"Thank you very much, Arc Captain."
Jaune nodded as the small alien they rescued bowed. As soon as they warped in the Capybara system they discovered a wrecked ship and a hundred or so active escape pod, and the blonde boy ordered the rescue of them. The aliens were stout with long arms and short legs, but just reached his chest and they had long faces that remembered them of stone slabs, with small eyes and mouths, the nostrils on the very top of their heads, covered with an environmental 'mask' that looked more like a silly hat.
"I told you the tractor beam would work!" Nora cheered from her work station.
"I am still surprised you could make one." Jaune answered in genuine appraisal. Ren gave a rare smirk towards him.
"Nora has eidetic memory. She remembers everything she sees in details. So all she needed was one look in that tractor beam device to decipher how it worked."
"Well done, both of you. I might even promote you two." Jaune said and smiled as Nora give happy jumps.
"Arc Captain, how long before you can rescue all of us?" The same alien asked him, and Jaune turned to Penny.
"All active capsules where rescued, and all survivors are inside the Nagato." Jaune turned back to the alien to see he held an expression of disbelief.
"That can't be right… Our ship carried ten thousand people… There are a hundred or so here!" He strode towards the terminal Penny was operating and looked at it. "Those readings…"
"…Are accurate, adjusted to your species life signs pattern and redone ten times. I am sorry for your terrible loss, but we rescued every survival we found in a radio of ten space miles." Penny said apologetically, and the alien made a sound that could be defined as crying.
"Velvet, Doc, examine all of them. We are getting them to the planet." He said to the two women as they helped the aliens. He left a small sad grunt out of his mouth before going to the bridge.
As he arrived he looked at the main screens to see the wreckage of what once was a big ship, several debris floating around, alongside many of its passengers, floating helpless and lifeless around it. He was glad the survivals couldn't see it. If there were ten thousand people, it meant that they all likely lost someone dear to them. He was glad Nora's tractor beam worked fine, the secret project she and Ren worked for weeks. It allowed them to rescue the survivals fast, and now they had the docking bay filled with them.
"Commander, what happened here?" Jaune asked Glynda as he took his seat.
"Sgt. Adel?" The blonde woman turned to the gunner for a more detailed report.
"They were definitely attacked. There are clear signs of energy shots on the wreckage, but no signs of what or who attacked them." Coco explained as she showed details of the debris, many with scorching marks. "Not only that, some of the escape pods where hit too."
"Someone really wanted these people dead. What they reported?" Jaune inquired the crew.
"They are colonizing the third planet of the system, and apparently there was a dispute over the possession of it. The Nonusians, the species we rescued, claims they arrived first while a species they call the Browerians state they discovered the planet first. There was a brief war but something they call the Star Arbitration decided in favor of the Nonusians. They say the Browerians didn't take the decision well." Glynda finished her report, and Jaune groaned in annoyance.
"It was those Browerians that attacked?"
"We can't say for sure." Coco answered as she checked the attack pattern. "At least, not knowing what kind of weapons those Browerians have."
"Very well, we will deliver the survivors to the planet and get more information there. We are in red alert." Jaune finished and Neptune started the engines.
…
"Capybara-3, only planet able to support life. 1.3x standard gravity, half of the oxygen levels we are used to, five degrees colder." Velvet explained as the ship entered in orbit. "Prime planet for the Nonusians. Not so good for us. Population fifteen thousand according to them. They are hailing us."
"Pass them through." Jaune ordered and a Nonusian so alike the others appeared.
"I am Afal Alaz, Administrator Colonial."
"Captain Jaune Arc of the Nagato. We rescued your people; a hundred and three total and now we ask what the procedures to follow are."
"You have our eternal gratitude, Arc Captain of Nagato ship. Unfortunately we don't have a space port to dock you in orbit or any ship with the ability to leave the planet at the moment. I suggest you to land near our city, if possible."
"We will send transports then. It will take a while to deliver everyone, but we will do what we can. Send us the landing coordinates." Jaune answered, not willing to land the Nagato in an unknown planet with a still unknown alien race, not after their past experiences. There was a moment of hesitation from Afal but he answered back.
"Very well, I am sending the coordinates. We will be ready to receive the survivals."
"Understood. We will start sending the transports as soon as possible." With that Jaune finished the call. "Neptune, get Yang and prepare two bullheads. Tell Doc that we are sending any sick or hurt people first. How long it would take to finish this operation?"
"With two bullheads equipped with transport modules, 103 people… twelve people at a time…ten hours considering the trip time." Neptune informed.
"Start right now. Coco, Sun, keep an eye on the sensors all time. Whatever attacked their ship might attack again." He finished before going to his quarters.
