mr-clow

[mr-clow]

Aria: Blood and revenge. Part 2:

I took the command seat on the Juggernaut Juno, all the ships were waiting for orders with the engines off. A great part of the human fleet had their sights on the ships blocking the sol system. Another small part was destined for the Spin’d ships that were gifted to humanity. While this massive juggernaut was a weapon that could handle maybe a third of the initial battle, I was not going to have any chances that one of the ships dashing towards the Spin’d fleet would suffer even a scratch. I had ten more minutes before the operation started, so I opened the comms of the ship. There was no room for error, nor for intimidation.

Ladies and gentlemen, fellow crew members of the mighty Juggernaut Juno, this is your captain addressing you. As we stand on the precipice of battle, it's imperative that you understand one fundamental truth: I am but one captain among the countless others who lead ships into the vast abyss of space.

Take a moment now to look into the eyes of those around you, the faces that will labour alongside you, fight by your side, and share in the trials of this war. Share your joys and burdens with them, for not a single soul you see here is any less valuable than you or I. Not even I, your captain.

In the face of impending danger, should the need to retreat arise, and no other option presents itself, do not hesitate to flee. Run, and return stronger and wiser.

Let me be unequivocal in my directive: I shall not return until I have shed my own blood or met my demise. No one among you is permitted to risk their lives to save mine, for this is my first and most solemn command. Bear my pain, my sorrow, my anger, and my thirst for vengeance as your own, and continue the fight in my absence, if circumstances demand it.

In the coming minutes, we bear the weight of more than two hundred thousand souls. We shall be their shield until they can join our ranks. Our initial trial will be to offer our lives for people whose names we may never know, comrades-in-arms whose sacrifices shall remain anonymous. Nevertheless, they have entrusted their lives to our care, and we must honour that trust.

In unity and determination, let us now salute the stars and pledge our unwavering commitment to the mission. To the Juggernaut Juno, her brave crew, and the countless souls who depend on us, may the cosmos bear witness to our valour and guide our path to victory. Crew of the Juggernaut Juno, onward to glory!

The officers in the command bridge were looking at me, totally dumbfounded. They had saluted me as an imperatrix a minute before. Now, they had no imperatrix with them, only a bloodthirsty captain that was looking forward to death.

Carlos – Boudica, what are you doing?

Boudica – Carlos, we are here to fight. I don’t need anyone intimidated by my presence, afraid of telling me the reality or attempting to bend my orders to save a ruler. When you accepted working with me, you said you wanted the liberty of expressing yourself freely. I wanted to kick your face more than once in these years, but it was necessary. Now, this ship requires a captain, I might be a ruler for everybody else, but inside this ship, I am a captain.

Carlos – Sometimes I really wonder where is that your madness ends and your geniality starts.

Boudica – As a captain, I can kick your face. Bear that in mind now.

Carlos – I would not dare to offend our captain.

Carlos turned around and looked all the personnel in the bridge. Several officers had a look between incredulity and fear after hearing the comment Carlos made about me. A few engineers were plainly in awe, but I failed to understand if it was directed towards me or towards Carlos and his big mouth.

Carlos – What is happening here. I don’t see anyone saluting their captain!

All of them stood and saluted me. The phrase “Welcome aboard, Captain!” sounded first on the bridge, and later, section by section, it was heard again through the intercoms. I stood up and saluted the bridge. I took this sight inside me and buried it in my memories. After that, I dismissed everyone back to their posts. Carlos strapped himself in a chair near me and the count-down reached the last 30 seconds. It was at this moment when all the main reactors needed to jump to life, the moment when our energy signature would spike and probably alert those that were in the surrounding siege.

A soft hum travelled across the juggernaut, then the sound scaled up two more times. After that, with 10 seconds left, it went completely silent. The four massive reactors of the ship had started and synchronized, her experience told her so before the engineering officer told her so.

Those 10 seconds of silence were tense, it seemed that the air had turned heavy as they surveyed if some enemy movement was detected. As time went on, slowly dripping like droops of blood. It seems that they were fat, slow and dull this last two years.

The count-down reached zero, the thrusters exploded at full, and the massive ship that could leave full stations shadowed sprang toward the enemy like a small rabbit. Several others lights appeared at the same time, each one of them pointing towards its own target. What had been almost a dead zone for the last two years now was full of lights, colour and movement.

The countless ships that the enemy had placed reacted and started changing positions, but they had no option to regroup. Humanity exploded in every direction.

[mr-clow]

Aria: Blood and revenge. Part 1:

Humanity was ready, all the ships heavily staffed, as they would board several other Spin’d ships once they got out of the system. All the engines of the fleet had been dormant the last year, to avoid raising any flags. I walked through my throne room one last time. I wasn’t expecting to see it again. Four humans, two KalHals, one Sanarin and one Spin’d were waiting for me. It was time to cast the last speech from the moon station. My eight knights were there, to hear me first hand. Some of them would stay here, others would board different ships and go to different destinies. The last two were going back to their planets, to take one more chance to help humanity.

I sat on the throne, looked upon the people that had joined me in the last two years. They had been a great guide and support for me to achieve all this. I smiled at them and nodded to start the transmission.

Today, I stand before you not merely as your Imperatrix, but as the fiery embodiment of our collective will and unwavering determination. Humanity, built on the foundations of strength, resilience, and unity, now faces its greatest test. We stand on the precipice of war, a crucible in which our mettle shall be forged into legends!

To our steadfast allies, I extend my deepest gratitude and heartfelt appreciation for your unwavering support in our darkest hour. Your solidarity is a beacon of hope that pierces through the shroud of despair. Together, we form an unbreakable bond, a coalition forged in the crucible of shared purpose. Your presence in this fight amplifies our strength, and your loyalty deepens our resolve.

Know that we do not march alone. We march as one, a united front against those who would threaten our way of life. Your sacrifices, your courage, and your unwavering commitment to our shared cause inspire us all. Let our alliance serve as a testament to the unyielding spirit of those who value justice, freedom, and the enduring bonds of honour. Together, we shall overcome, and together, we shall emerge victorious in the face of adversity.

Listen to the beating drums of destiny, for they call upon us to rise to the occasion. The tempest of battle looms on the horizon, and it is our destiny to face it head-on, for we are not mere mortals. We are the descendants of warriors, the architects of our own fate, and the masters of our destiny!

They believe they can break our spirit, that they can extinguish the flame of our resolve. But let me make one thing abundantly clear: they have unleashed a tempest of fury unlike any other. The loss we bear upon us shall become the driving force behind our indomitable will. We will honour the memory of our loved ones with a relentless pursuit of justice and victory.

To those who would stand against us, I say this: you face not just a civilization, but a relentless force of nature. We are not just warriors; we are avengers. Our determination knows no bounds, our unity no weaknesses, and our purpose no wavering. We will hunt you down with the fury of a thousand storms.

The sacrifices of our fallen will not be in vain. Their memories shall fuel our every step, their spirits shall guide our hands, and their love shall be the beacon that lights our path. We will not rest until every aggressor faces the consequences of their actions.

We will not yield, we will not falter, and we will not be broken. Our enemies shall tremble in the face of our unwavering determination. We will not stop until justice is served, until retribution is exacted, and until our fallen loved ones can rest in peace.

To victory, to honour, and to the enduring memory of our cherished ones! Onward, my warriors, and let the world bear witness to the unyielding spirit of humanity!

A thunderous war cry was heard along the moon station that filled my hearth. I assumed that every ship around in the inner system, Mars, earth and Venus were the same. I stood up and looked at my knights again. I decided to give them a few last words to remember by, not as a good and caring ruler, but as someone who came to deliver a promise.

You are the inner circle that shares my unyielding vision. We stand at the precipice of conquest, and it is our duty, our destiny, to claim what rightfully belongs to us.

They have known nothing but weakness and complacency, while we have honed our might, nurtured our hatred, and stoked the fires of our vengeance. They will know the price of opposing us.

Our enemies have deluded themselves into thinking they can oppress us, that they can defy our supremacy. But I tell you, their opposition is nothing more than the feeble cry of the doomed. We shall crush their pathetic armies, reduce their cities to rubble, and make them kneel before our absolute authority.

Hatred, my trusted confidants, is our greatest weapon. It fuels our desire, sharpens our resolve, and guides our merciless hand. It is the very essence of our being, the driving force that propels us forward. Let it flow through you, let it consume you, for in our hatred, we find the strength to achieve the unthinkable.

As we march toward victory, remember that our cruelty knows no bounds. We shall sow the seeds of fear and discord, and we shall reap the fruits of our revenge. The world shall tremble at our might, and history shall be rewritten in our image.

To victory through hatred, my loyal inner circle!

Except for Carlos, all the others took a fist to their chest. Even the KalHals, Mouriette and Anton, that were relegated to stay out of the front lines. Neith was a deathworlder, she understood the feelings I expressed better than the other aliens that had joined.

Carlos was resigned, he knew this day would come. We all departed to our positions, Carlos said his goodbyes with his team that now was a full-blown media company designed only to create support and approval of my cause. I waited for him a couple of hours until he arrived. In complete silence, we marched toward a small ship that waited for us amidst the chaos of the station and surrounding planets. Ammunition was being loaded, crews were taking their post or aiding other ships. Commercial ships were checking all that was necessary for the support and logistics. Inside the ship, he looked more anxious than ever.

Boudica – This is your chance, you can stay and live your life, Carlos.

Carlos – I have already made my mind Boudica, that does not make it easier, but I’m glad some humanity is still alive inside you.

Boudica – Is respect Carlos, I feel I’m taking away one of the best assets of humanity for a cause that is not his.

Carlos – Yes, that might be true, but you also respect my choice.

I nodded and stared outside to see humanity alive again.

[mr-clow]

Chorus: We prepare for war. Part 2:

Nikolai had been working on this factory for more than ten years, most of the time it had been a repetitive boring job, unfulfilling and monotonous. All that changed one year ago, the sudden war, the revolt, and the ascension to power of a woman he certainly saw as another dictator in the beginning brought a lot of changes to his position. The factory had been repurposed, the machines now were set up to produce various weapon parts and the orders changed monthly to provide variety for a wide range of war supplies. The job now offered challenges to look forward, the pieces were not stored for months at the time before being requested, but someone weekly needed them to continue the production on another factory. It was true he did not intend to go to war, but for the first time in years he felt that his job had an end, to help humanity achieve a goal. His tablet chimed, a notification for one of the news channels he followed told him a speech was about to happen. He easily checked that everything was in order, marked for a break and open the news videocast.

After a few seconds, the presenter gave space for the transmission coming from the moon station to start. Boudica was there, standing in front of a gruesome throne. Dried blood stains could be seen in the background. She did not salute, or say anything about that lame and boring political protocol. 

