operating base the humans had established at the edge of the galaxy. All of the ships designated for transfer were systematically destroyed, along with the star carriers they were attached to, and their front-line escort vessels. The second group of Jeraptha ships that were awaiting transfer to the humans, had been ambushed by an overwhelming force of Maxolhx warships without warning. The senior surviving officer of the ECO ship We Were Never Here was Commander Zilleen Fentenu, and she did not have anything useful to report. To describe the action that took place there as a battle was inaccurate it was a slaughter. The Rindhalu heavy cruiser Spear of Rantaloss hung motionless in space, relative to the Jeraptha Ethics and Compliance Office ship Will Do Sketchy Things, both ships having completed exhaustive sensor sweeps of the battle area.