Hey, everybody. Back with another chapter.

Let's get to it.

Rico: Well, I can't explain that, or it will spoil the story

Chapter 8- Sudden Protectors

(May 27, 2025)

In the pilot compartment of his personal MC-58 Wraith, Admiral Pellaeon looks out as the surface of the planet below comes into better view as the shuttle descends towards the surface. The surface of the planet is covered in a mix of forests, farmlands, and marshlands.

However, as the shuttle descends closer to the surface, Pellaeon notices something. Large swathes of land show signs of heavy devastation by fire. As he looks closer, he sees what looks to be the ruins of a settlement in the distance.

"Hmm. Something happened here, and I don't think it was natural," Pellaeon mutters.

"What do you want to do, Admiral?" the pilot asks, wondering if this sight will make Pellaeon want to go back up to the ship until more information can be determined about this planet and its inhabitants.

"Maintain course, and let's find a settlement. Take great caution, though. I have a feeling this world may not be entirely peaceful," Pellaeon says.

The Wraith and the Hood's other landing craft descend to an altitude of 5,000 feet as they begin searching for signs of civilization. Thankfully, it doesn't take more than a few minutes before the pilot of Pellaeon's shuttle calls out, "Admiral, I got a tally on a small city up ahead. Distance between 6 and 8 miles."

"Good. Move ahead and set down 2 miles from the city limits," Pellaeon orders.

"Copy that, Admiral," the pilot responds. He descends a little bit further and prepares to land as he nears the city while transmitting Pellaeon's orders to the other landing ships.

The Wraith lands first, setting down gently at the specified point. As the pilot shuts down the shuttle and lowers the boarding ramp, the rest of the landing craft come and touch down. Having learned from the first incident where the arrival of the whole 61st Motorized Infantry Brigade nearly caused hostilities with the Sith on Zallin, Pellaeon had ordered a far smaller landing force accompany him on this mission. The landing craft had brought a single tank platoon from the 61st, comprised of just 4 T-72 tanks, and a company of 200 troops from the 1st Rifle Battalion. They also brought several protocol droids for translation if it was needed. However, as a precaution, two flights of SFA-18 Hornets were flying top cover in case the expedition force needed support.

Pellaeon waits outside his shuttle with Major Ronen as the 61st's expedition company finishes disembarking from the landing craft. Once the whole company has assembled, Pellaeon makes his way to the Humvee that will serve as his personal transport and gets in along with Ronen. Once he is strapped in, the Humvee starts driving, the company forming up around it as they start making their way towards the city.

It takes only minutes for the company to reach the outer limits of the city. As they begin to enter the city, Pellaeon notices figures beginning to peak out of their homes. Getting a better look at them, Pellaeon sees they are humanoids. In fact, they are nearly to identical to humans, except for their light pink skin. However, what Pellaeon also notices is the fear on their faces before they duck back into their homes.

"Something's not quite right here. Everyone, be on their guard," Pellaeon says over a commlink to the rest of the company.

The company makes their way all the way to the city center, where they stop and form up into a defensive circle, the tanks defending the lighter vehicles. Troops begin to disembark from the vehicles, weapons in hand but not at the ready to give off less of an image of aggressiveness.

As Pellaeon and Ronen climb out of their Humvee, they see individuals of the native species begin to slowly emerge from buildings around the square. Then, they see the doors of the tall building on one side of the square open. A few warriors exit the building, holding swords at the ready. After them come several figures dressed in fancier clothing, suggesting them to be people in charge.

Pellaeon walks towards them with Ronen and a droid, their bodyguards following close behind. The warriors and the local leaders slowly approach, the warriors still holding their weapons at the ready.

Pellaeon steps forward, waiting for the individuals before him to speak. The one in the center looks right at him, and then, to the shock of Pellaeon, speaks in Galactic Basic, "Who are you? Have you come to slaughter us too?"

Pellaeon feels a flood of relief run through him. At the very least, communicating with them won't be a problem. Pellaeon waits a moment before he asks, "Why would we be here to kill you?"

"You are here with them, aren't you?" the leader demands.

"Who is 'them'? What are you talking about?" Pellaeon asks.

The leader looks a bit confused, and still very uncertain. Pellaeon speaks up again and says, "Look. I don't know what you are talking about, or who you think we are here with. But we have not come to harm you. My name is Admiral Gilad Pellaeon. Me and my crew have been traveling through the stars in our ship, but we can travel no further and came here seeking refuge. If we wished you harm, we would have obliterated your city from space. We come in peace. We mean you no harm and come seeking friendship."

The leader is quiet, looking at them with intense scrutiny. Pellaeon then speaks again and says, "As a token of goodwill, we come with gifts for you and your fellow leaders." Several Ukrainians then step forward, carrying several items detailed to be given as gifts to help make a good impression. The Hood had actually been stocked with a stock of such items before leaving Earth just for instances like this. The gifts include several commlinks, several musical instruments including a flute and a guitar, a necklace made of beautiful gems, and a silk robe decorated with extravagant patterns.

The Ukrainians walk forward carefully and set the gifts down at the foot of the steps leading up to the tall building where these individuals came from before retreating back to the company. The individuals look a bit surprised and hesitant for a moment before walking down to examine the gifts.

Finally, the leader, holding the fine robe, looks up at Pellaeon with confusion and curiosity. "Where do you come from, stranger?"