This speech was different, something ignited within Nikolai hearth. He had always loved machines, and he could not help but wonder how it felt being aboard of a war ship, a juggernaut, or even a small dart ship. The technology and machinery inside, being part of a crew, even the dead silent moments before all the action. He did not enjoy war, nor shared the unity of fighting for all humanity. The front lines always seemed horrors far away, but being an engineer on one of those ships suddenly seemed like an interesting change in his career.

The rest of the day he was absorbed by these ideas, the clock marked that his shift was over, and he went back to his flat. A colourful digital graffiti projected over a wall on the building he lived was again proposing him to join the military. In a sudden change of heart, he pocketed his keys again and went to the enlistment station a few blocks away.

Anya was nervous, her parents would, most likely, throw her out of the house. She was barely 23 years old and had finished the nursing career a few months ago. Her parents had been so proud all the time, but now after 4 months of working in the ER she was exhausted. The war had changed so many things, the people were suffering and sacrificing their bodies and souls to an honourable cause, and a lot of health issues came with those sacrifices.

A few hours ago, Boudica had spoken to humanity, and she knew she should enlist. When she was a little girl, she always had dreamt about travelling across the void, visit new planets and enjoy unimaginable views on galaxies far away. That dream was drowned, her family could not afford a travel nor the education necessary for her to form part of a crew. Suddenly, after years of hiding those ideals, Boudica called her, and every human or ally, to help her cause. She was afraid, very afraid, of being stranded on a lifeless ship. On the other side she could save lives on the line, help the ones on the front, travel across oceans of nothingness and be part of something that would be written on the history to come.

Tomas – Good afternoon, are you here to enlist lady?

Anya – Ehh, hello! Yes, I think. I have a question before, is probable I’ll need somewhere to stay if I enlist, during the training is any chance that… Well, to have somewhere to stay?

Tomas softened his expression, a lot of people were dealing with their own problems and needed a hand with different situations. Sadly, living space was really a luxury since the war started.

Tomas – My name is Tom. I know sometimes things might get difficult, but we barely have space in the barracks. If you pass your training, it is very probable you will be dispatched directly to Mars or a ship. Until then, the army cannot help you with that, but some people might be willing to lend you a room. We can ask aroun…

Nikolai stood up when he heard the conversation going on the cubicle on the left. His documents were being checked, and he had been scrolling in his tablet when this girl entered the office. He looked over the panel that separated the desks and saw a shy girl looking to her feet.

Nikolai – Excuse me lady, it might not be too much, but I have a nice coach where you can sleep. I got two cats though, so if you are allergic…

Anya – Wait, what?

Tomas – There you have it lady, thanks sir! Anyway, I recommend you establish some kind of contract for that, just for both of you to be on the safe side.

Anya – I don’t understand.

Nikolai – You need a place to stay, you have a nurse uniform, so you are responsible and working. I have a humble place, but it works.

Anya – I haven’t signed anything yet, how could I dare.

Tomas – Sir, are you willing to wait for her a few minutes? I will guide her through all the process. Lady, do you want to enlist?

Nikolai nodded and sat again. Suddenly, he realized what he had done, and his face turned bright red. He had invited a young woman to live with him on the spot, without knowing even her name. The data pad was in front of him and his recruiter was looking at him with a funny smile on his lips.

Four months later, Nikolai and Anya were sitting together listening to their superior. The first part of the training was finished, and now the group was going to be assigned to different positions to continue the final part of the training. Anya hoped that she would be assigned to the same ship that Nikolai. She had been living with him the last three months after her parents kick her out, and they were best friends now, even if he was fifteen years older. Nikolai was going to depart to one of the two juggernauts, his grades had been outstanding. Suddenly, Anya’s last name was mentioned. Juggernaut Juno, Medical Division. Anya turned around to see Nikolai, they had been assigned to the same ship. That night they prepared themselves, celebrated and went to sleep with a heart full of expectations and hope.

[mr-clow]

Chorus: We prepare for war. Part 1:

A year had passed, several of my advisors were really insisting with a ceremony to reinforce my position, but I declined every time, and they settled with me doing a speech. I saw it like a waste of time, but I understood the psychological significance of it, so this was the reason I was right now in this situation. Looking at a blank page on a pad, wondering where did my introductory speech came from.

After a frustrating hour of absolutely nothing, I just put the pad in my pocket and went out for a walk. The moon station was brimming with activity, this time it was not because of the refugees but for preparations of war. I had been on earth a couple of times after the revolution hand it over to me, and they offered me sumptuous palaces and modern buildings for my rule, but I could not accept it. I knew my rule was going to be short and smeared with blood, so I explained that those places should be kept for the peaceful rulers that will come.

I entered the throne room and command centre. Everyone there stood and salute me and then went back to work when I dismissed them. I forbade that they clean the dried blood stains of a few misunderstandings that took place there. I could still identify the stains of Chief Nakamura and the rest of his envoy. Not only that, but I turned around and reached for a stain at the same high of my eyes, Sofia Al-Mansoori had been an excellent scholar, she was a really important part of my education. But she made the same mistake that a lot of aliens that were surrounding the sol system. She got cocky, complacent, and greedy, and now she was only a blood stain between many others in a room that held no thought for her.

I was still furious, the hatred still moved my hearth, but the failure to write a speech moments before made me realize that in some wicked way the passion I had at the beginning had faded. My pad chimed, and my thoughts dispersed as I read a message. Carlos needed me on the docks and said he had a surprise for me. My lips went white as I pressed them, if this was another of his anniversary ideas, I was going to be really mad at the wrong person.

As I went near the docks, I could see all my seven knights standing before an empty place and surrounded by the special corps that Duarte had assembled. I arrived and dismissed them, then turned to Carlos.

Boudica – I hope this is not another attempt to celebrate me. I already told you all that I was against it.

Mouriette – Not at all, your highness. This time it is not our doing.

Carlos – Your highness, before you send someone here to check the forecast on the surface of the moon, let me explain why we are here.

Boudica – Oh Carlos, you know exactly what crosses my mind, but that doesn’t mean that I trust the weatherman as much as your eyes.

Carlos – Well, that would be a waste, as I have been waiting for this Sanarin ship to arrive for a week now, and I really hoped to speak with the delegate that comes inside.

Boudica – What did you just say? A Sanarin delegate is coming, and I was not notified?

Duarte – I told Carlos that he should have informed you, but the majority of us voted against it.

Boudica – So, the seven of you hid this. We will talk later, this is not finished. Who is coming? Cleop? Or Dawo?

Mouriette – We said that a delegate would come, not that it was a Sanarin delegate.

Boudica – You bett…

A ship crossed the containment field, it was a Sanarin cargo ship, as many others we had seen bringing food supplies as the worlds that humanity still held, theoretically, could not sustain the current population. The reality was that we were hoarding food and other supplies for the war to come. This ship, that went through the embargo placed around the system, was only allowed to have food and the smallest crew possible. It wasn’t a ship used for delegates or political missions so whoever was inside, had been smuggled here.

The ship docked with the grace of a newly born deer and as several gas exhausts made us close our eyes, the hatch started opening. At first, I thought it was a tall woman with a strange hairstyle, then it dawns on me, it was a Spin’d. An arachnid delegate had come to my doorstep while I was planning to burn them all to a crisp.

Boudica – The seven of you have ten seconds to explain.

Mouriette – A year ago, you gave me two weeks, or I should offer my head. Now I ask for a meeting, or I will offer my head.

I looked at the KalHal girl as if I could burn her with her eyes. I nodded in agreement as I turned to greet the enormous Spin’d that was now behind me. Not only that, but I was surprised, as for some (thing?) that looked like half a woman attached to a spider body, weighting maybe more than a thousand kilograms, her salute and reverence were graceful and spotless.

Neith – I humbly extend my greetings to the Imperatrix of Humanity, and I am deeply honoured to have the privilege of standing before your esteemed presence. I am Neith, bearing the noble responsibility of representing my people as a dedicated delegate.

Boudica – Your gracious presence is most welcome, Neith, delegate of your people. Humanity is humbled by your diplomatic endeavours. Please, share with us the purpose of your delegation and the hopes you bring from your people's realm.

Neith – I have been informed that my presence might be unwelcomed by your majesty, so allow me to briefly explain the reason behind my presence. I was the only council delegate that went against the treacherous plans that were concocted a year ago, apart from the Sanarin and KalHal, obviously. As a gift of good will and offer of peace, I have five hundred war ships from my country ready to jump inside the system at your disposal.

Boudica – You have been well-informed, but the events inside the council that lead to this situation are still a mystery to me. I won’t accept your peace offer nor your ships until we discuss these events with more detail. Please, follow us.

As the day went on, I realized why my most trusted aids had kept this visit a secret to me. The delegate explained carefully several events that had cornered humanity to this point. How the human delegate had been arrested and then left to succumb to hunger and thirst in a dark cell. How various species that had been on peaceful terms with us for centuries just turned their backs to claim worlds we happily would have shared. My blood boiled over and over, my seven knights made a perfect job guiding the discussion to maintain peace and when Neith report was finished I stood up, with a new-found madness in my eyes that made Neith recoil.

Boudica – Neith, envoy of the Spin’d, I welcome you to this station and gracefully accept your people offer and gifts. Now if you excuse me I have to dismiss myself. Humanity will march for war, and I have to let my people know.

None of the people present in the room dared to utter a word as I walked to the door. It was time to reignite the ambers for blood and vengeance, and it was me who had to do it.

[mr-clow]

Ensemble 2: Greed and Politics. Part 2:

Six months had passed since the initial attack. Quatl was now on the podium, informing the other delegates that had joined the war the current situation.

Quatl - My speech has been sent previously to your translation units, any doubts please wait until the report is finished.

Quatl scanned the ample room that was barely occupied by fifteen different creatures. Al waiting to hear has been fished out of the war on humanity only for them to start arguing who would keep what.

Quatl - The war has progressed a lot faster than expected and with minimal losses. The first five standard rotations (Ten human days for the reader) were the cruellest, where we had the 90% of the total deaths and all the ships lost were during that period. After that, during the following 30 rotations, humanity retreated to the inner section of their system, fleeting with nothing more than what they could carry with their hands. As stated before, the humans cannot be trusted, so we established a barrier around the system, only stopping the ships that were trying to leave the system. No human ship tried to leave and we assume that at the moment more than 89.000.000.000.000 humans are enclosed in that area. Sanarin and KalHal governments had been sending food to support their allies and we cannot stop them by the same council rules that we established to protect ourselves. As for now, nothing more than food has been taken inside the system, so there is nothing to worry about.

Quatl watched as several symbols of approval crossed through the different species. They all chipped in prepared for war with one of the most vicious species on the galaxy and suddenly this overgrown monkeys had shown their cowardly side, nothing could have been better.

