Captain Potiius watched the tactical display as his patrol traveled through the current system. The display showed the system with the name Unahlus, with a name over each planet in the system. Nothing was happening, no pirates, no stray ships that needed helping, no anything. It was good. Some may disagree with it, but he personally liked it when nothing happened. Not to say that he didn't enjoy killing pirates as much as the next turian, but, when nothing happened, everything was in order. And he liked order.
A message popped up on the display. He tapped it and read what it said.
- Potiius
There have been strange readings coming from the Reps system. There have also been several unidentified ships sighted within that area of space recently, likely pirates. We know it isn't until the end of your patrol in a few days that you check out that area, but we believe it may be a staging ground for an attack or an ambush for your patrol. At this time, it is unclear what is truly happening there, but those are the most likely at this time. Head for the Lut system and connect with reinforcements, then head for the Reps system. Find out what is happening in that system and report back.
- Command
He read over the message twice to make sure he read it right. And he did. Sign. He hoped that whatever was happening was minor, but it didn't feel like it. Something told him, he didn't know what, that something major was going to go down in that system. He looked away from the display and said to the communication officer "Connect me to the fleet. I have an announcement to make." "Yes sir."
The officer got right to work. After a few moments the officer signaled Potiius that it was ready.
"This is Captain Potiius speaking (turians all over the ship and the others stopped and listened). I have just received a message from command about strange activates in the Reps system and new orders. We are to change course and head to the Lut system. Once there we will link up with reinforcements and find out what is going on. That is all." He signaled the officer and the communication was cut.
He nodded as the crew went about changing course. It would take a little over a standard day to reach the Lut system and around half a day after that to get to the Reps system. This is assuming everything goes as planned, but even if it doesn't, and it probably won't, it won't take much longer than that.
888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888
Two days later
They were coming up on the Reps system. After getting the reinforcements from the Lut system, they were ready for anything that may happen. If it was pirates, it would be simple and easy to deal with. If it wasn't, well he just hoped it was pirates. Pirates were easy. If it was someone mining, he would have to stop them. No one, as far as he knew, was allowed to mine in that system. Some would argue that their free to mine anywhere they want. And they would be right in most cases. Except this is the traverse. One needs special permission to mine here, and the local patrols have to be have to be informed beforehand. However, sometimes they don't and they are found.
When found they always complain and say they have permission. Then he has to call it in and make sure there're telling the truth, while also making sure they don't continue. They complain the entire time too. If there're lying, he has to evict them from the system. If there're telling the truth, he has to apologize and tell them to inform the authorities properly next time.
That is why pirates were easier. You point, shoot, and move on. See, easy.
Of course it could be an illegal colony. It only happens once or twice a year, but it does happen. If it is, well he first has to find out what is going on to make a decision. But, in the end, no matter what, they would have to register the colony.
'Please be pirates. Spirits, please let it be pirates.' He almost begged. He really didn't like dealing with the other options.
Sign.
The fleet of 5 cruisers and 15 frigates came out in the Reps system. The system itself had a small gas giant, a barren world, a small asteroid belt, one garden world, and red dwarf from outside to inside. A fairly standard system.
"Scan the system. I want to know what is going on in this system and I want to know ASAP." There wasn't a lot of places for the unknowns to hide, but still some.
The crew of every ship worked to find out as many details as they could out about the system. They used the old data from other times the system has been explored as a starting point, before filling in the gaps and replacing information as needed. It didn't take long for the system to be filled with current data, and giving Potiius a clear look at the system.
Every planet was more or less in the same condition as when he last patrolled the system three months ago. Every planet except the garden world, XX-005421. It was never really given a name, but some still talk about what it should be called all the time. If he remembered correctly, Yogh, was in first place. It was a bad name, maybe he should enter a name. Not many can say they named a planet.
He shakes his head. He needed to focus on the mission and worry about the naming some other time.
He looked at the data again and saw several IFFs in orbit of XX-005421. "Get me a reading on those IFFs." Pointing at the ships on screen. A few moments later, the reading came in, and he was little bit glad. The IFFs came back negative on all accounts for all the IFFs used by all corporations, civilians, and military ships throughout citadel space. The scan came back positive for known pirate and slaver IFFs. There was only three cruisers, 8 frigates, and 2 cruiser sized transports. The last one is no doubt for transporting slaves, but one thing stood out. The fleet was small. There are very few targets they could attack and win against, his patrol group included.
