“And just how large is the occupying force?”
“Approximately fifty million sir”
“And the number of Humans involved?”
“Approximately ten thousand visas and “safari licences" have been granted so far, I believe”
“Then I still see no legal galactic immigration issues.” Said the Chancellor. “Legal procedures have been followed for valid galactic passport holders to help in the removal of illegal aliens.”
“Sir, is that the Departments legal position?”
“Yes.”
“And what should I say to the Ambassador”
The Chancellor thought for a moment before replying.
“I hope the bizarre, lurid tactics and weaponry of the human hunters you now face will provide some impetus to the overdue withdrawal of your illegal occupation of that world. For the losses you about to endure, you have my vague sympathy.”
Heads, antenna and other sensory organs turned toward the Human.
“Members of the Council, I have dispatched sources of mine to verify the condition of the ambassador.”
There were shocked murmurs amongst the attendees
“But it’s a death world! Nothing can be done! And YOU have no authority.” bellowed the vice-chair.
The human paused while looking around before replying “Council Members, as I understand it, the rules, regulations and procedures of this council give me, an admittedly minor council member, the power to independently verify information given to the council? Yes?”
There was a murmur of consent amongst the attendees.
“Well, to that end, I have dispatched the UNS Greebo with a 12 person combat search and rescue team.”
“But it’s a death world! Nothing living will be found! The Ambassador is lost I tell you.” screamed the vice-chair
Those who had suspected foul play watched with glee as the vice-chair started to squirm.
“But it’s a death world!” stated the vice-chair in a lower voice.
The human simply stared.
The vice-chair had a sudden sinking feeling in his hind gut as he finally comprehended what he was seeing when looking at the human council member.
All it’s sensory organs and processing were in one place, the head nodule. It processed its environment fast. Its major support systems were in a protective cage in the centre. Limbs could be lost and it would survive. How would such a thing evolve?
The Ambassador would be found and retrieved and his corruption and duplicity shown to the full Authority. He was finished as his races influence and advantages would evaporate.
And humans were intelligent death world predators.
He’d never appreciated their evolution, design and intelligence, until now.
“Council Members, I would like to resign as Vice-Chair. I believe in this trying time, perhaps the esteemed representative for the humans should take my place.”
She was a teacher for goodness sake, not a psychologist for the destructive tendencies of alien youngsters.
Last week they’d attempted to build and test an afterburning anti-matter engine.
“But why is it parked at the very far side of the spaceport?” asked Arik.
“Well, most ships gently manipulate spacetime to travel, yes? That one doesn’t. It beats spacetime into submission to move and you don’t want to be too near when it powers up”.
A claxon alarm sounded on the ramp. “They’re starting her up now”.
Even at this distance, the air suddenly took on a greasy oppressive feel before vanishing, followed by a feeling that oneself had just moved yet had not.
A slow rumbling vibration rising in pitch was replaced by a sense that everything was wrong with the universe that slowly faded as a blue glaze enveloped the huge black ship.
Dellik looked at the trainee with sympathy. “Aye, it affected me like that the first time I saw one start up and I was a lot closer than you are today.”
Arik tried to shake off the sudden despair and asked “But what is it?”
“That, my little youngster, is a human warship. Where it’s going and what it’s doing is anyone’s guess and best not to think about in my opinion.”
Dellik put a comforting appendage on Ariks third arm as they watched.
The UNS Ghurkha, now fully powered, started to move.
"That's the thing about human ships when powered up" said Dellik looking at the apprentice.
"You feel like everything is not where it's supposed to be"
Arik nodded in a slight glazed way.
UNS Ghurkha climbed away into the distance leaving a feeling of unease in the dimensions of the universe behind it.
"Come along Arik. It's break time. The feeling will pass after some solids and liquids."
"Yes boss"
Extra lines from : https://old.reddit.com/r/humansarespaceorcs/comments/1umosoe/dellik_had_worked_the_ramp_at_the_spaceport_for/ove9lyx/
[127.0.0.1 : THIS IS BROKENBEETLE DASH UNDER ORBITAL ATTACK DASH TRIPOD HER KITTENS AND MYSELF ARE INJURED DASH REST OF ROYAL FAMILY DEAD DASH REQUIRE ASSISTAN]
[GUILD1 : MESSAGE RECEIVED AND RELAYED DASH SUPPORT INBOUND DASH MEDICAL AND VETERINARY STAFF ON ROUTE DASH REPLY IF POSSIBLE DASH WE ARE COMING STOP]
[127.0.0.1 : THIS IS BROKENBEETLE DASH UNDER ORBITAL ATTACK DASH TRIPOD HER KITTENS AND MYSELF ARE INJURED DASH REST OF FAMILY DEAD DASH REQUIRE ASSISTAN]
[GUILD1 : MESSAGE RECEIVED AND RELAYED DASH SUPPORT INBOUND DASH MEDICAL AND VETERINARY STAFF ON ROUTE DASH REPLY IF POSSIBLE DASH WE ARE COMING STOP]
It did what?