Quatl – Now, we know that humanity faced a civil war, the actual ruler is a female without any experience in combat and deemed mentally unstable. Their industry resources are lacking, they are short on fuel, and as a civilization right now they cannot distinguish top from bottom. We will have an additional meeting to speak about the profits of this war, but I assure you, the bounty is plentiful. I would prefer if we coordinate said meeting before the replacement delegate of the Spin’d arrives, as the latter abandoned her post.

Quatl went down of the podium as voices of approval follow him. After reviewing a couple of documents with the rest of the present members, he went to Kiltnik office, as he had some doubts that the smart Rajne might solve. He went in and clashed on the resting surface that was set up against the wall. Kiltnik looked at him and sat on the other side of the desk.

Kiltnik – I am really impressed, we made out with 37 worlds, five of them already terraformed, a few others habitable and all the rest are full of resources.

Quatl – Yes, humanity have a superb sense for valuables. Now that we have taken all of their colonies, the commerce inside the council will reach levels never seen before.

Kiltnik – The most important question still remains unanswered, though.

Quatl – Don’t worry, I have a plan to convince those brutes that the planets we are going to give them are worth more than all our share together.

Kiltnik – I don’t have any doubts about that. I am wondering what will we do with humanity.

Quatl – That will be easy, but we need time. Eventually the other species will stop sending aid and humanity will have to perish or drag to our feet. They already ran like scared prey to they own system and we blockaded them. Maybe the civil war will make the job for us and humanity will kill itself.

Kiltnik – That is a good prediction. Sadly we can not stop the Sanarin and KalHal from sending them aid, but maybe shall we convince them in other way?

Quatl – When they see the share they missed, they will start doubting. Meanwhile, they are not bothering us with other things, so let’s wait a bit more.

Kiltnik – That means that you are not here to talk about humans, nor the share, what do you need to know?

Quatl – You should learn to do some small talk, ease those around you to be more receptive.

Kiltnik – You know that is not the way of my people.

Quatl – Well, well, alright. Do you know what happened with Gnacht? The Spin’d wouldn’t change their delegate just because.

Kiltnik – As you might expect, their central government got an anonymous word of the opportunity they lost because of her decision. It was an obvious response. They should have been on our side, now she will pay for it.

Quatl – I enjoy easing people to submission as much as you enjoy destroying their careers. We make an excellent team. I hope we stay on the same side for the rotations to come.

Kiltnik – That word is empty, make sure I’ll be on your side and I’ll do the same.

Quatl – And you should work on your ability to read between lines, but yes, the same as I said. I have to leave, remember to hand me your selection for the loot.

Kiltnik made a gesture to leave Quatl at ease as he reached for the door. Quatl happily walk to his room, he would leave an absence note to dismiss every appointment that required his presence, and he would bury himself to enjoy a long-lasting and well-earned meal.

[mr-clow]

Ensemble 1: Humanity conveys. Part 2:

Two months passed since I had killed an entire envoy sent from earth. It pained me deeply, as many of them had been my mentors in the past. After that, I took the time to make a public ceremony where I knighted Duarte and broadcasted the videos of the meeting with the envoys and the videos of the Spec-Ops that tried to infiltrate the station. Earth tried to block these transmissions, but different media corporations found it more juicy to transmit them openly. One week later, earth was in a civil war against the government and it was still going. I had no intentions to meddle in that, only sending them broadcast and morals support assured me the victory, as no government could go against its own planet.

In the meantime, the activities in the moon station had gone haywire. Humans started to flock to this station, leaving everything behind just to see me and to accept my command unconditionally. Initially this station was made for thirty million souls but with all the refugees, when I arrived it was already housing ten million more. When ships started to jump near only to offer themselves to me, the forty million jumped to a hundred million in a week and this was a logistic nightmare. Over that, delegates from the Sanari and KalHal wanted to meet me in two weeks and people could barely fit inside the station, let alone a whole political envoy.

Carlos was doing an amazingly good job with his team, not only doing the propaganda for my cause but distribution information inside the station. While Duarte had expanded the forces under his command by a tenth fold and even like that they were totally saturated keeping the people safe from themselves. Amidst all this chaos, while trying to set up and organize the forces that were filling my ranks, a small female KalHal, that came with the crew of a military juggernaut and my biggest military asset till the moment. She presented herself through her captain and blatantly told me she had the solution for all my logistics and overpopulation problems.

Boudica – Captain Schäffer, I don’t want to offend you or your crew, but I barely have time to hear a soldier from an exchange program, barely of age, saying things like this right now.

Schäffer - No offence taken your majesty, you would only disappoint us and the hundred million that depend on your decisions right now.

Boudica – I will let that comment slide, you are free to leave.

Mouriette – Give me two weeks or take my life. I won’t be useful on the field, but my strongest point is solving the issue that is consuming you, blood imperatrix.

I hadn’t heard anything else than human common for years. Suddenly hearing my translation unit spring to life to translate that phrase, coming from the only specie that were able to fully speak human language, made my brain stop in its tracks.

Boudica – Schäffer, guards, every one out. You stay here, Mouriette.

The others slowly remove themselves from the room, and Mouriette tightened her tail around the chair nervously. KalHals torso were small compared to humans, but this one in front of me could have passed for a 10-year-old girl if it weren’t for the two-meter tail she had. I didn’t like watching her, it hurt. As soon as the door closed, I threw my desk to the other side of the room, walked to her and place my face in front of hers until I smelled the sea breeze from her breath. She was scared to death, her eyes closed and her thin arms bracing herself, but she did not turn her head even there.

Mouriette - Two weeks, in two weeks this place will be the most functional station left n the system. No over population, no food shortages, all of us will walk without stepping on each other. If you plan to kill me, what do you have to lose, only two weeks my blood imperatrix.

Boudica – I could kill you right now just for how you are addressing me, why should I wait two more weeks, girl.

Mouriette – You could not solve this issue until now, and in two weeks you will have the first formal contact with other delegates while earth is boiling in trouble. You should be handling military affairs, alliances, strategies, not food rations. And I don’t mean to disrespect you, for me the term blood imperatrix holds an honorific value as in KalHal history only once with had an imperatrix that conquered the world.

Boudica – Two weeks or your head. Done.

I took a data pad from the floor, wrote a draft for the two-week contract and made her signed. She did not relax at any moment and after signing I dismissed her and she ran away from the office. I sent her a copy and informed all the officials, captains, and merchants that had started working for me since I took the power.

The Sanarin and KalHal envoys arrived together, there wasn’t too much fanfare for them, but I wait for them in the docks, with a selected few and heavy armed forces. The Sanarin delegate looked magnificent, a white fur covered her body and she used robes that made me recall Ancient Egypt stories. Her feline features made her look surrounded by a coat of mystery, but I knew it was the effect of the astounding agility her species had. We met eye to eye, which was strange given that Sanarin usually were around a meter and a half tall. She quickly dismissed the rest of the formal envoy and greeted me with a reverence, which I returned as it was their customs.  On the other dock, the KalHal envoy with two companions dragged over they long tails until we were standing in front of each other. Their clothes resembled some kind of divers suit, with the sides of their rib cage open to the air to allow them to breathe more easily. Their heads had something similar to braided hair, but it really were long strands of skin they used to feel the water currents. We shared hand shakes and changed names, then we proceed to walk over to the throne room.

As we walked, I commented how the first days of my rise to power had been, I praised the KalHals as I explained that a girl from their species had solved several logistic and over population issues within days. As the delegates from the KalHals were speaking about their education system, I heard footsteps running toward us. The guards lifted their weapons, but it was Carlos who turned the corner and he stopped right before reaching me and grabbed my hands. I was ready to hit him into obedience when he started speaking.

Carlos – The earth, the earth, your majesty!

Boudica – The earth, what? Think before you speak!

Carlos – The earth is yours, the revolt ended, and the provisional government is waiting for your command. You won Boudica!

I could not show any reaction for a few seconds, I couldn’t believe it. Then I correct myself and turned around to face the delegates.

Boudica – I’m sorry to interrupt our meeting, but something that I cannot ignore has come up. Would you be so gracious to wait for me until I can reschedule our meeting?

[mr-clow]

Ensemble 2: Greed and Politics. Part 1:

Quatl was disappointed. As a representative of the Gubni he had planned every move he and other representatives in the galactic council would make. It was easy to trick humanity’s delegate, so the other species could have a meeting to vote for the reclamation of several human colonies and distribute them between the other species. As he knew, the only ones against it were the KalHals, they were too attached to humanity, and the fact that those furred Sanaris held their vote and ended abstaining to take a position was also inside his calculations.

Even then, he had studied every other specie, and made whatever arrangements were needed to have the majority approval. The Rajne have been in this since the beginning, those tall humanoid shaped herbivores gave him the creeps, but they were as good as him to handle the council and both species coveted new systems, worlds and resources the humans had conquered through their unstoppable conviction. The SavJok and Naba never had a good relationship with humanity, as they had grave issues in the past and were glad to dismantle the human expansionist machine. They also chipped in with ships and military forces, as well the BitiOng who were always hungry for more space to reproduce and consume as any insect specie. The avians were scared, and they simply vote to avoid conflict directed to them, but they would not help, any species that had a depredatory past made them cringe and humans were the case. What Quatl could not stop wandering was why the Spin’d rejected the proposal. He had bought the delegated weeks before, those arachnids were easily convinced. The Spin’d delegate had got permission even to dispose a few hundred ships and their tribulation to the cause, and the morning of the proposal he renounced and was replaced by a totally new delegate that not only voted against the proposal but defended humanity.

Quatl stood and served himself another glass of water with added nutrients. It tasted awful, but being a council delegate didn’t allow him to pass a month with his legs buried to absorb nutrients from the soil. His several roots tapped the floor as he walked around his office and went out to the cells below the council. He cleared his mind of any doubts as he knew humanity could not win against five entire empires from different species, but still needed to understand why humanity had stopped fighting two rotations ago and retreated as they could to their home system without even trying to fight. That was not planned, nor expected, humans always fought, to death and beyond. Suddenly, they only fought for nine of their rotations and retreated without any notice, even the cries for peace from their calls stopped. Total and absolute radio silence.

Michael was tired and hurt, he tried to beak at least one of those dirty branches from Quatl when he heard what was proposed and approved in a session he was not notified. Several guards stopped him, gave him a beating and threw him in this dirty cell. He wasn’t able to notify anyone to prepare for the joint attack and he was sure that his team suffered the same luck as him or worse. As the countless possibilities consumed his mind an echo reached him and he knew Quatl decided to appear after ten days or so, keeping track of the time was difficult here.

Quatl – I see that the guards could have beaten you more, I regret stopping them so soon now.

The voice, dubbed by the translator that was placed over Michael’s ear, gave him nausea, there was nothing in the whole universe he hated more than this guy. As Michael saw something that might have been a mythological dryad, he stood, only to tower over this dirty tree with brains and spat through the laser bars that held him prisoner.