Well, now with the extra ships, the tide has turned in his favor. "Let's show these pirates not to mess with the Hierarchy. All ships forward. The plan is as followed. We will split the fleet into three groups. Group one will be the cruisers Gosiles (his ship), Hellor, and Dest along with the frigates Pollux, Ariel, Pursuit of Liberty, Millenium, Guardian, Oblivion, Marauder, Titan, and Berserk. We will be the main battle group. Our job will be to attack the enemy cruisers and frigates."
"Group two will be the cruiser Annihilator and the frigates Executor, Kraken, and Cataclysm. Your job will be to aim to disable enemy transport 1. After the ship has been disabled, board the ship with what troops you have and join the main battle. Group three will be consist of the remaining ships and will have the same job as group two, except will target transport 2." The fleet moved forward to attack.
Potiius took note of the fact that the pirate ships have not moved sense they have arrived. It was likely they haven't been noticed. But if they were going to attack, then they would have been prepare for it. It meant that the attack wasn't going to happen for some time. He also took note of the transports going to and from the planet. It meant a base had been set up, likely a temporary one.
It was around this time that the ships started to and face them, no doubt taking notice. It took four minutes for the cruisers to get in range. Pause. "Fire." As ships fired, the battle had begun.
The battle went as planned, mostly.
The transports were disabled within 30 seconds of the engagement. Letting groups two and three join the main battle after sending boarding pods to secure the ships.
With the main battle, things were much more even for both sides. The pirates had three cruisers and 8 frigates, while his side had three cruisers and 9 frigates. Until the other ships entered into battle, it was a stalemate. Afterwards, the battle turned into their favor fast.
Shots were fired and missiles were launched. When the battle was over, all that was left of the pirates were the transports, however, the turians didn't walk away unscratched. They lost the Annihilator, Pursuit of Liberty, Millenium, Frenzy, Guardian, and Cataclysm. The Hellor, Dest, Pollux, Resolution, Ariel, and Majestic all received damage and will be needing months for repairs. They are getting some basic field repairs done so they can make the jump back to Hierarchy for a full repair.
This was not what had Potiius concerned.
The problem that has him concerned is what was found on the two pirate transports an hour ago.
888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888
One hour ago
Squad leader Calvetana Mutiion was in command of squad 23, and was one of four squads tasked with securing the prison cells for transport 1. The others were attacking from other areas. There was only one door left between her squad and the hangar. However, there are three pirates blocking the way. They were being both smart about how they fought, and really stupid as well. Instead of using some grand tactic or equipment to stop them. They are staying behind cover constantly and blind firing to keep them from getting close.
There was no order to the firing either, they fire when the feel like it. She knew, she has been watching them for five minutes now. One of them didn't even fire for nearly a minute. They tried to have someone rush the guy, but he decided to start firing again. The other two joined in as well, and with the added extra covering fire, the guy never made it back to cover. His corpse was laying down near them, they hadn't had the time to move him.
She needed a plan to get rid of them. But, how? She didn't have any grenades, nor did the others. None of them had any tech attacks that they could use, and none were a biotic. So how?
That's when it happened. One of the pirates tried to blind fire again, but the gun clicked empty. He tried to fire several times, but the gun wouldn't fire. It is nearly unheard of for a gun to not have any rounds to fire. As each shot is shaved off a block of metal, each gun has tens of thousands of rounds. The chances of one running out is nearly zero.
The Hierarchy regularly checks the ammo blocks of each gun to see how much is left. If the block is 50% or more gone, it is replaced with a flesh one to ensure that no one runs the chance of running out.
It would seem however that they didn't do that, and now are paying the price. With the pirates now concerned about why the gun wasn't firing (could they not understand why), they moved up and to better angles to fire. By the time the pirates remembered about her and her squad, they were already dead.
"Well, that was easy. Think they actually believed they were going to stop us?" One of her soldiers asked. Calvetana was laying down a beacon on Vipius (the dead guy), so the clean-up crew can find his body easier. A hard stare from Calvetana shut him up.
"Let's move."
They opened the door to the main holding area, and saw squad 78 was already inside and clearing out the last of the pirates. Squads 4 and 111 entered shortly after.
Aplius Lupinius was given overall command of the operation and was leader of squad 78. "A little late aren't we." His face was smug. He was always the type to gloat about the little things, like how he was chosen to lead the operation. He doesn't allow it to effect his work, but it does get on others nerves.
