Captain Vox sat in his office chamber, watching the giant screen in front of him. It was a regular video conference was from Reglin Yanto. Judging from the looks of him, the robots would rather put him through than risk hesitating to and be turned into ash. He was menacing character. He was considered to be a Gymenapus that lived on the nearby planet Tael. Half Gymean and half octopus and feared by anyone who saw him. He had been elected head of Space Federation after the previous one had died of old age. He was not as kind nor as forgiving as was the predecessor. Reglin never liked Captain Vox period. He was less of a leader and more of a playboy to him. Any gossip that could be used against Captain Vox to overpower him, he was only too thrilled to comply.
Captain Vox reminded himself of the human phrase "a face only a mother could love" would apply greatly to Reglin. First having to deal hearing those slimy tentacles typing at all of his multiple programs and second his talking. He would go on mile long rants and pause for five minutes and then continue back in on the conversation. Today, he could feel Reglin's wrath on him. It didn't help matters there were the multiple black beady eyes that too frowned when he spoke.
"Dr. Vim has informed me on your recent experiments… with human life," he paused, leaving a grimace spread across his face. Captain Vox sighed. Of course Dr. Vim would have reported his concerns to Reglin.
"Yes, yes it's for my daughter's birthday. She is turning eighteen and she doesn't have a lot of friends. Their remains were able to be extracted from planet earth…"
"Extracting from planet earth?" Reglin yelled loudly into the large screen. "Do you know the laws that were passed eons ago in regards to such activity on that planet?"
"Yes… I do Reglin."
"Then why did you violate them? Do you know what news of this could do to the passengers on your ship, the rest of your crew if they find out aliens are on your ship? They would throw you out into space. They would turn on you the moment they knew what you've done. None of them up to now have ever been in contact with human life forms. Many of them, including your daughter have no immunities to anything that these specimens may have."
"They were screened for every little thing through Dr. Vim. I was planning on having them just around for her party…"
"And then what Captain?" There was a long pause on both sides.
"I was planning to just have them be alive for the duration of her party. I would wait till Nova was occupied elsewhere and then dispose of them."
"Whose idea was this in the first place? This is extremely reckless behavior on your part Captain Vox."
"I say once more to you I did it for my daughter. Have you even met my daughter? She barely has friends of her own kind. She is obsessed with human history. What was I suppose to do, tell her no?"
"You have the most spoiled daughter in this entire galaxy. If any daughter of mine would have wanted me to bring back life forms from thousands of years ago, that request would been denied! If you had any thought of your passengers, you too should have known that," the voice snarled back.
"What was I suppose to do Reglin? Tell her humans are just a fairy tale? A make believe story?"
"I'm not going to debate the merits of humanity to you Captain Vox. I admit, they were useful… for a time. They self destructed their own kind through their wanting to be on top of the food chain. What good did that do? What good has it done to bring these specimens back to life Captain? If you thought that bringing back to life something from a dead planet was a good idea, what will you think of next? Revive planet earth perhaps? Wake up the dead and bring them back? Well guess what, Captain Vox. I am not going to let you. On the night of the seventh of Cyacta, I will be bringing my guards to this little party of your daughter. I will be on hand to make sure these specimens are… disposed of once the celebrating is over. No one outside of Federation will know of this event. We will go on just as we were. However…. If things do not go the way I want them to, I will have no qualms about ending your reign on the Athena. To me, you have just been nothing but a thorn in my side. The Athena could use a leader that doesn't believe in stuck gazing back at the past, but only eyes set on the future."
"Has… everyone on Federation agreed to this little treaty of yours?"
"Of course, why wouldn't they? No one has encountered humans nor do care about them. This daughter's obsession of yours is rather unhealthy. I would suggest a memory eraser for your own sanity."
"You are cruel Reglin."
"Ah, yes I might be cruel Captain. I have been called many things over the galaxies by many foolish people like you. Are any of them still leaders? Are any of them still alive and breathing to call me names behind my back or in front of my face? No, they aren't for a reason Captain. That is because I annihilate my enemies. I will be there to make sure the proceedings go exactly as ordered. I am done talking anymore to you Captain, for now. We will be speaking soon enough. I promise no harm will come to your daughter… as long as she obeys orders."
"Lay a tentacle on her and I will blast you out of galaxy."
"Oh really Captain? We'll see about that," he yelled as disconnected shot across the screen.