Michael – I would love to see if your people are as flammable as the vegetation from my world.

Quatl – Don’t waste your energy, human, it is useless. The only thing that you can get right now is a bit of information from humanity if you answer my question.

Michael – So, the almighty flower pot wants my help now. Tell me, what keeps your roots outside the dirt for so long.

Quatl – Mock me to your heart contempt, I’m free in the end. Now tell me two things, why did humanity kept their inner worlds so lightly guarded, it is not common for your species to lack military power everywhere you go.

Michael – You attacked directly the inner worlds? And you ask me this!? What’s wrong with you, those are mainly civilian worlds!!

Quatl - Human worlds for what I care. Why were they unguarded?

Michael – Mainly because no one would be so stupid, coward or dishonourable to attack those worlds.

Quatl – Ha! Really, you are so naive? And even after only nine days you start to retire, running away to Sol system cowardly?

Michael – Wait, what?

Quatl – Yes, humanity is surrendering their worlds, leaving them behind and running back without giving any fight.

Michael – That, you disposable piece of timber, I won’t believe. I know who we are, and we would never retreat like that.

Quatl – So, you don’t know why, too. This might be a problem and I’m loosing time.

Quatl left, leaving the human screaming things he didn’t care to hear. He needed to warn the others, but warn them of what, he wondered. The war was going so well that they were almost a quarter of a cycle ahead of schedule (Around hundred and fifty human rotations). They expected high losses in the first cycle, but humans barely gave fight the first rotations and suddenly they started retreating. He remembered that centuries ago humanity did several sneak attacks against the SavJok, this might be the case again. He started cunning how to convince the other species of this and to crush humanity until nothing was left of them. Quatl approached Kiltnik office as he needed to share this with the Rajne delegate.

[mr-clow]

Ensemble 1: Humanity conveys. Part 1:

I stood as the representatives entered the room. There was an eerie silence as they took in what they were seeing. Several emotions flashed through their faces, while most of them were offended, angered or just incredulous, at first everyone settled with the idea that they were going to lose time and that I was crazy. They slowly took their seats, took data pads or paper notes out or serve themselves some water, until one of them spoke.

Nakamura – General Iceni, we are ready to start, how long do you plan to stand there?

Boudica – The amount of time necessary for all of you to pay respects as expected and introduce yourselves, Chief Nakamura. I did something you should have done and was expected of you all, and that is to at least have the minimum information of whom you will be meeting with. We are not here to drink tea, and none of you are inexperienced in politics.

Nakamura – We are here to talk about your insubordination general Iceni, don’t think for a second about using your position as an excuse for this drama.

Boudica – Chief Nakamura, firstly, you and all the people present here will address me as Boudica. And you are here not to judge anyone but to negotiate what will be our relationship from now on, as you are afraid to touch me given the support I have from humanity. So I will say this again, you will pay the necessary respects and introduce yourself formally, and those that choose not to will not leave this room alive. Did I make myself clear enough, or earth governments sent envoys with cognitive issues?

Nakamura – HOW YOU DAR...

Blood splattered across the table and Nakamura body fell over his own brains now spread over the surface. The seven dignitaries gasped and push themselves off the table, trying to get as far as possible from the bloody remains. The gun went back to Duarte’s belt, and silence took over the meeting for over a minute. After that, all the remaining guests stood and started presenting themselves.

Boudica – You may seat. I am glad to receive every one of you. Please, don’t be frightened about what just happened, you are allowed to convey any idea or question it may arise as long as you do it with the appropriate respect the situation calls for. I will clarify one more issue, for me, Jeanette Iceni died on the attack to Amanitore station. Now I have taken the identity of Boudica and the people in this station have declared me their Queen, as I have not asked for these clothes or the throne but rather they gave it to me. I wish only for one and only goal, revenge of the treacherous attackers that killed millions of humans, KalHal and Sanari. I do not wish to drag in this endeavour people that wish not to fight, and I will not go against anyone wishes or opinions as long as they do not intend to stop me and those who follow me. So now, as Queen Boudica, I declare this session started. Please, speak.

Mikhail – Your Majesty, I am the chief strategist for war councils Mikhail Ivanov, and as you already know, now the second in command for this envoy. I will explain the orders given to us as an envoy for you to understand our situation, and we will move from there to look for a solution that suits everyone present.

Boudica – Please, continue. I need that information to know what my standing is for the governments of earth, even if I already have an idea.

Mikhail – Our task was to negotiate with you for the command of this station, the cease of military actions and a public apology to deny the broadcast that was emitted two days ago. In exchange for that, you would be removed from your position as general and given a new identity to start a new life.

Boudica – Lady Sofia Al-Mansoori, if I remember correctly, you are a declared specialist in interstellar conflict resolution. Since your arrival at this station, you saw not only that the station did not stop its operations, but that the social climate of the people here was not the one you were expecting. I had read your studies several times in my previous life and I am sure you can respond to chief Ivanov why everything that you were told now holds no value.

Sofia – Yes, your majesty. Let me clarify the situation for all the guest here and if I am mistaken please feel free to correct me. Earth government started with the assumption that a rouge general tried to single-handedly take military resources to start a suicide crusade against any alien ship crossed its path. This said general, to gain time and support from local sources, made a speech while being mentally unstable and proceeded to guide a revolt, halting all the station activities, destroying the chain of command and should now be trying to flee on a ship to start its personal war with a selected few. Sadly for chief Nakamura, who took this information as the only plausible situation, thanks to the outstanding media control that was exercised from the beginning we could not have been more mistaken. Now, taking into account historical events, I am prompted to say that we are in front of a self-appointed leader, with a strong support from humanity, a common enemy to use as a justification, an emotional goal to unite her supporters and enough charisma to avoid a strong rejection from those who don’t support her. As I personally see it, the correct course of action for this envoy is to retire and establish a communication channel with the earth government.

Boudica – I am flabbergasted with your response, lady Al-Mansoori. Even if you lied in your explanation. You know as well as I do that having a Spec-Ops team eliminate me is the fastest and economic solution for earth government, given that you realized that my mental state does not allow you to use me as a political puppet. Even more, sir Rajesh Patel, as a chief of strategic alliances for earth, I should assume that the plan to use me to unite the public opinion should have come from you.

Rajesh – Your majesty, what you said is true, but the profile we had for this operation was not even close to reality. As for what you said about the assault team, I must say that you are mistaken in that point.

Mikhail – Your majesty, it is understandable that you need to think in the worst outcome possible, but that might be a little too much.

Boudica – Please, please, let me stop you right here. Sir Knight Silva, have you received any reports from the situation outside this room?

Duarte – Yes, your majesty, we are ready to deliver.

Boudica – Please, let them in then.

Mikhail stood quickly. — Deliver what may I…

The doors opened completely and a lifter, loaded with forty corpses in different states of disarray, entered the room. All the corpses had assault uniform and were still armed. Sofia and a couple more of the delegates stood up, and the real negotiations started there.

[mr-clow]

Act 1: The throne of Boudica. Part 2:

The two KalHals bowed to me as soon as I looked at them, and then they followed my gesture to seat at the other side of the table. They looked like mythic medusas but without the snakes on their head and a skin with a light blue tone. Their tails wrapped around the chairs as they did their best to use human seats. The air they took then could have been a sigh if it wasn’t because they exhaled through their ribs, as their gills or proto-lungs were located similarly as human ones.

Boudica - I’m glad to see that aliens have the nerve to finally speak with humanity instead of just attacking us on our backs. What I don’t understand is what makes you think that I won’t try to clean the universe from every other specie that it is not human.

Male KalHal - Your highness, my name is Ewart. I am unable to understand what you went through, but I consider that your intelligence is above your peers. As such, you will understand that a hundred and fifty thousand KalHal died on Amanitore station and thousands others on different positions that we share with humanity. I don’t belong to any government and I only speak really for the alien species in this station as a whole, but all the individuals here are peaceful towards humans and helping in this disaster. As a race, KalHals have been the only ones that were always sided with humanity, for better or worse, during the last eight hundred years since you were contacted.

Boudica - Carlos, you have been covering the activities in this station for a long time, I assume. Tell me, how was the participation of other species with the search and rescue operations in this war?

Carlos - Your highness, statistically speaking, we had a full commitment from the KalHals and Sanarin to helps us during this crisis. The other species only joined if they had a human crewmate on their ship, meaning that only those who know how humans are first hand had joined. The others just ignored the cries for help and flew away or closed themselves, waiting for the crisis to subside.

Boudica - As I understand both of you are here to represent all the non-humans of the station and I assumed you were given this position not only for the significance of your species in human history but also because you have first-hand experience working closely with at least one human.

Female KalHal - Yes, your highness. I am Aalls, and I have born and lived with humans all my life. I consider them my brothers and sisters. I sincerely expect the same treatment from humans, and I hope you understand our position, for we wish not only to keep our lives but to assist humanity in what we can.

I saw how Ewart closed his eyes, and I understood him as I would have done the same in his position. This silly KalHal just sold the lives of the aliens in the station to me and she didn’t have a clue of what she said.

Boudica - I understand Aalls. I will respect what you just said. You can go back and prepare every KalHal and Sanarin to fight with us. As the other species, they should peacefully march towards the cells until it is confirmed that they species is not against us.

Ewart - Your majesty, if I cou...

Boudica - No, you don’t. I have already spoken, remove yourselves from here.

Carlos, after the KalHals retired. - That girl is going to learn a lesson the hard way. You were cruel with her and she didn’t even know.

Boudica - Bloody times are coming, she learnt something that she is not going to forget.

After that, several people came to see me, mainly to pay respects, many others to ask for tasks or to report the situation. By the end of the day, the station was fully in my control. Several aliens were imprisoned and many Sanarin and KalHals were enlisted. At the same time, Carlos had put together a full team dedicated to information and communication. All the press inside the station was under my control and using the available channels to inflate my image until the UN made a request for a meeting the next day. I accepted and the cleaning of the previous command room started, as we would receive the earth dignitaries there. I took the rest of the day to meet different people who wanted to offer their help, and before dinner I made a transmission inside the station to announce our victory and to wish everyone a good rest because the work had just started.

The next day, I woke up drenched in sweat and agitated. I could not remember my nightmare, but I was crying again. I dismissed it, again, and went straight to the shower, today was going to be a long day.

I mainly spent the first five hours after breakfast with Carlos and his team, learning about the eight dignitaries that were coming to speak with me. They informed me that originally the earth government was going to “clean” me, but after the rallies in the last two days around the earth and other surviving colonies they were forced to change their plans. Obviously that didn’t mean they really wanted me in the picture, so this meeting for them had two possible outcomes, they would try to make me a puppet to control people’s opinion, or they were going to declare me a mad woman and clean me after with some excuse. We as a team needed to find the third option, force them to negotiate, and for that the room had been bugged with cameras and voice recording devices. Carlos fully trusted my abilities to handle a political meeting and the base was preparing to receive dignitaries not as a refugee camp, but as a colony, while at the same time handling all the incoming survivors.