…
"Thanks for attending me, Arc Captain." On the screen was Afal, and Jaune just nodded. The delivery operation was past half part, and everything was proceeding as smoothly as possible for them. Jaune sat in the chair in his office and wondered why the Colonial Administrator wanted to talk with him privately.
"There is no problem, Administrator. What can I help you with?"
"Ah, yes, that is actually what we need. Help. Nonus, our home world, is dying. We are actually fleeing our home planet, Arc Captain, not just colonizing this one." Jaune had to contain himself to not say they were doing exactly the same. "And the ship that was destroyed… it was the only warp able ship we had…"
There was no way he couldn't empathize more with the Nonusian than right now. They were in the exactly same position, two dying worlds and only one ship to give them a little bit of hope. Jaune understood the problem right away as no faster-than-light ship available meant the end of the colonization efforts.
"I understand your problem, Administrator. How can we help?" Jaune offered genuinely, and for a second he saw something akin to a smile in the Nonusian's face.
"We were hoping you had warp cores to spare."
The captain of the Nagato stared back at the alien for a second. Warp cores were made with the rarest from of Dust, rainbow Dust. While that form of the crystals had no practical use at first, being just shiny multicolored jewels, it was Ozpin that discovered they could be energized to create the warp distortion and enter the subspace. The problem was that being so rare, the Remnant colonies had only ten of those crystals, and four were there in the Nagato as backups in case something happen to the warp engines. It created a dilemma for the young captain.
"Don't you have any? Or at least the possibility to find some?"
"We don't have any spare, and there is just no way we can predict when or if we could find some. So please, Arc Captain, if you have any to spare…"
"Sorry, Administrator, but we don't have any spares." Jaune half lied. It was true they had extra cores, but the captain just couldn't risk their own ship to help the Nonusians, no matter how much he wanted too.
"Then… maybe you can go back to your planet home and ask for a ship… or at least spare cores!" Afal begged, and Jaune could feel the pain setting in his heart for the Nonusiuans. But if they returned to Remnant, he knew they would never spare the few crystals they had and worse, they would probably take his ship from him.
"I am sorry, Administrator Afal. The Nagato have a mission of our own and we can't go back to our planet before finishing it. What I can do for you is to go to Nonus and inform them of what happened here. I am deeply sorry we can't do more than that." It was true, he was deeply sorry, and while we could do more, he knew that would mean sacrificing his own people for the Nonusians.
"I beg of you, Arc Captain… There are ten million of my people, my own family, back at Nonus… Help us…" Jaune had to use all his willpower to not cry and keep the same serious expression, because he also had his own family to think about.
"I am sorry. If I could I would certainly help… But there is nothing in my power I can do…."
"I… I understand… Thanks for all you already done… I will talk with my people…" Afal ended the communication, and Jaune finally let the emotions freely run in his body. Tears came from his eyes as he understood a problem so likely to his own.
"Do you need a hug?" Jaune opened an eye as Penny suggested that. "According to Cpt. Rose, when people are sad a hug can help them."
"Actually, it is true, and yes, I would use a hug." Jaune answered, a bit in surprise and a bit wanting that hug.
"My mobile unit is on her way." Penny answered, worry in her voice. Jaune left out a small smile. Apparently having an AI with a heart was actually a good thing.
…
"OK, everyone is ready for the last flight?" Yang asked as the last Nonusians boarded her bullhead. They nodded and she checked the seat belts. "Sorry it is not the most comfy ride, the seats is planned for humans, not Nonusians."
"It is alright, Yang pilot. We are thankful your people rescued us." One of the aliens answered and she smiled before leaving and closing the door.
"Everything is ready and checked!" Nora confirmed as she finished her check list on the bullhead.
"It is the last trip, so just come back as soon as you finish." Glynda said and Yang nodded before stretching.
"I will do just that. I need a good bath, sleep and probably a pair of hands massaging me for a day." She smirked as she put her helmet on. "Tell the captain he is being requested for massage duty as soon as I am back."
"Lieutenant, just get in the bullhead." Glynda said with a loud sigh. Yang entered the cabin and proceeded to leave the Nagato dock.
Once again it was a boring and easy travel. She passed by Neptune's bullhead returning from his last travel and she proceeded to enter the atmosphere of the below planet. Soon she was flying in direction of the city they were building. At the moment it was just a bunch of metallic boxes spread close to the sea. She found the landing area quite easily after doing so many trips already. She landed softly on the ground and opened the cabin and the back door, and got to the back of the bullhead to help the last survivors out of the ship.