"From a world far, far away. Please, may we sit and negotiate with you? We wish to have peace and friendship with your people. May we discuss such terms?" Pellaeon asks, keeping a calm, diplomatic tone.

The leader looks at Pellaeon for a long time, trying to decide whether to trust this stranger or not. Finally, he comes to the decision that Pellaeon could have easily attacked his people, but instead has acted nothing but friendly since he arrived. The soldiers and vehicles he brought must have been for his own protection.

Finally, he speaks. "Very well, one called Pellaeon. You and one other will accompany me inside, where we will talk. Your guards will remain here and will not move until your return," he says.

"Of course," Pellaeon says. He then looks at Ronen and nods, signaling he wants Ronen to accompany him. He then turns around and says out loud to the company, "All of you will remain here until I return."

Pellaeon then turns back to the leader. "We will follow you," he says. The leader nods and beckons them inside before turning around and walking back into the building. Pellaeon and Ronen follow the man into the building, trusting he's not trying to lead them into a trap.

The man leads them to a small chamber within the building, where a table is set up with a number of chairs all around it. The leader sits down at a chair and motions for Pellaeon and Ronen to take a seat. Other officials of the species file in and take their seats as well.

"Where do you come from?" the leader asks again.

"I come from far across the stars," Pellaeon says. He then asks, "Where did you come from? Have your people always lived on this planet? And why can you speak our language?"

"Our people have not always lived on this planet. We came here about 12,000 years ago. Most of the details of our people's history past that point have been lost, but I know that our ancestors lived on a world that was governed by a Republic. But, when a group called the Pius Dea came to power, they persecuted and slaughtered our ancestors. Those who could escaped and fled, eventually coming to this world. Our people have never left this world since. Not that we really could if we desired to," the leader says.

Instantly, things make sense to pellaeon. These people were descendants of individuals who had fled their homeworld during the Pius Dea Crusades about 12,000 years ago, which was after Galactic Basic was created as a language. From his least few words, it seems like whatever ship was used to bring their ancestors to this planet was destroyed after coming to the planet.

"What is your name? And who are your people?" Pellaeon asks.

"I am called Sharlin. We are the Callistans, and this is the world of New Callistan," is the response.

"Why did you react with such caution and hostility when we came to your city?" Pellaeon asks Sharlin.

"For years now, we have been at war with a race that inhabits another world in this system," Sharlin says. One of the other leaders then slides forward a picture. Pellaeon looks down at it along with Ronen. It appears to be hand painted. It shows two individuals of a species that looks very similar to Lortirians. However, they are slightly shorter than Lortirians typically are, they have five fingers instead of the three of Lortirians, they have full tails, and their heads are more reminiscent of that of a gecko, unlike Lortirians, whose heads look more like a Komodo dragon. However, there is no mistaking the very sharp fangs in the mouths of these creatures.

"We do not know these creatures' names. But we call them the Bloodfangs. They seem to have developed the ability to travel to our planet some years ago. When they came, they came to wipe our people out. They take pleasure in death, and they often eat the flesh of their victims. We have tried so many times to drive them away, and so far we have. But they have killed so many of our people. More than a million of our people have been slaughtered by these creatures, and each time we drive them off, we have less and less warriors. We are a peaceful people. We had so few warriors to begin with. The next time they come for us, they will certainly wipe us out. We have been trying to prepare for their next coming, but we expect it to come soon, and we are not ready," Sharlin says. As he speaks, the distress in his voice rises until it is unmistakable.

Pellaeon and Ronen look at each other, each knowing what the other is thinking. They then look back at Sharlin and his fellow leaders. "Lord Sharlin, my lieutenant here and I have a proposal. As we said, we came here in a ship. That ship is more powerful than you could ever imagine, and we have weapons beyond your imagining. The small army embarked on this ship is, I believe, far more powerful than any force these Bloodfangs could marshall."

"Here is our proposal. I propose an alliance between us. I will take my ship, its army, and the weapons aboard, to the home world of these Bloodfangs. There, we will launch an attack on these Bloodfangs to annihilate their ability to travel through space, destroy their cities and ability to wage war and force them into surrender. In exchange for us performing this task, you will allow us to stay here for the foreseeable future until such a time as we may be able to leave, should we desire to do so. Is this agreeable?" Pellaeon asks.

Sharlin looks shocked, as do the other leaders, stunned that strangers would be willing to go to war for them. It take them a while before one can speak. Sharlin is the one who manages to speak as he says, "Why would you do so?"

"In order to protect innocent people from senseless slaughter, and because we need a world to take shelter," Pellaeon responds simple. He then repeats, "Are my terms agreeable?"

Sharlin and his fellow leaders are quiet for a few moments before they all look at each other, exchanging several looks. Then, Sharlin finally speaks up and says, "Admiral Pellaeon, if you are able to put their crusade against us to an end, you and your people are welcome on this planet for as long as you live."

"Good. Then let's get started," Pellaeon says, a slight smile on his face.

And, I'll end the chapter there.

So, both the Callistans and the so called "Bloodfangs" are races of my own creation, obviously. I hope you like their background. I gave the Bllodfangs that name because I don't intend for them to show up again, so I didn't want to come up with a real species name for them.

Next chapter will be the attack on the Bloodfangs. Until it's up, please leave a review, and stay tuned!