"Maybe you're just a little quick. I see a few of your squad are injured, and two are missing." Calvetana replied. Was it mentioned that they had a rivalry going on, because they do.
Aplius lost his smug look and gain a sharp look. "You try fighting six krogan and not lose someone."
"I would have done much better than you did."
"As if. You would have lost more than I did."
"There is no way to know that."
"Hey!" Someone said off to the side.
They both turn to the one that interrupted them and said "What?!"
The turian was unfazed by the slight yelling and pointed to one of the cages next to him "Have either of you seen that race before, because I haven't?"
Both of them (weird that that keeps happening) turn to look into the cage and see what he means. Inside were five what they believe to be males. They were pinkest with fur on top of their heads and wearing strange clothes. One was really strange. He had red lines covering his face and various cybernetic components were visible on his head, including circuitry printed across his skin and ports or plugs around the top of his head.
They couldn't understand why a being would have those kinds of cybernetics or what they were used for. When someone usually a cybernetic replacement, it's to replace a limb that they lost, not what that guy did to himself.
Aplius shakes his head. "I don't know every races in citadel space, nor do I know what all of them look like."
The soldier replies "I have a major in xenology and know every race that has every come in contact with the council, even the Rachni. When I say that I've never seen that race before, it means that this race has never been seen before, by anyone." His voice had an edge to it. He was getting annoyed. "I've even seen the collectors."
Aplius didn't like being told off "First off, the collectors are a myth. Second, just because you have a major in xenology does not mean you know every race. These people could just be quarians without their suits on, no one knows what they look like anyway."
"The quarians would die without their suits, their immune system is shit, plus their legs are wrong."
"Hey." They turn to Calvetana, who butted in at this point, stopping the argument from going any further "There is an easy way to find out. Send some pictures to Captain Potiius. He'll be able to use the computer to see if they are a known race or not."
They blinked. "Right." Aplius took some quick pictures of the people in the cages and called the captain. He was answered moments later. "Captain Potiius."
"Yes, what is it you need."
"We are having trouble identifying a race and ask if you can use the ships computers to help us."
"What? Why do you need help? Isn't Arius there with you?"
Aplius blinks before looking over at the unnamed turian from before and months 'Arius'. Said turian gains a small smile before nodding. Aplius turns back to his omni tool "Yes, he is here, and he says he doesn't know what race it is."
No one could see the captain, but he seemed surprised "What? He doesn't? Maybe he isn't that knowledgeable after all." Arius frowns at this and Aplius gains a small smile "Anyway, send me some pictures of them, and I'll find out who they are momentarily."
Aplius nods and sends the pictures.
30 seconds pass before a reply was heard. "Negative? That's impossible! This must be some mistake."
Aplius frowned at this but knew when to swallow his pride and admit he's wrong. "Captain, we believe they are a new species and wanted to verify it first."
A pause. "Next time, inform me will you." There was an edge to his tone. "Anyway. With both my computer and Arius unable to verify the species, this became a first contact situation. 'Sigh.' Why can't it ever be easy?" The last part was said softly, likely meaning it was more to himself.
"Sir."
"I need to update the Hierarchy of the new situation. You on the other hand have a new task. This is a first contact, and I'll be damned if I don't paint the Hierarchy in a good light."
Now he was confused "Sir?" Good thing he explained.
"The asari are always the ones on the best terms with the new races, well, this time it will be us who will be on the best terms with them. Their status has just been changed to V.I.P. until further notice. Medical supplies and personal are on their way. Help those that we know first and make sure their okay. Then try and help the new ones as best you can. Remember, we don't know their physiology, so we can't know how our supplies will affect them nor do we know their culture, so we can't know what acts will upset them or not. Be very cautious with them."
"Sir yes sir."
"Oh, one more thing. Get me a number on how many there are will you?"
888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888
That is what concerned him. First contact situations can always lead to problems, the Rachni Wars are one such example. Well, here's another one, pirates meeting them first.
'Sigh.'
He already talked with the commander in charge at transport 2 and received the same thing, a new species. He also received the reports on the numbers of the new species from both ships, transport 1 has 1,253 and transport 2 has 801. That's a total of 2,054 of the new species.
Command has already been informed, now all he can do is wait.
888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888
Hey all, thanks for reading my new story. Now, updates will be, well, whenever I can. I have two other stories that are my main ones, so don't expect a new chapter anytime soon.
Oh, can anyone guess who was found.