There was a brief moment of celebration as they reencountered their families, and she smiled, as it was rare she could see those moments since the mission started. When they got inside one of the buildings nearby, Yang proceeded to the some checking in the bullhead before going back to the Nagato.
She almost didn't notice some of the Nonusians approaching in heavy armor as she checked her vehicle, and wondered what they wanted. She turned around to stare at them, and they looked dejected. She wished she didn't need the helmet so she could give them a winning smile.
"Hey guys. Anything wrong?" She asked, and prepared her weapons. Yang didn't had time to use as she felt her body vibrating and losing its strength before falling down unconscious.
"We are sorry. We are very sorry, Yang pilot." One of the Nonusians said as he put a small remote shaped device on his belt and helped to carry her away from the bullhead.
…
"What happened?" Jaune said as he rushed into the bridge almost tripping at the door.
"It is Lt. Xiao Long, sir. Her armor sent an automated distress signal, and we aren't able to contact her. She is still alive and in the Nonusian settlement according to the beacon on her Hunter." Glynda explained as Jaune sat on the captain's chair.
"Keep trying to reach her, contact the Nonusians. Tell Nora I want a bullhead AND my fighter ready to deploy and I want Major Nikos and a fireteam ready. Cpt. Rose is not going." Jaune barked his orders as he checked his panel.
"Sir, the Nonusians are contacting us." Velvet warned and he signalized to pass them through, and as soon as the image formed his expression changed from one of worry to one of anger.
Afal appeared in the screen, his eyes cast down, with Yang unconscious behind him, guarded buy two soldiers.
"Administrator, what happened?" Jaune asked, trying to keep his anger in check.
"We are deeply sorry, Arc captain. But the survival of ten million people forced us to do this rather despicable act. She is alive and unharmed, and we will give her back to you once we guarantee the survival of our people." Afal said, and his tone was clear one of guilty and regret, but Jaune was not moved by his words.
"I want my Marine back, Afal."
"Please, listen. All we want is to rescue the people back at Nonus. Lend us your ship! Once we rescue everyone we will give them back to you!" The alien begged, but the captain kept the same impassive expression.
"The Nagato can barely transport two hundred people. It would take a hundred years for you to transport all of your people. That is more than our lifespan."
"We will adapt it! Make it so we can carry as many as possible! We promise to keep you safe! Please understand…"
"Administrator, you are keeping a member of my crew hostage. This is an act of aggression we won't tolerate. You have six hours to release her unharmed. If you fail to comply, we will start firing from orbit against your people until she is safely back with us. Nobody hurts my crew… my friends. This is your one and only warning." Jaune cut the link and clenched his fists before slamming then on his chair. Velvet rushed to his side and put a gentle hand on his back. "Tell Major Nikos to keep a fireteam ready. I am taking Lt. Belladonna with me in my fighter to rescue Lt. Xiao Long. If we fail, I want you to fire at them as I said, Commander, and use the distraction to send the fireteam."
"Captain…" Velvet asked worriedly to him. He looked at her eyes, and the strong determination on his face made her lower her head.
"We will be back soon." He finished, gently touching Velvet's shoulder and leaving, the bunny girl looking at his back.
…
Jaune was putting on his Hunter and checking it, while Nora finished fixing the transportation module on the top of Ladybug so he could fly with Blake and if they couldn't retrieve the bullhead, fly back with Yang. He checked his weapon and the bullets and groaned in anger as he never expected the people he rescued would do that. He understood their situation, probably better than the Nonusians could expect, yet they kidnapped his friend and were now threatening the mission.
"Jaune, are you sure you are alright?" He turned as Pyrrha approached, putting both hands on his face to look at his eyes.
"No, I am not. I am pissed. I am disappointed. I am worried about Yang. I am… sad." He confessed, and she pushed him into a hug, her cheek against his.
"I can do this, you know?" she whispered into his ear.
"I know… But I don't want to go down there and shoot our way to Yang. If possible, I want to have no casualties. I know why they are doing it. They are afraid, desperate. And fear is a bad adviser." He said, gently going out of the hug. "I don't want to hurt anyone, but I will save our friend."
"I know. Be careful, because I want you back here too. And Blake and Yang…" Suddenly Pyrrha pecked his lips and smiled, moving away. "Good luck."
Jaune stared at Pyrrha's back as she walked to be with Weiss and an overly worried Ruby.
"Let's go, Captain." Blake called as she put her helmet, hiding a smirk as she saw the scene that happened moments before.
"You know, we really should get you a bell." Jaune answered and Blake punched his shoulder.
