Stories of the Confederated Star Systems by Loren K. Jones Read Free Book Online

permission to speak. The second didn’t look down as he asked, “What have you found?”
    “The alien ship, Sir,” the sensor operator answered with some excitement in his voice. “Its crew. They are the same species as the inhabitants of this planet. We have found no previous traces of this level of technology.”
    “Mmm, indeed. That might explain why they appeared so suddenly. If they came from the surface—I must speak with the captain.” Turning abruptly, he left the command center through the same hatch that the captain had used.
    The sensor operator returned to his station to continue his assessment of the alien, though now he was less anxious about it now. These weak primitives were no match for one of His Majesty’s Battlecrusers. The Escarten were the ultimate warriors in the galaxy, and these puny primitives weren’t even armored. He rose up on all four legs and stretched with his hands behind his head. Not even the Mighty Gral’s notoriously volatile anger could be roused by them.
    The Mighty Gral returned to the command center within moments of the second’s departure. “Find the alien ship. Bring us within range. I want a better look at them. If they are from this species, then they are no threat.”
    The crew of the Servan Shree quickly obeyed their captain, swinging the ship into an orbit that would bring the alien into range within moments. When the ship appeared, the crew was shocked. Far from the helpless vessel that they were expecting, they now faced an armed, shielded opponent. Weapons ports were now obvious, and their shields were as good as the Servan Shree’s own.
    “This was your doing!” the Mighty Gral shouted, drawing his blade and plunging it into the sensor operator’s neck. The second-in-command stayed out of arm’s reach until the captain’s panting breath calmed a little.
    The command crew carefully did not look at the body of the sensor operator as it was dragged away. Looking at the crew around him, the captain pointed at the empty space and demanded, “Where is my sensor operator?”
    A young tech hesitantly took the indicated position, his hunched shoulders betraying his fear. Looking at the instruments, he quickly gauged the alien. “Mighty Gral, the alien ship is shielded from our scans now. We are, however, detecting visual differences from the first scan. Numerous ports have opened on the ship’s exterior, possibly for weapons.”
    “Fah! Weapons from a culture this primitive? How could that be?” the Mighty Gral demanded. “They have primitive metal tools and weapons. Where would they get real weapons?”
    “Mighty Gral, there is no way of telling. They have not done anything to indicate that they have detected us this time. Their speed and course have remained constant.” The sensor operator kept his voice as respectful as possible, not wanting to share his predecessor’s fate.
    * * *
    “There she is, Ma’am. Just coming out of the planet’s shadow. Orders?”
    “Slow and steady, Mister Frazier. No provocative moves. Keep our course and speed as is. Let them make the first move. And, Mister Frazier...”
    “Ma’am?”
    “...Man the weapon’s console yourself. I don’t want any misunderstandings.”
    The crew of the Wells sat in tense silence as the alien ship made its way toward them. It was large, bordering on huge. Easily a kilometer in length, it was an almost haphazard assortment of spheres and tubes, held together by superstructure and cabling.
    Lieutenant DeBaron reported from the sensor station. “They’re trying to scan us again, Ma’am, but are being blocked by the shields.”
    “Very well. What can you tell me about them, Mister DeBaron?”
    “Not much, Ma’am. Carbon based and oxygen breathing is about it. Their atmosphere has a high percentage of hydrocarbons, though I’m unable to determine if that’s intentional or just contamination. We’re picking up power spikes that may be weapons of some sort, though we can’t be