After that, I was convinced to change my clothe, an army of women and KalHals made my hair and makeup and later Duarte with a selected few walked me to the command room. In all this process, I had shut myself in my mind thinking of how I could handle the upcoming meeting, ignoring everyone around me until I entered the command room. Then and there I realized that it wasn’t a command room any more.

It suddenly dawns on me, I was inside a throne room, the centre map and hologram piece had been displaced to house a throne made purely of broken pieces of ships that have been shot down in this war as a wicked monolith to this war, uncomfortable and made to look down on those in front of it. I looked at my clothes, what I had quickly seen as a general's uniform, with more attention, it was a modified version of it. Red and black, with no predefined gender for it, only as imposing as the throne that was in front of me. I looked as if several dictators from the human history had cast my appearance and ruling room to spread fear through the galaxy. My chest swelled with honour as the hatred of the people that helped me and made this art pieces showed the support and convictions that I needed to convey.

This meeting was going to be fascinating.

[mr-clow]

Act 1: The throne of Boudica. Part 1:

The revolt went well. During the first hours several discarded soldier that had lost battles and fled presented themselves before me while the people slowly spread my word to the few people that hadn’t heard the broadcast. After six hours had passed of the people rescuing me from the soldiers that had apprehended me, the moon station command tried a second attempt. This time not only numerous brigades entered the space the refugees were waiting for their destiny to be decided, but they threatened to cut the supplies. What they had failed to realize was that the seed was planted and once inside the hall almost all the soldiers sent to capture me only kneeled and asked for my guidance. Without loosing time, I command them with two simple instructions. First, anyone that actively opposed my rule should be apprehended or killed if they resisted. Second, anyone could openly show they discomfort but as long as they didn’t actively interrupt my plans they would be left in peace or moved to other station according to their wishes. After that, I explained that I haven’t slept for days maybe, and excused myself.

Half a day later I woke up again to the face of Carlos shaking me to stop a nightmare that was consuming me. I dried my tears, amazed that I still had the capacity of crying, and looked around my. Carlos, a colonel whose name I couldn’t remember, and two KalHal I haven’t seen before were around me. I stood up and stretched myself, after that I felt my stomach revolt, be it hunger or those two dirty snakes watching me, I didn’t know at the time.

Boudica – Carlos, take me to a place where we can have some privacy. I’m alive, so I assume the revolt is ongoing, or we won. I’ll follow.

Carlos – Good morning. The rebellion is ongoing, but the odds are in your favour. Follow me, as I had to establish a new press office near, thanks to some... Issues.

Female KalHal - Excuse me, madam...

I looked at the female KalHal with eyes that made her understand that I really wanted to bathe in her bluish blood. She closed her mouth and I signalled with my head to follow. The male KalHal besides her braced her, and they started to follow us.

Boudica – I should say this room is quite an improvement, I see that you thrive in the middle of crisis.

Carlos, with a grin in his face. - I am a journalist, my job requires me to stay near the most prominent figure in the system, madam.

Boudica – You can call me Boudica, you too, colonel. I will have to apologize, as I cannot remember your name. May you give me the pleasure again?

Duarte – I’m colonel Duarte Silva, madam. May I interrupt you to give you a report of the current situation?

Boudica – Please colonel, and call me Boudica, as I have abandoned my previous life.

Duarte – The situation is better than expected. The high commands resisted until death, a few soldiers suffer the same destiny, and the rest of the opposition decide to retire. Several cells that are mainly afraid are resisting, and we are trying to convince them. Also, various alien groups held their ground and took parts of the station. They’re not violent but resist moving or comply, so we don’t know how to proceed.

Boudica – Thanks for the report, I’m glad I could trust you with these issues. I’m not wrong to think that theses KalHals have something to do with the last part of your report. I will leave these problems for the dessert. Carlos, I don’t have anyone that understands the media and how to communicate with the masses. Can I count with your help? Please, don’t feel pressured, as you have helped me a lot already.

Carlos – Boudica, I have already lost my job thanks to your impressive speech, and I don’t support your movement, your message of hatred or how you treat those around you. Even with all that in mind, as I said before, I’m a journalist and I cannot pass the opportunity to follow your story as close as I can.

I held a hand up in the middle of Carlos speech, as Duarte went for the gun in his belt. I looked at Carlos eyes all the time he spoke and notice that I wouldn’t get a moment as honest as this from this man, even as afraid as he was while saying these words.

Boudica – Carlos, let me rephrase with the same honesty you have answered me. I don’t like you. I need a press minister that can tell me what I need to know, good or bad, if I am wrong or not, if I am another genocide or just looking for the vengeance I deserve. Do you trust your nerve enough to do it until the end? I don’t want to risk myself to suffer any betrayal, but also I don’t want people, as blind as me only, following me to the deep corners of hell around me.

Carlos – Do I have the freedom to tell you what I see or think without any backlash to my person or the people that helps me?

Boudica – Yes, as long as you don’t lie, hide or disclosure my movements without my permission.

Carlos – Even if you are driving us to death?

Boudica – I know you will follow me to death and beyond as long as you have the headlines. You are free to drop your team if they want to live.

Carlos kneeled before me. - Boudica, imperatrix of humanity. I vow to tell you the truth, as harsh as it might be. I vow to be your eyes and ears while you guide us to victory. My life will be at your mercy. I pledge to be loyal to my liege, to honour the truth, and to serve with dedication and integrity. I shall never waver in my commitment to the freedom of speech, and I will be a beacon of light in times of darkness. This I swear on my honour as a journalist.

Boudica – Rise now, Sir Rodriguez, and be recognized as a true and noble knight. Arise with honour, courage, and the duty to uphold the code of chivalry.

The room was as silent as a grave while Carlos rose. Duarte was holding its tears and the KalHals were wondering if they had been taken to a different dimension, as only that could justify the madness that was happening in front of them.

Boudica – Knight Rodriguez, tell me now. What should I expect according to your sources?

Carlos – Please, imperatrix, only Carlos to you. Inside this station, nothing has the ability to oppose your rule, that, is not so certain from other corners of the universe. Since you gave your speech, earth has been in a turmoil that few governments had the dexterity to handle. Earth’s rule see you as a power even more dangerous than the external attack and is expected for them to attack. On the other hand, the people of earth, in their vast majority, are at least intrigued where will you take us. The attempts to communicate with you are impressive, governments, media, and people alike.

Boudica – Thanks Carlos, I appreciate the report too. Now colonel, until I finish my negotiations with these two representatives, keep every alien in the station under your sight but in peace. The people that are still unsure about their position can have two options, surrender and leave the station to the first destiny we can accommodate, or die. They have twelve hours to decide, after that I don’t care if you blow up a part of the station. If you are able to complete that within that time and no deaths, I’ll grant you the second knighthood of the ten I’m planning to give as long as I’m alive.

Duarte – I’m honoured to have your trust, your highness. I’ll return when my endeavour is finished.

I saluted Duarte and then signalled Carlos to seat in the chair beside me. Then I turned to both of the KalHals, that had enough common sense to keep their mouths shut, but their eyes were wild with panic. I assumed they expected something more simple, and now they had seen that they would have to navigate through the madness I was spreading to get out alive of this station.

[mr-clow]

Overture: The rise of an imperatrix. Part 2:

Carlos was finishing some details with the camera crew while I was standing behind a square barstool covered with a silk sarong over it that gave a really tidy look. He had found a female blazer that suited me, and one of the journalists combed my hair. He might be unorthodox, but he did his job. For my plan, this was the first step, but I knew I would need someone with his abilities, maybe I had found my press minister.

Carlos – General, we are starting now. Three, two, one!

I looked at the camera, letting my madness run amok in my eyes and words, took a deep breath and hoped that this would have the consequences I desired:

I stand before you today not as a politician, nor as a general, but as a mother who has witnessed unspeakable horrors inflicted upon her daughters, her people, and her beloved land. I am Jeanette Iceni, and I carry with me a heart heavy with grief and a soul ablaze with righteous fury.

These invaders from foreign worlds, have shown us no mercy. They have trampled upon our sacred soil, desecrated our homes, and torn apart the flesh and spirit of our families. My heart weeps for what has been done to them, the innocence stolen, the dignity crushed. We have seen our kin subjected to the cruellest of fates, their bodies massacred, their spirits broken, all by the hands of these heartless aliens.

I stand here today, not in grief alone, but in defiance! We shall not bow to the cruelty of these oppressors. No! We shall rise against them, and with the strength of our ancestors and the fire that burns within us, we shall make them rue the day they set foot upon our sacred world!

They thought they could conquer us, subdue us, break us. But they have underestimated the power of a united people who are willing to fight for their freedom, their honour, and the future of their children. We are the descendants of warriors, the sons and daughters of this great world, and we shall not be silenced.

As an old queen of ages, I saw everything that I held dear ripped away by invaders that hold nothing more than greed upon themselves. I will take the name Boudica, as I will not rest until they have paid for the pain they inflicted upon us or until I am dead.

Our vengeance shall be as relentless as the cruelty of the void. We shall strike back with the force of a thousand storms, and every drop of alien blood spilled upon our hands will be a testament to their wickedness and our unwavering resolve.

Let them hear our battle cries echo through the ages! Let them tremble in fear as they face the fury of humanity! We will fight until every alien invader is cast out of our system, cast out of our worlds, until justice is served for the atrocities committed against our kin, our children, and until we can once again hold our heads high in honour.

My people, our struggle is not in vain. It is a flame that shall burn in the annals of history, a beacon of hope for all who yearn for freedom and justice. Let our enemies know that we are not to be trifled with, for we are the indomitable spirit of humanity, and we shall prevail!

Onward, my warriors! Onward to victory and the reclamation of our land, our dignity, and the honour of our children!

I looked at Carlos who looked at me speechless and softly touched the back of the camera man. As soon as he stopped the broadcast, Carlos said “What the hell did I do” to which I only smiled wickedly and fainted.

I woke up with Carlos slapping me, shouts filling the room and a loud sound that made the room reverb. I grabbed Carlos hand instinctively, looked around and pointed to a chair. He helped me to sit, and I move my head towards the door. 

Boudica – Let them in, they are doing their job as you did. Everything else is upon the people you helped me reach and the hearts I touched.

Carlos – You are going to be executed for insubordination. I cannot let you go.

Boudica – You did as you had to. Let them, as I greet death with open arms.

Carlos gave the order to the people holding the door to back off and let them in. As soon as they opened the lock, a brigade of the military forces rushed in, held everyone against the wall and took me as a madman outside the room. I was being dragged through corridors where people saw me with emotions running down their faces. As soon as they stepped into an open space, where refugees were staying, I yelled, for all of them to hear.