…
The fighter landed silently a few kilometers away of the settlement. Jaune thanked whoever invented stealth mode for it, as that allowed them to arrive undetected. He left the cockpit and freed Blake from the emergency transport compartment. She jumped at the ground and stretched in a very cat-like way before drawing her weapon.
"We keep radio silence for now and silencers on. Our priority is rescuing Yang, no need to confront the Nonusians, but do not hesitate to shoot if they pose a threat." Jaune explained as he checked his gun. "You lead the way."
Blake nodded and activated her active camouflage, while Jaune wore a stealth cloak over his own to follow her. Luck for both it was nighttime, and the Nonusians were mostly unaware of their presence. They tracked Yang's Hunter distress signal, as the aliens kept the armor online due to the need for it to supply the extra oxygen the planet's atmosphere lacked.
They found the building they were keeping the Marine hostage, with four guards at the door, and Jaune took a vantage position in the top of a building. He kept the guards under the aim of his gun, but let Blake do her job. She skillfully jumped on them, demonstrating her agility and skill in those kinds of operations. The catgirl kicked the first too and dropped them unconscious, then jumped on the third one shoulders and while pressing her arm on the nostrils on the top of the head she fired a TASER on the fourth one. Soon the last two dropped unconscious, and she moved them out of view.
Blake used her hacking terminal on the door and breached the security, walking around the tight and poorly lit corridors. Every time someone came she had to jump on the ceiling, glad for magnetic boots and optical camouflage. She slowly approached the distress signal and found a room that was probably a communication center. There were only two guards and the colonial administrator. On the screen were Commander Goodwitch, and the administrator kept begging them for a peaceful resolution.
You should have thought of that BEFORE kidnapping Yang and threatening us.
Blake resisted the urge to just shout the three of them and slowly approached the unconscious Yang. The catgirl had to turn the optical camouflage off; glad the three people in the room were busy with Glynda. The commander noticed Blake and changed her tone in order to keep attention on her. Blake accessed Yang's Hunter and activated the recover protocols.
Unfortunately for them the blonde Marine wasn't exactly the most calm when suddenly awaked.
"I AM UP! SAVE ME BRAKFAST!"
Blake cringed while Glynda groaned and cut the link. Yang stared confused at the three aliens that just stood there in shock. Blake threw a smoke grenade and put Yang's arm around her and rushed with her friend out. The three aliens coughed and stumbled around before one of them sounded the alarm.
"Ugh my head…" Yang complained as the sirens sounded around the settlement.
"We will get you aspirin when we are back on the Nagato." Blake stated as they were finally out of the building.
"Bella? What happened?"
"Let's just say the Nonusians don't want us to go."
"The troubles of being sexy." Yang joked, making Blake roll her eyes inside her helmet. "I think I can walk." Blake let Yang off and the blonde girl stumbled a bit before standing up. "I feel like I drank all the alcohol."
"We need to go. Let's see if we can retrieve the bullhead…" Blake started when an explosion shook them up.
"Blake! They exploded the bullhead! Let's go back to the fighter!" Jaune urged from the radio and the two girls stared at each other before Blake tapped Yang's shoulder and the two girls started running while soldiers rushed the streets. A pissed off blonde Marine sent them flying with her punches while Blake used her acrobat combat to dodge and counter them. Things started to escalate as some of them started shooting.
…
Jaune moved as quickly as possible while rushing on the ceilings of the settlement. The Nonusians were determinate to not let them go, and the captain understood they were desperate. So desperate that they had no idea what they were doing.
He jumped from building to building and soon found himself at the edge of the settlement, having lost sight of Yang and Blake but wanting to believe they were fine. After all, they still were better fighters than him. The distant sound of guns fired worried him though, and he decided to go to meet them. But as soon as he turned around he was attacked.
Jaune looked up and saw a Nonusian wearing some type of mobile armor. It didn't look like a combat one, but maybe a construction device improvised as a weapon. The device had big, large legs and long arms ending in three strong 'fingers'. The Nonusian tried to smash Jaune with both arms, but he was able to block it with his hardlight shield. The impact was too strong though and bended the boy on his knees. He fired his gun against the enemy's legs, but the thick armor deflected them.
The Nonusian tossed Jaune aside with another jab, and once again the blonde thanked his Hunter for protecting him. He put his gun back on its holster in his back and prepared his hardlight sword. The alien approached slowly, and the captain used this to rush against it, swinging the sword several times, causing many scratches on the thick surface of his enemy heavy armor. The Nonusian raised his right arm, a movement Jaune saw before. This time he raised his shield properly and blocking the attack, and he swung his sword, pumping Aura on it to decapitate his enemy.