“Will this be all? This is the only fight we are going to give? To bow down our heads and dragged ourselves through the mud”

A soldier put his hand on my mouth, stopping me, but it was enough. The sea of people that a second before were lamenting and liking their wounds now had their sight set upon the soldiers that were dragging me. One after the other, they stood up, blocked their path and when one of them tried to move them apart two more appeared to block the path until the soldiers stopped and released me. Scared for their lives, their instinct told them to let me go and retreat.

I won’t say that the revolt was peaceful, but only a hundred lives were lost on it. Less than 48 hours later I was seating on the command room, all the opposition dead and everyone that abandoned their post willingly waiting for a ship to earth.

[mr-clow]

Overture: The rise of an imperatrix. Part 1:

The sol system was pure chaos. Humans did whatever they could to defend themselves on their own system, at the same time they tried to form search and rescue groups for all the escape pods that were floating around all the system. Searching something inside an entire system was taxing, but doing so while avoiding the attack of several navies that were attacking combined, that was soul consuming.

Marco – Hey! Steve! I have another signal near us!

Steve – What are you waiting then, let’s go get them.

Marco – But… If it is a trap?

Kale – They are too busy for that, the captain told us to save anyone floating around here, and that is what we are going to do. Marco, turn on the thrusters, the silent search finished. We grab them and run away.

The ship jumped to life and after a few seconds the pod was in front of the bridge. This small merchant ship was doing what it could to help the surprise attack that was launched 9 days ago and only could float mindlessly until it grabs a pod and then fly away. It didn’t have any weapons of sorts, and its cargo bay barely could fit a pod.

Marco – Hey, it can’t be, this is a trap. Wasn’t the Amanitore station completely decimated?

Steve – Maybe someone got away, even i they were the first ones to be attacked.

Kale – Marco, stabilize the ship, we don’t have time. I’ll grab it as it is. Prepare to jump.

As Kale carefully used the attraction system to load the pod through the upper port of the cargo hold, Marco started the jump engine. They would return to earth orbit at a speed faster than light to avoid anyone that had read the energy signature. As soon as they heard the cargo bay close, with a soundless flash the space itself consumed the ship, leaving nothing behind.

A ship appeared out of nothing, and the signal lights let them know that dock N°3 was free. While Marco moved through the uncountable ships coming and going, trying to rescue people and bit and ends of recent battles bounced off the hull, Steve and Kale rushed to the cargo bay. They opened the hatch with their hearths in their throat, 9 days was too much time for a pod to provide oxygen, and they didn’t know what was waiting inside. After the door came down, they wished they had found two bodies instead of only one and the husk of a woman.

I was floating in space, silently, holding the body of my eight-year daughter for nine days. I wailed, and cried. I insulted the powers that be and every being I could think of until no more sorrow was left. Then, the guilt came, I regretted taking that post, marrying my now deceased husband, leaving my suspicions of the Gubni aside, I even regretted having my little girl as she was the reason it hurt so much. And then, when I could not regret any more, when all my life seemed a mistake, anger came and consumed me.

Those nine days felt like an eternity, where my sanity and consciousness slid away from myself. I forgot my previous life, goals and self, decided that my own goal was going to hunt those bastards until the limits of space itself if it was necessary and renamed myself as Boudica, an ancient queen from my country that took revenge against an empire. I drew the plan in my head, how I was going to make every of those damned plants and any other species that had a part on it suffer. While I was consumed by my thoughts, still holding the rotting remains of what used to be my daughter, the door of the pod opened. Two men were watching me without reacting as I stood up, place the carcass of what was my daughter on the hands of one of them.

Boudica – I am General Jeanette Iceni, but you will address me as Boudica. I commend you to dispose of this body, as it was one of the many mistakes those animals did. Now, I need a shower and food first. Guide me.

While Kale took the body and promptly turn away to puke for the odour and impression, Steve only could move his hand as I followed through the small corridor.

Boudica – Tell me your name and our location.

Steve – The man back there is Kale, and I’m Steve. We’re on the moon, everything is chaotic. Did you really were in Amanitore station?

Boudica – A lot of things that were there are not more, as my life. I thank you for guiding me to a shower, I’ll look for the mess hall after I’m clean. I require clothes, these are soiled, can you provide them and leave them here?

Steve – Ehhh yes ma... Sorry, Boudica.

After I washed, changed and ate, Steve guided me without pronouncing a word to the moon base officials that were doing their best to guide the sea of people moving around the station. As I went near them, I took my badge and credentials that were on the uniform I discarded after showering, and they automatically salute me.

Boudica – I’m General Jeanette Iceni, I was on the Amanitore station. I require you to guide me to the nearest press office.

Official 1 – Madam, I’m obliged to take you to the command centre right away.

Official 2 – Madam, you’ll have time to do your endeavours, but we cannot comply.

Boudica – Excuse me, I might not have spoken clearly after floating nine days in space holding the body of my own daughter. I didn’t ask you where I should be. So, right now you’ll guide me to a press office, or I’ll charge both of you of insubordination and carry the sentence where you stand. As I see it, the only thing you’re allowed to do before start guiding me is checking my credentials with your scanner.

Both officers looked at the gun, holster in my hip but now with a hand on top, and then shared a look. One of them lifted the scanner, and before he pointed, I moved it in front of the camera, and it beeped with two long tones that not only proved my credential was valid but that I was part of the upper commands. They swallowed and one of them bowed slightly.

Officer 1 – Follow me, please.

Boudica – Don’t walk, run. I don’t have any time, and you already made me lose valuable seconds.

In the few minutes I ran behind a really scared officer, I wondered if I always had this capacity of intimidation and command inside me, or if it was something that came with the appearance I had taken. After taking the shower I looked in the mirror, the person I saw, it wasn’t me. A pale, lifeless skin, sunken eyes and cheeks and my eyes, the bright inside my eyes burned with hatred and madness. That look I only saw it in inmates walking the death row, and now on the same eyes that were wondering if I should have pointed the gun to the officers from the beginning…

Officer 1 – Here General Iceni.

As he opened the door, several voices came from the inside. Several complaining while others still immersed in the previous discussions. I walked in and looked at them in the eye until all the voices died out.

Boudica – I’m General Jeanette Iceni, I was on the Amanitore station. I need access to a live stream as soon as possible. Vital information needs to be shared in case we are attacked.

Carlos - Emmm, excuse me, did you say you were General Iceni from Amanitore?

Boudica – Do I need to repeat myself?

Carlos – Welcome aboard general, my name is Carlos Rodriguez, and I’ll be glad to prepare for a live broadcast. Please take a seat, and I’ll let you know when everything is ready.

I didn't like the smirk, tone, or attitude of Carlos, but as soon as I took a seat he started giving orders to every one. To check my identity, my position, to clear up the channels and call back the journalist that was presenting from the docks as changing to the earth view while they prepared a stand for two and tested the microphones. His way of giving orders was awful, but not a single step was done out of the books. I enjoyed the moment, savouring what was going to go live in a few minutes.

[mr-clow]

Prelude: The regrets of an imperatrix:

Notes from the author: I started writing a few months ago and defined a lot of historical events in my fantasy, this story goes over one of them and I had the idea to build the chapters as an Opera. Let's see how it goes. -------------------------------------------------------------------- The shared military and science station, Amanitore, had been peaceful for over a hundred years. Several species walk among the humans, but it was said that the station was shared because nearly 30% of the people living there were Kal’Hal. A 10% of the personnel that came and went on the passing ships were from other species. The station orbited between the ninth and tenth planet of the human solar system. In its four hundred years it had grown exponentially as one of the main stops orbiting the original human system and especially with the astounding amount of commerce conducted after we joined the Galactic Council a hundred and fifty years ago.

Jeanette Iceni was really happy with her life, she had gained a position as general two years ago, and she was raising a young daughter with her husband in the Amanitore station. Her skills have been proved as, maybe one of the best, political negotiator of the outer ring. Humans had been a recognized space faring species for the last eighth hundrish years, but only accepted as a significant governing self sustainable species in the last century and a half. And now, she was there, on the doors to all the vast space, handling human interactions and setting a peaceful example of how humanity could be a significant allied on the universe.

I walked into the command room of the station. This huge monster held almost half million souls between all the species that came and went and all the ones that lived here. A lot of familiar faces saluted me as I was in charge of all the military and security operations of this place. I told them to rest and Ictenia, a Kal’Hal that had gained her position as operation chief, dragged herself on her long tail with a data pad on her hand.

Ictenia – General Iceni, I have the list of the operations conducted during your absence since yesterday.

Jeanette – Thanks Lt Ictenia, is anything out of the ordinary, or it does require my attention?

Ictenia – Nothing immediate, but you should know that a Gubni ship asked permission to restock and refuel and is carrying a Gubni ambassador.

Jeanette – What? How I was not notified that an ambassador was travelling through our territory?

Ictenia – It wasn’t in any notice. How should I proceed?

Jeanette – Prepare the upper levels docks for a welcome ceremony and handle the communications with their ship to prepare for the event.

I smelled something fishy. The Gubni came from a garden world, even they evolved from plants. Nothing made them more proud than the fanfare that came with political events, and here I had one that came without notifying half of the universe where he was going.

The rest of the day went normally, I learned that in three days the Gubni ship was going to dock. Some Sav’Jok made a scene and I had to handle the situation only because they didn’t understand that this was a human base, and they had to acknowledge our laws. A lot of others informs later, and I was done for the day. I wondered how my little girl did today at school while I took a v-train that went through several levels to fetch her.

As I arrived to the school, I already could see her outside chatting with her friends, one young LintNok that haven’t learned to fly yet and two Sanarin, which I was sure she befriended more because they resembled an earth feline than any other reason. As I came closer, Kluc, the LintNok youngling, puffed her feathers as a greeting and the other three turned around. Jazmine, my daughter, run to me and gave me a hug while the other two bowed as a signal of respect. I chatted with them a few minutes as they told how their day was at school and I parted home. Mike was going to arrive later, so I stayed in the living room playing with Jazmine and then sent her to do her homework.

I took the chance to read about the Gubni and after two hours the only thing I accomplished was being more unease than before with all this. My husband came and took me out of my data pad, distracted me for a while until my frown was gone and after the diner and having Jazmine finally asleep we talked about my suspicions until I calmed down.

The next day I focused on the preparations for the arrival of the ambassador. I managed to get as much military presence as was peacefully possible, and as much as the inner council that handled the station allowed me. I was part of that council as my rank required it, but that group of tight up old people reacted as if I was being paranoid. They couldn’t see something wrong in anything, never. This day was going to be long, so I made some time to let my husband know he needed to get Jazmine off school, and then they could come as a parade was going to be held for the ambassador.

Hours later, a lot of discussions in the middle, and after straining the last drop of patience of my subordinates with the promise of a day off in mind, all the preparations finished. Finally, I could meet with my husband and held my little girl in my arms. We took our seats on the front row and saw the soft polished Gubni ship as it softly reached for the dock. It was a majestuous sight, as the ship reflected the lights and look like a dagger that cut the sight of the station and moved very differently to other's ship, like it was weightless. No thrusters, windows, or decks on it, only the sober silver reflection. Suddenly, several lines appeared beneath the ship and the standard docking clamps appeared and with a soft touch it finally landed and grabbed itself to the station. The band started playing while another set of lines made themselves visible and the ramp stated emerging from the ship.

A chill went down my spine, something was wrong. I grabbed Jazmine and pulled my husband to start running. Mike followed me dumbfounded until a second later laser shoots were heard and all the screaming started. I was a general, a part of humanity first line of defence but right now I was a mother, so I ran, I needed to protect my baby.

The screams and shots followed us for a few corridors, and then the explosion started. It wasn’t a rogue ship, it was a full scale attack to the station. The strong wind that was making it difficult for us to move meant that the atmosphere was leaking, quick. As I arrived to the escape pods I turn around and saw my husband looking at me, lying on the floor, all his left side red from the blood, and with only one look I understood. He wanted me to keep going. I climbed to the pod, pushed the emergency button and put my daughter on a seat. She looked at me with big tear filled eyes, she was bleeding too. “It hurts mommy” were the last words I heard from her as the sudden jolt of the ejection threw me to the floor.

[mr-clow]

Kal’Hal notes on a human ship. Part 4:

I walked fast into the mess hall, I didn’t have too much time to eat before my shift after the talk with Alex and his plan. I glanced quickly and nobody from my team was there. That made me nervous, what if Alex plan didn’t worked! It was too late to let him know, so I hurried up, maybe I could avoid all this.

Suddenly my tray flew off my hands, and suddenly I had food and tea dripping from my uniform.

Who the fuck you think you are, damn alien!

Wh… Wha… Alex?

Nobody teach you to clean your unif...

HEY APOLOGIZE NOW!!

ALEX BACK DOWN!

Suddenly, an angry mob of humans was coming to us. Alex tried to keep his plan going and try to grab my arm when suddenly Tom, the chef, jumped over the food stand and knock him down, at the same time I felt at least two pair of hands pulling me away from them. Two more people I barely knew went over Alex to restrain him, and I look to my side and Claire was starting to wipe my uniform. I remembered her name only from the initial meeting, I haven’t even seen her from that day, and there she was sincerely concerned about me.

WHAT IS GOING ON HERE!? Everyone froze when the captain walked into the room and screamed. In that eerie silence the only thing that was heard was Alex voice “Do you trust us now?”

I had totally missed my shift, my uniform was still messed up and Alex’s too. He had a black eye and was holding an ice pack over the back of his head. I was worried about him, but more worried about being in a closed office, with the captain looking us in silence while her anger ate my consciousness.

Lt Husker, if you open your mouth even to breath, I will send you back home in a pod before the end of the day. Is that clear? Alex nodded and looked at the floor.

Well Eng. Laffite, I have to say that you could have gone easily if I hadn’t heard what Alex said, but suddenly I feel you are as guilty of all this as him. Could you elaborate?

Yes captain, you are right, I’m equally guilty. I planned this scene with Lt Husker before going to the mess hall. (Alex looked at me with open eyes as trying to tell me something, but I ignored him) As the witness said, the idea was that he would make a fake attack on me to prove me his point.

So Eng. Laffite, you are telling me that you disrupted the peace on my ship for a bet?

No Captain, we didn’t bet, it was to prove a point.

Please, entertain me. Which was said point?

That I was safe on this ship captain, safe from my crewmates.

Excuse me, what did you say? Alex lifted a hand to ask permission to talk, seeing that the captain was more surprised than angry right now.

We walked down the aisle with Alex without saying a word. After he explained all that had happened, another thing surprised me. The captain congratulated him, shook his hand, and made him sign a “First and final warning”, something that wasn’t explained in my contract at least. Then, with an expression with more sweet than a mother, the captain looked at me and asked me if I felt safe or if I wanted time off, a companion or anything else. I assured her that it was not necessary and that Alex made all that was needed. Then, after a weirdly uncomfortable speech about disrupting the ship’s working environment, that all the present didn’t feel necessary, she told us to go clean ourselves and fill our posts.

I changed my uniform, clean myself and hurried to the engine room N°4, I hoped that Maggie was still there assembling the engine. Now I started feeling guilty of leaving all that work to her. As I was approaching, yelling could be heard. I recognized Maggie voice and a few others of the engineering department, As soon as I walked in everyone jumped and me and started talking at the same time.

I had to take a good time to explain to them everything that happened, they were planning to “fuck up” the people from security. I didn’t know exactly what that meant, but it wasn’t good. That talk was long, and I was assaulted by several emotions, I had thought that I didn’t belong to a pack and here they were ready to ruin their careers for me. They felt bad too, even if it wasn’t their fault. After a long chat, everyone returned to their positions, some of them on the other side of the ship, and Maggie gave me what they call a hug. It was weird, this human, with a strength even high for her peers, was there holding me between her arms that could kill me at a whim and I felt better than I have ever felt. More safe, understood and loved than I ever remembered.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

A human year has passed since I joined the crew. The first month were strange and full of misunderstandings, but everything worked better than I ever expected. The last two months we move to a joined quarter with Maggie, it was allowed under certain conditions in human ships to have a partner on the crew, and we made it work somehow.

Now our mission was coming to an end and the humans had this practice where, when the ship returned and all the paperwork was handled, they would have 30 rotations to do whatever they wanted to. Magg didn’t have any family, but she was really insisting on meeting mine. I had to explain to her several times that we were different, and my parents only raised me at the beginning of my life, and then we grew in large groups where we learned everything necessary, and she only dismissed it, saying that I had a bigger family than I wanted to admit.

After signing a lot of paperwork, I was ready to be responsible for a human on my home planet. She didn’t seem too worried, I guess that part fell only on me, and we boarded an express cruise to my world....

[mr-clow]

Kal’Hal notes on a human ship. Part 3:

I was tired, as tired as the first day I started my training to form part of a crew and go out to space. I dragged myself to my private quarters and as soon as I closed the door I let the rest of my body slide to the floor and stayed there. As part of my training I had studied some parts of human history, and what I thought was a bloody class turned out to be a light-shortened version of reality that now looked like political propaganda. Humans had many wars between themselves, that is common in deathworlders, but humanity turned it into a sport (Quite literally they had practical war games for milenia!) and not only that made them stand out. A lot of other aspects in their daily lives were(?) cruel and violent. Segregation, slavery, discrimination, abuse of all kinds of power, lack of empathy for the other and themselves in general and even with all that, something that emerges as illogical is that they have a pack instinct stronger than any other known race. Kal’Hals are very empathetic and all this hurt me deeply, I dropped myself to bed and wailed on my pillow. I was hurt by the humans, for the humans. All my crewmates studied, lived and took on their lives knowing that in their story, instincts, and genes this could happen again, they knew how to be afraid of themselves and even like that they lived happily. How can a whole race go on like that! After what it looked like an eternity, I fell asleep.

I woke up to my alarm, I felt like I needed more rest, my skin was dry as I hadn’t changed nor taken care of it. Luckily, Kal’Hals needed a lot less rest than humans and I could change and take care of myself in time. As I went through the corridors and waved some humans that were ending their own shifts, I couldn’t stop thinking how they ignored all that. My mind was stopped to a halt as a sharp pain assaulted me in my tail and my reflexes rolled it below me, which caused a commotion by itself as it hit the legs of a crewmate from security. I turned and not only Alex was on the floor grabbing his legs, but Susan had also fallen on a door frame and was massaging her head. I couldn’t snap out of it, not only did I hurt two humans, but they barely know me, I'm not going to live another day!

Laff! I’m so sorry! I wasn’t looking where I was going, and I stepped on you!

What?  (I looked at Susan, why wasn’t I being attacked)

You pack a hell of a punch with that tail, girl! And you, Susan, be more careful during shift changes!

I swear, Alex, I didn’t mean to step on her. Laffite, are you alright? You look scared, are you hurt? Do you need help to go to the infirmary?

I thought you were going to attack me.

What!? Why would I!? It was my fault!!

Susan, keep going. I will speak with Laffite.

Alex face changed from surprise to being really serious, he got up while he exhaled and after Susan started going away he looked at me concerned.

Laffite, I will not hurt you, OK? Can you follow me?

I’m sorry, Alex, I didn’t mean it. (My tail started to unroll slowly as I looked down)

I know Laff, it was an accident, yes it hurt a bit but is alright. I want to speak with you alone. Can you come with me?

I nodded and went behind him, looking at the floor. Two days ago I yelled at the Captain and now this, up to this point I was going to be happy if I got down alive from this ship. I kept my tail sliding as little as I could, as if that made me invisible to all the nods or salutes I was ignoring while we went to the level below to the security office and Alex office. He waited for me to come inside and closed the door, with a gesture he pointed me to a couch as human seats were rather uncomfortable to me, and then he moved a seat to face me while we spoke and looked at my eyes as if I were a prey.

Laffite, are you being harassed?

Sorry, what did you say?

If you are being harassed, are other people intentionally making you have a hard time?

What!? No!

Look Laffite, I am from security, you can count on me if someone is mean to you alright?

I don’t understand what is happening or why you are asking me this or why are we here, Alex. I had a few rough days and this is getting to me.

Oh, I’m sorry to hear that. - He relaxed his demeanour and position in the chair - To be honest, what you said worried me. I don’t know why you’d think that we were going to attack you.

I... I just... I don’t know. I felt pain and my body reacted, and you were there, hurt and... And... Well, I had been thinking about your history, and suddenly I was afraid.

Our history? You mean what the course you have on your home planet before having a position with humans, or you were speaking with someone about our history?

I don’t want to get them in trouble, Alex...

Don’t worry Laff, nobody is in trouble, seriously, nobody is. If someone has a problem it is me, because I like that everybody feel safe on the ship, and you don’t.

Emm... Alex, I don’t want to offend you with...

You won't Laff, I swear that doesn’t matter what you say now, I won’t think bad about you.

I asked how humans knew about their limits of radiations poisoning and... Well, we started speaking how you discovered radiation and one thing led to another. I learned about WWI and WWII, and slavery, and some political movements that oppressed entire nations and other things.

I understand that learning our history might be disturbing at least, but I don’t get why you feel insecure.

Well, the thing is... You did a lot to yourselves, to your own people, and I’m not even one of you. What could happen if...