He saw the enemy fall towards him and Jaune jumped back, catching his breath. But he had no time to do that as another armored enemy came from his back and as he turned around it pushed his feet at him, throwing Jaune on his back and pressing against his armor. Jaune failed his sword trying to cut the leg off to no avail as the armor was thicker there. That was when he heard an explosion above his head and the enemy was launched away.
"Need a hand, oh captain my captain." Yang said as she offered hers to him.
"You know, I was supposed to save you." Jaune answered as he took it and got up.
"You did. And I saved you. We are even." Yang said as she patted his shoulder. "Come on, let's go back home."
…
The fighter landed at the docking bay, and Jaune got out of the cockpit. He saw Nora helping Blake off the emergency transport and he opened the one where Yang was. She looked at him and extended her arms, confusing him for a second before he realized what she wanted and he carried her off it, bridal style.
"YANG!" Ruby zipped closer and jumped on them, the two girls on top of Jaune. "I was so worried!"
"Sis! I missed you too, but I think we killed the skipper!" Yang said as the two girls got off him.
"I am so, so glad for this armor." Jaune groaned as he stood up and removed his helmet.
"What is this blue stuff?" Ruby asked as they noticed Jaune had splatters of blue on his usually white Hunter.
"Nonusian blood…" Jaune said finally realizing he killed something that wasn't Grimm. Sure he fired Nagato's guns before, but this time…
"Captain, the Colonial Administrator is trying to contact us."
"I will get the call from here, Penny." Jaune groaned as he walked to a terminal closer to Nora's workstation and took the call.
"Arc Captain, please, we need help!" Afal said, tears on his eyes. Jaune was unmoved by them.
"We helped you once, Administrator, and you kidnapped my friend and blew up my bullhead to keep us. You tried to steal my ship."
"Please, we need it to save my people…"
"If this is how you ask for help, Afal, I am sorry to say no one will ever help you again." Jaune closed the link and took a few moments to cool down. "Ruby, take Yang to the med bay so she can be examined. We are leaving this system ASAP."
"Hey, Jauney…" Yang started, but the captain just raised his hand slightly.
"Later. I am going to the bridge."
…
Jaune let his body drop on the captain's chair and closed his eyes. He wondered if any of the captains he knew from story books had to take hard decisions as often as he had. The crew stared back at him concerned, and even Penny gently held his hand between hers. It was surprising how delicate the android's hands were. He opened his eyes and failed to smile at her, but he had other things to worry right now.
"Helmsman, trace a curse to the nearest warp point. We are going to the Nonus system." Jaune said and everyone stared at him in shock.
"Sir?" Neptune asked as he shifted his eyes between the captain and the rest of the crew.
"It will be a simple pass through. Velvet, prepare a message to inform them of the loss of their warp ship. Warn then of hostile activity here. At least they will be able to plan what they will do from now on."
"That is… quiet the altruistic act from you, skipper. Considering everything that happened." Coco commented, and Jaune closed his eyes again.
"They were desperate. They are in such similar situation to us that is hard to not understand why they did what they did. I am not forgiving them, but the people back on their planet shouldn't suffer because of what the Nonusians here did." Jaune explained dryly.
"OK, setting course. Maybe you should go sleep, captain. You look awful." Neptune commented as the Nagato started moving. "Skipper?"
Jaune was sleeping on his chair. Glynda sighed but had a soft smile on her face, and signaled for Penny to help her, and the two girls took their captain to his quarters.
…
"I am just telling you, chancellor, the price to attack the Nonurian colony is quiet high as it tends to leave more evidence than simple deploying automated drones in the way of their ship." Roman talked to the Browerian chancellor aboard his ship. Neo sat close by, ignoring the conversation to play with a pair of paper dolls.
"The agreement wasn't that, pirate!" The chipmunk-like alien squeaked back.
"Ah, but I won't risk angering the Star Arbiters because you want to get that planet for you. Not for so little, anyway."
"We will find someone else to do your dirty job, pirate!" With that the link was cut, and Roman laughed a little.
"Send an anonymous tip to the Arbiters about the Browerians trying to kill the Nonusians. That will teach them to not ditch us." Roman ordered as he sat in his chair.
"Captain, what about that ship?" The pirate operating the communication panel asked as a picture of the Nagato rescuing the Nonusians appeared on screen.
"That ship again. They are becoming a pain in my ass. Luckily they didn't saw our camouflaged ship… In fact, I am tired of them. Tell the fleet to track them down. It is time to get rid of them." Roman said as he walked towards the communication panel and lit a cigar, them pressing the lit match on the other pirate's arm, making him scream. "And it is Admiral."