Laff, stop there. I understand now. And... I’m sorry we made you feel like that. Let me first say that you are allowed to deeply study our history. We do it to avoid past mistakes, we are not proud of it, but we don’t deny it or hide it. We just... Eh... soft it down, because others might have a strong cultural shock to say the least. (Alex stood and walked a circle while watching the ceiling as if what he was going to say next was written there, then he stopped and looked at me sadly)

Look Laff, I have no real way to make you feel like you are one of us right now, but you are. You are our ally, our crew member and not only that you belong to your team, and they appreciate you more than anyone inside here. We may be clumsy, as Susan was when she stepped on your tail, but accidents happen a lot and humans will always get that.

Yes, but what happens if you react, or your instincts appear?

The worst that can happen is that you get a fist in your direction, but I assume you never saw a human angry.

No, luckily no. Today was frightening and even when my tail got you, you stood up as nothing!

No Laff, it still hurts, but yes, I can ignore it. I had an idea to demonstrate you that you are one of us. Do you trust me? A little bit at least?

Yes Alex, I know that you won’t intentionally hurt me at least.

Well, let’s do this...

[mr-clow]

Kal’Hal notes on a human ship. Part 2:

Laffite woke up a few moments earlier than her alarm told her to. She rolled around the bed for a while, thinking about yesterday's events and stretching her torso. She felt the air going out between her ribs. Kal’Hals had evolved from an aquatic world, and they could breathe water or air, their gills having evolved into pseudo lungs, their hands with palmed fingers and a powerful tail connected where humans would have legs. Her big blue eyes with no white to sight, something that humans had and still looked weird to her, panned the room, and she saw a small package on the floor in front of the door. She unrolled her tail and with the full length of it she reached the box and put it on her bed…

I opened the box, inside the first I saw was a colourful paper with some kind of human animal that was saying get well soon. I looked kinda cute, but I didn’t get any reference if there was any and Mag had signed it. Below I found a card with a clip attached to a paper that explained that is a long term sensor to check the radiation received and that humans use it when they work in radioactive environments (They really work in radioactive places!) and also below there were some pills. The paper explained that it was something humans used in case they got poisoned, but I should check if Potassium Iodide was bad for my health, something even I didn’t know. Below all that I found a small device that I recognized, it was a radiation sensor. Maggie really tried and I was glad.

I had met humans before, even if a lot of other species treated them as wild dangerous creatures, Kal’Hal knew better. Both species had an early relationship and for more than a thousand human cycles they had been supporting each other. Humans could be extremely loyal given the same treatment, and that didn’t include their pack bond. I have never been included in a human pack, but some people said that there was no safer place in the universe than being included and surrounded by a human pack. I wondered if this box was only a form of respect, or if it was a sign that they had started to include me in their pack.

After that, I took the time to moisturise my skin and change my clothes, my world was way more humid than earth and I needed to keep myself healthy. After that I took the things from the box, read the instructions again and searched about those pills on my way to the mess hall.

When I reached the mess hall my face was showing quite the concern, those pills could shut down several of my organs, technically I had a blister of poison in my hand. Maggie waved a hand, she was having breakfast with Bill who was in charge of the engineering department, Rose and Raúl, both of them colleagues also from the same department. I waved back, took a tray and served myself some food. Most leaves from the human world, some processed seeds and various teas were fit for my consumption, so I chose peppermint tea and a light salad. Most humans wouldn’t eat this at this hour, but the cook knew my taste, so I gave him a nod and an imitation of a smile, he smiled back, and I went to sit with Maggie.

Maggie asked how I was, and I explained that I still felt uncomfortable, but I was willing to give it a try and thank her for all the things she got me. Bill explained that everyone room in the engineering department had helped and that they had asked in the Med bay for the pills. My face turned with worry and Raúl asked what happened. I took the time to explain that iodine was poisonous to a lot of species and turned back the pills. They apologised, and then the conversation turned to other things from work, and I felt relaxed. Maybe they were starting to include me in their pack.

I went back to help Maggie assemble the reactor we were working on the last day. The job hasn’t advanced too much, but I noticed some tools that weren’t here yesterday. “Maggie, why did you bring all this?” While I checked a welding equipment that I haven’t seen before. “Yesterday, after I left the box in your room, I came back here and checked all the boltholes and filled the ones that had more diameter than they should. You shouldn’t worry any more for this” Her face had a smile but with an expression I didn’t knew. “Thanks Maggie, I appreciate all this. Anyways the sensor you gave me didn’t go off even in here, so I’m starting to feel more secure” I took the sensor from my belt and showed it to her. “Ehhh Laff, I don’t want to scare you, but you checked that it was set to your standards? It is really sensitive, but you have to program it” I looked at her, then at the sensor, and it was true, the threshold was set to 1mSv, lower than a human needs it but higher than I was comfortable. I changed it and when I pressed OK the sensor went off automatically. I looked at her worried and she took my hand and led me outside. “How low did you set it, Laff?” She asked with a worried look on her face. “Not too low, only 0.01mSv” and she put the same smile from before, “Oh hon, that won't do. Why don’t you try 0.4mSv at least, remember what I said yesterday. Earth is slightly radioactive, humans are, and this ship also is human made. Nobody got hurt before with even more than that, so let's try that.” I nodded slowly, I didn’t like it, but I knew she was right and changed the alarm. It stopped, and I exhaled, she took my hand again, and slowly we went inside the room, it didn’t sound again.

All that day I was distracted, but Maggie chatted as usual, and she gave me some simpler tasks, so I could entertain myself. At the end of the shift I went out to the mess hall with Maggie and when we sat down I looked at her and Bill “Yesterday you told me that humans knew how much radiation makes you sick, it’s that true?” Bill and Maggie looked at me with a serious face. Bill took a breath to start speaking, but Maggie spoke first. “Look Laff, we are not proud of explaining this to you, but I consider you my friend and I think it is fair to explain you some of our history”

[mr-clow]

Kal’Hal notes on a human ship. Part 1

I slid happily over my tail into the engine room N°4, Maggie was already there putting down the shielding around the reactor. I’m a Kal’Hal female called Laffite. I had been working in this human ship the last 30 rotations or so and already was beginning to feel comfortable around them. The KalHal had been friendly with humans for as long as human had been recognized as a space faring species. I was in this ship as part of a formal program that had been going on for the last thousand human rotations. A lot of people from my species were roaming space in ships with humans and other species, but I preferred a more safe approach as this was the first time I went out of my world.

I greeted Maggie as started to climb over a structure to bolt the already mounted pieces while hanging from my tail. Maggie, usually a rather talkative human, barely responded and her eyes were fixed onto a bolthole of a shielding piece that easily weighted twice as Laffite. “What’s wrong Maggie? That’s only a bolthole, it is supposed to be there” I said as I took a bolt from my pocket and placed it carefully. Maggie grumbled “I think it is bigger than it should, this could cause problems, such as radiation coming out or ESD noise”. Those words made me shiver, “That cannot be, that would mean this core had a leak for the last 5 years and no sensor detected anything” and Maggie chuckled as she fetched the laser measuring device from the table. She looked at me with amusement, “You should be wary of our tolerances, we reinforce everything and yet, we have a high margin of error for everything”. I was stunned, nobody should be subjected to any kind of radiation, not even background space radiation. Every other specie developed their own ways to block them at a great cost. Here, a human, someone from a specie that was travelling through the space well over a millennium, told me that as if it was a common deal. I let out a laugh “You are good Maggie, but please don’t joke with those thi--” The measuring beeped and she didn’t even look at it, just lifted it for me to see it. I read those numbers, felt my strength failing me, and darted out of the room.

“Captain Schulz! I think we need to halt every reactor in the ship!” I said as I stormed into the command room. She looked at me with an eyebrow lifted and… A boring look?

“Lt Smith, could you check all the operational reactors and inform me if anything is wrong”. Bill tapped quickly into his pad, looked at me instead of the captain, “Everything is in order Captain”. “You heard him, eng. Laffite, so do you know something that the sensors cannot read?” said Anna with a smirk on her face, I was starting to suspect why this post was abandoned before. 

Laffite – Captain, with the utmost respect, I think all the sensors have been tampered with and we may be slowly getting radiation poisoning.

Bill without moving his eyes from me lifted a hand to stop me.

Bill – Laffite if you really think so, I’ll come with you to every engine room, but the sensors show that the background radiation everywhere on the ship is below 50mSv a year, there is nothing to worry about.

I heard that and blood left my face. 

Laffite – 50mSv!? That’s a lot for every standard!! YOU COULD BE MISSING ENTIRE LEAKS WITH TH--

I woke up in a familiar room, I was in my quarters and Maggie was looking at me with a worried look on her face. My head hurt, and my long tail was uncomfortably rolled. As a Kal’Hal I was on the small side, only 10’ in total length. As several humans told me before, we looked as a mermaid or a medusa from their mythology. I could understand them as there was a similarity, but our skin is bluish and we did not petrify people that looked at us.

Are you OK Laff? Captain told me you fainted and fell on her console

That would explain why my head hurts, or it could be radiation poisoning already doing its work.

Laff, we’re not being poisoned, you even agree to these terms on the contract and no other KalHal ever was poisoned working in a human ship. 

The contract didn't say it like that, it said that the maximum allowed before evacuation was that value, not that we'd be subjected to lower values who know for how long!

Oh Laff, I understand that you are really worried about this, but I don’t understand why, every star produces radiation, almost all elements have a radioactive isotope, how does your world deal with this, radiation is everywhere.

WAIT? Do you mean the earth surface is radioactive all the time?

Ehhh well… Yes… Maybe not this value, but 5mSv a year is normal for us.

NO WAY!! We consider a radioactive leak at 0.05mSv!! How can you stand that!!!

Does Kal'Hal get sick with only that? We should inform the captain!

We don’t know. Why would we check how much radiation gets us sick, we just avoid it and that is enough. You humans are the only ones in the universe that discharged radioactive bombs in their home world we know of!

Ohh yes, right… I had forgotten about that… Laff, can you trust me in this one, please? No other species, yours included, got poisoned on board a human ship. If it helps you, I will try to get you a personal radiation sensor and talk to the Cap to do regular radiation screening to you on the Medbay.

I don’t like it, Maggie, not one bit. Let’s do that at least. I want to be alone or a while now, can I take the day?

Yes, just rest. I’ll talk to the Cap and get you the day off and the other things.

After a soft smile, Maggie left my room and I was left alone in my room. At first, I wonder how much the metal walls of my room could block radiation, then my mind wandered to what Maggie said. I tried to remember if there was any case of radiation poisoning I heard. Without taking into account the last war, where humans used some kind of radiation bombs almost two hundred years ago, I never heard something similar. Even in that war, humans tried to take all that themselves and almost no other species were allowed where they used that method.

My mind slowly went through all the history lessons I remembered about humans and their violent wars until I fell asleep.